The Philadelphia Phillies entered Monday’s game looking to rebound after dropping two consecutive series. Instead, they suffered a tough loss to the San Francisco Giants, falling 10–4 in a game that left fans frustrated.

Much of the blame understandably fell on Taijuan Walker, but manager Rob Thomson also came under fire from Phillies fans — and with good reason. In the bottom of the sixth, when the game was still competitive and the Phillies were threatening, J.T. Realmuto took a pitch that was clearly outside the zone and should have been ball four. Rather than loading the bases with two outs, the inning ended prematurely, killing the rally. The Giants responded by adding a couple of insurance runs and cruised to victory.

What added to the fans’ frustration was Thomson’s lack of reaction. As Realmuto voiced his anger over the missed call, Thomson remained seated in the dugout, expressionless — a familiar sight that has increasingly worn thin among the Philadelphia faithful.

Thomson Shows He Might Not Be the Right Fit

Failing to defend a player in that moment was bad enough — but in a city like Philadelphia, known for its passionate fans and athletes, the lack of emotion was especially glaring. Thomson’s calm demeanor might be seen as composed by some, but to many, it reflects a lack of urgency — something that’s been a recurring issue.

Sure, it’s early in the season, but this isn’t a new trend. Even after Monday’s disappointing loss, Thomson seemed to approach things with the same passive tone. It’s the same tone he used during last season’s struggles, offering no real answers or visible signs of motivation. He continues to hope things will improve on their own rather than actively shaking things up.

No one is saying that an ejection on Monday would have reversed the outcome — the Giants were in control regardless. But a fiery response from the manager might have sparked something in the team. Instead, the Phillies got nothing — no fight, no fire.

The Phillies have a talented roster, but that talent hasn’t translated into consistent success for some time now. Thomson has shown he can get this team to the playoffs, but they haven’t reached the top under his leadership. Perhaps his reserved style is part of the reason for their lackluster postseason showings.