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Dombrowski: Girardi's job not in danger despite Phillies' slow start

Michael Reaves / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The Philadelphia Phillies' slow start has not put manager Joe Girardi on the hot seat.

Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski refused to pin the team's difficult first month on his veteran skipper and rejected the notion that Girardi's job is in jeopardy.

"It's not Joe's fault that we've been shut out or scored one run seven times," Dombrowski told Scott Lauber of the Philadelphia Inquirer. "We're a club that, he's been in charge as far as handling situations. We're prepared to play. We go out there on a day-in, day-out basis. We battle.

"I know Joe's disappointed with our record. We're all disappointed."

Expectations were high heading into 2022 following the Phillies' first winning season in a decade. Dombrowski doubled down on last year's success, adding free-agent sluggers Nick Castellanos and Kyle Schwarber to an already potent offense that includes Rhys Hoskins, J.T. Realmuto, and reigning NL MVP Bryce Harper.

But the Phillies have been inconsistent during the season's first month. They entered play Friday sitting four games below .500 with a meager plus-four run differential. Harper's been limited to DH duties because of elbow issues while Castellanos and Schwarber have combined for just 11 homers in the season's first 26 games. Philadelphia's also been shut out three times so far this year and was no-hit by five New York Mets pitchers last week.

Still, the Phillies rank near the top of several offensive categories as a team in spite of their struggles. As a result, Dombrowski is continuing to preach patience, feeling his team can right the ship soon.

"It's been a challenge for us," he said. "But I also think we have the capabilities and abilities to play much better and win a bunch of games.

"I think we're better than this."

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