Report: Phillies fire manager Gabe Kapler after three games
Gabe Kapler was a bit too bold for the Phillies liking early in the season
After multiple incidents during the opening series of the season, the Phillies have reportedly fired manager Gabe Kapler after three games. Former manager Pete Mackanin will return to the bench in place of Kapler for the immediate future after the organization moved him to the front office during the offseason.
General manager Matt Klentak will hold a press conference Monday morning after the team had an off-day to make their decision heading into New York.
Questionable lineup choices, pitching changes, and calling in a pitcher from the bullpen who hadn’t warmed up brought the heat on Kapler early in his tenure. His handling of Aaron Nola on opening day and calling for Hoby Milner early in the game Saturday night were the tipping points for Phillies management.
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Benching Odubel Herrera and Jorge Alfaro in the season opener also brought distaste in the locker room.
Kapler entered the job without any experience managing a team other than one season in the minor leagues. After being a finalist for the Los Angeles Dodgers job the 42-year-old was named Philadelphia’s manager after Los Angeles lost the World Series to Houston. Kapler had served as the Dodgers Director of Player Development, and brought new ideas to an organization whose analytics department is still being developed under Klentak.
Mackanin was 174-238 in parts of three seasons with Philadelphia, and had signed an extension prior to last season before the organization opted to move on.
Next: 5 takeaways from Phillies opening series
Luckily for Kapler, all of this is just all in fun on this April Fool’s Day. While the rookie manager is already sitting on the hottest seat among Philadelphia coaches, the organization will certainly keep in their quest to “Be Bold.”
Happy April Fool’s Day!