PHILADELPHIA — Don Mattingly had called it quits on his managerial career and was essentially finished with baseball after departing his bench coaching position with Toronto following the World Series.
Encouraged by his son, Mattingly chose to return to baseball one more time, accepting a bench coach position with Philadelphia during the winter to work alongside his longtime friend from their New York Yankees days, manager Rob Thomson.
But return to managing when the Yankees legend known as Donnie Baseball was approaching his 65th birthday?
“I don’t think I have the energy for that anymore,” Mattingly stated in January.
Mattingly appeared honest about his plans at the time since all indications suggested he was joining a powerhouse World Series contender in Philadelphia. Why even consider the possibility of managing again, particularly with an expensive, playoff-experienced roster loaded with stars like Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber and Zack Wheeler?
Four months later, the Phillies’ season has reached this point: Mattingly’s final opportunity to capture his first World Series championship after more than four decades in baseball begins with leading one of the National League’s poorest performing teams.
Mattingly has taken over as manager for the remainder of the season, accepting the interim position Tuesday just hours after the Phillies dismissed Thomson — and openly considered replacing him with former Red Sox skipper Alex Cora — with the firm conviction that a championship-caliber team exists within this disappointing roster.
The position comes with either an advantage or potential awkwardness, as Mattingly is also the father of his new supervisor, Phillies general manager Preston Mattingly.
“I know how competitive he is,” Mattingly commented. “Him and I are a little different. He looks at things, he’s a little outside the box at times, which I appreciate. It’s helped me grow.”
Credit 11-year-old son Louis Mattingly with largely influencing his father’s decision to return during the offseason.
Mattingly — who sported a white pinstriped uniform in the 1980s Hit Man poster that decorated countless New York kids’ bedrooms — has started successfully in Philadelphia.
Thomson, who guided the Phillies to four consecutive postseason appearances, including the 2022 World Series, would likely still be employed if Philadelphia had consistently performed like they did in a 7-0 victory over San Francisco in Mattingly’s first game.
“I’m going to watch our game,” Thomson commented in a video conference with reporters before the contest. “I really am.”
Thomson undoubtedly appreciated the outcome — though it likely came with some irritation that the Phillies couldn’t deliver more steady performances throughout April.
Turner recorded the first four-hit performance by any Phillie this season. Jesús Luzardo, just two outings after the left-hander surrendered nine runs and 12 hits against the Cubs, delivered two-hit baseball, fanned eight batters and issued no walks across seven scoreless frames. He combined with two relievers for Philadelphia’s first shutout of the year.
The Phillies dropped 10 consecutive contests and 11 of 12 during Thomson’s final stretch of an otherwise productive tenure. Mattingly retained the existing coaching staff — including embattled hitting coach Kevin Long, who absorbed most criticism for the Phillies’ struggles — while third base coach Dusty Wathan received a promotion to bench coach.
“I don’t know if I’m a whole lot different from Rob, honestly,” Mattingly explained. “I trust players, I believe in players, I like players. But I want us to play better baseball.”
Mattingly, who led the Dodgers from 2011-15 and the Marlins from 2016-22, also appeared unbothered that he wasn’t Philadelphia’s primary managerial target.
Dave Dombrowski, the Phillies’ president of baseball operations, acknowledged Tuesday that Cora was his preferred candidate to replace Thomson. Dombrowski oversaw the front office in Boston when Cora led the Red Sox to a World Series title in 2018. A Philadelphia reunion seemed logical, though Cora eventually declined.
“I came to the conclusion that if he took it, I would make a change. I thought he would take it,” Dombrowski explained. “Until Monday morning it was apparent from his perspective he wanted to take time with his family. He wanted to be a father first and foremost and so that’s what he had decided.”
The Phillies’ problems extend far beyond the manager position.
From former All-Star third baseman Alec Bohm to second baseman Bryson Stott, the Phillies have underdelivered for a franchise with a $284.7 million payroll. The Phillies are getting older and the starting rotation has been terrible — leading to the choice to release Taijuan Walker — all contributing to a team that used Tuesday’s victory to reach 10-19.
The Phillies have experienced this situation previously, particularly in 2022 when Dombrowski dismissed Joe Girardi following a 22-29 beginning and they finished 65-46 under Thomson. The upcoming schedule favors Mattingly’s chances to replicate that turnaround with nine of the next 13 contests at home, with only the Athletics (among three other opponents) possessing a winning record.
Mattingly believed he was finished. He’s now completely back in the game — and the Phillies’ World Series aspirations rest entirely on a manager who has never captured one.
“This is not about how I’m going to do,” Mattingly said. “It’s really about club.”
