Kapler’s point clear: Demoted Neris needs to clear his head
PHILADELPHIA » Days after appearing to be close to working his way out of the bullpen doghouse, Hector Neris has worked himself out of town.
The Phillies Monday demoted their former closer to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, replacing him on the major league roster with IronPigs pitching prospect Austin Davis.
Neris has held the closer position over much of this season and last, he had yet to permanently establish himself in that role. Although Neris accounted for 26 saves in 2017, former manager Pete Mackanin at times seemed to prefer closing by committee. Or at least saying that as to not make Neris nervous.
That policy has more or less held true under new manager Gabe Kapler, who always seems to prefer a group approach to every on-field need. It really kicked in last month after Neris had blown a couple of saves.
In more of a setup role since then, Neris, who turned 29 last Thursday, seemed to get his groove back when he struck out the side in only 10 pitches against Colorado June 13, then picked up a save — his first since May 21 — with a perfect ninth inning in Milwaukee three nights later.
But off a short night’s rest Kapler went back to him Sunday against the Brewers, a seemingly easy ninth-inning mission to protect a 10-5 lead. Neris would get two outs. He’d also allow four hits, including a pair of home runs, and four runs to make life interesting before Pete Thompson got the final out (on a running catch at the wall by Odubel Herrera) in a 10-9 win.
It didn’t take long for Kapler to respond to that ugly Neris outing.
“We would like Hector to clear his head,” Kapler said Monday. “It feels like the right time for him to work on his command, with his split (fastball) specifically, and he, quite frankly, just needs a refresher.”
Along with that refreshed reasoning, Kapler tried to reach Neris on a personal level, citing to him the story of an established major leaguer who was suddenly sent down in mid-career. A guy that liked to lift weights and learn about the game who who had often overachieved...
“In 2003 I was with the Rockies and I was sent down in the middle of a three-year contract,” Kapler said. “I had kind of established myself as a major leaguer and I had played through a couple of seasons where I had played every day and I was sent down in the middle of a season.”
But fear not, for Kid Kapler came back, and ... “it wasn’t that long until I was in the big leagues, with the Red Sox, and starting Game 1 of (the 2004) ALCS against the Yankees,” he said.
As for Neris’ reaction to the news (and the little story)?
“Like an incredible teammate,” Kapler said. “Like a professional. I know his ego was bruised, it has to be. I’m pretty empathetic to that. It’s hard to have established yourself at the major league level and have to say it to your teammates that this (demotion) is what occurred.”
While Davis, all 6-4 and 245 of him, is considered a rising lefty prospect who will make his bid to stay, Pat Neshek is working his way through rehab and is expected to be back soon to take over the eighth-inning role in which he specializes. Seranthony Dominguez looks well on his way to taking over more of a closer role, while Edubray Ramos and Luis Garcia are still back-end bullpen options, as is Victor Arano.
Despite earning 10 saves this season, Neris is 1-3 with a 6.00 ERA. Like the Phillies bullpen might be a bit cramped with candidates soon, he might be running out of time to make more of a permanent mark. Except Kapler isn’t saying that.
“It is our expectation that Hector will be back with the Phillies this season, helping and contributing to a playoff run and hopefully beyond,” Kapler said. “We don’t have a timetable for this. It’s much more (about) clearing his head, getting a refresher, shot in the arm, an opportunity to make any adjustments he needs to make in a completely pressure free environment and come back recharged and ready to roll.”
*** NOTES » Garcia will be getting another medical evaluation of his wrist injury but Kapler thinks “things are going smoothly there.” Garcia threw a bullpen session Monday and will do so again Wednesday ... Also on the way back soon is Neshek, who has yet to play in a game this year but is working through his shoulder strain . ... Davis, 25, has a 2.70 ERA in 37.2 innings this season between Reading and Lehigh Valley.