Resignation the best move for both Ryne Sandberg and Phillies
By Tim Haberin
As fans await a long-anticipated roster overhaul before the trade deadline, it appears the Philadelphia Phillies may first undergo some major changes to their front office and on-field leadership. Manager Ryne Sandberg announced his resignation after parts of three seasons with the club. The Hall of Famer and former Chicago Cubs great posted a 119-159 record after taking over for longtime skipper Charlie Manuel in 2013.
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The decision to step down comes on the heels of reports of some significant reshuffling about to take place in the Phillies front office. Andy MacPhail is apparently set to accept a top executive role with the organization, potentially as team president. MacPhail helped steer the Twins to World Series championships as general manager in 1987 and 1991 before stints with the Cubs (1994-2006) and Orioles (2007-2011). Current president Pat Gillick is an eminently respected name around the game but reportedly wishes to transition back into a consulting position.
Sandberg saw the writing on the wall and elected to make what he felt was an inevitable move. “With some leadership roles coming up, I think it was important for me not to be in the way,” he said, “but to allow the organization to go forward and really get this thing going.”
Proactively taking his leave allowed Sandberg to make his exit on his own terms. With the team about to be in a whole new set of hands, virtually every piece of the current failed enterprise will presumably be wiped away in favor of a fresh start. General Manager Ruben Amaro, Jr.’s days are likely (and mercifully) numbered as well.
The Phillies also get a chance to see how the team responds to the change over half a season before taking stock of the situation in October. Third base coach Pete Mackanin will now assume the role of interim manager, and he will get the opportunity to show the new brass what he can do. He probably won’t fare much better than Sandberg with the meager resources at his disposal, but he can certainly make sure his name is in the conversation when it comes time to fill the position on a permanent basis.
Sandberg will now be readily available to consider open managerial positions at season’s end instead of twisting in the wind waiting to find out his fate with the Phillies. His name still carries considerable weight, of course, and he likely won’t be blamed too severely for the debacle in Philadelphia. Before taking the reins at the big league level, Sandberg enjoyed legitimate success managing in the minor leagues at all three levels of the Cubs system as well as for the Phillies’ Triple-A club. Teams may view that experience as more relevant evidence of what Sandberg can do as a skipper.
The Phillies have a massive hill to climb, this season and beyond. Their 26-49 record is the worst in Major League Baseball, and this season’s trade deadline will be a crucial one for them to start getting themselves back on track. With Andy MacPhail they are bringing in a seasoned front office mind to oversee the rebuilding process. But even he has never taken on a project quite like this. In any case, the Phils’ decision to make a switch at the top could at last signify a renewed commitment to creating a comprehensive plan for the future of the organization.
Some might interpret a manager’s resignation as an admission of failure, but in Sandberg’s case he is hard to truly blame. It was growing increasingly clear that his and the Phillies’ journeys no longer shared the same path.