Don Mattingly will be the manager of the Philadelphia Phillies after firing Rob Thomson

The address of the Philadelphia Phillies took an unexpected turn in the middle of a difficult start to the season. The team decided to fire its manager, Rob Thomsonafter a negative streak that left him with a 9-19 record, tied for last place in the Major Leagues. The measure was invented after a string of defeats that included 11 losses in 12 games, despite being a team with a high budget.

The change also places Don Mattingly as interim manager until the end of the season. The former bench coach and former manager of Los Angeles Dodgers He will take office in an unusual scenario: he will work under the management structure headed by his son, Preston Mattinglygeneral manager of the club. According to reports, it would be the first time in baseball history that father and son coincide as manager and general manager in the same organization.

The movement on the bench comes after a brief recovery for the team, which managed to break a streak of 10 consecutive losses thanks to a victory against Atlanta, led by Zack Wheeler. However, Sunday’s setback once again revealed the moment the franchise is going through.

A successful cycle that did not resist the bad start

Thomson, 62, closed his stage with a record of 355 wins and 270 losses. During his tenure, he led the Phillies to four consecutive playoff appearances, including the 2022 World Series, in which they lost to Houston in six games.

The Canadian manager had taken over in 2022 after replacing Joe Girardi and quickly achieved results. Under his command, the team won consecutive division titles and remained a contender in the National League. He also achieved a historic mark by qualifying for the postseason in each of his first four full seasons as manager, matching names like Dave Roberts, Aaron Boone and Mike Matheny.

Despite that journey, recent performance marked the outcome. The organization, which has high-profile figures such as Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turnerfailed to sustain its competitive level at the start of the campaign.

President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski had publicly endorsed Thomson days before his firing. However, the situation changed quickly due to adverse results. He even revealed that he had a conversation with Alex Cora about the possibility of assuming the position, although he clarified: “We never got to the details.”

In parallel, the team has made other moves, such as the termination of Taijuan Walker’s contract and the departure of outfielder Nick Castellanos in February, decisions that reflect a process of roster adjustments.

Mattingly, who initially had no intention of directing again, had noted at the time: “I don’t think I have the energy for that anymore.” However, after talking with his family, he agreed to join the project, also motivated by the opportunity to share the experience with his son within the organization.

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