Eleven days after the season ended, the Phillies finally determined and announced Gabe Kapler’s status. They became the eighth team that is looking for a new manager after firing him Thursday morning.



Answers about the prolonged process and what went into the decision must wait until 1 p.m. Friday when managing partner John Middleton, team president Andy MacPhail and general manager Matt Klentak will hold a press conference. The Phillies’ executives will no doubt address Kapler’s tenure and the search for his replacement, but it’s hard to imagine their words filling in all the holes.



The Phillies’ issues are bigger than a managerial move. They have a perception problem.



As the evaluation of Kapler dragged on, it caught the attention of people around the league for both its length and how it was conducted. According to sources, Klentak wanted Kapler back in 2020, the final year of the first-time manager’s three-year...