The Philadelphia Phillies just wrapped up a Wild Card round loss to the Atlanta Braves, and now it looks like their interim skipper, Don Mattingly, is out as manager, despite some serious praise from the clubhouse. After moving on from Rob Thomson earlier in the year, the Phillies had questions swirling about whether they could still push for a World Series title. Ultimately, they fell short of that goal, but Mattingly’s work in a tough spot certainly didn’t go unnoticed by everyone.
Mattingly Stepped Up When It Mattered
Let’s be real, Mattingly walked into a mess when he took over. Losing your manager mid-season, especially one who led you through “a lot of important games,” can derail a team fast. But Mattingly did “a lot of good for the organization.” The guy was put in a “tough spot” and he straight up “excelled in it.” This Phillies roster is stacked with talent, and while they didn’t hit their “full potential,” Mattingly absolutely got them closer than Thomson did during his tenure. That’s a huge win for an interim guy, showing exactly the kind of steady hand a clubhouse needs during chaos.
Harper’s Silence, Schwarber’s Loud Support
So, with Mattingly’s future up in the air, what did the players think? Bryce Harper, a top guy on that roster, kept his cards close, choosing not to “speak about it at the moment” when asked if he wanted Mattingly to stick around. But Kyle Schwarber? He didn’t hold back at all. Schwarber made his feelings crystal clear, telling NBC Sports Philadelphia, “I felt like he did a great job for us when we were in that tough spot, and the way that he was able to get us to turn that page from a really hard time where you lose a guy, you lost our manager who brought us to a lot of important games, and I felt like his demeanor was great for us.” Schwarber hit the nail right on the head there. That’s a massive vote of confidence from a clubhouse leader.
Despite Schwarber’s strong words, the latest reports are pretty clear: Don Mattingly “seems certain he won’t return to Philadelphia as manager.” He might stay on staff in some other role, which would be a smart move given his impact, but the top job looks like it’s going to someone else amidst rumors about Alex Cora. It leaves you wondering what more Mattingly could have done to earn that permanent spot. The Phillies have a decision to make, and after a Wild Card exit and an interim manager who clearly made a positive difference, all eyes are on who they tap next to lead this talented but underperforming team.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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