You're correct. I'm just not sure Topper was as big of a reason why as the firing suggests. But, it's easy enough to can him and hope for the best.
2026 Phillies Thread
- Thread starter RyanSnyder
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While I don't disagree with you that there is/was many reasons for the Phillies fall I am not sure you could argue that "Topper" was not the number one reason. The last 4 years one could argue they had the best team in baseball or at least the most talented. His lineup management was "curious" to say the least. His pitching decisions were of the charts bad and his in game decisions were not very well thought out. I do find it interesting that some folks have come to appreciate "Topper" when for the last 3 years most have thought him a poor manager.
LOL, very likely.
Only time will tell, but I'm not a fan of this move. Baseball has long seasons, and things work themselves out. The Fightins do have some age and contract issues. And they haven't hit as consistently as I had expected. But injuries have really hurt them at the start of this season. JT is out for some time. Duran is out. (They've had a few injuries in the 'pen.) Walker was always a question mark, and his performance showed no improvement. I'm not sure that a magician could have done anything more than Topper did at this point in the season.
As bad as they've been of late, they have too much talent. Over a long season, especially if the aforementioned get healthy, things have a tendency to revert to the mean, so whether or not Topper was the manager, I expect the Fightins would do substantially better.
I do regret how this played out, as I really did like Topper, and thought his demeanor was perfect for this team.
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Good post Tom but I’m not sure that the talent, particularly on offense, is as great as many believe. Compare the Phillies position by position with the Braves and I only see the Phillies being superior at SS and maybe LF. Braves also playing without their starting SS, catcher Murphy and pitchers Strider, Schwellenbach, Waldrep and now Iglesias on the IL. Dombrowski is paying a boatload of money to players who are 33 and older; 35 million to Castellanos and Walker to whom he gave long term contracts and have now been cut and didn’t do much of anything to
improve the team during the offseason. But you are correct; it’s a long season and we’ll
see.
As a PS Schwarber is far superior to the Braves’ combined designated hitters.
Can’t blame Cora for that. Get fired then jump in with a team which has been playing horribly?? Not a good situation to rehab your reputation.