PhilaVa
10-15-2004, 01:02 PM
PHILADELPHIA -- Charlie Manuel looks and feels awkward in business casual attire, let alone a suit and tie. It's just him.
Manuel would much rather wear the kind of cotton/polyester blend that weaves through a baseball uniform. He made his first step toward getting another fitting for such an outfit on Wednesday, when he became the second candidate to interview for Larry Bowa's old job as Phillies manager.
"I want this job," Manuel said after a 3 1/2 hour interview with general manager Ed Wade and four of his charges. "Managing in the Major Leagues is the next thing to playing. It's a challenge and I got a buzz off it. You have to learn how to take care of 25 guys. It's almost like hitting with the bases loaded and two outs against somebody who's got a good chance of getting you out.
"I look at this as a tremendous opportunity to win because of the talent we have and the level I can bring this team. If I'm going to get a job in the Major Leagues, this is the one I want."
Manuel, the only in-house candidate, reportedly is the favorite because of his two-year association as a special advisor to Wade, and the father/son relationship he has with star first baseman Jim Thome. Wade said he will judge each candidate on his own merits.
"I don't want to give anybody an inside track," said Wade. "This is too important a decision. There will be candidates who are linked in different ways, and I can't latch on to one link in making this decision. This impacts our entire organization, not just two or three people who might be more comfortable with one guy or have a relationship that extends for a longer period of time."
Speaking of father/son relationships, Buddy Bell is tentatively scheduled to interview on Oct. 25. Bell is the father of third baseman David Bell, who told Wade that he would have no trouble playing for his father.
Thursday's candidate is former Red Sox skipper Grady Little, who served as Manuel's bench coach in Cleveland. Jim Fregosi is scheduled for Oct. 26.
Wednesday was about Manuel's desire to return to the dugout, something he said he's thought about while working with the organization's minor leaguers over the past two seasons. He came on board with the Phillies in January 2003, after being let go by Cleveland midway through 2002. He decided that he wanted the Phillies job after Bowa was dismissed.
This past Spring Training, the Sporting News took a swipe at Bowa by naming Manuel the NL Manager of the Year. It was a situation that made Manuel feel uncomfortable.
"When I first came to work with the Phillies, I remember the first thing we talked about was Larry Bowa," Manuel said. "I made it plain right then I didn't come to take anyone's job. At that time, I didn't know if I wanted to manage or not. I wanted to step back and see where I was in the game."
He's ready now. Though he hasn't been contacted for any of the other managerial openings, he said he's not pursuing them. He wants this job. Will he be angry if he doesn't get it?
"Let me tell you something," he said with a smile, "when I don't get what I want, I'm always angry."
Manuel classifies as a good ol' country boy from West Virginia, but you shouldn't be fooled by his thick drawl or his easy-going demeanor. That's part of the picture, but not everything. He spoke confidently about the position he seeks and even joked when asked if he'd enjoy dealing with the media.
"I heard the Philadelphia media is tough," he said. "You know what, I'm a tough guy, too. So we're going to get along pretty good if I get this job."
Most of the Phillies have enjoyed getting to know Manuel in his two years as a special advisor. He's worked closely with Thome and slugger Pat Burrell. Whenever he visits the Phillies, players always make a point to joke around or offer a fond hello.
"He makes you feel like you're on top of the world at the plate, like nobody can get you out," said Thome earlier last month. "Everyone knows how I feel about Charlie. He's a good baseball man. His resume speaks for itself. If you ask [Phillies players], they all like Charlie. Does that mean he's going to get the job? Who knows?"
Jim Thome / 1B
Born: 08/27/70
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 240 lbs
Bats: L / Throws: R
More info:
Player page
Stats | Splits
Team Site
Manuel and Wade each spoke with Thome recently. Manuel said Thome wished him luck, while Wade said Thome understood that he had a difficult decision to make. The selection will become more difficult after meeting with the highly recommended Little, who interviewed for the Phillies job in 2000.
Bell, Fregosi and the other candidates will also complicate things. Wade also wanted to make it clear that Manuel was interviewing for the manager's job, not the hitting coach's job -- at least not yet. A highly regarded hitting coach, Manuel has been speculated to be a candidate for that position if interviewing for the skipper job doesn't work out.
"There was a lot of energy," said Wade. "Charlie's one of those guys that, when you're in baseball for a long time, you come across the baseball lifers who wear it on their sleeve. You could sit down and have a technical discussion with a guy, or you can just shoot the breeze about baseball. Charlie brings all that to the table. He was well prepared today, but he was still the same guy we've been dealing with for the past two seasons."
This is what Manuel feels separates him.
"I have a high passion for baseball and the more you're around me, you'll see what players see," he said. "Players want to play for me. They're relaxed, they perform and I think I definitely play a part in that. I know to be a good manager you've got to win games, and I know how to win games. You have to have good players. It's all about them. I'm a players' guy, but I'm also a disciplinarian.
"I want guys totally relaxed and focused. As a manager, I take the tightness and tension out as much as I can. I get close to my players and communicate with them. At the same time, when discipline is needed, I'm a hands-on guy. I believe in professionalism."
Maybe that why he came off as relaxed and confident on Wednesday.
"I'll tell you why," he said. "I tell my players I've been in the game a long time and know who I am. I tell players, 'Know thyself.' Once I get to know people and they get to know me, I think that's my biggest asset. I think I'll kind of grow on people."
Manuel would much rather wear the kind of cotton/polyester blend that weaves through a baseball uniform. He made his first step toward getting another fitting for such an outfit on Wednesday, when he became the second candidate to interview for Larry Bowa's old job as Phillies manager.
"I want this job," Manuel said after a 3 1/2 hour interview with general manager Ed Wade and four of his charges. "Managing in the Major Leagues is the next thing to playing. It's a challenge and I got a buzz off it. You have to learn how to take care of 25 guys. It's almost like hitting with the bases loaded and two outs against somebody who's got a good chance of getting you out.
"I look at this as a tremendous opportunity to win because of the talent we have and the level I can bring this team. If I'm going to get a job in the Major Leagues, this is the one I want."
Manuel, the only in-house candidate, reportedly is the favorite because of his two-year association as a special advisor to Wade, and the father/son relationship he has with star first baseman Jim Thome. Wade said he will judge each candidate on his own merits.
"I don't want to give anybody an inside track," said Wade. "This is too important a decision. There will be candidates who are linked in different ways, and I can't latch on to one link in making this decision. This impacts our entire organization, not just two or three people who might be more comfortable with one guy or have a relationship that extends for a longer period of time."
Speaking of father/son relationships, Buddy Bell is tentatively scheduled to interview on Oct. 25. Bell is the father of third baseman David Bell, who told Wade that he would have no trouble playing for his father.
Thursday's candidate is former Red Sox skipper Grady Little, who served as Manuel's bench coach in Cleveland. Jim Fregosi is scheduled for Oct. 26.
Wednesday was about Manuel's desire to return to the dugout, something he said he's thought about while working with the organization's minor leaguers over the past two seasons. He came on board with the Phillies in January 2003, after being let go by Cleveland midway through 2002. He decided that he wanted the Phillies job after Bowa was dismissed.
This past Spring Training, the Sporting News took a swipe at Bowa by naming Manuel the NL Manager of the Year. It was a situation that made Manuel feel uncomfortable.
"When I first came to work with the Phillies, I remember the first thing we talked about was Larry Bowa," Manuel said. "I made it plain right then I didn't come to take anyone's job. At that time, I didn't know if I wanted to manage or not. I wanted to step back and see where I was in the game."
He's ready now. Though he hasn't been contacted for any of the other managerial openings, he said he's not pursuing them. He wants this job. Will he be angry if he doesn't get it?
"Let me tell you something," he said with a smile, "when I don't get what I want, I'm always angry."
Manuel classifies as a good ol' country boy from West Virginia, but you shouldn't be fooled by his thick drawl or his easy-going demeanor. That's part of the picture, but not everything. He spoke confidently about the position he seeks and even joked when asked if he'd enjoy dealing with the media.
"I heard the Philadelphia media is tough," he said. "You know what, I'm a tough guy, too. So we're going to get along pretty good if I get this job."
Most of the Phillies have enjoyed getting to know Manuel in his two years as a special advisor. He's worked closely with Thome and slugger Pat Burrell. Whenever he visits the Phillies, players always make a point to joke around or offer a fond hello.
"He makes you feel like you're on top of the world at the plate, like nobody can get you out," said Thome earlier last month. "Everyone knows how I feel about Charlie. He's a good baseball man. His resume speaks for itself. If you ask [Phillies players], they all like Charlie. Does that mean he's going to get the job? Who knows?"
Jim Thome / 1B
Born: 08/27/70
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 240 lbs
Bats: L / Throws: R
More info:
Player page
Stats | Splits
Team Site
Manuel and Wade each spoke with Thome recently. Manuel said Thome wished him luck, while Wade said Thome understood that he had a difficult decision to make. The selection will become more difficult after meeting with the highly recommended Little, who interviewed for the Phillies job in 2000.
Bell, Fregosi and the other candidates will also complicate things. Wade also wanted to make it clear that Manuel was interviewing for the manager's job, not the hitting coach's job -- at least not yet. A highly regarded hitting coach, Manuel has been speculated to be a candidate for that position if interviewing for the skipper job doesn't work out.
"There was a lot of energy," said Wade. "Charlie's one of those guys that, when you're in baseball for a long time, you come across the baseball lifers who wear it on their sleeve. You could sit down and have a technical discussion with a guy, or you can just shoot the breeze about baseball. Charlie brings all that to the table. He was well prepared today, but he was still the same guy we've been dealing with for the past two seasons."
This is what Manuel feels separates him.
"I have a high passion for baseball and the more you're around me, you'll see what players see," he said. "Players want to play for me. They're relaxed, they perform and I think I definitely play a part in that. I know to be a good manager you've got to win games, and I know how to win games. You have to have good players. It's all about them. I'm a players' guy, but I'm also a disciplinarian.
"I want guys totally relaxed and focused. As a manager, I take the tightness and tension out as much as I can. I get close to my players and communicate with them. At the same time, when discipline is needed, I'm a hands-on guy. I believe in professionalism."
Maybe that why he came off as relaxed and confident on Wednesday.
"I'll tell you why," he said. "I tell my players I've been in the game a long time and know who I am. I tell players, 'Know thyself.' Once I get to know people and they get to know me, I think that's my biggest asset. I think I'll kind of grow on people."