Rob Thomson has achieved considerable success with the Phillies since becoming manager in 2022, but could his position be at risk if the team fails to reach the World Series?
Philadelphia is renowned as one of the most challenging cities for athletes due to its passionate and outspoken fans, who aren’t shy about expressing their opinions on a player’s performance, whether positive or negative. Coaches face the same level of scrutiny.
Phillies owner John Middleton exemplifies a dedicated owner, driven not just by financial investment but by a deep-rooted love for the team. As a devoted Phillies fan himself, he’s determined to do whatever it takes to bring a World Series championship back to Philadelphia.
Did Phillies owner John Middleton just put Rob Thomson on the hot seat?
The Phillies have been struggling over the past month, and it’s no secret. They started the season strong, performing exceptionally well up until the All-Star break, and were on track to set a franchise record for wins before this extended losing streak.
This slump has not only frustrated fans but has also left owner John Middleton questioning what happened to the dominant team from the first half of the season.
“I think you have to be pushing and encouraging people to rethink what they’ve been doing,” Middleton said about the Phillies’ poor performance in the past month, as reported by Todd Zolecki of MLB.com. “That goes for both coaches and players. Everyone needs to step back and ask, ‘What are we doing wrong? Why has a team that was winning at a .700 rate for 3 1/2 months now dropped to a .325 rate over the last five weeks?’”
The Phillies had a 61-32 record as of July 11, consistently winning series with one of the top pitching staffs in the majors and a lineup that delivered day after day. Since then, they’ve gone 12-19, ranking among the worst teams in baseball during this period.
So, what’s gone wrong? It seems almost everything. The pitching staff hasn’t been as consistently dominant as it was in the first half, and the hitters are going through their own struggles at the plate. Who’s responsible for this downturn?
“He’s a smart guy,” Middleton said about Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski, according to Zolecki. “He has high standards and doesn’t tolerate people who don’t perform well. So he’s pushing everyone, which is exactly what’s needed.”
Could this be a sign that Phillies manager Rob Thomson’s job is at risk?
Thomson took over as manager during the 2022 season after Joe Girardi was dismissed, leading the Phillies to the World Series, just one win shy of forcing a Game 7 against the Houston Astros. In 2023, during his first full season as manager, he guided the Phillies back to the NLCS and currently has the team leading the major league standings with 38 games remaining in the 2024 regular season.
This Phillies team carries high expectations, with Middleton having invested significant money and resources to build a World Series-caliber roster. The time to win is now. Despite Thomson’s 228-169 record and what seems like a likely third consecutive playoff appearance, he could be the one to take the fall if the Phillies don’t capture a championship this year.
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