NL DIVISION SERIES: METS VS PHILLIES

October 6, 2024

Rob Thomson

Citizens Bank Park

Philadelphia Phillies

Pregame 2 Press Conference

Q. Why is Bohm out of the lineup today?

ROB THOMSON: I wanted to get some energy in the lineup with Sosa, he's kind of our energy guy. Bohm's not swinging the bat particularly well, but he's not the only one. He's frustrated. But I just wanted to get Sosa in there.

Q. How did Bohm take it when you told him he wasn't going to be in the lineup? He seemed very frustrated after a few at-bats yesterday, throwing his helmet, did that contribute at all?

ROB THOMSON: Well, the frustration part of it, yeah. I mean, not necessarily throwing his helmet. But I know he's frustrated because he wants to produce and he's a professional, and so he is frustrated.

So, you know, it's just one of those things. And like I said, I just wanted to get Sosa in there. He's kind of an energy guy, he makes things happen usually when he's in there.

Q. Sosa struggled a little bit in September, as well. So what do you kind of like out of him and what he might bring to the lineup?

ROB THOMSON: His energy. He goes out there and he runs around. And I think he energizes other people, as well, and that's what we need.

Q. Do you think the move might send a wake-up message to the rest of the team? And on the flip side, do you worry that some people might interpret it as a sign of panic, for lack of a better word?

ROB THOMSON: I really don't worry about what other people necessarily think or see. I do what I think is the best thing for the ball club on a daily basis.

As far as a wake-up call, no, not really. I think these guys are well aware of what needs to be done. I don't think they need a wake-up call, for sure.

Q. Yesterday you allowed Wheeler to throw the most pitches in the postseason since the 2020 World Series. How long is Cris Sánchez's leash for today?

ROB THOMSON: As long as he's throwing the ball well. He's maxed out if he's throwing the ball well. That's 100, 105 pitches. But with the day off tomorrow we do have the luxury of moving fast.

Q. Talking to Kyle about just his improvement against left-handed pitching specifically, their sinker, slider stuff. I'm wondering if you've seen any change over the course of the year in how opposing bullpens attack your guys with the lefty, righty, lefty you have there, and whether it makes it an easier call for you to keep that the way it's been?

ROB THOMSON: I think as the season has gone on that pocket has seen less and less lefties. They still get them, but I don't think quite as often. And, yeah, it's an easy call now the way those two guys have hit lefties, just leave them where they're at.

Q. I understand the reasoning for today, but Bohm is a big part of what you've done this year, he's been in the lineup all year. How confident are you he can contribute down the stretch? I'm sure you expect contributions over the next couple weeks from him?

ROB THOMSON: Absolutely. He'll be in tomorrow with the lefty on the mound, for sure. I expect him to hit, I expect him to hit every day because he's a really good hitter.

Q. A couple of guys mentioned the shadows being an issue for them. It's not really something that you can control or change going into today. Is there anything that you guys are focusing on or what are you telling the guys to overcome that?

ROB THOMSON: It's on both sides of the ball. The Mets have the same thing. So we're all playing in the same field. I'm not sure what you can tell them, really, other than try to pick up the ball as early as you can.

Q. During the regular season, and I know playoffs and regular seasons are obviously different, are you counting on that capacity to flush out a difficult game, even in a short series like this?

ROB THOMSON: Yeah, I think our guys, they're a very resilient group. I've said it many times over the course of the years, they have a short memory. They know that today's a new day, and they're going to come out here and they're going to prepare and they're going to go out and compete at a high level.

I don't think there's -- they remember anything about yesterday other than the fact that we need to control the strike zone on both sides of the ball.

Q. While they have responded well to losses, in terms of Edmundo going into the starting lineup for energy, how much do you sense that the club needs an energy boost?

ROB THOMSON: I think so, after last night. And I think, you know, he's a guy that with one swing of the bat can change a game, you know, either with his speed or with his power. But I think any time that you come off a tough loss like that, I think a little energy helps.

Q. Did you guys do anything different this morning in terms of preparation, like any extra work in the cage or anything like that?

ROB THOMSON: I think it's just normal routine.

Q. Moving the lineup and moving Stott up to fifth, even if you get that energy boost from Sosa, but do you worry with Bohm's struggles, a little less threat of power and damage and what it does for the depth of your lineup?

ROB THOMSON: Not really. Stott's hit in the middle of the lineup before and has done very well. If he maintains his approach, which is get good pitches to hit, use the entire field, low to left, high to right, he's going to be fine.

Q. With the shadows, and every game in the series could start at 4:00 or 5:00, what impact do you think that could have? Do you think it could have been set up differently, because two series are playing every game during the day and two are playing every game at night?

ROB THOMSON: Yeah, I'm not involved in the organization of what time we play.

But, yeah, shadows are shadows, and you've got to deal with it, and deal with it as best you can. And it's not like we can turn the lights down in the cage or hit in the dark or anything like that is going to help us. So you've just got to deal with it and adjust the best you can.