What's wrong with Gabe Kapler?

[A Swing and A Drive]

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/the-good-the-bad-and-the-really-ugly-all-the-reactions-to-gabe-kaplers-phillies-debut/

 

Former Brewer sure is making it seem like the the Phillies pulled some random dude off the street and asked him to be the manager to start the season. Yikes. Philly fans will eat him alive!

 

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/after-another-gaffe-and-a-15-2-loss-phillies-manager-gabe-kapler-guarantees-playoffs/

[homer]

Taking over managing to new levels.

[jerichoholicninja]

I went into that expecting to see massive overreaction to minor things but wow, does he have any clue what he's doing. The making a pitching change without having a pitcher warming up is a fireable offense. And then to ignore the issue when questioned about it by changing the subject and guaranteeing you'll make the playoffs? Have to believe he's close to losing that clubhouse already.

[young guns]

Has there been a response from MLB about this? Seems like basically the umps allowed them to break a rule, albeit for a good reason, with the pitching change clock and I'm curious to see if there will be any repercussions to eith the team or umps or both.

[jerichoholicninja]

Has there been a response from MLB about this? Seems like basically the umps allowed them to break a rule, albeit for a good reason, with the pitching change clock and I'm curious to see if there will be any repercussions to eith the team or umps or both.

 

I would hope there's some sort of punishment for the umps. I understand their reasoning and I can't really fault them for doing it but they chose not enforce a rule and you can't just pick and chose what rules you want to enforce. I don't think you can punish the Phillies for anything. It's not their fault the umps chose to let them circumvent a rule.

[Never Outhustled]

I hate that writers refer to Kapler's approach as "data driven". It's not. He's a fool. He's always been a fool. So many in the Dodgers organization celebrated when Kapler got the Philly job, they were relieved to be rid of him.

[liveforoctober]

Dang. That's crazy.

 

1) Im not mad at the braves for being mad. Rules are being broken.

2) Kudos to Layne for looking out for the kids health.

[PeaveyFury]

Apparently the answer to 'can anyone be plugged in as manager and know what they're doing' is no. Though the 'reliever wasn't warmed up question' is inexcusable, his handling of Nola and the staff in the opener might actually be more puzzling.

[RockCoCougars]

He thinks he's going to turn baseball on it's side with his revolutionary new strategies. Thinks he's the smartest guy in the room.

[MillerParkSouth]

The ump should be commended for protecting the pitcher from his managers screw up.

[3and2Fastball]

Taking out Nola after 60 some pitches was smart. Nola will benefit longterm from shorter outings.

 

Not having a pitcher warming up? Crazy town. But where was the rest of the coaching staff on this? Nobody communicated about it? Ultimately it is Kapler's fault and he'll need to really minimize those types of mistakes, or the revolution will be over before it starts

[DuWayne Steurer]

Has there been a response from MLB about this? Seems like basically the umps allowed them to break a rule, albeit for a good reason, with the pitching change clock and I'm curious to see if there will be any repercussions to eith the team or umps or both.

 

I would hope there's some sort of punishment for the umps. I understand their reasoning and I can't really fault them for doing it but they chose not enforce a rule and you can't just pick and chose what rules you want to enforce. I don't think you can punish the Phillies for anything. It's not their fault the umps chose to let them circumvent a rule.

 

 

IMO, that's 100% on the Phillies. The ump did the right thing to protect a pitcher from going into the game cold (and Layne said as much to the pool reporters after the game), and also said he would be submitting a report to MLB regarding the Phillies lack of readiness to have a pitcher ready.

[DuWayne Steurer]

Also, I'm all aboard on new managers bringing some new lines of thinking into the game, but Kapler is taking this thing to crazy town.

 

Going through the lineup only 2 times with starters is something that's been discussed quite a bit here. I'd be interested to see something like that done, to see if it could be done, but Kapler has to be able to make the easy moves.

 

Also, it's easy to criticize pulling Nola after 68 pitches, but man.... you HAVE to believe your bullpen can hold a 5 run lead with less than 4 innings to go.

[pacopete4]

Kudos to the umpire for realizing the situation and not endangering a pitcher because of his stupid manager. Kapler should be fined a hefty amount and suspended for a few games.

[xisxisxis]

There's nothing wrong with Gabe Kapler, he's always been an idiot.

 

Kudos to the umpire for realizing the situation and not endangering a pitcher because of his stupid manager.

 

That's not the umpires job. His job is to enforce the rules, not decide when they should apply a rule and when not to. I hope MLB comes down on the umpire for not enforcing the rules or do we want baseball to be more like professional wrestling...

[pacopete4]

There's nothing wrong with Gabe Kapler, he's always been an idiot.

 

Kudos to the umpire for realizing the situation and not endangering a pitcher because of his stupid manager.

 

That's not the umpires job. His job is to enforce the rules, not decide when they should apply a rule and when not to. I hope MLB comes down on the umpire for not enforcing the rules or do we want baseball to be more like professional wrestling...

 

Don’t care that it’s not his job. Not one bit. Umpire realized how stupid the situation was and righted it. His only mistake was not tossing Kapler. Again, kudos. Common sense goes a long says sometimes.

[DuWayne Steurer]

There's nothing wrong with Gabe Kapler, he's always been an idiot.

 

Kudos to the umpire for realizing the situation and not endangering a pitcher because of his stupid manager.

 

That's not the umpires job. His job is to enforce the rules, not decide when they should apply a rule and when not to. I hope MLB comes down on the umpire for not enforcing the rules or do we want baseball to be more like professional wrestling...

 

I'd argue that player safety is always part of an official's job.

[xisxisxis]

I'd argue that player safety is always part of an official's job.

 

Where's the safety issue? Common sense says if I go into a game without proper warmup, I shouldn't attempt to throw my hardest the first few pitches. It sucks that I can't let loose right away, but my manager screwed up. Too bad for me. Now if I decide to throw my hardest and injure myself then I'm at fault, not my manager, and not the umpire. The safety issue is clearly in the players hands. The nanny state would argue that we have to save him from himself. The I'm responsible for my own actions state argues that he's a big boy and he can make that decision and live with the consequences. I choose empowering people to be adults, not babying them so they are always co-dependents.

[wildcat83]

MLB response was that the umpires absolutely did the right thing, and an official letter of warning will be sent to the Phillies.

 

Totally agree with this stance that player safety comes first. A 2-3 minute delay is nothing in the grand scheme of things.

 

I remember this happening in a Brewer game where they came out to get Wang without anyone up in the pen and the relievers out there freaked out throwing their arms up and trying to wave out to get the managers attention, then I think it turned out they were bringing in a position player to pitch.

[502 to Right]

This is what you get when you hire a guy who has one year of managing experience and it's 11 years ago in Class A ball.

[Never Outhustled]

Taking out Nola after 60 some pitches was smart. Nola will benefit longterm from shorter outings.

 

If it was smart to pull Nola early, why didn't Kapler pinch hit for Nola with runners on 1st and 3rd in the top of the inning? Nola only faced one more batter after making the last out of that inning. Further proof that Kapler has no plan.

[MVP2110]

This is what you get when you hire a guy who has one year of managing experience and it's 11 years ago in Class A ball.

 

So the Brewers shouldn't have hired Counsell?

[jerichoholicninja]

I'd argue that player safety is always part of an official's job.

 

Where's the safety issue? Common sense says if I go into a game without proper warmup, I shouldn't attempt to throw my hardest the first few pitches. It sucks that I can't let loose right away, but my manager screwed up. Too bad for me. Now if I decide to throw my hardest and injure myself then I'm at fault, not my manager, and not the umpire. The safety issue is clearly in the players hands.

 

Pretty much. Are umpires allowed to remove pitchers who don't have control of their fastball because they might injure a batter? I get what the ump was trying to do, but that's not his job. If the pitcher isn't warmed up, too bad. Have him lob a few balls to the batters until he's loose.

[timpep]

I'd argue that player safety is always part of an official's job.

 

Where's the safety issue? Common sense says if I go into a game without proper warmup, I shouldn't attempt to throw my hardest the first few pitches. It sucks that I can't let loose right away, but my manager screwed up. Too bad for me. Now if I decide to throw my hardest and injure myself then I'm at fault, not my manager, and not the umpire. The safety issue is clearly in the players hands.

 

Pretty much. Are umpires allowed to remove pitchers who don't have control of their fastball because they might injure a batter? I get what the ump was trying to do, but that's not his job. If the pitcher isn't warmed up, too bad. Have him lob a few balls to the batters until he's loose.

 

I don't get this line of thinking one bit. In a context outside of a sporting event this wouldn't even be a conversation.

 

Imagine showing up to work and the door is locked, you get inside and go to grab your safety gear and are told to just be really careful for a few minutes and someone will bring it to you later because you are already behind schedule.

 

The reality is that that it's probably pretty hard to restrain yourself as a professional athlete in that situation. If you want there to be a penalty against the manager or the team that's fine, but needlessly risking injury shouldn't be part of the discussion in my opinion.

 

Sports can be dangerous as you pointed out, but why add to it?

[Outlander]

I'd argue that player safety is always part of an official's job.

 

Where's the safety issue? Common sense says if I go into a game without proper warmup, I shouldn't attempt to throw my hardest the first few pitches. It sucks that I can't let loose right away, but my manager screwed up. Too bad for me. Now if I decide to throw my hardest and injure myself then I'm at fault, not my manager, and not the umpire. The safety issue is clearly in the players hands.

 

Pretty much. Are umpires allowed to remove pitchers who don't have control of their fastball because they might injure a batter? I get what the ump was trying to do, but that's not his job. If the pitcher isn't warmed up, too bad. Have him lob a few balls to the batters until he's loose.

Yes they are, they get ejected.