Gabe Kapler, manager of the San Francisco Giants, looks on during the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona, September 20, 2023. /CFP
The San Francisco Giants have fired their manager Gabe Kapler before the end of the 2023 Major League Baseball regular season, the team announced on Friday.
"After making this recommendation to ownership and receiving their approval, I met with Gabe today to inform him of our decision." The team's President of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi said in a statement. "In his tenure as Giants manager, Gabe led our team through an unprecedented pandemic in 2020 and a franchise-record 107 wins and postseason berth in 2021. He has been dedicated and passionate in his efforts to improve the on-field performance of the San Francisco Giants and I have tremendous respect for him as a colleague and friend."
"On behalf of the Giants organization, we wish Gabe the best of luck in his future endeavors and thank him for his contributions over the last four years," Zaidi added.
The Giants (78-82) are ruled out of the playoffs for the second straight season, which didn't come as a surprise at all after they lost 40 of their 64 games since July 18. It is the second-worst record in the National League (NL).
Kai Correa (L), interim manager of the San Francisco Giants, talks to his players during the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Oracle Park in San Francisco, California, September 29, 2023. /CFP
After the team won only seven of their 25 games in September under Kapler, their Logan Webb expressed his frustration. "I'm tired of losing. It's not enjoyable. It's not fun. We have to make some big changes in here to create that winning culture that we want to show up every single year and try to win the whole thing." Webb leads the NL in innings pitched and strikeout-to-walk ratio, but with a 11-13 record.
Kai Correa will manage the Giants through the end of the 2023 campaign. This team won't be the only one looking for a new manager during the offseason. Terry Francona of the Cleveland Guardians will retire after this season. Craig Counsell of the Milwaukee Brewers, Dusty Baker of the Houston Astros and Phil Nevin of the Los Angeles Angels will all see their contracts come due as well.
There is also a question mark on whether the New York Mets and the San Diego Padres will let Buck Showalter and Bob Melvin stay on in their positions.
The MLB playoffs will begin on October 3.