Phillies 2015 Christmas: Naughty or Nice?
By Matt Veasey
Jun 12, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA;
Philadelphia Phillies manager Sandberg (23) looks on from the dugout against the Pittsburgh Pirates before the first inning at PNC Park.
(Photo Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports)
RYNE SANDBERG: “NAUGHTY”
There is pretty much nothing that you can do as a member of a Philadelphia sports team that is more negative than flat-out quiting, and that is exactly what Ryne Sandberg did as the Phillies manager back in late June. Maybe he gets fired later in the season, or after it. But he didn’t stick it out. He was the captain, and he didn’t go down with the ship, or find a way to help right it.
A number of excuses were made for Sandberg by a number of people. His good friend, Larry Bowa, was quoted by CSN Philly insider Jim Salisbury as saying: “I think this left a sour taste in his mouth“, referring to Sandberg’s experience coaching the Phillies. But I know for sure that his quitting left a sour taste with fans. The bottom line is that not only did his teams lose big, but he quit on the players, on the organization, on the fans. Very naughty.