Today could be the day that we finally learn the fate of Phillies manager Gabe Kapler.
Then again, today could also not be the day.
Whatever the case, we have some updates on #GabeWatch this morning, and it seems that John Middleton is wasting no time burning up the jet fuel this offseason:
Three immediate reactions:
Meanwhile, The Athletic’s Matt Gelb did fine work updating the saga this morning. In addition to his report that head athletic trainer Scott Sheridan and assistant Chris Mudd won’t return next season, I found the following excerpt to be of particular interest:
They have openings for a hitting coach and pitching coach, but the Phillies intend for every other coach on Kapler’s staff to return—even if Kapler does not. The Phillies have reached agreements or exercised contract options with those seven coaches, sources said.
The first thing that jumps out here is that it seems odd the team would solidify the majority of its field staff without settling on its manager. That being said, vacancies remain at both pitching and hitting coach, and, as Gelb notes, a new manager could still make an additional tweak or two, so I don’t think building from the bottom is a bad play by the Phillies.
Here’s what I don’t get. If Middleton and the ownership group has enough trust in its baseball people to bring them back—and enough trust in Kapler to solicit his opinion about staff decisions—then why not, you know, just stick with Kapler?
Trust me, I’ve heard the reasons numerous times, and they’re not without merit, but that’s not the point here.
If there is a trust in the baseball people that want to see it through with Kapler, and Middleton is willing to sign off on the return of 77.7% of the field staff–using Kapler’s input no less–then, I mean, what gives?
Maybe we’ll find out later today. Maybe not.