Recorded live on YouTube right after the news broke, Josh Liddick and Austin Myers react to the Phillies signing Don Mattingly to a two-year extension as full-time manager.

After Alex Cora turned the Phillies down twice, the team went with stability. Josh and Austin agree it's the right move, even if it isn't the splashy hire fans wanted. Mattingly took over a 9-19 team in the spring and got them back to the postseason, despite an early exit. The guys also run through the other candidates and why none of them clearly beat the guy already in the building.

With Mattingly now the long-term manager, a coaching staff shake-up could be next. Josh and Austin debate who should stay, who should go, and whether a new hitting coach makes sense after a quiet offense late in the year.

They also take on the elephant in the room: Dave Dombrowski's future. Between the Phillies' farm system, some big hits and misses, and Sam Fuld turning down the Athletics' GM job, the guys wonder what the front office looks like down the road. A press conference with Dombrowski and Mattingly is set for Thursday at 10:30 a.m.

Is this the right hire to get the Phillies back on top of the NL East, or is a roster built around the same core still the bigger problem?

Follow and leave a five-star review for Catchin’ Phils: A Phillies Podcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠iHeartRadio⁠⁠⁠⁠, and subscribe to Josh Liddick (⁠⁠⁠⁠Red Pinstripe Press⁠⁠⁠⁠) and Austin Myers (⁠⁠⁠⁠Phillies Perspective⁠⁠⁠⁠) on Substack to get their latest work straight to your inbox. The podcast is also streaming weekly on the Catchin' Phils ⁠⁠⁠YouTube channel⁠⁠⁠.

Follow Catchin’ Phils on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter/X for more content.

Episode timestamps:

00:00 – Phillies make Don Mattingly the permanent manager

00:32 – Relief that the Phillies didn't drag it out

01:31 – Running it back vs. going with the most experienced option

03:52 – Why the extra year through 2028 shows trust

04:32 – Why the right hire isn't the splashy one

06:00 – The case for a manager not on an expiring contract

08:11 – Other candidates: Ross, Martinez, Espada, and more

10:32 – Will Mattingly bring in his own coaching staff?

11:34 – Keeping Caleb Cotham and rethinking the hitting coach

12:15 – Mattingly's impact on Bohm and Stott

15:06 – A final stop and a chase for a first World Series

15:48 – Dave Dombrowski's future as the elephant in the room

17:48 – Thursday's press conference and the tough questions

18:22 – Dombrowski's hits, misses, and the farm system

20:20 – Why Sam Fuld turned down the Athletics' GM job

21:41 – Maybe stability in the front office is a good thing

24:09 – Closing thoughts: the first domino has fallen

The final four are set, the lockout clock is ticking, and the Phillies' offseason is already taking shape. Josh Liddick and Austin Myers break it all down on Catchin’ Phils.

The Brewers opened the NLCS with a 2-1 victory over the Dodgers in a pitcher’s duel, and the Guardians and Rays are set for the ALCS. Three of the four remaining teams are small or mid-market clubs, with the CBA expiring December 1. So what does that mean for the salary cap fight? Josh and Austin dig into it, and into what the Phillies can learn from teams that built through player development.

Then it's on to the Phillies' offseason. Austin makes the case for locking up Don Mattingly. Josh makes the case for Aidan Miller, who is tearing up the Arizona Fall League, as the third baseman in 2027. They also get into the Japanese posting window, which opens November 1, and why Teruaki Sato, the Hanshin Tigers' Triple Crown winner, could be a fit.

Plus, a rough stretch for Philly sports. The Eagles' last-second loss in London puts Nick Sirianni's game management under the microscope, the Flyers are still searching for their first win, and the Sixers tip off with LeBron on October 20. The guys also shout out the Union, who might be the most fun team in the city right now.

Is this the year small-market baseball finally takes down the Dodgers?

Follow and leave a five-star review for Catchin’ Phils: A Phillies Podcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠iHeartRadio⁠⁠⁠⁠, and subscribe to Josh Liddick (⁠⁠⁠⁠Red Pinstripe Press⁠⁠⁠⁠) and Austin Myers (⁠⁠⁠⁠Phillies Perspective⁠⁠⁠⁠) on Substack to get their latest work straight to your inbox. The podcast is also streaming weekly on the Catchin' Phils ⁠⁠⁠YouTube channel⁠⁠⁠.

Follow Catchin’ Phils on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter/X for more content.

Episode timestamps:

00:00 — Intro and episode preview

00:26 — LCS kickoff: Brewers edge Dodgers in NLCS Game 1

02:11 — Small markets take over October

09:09 — Could the Phillies have hung with the final four?

14:20 — Picking our dream World Series

17:40 — CBA looming: Salary cap, parity and the Dodgers

26:18 — Buying talent vs. player development: The Phillies problem

28:38 — Phillies offseason priorities: The manager question

38:33 — Aidan Miller and the third base plan

42:48 — Teruaki Sato and the Japanese posting window

48:26 — Eagles heartbreak in London: Is Sirianni on the hot seat?

56:36 — Flyers winless start

1:00:24 — Sixers opening night and LeBron

1:04:02 — Shoutout to the Union

1:07:40 — Wrap-up

Nearly a week removed from the Phillies’ early playoff defeat, it’s time to take a step back and evaluate where the team stands heading into a pivotal offseason.

In this episode, Josh Liddick and Austin Myers hand out offseason grades for the Phillies’ offense, defense, bench, starting rotation, bullpen, and coaching staff. They also revisit some of their preseason and midseason projections to see what they got right — and what they got very wrong.

Then, the conversation turns toward the offseason ahead. With the MLB CBA set to expire in December, what should be at the top of the Phillies’ priority list? Could the team move on from Alec Bohm, Bryson Stott, or Brandon Marsh? How important is adding an infielder or multiple outfielders? And what should the Phillies do at manager?

With Alex Cora no longer expected to manage in 2027 and reports from Matt Gelb and Jayson Stark that the Phillies are considering retaining Don Mattingly, the guys discuss whether Mattingly has done enough to earn another season — or whether it’s time for a new voice.

Finally, Josh and Austin look around the MLB postseason, breaking down the NLDS and ALDS matchups and discussing which teams have stood out as the LCS picture begins to take shape.

Follow and leave a five-star review for Catchin’ Phils: A Phillies Podcast on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠iHeartRadio⁠⁠⁠⁠, and subscribe to Josh Liddick (⁠⁠⁠⁠Red Pinstripe Press⁠⁠⁠⁠) and Austin Myers (⁠⁠⁠⁠Phillies Perspective⁠⁠⁠⁠) on Substack to get their latest work straight to your inbox. The podcast is also streaming weekly on the Catchin' Phils ⁠⁠⁠YouTube channel⁠⁠⁠.

Follow Catchin’ Phils on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter/X for more content.

Episode timestamps:

00:20 Offseason Reflections on the Phillies

13:14 Analyzing the Phillies' Performance

24:15 Future Prospects and Team Development

30:58 Evaluating Player Performance: Strengths and Weaknesses

33:40 Defensive Versatility and Adaptability

36:06 Bench Improvement: A Closer Look

40:06 Rotation Strength: Key Pitchers and Their Impact

49:13 Bullpen Struggles: Analyzing the Weak Links

54:37 Managing Changes: Don Mattingly's Impact and Future