Baseball - BASEBALL Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies managed to form an all-star coaching staff to assist controversial manager Charlie Manuel. Former major league managers Art Howe, Davey Lopes and Jimy Williams will join Manuel's staff. All new recruits signed a one-year contract on Monday.

The Phillies had to fill in many coaching positions since the team did not renew the contracts of first-base coach Marc Bombard, third-base coach Bill Dancy and bench coach Gary Varsho. This decision took place only two days after the team finished 85-77 and narrowly missed the playoffs for the second straight year.

During Manuels’ tenure, the Phillies finished at one game of wild-card winner Houston last season. As for this season, he managed to overcome a poor start and mid-season roster purge to stay in contention for a playoff spot until the next-to-last game. Despite the return of three former managers on his staff, Manuel did not express any concern about the security of his job.

Williams, 63, will return as Manuel's bench coach. It will be his first coaching comeback since 1996. He worked the past season as a roving instructor with Tampa Bay. Howe, 59, will be the third-base coach and infield instructor. In his career Howe managed the Mets. As for Lopes, 61, he will be the first-base coach and outfield and base-running instructor, two roles he held last season with Washington. All of them have very strong managing and coaching experience and worked for many key MLB team for the past two decades.

Before recruiting these three new managers, the Phillies granted contracts’ extension to pitching coach Rich Dubee, hitting coach Milt Thompson, bullpen coach Ramon Henderson and catching instructor Mick Billmeyer.