High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - EMERGENCY THE PHILLIES WON A PLAYOFF SERIES POD

Episode Date: October 9, 2022

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to the Phillies winning a playoffs series. Seriously. That actually happened. We still can't believe it. Go Phils. 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

This is the High Hopes Podcast. High Hopes! It's a bunch of baseball nerds talking about the Phillies. On Odyssey and Sports Radio 94, WIP. Oh, it is another edition of the High Hopes Podcast. The most apropos time in the history of this podcast for that freaking title. The Phillies won a playoff series, Jack. Like, honestly, those are words that I wasn't a hundred percent sure I would ever get to say on this podcast, dude, over the last two days doing a show with you on WIPA. Like, I have thought so much about all the crap

we've had to talk about, all the depressing Phillies teams, all the depressing, devastating, gut-punched, heartbreaking moments that we've had, all the crappy, crappy players like Odubo and Familia

just this year alone, like the Velasquez's, the Franco's, like all the freaking crap we've been through and how alone, like the Velasquez's, the Broncos, like all the freaking crap we've been through and how Jack, like tonight with like the last two nights, have them do what they did last night and tonight to just go out and like handle business like a professional baseball team. Like I just, honestly, I'm like kind of speechless, man. I'm emotional. I'm like kind of speechless man I'm emotional um um I'm I'm so freaking happy Jack Fritz how you doing pal I I think I'm so happy that I can't formulate a sentence like

I legitimately think my brain was short-circuiting in like the eighth and ninth inning because I was so freaking nervous like I gave myself a headache again this like this was just a wild card round series now now I know the most intense thing I've experienced dude in years man and play dude playoff baseball it there is nothing more intense in my entire life than playoff baseball. And I can't. Dude, let me just start this off by saying I am so God forsaken proud of this baseball team. I am so damn proud of them. I am so proud of what they just showed. That's a baseball win. That's a baseball

team. That's a different team. That's winners. That is freaking winners. And for years, null of this, null of that. They're never going to come through. They're going to choke. That's what they do. They always will let

you down. And they always will let you down. And they didn't let us down. Even though I've seen them lose that game 4 million times, they lose that game every single freaking time. And in the biggest moment in 11 years, 11 years. In 11 years, the biggest moment for this freaking baseball team, Aaron Nola shoved. All right? Aaron Nola shoved. Bryce Harper went, yeah, yeah.

He went, yeah, yeah, in a deciding game two. You had Jose Alvarado coming in a big spot and get out of it and come back and get another out. You had Sir Anthony Dominguez, who no one had confidence in, throwing 1-0 sliders to Nolan Arenado and then said, see ya. You had Zach Efflin, who has been dealing with Neath troubles and never thought he would get back this season, who just closed it out. And you had Edmundo Sosa, who the Cardinals gave up on making the same play that Chooch made to send his team to the World Series in 08 in the same exact spot, in the same exact spot. What a baseball game. What an exhilarating moment for us, this fan base, everyone involved. I, I, I,

I am, I am just, I'm so happy. And one final thing before I throw it back to you, buddy, is that freaking Yachty, Pujols, Wainwright, Michael K and A-Rod, see ya, see ya, see ya. I don't want to hear it anymore. Take your baseball heaven and shove it. I don't want to hear about it anymore because the Phils just came in and took it down. I cannot believe it. I cannot believe what we just saw.

Oh, my God, buddy. What a night. it i cannot believe what we just saw yeah oh my god buddy what a nice yadier wainwright leave with all the fans who left in the top of the ninth inning last night because turns out they had the right idea because it was over from that moment in the night it was over and let me add one more to your and this and that how about and defensive superstar alec Boehm who was the best defensive third baseman in a playoff series with Nolan Arenado in it Alec Boehm Jack like is that something that like in a series with Nolan Arenado and Alec Boehm Alec Boehm was by far the superior defensive third baseman got the big hit with the double like again man like this team this team like they were the better team they were the team that came into this series and just did what they

had to do to win and to your point nola man like jack again like we joked about it going in but we saw playoff nola like i tweeted at you how when have i ever tweeted hey jack fritz blah blah blah like i don't do that stuff. I thought it was a fake account. I was compelled to because we watched playoff NOLA go out and dominate in a clinching game, Jack. Like, that was like, it's almost like the podcast fulfilled. Like, that was like the thing we wanted to see

and obviously we want so much more. But it feels like, again, it almost felt like it became like a joke or a urban legend or whatever. Like playoff Nola wasn't a thing. And like tonight, like our thing for the, like the entirety of our podcast, like was real before our eyes, Jack. Like we saw playoff Nola tonight and he was magical. He, dude, he was, he was magical, butoff Nolan tonight and he was magical. Dude, he was magical, but it's not even just that, dude.

They should have won that game 7-0. Oh, totally. Totally. They dominated it. And you and I and everyone listening to this podcast have seen them every time they wouldn't score, automatically the other team is scoring next inning. There was like three times tonight where Nolan just went out and was like, I got it.

Don't worry about it. 13 innings pitched this week, James, in a clinching game on Monday, in a game two on the road in St. Louis, where that crowd was, they were on fire. No earned runs. I mean, I don't want to, you know, evoke, oh, wait, Hamels. But, I mean, this is what we're seeing right now. And from our freaking guy, man, playoff Nola, I had given up on the idea of that ever happening,

especially in a big spot. But, dude, I just, I could not be happier to be wrong. I could not be happy to be wrong. And, like, just think about how good he's going to be wrong i i could not be happy to be wrong and like just think about how good he's going to be now that that this has been lifted off his shoulders this pressure this weight all of that like all and this is what we're saying heading into the series james was that you should first off should not have let the fills in i we said that very clearly i mean but and and you know what real quick real quick we're not one to do it and you

know we're not like a you know throw credit around especially to each other or to ourselves but you know credit where due the moment they clinch jack fritz was like they're winning the first series like i don't even know they're playing yet and they're winning like i feel so incredibly confident about it like not your style to be like over the top confident well done buddy well i mean you were the first to the first on that one well frankly then everyone was then everyone was like oh yeah they're winning it's like oh they're winning in two no problem you know it happens every year like every year a team sneaks in and the sixth seed and then goes on a run or not obviously it's the first time it's been a sixth seed but a last seed makes it in they go on a run and like we talked about it so much heading into this

series of like you know if they get in like that just making the playoffs was an accomplishment for this team just getting in and making the playoffs like that's why they're playing so tight for the last two weeks because they had that pressure of you're gonna collapse again you're gonna collapse again you're gonna collapse again and. You're going to collapse again. You're going to collapse again. And now they can just go play baseball, James. What was that team I was watching today? They didn't crumble. They played good defense. I mean, Rob

Thompson, he made some decisions at night that's like, listen, it's a big game. Every decision is going to be scrutinized. I cannot believe Castellanos was out there. I was watching the game with my buddy Tommy and shout out to our buddy Brandon Legatton

who unexpectedly came. I went to see my buddy Tommy and Brandon just showed up and it was amazing. We had a great time. But I'm literally yelling at both of them like, why is Castellanos in the game right now? Like what? Is Vierling hurt? Like what? I was like apoplectic. I was like sure that we were gonna

lose the game somehow because of like a liner to right that he can't get to or something yeah and and yeah it was and believe me i mean that ball that yadi hit and by the way the fact that they survived yadi somehow getting a base hit in in this year of 2022 is absurd um but it was just it was all night long and and putting putting alvarado back out there after getting a big out a huge moment um trusting sir anthony even though he struggled he has struggled mightily that's gonna give him a huge confidence boost he went against goldie and arenado and struck them both out like well and trusting him to let him go after those guys after you know at first it looked like he might get himself in a little trouble.

And then he settled in and got two massive outs. And it was just – it was like I didn't know the baseball team I was watching. Like, bone making the plays that he made. There were some things that, of course, they should have – like, the one move that people are going to yell about a lot, it had to have lost that game, was Segura punting. And in that moment, you know, you have two lefties on deck you have a lefty on the mound let's like i sagora should have shown you enough yesterday with what he did early in the game and what he did late in the game that you can trust him to get the runner over if he gets two strikes

on him um so so i would have trusted sagora more there um you know especially with two lefties coming up and whatever although at the same time like stott's your best contact guy so you know him striking out there is more surprising than anything but it all worked out james and like i've never been more nervous at this like i know the super bowl happened i get it i think because i was working like i didn't have the total nerves because i was like focused on three different things. That was the most intense I have felt during a sporting event, again, and forever, forever. And I legitimately felt like I was going to throw up. I gave myself a headache, but they got the job done. The Phillies are going to play the Braves, dude. We're having a Braves Cowboys week. Oh my God, what is happening?

What is happening? And we're going to get a home freaking playoff game at Citizens Bank Park. I can't wait, dude. And according to the website, it's already sold out. So we don't have to worry about the whole, oh, well, are they even going to get 45,000 plus for the playoff game? Yeah, because it's already sold out because this city, when they get behind the baseball team, they show up. And I. And, dude, like the games in Atlanta can happen, whatever. Get me to Friday night. Get me to Friday night. This is going to be the longest week of my life.

I don't care. It's going to be the longest week of my life. We got two playoff games in Atlanta and then a home playoff game on Friday. Oh, kill me. I'm going to be so happy. Dude, I'm so ready for it. Like, games at Citizen Bank Park was, like, one of the immediate things that I'm sure every Phillies fan thought about because it's, like, almost doesn't feel real to not have like games at citizen bank park was like one of the immediate things that i'm sure every phillies

fan thought about because it's like almost doesn't feel real to not have a playoff game because you know if it wasn't these stupid one game series they've done in years like we're not used to this three games all in one place thing like if you make the playoffs you get a game right like you get a home game you know it is it is special that we are going to get games back in that ballpark. And I just like, again, like I just I feel like the whole thing to your point, like the intensity of it, you're like for me, it's definitely the most intense sporting to sporting events and back to back days of the Phillies since the Super Bowl. For me, it's the most I've cared about a sporting event since then. And and in a lot of ways, it is more intense in the sense that

obviously it's not as important a game comparatively, but playoff baseball is just more intense. Like it just is. It is just more intense, especially the jump from regular season to baseball to playoff baseball. You know, it's just like going from like JV to varsity or going from like the minors to the majors, whatever you want to say. It's like a completely different game.

And every decision, every moment, every pitch matters. There's nothing better. There's nothing better, dude. Well, yes, I agree. But also like there's also nothing worse again. Oh, obviously. Yeah, it's way more excruciating. Dude, every dude,, every single base runner, I was like, this is it.

Well, like Bryce freaking Harper. Dude, and I think he actually was safe. The replay really did look like he was safe. I don't care if he was safe. I agree. He deserved to be out. I don't care if he was safe. He deserved to be out.

Dude, you've done that way too many times in that spot. What the hell are you thinking? What are you thinking? You're like Mr. Baseball. That was infuriating. Buturiating but but but that homer was massive dude and and and they needed that I said to you on the radio when we were on today I'm like like I think Noel is going to be good tonight but if they could like score some runs for him and obviously didn't score many early but like get him a lead let him him out in front, let him have a little bit of a cushion to work with.

And it being Bryce in that moment, like, you know, our first Bryce, like real, you know, the walk, like our first Bryce playoff moment in a Phillies uniform. And it was a fricking moonshot, magical, like beautiful home run. And again, you know, not to go back to what we're doing before, but if I am going to like be doling out credit, to go back to what we were doing before, but if I am going to be doling out credit, I will say I was literally right before the pitch saying to my buddy Tommy and BLG,

you know, Bryce has got a justice approach. He just doesn't have the power because of the hand thing. Like, worry about singles, worry about doubles, and then boom. So, you know, I don't know if that's credit or not, but I definitely feel like it played a role, you know? Well, here's what i'll say is that uh first off uh you know bryce is our guy and i needed him to have a good a playoff moment like i love the daycare i love the daycare guys i love schwarbs you know

what i love the guys that have been here but like bryce is the guy you signed and bryce is the guy that is here to help this team win a World Series. And for the first time in his career, he's out of the first round of the playoffs. Wow. And he's in the division. I knew that, but I forgot about it in the moment. I've known that before, but I didn't think about it. That's so wild, Josh.

Well, it's not the first time he's been in the division or round, but it's the first playoff series he's won. I know, I know. But still, like, it's crazy to think it's the first time he's won a round in the playoffs, to put it that way, is wild. Well, and especially because he's, you know, he's been the face of baseball since he was 16, you know. And, hey, hey, it took LeBron a long time to figure out how to do it. And, you know, good for him, man.

Like, he's here in a deciding game two on the road when the crowd is going, you know, nuts. And, you know, I thought Nicholas was, I don't know, man. They should have killed Nicholas, but whatever. You know, in that moment, him having that homer, it's like, bang, there's our guy. And he torched it, man. Like, it was a bomb. It's the best ball he's hit since he's been back.

It was, like, or at least the most, like, Bryce, most like Bryce like no doubt about he's hit the opposite fields of that was like the first no doubt about it tank shot that he's hit since he's been back yeah and and again to do it at that moment um you know and and again part of being a leader and and part of being the superstar on the team is calming everyone else's nerves you you know, and being, you know, a guy they look to. Right. It's like I'm looking to you to calm me down because you're the vet. You're the guy who should know about this. He's been here before. Yep. And, you know, in their deciding game on Monday, Schwarber did it.

And in a deciding game, too, it was Nola and it was Harper. And you kind of just let everyone else play um and everyone else did dude like uh i i i can't believe we had a bone game you know honestly a bone series like bone was really good all series long defensively i mean arguably the best player like best non-pitcher on the team this year. Yeah, best position player. Yeah, that's what I'm saying, you know? For sure. And, you know, but him hitting that home run in that spot, it's like, okay, now we go.

The double, the double. Oh, you're talking about Bryce. I thought you went to – Yeah, Bryce. Because that was a big double, too. That was a big double in that spot. And, again, like, the defensive plays he made, like, over both games. You know, obviously we talked about the stands, but the pools double play in that spot. And again, like the defensive plays he made, like over both games.

You know, obviously we talked about the stands, but the pools double play in that moment, the stress of that, and the play he made tonight on Arenado. Like that was, you know, maybe it was among, considering the moment, maybe the best defensive plays ever made as a Philly. And the Yachty play.

And the Yachty play too. That should have been a double down the line. Dude, to think about, like, literally ever since the I bleep and hate this place moment. Like, if you just look at Alec Boehm, like, the trajectory of that guy, like, from that moment until now, like, I mean, think about it. I mean, he's been, he's turned into what we wanted him to be. You know, obviously we want more power this and that but like he's like a really good hitter who we trust in big spots and is like not just playing passable third base he's playing like good third base it's it's it's wild jack it is but again i i feel like i don't recognize this team like they keep they keep doing things that I'm so not used to seeing,

like not crumpling in big moments, stepping up on the road, Alec Boehm making stud defensive plays. Do they need to come through and get a big hit every once in a while? Absolutely. Because, again, dude, they significantly outplayed the Cardinals this series. Like significantly. They should have won. Game one, I think, should have been at least tied heading into the ninth.

Game two, they should have won that game 5-0. You know, they should have dominated that game. And as we go along here, do they need to start coming through? Do their big guys need to show up? Does Nick Castellanos look like he wants to be here? Yes, like, of course. Dude, play Vierling. Just play.

Like, not just, obviously, in the ninth, that was, like, honestly it's the one of the worst decisions we've seen topper make not putting veerling in there in the ninth but outside of that just play veerling anyway he's better he's just a better i trust him more as an all-around player especially in playoff baseball like we're gonna be winning games two nothing two one three one three two like that's what the majority look that that mariners game was wild and and you know chad's the m's for getting through two like that's what the majority look that that mariners game was wild and and you know chad's the m's for getting through to like 10 9 that was crazy or down 8 1 it was a wild game but like that's the the exception not the rule like most to play off baseball is these ones the two nothing the you know two nothing game that turns into a bit of a blowout because they score six

of the ninth like that kind of stuff but you know, you, you're going to need to play this way to win these type of games, you know? Yeah. And I got one message for Atlanta, James. Are you ready for it? Never been more ready. It's a different Phil's club than, than you've seen in years past. Like this is a different Phillies team. They have confidence.

They went on the road to St. Louis to get the job done. Now it's road to St. Louis to get the job done now it's time to go to Atlanta get the job done I mean much like St. Louis I feel like there's a lot of pressure on on Atlanta obviously them winning the World Series last year you know there's not as much pressure but I just I mean it has to be said that the the team that we have seen the last two nights have been a different baseball team. And I feel like Atlanta is looking at this and saying, oh, thank God we got the Phils.

And my message to Atlanta is this isn't the same Phils. This is a different Phillies team. Wheeler, Nola doing that in St. Louis is massive. Now they feel like they can go into anywhere and win. It seems like Rangers are going to pitch game one, which is fine. Honestly, it's better than if you'd had to have Ranger and you had to, like, go falter or whatever. Like, I think I'd rather have Ranger in one, you know?

Like, that was the better outcome. And he's been dominant his last two starts against the Braves, too. And again, he's freaking cool as a cucumber, it seems, in any situation. I'm super excited to see him, you know, how, like, maybe his heart will be even slower in these situations yeah then you have wheels in game two and in the first home playoff game oh playoff nolan home buddy yeah buddy first home god it's synchronicity there has been a lot of like poetry with this stuff you know we talked about so much like clinching with the nolan afflin thing you know the poetry of gene getting the winning hit in that spot last night the poetry of nola

being the guy tonight to clinch it out and harper getting the big home run just it really does feel like you know it feels special like it really does so far like a lot of this has felt you know really like you know storybook ish and obviously it's way early in the look the Braves have been better than them and the Braves should be the favorite they freaking won the World Series last year they have a bunch of dudes who know how to win these games and all that but like you know to the point you made before the playoff started I think it's even more true now is like I wouldn't want to play the Phillies. That's it.

That's it. That's it. I mean, I feel like they have something like kind of cooking. Like they're kind of like last year. Like I knew the Braves were going to win the world series last year. Oh yeah. You could feel it. I bet on them.

I was like, screw it. Like I want to make some money. Like they're, they are way underrated. Like this team has something like they have something special jock peterson with his dumb ass pearls like all that stuff like it like there was just like a vibe to that team that quote was like yeah we're just those bleeping dudes or whatever like they

had like a swag and a vibe where it was like all right like i don't think anyone's gonna beat them like the phillies aren't there yet they haven't like you know gotten those moments and develop it quite there yet but they definitely like like I really like the vibe is what I'm saying you know well and and I think we talked about that yesterday it's like we remember sitting there I knew exactly when the Nationals were going to win the World Series I knew exactly what the Braves were going to win the World Series and it was stuff like what happened with the Phillies out in St. Louis I'm just telling you that's what it was and like what happened with the Phils out in St. Louis. I'm just telling you, that's what it was. And, again, don't let the Phils take one in Atlanta.

Don't let them do it. You bury them. If you're the Braves, you've got to bury this team. You've got to take two at home, and you've got to bury them and make sure that crowd is dampened on Friday night. Because, if not, you're going to have – just think about this, James. If you don't bury the Phils, if you don't bury them in games one and two,

you are going to have a fan base that has waited 11 years for a home playoff game. It's going to be insane, dude. Hold on. Hold on. Hold on. You're going to have the Phillies fan base that has waited 11 years for a home playoff game in combination with the first Eagles-Cowboys game of the year. Oh, my God.

Like, it's going to be – this fan base is going to be, like, rabid on this weekend. They're going to be on another level. And if they go out and they, you know, you split in Atlanta and you take game three on Friday. Saturday night, an impossible closeout game? Buddy. An impossible freaking closeout game with Fritz in attendance on Friday night?

I mean, it's just going to be – this is going to be the longest and best week of my life. I really believe it's going to be the best week of my life. I love it, buddy. So far, you know, I'm not going to lie, this weekend has been up there with the best weekends of my life. Like, what up? And let me speak for Jack Fritz, for me too, but even more for Jack Fritz. Thank you, Phillies, for winning it in two

so Jack didn't have to be on the radio tomorrow and, like, suffering in desperate sadness, like, trying to pay attention to a a late night Phillies deciding playoff game while doing it. Like, I'm so happy for you, buddy. Like I was like dreading that eventuality for you,

dude. I would have been fired. Like, I'm just telling you, I would, you wouldn't have heard me on the radio again. The, the,

the amount of times I've been pacing around my apartment, just saying loser, loser. Like it just saying, loser, loser. Like, it's just, I have not handled this playoff series well. Now, like, I've been keeping it together. But I'm just saying, like, if I had to do that on the radio tomorrow, like, it would have been bye-bye Jack. Like, no more Jack on WIP, 100%. Like, it would have been, the career would have been gone.

Because this series has taken, I legitimately think, a year off my life at least. Again, both nights I gave myself a headache, which is just insane. I'm sitting there. I had to keep going. It's like a child. You're like a child who gets so worked up that they can't control themselves and they get so worked up that they get a headache or they throw up or whatever. You're like a child in that way like your love for the phillies is literally

childlike i think that that comes through very apparently yeah um and the other thing that was happening was that like i mean i had i had beers when we got home off the show me too i was feeling pretty good at a diverse bit dude by the seventh inning, I felt nothing. I was on pins and needles again. The Phils are bus killers, man. That's why I'm drinking the Miller Lite. Obviously, shout out to Miller Lite. We love you.

Presented by Miller Lite. I'm drinking it as much just because I was completely sobered up by the last few innings. I'm like, I need to drink something. I know. I know. I know. But all well worth it, dude. I just...

This has been such a weird feeling, man. This has been such a weird... We never thought it was going to happen. We never thought we'd be doing these pods. Full disclosure, I never thought they'd win a playoff series again. You know, I thought they'd make the playoffs again, but winning a playoff series,

that was a big ask. And the fact that we're here and the fact that they played so well and there's a little Team of Destiny vibes with this team. You know, like little Phil's Mariners World Series. It's just – I just – I'm so happy. Like I don't have – like I'm just so happy. And that's what baseball is, man.

And that's why – this is why you and i do this and and why i you me whatever we get so frustrated and we hear oh baseball so boring oh baseball this baseball that like dude if you thought these last two nights have been boring like you just hate sports and you just like you just don't appreciate good sports. That is sport at its purest form. Clutch moments, drama. I mean, Michael Kay and A-Rod, I mean, they were trying so damn hard to will a Cardinals comeback. I mean, I thought I was listening to a home broadcast, but we survived.

Like, they survived. And, listen, are they piecemealing the bullpen together? Yeah. Is Zach Eflin the closer now? I guess so. I mean, kind of clearly he is, yes. It can't be overstated that Zac Eflin, who has never closed a game until Monday, has pitched in back-to-back games on the road in a playoff series

and, like, has thrown strikes. Listen, he doesn't have 99. He doesn't have classic closer stuff. But, man, he just throws strikes well jack real quick i'll bet you i i'm not uh you know elias sportsbury or anything like that but i'm gonna say this as if it is a fact because i feel so confident it like has to be zach evelyn is the first player in major league baseball history to get his first two saves on a playoff clinching regular season win to get in the

playoffs and then a playoff game saving a playoff clinching series win he's absolutely the first player that's ever happened to it has to be how's that for analytics i mean that sounds like right that sounds like that sounds like a legitimate stat we'll go with it i just ran it by our sports bureau here and they agreed with you so that's a good sign. Good. And listen, I don't know. Again, I don't want to use numbers that are made up. But, I mean, Zac Eflin's basically what John Smoltz was when we gave a closer. Done it accurately in the late 80s, 90s.

Yep. Yep. Same guy. Zac Eflin. Same guy. I agree. Yeah. Well, guess what?

Guess who's picking up that $15 million option this offseason? This team. But yeah, dude, it's just like the stuff that has happened is insane. It's just insane, man. Like, what are we watching? What are we watching? Last time we watched Gene Segura have a massive hit. We watched Nolan Arenado make a massive misplay.

We watched Paul Goldschmidt make a dumbass play to, like, throw home. We watched Aaron Nola go out and dominate on the road for a guy that no one thought could win a big game to go and do that. We saw Zac Eflin on bad knees going out and and going shove steady in the ninth we see Jose Alvarado who no one trusted three months ago now like the everyone's like he's our guy Sir Anthony no one trusted bang back like David Robertson oh he's gonna walk the ballpark one two three yesterday what Alex Boehm can't play defense. Like, it outshines Nolan Arenado. James, what in the world are we watching right now? Jack, I think the best way I can put it is the chances of that stuff happening were infinitesimal.

That's really the best way I can put it. Well, as someone that has known that word for a long time, I would agree that they were infinite. It is unbelievable. All right, Jack, last thing I have, and then if you have anything, throw it in. But we've spent this whole pod heaping praise on the Phillies and really bathing in our glory of finally getting to record this podcast

that we dreamed of and thought would never happen. I got to put a little dose of reality in here and, and rip us real quick, a quick mea culpa. And I want to rip myself, but like significantly more rip you because as people will hear, people will know. Yeah. I think if we're going to be honest that you can't claim to be the one who's the authority in this, I'm not, I'm the one who gets ripped for it. But I did get to listen to Scott Franski, and I chatted to my buddy for Tommy for having, you know, the syncing up and all that.

And we've always kind of deferred to Scott on such things. He was calling him Miles Michaelis all game. All game. And we've been calling him Miles Michaelis. And, you know, for me me that's just another pod but for you you know i feel like you ever want an apology mr you know i get baseball players names right guy and i will rip james every single time he even comes close to messing one up um you know what do you have to say miles michaelis apparently that's his name according to scott franski well like i've always said franski's wrong per usual um i can't believe

we that's not the angle i expected i like this this is good i can't believe we trust this guy with major broadcasts um maybe it's maybe i mean listen it's been 11 seasons 11 years since he called a big game uh maybe he forgot that it's Myles Mikolas. Yeah. Maybe be a professional for me one time, Scott. That's what I would say. Because it's definitely Myles Mikolas. Yes, that makes sense.

That's good. It could also definitely be Myles Mikolas. And I forget who called him Mikolas for the first time. I mean, I've definitely always called him Nicholas. I'm definitely wrong on that. Oh, so it's your fault. So it's your fault. You spun it around there.

Well, I always called him Michaelis until I met you. Oh, really? That sounds totally accurate. I love it. Yeah, you thought you had me in a corner, buddy, didn't you? You thought you had me. a corner, buddy, didn't you? You thought you had me. And what did I do? Much like the Phils, I persevered.

And I got through it. And here we are. Hey, Jack, I got two words for you, buddy. Grow up. All right? Never, buddy. Never. I know.

All right. You got anything else? What else you got? Dude, I got so much else. I got so much else, dude. Big game. Big game take back. First off, this is now.

What is this? The we're approaching at least three and a half hours of talking to each other today. Oh, this is the most I hope. Yeah. Today alone with the radio show. And this is the most I hope we've ever done in a short period of time. It is also for anyone who, I'm sure we have some new listeners who are on or whatever, but the people who listen,

it is 12.50 in the morning, and Jack can go as long as he wants. That's where I'm at. I'm so happy, baby. Dude, let me tell you something. No complaints, buddy. I know it says 12.50. It feels like nine. I couldn't be more on cloud nine.

I can't wait to see the celebrations. Dude, they're going to celebrate in the clubhouse again tonight. That's special, man. That is freaking special. Seeing them be able to pour champagne and chug beers and bond.

Again, this is just the beginning. This is just the freaking beginning for this team. The window is just opening now. And this is special. This is great. I love every minute of it. But get used to this. Get used to this.

The fact that this team has gotten over the hump and won a playoff series on the road again in St. Louis. Get used to this. Winners, James. Winners. All right. Let me just run through my stream of consciousness. I'll just run through my stream of consciousness.

Is that fair? Do your thing, buddy. I'm laying back. Nola out of the first inning was massive. Nupar leads off the game with a double. Bang. Nola out of the first inning was massive. Newt Barr leads off the game with a double. Bang. Nola out of it. That's, again, the first time where I was like,

hmm, might have something different here. Bryce was an absolute crowd silencer. That was a crowd silencer, a big moment on the road where he went out and dominated. I don't remember what happened. Dude, I remember. I'm not lying to you. When I tell you I believe my brain short-circuited,

I don't think I was lying. I forgot how they scored runs in the eighth inning. I was like, hold on. How did they get up 2-0 again? And I was like, all right, Bryce went yeah, yeah. And the second one was like a little Schwarber sack fly. But I do not remember how the Schwarber sack fly happened. I've got to be honest with you. I was so locked in, I do not remember how the Schwarber Zach fly happened. I gotta be honest with you.

Like I was so locked in. I couldn't remember it. Um, I don't know. Like Nola's fifth. I had written down Bryce's base running was in. Well, the,

what was it? The, whatever it was, the fifth or six for Noel, the one where after that, like total bad vibes inning where Harper had the, like thrown out at second and then boom gets almost, or it does get picked off.

And like, like it would like, should have been first off on purpose. Yeah. Whatever. But he didn't get the run to score as a point. It should have been first and third, no outs.

And all of a sudden they're out of the inning. Like it felt like such a bad vibes inning. And for Noah to come out and like shove that next inning, I thought that was the most important half inning of his game. And listen, I'm not one to tweet feels like a loss, but I really, there was about three different times where I was like, this feels like a loss because it did. Like it did.

But yeah, like the base running mistakes, it's like, okay, here we go. Here's where they score. And the, the boom, it was interesting. Like I didn't hate the idea of, of sending the base runner and seeing what would happen. If I was boom, it was interesting. I didn't hate the idea of sending the base runner and seeing what would happen. If I was boom, I probably would have just taken second base because it seemed like they were giving it to you

and let Marshy see what he can do. I just think that Goldschmidt was running towards him, and he seemed like he had an easy throw home. And I think if he throws the ball, I think the second baseman has an easy throw home too. They didn't make him work. So listen, chalk it up as a learning experience, whatever, but that is playoff baseball.

We need to figure those things out. Yeah, I'm right there with you. The bunt, like, listen, it happened. I understand why they did it. Didn't like it in that situation. And last thing was that I had written down, because I don't remember the last two innings, was Jose Alvarado had strike three, and it should have been out of the inning.

Oh, totally, totally. It was called a ball. Yeah, the umping has not been. This guy was better than last night, but the umping has not been high level. I'm just looking at my TV, and I looked up to see the Bryce tank shot again like such a good way to put it I love that you called it a crowd silencer that really what it was like that was like a take the crowd out of the game and honestly I really think the Cardinals got taken out of the game after the ninth inning last night like the whole game their body language was bad it felt like they were out

of it honestly I think Nolan Arenado ever ever since the wind stopped his homer, it felt like he was totally checked out of the series. Like, totally, like, complaining, making mistakes, this and that. Like, it just, you know, to the whole point you keep saying, like, you know, really, they exercised the demons from 2011, and it just really felt like such an unfillies like series. You know, they,

they were the team that executed better, that played better defense, that pitch better, that came through in the big moments. It was like, you know, all this stuff they haven't done for 11 years, Jack,

like literally for 11 years, they haven't done this stuff. Dude, they, you, I, our listeners, the day one IOS people, the Phils have not played that style of baseball. And is it refreshing to see they can?

Yeah. And is that something that I think they're only going to build on? Yeah, I do. But it's just like I have never felt less intimidated by a 93-win baseball team than I did with this Cardinals team. Goldschmidt's great, whatever. He's also been terrible for a month. Arenado has been terrible for a month.

Dude, miss me with the whole Pujols nonsense and the Yachty nonsense. The player I was most afraid of was Lars Neutbar by the end. It's like, I'm supposed to take this team seriously? German handball superstar Lars Neutbar. Yeah, like Juan Yepes. That ends, man. That ends this week because, dude, the Phils beating the Braves would obviously mean way more to me than the Eagles beating the Cowboys, but this is my Eagles-Cowboys.

Being able to knock the freaking Braves out of the playoffs would mean so much to me. And are they winners, and does it make me nervous? Yeah. But at the same time, James, and maybe this is a, you can tell me right now, straight to my face through Skype, if this is a loser mentality,

but it's house money at this point. Oh no, it totally is. It was house money for this round. Like again, this was a team that everyone counted out. It's a team that almost collapsed, almost blew it, had 11 years since making the playoffs.

Like honestly, like, you know, it, had 11 years since making the playoffs. Honestly, it means so much more because they won it. But if, and we didn't think they were going to do it, but if they had lost two in a row after winning that first game, I would still look back at that game one with such fond memories ultimately. In the moment it would hurt, we'd be bummed and stuff. But when I look back at that Gene hit that game, the feeling I had watching the Phillies in the playoffs again for the first time in 11 years for me like I would look back on it fondly even though we lost the series and now I can look back on it like

so much more fondly and meaningfully and hopefully it becomes that much more meaningful you know down the road if if things happen but like the point is that even though they won, if they hadn't, I still feel like this was such a, it sounds sad, but a beautiful experience for me. I'm serious, man. I'm serious. We love this team, and it's been so long since we saw this, man. It felt so special to watch it again, and for them to win the game,

the way they did, it was just like, I like, it was really, it was like a beautiful day. Like it was a beautiful moment. It was something I'll never forget. And like,

thank God they won tonight. Cause it's that much cooler. But like, to your point about house money, you know, I, I think it's totally true. Like I want them to win more and stuff, but I'm, I'm just so grateful we got this, you know i i think it's totally true like i want them to win more and stuff but i'm i'm just

so grateful we got this you know and grateful is a great word and i i want to get this podcast up for our audience as as quickly as possible um just to so unlike you to not just you know keep going for no i'm gonna i'm gonna i'm gonna you know not be a me guy in this situation and make sure that our audience can get this as fast as possible. But I guess my final message here to you and to everyone out there,

the high hosts that have been here since day one is that man, James and I love you guys so much. Celebrate this. Celebrate what just happened. And celebrate winning a game and winning a series on the road in what people are calling baseball heaven. Like, celebrate Michael K and A-Rod openly rooting and begging for a Cardinals comeback.

And honestly, seeming unprepared for a Phillies team coming in and and winning a series and you know think about our guys and think about the the the players that that we have argued over that that we have thought maybe they're not winners like they just like did some players step up did some players not yeah but as a team they just went on the road and they won a playoff series against a team that won 93 games um Zach Wheeler was unbelievable Aaron Nola was unbelievable like that gives you a chance in every single series and that is like we're gonna look back on this cardinal series is like special it's just a special special moment to be a phillies fan because for 11 years and 10 seasons we haven't felt this and is it intense yeah do i feel like i'm just catching my breath yeah because

that's what playoff baseball does to us and that's what makes it such a special sport and that's what makes it 162 games uh you know year after year worth it is for a playoff series like that um and i i am no longer doubting the phils like I said earlier, but don't let them win a game in Atlanta because you're coming into a frenzy on Friday and Saturday that like, frankly, I cannot freaking wait for. I cannot wait for it. So enjoy this. Have a great night. Have a great morning. If you're waking up this, if if you're if you're sitting there and there's coffee uh roasting in the pot pour yourself a big old cup of coffee enjoy this podcast enjoy everything call your loved ones because the phils won a playoff series for a

team that hasn't done this in a while, this is going to sound like a World Series podcast. And I don't care, James. I could not care less because we deserve this. You deserve this. Everyone deserves this because it's been a hellish, hellish 10 seasons. And we've made it back. I couldn't be happier. We are back in postseason baseball. We have felt what postseason Phillies big games have felt like. They're only going to get better from this. And I can't wait

for Tuesday, dude. I cannot wait for Tuesday. I can't wait to see if we continue to see a different baseball team down in Atlanta. What a moment. What a time. I love you. I love our listeners. I love everyone. I love the Phillies. What a moment. What a day. What a night. Shout out to Knowles. Shout out to everyone. Couldn't be happier. Go Phils, man. Go freaking Phils. Love it. Honestly, like nothing else to say. You deserve this. It's a perfect thing to say say like this pod has always been billed as the the podcast for the disease phillies fan and there is no one who deserves this more there's no one who appreciates it more and um to jack's point it's a beautiful thing that we get more of it and we can't wait to to talk to you through it so guess guess what? More pods coming. More playoff baseball pods coming.

Oh, my God. It's so awesome. I love you, buddy. I love everyone. I can't wait to talk to you next week about the Phillies and the Braves playing the NLDS. This is the coolest thing ever. I'm the happiest person in the world, other than Jack Fritz,

who is actually the single happiest person in the world. Go, Phils. He's Fritz himself. We'll see you next week. Go Phils. He's read some stuff.