The Phillies won their next four games, including three extra-inning thrillers in a row, all against the first-place Cincinnati Reds. On the final weekend before the all-star break, with their manager's words still echoing, the Phillies finally looked like the Phillies again.
It is at such times that Manuel's normal, steady approach really pays dividends. If he were the sort of manager who spouted off after every loss, or who played mind games with players when they struggled, he wouldn't have the same impact when he did speak up. This team knows that when Chuck gets upset, there's a legitimate reason.
So what are we to make of these Phillies at the break? They teased us with a rare strong start, hit a feel-good zenith with Roy Halladay's perfect game on May 29, and then tumbled from first place to third during the first two weeks of June. Their powerful offense has disappeared for long stretches and their pitching has been inconsistent.
And yet, you can make the case that this team has done well to be in position to make a second-half run, and that Manuel deserves a fair amount of credit for not letting things spin out of control.
Explanation: The Phillies have not allowed this brutal rash of injuries to destroy the season completely. And it really has been that bad, even if many fans and most media pretend otherwise.
One reason these last few years have been so special is that these Phillies are a team in the truest sense. They are not merely a collection of stars, like the Yankees. They are a team, and that means chemistry and consistency are as much a part of their success as sheer talent.
