Rob Thomson talks high expectations, lineup construction after Trea Turner signing
As Dave Dombrowski, Sam Fuld and new Phillies shortstop Trea Turner took the stage for an introductory press conference at Pass & Stow at Citizens Bank Park, manager Rob Thomson sat to the side as a spectator along with over two dozen members of the Phillies front office.
The Phillies laid the foundation for a massive signing in the shortstop market during the summer as the current squad revitalized their playoff hopes under Thomson. Rumors of Turner’s interest in the east coast swirled, both Turner and Bryce Harper were praising each other in the media and the top three pitching prospects in the Phillies farm system, Andrew Painter, Mick Abel and Griff McGarry, were performing well enough to compete for roles in 2023 and beyond.
There was a clear hole in the middle infield with Jean Segura and Didi Gregorius coming off the books in 2022 and regardless of whether the Phillies missed the playoffs by a game or fell two wins short of the World Series, the club was likely set on acquiring one of the four top shortstops on the market.
What the playoff run did change is the expectations and excitement surrounding the 2023 season. Philly became a baseball city again in October and the Phillies have a chance to capitalize on the momentum from a World Series run by being compelling for the first six months of next season.
Thomson is already working on setting the tone with his players during the first week of spring training.
“There’s this momentum that just keeps coming and we just gotta keep it going,” Thomson said. “I feel like I gotta keep my finger on the pulse of expectations. High expectations. Those are really good things to have and it means you’re probably really good. … We definitely have some momentum here and we just gotta keep going.”
One of the first questions Turner addressed at the press conference was about his preferred spot to hit in the lineup. Just about all of his career plate appearances have come out of the No. 1 or 2 hole and you can all but guarantee Thomson’s decision on where to hit Turner comes down to those two spots. Turner can get on base, steal, hit for power and limit lengthy slumps.
“If you were to look in the dictionary, leadoff hitter, No. 2 hitter, his face would be on it,” Thomson said of Turner.
The Phillies used Schwarber, the National League home run leader in 2022, in the leadoff spot for most of the season. Even though it was unconventional, it worked most of the time. Other Phillies hitters may have profiled better as a leadoff hitter, but Schwarber was ultimately the most comfortable in that spot. That matters a lot to Thomson.
“Maybe [a player] has had a bad year hitting in the three hole and he doesn’t want to hit there again. That factors in a little bit,” Thomson said as an example for this thinking.
But it ultimately sounds like Turner will hit leadoff when Harper is out and Schwarber will go back to the No. 1 spot when the reigning NLCS MVP returns midseason. He wants Schwarber and Harper, two lefties, separated by at least one batter in the order. That could also mean Turner could lead off, Schwarber could hit second and Harper hits fourth. That’s if the Phillies like Harper to not have a guaranteed at-bat in the first inning. It’s something they did in the postseason, but who knows if that continues next season. That’s not something Thomson will have to worry about until May or June at the earliest.
Schwarber hit 31 solo home runs in 2022. Not having ducks on the pond when Schwarber was at the plate was the tradeoff the Phillies made to construct a lineup that worked for everyone.
“With [Harper] out for the start of the year, you want to try to get as most out of Schwarber’s home runs as you can,” Thomson said.
So it’s likely Thomson’s ideal lineup, with Harper and the rest of the offense healthy, still has Schwarber leading off. Whether he’s hitting in front or behind Schwarber, Turner is excited to hit in a lineup with so many established stars.
“We have a pretty good leadoff hitter in Schwarber. He stole a lot of bases,” Turner joked.
“Ultimately, we’re going to have to get together in spring training and kind of make those decisions. I’m all ears and I’m just excited to be here.”
Thomson and Turner are on the same page when it comes to lineup consistency. Turner doesn’t care what spot in the order he’s at as long as he’s not being shifted around constantly.
“However you stack it, it’s going to be a really long, really good lineup,” Thomson said.
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