Let's try a simple poll v2 -- Fire kapler?

[phillychuck]

• Fire Kapler
• Don't Fire Kapler

Show results

[phillychuck]

OK, I didn't know the option was hiding under the gear...

Please vote at your pleasure!

[julio]

But... no Pie?

[andyb]

No "I am kind of 50-50" response?

I am not in love with his performance but also know that the results have not been unexpected because of injuries. I'd prefer they evaluate Kapler and Klentak as a team I think.

[zambonir]

a third option and it's no longer "simple"

[julio]

a third option and it's no longer "simple"

Well, it's so simple that I'm not voting - because it isn't a simple matter. Complexity is not to be shunned...

[zambonir]

In this case I disagree. You either think he needs to go or you don't. If you have doubts/require nuance about it, you don't.

[schillingfan]

I voted no, but I’m ambivalent. I don’t care what the fans think of him. I think the players mostly like him, but that’s a speculative opinion. I’ve maintained from the beginning that Charlie was brought in to report back on the clubhouse. I think the game day decisions have little impact on outcomes. What matters more is how they handle the players and that’s highly variable depending upon the individuals and circumstances of the team.

[zambonir]

The organizational meeting was yesterday, incidentally (while Middleton was also in DC). Maybe there's another tomorrow, maybe not.

[tom81]

I voted fire. I’m ok that the fans don’t like him but I’m worried that the players have stopped playing for him. Klentak is in a tough spot, he brought him in but if they collapse again next year, with Kapler still here, it will be really ugly. Klentak might have more job security by firing Kapler even though he was his choice.

[zambonir]

Just depends whether Klentak believes they can win next year. If they do, with Kapler, they both are here in 2021. If not they are both gone. If Klentak hires a new manager maybe that buys him 2022 but that's when his contract is up, so the new guy would have to win in 2020 too. If he hires a new manager and the team misses the playoffs again everybody might get canned!

I think perceptions about chemistry or effort are chicken/egg. Good teams win and seem to play hard. Bad teams don't. I saw Brad Miller say this week that this was the best clubhouse he'd been in. Harper has said the same. I don't think they are blowing smoke

[BostonRoss]

I like Kapler, and I don't care what "the fans" think of him. The fans liked Bowa, and he didn't win anything. They didn't like Charlie until he won. They;d like Kapler if he won.

But I vote to fire him. The question for me is whether this team is likely to win next year with Kapler at the helm. I don't see any evidence that it is. Some players did about as expected, and others took steps backward under Kapler. It seems likely that no one will suddenly start to flourish under Gabe. Why not bring in someone who has a history of getting the most out of their players. Maddon certainly has (Zobrist, for example--maybe even Javy Baez, who has certainly flourished).

It might be different if I could point to some things that Kapler seems to do well, but I can't really think of anything. Being a strong leader who is looked up to by the players, communicating well, strategic acumen...he doesn't seem to have any of these. I think the results of the last two years speak for themselves. If they keep Gabe, I expect another year like the last two.

[BostonRoss]

It seems that Harper has been on a few dysfunctional teams, though. He had a couple of bad managers during his time in Washington.

Miller needs a job for next year; so he probably isn't motivated to complain much.

[zambonir]

agreed on both counts

[schillingfan]

DIt could also be flawed data. If they are using data to tell pitcher A to throw high outside fastballs to player B or that player C has better odds against pitcher D. It may be too small a sample size on on both ends, or the weight given to certain factors. But even if they fire Kapler, they are going to to hire a new manager who goes with his data, not his gut.

[Philsmania]

If they keep Gabe, I expect another year like the last two.

Keeping Kapler = the definition of insanity.

[Squire]

Impeach Kapler

[phillychuck]

I made it yes/no to force a commitment, from myself as much as everyone else. I'm roughly ambivalent as SF stated above, but if push came to shove I'd probably let him go and try another young guy (who is the Yanks hitting coach? Marcus Thames? Seems like a budding genius.).

[Philsmania]

Marcus Thames? Seems like a budding genius.).

A person of color would be great and he comes from the Yankees. I don't think this Phillies braintrust likes POC's though.

[Lawman]

I voted no, but I’m ambivalent. I don’t care what the fans think of him. I think the players mostly like him, but that’s a speculative opinion.

I second this. I see no clear reason to fire him. I see no clear reason not to, except he seems to have the locker room but, like @schillingfan says, that's mere conjecture on my part.