r/phillies • u/Perryplat199 Ask me about my Kody Clemens jersey • 14h ago
News [Phillies] The Phillies have signed Don Mattingly to a two-year contract for the 2027 and 2028 seasons
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u/WheelerDealsAgain Wawa please bring back teriyaki sauce 14h ago
People are probably going to flip shit about the 2028 part but it’s just the organization’s MO to not have the manager on an expiring contract. Thomson is technically also still getting paid for 2027.
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u/dan_eppley 14h ago
Also, with a probable shortened season next year why not bring in the same guy?
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u/TheGreatDudebino Francisco Renteria 2029 14h ago edited 14h ago
I'm getting exhausted saying it at this point but the season is probably not going to be shortened. If it is it won't be anything meaningful (20 games tops). They're probably playing 162. WE are going to maximize the pain. No one is getting off easy.
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u/given-to-fly-98 Cousin Nick from Philly 14h ago
My theory is that it will be shortened to about 150 games, which I believe is the number they're proposing during the offseason. So it'll be like a "forced trial run" and if it works out, then they'll be all "See? 150 games. Everyone was good with that, right? Let's do that."
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u/grund1ejund1e 14h ago
That’s not really how that works unless you’re saying they’ll shorten the games in the next next CBA. By the time they are playing they will already have agreed on everything for the length of the new CBA…
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u/tittsburghfeelers00 12h ago
I’m curious as to why you say this, can you explain so I can share your optimism? Because most insiders have hinted at this being a longer lockout with both sides seemingly firm on their stances.
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u/TheGreatDudebino Francisco Renteria 2029 11h ago
This is going to sound weird but it's real. It's a lot fear propaganda from both sides to get the fans on their sides. Neither side has made a serious proposal yet to the other, nor does either side want to. They will set down in February and begin talking then, work through it for a few weeks,and eventually come to an agreement.
There will probably be no salary cap. There will probably be a full season. Both sides have way more to lose if there's any sort of in-season lockout. They know it. We know it. Everyone knows it.
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u/PokePurist DUMBrowski 14h ago
Same team, same manager should be very different results...
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u/pedro3131 Rhys HoSTAN 11h ago
Heading into 2008 charlie Manuel was a guy who failed with some of the most loaded Indians offenses of all time. Then he missed the playoffs his first two years here, despite being in a position to make them heading into the last week of the season. Then he finally made the playoffs, after a historic finish, only to loose to the Rockies.
We're the Phillies crazy to bring him back or 2008? At that point he at a much worse winning pct then Ron or Don.
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u/Dr_Mccusk 14h ago
but but but we didn't have adolis and arraez! IF we had them then could you imagine?!?!? CAN YOU?!?! WE gotta run it back at least 2 more times.
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u/FantasticFinance6906 Jésus Luzardo 11h ago
To be fair, it won’t be the same team. Sure, Harper, Kyle, JT, Trea are likely back but so are the SPs. We will have a new SS, at least one new OF, potentially without Marsh or Stott. It should be clear what our gaps and needs are (yet again) and I can see some big bullpen additions and at least two improved bats. At least it’s my hope.
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u/Perryplat199 Ask me about my Kody Clemens jersey 14h ago
It’s def also was to help convince him they were done going after Cora.
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u/garr1s0n 14h ago
My biggest problem with Mattingly is that he still hasn't shaved those sideburns
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u/WranglerBrute 14h ago
"If I want you to bunt, I will touch my belt buckle not once, not twice, but thrice"
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u/No_Blackberry6525 13h ago
I wonder if this is one of things like Christopher Walken and “more cowbell” that annoys him because it comes up constantly.
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u/ElectionBasic2505 14h ago
He wasn’t the problem and rather him than Cora
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u/deytookerrspeech 14h ago
Bringing him back instead of conducting an actual search is a symptom of a wider problem with management at this club.
Why the fuck were he and Cora the only options
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u/msjd610 13h ago
I think the biggest thing here is he's a familiar face and doesnt signal much change with a looming lockout. If the plan is to be aggressive with trades and/or signings pre-Dec. 1st then it may be more worthwhile to keep what you currently have so the front office & manager are more aligned on personnel.
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u/PhatYeeter 13h ago
Reminds me of the Sixers only interviewing Bryan Colangelo and Danny Ferry for the POBO position. Why are the only options Jerry Colangelo's son and a dude that was fired for being racist?
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u/Big-Beta20 Phillie Phanatic 14h ago
Sleepy Dave is just cashing checks
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u/heddalettis 10h ago
YES friend! He even came out during the season and SAID he didn’t want the full-time manager job, because he didn’t have the energy for it. (Am I the only one that remembers this?)
What the actual fuck???
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u/LisaLoebSlaps Trea Turner's official bodyguard 9h ago
This is what has me taken aback. I swear he said he didn't want the job earlier.
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u/Zbrown48 13h ago
Search where? Who's out there that we KNOW is better?
The problem is our players. Whether it's age, or they just aren't gelling together, who knows
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u/deytookerrspeech 13h ago
Searching is managements fucking job. Yes obviously the players are a problem I just want Dombrowski to actually work instead of rotating through the 5 guys he’s worked with before
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u/one-eared-wonder 14h ago
I think his management of the bullpen certainly wasn’t helpful
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u/Feisty-Promotion-312 13h ago
Not like there's much or a bullpen to manage
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u/cfaatwork Bryson Stott 13h ago
This is always my issue…like which shit sandwich does he bring in, when the entire menu is shit sandwiches.
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u/one-eared-wonder 13h ago
I’m not a huge ball knower tbh but I’m pretty sure he would constantly warm guys up who wouldn’t come in, so their arms were more worn down than the average bullpen. So honestly he may have been contributing to their shittiness.
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u/scrnlookinsob 13h ago
He warmed people up? my biggest complaint with him is that in spots where a pitcher/reliever should have a short leash, he never had anyone up. For example when Duran was pitching his 2nd inning in Game 1 of the Wild Card, there was absolutely no one up.
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u/Hubris-Manifested 12h ago
There were reports or at least comments (unsure of the sources and validity of any of it) that he would have guys start warming up but then the inning would go fine and Duran would come in to close the 9th. Something like that. So the guy who was the "if shit goes bad..." guy didn't get put in. He just warmed up for no reason
It seems to depend on the pitcher, but for many guys I don't know that that's a "big" problem to get warmed up or semi-warmed up in preparation of going in then not going. Some guys want to be throwing multiple days in a row and like to keep their arm feeling worked or lightly sore. Some don't. I can only compare it myself to running at a high level. Going too many rest days you lose the soreness feeling and it's different and not always for the better when you get back to running. It's like the feeling of stopping then starting versus pausing then starting. Or maybe like an engine going fully cold then restarting versus sitting for an hour then restarting. The oil is still warm and everything just flows better after a short warmup. For me anyway that's how I can describe it. With the soreness you just get back out there the next day, warm up through slow running, it works itself out of the muscles and you feel great like you just had a rest but not like your body ever quit being ready to go. Working with a little soreness isn't always bad. I can't speak for professional pitchers.
I'd say as long as Don and Caleb are talking with specific pitchers and making sure they're catering to their personal needs and wants then it's not an issue. It's honestly hard to come down on one side or another if he was wearing guys out because maybe all the guys he got warmed up were like "yeah, I'll warm up and be ready this inning. I'll do it tomorrow and the next day too. I like it." We don't know unless someone asks every single pitcher and they all give honest answers. So basically... we can't know lol. Because for PR reasons and "not talking shit on the manager" reasons they're never going to give fully honest opinions if they're negative. Maybe once they're out of the league someday down the line.
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u/The_Dirty_Dangla 10h ago
I thought his choices in the playoffs were smart and better than Topper. Wasn’t much to work with but handled the arms well
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u/Emperor-Octavian 14h ago
He’s not a solution either
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u/goodsweatshirt2you Mike Lieberthal 14h ago
I don’t really think there was really a manager that would solve the teams problems.
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u/cpteague 12h ago
Yeah and keeping the same stale manager who openly wanted to retire is one symptom of the FO problem
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u/heddalettis 10h ago
EXACTLY! He openly said he didn’t have the energy to be full time. HE said it, plain as day. I remember thinking at that time, “Gotta’ appreciate his honesty.”
And now what? He magically will find the energy? Because he’s aging backwards?? FFS! 😡9
u/grund1ejund1e 14h ago
Why don’t these coaches tell Trea Turner to stop popping out in the infield??
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u/maestro2026 13h ago
Swinging at first pitches, when you should be working the count and try to get on base for the power hitters behind you.... Its a mess, and the team is screwed, with these contracts, and diminishing returns. Harper, Turner, JT...
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u/Emperor-Octavian 14h ago
That’s actually exactly the job of the hitting coach
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u/grund1ejund1e 14h ago
Yes and our stupid one was telling Trea Turner to pop out in the infield. If only it was me and you in there brother.
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u/Lasso_Ted 13h ago
Needs to try and stop being a pull power hitter. He would be more effective and help balance this lineup if he learned how to push/take the ball the other way and be more oitch selective. But what do i know.
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u/Acrobatic_Ad1016 14h ago
He kinda single handedly lost us that first Braves game by not pulling Duran when he was approaching 30 pitches
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u/MagnificentTimberson 14h ago
Yeah but that bullpen was already an absolute mess who does he go to there, Painter? If thats the choice you are faced with, an unproven rookie in a totally unfamiliar role or throwing your closer until his arm falls off, you have already been failed by your GM (and the other pitchers themselves)
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u/SolNightZero 13h ago
Don Mattingly isn't THE problem, but he's a problem. His management of the bullpen is really bad.
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u/cpteague 12h ago
Not necessarily, but it feels like any change is good at this point. We've had two consecutive managers who were trying to retire before we hired them, what kind of energy are these checked-out old guys bringing to the clubhouse?
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u/Classh0le Dumbrowski 14h ago
One of my fears with this type of coach is he'll refuse to demote Trea Turner in the batting order
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u/Wild_Satisfaction687 14h ago edited 13h ago
Get ready for the run it back. They will try going after a big free agent, ultimately fail. Panic and give Alec Bohm a big contract. They’ll also sign an aging right handed bat to a one year deal. Then they’ll sign a Jeff Hoffman like bullpen arm. Then Dombrowski will say “we have a good club”. Don’t forget Bryce will do some pandering come March, and the fans will be like we can’t wait for the Phillies and we love this team.
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u/fucktopia The Man 13h ago
I'd rather give Alex Bohm a contract rather than Alec Bohm so I'm ok with that.
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u/buffer5108 14h ago
But does his contract give him a say in bringing on his own coaches instead of the ones he inherited?
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u/MountainousDuck 12h ago
An uninspired but safe choice. I'm happy it's not Cora but I wish they found somebody who could inspire some of the vets and push them to be better leaders. I don't get the idea that Harper in particular is much of a leader in the clubhouse
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u/UpbeatRelationship15 10h ago
I mean it’s pretty clear Schwarbz is the top dog in that club house.
He was also one of the few guys who actually showed up on offense this year in the playoffs. I hope he can maintain that energy and inspire the rest of the team next season.
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u/Significant-Garlic-1 14h ago
They need to change their approach. Kevin Long has got to go.
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u/grund1ejund1e 14h ago
Approach can’t mask the fact that all but two hitters in the lineup just aren’t very good. They need new players in the lineup.
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u/Significant-Garlic-1 14h ago
I agree. Unfortunately I dont see how they can do it. They are stuck with these players. They dont have a lot of options.
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u/HinkiesGhost 14h ago
Reason I'm not a fan of this move. If you're going to pick Mattingly, fine, but do a real search and if he makes the best impression then he does. This is just more of the same with this front office. They put no serious effort into making this the best club they can. This is the managerial version of the whole Bichette/Realmuto saga last season. Go into the offseason with Plan A(run it back minus Castellanos), Realmuto drives a hard bargain so they have to pivot to Bichette last minute, then when Bichette spurns you, double back to your original plan. No manager search, no creativity, no serious attempts to seriously upgrade the roster. They wanted Cora, he spurns you, double back to Mattingly. It's less about Mattingly being awful than it is this entire operation just feeling like it's content and is just coasting right now.
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u/ProverbialNoose 14h ago
They finished 5th in attendance, so Middleton won't risk rocking the boat. Unlike Lurie, he seems content with selling tickets regardless of the team's success.
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u/justabill71 Nice 13h ago
I'd argue bringing back Dave and Don does risk rocking the boat. People are fed up.
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u/OverallPersimmon6786 14h ago
The manager does nothing for ticket sales, especially when 2027 season tickets are already set
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u/AbuJimTommy Michael Jack 14h ago
I’m much more concerned about adding 2 competent bats and 2 competent bullpen arms.
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u/tetcorporation1999 Roy Halladay 14h ago
Could have been a whole hell of a lot worse.
Could probably have been better.
Don wasn't the problem. It would take a person who could perform miracles to get this diva team of "I'm elite" asshats to perform as a cohesive unit.
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u/smartesteaglesfan 14h ago
an incredibly lazy managerial search from the front office
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u/RolePlayingChat-room 14h ago
I mean seriously. Sell the damn team if you don’t give a shit. We don’t deserve this as fans.
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u/sadsolocup 14h ago
With Cora’s Houston history, I like this signing. Hopefully he gets to pick his own coaches instead of ones he inherited.
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u/PopCopson 14h ago
I am not opposed - collective bargaining is going to make this next season (if there is a season) weird and continuity is good
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u/spiralesx 14h ago
nepotism is alive and well with the phillies. any other mattinglys need a gig they suck at
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u/Disastrous_Invite145 10h ago
Cool. Can't wait for the exact same Phillies team next season to play the exact same way as this season.
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u/Several_Score9314 14h ago
Whoever the manager is won’t fix Turners glove or stop the bullpen from blowing games. It’s a skill issue, not a managerial one.
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u/FabulousCancel9665 12h ago
Everybody says he mismanaged the bullpen but he only had 2 he could trust McFarlane an Duram get him some bullpen help
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u/QuinnTinIntheBin lizard king lover 9000 14h ago
Dombrowski and the roster was more of a problem than him. He’s not a very good manager but he’s passable. With the amount of money spent on these players, a decent manager should be enough to get them going.
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u/Chenzo04 Bryson Stott 14h ago
You know what, just lock the whole season out.
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u/saycheese95 14h ago
Just add it to the list of reasons why I had no problem canceling my season tickets
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u/powerbook01 Brandon Marsh 14h ago
He’s not the problem. I’m so tired of Kevin Long and the bullpen
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u/NewJerseyCPA 14h ago
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u/Apprehensive-Tax8631 14h ago
“Hate upon hate upon hate” is the sample Shai Hulud used for their classic track, “Set your body ablaze”
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u/Icy-Refrigerator-517 14h ago
Run it back! I want Stubbs, Marchan, bring in Hoskins, keep Sosa, Trea Turner bats 2nd for 162 games and play SS. Don't you dare change a thing. 5 year deal for Bohm. And oh my Marshy stays.
Pathetic.
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u/AgileDrag1469 14h ago
The lineup will continue to sell tickets, sell merchandise, sell concession food, concession booze and parking. At least until the all-star break.
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u/a_serious-man Jimmy Cigs Memorial 14h ago
He’s not a solution, but the problem is the roster and DD. I’ll take him over Cora, at least he’s not a cheater
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u/backup1000 14h ago
Will being the “real” manager give him the stones to tell the vets where they are going to bat and where they are going to play in the field and when they are going to sit for a rest day? I doubt it, but here’s hoping
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u/damacdaddyo 14h ago
If he let's someone else manage the bullpen I am good. He wasn't the problem this year the bats were.
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u/MrManiac08 14h ago
I like it over Cora simply because I desperately want us to swing for Devers. The Giants are going nowhere and he was one of the best hitters in the league in the second half of last year.
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u/Fyre2387 Brandon Marsh 14h ago
Have a feeling he insisted on at least two years so he'd have a bag if they decide to dump him in a year for Cora.
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u/dogofyore 14h ago
Lmao. I don’t dislike Don strongly, but this is as sure as sign as ever that Dombrowski will hang around to run most everything back. I would not move off Harper and probably not Schwarber, but I’d find as much else I could to work with to try and backfill the farm system because I don’t think this team is gonna have it with this core still and the cliff upcoming could be massive.
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u/NoProtection2169 13h ago
It’s clear that managers can make an impact on their teams. We are watching Cash and Vogt take pretty mediocre lineups into the championship series. Bullpen management, specifically, has eluded us for years, even if it’s not a very good collection of arms.
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u/fucktopia The Man 13h ago
Borrowing a line from Charli XCX's Camera:
"It's like I'm looking down the barrel of a gun (fuckin' shoot me)"
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u/zorionek0 High Hopes, Low Expectations 13h ago
Never ascribe to malice what can be explained by incompetence… but this genuinely feels spiteful
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u/Few-Frosting-1271 12h ago
I don't know if I'm showing my age, but at least we'll always have the 08 WS.
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u/womp_on_my_willow 12h ago
Seems like the right decision at the end of the day. The core players just aren't going to change. If the Phil's give up the idea that Turner/Bohm/Nola will be All-Stars they can make moves to improve a team that was already decent. If the players and management take an honest look at themselves and make smart changes, they can definitely be a great team the next few years.
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u/classicrockchick Dave Hollins 12h ago
At least we get to make Simpsons references for 2 more years.
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u/BC_Red00 11h ago
Yay! I like Don he's the 1 who helped turn the team around this season. He did what he could with what he had to work with. So I'm happy bout this. 🙌
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u/russet852 Fire Dombrowski Yesterday 14h ago
It really feels like this organization has lost their ambition. Maybe the rest of the off season will change my mind but I’m not hopeful.
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u/fattunadog 14h ago
i am surrounded by people who expect every contract, hiring, free agent, trade, etc need to be 100% perfect and never fail.
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u/RavingAndDrooling 14h ago
You could definitely do worse than Mattingly. I did not want Cora. Unfortunately this means we're still not going to be a good fundamental team, and will rely on starting pitching and home runs. That probably gets us to the same early playoff exit we've had the past few years. But who knows maybe we get hot at the right time and make some noise in the playoffs.
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u/PhilPhanfromNJ 13h ago
First move, Duran will start the game, pitch 1-2 innings.
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u/onetwentyonegigawatt 14h ago
People will cry, but this dude took this team out of the dumpster and into the playoffs. And would you really rather have Alex freaking Cora?? He’s absolute trash in every way.
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u/dukecityzombie Alec Bohm’s Accountant 13h ago
I was in Dulles airport in the Spring of 2022. Some dude in baggage claim started yelling, in the most Staten Island accent you ever heard, ‘officer! Officer! Check that man’s bags because he’s a FREAKING CHEETA’! HES A GOD DAMN CHEETA!’ So, along with the rest of the folks waiting to get our bags, I turn and look…it was Alex Cora. And this red faced dude was just clowning him so hard. It was actually amazing. Alex took it in stride and didn’t even react…but it was amazing all the same.
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u/lightgreenspirits Brandon Marsh 14h ago
I like it, I like Don. This team has FIVE straight playoff appearances, let’s make it 6!
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u/mp455 13h ago
This is whatever but fire all coaches except Cotham. Baserunning, Defense, Fundamentals and Hitting all need new voices
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u/Theachillesheel 14h ago
Honestly I hope he learns that Nola cracks under pressure in playoff situations and to never do what he did again. Making Zack Wheeler clean up Nola’s mess was asking for trouble. Granted Wheeler didn’t do better, but I really think the outcome would have been different had he started that game instead.
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u/Electrical_Doubt3024 13h ago
Expected, but disappointing. I am going to try to practice patience while waiting to see if Mattingly changes anything now that he's going to be around for at least 1 season. He had the opportunity to make coaching changes this past season and chose to keep everything the same. Hopefully he will decide to create his coaching staff abd not just act as interim without the tag.
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u/80sPorno 13h ago
Interesting conundrum to be in. I love watching a team full of assholes collapse utterly but MY team???
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u/kellmor316 13h ago
I’m upset with this organization because I want them to take a step into the future. We can still do this with roster moves, but I don’t expect them to. This signing signals just more of the same to come for a tired, old, outdated roster
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u/EricTheNerd2 13h ago
I was told it would never happen: Phillies expected to part ways with Don Mattingly at season's end : r/phillies
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u/SleepyMan707 12h ago
There simply wasnt many other options that were more in line with a vet type manager
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u/Orion1014 Aaron Nola 12h ago
I understand the not doing a wide search concerns, and I share those, but I wonder how much an effect the impending lockout has on that idea.
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u/Next_Concern1165 14h ago
Phils shouldve done most corporate American thing and promoted Trea Turner to manager, reduced his salary, and told him it would be really good for his resume