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City Life: The Charlie-to-English Dictionary
With his Appalachian twang and aversion to the declarative statement, Phillies manager Charlie Manuel can sound like the love child of Elmer Fudd and Granny Clampett. What’s he actually trying to say? We try to decipher.
By Andrew Putz
What Charlie said: “Ah, uh, well, ah, yeah.”
Translation: “Yes.”
What Charlie said: “I think, I think that Jimmy, I think Jimmy, he’s been here two years now, and I think that he also has to like, you gotta get to know him, and I think the more, the longer he’s here and the fact that, you know, like, just once he feels like he’s settled in and everything, I think that he will become more of a voice in our clubhouse. Jimmy is gonna be a … he’s gonna be a leader, but he leads by example, by the way.
Translation: “Yes, Jim Thome will be a team leader.”
What Charlie said: “Yeah, he said, yeah, told me same thing, yep, day-to-day-thing want to make sure he feels good, feels
like he can go.”
Translation: “Yes.”
What Charlie said:
“I look at Jimmy, Jimmy’s one of 24, uh, 25 guys on our … guys that’s gonna make our ballclub, and believe me, I pull for Jimmy every day, I pull for him just like he’s my son, but now I got 25 sons.”
Translation: “Yes, Jim Thome is only one of 25 guys on the team.”
Translation: “Yes.”
What Charlie said: “I think, I think that Jimmy, I think Jimmy, he’s been here two years now, and I think that he also has to like, you gotta get to know him, and I think the more, the longer he’s here and the fact that, you know, like, just once he feels like he’s settled in and everything, I think that he will become more of a voice in our clubhouse. Jimmy is gonna be a … he’s gonna be a leader, but he leads by example, by the way.
Translation: “Yes, Jim Thome will be a team leader.”
What Charlie said: “Yeah, he said, yeah, told me same thing, yep, day-to-day-thing want to make sure he feels good, feels
like he can go.”
Translation: “Yes.”
What Charlie said:
“I look at Jimmy, Jimmy’s one of 24, uh, 25 guys on our … guys that’s gonna make our ballclub, and believe me, I pull for Jimmy every day, I pull for him just like he’s my son, but now I got 25 sons.”
Translation: “Yes, Jim Thome is only one of 25 guys on the team.”
Originally published in Philadelphia magazine, July 2005
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