Kapler said that while the season was unsuccessful, the Phillies did play some meaningful games in SeptemberGETTY IMAGES
Phillies manager Gabe Kapler got into a "fiery exchange" on air yesterday with Philadelphia-based WIP-FM host Angelo Cataldi over a column in which Cataldi called Phillies VP & GM Matt Klentak "incompetent," according to Rob Tornoe of the PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER. The Phillies finished 80-82 for their sixth straight losing season, and Kapler "slammed Cataldi for being 'disrespectful' to Klentak and needlessly angry over the team's season." The Phillies finished the season 17-34, and Kapler said, "Did our performance the last 45 games of the season suck, Angelo? Yes, absolutely. You're hearing me saying it sucked." But he added the Phillies "played meaningful games in September." Cataldi "shot back by defending his column in light of the team's historic collapse over the final two months of the season." Cataldi said, "Klentak in the three years that he's been here has put two people on the roster that are true building blocks" in LF Rhys Hoskins and P Aaron Nola. The conversation "went on for nearly 14 minutes, and ended with Cataldi thanking Kapler for being willing to engage in such a heated back-and-forth" (PHILLY.com, 10/3).
WINTER DECISIONS: Phillies President Andy MacPhail during his end-of-season news conference Tuesday said that the team next year "will come closer to restoring the payroll to their pre-rebuild levels, which was among the top-five in baseball, after opening this season in the bottom half." MacPhail also "discussed the dangers of being too active in the free-agent market." In Philadelphia, Scott Lauber noted the Phillies head into the offseason at a time when officials from rival teams "generally believe the Phillies will go all-in for marquee stars Bryce Harper or Manny Machado." But MacPhail claimed that the team is "paying just as close attention to next year's free-agent class, which could include" Rockies 3B Nolan Arenado, D-backs 1B Paul Goldschmidt and Red Sox DH J.D. Martinez. MacPhail said, "There's always going to be that push for, 'Sign this guy, sign that guy.' Is that really going to solve the problems that I articulated earlier -- the defense, playing within our division better, being more consistent, striking out less?" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 10/3). NBCSPORTSPHILADELPHIA.com's Jim Salisbury noted there has been speculation the Phillies "could land" both Harper and Machado this offseason. That scenario is a "long shot," but MacPhail "essentially confirmed as much." He said, “There has been some speculation about what we’re going to do which I find to be just someone just didn’t put a paper and pencil together and do the math" (NBCSPORTSPHILADELPHIA.com, 10/2).
