mymotherlode
In a move announced on Wednesday by Dave Dombrowski, the Phillies' president of baseball operations, Don Mattingly has been retained as manager on a two-year contract. The decision comes despite a late-season downturn that nearly saw Philadelphia miss the postseason entirely.
Mattingly, who stepped in for the fired Rob Thomson in late April, guided the club to a 79-55 mark and a playoff spot. However, the Phillies almost squandered a four-game wild-card lead in the final week of the regular season before falling to the Atlanta Braves in a three-game NL Wild Card Series.
At the time of Thomson's dismissal in April, the team held a dismal 9-19 record. Thomson had previously led Philadelphia to four consecutive playoff appearances, including a 2022 World Series berth and back-to-back NL East titles. The Phillies then turned to Mattingly, who had been hired in the previous offseason as a bench coach and still had a year remaining on his contract.
Dombrowski's pursuit of former Red Sox manager Alex Cora was rebuffed twice—first when he decided to fire Thomson and again after the season concluded—leaving Mattingly as the choice on both occasions. With a potential MLB work stoppage looming in December that could jeopardize parts of next season, the 65-year-old Mattingly represents a stable and familiar option to lead a roster featuring stars like Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber, and a top-tier rotation.
Dombrowski has not yet held his customary end-of-season press conference; he and Mattingly are scheduled to address the media on Thursday, according to the team.
Philadelphia's playoff run ended on October 1. The team's September struggles prevented it from setting up its pitching rotation against Atlanta, as it took until Game 162 to secure a playoff berth. The Phillies forced a Game 3 against the Braves with three dramatic solo home runs late in Game 2, but ultimately were eliminated from the postseason for the fifth straight year. The franchise continues its quest for its first World Series title since 2008.
The core group of Harper, Schwarber, J.T. Realmuto, Zack Wheeler, and Aaron Nola has made five consecutive playoff appearances, averaging 91 wins per year during that span. Yet they have fallen short of a championship, and since reaching the 2022 World Series, their postseason exits have grown progressively earlier: an NL Championship Series loss the following year, then Division Series defeats in the next two seasons, and now a wild-card exit.
Mattingly was one of three interim managers in baseball last season. Andy Green of the New York Mets and Chad Tracy of the Red Sox also served as midseason replacements and eventually had their interim tags removed. A six-time AL All-Star during his playing days with the New York Yankees, Mattingly is the father of Phillies general manager Preston Mattingly.
Key Analysis
Mattingly's retention provides continuity for a Phillies team that has been a perennial playoff contender but has yet to capture a championship. With potential labor uncertainty ahead, his experience and familiarity with the roster could be crucial in navigating a disrupted season. However, the late-season collapse and another early playoff exit raise questions about whether the team can take the next step under his leadership.
Originally reported by mymotherlode.