Charlie Manuel Making Big Mistakes This Past Week

Charlie Manuel, like basically all managers, will make the occasional mistake.

But when it’s obviously egregious and repeated, it should be called out.

Since Shane Victorino’s injury last week, Manuel has opted for using either Wilson Valdez or Michael Martinez to hit 2nd in the batting order. Using your worst offensive player in the lineup, outside of the pitcher, as your second hitter is flat out wrong.

Not surprisingly, they have combined for a wretched four for 25 stretch with zero walks, good for a .160 OBP.

Optimally, a team’s best hitters should occupy the first, second and fourth spots in the lineup. I hardly think anyone in their right mind would classify Valdez or Martinez as one of the Phillies‘ top three hitters.

The other significant mistake occurred in the game against the Cardinals on May 17. In the highest leverage situations of the game, Manuel decided to stick with Danys Baez against Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday, followed by inserting J.C. Romero against the switch-hitting Lance Berkman, leaving their best reliever in the pen.

Perhaps he was banking on Berkman not being able to tell right from left and decide to bat left-handed against Romero.

Using Romero in the wrong spot has been a reoccurring theme. He managed to do it again today against the Rangers while trailing 1-0 entering the eighth inning.

Presumably not wanting to use three relievers in an inning, Manuel blindly hoped J.C. Romero could get by right-handed Adrian Beltre and get to lefty Mitch Moreland before substituting him for Herndon.

The plan backfired as Beltre doubled and subsequently scored.

Simply put, Romero should never face a righty. Yet, astonishingly, he’s faced almost twice as many righties than lefties this season.

A significant part of any coach or manager’s job is to put his players in the best position to succeed, optimize his rotations or lineups, and make necessary adjustments.

This week displayed Manuel’s shortcomings in these areas.

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