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After opening the season with an MLB-worst 9-19 record (tied with the Mets) and a negative-54 run differential, Philadelphia Phillies Decided it was time for a change and Sacked manager Rob Thomson Tuesday morning.
Don Mattingly will take over as interim manager tasked with turning around a team that has struggled mightily in every aspect of the game, ranked 28th in runs scored and team ERA one month into the season.
Philadelphia’s move comes just days later Boston Red Sox Made the first major managerial change of the season. Firing manager Alex Cora and five coaches.
Will changing managers save the Phillies’ season? What happened to Philly’s once mighty offense? And who are some long-term candidates for the job? MLB experts highlight Bradford Doolittle, Buster Olney and Jesse Rogers.
The Phillies have made the playoffs four straight under Thomson. Why would they take this step in April?
Olney: The decision was based on two factors: (1) The Phillies, like the Mets and Red Sox, underperformed and paid the price for the highly regarded Thomson. (2) Alex Cora’s availability likely accelerated the Phillies’ managerial conversation — and yes, the Phillies offered Cora the job. But since Cora’s ugly, surprising divorce with the Red Sox, she’s let them know she needs time with her family.
Don Mattingly managed 12 years in the big leagues and yet was given an “interim” tag by Philadelphia, which tells you the light is still on for Cora — be it in a month, two months, or the 2027 season.
Rogers: The Phillies made this change for the same reason they made a similar move in June 2022, when they replaced Thompson with Joe Girardi: They’re looking for a different voice to spark them. The Phillies made the playoffs in that first season under Thomson. That’s not to say the same can’t happen under Mattingly.
Mostly, though, their upcoming schedule and the return of Jack Wheeler are more likely to help than anything else. Thomson was good for it Moments in time will probably be Mattingly for this one.
Doolittle: It’s always the easiest lever to pull when a sinking team falls so short of expectations. The season is going quickly — the Braves already put 10½ games between themselves and the Phillies. Philadelphia, meanwhile, has nine of its next 13 at home (Giants, Athletics, Rockies) and four away games in Miami. The Phillies need this part of their schedule badly, and apparently Dombrowski sees the move to Mattingly as the spark that can make it happen.
The Phillies offense has been one of the best in baseball in recent seasons. Why does crime struggle so much?
Doolittle: It is old and thin. This is the case with top-heavy rosters that rely on the same core group for many days. Phyllis’s window is closing, if it hasn’t already closed completely. There are only three hitters who are league-average or better on the roster right now Brandon MarshSemi-disappointing starts to two of the three.
Kyle Schwarber Still mashing but his overall numbers are back and that’s something the Phillies should have baked into the plan. Bryce Harper OK, but fine isn’t the word you want to associate with Bryce Harper, although that applies to the 2025 season as well. Maybe those two stars, side by side Tree TurnerBut even if they do get hot under Mattingly, the Phillies have holes everywhere and a weak bench to boot.
Olney: According to Brad, there are many questions among rival evaluators about whether this group will rebound, given that some are at the bottom of their respective careers. Can the Phillies reasonably expect their offense to improve after JT Realmuto is activated from the injured list? Bryce Harper is a future Hall of Famer, but can he go back to being an MVP candidate in 2026? Adolis Garcia 2023 has largely struggled offensively since the postseason; Is he going to get better? Alec Bohm has been personal problems; How much do they weigh on it?
Rogers: Obviously, the lineup is getting old and can’t just rely on Turner, Harper and Schwarber. And the bottom of their lineup is a disaster. Collectively, hitters are 6-9 so far, compiling an OPS of just .337. It starts with Boehm and his paltry .143 average with a .412 OPS. Justin Crawford A rookie on the upside but only produced a WRC+ of 86 early on. The star players at the top of the lineup need some help. and fast.
What can the Phillies expect under interim manager Don Mattingly?
Olney: They will play better; According to Fangraphs, their playoff chances are still around 40%, which speaks to the quality of their starting pitching — Christopher Sanchez, Jesus Luzardo, Andrew PainterAnd now Jack Wheeler Back Mattingly is very similar in personality to Thomson – even-keeled, experienced, never overreacting. I don’t think players will notice much of a difference.
Doolittle: Matting certainly has a higher profile than Thomson but personality wise, I’m not sure I see a clear difference. From a game-tactical point of view, perhaps you will see a little more effort to create runs.
Under Thomson, the Phillies are one of two teams that haven’t attempted a sacrifice fly this season. They lead the majors in successful steal percentage (89%) but are just 24th in attempted steal percentage (4.8%).
Mattingly always tends to adjust these things according to his roster, and of course the Phillies are limited by who they have and what they can do. But only four teams are more reliant on homers to score, so there may be some things Mattingly can try. But let’s face it — it comes down to Harper, Schwarber and Turner hitting up to past standards.
Rogers: Perhaps a different environment in the manager’s office will create a different feel on the plate. It is not impossible. For the most part, Mattingly needs to keep a steady ship as his pitchers get healthier.
That’s the key to Philly’s comeback over the next five months. Just don’t fall back any further. A jolt could provide enough of a spark to get Philly going in the right direction. The Phillies can’t get it all back in the standings in one day. Mattingly has to relay that message while, of course, being urgent at the same time. Not an easy task.
Besides Mattingly, who are some long-term candidates for the job?
Doolittle: The obvious name is another manager who has been canned this season, former Boston skipper Alex Cora, and it’s been reported that Cora was offered the job (and turned it down) before Philly tapped Matlingley.
Dombrowski hired Cora before the Red Sox’ championship season in 2018, and Cora should be a hot commodity if/when he decides to take another managerial gig. If the Phillies respond well to Mattingly, you have to think he’ll shed the interim label, especially since his son is the Phillies’ GM under Preston Dombrowski. Maybe that changes if Cora gets called up after the season, but it’s a problem the Phillies highly expect.
Olney: This is future quora work — I don’t think it’s a question of if, but when.
Rogers: Now is not the time to try one of these young, new-age manager types. An SEC school coach won’t be taking over for the Phillies anytime soon, so Alex Cora fits the profile as much as possible.
There have now been two high-profile managerial changes this month. Which manager could be in the next hot seat?
Doolittle: I feel for the guy, but unless the Mets start hanging up some W’s, and a lot of them, soon, it’s hard to see how Carlos Mendoza makes it to Memorial Day. Houston’s Joe Espada is another captain with a short track record leading a projected contender that has so far flopped. If both the Astros and Phillies are in the market for a manager after the season, it will be interesting to see how tough each is after Cora Dombrowski and his association with the Astros.
Olney: Mets don’t want to fire Mendoza; I don’t think either David Stearns or Steve Cohen believe he is responsible for the team’s underperformance. It’s down to the veterans who make up the everyday lineup that has been so formidable, ranking 30th out of 30 teams in many categories. But at this point, with Mendoza in the final year of his contract, the Mets might start thinking about making a change for the sake of change.
Rogers: Mendoza is the one and only answer to that question unless Jerry Dipoto does the same in Seattle or Jim Crane in Houston. Crane is a wild card so perhaps Mendoza and Joe Espada have the same odds — but an underachieving Mets manager seems like a no-brainer.
