Maybe you saw this floating around today, or maybe not, but back in 2013 Gabe Kapler called for Charlie Manuel’s firing, the guy who is now his hitting coach in 2019.

Awkward, right? No, not really.

It is what it is, because Kapler was working as a TV analyst back then and was paid to give his opinions on the game. As such, this tweet dating back six years still exists:

It was not an outrageous tweet or opinion at the time. The Phils were struggling and had just fallen to a 49-54 record. Most of the fan base felt like it was time to move on, and sure enough Manuel was fired a few weeks later, on August 16th.

Regardless, that tweet, or anything Kapler said about Manuel on TV six years ago should hold no weight whatsoever. He was in a different role, doing a different job, and that’s that.


But of course Howard Eskin had to ask about it today, similar to the way he brought up the coconut oil masturbation topic at Kapler’s introductory press conference even though it had little to no relevance at the time.

The press conference exchange, after the jump:

Eskin: Matt and Gabe, there’s now a growing perception in this city, and Gabe you’ll understand why I ask this question, that Charlie Manuel will be ‘more’ if this team is successful, more than a hitting coach if this team is successful the rest of the year. I don’t know if that undermines Gabe as the manager. Can you address that? And Gabe, something I saw on social media, which is not social and it’s not media, but I have to ask it – that you thought Charlie should have been removed as the manager in 2013. That’s the second part of the question.

Klentak: First of all, you’ll have to ask Charlie this tomorrow, but Charlie is going to work for us another seven weeks and hopefully into October in this capacity. Charlie’s been very valuable to us in the role he’s in. I am super appreciative that he’s stepping up for this role for the remainder of the season but this is not a role that is likely to extend beyond 2019. I hope that we achieve such success in the final part of the season and into October that that becomes a lingering topic of conversation Howard, but this is very much a short term assignment.

Eskin: Gabe, how do you feel about that perception in the city.

Kapler: I think it’s great. It’s always going to be nice to have somebody who has had success in this market, both as a manager and in many other capacities, to be able to pick his brain. We always want more resources and Charlie’s a great resource. I look forward to having the opportunity.

Eskin: The other part of that question, about 2013 –

Kapler: I have no idea where that comes from.

Eskin: I wanted to address that because tomorrow morning it’s going to come out, it’s already come out so I just wanted to have you address it. That’s all.

Kapler: I’m not sure what that’s about.

Eskin: Okay, I’m just following up.

Kapler: Great, thank you.

Howard does nothing to help himself with that line of questioning. He just needs to cut to the chase and say something like this:

“Gabe, six years ago you called for Charlie Manuel’s firing and people are pulling up that tweet this afternoon. Is that something you feel the need to address?”

And he’ll probably say something like this:

“Obviously I was in a different role back then, a different job. Those comments were my professional opinion and I’ve got all the respect in the world for Charlie. I’m looking forward to working with him.”

The end. If you’re gonna ask it, leave it open-ended and let him reply as necessary. But it wasn’t something that needed to be asked in the first place, because it’s not relevant.

Time’s yours.