The Phillies are in their second-straight World Series, something most people would’ve said was crazy talk just a few years ago. Fans there are happy, celebrating, falling off moving cars -- ya know, the usual. Leading Philadelphia’s charge for more October (November?) glory is manager Charlie Manuel, a man so beloved that he’s often referred to as “Uncle Charlie.” Quite a departure from wanting him fired, which, if most fans had their way in 2006, is exactly what would have happened.
The Phillies Manager Who Almost Wasn’t
↵Inhistoric remember the times when Manuel was less Uncle Charlie, and more Annoying Cousin Who Won’t Go Away Charlie (salt the snail!), perhaps best summed up by The 700 Level in a post they made on April 16, 2006, calling for Manuel’s firing:
↵↵It seems like the only logical move at this point. The Phillies are 1-6 and Vincente Padilla has more wins than the entire Phillies teams. Firing Charlie Manuel isn’t the only move which needs to be made. The Phillies have to go BIG and by big I mean metaphysical in their next hiring. They need to bring in someone who hasn’t only lost his marbles, but is a legend in this town.
↵↵Not surprisingly, the website FireUncleCharlie.com no longer exists.
↵UPDATE: Like Fraiser, egg is all over my face, because the post by The 700 Level was all joke (they were proposing the Phillies fire Manuel and replace him with Darren Daulton). Fortunately, Inhistoric also excerpts a report from the Philadelphia Inquirer: “Phillies general manager Pat Gillick ... addressed speculation that Manuel, who is in the final year of a three-year contract, could be fired soon if the team doesn’t snap out of its early season funk.”
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