STOP IT! Kapler is not Doug or Charlie

by Posted on

I saw it all weekend on social media. Gabe Kapler apologists reminding people complaining about Kapler’s Opening Series blunders that Charlie Manuel and Doug Pederson struggled early on in their coaching/managerial tenures here in Philadelphia. Charlie and Doug did have their early moments that caused a few raised eyebrows. Charlie stumbled with double-switches. Doug called timeouts before punting and went for it on 4th and 8. However, Gabe Kapler is not Doug or Charlie. Let’s set this straight.

First of all, Gabe is in way better shape. Not that Crusher Pederson isn’t buff, he’s just not Kapler. They both love ice cream, but Doug chooses to actually eat it while Gabe puts ice cream in his mouth to taste it and then spits it out into a cup like it’s chewing tobacco so avoid the calories.

Second of all, and way more important, is how these three individuals differ on confidence. And, I’m not talking about the confidence the team has in their manager/head coach. Both Doug and Charlie may have had screw-ups that may have caused the players in the clubhouse to question the aptitude of their leaders. David Murphy, maybe Philly’s best sportswriter, talked about the risks of clubhouse trust in Kapler in a great piece today. I’m more concerned with the players’ self-confidence under Kapler. And, that’s where Kapler differs more from Charlie and Doug the most.

“Baseball is 90 percent mental. The other half is physical.”
Yogi Berra

The difference between success and failure at the highest levels of all competitive sports most often boils down to confidence. Great leaders instill confidence in their players. I worry that Kapler’s moves could erode the confidence talented young players in the Phillies clubhouse.

Kapler sits Odubel Herrera, the Phillies most consistent and best player over the past few years, on OPENING DAY because some data/analytical matchup bullsh*t. Herrera can be a head-case. That’s not a secret. The Phillies need his bat. Why do anything that could remotely get into Herrera’s head so early in the season. What message does this send to Odubel? That he’s not good enough to be an everyday centerfielder in the Majors?

Kapler pulls Opening Day starter Aaron Nola on in the 6th inning with 68 total pitches thrown and a 5-0 lead. Part of the rationale is that analytics predict that batters hit pitchers and Nola more effectively the third time around against pitchers and Nola. We all know how that ended. What message does this send to your Opening Day starter and a pitcher that is vital to the Phillies’ future? That we don’t trust him the third time around the order? Is he going to be pulled the third time around in every game? Not a great confidence builder here.

Then there’s Rhys Hoskins. Hoskins, who is the Phillies best power-hitter and gets on base, has been the victim of defensive substitutions in 2 or the first 3 games. Hoskins isn’t Pat Burrell. He’s got much better range and if you need a rally, Hoskins’ career OBP is 40 points higher than Burrell. If the Phillies need runs late, Hoskins is a necessity.

Hoskins is 25 years-old with 53 MLB games under his belt. He made a switch from 1B to LF. What kind of confidence is Kapler instilling in Hoskins when he tells him he’s not good enough in LF, a position he’s still learning, to finish games? Nothing like removing Hoskins in the 6th INNING of a game? Sure, the Phillies were down a bunch, but don’t you need a Hoskins’ bat in the line-up to get some runs back?

Charlie relentlessly instilled confidence, even to what many thought was a fault. Remember when Rollins would struggle? Manuel would leave him at the top of the lineup to work through the slump. Charlie showed infinite confidence in his players.

Doug going at 4th and 8 may have been crazy to many people, but those kind of moves show infinite confidence in the offense and the defense to hold, should they not convert. Doug has always shown unshakeable confidence in his young quarterback and Nick Foles. Repeatedly, Doug has demonstrated the utmost confidence in his players.

Gabe? Not so much. That’s my biggest worry. The Phillies are young. Kapler needs to be instilling more confidence in his players than his analytics. That’s a concern and hopefully things change. Confidence is the biggest reason Kapler is no Doug or Charlie…..and those 6-pack abs.