The Phillies will hire Joe Girardi to be their new manager, according to NBCSportsPhilly's Jim Salisbury.
Phillies are hiring Joe Girardi, source confirms. Announcement could come today
— Jim Salisbury (@JSalisburyNBCS) October 24, 2019
Girardi, 55, has a strong relationship with Phillies president Andy MacPhail, as both spent time with the Chicago Cubs. Giradi was the Yankees' manager from 2008-2017, helping New York to a World Series title in 2009, where they, of course, beat the Phils.
Girardi was said to have really hit it off w/Phillies owner John Middleton, GM Matt Klentak and others in interviews there. Word is he also liked freedom he'll have in making out lineup cards and other moves, which isn't the case everywhere #PhiladelphiaFreedom @ToddZolecki 1st
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) October 24, 2019MLB.com's Todd Zolecki joined Angelo Cataldi and the 94WIP Morning Show on Thursday to discuss the reported hire.
From @SportsRadioWIP, MLB insider @ToddZolecki joins @AngeloCataldi for an instant reaction to the #Phillies hiring Joe Girardi, and what it will mean for the team and the fanbase -- pic.twitter.com/CC4aObgPac
— RADIO.COM Sports (@RDCSports) October 24, 2019The team announced their decision to move on from Gabe Kapler on October 10th, 10 days after the regular season came to end.
Kapler, 44, was hired in October of 2017, inheriting a 96-loss team. He went 161-163 in two seasons as Phillies manager, but Philadelphia improved just one game from 2018 to 2019 despite the acquisition of Bryce Harper and other key players this offseason.
During the Phillies' press conference with Phillies managing partner John Middleton, general manager Matt Klentak, and president Andy MacPhail, it was made clear that Middleton was unhappy with the 2019 results, ultimately deciding to move on from Kapler, who has hired by Klentak.
Kapler, who joined Angelo Cataldi once a week on the 94WIP Morning Show, recently spoke about the Phillies' disappointing 2019 season.
"We definitely struggled with injuries," Kapler told Angelo Cataldi and the 94WIP Morning Show on September 25th. "We lost multiple starting outfielders for the season, seven of our eight relievers that were projected to be in our bullpen were lost for the more than a quarter of our season and five of those for 100 games plus. When any team gets hit hard in two specific areas it's always going to test depth. We struggled with our starting pitching, they didn't take the step forward we had looked to see and I think there are a lot of reasons that contributed to that. Offensively, we didn't do a good enough job as a team of consistently driving pitches than we needed to hit, frankly."
The hiring is a very popular one, as the fans and local media seem to approve of the decision.
Reasons to like Girardi:1) Track record. Won MGR of year with rebuilding MIA team in '06, World Series w/ NYY2) Smart enough to respect analytics, but know when to go w/ gut.3) Won't BS fans, media, team. He's honest.4) Thrived in toughest market in baseball.Great hiring. pic.twitter.com/mpuuTm2oPX
— Glen Macnow (@RealGlenMacnow) October 24, 2019Boom. #MyManager pic.twitter.com/tqA4DBJ5pL
— Jack Fritz (@JackFritzWIP) October 24, 2019Joe Girardi will be the first manager the Phillies have ever hired that won a playoff series before arriving here.
— Joe Giglio (@JoeGiglioSports) October 24, 2019Wegmans employees are yelling in celebration as I tell them Joe Girardi is the #phillies next manager
— Jon Marks (@JonMarksMedia) October 24, 2019
