After its second straight NLDS exit, the Philadelphia Phillies announced on Oct. 13 that Rob Thomson will return as manager in 2026.

Suffering another season of playoff disappointment, Phillies fans will absolutely question the decision, citing lack of postseason success since the team's World Series appearance in 2022, a struggling offense despite no lack of star power and questionable decisions when it comes to lineups and in-game strategy.

However, when you look deeper, Thomson isn't at the root of the problem. While all of the fans' criticisms may have validity, it's important to note that the manager isn't always the sole component to a team's struggle.

Since taking the helm in Philadelphia, Thomson holds a .580 win percentage via a 346-251 record. He has yet to hold a losing record at the end of the year, ending the second half of the 2022 season with a 65-46 record and a long postseason run before powering the Phillies to three straight 90-plus-win seasons since then. 

In fact, Thomson led the team to four straight playoff appearances, a feat only achieved once before in franchise history when Charlie Manuel brought Philadelphia to five straight postseasons from 2007-2011. His success isn't to be undervalued, as he brought the Phillies out of an 11-year playoff drought.

Since Manuel left the team in 2013, Philadelphia has had five different skippers, and none saw anywhere close to the amount of success Thomson has in his four years with the ball club. To that end, of the other four managers that came before Thomson, none of them lasted for more than two-and-a-half years.

Ryne Sandberg, Pete Mackanin, Gabe Kapler and Joe Girardi all held losing records as managers when they departed the club, albeit they worked with much less talent than what Thomson has at his disposal. 

On that note, the fans' claim of Thomson's not capitalizing off of the opportunities he's seen with the roster he has available gains more merit, but his accomplishments at the helm shouldn't be pushed aside. 

Now, this is not to say that Thomson's position with the Phillies is fully secure. The fact that he was only offered a one-year contract might mean that Philadelphia's front office is using this extension as a way to say, "This is your last shot." 

With the Phillies' championship window seemingly shut, and the potential roster for the 2026 season up in the air with key players like J.T. Realmuto, Kyle Schwarber and Ranger Suarez reaching the end of their contracts, Thomson has a large and almost career-defining task ahead of him, and the expectations have never been higher.