Phillies’ Don Mattingly Revisits ‘Abandoned’ Rob Thomson Outfield Change
The Philadelphia Phillies’ new manager offered a four-word response on the team’s new outfielder.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 09: Interim Manager Don Mattingly #8 of the Philadelphia Phillies speaks to the media prior to the game between the Colorado Rockies and the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Saturday, May 9, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Derik Hamilton/MLB Photos via Getty Images) MLB Photos via Getty Images The Philadelphia Phillies earned a shutout victory over the Colorado Rockies on Sunday, winning their fourth consecutive series since a major change at the helm. With their season spiraling out of control, the Phillies replaced long-time manager Rob Thomson with bench coach Don Mattingly and the team instantly turned things around in the standings.
“Suddenly, the starting pitching came in from the cold, the bats warmed and the defense went from lousy to pretty good,” NBC Philadelphia’s Jim Salibsury wrote . “And when the day ended Sunday, the Phillies had their 10th win in 13 games under Mattingly. They go into Monday’s planned (non-rainout) off day with a 19-22 record — not great, but not comatose, either — and lots and lots of season remaining.
” FORBES | By Peter Chawaga Yankees’ 25-Year-Old Outfield Prospect Leaves MLB Shortly After Cut Philadelphia Phillies Manager Don Mattingly Makes Outfield Change After Replacing Rob Thomson Mattingly and Thomson appear to have similar demeanors and the former New York Yankees’ first baseman said that he didn’t expect to change much as the interim manager, but to offer a different voice. And, evidently, that has been enough to power at least a temporary turnaround, though Mattingly has made some more practical changes as well. Most notably, he gave struggling third baseman Alec Bohm two off days as an opportunity to reset an Bohm returned to the batting order with a vengeance.
And he seems to be more focused on finding opportunities for Brandon Marsh as well. But perhaps the biggest tactical diversion by the team’s new manager was seen on Friday when he placed utility man Edmuno Sosa in left field to start the game. “The Phillies are reviving the left field experiment with Edmundo Sosa,” Scott Lauber noted for The Philadelphia Inquirer .