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Phillies owner consulting players about Gabe Kapler

By George Stockburger

PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 27: Manager Gabe Kapler #19 of the Philadelphia Phillies stands for the national anthem prior to the game against the Miami Marlins at Citizens Bank Park on September 27, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Marlins 5-4 in fifteenth inning. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 27: Manager Gabe Kapler #19 of the Philadelphia Phillies stands for the national anthem prior to the game against the Miami Marlins at Citizens Bank Park on September 27, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Marlins 5-4 in fifteenth inning. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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The Phillies may finally have a resolution for the Gabe Kapler situation.

Phillies owner John Middleton is reportedly nearing his decision regarding the future of second-year manager Gabe Kapler.

John Clark of NBC Sports Philadelphia tweeted Monday night that Middleton has been flying to visit with players “to meet with several key players.”

Middleton’s plane was not in the air late Monday night, according to Flight Aware.

Several baseball insiders have projected that Middleton would make a decision on Kapler by Wednesday, Oct. 9, 10 days after the Phillies season ended with a disappointing 81-81 record.

Former Mets general manager and Sirius XM host Steve Phillips took exception to Middleton taking the pulse of his players regarding the manager.

I disagree with some of Phillips’ take here. You absolutely should gauge the opinion of your players, especially veterans such as Bryce Harper, J.T. Realmuto, Rhys Hoskins, and Andrew McCutchen. They can offer helpful insight into the clubhouse that Middleton may not have seen.

Where I do think there’s an issue is that Middleton is making these trips and calls now and not earlier in the season once the Phillies were eliminated. It will be something the beat writers grill him on regardless if Kapler is fired or not.

But at this point, the hitting coach has been fired, the pitching coach is being reassigned, and the fanbase would revolt if Kapler comes back for a third season. Middleton has acknowledged he listens to the fans, and he’s taking every moment he can to listen to as many people who will talk to him.

It’s clear the decision is coming, and that it’s Middleton’s to make.

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