The Philadelphia Phillies had their five-game winning streak snapped by the Cincinnati Reds, but the club continues to thrive under its new leadership.
Since replacing longtime manager Rob Thomson with bench coach Don Mattingly, Philadelphia has captured six consecutive series and posted the best record in the National League during a remarkable midseason resurgence.
“You can run through the records of every manager in the Hall of Fame. Not one of them has done what Don Mattingly has done over the last three weeks,” Jayson Stark and Matt Gelb wrote for The Athletic. “What he has done since taking over the once-wallowing Phillies is no longer merely stunning, team-changing and season-saving. It’s officially historic.”
Philadelphia Phillies’ Former Manager Rob Thomson Criticized For Lack Of Personal Big-League Experience
While Mattingly has not dramatically altered the roster or made sweeping tactical changes, one major distinction separates him from Thomson: his extensive playing career at the highest level.
During a 14-year career with the New York Yankees, Mattingly earned six All-Star selections, won an MVP Award, collected three Silver Sluggers, and secured nine Gold Gloves. Thomson, meanwhile, never reached the major leagues as a player, with his career topping out after four seasons as a minor-league catcher.
That difference reportedly became a point of contention for at least one player during Thomson’s tenure. Former Phillies outfielder Nick Castellanos was said to have told teammates that he struggled to trust a manager who had never played in the major leagues.
Philadelphia Phillies’ Alec Bohm Credits Don Mattingly’s ‘Player’s Perspective’ Amid Turnaround
One of the players benefiting most from the club’s resurgence under Mattingly is Alec Bohm, who recently pointed to the manager’s unique perspective as a former player.
“Don has been around a lot of baseball, a lot of really good baseball,” Bohm told Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer. “He’s seen it all. As much as you can see from a player’s perspective, a coach’s perspective, a manager’s perspective. He’s been on all sides of the game.”
Bohm has spent years battling trade rumors and inconsistent offensive production, and he found himself in another slump earlier this season. Mattingly responded by sitting him for two straight games, a move that appeared to spark a turnaround. Since returning, Bohm has produced a strong 1.231 OPS across 37 plate appearances.
Mattingly’s own experience as a former star player may have influenced both the decision to give Bohm a reset and the way he communicated the plan. Thomson had plenty of successful moments leading the Phillies, but Bohm’s recent rebound may be one example of how Mattingly’s player-first perspective has helped fuel the team’s dramatic turnaround.