Rob Thomson is “interim” Phillies manager no more. The Phillies announced today that Thomson has been signed to a two-year extension covering the 2023-24 seasons, shedding his “interim” label and installing him as the team’s official manager.
Thomson, 59, opened the season as the bench coach to then-manager Joe Girardi but was promoted when the Phils fired Girardi on the heels of an ugly 22-29 start to their season. That early June dismissal came as owner John Middleton sought to shake up the clubhouse and breathe new life into that had spent more than half a billion dollars in free agents over the past several seasons. Despite having inked the likes of Bryce Harper, Zack Wheeler, J.T. Realmuto, Nick Castellanos and Kyle Schwarber, however, the Phils looked to be on their way to an 11th consecutive postseason miss when Girardi was ousted.
The key phrase there is “looked to be on their way,” because in short order under Thomson, the Phillies not only found their stride and played back into contention — they posted one of MLB’s best records from June on, fought into the National League Wild Card round, and quickly ousted the NL Central-champion Cardinals in a two-game sweep on the road.
The Phillies went 65-46 under Thomson from the day he took the reins, and the pair of postseason wins — one a dramatic, ninth-inning comeback against a quality Cardinals bullpen — only furthered Thomson’s cause. Now after more than three decades of working in various front office and coaching capacities, Thomson will land his first long-term managerial post. He’s previously coached in the minors with the Tigers, held high-ranking player development positions in the Yankees organization, and accumulated more than two decades as a first base coach, third base coach and bench coach between the big leagues and the minors.
Even with the interim skippers being elevated both in Philadelphia and in Anaheim, there are five current managerial positions that are either vacant or occupied by an interim skipper throughout the league. The Rangers, Royals, White Sox, Blue Jays and Marlins will all need to name new managers, and it’s possible that postseason results could yet dictate another ousting or two.
Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia reported the move was coming just minutes before the formal announcement (Twitter link).
crying tears of joy rn
Great job by the Phillies first naming Rob Thomson interim manager and now officially making him the manager moving forward. Good job by Dombrowski giving him that extension. He has always been a good coach and now as a manager he has done an excellent job. Congratulations to the Phillies for advancing to the NLDS. Now, that the Cardinals have been eliminated from the playoffs I will go for the Phillies to win it all.
I almost wonder if the Phillies players were intentionally tanking to get rid of Girardi. That was my thoughts right after he was removed and they immediately got hot.
Keep it at almost wonder for everyone’s sake
Giradi was to tense, sucked the life out of the ball club, which is why the writter used the term “breathe new life into the club house” Giradi was a decent leader as a player, but he hasn’t seemed great as manager to be honest.
Always liked Thompson when he worked for the Yankees. Glad to see his hard work pay dividends.
He will always be remembered for that homer off of Ralph Branca!
Not the same guy
Hey ShootyBabbit. Liked: “!” after “Branca”. Strong, very strong.
I remember this guy from Matchbox Twenty. Oh wait that was Rob Thomas…
Good move. They’ve played well, and, according to VPH (who I will defer to on all-things Phillies) he’s done a good job with the day-to-day implementation of old-school and analytical techniques.
He’s the right guy for the job.
That’s why I defer to you on all-things Phillies LOL
Haha. I’m honored.
Philly Rob
Good for Rob Thompson. He earned it.
Are there more extensions, both players and managers, happening while teams are still playing than usual? Feels like these traditionally happen post the World Series.
I think the unwritten rule is, don’t announce the same day as a World Series game.
I don’t know about that. But MLB does not like teams to make announcements that upstage the WS.
LETS GOOOO
Congratulations! Well earned!
I didn’t know a lot about him when he first got the job with the Phillies, but he is earned this contract extension 10 times over for what he has done this season. we were dead at the very beginning of June with a long summer upcoming just waiting for the Eagles and then he took over and that was all she wrote and not only did we get to the playoffs we actually won around I’ll be it I pass the three.
He’s earned it taking a 22-29 team without Harper healthy and out most of the season to the playoffs.
The Mets stink lol
Phillies fans, if they had lost to Cards, do you think this extension would still have happened? I don’t follow the Phillies, so just curious…
It’s an interesting question. I think it should’ve. I think had the Phillies failed to make the playoffs things would be different.
actually I think they still would have gave it to him. I mean if they didn’t beat the Cardinals that’s one thing but he still got them into the playoffs after basically got the team was in June. I guess the best thing you could save for the team’s condition back then was there on life support with family gathering. I believe they would have kept them the players would have wanted him there and 80% of the fans would have still
Philly is a tough place to manage and after the disappointing start to the year (the disappointing run with Girardi in general) and after the bad Kapler era i think Just getting the team to the playoffs cemented the job for Thomson. Winning the the series against the Cardinals was just icing on the cake.
I do wonder if losing to Seattle in such spectacular fashion will effect John Schneider keeping the Blue Jays job
Probably. I think this was just intentionally timed.
Yes. The players love him and he knows how to work with both veterans and the young players. Also, he’s not pompous which was an issue with Girardi and Kapler
Awesome, well deserved
A good man , another honour well deserved … here’s a bit of background for Philly fans .. “ I am humbled and honoured to be inducted into Canada’s Baseball Hall of Fame!” said Thomson. “Growing up in Corunna Ontario, I would have never dreamt that such an honour would be bestowed onto me. Congratulations to Gord, Ryan and Jason! My Canadian pride will be shining at its brightest as I get inducted on the same day with three fellow Canadians who have achieved so many fantastic things in our great sport. I look forward to June 15th to not only share the day with Gord, Ryan and Jason but also with my family and many people that have touched my life and continue to do so!” baseballhalloffame.ca/hall-of-famer/rob-thomson/
Good for him!!! So many “lifers” on MLB staffs get passed over for the younger guy. Like us in ATL with Snit. Dude settled that clubhouse and they want to play for him. However, still want his team to lose this week. Lol, GO BRAVES!!!
I’m confused. Thomson takes over and the Phil’s go 65-46 ……Thomson is praised and the Phillies lauded. The Mets have a 10 1/2 game lead and go 66-44 the rest of the way……and they choked and are admonished.
Yes you do seemed confused. By any chance did your team choke down the stretch to the Braves? And, did your Manager completely embarrass the franchise on national TV while getting shellacked by the Padres?
I’m a Dodger fan, was a little kid during Fernandomania, don’t remember much of the 81 WS but I can see Gibson HR in 88 over and over again and live Orel Hershiser…..queue the Dodgers didn’t win a real WS title and Kershaw is a choker jokes…
I don’t think it’s a question of being real or not, as much as, how satisfying is a championship during a 60-game season with a lot of roster uncertainty compared to the standard 162 or something fairly close to 162.
I don’t disagree @snoo, it will feel better if it happens in a 162 game season. I think they were spent last year after their season long battle plus NLDS against the Giants. No disrespect to the Braves, but the better team lost the NLCS last year.
To finish 3rd in division every year
They’re in the NLDS right now. Many teams would sign up for that.
Not for long, with expansion the Braves will be in the NL southeast with the Marlins, the Nationals and the Charlotte or other Carolina city expansion team. The Phillies will be in the NL northeast with the Mets, Pirates and Reds. Cubbies, Cards, Brewers and Rockies in the NL Midwest, Dodgers, Giants, Padres and Diamondbacks in the NL West.
I really don’t like that idea of that expansion especially with the balanced schedules that they are going with. Much rather see an old school style and get rid of the divisions. One big standings for the NL and another for the AL.
You forgot Nashville
and how did the 2nd place team do?
And to be clear for those Philly Phans nothing but respect for that squad. Lived in that area for 6 yrs and that fan base is passionate and expect that “blue collar” type of effort from that team. Genuine Respect!!!
Braves fan here. Agree w/you nc. Much respect for the Phils. Think this is an excellent move for them. Phils fans here are good peeps. Solid, informed, and civil in discussions. Von Hayes is always worth a read on here.
I’m happy for Thompson. That said, there were two reasons for the Phillies advancing to the NLDS – Wheeler and Nola, two of MLB’s best starting pitchers. The Cardinals fell into a pit trap facing those two in back-to-back games in a best of three. Nola is a FA after the season.
Nola is a FA after the 2023 season.
….and Wheeler after 2024, Phil’s need to develop arms or get those guys extended.
Captain Obvious, is that you?
Andrew Painter is definitely a pitching prospect to be enthusiastic about. Mick Abel is also very promising. Griff McGarry looks decent but may end up as a reliever.
For once they have a promising crop of young arms in the minors.
Both, I’d say. At least one of the Phils’ Big Three pitching prospects should be in the rotation by the end of 2023, plus I’d be on board with extending the Wheeler/Nola tandem provided all medical checks out.
Obviously the third wildcard spot allowed the Phillies to sneak into the postseason. I think that likely was the difference for Thomson between remaining as manager and being let go.
Without the third wildcard spot, I think he’d still be let go.
Turd in the punchbowl much?
Considering where he’s brought them since becoming manager, this makes perfect sense. Phillies looked like a .500 team going into this year in my opinion but they turned it around when he became manager
I thought they’d win 85 so am relatively happy with what they’ve achieved.
I was just flat out wrong.
Cause he’s so smooth?
Well deserved and another boost for this team. Gotta love playoff baseball and the Phillies…how many more Topper?????
I believe the Phillies players refer to the manager as Thomper.
You can’t be that stupid?
Hall of Famer Torre explains origin of ‘Topper,’ the nickname he gave Thomson. Do ur research
Hahahahha yea Thomper hahahhahaha
I loved him and Robby Thompson in the Thompson Twins.
Hold me now…
That’s baseball. The 1973 Mets went 82- 79, Won the NL pennant and took the Oakland A’s to the seventh game of the WS. 1987 Twins won the WS with a 85-77 record. They scored 786 runs that year and gave up 806..
It’s only who gets hot and when. There are no participation trophies, like it or not.
The 2006 Cards had 83 wins.
2000 yankees
87 wins and went 2-13 to finish the regular season
Happy Rob got a managers gig finally. The Yankees should’ve given him a shot over Boone
Rob is from London Ontario, where I live now and we are all happy for him. I know his brother Rick who is a gifted athlete. Rick had a tryout in Florida with the Tigers (second baseman) but he told me he just could not hit the curve ball. .. I invited Rick to give some tips to a girls softball team I coached a long time ago… When I told this to my daughter (our catcher) she asked why we should listen to Rick since he never made the Tigers…