Canada’s Thomson reflects on World Series

CANADIAN CLASSIC

DUNEDIN, Fla. – CANADIAN CLASSIC

Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson has had a few months to reflect on his team’s long post-season run last fall.

The Canadian took over as skipper in June when the Phillies were 22-29. He helped turn things around and led the Phillies all the way to the World Series, where they dropped a six-game series to the Houston Astros.

After the dust settled, Thomson said his brother asked him how it really felt to manage in the Fall Classic.

“I said before the game and after the game, it felt like the World Series because it was just all the media and all the stuff that you have to do,” Thomson said at a Grapefruit League availability of managers and GMs at the Blue Jays’ spring complex.

“But during the game, I don’t know why, I just could lock in and it was just like any other game. We went through our normal process and I think the players did the same thing.”

Thomson, a native of Sarnia, Ont., grew up in nearby Corunna, Ont.

He became the first Canadian to serve as a manager in the World Series since 1887, when Bill Watkins of Brantford, Ont., guided the Detroit Wolverines to victory over the St. Louis Browns.