NL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: DIAMONDBACKS VS PHILLIES

October 19, 2023

Rob Thomson

Chase Field

Philadelphia Phillies

Pregame 3 Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: We'll get started with Rob Thomson.

Q. Rob, when Kyle leads off a game with a home run, what can that do to the spirit of the other team?

ROB THOMSON: Well, it's like a punch in the gut. It gets them on their heels a little bit and energizes our club more than anything and especially in the playoff atmosphere because these games are so important. Everybody knows how important it is. It can kind of speed up the other club a little bit.

Q. Rob, have you ever seen Ranger anxious or nervous or frustrated or normal?

ROB THOMSON: I have not. I really haven't. He's pitched -- got the last couple of outs last year in the CS, and he jogged in from the mound just as if he was coming out of the back door of his house to pitch in his backyard. He's just a cool customer. He doesn't sweat.

Q. You've been around a lot of teams, and you've seen a lot of teams. This team has a personality and a connection with Philadelphia. Does it remind you of any team you've ever seen or been around?

ROB THOMSON: No. This is pretty unique. It really is. Because, you're right, it's like Philadelphia. They're tough. They have a lot of fun. They really compete.

But the connection that our players and our fan base have made in the last year and a half is just -- I haven't seen anything like it before.

Q. Rob, your thoughts on -- especially Bryson being a Gold Glove finalist in his first year at a new position, just your thoughts on what he has been able to do defensively for you guys this year?

ROB THOMSON: He has kind of taken over that spot, and we saw it last year a little bit when Segura was hurt. And then we knew at the end of the year last year that we were probably going to go after a shortstop, and I had a short conversation with Bryson. I said, if we go after a shortstop, how do you feel about playing second base? He said, it doesn't matter to me as long as I'm playing someplace.

You look at, if you compare this team to two years ago, say, J.T., Stott, two pitchers -- should be three with Ranger, but he doesn't have enough innings -- Stott, and if he played long enough, you have Rojas in center field and Marsh in the left field, those guys would be in the conversations, I would think.

So you look at the transformation of this club that our upper management has done -- Dave and Sam and all the assistants -- to make this team such an athletic team more so than they were two years ago. It's really remarkable.

Q. I guess with Bryson and we talked about it a little bit with Alec a few days ago, but how much do you think that's a reflection of your coaching staff and the work that guys like Bobby do with these guys?

ROB THOMSON: No doubt. Bobby and Paco and Dusty and the work ethic that the players have, it's huge. It really is.

Q. Rob, based on your comment, I'm interested what you think of the comparison between that 2009 era Yankee team, where you weren't the manager, but it was the end of the Core Four era, and that was pretty much a fabric of the city team too, wasn't it?

ROB THOMSON: I think so, but I think this team takes it to another level. The passion of the Philadelphia fan base is just incredible. It's nothing I've ever seen.

Don't get me wrong, the '09 team, that was a great team, and it was a special team. This is just a little bit different level.

Q. Do you think this is -- you weren't around, but I covered '80, I covered 2008, '09. It's really always been the same where those teams are so good, they become part of the fabric of the city, and the city goes crazy over them.

ROB THOMSON: Yeah. And that's what's going on right now I think. When the Eagles are doing what they're doing and when they win a World Championship or a Super Bowl, you see the same thing with them. The people in Philadelphia are kind of crazy a little bit, you know, and I like that.

Q. So you've been setting some records, postseason records with homers and offense and pitching at home. How do you take all of that energy, adrenaline, and everything that you've had at home and take it on the road now?

ROB THOMSON: Well, it's a good question, but I think we just have to go out and play baseball, play our game, and keep after it. Because the club across the way, they're not going to quit. We have to keep going right until the very end. I think that's the mindset you have to take.

Q. Bryson was mentioning the energy in the dugout with all the guys. What is your opinion about the energy that they bring together as a in team in the dugout?

ROB THOMSON: They are incredible. And led by Garrett Stubbs and Jake Cave. The bench guys, they bring it every day too. They're very valuable people to have on. We've got really good support guys that are really all about the team, and they just support each other every day.

Q. Your pen has been very successful in recent days. What have you seen as the reasons for their success?

ROB THOMSON: I think because of the Atlanta series, the way it was structured, so it was game, off, game, off, two games, off, and then potentially a game. I think those extra off days in between games really help our guys. It really let them recover. We may have used one guy back-to-back days so far in postseason, so it keeps them fresh.

But at the same time you have to get them work so they're sharp, and we've been able to do that as well. It's been really good.

Q. Number one, Nick Castellanos is a markedly better fielder this year than last year. When did you see that, I don't know, was there a moment when you saw it spike, when you said, oh, my God, this guy is different. Or has it been a gradual effort?

ROB THOMSON: It's been gradual I think, but I think I really noticed it in the second half last year, maybe shortly after the All-Star break. And he just kept getting better and better and better, and he is still getting better and better and better.

He's a guy that we talked early in the year last year about defending for him late in the game. I wouldn't do that now. I just wouldn't. He's that good, and I have that much trust in him.

Him and Paco have worked extremely hard to get where he's at right now.

Q. He said that he formulated a plan in the offseason that he sticks to now. He is 30 years old. Usually guys are set in their ways by then. Are you impressed by his willingness to sort of evolve?

ROB THOMSON: I am. This is a guy that I think he was drafted as a shortstop and then had to move to third. Goes to the Big Leagues. Has some struggles at third base in the Big Leagues, and they move him to right field and struggled in right field.

Now I think he has found a home not only in Philadelphia, but also in right field, and he's just worked at it and gotten better almost every day. It's pretty impressive.

Q. Are you able, willing to name a Game 4 starter?

ROB THOMSON: After this game today.

Q. And I don't know if you know this, but people in Philadelphia are buying tickets here to keep the seats empty. Your thoughts?

ROB THOMSON: Well, I made a comment earlier about our Philadelphia fans, and I think that probably stands true. They're just passionate. They'll do anything to win.