Charlie Manuel Doesn't Just Aim for the Fences

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WASHINGTON, DC -- Fresh off of a series victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks, the first-place Phillies traveled down to Washington with an 80-42 record and an even 40 games remaining on their season. As Matt Gelb noted this afternoon, if Charlie Manuel's club only plays .500 ball the rest of the way, they'd still reach the 100-win milestone.

Charlie was asked before tonight's game if the place that the Phillies are at right now is pretty remarkable?

"Yeah, that's remarkable," Manuel agreed but also added that "I don't look at it that way. When you play, you play to win."

Perhaps inspired by the legendary Presidents' Races here at Nationals Park, Manuel then equated the Phillies long season to that of a runner.

"Kind of like running a race. I'm running a mile race and I got about 300 yards to go and I look back, more than likely I wouldn't let up. I'll be telling myself the guy might still catch me. That way I know I'll win."

But most Phillies fans I know aren't all that into distance running. It's tiring, kinda boring, etc. So how about something quick and mesmerizing like power hitting? Charlie then used a giant advertisement some 500 feet away at Nats Park to further explain.

"Like I tell my guys if I'm sitting here and I'm hitting, and you ask me 'what would you like to do?' I'd be thinking about hitting that Coca-Cola sign up on that scoreboard. And if I came up a little bit short everything'll work out pretty good."

But why stop at aiming for the Coca-Cola sign? Why not aim for the concourse or out of the ball park all together?

"That enters my mind sometimes," Manuel said with a smile but also a tone that implied he was mostly serious.

"It kinda depends on who's pitching."

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Roy Oswalt (5-7, 3.84) gets the start tonight for the Phillies and takes on Livan Hernandez (7-11, 4.21) whose slow stuff stifled the Phillies a week ago at CBP. If Oswalt can get back into similar form to his performance last season, it would be a huge boon for the team.

"I think if he gets to a place where he's pitching like we know he can pitch, that gives us four really experienced, big-game pitchers," Manuel said. "That's pretty rare. It's hard to find four quality guys like that."

Tonight's Phillies Lineup: Rollins, Mayberry, Utley, Howard, Pence, Ibanez, Ruiz, Valdez, and Oswalt.

7:05 start from DC. Let us know if you're going to be at the Park this weekend.

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