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The Philadelphia Phillies have once again fallen short, unable to hold their own against the Atlanta Braves in the first round of the 2026 playoffs.
“History repeats itself,” some might say, and that's not far from the truth. Having enjoyed a window of opportunity that seemed as wide as a patio door just a few seasons ago, the chances of seeing the Pennsylvania team ever win it all are slowly slipping away.
The roster is aging, and David Dombrowski will have to pull a rabbit out of his hat to keep his club afloat in 2027 and beyond.
Although Don Mattingly worked some magic when he took over as interim manager to replace Rob Thomson, it's pretty clear he won't be confirmed in the role following his team's early elimination. When he took over, the team was struggling, and even though he isn't an exuberant or very vocal manager, he managed to turn the atmosphere around for the better.
A scene from the post-game clubhouse, where several Phillies players praised Don Mattingly's work as interim manager. It might not be enough to save his job.https://t.co/D6KS09YZa9
— Charlotte Varnes (@charlottevarnes) October 2, 2026
The Phillies have their eyes set on Alex Cora (it's clearer than ever), and Mattingly will likely have to step down.
In an ideal scenario, he would remain with the organization and become an advisor.
In 13 seasons as a major league manager in Los Angeles, Miami, and Philadelphia, Mattingly's record stands at 968-1005. It's not disastrous, but it may not be enough to allow him to one day return to the same position if his contract with the Phillies isn't renewed.
He has also worked within the Blue Jays' and Yankees' organizations for a few seasons.
For his part, Cora has a record of 620-541 in nearly eight seasons at the helm of the Boston Red Sox. He is 15 years younger than Mattingly.
In the end, he was never able to shake the label of someone who was merely holding the position until a better candidate could be found. It's a shame for him, but his playing career was far superior to his managerial one.
By turning to someone else to lead the team, Phillies management would put additional pressure on its group of veterans, who are accustomed to racking up impressive stats during the regular season but tend to fade when it counts most.
Could someone like Alex Cora, for example, turn things around and give the team's fans something to cheer about in the playoffs? There's nothing like taking a chance and trying to convince the man in question to come in and shake things up.
Trea Turner is 33.
Bryce Harper is 33.
Kyle Schwarber is 33.
Aaron Nola is 33.The Phillies owe these guys almost $550 million. pic.twitter.com/3yfPKmuOiT
— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) October 3, 2026
Time is running out in Philadelphia, a city where patience isn't exactly a virtue. The team's offensive core is aging, and success has been slow in coming. Remember that the Phillies nearly missed the playoffs this season due to a significant slump in the final weeks of the regular season, which set the stage for a tight race with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
A wake-up call is essential—and it might come in the form of Alex Cora.
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