"We're Gonna Win"

Far be it for us to defend Uncle Choo-Choo. Truth is there is a distinct chance the Phillies would have won a few more games (and not had this division race come down to the last day) if the manager knew how to make a double switch, use a bullpen, and not make a defensive sub in the 5th inning when the pen couldn't hold a lead (only to run out of pinch hitters).


Uncle Choo-Choo managed to hold the quad together despite, as Mark Eckel notes today, the Phitins having to overcome "every starter except shortstop Jimmy Rollins, and outfielders Aaron Rowand and Pat Burrell and every starting pitcher except Jamie Moyer spending time on the disabled list."

Credit must also be given to one Ed Wade. Longtime the poster child for Philadelphia sports discontent, it is essentially the pieces that Wade put together that got the Phils to their first post season since 1993, while Pat Gillick's multi-million dollar players populated the DL or rendered themselves ineffective when they did play.



Right now, I see the world through red and white colored glasses. I am reading Bill Giles' Pouring Six Beers at a Time and just got to the 1980 championship team. As I think of that team compared to the current one, it amazes me the amount of discontent that the 1980's team had to overcome, the least of which being what's basically described as downright hatred of their manager. As this year's team seems to rush to each other's defense, especially to that of their manager, I do wonder the extent to which liking to play for "Chollie" really had an impact on this team, compared to them just having a solid squad, namely bombers on offense and great D up the middle.

One way or another, here we are.

It is a hard team not to like, and if they keep moving forward in the post-season, he could turn out to be a hard manager not to like.

-posted by Ren McCormack