It hasn’t been a banner year for the Phillies, who’ve fallen short of expectations after an action-packed winter, but they’re not going to assign blame to manager Gabe Kapler. He’s not in danger of losing his job this season, general manager Matt Klentak told Matt Breen of the Philadelpia Inquirer and other reporters Monday.
A longtime major league outfielder, the 43-year-old Kapler’s in his second season atop the Phillies’ dugout. They brought in the analytically minded Kapler after a three-year run as the Dodgers’ director of player development. Kapler got off to a rocky start at the outset of his tenure as a big league manager in 2018, though his club rallied in the summer to hold a first-place spot in the National League East from July 6 through Aug. 12. The Phillies sat at 65-52 with a month and a half left in the season, but they collapsed from there to finish 80-82.
While last year didn’t end to the Phillies’ liking, there was no way they were going to move on from Kapler, who was in charge for the team’s best record since 2012. Instead, Klentak & Co. focused during the offseason on giving Kapler more pieces. The Phillies aggressively acquired the likes of Bryce Harper, J.T. Realmuto, Jean Segura, Andrew McCutchen and David Robertson in free agency and trades. Aside from McCutchen, who suffered a season-ending torn left ACL three weeks ago, no one in that group has been as effective as they were a year ago.
Thanks in part to somewhat underwhelming production from their high-profile newcomers, not to mention shaky pitching, the Phillies are just 39-38. While the Phillies are 6 1/2 games back of the reigning NL East-winning Braves, they’re a mere one out of a wild-card spot. That gives the Kapler-led team a realistic chance to rally for a playoff spot even though it has lost six straight – including sweeps at the hands of sub-.500 division rivals Washington and Miami – and 16 of 22 overall.
Wasnt my vote
i cant say kapler deserves to be fired, but i almost dont know what else would shock this team into playing better. sure the BP is riddled with injuries and they have only 3 viable staters, but the offense has no excuses. whats the change there that gets it going?
Firing Mallee.
Ruin tomorrow Jr is available
pun of the year award goes to…
Also Chris Young.
Mallee maybe, but i cant blame Young for VV or Pivetta for having just as little ability as they have always have, and Nola’s regression mixed with Eflin’s improvement certianly cant a net nock on the pitching staff. the pitching is on Klentak. Gio Gonzalez, Dallas Keuchel, or Craig Kimbrel could have easily been got using that stupid money, but instead they are each one one of the 4 best teams in the NL, and not your squad.
The issues with VV and Pivetta are the same ones we’ve been waiting for them to buck before Young took over. If we use that logic with Young about him to blame, the guy he replaced (Kranitz) should be to blame as to why Folty in ATL went from an All-Star last year to a near 6 ERA. I believe Mallee is the one who needs to go but he’s Kapler’s guy and Gabe is Klentak’s guy. Any change in the status quo will admit mistakes were made along the way.
I get that, but if the axe falls on anyone, who is it most likely to be? most likely an assistant coach, (see Mets situation) and most likely the one who has had the easiest job. you cant tell me an average hitting coach cant choach a lineup as talented as this. something has to change, and instead of adding more players that fill non-existant holes only to underpreform more, maybe you need to light a fire under everyone’s behinds.
Ability has never been the issue with either of those guys…it’s been consistency. Their stuff is legit.
Should have hired John Farrell.
The issue here is the Phils wasted all their money on Harper who is having a disappointing start to a 330 million dollar contract. Should have used that money and fixed the rotation and bullpen. An above average outfielder would have been fine for Philly instead of blowing money on him. I think the Phils will figure it out though.
I’m not a Harper guy, I wanted Machado, but you can’t quantify the deal as a waste after half a season.
What has Harper done to deserve a 330 million dollar contract though? 1 MVP season? Just felt like the Phils spent stupidly and not smart, but i shouldnt talk, my teams pitching is not exactly lighting it up either hahaha.
Do i think Harper will figure it out? maybe to an extent. But as far as him earning every dollar of that contract, I highly doubt it. Phillies fans are very disappointed so far, doesnt mean he cant turn it around though.
There’s always Teddy Higuera. Was a long time fan of the Brew Crew but can’t stomach Braun. Looking forward to his retirement so I can root for the team as my second favorite NL group.
Harper is worth what the market is willing to play. The Phillies are the largest 1 team/city baseball market. They can spend with the Red Sox, Yankees, Dodgers, Cubs, etc. one large contract like Harper’s won’t hamstring them like a mid-market team would.
While Kapler has his warts, it’s Klentak who built this team. Regardless of all the moves he made, he only addressed one issue from last year. They moved Santana and got Hoskins out of LF but failed to address 3B or the rotation. If it wasn’t for the first 3 weeks of the season, Franco may be the worst WAR of any major league player right now. He also was content on going into 2019 with his back of the rotation being Pivetta, Velasquez, and Eflin. The market was filled with options at both positions through trades or FA’s.
They didn’t go after Moustakas or Gonzalez. They didn’t upgrade their rotation either. While their bullpen was rattled with injuries, they have nearly $30M in dead money sunk into Nicasio, Hunter, and Neshek. But they’re also dealing with a bench of Andrew Knapp, Phil Gosselin, and Sean Rodriguez; a couple non roster invitees and a backup catcher who has no business being on a ML roster. Yes their stars aren’t performing at the level you need stars to do, but even so, their roster is so top heavy and has little/no depth which is 100% on the GM.
Braun was my favorite until the suspension and all that nonsense, plus his numbers taking a nose dive. Now im mehh on him. Its all about #22 in MIL right now.
All of the above. Well said. Klentak seems to get a pass for the Harper signing and the Realmuto trade but that was easy when Middleton opened hi purse and MacPhail approved emptying the cubbard for a 27 year old catcher. I give him credit for shipping out Santana but he had to take back Nicasio. That’s where, unfortunately the positives end.
What has he done? 5 AS appearances, ROY, MVP, career ops+ 137 and he turned 26 last October.
Never mind the dollars, the owners have the money. Either the guy is a difference maker or not.
It was rare that guys like Harper and Machado were hitting the market with such a track record and at an age that was so young, and technically before they reached their prime years.
All that said, I wasn’t a Harper guy. Loved the OBP and Lh power, didn’t love the glove at a non premium position and I was worried he already lost something due to his aggressive play and injuries.
But I can see the value and the rarity of a guy with his offensive potential and youth hitting the market for just money.
JT, Segura, and Cutch were fantastic additions imo. The Harper one was for the fans, and the fans only. They wanted either Harper or Machado. Thought Machado fit better in Philly over Harper. Harper would have done well in LA.
Since 2004, what team has the fewest ML attributed WAR amongst their first round picks? The Phillies. It’s an indictment on how bad they’ve been in drafting and selecting talent. Take Nola out because he counts with the previous regimen. Klentak has drafter Bohm (whose in AA and looks like he’ll be an all star level 3B if he continues his pace), Haseley (outfielder who looks good but not great), and two duds in Cornelius Randolph and Mickey Moniak. It’s been a systemic issue before guys like Harper and even Kapler got here.
I’m not absolving them cause players and the manager have responsibility too. But the construction of the team is the issue. Their staff ace has regressed to a near 5.00 ERA, Jake Arrieta’s fastball has regressed to the point he’s a #4 starter. Eflin has been what you expect of a #5 starter. Pivetta was demoted and promoted to middling results so far. Velasquez was injured then demoted to the pen then added back the rotation then the bullpen and back to the rotation.
While Kapler has done mismanagement with the rotation, it shouldn’t have been this bad to begin with. They let guys like Morton, Happ, Paxton, etc. to go elsewhere. In the end, the team made improvements but the staff has stayed the same. Players need to play better but the roster needs to be constructed better.
Maybe Cornelius but Mickey is not a dud he’s improved in nearly every category and was named to the all star team in double A.
Harper is having a “disappointing start”?
I read an article in another publication about 3 weeks ago where the writer said – “Harper is not a .240 hitter”. He’s hit .240-something 2 of the last 3 years.
I’d suggest his one great year with the Nationals was an outlier.
13 years for a “passionate” Dave Kingman? Wow!
Less Dave Kingman, more likely a more athletic Adam Dunn. Though Dunn was more consistent with his HR output.
Is it Kapler’s fault that his two best starters in Nola and Arrieta have 4.00+ ERA’s? Was he the guy that put $330M on a player barely hitting above a .800 OPS? Not replacing Franco with Moose? His other acquisitions not doing well? Phillies fans shouldn’t just put all the blame on Kapler, the reason they’re doing bad is because most of their expected top contributors not named Rhys Hoskins have been very underwhelming.
.825, 77 games into the season. He’s disappointed so far, but it’s premature to throw dirt on the guy.
hindsight says it wouldve been a good idea, but i wouldve been annoyed if they signed moose in the offseason. i really dont think that was a realistic expectation, especially after Franco actuallt showed a little something last year.
The curveball machine will be in our parade. We can have Charlie Manuel next year. Kapler didn’t bench Segura so everything is his fault. Anyone blaming Harper dosn’t watch the team….Harper…the guy who has played better then anyone not named Scott kingrey sine cutch want down….the dude is literly carrying the team with no one around him doing anything. At least he is getting on base.
Anyone blaming Bryce Harper is entirely justified. The guy has not had posted a single well above average month, and for a guy getting paid upwards of $30M a year that’s unacceptable.
And since Cutch went down (we’ll use the entire month of June) Harper has hit a wildly mediocre .250/.365/.403 on top of being about average in the field and probably average to below average on the base paths. He probably doesn’t even carry his own luggage, let alone an entire baseball team.
Oh snap!
I don’t know why they didn’t sign Keuchel
For what they spent on Harper, they could have got 3 or 4 stop-gap players, continue to build the farm system and address their starting pitching woes. They spent stupid money instead of smart money…now their stuck with the lot.
The bullpen needed work…3rd base needed work…aside of Nola & Arrietta, no one on the starting staff is MLB ready!
Why is Harper hitting 3rd? Ego? Wasn’t it Girardi who hit A-Rod 9th? Kap is a fine human being, and a passionate manager, but he manages with his heart too much, gotta manage more with his head! Bat Harper 7th & Franco 8th, see where this team goes. Surround Hoskins with Realmuto & Bruce. Who you gonna pitch around there? Move Harper back up when he starts hitting.
Harper is just as bad as he was last year. What were they expecting? Also, enjoy the next 12 years haha
2015 is looking more and more like the outlier.
I’m not sure what Harper is, but you aren’t exactly going out on a limb when you say potentially the best season in MLB history is an outlier lol.
Did I just dream up Barry Bonds’ career? Or ARod’s? Or Pujols’? All have put up multiple better seasons in the last 18 years. Great season, but zero argument on being the best season of all time.
Potentially….
Bonds I’ll give you. Pujols has a couple comparable seasons. Rodriguez never had quite the same amount of success in one particular season imo. Splitting hairs anyways.
Ted Williams, Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle and dozens of others had better seasons then Harper’s when they were over 33.
Best ever? Seriously?
Signed,
Mike Trout
I think you are underestimating ARod’s career based off his last few seasons. The guy was unreal in Texas, Seattle, and his first few seasons in New York.
I agree he was unreal. I just don’t think any one of those unreal seasons was quite as good as Harpers 2015.
Even the Yankees stopped trying to build their teams through free agency…….silly Phillies.
As well he should! He’s made a few decisions I didn’t agree with. But it’s a 162 game season, all managers have their moments. I think he’s a good manager.
The bottom line is that the roster isn’t good enough. Harper was brought in to carry the team through their slumps. We’re seeing why there wasn’t a market for him now… because he’s not that good! Realmuto was supposed to get better once he left Marlins Park but guess what? He’s AVERAGE. Add in a AAA pitching staff and there’s no argument to be made that Gabe should be gone.
Don’t managers usually get fired shortly after the dreaded “vote of confidence?” That being said, Kapler is not a good field manager. He would be very good as an analytical mind in the front office, but you need to have certain feel for the game in the dugout and Kapler does not have it.
You need a “head for the game” and Kap doesn’t have it! Last year, he went to change pitchers and the guy wasn’t warming up yet…
Not Gabe’s fault. He had a flashback from his ‘roid days.
I mean Harper to me is a cancer. He is also a hot head (when he strikes out he pouts) he was no where near a $330 million player. Could’ve spent that money more wisely on more holes to fill. Better balance to a lineup is needed there. Jay Bruce to me was also just a panic move with cutch going down. They have kingery to cover cutch. Idk. They’re close but still holes to fill imo
No, their NOT close….close is OVER .500…and they seem far from that. Injuries are part of the game. The reason for ST is to BUILD your team top to bottom…observe and assess…fill holes, acquire needed parts. After Harper signed, the industry stopped….
News flash… Bruce was acquire prior to Cutch’s injury.
That is correct. He actually replace Cutch when he went down in that game.
More like kids of death
Kiss
Back to being an underwear model for poor Gabe…
Exactly
Realmuto average? He’s a 285 hitter good for 20-25 homers, and top 3 defensive catchers in league. Checking in with his stats right now….hmmm looks about right. I’m a phillies fan. I would not have purchased season tickets if we signed 69 players not named Harper.he could bat 100. Still my guy. Hustles, plays the game hard. Can’t not route for the guy. It’s weird people care what others make. My beer costs the same it did last year.
JT is solid but I think we have up way too much for him. As far as his defense is concerned the numbers are good however watching him every day his pitch framing leaves something to be desired…
“I mean Harper to me is a cancer. He is also a hot head (when he strikes out he pouts) he was no where near a $330 million player. Could’ve spent that money more wisely on more holes to fill. Better balance to a lineup is needed there. Jay Bruce to me was also just a panic move with cutch going down. They have kingery to cover cutch. Idk. They’re close but still holes to fill imo.”
He is anything but a cancer. There has not been a more passionate teammate on the field for the Phillies this year. As for Bruce, he was acquired before Cutch’s injury.
Phillies are going through exactly what the Nationals did at this time last year……
Team losing. Playing poor fundamentals. Lineup constantly changing as Harper has to be moved up in the order “to get him going”. Fans and media unable to understand what’s going on. Players upset and divided in the clubhouse.
Nationals had some injuries earlier this year, at one point losing 3 of their mainstays in Rendon, Soto, and Turner. But slowly those players got back into action. The manager holds extra fundamental drills about once every week or two before games, and the team is executing. Players are having a great time in the clubhouse and dugout. They’re all getting along with one another. Most importantly, unlike 2018, they’re having fun playing……..and they’re winning again.
Just sayin’.
it’s probablly important to note that until a little over a week ago, the phillies were in first place with the second best record in the National League. Yes, they are going through a pretty brutal stretch right now, but there is no reason to think they won’t return to playing like the team they were in April and May.
I’m excited the Phillies are happy settling for mediocrity. Bravo.
Big deal,vote of confidence from klentak who may be on the bubble himself.
i get blaming Harper himself for his poor performance, but there is no reason to blame klentak for signing the guy. someone was going to give him that money, and we would have the same argument regardless. do people believe there was any chance he was signing for an ammount that wouldnt lend itself to “oh, its [town name]’s [insert dollar ammount] dollar man. stop saying it, we know he’s making that money, and anyone reasonable knows he wasnt likely to make that money back in his play.
Agreed, however, Klentak has made too many mistakes and omissions to not be considered the catalyst of this failed season. So far Klentak has:
– wasted first rounders on Cornelius Randolph and Mickey Moniak
– Signed Santana to the contract last winter
– Gave Hunter 2/$19, Neshek 2/$18
– Gave Arrieta 3/$75 w/ 2 options
– Traded away their #1 pitching prospect
– Did not address backup catcher, starting rotation, or bench
Yes, Klentak was able to out from Santana’s deal but that also meant taking Nicasions $9M also. I wasn’t a huge Sixto fan but he was valued around baseball and could’ve been used in a better package. Fans have screamed for 13 months about fixing the rotation but said it’s fine. Considering how much money they’ve invested it’s malpractice to not address the starting rotation.
im fine with knocking Klentak on all that, but its simply not about Harper. it’s not like it was a crippling deal. and with a lot of deals i will say the same thing; they arent crippling and most provided at least some positive value. However the issue is exactly that; id they wanted to spend all that money, they should have used some on a starter.
I agree. Like I said, they’re the biggest 1 team market in the league. They could spend with the big boys, Harper’s deal may be hard to deal with, it doesn’t hamstring them like it would with 90% of the league. But a lot of the issues plaguing the Phillies are systemic and start with Klentak and above. Blaming/firing someone like Kapler or blaming the players for the most of it, is just tearing the flower off the root. It doesn’t treat/cure the issues underneath.
Harper’s signing is 100% on Middleton but the Phillies have had issues with talent evaluation since the days of Ed Wade.
“Thanks in part to somewhat underwhelming production from their high-profile newcomers, not to mention shaky pitching,….”
_
The Phillies let their 2018 old pitching coach go (his hair and beard are actually grey…..yikes!), and replaced him with a young, inventive, progressive pitching coach.
Rick Kranitz moved on to the Braves as their pitching coach. The Braves pitching seems to get better each week.
Tell that to Folty on his way to Gwinnett. Frankly, outside of Nola, the Braves have a better rotation and a more consistent offense. It’s easier being a coach when the players you have are just better. And the Braves have a better collection of young pitchers than the Phillies do.
Wow!
One guy on the [itching staff got worse and the pitching coach is a failure?
Probably never ever happened to a good pitching coach in the history of MLB.
Is the fact that the Braves are winning and their improved pitching is a major reason why might possibly be germane to the discussion?
The Folty point was made in jest. My main point was that regardless of Young or Kranitz, the Braves have pitchers with better ability. Someone like Soroka just has more talent than someone like Eflin or Velasquez.
My point on offense is that, as a pitcher it’s much easier to go out there knowing you have an offense that’ll keep you in the game. The Phillies have 4 wins all season when scoring 3 runs or less. It’s a strain on a rotation when they feel they need to go out and throw a shutout every 5th day.
Vote of confidence is usually the kiss of death. We’ll see.
Was Harper a lot of money? Yes. However, Philly clearly showed they wanted to win with McCutchen and Realmuto.
If Harper is a an alleged headcase, so is Jean Segura. Not exactly the smartest dude ever.
They need Aaron Nola to step up. Then call the Blue Jays about Giles and Stroman. Whether you love or hate Stroman’s antics (I don’t care for it), he would inject some life in that Philly’s team they desperately need.
id hope they can return to life today and nail the coffin of the mets shut so they can look intp Diaz first, but getting Giles back is a juicy idea. i dont know if they are willing to, or should be willing to meat TOR’s asking price for Stroman though. Greinke is the guy to dream on i would say.
I hate to say it as a Phillies fan but I’d probably punt on this season. They’ve been lucky to get to the record they have at this time. Dayn Perry of CBS Sports had a good article today which I would advise reading about how the Phillies are 5 games better than what BaseRuns at fangraphs has projected. They’ve been lucky to get where they are considering. And even when they get healthy, they’re still projected to finish 80-82 just like last year with all these new additions.
The Phillies best bet to sustain success long term is to move their best assets now for more mature pieces that will be ML ready soon or are already there. Mainly, Realmuto and Neris being the two with the most value. While not a 1 for 1; maybe they could interest the Twins and build a deal around Realmuto and someone like Jose Berrios whose turned down extension offers from MIN. Neris would get a lot of bites on the market and his control years make him more attractive than someone like Will Smith. I love JT but it may behoove them to get what they can and try again next winter. The market will have some guys like Grandal and Cervelli available to catch. Maybe the Phillies take someone on a 1 year deal and attempt to resign Realmuto if he hits the market after next year?
The issue is they have no contributions from 3B and CF and spotty production from everywhere else. If they wanna be team stupid money again next winter, there’s plenty of guys out there (MadBum, Rendon, Cole, Hamels, Grandal, etc.) but the roster does need an overhaul and it seems it’s not feasible to do it midseason.
the thing is they dont have to give up anything to improve really. i love Greinke, and he could probably be had for mostly salery relief if Arizona goes under. (which is likely given the NL’s depth) Dee Gordon could also be pressed into service in CF, and maybe you can look at a Quinn-Gore swap with KC. rental BP arms are typically dirt-cheap. untimely, selling cant be the answer because who would the reallu sell? id rather bet on extending JT and Neris then getting rid of our only viable catcher and most reliable BP arm.
Perfect scheduling…the Phils and the Mets this week…..two teams grabbing onto a life preserver, and gasping their last breaths……
But OTOH, the division is still winnable for both……
Not at all bob……
Those 2 teams cannot possibly keep up with the Nationals and Braves.
Watch a half-dozen games of each and tell me I’m wrong.
P.S. Just passing through.
Too soon for Chase Utley?
because Sandberg worked real well…
‘Cause every very good player makes a super manager…
Usually the vote of confidence for a mlb manager means they are gone by the all star break. I can see Mickey Calloway joining game kapler on the unemployment line. Which is fine for the Atlanta braves.
The dreaded vote of confidence!
Is anybody surprised that the team with the manager and GM who both think they’re smarter than everyone else is struggling. Until Kapler AND Klentak are both fired the Phillies aren’t winning anything
I cannot point to many specific losses this year that fall squarely on Kapler.
The Phillies bullpen has been decimated with injuries. One of their star outfielders suffered a season-ending injury. They have no depth. I don’t see this as the manager’s fault.
I know a lot of Philly fans hate Kapler, but I don’t blame him for this mess. The Phillies have a lot of holes to fill.
It’s Billie Jeans Fault……..
Keep him around please..
Watching the Braves struggle against an ace yet again, this is their Achilles heel esp in the playoffs!