MLB WORLD SERIES: PHILLIES VS ASTROS

November 1, 2022

Rob Thomson

Citizens Bank Park

Philadelphia Phillies

Pregame 3 Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: We'll go ahead and get started with questions for Rob.

Q. Couldn't blame anybody for having nerves before their first World Series start, but the fact that Ranger got in that game on Friday, how much do you think that will help him tonight?

ROB THOMSON: It might help a little bit, but Ranger doesn't get nervous. He's a pretty calm character. You saw what he did in Game 5 of the Padres series. I mean, it just doesn't matter. It doesn't matter the game state, the inning, what the score is, what his role is, he just goes out and pitches.

Q. You said yesterday with Wheeler it's just fatigue. Is he getting any type of extra treatment between starts and either way are you confident are you that the extra two days will get him back to where he needs to be?

ROB THOMSON: Yeah, they're all getting extra treatment this time of year. But, yeah, I'm really confident he'll be ready to go.

Q. Aaron was hit around a little bit in his last two starts. What did he do in those starts that he wasn't doing when he was so good in his first two playoff outings?

ROB THOMSON: I think it really comes down to execution, just missing his spots a little bit. He really leans on his command. When it's off a little bit, usually that's when he gets into some trouble. But I know he's working hard in between starts, so he'll be ready to go.

Q. Before this year, your last managerial experience really was 1995 in short-season ball. Obviously a very different level, a long time ago. But is there anything from that experience that you've taken forward that's helped you here?

ROB THOMSON: Yeah, I'm sure. Every experience I have has helped me. Being a field coordinator and farm director, you're constantly looking at rosters, constantly looking at how managers use pitchers, and really studying on that stuff. So all those experiences help along the way.

Q. With Wheeler's fatigue, his innings are down from last year because of the month off and his pitch count's been manageable. What do you think the reason is he's hit hitting a little bit of a wall?

ROB THOMSON: That's a good question. So when he went on the IL, we brought him back, and not that we rushed him, but we ramped him up pretty quick, and I think that took its toll on him a little bit, and I think that's why you're seeing now the velocity go down a little bit. So I'm hoping the extra couple days will help him.

Q. Did you talk to Zack and Aaron about whether they wanted an extra day? Did you get their input?

ROB THOMSON: Oh, yeah. Talking to 'em all the time.

Q. When Wheeler sees his velo is down, what are the next days like in terms of, okay, I got to figure out like how I throw 2 or 3 miles an hour harder or is he saying, okay, I got to figure out how to pitch with this? What is the process now, now that you have the data, into that next start?

ROB THOMSON: I think there's probably a lot of conversation with the trainers and strength and conditioning and trying to figure out, okay, how do we adjust my program, what did I do differently, maybe. And I think there is a part of it where you have to think about, okay, if I don't have my velocity, what am I going to do? Am I going to lean more on my slider or my curveball or my changeup. Really focus on commanding the ball. You got to figure it out if you don't have your, if you don't have your best velocity.

Q. Is that a scary moment? Is that like a process that's like, oh, my God?

ROB THOMSON: I don't know. I've never had any velocity, so I can't answer that.

Q. What are the plans for Zack Wheeler in terms of throwing a bullpen?

ROB THOMSON: It is Thursday.

Q. Your conversations with Kevin Long in terms of how you're going to approach Lance McCullers, Jr. tonight.

ROB THOMSON: Well, we know he's going to throw a lot of sliders, so it's common sense. Right-handers, you got to get 'em close to you and see him, get him up in the zone, and lefties, you got to see the ball out away from 'em because the ball's going to be coming back into 'em.

So I think that's all it is. I think you got to turn the field around, see the ball up and get good pitches to hit.