Dodgers Interview: Rob Thomson Keeps It Cool Ahead of NLDS Showdown with Dodgers
PHILADELPHIA — With the NLDS just a day away, Phillies manager Rob Thomson met with the media Friday to discuss his team’s approach to facing the defending champion Dodgers. As you’d expect from Thomson, the tone was measured, the answers deliberate, and the bulletin-board material nonexistent. Still, there was plenty of insight from the Phillies skipper as the two teams prepare for their third straight October appearance.
Asked if his team could feel the buzz around the series, Thomson was quick to acknowledge the moment without hyping it too much. “They are the world champions,” he said. “I think there’s a buzz every year we come into this thing. Is there more this year? I don’t know. We haven’t really dealt with anything yet. But as the series goes on, I think the buzz will increase.”
The Phillies and Dodgers have met twice already this year, but Thomson downplayed the significance of that early-season meeting. “It’s way more about the one three weeks ago,” he said. “What happened six months ago… the teams are a little bit different now. So I’m basing it more off of the last series and what we saw in the Wild Card round.”
Thomson confirmed Cristopher Sánchez will start Game 1, but said he’ll wait until Saturday to announce Game 2’s starter. When asked about potentially stacking three lefties in the rotation, he pointed to their differing styles. “Luzardo is more of the power guy, and Ranger [Suárez] is more the finesse guy. So, I think it’s kind of two different guys. It’s not like we’re pitching the same guy back-to-back.”
Facing a power-heavy Dodgers lineup, Thomson noted the challenge but also pointed to Philadelphia’s offensive versatility. “They hit a lot of home runs. They proved they can also win games and score runs without slugging. They’ve got a lot of veteran hitters that grind at-bats, know the strike zone, and don’t get out of it a lot,” he said. “You have to pitch them very well.”
As for how the Phillies plan to counter that, Thomson emphasized the ability to both slug and manufacture runs. “It all depends on their pitching. You get into a tight ballgame and their guy’s on, then you may have to do some things. But I do like our ability to slug, and I like our ability to manufacture when we need to. We’ve showed that over the course of the year.”
He also touched on how the Phillies used their time off leading up to the series. “It’s more about the physical part of it,” Thomson said. “We did more velocity training, more breaking ball training, really focusing on controlling the strike zone. The intrasquad game the other night with 31,000 people here — I think that did a lot for us. It was a lot more gamelike than anything else we could produce.”
When asked about Shohei Ohtani, who is expected to pitch Game 1 for L.A., Thomson didn’t hesitate. “A couple weeks ago was probably his best start of the year. He was phenomenal. It’s the combination of power, control, command, stuff. He was pumping strikes at 98, 99. His secondary pitches are all way above average.”
The Dodgers’ bullpen situation — somewhat in flux throughout the season — didn’t seem to worry him either. “Once we know their roster, you can figure out where they’re going to set their pockets,” Thomson explained. “Then you react accordingly. I think once the starter’s out, they’re just going to match up till the end of the game.”
He also spoke about his strategy to push starters out early, without getting too passive at the plate. “Our goal, no matter who we’re facing, is to try to get the starter out as soon as we can. But we’re not going to take a strike just to build pitch count. What we really want to do is keep the ball in the strike zone. If you can do that, you’ll build pitch counts.”
On the topic of pitching approach, Thomson returned to basics. “It doesn’t matter who you’re facing — it’s always important to get ahead. Every pitcher on the planet is trying to do that. The numbers show it. If you’re 0-1 or 0-2, the hitter’s numbers go way down.”
He was also asked about the leadership of shortstop Trea Turner, who had an up-and-down season. “Trey had a heck of a year,” Thomson said. “He did pretty much exactly what we needed him to do. Consequently, we scored a lot of runs. Schwarber’s got all these RBIs because Trey’s on base more.”
And while he wasn’t giving away roster details yet, he was asked if the postseason format changes how aggressive he’ll be with his bullpen. “It all depends on your starting pitcher. If he’s lights out, you stay with him.”
NLDS Game 1 is set for Saturday. First pitch can’t come soon enough.
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