once again charlie has shown his lack of basic fundamentals of baseball. Today trailing by a run in the 8th with two on, he decides to swing away rather than bunt the runners over ! Then your typical el foldo by the next two hitters. But in his mushy brain he then brings in a rookie pitcher to stop the Pirates rather than go to bastardo or papelbon. He lucked out. Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in awhile. There have so many times this year he's screwed up. This is a team with so many injuries to deal with that it's a shame he snatches defeat from the jaws of victory time after time. It makes me think he's betting against his own team.At least Pete Rose bet on his team. This would be an excellent time to remove him and restore order to the team. I spent 45 years coaching baseball and I know the players have no faith in him any longer as they scratch their heads at what he does and what he dosen't do.

Charlie > RAJ

"trailing by a run in the 8th with two on, he decides to swing away rather than bunt the runners over "

so with 1 out, runners on 1st and 2nd, you bunt?

"But in his mushy brain he then brings in a rookie pitcher to stop the Pirates rather than go to bastardo or papelbon"

bastardo who was likely unavailble or papelbon trailing by 1?

" I spent 45 years coaching baseball "

i feel for your players.

LOL. Hey you can't blame the man, he's coached for 45 years with a team of Juan Pierre's!

makes you wonder why ruiz didnt bunt the runners over...maybe pence should have tried it to get rollins in in the 9th? sac bunt there would have been the right call...

Honestly after Rollins stole 3rd I thought he would try to steal home... And if he got thrown out I would not have complained with the decision.

No. That is all I really have to say. In Charlie I trust.

Yup. My frustration is that it was apparent long ago that Charlie wasn't the most efficient manager of pitchers.

So, if you're going to build a team that is clearly going to try to win through pitching, why would you extend Manuel's expiring contract to manage that team? Isn't that shooting yourself in the foot?

Charlie's having a bad season, but he's been a guy who is used to having a lot of weapons of offense, and then react accordingly with his pitching. He's not used to having to be creative to coax wins out of a lesser-talented offensive team. He's not a bad manager per se, (in fact, I think he's about as neutral a manager as there is in baseball), but I just don't see him as a good fit for THIS TEAM, and that was apparent (at least to me) long before his extension was ever signed.

I have virtually zero doubt that Charlie Manuel will be fired at some point this season or shortly thereafter. The question is does RAJ get the boot too?

As unconventional as it seems, I'd rather fire RAJ today and let Ed Wade supervise a firesale of as much of the roster as possible than have RAJ guide the team in any direction any longer. I don't trust RAJ to buy; I don't trust RAJ to sell, and the status quo in not acceptable.

U need to stop coaching asap for the kids. U don't bunt with 1st and 2nd and 1 out w down a run in the 8th . Learn the game.

Ryne Sandberg > Charlie

Bob Engle, Mariners V.P. > Ruben Amaro, Jr.

RAJ doesn't make moves with other moves in mind. He just gets his mind set on something big and fills the other roster spots with players he is familiar with.

I would be thrilled to see him go, make Wade the interim GM and re-evaluate in the offseason.

"...I would be thrilled to see him go, make Wade the interim GM and re-evaluate in the offseason..."

-- Think I've heard this somewhere... ;-) Oh, that's right. You're me. Nevermind.

Charlie didn't forget how to manage this year. He's no worse than he's always been. He's also no better. Many of you loved him when the Phils were winning. I think his qualities make him a good hitting coach and nothing more.

I've always been a fan of Charlie. This season however, I kinda get the impression he is too comfortable with losing, or too comfortable period. I could be wrong.

Preaching to the choir, brother. He's a neutral manager. The issue with him is that his flaws are easier to spot than are the positives he brings to the job.

" I spent 45 years coaching baseball"

where?

I spent years managing High school,college, semi-pro, and professional. Charlie has lost it.

Yeah all the guys that have come up that have been coached by Sandburg are doing so well. Truth is you don't know what the heck you will get when Ryno comes up. The grass isn't always greener. Give Charlie a chance with Howard, Halladay and Utley back in the lineup.

http://wiffle.reinovate.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/bahbahbahbahbah.jpg

There is no way in the world i believe that with the nonsense you just spewed.