One MLB manager may already be on the hot seat less than a month into the new season, and fan reaction may be to blame for his troubles.
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic appeared on the “Foul Territory” podcast and suggested that Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson could soon find himself on the hot seat. Interestingly, the stated reason is that owner John Middleton is sensitive to fan reaction, and Phillies fans are losing faith in their team.
“The biggest issue, to me, and the reason why Thomson might be in trouble sooner than later, is that the fans are kind of turning on the team,” Rosenthal said. “John Middleton, the owner of the Phillies, is sensitive to fan reaction. Dave Dombrowski, president of baseball operations, has never been afraid to make a change if he deems it necessary. That’s how Thomson got his job in the first place.
“With the Phillies 5-10 at home, with their fans kind of disenchanted right now to say the least, you can see, if this team doesn’t turn around, a problem becoming more apparent with what they’re going to do with their leadership.”
John Middleton's sensitivity to fan reaction means Rob Thomson could find himself on the hot seat sooner rather than later, says @Ken_Rosenthal.
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) April 20, 2026
"The fans are kind of turning on the team." pic.twitter.com/lrfSpXMApo
Thomson was, in fact, elevated to his current position by the midseason firing of Joe Girardi in 2022. He led that team to a surprise World Series appearance. In three full seasons as manager, his Phillies have never won fewer than 90 games, so he should theoretically have some goodwill saved up.
On the other hand, the Phillies are an older group in win-now mode. If Thomson isn’t winning, they may simply want someone to change the tide. There was speculation that he might be let go after the Phillies’ playoff disappointment last year, too, though that did not happen.
Making decisions based on fan sentiment is risky, but the Phillies are off to an 8-13 start and were just swept at home by the Atlanta Braves. They are already 6.5 games back in the NL East, which adds to the sense of urgency.
