Trust The Bamboo: Rob Thomson channels Brad Miller, fuels Phillies turnaround

Forget advanced metrics. The Phillies’ real turning point might have come courtesy of a bamboo plant being returned to the office of Rob Thomson.

After losing 9 of 10 and getting embarrassed in Pittsburgh by a Pirates team that can barely dress itself, the Phillies returned home on June 9 and promptly won back-to-back series against the Cubs and Blue Jays.

So what changed? Well, not much but according to Rob Thomson, it was the return of a bamboo plant to his office.

The plant, which had been taken home by hitting coach Kevin Long’s wife Marcey on May 29 to “get some sunlight,” disappeared right as the Phillies collapsed. The Brewers swept them. Then they floundered through Toronto and imploded again in Pittsburgh.

“The last day in Pittsburgh, Long called Marcey and said, ‘You better get that damn thing back in Tops’s office,’” Rob Thomson said, half-laughing, half-serious.

Marcey brought it back and added a second, larger bamboo for good measure. The vibes flipped almost immediately. Since then, Rob Thomson and the Phillies have won four of five against two playoff-caliber teams and suddenly looks like the team that ran roughshod through the early part of the season.

• May 29 to June 8, No Bamboo: 1-8
• Since its return: 4-1

Coincidence? Maybe. But if you remember “Bamboo Brad” Miller from 2019, you know the Phillies don’t mess around with lucky plants.

Not the first time Bamboo plants helped the Phillies

Brad Miller told me he bought the lucky Bamboo today in Philly. He believed it would end the losing streak tonight

“This will bring us some wins. I can feel it”

I said, “If you win tonight…?”

He said, “When we do”
Every Phillie will have Bamboo in their locker tomorrow pic.twitter.com/cdqj7eRQOi

— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) June 25, 2019

With Bryce Harper still on the shelf and the offense searching for consistency, the bamboo has become the quiet hero and it’s not going anywhere.

Trust The Bamboo.

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