PHILADELPHIA -- Gabe Kapler wants all those Philadelphia Phillies fans who booed him before the team's home opener to know that he heard them and understands their inclination to vent when he makes a decision that backfires. It's a long season, and he can't guarantee he'll be free from rookie growing pains.
If there's one promise Kapler can make, it's this: Nobody will boo him for making the same mistake twice.
In late March, Kapler lifted Aaron Nola after 68 pitches on the way to a season-opening loss in Atlanta and messed up royally by summoning reliever Hoby Milner from the bullpen sans warm-up throws and putting the umpiring crew in a compromising position.