.jpg)
8 hours ago
1
No Major League Baseball manager is universally beloved, but Rob Thomson has earned himself more fans than haters.
Thomson took over at the helm of the Philadelphia Phillies when Joe Girardi was fired early in the 2022 season. He led an immediate turnaround, guiding the team to their first World Series appearance since 2009 later that fall.
In the two years since, the Phillies have seen a lot of success, but their playoff results have backtracked. They lost in the National League Championship Series in 2023, and then in the Division Series last October.
Though Thomson has done a good job managing the Phillies throughout most of his tenure, the team's championship window is undoubtedly beginning to shrink. Would they consider making a change if the team has another playoff disappointment in 2025?
On Friday, Bleacher Report's Zachary D. Rymer named Thomson an "honorable mention" on the list of managers currently on the "hot seat" around MLB after the Pittsburgh Pirates cut ties with their skipper Derek Shelton on Thursday.
"Thomson authored an all-time save in 2022, taking over for Joe Girardi in June and guiding the Phillies to the World Series," Rymer wrote.
Follow The Sporting News On WhatsApp
"Yet the team hasn't made forward progress since then, and it now finds itself looking up the New York Mets in the NL East. If progress continues to stall or even reverses, a new leader could be needed.
Entering play Friday, Thomson is 272-200 (.576 win percentage) as the Phillies manager. That's the best win percentage of any Phillies skipper with at least 100 games at the helm, just ahead of Arthur Irwin of 1894 fame.
But championships are the expectation in Philadelphia these days. It's not as though the Phillies are the clear favorites to win it all this season, but Thomson will be closely monitored for his impact on the team's title chances.
More MLB: Yankees' Aaron Judge shockingly predicted to miss out on 3rd career MVP award
English (US)