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I want to congratulate Jerry manuel for reading my prior blog which asked him to allow his top starting pitchers to go longer in games during a divisional title race. After Wednesday's brutal loss to the rival Philadelphia Phillies, the Mets won in their version of comeback style and are obviously a different - and better - team with Jerry Manuel at the helm.

The rifts in the clubhouse appear over, the biting comments in the media have stopped, and some Met fans are even calling for Carlos Delgado to return in 2009. Delgado has resurrected his season (and career) while under Manuel, and Jose Reyes, the key that opens the Mets offensive door, has elevated his game since the departure of Willie Randolph. Delgado and Reyes were two of Randolph's biggest critics.

Manuel has provided a calming influence over the team by utilizing all his players (even the rookies!) and letting the veterans play "their game." Youngsters Nick Evans and Daniel Murphy have played big roles during the Mets resurgence - something they likely wouldn't have had a chance to do under Randolph.

Manuel allows players to play their own music in the clubhouse - something the strict Randolph didn't. It's a small thing, but it's big for the players. They are less restricted and more relaxed under Manuel. He lets them be themselves.

A big improvement by Manuel has been to go longer with his best starters - Johan Santana and Mike Pelfrey. With only about 30 games to go this 2008 season, no more babying the starters.

Pelfrey was originally supposed to have skipped a start or two to keep his innings down, under the theory that increasing a young pitcher's innings by more than 40 in a year could possibly lead to injury. But Manuel has made it clear he is going to pitch Pelfrey as much as needed. "You're trying to win a championship - period. And I've always said that in the course of winning a championship, there will be some damage to some folks. That's the sacrifice, the cost, the price of a championship."

Manuel knows that during the late stages of a horse race, a manager must ride his best horses to the finish line. Right now, Santana and Pelfrey are Manuel's two stallions. This is something his namesake in Philadelphia, Charlie Manuel, has not learned. Good time Charlie's removeal of ace Cole Hamels last night against Chicago was the biggest mistake in the NL East race. You would think Charlie would have learned from Jerry's prior mistake of not letting ace Johan Santana go out for the 9th inning against Charlie's Phillies on July 22.

Charlie did not learn, but Jerry did learn from his own mistake and is letting his top guys throw more.

Manuel's approach is great for Met fans. It shows that he's not worried about how he is perceived - something his predecessor worried too much about. He is bucking conventional wisdom of innings limits to win. That's the type of leader that needs to be around for the long term.

The Wilpons haven't yet taken the interim label off Manuel, but if they don't, some other team - perhaps the Seattle Mariners or Texas Rangers - are sure to take a hard look at him.

Joe writes for Dugout Central and Mike Silva's www.nybaseballdigest.com and does talk show appearances on Kevin Williams "Locker Room" at www.wobman.com every Monday and Friday at 3:20 PM. Joe played in 1985 Division 3 College Baseball World Series as member of the Marietta (OH) Pioneers.