The Philadelphia Phillies have kicked off the 2026 season in the worst way imaginable, sitting at a miserable 9–19 with a run differential of 54. Fans are furious, demanding accountability, and calling for the jobs of president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski, manager Rob Thomson, and hitting coach Kevin Long. Their wish might come true soon: according to Phillies insider Jim Salisbury on his Monday morning podcast, he anticipates a move aimed purely at “shock value.”
Phillies supporters look back fondly on the 2022 National League championship team, and rightfully so that underdog squad staged a miraculous run after stumbling to a 22–29 start. The turnaround began the moment Dombrowski dismissed strict manager Joe Girardi and promoted the calm, steady Thomson. That coaching change and the resulting resurgence now serve as a model for what fans hope will be another midseason shakeup this year.
Unfortunately, the current roster is much older, less skilled, and carries a far heavier payroll than the 2022 squad, making a repeat of that magic seem unlikely. Firing Thomson or Long won’t solve the flawed roster Dombrowski has assembled over the years, nor will it bring major-league-ready talent to a farm system largely empty of impact players. In short, while sacking coaches might feel justified and provide temporary relief, it probably won’t fix the deep-seated organizational problems.
Someone Has to Pay for the Phillies’ Failures
Still, Salisbury has given fans hope that someone will be forced to take the fall for the team’s disastrous first month.
“Monday could shape up as a day of change, a watershed moment,” Salisbury speculated on The Phillies Show. He added, “I’m expecting to hear something… maybe not today [Monday], but before Tuesday’s game… I see them probably doing something for shock value.”
The Phillies might make a move purely for shock value, though it wouldn’t truly surprise fans who have watched an aging core collapse in the postseason four years running. Now, the team is working hard to extinguish any playoff hopes before April even ends. The Phillies are a train wreck, and fans won’t be satisfied until someone is held accountable.
Nevertheless, the reality is that Philadelphia isn’t just one coaching change away from contending. The roster has fundamental flaws in multiple areas, and there’s little reason to believe that overpaid veterans producing declining results will suddenly improve under new leadership. Trying something new is worth a shot, but a different manager likely won’t clean up the mess Dave Dombrowski has created.
