Charlie Manuel

Charlie Manuel hates finishing second, as he did in the Manager of the Year voting - to Lou Piniella, whose Cubs won five more games but spent $20 million more than Manuel's Phils.

He won't mind finishing second in this race. Especially not to Brad Lidge, the closer whose perfection meant validation for Manuel, so often ridiculed, so seldom appreciated, and now, forever, a Winner.

Manuel believes in roles for his bullpen, and he stuck to his formula. Manuel believes in winning with power, especialy in a park where even minimal power is magnified. Manuel believes in playing aggressively: in the batter's box, on the basepaths and on the mound. More than anything, Manuel believes in expecting success and reveling in it. He believes that an atmosphere of inclusion and honesty promotes success. Guess what?

He was right.

- Marcus Hayes