In 2019, coming off a 161-163 two-year tenure in Philadelphia, Gabe Kapler had to win over not just the Giants’ front office, but also their star player.
The star player who’s being honored in Oracle Park on Saturday.
Kapler, the 2021 Manager of the Year, told reporters on Saturday morning that Buster Posey was involved in his interview process. The first conversation Kapler ever had with Posey, the three-time World Series champion, came in the manager’s office in Oracle Park. Posey, the franchise cornerstone, had to feel out prospective managers.
“He did a pretty amazing job at making me feel comfortable in that conversation, asking really thoughtful questions,” Kapler said. “And engaging in a real back-and-forth conversation that allowed my philosophies to emerge and his philosophies to emerge. I think it’s as important a conversation I’ve had since I’ve been a Giant.”
Kapler doesn’t remember too many specifics of the hour-long discussion with Posey on that day, but said the catcher was “genuinely learning” and wanted to find out how he felt about Kapler as a manager. The skipper said he’d approach the conversation similarly.
“It was more, kind of a vibe, energy and a feeling,” Kapler said of the contents of the conversation.
It’s rare that the star player has that type of input on a managerial hire. Or a front-facing presence at said manager’s introduction. But most star players aren’t Buster Posey.
“He’s one of the most important players in franchise history,” Kapler said.
Kapler coached Posey and the Giants in 2019, 2020 and the historic 107-win 2021. Posey was the only player involved in the job interview process, just like he was the only player on the podium with Kapler at his contentious introductory press conference.
Over the years, Kapler said, his and Posey’s philosophies didn’t always align perfectly. But Kapler commended his open-mindedness and noted he listened to Posey the same way. They learned from each other.
“I think Buster is good at absorbing information and coming back and changing his position on something if it’s appropriate,” Kapler said. “I think I’m willing to do the same thing. Very specifically: I think Buster comes into these conversations with a healthy skepticism. If you’re willing to show Buster that you’re willing to do the work, that you’re not just kind of going back and forth without having thought things through, demonstrate that there was a lot of work that went into the conversation, I think he becomes very very open and willing move off even his more convictive positions. I feel the same way.”
One thing Posey never needed to any convincing for was his stoic nature. Never overreacting to his own or the team’s performance — positive or negative — Posey kept the clubhouse level with just his presence. He played with an almost zen maturity.
That even-keel is something Kapler and the Giants have embraced. Over and over again in 2021, the team maintained that they didn’t want to get too high or too low with a string of losses or wins — or those of the Dodgers, for that matter.
But the 2021 Giants never went through a spell like the current club is: five straight losses and seven of their last eight games.
“I think it’s more important now than ever,” Kapler said of staying calm. “It’s interesting that today’s Buster Posey Day at the ballpark. I don’t think theres’ anyone that embodies that, exemplifies it better than Buster.”