Jessica Quiroli: These Mattingly Days
Philadelphia, PA—The hand-wringing angst was at a fever pitch. Just a bit much for this town, already suffering chronic anxiety when any of the sports teams are playing poorly. Or, great, for that matter. But there was, as there eventually always is, a need for change. At least, that’s what baseball fans often say—or demand with their full chest—when feeling psychologically tortured by a seemingly endless string of losses.
Rob Thomson, or “Topper,” affectionately nicknamed by former Phillies manager (and predecessor), Joe Girardi, had managed the Phillies remarkably well, guiding them to the playoffs four years in a row, while overcoming a myriad of obstacles. We were proud of him and felt the kinship Phillies fans crave. Thomson was our guy, a quiet workhorse who was rewarded with Philllies fans famously thin patience and ragged faith.
But on April 28th, the Thomson era officially ended. Don Mattingly became the interim manager, just as Thomson had when Girardi was fired in 2022.
The relationship between the city and Thomson was what made the breakup painful, much like it was when (sigh) Charlie Manuel was fired. Of course Manuel was fired; he who’d led the Phillies to their second ever World Series Championship in 2008 had come to an end in 2013. Of course Topper was fired. He who got the Phillies to the World Series in 2022, in what felt like an absolute improbability. Ultimately they lost to a team that shall not be named.
But World Series appearances, even a win and a parade, are momentary victories. Even the most beloved manager is almost always promised a day they will be told their time is up (a Phillies manager can also be driven to quit after one game, as Eddie Sawyer did in 1960, a fact that will never not be funny to me).
We can reason that Thomson should’ve been let go at the conclusion of the 2026 season. That would’ve been my preference; and not because parting ways with him was going to be easy, but because off-season decisions are proper; the process is completed with options, interviews and executive discussions, perhaps with players’ input. Instead, Thomson was shown the door after a 9-19 start to the season, their worst since 1969 (WHAT).
The Phillies turn-around happened almost instantly. They’ve done a lot of winning since the Mattingly takeover and sit just a game out in the National League Wild Card race. Starting pitching improved, and the offense has shown up more consistently. They’re hitting over .500.
But has the Mattingly era truly commenced? There’s little indication that he’s changed his mind about managing. But maybe that’s not the point.
Perhaps Mattingly is here to remind this team that they could be better. Not that they should be, when considering what’s befallen them, including offensive issues, not to mention the remaining scars of losing Rhys Hoskins (those are real). But sometimes a team just needs a boost; and, when it comes to Phillies players, they can be tasked with trying to convince fans that they don’t have to own the losing culture that has always haunted Phillies teams; Sometimes Phillies players have to look away from all of that, from any fan expectations, and focus on what players always talk about: control what they can control. This Phillies team needed to find a way to succeed again, and more often. Under Mattingly, they’ve done just that.
Bryce Harper, whose energy and personality is the heart of the team, succinctly stated to NBC Sports Philadelphia, “He took the fall,” just after Thomson’s dismissal was announced. Harper praised Thomson’s “steady” manner, and the strength of his connections in the clubhouse. As it goes in baseball, the players got him fired. Harper didn’t back down from that. He can’t, not here. Philly is high-voltage emotionally about most things, but especially sports. We like emotional sports figures, passionate and…gritty; but we also appreciate *“the quiet tactician” as well. Thomson exhibited a protective, steady paternal disposition, mixed with a cool dad vibe. There was an abundance of fun and joy around the teams that played for him.
When the 2026 season began, the losses multiplied like potholes littering the Center City neighborhood streets. It was the Phillies worst start in eleven years. The Mets were worse, with twelve losses, but even that was no comfort. And, ok, it was only April, but still, STILL. That level of losing was hard to accept.
One extremely frustrating aspect of discussions around the Phillies failures is that team brass has a lot of “dead money” on the books. Phillies are still paying $34 million dollars combined to Nick Castellanos and Taijuan Walker. Adolis Garcia continues to struggle at the plate. There are big question marks hanging over pitchers Andrew Painter, who has seen a dip in velocity on the fastball that made him so unhittable not so long ago, and Aaron Nola, who has struggled with his four-seamer and is ranked worst in all of MLB—on the other hand he’s got the second best curveball in the majors.
There is also the aging-out of J.T. Realmuto. Amidst a play for Bo Bichette, there was intense pressure from Phillies fans to re-sign the highly regarded catcher, whom Thomson was eager to see return, and once compared to retired catchers Jorge Posada and Pudge Rodriguez. Realmuto was that good. The Phillies appeared to be on the precipice of creating a new era of winning and competing at the highest level, with Thomson leading the way.
Times have changed. They always do.
What does this team, and the team that the Phillies will field in 2027 need? One question could (and should) be answered soon: the trade deadline is just around the corner, and the Phils need to add some pieces to the lineup, namely right-handed hitting. They need that this minute. The Phillies at the trade deadline aren’t as good as they are in the off-season, when they’ve made solid, big moves. There’s not many high-quality righty hitters available, however.
This team is perhaps not in need of a specific type of managerial voice, but, rather, they’re in a kind of liminal space, in the middle of a transition; nothing will resolve itself with an easy answer—or an easy replacement of Rob Thomson.
So, we let this play out and avoid climbing too deep in the weeds about how much blame to assign Topper, and how much praise to bestow upon Mattingly.
The humidity is kicking into high gear. Maybe Mattingly’s Phillies will too.
*Phun Phact: Connie Mack was known as “The Quiet Tactician.” He owned the Philadelphia Athletics and managed the team for FIFTY YEARS between 1901 and 1950. He led the team to a World Championship FIVE TIMES. Not that a manager who is that successful would’ve been fired, but when you own the team your job is pretty secure. Mack retired in 1950 and died here in Philly six years later.
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I was 14 in 1969 and remember that team . 😖 In one of the Bill James books I have the 69 teams roster with final stats are included . 😱