After Quebecer Alex Anthopoulos, who in 2021 became the first Canadian general manager to win the World Series with the Atlanta Braves, it's Ontario's Rob Thomson's turn to make Canadian baseball history this year.

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Thomson, who is at the helm of the Philadelphia Phillies, thus became the first manager from Canada to lead his team to the Major League Baseball Grand Final in 135 years. We must indeed go back to 1887 to list such a feat when Bill Watkins had guided the Detroit Wolverines to the championship.

"Historically, it's very significant," said Scott Crawford, director of operations at the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. And it happens so much to someone who deserves it, a man who has been in the world of professional baseball for more than 30 years. »

He has proven himself

Even before this surprising Phillies qualification for the World Series, the native of Sarnia has long proven himself in the organization of the New York Yankees. He also has five World Series rings with the Yankees, including that of 2009, the year he was directly part of the coaching staff of the prestigious New York team. A bench coach, he also directed traffic from third base, in the days of Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and Russell Martin, among others.

“Rob is one of the most calm, humble and relaxed people you can meet,” Crawford said. In 2019, he was inducted here into the Hall of Fame [at St. Mary's] and he was overwhelmed with emotion as he received the honor when Ferguson Jenkins handed him the jacket to mark his induction. He's not someone who's been used to getting attention. »

Already an icing on the cake

For this World Series, however, the reflectors are well and truly pointed at Thomson. The 59-year-old has been the manager of the Phillies since June 3 following the dismissal of Joe Girardi.

The Canadian coach has since done so well that his interim title was stripped, signing a new two-year deal with the Philadelphia club just over two weeks ago.

The Phillies' qualification for the World Series is already the icing on the cake. A triumph over the mighty Houston Astros would only add to the decor.

“Rob Thomson deserves so much credit, for his part, underlines Quebecer Alex Agostino, who occupies a role of supervisor of recruiters in the Phillies organization. The calm he demonstrates while leading the team disarms me completely. »

“A good period”

A bench coach with the Phillies since 2018, he went 65-46 as a regular-season manager before beating the St. Louis Cardinals, Braves and San Diego Padres in quick succession, winning nine of the 11 games played.

“Rob is not one to shout, he lets the players play, but he knows what to say to them so that they apply the details in the right way,” noted Crawford.

"It's a good time for baseball in Canada," he concluded. We are proving that Canadians can not only do well as players in major league baseball, but we can also lead. »

In becoming the manager of the Phillies, Thomson was the first Canadian to hold such a full-time position since George Gibson, whose last stint at the helm of the Pittsburgh Pirates was from 1932 to 1934. Even former Quebec pitcher Claude Raymond was not yet born.

While the Astros should trust veteran pitcher Justin Verlander to start Game 1 of the World Series on Friday in Houston, the Phillies have already announced that their starter will be Aaron Nola.

Manager Rob Thomson's decision to favor Nola over rotation ace Zack Wheeler isn't a silly one.

Ironically, Nola actually had success against the Astros batters earlier this month in Houston in an interleague game. It was October 3, at Minute Maid Park.

In his last start in the regular season, the Philadelphia right-hander had been perfect until the seventh inning before giving up two small hits. Of the Astros regulars, only prime hitter Yordan Alvarez had managed to demystify Nola. The other hit was thus obtained by substitute David Hensley.

In six and two-thirds innings, Nola shut out the Astros to guide the Phillies to a 3-0 win, totaling nine strikeouts.

Psychological benefit

That performance doesn't guarantee anything, but it does provide a psychological advantage for Nola against the Astros' hitters. In the playoffs, the Phillies gunner also did well in three starts, going 2-1 and earning an ERA of 3.12.

Verlander remains an enigma for the opponent. At 39, he still impresses with his fastball.

Valdez vs. Wheeler

During the American League Championship Series against the Yankees, he won the first game. In a 4-2 win, he then allowed only one run on three hits in six innings in addition to making 11 strikeouts. Framber Valdez is the logical candidate to be the Astros' Game 2 starter.

Naturally, Wheeler will be on the mound to start the second game in the Phillies camp. Also right-handed, he has been dominant in his four appearances since the start of the playoffs, having conceded only five earned runs in 25 1/3 innings.

Since Bryce Harper hit his famous two-run homer in the eighth inning in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series, no one in Philadelphia seems to question his huge contract.

In 2019, he signed a 13-year, $330 million deal with the Phillies.

Team owner John Middleton has no regrets.

"Everything we believed in about what could happen, is coming true," Middleton said of Harper, as quoted on the Major League Baseball website.

“There were no disappointments. Sometimes, in such a situation, you think you are getting something by betting on someone and it turns out to be a little different. But there is nothing different with Bryce. He's just dedicated to winning and he's going to do whatever he can to make it happen. »

An average of .419

Harper, 30, played the heroes to help the Phillies eliminate the San Diego Padres on Sunday in front of overjoyed fans at Citizens Bank Park.

His offensive performance since the start of the playoffs has impressed. With 18 hits in 43 official appearances, he has a batting average of .419.

In 11 games, Harper notably hit five homers in addition to obtaining six doubles.