On the latest edition of Catchin’ Phils, Josh Liddick and Austin Myers break down Dave Dombrowski's long-awaited press conference and what it says about the Phillies' offseason. They also explain why the two-week wait may have been more about timing than anything else.

Don Mattingly is officially the manager through 2028, and he's already left his mark. Hitting coach Kevin Long and infield coach Bobby Dickerson are out, Carlos Mendoza is in as infield and third base coach, and the hitting coach job is still open, with the guys weighing whether the Phillies hire internally or bring in a more traditional voice.

Trea Turner was clearly the headline of the presser. Dombrowski was blunt that Turner has to be better at shortstop, and the guys debate whether Aidan Miller or Bryson Stott is the real backup plan. They also cover the Phillies’ aging core: Harper at first, Schwarber's role, Realmuto's workload, along with a bullpen that needs fixing. Dombrowski also made clear he won't trade from the starting pitching depth to fix the offense.

Around the majors, the Brewers swept the Dodgers and are headed to their first World Series since 1982, while the Rays are one win from a pennant. Josh and Austin also look ahead to LeBron James and Jaylen Brown's Sixers debut in New York on Tuesday night, the latest on Jalen Hurts, and a quick shoutout to the Union's unbeaten run.

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Episode timestamps:

00:00 – Welcome back & the Brewers heading to the World Series

01:27 – LeBron mania & the Sixers jersey

03:13 – First impressions of Dombrowski's press conference

06:33 – Why the press conference took two weeks

07:34 – How the Mattingly hire played out

09:22 – The formal search & other managerial candidates

10:40 – Kevin Long and Bobby Dickerson out, Carlos Mendoza in

12:52 – How much Mattingly shaped the coaching changes

14:46 – Who replaces Kevin Long as hitting coach?

16:35 – Data analytics & the Phillies' offensive approach

17:58 – Dream hitting coach picks from Mattingly's playing days

20:48 – Trea Turner on notice at shortstop

25:13 – Aidan Miller, Bryan Rincon & the shortstop pipeline

28:08 – Bryson Stott & the infield search

29:53 – Corner outfield and free agent targets

32:05 – Harper, Schwarber & Realmuto's changing roles

35:56 – The need for a backup catcher

39:23 – Harper's defense at first base

42:43 – The bullpen: injuries, Tim Mayza & Gage Wood

45:49 – Andrew Painter's progress & the prospects Dombrowski mentioned

47:10 – No trading from starting pitching strength

49:10 – Why the Phillies can't keep giving games away

49:47 – Dodgers swept by the Brewers

52:15 – World Series preview: Brewers, Rays & Guardians

54:41 – Jalen Hurts & the Eagles' tough stretch

58:44 – Sixers season opener: LeBron James & Jaylen Brown debut

1:01:27 – The LeBron mural in Fishtown

1:03:39 – Flyers finally win & another Union shout-out

1:04:33 – Closing thoughts

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