Time For Phils To Be Held Accountable
The old man is pissed, and it's been very rare when the old man was publicly angry with his team. But Charlie Manuel has something here with his foundering ballclub. Hubris has invaded the Phillies clubhouse, which prompted Manuel to come right out and say about the defending National League champions--his team, "I see a whole lot of cockiness and big-headedness and complacency. Just because we did something last year doesn't mean we're going to do it this year."
The Phillies are 2-9 over their last 11 games--and openly don't seem too concerned over it. They haven't scored more than three runs in a game during this slide--and they don't seem to care. Why else would Manuel bark at his team for its lack of urgency during this dip? The skipper was so mad that he told the clubhouse attendants in Atlanta to shut off the TV, because the Phillies were gathered around the tube watching a movie. Funny, but it just happened to be Gran Torino about a grumpy old man lashing out at the crumbling community around him.
Manuel has something in common with the Clint Eastwood character--and the Phils' old man can back it up like Clint. This isn't Manuel's fault--and no one, NO ONE, should be laying any blame on him.
Not that long ago, the Phils collectively were a team that was always able to roll with down times and had the wherewithal and resiliency to bounce back. They carried an understated edge to them, a feeling that they could handle anything thrown at them at anytime. When you walked in that clubhouse, you never had the feeling you were walking in the presence of baseball royalty. No, these guys were regular guys who were grinders, who won with talent, hustle, diligence and a never-give-up attitude. Now the clubhouse seems filled with preening egos that can't in the way fast enough for every TV klieg light that comes their way.
The Phillies were once able to carry the attitude as a team of the people, before their Kings of the City persona collectively took over. But now it's time the Phils--and their legion of minions (including many in the media who drink the red Kool-Aid)--take accountability.
How about this: If someone strikes out in a crucial spot, how about something unique at Citizens Bank Park, YOU BOO!!! If someone smacks a home run in a tough spot against a Phillies' pitcher, how about you let the guys on the field know your displeasure, YOU BOO!!!!
Face it, this team right now has deservedly gotten a free ride since winning the 2008 World Series. Repeating what Manuel said recently, "Just because we did something last year doesn't mean we're going to do it this year." How about this: 2008 came two years ago, now it's time for the Phils to start playing the way they're capable of playing, the way everyone expected them to play, instead of thinking everyone will just bow down and let the Phils run all over them. The Phils have found out that it doesn't work that way--two-time National League champions or not.
The free ride is over. The old man is pissed. So are Phillies fans.
