The Philadelphia Phillies are doing their best to put their dreadful start to the season behind them, rattling off a 7-1 record since interim manager Don Mattingly took over for sacrificial lamb Rob Thomson. Topper was clearly not the cause of all of his team’s ills, but sometimes a shock to the system like firing a beloved skipper can wake up a sleeping giant, and it seems to have done just that. In fact, Bryce Harper’s thoughts on the subject summed things up perfectly.
Rob Thomson deserved a better fate as Phillies manager. The even-keeled Canadian did a masterful job when he assumed the reins from the reviled Joe Girardi, and piloted the club to a cumulative 355-270 record in parts of five seasons at the helm, including the 2022 National League pennant. Unfortunately, his club’s horrifying 9-19 start to the 2026 season meant someone needed to walk the plank, and Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski threw Topper overboard to save his own skin.
While feeding Thomson to the wolves may have been ethically dubious, it seems to have had the desired effect, as the Phillies have broken out of their month-long slump upon receiving Mattingly as their new leader. The 7-1 stretch the team has gone on since last week’s firing has vaulted the Phils to within five games of a playoff spot with well over 100 games left to play.
According to Bryce Harper, the Phillies are a brand new team after Rob Thomson decision
The question many observers have is whether Thomson’s firing gave the team the wakeup call they needed, or if the uptick in performance is mere coincidence as they enter a much softer portion of their schedule.
The truth likely lies somewhere in between, but future Hall of Famer Bryce Harper lent credence to the idea that a kick in the pants was just what the complacent group needed.
Bryce Harper, on the Phillies’ 6-1 record since Don Mattingly replaced Rob Thomson:
— Todd Zolecki (@ToddZolecki) May 5, 2026
“I think we were all just waiting for that ball to drop, waiting for something to happen. If Topper was going to get fired or he wasn’t, it was just kind of, 'We need to get over this hump and…
“I think we were all just waiting for that ball to drop, waiting for something to happen. [Waiting to see] If Topper was going to get fired or he wasn’t,” Harper explained to MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki. That kind of pressure seemed to take a toll on the group, as everyone except for Harper and Kyle Schwarber stopped hitting, the vaunted starting rotation fell apart, and defensive miscues became the norm. A 10-game losing streak all but sealed Thomson’s fate as the playoffs began to look like a far-off dream.
While the players were certainly saddened to lose their fearless leader, Harper acknowledged the renewed sense of purpose the team has moving forward, claiming, “April’s behind us. We’ve got to step forward and understand that we’re stacking days and playing better and just keep it going.”
Harper couldn’t have put it any better, as all the Phillies can do now is perform to the best of their ability from here on out. The new sheriff in town seems to have his squad playing with rejuvenated confidence, and restoring the World Series aspirations fans had before this season started. It was unfortunate to see Rob Thomson sacrificed at the altar of Dave Dombrowski’s ego, but if that leads to a turnaround that has the Phillies playing meaningful baseball in October, fans won't care how they got there.
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