The 2018 Phillies managerial search

[bigegypt0417]

If his specialty is connecting with people and getting the best out of them, those are great attributes for any manager, but especially a manager of a young team. It seems he has worked a lot with field staff and scouts, which is also a plus. The job of manager is changing. While his background is a tad unconventional, shortfalls can be covered by selecting the right bench coach. He seems a guy who will consider and integrate the thinking of his bench coach.

Being that he was a player for so long I would imagine the strategy in-game should come to him with experience.

Marrying the different eras of baseball is going to be a valuable tool going forward. It's good to see that the typical coaching carousel is starting to change.

[flyers19rw]

I'm interested in seeing who Kapler will go after as his coaching staff. Right now that is where his "player development" needs to start. There are a slew of young pitchers who need help in taking the next step and the same can be said for a few of the position players. There is raw talent on the roster for now and going forward. It needs to be polished.

[Philsmania]

Wathan was my choice but it sounds like Kapler is a good pick as well. Welcome and best wishes!

Now, I guess the focus will be on building a coaching staff. I wouldn't be surprised if Sammy stays as a holdover and the bridge to the Latino players, possibly moved over to bench coach. Maybe Wathan becomes third base coach. Maybe Morandini manages the Pigs or Fightin' Phils. Otherwise, we'll probably see all new people.

[jimbomill]

I consider that a bad decision

[fish]

It's been so long since the Phillies had a manager that was particularly shrewd at in-game decisions I wouldn't know what that looked like. My brain says Fregosi was, but even he is infamous for the worst decision in bullpen use in franchise history.

Even if Kapler isn't good at that, it's not likely he could be worse than his predecessors!

[andyb]

Francona is probably the best manager we have had in recent times and he was never given a great chance.

Of course we are now watching supposedly the best teams in the game completely mis-handle their 25-man rosters in the World Series. It is hard to think that either manager is getting the most out of their complete pitching staff in this world series. There is a reason mortal relievers not named Mariano Rivera have trouble getting 6-out saves repeatedly in the postseason. Giles, for instance, seems like a 1-inning max guy and they have completely ruined him for the rest of the series most likely.

Hopefully Kapler is looking and learning here because my biggest hope for a manager is one who is not tied to conventional wisdom as much. And conventional wisdom is losing games left and right at the moment.

[LoneStarPhan]

Since I know little about Kapler prior to what I have read this past couple weeks, I really cannot make a fair or accurate judgement as to his suitability to be the manager. I doubt any of us can, but of course, we can have gut feelings as to whether or not this is the right choice at this time.

I see it as a bold move from the past and as such, view it as a daring move that may or may not prove to be a good move. I am looking forward to the remainder of this off season and spring training, 2018,

[allentown]

I am not sure you can say we have not had consistent player development from rookie ball to the majors. And Kapler will also have nothing to do with that really

I think we've had a lot of signs that this is not the case. I expect Kapler's player development background/interest to come into play with the non-25-man roster guys he sees in ST and thinks potentially have an MLB roster spot later in the season as injury replacements/after a bit more development. It would not surprise me if he has specific development plans for each of these guys, which he reviews with the minor league instructional staff after ST and checks back on periodically. He has a lot of front office experience and I don't think that will be totally set to one side. I am interested in what he makes of guys like Quinn and Cozens and what further development at the MLB level, especially in approach, he pursues with Altherr, Williams, Crawford and the young pitchers and catchers. We should have a plan to improve all of these guys in ST and in-season.

Choice of coaches will be telling. I think we are in great need of a basestealing/baserunning teacher.

[andyb]

Joe Jordan has been in place since 2011. He has talked extensively about a consistent development system. Saying the Phillies have not had this or aspired to this is a bit of an urban legend. Could we do it better? Probably. But we certainly have had systems in place for a number of years.

[allentown]

There seems to have been a significant disconnect with the MLB pitching coach. I remain unconvinced that we are consistently emphasizing plate control and OBP for hitters. Guys don't just suddenly switch from a contact swing to a power swing.

[Austinfan]

I think we've been moving to a more integrated development system. And Klentak has accelerated that process.

It's not that Kapler is going to take over, rather, you'll have a ML manager who understands the whole process, and wants to work with the development staff and ensure that everyone is on the same page. Often the manager is in "win now" mode and the GM is in "win soon" while the development guys are thinking long-term (what do I need to nuture 17-20 year olds). Having a manager, GM and development team that think in a similar fashion allows more consistency up and down the system.

Because Kapler understands the process, he can communicate what he wants in the "final product" to the development staff, so they're not working at cross purposes. And because he understands analytics, you won't get the "lot's of RBIs" BS we've gotten from some of the fossils. If someone is promoted with a bad baseball skill package (as opposed to talent package), Kapler is sure to send a message down the line that they're not coaching up key skills.

While some of the players may think he's a bit exotic, given this is a young team with kids struggling to stay in the majors, a 57th pick (which would be a UDFA today) who managed a ten year career is going to have a lot of credibility. The funny thing is, for all his embrace of analytics, Kapler only had 269 BB in 3315 PA, practice what I preach, not what I did!

[Austinfan]

The other thing with Kapler, we're still rebuilding and will be doing so for a couple more years.
So if he doesn't work out, he's perfect to kick upstairs as an assistant GM and bring in a veteran "game day" coach for an older, more established team.

[zambonir]

I think all of the traditional roles and expectations are out the window. The GM (and his analytics teams) do things that would have only been decided in the dugout in the past. And I'm certain this manager - and any manager they'd have hired - will play a role on organizational meetings that is wider-ranging than anything Mackanin or Charlie would have done.

Even looking at Houston, it seems a good deal of the credit for what Morton and McCullers and Verlander are doing goes to the front office. But Strom (who's no kid) is on the same page when it comes to implementing it.

The whole point of the analytics movement is to be predictive, not reactive. It's not always going to be right but it has a greater chance of being right than making the same sort of decisions (whether it's signing a player coming off a bad season or deciding to throw a batter nothing but change-ups) without data.

[andyb]

The advantage of an analytics-friendly manager is that they can incorporate all that data into their planning (both long term and short term in game). While of course we want the manager on the same page as the GM, I don't think that actually extends into much more of a wide ranging organizational role for the manager. He'll have enough to do with the 25-man roster. I think your supposition that he will have a much larger organizational role has little to back it up. It might be wishful thinking, but frankly we have hired Klentak and by extension Jordan and Almaraz to do all that.

I want Kapler to manage. I am happy he is well versed in analytics and assume he'll be on the same page as the front office. Thinking his role should be much more than that is just conjecture and wishful thinking.

[zambonir]

I don't think he'll have any involvement from February to October, I just think he'll be a stronger voice in the normal off-season meetings, and may bring more to the table in spring training when he's managing and evaluating the young players (again, normal part of the job but he might have more insight/interest/facility). But sure, in the end, it's all coming from Klentak. What Kapler, Almaraz and Jordan do in their respective roles should be similiar because it's part of the GM's plan.

Which, separate issue, I don't think he's even halfway done implementing, organizationally.

[Austinfan]

I think it's a lot easier to implement a plan when your chief deputies are all on the same page.
Which doesn't necessarily mean they have to engage in group think, but they do have to speak the same language, and agree on organizational goals and the general strategy the organization will seek to implement.
Once that understanding is developed, you have to delegate authority to your deputies to manage their part of the organization (or replace them if you don't think them capable of that task).
And you need to have feedback to identify problems, it helps for Kapler to understand what Jordan is trying to accomplish, since he's "been there, done that."

You'd also expect Kapler to be involved with upper level prospects in both spring training and the offseason, this is the pool of players he's going to manage, not just the 25 man roster but potential promotions and injury callups. The more he's familar with them, the better he can ease their transition to the majors. As you go lower down the system, you'd expect his input to be limited. But given his background, you'd hope Jordan would want to pick his brain to get a different perspective from a successful organization.

[bkeich]

Kapler is basically a complete unknown as a manager, so I am willing to give him a chance. Honestly, this wasnt a premium job in the eyes of candidates, so I didnt really expect a good name.

Now, on to what I think is actually more important than the manager (possibly). The Pitching Coach. With our team as it is, I think the hitting, offense and defense will progress nicely but I am very suspect of our pitching staff. We have numbers but the quality just isnt there yet, only really Nola as a starter and Neris (and a couple others maybe) as relievers, the rest are maybes, possibles or we will see. I think we have enough possible starters to form a part of a pitching staff (with 1-2 vets), but I really think we are going to need a Pitching Coach or someone to work with these guys and refine what we have. I want a premium Pitching Coach, not a has been and not a maybe. I don't mind young, I dont even really mind inexperienced if there are things to make one believe that the coach will be good, but I think for this team to take the next step we need the equivalent of what Davey Lopes did for our running game a decade ago. We need a guy to succeed in that job. Badly.

[andyb]

You'd also expect Kapler to be involved with upper level prospects in both spring training and the offseason, this is the pool of players he's going to manage, not just the 25 man roster but potential promotions and injury callups.

Why would you expect Kapler's role in matters like this to be any different than any past manager? There is just no basis for thinking that.

[bkeich]

I agree with AndyB. Kapler is a first time manager, he is going to be in over his head just handling the 25 man roster. I would expect him to work on a relationship with future players (Kingery, etc.) during spring training, but once the season starts he is going to have more than enough just to learn to manage a team and the 25 man, he should not be involved in any way with players 26+ in the organization. They will come to him eventually, but we have people with the jobs to work with those guys.

My guess is that after 1 year it will be enough of an accomplishment for Kapler just to be competent at a job he is basically not qualified for yet. Hopefully his hiring is the start of something special, he should be our take us to the promised land manager.

[schillingfan]

I think the argument is over the definition of "involvement." Kepler brings a unique experience to the manager job. Of course the Phillies will take advantage. It probably will involve his input on minor leaguers from spring training and call-ups, which is s asked of every manager. In his case I expect the input will be given greater weight because of his analytics and experience. GMs and managers talk a lot I expect. In this case a talk might extend to a minor leaguer. None of this will harm his ability to manage the major league team.