Rob Thomson and the Philadelphia Phillies again fell short of their World Series goal, eliminated this time by the Dodgers. Following the final game, Thomson had to clarify that his job status was the last thing on his mind, prioritizing the immediate need to console his distraught players.
“I’m not even thinking about that (my job) right now,” Thomson said when asked about his future with the Phillies. “I’ve got 60 people in there that are brokenhearted right now. I’m thinking about that a lot more than my job right now.”
Regarding his tenure, Thomson had already admitted in September that he thoroughly enjoyed his time with the club. “The last four years have been the most fun I’ve had in my 40 years in baseball,” Thomson said, suggesting it is likely he would agree to remain the manager if offered a contract extension.
Thomson knows the Phillies have a strong future ahead
The manager admitted he hasn’t yet spoken with the front office about what comes next. “I don’t know what Dave (Dombrowski) and John (Middleton) and Preston (Mattingly) are going to do in the offseason,” Thomson said. “We haven’t really talked about anything like that.”
While it’s still unclear whether he’ll continue leading the team, Thomson made it clear he sees promise in what’s being built. “Our farm system is being built up. I know John is going to spend money. He wants to win. He wants a world champion. There are good years ahead, no doubt,” he said.
The group Thomson led this season proved resilient and united through every high and low. “They win as a team, they lose as a team, they support each other,” he said. “As bad as you feel, it’s good to see them be there for each other.”