Kapler, nerves and all, the right fit
SAN FRANCISCO >> Gabe Kapler repeatedly blew bubbles with his gum and popped them during his postseason managerial debut against the Los Angeles Dodgers, and oh does Dave Roberts remember his division counterpart doing that during their playing days in Double-A.
Kapler absolutely gets butterflies, he says, and he considers it a good thing. He’s found a way to channel those into winning in San Francisco — a lot of winning — by making so many right moves all year long.
Now, the season comes down to a winner-take-all Game 5 for his Giants in the NL Division Series on Thursday night against Roberts and his defending World Series champion Dodgers. The postseason-tested, experienced manager in Roberts faces off against the newcomer Kapler, with all of his innovative approaches and a huge supporting cast of coaches.
Adrenalin, nerves, anxiety, call it what you want.
Kapler embraces it all. He even talks them through with his son, Dane, who called recently before a football game and told his father about feeling those same emotions.
It used to be Kapler might pop a few extra pieces of gum when it came time to amp up for a game.
“I don’t have them now. I have had them, like butterflies or nerves and things like that,” Kapler shared leading into his first playoff game as a manager. “From a nerves perspective, I think nerves are really good.
“My son Dane tells me that he’s going to go play his college football game, he says, ‘I’m really, really nervous.’ I say: ‘That’s great. Nerves are going to sharpen your focus. You’re a better decision-maker oftentimes if you can channel those.’”
Kapler has learned from his own failures, including two disappointing seasons managing the Philadelphia Phillies before he was fired.
After playing for the Red Sox through the 2004 World Series — Roberts’ stolen base in Game 4 of the AL Championship Series with his team three outs from being swept by the Yankees will forever live in Boston lore — Kapler went to Japan and “had a very difficult time getting nerves, finding the nerves.”