Struggling Phillies bring back Charlie Manuel as hitting coach
The Philadelphia Phillies have been one of the most disappointing teams in baseball this season, and they are hoping a very familiar face can help them turn things around.
The Phillies have fired hitting coach John Mallee and replaced him with former manager Charlie Manuel, as Todd Zolecki of MLB.com first reported.
Manuel spent eight-plus seasons as the Phillies’ manager from 2005-2013. He led the team to a World Series title in 2008. He finished with a regular-season record of 780-636 and playoff record of 27-19.
Manuel, 75, is highly respected for his knowledge of the game of baseball and hitting in particular. The Phillies entered Tuesday with a team batting average of .245, which ranks 24th in Major League Baseball. Their 557 runs are good for just 19th. It goes without saying that the production is a letdown after they spent huge money on Bryce Harper and other players this offseason.
Despite the struggles, the Phillies are just two games back in the NL wild card race with a record of 60-58. If Manuel’s presence can help spark them down the stretch, they still have a good chance to make the playoffs.
