Chip Hale, Mickey Callaway, Gary DiSarcina, Tim Bogar, Juan Samuel, Dusty Wathan, and Jorge Velandia.
These are the names of the candidates interviewed so far by the Philadelphia Phillies for the position of manager. Between them, they have a total of 58 years of MLB playing experience, 4 All-Star Game appearances, and 397 MLB games managed.
Even with all that baseball experience, there is at least one rookie to the sport who is undeterred in entering the managerial race.
ECW and WWE legend Tommy Dreamer has entered the race to become the next Phillies manager. He first expressed his interest in becoming manager over his Twitter account.
Dear @Phillies
I would like to be considered to be manager of the team.
I know what team needs to win & more importantly what #Philly fans want.#family— Tommy Dreamer (@THETOMMYDREAMER) October 21, 2017
After the Phillies’ Twitter account jokingly sent their application in to become the new manager, not many fans would believe the 46-year-old wrestler was serious. According to Dreamer, he is actually very serious.
Since everyone thinks we're the manager anyway, we thought we'd throw our hat in the ring.
Any suggestions before we submit our resume? pic.twitter.com/emGmO9kLTg
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) October 4, 2017
“This is not a publicity stunt or just a random tweet. I would love to bring another championship to Philadelphia”, said Dreamer via email.
“Though I grew up in Yonkers, NY, I have been embraced by the city of Brotherly Love for a long time. I have spent so much time meeting the people and really getting to know what Philadelphia wants.”, Dreamer continued.
His theory of winning in Philadelphia revolves around a hard-hitting no nonsense style of play that he has noticed through both Philly’s championship teams and popular players. Players like Eric Lindros, Allen Iverson, Donavan McNabb, Brian Dawkins, John Kruk, and Darren Daulton all shared this common trait, according to Dreamer.
While he doesn’t have any baseball experience outside of being a fan, Dreamer pointed out that there’s more to it than statistics and experience.
“Sometimes going on your instincts of a game, that’s the true art and as a fan aren’t you more attached at times than the people who look at it as a job or worry about the consequences?”.
Since he would be a rookie, Dreamer mentioned that he would need to surround himself with some great baseball minds. He specifically mentions 3-time manager of the year Dusty Baker and 19-year MLB veteran A.J. Pierzynski as potential advisors.
Dreamer was a key part of the Philly based Extreme Championship Wrestling back in the late 90’s. The company changed the landscape of professional wrestling. He ran 2 “farm teams” for WWE to scout out new talent and currently runs his own promotion, House of Hardcore. The promotion’s slogan is “No Politics, No BS, Just Wrestling” which Dreamer believes fits with what the Phillies need.
His final reason in wanting to become the manager is faith in the current roster. “I believe in the team, they have a lot of quality players and just need a few changes to really compete.”, said Dreamer. “The characters are there, the talent is there.”
While he couldn’t give up all his potential managerial secrets, Dreamer finished with a simple “Philly, I love you”.
The former ECW Champion, ECW Tag Team Champion, and WWE Hardcore Champion might just be bringing his own winning ways to the dugout in Citizen Bank Park next season. While it isn’t known if he will get an interview, his morale boosting promos and hard kendo stick/Singapore cane swinging abilities could force the Phillies hand.
You can read Dreamer’s full open letter below.
An open letter to Philadelphia Phillies owners,
This is not a publicity stunt or just a random tweet. I would love to bring another championship to Philadelphia. I have been a sports fan my entire life, though I grew up in Yonkers NY I have been embraced by the city of Brotherly Love for a long time, I have spent so much time meeting the people and really getting to know what Philadelphia wants. It’s not hard to see that the most misunderstood city in the United States is brutally honest.
The people of Philly are hardworking people, they want to come home from work and be the diehard loyal fans to their teams. They are loyal, passionate, and are politically incorrect and damn proud of it. I have known this since the mid-90s, but if you look at the history of their championship sports teams (The Broad Street Bullies, 76ers and The Phillies )They all have a common trait. These teams played physical no nonsense style, they played & celebrated just as hard and they celebrated with their people of Philly.
If you look at people who DIDN’T win championships but all ,how in my business would say, “got over in Philadelphia” they were all hard hitting characters who loved what they did as well as called you out on BS, to name a few Charles Barkley, Allen Iverson, Eric Lindros, Reggie White, Donavan McNabb, Randall Cunningham, Harold Carmichael, Brian Dawkins, Darren Daulton, John Kruk. Hell even the factious Rocky Balboa was hardnosed hard hitting regular guy and which took home an Oscar, defying all odds.
The winning teams all had their lists of characters but those common traits of, to steal a WWE John Cena catchphrase, “Hustle” no matter what they are doing in the game, respect to their fans with a win at all costs, and Loyalty to the Game they are playing.
Now that I have given my theory of winning in Philadelphia I will give my qualifications to manage such a great Franchise.
First, I know I have no baseball experience but I have been a fan of the game for 40-years and I know we all go by mathematical stats but it’s still the same game that the rules are basically the same & haven’t changed in over a century. Sometimes going on your instincts of a game, that’s the true art and as a fan aren’t you more attached at times than the people who look at it as a job or worry about the consequences. I would tell ownership that in 2009 after winning you have sacrificed your future to win now with bloated contracts & bad trades. Now look where we are 10 years later. I would also surround myself with great baseball minds who wouldn’t have the pressure of being manager (Dusty Baker & AJ Pierzynski come to mind). I would take the responsibility on the chin and the press conferences would probably be making headlines on their own from my winning team’s ways.
Second, besides my personal connection to the city, If I’m the owner, usually the bottom line is money & attendance. If you know the common theme is winning and giving the fans what they want, it’s that simple. The other qualities are the hard-work aspect even in the dog days of summer, the fans will be there if the team is playing hard. I am a great motivator and very competitive but still stress this is all my players dreams & they are living it.
Third I was a big part of the wrestling movement in the 90s and oh by the way changed the current scheme of professional wrestling, it was originated just a few blocks away from the old Vet now Citizens Bank Park.
I dealt with a lot of characters who all worked so hard to win every night they worked. I also worked and ran 2 farm teams for a publicly traded company called WWE. My job was to find who I thought was the future. I have quite the resume of talents who have succeeded on my hunch, even a few Hall of Famers. I looked for those Philly characteristics because they represented me and how I do things. I also currently own my own wrestling company House of Hardcore. Our slogan is ‘No Politics, No BS, Just Wrestling.’ We sell out that same arena 4 shows a year where that 1990s magic occurred and I would apply those terms to my resume any day.
Fourth and finally, I believe in the team they have a lot of quality players and just need a few changes to really compete. They showed great promise towards the end of the year. The characters are there, the talent is there, with a few trades and Free agent signings and it’s our city reigning on top again.
The choice is yours Phillies owners. In a year that is supposed to be a rebuild, let’s shock the world and win. What do you really have to lose?
I can’t give away all my secrets of what I would do or trade, that’s for my actual job interview
Philly, I love you,
it’s your call now Philadelphia Phillies owners,
Thank You
Tommy Dreamer
Mandatory Credit: Derik Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
