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Legendary Phillies manager Charlie Manuel has high hopes for 2022 lineup

By Matt Rappa

Charlie Manuel #41 of the Philadelphia Phillies (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
Charlie Manuel #41 of the Philadelphia Phillies (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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Charlie Manuel thinks the 2022 Phillies lineup might be stronger than 2008’s.

The Philadelphia Phillies have two new sluggers in town on multi-year deals, outfielders Kyle Schwarber and Nick Castellanos. This duo — paired with Bryce Harper, Rhys Hoskins, and others — is poised to produce many home runs in the upcoming 2022 season.

Among the most excited members of the Phillies organization is legendary 2008 World Series-winning manager Charlie Manuel, whose popular “Hittin’ Season” phrase will surely be used more often than not this summer.

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Alex Coffey, the former skipper says that with the additions of Castellanos and the universal designated hitter, the 2022 Phillies lineup “might be stronger” than his 2008 team’s lineup.

The most commonly used 2008 Phillies lineup (19 games), was as follows:

  1. Jimmy Rollins, shortstop — 38 doubles, 9 triples, 11 home runs, 59 RBI, .277/.349/.437
  2. Shane Victorino, center field — 30 doubles, 8 triples, 14 home runs, 58 RBI, .293/.352/.447
  3. Chase Utley, second base — 41 doubles, 4 triples, 33 home runs, 104 RBI, .292/.380/.535
  4. Ryan Howard, first base — 26 doubles, 4 triples, 48 home runs, 146 RBI, .251/.339/.543
  5. Pat Burrell, left field — 33 doubles, 3 triples, 33 home runs, 86 RBI, .250/.367/.507
  6. Geoff Jenkins, right field — 16 doubles, 9 home runs, 29 RBI, .246/.301/.392
  7. Pedro Feliz, third base — 19 doubles, 2 triples, 14 home runs, 58 RBI, .249/.302/.402
  8. Carlos Ruiz, catcher — 14 doubles, 4 home runs, 31 RBI, .219/.320/.300
  9. Pitcher

Werth later assumed full-time right field duties, replacing Jenkins in the order. The then-rising Phillies star produced 16 doubles, 3 triples, 24 home runs, 67 RBI, and a .273/.363/.498 slash line during the 2008 season.

Combined, this group of nine hit 190 home runs. Meanwhile, Harper (35), Castellanos (34), Schwarber (32), and Hoskins (27) alone combined for 128 home runs during the 2021 season.

Manuel, who currently serves as Senior Advisor to the General Manager, has been no stranger to the Phillies organization since his managerial days in red pinstripes ended nearly a decade ago. For him to be this excited about the upcoming season’s lineup, the sky is the limit for what manager Joe Girardi’s squad can achieve.

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