MLB WORLD SERIES: PHILLIES VS ASTROS

November 3, 2022

Rob Thomson

Citizens Bank Park

Philadelphia Phillies

Pregame 5 Press Conference

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

Q. Can you just talk about what the message was to your clubhouse after last night, but just to stay loose and use this environment and the fans to your advantage tonight?

ROB THOMSON: Yeah, I walked in the clubhouse last night and I just basically told 'em to flush this. It's gone. Just reminded them that we got no-hit earlier in the season when we played in New York and we came back the next day and we won. We played well. And that's what the plan is for today. That was it.

Q. Kind of a weird question, but if you're going to get no-hit in the World Series, is it better to do it when you're up? And then also --

ROB THOMSON: You're right.

Q. Honestly, if it was the first game of the series or you're even tied, it might have a more lasting affect possibly, but you had a game to spare, so to speak.

ROB THOMSON: Yeah, you know, I mean, as I said last night, a loss is a loss, whether you had 20 hits or no-hits. If you lose the game, you lose the game, especially in the World Series. But I can see where you're going with momentum and things like that.

But we feel good about the club and we're still in our home ballpark, with our fans. Our guys have been really resilient all year long and come back. They forget about things really easily. So I feel good about it.

Q. Do you think that process of flushing a game is any different when it's a game like a no-hitter, something that's that historic or do you see any difference in the way your guys respond?

ROB THOMSON: I don't think so. I just trust the character of the guys and we've proven that earlier in the year, and I think somebody was telling me, Don Larsen's perfect game -- who were they playing? They were playing -- whoever they were playing.

Q. Brooklyn?

ROB THOMSON: The Brooklyn Dodgers won the next day as well.

Q. 1-0 in 10.

ROB THOMSON: Was it?

Q. What have your impressions of Christian Vázquez been through the years, especially early when you guys saw a lot of each other in the AL East?

ROB THOMSON: Yeah, I've been a big fan of his for a long time. He can really catch and throw. His offensive game has improved over the course of the years. He was always a guy that, you go into Boston, do an advance report on them, he would be a guy that I would highlight all the time just because he can throw and he can back pick and he can do a lot of things. He was really athletic. He could block the ball. Yeah, so I've been a big fan of his.

Q. I know you've been asked about the team defense a lot over the course of the season, and so I'm going to do it again. Can you talk a little bit about how that evolved towards the end of the season, especially with the personnel changes you made at the trade deadline and after, and then what impact that aspect of your team has had on what you've done in the postseason?

ROB THOMSON: Yeah, I thought, first of all, I think we played very well for a long period of time. Everybody's going to have their snafus here and there, but I think we played very consistent defensively.

We did get a lot more athletic when we added Marsh and Sosa. The improvement of Bohm and Rhys Hoskins and our corner outfielders, especially Nick Castellanos, has been immense. And I think the improvement or the evolution of our, where we position guys over the course of the year has helped and it's gotten better. So there's a whole bunch of factors that have gone into this, and we played pretty well for a long time.

Q. Noah's the only starter in this rotation, at least I'm 99 percent positive, with World Series experience entering this series. How has that experience helped this team and what's his attitude going into tonight?

ROB THOMSON: Yeah, I think he's pretty calm, relaxed. I'm not sure if having World Series experience for Noah really changes him because that's just who he is. So I feel good about him. He's going to go out, he's going to pound the zone, he's going to try and mix it up and change speeds behind in the count, things like that. I think he's going to pitch well.

Q. Domínguez has been down for five days, I think. Is there any concern about rust or would you prefer the rest at this point in the season?

ROB THOMSON: I mean, I think we need to get him in there tonight. Because if he doesn't pitch tonight it's going to be a week between outings. So I think you'll see him tonight.

Q. Wheeler your Game 6 pitcher and Suárez 7?

ROB THOMSON: Wheeler is 6 and we'll wait for 7. We'll see what happens. Because Ranger may be available in the next couple games.

Q. Depending upon the situation?

ROB THOMSON: Yeah, depending on Ranger, how he feels.

Q. We saw José Alvarado riding a bike along the outfield.

ROB THOMSON: I just saw that.

Q. Then we also saw a lot of players dancing and things like that. What allows them to stay so loose especially after game like last night?

ROB THOMSON: I think it's just their mindset. They have been through this before. We've had rough games and they know that they can bounce back. Not sure if I want one of our key relievers riding a bike around the ballpark, but nonetheless, it shows that they're loose.

Q. You mentioned you want to get Seranthony in there tonight. But with the way the last two games have played out, in a way -- you said everybody's available tonight with tomorrow's off day. Is it really just all hands on deck these last three games and how good do you feel about the state of your bullpen given how late we are in the season, it seems like everyone's as fresh as they could be maybe?

ROB THOMSON: Yeah, I think so. I think the rainout helped. We got some extra days. I think they're all ready to go.

It is all hands on deck and I think they are fresh. I think they have proven that. I think our bullpen, other than the 5th inning yesterday, our bullpen has been clean. So it's been good.