Another First Time Skipper

Gabe Kapler takes over the Phillies' core of promising young players in 2018. Beefed up by the addition of free agents Carlos Santana and Jake Arrieta, the organization believes he can be a cataylist to return the team to contention after a half-dozen very lean years.
A dramatic contrast to his predecessor Pete Mackanin, the outspoken Kapler is a believer in modern nutrition and motivation, as reflected in his personal motto, "Be Bold." Check out his website -- not the typical page for a sports figure.
He's also just the sixth fulltime Jewish manager in major league history, following (alphabetically) Brad Ausmus, Bob Melvin, Jeff Newmann, Lipman Pike, and Norm Sherry. Kapler is the second Jewish-American to serve as Phillies skipper. The first was a "temp": Andy Cohen, a coach under Eddie Sawyer, managed one game in 1960 -- a victory over the Braves the day after Sawyer quit, just before his replacement Gene Mauch arrived. Cohen's undefeated record of 1-0 will stand as an asterisk in club history. Kapler expects to leave a more enduring mark on the Phils.

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