Mar 29, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper (3) greets manager Rob Thomson before an opening day game against the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports Bill Streicher
PHILADELPHIA — Bryce Harper and José Alvarado have been here before. The Phillies have underperformed to start the season, and have decided to make a managerial change in hopes of turning their year around.
Four years ago, Joe Girardi was dismissed and Rob Thomson was promoted to interim manager. Tuesday, it was Thomson being fired, with Don Mattingly getting the nod as interim skipper after Alex Cora passed on a chance to jump into the role.
In between those moments, there were quite a few champagne celebrations, even if the Phillies didn't ultimately get over the hump to win a World Series. Two of the longest-tenured players on the team gave their thoughts on the end of Thomson's run as manager prior to Tuesday evening's game against the San Francisco Giants.
"Obviously, losing Topper, it's tough," Harper acknowledged. "When anybody loses their job or goes through a situation like this, it's tough. We love Topper in here. He was a great manager for us over the years.
"I've had a lot of managers — I've played for a lot of guys over my 15-year career. And Topper is definitely one of the guys at the top," Harper continued. "He's steady eddy in here every day. He was really good for the clubhouse, good for the team. Obviously, this year hasn't gone as planned. And I think as players, we take that and we're the ones who kinda make those decisions happen, right? If we don't play well or make things happen, somebody takes the fall. He took the fall today, but [he's] one of the better managers I've definitely ever played for."
Bryce Harper on the firing of Rob Thomson pic.twitter.com/3EQc0mS5kk
Harper acknowledged that he's "not sure" what Mattingly will bring as interim manager, because the two are still getting to know each other. Harper was complimentary of Mattingly's playing career, but said there's only been a short period to get to know his new manager because he was away at the World Baseball Classic for a large period of Spring Training.
In his first meeting with members of the media Tuesday afternoon, Mattingly repeatedly stressed that "we have to play better baseball." Harper had a similar message.
"Just gotta play better," Harper said. "It's something that as a team, we just gotta play better. We gotta be better on defense, gotta be better on offense, pitching, bullpen, everything. As a team, we just gotta play better."
As for Alvarado, Thomson stuck with him through a variety of trials and tribulations, whether it was control problems in 2022, or his 80-game performance-enhancing drug suspension.
"For me, and I can say this for all of my teammates as well, he meant a lot for us," Alvarado said through interpreter Diego D'Aniello. "It means a lot for us to wear this uniform day in and day out, and to be a part of this organization. It's just, I think it's a lot right now. I believe that he did a lot for this team, he did a lot for this city.
"In the end, we didn't get to that goal that was to win a championship for this city with him too," Alvarado added. "But personally, he's a person that always helped me when I needed it the most, that always supported me in tough times. So, I'll miss him a lot."
José Alvarado reacts to the firing of Rob Thomson
(Via @TimKellySports) pic.twitter.com/VudjmQJuCF
Alvarado really hit his stride in 2022 around when Thomson took over as manager. He and Seranthony Domínguez were ultimately the two relievers that the Phillies relied on the most during their NL pennant run that fall.
Four years later, the Phillies again need Alvarado to have a drastic turn around in his season. The 30-year-old has a 7.45 ERA across 13 appearances this season, and for the Phillies to get where they want now under Mattingly, he needs to round into being a top set-up man for Jhoan Duran.
