Is Don Mattingly the Answer to the Phillies' Managerial Questions? | Hittin' Season

The Athletic reported on Wednesday that former interim manager Don Mattingly will be named the Phillies' skipper for the 2027 season, with a likely contract extension for 2028.

This episode was recorded about 12 hours prior to that news, so on this edition of Hittin' Season, hosts John Stolnis, Justin Klugh and Liz Roscher discussed the pros and cons of Mattingly, plus answered YOUR mailbag questions about Trea Turner, Bryce Harper, and the direction of the team in their quest for a World Series title.

Chapters:

00:00 - Introduction to Phillies managerial situation and playoff context
00:07 - Introduction and Episode Overview
00:31 - Phillies' Rebuild Strategy and Farm System Concerns
02:11 - The Importance of Team Culture and Leadership
04:48 - The potential return of Don Mattingly as Phillies manager
05:00 - Trea Turner's Position and Trade Possibilities
08:39 - Bryce Harper's Performance and Mental State
09:00 - Organizational decision-making and public relations challenges
12:04 - Fan reactions and the importance of transparency in management decisions
12:34 - Justin Crawford's Role and Development
15:46 - Outfield Defense and Lineup Adjustments
16:20 - Playoff baseball strategies: Swing percentage and team approach
19:56 - Phillies' Playoff Performance and Future Outlook
20:33 - Current playoff series updates and team performances
23:03 - Player moments and team chemistry highlights
23:34 - Lessons from Brewers and Rays on Team Building
27:03 - The impact of team depth and player relations on success
27:07 - Final Thoughts and Offseason Outlook
29:47 - Speculations on team changes and future outlooks