Charlie Manuel Recognized for Not Being Fired Despite Wishes of Internet

Charlie Manuel used to run this town.

It was for a few minutes after the World Series.  Then, enough moments had passed that we started realizing he hadn’t just one the 2008 World Series; he hadn’t yet won the 2009 World Series.  And he was a failure again.

In the years to follow, Charlie Manuel continued ruining the Phillies by getting them to win tons of games but not the one that mattered.  Despite this, he was still the manager during these games, and as time passed, he accumulated quite a history.

That history now includes 1,332 games managed as the Phillies manager – more than anyone before him.  Certainly more than Gene Mauch, whose record he surpassed by standing in the dugout last night.  So what were some of the best moments from his tenure?

May 15, 2011; Atlanta, GA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies manager Charlie Manuel (41) watches in the dugout during the game against the Atlanta Braves in the fourth inning at Turner Field. The Braves defeated the Phillies 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

April 17, 2007

Under harsh questioning from Howard Eskin following an 8-1 loss to the Mets, Charlie Manuel and his players responded by losing a bunch more games, then somehow winning the division title.

February 17, 2008

Manuel partakes in a prank that convinces pitcher Kyle Kendrick he has been traded to Japan.  Manuel, Ruben Amaro, and Brett Myers all share a laugh at Kendrick’s expense, unaware that they have emotionally scarred him and set back his development as a pitcher and human for years to come.

October 31, 2008

Manuel yells, “THIS IS FOR PHILADELPHIA!” after winning the World Series.  It is his most beloved moment in the town.  Moments later, his bullpen handling was called into question on a radio call-in show.

April-September 2009

Using the mantra, “Brad Lidge is our closer,” Manuel refused to give up on the faltering Brad Lidge, whose best month of the year was July, in which his ERA was 5.91.  Manuel led the team to the World Series anyway, where he continued to put Lidge in during save situations.  Lidge would go on to give up three runs to the Yankees in Game 4.

November 1, 2009

Not starting Cliff Lee in Game 4 of the World Series comes back to haunt Manuel in the form of a lost baseball game, which those viewers who got to visit the alternate timeline in which Lee pitched raucously inform him was the wrong decision.

October 3, 2010

Manuel manages the Phillies to their first ever #1 seed.  He is criticized for not getting Danys Baez to throw at Braves’ pitcher Tim Hudson’s head.  I forget why.  It doesn’t matter.

October 12, 2011

After being eliminated by the Cardinals in the NLDS by a score of 1-0, Manuel requests some “hitters” for his lineup.  In response, the team signs Juan Pierre, Jim Thome, and Ty Wigginton, none of whom would be on the team after their first season (at most).

Apr 25, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies manager Charlie Manuel (41) argues with crew chief Dan Issogna during the ninth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Citizens Bank Park. The Pirates defeated the Phillies 6-4. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

March 14, 2013

Manuel reiterates that you’re going to have to drag his cold, dead corpse out of the manager’s office at Citizens Bank Park before you get him to leave under his own will power, in so many words.

May 8, 2013

“He is going be fine,” Manuel said as Roy Halladay was loaded up in a trailer and taken to the glue factory.