Daily News | Rob Thomson’s message to Phillies: Block out the ‘noise’ and focus on ‘our own expectations’
Phillies manager Rob Thomson looks on during the first full-squad workouts on Tuesday in Clearwater, Fla.CLEARWATER, Fla. — Rob Thomson has worked in baseball since 1988. For most of his career with the Yankees and the, he has spent his spring trainings in front of a computer screen, planning the team’s schedule. But now that he’s manager, he has other, unfamiliar responsibilities to attend to.
One is talking to the media every day. But another is addressing his team before the first full-squad workout, which the Phillies held on Tuesday morning. Thomson said he has practiced his speech “millions of times” in his head over the last 30 or so years. When he stepped into the Phillies’ clubhouse to give his prepared message, he decided to keep it simple.“It was mainly about health and making sure that … you know, guys come out and they’re excited to be here,” Thomson said.
This is a fair point to make, considering that the Phillies are coming off of an unexpected World Series run. Thomson said he chose not to get into big-picture topics — like a potential return to the World Series — or team expectations, but did emphasize the importance of blocking out the “noise.” “What’s most important is our own expectations,” he said. “And not somebody else’s expectations. You can’t control what other people’s expectations are of you. My expectations are you prepare, you compete, you’re selfless, you have fun.”It’s the same approach Thomson preached when he took over the team in early June after Joe Girardi was fired. But back then, the stakes were far lower. Now, he’s tasked with making sure his team doesn’t do too much, too soon, and injure themselves.
Left-handed pitcher Michael Plassmeyer will start one of the Phillies’ split-squad spring training games on Saturday. Thomson isn’t sure who will start the second split-squad game.
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