The Philadelphia Phillies are reassembling their team, though in reality, the group never truly dispersed. After being eliminated by the New York Mets in the NLDS, the organization seems to be content with the outcome. Front office executive Dave Dombrowski has confirmed that manager Rob Thomson and his entire coaching staff will return for the upcoming season.
“We have a solid coaching staff overall,” Dombrowski stated. “They perform their duties effectively. They guided us to 95 wins and have been part of our organization for a few years now—many for three years or even longer. We have a capable manager who collaborates well with his staff… He wants all his coaches back. To me, that makes perfect sense. Although we faced a disappointing conclusion to the season, it’s unfair to place that solely on their shoulders.”
The end-of-season press conference for the Phillies provided little clarity. Dombrowski seems inclined to maintain the current structure, and while there are evident needs for adjustments in player personnel, he believes that Thomson and his coaching team merit their positions despite the setback in 2024. Notably, Thomson was granted a one-year extension.
The Phillies appear not to have learned from the Atlanta Braves’ experience last season. Just last winter, the Braves found themselves in a similar situation. Despite being eliminated in the NLDS by the Phillies, manager Brian Snitker and most of his coaching staff remained intact. The roster is always subject to change, as is the case with the Phillies, but both Alex Anthopoulos and Dombrowski share the philosophy that one poor series does not define an entire season.
However, that’s the nature of the MLB postseason! While every team aims to compete for a World Series title during spring training, the top-tier teams focus on assembling the finest roster of players and coaches to elevate their postseason performance. The Phillies fell short in that regard, in fact, regressing similarly to the Braves in 2023.
Reflecting on Atlanta’s recent struggles, they were eliminated from this season’s NL Wild Card series by the San Diego Padres. The trajectory for Philadelphia is concerning. While a managerial change may not be the solution, Dombrowski must be diligently exploring other avenues to rectify the situation.
