ATLANTA — Well before the PhilliesRob Thomson was christened as their permanent managerA two-year contract was signed and a news conference Monday was held, less that 24 hours before the National League Division Series began. Bryson Stott had a question. Thomson was an interim manager. It was spring practice. Thomson was the bench coach, the man tasked with all of the logistics of the team’s exhibition games.
Stott hit three times in one afternoon. A number of starters were asked to quit the game. Thomson said something to the rookie, he thought.
“So,” Stott said, “I go up and ask him, ‘Hey, Tomper. Am I still in the game?’”
Thomson stared serious at the infielder.
“You’re in the game,” he said, “until I f—ing tell you’re in the game.”
Stott panicked. “Oh my gosh,” he said to himself. “I just messed up.” He didn’t know what to do. Stott returned back to Thomson just two minutes later.
“Were you being serious?” he asked.
Thomson couldn’t maintain the bit any longer.
“He just starts dying laughing,” Stott said. “He was just trying to mess with me. He says this stuff with the most serious face, but he’s actually really funny. He’s funny. His one-liners are pretty good.”
Thomson was appointed interim manager on June 3, when the Phillies were at 22-29. He kept using the one-liners. He relied on them during both good and bad times.
