Managing Matters

The Phillies’ big three had a rough series but Turner, Schwarber and Harper weren’t the reason for the Phillies abrupt end of a promising season.

By Ed Condran

Mike Ditka once said that he wins when he has good players and loses when he doesn’t.

It’s true that the players dictate the game since they’re on the field. However, the decisions from the sideline or the dugout matter.

Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson has a bunch of elite players. The Phillies employ the batting champion, hits leader, home run champion, RBI leader and possibly the Cy Young Award winner.

The club’s talent has been evident since 2022 which is when the Phillies win the National League pennant. Bryce Harper and Zack Wheeler delivered phenomenal performances.

The former became a Philly folk hero for his “Bedlam at the Bank” blast that sunk the San Diego Padres. However, that massive shot, which catapulted the Phillies into the World Series might have never happened if it weren’t for the curious choice by then-Padres manager Bob Melvin.

With San Diego leading 3-2 in the bottom of the eighth, the Phillies had a runner on base and nobody out. Melvin’s two options with Harper announced to bat were to either intentionally walk Harper or remove setup man Robert Suarez in favor of southpaw closer Josh Hader.

Melvin opted for door number three and let Suarez pitch to Harper, who crushed one of the most historic home runs in the 142-year history of the Phillies franchise.

Since then, most of the regrettable managerial decisions in Phillies playoff games have been made by Thomson.

Many pundits blame the Phillies’ NLDS loss to the Dodgers on the Phillies bats. The Phillies’ big three of Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber and Harper had a subpar series, along with the rest of the club’s lineup, which hit for a less than robust .212.

However, the Phillies hit for a higher average than the Dodgers, belted more homers, scored more runs, drew more walks, stole more bases and struck out less than Dave Roberts’ team during a four-game series that featured exceptional pitching.

What is the definition of insanity? Repeating a failed action without change is illogical and leads to frustration.

The difference in the series was how each team was managed. The Phillies had a 3-0 lead over the Dodgers in game 1 that was trimmed to a 1-run margin in the seventh inning.

Thomson, with an array of well-rested and battle-tested arms, needed three outs to hand the ball off to Jhoan Duran, the closer with arguably the best stuff in any bullpen, for a two-inning save. With starters Ranger Suarez and Aaron Nola available, Thomson’s bridge to Duran was David Robertson, who was leaking oil throughout the last few weeks of the season. Robertson picked up the last out of the sixth. Most figured his night was over. However, Thomson let Robertson take the mound and he immediately issued a walk and hit the nine-hole hitter. Matt Strahm was given the unenviable assignment of facing the top of the vaunted Dodgers order.

Strahm struck out Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts grounded out. However, Strahm followed by giving up a three-run homer to Teoscar Hernandez.

The Dodgers’ regular season bullpen, which was one of the worst in baseball during the ’25 campaign, was not tapped by Roberts. The Dodgers skipper chose starters Tyler Glasnow and Roki Sasaki to finish off the game. That was a logical move that never entered Thomson’s mind.

Game 2 of the NLDS featured another bizarre choice by Thomson. The Phillies were down 4-1 in the ninth when it seemed as if Roberts took a break and handed over the reins to Thomson.

Dodgers struggling closer Blake Treinen entered the game and almost coughed it up. Nick Castellanos drilled a clutch two-run double with nobody out. With a one-run margin Thomson decided to take the bat out of the hands of Bryson Stott who was hitting .303 since July 3.

Stott bunted with a slow runner on second. The Dodgers knew what was coming and perfectly executed the wheel play; Castellanos was gunned down at third.

Considering the situation, why not let Stott hit off of a reliever who couldn’t get anyone out? Even if Stott failed to get a hit, perhaps he advances Castellanos with a fly ball or ground out.

It was deja vu all over again two months prior when the Phillies were down by a run in the ninth against the hapless Washington Nationals, Thomson ordered a bunt with Edmundo Sosa at the plate. It was questionable from the start since Nationals reliever Cole Henry couldn’t find the plate. With the count 3-1, Thomson kept the bunt sign on and Sosa laid one down. Sosa, who might have drawn a walk, gave up that valuable out and the Phillies lost. When Thomson was asked to explain the move, he said he was going for the tie since the Phillies had the better pen.

Thomson offered the same explanation after the same decision was questioned in the playoff loss to Los Angeles. What is the definition of insanity? Repeating a failed action without change is illogical and leads to frustration.

And then there is game 4 of the DS with two outs in the seventh inning with the Phillies clinging to a 1-0 lead. Thomson turned to Duran, the right move, with Ohtani coming to the plate. The presumed 2025 MVP headed to the dish 1-17 in the series. Phillies starter Cristopher Sanchez had the Dodgers biggest threat looking awful at the plate. Ohtani, who didn’t look like himself with some terrible swings, was out of sorts..Despite that Thomson ordered an intentional walk of Ohtani so Duran could face Betts, a much better contact hitter, with the bases loaded.

It was a strange move since Thomson had his best option on the mound. It wasn’t as if Robertson was asked to face Ohtani. Why not pitch Ohtani carefully? Maybe the off-kilter slugger gets himself out since he’s a free swinger. However, Betts battled Duran fouling off pitches. Betts won the duel with a walk, which tied the game.

Phillies reliever Orion Kerkering let the moment get to him with two out and the bases loaded in the eleventh inning. Dodgers center fielder Andy Pages hit a weak grounder to Kerkering. The ball bounced off of Kerkering’s foot. Instead of taking a moment and throwing out Pages, who was only halfway up the line, out at first, Kerkering rushed a throw to the plate that sailed over catcher J.T. Realmuto’s head. Even if the throw was perfect, there was no play at the plate. If Kerkering took a second and tossed to first it would have been the end of the inning since Pages, due to being jammed, had a tough time getting out of the box.

If only Kerkering had been thinking about what to do if the ball is hit to him, just like every little leaguer should, but it ended in disaster.

The emphasis of the devastating loss was on Kerkering’s poor decision, which is akin to blaming the bats for losing late leads in playoff games.

Much was made of Thomson hugging Kerkering immediately after the play. What Thomson should have said at that time was “I’m sorry. If I never made such awful decisions, you wouldn’t have been in this situation, Orion.”

It’s been a common occurrence for the Phillies to blow late leads in playoff games. Two of the three Phillies losses versus Los Angeles were courtesy of advantages lost in the seventh inning.

The Phillies had a 1-0 lead against the Mets in game 1 of the NLDS in 2024. It was the same margin the Phillies had in the sixth inning of game 4 versus the Mets last season.

The Phillies had a lead in each of the three games of the NLCS versus the Arizona Diamondbacks in Phoenix. The Phillies blew two of those games in the seventh inning, one with a three-run lead, in a series that never should have come back to Philadelphia.

Since game 3 of the Diamondbacks series, Thomson has lost five of six playoff games with a lead in the sixth inning.

The pitching decisions by Thomson are unforgivable. Twice he went to Craig Kimbrel, who was doing his best “Weekend at Bernie’s” imitation versus the Diamondbacks. After Kerkering, then a rookie, proved that he wasn’t ready for the limelight, in game 3 vs. Arizona, Thomson put him out in the same situation in game 4.

Thomson has an issue leaning on the wrong pitchers. Walker Buehler is still waiting to throw his first pitch against his former club in the playoffs. Buehler made a Thomson-esque choice when he decided not to return to the Dodgers in favor of the Phillies since he thought Philadelphia had a better chance to reach the World Series.

Thomson didn’t have Wheeler at his disposal but would it have mattered? Thomson’s greatest sin has been not utilizing Wheeler, who is a monster during the regular season and even better during the postseason, as much as he could have in October.

Thomson removed Wheeler, even though he was twirling a gem in game 6 of the 2022 World Series, with only 73 pitches. Wheeler hit Astros catcher Martin Maldonado, who leaned into a pitch and gave up a single to shortstop Jeremy Pena that barely slipped by Bryson Stott’s glove.

In one of Thomson’s most inexplicable moves, Wheeler was removed after throwing  just 73 pitches. Why remove such a dominant pitcher, who is arguably the best in baseball? Perhaps Thomson was saving Wheeler for game 9 of the World Series.

Thomson loves left on left matchups. Jose Alvardo came in and gave up a 450-foot homer to Yordan Alvarez and that was game, set and match.

During game 7 of the 2023 NLCS, it should have been apparent to Thomson, if his team has the lead and starter Ranger Suarez is in trouble, it would be automatic to go with Wheeler. Live and die with your best.

The Phillies had a 2-1 lead with two outs in the fourth inning. The Diamondbacks had a man on second and Suarez was clearly struggling. Corbin Carroll stepped to the plate. In three prior at bats against Suarez, Carroll hit the ball hard each time. Wheeler wasn’t warming up. It was time for Thomson’s beloved lefty on lefty matchup. Carroll lined a single to right. Game was tied. Jeff Hoffman, not Wheeler, came in and he gave up the winning run.

Same story in New York the following year. The Phillies were up 1-0 in an elimination game. Suarez, who was hurt, pitched his heart out. Instead of giving the ball to Wheeler, Hoffman entered the game and well, the current Blue Jays closer didn’t do his former club any favors.

Yes, the players are culpable but that many blown late leads in playoff games, reflects upon the manager.

How much more could the Phillies have achieved with a competent manager from 2023 to 2025?

The big question the Phillies have is whether to bring Thomson back with his woeful postseason resume.

If the Phillies are wise enough to part ways with Thomson, what manager wouldn’t want to work with a team with so much talent, an owner, who is not just committed to spend to win but also keeps his nose out of baseball decisions? Add a GM who not only has a Hall of Fame resume but Dave Dombrowski has made some fantastic trades, acquiring Duran and outfielder Harrison Bader from the Minnesota Twins for little. And how about Dombrowkski’s deal for the electric Jesus Luzardo from the Marlins for middling prospects?

Could Bruce Bochy, who was recently terminated by the Rangers, turn down the chance to manage a talent-laden Phillies team? Could Bochy be interested in winning a World Series with a third different franchise? Bochy has always been a shrewd handler of the bullpen. Such great baseball minds as Joe Maddon, Brad Ausmus and Buck Showwalter are also out there.

The Phillies won’t be running it back even though many key players will return courtesy of long-term contracts. It’s doubtful the Phillies will be able to retain Schwarber, Realmuto and Suarez. The Castellanos era is probably over and third baseman Alec Bohm will most likely be shopped. One of the biggest moves the Phillies can make is adding a new skipper since when analyzing the last few postseasons, it’s evident that managing matters.