As Spring Training winds down, so does Charlie Manuel's time as a guest instructor for the team. At the conclusion of Spring Training, the club's winningest manager ever will return to his front-office role.
At 72, having won 1,000 games, six division titles, two pennants and a World Series title as a manager, it feels fairly appropriate that Manuel has slid into a secondary role like being an ambassador for a team, and at least having a title that involves advising the general manager.
Manuel still doesn't seem entirely satisfied by his current role, though.
In a feature piece penned by Rob Maaddi of The Associated Press, Manuel discussed how he believes he could still be a manager in the league.
"I miss the field and being around the players," Manuel said. "It has to be the right situation where the front office and the general manager know who I am and what I'm about. I know people look at like I'm too old for managing. I know I can do it."
Manuel publicly stated last off-season that he was 'definitely interested' in the Washington Nationals' managerial job, though the interest never seemed to be mutual.
The Nationals instead hired Dusty Baker, who at age 66, is tied with New York Mets' manager Terry Collins for being the oldest manager in the league. Manuel is six years older than both.
On the surface, it's fairly easy to understand how teams may not feel that hitching their wagon to a 72-year-old in a job that features a strenuous schedule makes sense. Though when you consider that most presidential candidates are in the same age-range as Manuel, that logic kind of goes out the door.
It's also worth considering that a team that would be hiring Manuel would be bringing him in for a stint that would almost certainly be less than five years long, in hopes that he could put their contending team over the top. There's no reason to think that Manuel couldn't manage a few more years, and though he probably doesn't fit in with the game's growing trend towards using sabermetrics, he does fit the modern approach of being a player's manager.
So to a degree, Manuel is fair in still wanting to manage in the league, though it seems unlikely that his itch to permanently get back in the dugout will ever be satisfied. It's fair to wonder why that is.
Tim Kelly (@TimKellySports) is the Managing Editor of Philliedelphia.com, focusing on news and features.
