That Balls Outta Here
FanSided

Phillies learn valuable lessons from a tough series in L.A.

By Seth Humeniuk

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 02: Joc Pederson #31 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates his two run homerun with Russell Martin #55, in front of J.T. Realmuto #10 of the Philadelphia Phillies, for a 8-0 during the eighth inning at Dodger Stadium on June 02, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 02: Joc Pederson #31 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates his two run homerun with Russell Martin #55, in front of J.T. Realmuto #10 of the Philadelphia Phillies, for a 8-0 during the eighth inning at Dodger Stadium on June 02, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 01: Pitcher Jose Alvarez #52 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches in the second inning of the MLB game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on June 01, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images) /

Gabe Kapler Mis-Managed the Bullpen

I wrote an article last month defending Gabe Kapler. In it, I gave him some credit for the Phillies recent success and praised him for doing a better job of managing his pitching. He sure made that article look like one of my patented #freezingcoldtakes this weekend!

Kapler’s use of the bullpen this weekend was baffling. In his infinite wisdom, he decided to have Jose Alvarez open Saturday’s game, before sending Juan Nicasio in to get one out and having Irvin and Vince Velasquez (both of whom have started this season) pitch 4.2 innings.

Surprisingly enough, this strategy was effective on Saturday (L.A. only scored four total runs) but came back to take a Jaws-sized bite out of Kapler’s backside on Sunday. It all started when he pinch-hit for Nick Pivetta after six shutout innings and 82 pitches. That move made sense at the moment, as the Phillies, who were in a scoreless tie at the time, had two men on, and two out.

It didn’t work out though, as Phil Gosselin struck out, and Velasquez came on in relief and promptly allowed a home run to David Freese. Things got ugly in the eighth though, as Kapler turned to Edgar Garcia and Yacksel Rios, who combined to allow SEVEN RUNS IN ONE INNING. The Phillies bullpen was forced to pitch 13.1 innings this weekend (including Irvin’s 3.2) and allowed 13 runs.

Kapler’s use of the opener Saturday made absolutely no sense to me. If Irvin was available, why not just have him start? And why were he and Velasquez pulled after 60 and 21 pitches respectively?

Sunday may have been even worse though; I still can’t wrap my brain around why Rios and Garcia were brought in instead of J.D. Hammer, who has yet to allow a baserunner in his three outings, hadn’t pitched at all in the series and has arguably the coolest name in MLB history.

In Kapler’s defense, it must be noted that the Phillies were missing six relievers this weekend, including their best lefty in Adam Morgan, but Kapler still has to do better

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