The Phillies currently sit 2.5 games behind the Atlanta Braves in the NL East standings, coming off a crushing 9-8 walk-off loss on a Brian McCann bloop single. A frustrating season to this point, which is both riddled with underachieving players and injuries. It seems everywhere you look there's something to be frustrated about.
The Phillies are undoubtedly the most talented team in the NL East. Their offense, even with the injury to Andrew McCutchen is stacked. Their bullpen when healthy is deep, and their starting rotation, which is currently the weakest aspect of the team, has pitched better than expected. The problem is that yet again, just like last season, key players are underachieving. Bryce Harper is not hitting at the level he is capable of, and even if we aren't to expect an MVP caliber season from him, his power numbers should still be significantly better. Rhys Hoskins has been inconsistent, and has cycled through 2 weeks on, 3 weeks off streaks. JT Realmuto's power numbers have not been there, leaving the ultimate pitcher's park, coming to one of the league's premier hitter's parks at Citizens Bank Park. Even one of the league's ultimate professional hitters in Jean Segura has seen his average drop to under .285.
If this continues, it would be nothing short of a monumental disappointment, and embarrassment for the entire organization, especially John Middleton, who spent hundreds of millions of dollars to improve his club this past winter. And in sports, with colossal embarrassments come colossal collateral damage.
So, if the Phillies end up missing the postseason whose job should be on the line? The entire coaching staff to start, and I'd also ponder making sweeping changes in the front office. Sound unfair? Yep. Is it mainly Kapler, the coaches and Klentak/MacPhail's fault? Nope. I'd put the blame primarily on the players for not living up to their end, and will blame John Mallee as well for alarming statistical regression among several hitters, both current and new, since his arrival in Philadelphia. However, the reality is, you can't fire the players. Their contracts are guaranteed. Someone of significance has to take the fall if the Phillies fall short of their lofty 2019 goals.
I know what you're asking: "If it isn't Kapler's fault, why should he and his staff lose their jobs?" Because that is how successful businesses and organizations are run. Not just in sports, but in life. If Apple took significant losses this calendar year, do you think some high level executive would be fired for it? Of course they would. We just accept that as a part of life. When businesses and organizations fall significantly short of expectations, someone always... always takes the fall. If the Yankees' offense suddenly goes ice cold this season for no logical reason and they collapse and miss the playoffs, and then go into next season with their offense continuing to under-perform, would Aaron Boone lose his job? There isn't even a question. I can't name many premium organizations that don't make significant changes, either to their coaching staff or front office, if they incur back-to-back disappointing seasons.
This is because successful organizations establish an expectation of excellence. Nothing less than ultimate success will suffice. The coaches know it, the executives know it, and the players know it. It's a culture that permeates through those clubhouses and locker rooms every single day. They know that jobs are always going to be on the line and everyone has to be at their best because nothing less is acceptable. And to establish this precedent, sometimes there is collateral damage. Sometimes people who aren't largely at fault need to lose their jobs. It's just the way the world works for the most successful, to keep those premium standards going.
The Phillies are in desperate need of establishing that kind of a standard. They haven't made the playoffs since 2011. We're talking about almost a decade of either horrible or mediocre baseball. Every person in that building needs to know that anything less than achieving the goals you have set for yourself is unacceptable. And I'm sure everyone knows it and wants to win, but there's a difference between knowing it and showing it. And if the players are not going to show it, then ownership has to. If you want to be one of the big clubs, you need to operate like one. They started by spending money, and now need to do their part in other baseball matters by establishing a standard and expectation of excellence that underachieving isn't going to cut it.
No comments:
Post a Comment