The Philadelphia Phillies removed the interim tag from manager Pete Mackanin’s title Tuesday by announcing an agreement on a one-year contract extension with a team option for 2017.
Incoming team president Andy MacPhail noted the connection the 64-year-old former infielder has been able to build with the players is a major reason why the Phillies decided to keep him. Todd Zolecki of MLB.com passed along the entire statement:
Mackanin took over the managerial role in June when Ryne Sandberg stepped down.
The change didn’t lead to better results on the field. The Phillies sit in Major League Baseball’s basement with a 56-94 record. It will be their worst season since at least 2000 (97 losses). The franchise hasn’t lost 100 games since 1961, but that streak could end over the next few weeks.
That said, the poor season didn’t come as a surprise. Philadelphia is a team in transition as it works to move into a new era. Cole Hamels and Chase Utley were among the veterans traded as part of the retooling process.
Keeping Mackanin, a baseball lifer who’s going to instill fundamentals and work ethic in the next wave of prospects, is a wise move in the short term. John Finger of CSN Philly broke down one aspect of the job Mackanin has thrived at:
The Phillies were 26-49 this season under Sandberg, and some complained about the manager’s style and lack of communication. However, under Mackanin, the avenues of communication between the manager and players changed. Mackanin has been much more open with his players and also speaks Spanish, which is beneficial in the modern game.
The ability to communicate and get along with a roster filled with young players is also no small caveat.
The Phillies would have struggled to sell the job to any top managerial candidates this winter. The roster is at least a couple of years away from starting to seriously climb the standings, and even when it does, there will be some growing pains along the way.
Mackanin can be a stabilizing force throughout the process. Then, once the Phillies feel confident the club is ready to take the next step toward contention, they can decide whether he’s earned the opportunity to retain the role or if it’s time to explore other options.
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