Needless to say there was a lot of talk and dime-store analysis following Charlie Manuel’s post-game freak out. Hey, that’s just what we do…
Anyway, the one item that seemed to make some sense was the idea that the Phillies owed Manuel a move. All winter long and wherever Manuel went he spoke time and time again about how the Phillies would be a contending team if they shored up the bullpen. That’s all he wanted heading into spring training – an arm or two to bolster the ‘pen was what the manager thought would put the team over the top.
It turns out the bullpen and that RISP specialist are exactly what the Phillies need through the first 12 games of the season.
But instead of the reliever, Manuel was handed Wes Helms, Rod Barajas, Jayson Werth, Karim Garcia and six starting pitchers. Later, the Phillies added Antonio Alfonseca and Francisco Rosario when all along Manuel thought he could do it with five starters, Chris Coste and Abraham Nunez.
So the question remains: do the Phillies owe Manuel a move? Obviously, all they owe him is what is on his contract. But do the Phillies have to do the right thing and get that missing piece?
Or is it already too late?