Nick Piccone
Here’s something Charlie Manuel never would’ve done. Here’s also something Ryne Sandberg probably didn’t know how to do. But I like it.
Phillies manager, Pete Mackanin, is fining his own team for fundamental mistakes that we’ve seen from this team really ever since the Charlie Manuel years. The difference is those players on Manuel’s roster were able to overcome their fundamental mistakes, whereas today’s players can’t. Hell, they haven’t been able to overcome that for years.
Mackanin has fared pretty well so far as manager of the Phillies – all things considered – especially with that roster handed to him last season when Sandberg walked away. Now, he’s got some players he can rely on, and that means bringing accountability to his team.
If you don’t get a bunt down, everyone pays 50 cents,” Mackanin said before Thursday night’s rained out Grapefruit League game against the Braves at Champion Stadium. “If you don’t hustle, everyone pays 50 cents. If you miss a cutoff man, everyone pays 50 cents.
“It’s a way to be picky about little things, like you made it into second base, but you should’ve slid. You hit a double, but you coasted into second when you should’ve come around hard in case the guy bobbles the ball. Fifty cents. It allows me to be a real [jerk] about things like that. What, are you going to complain about 50 cents?”
According to Mackanin, the current pot is at about $1,000. That’s… a lot. But I like how every player is responsible for the fine. Having played baseball at a high level, I know those things matter and it’s frustrating seeing these guys with way more talent than I had breeze their way through the major leagues without worrying about the little things.
Maybe some actual accountability will be good for this team this season.