Philadelphia is one of the toughest sports cities. The fans are passionate and aren’t afraid to tell the players what they think, whether it’s good or bad. It’s not any easier for the coaches either.
Phillies owner John Middleton is the type of owner who always wants to win. Not only is he a guy who invested in a franchise because he had the money, he’s also a huge Phillies fan. He’s determined to do whatever it takes to bring a World Series title back to the City of Brotherly Love.
The Phillies have struggled over the last month, that’s no secret. They started the season playing very well until the All-Star break. Before they began the long losing streak, they were on pace to finish the season with the most wins in franchise history.
Not only did the slump frustrate Phillies fans, but Middleton also wondered what happened to the dominant team of the first half of the season.
“I think you have to apply pressure. And make people rethink their behavior,” Middleton said of the Phillies’ poor play last month, according to MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki. “That goes for coaches and players. Everyone has to step back and ask themselves, ‘What are we doing wrong? Why is a team that won at a .700 winning percentage for 3 1/2 months now playing at a .325 winning percentage for five weeks?'”
The Phillies had a 61-32 record through July 11. They were winning series, their pitching staff was among the best in the major leagues, and their lineup was winning day after day. Since then, they have a 12-19 record and have been one of the worst teams in baseball during that time.
What was the problem with the Phillies? It seems like almost everything went wrong during this dry spell. The pitchers weren’t as dominant as they were in the first half of the season, and the hitters had their own weak periods as well. Who is to blame for the dry spell?
“He’s a smart guy,” Middleton said of Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski, according to Zolecki. “He has high standards. He just doesn’t accept people who don’t do their jobs well. So he pushes everyone. That’s what has to happen.”
Was this an indication that Phillies manager Rob Thomson is on the hot seat?
Thomson took over as manager of the Phillies for the 2022 season when Joe Girardi was fired. Thomson led the Phillies to the World Series, missing just one win in forcing a Game 7 against the Houston Astros. In his first full season as manager, he led the Phillies back to the NLCS in 2023 and leads the team to the top of the Major League standings in 2024 with 38 games remaining in the regular season.
This Phillies team has high expectations. Middleton has invested a lot of money and resources over the past few years to make the Phillies a World Series-caliber team. Now is the time to win. Even with a 228-169 record and likely three straight playoff appearances, Thomson could be the scapegoat if the Phillies don’t win a championship this year.
