Philadelphia Phillies generate questions with the removal of Pete Mackanin

The Philadelphia Phillies surprised quite a few with their removal of manager Pete Mackanin after a good stretch for the team. Why was he removed?

Among the several high-profile surprises from the 2017 Philadelphia Phillies was the Sept. 29 dismissal of Pete Mackanin as manager. However, more surprising than the relegation of the field skipper to the mushy position of Special Assistant to the Guy Who Fired Him for 2018 was the opaque reasoning given for the action by General Manager Matt Klentak.

The defining phrasing, as given on the team’s website, came in Klentak’s news conference declaration that it is time for a change, given “the way” some young players are developing, time for a “new voice in the dugout and a new style.”

Putting it another way, Klentak ever so gently suggested that Mackanin had lost touch with the dugout: “I think it’s about finding a connection with the team and with the players and leading us….” This came, weirdly, on the heels of probably the best six weeks of baseball played by the Philadelphia Phillies since the end of 2011.

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For his part, Mackanin said, “I’ve had to fire coaches and release players over many years. When Matt told me he wasn’t bringing me back, I didn’t ask for a reason. I think whatever the reason is, that’s his reason, and that’s good enough for me.”

Well, that’s not good enough for the sports talk radio crowd, surely – not in a town that still follows one of the worst three teams in major league baseball quite closely, if only to throw rocks at it. When the Colorado Rockies or San Diego Padres have a bad season, they are ignored. Not the Philadelphia Phillies.

This team, this year, could outdraw the defending American League champions, the Cleveland Indians. Really.

Why Did It Happen, Really?

Of course, Klentak wasn’t going to throw punches at a man almost 30 years his senior who had been termed a “player’s manager” almost too many times to count. When he held a somewhat singular team meeting in late April, when he dropped some unpleasant language on his men, he concluded even that meeting with positives. However, Matt Gelb of the Inquirer found “disappointment and indifference” in the clubhouse after his dismissal, chalking up the latter to some players’ brief interaction with Mackanin.

So, what’s the real story?

Honestly, we can only infer, and only to a certain point, because of the close-to-the-vest nature of such decisions by MLB teams, which are multi-million dollar companies that don’t want to risk appearing foolish or mistaken. We can also speculate, which is to say, announce what we think drove such a decision.

Three Points – Real or Not?

First, as Jim Salisbury noted, several times during the announcement of Mackanin’s removal, Klentak referred to the youth of his team. Some feel it was simply a matter of Mackanin’s age – 66. It’s an age at which some refer to themselves as “old,” some perhaps unconsciously trying to elicit an “Oh, you’re not old.” Sixty-six begs the question: does an American-born person that age relate well to a Venezuelan who is 25?

That brings us to the speculative points – there had to be some specific actions or omissions that led to the change.

The Venezuelan Question: could Klentak have been specifically unhappy with the “management” of the talented but flaky Odubel Herrera? Herrera’s numbers are certainly pretty good for a player of his age and experience (.288 batting average with two days left in his third season; 16 total errors in 1068 chances in the outfield). He reaches balls other players don’t, but he also ends up on third base when another Phillie is standing there. His BA is dropping slowly each year, but he is averaging 11 assists a year. To many, he looks like he could be better. Who knows? Should we know by now?

Finally, could the GM have been displeased with a no-decision about replacing pitching coach Bob McClure? Could Klentak have been waiting patiently for Mackanin to seek his approval to fire McClure.

Next: Phillies rookie Nick Williams being overlooked as a stable building block

The eight Phillies pitchers who have begun at least ten games this year have a combined record of 39-59, and that will change by only one digit at most by season’s end. One of the two starting pitchers in that group with a winning record, Jeremy Hellickson (6-5), is gone. Probably we are seeing progress with Aaron Nola (12-11); possibly we are seeing it with Nick Pivetta (7-10, maybe 8-10 finally). Only Nola among these hurlers has an ERA below 4.26 (3.54).

Just sayin’. From this vantage point, Mackanin appears to have been “too old,” and unable to manage his most expensive player and his starting pitchers.

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