It's one thing to lose 11 of 15 games, it's another to be woefully inadequate at the plate with a lineup of All-Stars and to have the manager start calling players "complacent." [Ryan Lawrence of the Delco Times]
The same quiet confidence that has carried the Phillies to two straight World Series appearances is drawing a raised eyebrow from Charlie Manuel. He wants to see some intensity, some passion from this team, and you can't blame him, they lack that fiery swagger we have grown so accustomed to over the last three years.
Perhaps this shows the true importance of their smiley leader, Jimmy Rollins. Perhaps this is just a long cold spell, or perhaps the injury bug is more devastating than once thought. But when a team filled with superstars- some arguably overpaid, some underpaid, some trying to get paid- starts getting lumped in with words like "complacent", "slack", and "money", one has to think that there might be something larger going on here.
“I got upset when I walked in and saw everyone looking at movies. We had a whole audience in there looking at movies and (crap) like that. I thought, ‘What the hell? We should be getting ready for the damn game.’ I don’t like things like that. At 11:30 I told the guys to turn the TV off. I like it when we stay focused.”
“When we go bad, that’s when we really need to stay focused and on the right path. That’s what keeps you there. If you get complacent and satisfied sometimes because you got a big deal or make more money and know you’re set … it’s hard for a manager to kick all of the complacency out."
“I think there’s complacency every year that we start the year, especially since we’ve been to the World Series. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying right now that’s the big thing. But I think that we definitely have some. In baseball, every team has guys who slack. You can see that. Look, I’m not pointing the finger at any one guy, but every team has those. You have to overcome that. You have to be together.”
Not good quotes from a manager.
Someone needs to shake these guys up. I just don't get it. We all know they are better than this, but I am getting increasingly frustrated, watching them do nothing. If you have to have a perfect game to win just one, there is a big problem.
Posted by: Debbie | June 03, 2010 at 02:38 PM
wow, now i AM scared. if charlie is this upset and losing the faith , we are in deep, deep trouble. the games are so hard to watch lately because you know that they have it in them to win but it is so frustrating, no hits or hits in the wrong places, bad catches, no catches, bad throws, simple plays going so wrong, i don't know what the answer is..... but when charlie is losing the faith, it seems like all is lost. BUT, i will keep believing.
Posted by: joanne gray | June 03, 2010 at 03:27 PM