Earlier today a report from Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com indicated that the Philadelphia Phillies would fire manager Charlie Manuel and replace him on an interim basis with 3rd base coach Ryne Sandberg.
The Phillies called a 2:30 p.m. press conference and made the announcement official.
The 69-year-old Manuel took over the Phillies in 2005 and has finished above 500 in every full season with the team. He has a record of 780-636 in nine seasons with the club. He took the team to back-to-back World Series, winning the title in 2009. However, this season the Phillies have struggled as they are currently 53-67 and in fourth place in the NL East.
In 12 seasons as a manager with the Phillies and Cleveland Indians, Manuel has a record of 1,000-826.
“I’m mad because they took the best seat in the house from me,” Manuel said, adding that “I enjoyed every bit of it.”
Sandberg has long been rumored as next in line for the Phillies job. Most assumed he would be the manager in the 2014 season as the Phillies struggles continued this season. Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. had confirmed earlier that the Phillies would not be renewing Manuel’s contract after this season.
Manuel has been offered a job in the Phillies front office, but he is unsure if he wants to take that or look for another MLB managerial position.
Manuel’s firing is the first managerial firing of the 2013 MLB season.
Thanks for reading. Feel free to leave your comments below, follow our baseball department on twitter @LastWordMatt, @Nvincelli and @lastwordmark. You can also follow the site while you are at it – @lastwordonsport.
Interested in writing for LastWordOnSports? If so, check out our “Join Our Team” page to find out how.
Main photo credit: Matthew Straubmuller via photopin cc
