Following Quebecer Alex Anthopoulos, who became Canada’s first general manager to win the World Series with the Atlanta Braves in 2021, Ontario’s Rob Thomson is making Canadian baseball history this year.
• Also read: A Quebecer at the World Series
• Also read: An impossible mission for the Phillies?
• Also read: MLB: Phillies go to the World Series
Thomson, who leads the Philadelphia Phillies, became the first manager from Canada to lead his team to the Major League Baseball Grand Final in 135 years. In fact, we have to go back as far as 1887 to list such a feat, when Bill Watkins led the Detroit Wolverines to the championship.
“Historically it’s very significant,” said Scott Crawford, superintendent of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. And so much is happening to someone who deserves it, a man who has been in the world of professional baseball for more than 30 years. »
He has proven himself
Even before the Phillies’ surprising qualification for the World Series, the native of Sarnia had long since proven himself in the organization of the New York Yankees. He also has five World Series rings with the Yankees, including that from 2009 when he was directly part of the coaching staff of the prestigious New York formation. As a bench coach, his roles included directing traffic from third base during the times of Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and Russell Martin.
“Rob is one of the quietest, humblest, most relaxed people you will ever meet,” Crawford said. In 2019 he was inducted into the Hall of Fame [à St. Mary’s] and he was overcome with emotion upon receiving the honor as Ferguson Jenkins presented him with the jacket to mark his induction. He’s not one who’s used to attracting attention. »
Already a cherry on the cake
In this World Series, however, the reflectors are entirely on Thomson. The 59-year-old has been the Phillies coach since June 3 after Joe Girardi was fired.
The Canadian coach has since done so well that he was stripped of his provisional title. Just over two weeks ago, he signed a new two-year deal with the Philadelphia club.
The Phillies qualifying for the World Series is the icing on the cake. A triumph over the mighty Houston Astros would only add decoration.
“Rob Thomson deserves so much credit on his part,” said Quebecer Alex Agostino, who serves as recruiter supervisor for the Phillies organization. The calm he shows as he leads the team completely disarms me. »
“A good time”
A bench coach with the Phillies since 2018, he went 65-46 as a regular-season manager before beating the St. Louis Cardinals, Braves and San Diego Padres in quick succession, winning nine of the 11 games played.
“Rob isn’t one to shout, he lets the players play, but he knows what to tell them to apply the details properly,” Crawford noted.
“It’s a good time for baseball in Canada,” he concluded. We’re proving that Canadians can not only do well as players in Major League Baseball, they can lead. »
As manager of the Phillies, Thomson was the first Canadian to hold such a full-time position since George Gibson, whose last stint was as manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1932-1934. Even former Quebec pitcher Claude Raymond wasn’t born yet.
Phillies backed Aaron Nola
While the Astros should trust veteran pitcher Justin Verlander to start Game 1 of the World Series in Houston on Friday, the Phillies have already announced their starter will be Aaron Nola.
Manager Rob Thomson’s decision to choose Nola over rotational ace Zack Wheeler isn’t stupid.
Ironically, Nola actually had success against the Astros batters in an interleague game in Houston earlier this month. It was October 3rd at Minute Maid Park.
In his last start of the regular season, the Philadelphia right-hander was perfect through the seventh inning before giving up two small hits. Of the Astros regulars, only prime hitter Jordan Alvarez had managed to demystify Nola. Substitute David Hensley scored the other goal.
In six and two-thirds innings, Nola knocked out the Astros to lead the Phillies to a 3-0 win for a total of nine strikeouts.
Psychic Benefit
This feat guarantees nothing, but it does give Nola a psychological advantage over the Astros hitters. In the playoffs, the Phillies shooter also did well in three starts, going 2-1 with a 3.12 ERA.
Verlander remains a mystery to the opponent. At 39, he still impresses with his fastball.
Valdez versus Wheeler
During the American League Championship Series against the Yankees, he won the first game. He then allowed just one run on three hits in six innings in a 4-2 win, in addition to 11 strikeouts. Framber Valdez is the logical candidate to start Astros’ Game 2.
Of course, Wheeler will be on the mound to start game two in the Phillies’ camp. Also right-handed, he has been dominant in his four appearances since the start of the playoffs after conceding just five earned runs in 25 1/3 innings.
Harper justifies his huge contract
Photo: AFP
Bryce Harper’s two-run homer in the eighth inning of Game 5 of the series against the Padres propelled the Phillies into the World Series.
Ever since Bryce Harper hit his famous two-run homer in the eighth inning of Game 5 of the National League Championship Series, nobody in Philadelphia seems to have questioned his huge contract.
In 2019, he signed a 13-year, $330 million contract with the Phillies.
Team owner John Middleton has no regrets.
“Everything we believed could happen is coming true,” Middleton said of Harper, as quoted by Major League Baseball’s website.
“There were no disappointments. Sometimes in such a situation you think that if you bet on someone you will get something, and something else will come out. But Bryce is no different. He is dedicated only to winning and will do whatever it takes to make it happen. »
Average 0.419
Harper, 30, played the heroes to help the Phillies eliminate the San Diego Padres on Sunday in front of overjoyed fans at Citizens Bank Park.
His offensive performance since the start of the playoffs has impressed. With 18 hits in 43 official appearances, he has a .419 batting average.
In 11 games, Harper notably hit five homers and hit six doubles.