Nick Markakis returned to the Braves lineup Friday night after a seven-week layoff. The Braves were able to “ease” Markakis back into action with a cupcake matchup against Max Scherzer, against whom he’s rolled to a .323/.375/.423 line in 65 career at-bats. Not bad production against one of the best pitchers of his generation. Three innings into his return, the Braves faced a fresh injury scare. Freddie Freeman left yesterday’s game with elbow soreness, per The Athletic’s David O’Brien. Freddie Franchise aggravated a bone spur while making a defensive play, but his removal was precautionary, and the Braves don’t expect him to miss any time. Freeman himself classified the injury as day-to-day, per MLB.com’s Mark Bowman. He’ll be back in the lineup by Sunday at the latest. Let’s see what else is happening in the NL East…
- Phillies manager Gabe Kapler’s decision-making has been under the microscope of late, and it could result in his dismissal, per The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal (subscription required). Kapler’s competency in managing the bullpen was called into question as recently as last week, per The Athletic’s Meghan Montemurro, and as far back as game number three of his managerial tenure in Philly. With one year remaining on his contract, expect Kapler’s employment status to remain top-of-mind in Philadelphia for the foreseeable future. GM Matt Klenak’s job is safe, but even with a contract that runs through 2022, he may feel the pressure to find and install the right guy to lead this team, if indeed ownership has doubts about Kapler.
- Meanwhile in Miami, Don Mattingly may have priced himself out of a job. Rosenthal suggests finances could be a primary motivator in deciding whether to return Mattingly to his role as Miami’s field manager beyond 2019. Regardless of performance, keeping Mattingly at his current price sounds like a no-go for the cost-conscious ownership group. Perhaps of even more consequence, there are rumblings that Michael Hill will be removed from his position as President of Baseball Ops, a title he’s held since a being promoted from GM in 2013. Hill has been with the organization since 2002. Scuttlebutt has long-time Giants front office frontman Brian Sabean as a potential replacement, while current Marlins VP of Player Development and Scouting Gary Denbo has be increasingly relied upon of late. Notably, both Sabean and Denbo have ties to Derek Jeter’s early days with the Yankees.
I’d love to see Mattingly back with the Yankees next year in any capacity.
you can’t blame Gabe for the awful pitching out of Philadelphia, but he has been a terrible manager regardless.
As a Braves fan, you should be acutely aware of bullpen mismanagement. No, there is no science to it – and everyone makes mistakes – but Kapler has made many shares of headscratching bullpen decisions. Though, that won’t be the tipping point if he’s dismissed.
You both are being way to kind to him, even though I 100% agree that the pitching is terrible. Even last year, when arguably, the pitching was better; he found ways to lose. While I have no data to back this, I am going to guess that his decision making cost about 5 games per season, which could potentially have put them in the wildcard race. He has to go and even though Klenak may be safe – he would be better off with a Dusty Baker type (I know, I know). Rookie managers are hit and miss and we missed. Yankees hit.
I have watched every Marlin game since 2012 (seriously). How in the world Michael Hill still has a job in baseball is a disgrace. Donnie is hardly the issue. Neil Walker has batted 4th this year! I could go through all the disastrous trades and Rule 5 transactions. Just the Yelich trade alone should get you fired. They got no Major Leaguers for Stanton or Yelich. Let that settle in. Paddack, Castillo, Canha, Hand, Gallen, Kike, the list goes on and on. Sabean for Hill is an obvious no brainer. See ya Mike. You are a horrible executive.
The Stanton trade was a good one for Miami. So far their winning that deal easily. He’s locked in on a big salary each year until he’s 38 cause we all know he isn’t opting out after 2020. That contract likely won’t age well and this year he’s been hurt almost all year. They also did the best they could with the return
They couldn’t get the best possible offer. Stanton had a NTC. He controlled his destination. People who keep bashing the Stanton trade have no idea what their talking about.
Right on Rocketman.
Cousin, Donnie is actually a good manager with a consistently bad hand to play. You nailed this!
Rocket32 – agreed. The Stanton move was one of the few the Marlins did that made sense. I understand the criticism, but it had to be done or it would be the Montreal Marlins (kidding)
Three out of the 5 managers in the NL East will be out of work next year….Kapler, Mattingly, and Callaway.
Funny…..
Last Spring when I picked the Braves to take the NL East, a primary reason I gave was that far and away Brian Snitker was the best manager in the NLE…and that analytics and other fad theories aside – Managers (and Coaches) matter.
Snitker gets to play the minor Leaguers he coached in the majors. He should play Freeman a bit sparingly at this point until the playoffs. Mets have no chemisry with all those additions. Washington’s window is closing with scherzers health, Harper gone and rendon gone at the end of the year.
Kapler sucks
He’ll be doing infomercials for putting coconut oil on your junk….he has no clue…I expect Realmuto to burst into flames, he’s been so overused this season…been great, but we’re beating him like a borrowed mule….
Mattingly for Kapler
Donnie Baseball goes back to Yankees, they never win again. He could be the parking attendant.
Mattingly has never been a good Mgr. He is like Giardi over hyped because of the Yankee ties. Both did less with so much talent.
Sabean will be in shock when he can’t spend any Marlins money!
Headline Sept. 30, 2019 “Phillies fire Kapler”
(Phillies last game 9/29)
Kapler isn’t going anywhere, nor should he. The rotation was never anywhere close to good enough and there are 7 relievers that were being counted on for high leverage roles that have essentially missed the whole season.
Every team has injuries (Yankees) but what separates the Phillies from a team like that is that they have no depth. Their 40-man roster is a joke. The problems with this team are in its construction, not its management. Honestly, given the roster he has it’s impressive that the team is six games over and still in it. He’s done a fine job.
Very probably the worst Manager in MLB today.
As well as very probably the worst head of Baseball Ops in MLB today.
All Kapler is good at is making excuses!No managerial experience what were mcFail& klentak thing of or weren’t they even thinking,Rodriguez,Knapp, brad miller don’t belong on a major league roster.
Frank, we are watching two different managers. I 100% agree on your assessment on the Phillies and the depth. No argument. I think Klenak is to blame for that. But Kapler is horrible. Terrible. I would literally take any other manager in the major leagues, to include Calloway, over Kapler. I have watched him take an average team and make them awful. I have seen him take a decent rotation (2018) and do things that would kill the mojo. I am so sorry my friend, but I disagree. If I held the money, and I of course do not, Klenak and Kapler would be gone.