NL DIVISION SERIES: PHILLIES VS BRAVES

October 6, 2023

Rob Thomson

Truist Park

Philadelphia Phillies

Workout Day Press Conference

Q. Who is starting for you tomorrow?

ROB THOMSON: Ranger will start Game 1, followed by Wheeler and Nola, and then after that, we'll figure it out.

Q. What made Ranger the guy for you and was there even a debate, because you do have a few options?

ROB THOMSON: Yeah, we do. I think Ranger overall -- like he hadn't pitched against Atlanta this year, but past numbers, they're probably the best out of the group. We all know that the moment's not going to be too big for Ranger. He's a pretty cool cucumber out there. So we're confident in that.

Q. Spencer is expected to start for the Braves in Game 1 and you guys are familiar with him facing him plenty of sometimes. What makes him a difficult pitcher to game plan for?

ROB THOMSON: Just the stuff. I mean, it's just power. It's an electric fastball, 96 to 99, the slider's a weapon. And now he's throwing change up to left-hand hitters, and he's throwing strikes. So you have that combination. And he's a bear to handle at times.

Q. Just curious what you can take from last year's matchup into this one, even though the teams are different in some ways.

ROB THOMSON: Not really all that much. These are two really good teams that are very familiar with each other. We've played these guys 36 times in the last two years. Always competitive games, always nail biters. They're very talented. They got a great manager, great coaching staff. We have the utmost respect for them. So I'm looking forward to this series. I think it's going to be a great series, and I think it's going to be an entertaining one, too.

Q. Rob, you're facing a righty for the first time in the playoffs. Can you tell us what you might do in center field and left?

ROB THOMSON: Well, yeah. I think pretty much stated that Rojas looks like he's going to play every day, unless something really weird happens. So we'll play Marsh in left field tomorrow.

Q. Are there any changes to the roster from the wildcard round?

ROB THOMSON: There is.

Q. What are those changes?

ROB THOMSON: I can't tell you that. That'll come out tomorrow at noon.

Q. Okay. And there's a stat out there that says that the starting rotation is third in innings pitched this year, and the bullpen is 30th. What does that say about the effectiveness of the starting rotation the entire year and just like the way you were able to get the bullpen rest for the playoffs?

ROB THOMSON: Yeah. I think our starters did a wonderful job, and you know, of course, we went to six starters at one point. But I think they did a great job giving us length, just taking down a bunch of innings so that we can give the bullpen the amount of rest that they need. So I'm really happy with the way our pitching has performed this year.

Q. Rob, how important -- last year you guys make it to the World Series. You did a great job. Adding Trea Turner to this team, how important it was?

ROB THOMSON: Yeah, I mean as far as we were concerned, we saw all four of the free agent short stops, and he was the guy that we wanted. Now it comes down to dollars and it comes down to a lot of different other things. But he was really the guy we wanted, because we thought that he was the perfect fit for us, putting him in the front of that lineup to get on base and create some power, another slug guy. You know, you got Harper and Bohmer and Stott behind him. We thought that that would create a lot of runs, and it has.

So he is extremely important to us, and he got off to a slow start, but he finished strong, and hopefully that continues.

Q. You mentioned that familiarity. How much of an urge is there to try to change up your looks or change up game plans or just lean on your strengths? You guys have seen them a lot, they've seen you a lot. Is there an urge to try something different to try to break that familiarity?

ROB THOMSON: I don't think so. I think you stay with your strengths. I was telling my wife because she was asking me about, okay, what's your message going to be to the team? I said, good coaches, managers, they have to know when to step in, and they have to know when to kind of get out of the way and let people go play and let coaches go coach.

And for the time being, I think that's where we're at, because we played extremely well against Miami, as good as we've played all year. So I think we just stay with our strengths.

Q. Where does this team stand for you as far as the chemistry or cohesiveness of this unit?

ROB THOMSON: It's as good as any team I've ever been around, if not better. I think our entire group, coaching staff, support staff, players, they all care about each other. They all want to win for each other. They all want to win for the organization and the city.

They have a whole lot of fun, but they know when to get serious and when to get focused. And I just love being around these guys. I love coming to the ballpark every day.

Q. Given that familiarity and you mentioned like not wanting to change too much, sticking to your strengths, but Orion Kerkering is a strength at this point, and he is someone that's unfamiliar to this team. Do you think he could see some higher leverage spots?

ROB THOMSON: I would think so. I thought the last game against Miami was big for us to get him into a game. And he pitched that 8th inning, and again, nine pitches, three outs. Just looked like he was having fun out there. And the moment wasn't too big. He just was calm and poised and got them out. So, yeah, we just keep moving forward with him.

Q. Can you talk about the evolution of the young players, because last year, you know, they got kind of thrown into the fire, and how they're different a year later at this point, really used to and accustomed to now some playoff action?

ROB THOMSON: Yeah. That's a good question because going into the playoffs last year, we weren't really sure how our guys were going to react because there weren't many guys on our roster that had been in playoff-type situations. And they came through it with flying colors.

And I think having gone through that, it helps so much this year, because, one, I don't really have to worry about it, and two, I think that just getting them more familiar year in, year out just makes them more confident, more composed. There's no anxiety. I think they just -- they go out and play baseball now.

Q. Rob, obviously you've seen them a lot, but as you specifically look at last year's Division Series, what do you think it was that set you guys apart to allow you to win three out of four?

ROB THOMSON: I really don't know. Everything's kind of a blur right now, you know, from last year because I'm so focused on this year. But obviously when you don't have home field, you have to win at least one game in their ballpark. And we won the first game of the series, which ended up being huge for us really.

So other than that, you know, I really can't put my finger on it, because, again, it's a little blurry right now.