In a move sure to drive the talk radio-calling segment of the Phillies fan base, the team announced last night that they have re-signed manager Charlie Manuel to a two-year contract, with an option for a third. Charlie, despite sometimes questionable in-game decisions, led the Phils to their first division title and playoff appearance since 1993.
Despite nearly being fired about seven different times over the past three years, Manuel has led the Phils to three straight winning seasons, with the 2007, 89-win division title coming despite perpetual pitching injuries and a bullpen that was never all that good to begin with. The team could have fallen apart numerous times but never did, and that's to Manuel's credit. That's not enough, though, for most Phils fans to get past the way he talks and looks.
Speaking of which, I thought I was the only one who noticed the eerie parallels between the '06 Twins and the '07 Phils. But TwinsGeek, also a Twins fan married to a Phillies fan, did too:
But for a Twins fan there was a special kind of pain, more of an ache, because you've felt this before. The outsider might theorize that was due to the similarities between this year's Phils and last year's Twins - the whole late charge preceding a quick playoff exit. But Twins fans recognized the familiar stink of a couple of ex-Twins.The one Reds fan in my office couldn't believe Lohse either. Neither will the team that signs him for $10 million a year this offseason.In case you missed it, Game 2 was decided when Charlie Manuel made a move that would have left any Twins fan's mouth agape. His pitcher, rookie Kyle Kendrick, had struggled, but was leading 3-2 in the fourth inning. Unfortunately, the bases were loaded. So with two outs, Manuel pulled his starter early and brought in....
..wait for it.....wait for it.....
KYLE LOHSE.
Blink. Blink.