High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Final Out: Aaron Nola Keeps The Momentum Going

Episode Date: August 17, 2024

Jack Fritz reacts to Aaron Nola's dominant performance and Trea Turner's walk-off single in the Phillies' 3-2 win over the Nationals on Friday night. 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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Two two again, swung on, hit deep. This might go, that ball is off the wall. Game is over. Trey Turner wins it. With a wall ball to left and the Phillies celebrate a three two walk off win. Never a doubt. Welcome on in.

It is the final out sponsored by Regency Furniture. Affordable never looks so good. Jack Fritz hanging out with you on this Friday night, a win day. A couple wins this week. Riding the ship here a little bit tonight. Not as inspiring as the other games this week. But overall, as we said

through a majority of last year's Eagle season a wins a win. Welcome on in 215-592-9494 is how you get in the game wrap up sponsored by Blaser Swiss Lube and Crevice the metalworking fluid specialists providing professional CNC machine cleaning coolant maintenance programs and waste coolant disposal Crevice dot online if you're stuck in traffic Trying to get out of there another sellout crowd and another great crowd that had to stay around to the end because you know It was a tight ballgame and you can't leave you can't leave it the two nothing ballgame in the knife If you're stuck in traffic, we'd love to hear from you. Two one five five nine two

94 94 a lot to react to. Let's get into it all right now. The biggest takeaway of the game, brought to you by Morgan & Morgan, America's largest injury law firm. And the biggest takeaway is tonight was an escape. You know, obviously, if you listen to the afternoon show today, if you listen to most of the station today, the sentiment was, they're back. Fills are back. And through the last two games, it was like they're back. You know,

the, the Schwerber home run, the team meeting, adding on last night, the Weston Wilson cycle coming out and jumping on the nationals for nothing in the first inning. Tonight was a bit of a grind, a bit of a let down spot. And I think if you are in the camp of they're not back yet tonight was a good example of okay maybe they're they're not to be fully trusted yet tonight was 100% an escape wasn't they they scored the two runs early two out hits which I love to see I think that stuff matters because when this team was playing at their best it was a lot of two-out hits at one point again

They're about 288 with two outs and runners in scoring position that Disappeared during the time when they were playing at their worst So it's good to see that but the offense just couldn't add on. I mean Patrick Corbin is is Patrick Corbin Listen, he got them a world championship. He was fantastic in 2019 It was still a massive bullet dodge by this Phillies team because he is just so cocked. I mean, he's already got what 12 losses this year He stinks and and the Phillies were not able to really capitalize on they did hit some balls hard, but you know, you got to kind of

Put some some runs across for me to do the whole well, you know put together good at bats thing so, you know the offense didn't really add on and Then Nola who which is my biggest my second biggest takeaway the game and I thought he was good I just thought he's kind of fighting himself like it's one of those Nola starts where he's fighting himself and It's one of those things where if that's a better team tonight, is that a totally different story? I tend to believe it is the pitch count is sponsored by the plumbers union local 690 Protecting the health of the nation visit plumber 690 at org. You throw 111 111 pitches, which was his season high a

lot of pitches and It's okay. I mean, you know you want to try to get them through that inning, you know, let them go out on a high note, but still like given where the staff is right now, they did need to save some bullpen arms and I get it, but that's a lot of pitches for, you know, he saw Ranger throw a lot of pitches and Wheeler throw a lot of pitches. You know, I would, I would like a bit of managing right now, but I also appreciate going forward. I appreciate pushing these guys because you know, they've,

they've teetered here a little bit and he got to write this ship right now. But I thought he was kind of dancing in and out of trouble. Credit to Aaron. Last couple of starts feels like he would let a big home run. And I was facing the team in major league baseball. That's hit the least amount of home runs. So they don't really have the firepower to make you, you pay from that instance, but dance in and out of trouble. Didn't think he had top tier command, but he battled tonight.

So you give him credit for battling. I think there was still a little bit left to be desired from the holes tonight, but ultimately, I mean, six and two thirds of shutout baseball, you definitely take. I just, my bigger concern would be how does that go against a better opponent? But so tonight you had an escape, you had offense not be able to add on, Nolop dancing in and out of trouble. They did some good things late. You know, that was kind of early season fills ish where they're locked,

they're able to lock in and play good baseball late Brandon Marsh good to see him smoke a ball off the wall Cal Stevenson listen, that's a big win for Joe in the Northeast Cal Stevenson able to get down a perfectly executed bunt And they did not screw up with having the bases loaded a no-outs They didn't screw up Trey had obviously a monster night and that is that is good to see two one five five nine two Ninety four ninety four to get in so those my first two big takeaways my last big takeaway is is probably the most important of tonight is I Mentioned today on the afternoon show that

while I think they're back while I think that they broke the seal and they're getting back to playing good baseball and like I think we're gonna see more good than bad from this fillies team. If it ends in a World Series, we'll all be happy. But you know, like the one thing that is holding me back from really being super cannonballing off the deep end is I just don't totally trust the bullpen because there's a lot of important arms that I have more questions than answers on. And one of those arms is Carlos Estevez,

who had not had a lot of runs since like May 3rd before he came over here, blew the save tonight. He, like a lot of the underlying numbers when they traded for him were worrisome. You know, he had his best walk rate of his career. He had a fly ball rate of about 56%. He wasn't striking out that many people. And so far in his Phillies tenure, you're kind of seeing that stuff come back to bite them and he feels more like a Robertson trade than really trading for a lockdown guy. I don't think that the Estavos trade netted them a lockdown closer.

I think he's a good bullpen piece, but I don't trust him in the ninth. They're going to give him the ninth because I think they really want to have Hoffman be this roving guy, which if I had a better option in the ninth, I think I'd be more okay with. The problem is like that ninth inning we know is a tight rope. We know it's a tough spot. It's a balance for this team and it's something that Rob Thompson have to deal with here because Hoffman such a good strikeout guy that you want to be able to bring him into a messy inning and Have him get his way out of it. But at the same time you're just leaving yourself exposed Later in the game and like it's Davis is just not a good enough strikeout guy

to bring into a dirty inning and expect them to kind of get out of it. So I think the most worrisome I guess part of the Estevez trade is that I think they traded premium for pretty good. And like that's my concern is that they're gonna keep giving these nines But we're seeing a guy that pitches to contact a lot That struggles to get that slider over change-ups just to show me pitch and the fastball while it's 99 It's pretty flat So between estevez between kirkering who I think is struggling

pretty mightily here like it hasn't looked as lockdown as it did around the time of the London series. And then Alvarado, who I just, of all those three, he's the one I'm most worried about because we've just seen a huge stuff decline. Like we've seen his stuff flatten out. He's gone from 101 to 98. We've seen everything kind of flatten out.

And what made this team on paper so dangerous and so special was you had the starting rotation, which is obviously phenomenal. You had a lineup that was playing baseball the right way. It wasn't all home run or bust when they were 2 and 1 1 into the season. They were 45 and 19. They were doing all the little things well.

They were moving runners along. They were getting hits with runners in scoring position. But also at that point, the Hoffman-Straum run was well on, Alvarado was pitching really, really well, and Kirkland was developing into his own. Now, like they got a lot of question marks in that bullpen that need to get righted if this team's gonna go on a run. So again, they won very very happy they won

That's three straight means I gotta run three miles tomorrow very happy to do it but there's definitely still some signs here of I Don't know two one five five nine two 94 94 to get in on the final out of your stuck in traffic We'd love to talk to you But on the other side a big night for one Philly and two Phillies that I think have righted the ship. All that's coming up next on The Final Out

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We'd just like to point out, you know, obviously, you know, desperate times call for desperate measures. Wasn't on the final out during the, the away series, during the, the 10 game road trip, things kind of fell apart. The running bit went away for a little bit. I was challenged by my good friend Chris in Middletown to bring it back, to really try to change the mojo of the season. Also in the ninth inning, I put a live bet on Nationals' money line.

We got you covered in all three phases. A, my record on the final out is pretty impeccable. I mean, since I took over last year, it's been a pretty good run. The running bet, you know, miles for Phil's wins. We had a start at the bottom, you know, I've said it in the past, I don't start until at least three miles.

Well, we went back to the drawing board and we got back to one and then betting against the Phillies when they're leading and you can get pretty good odds on the other team to help win a ball game. At this time, when they struggled as much as they did, you gotta kind of put the city and the team on your back and it's just, it's these kinds of moments

that you just gotta be built for. And we're doing whatever it takes to right the ship here and drag this Phillies team down the stretch front. We'll get to some thoughts here on some big nights for some Phillies they need to get going here. But, it's time to check in with Black Birdie. What's happening BG? No, no.

You're doing what you need to do to help the team. We appreciate you, brother. Just doing what I. We appreciate just just doing what I can man Just doing what I can am I allowed to be happy? I'm so scared. Yeah, how do you want to be at that? I feel like last week. We would have lost this game like Closed game like that. I feel like last week with a lot. I totally agree and Even the thing this is listen they're not gonna play flawless every single game you like them play flawless against the Nationals we know that but like that was an early season kind of

win where they they kind of blow it but they left no doubt I'm able to just wrap it up quickly and not leave us you know worried about extra innings yeah I mean and that's the thing too because you you get the feeling, you get the vibe. Just push through it. And that's all I want to see him do right now. Push through it when it gets tough, because every game is going to be like, it is baseball. We know that there's swumsters up and down.

But my goodness, push through it. And the night I was screaming, and then I was happy, and then I cried. I mean, I look real bad on Twitter. I'm yelling at Trey, like, what are you swinging at? Well, hold on. You were firing Thompson three days ago. Well, you know, I mean, I was upset.

I was upset. Come on, man, it was his birthday today. It's his birthday today. Happy birthday. Don't be bringing up old stuff. I gotta tell you, I love you. And we're happy now. We are happy.

Don't be bringing up old stuff. So it was nice to see Nola go deep, too. I was like, what are we doing out here? We're pushing that to the limit too and a really tight game But I mean, you know, let him get his 100 pitches I guess but I feel better I feel better cuz like I said last week the game wouldn't end that way But go ahead and keep doing your miles do your push-ups I want to start pushing the campaign for this never a doubt tattoo thing

We get this world series running but I wait for an October so I push that out there. I appreciate you know, no Alright, there he goes BG. Yeah, I mean how does he know I've been doing push-ups, you know We've been doing push-ups every single day, you know one day at a time just trying to it's almost Beach Week It's almost Beach Week. Let's check in with my guy Scott and do town. What's happening scooter? Yo, man, Prissy. How are you? Good, I'm good. It feels like we're right of the ship here. I don't even understand man like um like what are you expecting all of a sudden you know like like last night's game isn't gonna be like tonight's game you know we're not gonna hit all those runs we just need wins we need

serious wins and like they're gonna start coming and like I don't know I just I'm not nervous man I just think they're I think the wins are gonna start stacking up you know like we got a good team and it's just it's just gonna get there you know so I'm not even nervous about it I just I feel alright the ballpen everything is a little bit less right now and it's gonna pick up so I don't see the nervousness right now I feel like it's not it's gonna pick up so I don't see the nervousness right now I feel like it's not it's not so much nervousness. I guess I guess where I'm at is I think they're right of the ship I think they're more back than they're not

I think they broke the seal a couple nights ago and and they they bought back in the team meeting I think was massive my one thing though is again, you know We start talking about October and it's like those three guys are really really important and I'm not writing them off I'm not saying that they're their seasons over but like I need those three to be good because if they're just okay or they're shaky It really could could halt what could be a really special October Fritz, let me ask you don't it always seem like Someone's gonna be cold when someone's hot? The problem with the team is, is like when four guys are cold at the same time. So I just think

that's, I think like that part of the season is done where like everyone got cold and like, I think guys are going to be cold and guys are going to be hot because like that's baseball, you know, and that's what I think it is. Like, like even with Turner, like, okay, he's great at a certain point. It sucks that they're so like, um, off and on, but the average is going to be the average, you know, we're going to show up eventually, you know, and I, I, that's the most frustrating part about the Phillies is that guys go cold. But like the part of this team that's great is that other guys got to pick them up? So I just think that's what's gonna happen for the rest of the season, you know

Yeah, I hope so Scott and I think again, I think offensively I agree with you like You know Harper I think is looked really solid I think Turner like I was gonna get to him here in a second and Trace got seven hits since since they they sat him down the other night. And I don't know, this is like a little in the weedsy. But it looks like they kind of adjusted his bat path a little bit and maybe level off his swing. Because that game on Tuesday night,

he's popping up a ton of balls. It's like, come on, Trey. And I think he's looked more back to being the guy that was hitting closer to 350 for a stretch there than 150 but you know, it's seven hits since since since that off day, you know I remember early in the season they said boom and he went crazy after that But you know Schwab has been Schwab er, you know, like that that home run the other night really bought him a good amount of time I think in the eyes of a lot of us, you know Harper

I think it's looked pretty good bone continues be consistent. Another hit tonight to extend his history. Cassie Onnish really, really good. Turner really, really good. And when those guys are all going, you feel pretty solid. My biggest question mark, I think at this point is, is the bullpen and, and you know, part of the two guys that I think are well on their way back and obviously they were all stars, but they got kind of shaky coming out of the all-star break and in the last couple outings are Strong and Hoffman, you know Matt Strom all-star and comes to a big spot tonight aggressive Rob Thompson You know gets no loud

There doesn't let him kind of finish that inning and strong shuts it down and carries it over the next inning Jeff Hoffman gets not That anything like you know, Those two are just so massive. I trust them pretty much completely. Even when Jeff Hoffman was allowing home runs in that little stretch in the last week and a half, I still trust him. Strom, while I lost it a little bit, I was never out on. He's back in my trust, the trust tray. But when you have the stabs, who I back in my trust, you know, the trust tree. But when you have Estevez who I don't really trust,

you have Alvarado who I don't really trust, Kirk Rang who I don't really trust, it's like, who can I go to? Tanner Banks has cooled off since they brought him over. So they need those kind of arms, really the Estevez and Kirk Rang to heat up, because I just, I don't see it with Alvarado. You know know at least Estevez still has 99, 100 and Kirk Ring still has his stuff I think it's more pitch usage with him. Alvarado I'm just worried about his

stuff is just really really flattened out and he's just not the same guy which stinks because I I love Jose Alvarado I think he's a really valuable pitcher when he's pitching at his best I hope he can it out, but I'm definitely more in the hope than I believe that he will. I gotta check in with my guy, Cashmere, here, because Cashmere, you, me, very emotional at all times about the Phillies. Jack, it's been a while.

It has been a while, buddy. How are you doing? Are you doing all right? No, I'm not gonna lie, man, I was about done with this team about a week ago. I was about ready to throw in the towel on the season and basically say they're gonna collapse. Like I was basically saying it's 1964 all over again. I was saying it's 2023 Eagles all over again. Like I was one of those, I was, yes, I was that guy. I was that guy that a week ago was saying this team is the 2023 Philadelphia Eagles I was saying this is the 1964 Phillies all over again as

You know the ghost and the curse the Phillies is back and we're not ever gonna win anything ever again I'm so you went through it. You went through it. I can I can tell I went through it I do want to talk about going through it Jack. I went through it. I do want to talk about going through it, Jack. I went through it. I literally couldn't call it WIP because I was so mad. I was so upset. I could not. I just like, trust me, you didn't want me on the air the last two weeks. You didn't want me on the air. I feel you, buddy. It's been tough. It's been tough. Yeah. I'm just going to say, Jack, I still, I mean, I know I want to believe in them, Jack. I do. I just don't see it. I'm sorry.

I just I'm not. I'm not there. I can't believe in them yet. Yes, they got to win. That's great. But one, it's the Nationals. I mean, and I will say this, like, you know, the game they had against the Marlins the other night where they came back and won that game, they call Schwerber save the season.

Great. We thought Kyle Schwerber save the season last week too. When he, when he had three home runs against the Dodgers in Dodger stadium, we thought he saved the season then too. And then turned out we lost four in a row and then we got embarrassed by the Arizona Diamondbacks. I mean, I just, um, Jack, I just don't see it because one, I think the offense is starting to come out of it a little

bit. I think Turner's coming out of it. I think Harper's coming out of it i think harper's coming out of it swarmer swarmer you can believe in him i think j t is getting he's getting better he's getting better at that agreed you know i i i do so i do i'm starting to see the office kind of coming back even brison stop you know he's starting to get some better contact even marshes looking better and that's great you know that's the positive side however

jack like you said i watched Aaron Nolot tonight I was not impressed at all. I was like this guy was like if this was the Atlanta Braves or If this was you know, if this was you know name, you know So an offensive line if this was a Brewers if this was the Dodgers you give up five six runs I just the worrisome thing for for him tonight was he struck out only four and had seven hits like yeah Nationals offense that's got to be better. I would like that to be flipped Yeah, and that's just like I'm sorry, but it's like, you know classic no louding if it's a vintage good no louding it Fixin innings. It's maybe two three four hits. It's eight strikeouts and no walks

You know like that's a vintage no louding maybe two, three, four hits. It's eight strikeouts and no walks. You know, like that's a vintage Nola outing. He hasn't looked good, honestly, since before the All-Star break. And honestly, Christopher Sanchez, it's like he's not the same guy that he was in the first half. He's not that All-Star pitcher

that we saw in the first half. He's just not like, I mean, I don't know if his arm is just going down, but it's like he had a good outing against the Dodgers. Great. And then he gets blown up against the Diamondbacks. I don't trust him. I don't trust.

I mean, Tyler Phillips is Tyler Phillips. Obviously he's not, you know, Taiwan Walker. He's cooked. Obviously we were going to get, you know, Ranger Suarez back. So I trust him. You know, I do trust him in the postseason. I do trust Zach Wheeler in the postseason. in a big spot. I don't trust Aaron Nola I don't trust Christopher Sanchez and Zach and Jack like you said, I don't trust this bullpen

I just don't it's like I feel like I feel like I'm in 2020 and 2021 all over again thinking to myself Oh, no, how are we gonna blow it tonight? How are we gonna blow it tonight? I That's how I'm thinking every single night watching this team. It's like, I feel, I got PTSD, Jack. I feel like I'm watching the 2020, 2021 Phillies all over again. When the bullpen comes in, we have a lead, they blow it. It's like, I don't trust anyone else but Hoffman and Strom. And I listen, I do like Estevez. Actually, I like Estevez. I really do. I think he's got good stuff and he hasn't really, I mean, this is his first run, it's baseball, he's gonna give up runs.

You know, so I do like Estevez, but those are like the only three that I can really trust, it's like, you want, you want Orion Kirkland coming in the seventh inning for the sixth inning in a 2-2 game? You try, I mean do we want, do we want Jose Alvarado coming in a tie game against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Arizona? I don't want that. I'm sorry, I mean, I know there was a report today that we could have gotten Garret Crochet and I think to myself, oh damn it, great, you know, it's like we couldn't pull the trigger on the Garret Crochet trade because he could have been a super power we could have had. I just don't see it, Jack. We're not going to win the World Series. Just prepare yourself. We're not winning the World Series In fact, we're gonna get eliminated in the first round

We're probably gonna win the division because I don't think the Braves and Mets can get out of their own way We're gonna lose the division and no we're gonna win the division, but we're losing the first round We're losing the divisional round or the wild card round And we're gonna lose to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Again, it's gonna happen. Fair warning you, put your... Very positive, Cashmere. ...kicks your heart ready.

It's gonna happen. We're gonna lose in the divisional round, it's gonna happen. This team's not good enough. I appreciate the phone call, Cashmere. Well, I obviously hope you're not right, but you know, it's yeah, it's fine I really just want to know like like Justin Morgenstine is is producing the show today and Justin You were behind the glass yesterday when we got the Joe in the Northeast call Like what do you think that that Joe in Northeast reaction was to Cal Stevenson getting that bunt down in the night tonight?

I mean that was the single greatest bunt in Philly's history right there, Cal Stephenson. I mean, he's been calling about him for maybe the past month, just trying to get a mad pass. So here's the thing is while I love Joe in the Northeast, the problem with the Cal Stephenson bunt is that bought Joe at least another two weeks of calls. Oh, yeah, perfectly executed.

About playing, hey, knows how to play the game. That's Cal Stevenson. But man, what a moment. And Cashmere, always on brand. Always on brand. On the other side, we will look at tomorrow. Take all of your phone calls. Run through them.

Before handing things off to Rob Cherry, plus we'll get to the play of the game. All coming up on the final out on Sports Radio 94 94 WIP. This is an ad by BetterHelp. What are your self-care non-negotiables? It's hard to make time for the things that keep you healthy, but being consistent with self-care is like working a muscle. And when life gets crazy, that muscle keeps you strong. Therapy is the ultimate self-care, and BetterHelp makes it easy to get started, with affordable online sessions you can do from anywhere. Never skip therapy day with BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com to learn more. That's BetterHELP.com. Bumble knows it's hard to start conversations.

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Turner wins it with a wall ball to left and the Phillies celebrate a 3-2 walk-off win. Gotta be honest was a little nervous when he swung at the first pitch. That was almost at his eyes, but Trey locked back in and he walked the fills off his second. You know, he got a walk off hit last year off of Deval, which was ironically the same night as the, uh, the broadcasters out in the outfield. So that was last night, tonight's tonight, you know, so Trey, Trey August on pretty damn good and good to see T's tonight, you know, so Trey Trey August on Pretty damn good and good to see Trey get you know four hits tonight seven since the off Simicense he sat the other night and just you know looks closer to the guy that we'd seen

Before the tailspin so they need him because listen that to spot the lineup is just so So important and the Turner walk up as they play the game sponsored by Mike's amazing the official mayo and mustard of the Phillies We'll look ahead to tomorrow here in one second But back to the phones here and let's talk to Willen and South Jersey. What's happening? Well Hey Jack, what's going on? Good man. How was the how's the ball game got a little tight there? You know, it was a great game, but you know the best part seeing this team play some small ball today. I know I know I bet there was you know there was a dad's all around the Delaware Valley saying see that's how they got to play if they want to win the World Series. Yeah exactly that's what I'm saying. Nola was in good form but besides that the offense you don't have I love home runs as much to the next guy. Yeah

but small ball wins games It can for sure and and you gotta the reality is well, you got to win both ways You know, you got to be able to do the little things Well, you got to move runners along like before even the short run the other night Like he moved the runner along that got him home to make it a three one ball game Like they got to do that little stuff if they want to win ball games. So I'm with you man. It was important Yeah, of course bloopers win games

Bloopin a blast bloopin a blast appreciate the phone call, you know One of the people that I want to talk to and we'll get to one other person that I definitely need to talk to But there's a guy that called after Wednesday night, his name is Frankie. I forget if it was Hatboro or somewhere. Now, Frankie said he got hit with a hot dog by the hot dog machine. He didn't even flinch and he immediately downed that dog. And he said, that's the moment that's going to turn the season. So they are 3-0 since our guy Frankie got smoked with a hot dog and didn't flinch. He didn't flinch, Philz didn't flinch, they've won three straight.

Shout out to Frankie. But the guy I need to talk to is a guy who is called every show. He calls at 6am, calls in middays, calls afternoons, calls late at night to talk about the greatness of Cal Stephenson. And Joe in the northeast northeast joins us now joe how excited were you by a perfectly executed bunt well jack i know you're having a little fun tonight but uh let me tell you there's probably only three guys on the team that know how to bunt that's true mr stevenson uh mr marsh and

the other whipping boy uh for for some of you hosts is Garrett Stubbs. Okay? I'm a Stubbs fan. You know, I'm going out to the game one Sunday to help a guy with my daughter's son game plan. First of all, I'll let Ty Weill Walker know when he makes that trudge to the bullpen and back from the bullpen home that he's got to throw quality first strikes can't go 37 pitches in one inning but a reference to Steven said listen major league pitching is he

over match for that maybe and we don't know that but one thing I do know that he won't go outside the strike zone like a lot of our players do. When you get a 2-0 lead against the Washington Nationals, you can't go scoreless until the ninth inning. That's how you get beat. And that's why I say guys like this that know the strike zone. And I'll put that thing on about him facing Seawald. I mean Thompson was there he saw it we didn't we haven't touched a guy to run off a Seawall in the NLCS or

a couple innings this year, okay, and this kid took him to a three and two count and Seawall that what did was exactly what he goes to To the other members of the team and the other games. He rides that fast ball out of the zone and this kid did not go out and swing at the fetch. He walked. And that's enough for me to tell me this kid has an eye and a plate and he needs to have a shot because you can change this all offense around. You know, Fransky was saying about when Rojas gets on base That they have a winning percentage of 70. Okay, so you get Schwerber up there

You know, the thing is you want Schwerber to lead off you don't He's not getting up there with with enough runners on base from that eight net nine hole You know, and if you can get a lead off. I might drive in a hundred runs this year, Joe. I mean, he's. Well, yeah, he will be, but he's, you know, he's gonna hit you 35, the 40, this year he ain't good at the 46, but you know, he hits between 35 and 45 home runs.

But how would he look batting behind Bomb or batting behind Harper and then Castellani? If you had a guy, a lead off guy, they could give you a little on base percentage. Well, and, and see if this, this cake can do that. I know, I know. I appreciate Joe. Calp Stevenson is not batting lead off. I hope it can work some good at bats and make him a valuable role player.

But listen, we had to let Joe have his moment Tomorrow we got we got Mackenzie Gore versus Chris Sanchez Chris Sanchez has to get it going here. You know, I I like I Really trust Chris for Sanchez, you know, I know that era wise. He's got a six point six three era in his last seven starts and You know, yeah, he got blown up by by the diamondbacks the diamondbacks, you know, they got him in the zone He was messing right down the middle. He flipped his usage around like he was 49 percent change-ups in that game Which is not how he's at his best

Usually it's fastball fastball fastball and then change up kind of in there, you know Like 46 percent fastball 20 some percent change up completely flip that around So we'll see if you can get back on track tomorrow Obviously his home era has been really good the Nationals kind of stink offensively So it should be an opportunity for Chris Sanchez to write the ship But it's definitely something they got to get going here because even though the area is that bad I just haven't felt it like usually I can feel when it when a straw pitching pitchers just really really struggling haven't totally felt that with Chris Sanchez.

So that it's kind of a jarring ERA number, but regardless time to get going back in the right direction because I think he's, someone's really, really gonna help out in the post season. And if the post season started today, I think I'd still trust him in a post season start over a Ranger. And Rangers is coming back soon.

Hopefully the back spasms, hopefully or not the lower back soon. Hopefully the back spasms hopefully or not with the lower back problems Hopefully that is that is fixed and you get a guy that's close to the guy they got, you know Before the the tail end of the first half before the all-star break But either way you gotta get Chris Sanchez going in the right direction They're facing Mackenzie Gore who has a seven point six seven era in his last seven starts, so he's struggling as well He has pitched pretty well against the Phillies in the past. So, you know the Little bit tougher tomorrow against Gore than against Patrick Corbin

And and Mitchell Parker, but we'll see so Mackenzie Gore versus Chris Sanchez Gotta get Chris Sanchez moving back in the right direction Good to see Nolan the back moving back in the right direction Good to see Nolan the back back in the right direction tonight. Good to see Wheeler last night moving in the right direction So it's time for Chris Sanchez to join the party as well. But either way Phil's escape tonight. They win a ballgame Wasn't pretty but with how they played they need wins like this to continue to believe that they're back to playing good baseball That's gonna do it for me, Justin Morgenstine produced the program tonight. Rob Cherry, he'll take you through the rest of the night

on Sports Radio 94, WIP. All-Star closer, Ken Lee Jansen, we have a question. What's the best podcast of all time? Baseball isn't boring, baby. I'm Rob Bradford, and every single day I'm sitting down with the biggest names to show you this great game is the greatest game. It's my podcast, It's my passion.

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