Sorry ... no Charlie in pool of candidates
PHILADELPHIA » The Phillies have an opening for a manager.
Charlie Manuel
So … will he need an application?
“No,” Manuel said Saturday, before the Phillies’ 11-inning, 7-4 loss to the New York Mets. “I am not involved in that. I’m not.”
Manuel managed the Phillies from 2005 through 2013, winning 780 games, finishing in first place five times and winning the 2008 World Series. When the Phils transitioned to a rebuilding project, he was replaced by Ryne Sandberg. He has been a special advisor to Matt Klentak, a role similar to the one Pete Mackanin will fill once he manages his last Phillies game Sunday.
But trending toward real improvement, the Phillies are no longer under full-scale construction. In that, they may not be much different as a franchise than they were when Manuel became the manager.
At the minimum, the move would be popular.
“Oh, yeah,” the 73-yearold Manuel said, smiling. “But no. I’d have to say no. No, that is not going to happen.” is qualified. *** Few Phillies have had a better second half of the season than Adam Morgan, whose 0.69 ERA since August had been the second best in the major leagues. Well … “The reality is,” Morgan said, after surrendering a three-run home run to Asdrubal Cabrera in the 11th Saturday, “nobody is perfect.”
Despite taking the loss, Morgan did plenty during the season to boost his career, even if it was as a reliever, not a starter.
“He’s had such a great run,” Mackanin said. “He’s been very impressive.”
*** Jorge Alfaro left after six due to a collision at home plate. Moving up the third base line to catch a strong throw from right by Nick Williams, Alfaro hung onto the ball while being toppled by Juan Lagares.
“Williams made a great throw and Alfaro made a great tag,” Mackanin said. “But he hit his head on the ground and I just took him out for precautionary reasons. I think he’s going to be fine. The doctor checked him. We’ll know more tomorrow. He told me he was fine but I didn’t take any chances.”
*** Give this much to Mackanin: He is managing the Phillies as if he will be invested in them next season.
Why else to bat J.P. Crawford second Saturday, playing him at shortstop? “I just want to get him as many at-bats in the next two days as I can,” said Mackanin, who will have “special advisor” before his name next season.
That indicates that the Phils have seen enough from Crawford to conclude that he will be a regular, at one position or another, in 2018.
“I like his overall ability defensively and the fact that he played third base so well, never having had to play over there,” Mackanin said. “He’s very agile and he has great instincts. He looks like a real solid defender.
“Over the years, there are a lot of good-looking fielders. And he’s one of them. I like what I see.”
Crawford also batted second and played shortstop Sept. 17 vs. Oakland, going 0-for-2 with three walks. Saturday, he was 1-for-4.
*** In his new capacity next season, Mackanin will be based out of Arizona and not required to do much, if any, travel.
“I told (Matt Klentak) what I’d like to do, and he is going to try to accommodate me,” Mackanin said. “But I am at his beck and call. Whatever he wants me to do, I’ll do.”
Mackanin is on call, a Phillies’ spokesman said, for community involvement and speaking engagements. He also has the right, he said, to pursue other managerial or on-field opportunities.
“Matt has given me the option to do something else that might come up if I so choose,” Mackanin said. “But I truly would like to be here when this team wins.”
*** NOTES » Maikel Franco hit a home run for the second consecutive game. He has a team-high 23. … The Phillies and Mets will conclude the season at 3:05 Sunday afternoon. Nick Pivetta (7-10, 6.26 ERA) and right-hander Noah Syndergaard (1-2, 3.18) will pitch. … The Phils are 7-10 in extra-inning games.