Philadelphia.Phillies.MLB.com

By Ken Mandel / MLB.com

Larry Bowa's Phillies, expected to contend in the NL East, are under .500 entering Saturday. (Rusty Kennedy/AP)

After the season ends may be another matter.

"Larry Bowa will remain as Phillies manager through the end of the 2004 season," Wade said in a statement issued by the Phillies on Saturday. "As is the case at the end of every season, we will sit down at that point to review and address the status of our players, our manager and his staff. Until that time, our sole focus will be on our performance on the field, and the Phillies will have no further public comment on this issue for the remainder of the season."

Wade has already commented on this situation more than he would like. He's said numerous times that he's not going to give daily updates on Bowa's status, but the speculation hasn't stopped. Most of it has come as a result of the team's disappointing season.

The Phillies are two games under .500 entering play on Saturday. They trail Atlanta by 11 1/2 games in the National League East and are eight games back in the Wild Card race, behind five other teams.

"Throughout the second half of this season, there has been much speculation regarding Larry Bowa's ongoing status as the manager of the Phillies," the statement continued. "Much of the speculation has come about because of the inconsistent performance of the team and the high expectations that many of us had coming into the 2004 season. But the season is not over.

"Larry Bowa has done everything in his power to get this team to play over some critical injuries and I have no doubt that he and our coaches will continue to take the same approach going forward. Anyone who really knows Larry Bowa and our coaches shouldn't be surprised by their commitment to winning, and we are still in the hunt for a spot in postseason play."

Injuries have taken their toll on the Phillies this season, with Kevin Millwood, Pat Burrell and Billy Wagner still out. Randy Wolf and Vicente Padilla have also missed significant time. All of this has had a trickle-down effect on the team's performance.

Wade hopes this statement puts the matter to rest -- at least for the season.

Bowa is in his fourth season as Phillies manager. Since taking over prior to the 2001 season, he has a record of 315-297 (.515 winning percentage). Though he has endured some private griping for his oppressive style, the Phillies nearly made the playoffs in two of Bowa's first three seasons.

In December, the Phillies picked up Bowa's option for 2005 and added two additional options that could keep him with the team through 2007. At the time, Wade said the extension was a "foregone conclusion."

After Philadelphia's 4-3 win over Milwaukee, Bowa showed appreciation for Wade's statement.

"We're both tired of answering questions," said Bowa. "The Phillies have treated me unbelievably. They've never lied to me. From a professional standpoint, I think that's the best thing that Eddie could have said."

In the clubhouse, Randy Wolf offered an interesting take, and was also happy to put the speculation to rest -- for now.

"I think it's a really good thing," Wolf said. "I can only speak for myself, but I don't want to talk about it. I'm tired about answering questions about what's in limbo.

"It's kind of ironic, because a lot of times the rumors are started by the media, then they ask you about the rumors that they started. I think it's good that we can put that to bed and not have to answer those questions anymore. It's a nuisance to have these kind of questions, because there's no answer."

Ken Mandel is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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