| | Associated Press
CLEVELAND -- Indians manager Charlie Manuel will have
surgery Friday to reattach his colon and is expected to be away
from the team for at least two weeks.
Manuel, who had eight inches of his colon removed during
emergency surgery when it ruptured during spring training, will
have tests at the Cleveland Clinic on Thursday before undergoing
the operation.
He is expected to be hospitalized for a week following the
surgery and it could be two weeks before he can return to manage.
While Manuel is gone, bench coach Grady Little will serve as the
Indians' interim manager. Little managed the team during spring
training when Manuel was sidelined.
Manuel had wanted to postpone the surgery until the All-Star
break, but doctors have advised him to have the procedure performed
now so that he'll be able to recover more quickly.
"I was fighting it," Manuel said Wednesday before the Indians
played the New York Yankees. "I didn't want to do it at this
moment. I was told it was important for me to do."
Manuel said the decision to have the surgery was made 2-3 weeks
ago.
"I hate to take off early, but it seems I don't have a
choice," Manuel said. "I was hoping I could do it at the All-Star
break or even after the season was over. But now is the time I have
to do it. The doctors said it was a must-situation. They said I
should do it now."
Manuel has had to wear a colostomy bag while his colon has been
detached. He has not been able to hit fungoes or throw batting
practice while he recovers, something he loved to do while he was
the Indians' hitting instructor for six years.
Except for facing surgery, Manuel, who has had two heart attacks
and open-heart surgery, said he feels fine.
"I feel good," he said.
Indians general manager John Hart said Manuel was given a
thorough physical exam before he was hired in October. And
according to Hart, Manuel has no other medical problems afflicting
him.
Manuel said he would have daily contact with his coaching staff
and would consult with Little about the everyday starting lineup.
Little does not have major league managing experience, but
Cleveland's staff includes third-base coach Jim Riggelman, who
managed for eight seasons in the National League.
"I trust my coaching staff," Manuel said. "I like them and
they'll do a heck of a job. I hope we win every game until I'm
back."
Like he did during spring training, Manuel will keep track of
the Indians via radio, TV and computer in his hospital room.
The Indians will begin a seven-game road trip on Thursday in
Toronto. Many of Cleveland's players said they were pleased Manuel
was finally putting the surgery behind him.
"It's a must for him to get this done," first baseman Jim
Thome said. "We will miss him but it's important that we have
great coaches and a lot veterans on this team."
Manuel, who is very popular with his players, will be missed.
"Going into battle without your field general is tough," Thome
said. "Him going in there and getting this done will be a load off
all our minds because he means a lot to everybody."
Yankees manager Joe Torre can relate to Manuel's situation.
After being diagnosed with prostate cancer and undergoing surgery,
Torre missed 36 games last season.
"It's difficult," said Torre. "But you have confidence in
your coaches. They have some good ones. But they're going to miss
Charlie."
Torre said the toughest part of him being away was convincing
bench coach Don Zimmer, the Yankees' interim manager, that it was
his team.
Torre said he spoke with Manuel before Wednesday night's game.
"I just wished him good luck and I said, 'Get yourself well,' "
Torre said, "and get back to normal. I'm sure he's relieved." | |
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