High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Final Out: Christian Pache Delivers Phillies 13th-Straight Road Win

Episode Date: July 8, 2023

Jack Fritz reacts to Christian Pache's heroic home run over the Marlins and looks ahead to the final two games of the first half of this season. 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

All-star closer, Kenley 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. It's a cause I started more than two years ago and is now the most prolific national daily baseball pod there is.

Another fact, so jump aboard the BIB Express. Follow and listen to Baseball Isn't Boring, presented by Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. Michael O'Connor gets his sign, checks the runner at second, and the pitch swung on and popped up. Center field, it's deep. Going back at the track, at the wall, reaching up, and it's gone! Christian Pache with a two-out, pinch hit, two-run home run to give the Bills a 4-2 lead.

Oh, yeah! Yeah! Come on! Are you kidding me? That was almost off the handle, it seemed like. Welcome on in. It is the final out. Sponsored by Regency Furniture. Affordable. Never, ever, ever look so good.

Neither did a Phil's win. Never look so good. What a night. Just being completely honest. I don't come on here lying. I tell you exactly how I feel at this exact moment and how I feel during the game. Two things I felt. One, did not feel like a win tonight. It was just straight up, did not feel like a win. They go out, they sweep Tampa. It felt like a classic letdown spot. I know Alcantara's been struggling, but whatever.

And it was just like, okay, not a big deal. They've won 12 straight road games. No reason to freak out. They've earned our trust. Yada, yada, yada. And they came back and they stole one. And the second thing that I can't sit on here and lie to you about is I thought that was a pop-up, man. I thought that was a straight-up can of corn.

I really did. And it just kept carrying. I was like, okay, well, he'll catch you to the wall. And then I was like, okay, maybe he'll rob it at the wall or take it back. Didn't happen. Kept traveling. And for a ballpark where it feels like you never see a home run go out of, I'm speechless.

I'm speechless. It was one of those wins I didn't see coming, and it was one of those wins that when we look back at the end of this season, it'll be like, man, remember the night that Christian Pache turned into a folk hero here? What a night. What a beautiful win. 2-1-5, 5-9-2, 94-94 is how you get in.

Jack Fritz reacting to, I mean, probably the most improbable Phil's win of the season, but definitely one where if you were questioning, I don't think anyone has really been questioning because they've been playing good baseball, but you want to start having checkmark moments of, like, something special is brewing. That's what tonight is. And that's my biggest takeaway of the game,

which is brought to you by Morgan & Morgan. Something special is brewing with this baseball team. And the Rays series, I felt like they just went down there and took care of business. You know, they went down there and they just handed it to them. And that's a team that had the most wins in the AL heading into that series. And the Phils looked like the better team. And I talked about last night about how they had the look.

And when you have the look, you start to have confidence. And you start to see who's the guy that's going to step up tonight. Well, tonight it was Christian Pache. And Christian Pache, a former top 20 prospect, he's a brave prospect. Somehow they can't develop him. He gets shipped to the

A's. And the A's, who have absolutely no reason not to play Christian Pache because they are a dumpster fire and they're the worst team in baseball, they give up on him for a low-level minor league pitcher, and the Phillies turn him into an incredibly useful player. I mean, not as just the defense, which I thought they were getting with Christian Pache.

I mean, the defense is transcended. I mean, he might be the best single defensive player in the sport. That's how good Christian Pache is in the outfield. The offense has just been, it's been mind-blowing. He's batting over 300. He's crushing lefties. He hit a ball again off A.J. Puck in the ninth, throwing like 97-mile-an-hour fastballs with freaking a wipeout slider. Christian Pache is the guy that's hitting a go-ahead home run. I mean, that is, like, that's special. And tonight was special. And I always wax poetically about the Phillies video yearbook

and how I watch it every year. That's a yearbook moment. And it reminded me of a couple games from last year. The first game that obviously sticks out, and I think it sticks out for a lot of people, is the Boehm-Vierling game off of Josh Hader. Maybe it's because it was off of a lefty with also a bad beard. But, I mean, also as sort of improbable.

A.J. Puck was not Josh Hader at that point. Josh Hader had not allowed a run in a calendar year heading into that outing. And it was 3-1, same kind of game. Bone, Vierling go back-to-back. It's tie. Phil's winning tonight. You know, they come back in that fashion. Christian Pache, out of nowhere, helps the Phil's steal a game down in Miami,

a place that has just been haunting them for years. out of nowhere, helps the Phils steal a game down in Miami, a place that has just been haunting them for years. And the other game that it reminded me of, and again, not lying, when JT had that single, I was like, that looks a lot like how the ninth inning started against the Cardinals in the playoff game. It did. It looked the exact same. And it's like, oh, JT gets on, still nothing to worry about. And then, bang, Alec Boehm rips a ball into the gap,

makes it a 3-2 game, gives them a chance. They keep fighting. And Christian Pache comes up with a big swing. I mean, that is winning baseball. That is special baseball. I mean, that is winning baseball. That is special baseball. And, you know, when managers talk about, oh, this team never quits.

Oh, they didn't give away any at-bats, this, that, and whatever. Tonight's an example of that. Last night was an example of that, of not quitting and keep fighting and keep scratching and clawing until the end. And that's how a baseball team becomes beloved in a city. That is how they become beloved in the city. What they did last year was great, but now it's about compiling it and finding more and more moments. What a night.

What a night. Just so many little things that happened that night. 2-1-5, 5-9-2, 94-94. How about Rob Thompson? You know, he pulls a starting center fielder. I know it's probably an easy choice going from Marsh to Christian Pache, but still, I mean, Brandon Marsh is a guy who's been hitting pretty well recently. He's your starting center fielder.

He's a guy that you're going to trust most times. And Rob Thompson had the stones to pull him. I don't think he anticipated Christian Pache hitting home run, but still. I mean, you have to give credit to the manager there and just give him props. That's a big spot. So, amazing, amazing. That's my first big takeaway of the game, which is brought to you by Morgan & Morgan, America's largest injury law firm.

We'll go to the phones here in one second. But some other things. My unsung hero of the night is Jeff Hoffman. Zach Wheeler was okay. It wasn't a great Zach Wheeler start, but Jeff Hoffman being able to take down those two innings late in the game, keep it a 3-1 game, not have to use extra members of the bullpen, not having to go to someone else because he gets in trouble, just having two easy breezy innings and keeping that a 3-1 game and not letting it get out of hand. That is another sign of a team that is figuring out how to win.

He gave the rest of the bullpen pretty much a night off until obviously he used Craig Kimbrell for the close. By the way, I mean, another lockdown Craig Kimbrell thing. It's just every time he comes in for the ninth now, I'm kind of at the point where they got this one. It's something I feel like I haven't felt since, you know, I don't want to bring up this name, but Papelbon, and definitely since Legion 08.

It's just like, oh, Craig Kimbrell's coming in? Game over. Didn't expect to anticipate that heading into the year, but we did. We're here, and it is just brilliant. And my final thing before we go to the phones is part of what is making this so much fun, again, 13 straight road wins. Probably the most improbable thing that's happened to me in my entire life as a Phillies fan. Like, this team, they don't play well on the road.

They just don't play well on the road. They just don't play well on the road. For most of my conscious Phillies fandom, at least the last five years where they were actually trying to win, they were disasters on the road. They were awful. They would be hopeless and hapless and kill any momentum by going on the road. And now it's like, can't wait to see the Phils on the road because that's what they do now is they win. And I've talked about it a lot, but I'm telling you, it matters when you talk about winning

baseball. And that is camaraderie and coming together. And you do that on the road and how you perform on the road to me shows how close of a team you are. And it was not lost on me that after the game, Brandon Marsh is still dumping the water on Christian Pache's head. And man, he got soaked, by the way. He got the whole rest of the tub. But Brandon Marsh, he was pinch hit for it in that spot. But he was selfless. And he's like, that's a great win for the Phils. And he's not letting that moment be about him. And little

stuff like that. Think of how happy that makes Christian Pache. Instead of it possibly being an awkward situation, he was just like, you know what? That's my teammate. He picked us up. We got a big win. Not about me. In professional sports today, it feels like it's a lot of me. And I thought Marsh still being that guy, that's important stuff. Being incredibly happy for

Christian Padgett in that moment. Of course, Brandon Marsh wishes that was his spot, but he put himself aside to be with his teammate. And I think that stuff matters. And the other thing that was cool to see was Bryce Harper. I mean, he was screaming at Christian Pache's face. These games mean something. And these guys are not giving up. They're fighting till the end. And in a game where it didn't feel like a win, it ended up being an incredibly, an incredibly special night. And I just leave tonight feeling like we got something special brewing right now.

And that is going to be one of those games that we look back on end of the year and we're like, man, remember the Christian Pache game? What a night. What a night. 2-1-5, 5-9-2, 94-94 is how you get in. Jack Fritz hanging out here on the final out.

Get in and react to what is a beautiful win by the Phils down in South Florida tonight. Blake kicks us off in Narberth. What's happening, Blake? Hey, Jack. That was an unbelievable win, to put it bluntly. But I think this win really encapsulates the team's turnaround. During the first homestand of the season, we were in a similar

position against Miami. Pache at the plate, Ron Arch second, and he popped up on a broken bat against the same pitcher. And this time, he comes through with a home run. And I think this also is something, I know some people have been tough on Kevin Long, some of the veterans are struggling a bit, his

aggressive approach, some don't love it. But the young hitters under Kevin Long have been great. Pat Chegg looked atrocious in the beginning of the year against the Yankees, Rangers. He's spectacular now with that great defense. And Bone pulled the ball, set that position up. And Stock's been spectacular along with Marsh and Sosa somewhat. So it's really, it's a great win.

And I think it shows just the development of these young players, which has really been a good sight to see throughout the season. Yeah, totally, Blake, and I appreciate the call, and you're dead right. I mean, some of the veterans have been struggling with Kevin Long, but the development that you've seen from Bryson Stott, I think Alec Boehm has

taken positive steps forward. Brandon Marsh, Christian Pache, you know, that is stuff that also matters. So definitely, you know, that is stuff that also matters. So definitely, you know, Kevin Long, while I've had my frustrations, what he's done with the young guys has definitely paid dividends. And now, like the way Pache is playing, I would not start him over Marsh, but if they can get post-All-Star break,

if they can get Bryce at first base and get Schwarber the DH, and they can have Pache and Brandon Marsh. By the way, I would put Christian Pache in center and Brandon Marsh in left. I mean, that's... You go from defense in the outfield being a worry for

you to it being a just massive, massive positive. That's even if... They'll probably still make a trade at the deadline. They need to make a trade at the deadline. We don't know what they can do until we figure out if Bryce can play first or not. But let's say Bryce can play first. Until the deadline, a Pache, Marsh, center field, left field would just do wonders for this team's defense.

2-1-5, 5-9-2-9494 is how you get in on the other side we'll get to all of your reaction it's a big win it's it's an exciting win it's an improbable win Christian Pache everyone's a hero of the night we will get to all of your reaction get in now 215-592-9494 but also I have some thoughts on Zach Wheeler from his outing tonight. We'll get to that and more coming up next here on The Final Out. Welcome back. It is The Final Out, sponsored by Regency Furniture. Affordable never looked so good.

Let's get to the player of the game, brought to you by South Jersey Gas, committed to providing safe, reliable, affordable natural gas. Make the switch at southjerseygas.com slash lovemyhome. It's obviously Christian Pache. But also, Christian Pache postgame. It was a real man that hit that ball. Christian Pache said it himself, courtesy of Matt Gelb. So I think Christian's a little fired up, as he should be.

That was a big spot. Off the bench, comes in. I mean, he hasn't gotten it bad. It feels like a little bit here. A.J. Puck's throwing 97 with a wipeout slider. Been pretty good for the Marlins this year. And for a guy who just is not a power hitter, to be able to take that ball, like 4-10, dead central,

and in that spot where your team's down and you've won 12 road games and obviously you're the NL champs, it's just, that's a cool moment. That's a cool moment for a kid who goes from a top 20 prospect a couple years ago to traded by the team that developed them to given up on by the worst team in baseball um to have that moment and have this like career resurgence and i you can just feel it in some of the emotion is is he's like you know what i'm here i'm a good player and the phils might have gotten a steal here and they just it's been a while since they've unearthed at least a hitter they've unearthed pitchers i mean jeff hoffman's one of them right

now um they've done pretty good at turning failed pitching projects into serviceable players but it's been a while since we've had that on the offensive side. And obviously the big names that come to mind are Wirth and Victorino. And they might have that version of... Now, obviously, if we get that version, I mean, you're talking about a wall of famer for Christian Bache. But still, this could be that kind of diamond in the rough that this team on earth that helps them compete at a really high level for a couple of years.

I mean, they have some really high quality outfield depth right now throughout the whole system. I mean, it's Marsh, it's Pache at the major league level. Johan Rojas is going off in double-A. Carlos De La Cruz is going off in double double a. Then you have Justin Crawford, who they took, um, in the first round last year, who's going to be playing in the futures game over the weekend. He's batting over, uh, 300 down in low a. So man, it's, it's, it's exciting. And uh, I'm all in on their new celebration. Uh, the little Sam Cassell type of celebration.

You know, it's a little cocky. It's good. And it just breeds winning baseball. Everything they're doing right now is just breeding winning baseball. And something is special. Something special is brewing with this team. Dan is on a cell. What's happening, Dan?

Jack, what's going on, man? What a night, buddy. What a night. How are we doing? I couldn't be happier. I mean, this team is fun right now. I mean, watching them, most of the game a little tough to watch, but at the end there, it's definitely worth it.

I just got to say real quick, big fan of the High Hopes, you and Seltzer, Tuned in all the time. Yeah, that game was awesome. It's fun to watch. I mean, seeing Harper out there, Castellanos getting in there for Pache, it was huge. I did want to ask you one thing. What do we do with the trade deadline here? I mean, you got Pache kind of there behind Schwarber.

You got Dominguez waiting in the bullpen to come back. Do we get another bullpen piece? Do we get another bat? Where do we go from here, man? Yeah, and I appreciate the call, Dan, and thank you so much for listening to the pod. As always, check out the High Host podcast. Event Tuesday night at Time Out on Pine in Huntington Valley. Miller Lights all night long.

All-star game. Tommy Green. Seltzer and I hanging out. Phillies tickets to give away. All that good stuff. Time out on Pine. Come down and hang out with us. But the deadline. And the deadline, tell you what, it's going to be absolutely fascinating what they do with the deadline now

because I just, I'm of the belief that the starter thing is kind of done. Now, if they want to go out and try to get a Dylan Cease if he's available, I'm in. Um, but I'm not acquiring a random fifth starter. Now I think Chris Sanchez has done the job.

And if you find a guy as good as Chris, Chris Sanchez, um, I'd be surprised at this point. I know if you want to go get a, a two or a, or a high end three, whatever,

we could have that discussion. It's not my number one priority. Uh, again, pretty much we could have that discussion. It's not my number one priority. Again, pretty much how the trade deadline goes down is what happens with Bryce at first base. If Bryce can come back and looks competent at first base and can make all the throws and can scoop balls and feel the ground ball, whatever. If he can go and play a competent first base,

it makes everything easier because then, if you want it, you can go get like an Adam Duvall of the Red Sox. A right-handed, gold glove caliber outfielder that can hit the ball at the ballpark. But again, when you have what Christian Pache is doing, I want to see more of him. I do. I want to see more of Christian Pache. So, a name like a name like Cody Bellinger comes to mind. You know, he can play outfield. He can play first base. If they want to give Bryce a blow and give him a night, they can play him. Like, it's just he's he's versatile from that aspect. The question is if the Cubs sell. But I obviously I would always go for another bullpen piece. They have a really good bullpen right now. I think that's 10 straight games. They haven't allowed a run. another bullpen piece. They have a really good bullpen right now. I think that's 10 straight games. They haven't allowed a run.

So the bullpen's clicking on all cylinders, but you can always add more and become a souped up bullpen. It's exciting because there's not really that obvious flaw. Like for me, it's another bat, but I don't think Christian Pache has played enough to where it's like, I'm not going to go acquire a bat. I want to see more, but, you know, I will kind of bet on track records. It's going to be fascinating. And frankly, the Andrew Painter situation has changed it, I believe,

a good amount because I thought heading into the deadline, they'd be more inclined to move on from Abel or McGarry. But now, if you lose Painter, you might want to hold on to those guys just until you get them back. And trading ways, starting pitching depth, quality pitching depth, I don't know if it's the best course of action. And the Painter injury is a huge bummer. It seems like we know where this is trending.

And that changes a lot of things because now it's like you have to re-sign Nola. But we can deal with that in the offseason. This is a big win and a deadline, again, coming up at the end of this month. So can't wait for that. Zach Wheeler tonight. It's been the last three starts with Zach Wheeler where it's not great. It's not bad. It's not great.

It's not bad. And what I've kind of said about it the last couple of outings is we're in that Zach Wheeler run while he's finding his – I feel like he's finding his release point on his breaking balls and some of the off-speed pitches where he's pitching good, but it's not the dominant Zach Wheeler that we're used to seeing, but it's also not a dumpster fire. It's not like he's going out there and getting shelled. I mean, he did his job tonight.

I mean, he went six innings, allowed three runs, but it also isn't the usual Zach Wheeler that we're used to seeing. So it's kind of one of those Zach Wheeler funks, but the nice part is that he's not completely falling apart on the mound. Like being able to go six innings tonight, allow three earned, keep the fills in that game, hand the ball over to Jeff Hoffman, and just keep them close enough to where Christian Pacek can have that moment. Zach Wheeler did his job tonight.

It hasn't been unbelievable. It hasn't been the Zach Wheeler we're used to seeing. He was 94 again tonight in the fifth and sixth. He started striking guys out late. So I just think he's fighting through some mechanical things right now. He's not getting his curveball or any of his off-speed pitches really over for strikes. And I think he's just working his way through it. And I think the all-star break is coming at a great time. It's been three straight starts where he hasn't really looked like peak Zach Wheeler. And hopefully

this all-star break can come. He can go just get away from the game a little bit, get seven days off, I believe, and come back in the second half with a vengeance. He did his job tonight. It wasn't pretty. It wasn't perfect, but the results are the results. Brett

is in Newark. What's happening, Brett? Hey, what's going on, Jack? How perfect, but the results are the results. Brett is in Newark. What's happening, Brett? Hey, what's going on, Jack? How you doing tonight? Doing great, man. Doing great. It was a heck of a comeback win, man. How are you? Doing great after that.

Yeah, I'm in agreement with you. I mean, Wheeler came out and kind of did his thing. He's pitching well but not great as we're used to. But, I mean, he's definitely keeping them in the games to win win and it seemed like the Phillies just kind of ran into Sandy being Sandy um I know he hasn't had a great year either but he he was pitching his uh pitching really well tonight um but through like the sixth inning or so it just seemed like it was going to be one of those games that they just couldn't find a way to win couldn't find a way to score and then all of a sudden you see a couple balls hit really hard right at people.

I mean, Nick pulled the one down the line to Gene. He just snagged it out of the air. A couple hard hit balls to the outfield. And it just seemed like the ball wasn't falling for us. And then JT comes up and hits the home run, and it just seemed like a little bit of weight came off their shoulders and everybody relaxed, and the ball just seemed to start falling our way. And yet again, they found another way to win on the road in an awesome way.

And I think that's the key part right now, Brett, is that they keep finding ways to keep scratching and clawing. And even when they don't play their best, like, they didn't give up tonight. And some other unsung hero stepped up, and we're going to remember the Christian Bocce game by the end of this year. Oh, absolutely. I mean, I screamed at the top of my lungs. My poor girlfriend's outside. Almost

comes back in like, what the heck is going on? Sorry, sorry. Difference maker. Just happened. Can't help myself. Isn't it so funny, too, because it's freaking July and we're hanging on the edge of our seats like it's a playoff game. But that's what happens when the Phils are playing the way they are right now, Brett.

Yeah, exactly. Everything just feels like a playoff game. Every at-bat just seems like it comes down to the wire, I mean, no matter what. But the boys, you know, they're fighting and calling. It's awesome to watch. Yeah, man. I appreciate the call. Enjoy the rest of your Friday night and the rest of your weekend.

Man, what a win. What a win. Something special is brewing here. A 2-1-5, 5-9-2, 94-94 is how you get in. On the other side, we will look ahead to tomorrow. Before handing things off to Rob Cherry, who will take you through the rest of the night, it's Jack Fritz here on the Final Out.

Hey, fantasy football owners. The road to winning your fantasy football championship starts now. I'm Matt Harmon from Reception Perception. Join me and James Coe as we take a deep dive into the position that's going to make or break your fantasy roster. Wide receivers. We analyze route running, target share, and all the metrics that matter, giving you the insights you need to draft the best wide receivers.

As you prep for your draft, let us give you the coverage you need. Follow and listen to Reception Perception on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. Buck looks in and gets his sign. Checks the runner at second and the pitch. Swung on and popped up. Center field, it's deep, going back at the track, at the wall, reaching up, and it's gone! Christian Pace with a two-out, pinch hit, two-run home run to give the Bills a 4-2 lead.

Come on! Are you kidding me? That was almost off the handle, it seemed like. I mean, was there ever going to be any other play tonight for the Mike's Amazing play of the game than that? Christian Pache going deep fly. Yes, Murph thought it was a pop-up, but so did you. So stop picking on Murph. Don't pick on him on Twitter.

You thought it was a pop-up. You thought it was a pop-up. I thought it was a pop-up. Regardless, it kept carrying Christian Pache, the hero of the night. That is our Mike's Amazing play of the game. Presented by Mike's Amazing, the official mayo, mustard, and vegetable oil of the fills. Welcome on back. It is the final out. Sponsored by Regency Furniture.

Affordable, never look so good. Jack Fritz, hanging out with you here before handing things off to Rob Cherry reacting to the best win of the season. An improbable win. And again, one that we're going to remember for a while. Just

continuing to cement not only that they're back, but cementing that there's something special brewing here. And honestly but cementing that there's something special brewing here. And honestly, it stinks that there's two games until the All-Star break because this team's rolling. And I would hate to have the momentum they have right now and have it stop for a week and then kind of start back up.

I mean, I talked about it last night. They went down to Florida last year and took two or three. And then out of the all-star break, they got swept at home by the Cubs. I mean, I remember that Friday night game. It was on Apple TV. And I think they lost like 16 to four.

They got just destroyed. So it kind of stinks that they're starting to rack up these moments. And 13 straight road wins, first time since 1976. And then you got to put a halt to it. But hopefully they can just get out of the all-star break and back on track. Lou, my guy Lou in Denver calling the Phil's postgame show. What's happening, Lou? Jack, what's up, man?

Good to talk to you. Are we talking Phils tonight? No Eagles? I mean, you're usually an Eagles guy. I love the Phillies, man. They're right behind the Eagles, but I love the Phillies. It's such a great team. Yeah.

You know, a couple things. One, Alec Boehm is stuck out. I mean, just that play the last night where he had the one-handed throw to first to get the guy and then coming in clutch in the ninth just to turn around from a year and a half ago when he was like, I hate this place. Got to give him props. What's so funny about Boehm is that I don't even have anxiety when the ball is his way anymore. He's developed so much at third base to where it's just not a problem.

And obviously, Pache, what a story. What stuck out to me was after the game when they were interviewing him, he was talking about, I've been welcomed in, it's a change of scenery,

and they're great human beings. And you can feel the camaraderie, like you said, and on the road, 13 wins. I'm hoping they get the record of 17-18 past the Tigers. But there are concerns. Wheeler, he left a couple pitches over the plate. Maybe he just needs that break. But the question to you is i i'm with you i'd

rather get like a high-end starter because i feel like all the starters are like solid but when you get to the postseason you want that like ace and i don't know if we have that we might but i guess we got to figure it out i would think you got a bank you got a bank on wheel for sure yeah i think it's uh wheeler has to be your ace but it's who's after that i mean walker's been pitching well rangers great in the postseason so it's either a high-end starter or a left fielder i i think goldschmidt you'd have to give up too much at this point but um i like bellinger or a high-end starter yeah and i and I appreciate the call. And again, it's going to be really interesting. And I'll just keep echoing it.

We can't figure out what they're going to do with the deadline until we see Bryce Harbaugh play first base. I know that doesn't affect the starter market. The thing with the starter market is that I don't know who's really available. I don't want to give up a ton for Shane Bieber. I know he's been great for the last couple years. Just telling you, the stuff's declining. He's not striking out as many guys.

Doesn't look like the same guy. And I think you're paying for past performance. And given that it feels like everyone needs a starter on the market this year, you're going to have to overpay for him. And I don't know if he's worth that. I would trade for Michael Kopech of the White Sox. He's got a couple years of pre-Arblest. I think he has two years before free agency.

He would probably cost you a good amount, but he's like an upside swing. He pitched pretty well for the last couple months for the White Sox. And I think that if he gets out of the White Sox and into a pitching development system like the Phillies, I think that you would gets out of the White Sox and into a pitching development system like the Phillies, I think that you would get a steal in Michael Kopach. Obviously, Dylan Cease is a name. I don't know if they're going to make him available. That would cost you a ton, but he's under club control for the next two seasons. So those are names that Dylan Cease, even if Goldschmidt's available, Cease is my number one target if he is actually on the market. So again,

Cease is my number one target If he is actually on the market So again, can't wait End of this month, it's going to be fun It's nice that it feels like the city Is invested in it again Brian is in Churchill What's happening, Brian? What's up, Jack? How you doing?

How do you think I'm doing, buddy? I know how you're doing That was actually a stupid question, my fault It's been great. How are you? I'm doing well. Thank you. And, yes, I thought that was a pop-up as well. It was hard not to.

I was like, you know, I was like deflated. I was like, man, it felt like something special was brewing here. And it's not on Christian Pache. That's a tough pitcher. The thing just kept carrying, man. And I'm shocked. Yeah. Yeah, it was.

Yes. I may have yelled it a little bit like Brett myself. Exactly. But, you know, and the one thing that's nice is, unlike, say, two months or so ago. I'll shoot the dogs, Bart. Unlike two months or so ago, you know, it's 3-0. And you didn't feel like the game was over, which was nice. You're like, they could definitely come back in this thing.

So, you know, which the confidence that you're starting to feel, and obviously it's still early July, but, you know, with the confidence you're starting to feel, it's definitely getting that 2022 vibe going, it feels like. It really is, Brian, and I appreciate the call. But even, this feels not how it felt in last summer, but how it felt closer

in the playoffs. Tonight felt like a playoff game. Yesterday felt like a playoff game. That Rays series mostly felt like a playoff series. It felt bigger to me. And they fought, and they scratched, and they clawed, and they came out with wins. And, I mean, that's impressive stuff. And I opened the show, not lying to you,

full disclosure, I had all typed out, waiting for the final out, I had all typed out, this is going to be Adam Duvall's spot in three weeks. So credit to me. Didn't press send. And Christian Pache sent us all home very, very happy. So I still think Adam Duvall makes sense.

You know, he's a power right-handed bat. Strikes out a ton, so it won't help from that standpoint. But, you know, he's a great defensive player regardless. Let's get Dennis in Springfield to happen. Dennis, good to talk to you, buddy. Jack, I usually talk to you when you're screening calls. Before I get to the Greg Murphy

call, last night's game, the Tampa Bay game, I watch all the games and I watch them and I root for them and I want them to win, but last night's game was a game that I actually felt like I wanted. I wanted them to win that But last night's game was a game that I actually felt like I wanted. I wanted them to win

that game last night. And I don't know if it was a streak. I don't know if it was a sweep in Tampa Bay. Whatever. That's interesting. Maybe it's because you felt like the Rays were one of the best teams in baseball and sweeping them would put the Phillies

into a different category in a way? Well, kind of validate them a little bit, even though, in my opinion, they don't need to be validated. They are the defending National League champs. But having said all that, I'm driving tonight. I'm not watching TV in my car because I don't have a TV in my car. I'm not that rich. Right. Well, most people don't have TVs in their car. And Greg Murphy called that

a pop-up. And I'm driving. I'm like, oh, shit. The game's over. It's a pop-up. And then he said, and that gives the Phillies a 4-2 lead. Well, listen, man. I'm just telling you, you gotta get home and see the video, man, because

it did look like a pop off the bat. And I've seen it since then, but I'm not a professional announcer. I'm not a professional baseball, you know, and if I'm, I mean, I've heard bad calls in the past and I've heard, you know, guys a ball has gone out, and it's not, but a pop-up is kind of weak. And I don't think it's terrible to criticize him

for that. Well, I mean, sure, if you want to be really mad, I'm just not mad about it. They won a game on an incredible comeback home run. I'm not mad at Murph. But we can bust his chops a little bit. Yeah, of course we could have a little bit of fun with it, for sure. For sure. I was more being at Murph. But we can bust his chops a little bit. Yeah, of course we could have a little bit of fun with it, for sure. I was more being facetious when I came back.

But now, after that win tonight, I don't see any reason why they can't take the next two, to be honest with you. I think that's a big momentum game tonight. Yeah, and I appreciate the call, Dennis. And hopefully it's one of those games where, listen, there's been so much pain caused by the Marlins in Miami. I mentioned it last night. I mean, 19-11.

Brandon Workman against Starling Marte. Their season basically ended there a couple years ago. I mean, Sixto shoved against them. No one watched it because the Eagles are playing that day, but there's been so many bad Phil's Marlins games.

It's about time we got one. It's about time that we got one. Tomorrow, Ranger Suarez on the mound versus Braxton Garrett. Braxton Garrett's been really good this year. He was kind of a forgotten guy in that Marlins rotation, and then they brought him up, and he's just pitched so well that he's stuck. Hopefully, Ranger, he can bounce back. He was not great in his last outing against the Nationals.

For me, more of a blip on the radar than a cause for massive concern. And hopefully tomorrow, big ballpark, feels like a game where Ranger kind of gets right. But if not, definitely more of a cause for concern. I can say I think it's a blip on the radar as much as I want, but Ranger also has to go out and validate that opinion, and hopefully he does because what he was doing before that was just stupid. I mean, we talked about what he did in June, like 1-2 ERA or something.

So tomorrow needs to be one of those get-writable kind of starts, and it's probably going to be a low-scoring affair. I mean, it's not like the Marlins have some great offense. It's better than it's been in years past, but we don't need to fool ourselves into thinking there's some stalwart as an offense. So Ranger is one that he should be able to take advantage of. And then obviously Nola versus Jesus Lizardo on Sunday.

So that's going to be a big marquee matchup between two studs. And I can't wait to see Aaron Nola build off what he did in Tampa and hopefully ride that momentum into the All-Star break. And again, unsung hero of the night, Jeff Hoffman. Two innings out of the bullpen. Lets them use Alvarado tomorrow. Lets them use Soto tomorrow.

Didn't have to go to some other guys. Jeff Hoffman, two innings out of the pen. That is big, big winner stuff from Jeff Hoffman tonight. But either way, that's going to do it for me. Tucker Bagley produced the final out tonight. Rob Cherry's got you coming up next. Sunday, Seltzer and I will have a post-game pod after the series, after Nola versus Lizardo.

The MLB draft is Sunday night, so I'm going to do a YouTube thing, live reacting to the podcast, or live reacting to the Phillies draft pick. They picked 27th. So, believe me, they've been very, very excited for that. And maybe by that point, are we going to have 15

straight road wins? Would be a crazy, crazy feat. Either way, a guy that saw them do this in 1888, and a guy that saw them do this in 1888 and a guy that saw them do this in 1976, Rob Cherry, he's got you coming up next. Thanks for hanging out with me tonight. Phil's win, Chris Apache, build a statue now.

That's going to do it for me. Thanks for hanging out tonight on The Final Out.