The Phillies delivered surprising news on Friday afternoon, as manager Ryne Sandberg resigned from his position prior to the start of the weekend series against the Nationals. Sandberg took over as manager late in the 2013 season, led Philadelphia to 73 wins and a last-place finish in 2014, followed by a 2015 campaign in which they have the league’s worst record.
Ryne Sandberg resigns as Phillies manager
Less than two seasons into his tenure, the Hall of Famer turned manager has stepped down from his job with the Phillies.
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The Phillies have been a mess under Sandberg, yes, but much of that was by design. They were in the midst of a rebuild, and still are, as the chances are good they’ll deal Cole Hamels (and maybe others) before the July trade deadline in order to restock the farm system. Sandberg won’t be around for it, however, and that’s why he’s leaving:
"I do not like to lose, I hate to lose. I think that's the biggest thing that weighed on me."- Ryne Sandberg
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) June 26, 2015 The Phillies weren’t supposed to compete immediately under Sandberg, so he’s leaving the job he signed up for. It’s not like he was blindsided by their performance, though maybe living it instead of imagining it was too much. The Phillies are also going to make some changes in the front office -- Andy McPhail is expected to join up soon -- so Sandberg might have assumed he wouldn’t survive the process, anyway.
Sandberg was the only active manager who was also a Hall of Famer. He was inducted back in 2005 after a career with the Phils -- it was a brief stay then, too -- and more famously, the Cubs.
Third base coach and former managerial candidate Pete Mackanin will take over the Phillies on an interim basis in Sandberg’s absence.
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