High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Final Out: Aaron Nola Struggles, Phillies Split Doubleheader

Episode Date: May 15, 2025

Jack Fritz reacts to another frustrating start from Aaron Nola as the Phillies blew a 5-1 lead to the Cardinals in the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader. Presented by Miller Lite To purchase Ring The Bell by Jack Fritz and Kevin Reavy go to RingTheBellBook.com 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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Are you ready to dive into the story stats and personalities that make baseball the greatest game in the world? Rob Radford from the Baseballs and Boring Podcast here, and we'll have you covered every day with podcasts that bring you closer to the action. From the bleachers to the clubhouse, whether you're a diehard fan or just a casual observer. These conversations are aimed to educate, entertain, and most importantly, inform you follow the baseballs and boring podcast in the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcast. Well, welcome on in.

It is the final out Jack Fritz hanging out with you here on this Wednesday night as we react to a just kind of disgusting game tonight. 13-7 when they were losing by a touchdown and Frankly a little bit before that and I was like, you know, they were up 5-1 in this game, you know, it was looking good early. I was Damn, they're getting confident that they're about to sweep a doubleheader. I know that was allowed by the way. That was a first home Series they have lost since July of last year. So it's been a really good stretch at home I believe heading into the series they had won 29 of their last 40 at CBP. So Obviously a bummer Wet cold ish kind of May day down the ballpark. I was there for game one I'll ask some thoughts on that but definitely a

was there for game one, I'll ask some thoughts on that. But definitely a really disappointing game too. The game wrap up is sponsored by Roto-Rooter. When plumbing problems hit, wrap them up quick and call Roto-Rooter. Their team tackles clogs and leaks so you can stay in the game. Roto-Rooter, your MVP for plumbing solutions. 215-592-9494 is how you get in.

If you were at this one and stuck around, we'd love to hear from you. Or if you mercifully sat through and watched that one, we'd love to hear from you as well as we react. So again, Phil's getting destroyed in game two and one that really got ugly quick. The biggest takeaways of the game is brought to you by Morgan and Morgan the America's largest injury law firm And it was a sloppy game. It was a sloppy game pretty all around again

they came out looked good early and then it really just kind of Fell apart as the game went on and obviously Nola is the big story the pitcher the pitch report or pitch count is brought to you by the plumbers union local 690 protecting the health of the nation visit plumber 690 org 83 pitches for Aaron Nola 83 merciful pitches, I mean just Excruciating pitches to get through and I was watching him tonight now. I Was driving home from the ballpark so I missed the first two innings or whatever

So I didn't get to see what his stuff was looking like but from what I saw I would not be surprised if there was some kind of phantom il or or something happening with Nola because some kind of phantom IEL or something happening with Nola because it really looked like he was laboring out there. Stuff didn't have the same kind of pop to it. It was more 91. He was finishing up,

which means like, I feel like he was not fully releasing the baseball and letting it fly. It looked like something was holding him back a little bit So I'm curious to see what these next couple days look like Maybe he's fine. But and maybe by the time I got down and was watching it. He was already kind of laboring out there anyway, but I don't know that was we've seen him so far this year where he just didn't have it and and stuff didn't pop but

That was the first time I think I've seen him where it looked like it was he was he was laboring out there and I Definitely was like ah something doesn't look totally right here. So first up hope he's healthy But I really think that that was the first red flag for me where it looked like he was holding back a little bit With some of his pitches, so maybe there could be something in the work there. But yeah, no it goes out you know Thompson was in a bit of a tricky situation He used his top three relievers in the first game and they won You know you go aggressive and you try to at least get one in a double game and they won. You know, you go aggressive and you try to at least

get one in a double header and Thompson employed that strategy. So he's down some bullpen arms in game two. So, you know, I don't totally blame him for trying to, to, to sneak Aaron Nola through that inning. And the only guy he had up in that ending was Tanner Banks and it was a string of righties. And unfortunately a couple of those were bleeders up the third baseline that's unlucky but you know if you go to it because I know that people will say well why don't you put Taiwan in that situation okay well you saw a Taiwan tonight he looked good for two innings and then you know wasn't great after that now at the same time Brandon Marsh had to make a play JT blocked the baseball so you know it was a I would say mostly positive

Taiwan performance but still okay so you have Nola go three Taiwan's not taking down five you know he's you you hope for three from Taiwan and you hope it's still a ballgame and by the way could also go poorly and then you're stuck in some of these situations where you're putting in these relievers that probably shouldn't be be in those in those positions. Now the biggest high leverage guy I guess they had tonight was was Strom Strom still mostly trust them, but it hasn't been the best start of the season for Strom I just think it was a bit of a

precarious situation for Rob Thompson tonight I understand the logic of going that and letting Aaron Nola try to get through the fourth inning You know, he talked post game about how sometimes he finds it late. I I don't know. I think we could argue against that if we wanted to but still I Think that was about trying to sneak him through one more inning. It already wasn't going very well That's a guy that you obviously pay a lot of money to he's a he's one of your quote-unquote horses So I think he's one to give him the opportunity to kind of work through it And the Carl's manager did the same thing I mean he put Sonny Gray back out there and banged Sonny Gray a lot of home run to to Alec Bum

So I guess sometimes with your more veteran players you give him a chance to work through it and he wasn't able to do it also would have helped if Tanner Banks able to get the lefty out and And picked up his teammate, but that did not happen tonight But you know besides that the the eighth inning was pretty atrocious to be able to get the lefty out and picked up his teammate, but that did not happen tonight. But besides that, the eighth inning was pretty atrocious. I mean, Brandon Marsh drops a ball at the wall. I keep hoping that Brandon Marsh will turn it on and look like a high quality player.

But tonight and even game one. I mean, I don't think he he really did anything in game one Hey between being in the field and not really being a fantastic center fielder And what's going on at the plate where it's a lot of bad strikeouts and I you're just looking at him Sometimes you got to look the horse in the eyes and see what he's giving you He looks like he's in his own head and he missed that ball in the eighth inning and I know he just came back from the from the IL and to his credit. He was hitting well coming off the IL

But it's definitely cold off the last couple of games. He looks ripened for an extended trip down to Lehigh Valley. Because he looks like it's starting to get in his own head and you're starting to see the game speed up on him. And you're starting to see what the mental anguish the game of baseball can do to you. I think I think golf and baseball I guess sometimes basketball if you're missing your shots you know football is more physical than anything. Baseball and golf are two

mental sports and I think you can see it sometimes in golfers I mean Jordan Spieth won like three majors in two years and then hasn't won one since 2015 when he hit five balls into The water in the Masters that's an exaggeration, but it's not really he's in one one since like I just it happens and I look at Marsh and I'm starting to see something similar. So I think for his sake, you know trip down to AAA get right get confident and come back up and and maybe help this ball club But that eighth inning some of the other plays in the field bad strikeout against May time right after that

He looks a guy that's in his own head. So not it not a great night all around. Obviously, they're playing good baseball For a majority of this of this last little stretch losing two or three of the Cardinals first time I feel like they've lost a series of the Cardinals in a long long time two one five five nine two Ninety four ninety four to get and let's check them with Robbie and Del Rey and what's happening Robbie? What's up, Jack? How we doing man? What a sloppy game. Are you there tonight? I Was yeah And I just wanted to touch on three quick points One what did you think of the ump tonight?

I mean obviously the the loss wasn't based on the ump, but sure I thought he was Atrocious, I mean well Nicole What I find so interesting was not sorry what I find so interesting is you know There's this whole report about like they shrunk the strike zone or whatever like two weeks ago and no one knew about it. I mean, I thought for the two games today, like they just allowed so many low strikes for no reason. But yeah, the home plate on fire was, it was egregious. Yeah. And obviously I'm not blaming it on the loss. There was a lot of calls that in my, you know, I just wasn't crazy about two I don't I can't remember the exact details but it was in the middle of the game probably like one two outs man on third a bad throw to Harper and

It just didn't look like he was paying attention in that guy on third I don't know if he was really trying to go home or he was just playing some games with heart but it just didn't look like he was I don't know paying attention or just into a and I know a lot of people my section were too happy I wasn't that happy with kind of how our panel did but I guess it's just an ongoing thing like like what is going on in Harper's head we really have a great of a night at the and that I think it's kind of funny and deserved when they're winning and I think it's kind of funny and deserved when they're winning and I think it's kind of funny and deserved when they're winning and I think it's kind of funny and deserved when they're winning and I think it's kind of funny and deserved when they're winning and

I think it's kind of funny and deserved when they're winning and I think it's kind of funny and deserved. When they're winning and playing good baseball, I find it pretty annoying. And but yeah, I don't know. I just I have to accept that it's a Philadelphia chant and not just an Eagles chant. So that's my giving in on the Eagle Shant's

affiliates games. But yeah, Bryce's, it's frustrating. Now he did have a good game one. He went two for three, drove in the run late. It was a bloop single to center field. But at this point, you take it because in the first on any other night That balls way out of there. So I guess that's making up for it but

like I just I Guess I've just had the mindset where I have faith in the guy. I Think he's working. I think he's grinding his way through it. And I think it's eventually gonna click. I mean, players go through slumps all the time. And I know people will say, well, so and so since July of last year. Okay, well, in the last two months of season, he had over 300 and then the last month of season,

he had 311. So maybe he set a bad month next in there. And bad months happened to great players. Again, it's an incredibly humbling game. Do you want to see a carry over to the field? No, I feel like I haven't really seen a carry over to the field besides the one game before, it was like two Thursdays ago,

where the big inning against Taiwan and it went through his legs. That looked like where he was bringing his struggles to the plate on the field. I think he's been better since then. I think he's been more locked in. He hasn't gotten all the results and obviously tonight not great, but I guess I just have faith in the guy. I think that they're winning without him really doing much. and when he heats up, it's going to be fine. Everything's going to be fine.

But it is definitely jarring, you know, looking at his numbers right now and he's hitting what, 238 and he still has a good LBP but only seven home runs. So you know, I fully expect that once some of these other guys cool off, bang, they're a Harper will be. I think that's kind of the nature of the sport. But at the same time, and the realities of it, which I guess I'm trying not to will in existence, is he has played Major League Baseball for 14 years. He is always at a violent swing.

And maybe it's catching up to him. I don't want to live in that reality. I don't think that we have to live in that reality yet. But if it's in July and it's still around the same numbers, you're going to start hearing it more and more. 215-592-9494 is how you get in on the other side. We'll get to the player of the game plus some other thoughts on tonight as well.

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to speak to an advisor free of charge. Bet MGM operates pursuant to an operating agreement with iGaming Ontario. Moms, dads, are you the parent of a student athlete? Do you want to know how to get the most out of youth sports? If so, listen to the next pitch podcast to give you the tools to raise an aspiring athlete. Welcome back. It is the final out Jack Fritz hanging out with you here on this Wednesday night as we react to a Phil's beat down and what didn't start as a beat down started five one start getting low cocky again.

The worst thing you can do is hope you know it's five one thinking this might be a stress-free Excited post game sure they take both both ends of a double header. Didn't know that was possible. But Nevertheless, they they Aaron old got shelled bullpen Mostly did the job but not. And the offense kept it close. But ultimately, once it was out of reach, it was out of reach. The Player of the Game is brought to you by South Jersey Gas Conserve, helping customers

and the community save energy and money. Visit southjerseygas.com. Mason Wynn, had the big home runoff of Nola had a big night overall four for five looks like a pretty pretty solid player for The st. Louis Cardinals going forward who up by the way, I mean they were pretty written off, you know I think I don't think there's a lot of hope in Redbird land another best fans in the history of baseball baseball, you know They would never give up on their team, but they're not drawing many fans doesn't seem like there's a bunch of hope out there and They've won what 9 of 10 now 10 of 11

So they are they are playing pretty good baseball and then they're certainly believing and tonight they had their most hits against the Phillies since like 1989 so the Phillies it handles the Cardinals the last couple of years obviously the 22 postseason Series sticks out, but they they certainly have exacted some revenge this year whether it was that series earlier in the season or tonight the The Cardinals have certainly had the Phillies way so far this year some other things Again, I thought Taiwan looked pretty good. The first couple of innings good. I don't know how that last inning goes.

If Brandon Marsh just catches the baseball, also JTS to block the baseball. Not to go full boomer on the whole blocking thing with catchers, but I just think there should be situations where catchers go to the one knee thing. When it's bases loaded do we really need to be on one knee or can we just make sure that we protect and block the baseball? I don't know, I understand why they do it and I think with no one on, even if you want to have someone on base, knock yourself out.

You steal some strikes. But when you have to block the baseball, I would like my catchers to block the baseball. He's athletic enough to do it. I mean, we obviously have seen JT make some pretty crazy plays with, you know, backhands, looking like a shortstop out I just, I would like to get it back a little bit from the analytics department. And please just for the sake of humanity, have the catchers back to normal when there's bases loaded, just I beg of you. I just, I just beg of you. It's okay. It's okay.

Like you can steal strikes without having to get up underneath the pitch. That's my, I guess, old man rant of the night. And then the other thing that I feel like has to be pointed out because he was obviously, I mean, he's brutal at the beginning of the year and The average was was in the 100s But if I told you that Alec bone was hitting 261 right now, would you believe me?

261 all of a sudden he's how he's gonna That's his hitting streak was snapped in game one Unfortunately, the Schwab er streak was snapped. He didn't have the big home run tonight and a walk so he got right back on track but the Schwabber on base streak comes to an end which is a total bummer. Alec Bohn was only an eight game hitting streak before it was snapped in game one as well but all of a sudden he's hitting 261. It hit a real home run tonight. That was good. Smoked the ball late. Signs of life. I wonder if they and now at the same time, I'm fine keeping him down where he is in the lineup. Let him kind of cook from that, from that spot.

And if he gets really, really hot, you can bring him back up. But all of a sudden he's hitting 261. And the Max Kepler thing is turning into a situation because first off he's cooled off against righties. I think he's in like a four for his last 30 some stretch or five for his last 30. But man, against lefties, it's just it's not there. And when we start looking at this team at the deadline, you know, obviously we've talked a lot about Otto Kemp

up in AAA and people still bring up Justin Crawford. I just don't think it's gonna happen at this point. And then like we can talk about now Rincones is another lefty. He had a grand slam today, which is nice, but he'd been struggling a little bit. You know, Oscar Mercado, like they have some guys up there, I guess.

But that position, in addition to another bullpen piece, but another right-handed bat, maybe it's Weston Wilson, but a right-handed bat that can platoon with Kepler because he has kind of fallen off a cliff and kind of getting back to his overall numbers, which is where he's been for a majority of his career, which is like a 230-some hitter, relatively high OVP, and some home runs.

So I guess he's kind of settling into the season as well. Let's check in with Mark in Westchester. What's happening, Mark? Yeah, well, I just wanted to talk to you about Aaron Noah. I mean, given the fact of how much he struggled, I would give him till July to be allowed to stay in the rotation. I'll tell you why.

Because around July, they're going to get Andrew Fanner to come up here. And my understanding is that he's going to come up the start. And we've had four, I would say, at least three very solid pitchers and Zach Wheeler, um, Lizardo and Christopher Sanchez has been really sharp.

Ranja looked good over the weekend. I was very encouraged by Ranja Suarez the last, the last start. And I'll tell you if, if Nola continues to struggle like this, I'd put them in the bullpen. I've had it with this guy. All right. I mean, they're not, they're not going to put Aaron Nol in the bullpen. I've had it with this guy. All right, I mean, they're not gonna put Aaron Nol in the bullpen. I don't know what to tell you. I just, he's being paid $172 million.

He also had some good stretches so far this year. Tonight wasn't good. They're gonna let him work his way through it. I don't know. They're not gonna put him in the bullpen. He's not like on his last leg as a pitcher. He's got five years left on this deal. They're going to give him every opportunity to work his way through it. He's not Tom Walker. Tom Walker was horrible last year and is only here for another year after this one.

So it's not the longest 10 year filly that this gave a lot of money to. And traditionally he does take down a lot of innings. And also what's he doing in the bullpen? Obviously right now he's not helping with the rotation but he's not lifting, whatever. He's not going with the rotation, but he's not like lifting up whatever. I don't feel he's not going he's not going to the bullpen Let's go to Steve and Cape Coral what's happening Steve? Hey, what's going on? What do you got? Yeah? I called you three weeks ago, and I agree with the guy caller before you oh awesome

two one five five nine two Ninety four ninety four on the other side a look ahead to this weekend and some additional thoughts Ninety-four ninety-four on the other side a look ahead to this weekend and some additional thoughts from game one in this series All that's coming next on the final out in sports radio. Ninety-four w by pay. Welcome back It is the final out Jack Fritz hanging out with you here on this Wednesday night reacting to a Phil's loss a split of the double header today down at a cold rainy of the doubleheader today down at a cold, rainy CBP. Now it wasn't all bad. The Mets and Braves both lost tonight. Mets lost four nothing at home to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

So not a great game all around, I guess, for the Mets there. One kind of interesting note there is that David Bednar, who I know people have won the Phillies trade for for like a decade, it seems like. Maybe the Larry Fitzgerald of relievers he Started the season looks kind of cooked got sent down Obviously to the minor leagues and then it's come back up and actually looked alright Obviously the Pirates are not very good Jeff Bassam was on

The I think McAfee today saying the Pirates are just trade ball skeins now and maximize value So things seem like they're going well well so he's probably gonna be available I thought at least tonight he looked interesting in the little bit that I saw so he looked like he's back up to 97 with that old David Bednar slider so maybe that's the name to monitor as we get closer to the deadline and then the Braves lost as well to the to the Nationals. So the pesky Nats continuing to be a thorn in everyone's side. This weekend, the Pirates are in town, speaking of the Pirates. Fun pitching matchups for the Phils.

We got Ranger, excited to see what he does off of his last start. That game up at Cleveland, I mean, when he gets in those modes where he's just pounding guys in with fastballs Off working the change up off that when they either they jam the fastball onto the ground to the left side or they're They're popping out weak little the outfield on a change up away He when he can get into that rhythm where he's dotting both sides of the plate He is such a joy to watch such a joy to watch. So Ranger we'll see if he can, uh, you know, continue the momentum off of his last start wheels on Saturday. Who's been on a great run. And then on Sunday, a real treat,

real treat Paul skeins versus Christopher Sanchez. So we, we are first chance to see Paul skeins. You don't always get to see the aces of the aces in baseball, you know, when these teams come to town. Skeens is certainly that. So Paul Skeens, obviously the I think he's still a favorite to win the the National League Cy Young Award versus Chris Sanchez. But Phil's got three of their, I mean, outside of Nola, you feel pretty damn good about every one of these guys taking the hell. And Lazardo, early today, I thought he was just brilliant.

And he's, like, he's, he has gotten so good so quick that we don't talk about how good Jesus Lazardo is. It's truly, it's truly remarkable. And, you know, his last heart against the Rays, I kind of still watch him with the fear of, oh man, is it these aren't slip up? Is he feeling hurt? Anything like that. And last start, it was 95. He was fighting himself. He didn't have great feel for his off speed. I thought all of it was back on display today. So it wasn't all just strikeouts.

He got some early outs. And he continues to look like a really, really good trade, really good trade by Dave Dabrowski. Speaking of Dabrowski, Jordan Romano closed out game one pretty easily. He's had some easy outings. Again, ever since there was that thought of him tipping pitches in the Marlins game,

he's looked like a different guy. So Jeff Hoffman trending down Jordan Romano trending up after the first month of season you would have said that was crazy But again, that's baseball. It's a long one and and really notable from the first game I thought Kirk Oren coming in and and getting out of that spot where he has been great with inherited runners so far this year. And to get a strikeout, or get two outs in that spot, but really that strikeout on Contreras who's been really hot for the Cardinals, dotting 97 on the outside corner of the sinker, that's pitching, that's high level stuff, and they need him to get going.

I think he's a good pitcher. I have my questions if he's a high leverage guy or someone who can be a closer set up eighth, seventh inning guy. Maybe he's a fourth best arm out of the bullpen, but still he's a really important piece for this team because he's one of their high leverage arms so getting him going would be really important really important so some good stuff in game one offense not great offense for the most part this one was alright before cooling off late but really tonight was about Aaron Noah and and the job he did angel and Hamilton was at the game tonight sorry to hear that angel yeah that's all good you know

enjoyed the ballpark always an amazing time there but it was horrendous today yeah horrendous Harper all right he's Harper he'll pick it up when he needs to try doing a little better Rob Thompson he needs to make some better decisions and Marsh in the outfield oh my gosh he looked like me and my men saw a fall lead today. Yeah. I mean he, he, he really, the, the, the drop ball is bad. He struggled to get some, some balls were falling in front of him. He's just, he's not a very good centerfielder. Great in left field, but it's not a very good centerfielder. I'm sorry. What do you think

about Rojas out there? I need Rojas out there. Yeah. I'm surprised he didn't play in, in either of the games today. That felt, that felt odd felt that felt odd that that's that felt odd to me What do you think about Rob, you know taking players out? They're getting hot and then he's pulling them back giving them rest days They're hot. Why are you doing that? Well like who? He said for Rojas like earlier this week or something I believe and then a little while back He was so well, I mean to his in his defense. I mean Marsh was hitting like 462 I mean they were both kind of playing pretty well, and he can't just like Barry Marsh for Rojas Yeah, no, maybe I just got a little bit of favoritism

He's my guy What you thought about that because today was absolutely horrendous great vibes at the ballpark swarmer outstanding Damn, I'm just speechless it's just I ballpark, Swarbrick outstanding. Damn, I'm just speechless. It's just, I don't even know what to say. I got you buddy. I appreciate the phone call. It's, sometimes you don't know what to say.

Sometimes you don't know what to say. But they have an off day tomorrow. Hopefully they get right. And they face a Pirates scene this weekend. And their schedule really, really loosens up. I mean, this is a time to really start stacking some series wins and hopefully some sweeps and two and a half games back in the NL East.

So it will be a nice time to make up some ground there. Pirates at Rockies, at A's and then versus Atlanta, you know, back at home versus the Brewers but still. Pirates, Rock know, back at home versus the Brewers. But still Pirates, Rockies, good time to stack some series wins. A's are are better than I think people think, but still, you know, they're not unbelievable. So we will see what they do. Not too discouraged.

An annoying game tonight. Glad they at least won game one. And it makes honestly the first game of the series that much more frustrating because that was a game that was right there for the taking and they didn't make enough plays to to win that so either way Thanks for hanging out angry Bob Cherry. He is he's coming up next here on sports radio 94 w IPA