High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Backing Your Way Into the Playoffs Isn't as Fun as it Sounds

Episode Date: August 21, 2023

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to the Phillies losing 2 of the 3 to the Nats, preview the biggest series of the season, and much more. Presented by Miller Lite. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Why, Jack? Why? Yesterday was such a great day as a baseball fan i know for you you probably were more into it than i was but like as you know this is what this pot is we freaking love baseball it's for sickos who love baseball and yesterday like the whole thing i was watching little league games instead of pro games like i was just i had henderson and you know nevada and north new mexico or was it nevada and north dakota on just like like the the whole whole thing with Harper in the booth and the pictures and videos

of them with the kids. It was like an amazing day of baseball that I adored. And then they didn't hit until the ninth inning and lose by a run. It's like, alright guys, why? Rally killer JK. Trevor Williams! Trevor Williams!

He gets shut down by Trevor freaking Williams. So frustrating. How are you? Maybe. I was going to do like the. I saw your face there. You're like. No, I was thinking if I could do the whole like.

Yeah, maybe last time at Little League game and focus on the big. Like, you know what I mean? Like it really. Yeah. Maybe less time at Little League game and focus on the big league. You know what I mean? Like, it really. Yeah. But it's like, it's just, they're 15-15 their last 30. And what just drives me up a wall is that they should be up five games in the wild card. Exactly.

And it's like, they just keep blowing these games. Like, Friday night pissed me off more than last night. Me too. It's not even close. Last night was like annoying. And what sucked too is they clearly just jumped on Wheeler and then he was Zach Wheeler for the rest of the thing. For the rest of the game. It was the first inning and they just boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom.

It was just like World Series game two. Oh, yeah, you're right. Like where it was just like, oh, we're down 4-0. Okay, great. Awesome. Game one. And then they came back to win it, right? No, we're down 4-0. Okay, great. Awesome. Game one. And then they came back to win it, right? That was the...

No, game... No, Nolosar game. Nolosar game one. Game two. They won game one. They lost. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay.

It was just like that. And, dude, his ERA heading into the game against the Nationals was 8-5, and now it's, like, mid-sevens. And he still allowed four runs in the first inning. Like, they just... They got something on him. Like, they have... He struggled the most against the Nationals this year.

Well, he even said it. That was one of the things when they're talking to Lane Thomas in the second inning or whatever after that inning. He's like, yeah, man. He's like, we just see him well. And it's weird because we never did. He's like, I don't know what it is, but this year, all of us just are seeing Wheeler well and most teams don't, but we've just got to beat on him.

He even said that. Yeah, and that Nationals team, you know, I think— They're better than people think they are. Well, I think the mistake that we made heading into the series—well, it's really been a majority of the year. Like, the difference between this year's team and last year's Nationals team is that last year's team had a bunch of old players, and then they got younger, but they brought up, like, their scrub younger players. Like, these are young players that actually have some talent. This is the future. I mean, C.J. Abrams, Lane Thomas, these guys are good players.

They're going to have good careers, and they've got guys on the way, too. Yeah, well, Dylan Cruz is already in AA. Yeah, so it's just like they're not the pushover Nationals, but that's still a series that you're up 6-1 in game one on Friday, and it's like, just finish the game. Just finish the game. Last night, yeah, they got shut down by Trevor Williams, the weird baseball thing.

I don't know. It's just like they are so wasting what is a golden, easy, just have the fan base just being like, we don't have to stress. Like, I just, I, it's so stressful right now with this team. Because it's like, they're two games up on the Giants. They're the number one wildcard team. They're 10 games over 500. But it's like, they just can't put it all together and just extend.

Just extend it a little bit. And don't have every game you lose being like, well, is this the collapse? It's like just freaking figure it out, man. Well, it is. Last year it felt like they turned the page and went on a run. We haven't had that run. We had that one stretch where they won like 9-10, but then it's kind of just been like what you talk about.

They'll start to get going after the ovations. We're like, all right, good! And then last weekend, you lose two or three of the Twins. You split in Toronto and you come home, or you go to Washington and lose two or three in the series. And to your point, that's the frustrating thing. First and foremost, look, the Giants have had the Phillies number

the last few years. Gabe is 12-3 against the Phillies. Yeah, and he's coming to town. First of all, unless the Phillies sweep, they lose the tiebreaker against the Giants. It's already over because they got swept out there the first time. So they have to sweep to even have a chance to win the tiebreaker. I don't know what it is if it goes to the next one. So just to get the tiebreaker, you have to sweep.

Obviously, if you sweep, you have a nice-sized lead on them. But the other thing is there are six teams for three spots. All these teams are in it. Only three and a half games separate all these teams. The Cubs have been playing great baseball. The Reds are still in it. The Diamond these teams are in it. Only three and a half games separate all these teams. The Cubs have been playing great baseball. The Reds are still in it. The Diamondbacks are still in it. I'm not saying... I think the Phillies will get in the playoffs.

I'm not freaking out about that, but to the point, first and foremost, the first wildcard spot matters. I do not want to go to Oracle. It matters. I don't want to see this team go to San Francisco. Not just the fact of having to go cross-country,

then go somewhere else to play. It is wonky. It is not good. You want them coming here. It's massive. It's really important. And we came into August. We did the whole thing.

Look at the August schedule. Look at all these cream puffs on it. So many games at home. They're 10-7 in August. They should be like 13-4 in August right now. There's just been five games

that they've blown. They had the 5-0 lead down in Miami. They had, obviously, the 6-1 lead on Friday. They had the two Pirates games where they had a 4-1 lead and a 4-2 lead. The NOLA Kansas City game. They had the... The lead in that one. Yeah, that's a good point.

The Nationals game where they had a 4-2 lead in the 8th and blew it. And I was double-headed and I was like, ah, whatever. Whatever, yeah. But it's like... Got the other one. But then this stuff just adds up. And it's just like... It does. Like... It's just... I don't,

it's like they also have kind of just be like, yeah, we're going to make the playoffs. Look, I thought it was shocking that he said it, but at the All-Star game, Nick Cassiano said that's how they came to the season, right? They came in the season, like baseball owed them something is what he said.

They almost expected it to be handed to them and it feels like after they kind of righted the ship and got to that point where they're first in wild card, where 10 games above all that, that it's been that same type of team that we saw early in the season where it's those inconsistencies night to night. Yeah, and the frustrating part is

it's fine right now, but let's say it gets a little bit tighter and then they just possibly blow an opportunity to make sure that they are the one seed. Yeah. Do we trust them in September? Right? I mean, like, how could we go into September and say, oh, they got a one game lead.

Oh, they're set. They're a closer. Right? They're a closer. We know. We know. And they did it. I mean, they were doing that last year.

Yes, but they almost blew it last year. Yeah. They almost blew it. And that's what makes this whole thing so frustrating where it's like you have it, you are set in stone. If you just play three games over 500 the rest of the way,

you're going to win 88 games. They're so much more talented than these other teams too. That's the thing. The funniest part about this team is that they're pretty good and they still feel a little underachieving.

A little? They feel very underachieving. I feel like we have not, for long stretches of time, seen, like we've had moments, you know, where we're like, oh, this is the team we expected. And again, they're 10 games over 500. We're having this conversation. That's the point.

Like, because they're way better than that. Like, they should be, like, I'm not saying they should be right there with the Braves, but they should be way out in front in this wildcard race. They should have a league where we're talking about September of setting the rotation and giving guys rest. Like, the way this is shaking up right now, and especially if they don't handle business this series, like, they're going to have to fight in September.

Yes, and that's... It just doesn't have to be this way. It just doesn't have to be this way. And, you know, you start looking at the guys. And it's interesting because you look at the overall offense. If you just look at the individual offensive numbers, it's like, eh, you know, pretty good. Like, I mean, people focus on Shor's batting average. But, you know, 32 home runs, leads the team in RBI, whatever.

Bomes. Leads the league in walks, too. Well, not Soto. No, Soto does, but. Did he? Okay. Soto's like a bonds level. Soto's second in walks.

Yeah, Soto's like out there. But, yeah, then you look at Bomes stuff, and you look at Harper's numbers now. They're starting to come around, and Turner's obviously bounced back, and Cassiano's. Like, it's all there, but obviously the running and scoring position thing is frustrating.

The power is starting to come a little bit. It just keeps coming down to what version of this starting staff are we getting? Like, that's the biggest difference between this year and last year. I've said this a couple times, but, like, last year's team, you had two aces. And you had Wheeler, who was back to being Zach Wheeler, was unbelievable. Noah finished fourth in the Cy Young. Ranger was on that run at the second half of the year. What is this rotation?

Even Zach Wheeler, who's the ace. And he lost four runs in the first inning straight against the Nationals. Everyone's lost faith in Nola. Tom and Walker, you have no idea what you're getting start to start. They're skipping a start because he's tired, which I think is smart. Ranger's on the IL now, and he's been hit or miss.

Michael Lorenzen throws a no-hitter and then just gets shelled on Friday night. With a 6-1 lead, as you mentioned. I mean, he's not, but Christopher Sanchez is the second best starter in the team right now. He's been the most consistent. If you want to look at the guys and say, all right, in terms, who's given you six innings and two or less the most? It's been Sanchez. Like, he has been like, I'm going to go out and give you six innings. I'll give you like two runs, maybe three. And you're going to have a chance to win a baseball game.

And look, that's not, you know, elite or anything like that. But to your point, like, the way they've been losing these games have been Nola giving them away. Lorenzen giving that one away. Walker coming out and not being able to get it done. Like, I mean, they're down. It coming out and not being able to get it done. I mean, they're down. It seems like they're down every night.

I know. It seems like they're fighting back to win every single game. Yeah. And it just adds to the emotional stress that you have in the team every night. They're down every game. They're just – Yeah, the one they won 12-3, like Saturday, it was two innings. Other than that, they were shut out the whole game. It was 3-0 going into the seventh, and they tie it, obviously,

and then we have the Turner home runs inning. But they were getting beaten on Saturday, too, without that explosion. Yeah, of course. It was turning towards, like, are we about to get... Yeah, swept by the Nationals. Yeah. And that's something to focus on, too, is that they're slow starters. So they're a slow starting offense, coupled with starters who give it up early

and then figure it out. And that's why they go down all the time. That's why they've been – I think they play the most two-run game either way, win or lose, winning or losing. I think they have to be – every single game is usually decided by two runs or less. Well, did you see that stat about the Nats? They're just their series with the Nats this year, and they went 7-6 against the Nats this year.

So at least we don't have to hear people say they only made the playoffs by beating the Nats this year, unlike last year. But so in their seven wins, they are plus 49 in their seven wins against the Nationals. In their six losses, they're minus six. They lost every single game they lost to the Nationals by a run. And I think they've hit 33 home runs against them. They're batting 296 against the Nationals this year.

It's unbelievable. They have 33 homers, and I think the Nationals only have 14. Yeah. And it's just like— It's seven and six. That can't happen. You see those numbers. It can't end at seven and six there.

And again, when we're talking about this wildcard race being as tight as it is right now and as many teams in it, we can look back at those games and say, that one, that one, that one, there you go. And those games are just starting to pile up. Where it's like, oh, that's the one that we're going to look back on. And if you're not the number one seed, or God forbid they miss the playoffs, there it is. But there's been six of those games in the last month.

Just in the last month. Forgetting if we really wanted to, we'd go back to the beginning of the season when they weren't the team we thought they were and be like, oh, look at that. I gotta be completely honest. I don't remember before June 1st anything about this season. I remember the 1-5 start, and that's about all I got.

I barely remember them being six games under.500. Like, Harden didn't play the first month of the season. It's like, I don't even remember it. It's like, I mean, yeah. I'm trying to think back to the most notable losses of early in the season. It's like, I don't know. The opener against the Rangers, I remember that. And then after that, wake me up on June 1st.

And then everything kind of took off a little bit. I know. Wake me up on June 1st. Yeah. And then everything kind of took off a little bit. I know. But they just, they, I can't be like too down on them. No. Because again, they're 10 games above 500 and they're in first in the wild.

Look, they're in a better position today than they were on August 21st last year. Of course. Because they're a better team than last year. Yes, I know. And they should be better than last year. And they should go on this run. team than last year and they should be better than last year and they should go on this run and what's what's annoying me the most is that the ovations the crowd the all that that should have been the jumping off point into we're just gonna cruise into the postseason and it's gonna

be easy and we'll win the first wild card and we we'll win 90-plus games, and, like, bang, that's the season changer. And everything they've done since that has just been like, eh, we'll see what happens. No, you're right. And that's the annoying part. Yeah, they had a good week, and then it's kind of just— A good week against a lot of cupcakes. Yeah, against the Royals and stuff, and they still lost that game. The Ovation's game itself, they lost, and they won the next two.

Look, I don't think there's any question the Ovation's thing mattered. I think it mattered for Trey. I don't think that, I mean, the numbers are inarguable at this point. And just watching him, like he looks like a completely different player. He has confidence.

Although, I was very nervous before. I know, I saw your tweet. I saw your tweet and then he hits two overs in it. And it's like, all right, we're good. I was very like, oh gosh, here we go. But I feel like even- Because he made the error too. Because he made the error. Well, that's what I was about to say

because I feel like even defensively, other than that error, he's been great. He's been like really good. Even last night, he's been solid out there and not the same type of tentativeness we saw from earlier in the season. And look, I mean, these guys keep talking about it. I mean, Topper was asked about it again yesterday

at the Little League World Series during the game when they talked to him and he's like, yeah, it mattered for everyone. He's like, that was something that gave us energy, gave us excitement, and I'm terrified that, to your point, that we're going to have this magical thing in this moment that did matter and made a difference, but that it's going to kind of fizzle out,

and then they're going to go back to what we're seeing right now, and that's a concern. You want them to hang on to this magic. Well, then you have the conversation of peaking too early. Well, to the point you're making, I do think there is an argument when you look at the final four

in baseball last year, three of the four didn't get a bye, right? Three of the four were teams that had to win that wildcard series to get through. Obviously, the National League, both the Phillies and Padres, were wildcard teams. They were the fifth and sixth seeds. They were wildcard teams that didn't even have the home field advantage in the first round. So I do think there's an

argument to be made about the hot team at the right time playing their best baseball. I do think that matters. And also fighting to get in. You could argue that having to play those games at the end of the season mattered. I just, I don't want to have to sweat those out. I don't, like, I don't, I'm sorry,

obviously the postseason. I don't need a repeat of last year's regular season. Yeah, same. And it's funny because they're following the same exact blueprint. It is like a, like the whole season, it's the whole blueprint. You know, slowing down in August, you know, and then having to fight hard in September to lock down a playoff spot.

And it's just what's what's part annoying about it, too, is like. Is that this team should have figured out how to win last year to where you don't have to do this again. And like you don't have to you don't have to go back to being the seven games, six games under 500 team that has to fight and claw and get back. I think people would be handling this stretch better if they just started the season and instead of being six games under, they were like two games over. I totally agree with you.

If they were just playing 500-ish baseball, and then they get hot, and then they get way over. And then a 15 and 15 stretch isn't isn't the end of the world but it looks like the end of the world because the start of the season was so bad yeah and and again to the point we can't spend all this time going into this stretch saying look at all these easy teams look at all these home games this is the time and then when they don't capitalize on that we get we behave a critical they're not saying like that would that was an opportunity that was missed.

This is supposed to be the extend time. And the frustrating part about it, too, is like, you're wasting your opportunity now, in August, where you have more of a cupcake schedule. It's not over yet. After the Giants, it eases up again. Yeah, there's still...

Then it comes down to, okay, so how can I trust you in that 7 out of 10 game stretch against the Mets to end the season? Because, you know, the Mets are going to want to play spoiler at that point. And the Mets have played decent baseball since, you know. Well, except Alonzo's throwing away a poor kid. How hilarious was that?

Like, all his excuses, whatever. He clearly knew what he was doing. That was clearly on purpose in the moment. He was clearly being a you-know-what, a Richard, let's say. Like, what a loser. Like, what a loser launching that ball into that, like. He didn't just toss it. Well, that's what I mean.

He launched it. Like, that was a statement. Like, that was not a, like, he knew what he was doing. I don't care what he says. That was clearly him being a little baby because he was upset about the game, whatever, in the moment. Like, totally. But, yeah, so it's like how much can I trust them against those kind of

cupcake teams, like the Cardinals, the Mets, like those teams when you're doing this right now. It's just like, again, there's a part of me that's hoping, like, last night, it's just that's a big spectacle. And, like, having to be down in a comeback win on Saturday and then get on a plane and fly up, like, we can excuse it all we want. Well, and then spend the whole day doing things that are not what you normally do before a baseball game.

Like, look, it's not an excuse, but they did spend the whole day, like, talking on the air, meeting with all these kids, watching kids play, like, all that stuff. It's not like you're, like, prepping for the game like you normally are. You know, it is what it is. And I hope my hope is that they were looking ahead a little bit of what this next season is.

This is the time. Like, you want to there's a little bit of the fan base is obviously worried every single time they lose that they're going to collapse. Go out and just freaking smoke the Giants. Like gonna collapse go out and just freaking smoke the giants like just go out and show the team that you can be and i think it'll give a ton of people like a bit of like okay

there it was a bad series against washington bad series happened like you can they fell on their face a little bit whatever turn it on this week like and show that there is that chance that they're they can flip the switch. Because that's what we're kind of banking on. I mean, all we're banking on the Phillies right now is just let them get in and they'll figure it out. Which is a faulty strategy because it's harder to just flip a switch in baseball. It is. But if you're in that portion of the fan base, then freaking just...

It's a home series against the Giants. It's the biggest regular season series of the season. The crowd, I think, is going to be really, really good. It's going to have a playoff atmosphere. Like, freaking just go and flip it and look like the team that you can be, that you haven't been

for the last month. And I think that would just ease so much of the tension to where if we do get into the final two weeks of the season and it's like, okay, they're still there, they're still the number one wild card, but they haven't put it away yet, then they can put it away and ride this whole thing out. But it starts tonight, and it starts with the guy on the mound. And it's like, Aaron, you have a chance to rewrite your entire season if you just go on a run. And the frustrating part about his last start is he looks like the confidence

is just zapped from him. Like he just looks like he's more, you know, aiming it up there rather than throwing it. Tonight, just go out tension-free and just go be Aaron freaking Nola. Because what he's doing right now is he's not even giving you the length that he used to give you. I know the last, what, three, four starts, he hasn't gone more than five. What he used to do, at least at the beginning of the year,

was he can't allow four, but he'd still go seven. Go seven, exactly. He'll settle in and be fine. He'll have one bad inning. Like, it's just, it's go time. And I think it's perfectly fine to not have confidence in him, but he also has the ability to do it. So just, it's enough of the nonsense, enough with the 4-5 ERA.

Like get it down to four by the end of the year. Can I ask for that? Can I get it to four? I mean, look, it's not just his season. I mean, like this guy, like this is a contract push right now. I mean, he has lost himself money with the way he's pitched this year. Oh, totally, totally. And he has a chance if he can pitch like the Aaron Nola of old

down the stretch starting tonight through into the playoffs. He can not only change how we feel about him and get back to where we appreciate what he is, because you're right, everyone in this city is down on him. Everybody is down on him. So not only that, he can make himself money. He has an opportunity now over the last six weeks here or whatever to actually increase the amount of money that he will make this offseason.

This is such a massively important stretch. Don't tell him that, but it's a massively important stretch for him. I think he's lost $70 million. I think he's lost $70 million. I think he was going to get $580 million. I think he's lost $50 million. I think he was going to get $580 million. Okay, so I think he's lost like $50 million. I think he was going to get $560 million, and I think he's more like $110 million, $100 million. So I think he's lost $50 million to $60 million.

Either way, whatever number it is, he has lost in the $40 million to $50 million to $60 million plus million range. Yeah, and if it sounds like I'm begging, it's because I am. I am 100% in beg mode. Like, just please. Like, just please. Enough with the freaking, like, the, oh, my God, the 27 homers and the hang of the curveball that just gets destroyed. And, like, every single time it gets tight, there's more runs. Like, just, I'm begging, okay? Like, there's more runs.

I'm begging. I'm just begging. Go out and shove and just end the year on a high note. And if you want to go get paid elsewhere, go get paid elsewhere. But it's just, you can't. It's hard to dream on the World Series with the starting staff the way that it is right now. And if he can just get on a roll and you have Wheeler and Nola and whoever after that, it just makes everything so much easier.

So I'm begging, Aaron. I'm begging. There's a part of me that still believes in you. I still believe in you. I think you still got something in there. Show me. Please. Just show me.

I want to believe. I want to be pro-Aaron Nola. I want to say big game knolls i want to bring up houston last year and st louis last year and the kind of big game runny one just do it just do it just do it thank you well said jesus yeah i think i think you nailed it thank you hey fantasy football owners the road to winning your fantasy football championship starts now i'm matt harman from reception perception join me and james co as we take a deep dive Hey, fantasy football owners. The road to winning your fantasy football championship starts now. I'm Matt Harmon from Reception Perception. Join me and James Coe as we take a deep dive into the position

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Look, I mean, I'm right there with you, obviously. It's very impassioned, really. I think you hit on something that no one's really thinking about. No one's thinking about Aaron Nolan and turning it around. It's just enough. It's just enough. Enough with the season you had. I'm sick and thinking about it. No one's thinking about Aaron Nolan and turning it around. It's just enough.

Like, it's just enough. Enough with the season you had. I'm sick and tired of it. I can tell. It should be. But in all honesty, like. No. Yeah.

No. No. What do you think is going to happen tonight? I think he's going to stink. I think he's going to stink. Four runs, six innings. Best case scenario. Of course.

Yeah. Of course. I know. I know. And then you know what the lead on the WIP tomorrow is? It it's gonna be can you give the ball yeah and we'll get calls and it'll be show it doesn't have to be this way i please you know the only like positive i will say on the other side is when you look at the contending teams in the national league like there is not much great starting pitching on these teams,

for what it's worth. I mean, if you're going up against the Braves, I mean, like, Max Fried, you know, they got some guys, some young guys, but it's not like you're, you know, Zach Wheeler would be the best pitcher in that series. If you go up against the Giants, I mean, Logan Webb is really good. Zach Wheeler, probably the best pitcher in that series. If you go up against the Dodgers, you know, with Buehler not back, you know, probably the best pitcher in that series. If you go up against the Dodgers with Bueller not back,

probably the best pitcher in that series. You do have that. And I think if Nola can get on track, you probably have the best one, two of all these teams. It's just you can't count on Nola at all. Well, and that's the funniest part because obviously most of us just watch the Phillies. And it's so funny because if you look at the starting staff numbers, they have a top five staff in baseball.

And Zach Wheeler is the highest war amongst pitchers in baseball. Yeah. It just makes me loathe pitching war. It's like, come on, guys. Like, come on. Like, come on. I know. And it's like, it just does not feel that way.

Yeah. It's one of those things where the numbers don't resemble how you feel about the team. And that's how I feel about the starting staff. Because it's like, yeah, they're all... It's funny. The starting staff as a whole, they're all having the same year. I know. They allow a ton of runs early.

And then they usually last seven innings. Or six or seven innings. So they give them length. It's so funny. Ty Walker's doing it. Noel is doing it. Ty, Noel, and Wheeler especially. Those three three guys that has been their season and ranger two yeah but those three especially like that is like the same freaking formula they're all doing the same

they're all doing wheeler came in i mean walker came and throw in the first inning yeah and then then he settled in yeah i'm curious to see how he comes back post um i think a time off is good i think give him a rest is good look lorenzen got what nine days off before that last start that didn't work out which clearly hurt him i mean it did yeah i think it did all his stuff was up a little yeah i think and he talked to he didn't like it you know i mean so and i get that you know it's a creature a habit thing and all that but look sometimes you have to save those guys from themselves in that case too like you know we've been talking all year i think time off for Nola would help him,

but that obviously feels like that ship has sailed with Ranger going on the IL and all that. Kind of lost your opportunity to get him a Phantom IL break. But look, you're absolutely right though. These guys are going to have to pitch well for this team to have a chance. We saw how important it was last year. They're going to be able to hit,

but the offense has been inconsistent. Let's get into that because it's either 12-1 was last year they're going to be able to hit but the offense has been inconsistent oh yeah let's get into that because like it's either 12 runs or or they don't score till the ninth inning or whatever it feels like it feels like if there's just no like night to night like it felt like a little bit that weekend against the royals after the ovations and kind of ever since it's we've had some really big games yeah they put up a nine spot against the blue jays they put up a a big game in the one they won against the Twins, but the two they lost, they can't hit.

Same thing with the Nats. They put up some runs late in that game one, but really get the lead, then blow it. Game three, nothing. They put up runs late in game two and win it, but there's just been no night-to-night consistency with this offense. Nothing you can count on night-to-night, it seems. But I also think that's kind of. I just think that's baseball.

Unless you're the Atlanta Braves. Unless you're the Atlanta Braves. They're pretty much the 1927 Yankees. It's unbelievable. They're plus 212 on the run differential. They're on pace. The second ever home runs. They're probably going to come in second.

It's unbelievable. They are on a ridiculous run. I think they have 8 guys over 800 OPS in their lap or something? It seems silly. They have five with over 900, right? Yeah, I mean, well, Olsen, definitely over.

Acuna, definitely over. Riley. Riley over, yes, for sure. Awesome. Good stuff. Matt Olsen's got, like, Should the Braves actually be better? Have they actually underachieved

given their offense? Yeah, I mean, they probably should win the 115 games or something. Sounds like their pitching could be a problem. But the Phillies have the same amount of home runs as them since August 1st. There you go. The Phillies have the talent to play with them. Of course. Offensively.

Dude, the Phillies have the talent. Down to win with anybody offensively. They could win the whole thing. Yeah, without a doubt. They could win the whole thing Without a doubt If they just figured it out But I just think that Because you know Momentum in baseball

There's a little bit to it But at the same time There's also nights where pitchers just have it And it's like It's a cliche but I think for a reason Momentum's as good as You're only as hot as your next day's sun But that's true.

Of course it's true. Dude, come on, just shut you down. It doesn't matter how hot you are. So they had the three bad games after the Keichel start, which we can just blame that on Dallas Keichel. I know. You see when seven perfect yesterday, though? Dallas Keichel?

Dallas took it into the seventh with a perfect game. That's fake. Isn't that unbelievable? Why are you lying to the audience? ESPN is lying to me, dude. It was one of the ESPN headlines. Oh, so then it's not a big deal to get shut down by Trevor Williams. Yeah, there you go.

How's that for a spin zone? There you go. Yeah, it's just, you know, before that I thought they did have a consistent approach, and then they had three games where they faced, I mean, Pablo Lopez is nasty, Sonny Gray, I thought they let off the hook, and the umpire is obviously bad in that game. And then, who'd they face Tuesday night? Fre Gray, I thought they let off the hook and the umpire is obviously bad in that game. And then who'd they face Tuesday night?

Oh, they faced Kikuchi. And he was great again. And then they smoked Gosman. Of course. Because that's exactly what we expected. Caffeinated Keichel takes perfect game into seventh. Did you say caffeinated? That's what it said. I guess he must have drank a lot of coffee. Is that the key? Twins-Dallas

Keichel has perfect game broken up in seventh inning. Wow. See, not lying. Wow. How about it? That's embarrassing. I know. That's embarrassing.

So I think they've been pretty consistent for a month now. It's just they also have those games where they're going to score one run. Yep. But also that's baseball. That's baseball. That's baseball. I agree. And believe me, what people will say is like, oh, imagine if they all get hot at the same time. That's not possible. Like, I'm sorry. It's baseball. That's baseball. I agree. Believe me, what people will say is,

oh, imagine if they all get hot at the same time. That's not possible. I'm sorry. It's not possible. They're not going to get all hot at the same time. Unlikely. Highly unlikely. For the most part, guys have figured it out a little bit.

I mean, Schwarber has a 360 OBP in the last eight games. Turner's obviously turned it around. Boehm is scuffled. A little bit. He started great in the two obviously last night moved down yeah

but has struggled yeah but with Boehm it's like it's still if there's a runner on second base a runner on third base

he's gonna bring him he's gonna do his job he's gonna bring him in so even if he's scuffling a little bit I don't think he's been a disaster at the plate well you really only have

two guys who you fully I mean Harper too but like two guys outside of Harper who you feel can put the bat on the baseball in a moment if you need to. Like when a strikeout is the worst possible thing that can happen, you want Satterbaum at the plate. Yeah. And not Shoreburn guys.

Or Turner even. Yeah, Turner. So it's like, I just, maybe we'll see. Even JK's heating up a little bit. JK's heating up, dude. JKk's heating up dude jk's been all right man and i'm curious to see what happens rally killer but you know it was a rally killer it was but even still you know i did the same thing it is weird that two of those games they lost against the nats they had home runs in the ninth to make it a one run game like shorewood

did the same thing it's like come on guys like maybe get one more round base we need more ducks in the pond less balls out of the yard. And it's going to be interesting to see what they do with Cave. And it really comes down, I guess, because Rojas has completely fallen off offensively, mostly. It's just his defense is so transcendent. Well, when you put him and Marsh out there, it's such a dynamic outfield defense.

I mean, you're talking about getting to every – Rojas is unbelievable out there. Well, he's the most defensive run saved in baseball since he came out. I actually think... Very rarely, we're offense guys. We were on board for the defense doesn't matter thing. And we've reversed that a bit and all that. But I actually think...

I almost don't think it matters if he hits. He is that great a defensive player. Except if he's not going to hit, at least figure out how to bunt. Well, of course. The bunting is. But at the same time. Sit down with Garrett Stubbs for as long as you need to. I love it.

He did it last night again. I know he did. That was for the kids, right? That was a little. Oh, yeah. You can do this. I can too. But at the same time, Pache is also unbelievable defensively as well.

And I think he gives you more pop at the plate. So maybe this is turning towards a Rojas send down for Pache because Pache's close. I mean, he was DH'd the other night in Lehigh Valley. And look, I'm fine. Like, again, I'm fine with that. I've enjoyed Rojas, and he's a great center fielder. But Pache's a great center fielder, but Pache is a great center fielder too. You're not losing much.

I do think Rojas might be better though, which is wild considering when Pache was doing it, we're like, have we ever seen this kind of defensive outfielder? It's like, oh yeah, the kid is about to come up. Rojas is better. I think he's better, right? Rojas is 100% better. But that's crazy because what was it, a month ago or a month and a half ago,

you came on this podcast saying, I think Christian Pache might be the best defensive outfielder I've ever seen in a Phillies uniform. And then a week later, we get someone who's better? It's crazy. It's crazy. Yeah, it is. Well, again, it's like, first off, the reads he gets right now.

It's unbelievable. Now, he did drop the ball on Friday. Yeah, but everyone's allowed one. The balls he gets to, it's unbelievable. Closing speed. Yeah. Schwarber, I feel like he doesn't have to move.

Well, yeah, Schwarber just hangs, he's like, I got it. Don't even move. I'm like, that's a great point. The amount of balls he catches

in left field as a center fielder, I don't think I've ever seen a center fielder catch more balls in left field. It's crazy. Yeah. So that's going to be a decision to make,

for sure. Because they activated Marsh last night, but they didn't have to send anyone down. Right. And they sent Weston Wilson down after the game. Weston, yep. So that runs over.

Well, and Alvarado coming back today, too. Alvarado's back. So you have another corresponding move on that side as well. And then the next decision is Pasha. Pasha, yep. I'm so happy Alvarado's back, dude. I mean, you talk about the biggest thing that this team, like the starting staff getting on a roll is good,

but like you just look at the bullpen and it feels like, again, we've watched Schramm and Hoffman and these guys every single game. Every game. Yes. Yeah. So getting him back is, they needed an extra arm. And that's why I'm glad they went away from the six-man thing. Oh, okay.

So we haven't talked about you being glad about that. Lay it out. Why? Oh, well, because I think. Because it was something we liked going in. Yeah. And then when it was put into practice, it's like, oh, but totally forgot that that means you have a less,

you have one less arm in the bullpen. And then these guys are going to get overworked. And then I started thinking more, and I think they smartly, they started thinking more about September. And it played out wrong. You can't cook these guys in August. Yeah. No, you're right.

And also, look, I think, you know. The good part is they can go back to it if they need to. Sure. And if I had to bet, I would bet that the starters didn't like it. You know, I'm sure Zach Wheeler. I don't think Wheeler liked it. Yeah, well, Wheeler. And the evidence proves that he actually probably is better going on regular rest and all that. But, um,

yeah, I look, I do. Do you think the Ranger thing was kind of a phantom aisle thing? Oh yeah. Yeah. I think so too. I do.

Yeah. Which is good. That's what we want it to be. You know, we don't want it to be something real, you know, and that's why you have all the extra starters that you bring in so that you can do this kind of stuff.

And Christopher Sanchez has been pitching well enough to where it's, well, yeah, or it doesn't matter. Like it's, it's whatever. Yeah. I, I, I am. It's pretty amazing where we've gotten to with Christopher Sanchez has been pitching well enough to where it doesn't matter. It's whatever. It's pretty amazing where we've gotten to

with Christopher Sanchez. It kind of feels like Ranger-esque that, and you don't think he's as talented as Ranger, but when Ranger first came up and kind of just got in the rotation, we're like, well, this isn't going to be good. He just kind of was awesome and just kept pitching and pitching and pitching. It kind of feels that way. He's got a similar vibe to Ranger

with the, you know, kind of the calm, cool on the mound and all that. So I've been, I've been really impressed with him. I did feel bad for Ranger. Cause last night he was supposed to start that game. I know.

And you say of all of them, he's like, Mr. Like you could tell like how joy, joyous he was there. Well, and he was a cross cutter. Yeah.

That's where his career started. Actually a cross cutter. So it was, so it was Bryson Stott. Bryson Stott was a cross cutter as well. Love it. It was good to see him back on the field last night. Back on this field that he made his bones on.

Yeah, and he had that awesome pencil bat. Dude, the pencil bat was so freaking cool, dude. The pencil bat was, like, more of that. Like, why not more? Again, that was my biggest takeaway from yesterday and last night. And I know you can't do the League World Series game more than once, but, like, more of that. More of that stuff for baseball you could play baseball anywhere like i loved when they did the the you know field of dreams game like more stuff like that like baseball that's the thing that makes baseball different right like a football field is a freaking football

field a basketball court is a basketball court like a baseball field can be anything it could just be a field where you play baseball you know you don't need all this other stuff it's it's it's super cool to see these games he's experiencing these unique places i think baseball needs more of that man i really do yeah um the only thing i would have said was put the game on nickelodeon sure they get you know start sliming the kids in the crowd. Yeah, a few blasts. Yeah, yeah. It'd be a fun time. And, yeah, I mean, that's, I think, and it does kind of, it has to humble the players, too. Like, being able to go up and see the kids and, like, how we're playing a kids game, how lucky we are.

And it kind of refocuses you a little bit. And I think the Phillies felt that a lot. And then they realized in the seventh inning, they're like, oh, bleep, we might lose two or three of the Nationals. Oh, we should probably play. We should probably figure it out. We should show up. Also, if you just execute in the seventh inning, they're like, oh, bleep, we might lose two or three of the Nationals. Oh, we should probably play. We should probably figure it out. We should show up. Also, if you just execute in the first inning, and you have first and second one, and then you just, they just, I hate every time they get runners on base.

I know. I feel like something bad's going to happen. I know. Every single time they have runners on first and second with one out, or less than two outs. I'm like, how are you going to mess this up? Where's it going to come from this time? Yeah. Yeah. I'm with you. What's going to happen here? Yeah. Not outs. I'm like, how are you going to mess this up? Where's it going to come from this time? Yeah, I'm with you. What's going to happen here?

Yeah, not great. I know. And it sucks because they're 10 games over 500. Yeah, they're good. They're a good team. Like, they really, again, and they went through it. You know, they weren't good. And they kind of, you know, figured it out.

I mean, when you think about how they started the season in the first month, I mean, they're, as we've pointed out so many times, they're better than 10 games above.500. They have played better than 10 games above.500 since then. But, you know, then they just kind of have that little low. Then they have the brain farts. And it's like, why? And they're starting to do that thing where they just back their way

into the playoffs again. I promise you, I promise you, it doesn't have to be this way. It doesn't have to be this way. It doesn't have to be this way. Just go beat the Giants. Get up freaking five games in the wild card and go do it. I'm so sick and tired of it. It's draining. It's literally draining.

It is. And I love it. Don't is. And I love it. Don't take this as I, I love it. And it's just like, I don't know how, you know, when people say baseball's boring, it's like, how do you think that? Like, honestly, I was thinking about this over the weekend. Like, football's boring.

Like, football to me is so boring compared to the intensity of pitch to pitch. And if you is so boring compared to the intensity of pitch to pitch. And if you're invested in pitch to pitch, I don't know how you don't have the angst. I've explained this before on this podcast, I think. But I'm the most

positive Phillies fan in the world. Except when the game's on. When the game's on, I'm like, they're going to screw this up. No one's going to blow this. They're not going gonna get out of this ending like i was in a james a dark spot on before the cassianos home run like i i i text so i guess i guess franski was talking to someone here and mike angelina and he's like i think everyone is just convinced that i to, like, I don't handle losing well, which I think is obvious. I wonder where they got that from. I guess he's, like, talking about how's Fritz holding up or whatever.

And Mike's like, ah, he's doing all right. He's like, yep, old steady Fritz. And then I texted him. I was like, they're testing steady Fritz. And then the next pitch was the Cassianos home run. And he's like, ah, what are you worried about? And then Ruben came out today After your show

And he was like, you nervous? I know, that's good You are like the Phillies fan You're like the avatar for all Phillies fans Yeah, and it's very clear when I come in and you're happy The Phillies are playing well When I come in here upset, it's because they're playing horrible Your whole personality is based on the Phillies.

They are. They control my life. I know. I can't go outside in the game because then I'm going to be checking Twitter and they get text messages. So it's draining. It's draining. It's draining.

It's a lot. You're giving a lot to this team. I don't think they would give it back to you, Jack. But I love them. I love them. That is not in question. I think we know that. Just turn it.

Just figure it out. Take back. Coming up in a sec. Shout out to the Miller Lite Bar of the Week. And there's a great one right here in the city. I love this place. Today's Miller Lite Bar of the Week is Locust Rendezvous in Center City, where you can watch all Philly's games with $4 Miller Lite pint special.

Go to locustrendezvous.com. Shout-outs to the city. Shout-outs to bars in the city. LocusRendezvous is an awesome place and a fun place to watch Phillies game. Shout-outs to Miller Lite. Take back. All right. Have you ever, ever in your entire existence of watching the Phillies on NBC Sports?

As we know, it it's long existence. Have you ever seen them change the Philly of the Week midweek? Hold up. No. So that happened? Yeah. It happened after Lorenzo no hitter. Like it was before that.

I think it was Cassianos. And they changed it? It was a midweek. It's like, hold on. I've been watching these games for a while. They're staples of the broadcast. That's pretty good. I know I'm going to get the same exact Philly of the Week for an entire week.

I'm going to get annoyed of it by the end. And then it's going to turn around next week and it's going to be that. And then at the end of the year, guess what they do? Every single last week of the season. They're going to do this again this year. The Philly of the Week is you, the fans. Get ready. It's every single year. You, the fans. You're the Philly of the Week. Thanks for showing fans. Get ready. It's every single year.

You, the fans. You're the Philly of the Week. Thanks for showing up at the ballpark this year. That kind of stuff. They changed it midweek on me. That's wild. I was not ready for it. Now, it makes sense because Lorenzo threw a no-hitter.

It makes a lot of sense. It would be really weird to be doing the broadcast the day after the no-hitter and be like, Philly of the Week, Trey Turner had a couple hits. It's been nice. But then it carried over to this week. So it's been a week and a half of the Lorenzo and Philly of the Week, Trey Turner had a couple hits. It's been nice. But then it carried over to this week. So it's been a week and a half of the runs in Philly of the Week. Change it up. Guys, did we not see Friday's

performance? I think we need to change it up. Ditch it. Get out. Certainly not the Philly of the Week this week. Speaking of that and the broadcast, I do miss the home run jackpot. I do too. I totally miss the home run jackpot i do too oh i i totally missed the home run jackpot i loved it this home run is uh for doris doris fields out of media and doris if they had a home

run she's gonna yeah i love that i know it's not true but i feel like every single participant was a 95 year old 100 from delco it was it was always a Doris or those type of names, like a Violet. It's always. It's Anne from the media. She's loved the Phillies for 75 years. And now it's the Rav fourth inning, which they're ERA in the Rav fourth. Not good. Terrible.

It's a great point. Aaron Nola should not be allowed to pitch in the fourth inning if possible. Everything goes bad at the Rav4. Can you take a pitcher out for an inning and then bring them back in? Only in the— Soccer style. Yeah. Oh, you can't do that.

That sounds like an Elliot idea. Yeah, that's why I was not serious about it. Don't worry. There's no worse dig that you can throw at a baseball person and say that's an Elliot idea. That's tough. Most people say that about every sport that he covers. Someone compared something I said to Elliott, and I was like, oh, well, that's annoying.

Just baseball, you know, and basketball. I think we might have our new dancing on our own. Ooh, talk to me. I've heard nothing about this. Apparently, apparently, one of the songs heard in the, in the clubhouse after a win was believe by share. Oh really? Which sound,

I mean, you talk about the boys, you win a big playoff series and they're all jumping around. They're all screaming it. Love it. Man, I'm in on believe. That's Garrett Stubbs coming in with the share,

right? I'm sure of that. Yes. I am. I'm in. Love it. I'm in on, on'm in I'm in on Believe Strong agree I mean Bryce Hart On the broadcast

Talking about his kids And I was watching it with Walker And you know me I started dreaming on him being in the Lilliput series Like no pressure But he's talking about his kids I was so Sure, buddy. And you know me. Obviously, I started dreaming on him being in the Little League World Series. Oh, I know. Like, no pressure. I know. But, you know, I was talking about his kids. I was so, like, I feel like an idiot when I say this stuff, but I say the exact same thing.

Like, I'll always be like, God, I'm like, does everyone love their kid this much? Because it's, like, overwhelming how much I love my daughter. Like, with every fiber of my soul. And it was, Harper just laid it out there get emotional like it was like yeah dude yeah yeah okay yeah we love our kids it's cool to love your kids yeah it's okay it's the best yeah it is the best it's funny because now a couple of my friends now like uh have now started having kids and we're all it's like isn't it the greatest thing the best thing in the world it's nothing better the greatest thing yeah thing. Yeah. So, yeah, big dad guys.

Yeah. Harper, that was cool. And again, just across the board. I mean, whether it's talking about the hit in the media game and the chills he got there and obviously talking about Philly versus everybody and that whole thing. The dude is just perfect. It's like perfect. Yeah.

Everything I want him to say, he says. Does like the fanatic a little too much. But besides that. I can get that one. Besides that. It's okay. Yeah, I could do without. I know you could.

I'm good with it. I appreciated Rob Thompson getting Kyle Shore some cardio in the first last night. I know. He's like stealing them. What's happening right now? He stole them like four times in a row. Yeah, I know. Getting them warmed up for the game, I guess. It was good. It was like, wow. I know. He's like stealing them. What's happening right now? He stole them like four times in a row. Yeah, I know. Get them warmed up for the game, I guess.

It was good. He was like, wow. Do you think Schor's all signed again? And he was like. He's like, what is happening? Are you serious, dude? Good work. Speaking of the kids, just please stop letting them ask questions.

Oh, I know. It was tough. And interviewing them, period. Like, it was tough. Yeah, no. It was nice. Everything was great. It was tough. And interviewing them, period. Like, it was tough. Yeah, no. It was nice. Everything was great. It was cute.

And I don't, I didn't hate it, like hate hate it, but it was definitely not like thrilling content. Let's put it this way. If they were winning, I probably would have been more. More into it. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Bryce answered that question. Yeah. No, I'm with you. That's a good point. Jake Cave has quite a head of hair. It's unbelievable. But, but, but, but, but. Jake Cave has quite a head of hair.

It's unbelievable. Like, as it's grown out, it's like a real, like, silver fox thing going on. Strong head of hair. Yeah, yeah. Like, just. I've been impressed with it. And it feels like his helmet's off all the time. All the time now.

I feel like that's all I see. He's laying it on thick. Yes, he is. With this head of hair. Yeah, well, he's growing it, too. Like, he's letting the mane. Yeah, yeah. It's like part of the Lorenzen crew now. No, but it's not as long. No, I know, I hair. Yeah. Well, he's growing it, too. Like, he's letting the mane, you know, it's like part of the Lorenzen crew now. No, but it's not as long.

No, I know. I know. Obviously not. He keeps it. He's on his way there. Yeah, but I don't know. I think he likes the, you know. I don't know if he's going to let it get that long.

I think he's going to keep that thing all shaped up. He is wild. He definitely does not look 30. No. No way. He looks at least 35. Yes. And he's been through some stuff.

Permission to call my shot. Oh, buddy. Always on this pod. Yes, no way. He looks at least 35. Yes. And he's been through some stuff. Permission to call my shot. Oh, buddy. Always on this pod. Yes, sir. Thank you. This offseason, the Phillies are going to let Aaron Nola walk. Okay. They're not going to re-sign him. I don't think anyone's freaking out when you say that right now. I think that Dave

Dombrowski is going to trade for Corbin Burns. Wow. I think that Dave Dombrowski is going to trade for Corbin Burns. Wow. I think Corbin Burns is Dave Dombrowski's guy. Why? Because I think that he, I don't think he views, I was thinking about the Noel contract thing, and I was thinking that they really wanted him. You could tell me that Noel's camp is worried about free agency and being the highest paid pitcher. But I think if they really wanted them i you could tell me that that noel's camp is worried about free agency and being the highest paid pitcher but i think if they really wanted them they could

have gotten done and they could and they if it cost them extra millions whatever like just to get that done and the fact that they didn't i think says a lot um i think he's an ace guy we know that i mean that dave zembrowski's whole thing is an ace guy. I thought you were saying I think Curban Burns is an ace. I'm like, yeah. No, no, no. Yeah, we're good with that. And I think the reason he didn't trade a lot of prospects at the deadline

was because I think that he's waiting for the offseason. Wow. And you get a 1-2 of Burns and Wheeler is pretty damn good. And they'll pay him, which he's a Boris guy. Oh. Ooh. Yeah, so you pay him. I think this is really fascinating.

Because I think Corbin Burns will get moved, whether it's in the offseason or whether it's before the trade deadline next year. They're going to trade that guy. And it's the right time to trade for him because he only has a year left, so you're not going to have to give up. You're going to have to give up a lot. A lot. But not to farm the farm, I don't think.

Yeah. So you get him for a year left, so you're not going to have to give up. You're going to have to give up a lot. A lot. But not the farm to farm, I don't think. Yeah. So you get him for a year, but also you can just trade for him and sign him to an extension like they did with Halliday. And it's just the right time for it. Like next year's team, this team's good. Next year's team should be even better with a full year of Harper. These young kids continue to get better. Marsh, you know, continue to develop.

Like, you know, I just, like next year's team should be just a continuation. They need another, they need another starter. Totally. And if they're not going to pay Nola, which I don't think they want to do. I agree with you. It's the offseason to go get an ace. Super smart. Yeah, because there are no, like, I mean, Choay, obviously, that's its own thing.

But like, other than. Blake Snell. Well, that's what I was about to say. Other than Aaron Nola, it's really Blake Snell and that Japanese kid. And that's it in terms of guys who have ace upside. Like, that's it on the market. So, you know, it's interesting. It feels like this is the offseason to do it.

I love it. I love it. Like, the other names out there, obviously, Cease. Like, I always loved Dylan Cease. Just not many of those other kind of trades out there. Yeah. So I feel like Corbin Burns is, is, is Dombrowski's.

That's really interesting. Look, the only issue is that would be him and Wheeler coming up at the same time for the extensions. But you know, it's the window. Pay him. It's the window.

And then you don't have to rely on painter as much. And then if painter comes the year after extra, it's like, dang, okay, there's, there's Andrew painter. And then if Painter comes the year after, it's like, bang, okay, there's Andrew Painter. And then you have Painter, Burns, Wheeler, Granger. So you have to give up Abel, Rojas, something else, something else.

I would think if Abel, well, the problem is that they have. Abel Crawford. But they have athletic outfielders already. So, I mean, it might cost them like an Aiden Miller. But I know, which would hurt. Oh no! I know. But like,

they would probably have the capability to get it done. And I just, this is the offseason to do it. Corbin Burns will be a filly. Love it. I think it's a great shot to call. Especially the World Series champions adding Corbin Burns in the offseason. It's going to be wild. Back to back. Really fun.

I do think Nola's gone, though. I agree with you. Honestly, I wouldn't sign him. I think that guy has put a lot of miles on his arms, man. He's never missed time. I'm sure he's had an I. Elston in his career. I don't remember it. He's always out there.

I think betting on him long-term is dangerous. All right, you got anything else to take back? Nope. Nope, nope, nope. Look at that. Big start tonight. Big series, dude. What a massive, massive series.

We'll be back Thursday to talk about it for sure. We'll react to the series. Biggest series of the season. Like, end of sentence. Yeah, and it's time to listen. If you want to be the Flip the Switch team, show us you can flip the switch. Damn straight. That's well said.

And, you know, Aaron Nola, just don't suck to me, man. That's where I'm at with Aaron Nola. Like, just don't suck. That's the level I need. Like, I'm not asking for more right now. I hope there's more. But right now, just don't suck. We'll be back later.

He's for himself. We'll see you next time.