That Balls Outta Here
FanSided

Phillies: 2019 season predictions and fun pop bets

By George Stockburger

PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 07: The Phillie Phanatic performs before an opening day game between the Philadelphia Phillies the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park on April 7, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 07: The Phillie Phanatic performs before an opening day game between the Philadelphia Phillies the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park on April 7, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /
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CLEARWATER, FL – MARCH 11: Philadelphia Phillies manager Gabe Kapler looks on prior to a Grapefruit League spring training game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Spectrum Field on March 11, 2019 in Clearwater, Florida. The Rays won 8-2. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Will Gabe Kapler be fired?

George (No): A lot would have to go wrong for the Phillies to fire Gabe Kapler after one season. There’d have to be a Bobby Valentine clubhouse meltdown or an incredible losing streak early in the season for Kapler to be put on the chopping block.

That being said if the Phillies don’t win there will be calls for Kapler’s job. The fans generally don’t support the analytic, coconut-oil enthusiast, player-friendly manager unless he’s winning.

I think a lot will change on the field this year because Kapler has more established players to work with. A lineup of this caliber should require less tinkering from the manager.

If the Phillies collapse again this summer, it wouldn’t shock me to see Kapler shipped out, but I don’t anticipate it happening.

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John (No): There’s nothing some in this fanbase would love more than to see Gabe Kapler’s grin be wiped off his face by a firing. They only got more ammunition when he was voted by players the manager they least wanted to play for.

Everything would have to go completely wrong this year for Kapler to be fired. If anything, his job should be much easier this year with a more talented roster.

As I stated on the last slide, projections indicate that the Phillies should finish the year with around 90 wins; who fires their manager after a 10-win improvement?

Barring just everyone on the team falling flat on their face, the only reasonable explanation for the team finishing with a losing record will be injuries, which you can’t blame Kapler for. If the Phillies completely bottom out, then we can have the discussion about firing Kapler, but that scenario is very unlikely.

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