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04/28/26 10:08:00
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04/28 10:06 CDT Phillies fire manager Rob Thomson after losing 11 of 12 games,
name Don Mattingly interim skipper
Phillies fire manager Rob Thomson after losing 11 of 12 games, name Don
Mattingly interim skipper
By DAN GELSTON
AP Sports Writer
PHILADELPHIA (AP) --- Manager Rob Thomson, who led the Phillies to four
straight playoff appearances, including the 2022 World Series, was fired on
Tuesday after Philadelphia lost 11 of 12 games and began the day tied for last
place in the majors.
Bench coach Don Mattingly was named interim manager through the end of the
season and third-base coach Dusty Wathan was promoted to bench coach.
Thomson went 355-270 and had led a Phillies team loaded with high-priced talent
that included Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner to consecutive
division titles. The 62-year-old Thomson, a baseball lifer finally promoted to
his first managerial stint in 2022, signed a contract extension in the
offseason running through the 2027 season and was again expected to lead the
Phillies into World Series contention.
Instead, the Phillies and their $300-plus million payroll have been one of the
biggest flops in the baseball and had lost 10 straight games before ace Zack
Wheeler led them to a win against Atlanta on Saturday. The Phillies lost to
Atlanta on Sunday and fell to 9-19 overall, tied with the divisional rival New
York Mets.
Thomson is the second manager fired in baseball this season after the Red Sox
fired Alex Cora and five coaches on Saturday.
Dave Dombrowski, the Phillies' president of baseball operations, gave Thomson a
vote of confidence last week while they were in the midst of their losing
streak. Dombrowski stood behind Thomson's work and said he's been a good
manager since replacing Joe Girardi in 2022.
Thomson led Philadelphia to the 2022 World Series after taking over for
Girardi, losing to the Houston Astros in six games. Since then, the club has
regressed in the postseason. It lost in the NL Championship Series in 2023 in
seven games, and the NL Division Series in 2024 and '25 in four games.
Nicknamed Topper, Thomson has been with the club since the 2018 season, when he
was first hired as bench coach under former manager Gabe Kapler.
He was with the New York Yankees from 1990-2017, including 10 seasons on the
major league coaching staff as bench coach (2008, 2015-17) and third base coach
(2009-14). He earned his nickname in the Yankees organization for always being
on top of details.
Thomson became only the fourth manager in big league history to reach the
postseason in each of the first four full seasons to begin a managing career,
joining Dave Roberts, Aaron Boone and Mike Matheny. Thomson became only the
third manager in Phillies history to win consecutive division titles, joining
Charlie Manuel and Danny Ozark.
The Phillies have been awful in what was supposed to be a celebratory season
with the franchise set to host the All-Star Game and its surrounding
festivities. They've collapsed instead in every aspect of the game, with
regulars Alec Bohm and Schwarber both hitting under .200, while starters Jess
Luzardo, Aaron Nola and Andrew Painter all posting 5.00-plus ERAs.
The Phillies just released high-priced bust Taijuan Walker in the final year of
a four-year, $72 million contract and let go after outfielder Nick Castellanos
was released by the Phillies in February as he entered the final year of a
five-year, $100 million deal.
The Phillies haven't won the World Series since 2008 and last made the playoffs
in 2011 until Thomson led them a surprise run to the World Series in 2022
dubbed Red October that rejuvenated the fanbase and made 90-plus win seasons
the norm.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB
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