PHILADELPHIA -- Gabe Kapler got booed the first time he jogged onto the field at Citizens Bank Park as Phillies manager in April 2018.

He returns to The Bank on Monday night for the first time since he lost his job following the 2019 season. In one sense, Kapler’s time in Philadelphia feels like ancient history. Kapler manages the Giants these days. Joe Girardi manages the Phillies. But Kapler still elicits strong opinions from Phillies fans. He remains a fascinating figure.

“I don’t want to say I haven’t thought about it,” Kapler said Sunday morning about the possible reception from Phillies fans this week. “I have. But making that prediction is … I just don’t know where to begin.”

Kapler’s Phillies finished 80-82 in 2018 and 81-81 in 2019, but September collapses and the perception that there wasn’t enough urgency or accountability in the clubhouse contributed to Phillies managing partner John Middleton, president Andy MacPhail and former general manager Matt Klentak flying to California 10 days after the 2019 season to dismiss him. (It was Middleton’s decision. Klentak, who lost his job last October, wanted Kapler to stay.)

“I had a pretty good understanding of why the owner, the team president and the general manager were coming out to talk to me,” Kapler said. “I understood.”

Kapler came to Philadelphia with energy and new ideas. Some worked. Some didn’t. Fair or not, some Phillies fans still associate Kapler with Aaron Nola’s quick hook on Opening Day 2018, Be Bold, Hoby Milner, VAM (Value at the Margins), Chris Young and failing to snap the team’s postseason drought.

Understandably, Kapler did not want to rehash the past with two Philadelphia reporters on Sunday morning’s Zoom call from Miami. He didn’t want to explore regrets.

Why do that? It won’t change anything.

“I guess my mindset right now isn't, like, going back and examining rosters and trying to figure out where responsibility lies, by way of example,” Kapler said. “I think there were a lot of opportunities to perform better. There were a lot of opportunities to coach better. And, you know, we didn't win enough baseball games. And I think that, ultimately, is the bottom line here.”

Perhaps one Kapler decision more than any other still resonates inside the organization. It is a big "what if?"

Kapler did not bring back popular pitching coach Rick Kranitz following the 2018 season. He replaced him with Young. It is not an exaggeration to say that Young was far more polarizing inside the Phillies’ clubhouse than Kapler. Young’s one-year stint on the job did not go well. Key pitchers regressed. Some ignored or rebelled against him.

Any regrets there? If the Phillies pitch a little better in 2019, maybe Kapler keeps his job.

“When I've gone through [the] hiring process, I've worked really hard to understand the coaches that we've interviewed and talk to as many people as possible,” Kapler said. “And Chris is a guy that was well respected in Houston. I took all that information into account and made the best decision with the information that I had at the time. And that's where I'll leave it.”

Kapler did not point to roster deficiencies on Sunday. He could have. He did not point to injuries or bad luck or whatever. He could have.

“I feel like I had a chance with two baseball teams that were a lot of fun to work with,” Kapler said. “I don't regret any lack of opportunity or anything like that. It's just not how I look back on my time. I did the best job that I could every day, it didn't work out. I understand.”

He also understands why Phillies fans still feel the way they feel.

“I have pretty thick skin,” he said. “I understand all the criticism. It always kind of raises the bar for me, gives me a chance to meet that bar. And I do feel very comfortable in San Francisco. You know, honestly, I don't know how this gets taken, but I felt pretty comfortable in Philadelphia, too. Look, it just didn't work out. It's part of baseball.”