Why Did Theo Interview Gabe Kapler? (AND OTHER VERY IMPORTANT THINGS ABOUT THE CHICAGO CUBS)
GABE KAPLER CARL WHAT THE FUCK?
Everyone slow down. People instantly think this means Theo & Co. see Gapler as a suitable replacement for Joe amidst the existing field. And to that I’d ask you Does that make sense? The answer is no so let’s get to the second level:
Why would they do this?
The short answer is simple: use the Manager interview process to try and get Kapler to take over player development.
The longer answer should make this very obvious: Jason McLeod (former head of development as Senior VP, Player Personnel) is taking a new position with a bigger emphasis at the big league level. I imagine that’s a fancier way of saying Theo wants him closer to decisions which makes sense. Over the last few years a big emphasis has been separation of powers, role clarity and generally empowering different facets of the organization.
Great.
Reads just like a Harvard MBA case even up to the point that it didn’t work out. So now the Cubs need to pivot and move #1 was Theo bringing Jason back to the top of the organization. The Cubs need to get smarter and faster with player development, which opens huge opportunities across the board.
Recently that meant going after Driveline founder and modern pitching enthusiast Kyle Boddy to be the org’s Director of Pitching. The Cubs lost out to the Reds but then turned around and made Justin Stone a full time employee as Director of Hitting. Those as weird as me will remember Stone’s name as a hitting consultant that worked with several players and teams, but now the Cubs want him under their roof for good and no one else.
Details aside, the Cubs have been on the hunt to fill these mid-level organization roles without a head of player development which brings me back to Gabe Kapler.
He retired at age 30 (for the first time) after the 2006 season with the Red Sox. Theo then instantly made him a minor league manager because he likes him that much. There’s your history lesson on their relationship.
Next order of business, Kapler was the head of development for the Dodgers from 2015-2017. In 2014 the Dodgers farm system ranked 14th. In 2015 they were 3rd. In 2016 they were 1st then 2017 they were 6th. So there’s your history lesson on his chops as a Director of Player Development. He was so good they even considered him in 2016 to just take over as the manager but instead went with Dave Roberts.
Fast forward to now: Kapler is tainted as a guy who couldn’t win with the Phillies’ roster when everyone who knows baseball knows that it was actually pretty average. That and you got the Nationals and Braves in your division so how high is the bar in year 2? Obviously pretty fucking high – but then further consider Phillies’ ownership forced him out. All reports suggest Andy MacPhail wanted to keep Kapler which brings us to the interview.
He’s not as bad as people think – probably not as deserving as Girardi, Espada or Ross for consideration – but also not a total dud. Kapler has major achievements to his name in development and by my calculation that’s where the Cubs have the biggest need. So I wouldn’t be shocked if the Cubs used the interview process to offer him the farm, literally and figuratively, as the Cubs look to retool the structure.
Personally, if they get Kapler in on the terms I’m describing, I’d give that a 70 on the 20-80 scale for hiring. Fucking unbelievable move if Theo can pull it off.
SO WHAT ABOUT THE MANAGER?
I heard a rumor sourced out of Crane Kenney’s camp so take it with a grain of salt. But rumor says the Cubs really really really like Espada. So much that the rumor went on to say Girardi was a sham interview to keep people happy and that it’s between Ross and Espada. Again take all that with a grain of salt. I’m not in the business of breaking this kind of news but if it’s on my plate with the confidence level presented, I’m turning it over to you. There’s your rumor of the day.
Personally I can’t see the Cubs passing on a chance to get David Ross. If he wants to manage it makes zero sense you wouldn’t start the process. Otherwise everyone and their mother missed the mark when describing Ross as the NEXT GREAT MANAGER for the last couple years of his career. I mean for fuckssake this goes back to 2013 that he belongs in the dugout for life.
Well now we’re at that point and all your buttholes are clenched up like an all Vienna beef getting stuffed in a Chinese finger trap. Loosen up guys. He may not be perfect rn but neither was your high school gf and you still knocked her up so where does that leave us?
Thinking about Espada – someone that could be considered a safer play for a number of reasons: no exposure to Chicago media, limited expectations, fly under the radar and create less of a zoo, and down the road we go, all on the same track. And the more I think about it, the more I am willing to consider the alternative to David Ross if that’s what Theo wants to do.
At The End Of The Day Though
It’s Theo’s job to get it right and I have every expectation he won’t fuck it up.
Right Theo?
