Tonight, Gabe Kapler makes his triumphant return to the Philadelphia. Normally, we’d make a bigger deal out of this occasion, but managers seem to have so little impact on the game these days as compared to the past. Now, managers just seem to be “follow the data” guys that rarely steer from what the graph in front of them says. Yesterday, we saw a clear example of the manager from the Phillies NOT doing what the data tells him, allowing Aaron Nola to finish what he started and earn himself a complete game shutout in the process.
This may have been the biggest issue when it comes to why the city never embraced Kapler. Sure he’s weird, seemingly robotic in his answering of questions posed about his decision making. But Philadelphia always loves the emotional player or coach, regardless of whether or not they are any good. For years, the team employed a right fielder whose statistical record rivaled anyone in the sport during his time here, but his perceived lack of emotion drove fans up the proverbial wall. Larry Bowa kicked dirt, yelled, cursed and did all the things that fans here love, but he didn’t win anything either as a manager and is still beloved by many in the town.
Or.....he just sucked as a manager ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.
Here are your lineups. For the Phillies:
New week, new series. #RingTheBell
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) April 19, 2021
:@NBCSPhilly
:@SportsRadioWIP
:https://t.co/HhDxScsXwt // https://t.co/vgbMhIuRqd pic.twitter.com/K1sAjTE9zw
Lots of Covid news, so we won’t be seeing Jose Alvarado against lefties this series or the next. Matt Moore and Ronald Torreyes also down, along with two more coaches.
For the Giants:
Today's #SFGiants lineup at Phillies.
— SFGiants (@SFGiants) April 19, 2021
@NBCSAuthentic
@KNBR
https://t.co/xj48uey4eN
#ResilientSF | @CocaCola pic.twitter.com/j6l1tmfq0O