Wrong Coach Stayed, Still Fired

Pitching coach Chris Young, the guy the Phillies were so enamored about that they let Rick Kranitz go, has been relieved of his duties, according to published reports. Kranitz, meanwhile, is busy this October coaching the Braves pitching staff in the playoffs.

There were reports that Young was more interested in analytics than working with pitchers, and you know, and helping them get better. Several pitchers regressed this season, most notably Nick Pivetta, who has probably and hopefully pitched his last game as a Phillie.

Young's departure is a huge indictment of general manager Matt Klentak, who wanted to keep Young rather than lose him to another team. So he let Kranitz go.

Meanwhile, the fate of manager Gabe Kapler remains unknown. The Phils haven't announced if he'll be fired, be back next season, or kicked upstairs in some sort of consulting gig. Just make up your minds already. There have been a ton of managers fired already - the Cubs, Mets, Pirates, Angels, and Padres will all be looking for new skippers. And the Royals and Giants will be looking to replace managers who retired.

If the Phils are going to fire Kapler, they better do it soon so they're not stuck with the dregs of the managerial pool. Kapler had zero big league managing experience and I really hope they go for an experienced leader this time around. I'd love to see Joe Maddon, late of the Cubs, come home to PA and lead the Phils. But chances are he'll go to the Angels, given that he worked for that team for more than 30 years.