Don’t Repeat The Charlie Manuel Mistake With Rob Thomson

Rob Thomson led the Philadelphia Phillies to the best record in baseball through the quarter mark of 2024. However, the same fan base that once too harshly questioned Charlie Manuel criticizes the current manager on a regular basis.

The MLB lifer deserves more credit for the organization’s outstanding turnaround since he took over as the skipper in June 2022. 

Don’t compromise the incredible passion that characterizes Philadelphia sports fandom, but remember the big picture of Thomson’s success.

Large factions of a frustrated fan base blasted Charlie Manuel after the former Cleveland Indians manager took the job in Philadelphia before the 2005 season. Most of these fans wanted Jim Leyland, the manager who defeated Manuel in the 1997 World Series.

The superficial perception of Manuel’s regional accent drove an unreasonable amount of criticism. Two middling seasons didn’t do much to advance the plot after the Larry Bowa era of maddening near-misses of a National League Wild Card berth.

Pat Gillick took over the front office entering the 2006 season. He retained Manuel on a considerable leash with a flawed roster. The Phillies finally got over the hump for their first playoff appearance in 14 years with a memorable comeback on the New York Mets late in the 2007 season. 

Manuel started to gain some favor. The city then exploded in 2008 when the Phillies brought the city its first major professional sports championship in 25 years.

Winning tends to change the perception of a rabid fan base. Charlie Manuel's West Virginia accent suddenly became endearing.

Manuel wasn’t above criticism after three playoff runs from 2009-2011 ended in heartbreaking defeats. However, his overall reputation in Philadelphia improved exponentially after 2006.

Most Phillies fans look back on his career nostalgically as the leader of the golden era of Phillies baseball from 2007-2011. 

Rob Thomson inherited an underperforming 22-29 team from Joe Girardi in 2022. The Phillies went on a 65-46 tear and an incredible ride to the World Series. He unlocked a new mindset within a talented clubhouse that a big name manager like Girardi with a World Series ring couldn’t nail down.

Very few people will argue that the 2022 roster didn’t maximize their talent considering the teams they beat in postseason series and the stacked Houston Astros roster that finally ended the magic.

Critics questioned whether the Phillies could find the same type of short-term hot streak in 2023. Thomson played the long game through the ups and downs of the regular season. He put his team in position to win two more postseason series, including another improbable NLDS upset against the juggernaut Atlanta Braves.

Thomson isn’t free from criticism for the losses against the Astros in 2022 and the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2023 NLCS. However, hindsight questioning in-game decisions shouldn’t outweigh the full story of the past two Phillies seasons.

A clubhouse that constantly receives praise has progressed from a middling team from 2018-2021 to an elite MLB team, and Rob Thomson has been a major part of that.

Thomson has blended analytics into the approach of a “players’ manager” creatively. He’s taken the advice of modern analytics that drastically downplays the importance of batting order and advantageously utilized it to improve the mindset of his players. 

Kyle Schwarber breaks every traditional perception of a leadoff hitter. Thomson drives incredible outrage by persistently penciling in a hitter who finished last season below the Mendoza line. He ignores the criticism by keeping his star player in a comfortable position.

The message of confidence has helped Schwarber sustain statistical success beyond an underwhelming batting average.

Even a questionable decision to keep Alec Bohm in the meat of the order during the 2023 MLB Playoffs actually paid some dividends. The embattled third baseman finished the NLDS with a .191 postseason average.

The perception of the offensive struggles in the NLCS shouldn’t include Bohm. He took advantage of his manager’s vote of confidence and hit at a .280 clip in the third and fourth spots during the seven-game series. His solo home run in Game 7 was virtually the only spark of a painful night at Citizens Bank Park.

It’s not difficult to find microcosms contributing to Thomson’s big-picture success. Nick Castellanos has already benefited from his manager’s approach early in the 2024 season.

The veteran right fielder came out the gates in a brutal slump. Thomson publicly recognized small progress from him on May 6.

Castellanos had just knocked four hits in a three-game stretch. Thomson went out of his way to praise him to the media for his opposite-field capability when answering a question about Bryce Harper.

The Phillies soon took a trip to South Florida to face the Miami Marlins. Thomson bumped Castellanos up in the order, even to the cleanup spot, in response to a short hot streak that had only minimally boosted his unimpressive season stats.

Jayson Stark spoke about how Thomson sent a message to Castellanos (not so?) coincidentally on the weekend he was playing in front of family and friends at a ballpark within 10 miles of his hometown. What was the manager implying with his lineup maneuver?

Castellanos was Philadelphia’s best player in Miami. He slugged two home runs and showed off an improved glove in right field with an excellent catch over his shoulder in the ninth inning of the series opener.

Should Thomson have relied on Craig Kimbrel with such a high level of confidence in the 2023 NLCS? Should he have trusted Jose Alvarado in Game 6 of the World Series in 2022? Maybe not. Neither decision paid off.

Thomson’s patient approach isn’t bulletproof, but it’s worked more often than not in a sport notoriously characterized by failure.

The most passionate fan base in professional sports will inevitably second guess any move that backfires. They'll inevitably feel frustrated at the calm demeanor of a patient Canadian man when the Phillies lose.

It’s part of the intensity of reactions to a World Series contender with the highest standard for performance.

However, remember that many Philadelphians misjudged Charlie Manuel before he worked his way to a status as a local legend. Nobody should let their passion overshadow the outstanding stretch Rob Thomson has put together with the Phillies.

The professional sports franchise with the longest tenure in one city with one name has its fair share of history.

Any list of all-time Philadelphia Phillies accomplishments can glorify big names like Mike Schmidt, Pete Rose, or Richie Ashburn. However, some of the most impactful acquisitions have come from the best trades in Phillies history.

The Fightin’ Phils have traded for their all-time wins leader, one of the fiercest competitors in MLB history, and the man responsible for clinching the 2008 World Series.

Legends like Steve Carlton and Roy Halladay will persist in the hearts of Philadelphia fans, but what about the general managers who made the moves happen?

Paul Owens gets the bulk of the glory as the architect of the 1980 World Series. However, it was John Quinn who landed Steve Carlton in his final deal with the Phillies.

Ruben Amaro Jr. unceremoniously left the front office, but he also assembled the best pitching staff in Phillies history.

One forgotten era in Phillies history also included trades for some of the best-kept secrets before they became star players. The decade following the 1993 World Series wasn't pretty, but imagine how much worse it would've been if the Phillies hadn't traded for Curt Schilling or Bobby Abreu.

The Phillies have made their fair share of blunders too. It was also bound to happen for a franchise that’s been around since 1883.

They infamously gave up too soon on Ferguson Jenkins. One of the most regrettable ones that got away was a throw-in sweetener in a deal with the Chicago Cubs. 

Phillies fans will adamantly demand for the best deals every season leading up to the MLB Trade Deadline. However, they should also remember that these deals can go unimaginably far in either direction.

Phillies Get: Jose Alvarado
Los Angeles Dodgers Get: Garrett Cleavinger (from Phillies)
Tampa Bay Rays Get: Dillon Paulson, player to be named later (from Dodgers)

Philadelphia teams seem like they’re always the ones who give up too soon and trade talented young players who haven’t reached their full potential. Jose Alvarado reversed the trend.

The Hefty Lefty accepted a demotion to the minors in 2022 and recreated a power sinker. He returned to the majors and stepped into one of the most important high-leverage roles on the way to a World Series appearance in 2022.

He’s now one of the strongest power arms at the back of the Phillies bullpen.

Garrett Cleavinger still has the potential to match Alvarado, but the Phillies got the best immediate return from the trade.

July 27, 2007
Phillies Get: Tadahito Iguchi
Chicago White Sox Get: Michael Dubee

What did the Phillies send to the White Sox for a lineup regular with .278 and .281 respective batting averages in his only two full MLB seasons? Michael Dubee, pitching coach Rich Dubee’s son, a Single A pitcher who ultimately never made it to the major leagues.

Why would Chicago GM Kenny Williams trade Tadahito Iguchi? It makes a little more sense in the big picture. The Phillies also acquired Freddy Garcia from the White Sox the previous offseason. Landing an expected ace was a big part of the reason Jimmy Rollins spoke so confidently about “the team to beat” in the NL East.

It turned out to be one of the worst trades in franchise history. Garcia pitched 11 games in his only season in Philadelphia. The injuries that kept him off the mound very well might’ve existed before the trade.

According to Gillick’s former assistant GM, The Phillies essentially picked up Tadahito Iguchi as an apology from Kenny Williams and the White Sox.

Iguchi hit .304 in 45 games to finish the 2007 season. He played an everyday role for the first month while Utley sat. He later moved into a bench role after the everyday second baseman reentered the lineup.

Iguchi famously slid into home on Chase Utley’s walk-off hit in an August thriller against the New York Mets that helped the historic NL East comeback.

August 19, 2006
Phillies Get: Jamie Moyer
Seattle Mariners Get: Andy Baldwin, Andrew Barb

The MLB Trade Deadline used to allow for waiver deals during the month of August. Before the overdue rule change, Pat Gillick landed Jamie Moyer for two minor leaguers in August 2006.

Moyer never had head-turning velocity in his previous 20 seasons of major league experience, so his age didn’t factor into his ability to pitch much. He began his stint in Philadelphia at age 43 and remarkably made 118 starts in five seasons.

The local kid from Souderton and Saint Joseph’s University became one of the feel-good stories of the 2008 World Series. Neither Baldwin nor Barb ever played in an MLB game.

February 7, 2019
Phillies Get: J.T. Realmuto
Miami Marlins Get: Sixto Sanchez, Jorge Alfaro, Will Stewart, international bonus slot money

The class of free agents entering the 2019 season forced a domino effect on the entire sport. The Phillies were desperate for a superstar to reestablish themselves as a contender after a long period of dormancy.

They lured Bryce Harper by trading for the best catcher in baseball. Matt Klentak sent stud pitching prospect Sixto Sanchez to the Marlins for J.T. Realmuto.

Realmuto became a key piece in the miracle ride to the World Series in 2022. Sixto Sanchez had drawn comparisons to Pedro Martinez, but injuries derailed the early years of his career.

Stewart never made it to the major leagues. Alfaro spent some serviceable seasons with the Marlins, but he never approached the caliber of Realmuto.

July 29, 2009
Phillies Get: Cliff Lee, Ben Francisco
Cleveland Indians Get: Carlos Carrasco, Lou Marson, Jason Knapp, Jason Donald

The chatter leading up to the MLB Trade Deadline in 2009 focused on Roy Halladay. Could the Phillies land the best pitcher in the game and repeat with another World Series? 

Instead, Ruben Amaro Jr. traded for Cliff Lee. The nonchalant Arkansas native looked effortless and unaffected by the pressure of the MLB postseason during a run to the World Series in 2009.

The rest of the starting rotation struggled to make it through a deep playoff run. Lee won both of his starts against the New York Yankees, but the Phillies lost in six games.

The Phillies missed out on a long career from Carlos Carrasco. However, it’s all relative to the risk of aggressive trade deadline spending in a window of World Series contention. 

Although the trade only kept Lee in Philadelphia for a few months, the instant dynamic with the fan base played a major factor in convincing him to sign with the Phillies before the 2011 season.

June 18, 1989
Phillies Get: Lenny Dykstra, Roger McDowell, Tom Edens
New York Mets Get: Juan Samuel

It’s funny how a new uniform can change the fans’ attitude about a guy. Phillies fans hated Lenny Dykstra as a member of the Mets. Nails was the grinder who got under opponents’ skin on the way to a World Series in 1986.

His gritty style transferred over with a division rival after the deal. Dykstra hit over .300 in three of his first four seasons in Philadelphia, and he became a major catalyst for the 1993 National League champs. 

Roger McDowell also spent time at the back end of the bullpen in parts of three seasons. He saved 44 games for the Phillies before they traded him again in 1991.

Juan Samuel had some good seasons with the Phillies in the early part of his career. However, he only played 86 games for the Mets after the trade before moving to five other MLB teams to finish his career.

November 18, 1997
Phillies Get: Bobby Abreu
Tampa Bay Devil Rays Get: Kevin Stocker

The Phillies swindled the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 1997 when they acquired 23-year-old Bobby Abreu after just 64 career major league games. 

Say what you want about Abreu. His demeanor never clicked in Philadelphia. He wasn’t a great outfielder (although he strangely won a Gold Glove in 2005). The decision to trade him for a minimal return in 2006 proved to be addition by subtraction. 

Don’t let that make you forget his offensive production. 

He sits 11th in Phillies history with 195 home runs and seventh in stolen bases with 254. His outstanding .303/.416/.513 slash line would make modern MLB front offices gush.

Stocker helped the Phillies to the World Series in his rookie season in 1993, but he only played three more MLB seasons after the deal. He hit .237 collectively with the Devil Rays and the Anaheim Angels.

April 2, 1992
Phillies Get: Curt Schilling
Houston Astros Get: Jason Grimsley

The Baltimore Orioles and the Houston Astros couldn’t unlock Curt Schilling’s talent early in his career. He hit his stride after a deal to the Phillies in 1992. 

Schilling established himself at the top of the rotation for the 1993 National League champions. He became the unquestioned ace during the mid and late 1990s, but the fading talent around him ultimately led to his departure.

The Phillies enjoyed the benefits of an excellent talent for nine seasons, but they let him get away to win three World Series in two other uniforms.

Grimsley pitched in the majors for 12 more seasons. He became a respectable journeyman reliever, but his accomplishments pale in comparison to Schilling.

December 16, 2009
Phillies Get: Roy Halladay, cash
Toronto Blue Jays Get: Kyle Drabek, Michael Taylor, Travis d’Arnaud

The prospect experts loved Kyle Drabek. It seemed daring to deal a top young pitcher with tremendous potential, but Roy Halladay was available.

Ruben Amaro Jr. landed the long-time Blue Jays ace at age 32. Halladay announced his unrelenting mission for dominance with a perfect game less than two months into his Phillies tenure.

He only started 108 regular-season and playoff games in parts of four seasons for Philadelphia. However, two elite seasons in 2010 and 2011 and his frightening competitive spirit put him in franchise folklore.

Drabek never spent a full season in an MLB starting rotation. He demonstrated how uncertain prospect projections can be and the value of aggressive moves for teams with a window for World Series contention. 

While d’Arnaud turned into a solid major leaguer, the Phillies will never regret sending him away.

November 7, 2007
Phillies Get: Brad Lidge, Eric Bruntlett
Houston Astros Get: Michael Bourn, Geoff Geary, Mike Costanzo

A monstrous three-run blast from Albert Pujols in the 2005 NLCS supposedly ruined the psyche of All-Star closer Brad Lidge.

Former Phillies GM Ed Wade dealt Lidge to the Phillies in the deal that catapulted them to their second World Series. Pat Gillick sent back a package centered around Michael Bourn.

Lidge’s glory didn’t last long in Philadelphia. He blew 11 saves in 2009 and never regained a rhythm afterwards.

However, 48 saves in 48 chances had already solidified his place in franchise history. The Phillies wouldn't have won the World Series in 2008 without Brad Lidge. Eric Bruntlett also played a solid role as a utility man and defensive replacement.

Bourn became an excellent base stealer for the Astros. He stole 61 in 2009, 52 in 2010, and 61 in 2011. He carved out a solid 11-year career.

Geary spent two seasons with the Astros. Costanzo only played 17 career MLB games.

February 25, 1972
Phillies Get: Steve Carlton
St. Louis Cardinals Get: Rick Wise

Rick Wise made his first of two MLB All-Star teams in 1971 in the last of his seven seasons in Philadelphia. He’ll never have much association in franchise history for that because fans remember his name as the guy the Phillies traded for Steve Carlton.

Carlton had developed into a 20-game winner early in his career with the Cardinals, but General Manager John Quinn stole him from the Red Birds in 1972.

Lefty came out fast with a 27-10 record and a 1.97 ERA in his first season with the Phillies. He won the first of his four Cy Youngs and laid the groundwork to become the best pitcher in franchise history.

Wise pitched well in two seasons with the Cardinals. He hung around for nine more years in the majors after leaving St. Louis.

The Phillies weren’t worried about what they gave up. What they got back was plenty to keep them happy.

They immortalize Steve Carlton with a statue outside Citizens Bank Park.