And: "I'm not here to hurt confidence. I'm not here to hurt feelings. Nothing like that. But every time I talk - and you can go ask our players - one of the first things I say is, 'Don't forget about our first priority. And what is that? To win the game' . . . I'll bring anybody in. It don't matter. I don't care . . . Really, we're going to pitch whoever I think can win the game. And if anybody's got a problem with that, I can handle it. And if I can't, it's my fault."
Paul Hagen: In Phillies' Lidge situation, just business as usual for Manuel
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There was plenty more, but you get the idea.
Or you could just look at the fact that Manuel lifted Lidge in the middle of a save situation Tuesday night when he appeared to be on the verge of blowing his 11th save opportunity of the season.
Probably the most telling part of the manager's raw, emotional outpouring was the line about Lidge being able to "take that job right back" if he becomes more consistent. You can't regain something you haven't lost, can you?
There will be those who view all this as some sort of seismic shift on Manuel's part. It isn't. As usual, he hasn't changed. Only the perception of others has. *
Send e-mail to hagenp@phillynews.com.
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