NL DIVISION SERIES: PHILLIES VS BRAVES

October 11, 2023

Rob Thomson

Citizens Bank Park

Philadelphia Phillies

Pregame 3 Press Conference

Q. Brandon Marsh just said that he thinks you're built for this city, you're built for Philly. Why do you think that is?

ROB THOMSON: (Laughs). Well, I appreciate that. I don't know. Maybe it's just because I love the city, and I love the people that are in the city, very passionate people. And I'm a passionate person myself, so maybe that's the fit.

Q. I know it's part of the game where the other team doesn't have to announce who the starter is, but now that we know it's Bryce Elder, what kind of challenges does he present to your lineup, and what is it like not finding out until a few hours before the game?

ROB THOMSON: Well, I think as far as preparation is concerned, I think we're prepared for him. We prepared for both him and Smith-Shawver. So we were ready for it, but he's a command guy.

He can really locate the baseball. It is going to be a fastball, sinker, slider, change up to left-handers. He can pitch. He doesn't have the power of a Strider, but he can really pitch.

He can do a lot of different things. He can hold runners. He can field his position well. He's a good pitcher.

Q. Rob, what's the biggest difference between Elder in the first half and Elder in the second half?

ROB THOMSON: Probably command. You know, because he's a command guy, and he's gotta have that. And usually he does. So I don't know whether it was fatigue. You'd have to ask him or you'd have to ask the Braves, but I would say for the most part, because the first time we saw him, I mean, he was hitting corners. He was changing speeds, keeping us off balance, and I think probably that's the difference.

Q. Rob, at this point in the series, with two teams having this much familiarity and this much talent, are there any surprises between the two teams or is it just a matter of whichever talent ends up going out and does what they're supposed to do?

ROB THOMSON: Yeah. I don't think there's any surprises. We've played these guys now 38 times in the last two years. So, yeah. I don't think there's any secrets on either side. So you just gotta go out and play baseball, and best team wins.

Q. Rob, to you, what's the most tangible part of the home field advantage here at Citizens Bank?

ROB THOMSON: I think the crowd noise. It can be deafening at times. And it creates a lot of energy for us, and sometimes it can create some intimidation to the opposition. So I think that's the biggest factor, no question about it.

Q. You've been involved in the game obviously for quite a long time, but was there anything that you learned about managing since you finally got this job? Like I'm sure you always thought what the job involved, but now that you're doing it, is there something you've learned about it, whether it's relations with players, whether it's collaboration with the front office? Is there something that you learned that you maybe weren't too aware of before that?

ROB THOMSON: Yeah, I think for me, there's two things that are so important. And one is the relationship I have with the players and the trust that I show the players, and it will come back to you.

The second part of it is how important it is to get information from your coaches and let your coaches coach and let them help you out in game situations.

Q. Rob, do you think home field advantage is intensified in the pitch clock era just because pitchers can't for the most part step off the mound and regroup themselves?

ROB THOMSON: I think we saw a little bit of that in the Miami series, yeah. So I think there is a little bit of a factor there, depending on who that pitcher is, does he really command the pitch clock? You know, some guys do. Some guys don't. So, yeah, I think it's a factor.

Q. Rob, as well as you know your guys, specifically Bryce Harper, can you tell me if bulletin board material is necessary for a guy like that or is he going to find motivation on his own?

ROB THOMSON: Yeah, you don't need anything to motivate him, but as I said yesterday, if -- I know what you're talking about. If that adds to his motivation, then thank you.