NL WILD CARD SERIES: PHILLIES VS CARDINALS

October 7, 2022

Rob Thomson

Busch Stadium

Philadelphia Phillies

Pregame Press Conference

Q. Rob, in Houston it was celebration. It almost seemed like a sense of relief. Now that you are here, do you get of a we're not satisfied mentality?

ROB THOMSON: Oh, no question. I walk through the clubhouse every day, and I get the same feeling that I got before we started to celebrate, and that was -- you know, we got a job to do here, and I think everybody's really focused on getting it done.

Q. Just asking I want to go over the roster and lineup, so you get some space between your two lefties. It's just that simple?

ROB THOMSON: Yeah. Just because you got Quintana starting. You got a couple of lefties in their bullpen. So you just want to keep some space between Schwarber and Harper. And then there's some space between Harp and Stott. So that's really why it's constructed that way.

Q. And Syndergaard over Nelson. Is that the last choice?

ROB THOMSON: Yeah. We wanted to make sure that we were covered on length just because it's not the runner at second base in extra innings type of thing. It's a regular game now. And it could happen today, and it could happen tomorrow. So we gotta have a couple of those guys that can at least give us some length.

Q. Where are you at right now mentally? Have you had time to process what this team has gone through to get to this point yet?

ROB THOMSON: I don't really think I processed what everybody has been through. I'm sort of taking it day by day, and I'm really focused on today's game really. I think at the end of the year, whenever that is, probably I'll look back and sort of process everything. But right now, I'm just really focused on our players and the game today.

Q. No one knows how the games will play out, but going into a series where you have two ace-type guys and guys who can match up with anybody, does that give the team the kind of confidence that you're built on paper to win games like this?

ROB THOMSON: Yeah. I think we've -- with Wheels and Nola, you've got two guys that are really good pitchers, and not that they've been in the playoffs before, but they've pitched some big games. Nola pitched the other night to clinch it and was really locked in. But I think it gives everybody in the clubhouse, including myself, a lot of confidence when you have two guys like that that can give you length, that have great stuff, that the moment's not going to get the best of them. It gives you a lot of confidence, no doubt.

Q. I think somebody asked you yesterday how are you going to sleep, and you said ask me tomorrow. So how did you sleep?

ROB THOMSON: Really good. I did.

Q. What time did you get here?

ROB THOMSON: We left the hotel about 7:00, I guess.

Q. And I'm wondering, I know since he's on the roster, you probably have faith in him. Is there a way for you guys to measure Sosa's speed in a workout, like if you need a pinch runner or defensive replacement. Do you feel like he's the guy for you?

ROB THOMSON: Yes. No doubt. Yeah. And he hasn't played. We've worked him out hard. He hasn't played in a game, though. So that's the nine innings and back-to-back days and things like that, that concerns me a little bit, but as far as pinch running, going in for defense, that type of thing, I have no -- or playing one game, I have no concerns with that.

Q. You guys have been on the road for so long and here you are on the road again, but can that be beneficial in a way as far as bringing guys closer, fewer distractions being on the road?

ROB THOMSON: I think so. Because this time of year, there are a lot of distractions. There's family. There's friends. And not that there's anything wrong with family and friends, but when you're trying to play a game and organize tickets and things like that, and then dinners, those can be distractions. So we're trying to eliminate a lot of that, and I think being on the road just sort of in a way takes care of that.

Q. I mean, I know Oliver Marmol could probably speak to the energy Sosa brings to the ball club. What have you seen with him since he's been a Philly?

ROB THOMSON: Energy. I mean, it's incredible what he brings. Every day he comes out, and we've got a few guys like Maton and some of our younger guys, but Sosa is just filled with energy. He makes people happy. He makes people smile. And when he plays, it's like he's in his backyard playing, you know, he's just having fun and enjoying it. And he's played very well for us. He's been a great addition to our ball club.

Q. Is there anything that -- David Robertson has struggled recently with command. At this point do you feel really comfortable putting them in in really tight spot late in the games.

ROB THOMSON: Yes. I have to because they've proven it over the year that they can get it done, and so I have to trust that.

Q. Have they had time to work on anything over the last couple of days?

ROB THOMSON: Yeah. They've been doing some bullpens and things like that and touching the mound and working on a couple of things. The moment is not going to get to them, so I trust that, and I have confidence in them.

Q. Rob, it's been a few years since Bryce has been in the playoffs. Last time was Washington. What have you learned about him in your years around him here, about what drives him and how special this is going to be for him to get back here to do his thing before everybody?

ROB THOMSON: Bryce is obviously a highly talented guy, but he's also a guy that really wants to win. And he really wants to win for the city of Philadelphia, for his teammates. You know, he's taken on a lot of responsibility with the contract, and so the responsibility in his mind is to get this team where we're hoping to get, and that's a World Series championship. So he's a guy that is driven every day to win games and to perform to the best of his ability to help us win games.