MLB WORLD SERIES: PHILLIES VS ASTROS

November 2, 2022

Rob Thomson

Citizens Bank Park

Philadelphia Phillies

Pregame 4 Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: We'll go ahead and get started with questions for Rob.

Q. Just for clarification purposes, what is the medical reason why Harper can't play left field until next year?

ROB THOMSON: His elbow, his throwing elbow.

Q. What happened to it? When he broke his hand, was there an element to that or the thumb? What happened with his elbow?

ROB THOMSON: Well, it was awhile ago now, but I'll try and remember what happened. About the time he broke his thumb he was about ready to start A throwing program and start progressing through that. And because of the pins in his thumb, he couldn't do anything because of the sweat would get in there and possible infection.

So we backed everything off and then once he came back and started to hit, it was late in the season, we wouldn't be able to get him back on the field anyway. Wouldn't be able to ramp him up quick enough. So we just said let's stay away from a throwing program, we'll address it after the season, and just let him hit.

Q. So the fact that the NL adopted the designated hitter rule this year really worked out for you guys.

ROB THOMSON: I would say it did, yeah.

(Smiling.)

Q. J.T. talked yesterday about the faith that you show in the bullpen, especially yesterday getting some guys that haven't gotten a lot of work in there with a lead. I wonder how important that was for you guys team-wise to get some of those guys to eat innings and what kind of signal do you think that sends to some of those guys in the bullpen who maybe haven't been pitching a ton?

ROB THOMSON: Well, it was huge for the fact that we didn't have to use Alvarado and Seranthony and Eflin and David Robertson. Give them another day's rest and now they can go back-to-back here in the next two days, depending upon how many pitches they throw, obviously.

But all those guys that we have in the bullpen I have faith in them. I use 'em maybe at different times of a game or different game state. But they have all thrown very well. You could see with Nick Nelson, there was a little bit of rust there, so he threw a lot of pitches to get out of one winning, but he got through it. Gibby threw the ball well. I was happy about that.

So I think we've used everybody on our roster in the World Series except for Garrett Stubbs to this point. So try to figure out a way to get Garrett in there if we can.

Q. Back to Harper real quick. It's not always an easy transition for a guy who is used to playing nine innings in the field every night. How did he handle it? Did you see any difficulty there? Has he kind of settled into that role?

ROB THOMSON: I think he's kind of settled in. He would rather play the outfield. But I think he's kind of settled in and figured out a routine. A lot of guys that DH they go down in the cage, they hang out in the cage. He always on the bench. He's always watching the game. That's his routine, and I think he's comfortable with it now.

Q. With Noah going tomorrow, it's been awhile for him, but he has pitched in some big playoff games in the past, even this year. Is it a muscle memory to have that kind of experience, to pitch in these type of environments that you can draw on as a player do you think?

ROB THOMSON: Yeah, I think so. He's a pretty cool customer too. Nothing really rattles him. He's a lot like Ranger in that way. So he's going to do his thing. He's going to go out and throw strikes. He's going to challenge guys and try to mix it up and keep 'em off balance. But the moment's not going to be too big for him.

Q. All the conversation in the last hours of whether or not you guys had something on McCullers. First, I'm curious about your opinion on that, but also even if you didn't, I'm guessing you think it's not bad thing that people think so or that they think so. Does it matter?

ROB THOMSON: I don't know. I don't know. I don't think we had anything on him, but I don't know whether it helps or hurts whether somebody else thinks we've got something on 'em.

Q. (No microphone.)

ROB THOMSON: No, I don't think so.

Q. (No microphone.)

ROB THOMSON: No, I don't think so.

Q. If the Phillies win tonight, you use Zack Wheeler tomorrow?

ROB THOMSON: No. No, it will be Noah tomorrow. Win or lose tonight Noah's pitching tomorrow.

Q. Looking back toward June when you moved up and took over. What would you say were the easiest and hardest parts of the transition for you for the next four months?

ROB THOMSON: I think the really the easiest part was just running the game. Because I've done it in my head for so long. I've had a lot of experience running a game as a field coordinator, farm director. Because you got five games you're looking at every day.

I think the toughest part really for me was learning a process that I needed to go through. I'm kind of a routine guy. And getting a routine down where I'm not looking at a computer all day long at bunt plays and things like that. I'm out in the clubhouse. I'm talking to people. I'm doing the media even. So it's just a different routine.