Charlie Manuel says club is missing vocal leaders in their ranks - MLB Update
Importance of vocal leaders has dawned upon the Philadelphia Phillies’ manager, Charlie Manuel. Tracing the clubs dominance in past few years in National League East Division to vocal leaders they had, absence of those has affected their progress this season,
he maintains.
Five-time Division Championship winner in last five seasons, the Phillies are without their important players in the season. Despite having talent, veterans are not there to nurture new players.
Both Chase Utley and Ryan Howard are sustaining injuries. Not just their contribution on the plate is unavailable, confidence they can instil to the rest of the players is also not there.
Long losing streaks being experienced by the club are causing ripples and making manager come up with various explanations. Meetings are underway and reasons behind failure are being explored.
Players that are performing well often do the job of vocal leading. The fact most of the players with the Phillies are going through a rough period, no effective vocal leader is emerging.
Even Roy Halladay, their ace, is passing through one of his worst days, especially after giving up eight runs in the game against the Atlanta Braves.
Manuel seconds this reasoning. Explaining that despite having quality players in their ranks, level of frustration has so deepened in the team that nobody is finding motivation to stand up and infuse confidence in the players.
"But at the same time, we got guys in there – especially when they’re playing good – they lead by example, and who they are and their personalities and everything, they can lead that way. But that’s kind of how it is," he said.
Manager is currently hesitant of talking to the players, thinking that doing so may hamper their concentration from the duties they are assigned.
Irrespective of an existence of any vocal leader, the fact is that the Phillies are not performing well.
Their pitchers are not being the way they have been in the past. Similar is a case with their offence, which though has taken affect of injuries by some of the players cannot hide behind any excuse as players like Shane Victorino and Jimmy Rollins are still
in the line-up.
Whether any one turns up as a vocal leader down in the season or not, what is important for the Phillies is to get rid of losing jinx they are suffering in the season.
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