Phillies manager Gabe Kapler asked important questions by media

2 Mar 1999: Outfielder Gabe Kapler #23 of the Detroit Tigers poses for a studio portrait on Photo Day during Spring Training at the Joker Merchant Stadium in Lakeland, Florida. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Laforet /Allsport
2 Mar 1999: Outfielder Gabe Kapler #23 of the Detroit Tigers poses for a studio portrait on Photo Day during Spring Training at the Joker Merchant Stadium in Lakeland, Florida. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Laforet /Allsport

94 WIP’s Howard Eskin made sure to cover the important topics in Gabe Kapler’s introductory press conference with the Phillies.

The Phillies introduced Gabe Kapler, their 54th manager in franchise history, Thursday afternoon in his first press conference with the Philadelphia. You can watch the entire thing on the team’s Facebook page, and it is worth the watch as Kapler gives a lot of insight into how he will run the team. In true Philly sports media fashion, the conversation went far beyond the baseball field.

94 WIP’s Howard Eskin, ever the professional, had to bring up a post from 2014 Kapler wrote on his personal blog centering around fitness and nutrition. The post in question, titled “Coconut Oil – Beyond Cooking”, ends with a rather elicit potential use of coconut oil:

You’re moisturized and smelling tropical, your teeth are white and your face looks like you’ve just visited a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon. The sun has set, and the moon is out. Perhaps you have a friend nearby, perhaps it’s just you by your lonesome…well, this is awkward. I’ve promised you authenticity, honesty and openness. Take this how you wish and I’ll spare you the step by step. Coconut oil is the world’s greatest lubricant. I can’t help where your mind goes with this. Once the ball leaves the bat, I can’t steer it.

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For some reason, Eskin thought this one post was worth bringing up at the press conference, so he did just that, asking: [quote via Brett Bodner of the New York Daily News]

“Gabe, are you proud of some of the stuff – you said you express yourself – I don’t wanna get specific but, people in the room, but there’s an elephant in the room, people here.I mean, Coconut oil is a phrase, I throw it out there. Gabe any reservations and Matt any reservations? Gabe for putting it out there and Matt while you were in the interview process.”

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Kapler responded calmly, simply stating that some of the posts he had written included content that was intending to make players laugh. Considering his target demographic was young men in their 20s, a masturbation joke might be something they would laugh at. Regardless, Kapler said it was a mistake and that he probably would have said things differently were he to re-write it. He made sure to say that is no longer than the mindset he has as Philadelphia’s new manager.

Of all the issues to tackle, this one doesn’t matter at all.

What Kapler wrote on a blog nearly three years ago about something that doesn’t relate to the game at all shouldn’t be any concern with how he will manage the Phillies. However, good ol’ Eskin makes sure to bring up the “elephant in the room” that must have only been visible to him.

Next: Masahiro Tanaka a stone worth turning?

Stay classy Philly sports media.