The Philadelphia Phillies have fired manager Rob Thomson after a disappointing start to the season, replacing him with Don Mattingly. This change comes as the team struggles offensively and sits 10.5 games behind the Atlanta Braves.
Key points
Phillies fired manager Rob Thomson after a 9-19 start.
Don Mattingly is the new manager of the Philadelphia Phillies.
Thomson had a successful tenure with two NL East titles.
The Phillies are struggling offensively, scoring only 102 runs in 28 games.
Mattingly previously managed the Dodgers and Marlins.
Mentioned in this story
Rob ThomsonDon Mattingly
Philadelphia PhilliesAtlanta BravesSan Francisco GiantsBoston Red Sox
ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 25: Philadelphia manager Rob Thomson (49) in the dugout during the MLB game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Atlanta Braves on April 25th, 2026 at Truist Park in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 25: Philadelphia manager Rob Thomson (49) in the dugout during the MLB game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Atlanta Braves on April 25th, 2026 at Truist Park in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
After four straight trips to the playoffs, including a World Series appearance in 2022, the 9-19 Philadelphia Phillies fired manager Rob Thomson Tuesday morning. The move was made for a number of reasons but we can safely conclude that the timing of the firing was inspired by abject fear of facing a red-hot San Francisco Giants team riding a three-series win streak.
The Phillies’ main issue is that the team can’t score runs. They’ve put up only 102 runs in 28 games despite having players like two-time MVP Bryce Harper, two-time home run leader Kyle Schwarber, and two-time batting champion Trea Turner. For some context, that’s only five runs more than the 29th-place Giants! And only ten runs better than the New York Mets.
Thomson’s teams went 355-270 (.568) and won two NL East titles, but this season, with the Phillies sitting 10.5 games back of the Atlanta Braves, team management made the cheapest, simplest move to shake up the team: Firing the manager. After all, Thomson got the Phillies job under similar circumstances in 2022, when team president Dave Dombrowski fired Joe Girardi after a 22-29 start, and the team went to the World Series.
Though this managerial change wasn’t all that simple. The Phillies recently-fired manager Alex Cora over the weekend, but he turned them down Monday. Which is how Don Mattingly is the new boss in the City of Brotherly Love.
Mattingly managed the from 2011-15, winning the National League West in the last three seasons but advancing past the first round of the playoffs only once, going 8-11 overall in the postseason. He went on to spend the next seven seasons at the helm of the , where he went 443-587 (.430), which is a poor record even by Marlins standards.
Of course, Mattingly’s most memorable moment as a manager came in 2010, when he was still the Dodgers bench coach. Manager Joe Torre was ejected along with after a beanball exchange, leaving Mattingly in charge with the Dodgers up 5-4. In the 9th inning, Mattingly brought in closer , who loaded the bases with an intentional walk to Aubrey Huff. Before the next visit, Mattingly went out to the mound to confer with Broxton, stepped off the mound, then returned for a final word.
But once he stepped off the pitcher’s mound and onto the infield grass, the original mound visit ended and a second mound visit began. Bruce Bochy noticed, and alerted the umpires that, by rule, Mattingly had to replace Broxton.
Mattingly had no one warming up in the bullpen as he had no plans to replace his closer, so an ice-cold George Sherrill entered the game and allowed a go-ahead double to Andres Torres. A second reliever gave up an RBI single to and the Giants got an improbable 7-5 victory in a season where they won the NL West on the last day of the season.
Arguably, Don Mattingly was a crucial reason the Giants won the 2010 title and launched their three-championships-in-five-years dynasty. In other words, welcome back, Forever Giant Don Mattingly!
Q&A
Why did the Philadelphia Phillies fire Rob Thomson?
The Phillies fired Rob Thomson due to a poor start to the season, with the team struggling to score runs and sitting significantly behind the division leaders.
Who is the new manager of the Philadelphia Phillies?
Don Mattingly has been appointed as the new manager of the Philadelphia Phillies following the dismissal of Rob Thomson.
What was Rob Thomson's record as manager of the Phillies?
Rob Thomson had a record of 355-270 (.568) during his tenure as manager of the Philadelphia Phillies.
What challenges did Don Mattingly face as a manager before joining the Phillies?
Before joining the Phillies, Don Mattingly managed the Miami Marlins, where he had a record of 443-587 (.430), which was considered poor even by Marlins standards.
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