Kapler, Phils have rebounded nicely after tough start
Gabe Kapler’s rocky start in Philadelphia is starting to feel like a distant memory.
Kapler was booed at his first home game as Phillies manager earlier this month, and it wasn’t clear how well Philadelphia would take to his willingness to buck conventional wisdom. The team turned things around quickly, however, and although the Phillies lost 10-1 to Atlanta on Sunday, they’re near the top of the NL East with a 16-11 record.
In fact, that division in general looks a lot different than expected as the month draws to a close. The Mets (17-9) are in first place, just ahead of the Phillies and Braves, who are tied for second. Preseason favorite Washington (12-16) lags behind.
In Kapler’s first series as Philadelphia’s manager, the Phillies made a huge mistake when they brought in a reliever who wasn’t ready and needed extra throws before leaving the bullpen. The umpire allowed a delay , saying it was to protect the pitcher’s health. The whole situation made Kapler look unprepared, and he accepted responsibility.
He also turned heads right away by going to his bullpen extensively. On opening day, he pulled starter Aaron Nola after only 68 pitches, with the Phillies up 5-0. They blew the lead and lost the game , and Kapler took some heat.
Kapler’s approach seemed outside the norm, but the idea of pulling starters earlier to prevent them from facing the same hitters too many times has gained favor in analytical circles. Now the Phillies are wrapping up a successful April, and they have the fifth-best ERA in the National League. They finished 10th last season.
Philadelphia is fourth in bullpen ERA. Its starters had an ERA of 4.80 last year. Now it’s 3.91. Last season, Phillies starters faced an average of 23.8 batters per game. This year, they’re at 23.1 — not a drastic decrease, but perhaps a significant one, since the starters’ performance has improved. The average pitch count for a Philadelphia starter has dropped from 92 to 89.
As for Nola, he faced an average of 25.7 hitters last year and 24.5 this year. His average pitch count is down from 99 to 91. His ERA has dropped from 3.54 to 2.58.
After a 1-4 start, the Phillies had won 15 of 22 entering Monday.
Some other developments around the majors: