Loyal to Manuel, Dubee ponders own future
PHILADELPHIA -- Pitching coach Rich Dubee had been at Charlie Manuel's side for eight-plus years in the Phillies dugout.
He has been in baseball long enough to know the Phillies probably would not have brought back Manuel following the season, but he acknowledged he was "a little stunned" it happened Friday with 42 games remaining in the season.
"I've been fired [in the past]," Dubee said. "Life goes on, unfortunately. You don't like to see it, but it's been a heck of a run. Between watching Doc [Roy Halladay] pitch in a playoff game and Jamie Moyer win a World Series, 102 wins [in 2011] -- there are a lot of highlights that Charlie's had here that are very special, and we've spent them together. Those are special moments."
Dubee's contract also expires following the season, and it is not a stretch to think Dubee could be on his way out, too.
"I'm not worried about it," he said.
But he said he would like to stay.
"I want to be in the big leagues, that's for sure," he said. "I'd like to coach a few more years in the big leagues. I didn't think I'd be here for eight-plus, so you never know what's going to happen."
Halladay has been vocal recently in his support of Dubee, saying if he pitches well to finish the season he would like to see who the Phillies' pitching coach is before he decides where to pitch next.
"That's Roy," Dubee said. "We've got a good relationship. I think he's a very loyal guy. It's a real nice compliment from him."
Dubee said he is proud of his record with the Phillies. He has worked with Cy Young winners, All-Stars, journeymen and no-namers. From 2005 through Friday, the Phillies have the sixth-best ERA in the National League.
"If you look at the players we've had pitching-wise, if we got them from somebody, how they were doing before they got here and how they pitched here," Dubee said. "If we had them, how they pitched here and how they pitched when they went somewhere else, I think I've had a pretty good run of helping guys be successful. Part of that is having good talent. I've been very fortunate to have good talent, young and old."
He has had some good memories, too. He offered his favorite regarding Manuel.
"Probably looking at him the way he didn't move after we won the World Series," he said. "He let the players really bask in the glory. He wasn't out there until who knows, way later. I mean, he shuts himself in his office later on. He was very respectful of the players he had. He admired the players he had. I think you learned about Charlie after his first two years here. You really did. The way he got booed. The way the fans rode him because of his accent. Those first two years you never saw him bat an eye. He stayed the course. He knew where he wanted to go. He knew what he wanted to do. And he believed that doing it his way was going to be right. It seemed like it panned out OK."