Charlie Manuel’s back in uniform
Kapler still the manager, but Phillies turn to ex-skipper to spark bats
The Phillies hope their former skipper can provide the spark to turn around their struggling offense.
PHILADELPHIA — Charlie Manuel’s impact as hitting coach could essentially determine Gabe Kapler’s future in Philadelphia.
With a shaky starting pitching staff and balky bullpen, the Phillies are going to have to be better on offense if they plan on making the playoffs for the first time since 2011.
Kapler, who is 6 1⁄2 weeks from the end of his second season as Phillies manager, signed a three-year deal when he took the job in 2018. It’s unlikely he’ll go into his third season as a lame duck, so management would either extend his contract or fire him during the offseason.
That’s where Manuel comes in.
Hired Tuesday to replace John Mallee for the rest of the 2019 season, Manuel’s task is to get the team’s slumbering bats going. The lack of clutch hitting, as evidenced by a maddening penchant for leaving runners in scoring position, has been the biggest in a long list of disappointment for a seemingly formidable lineup featuring Bryce Harper, J.T. Realmuto, Rhys Hoskins and Jean Segura.
Not one of those players is having as good a season as he had in 2018. That Scott Kingery is the lone regular whose numbers have improved from a year ago is alarming.
The Phillies went into Tuesday ninth in the 15-team National League in runs scored (557), 11th in home runs (149), 12th in batting average (.245) and tied for ninth in on-base percentage (.319). Yes, Andrew
“I don’t think anybody in baseball or this world loves hitting more than Charlie.” Bryce Harper on Phillies new hitting coach — and former manager — Charlie Manuel
McCutchen’s season-ending torn ACL hurt, but it doesn’t explain why the Phillies have struggled so much.
Coming off of a 2-5 road trip, general manager Matt Klentak said Tuesday that he, owner John Middleton, team president Andy MacPhail and Kapler decided to make the change with 44 games remaining because the Phils went into Tuesday just two games from the second National League wild card spot.
This has the feel of being Middleton’s call.
“I know a lot of people are burying us and saying we have no chance and haven’t played well, and part of that is correct,” said Klentak prior to the game against the Cubs. “We have not played well. We have not hit well, especially since the All-Star break.
“But we are not buried and we are not out. In my judgment, it makes sense for us to try something different rather than continuing to do the same things we’ve been doing.”
In other words, the GM hopes that hearing a different voice and perhaps a few tweaks by Manuel can get the offense close to where it should be.
“It’s just a different perspective that’s been on the outside looking in,” Hoskins said.
Manuel, who was traveling to Philadelphia on Tuesday evening and expects to join the Phillies on Wednesday for the second of their three-game series with Chicago, had been a senior adviser to Klentak, who claimed Manuel is excited about his new role.
The 75-year-old Manuel, who guided the Phils to the 2008 World Series title and has a franchise-record 780 wins, spent two stints as the Indians’ hitting coach. During the second stretch from 1994-99, Cleveland led the American League in home runs twice, runs three times and set a franchise record with 220 homers in 1997.
“I don’t think anybody in baseball or this world loves hitting more than Charlie,” said Harper with a smile.
Though Klentak denied it, perhaps part of management’s message with Tuesday’s move was intended as a bit of a wake-up call for some of the underachieving players.
“I want to make clear I don’t think there’s a silver bullet here,” Klentak said. “I don’t think there’s a special formula. Charlie isn’t going to come and magically change things.”
But if the Phils don’t start hitting — and winning — more than the hitting coach could change this fall.