I am glad to hear the Philadelphia Phillies have removed the interim tag from Pete Mackanin’s status and named him their full-time manager.

Mackanin has been a baseball lifer four four decades and has twice been an interim manager for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds in 2005 and 2007, respectively. Finally, he is being given his chance.

But the Phillies have given him short leash. He is under contract for next season with a club option for 2017. It isn’t exactly a big vote of confidence, but it’s better than nothing.

OK, the Phillies are 30-46 since he took over. They have the worst record in MLB, have lost six in a row and eight of their last ten and is feuding with Odubel Herrera. Still, there’s a good chance they’ll get out of the season with fewer than 100 losses. Believe me that will be an accomplishment. The Phillies have nowhere to go but up.