Sorry Charlie

 He was a mediocre manager who was handed a team full of serious talent. He won a World Series in 2008 and went back in 2009 to lose to the hated Yankees.

 As his talented team aged, so did his winning percentage plummet. Injuries played a role. So did some bad management from front office and some equally puzzling day to day moves from the dug-out.

Charlie had the southern twang and country demeanor that left one feeling like you just had a wad of Mailpouch by the woodstove at a North Carolina general store.He never sounded too bright during his press conferences. Whereas Yogi's malaprops and mixed metaphors were kind of charming, "Cholly" stated the obvious with a Country attempt at wit  and could not articulate much insight into the game of baseball for the fans or listeners. To me he always sounded like a befuddled old guy that they let manage the barns on the backstretch of a Country racetrack 'cause he had been kicked in the head by a horse and everyone liked him and felt sorry for him. Nevertheless, he has a World Series ring and was the skipper of my beloved Phil's and was at the helm when the Championship parade flowed by my Center City office that day in October. The city wishes him well...but we really wish the Phil's did not suck this Summer.