Dave Dombrowski President of baseball operations | Official Website
Dave Dombrowski President of baseball operations | Official Website
The Philadelphia Phillies have experienced significant frustration over the past few weeks, losing 14 of their last 20 games since sweeping the Dodgers at Citizens Bank Park. However, a recent 6-2 victory at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday night may signal a turning point. Philadelphia has won two of its last three games, and a win on Wednesday night would secure their first series victory since mid-July.
Over nearly four weeks, the team has faced numerous challenges. The offense has struggled, and the rotation has been weakened with three top starters—Ranger Suárez, Taijuan Walker, and Spencer Turnbull—on the injured list. Additionally, bullpen performance issues have led to lost late-inning leads.
Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski expressed confidence in overcoming these difficulties before Tuesday’s game. “We’re going to hit better. We’re going to pitch better. Our defense will play well, which it has primarily. We’ll run the bases solidly,” he said. “When you have all of that, you’ll start winning games.”
Despite acknowledging the unexpected downturn with a 5-14 record and seven consecutive series losses, Dombrowski remains optimistic due to the team's talent level. “The reason I’m not concerned is that we’re talented and we’re good,” he stated.
Manager Rob Thomson has also been exploring ways to spark a turnaround but maintains his calm demeanor in handling the situation. He addressed his players before Friday’s series opener against the Mariners but refrained from calling it an official team meeting.
Dombrowski emphasized that each manager's style is unique and should remain consistent during challenging times: “You’re not going to change Rob Thomson’s personality… They have to be themselves.” He noted that ranting and raving are generally ineffective methods for resolving such issues.
The players are actively working behind the scenes to address their struggles, driven by frustration mixed with confidence rather than laziness or indifference. Dombrowski highlighted this balance: “There’s frustration, but I think there’s also confidence… Now, the one thing you have to really guard against is guys trying to do too much.”