Phillies Fire Kapler After Two Seasons; Will Dusty Wathan Finally Get His Chance?

The Philadelphia Phillies have fired manager Gabe Kapler amid yet another disappointing season.


Like former New York Mets manager Mickey Callaway, Kapler was fired with one year remaining on his contract. In this case, it was owner John Middleton who overruled GM Matt Klentak. Expected by many to win the NL East with the addition of Bryce Harper as well as Andrew McCutchen and Jean Segura, the Phillies finished third with a .500 record, 16 games back of the Atlanta Braves. Despite their increase in payroll, the Phillies had only a one more win than they did over the 2018 season.


The Phillies did get off to a good start and were leading the NL East through June 9th, but then lost 10 of 12 games. By the end of June they were 5.5 games back of the Braves who hit their stride during this same period. The Phillies finished the season losing 9 of their final 12 games including five straight losses to the Washington Nationals who didn't suffer with the absence of Harper. Indeed, tomorrow night they begin the NLCS in St. Louis while the Phillies scramble for new leadership.


Former Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon is the Phillies' top choice and the team hopes his ties to his native Pennsylvania will sway him. However, Maddon prefers southern California and interviewed for the Los Angeles Angels job, an organization with whom he spent 31 years before he became manager of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2006. And if the Angels don't pan out there's always the spot in San Diego.


Perhaps the Phillies should take a page from the Braves book and hire internally with someone who has paid their dues. Third base coach Dusty Wathan was spared the axe. Prior to joining Kapler's staff, Wathan had been a minor league manager in the Phillies' system since 2008 and was a finalist when the Phillies hired Kapler after the 2017 season. Wathan is the Phillies' Brian Snitker. Forget yesterday's 13-1 shellacking in the Game 5 of the NLDS. Snitker has guided the Braves to back to back NL East pennants. This is something that shouldn't be lost on the Phillies. But with the desire to hire a big name there's a very good chance it will.