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Charlie Manuel Watched Every Pitch Of Phillies Baseball This Weekend

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Charlie Manuel loves baseball, loves Philadelphia, and even though he was relieved of his duty as manager of the Phillies last week, still loves the team.

"I watched every [game] I watched every pitch," Manuel told Talk Radio 1210 WPHT's Chris Stigall on Monday about the weekend series with the Dodgers. Manuel was let go before Friday's game, and Ryne Sandberg made his debut, going 1-2.  "I definitely was pulling for our team to win. We got a big win yesterday, that was a big win. We got a break at the end and we got a big win. Hamels pitched great, Ruiz hit the ball good, Brown hit the ball good, our defense was pretty good and everything was good."

Fans on the whole were outraged by the firing of Manuel, who is generally seen as less of a problem than an ineffective lineup and a bullpen that has been among the league's worst.

"Ruben [Amaro Jr.] and I, we were sitting and having coffee and having breakfast at the Concierge room, in the hotel. I thought maybe, I've been talking to him, I felt like it was his decision," Manuel said of when he was informed that his contract would not be renewed. "The Phillies came---I put them ahead of me really and I kind of felt like I had to do that. I mean I feel like yeah I love my job and yes I wanted to keep it, but at the same time, I also over time when you have time to think, which is like I did, definitely the club and the organization comes before me."

Manuel says he thinks he's capable of managing another two or three years, but isn't sure whether he'll want to. When Stigall asked him if he'd consider managing the NL East rival Nationals if given the opportunity, Manuel sounded at least open to the possibility.

"Like I said, I like to see what my options are," Manuel said. "I've always, ever since I've been here, if I'm a Phillie, then I'm a Phillie. You know what I mean?"

So what now? Besides of course, watching the Phillies.

"I want to go home, I want to go fishing, by myself probably," Manuel said. "And think and play some golf over the next few weeks, find out where I'm at, and what I want to do. And also, I'd like to wade through some of my options... If I have any."

Charlie Manuel Interview

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