It took 31 years of beating both the backroads and the highways of baseball across the United States for Pete Mackanin to enter spring training as a major league manager, so he began this season with the Phillies knowing that when good things happen in this game, they don't always happen quickly.
That kind of journey develops patience but also a determination to keep going. Mackanin has a mostly inexperienced team, and young players can't be expected to be patient. It is the other quality he seeks.
"We just need to get something going," Mackanin said after the Phillies lost their first four games this season.