Charlie calls a team meeting and the magic number shrinks

Written by Mike Mariano | 30 September 2009

The team meeting is the manager's universal sign for "I don't know what the hell you guys are doing out there, figure it out and win some games."  Before Tuesday's game, Charlie Manuel thought it appropriate to have one and refocus his team that has been stumbling down towards the finish.  Jayson Stark has some good quotes and thoughts about Charlie's meeting decision:

That Manuel chose to have the talk before the game with Houston, which beat ace Cole Hamels in an 8-2 Phillies' loss on Monday, was a considerable step because Manuel isn't typically a big fan of meetings. But he hasn't been happy with the way his team has approached the job at hand over the past week and he wanted to re-focus the club on the concept they embraced so well last October -- worry about winning each game as it comes along and not try to look ahead to clinching.

"It was a good time for it," shortstop Jimmy Rollins said. "I think a lot of players actually enjoyed it, hearing Chuck talk. To be honest, some players wish he would talk more, but that's not Chuck's style."

Manuel expressed worries about his team not having the same hunger this year. When Rollins was asked about his manager's concerns, he said he'd seen the same thing at times.

"I think sometimes when you haven't won anything you fight for it more, but when you've won -- sometimes you expect things to happen rather than fight for them," Rollins said. "People aren't just going to let us win, just because we did it last year."

While I find it hard to believe that anyone in the locker room understood what Charlie said (he's a classic mumbler), he shows time and time again that he has a great feel for the mindset and psyche of his ballclub.  I don't mean for this to come off as "Phillies win, Manuel a genius", I think the statements from guys like Rollins are a much more telling sign of Manuel's capabilities as a manager.

From the 7-4 win over the Astros:

• Pedro Feliz got all heroic with a grand slam.
• J.A. Happ was effective.
• Jay Werth has 35 homers on the year, he continues to make this an incredible season for the former part-timer.
• Ryan Madson held it down for the save.
• The Magic Number is now 2.