The Philadelphia Phillies were looking to rebound after dropping two consecutive series, but instead suffered a disheartening loss to the San Francisco Giants. While much of the criticism was directed at Taijuan Walker for the loss, many fans also held manager accountable—and with good reason.
During a critical moment in the bottom of the sixth inning, as the Phillies were mounting a rally, J.T. Realmuto took a pitch that was clearly outside and should’ve been ball four. However, the umpire called it a strike, ending the inning when the Phillies could’ve had the bases loaded with two outs. Predictably, the Giants capitalized by adding two more runs and securing a comfortable win.
Rather than defending an understandably frustrated Realmuto, Thomson remained passive in the dugout, showing little emotion—something that has become a pattern and a point of contention among fans.
In Philadelphia, where fans and players are known for their passion, Thomson’s lack of urgency and visible leadership is increasingly being seen as a problem. While it’s still early in the season, this lackluster approach has persisted for some time, and Monday’s game was yet another example. After the loss, Thomson continued to downplay concerns, showing no indication that he’s looking to shake things up or energize the team.
Last season, when the Phillies hit a rough patch, Thomson gave similarly vague responses and showed little initiative to inspire change. While it’s unlikely that a fiery reaction or an ejection would’ve changed the outcome of Monday’s game, a show of emotion from the manager might have sparked something in his players or at least resonated with the fans.
The Phillies have a talented roster, but they’ve been underperforming for a while now. At some point, Thomson needs to recognize that doing the same thing over and over isn’t working. The team needs a jolt of energy, and on Monday, Thomson missed another opportunity to provide it.
There’s no doubt Thomson has the ability to lead the team into the postseason, but the Phillies have yet to capture a World Series under his guidance. His managerial style may be part of the reason why they continue to fall short when it matters most.
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