Dodgers general manager Farhan Zaidi tells J.P. Hoornstra of the Southern California News Group that Gabe Kapler’s departure to become the Phillies’ new manager now leaves the Dodgers with the onerous task of finding a new person to fill the “toughest job in baseball.” Kapler spent three years as the Dodgers’ director of player development/farm director, and Hoornstra notes that the new ideas he brought to the table have helped the lay the foundation for the team’s current run of success. “You’ve got to be able to relate to a lot of different factions and constituents between the front office, the major league club, major league manager, coaches, players throughout the system, affiliates, minor league players, minor league coaches,” said Zaidi of the unique challenges the role presents. Per Zaidi, the team will be casting a “wide-open net,” and the search could take a few weeks. Hoornstra points out that Jeremy Zoll, Kapler’s top assistant who could have been a leading internal candidate, has already been scooped up by the Twins to serve as their farm director in 2018 and beyond.
More from the NL West…
- Newly minted Padres hitting coach Matt Stairs plans to bring an emphasis of on-base percentage and selectivity to the lineup, writes MLB.com’s AJ Cassavell. Cassavell notes that Stairs’ famous one-liner, “Swing like you live: hard,” leads to some misconceptions about his philosophy; Stairs doesn’t necessarily preach swinging often but believes in being aggressive when deciding to do so. “I’ve always been a guy that always preaches — even when I wasn’t coaching — about not giving at-bats away, being a stubborn hitter,” said Stairs. “…I’m a firm believer in passing the baton and taking the walk. Let the guy behind you pick you up.” The Padres ranked 25th in MLB with a 7.7 percent walk rate last year and somewhat incredibly finished the season with a sub-.300 OBP as a collective unit, ranking last in the Majors at .299.
- MLB.com’s Chris Haft writes that young Giants relievers Kyle Crick, Reyes Moronta and Garrett Williams are all likely to get the chance to cement themselves in the 2018 season. Krick, 25 next month, may have the best chance to do so early in the year after already experiencing some success in the second half of the 2017 season, though his 7.8 K/9 and 4.7 BB/9 will need to trend more closely toward his respective Triple-A marks of 12.0 and 4.0. Williams has yet to even pitch in Double-A, but the 23-year-old lefty tore through two Class-A levels last season, and left-handed bullpen help is a need in San Francisco. Of course, the Giants still seem likely to add to the bullpen in some capacity this winter, though with myriad holes to fill throughout the roster, the presence of some internal options will be key.
Bring back Logan White? Gabe is going to be a huge loss. Not a surprise the hit rate on Dodger prospects since he became the farm director. Even fringe guys like Barnes, Schebler, etc have mostly exceeded expectations.
Haha nope
Yeah nope, Preller will make sure Logan White doesn’t get loose
Yup
Never heard Barnes described as a “fringe guy” before.
He was never a top prospect. Most reasonable sites had him as a backup, yet here he is starting every game in the Workd Series.
That’s because Grendel has never been a great defensive catcher
Why do you think he was traded to la minus the steroids ?
Invite Cancer back? Re-evaluate!!!
Krick
Hahahaha!! I was going to say….I didn’t realize they had a Crick and a Krick
Everybody just needs to relax, we’re not talking about brain surgery here. Many capable former players can handle this job.
Too late. Zaidi has already pressed the panic button AND pulled the fire alarm.
Sure, but very few can do it as well as Kapler did. Look at the success rate of the prospects hes helped developed, and look at the value that Friedman and friends have got out of the farm whether on the dodgers or guys who were traded.
Bring back Chuck Crim! Great minor league pitching coach & 3 years as the Dodgers bullpen coach. He was a 10 year big leaguer, was a Dodgers scout and is a former HS coach. He’d be a great get!
The Giants need all the BP help they can get. When will Melancon and Smith be healthy?
Stairs was one of those grip it and rip it kind of players, but he put up a 12% BB rate in his career so he was willing to take a walk occasionally. I think he is a good hire for a young team with extreme issues with taking a walk. If you want to know his philosophy, this is a pretty good read – link to fangraphs.com
Logan White the guy who told Padres to get Kemp not going back to Dodgers
Dodgers needs to go lure and get John Daniels from Texas.
Why another guy who hasn’t won WS
hurrr da durrr
*fart noises*
“Baseball fever, catch it”
When the team is the only unit in baseball to post sub .300 OBP, anything Stairs does is going to be an improvement. That’s just ridiculous.
“Giants relievers Kyle Crick, Reyes Moronta and Garrett Williams are all likely to get the chance to cement themselves in the 2018 season. *Krick, 25 next month, ”
Kyle Crick’s nickname is KC.
*Crick
Nothing frustrates me more than watching batters sit on strike 3 for the backward K. If it’s a close pitch I want to see the batter at least foul it off. Work the pitch count until you get the pitch you want or by some baseball psychic powers know the pitch will be way off. I’m not sure if this is what Stairs is speaking of, but plate discipline of that nature is something the Padres really need to learn.