Charlie Manuel Video: Phillies Manager Says He’d ‘Knock Out’ Reporter

Despite an 8-7 victory over the division-rival New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies manager Charlie Manuel lost his cool with local broadcaster Howard Eskin. 

As Manuel was walking away from the podium after his postgame press conference, Eskin asked, “When are you gonna score 10 runs?” The Phillies manager responded with, “When I knock you out, that’s when.”

Eskin is notorious for his outspoken style of journalism, and his comments on Saturday were baiting Manuel into an impassioned response. Instead of asking what the team is doing to get above .500 on the season, the reporter asked general questions about if the manager feels his team is “going to be fine.”

With such an open-ended question that provides little clarity, it’s clear that this was an example of Eskin simply trying to draw the ire of the notoriously honest and emotional Manuel. Instead of talking about a big win that could change the tide of the season, the desire to draw out a headline-worthy reaction resulted in Saturday’s blowup.

Manuel needs to understand what reporters like Eskin are trying to accomplish. The 69-year-old should know better after being manager in MLB for well over a decade. 

Clearly, that’s easier said than done. 

 

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MLB Rumors: Philadelphia Phillies Must Lock Up Cole Hamels Long-Term

The Philadelphia Phillies need to make sure they do the right thing and lock up elite left-handed starting pitcher Cole Hamels long-term before he hits the open market this offseason.

With rumors that the Phillies were in talks with the teams involved in the A.J. Burnett deal about acquiring the streaky starter, the focus should be on signing Hamels long-term now more than ever.

With Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee 34 and 33 years old, respectively, 28-year-old Hamels is about to reach the prime of his career. The Phillies have always been known for locking up their homegrown players and Hamels needs to be here for the next five seasons at least.

Cole Hamels told Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports about the Phillies’ ability to keep players they draft:

Ever since I’ve been here, they’ve done a really good job keeping the guys they draft, especially the guys they like. I just hope I’m one of those guys they like.

From all the reports coming out, Hamels has said all the right things to the media and seems open to re-signing with the Phillies long-term. With that said, Philadelphia needs to get this done as soon as possible.

As we saw last season with the St. Louis Cardinals when their prized player about to hit free agency, when you don’t get it done in a timely fashion and feelings get hurt, franchise players will walk away.

The Phillies would still be a great team without Hamels, but they are obviously much better with him. Letting a left-handed pitcher of Hamels stature walk is the wrong move for the Phillies and it will certainly come back to bite them later on.

If the team can sign the soon-to-be free agent to a five-year deal worth $110 million like Rosenthal’s report says, the Phillies would get their hometown discount and Hamels can live fat on the farm for the rest of his life.

With Hamels locked up, the Phillies 1-2-3 combination would be a nightmare on opponents for at least four more seasons.

 

Check back for more on the Major League Baseball as it comes and check out Bleacher Report’s MLB Page to get your fill of all things baseball.

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Philadelphia Phillies Trade Rumors: Latest Buzz on Philly’s Trade-Deadline Moves

As the dog days of summer start to make the hours pass slower than molasses in the winter, the only thing hotter than the backyard grills will be the MLB rumor mill.

While many teams are fighting to get themselves in a position to make the playoffs, the Philadelphia Phillies have maintained the best record in baseball.

Even with the talent that the Philadelphia Phillies posses, the team looks to be a buyer as the trade deadline approaches.

There are a few pieces on the Phillies team that are overpaid and there are a few key prospects left in the system that could help bring in a necessary piece to make a great team even better.

As the trade deadline approaches, we have to prepare ourselves for a wild few weeks, and it may be the Phillies that make some of the biggest moves. You know the old adage: If it isn’t broke, add more pieces to it to make it better.

Check back for more on the MLB trade rumors for the Philadelphia Phillies as it comes, and check out Bleacher Report’s baseball page to get your fill of MLB.

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Philadelphia Phillies: The Dom Brown Injury and Why It’s Not a Bad Thing

Philadelphia Phillies star rookie prospect Domonic Brown fractured the hamate bone of his right hand during an at-bat in last Saturday’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Clearwater, Florida.

This was a major blow to a player who had just gotten his first hit this spring training after looking lost since the start of the preseason.

While the injury has derailed Brown’s spring, the Phillies may be better off without him, at least for now.

The following slideshow shows why the Phillies will be fine without Dom Brown in the short term.

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MLB Spring Training: Wild Philadelphia Phillies Predictions

As MLB Spring Training approaches, predictions are being thrown around like snowballs in winter.

For the Phillies organization, losing a big offensive star in Jayson Werth was met with the arrival of pitching ace Cliff Lee.

When the opportunity arose for me to make some wild predictions of my own for the upcoming season, I couldn’t resist.

The following slideshow is my five wild predictions for the 2011 MLB season pertaining to the Philadelphia Phillies.

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MLB Trade Rumors: 10 Destinations For Philadelphia Phillies’ Joe Blanton

This offseason, the Philadelphia Phillies made a big move in acquiring former Cy Young award winner Cliff Lee. 

The team also lost a key component to their success over the last four seasons in outfielder Jayson Werth.

The Phillies will be pushing for offense this season so another deal or two may be rounding into shape before the season starts.

For Philadelphia, there are still questions about who will hit in the fifth spot, how the team will replace the production of Werth and who will be the fifth starter.

Kyle Kendrick signed a tender to avoid arbitration with the Phillies so I imagine he will be the team’s fifth starter.

That leaves pitcher Joe Blanton on the bubble and in the middle of several trade rumors.

The following list is of 10 possible locations for the veteran right-hander.

Enjoy!

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Spring Fever: 10 Keys To a Philadelphia Phillies World Series Victory

As the spring draws closer, the talk of pitchers and catchers starts circulating amongst the fans.

Philadelphia Phillies fans, and baseball fans in general, start to grow restless as thoughts of home runs and Cy Young Awards dance in their heads.

With a tumultuous offseason almost over, the Phillies roster has been altered in a big way.  It will be interesting to see the effects of the big addition of pitcher Cliff Lee and the departure of right-handed hitter Jayson Werth.

The following list consists of 10 things that have to happen for the Philadelphia Phillies to have a shot at another World Series win.

The wait for spring training is on and the let the excitement grow, Enjoy!

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Four in a Row: Philadelphia Phillies Clinch Fourth Straight Division Title

It feels the same way every time the local teams capture a playoff spot, your instantly transported back to your childhood and the feelings that those teams evoked.  The Phillies evoked those emotions on Monday night, clinching their fourth straight division title and securing home field advantage throughout the playoffs. 

They would also have home field advantage in the World Series because of the National League winning the All star game (home field advantage is determined by the winner of the All Star game).  It will be the first National League sponsored World Series since 1996.

For the Phillies, their fourth straight division title came the hard way.  They lost key players such as Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, and Jimmy Rollins for over 100 hundred games combined.  They also battled the Atlanta Braves for most of the year and only overtook the Braves after going 20-5 in September so far.

The Phillies four consecutive divisional titles are the second longest streak in MLB behind the Atlanta Braves’ 14 consecutive titles through the 1990’s and into the 2000’s (divisional play started in 1969).

It doesn’t stop there for the Phillies.  With a pitching threesome of Halladay, Hamels, and Oswalt, the Phillies have the deepest rotation in the National League.  All three pitchers have ERA’s under three and all are pitching some of their best ball right now.  If pitching wins championships, we are moving in the right direction!

“We’re just starting,” Roy Halladay said on Monday. “I’m looking forward to moving forward. It should be a lot of fun.”

Even through the Champagne sting of the locker room party, the Phillies have to look ahead to their 2010 World Series run.

The Phillies hitting has been consistent in September and my wild card for the playoffs has to be Jayson Werth.  He recently signed infamous agent Scott Boras and he will be auditioning for his suitors in the 2010 playoffs.  If he wants a big contract, he will be putting up big numbers for the Phillies.

The life of this team comes from their unity, and this team in ready to face the playoffs arm in arm. Even in a time of free agency and constant moving and shuffling, the Phillies hold true to their style of baseball and thrive continuously. 

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