Still, despite the marvelous job Manuel did in guiding the Phillies to the 2007 National League East crown, he is not the NL manager of the year.
In fact, he might actually finish fourth behind the other three managers whose teams are participating in the National League Division Series.
You can debate how fine the lines are among the jobs that Manuel, Colorado Rockies manager Clint Hurdle and Chicago Cubs skipper Lou Piniella did, but the clear NL manager of the year is Bob Melvin, of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
In a sport where veteran experience is considered a must for playoff teams, Melvin guided a team that featured 15 players who made their major league debuts in 2003 or later to the National League West.
When the D-backs face the Cubs tonight, four rookies - shortstop Stephen Drew, third baseman Mark Reynolds and outfielders Justin Upton and Chris Young - could be in the starting lineup.
In a sport where money talks, Melvin's roster cost a modest $53 million - $13 million of which is going to players no longer with the team.
In a game where runs are supposed to matter, Melvin's Diamondbacks defied the odds and made the playoffs by giving up 20 more runs than they scored, finishing 26th in runs and 29th in batting.
Arizona had no .300 hitters and just one player who hit more than 21 home runs (Young with 32.)
The Phillies lost starters Freddy Garcia and Jon Lieber. Arizona got just 10 starts from future Hall of Famer Randy Johnson.
Still, despite their youth and injuries, the Diamondbacks managed to win a league-best 90 games - all while the Colorado Rockies, San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers were chasing them in the most competitive division in baseball.
"I think people thought we were going to go away as the season went along," said Melvin, who began the season with a team that was seen as building for the future. "The deeper we got to the finish line, I think there was a lot of speculation that the team was going to roll under, and it didn't."
