Baseball notes: Charlie Manuel has no plans to retire from Phillies

From wire reports

Charlie Manuel figures he has plenty of time to see his grandchildren, play golf and travel the world during the off-season.

Manuel, who is in the final season of his contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, made it clear he wants to continue as manager beyond this year. Retirement plans haven't even entered his mind.

“I still want to manage,” Manuel told The Associated Press on Thursday. “I'm not ready for somebody to tell me to go home. I'm not ready to quit managing. I'm not ready to get out of the game.”

Manuel is the franchise's all-time leader in wins and only the second manager to lead the Phillies to a world championship. It's widely assumed that Hall of Fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg, the team's new third-base coach, will eventually replace him as the manager.

If the Phillies struggle this season, people will call for Sandberg to replace Manuel immediately. If the Phillies win it all, some think the 69-year-old Manuel would be willing to walk away on top.

That's not the case.

“I don't want anyone to think that,” Manuel insisted. “I still want to manage.”

Manuel has led the Phillies to five straight NL East titles, two pennants and the 2008 World Series title. The postseason streak ended last year when the Phillies couldn't overcome a slew of injuries and finished 81-81.

Considering his success and desire to keep his job, a contract extension would seem appropriate. But general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. made it clear that's not happening now.

“We'll see what happens at the end of the year and go from there,” Amaro said.

Manuel isn't one to make demands, but it seems he's a bit peeved.

“I'm not disappointed in it at all. I don't know if I get it or not,” Manuel said. “I think they can do whatever they want to do. That's how I look at it. Actually, when you get right down to it, it doesn't bother me a whole lot because I have nothing to do with it. If you stop and think about it, I don't have nothing to do with it. I mean that in a good way.”

Sandberg spent the past two seasons managing Philadelphia's Triple-A affiliate, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. He previously managed four seasons in the Chicago Cubs' minor-league system before coming back to the Phillies.

When the Phillies promoted him to the big leagues last October, Amaro dismissed the manager-in-waiting theory.

“The fact of the matter is he's not the heir apparent. We made no promises to Ryne Sandberg,” Amaro said then.

Manuel isn't going to let his contract situation become a distraction. He's focused on getting the Phillies back on top after finishing behind Washington and the Atlanta.

“Right now, my first thought is for us to win our division and go to the World Series,” Manuel said. “Believe me, my contract won't bother me.”

Briefly

•  Cardinals: Manager Mike Matheny returned to the club Thursday after undergoing back surgery Monday in St. Louis. Matheny was best with severe pain for several days, stemming from a ruptured disk in his back that caused particles to come into contact with a nerve. Surgeons found and removed four particles during a 90-minute procedure, known as a microdiscectomy.

The second-year Cardinals manager returned home Sunday night, missing games on Monday and Tuesday before returning Wednesday evening.

•  Angels: Mike Trout homered and scored three runs, Howie Kendrick and Albert Pujols each had two hits and Los Angeles roughed up John Danks (six runs in 3 1/3 innings) in beating the White Sox.

• Mets: Former Cleburne and UT Arlington standout Dillon Gee struggled with his command, giving up six runs for New York in a 9-1 loss to Detroit. Gee allowed three hits, four walks and hit two batters in two innings. He also threw three wild pitches.

•  Twins: Right-hander Kyle Gibson, a former first-round draft pick, will begin his comeback season from Tommy John surgery in the minors. The Twins optioned Gibson to Triple-A Rochester.

•  Mariners: Michael Morse homered twice and drove in five runs to lead Seattle back from a six-run deficit for an 8-7 win over Cincinnati. Morse doubled and scored in the second inning, hit his first two-run shot in the fourth off Reds starter Homer Bailey and connected for his second two-run shot in the fifth off reliever Clay Hensley. Morse is 11-for-31 in spring training and leads the team in home runs with five.

•  Royals: Former UT Arlington standout Adam Moore hit two of Kansas City’s seven doubles and drove in two runs in a 5-3 victory over Cleveland. Moore is bidding for a job as backup catcher.

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