Relax Phillies fans, Philadelphia doesn’t have a Rob Thomson problem

Relax Phillies fans, Philadelphia doesn't have a Rob Thomson problem.

As the Phillies losing continues, fans often look for someone to blame.  While key players are struggling, we like to blame the one guy we as fans think we could supplant - the manager.

Most fans are smart enough to understand they aren't capable of playing at the MLB level, however, many fans who blame the manager think they are capable of managing a game.

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If Thomson makes a move that you as a fan disagree with, its gospel that the move you would have made would have worked when the move he makes didn't.

Case in point on Saturday night, Kolby Allard, a guy with a career ERA of 6.05 was pitching well. Allard struck out four, allowing two hits with walked two with four strikeouts in four innings giving up just one-run in relief against the Mariners on Saturday.

Thomson makes the decision to turn the game over to his all-star relief pitcher Jeff Hoffman to face the 2-3-4 spots in the Seattle lineup. Hoffman, who was an All-Star this season, has a 1.72 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 63 strikeouts in 47 innings on the season.

Yet fans were complaining about the move of pulling Allard for Hoffman.

In what world would you rather have Allard pitching in a game over Hoffman?

Because Hoffman didn't get the job done, the second guessing was that Thomson's move cost the Phillies the game. Hoffman gave up an uncharacteristic four hits and four runs in this one inning of work, walking one.

The Phillies likely mapped the game out before hand and said, Orion Kerkering for one, Allard for four, then hopefully they would be in position to close out the last four innings with a mix of Hoffman, Matt Straham, Jose Alvarado and new closer Carlos Estévez.

Mission accomplished.

Thomson did his job, Hoffman did not, but the Phillies will take that set up every night if they can get it in the playoffs. The starting pitcher handing the ball over to two All-Star relievers, Alvardo and their closer Estévez.

Conversely, when the lineup is struggling as much as it is right now, Thomson doesn't have a lot of moves to make.  Sitting guys like Trea Turner, Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber isn't the answer.

It doesn't help that positions 5-thru-9 in the lineup are littered with flawed hitters, hitting in the .245 range.

If those guys aren't performing, there isn't much Thomson can do. The team has a limited bench, with not alot of options.

Many fans like the manager to lit a fire, or show some emotion, which isn't Thomson style. However, its his laid back demeanor that makes the Phillies so good when they are playing good baseball.

Does that mean every button the manager pushes is the right one?  Of course not.

What many fans don't realize, is many of the lineup decisions are made internally, with the front office and in advance of the game. Thomson's and most MLB managers job is to set the culture in the dugout and clubhouse and the personality of the team on the field.

The Phillies have won .572 of their games under Thomson with a World Series and NLCS appearance and this season they got off to a scorching hot start. Sometimes over 162, things have a way of evening themselves out and it seems that has happened.  The is Phillies roster is flawed, and was never a 114 win team, which is the pace they were one.  They are likely more in the range of where they have been the past, a 89-94 win team.

Joe Girardi won a World Series with the Yankees, but wasn't viewed as a very good manager in Philadelphia. Gabe Kapler, who was despised during his time in Philadelphia, went to San Francisco, won 107 games and was the National League Manager of the Year.

You don't win a World Series because of your managers decisions, you win because of the talent on the roster and the culture the manager sets and that's why the Phillies have had so much success under Thomson.