Phils show faith: Pete Mackanin’s extension is a strong sign of stability.
Two-year extension shows faith in manager
Pete Mackanin isn’t going anywhere as the Philadelphia Phillies manager, and that’s a good thing for the organization.
General manager Matt Klentak and the Phillies’ decision last week to give Mackanin a two-year extension through the 2018 season with a club option for 2019 was the right move and timed perfectly. The decision, at a glance, might not win over Phillies fans who look at the team’s sub-.500 record and 3-12 mark since April 28 or see the bullpen’s continued implosions.
By signing Mackanin to the extension though, rather than wait until August or the end of the season, accomplishes two things.
It signals the front office’s strong belief in Mackanin. Perhaps Klentak could have waited until the optics were better, but he and the Phillies chose the right strategy.
Mackanin doesn’t have the same level of talent on Philadelphia’s roster as other teams around the league. Despite that, Mackanin has helped instill a competitive spirit in his team, highlighted by playing in 15 onerun games, the second most in the majors this season.
Second, the deal prevents questions about his future becoming more prevalent as the season progressed, which would be distracting for all parties. Instead, everyone can focus on continuing to move the franchise forward.
“I think if you look around baseball, some teams extend their manager years in advance, other times they’ll take it right down to the wire,” Klentak explained. “There’s no one way to do it, but what I’ve seen in the first six weeks of this season is a team that plays hard on every pitch.”
For any doubters about the move, Klentak cited three examples in the last year that highlight Mackanin’s patience and work with younger players.
Cesar Hernandez’s turnaround is indicative of Mackanin’s important role in helping develop the Phillies players at the big-league level.
After Mackanin talked with Hernandez after a two-game benching last June during the Phillies series in Minnesota amid his struggles, the Venezuelan has morphed into a new player. His 1.4 Wins Above Replacement in 2017 is the best among second basemen in the majors.
The work of the coaching staff has helped Aaron Altherr turn into one of the best offensive outfielders to complement his great defense. Mackanin’s support of Tommy Joseph through his April struggles has rewarded the Phillies with a much better May performance.
Those little things might get overlooked from the outside. They’re important for a rebuilding team trying to determine which players can become part of the foundation of a winning team. Mackanin’s influence can’t be overlooked.
Maybe Mackanin won’t be around when the Phillies are finally ready to pull it all together and compete for a World Series title.
Maybe the Phillies will adopt the same strategy as the Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros of hiring a new manager to make the jump from rebuilding team to contending team.
But for the foreseeable future, Mackanin’s the right guy for the Phillies.
“Pete is the manager — there’s no time frame on that,” Klentak said. “This is not a temporary thing. And I have every hope and every confidence that as we turn this around and the wins start coming, he’s going to be right here.”