2020 Phillies Manager Rumors and Speculation

tom81 2019-10-17 22:03:25 UTC #81

One advantage the Phillies have in recruiting a manager is an owner who will spend big to get his man, I can’t really say the same for the Mets and most of the other competition. This owner also has given every indication of being willing to spend now for players.

zambonir 2019-10-17 22:09:03 UTC #82

I am inclined to take Middleton's statement at face value - he wasn't out talking to future managers, he was still evaluating Kapler. And Klentak and MacPhail certainly weren't 'cause they didn't want to change managers.

But, they knew who was available, and they obviously had a sense that candidates wouldn't be taken off the market too quickly (along with the sense that Maddon to Anaheim was a done deal).

I would agree that the Phillies job is more attractive than the Mets job in most ways. Both owners may meddle but ours is less meddlesome. And richer (both for paying players and paying the manager). I might also suggest our GM is more likely to be employed in two years.

Mets arguably have more talent but not by much. They also seem to be considering a wider variety of candidates.

The only thing we can't give Girardi is NY. If he wants to stay home - and stick it to the Yankees - Mets are gonna be his first choice.

Dirk41 2019-10-18 05:03:43 UTC #83

Girardi and Middleton seem like a natural pair

bigegypt0417 2019-10-18 13:30:40 UTC #84

Girardi is my choice...he seems like a good fit for Philadelphia.

Philsmania 2019-10-18 13:55:33 UTC #85

I am a few days late with this but this is an interesting article from the Inquirer's Mike Sielski about how the McPhail-Klentak-Kapler troika not only failed to connect with but infuriated Phillies phandom. Interesting in that Sielski is one of the Inquirer's more analytical writers. Back in the Sam Hinkie days, some angry readers suggested he should become Hinkie's spokesperson. But, in this case, he seems to be more critical of the Phillies' troika's PR missteps and gaffes and suggest what the phans may really be looking for. You need to get through the Inquirer.com (f/k/a philly.com) paywall but it is an interesting read.

schillingfan 2019-10-18 15:58:20 UTC #86

A pretty accurate read of the situation. Middleton was in touch with the fans dislike of Gabe Kapler. Be Larry Bowa or Dallas Green or win.

julio 2019-10-18 16:28:51 UTC #87

That's a sad analysis of the Philadelphia fan base. If you're not winning, you have to be an [orifice], because that's what Philly fans identify with?

(Not saying it's wrong, SF... just sad.)

VoteForKalas 2019-10-18 18:48:56 UTC #88

It is sad, but I would hope it describes a small hard-core segment of the fan base who may attend more games, buy more merchandise or be more vocal in feedback to the organization or active on local sports radio.

Having lived in the city now for most of my life, I know a swath of Phillies fans and very few of them hold good feelings about Bowa as a manager (they do as a player) or would demand that the Phillies hire a certain "type" always. Most fans understand that is not their call. Do they have opinions? Sure, but if Middleton is basing his decisions on that basis, he is 1) crazy and 2) stupid and will not likely win anything of note during his ownership tenure.

All that said, I will say the "just win" part of the equation rings much truer to me and the fans I know. We do want a winner we can be proud of and support avidly. We do want parades down Broad Street and do want to bask in the glow of success within the baseball world.

That should be Middleton's guiding light in my view: build as strong an organization and consistent winner as possible and block out the noise otherwise. Laser focus and high standards; I think all fans could get behind that.

Dirk41 2019-10-18 19:12:53 UTC #89

Did Wathan even interview?

zambonir 2019-10-18 19:17:43 UTC #90

There's a tweet and a blog saying Mets are likely out on Girardi but not much of a source IMO. Still plausible that they simply aren't looking for a seven-figure manager (let alone a $3 million manager). Also Von Waganen probably wants even more control than Klentak (who wants it but no longer has it).

Girardi the final second interview for the Phillies (on Monday). I think Buck is today and Dusty already happened?

No, Wathan did not interview. Whether that's because Middleton would accept nothing less than a proven major league manager or Klentak decided he wasn't a candidate based on everything they already knew about him last time, who knows. Farrell (who is a proven major league manager and was the third finalist last time) neither.

flyers19rw 2019-10-21 00:03:53 UTC #91

With no series game on Monday, it would be the day to announce the new manager. MLB Likes having all eyes on the Series not teams making major moves during it.

bigegypt0417 2019-10-21 00:35:18 UTC #92

Seems like the Phillies will have their choice. Mets may be down to beltran and Eduardo Perez.

zambonir 2019-10-21 00:58:02 UTC #93

Girardi's second interview with the Phillies was reportedly not until tomorrow. The other two guys had theirs already. If that's the case will likely leak out Wednesday and be announced Thursday.

Given the Mets interviewed like, seven people, and Girardi was the only one with managerial experience, it seems like he was never a serious candidate, whether because of his salary or Van Waganen's preference for a different GM/manager dynamic. But it would have been dumb for them to not talk to him.

Never mind - Girardi is not out with the Mets.

andyb 2019-10-21 03:52:00 UTC #94

I think the World Series is supposed to be a news blackout for managerial hirings. Stuff could leak, but more likely teams want to announce tomorrow or wait.

LoneStarPhan 2019-10-21 04:02:53 UTC #95

This always seemed counter productive to me. Baseball news would only, IMO, reinforce interest in baseball, including the World Series.

julio 2019-10-21 04:12:57 UTC #96

Wouldn't want anything to distract from a Washington - Houston World Series, whose games will be played on TV into the wee hours of the night, after tons of silly hoopla and dragged out by tons of offensive advertising.

This one isn't going to be a ratings champ, I suspect. And if the games drag on the way all games seem to do now, what with the circuses that delay starting times and make things slower, fans will be tuning out in droves. Potentially five games, late at night, on nights when kids have to go to school, adults have to go to work the next morning. Nuts.

zambonir 2019-10-21 06:15:20 UTC #97

Lots of media folks seem to think the off days are fair game. Clearly a lot of teams aren't going to be ready tomorrow. San Diego, probably. But either way it will probably leak, even if a press conference is verboten.

It will be interesting to see if we are really competing with the Cubs and Mets for Girardi. Also what if he doesn't get any of the jobs? Both of those teams seem to prefer the younger guys, and if Middleton likes Showalter best (according to Heyman he was polling players about Buck last week too) his front office probably won't object. Of course Middleton might like Girardi best (it probably appeals to his ego to get the Yankees guy too).

Philsmania 2019-10-21 15:54:30 UTC #98

FWIW, PhilliesNation says Girardi is the Phillies' top target. Honestly, I would be happy with any of the three (Girardi, Baker or Showalter). But, I am a little concerned that Middleton may be getting a little bit bullied by the phanbase. As much as many in Philadelphia loved Buddy Ryan, he was the one who coined the saying "You think like the fans, you join them in the stands."

Philsmania 2019-10-21 15:57:13 UTC #99

After seeing the WS become a glorified HR derby in recent years, I think this WS with its matchup of formidable starting rotations offers the potential of being a refreshing change.

HopeSpringsEternal 2019-10-21 17:19:57 UTC #100

I agree. From a viewing perspective, I would much rather see a well pitched game, well played game than a parade of relief pitchers facing batters wailing away to try to knock one out of the park. This series could be almost like a throwback World Series with starting pitchers grabbing the headlines along with some of the star position players.