Thomson fired

[zambonir]

The Phillies have fired manager Rob Thomson, sources told The Athletic. Don Mattingly will be interim manager.

— Matt Gelb ( @mattgelb.bsky.social ) April 28, 2026 at 10:45 AM

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7233764/2026/04/28/phillies-manager-rob-thomson-fired-mlb/?source=emp_shared_article&unlocked_article_code=1.eVA.MFuY.pO6uFwpkp4p9

[David_Criss]

No more playing for the tie. Thank you Rob for lots of great seasons. Looking forward to more post seasons with hopefully different results going forward. But Mattingley takes over a team with aging unmovable contracts. As a fan who loves this team, I am hoping this is the shake up the roster needed.

[flyers19rw]

Step one. Look for more shoes to drop

[zambonir]

It's unlikely Mattingly is the permanent manager, even if it doesn't end up being Cora. He was legit ready to retire before the bench coach opportunity came up. Of course so was Thomson before Girardi got fired.

Dunno how many shoes they can actually drop. This is change for the sake of a change and a new voice, which is fine, but making the GM's father the new manager certainly doesn't suggest the front office is under scrutiny. And it's kind of funny that the only difference between this year's coaching staff and the one that won 95 and 96 games is... Don Mattingly.

[Patchmk88]

GM's father*

[bkox]

Ridiculous move. I hope we lose 100 games this year

[zambonir]

ha, corrected thanks

[Philsmania]

Wathan moved to bench coach, Contreras up from LHV to be third base coach , LHV bench coach Chris Adamson becomes IronPigs manager.

[Philsmania]

Nightingale states that Cora was offered the job but declined.

https://x.com/BNightengale/status/2049145171116433417

[Dirk41]

Would have liked if Dusty finally got a shot. This looks to be setting up for Preston Mattingly taking over for DD in the off-season, Don Mattingly retiring, and PM getting his regime in there.

[zambonir]

It would be surprising if Cora takes a job in-season. He'll have plenty of offers and leverage in the fall, here included. Especially since the team that hires him will have actually gone through the diversity candidates and hired one for a change.

Would have liked if Dusty finally got a shot. This looks to be setting up for Preston Mattingly taking over for DD in the off-season, Don Mattingly retiring, and PM getting his regime in there.

Will be interesting to see if that's really the case. I would think if Preston is going to take over then, DD's last year is converted into a three-year advisor gig, and they make a lot of noise about a smooth transition/same as it ever was. Not sure ownership is really ready for a rebuild. And where, for instance, does the team's refusal to give opt-outs come from? Mattingly has been vocal against them but is that just because it's what DD wants, or does he believe it. And what does ownership think?

[Philsmania]

Would have liked if Dusty finally got a shot. This looks to be setting up for Preston Mattingly taking over for DD in the off-season, Don Mattingly retiring, and PM getting his regime in there.

As has been said on another thread, Dusty's ship may have sailed a few years ago and now Contreras is the resident top managerial prospect.

But yeah, I could see DD retiring, Preston replacing him and Don retiring and becoming his son's assistant or senior advisor after the season.

One thing is certain, both Topper and Dombrowski will have placques on the Phillies WOF someday.

[zambonir]

One thing is certain, both Topper and Dombrowski will have placques on the Phillies WOF someday.

Hmmh, interesting. No manager is on the WOF that didn't win a World Series. No Ozark, no Fregosi. Wade got in on the strength of the '08 team (and because he's a good company man). John Quinn also on there.

[zambonir]

I guess the one thing you can say for Dusty is this allows him to remain a candidate for the permanent job. The odds of him repeating Thomson's path to it would have been slim (very slim. Thomson probably doesn't even get the job if the Phillies had lost to St. Louis in 2022).

[Philsmania]

One thing is certain, both Topper and Dombrowski will have placques on the Phillies WOF someday.

Hmmh, interesting. No manager is on the WOF that didn't win a World Series. No Ozark, no Fregosi. Wade got in on the strength of the '08 team (and because he's a good company man). John Quinn also on there.

At least Ozark should be on there--winningest all-time manager until Charlie. Fregosi (and Thomas) only had one good year. Fregosi's Phillies record is actually in the negative (431-463) Ozark, Topper and Dombrowski had multiple outstanding seasons. John Quinn made the deal for Lefty and started the rebuild that Owens took over and completed.

[andyb]

I really think it is a bad look to give Mattingly the job. Hopefully they are serious about finding a full time manager now. It was probably too soon for Cora, but maybe he would reconsider in a few weeks.

[zambonir]

At least Ozark should be on there--winningest all-time manager until Charlie. Fregosi (and Thomas) only had one good year. Fregosi's Phillies record is actually in the negative (431-463) Ozark, Topper and Dombrowski had multiple outstanding seasons.

Yeah, agreed, he shares "getting to the World Series" on his resume with Topper. As Ozark does "NL East champions." Given how different the league and playoff format was back then, Ozark definitely deserves more credit. Without the new playoff format in 2022 does any of this ever happen?

And then multiple players from this era will end up on the wall (Harper, Wheeler, JT, Sanchez?) without the GM who got them here (Klentak) being on it. I'd say the same will be true of Amaro (who gets credit for Nola as well as Halladay) but never say never when it comes to the Phillies Phamily.

I really think it is a bad look to give Mattingly the job. Hopefully they are serious about finding a full time manager now. It was probably too soon for Cora, but maybe he would reconsider in a few weeks.

I think the Mattingly hire highlights just how interim it is. I think he will finish out the year but not be a candidate for the full-time job. They can't actually hire a full-time manager in-season unless they do go through a full search, even if Cora does happen to check off the diversity hire box.

But unfortunately, yes: it was surprising to me. What the hire says is not, "we think Don can turn this team around" but rather, "we have eyes and ears in the clubhouse to help us figure out what do next."

[andyb]

Is there any "shakeup" move that Mattingly could possibly make? I guess he could lead off Crawford (right-handed starter going tonight) but that won't move the needle much. And Crawford has only looked OK up there anyway while getting favorable matchups at the end of the lineup.

We are not changing any starting pitchers. He could close with someone like Kerkering but that is only for a week until Duran is back. I guess benching Bohm for Sosa against RHP could be done but past data suggests that won't work long term.

There just is not much to do other than changing the "vibes".

[Callison]

Ridiculous move. I hope we lose 100 games this year

Illustrating the anti-leadership principle: "Avoid responsibility and seek to blame others."

Thanks for everything, Rob. Great effort. Might have done a lot more if your bosses could evaluate athletic talent.

I doubt the team likes this at all.

Things just got even worse. More capable management would have a top performer ready to move in before taking this desperate step. These guys look like a ship adrift at sea without a rudder.

[zambonir]

Yeah, it all still seems a little above his pay grade. I'm sure the way Thomson used Crawford was driven by the analytics and the GM (with an eye towards both Crawford's development and winning) anyway (and yes, the clamor to see more of Crawford based on his numbers also ignores the factor you mention, as well as the protection he's gotten not facing LHPs).

Benching Bohm is really the only move. They also really still need a LHB who can play 3B. Reyes (inasmuch as he can even do it), Moore, Sosa, Kemp and Cairo all RHBs.

Also a bit surprising Long and Cotham completely evade scrutiny. But that just goes to show you that the move really had nothing do to with performance, just, yes, the vibes.