Gabe Kapler was something this city had never seen before. The 42-year-old rookie manager with the sculpted body had blogged in the past about the use of coconut oil, unique tanning techniques, and eating chicken bones. In Spring Training, he brought in umpires during throwing sessions and switched his outfielders' positions between batters.
Kapler's unorthodox approach - outside of a rough first week - seemed to be exactly what this team needed. When the Phillies finished off a sweep of the Miami Marlins on August 5 and his team owned the second-best record in the National League, he was a legitimate candidate for Manager of the Year.