Phillies could make history by hiring Joe Girardi as manager
If the Phillies fire Gabe Kapler, their next manager could be a historic hire.
As of 11 p.m. on Sept. 30 the Phillies have not made a public decision on the future of manager Gabe Kapler. Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia said on his podcast Monday afternoon that he believes Kapler will be shown the door, following moves made by the Cubs and Angels, among others.
After going with a younger, analytically-driven manager in Kapler, Philadelphia is expected to go “old school” with their next hire. Names such as Joe Maddon, Buck Showalter, Mike Scioscia, and Joe Girardi have been floated out there, though it appears Maddon is destined for the Angels.
Should the Phillies hire Girardi, who beat them as the Yankees manager in the 2009 World Series, it would be a historic hire.
Only once in baseball history has a World Series winning manager joined the team his championship team bested in the Fall Classic. The only other example is Johnny Keane, who managed the 1964 St. Louis Cardinals before joining the Yankees the year after beating them in the World Series.
Girardi has spent the last couple of years as an analyst for MLB Network, and it’s believed if he wants a job he’ll have his pick of the litter.
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Casey Stern of MLB Network Radio called the Phillies job the most enticing among the handful of openings given the presence of superstars such as J.T. Realmuto and Bryce Harper, the fan base’s passion, and owner John Middleton’s willingness to spend money.
Girardi, a former major league catcher, would certainly bring some clout wherever he goes with a ring already on his hand and years as a successful big league catcher under his belt. He’s had the opportunity to watch the game from afar while also picking things up along the way watching games at MLB Network and working with a variety of former players, coaches, and analysts.
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If Middleton does fire Kapler, he’s gonna need to be bold and find someone with a championship pedigree such as Girardi to lead the next generation of Phillies towards a ring of their own. Not only would it be a historic hire, but it could be the best move Middleton signs off on this offseason.
Even if you’ve beat them, you can join them.