Charlie Manuel took a big risk when he left the Indians the way he did, and once again it has paid off in Philadelphia, Bud Shaw says in his Spin column.
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View full sizeCharlie Manuel may have left the Cleveland Indians before he was fired, but he never lost his belief in himself -- which has paid off in four consecutive playoff seasons for the Philadelphia Phillies.CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Tell em' in Cleveland that Charlie Manuel's back in the playoffs...
Manuel tells the Philadelphia media he called more meetings this season than ever.
So that was the reason for the turnaround that produced baseball's best regular season record for the first time in club history?
Not exactly.
"A lot of times I don't even know what I'm saying, especially when I get upset," Manuel told the Philadelphia Inquirer. "I curse a lot. I'm not afraid to call you out. I'll tell you where it's at. I've heard people call me 'Uncle' or say that I'm soft -- I'm definitely not that."
So there. Charlie could claim to have rallied the troops with fiery well-chosen words ... if he had absolutely any recollection of what he said to his players.
For all he knows, he could've re-enacted "Braveheart." It would be news to him.
We know how it turned out and that's all that matters. The Phillies won 97 games and another division title. Manuel became the third NL manager -- along with Bobby Cox and John McGraw -- to reach the postseason four years running.
In Philly, they weren't just calling Manuel "Uncle" when he didn't make the playoffs as Phillies' manager his first two seasons. They were calling him a hillbilly, a hick, Elmer Befuddled.
Philly's World Series title in 2008 brought sweet justice to one of baseball's good guys. His shout-out to Plain Dealer baseball writer Paul Hoynes in the post-game press conference was classic Charlie, which is to say heartfelt and a little confusing.
"Hoynsie, I'll ask you something," a smiling Manuel said after the Phillies knocked off Tampa Bay. "Why don't you go back to Cleveland and tell them that we won a World Series, all right? OK?"
Uh, Charlie, the game aired nationally. They probably saw it.
Hoynes asked him if he felt he had something to prove to the Indians front office.
"I already knew how good I was," he said.
While that boast was out of character, it was hard to hold it against him.
Say this for Charlie. Of all the players, managers and coaches to have called Cleveland home over the years, you can make the case that none took a bigger risk in leaving than Manuel. He forced his own firing at the All-Star break because he suspected he'd be out at the end of the season.
GMs and owners don't look too fondly on managers quitting in mid-season. In a sport trending toward Ivy Leaguers analyzing computer programs fed by stat geeks, Manuel took the chance he'd never manage again.
He was replacing the fiery Larry Bowa in a city where Bowa was celebrated as baseball's Clint Eastwood. With his country manner, twisted speech and players' manager reputation, Manuel was as out of place as Jed Clampett on Rodeo Drive.
Now his Phillies are favored to reach their third consecutive World Series. If by now anyone still believes he can't manage, they deserve the nickname Charlie gave one of his hard-throwing, stubborn young pitchers here in Cleveland.
Jughead.
Manuel dropped it into a conversation one day. Why that name, someone asked.
"Cuz he's got a big head," Manuel said, then paused. "Kinda empty, too."
SPINOFFS
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HE SAID IT
"[It] would just cause too much trouble. It's just going to interrupt the game. Baseball's going to be boring again." -- San Francisco Giants reliever Brian Wilson on expanded use of instant replay during the postseason.
Again?
YOU SAID IT
(The Expanded Mid-Week Edition)
"Bud:
"I don't think I can handle any more disappointment. Please tell the truth. Will you be taking your talents to South Beach too?" -- Regards, Tom Hoffner
No, but I was once asked to speak at an insomnia clinic in South Euclid.
"Bud:
"How about this for a 'separated at birth.' New Cavaliers' coach Byron Scott and County Commissioner Peter Lawson Jones?" -- Rich Silver
I thought you were going to say LeBron James and Martin Luther King.
"Bud:
"Mary Kay Cabot recently updated her byline picture and looks great. When you re-did yours a while back, well, what went wrong there?" -- John Reinker
When I pose for a picture I consider it "performance art." In that particular photo I was trying to look like Gollum from "Lord of the Rings."
"Dear Bud:
"Will LeBron be offended if I continue to root for the Cavs?" -- Jim O., Chardon
LeBron will have to ask LeBron what LeBron thinks and right now LeBron isn't thinking at all.
"Bud:
"I have a chicken or egg question. In practice, do the Browns' wideouts appear to be of all-pro caliber because of our corners; or are the corners in lockdown mode due to our wideouts?" -- Jim Lefkowitz, Pepper Pike
The Browns have wideouts ... good one.
"Bud:
"Should someone inform Manny Acta that the so called 'mistake by the lake' was torn down years ago?" -- Bob
According to a Wikipedia entry by a O.C. Boyd, that's an ocean.
"Bud:
"I saw on Sunday that Shaun Rogers was offside twice. Today, I read that the Cleveland Schools have recruited Shaun to combat tardiness. Do you think the kids will start showing up early?" -- Edward Aube
First-time "You Said It" winners receive a T-shirt from the Mental Floss collection.
"Bud:
"Behind home plate [at Progressive Field] there was an advertisement for 'Lumber Liquidators,' Does that explain the disappearance of the Tribe's bats?" -- Pat
Repeat winners receive an autographed box of toothpicks.