The Philadelphia Phillies couldn’t have imagined a worse start to the 2026 season, sitting at a miserable 9-19 with a run differential of -54. Frustrated fans are demanding action, calling for the ouster of president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski, manager Rob Thomson, and hitting coach Kevin Long. Their wish might come true soon: Phillies insider Jim Salisbury mentioned on his Monday morning podcast that he anticipates a “shock value” move.
Phillies fans still look back fondly on the 2022 squad that won the National League pennant, and rightfully so that team rebounded from a dreadful 22-29 start to make a magical postseason run. The turnaround began when Dombrowski fired the hard-nosed Joe Girardi and replaced him with the calm, steady Thomson. That coaching change sparked the revival, and fans hope history repeats itself with a midseason shakeup this year.
Sadly, the current roster is older, less skilled, and carries a much heavier payroll than the 2022 team. Lightning striking twice seems unlikely. Firing Thomson or Long won’t fix the flawed roster Dombrowski has assembled over the years, nor will it suddenly add MLB-ready talent to a farm system that’s largely barren. In short, while canning coaches might feel justified and cathartic, it won’t solve the deep-rooted problems plaguing the organization.
Someone Must Take the Blame for the Phillies’ Collapse
Still, Salisbury’s remarks have given fans a glimmer of hope that a scapegoat will be offered up for the team’s horrific first month.
“Monday could be a day of change, a real turning point,” Salisbury speculated on The Phillies Show. He added, “I’m expecting to hear something… maybe not today [Monday], but before Tuesday’s game… I think they’ll probably do something just for shock value.”
A shock-value move may come, but it wouldn’t actually shock fans who’ve watched this aging core flop in the playoffs four years straight. Now, the team is dashing any hopes of even reaching October before April is over. The Phillies are a train wreck, and fans won’t let up until someone is held accountable.
However, the reality is that the Phillies aren’t just one coaching change away from contending. The roster has fundamental flaws on multiple fronts, and there’s little reason to believe that overpaid, declining veterans will suddenly turn things around under new leadership. A fresh face in the dugout is worth a try, but it probably won’t clean up the mess Dave Dombrowski has made.
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