"(Bryce Harper and J.T. Realmuto are) paid exorbitant money" - Ex-GM rips Phillies manager opting weaker batters in key 9th inning against Nationals

The Philadelphia Phillies' four-game win streak was broken on Sunday when the Washington Nationals won the series finale 6-4, avoiding a sweep at Citizens Bank Park. Despite this loss, the Phillies won the series 3-1, improving their season record to 73-51 and maintaining their lead in the NL East Division.

Former Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. spoke harshly of current team manager Rob Thomson on "The Phillies Show." He criticized Thomson’s decision of not using the club's All-Star players, Bryce Harper or J.T. Realmuto, in the ninth inning when Philadelphia had a game-tying opportunity with no outs. Instead, Thomson didn’t use a pinch-hitter and lost the game.

“I believe that if you have a chance to win a baseball game, especially at this time of the year, you've got to use your best players in the right situations,” Amaro said (Timestamp: 8:30). "Very rarely do I ever disagree with Rob Thomson. I think that there's always a plan and there's a reason.

"Could Bryce Harper tweak something because he's not as prepared? J.T. is not really a great pinch hitter. I think his pinch-hitting numbers are not very good. … You've got a much better chance of winning the baseball game with those two guys. In my opinion.

"I don't have to agree with everything that Rob Thomson does. I love everything about the guy. I think he's a phenomenal manager. I just think, in this case, I would utilize every one of my resources to try to win the baseball game. ... They're paid an exorbitant amount of money to be prepared for a game to play."

---

Philadelphia Phillies' postseason candidacy looks solid

The Phillies have qualified for the postseason in the last two seasons. In 2022, after breaking their multiyear postseason drought, they reached the World Series under Rob Thomson but fell short of winning it. Last year, they made it to the NL Championship Series, only to lose to the lower-seeded Arizona Diamondbacks.

Entering Monday's games, Philadelphia (73-52) is leading the NL East and is tied for the NL's best record with the Los Angeles Dodgers, who’re also World Series contenders. Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber and Alec Bohm lead the team’s offense, while Aaron Nola and Zach Wheeler helm the pitching department.

The postseason will commence in October. If Thomson wants to complete his unfinished business from 2022, he’ll need his best players in optimum health and injury-free, and that’s why he perhaps is looking at the bigger picture: losing a few games right now to later win the World Series.