The 2018 Phillies managerial search

zambonir 2017-10-30 19:12:37 UTC #261

I think Mackanin was involved in what AustinFan describes. He had his last meeting (as manager) to give Klentak his feedback on the entire 40-man roster just before he got fired, in fact. And the manager and GM meet regularly, both in ST and during the season, to discuss the roster, which includes guys in the minors who were in the big league camp and/or possibly ready to call-up. A manager might also send a guy back to the minor league spring training with a to-do list. It's still up to the dev staff and minor league coaches to execute that. But I do think it's fair to think Kapler will have a little extra to offer. It's also fair to think Wathan would have, for different reasons.

The pitching coach is gonna be about analytics for sure, or else it will be someone who is open to it, with an assistant who works more closely with the front office. This is a good read on Verlander:

zambonir 2017-10-30 20:15:53 UTC #262

(Edit)

Official, press conference after the Series. New thread?

Philsmania 2017-10-30 21:06:46 UTC #263

Odd, this announcing it with a press release.

bigegypt0417 2017-10-30 21:13:39 UTC #264

I wonder if MLB allowed the announcement but wanted any presser to be after the end of the world series?

zambonir 2017-10-30 21:36:59 UTC #265

Yeah I think once it was leaked they wanted it out, and in this day and age social media shares count as much as coverage. And they will still get a lot of coverage today. Kapler is in Philadelphia already, or maybe never left, already saw some footage. So that's cool. Sox may have hired their guy faster but will be waiting longer for him to be in the office.

allentown 2017-10-30 22:18:41 UTC #266

Not surprisingly, Kapler came up during Ben Badler's chat on the Phillies farm. Interesting comment on the importance of continued player development at the MLB level and how Kapler can help::

Paul (Philadelphia): Thoughts on Kapler to be announced as their new manager? (Good timing with this chat, btw.)

Ben Badler: I think he's a smart guy. He has minor league managerial experience, which I like, and experience being in charge of the Dodgers' minor league player development, which is another plus. If I'm hiring a manager, I want someone who can be a good in-game tactician and someone who is great at helping players get better. I never really liked how teams use the title "director of player development" to refer to their farm director. Player development is something that doesn't end in the minor leagues. Players have to continue to develop in the major leagues, both young players breaking in to the league and the older guys who have to make adjustments as their physical skills erode. Having a manager who excels as the person in charge of MLB player development is more important to me than running a clubhouse or other off-field stuff that generally gets more media attention.

Philsmania 2017-10-30 22:48:16 UTC #267

I don't know if this is just bad clickbait but this article says that Schilling reached to Kapler for a pitching coach job.

Seriously, no thanks. We don't need a coach trying to be the center of attention.

zambonir 2017-10-30 23:42:09 UTC #268

Schilling said that on 97.5 apparently. He knows that's not really going to happen (if he really thought so he wouldn't have put it out there).

Anyway forget his personality or his baggage, he doesn't tick off any of the necessary boxes (experience, analytics).

If it's not someone who's already been a major league pitching coach I guess I would wonder who the Dodgers have (in the minors or their developmental department). Though they are also talking about moving Honeycutt into the front office.

California_Dreamin 2017-10-31 00:02:04 UTC #269

I actually think Curt Schilling would make an excellent pitching coach if he ever decided it was something he truly wanted to wrap his arms around. He was an amazing student of the game and perfected his craft through hard word, hard knocks and several injuries. I also think its a price well worth its weight in gold that he was a guy who helped not one, not two but three teams to World Series berths and starred in all 3 teams quests.

I know he won't get the job but to simply dismiss him out of hand is short sighted, he was a guy who got almost every ounce of his ability out with hard work and study. I think Schilling would have a lot to offer.

zambonir 2017-10-31 00:35:06 UTC #270

Only if we can get Barry Bonds out of retirement as hitting coach. Or Pete Rose.

jimbomill 2017-10-31 00:38:03 UTC #271

I'm with you. I think Schilling can be a fine pitching coach. I also think Boston would take him before the Phillies.

zambonir 2017-10-31 00:48:39 UTC #272

I feel like you guys haven't followed Schilling's career very closely of late. Of course he's extremely smart, but he's an unhinged unemployable egotist (and he's always been an egotist). And a racist, but hey, YMMV.

He burned all his bridges with Red Sox ownership and I doubt he's quite as tight with Kapler as he was 13 years ago. No MLB team would want to deal with his baggage, or the media scrutiny, and unlike Mark McGwire (or even Pete Rose before the last scandal) he wouldn't be able to just keep his head down and quietly show up for work every day. It's possible the league wouldn't even allow him to be hired, though I don't know if they'd have the grounds (or authority) to do that.

Dirk41 2017-10-31 02:10:41 UTC #273

Halladay is off the table due to dadding, right??

zambonir 2017-10-31 02:21:30 UTC #274

Don't forget Moyer for the ex-player trifecta.

It's not gonna be a rookie pitching coach, especially if Wathan is on the staff too. There are a lot of pitching coaches available, as well as people with minor league experience. As I said I would look at the LA chart in that case. Matt Herges and Bill Simas are their longtime guys; Kip Wells is newer.

phillychuck 2017-10-31 02:29:55 UTC #275

I think I'm OK with the Kapler hire and I'd like to see Wathan considered as the bench coach--they seem to balance each other's strengths and weaknesses well.

I have no freaking clue about a pitching coach...if there isn't a superstar out there, go to the AAA guy, Lundquist, who seems to have had success with some of the young guys, or to someone Kapler has confidence in. Handling the pitching staff is the #1 way that managers help their teams.

allentown 2017-10-31 02:45:43 UTC #276

With Kapler as an MLB manager for the first time, I prefer an experienced bench coach. Wathan would be a good guy to have on the staff to work with the kids, since he seems to have good rapport with them -- just not as bench coach. Let him be the 3B coach..

Philsmania 2017-10-31 02:52:17 UTC #277

Sammy? The continuity guy and Herrera whisperer.

zambonir 2017-10-31 02:52:18 UTC #278

I think that's a good argument for an experienced bench coach but on the other hand, Wathan has run a dugout for 10 years. What I wonder is what Wathan wants, and how well the job pays, i.e. is 3B coach a sufficient consolation prize? Does it get him closer to his goal of becoming a major league manager?

Some of the people who didn't get the job could be candidates for the staff as well. Nevin (who is out of work in SF), Hale, Velandia.

Would you make Samuel bench coach? It just seems like that is the profile for an experienced bench coach: a failed manager (Jimy Williams, Mackanin, Bowa).

DurhamBull 2017-10-31 03:42:54 UTC #279

I agree with everything you say (as I often do) except that it's short sighted to dismiss him out of hand. Even if someone's talent level is "walks on water", if they're toxic then you're better off with someone else, even if that someone else is a lesser talent.

zambonir 2017-10-31 03:54:08 UTC #280

Ironic, though, that Kapler had baggage too. This seems like something Curt could talk about on the radio. Also interesting that Francona's son worked for Klentak.