30 Years Too Late, Phillies Go With Ryne Sandberg
Update [2:40 p.m.]: Charlie Manuel was indeed fired by the Phillies, and will be replaced on an interim basis by current third-base coach Ryne Sandberg. Quick note: it seems cruel and unusual to force a guy to sit through a press conference during which his own firing has been announced. If it had been a resignation (Manuel confirmed it wasn’t), that would be one thing. To have him sit next to the guy who laid him off, calmly, answering questions, is another thing altogether. Amaro, for the record, said he fired Manuel now in part because it wouldn’t have been fair to keep him on through the end of the season despite their mutual understanding that he wouldn’t be back for 2014.
For more on Cholly, see Philly Mag’s 2008 profile and our 2011 joint Q&A with Manuel and Andy Reid.
Charlie Manuel’s message to fans : Keep loving the game. Keep supporting the #Phillies pic.twitter.com/7qKysVw4Hw
— Philly Daily News (@PhillyDailyNews) August 16, 2013
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Phillies to make manager change, sources say. Press at 230. — Jim Salisbury (@JSalisburyCSN) August 16, 2013
Charlie Manuel is no longer manager of the Phillies, according to a source.
— Matt Gelb (@magelb) August 16, 2013
At the 2:30 press conference, a replacement should be named. Also, more details about who ended the relationship. (I have a sneaking suspicion we’ll be told the decision was “mutual.”)
