High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Do You Need This Series In Atlanta To Believe The Phils Are Back?

Episode Date: August 20, 2024

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz discuss the Phillies series against the Braves that starts tonight and wonder if there could be a Hector Neris reunion in the cards. 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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High Hopes. This is the high hopes podcast On the Odyssey app in sports radio 94 WIP Feel it all this along I feel a little less alone. Yo, it is another edition of the I OBS podcast sponsored by Miller Lite, official partner of the Philadelphia Phillies tastes like Miller time Philadelphia celebrate responsibly. I was just joking with Jack. time Philadelphia celebrate responsibly. I Was just joking with Jack. I have seen no baseball. I've seen no quotes. We never lied. I have listeners I was at a fish festival all weekend. It was freaking awesome. How can I fish did you catch? Can you see it? My eyes are bad My eyes are barely open. I'm actually going back to bed as soon as I'm done with this. Emily and Zoe are in bed waiting

for me. But I love everyone. And I said, you know what, I'll come down because we have an event coming up and I want to talk about it. And otherwise I'll let Jack talk to you a little bit. How's everyone doing? Yeah, no, it's good. So yeah, so Seltzer is going to go back to bed at 11 15 after he went to bed at what did you bed, like eight o'clock last night? So. Yeah, it was like, I stay up a little later, I should have, I stayed up until like 10, 30 last night. It was pretty tough.

Dude, I'm just, I think you should start a podcast by yourselves, and it's a sleep time with James Salzer, talking about your entire sleep schedule and how it operates. That's what I wanna do. I wanna do more podcasts. I'm looking to add to my total. Well, listen, man, it's good. I hope you caught some good fish this weekend. Maybe some flounder

that's big in the Delaware area. Yeah, it was good. Caught some fish. It's good, man. So, what, would you see four concerts because you were there for four days? So, three because I had to go to a baseball game with you on Thursday night Sadly, I wanted to go to four but I couldn't go to the fourth because I did go to the baseball game on Thursday night Yeah, it was awesome. We saw great game on Thursday night. That was the last Phillies baseball I watched 13 and three kicking ass a cycle in person for Jack Fritz something that you know Three years ago two years ago a year and a half we've been the most meaningful night of your life.

And instead it was like, oh, that's nice. Well, the funny part about that, the funny part about that is, well, is that I left, like, obviously, and but had I known like, and I didn't even like know who's going for the cycle. I didn't enjoy got home and I was watching on TV and they said it and I was like well, how about that? Yeah, yeah, I was happy he had like four hits, you know what I mean? Like I just I didn't I did the cycle thing. I didn't realize until I was like in the car So crap is it for the cycles? That was awesome. And it does again further push down David Bell He's out now. I know how crazy is that ten nine people?

I would climb did it twice or something. How how insane is that and they've had more no hitters than they've had cycles Well, I think this all just comes back to Chuck Klein guy was pretty good. I heard Last week, I think you were talking about how like he had 59 doubles in a year because and you were bomb because bomb won't even come close to it. Yeah, so yeah, seems like he's like a pretty good player. Chuck Klein, Ed De La Hanty, Billy Hamilton, dude, Billy Hamilton, if you go by if you go by like, hold on, I was looking it up the other day, because I'm something It's over 400 career hitter or something like that, right? Isn't he something like that? Dude, he played like Almost no games for the Phillies like historically speaking wise and it's so far away like they're they're stolen base leader. It's crazy I'm label. Yeah Billy that's the wrong Billy Hamilton. Oh, yeah the one we watched

How funny is it that two of the best baseballers in the history of baseball are both named Billy Hamilton? Hilarious. It is. It is. Is this why I got out of bed and did do this? This is to look up Billy Hamilton's stats. I feel like all I'm saying

is that there's a better use of our time here. So last point on Billy Hamilton. Yeah, sure. Is that is that in 1890? 1891 1894 and 1895 he had a hundred steals hundred steals in a season So he's basically the he's the 1890s Ellie Dela Cruz

Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. No, I listen you earned yourself some Justin Crawford talk already Yeah, yeah. Yeah. No, listen, you heard yourself from Justin Crawford talk already with the complaining Why are we here? Why are we here? What are we doing here? They're they're back ish they're back ish, you know and and a lot of talk on the station and in in Philly circles I would say heading into this brave series is like I need this one to believe that the fills are back. And, you know, I just don't, you know, like, I, I want them to go down there, I want them to go down and step on a throat, like they could theoretically end the division by going down there and sweeping or taking two or three like I know, technically they

can't but like, I think, I mean, dude, they just lost Austin Riley. I mean, you talk about a you lost Austin Riley. I mean you talk about a Talk about a guy hurt. I didn't see it. Is he done six to eight weeks. He's probably Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Yeah, this is what they get. This is what they get for all those contracts. It's finally It's finally coming back around. Yeah, so so, you know, it's just I've kind of fell this way for a little bit Like I always have a little bit of fear of the brace but they don't feel like the classic you know kind of oh my god there's the brace I mean it's because of these injuries it's pretty ridiculous so for the way they played in the national series the way they played in the in the one Marlins game at the team meeting like I just think that they're they're they're back like and back is it gonna end in a

World Series title I have no idea like to say like to say like I need this series to really believe they're back and then I need them to go take two or three against the Royals and then it's like you don't like it just just watch the way they play watch how more locked in they they had the kind of feel most of the weekend of a team that that had a team meeting put that stuff behind them and they're ready to go play baseball Again, so it's a it's a it's a big series It's a chance to step on a throw up But I don't have this overwhelming sense of like I

Need them to go as long as they don't go and and do what they did in Arizona I'm gonna be pretty happy. You have your three horses on the mound. You have Wheeler. You have no look you have Sanchez that the Braves are going to be desperate, you know, whatever that means They just signed geo or shallow this morning. So yeah, I think that they're going through a little bit of desperation mode But I just kind of trust I Kind of trust what I've seen on the offensive side. Chris Sanchez was brilliant. Noah was was good I made this point a couple times. I think against better opponents. It doesn't go as well You know, I think that he was he threw a hundred and seven pitches in or a hundred eleven pitches in six innings Which is a good amount and it was a shutout

But like I think that again against better team might be different and Wheeler was just dominant. So those three are huge I'm more my sign of encouragement James is is I think the approaches on offense look a lot better and And I just they look more locked in from a holistic sense So I have no idea how they look obviously But they look great in the 13 to 3 game. I will say, just generally speaking, I'm of two minds on this week's series. I almost said this weekend because I'm off right now, so it feels like the weekend.

This week's series against the Braves, I would like to see them handle business. You know, it's not like they have gone into a big series and handled business. Dodger series, I guess, is the one exception over the last two months. So I would like to see them do it. But like to your point, like the way they play is more important to me right now. It is getting a little tight in the National League. So I have not looked at

the series just now. I looked at them like, so they're behind the Dodgers and the Brewers are like right on the right arm. So like that I don't love't love and again I don't think you have to win be the one to rain that stuff I actually like the more the season plays out the more I'm just reminded that it's it's bleeping baseball man like honestly the team that's hottest in October is going to win the World Series probably every year I like the Rangers thing I looked it up too they lost nine straight last year they were five and 15 over a stretch in August. They blew the division. Like I'm sure Rangers fans were like, screw this team.

And then they won the world series. It just feels like you just gotta be there and you just gotta be playing good baseball at the end of the season. And honestly, as silly and as like, I don't think that how a team is playing in August correlates to winning the World Series anymore. I don't. And that was, believe it or not, that was my mindset during the slump. It just reached a point where I was like, it went too far.

It was too much. It's like you're going to want a human can only stand so much. Like come on, there's not enough positivity in the world to power through that. Yeah, it's like, ah, listen, I looked at you. You have no idea how many times I looked at a ranger's schedule last year. But I think both them and the Diamondbacks, both that 7 and 17 stretches at some point.

The Diamondbacks were freaking at a sub, a negative run differential, for Christ. I mean, come on. I also think, and I don't want to pay for it, because I can only pay for so many subscriptions and things. But, you know, like Joel Sherman wrote a whole thing the other day about how baseball is changing. Like all these teams are kind of doing this. Like the days of the dominant regular season team kind of feels over. Like I think there is a little bit more load management happening in baseball. Why wouldn't there be? You watch these teams win 111 win 111 108 104 106 every year, none of them ever

win the World Series. Like, why would you try and win that many games like well, and I also think that that I think I like like, a lot of these teams, I think feel more comfortable winning the 90 to 95. And like not stressing so part of the detraction, I guess to having more of these teams making the playoffs is going to be like teams are going to devalue the regular season because it just like as long as you're valued because it is devalued. It just is as long as you're in it just doesn't matter. Like it just it

just really doesn't matter because and it was funny. So Middleton had a lot of sit down quotes, you know, all the all the beat guys got it. And it was interesting. So Middleton had a lot of sit down quotes, you know, all the other beat guys got it. And it was interesting. He recalled a conversation that he had with with Pat Gillick when he first hired Pat Gillick in 05 and he's part of the ownership group and what and why not. And basically Pat Gillick, he asked him, you know, what does it take to win a World Series? What do we have to do? Like, how can I get this organization in the right spot? All that stuff. And Pat Gillick goes, it's all luck. He's like, it's luck. It's getting hot at the right time. Because

I'm sure that Middleton as a billionaire, he's looking at there's things we can do here to where we can cut all the negatives out. There has to be a formula, right? Like there has to be something that's gonna that's gonna equate success and Pat Gillick was like listen, man It's it's it's pretty much just luck now. I'm sure Pat Gillick didn't say listen, brother Yeah, just a little bit of luck man He's like I'm gonna go trade for Jason worth we're gonna get more we're gonna get planted at that line Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,

yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, it's hard to say that because it's hard to say that when they're slumping because like you want to react like I

Like we watch these games. We're both very positive Philly's fans and we're also very emotional about it Like we don't like it's not like we're taking in stride It's not like they like blow a game and we're like well only matters if they're hot in October Jack's like really dying. Yeah. Yeah. So God bless you if you can. I just it's a struggle for me. But the the whole luck factor is real, man. Like it's it comes down to if you if you're just playing good at that time, like you're going to win the World Series. It's it's it sounds kind of dumb to say it sounds kind of like, of course, Jack, but like ultimately, like, like, all right,

the best example is 2022. Like I'm sure there are people that are like, oh, they got to beat this team for me to believe. They got to beat this team for me to believe. And they, they wanted to run. They had team teguro, hit one ball and all of a sudden it was like, all right, let's go. Yeah, we're back. We're back.

So, um, yeah, it's just like there's topics on WIP About does this team deserve to celebrate in the locker room if they clinch a playoff spot? Well, that sounds like that sounds like Yes, it was and it was ridiculous and I thought it was one of the dumbest things ever said and I told him that On the air, but still like Julia said Julia said that he didn't want them to make the play That's my point is like, whatever the way that people said it, the point was people were so annoyed with this 2022 Phillies team in September of 2022. That they were saying things like that.

Well, and by the way, and by the way, hand up, I mean, we had a meltdown saying that this is the biggest group of losers that we've ever seen That's my point and then literally a week later We're on a magic carpet ride think coming very freaking close to winning the World Series

Yeah baseball's crazy like baseball and I mean think about it makes sense It's a hundred and sixty two games like any team can beat any team and then we boil it down to three five and seven game Series like of course, there's gonna be a lot of randomness to it. Like, yeah. Yeah. I think it's, I think it's getting more random. I really do. And yeah, cause the wild cards and the extra teams and all of this, I mean, three game series, like anyone can freaking win a pregame free game. Like if somehow, I don't think they're going to get in, but if somehow the pirates sneak into it, we've talked about this and it looks like schemes is starting to run a steam and all that stuff. But still like if the pirates sneak in that we've talked about this and it looks like scenes is starting to run a steam and all it's up but Still like if the pirates sweep into a three-game series

They could be the team could have 120 wins and they could throw out skins and Jones and it could be over like it's just It's crazy. Yeah. No, it's it's it's wild and and I just I you hope that the Phillies are in the right spot And I think that the good part is but the good part is that they had a team meeting and Franzen mentioned this, he was on the afternoon show on Friday. And he was like, he was like the best sign about the team meeting is that no one knows what happened in the team meeting. Yeah, that was like the doors are shut. No one even knew it was happening. The whole thing is good. And, and he said, it wasn't just for show

is the point. It wasn't like, Hey, look at us team meeting. He said, said he said like the bad team meetings the ones where the media gets the leak of like yours They talked about you know, I mean and the fact that they all came players only and Francisco Lindor stepped up in front of the room and you know that guy thing Yeah, I'm speaking of the mats real quick quick a quick side note here so Alvarez Francisco Alvarez is howarez is the home run last night and good reaction. It was wanted back from injury but it was it was officer Anthony which is tough to see. Sir Anthony's been really good for the Orioles. The video of Pete Alonso trying to like get

to home plate and jump around. I just he's he's the biggest loser that I think baseball's ever had. I don't think there's anyone that's ever come close to it to Pete Alonso. He is the number one the number one loser in the history of baseball. Like you're again, no one has done more harm to make baseball. And they could be cool again. then Pete Alonso. He just stopped, please stop. But back to the, the Mets aren't, they're not playing that well, but they certainly cool. They've pulled down since their grimace days. I will say like in the National League,

the Phillies are still number one in a lot of power rankings, which I find like a little funny. Like I just don't think there's much separation between a lot of these teams. All the teams, yeah. Like, dude. But at the same time, can I be honest? Like, I feel like the Diamondbacks are the only one that really scared me. Like, I agree with you. They're all the same.

Like, the Brewers, I just can't get scared of the Brewers. I can't do it. I know. I know. They're a game mind or a half game mind. I get, but I just I know I know they're a game mind Or half game. I get it like I know and they're smart organization and they smart they go out and they smart Real quick on the Brewers the one thing that has Like I just can't like get there man. The one thing that I think is different about this year's Brewers in the last couple years

Brewers is Last couple years is all pitching this year like Contreras is a stud Reese is there and Chorio by the way plus three thousand for for NL rookie of the year right now like Jackson Merrill could win it if Paul Skeens they shut him down but I'm just saying if you're looking for something Jackson Chorio has been awesome so like they have I get there I get it I get it and again to the point anyone can win in October like literally anyone so they I just can't like the diamondbacks The only one I go and I'm like don't play those guys So I am I agree obviously because of our history

I do think the Padres are very worried some of their to no no I look I'm not saying I'm psyched to play the Bajas I'm saying the time backs the only one that scared me. I get Padres actually might be number two over the Dodgers It's close between those two. Yeah, I guess I need to see the Dodgers. I'm saying the time backs the only one that scared me I get podgers actually might be number two over the Dodgers. It's close between those two Yeah, I guess I need to see the Dodgers at full strength again before I mean Yeah, worried about him, but you did he go you go Scott you go you go Suarez you go Jason Adam You go. Yeah, the one guy that was on the ridiculous strikeout Yeah, like and then I mean then I got Dylan see then like they just got dudes man muskrows back Yeah, muskrows back. Yeah, so like I just and that's the thing about the deadline

You know we look back on and it's like they made moves to help obviously like a step as I just I'm worried about him I really am I mean, I think I think him and Alvarado if you look for my biggest question mark on the team right now It's the back end. I even Hoffman. I'm not like to too concerned But obviously he's been human the last month you know and and Straum's been human the last month it's really Estevez and and and Alvarado like Alvarado I think might be cooked and and Estevez like it's just it's so much hard contact so like he didn't see it he blew a save on Friday I saw I saw that and then they want that was the one like they wanted that yeah I

saw the I saw the recap I just didn wanted, that was the, like they wanted the, yeah, I saw the, I saw the recap, I just didn't actually see the game, but it was just two nothing going in the night, they just blew it. It's not great. No, you won. Yeah, it's a little, it's a little dicey. It's a little, like watching his innings,

it's a lot of hard contact, whatever. Well, yeah, it does seem like the balls hit very hard off of him, I agree with that. But like, the one thing about the deadline is that it did not separate them from these other teams. Like they're and what really kind of- Especially some of the names too, like obviously Randy's been doing great in Seattle.

Michael Kopeck- Cool off, sadly. Michael Kopeck was got for nothing. I know. And he's phenomenal. Phenomenal. These guys were out there. Like Michael Kopeck, I mean, not times you say that guy's name on here.

You're, they're talking about crochet like nonstop, like maybe just steal Michael Kopeck while you're at it. Like I, we said this at the time and I feel this way. Like, and if they don't win the world series, I'm going to feel like it's a big part of it is I felt like they did not really go for the deadline. Like they just didn't. Like this was a year where you had, I mean, a clear chance.

The last two years they kept saying oh well guys got to show us they're worth it right there are 500 team essentially or slightly better than 500 or whatever when the deadline happened it's like all right we'll go go prove it fine I get that they proved it this year it to the point where before the season they even told us we're gonna save the powder for the deadline like you know I just like I know it was an expensive market, but even so not one top 100 prospect I trade like we talked about, you could have gotten a Coke on and gotten Copac. You could have gone and gotten Adam. You could have gotten these guys who might have cost more than you want, but also worth it to go frickin win a World Series. So yeah,

I, if they don't win this year, I will absolutely look at that deadline and say, I blame that as part of it. Well, and that's why it brought me back to the whole luck thing that that Gilch was talking about. And I do still believe that there was a little bit of like, I don't want to trade our future because I want to keep this window open. And I want to keep the window open because we know it's luck heading into the postseason anyway. So I don't want to go through what I went through after 2012 to 2020-ish, 2021, and make sure that we have consistent reinforcement so that we're always having a shot. We're always having a chance. And I think that that's what they...

And you maximize your chances. You maximize your chances to get in the dance to have a chance to take But the big difference and that's her but you can also maximize your percentage of luck in a season Well, and the other thing the my only problem with that philosophy Well, there's a lot of problems, but the other problem with it is like, okay But like look at the Sixers, right the The Sixers for the last six years, seven years have had a chance, quote unquote, every year, by sql at your park, just ask, oh, yeah, I'll tell you. But look at how it's talked about in the city now. Like, it's talked

about in the city of like, oh, who cares? Like, I don't care. Like, wake me up when you get out of the second round, then. And we're still not there at the Phillies. They 22, amazing. Last year, mostly amazing. I think people are geeked up for Red October. But if you keep coming up small and not getting the job done, then eventually you start turning people off. So that's not, we're not close to there.

You know, obviously that's a little bit ways down the way, but that quote about luck and Gillick saying that it really did kind of bring me back to the deadline and say, you know, that's kind of the way that they thought about it at that point. So yeah, I don't think there's any question. I don't think that they said we're not giving up someone who could be with us for a decade or whatever for a reliever or this or that. Like, I know that's part of it, but that's a shame because, you know, at a certain point

when you've not won a world series in 15 years and you've only won two in your franchise's history and you're in the middle of a window, like I do think that you need to, and I know you're a franchise that needs to historically prioritize drafting and developing, and they do, but trust your guys. That's why you prioritize pretty smart people in there trust your guys to replenish like you gotta go for it

I like I I hope like if they win the World Series I'll go whatever but like if they don't I'm gonna I'm gonna remember That they didn't fully go for it. I just will yeah. Yeah, so yeah So just go in the world series. We don't deal with that. So go win the insights you need to draft the best wide receivers. As you prep for your draft, let us give you the coverage you need follow and listen to reception perception on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. All right. What else? Well, should we talk about where we're going to be Thursday? Well, that said, what I add up? Yes. We're going to the trap tavern.

Yeah. Awesome. Coming out with us people. Yes. Come hang out with us. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes, we're going to the trap tavern. Yeah awesome Yes, come hang out with us. Yes I thought you had more only sound I don't have the address handy so I thought you could talk for a second. I can pull up No, that's good. That's dynamite. So first off it's Phil's brain. You'd feel for me So I wouldn't have to explain the thing but you know It's Phil's brace. I thought you'd fill for me, so I wouldn't have to explain the thing, but you know, these things happen.

Okay, well listen, it's good to have pros or pros. Pros or pros. Pros or pros. So yeah, so Thursday, we'll be out at Trap Tavern. Great place, was there a couple years ago. Always a phenomenal time. And it's in Collegeville, so it's out there. Wow, it is the world, the oldest,

one of the oldest towns in PA. How about that family run? Wow, love that. Good thing I pulled this up. It's exciting. Kitchen's open late, three separate bar areas. It's gonna be great, Jack. Very excited.

25 beers on tap, I will try some of those. So it is for those wondering, I know you all have Google, I suppose, but 416 West Main Street in Trap PA. So we can't wait, dude. It's gonna be awesome. It's been way too long since we had an event. Yeah, well, and I don't think I've ever like, I don't think it's the last time I've physically put in an address. I just look it up on Google Maps and just say Trap's average.

That's what I mean. Yeah, I know. I know. Yeah. It's not thatoo. I know. I know. Yeah. So. It's not math class days. But you know what? Hey. How'd you ever get around with that on that? Or with that GPS? It's a great question. So.

Was it just vibes? Yeah. It was mostly like, if you drive somewhere, remember it. Were you looking at the sun? No. No. No. It was a lot of like, do it once and remember it.

It was like, OK. Yeah. I've driven there before. I can get there. Like, boom. Just like that. Like, literally like that. And then the other thing you would do for trips, once and remember it was like okay yeah I've driven there before I can get there like boom just like that like literally like that and then the other thing you would do for trips we really truly didn't know where you're going is believe it or not Jack you would print out directions from map quest oh yeah and bring them in your car with you and yes my first long drive I was uh I was

driving to I was driving to beautiful Nishamnay high school To watch a high school much time out in that world to watch a rust and playoff game and I got completely lost and I was in the one signs of the last accident PA and I said that's probably the My mom's like my mom's like GPS is a bunch of nonsense here. Take the take the map quests I'm like, oh, okay. So last time I ever trusted that ever again and It was awful. I couldn't and then Jill and I we couldn't find the car for an hour after the game It was one of the worst experiences in my life, but it taught me GPS is actually pretty good So you good pretty good pretty good. Pretty good. Pretty good, dude. Pretty good. Put it in your GPS. It's the Traptower. Well, dude, you think I talked to people. By the way, talk about the pressure on the gas station

people. They've got to know where everything is. So really good point. Yes, it used to matter. Now they don't. Now they can just be like, yeah. Figure it out. Type it into your own little GPS.

What, you know, phone idiot? Yeah. What a moron. But yeah, dude, it's one of the things that of all the like, I know we always do like No, what's your favorite invention? I think getting anywhere without a GPS seems impossible. So I'll go And parallel parking without without the rear view camera. Yeah, right. I refuse to use it. I hate the rear view camera I'm dude your car is cheating. You drive a Mini Cooper. But I can parallel park any car. I'm a great parallel parker.

It's one of my true skills in my life. I'm not good at many things, but parallel parking, I'm amazing at. Do you think, do you think- I'll talk crap about parallel parking. Do you think that people had any doubt that you owned a Mini Cooper? Like it's maybe the most altered car of all time.

It's just- Honestly, there are at least like four times a day when I'm driving around the city and I'm like, thank god I've been to Cooper I will fit I will drive up the spots and I'll make man Not even I can fit in there and then I'll fit in with like six inches on each side It's it's the greatest car that has ever been created for a city. I feel super confident Well, it's the way that it putters to even sounds like you I know like it's just like oh Good tell seltzer's here. Yep That's what I want. I want people know that I'm here. So it's like all right to tiny get serious. Yep

That's exactly right. So Chris Sanchez on the mound on Thursday night, which is exciting versus fine Normally, you know if Rangers not healthy we can get good Chris. That's good It's Chris Sanchez for our last one But having this the hotly contested a bait of Chris Sanchez is the number two starter in the postseason over Nola But I know that it's gonna be no Yeah, I do think the whole the home splits is as good an argument as there is but you know what at this rate? They might not be playing at home in the second round anyway, so yeah fun. They're fine. They're fine. They're fine They're fine, but Thursday night come hang out trap tavern all that good stuff. Yeah, please seriously coming out. It's gonna be so much fun

Hopefully we'll do another one this year. I don't know if we will or won't so like try and get there coming out It'll be awesome all our real ones. We love you. Mm-hmm. All right, so All real once we love you. Mm-hmm. All right, so tray has to take bag time. I'm assuming now Yeah, I got nothing else. I cannot believe we've talked for almost 30 minutes. I forget very easy Nothing it is. I know you're right Trey had ten hats this weekend, which is beautiful. Just beautiful. I love when Trey's hot. There's that he arguably is Their most important player like on like when he's he's right, like he just makes the whole thing go. Like Schwerber. He takes the line up to a different level, I agree.

Like Schwerber you know, he's gonna. Well it's because he also is the big, I feel like he's the most likely to go, just go cold like that. You know what I mean? Like I know Bryce will go cold, but it's usually because he gets hurt or something will happen or whatever.

Like Trey, it's just just like there's no rhyme or reason It just feels like one day can be the hottest here in baseball the next day could be like gone like so I think from that Perspective he has the highest variance of like great to like horrible Well, and he talked about that like Alex coffee for the whole piece about how he's trying to find like the middle ground He's like he's like I don't get it. He doesn't have one. It is insane, dude, but he this was not like 2021 He was fine 20 22. He's like he's like I don't get it. He doesn't have one who's been saying dude, but he this was not like 2021 He was fine. 2020. He's fine. You know, it's really just been here and you know His swing did look like so I guess he watched tape of his swings in 2021 and 2022. He really does work man He watches tape he gets in that credit to the guy like he really is

Mechanical about it, right? So and if they swing did look like they try to add more, they look more vertical. And I don't know, we'll see. But at least from that standpoint, it was it was definitely positive. One of the issues with Taiwan Walker, of the many issues with Taiwan Walker is they at least last year, it would be six or seven innings of four run, five run ball. Now it's four innings.

And he's on four innings in his last three starts. Like that's the problem. He is, he cannot be on the team next year. Like they have to buy him out. And like next year's rotation on paper, James, like I know that you got the puffy eyes, I know it's been a long couple of days, but like I need you to get you fully excited and maybe do an

extra hour on today's podcast nope I mean I mean thank you got my stopwatch going we got like eight minutes left think about next year's rotation of Wheeler Nola Chris Sanchez Ranger and a here niner Like it's sick. He can't be here. He cannot be here He's he and I feel bad for him in one instance. I know no no no you don't he's cool 70 he's got 72 million dollars in the bank There is no feeling sorry for him like go live a happy life dude like all good like Sorry for him is not like I feel sorry for the Phillies I feel sorry that we paid him all that money I feel sorry for us as fans that we got screwed by that

I do not feel sorry for time I feel I don't I won Walker is an incredibly incredibly lucky human being who should be kissing his freaking star lucky stars like they say he should every morning wake up and be like thank you David Dabrowski thank you thank. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Jim. Thank you. And then just go about this every day. You should start the day like that. It's the luckiest human ever. Well, as a fellow high level pitcher, you know, it's just tough to see a guy lose it.

You know what I mean? The point I get it. I can't get that to you. Exactly. You know, I can't. Thank you. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you. Everyone says Seltzer's a good guy until it comes to Taiwan Walker. Hehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehe. So Dave Montgomery Obviously to help design CBP and the angle that JT hit the 22 inside the parker inside the parker They said that Dave Montgomery wanted that angle in because it would create

Excitement for plays like that and then they made they renamed it Monte's angle. So So always they're always first class with that is look Dave Montgomery deserved something like that now My only worry is we're gonna start it feels like everything's getting named now And it's like at a certain point the whole ballpark's gonna have some sort of like name thing on them. It's harper's corner It's this is that it's it but at the same time like Dave Montgomery absolutely deserves it. So i'm good Yeah, I I almost I wish it was almost like Fenway where it's like That's pesky pole, but it's not like it's just it's just known but CBP again only 20 years old We got a long time before we got a you know, sorry, I mean I worry, you know a hundred years from now

It's like that's you know, that's that that's that well I think we're close to it being renamed the the Fritz and Seltzer Miller Lite Liberty landing It's also being renamed the Fritz & Salzer Miller Lite Liberty Landing. Oh, really? I mean, we've got to be getting close. We've got to be getting close. Yeah, probably not far off. I mean, you know, yeah, I mean, we're pretty responsible for it. Sure.

Well, and maybe this is just an idea, just spitballing. Like you cut your ankle off and you could place it where you broke your ankle celebrating bedlam at the bank. By the way I don't know if it was bedlam at the bank but in my head it's always you hurt your ankle. We've gone with that. We've gone with that. Yeah. It's a way better story than whatever you were trying to say. It was the Harper Homer in the 7-0 World Series game and that made it so you know the 2-0 over. Yeah. Yeah, I'm sorry. The one it actually was, but that limit is much better story.

Way better story. Again, again, please start. Please start thinking more smart when we're doing this stuff. I got no I got no response there. This is only for me. Barely up my eyes still. Have you noticed? I know there was a little too much Lieberthal this weekend. And it's like he was everywhere. He was like, you know,

He was eating at the fish show. It was wild. I was like, Mike Lieberthal, what's he doing here? Phil is well-of-famer Mike Lieberthal. Again, it's not really, it's like, why did it take so long to get like, you could have put Dave Montgomery in instead of Mike Lieberthal. Absolutely. I mean, you could have put Pat Gilligan before Mike Lieberthal. You could have put all these figures in before Mike Lieberthal. You could put Chris Wheeler in before Mike Lieberthal.

Even some of the controversial like ones like Bobby Abreu deserved to be in before Mike Lieberthal. What is he doing? How many of them? And it's like, I'm not. What what is he doing on that wall? Like, I just I just don't get it. One of the commenters here did point out, I mentioned wheels,

do wheels on the broadcast over the weekend. And I know you didn't see it. Oh, it's fantastic, though, right? Dude, it's just it's such like a nostalgic feel of like. And he still has the same voice and everything He sounds yeah, we had him on the morning show I want to say the like last October during the playoff run We had him on to talk about it and it's like that's wheels. So I got that's Chris Wheeler

That's friggin awesome. Like it was just great to listen him talk. Yeah, it is Yeah, also didn't appreciate they put together a four-minute montage of the best moment at CBP and They put together a four minute montage of the best moment at CBP and once again the David Bell cycle was on it What it's like they do it just to troll me. I really do. I think they do it just no one remembers a David Bell cycle Okay, no one cares No one cares no one cares Don't care now, especially it's gone. It's over. It's like yeah removed from the record books exactly, right? Hector narrows released by the Cubs. I saw that Wait a second like right now go sign him

Like are you kidding? I would love to like obviously like, you know, maybe sixth inning work or something But I am I'm very in by the way I don't know Can I ask a quick question though about about relief pitching? Because I don't know if it continued over the weekend, but prior to leaving, is Jose Ruiz still like our best reliever? Is that still going on? Okay. Like, dude, what I left, he was like, it was like nine innings, like there are 13 shutout innings or something since then, whatever, like even great or 13 and nine innings. I don't know what it was. And he had a key backup of the base that kept it a close game in the Schwab again

So do we do we trust those every week is kind of what I'm asking in the fifth and sixth inning, yeah He's back in the 97 It was a high leverage spot in the Marlins game like he's good Early season Jose Ruiz That was very in on went away for a little bit, but he's definitely better than Junior Marte So I do appreciate that and then just real quick these the the two middle thing quotes I thought were really important and I think like really

What I've said I've said it on high hopes like a million times the one He's a steward of the friend that he is doing it for us for all of us that it's not his team, it's our team. And he said it, it's the best. I was like, John, you hero, thank you for understanding what a sports owner is and the millions and millions of people whose hopes and dreams rest on your shoulders. Thank you. Got a little bit of pressure, right? You would think yeah, no doubt.

Yeah, it's got it's got to be a little bit of pressure. right? You would think? Yeah, no doubt. No doubt. Yeah, it's got to be a little bit of pressure. So that was a really good quote. And I think it's something that resonates with a lot of fans. They appreciate it. And it just, man. It's all you want your owner to say. You want your owner to feel all you want is you want the guy who's owning your sports

team, do you want him to feel like he cares like you care? Like, that's it. And he does. He cares like we care. It's awesome. And by the quote, it seems like it might care a little bit too much but actually more like yeah like he actually might be way more intense than we are about like didn't well definitely was not handling the losing away that the way

that like Thompson and a lot of players are handling it like fine he's like you mother bleepers like not this thing do you think like like we talked about how we needed Rob Thompson when they were losing a bunch like going and like flip over the you know the water go it was John Middleton who should have been in there breaking TVs and freaking out. What if it was my what if what if it was a team meeting was just Middleton. Yeah, just going off like just scorched earth. I love that. Oh be amazing I mean they talk about as they talk about a speech in in spring training as a reason why they came out on fire What if it comes out that Middleton saved the season with a with a fiery passionate? Like you're not gonna keep making me look like a fool. I mean, that's It's a pretty strong sentence to say it's a Jack Middleton sentence is what it is, you know I'm saying Yeah, for sure for sure. And it's yeah, it's again. It's like it's almostleton sentence is what it is. You know what I'm saying? For sure, for sure. And it's, yeah, it's again, it's almost like parenting,

in a way. You're making me look like an idiot. You want that? Do you want that? You are representing the family name right now. You're representing the Fritz name. Do you know how much, do you know how high in regard that is held around the Delaware Valley?

Great point. Do you know how many people know me? I mean, come on. Jack, I'm Jack Fratz. Come on. Yeah. Get the punt down. It's good. It's good.

It's good. Get the punt down. You're not eating dinner tonight. Wait, sorry. Never mind. Never mind. Sorry. I didn't say that.

Yep. Okay. We're good. You're making me look like that. Um, yeah. So, but either way, good middle ten quotes. I didn't say that. Yeah. Okay, we're good. You're making me look like Um, yeah, so but either way good middle ten quotes and I do appreciate he said he listens to radio and And and he feels the caller's sentiments. It's like On which ones which which which callers

I I definitely uh have had some caller sentiments that I don't agree with well listen It was a tough. It was a tough weekend for Joe in the Northeast. Gal Stevenson. Yeah, it was it was it was it was tough. It was tough on him. But we'll see if Cal can break out of this thing and come back. So, dude, I really do think the nearest thing could be real. You know, they they release them. They probably want him to go try to, on with it, with a contender. I think, I think Hector, I think that, I think they were digging around on the idea of bringing

him back at the, at the trade deadline. Um, so like, dude, if you like to replace the, the Marth and by the way, I, I talked about this on the, the solo public, they're going to have to try to find a way to manage these guys innings. Like I don't know how and what made Sunday so annoying and I'm sure you've missed the great discourse over the last couple of days about. So I saw some tweets that I didn't actually know that. So like he should have pinched it and then.

Well, you had a runner on first base down by two in the ninth inning and Bryce is sitting. You have Cal Stephenson up. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Or you had no outs. Sorry, you had no outs. And you had Cal Stephenson up with a runner on first and he decides to pinch or to let Cal Stephenson hit and he grounds into a double play. So for the next 48 hours, it's been, well, I didn't Rob Thompson put in Bryce Arbor.

So here's my quick take on it. Just without being in the middle of it. Put in put in Bryce Arbor. So here's my quick take on it just Why didn't he put him rise over man Seems like a pretty obvious spot to put him rise our purpose on the bench for that day. So I think I'd have to agree or Where's Weston Wilson who also didn't play or where's someone else? Not Cal Stevenson is definitely the right decision. Something we'll look back on. Well, maybe especially mad is because Ruben was on with you guys. And it's like, trust me,

that's never gonna happen again. And then I know he did that. He said you're right. He did say I don't know if he was talking specifically about the JT part of that. Because when Ruben was talking, it made it seem like because that was about the time that JT didn't at first stops when Ruben was talking it made it seem like because that was about the time that JT didn't at first dubs when Ruben was saying that and it made me feel like it was about the JT day off thing where but even then I feel like that happened again like dude the topper not like I understand it's a long season and we just talked about like I think organizationally they think that that you know all that really matters is winning in the playoffs and there's kind of a crapshoot to get it and blah blah blah and all that stuff but like

like you don't you don't have to not try and win the games you know like you don't have to not go for it in each game like batting Bryce Harper in a game where he has a day off is that like drastically gonna ruin the rest of his season or the next week for him or whatever he can't get up and swing a freaking bat and try and win a game like i just i don't get the rest of his season or the next week for him or whatever you can't get up and swing a freaking bat and train want to gain like I just I don't get the mentality of like, like I kind of the littlest bit I get the our JT catches and he's 30 I'm fine. I didn't need to that I can get with right I get that he's a catcher there's a thing about calling game and getting into a game and doing that whole thing like I get that but like

Bryce Harper can't grab a bat and go because he's off for a day like I just doesn't make any sense to me. Well and listen, he is, Rob Thompson believes in the full off day. He believes like, but I think that there has to be, especially when you get to August. Brother, brother, who loves a good off day more than me? I support off days. It's the morning show mantra. But but but you know, it feels like, you know, especially when it gets in August and it gets in September, hey, Bryce, I'm

gonna give you the day. But if I need you the ninth would love for you to be available and pricing be like, of course, of course, like, never say no to that. It's it's it's a dying and the dugout and be like, Oh, hey, coach, like, well, and by the way, like okay, let's say if eight for Lee He knows he's not gonna have to pinch it so you can just chill like that It's just if it's if it's a two-run lead and Bryce knows that he could be right gonna be the second intervening Guess what price is gonna be frickin ready, man Mm-hmm. So that was that was annoying what the last point on it that made it more annoying for me was like again

You pitch Hoffman when you're losing And he you're like trying to win the game. Yeah, so I just With those two specifically because they need them. They're gonna have start managing these guys as best as they can They just have to it's it's with with Alvarado question mark Estevez question mark. That's why they might need narrows. It's why they might need narrows is another arm That's why they might need narrows. It's why they might need narrows is another arm They can extend the bullpen and give these guys some rest because I think they really really need it. So That's that's it. So I hope they bring home actor. He's he's he's a Philly through and through even though

He did not pay us back in 2022. We did not For us, yeah, come on. Come on actor. Yeah, so it's all good I'll get us back come back. It'll be a help us win a World Series wouldn't that be something although? Be a brave thing because that's exactly what's gonna happen a Kirk O'Ring wears number 50. Oh I know What number what number does Hector where yeah, we'll have to figure that one out This is that let's get him in here first, and then we'll get the number together. It's good?

I don't know, it's pretty important. But yeah, either way, bring home Hector. I agree. You got anything else? I cannot believe we went 45 minutes. I had nothing to say. This is good. Wow.

I've been watching a lot of Miley baseball, so I'll spare you that. You've been watching more Miley baseball, and I don't think pro baseball. That ends now. I'm ready. Aiden's hot in August. So I'll spare you that. You were watching more Miley baseball than I was watching pro baseball. That ends now. I'm ready. Aiden's hot in August. Aiden's hot in August.

Please brace tonight. Aiden's hot in August. Both things important. Coming out on Thursday. Trap Tavern. It's going to be awesome. We're going to have a blast. Just put it in your Google.

As Jack said, it will probably just show up for you. You don't even need to do the address. There you go. Google it. Google it. All right. We'll talk to you guys later. Please write some sounds.