High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Final Out: Jack Reacts to a Series Win in Chicago

Episode Date: April 20, 2023

Jack Fritz gives his takes on the Phillies series win over the Chicago White Sox and previews their upcoming four-game set against the hapless Colorado Rockies. 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

That's right. Welcome on in to the Final Out. Jack Fritz hanging out with you here on this Wednesday afternoon. The Final Out is sponsored by Regency Furniture. Affordable never looks so good. And let me be the first to welcome the Philadelphia Phillies to the 2023 baseball season. That's more like it. That series is more like it.

The way they've played the last week has felt more like it. They got blitzed at the beginning of the season. They went down to Texas, and it was a team that committed a lot of money this offseason to some big-name players. They were getting to open up their own ballpark, whatever, at home, and they came out hot, and the Phillies weren't ready for it. Then they went to New York, and the Yankees are a good baseball team. We know they're a good baseball team, and the Phillies didn't look ready to meet that moment. The Marlins series was frustrating.

Not being able to take two or three, we get it, but they did hold a lead late into that game, and Jose Amarato for the first time in forever, it feels like, wasn't able to get the job done. Red series, they split, but at least they split. It's a road series. We get it. This White Sox series, to me, was a welcome-to-the-season moment for this baseball team.

2-1-5, 5-9-2, 94-94 is how you get in. And usually I come up with three big takes, but my three big takes are under one umbrella today. And that is that for the first time this year, I feel like the Phillies have finally settled in and the season can truly start. It hasn't been a great start to the season. We get that. It's been a slow start. It hasn't been a great start to the season. We get that. It's been a slow start.

You know, they haven't gotten their footing. Yes, the Braves are out to an unbelievable start to their season. They're also the Braves. We don't have to always judge everything against what the top teams in the division are doing. Sometimes you just have to control what is in front of you. And that's what I'm doing right now. And that's how I'm doing right now and that's how I think we should all be viewing the Phillies right now because what they are showing

us and what they are putting on the field they are telling us it's okay to buy back in we're not going to let you down we're not going to be a 75 win baseball team we are going to be competitive and in the playoff mix for the entire year, and we're going to get back. They have settled in, and the season can truly start. 2-1-5, 5-9-2, 94-94. There's a couple reasons that have me feeling that way. One is the lineup, and I know we have been frustrated with their ability

to drive in runs and runners in scoring position and the lack of home run pop. And I understand all that. But they're starting to figure it out. They are starting to figure it out from a lineup perspective. And I think that's really the main reason we should be buying what the Phillies are selling right now. They had nine more hits today.

They have the highest average in baseball. For years, we have complained, eh, well, all they do is hit home runs to score runs. It's not really true. It's not true with this Phillies team. They don't have much home run pop. Outside of Kyle Schwarber, it's like, hopefully Turner can pop one.

He did that today. You know, Stott is an average guy. Hopefully as Castellanos continues to get comfortable, we can get back to maybe 20 home runs from the Castellanos. JT's a 20 home run guy. Alec Boehm's closer to 15 to 20.

They don't have your traditional power guys until Bryce gets back. And with Reese being out, they really don't. But that doesn't mean they are a bad back. And with Reese being out, they really don't. But that doesn't mean they are a bad offense. And what I continue to see is a lineup that is continuing to figure it out. They had a couple hits with Toronto in the scoring position today. They had a couple home runs, which is good to see.

They had nine more hits. And they have four guys hitting over.320. I mean, that is pretty absurd. It was good to see Bryson Stott get back on the hit track today. And had there not been a doubleheader yesterday, Bryson Stott's hit streak probably continues, but good to see him get right back on it. And Joe DiMaggio officially back on the hot seat. Trey Turner, you know, his best game as a Philly was today.

Like, Trey Turner so far this year, and I was annoyed with him last night on the final out because it's like four strikeouts in two games is annoying from one of your highest-paid players. And I'm annoyed at the lack of home run pop. And I'm annoyed at, you know, having to watch the World Baseball Classic and him get here and not see the balls flying over the fence yet. And while I understand, you know, it's eventually going to come,

it was still like a lot of singles from Trey Turner. It was a lot of, you know, like, yeah, you're batting.350, but it's still where's the extra base hits? Where is getting on first and getting first to third and making stuff happen on the field? We hadn't seen that outside of the first series against the Rangers. Well, today we saw it. You know, he hit the home run earlier, which is great.

Kind of a settled-in moment. He was a triple away from the cycle yet again. David Bell lives rent-free in my head as the last Philly to hit for the cycle, but you hope that this was kind of a breakthrough moment for Trey Turner as a Philly where it's like, okay, I've settled in. The first two weeks were a lot. New team, high expectations. Now let's just go play. Just go play, Trey. I just continue to believe that the lineup is going to figure it out. That's the first reason why I believe they've settled in and it's now truly go time.

The second thing that has me feeling positive about this baseball team is the pitching staff. They've been much maligned. It's been a frustrating start to the season for a lot of the pitching staff. I still have my concerns about Wheeler and Nola. But Tywon Walker I thought was great today. He's my 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. And I thought he was great today. And it's really two straight good starts for him. And really only one bad one. He's been pretty good this year. He's been reliable. He pitched into the sixth again today, which was good.

Bailey Falter pitched into the seventh for the first time for an affiliate starter all year. So these starters are starting to finally give Rob Thompson some quality length. And Tywon Walker, you know, he only struck out three guys today, but still was in the strike zone. And I believe that they have found a good path for him, which is forcing fastballs up and then splitters and sliders off of that. So I thought Tywon Walker is a guy that I think more often than not is going to give you a chance to win a ballgame. Bailey Falter, same thing.

I think he's going to give you a chance to win a ballgame more often than not. Ranger Suarez is on his way back. He had a positive outing yesterday against Bryce Harper and Christian Pache. He's probably going to start a minor league rehab assignment later this week or early next week. Either way, he's coming back, and that moves Matt Strong back to the bullpen, whatever. Nola, Wheeler, Ranger, Walker, Falter should give you a good quality chance to win most ballgames that you're in. They're not going to win every game. That's not how it works.

But on paper, those five should help you win ballgames. More often than not, I'm not writing off Wheeler and Nola. I think they had a long season last year, work late into it, and I think it's just taking them a little bit to readjust and get back into the swing of things here. Wheeler, hopefully the back issue that popped up yesterday is not a big deal.

So you look at the starting staff, and it feels like they've settled down. And then you look at the bullpen. Soto, Kimbrell, Sir Anthony, Alvarado. Finally, finally, they are settling down. They are settling into their roles. Rob Thompson is getting comfortable with those guys. Gregory Soto had a visa issue and showed up to spring training with like two weeks left in it. That was always going to take time for him to figure it out and get into a

rhythm. But outside of his first start against the Rangers, or first outing against the Rangers, he has been nasty. So Gregory Soto looks like that trade is starting to pay some dividends here, and it's developing into a back-end option for the Phillies. Craig Kimbrell, I will always be terrified whenever he comes into a ballgame. But a couple more strikeouts today. A couple strikeouts yesterday. He is generating more swings than misses, which is what you need to see from him. Sir Anthony talked to Alex Coffey of the Inquirer. Said they fixed his mechanics a little bit.

And he is getting back on track, getting back on plane. He was lights freaking out yesterday in Game one. And then Jose Alvarado, what else is there to say? I think he's the nastiest reliever in Philly's history. I understand Brad Lidge exists. I respect 48 for 48, but Jose Alvarado is just downright stupid. Like his stuff is insane. So you have those four where if you get a lead good luck i mean it's been a long time since we've been able to say you get a lead and hand it over to your bullpen and good luck but we're starting to see from the lineup to the starting staff to the bullpen they're all settling down and settling into a role.

And that is massive. There's such high expectations on this team heading into the year for good reason. Not only coming off the World Series appearance, but you looked at how they were built and how they were made up and they had good quality depth pieces. And it's starting to pay dividends. It is starting to pay dividends. So the first two, lineup, pitching staff, they're settling down. And then my third one is an important component to this. It's an important component to making this whole thing work. And that is Rob Thompson. And Rob Thompson, I believe, is starting to get a feel for this baseball team. Rob Thompson, to me, is a feel manager.

He's going to kind of trust his gut on a lot of things. We know the numbers are there. We know righty-lefty splits. We get it. But I think that he takes a little bit to figure out who he can trust versus who he can't trust. And what we've seen in the last week is he is developing guys that he believes he can trust.

He has found a set top of the lineup. I think on a majority of nights, barring injury, it's going to be Stott, Turner, Schwarber, Castellanos, and then we'll see from there. I'm not a huge fan of the righty-lefty split thing. I would not bat Brandon Marsh five, but they are. So it's probably going to be Marsh against righties, and then you'll see Real Muto Boehm.

But at least at the top of the lineup, it's going to be Stott, Turner, Schwarber until Harper comes back. We just talked about the bullpen, but he's found some roles out there, which is important for those guys. And finally, for the first time all season long, there was no base running mistakes all series long. Hallelujah!

No base running mistakes all series long for the Phillies. So my big take tonight off of that game, off of a series win out in Chicago, which I said last night, losing game two is not a big deal as long as you win this game today. Game two yesterday was essentially a scheduled loss. It was Pache, Clemens, and someone else at the bottom of the lineup where it's like, they're not going to win this game.

And it wasn't a huge deal because you took game one. But it only mattered if you went out today and you took care of business. And that's what they did. That is what they did today. A workman's light game. A lot of good aspects of this team are starting to show. 2-1-5, 5-9-2, 94-94. Where do you come down on the Phillies after the series in Chicago?

Feeling more positive, still a little pessimism. Get in now. 2-1, still a little pessimism. Get in now. 215-592-9494. It's Jack Fritz here on the final. Let's go to Andrew in Wayne. What's happening, Andrew? What's up, Jack?

What's going on, man? How are you? I'm doing well. Finally feeling good about the Phillies for like the first time all season. Happy with the way that the series went. There is something that's still bugging me, and I'm worried about the hole we have at first base, even when Bryce comes back. We don't know if he'll be able to throw.

I mean, they're still worried about him sliding. So I don't know how he's going to throw in the field. And two, we don't know how he's going to field. I love that they're going to try and put him in a place where we have a hole, but I feel like we need a player who's good with the bat and the glove in the field because I just don't want to risk losing games with fielding

errors even when Bryce comes back. Well, I think when Bryce comes back initially, they'll probably just DH him and keep Alec Boehm there and hopefully Amunasosa is healthy and back, or they can just play Harrison there. So I think it's going to be Boehm even when Bryce gets back.

I'm going to put him right back out and playing first base and expect him to kind of hit the ground running. And then if it proves that he can't play there defensively or it doesn't work out, then you have obviously the trade deadline. But I think that they want to see this fail before they go make a a panic move i completely get that i'm just worried about we already lost reese's 30 plus home runs that we were going to have from him so that's a huge power you know drain that we lost i just i just think that bryce coming back and being that power input it might not click right away and i'm worried that

it's going to throw off a couple things, especially fielding-wise. Yeah, and I got you, Andrew. Yeah, I mean, that's something to definitely monitor. But what you have to hope for when Bryce comes back and playing first base is that his offensive

output makes up for the runs he's probably going to allow as a first baseman. Not just fielding a ground ball, like, not being able to throw to bases. You know, maybe they have an extended cutoff man in Stotts making the throws to home and taking the ball out of Bryce Harper's hands. But in the end, it's pretty much going to come down to a math equation of does his runs that he creates at the plate make up for the runs he allows in the field and I just you know it's going to be a slow two weeks ish for Bryce when he gets

back because it always is but I think that as he gets going it's going to be it's going to be just fine he was a catcher growing up you see the movements on the first base it looks pretty natural and you just have to hope that he doesn't kill you defensively. And I don't think he will. 2-5, 5-9-2. 94-94 is how you get in on the final out. Jack Fritz hanging out with you here on WIP. On the other side, in addition to your phone calls on the Phil's win today,

I think Rob Thompson is going to have to give in on one thing. And I know he's not going to be comfortable doing it, but I think it's time to give in. What is it? We'll get to that next and more of your calls here on the Final Out. Yes, that's our Mike's Amazing play of the game presented by Mike's Amazing, the official mayo, mustard, and vegetable oil of the Phillies. And yes, it's over. The Trey Turner home run drought is officially over. Welcome to the Phillies, number seven. You're finally here. Over the last little bit, there's

been whispers of Trey Revere. A little Ben Revere. A little slap hitter. It was good to see Trey Turner finally get off the schneid. Yes, I did not bet him. Of course not. I've been betting him all year long. I have sunk so much money into Trey Turner anytime home runs.

And I just hope that someone out there is able to make some money off of that today because I wasn't able to. I was not able to. I took one for the team. I said I'm not going to do it. And hopefully you're able to reap the rewards of Trey Turner's first home run as a Philly. Again, he's going to do it sometime. He's going to do it sometime.

He is going to hit for the cycle as a Philly. I'm just, it's going to happen. So really for me, I have to be patient because I'm someone that needs it right now because I can't stand that David Bell's name is still etched in the history books of the Phillies as the last player to hit for the cycle. He was my least favorite player ever growing up. Looked miserable being here. And frankly, if replay existed in 2004, it would have been a home run anyway.

You know, the triple off the wall. It was really a home run. So he was close today. I mean, Luis Robert really ran down that ball on the 7th. I was like, oh, maybe that's it. He probably has to go right field for that to get

a triple, but either way, it's going to happen sometime. Message to me and message to everyone else out there, be patient. Be patient. Because it's coming. We're getting closer and closer. So hopefully for Trey Turner, this is like a big, deep breath for him. You know, in watching him last night and really the last week,

it's kind of been, he kind of just has looked like he's pressing at the plate. And he looks like he's trying to you know i'm the 300 million dollar guy bryce harper's down reese hoskins is down put the pressure on me and i'll carry us and in baseball that's just a hard um place to be in as a player because baseball is a sport where like like if if the best player won the World Series every year, Mike Trout would have more than zero playoff wins. We know it's a team sport. You know, the best player bats four times a game on a good day.

So it just looked like he was putting a lot of pressure on himself. And hopefully today was like a big exhale kind of start for Trey Turner. And that's how I generally feel about the whole team right now, is that I feel like they got blitzed at the beginning of the season. Maybe they weren't ready to go. The base running mistakes were just outrageous. But it feels like over the last week, they've all collectively taken a deep breath,

and we're starting to see the real Phillies shine. Welcome on back. It's the final out, sponsored by Regency Furniture. Affordable, never looks so good. Jack Fritz hanging out with you here, taking you up. I actually got you until 7, so we'll finish off Final Out. Do a little bit of Marks and Reese, even though it's just me, and then a little Fritz at 6 action.

So we've got a lot of stuff going on. I'll get to your phone calls in one second, but, you know, going on. I'll get to your phone calls in one second, but Rob Thompson is someone who buys into the theory of matchups with his bullpen. He buys into the theory of, I want to use my best reliever if it's a key spot in the seventh or we're facing the hard line in the seventh. I'd rather kill it at that moment. What we've seen the last two nights, I think is very noticeable. And that is Jose Arrado closing out two straight games. And I know Rob Thompson will say post game, no, don't look into it. It's just matchup dependent. And I just get this feeling he's fighting the inevitable here. Because what he has now that he didn't have for a lot of last year,

and I know Girardi and Gabe had when they would try something similar, is he didn't have other options. But what Rob Thompson has right now is finally some other options. Like, he doesn't have to use Alvarado in the seventh because he has Gregory Soto or Serantino Dominguez

or, dare I say it, Craig Kimbrell? I don't know if I can say it yet. But, like, he actually has real options to where he doesn't have to burn Alvarado in the seventh so the ninth becomes

a huge question mark. And now we can just put Jose Alvarado in the ninth and good afternoon or good morning, good afternoon, good night. I mean, it is again, he's morphed into what I believe is the most talented reliever in Philly's history and is only seemingly getting better. I mean, he's striking out. I mean, he struck out, I think, 20 guys so far this year, which is just stupid. So it's refreshing. It's great. It's good to see.

We haven't had a Phillies bullpen this good since the 08 Phillies. And we're starting to finally see that talent prevail. And now I just think it's on Rob to be like, hey, I know we want to try this. And believe me, if there's a game where they're facing a loaded lineup and it's the seventh and Thompson wants to kill that inning, I'm sure he'll use Alvarado. But I just, you know, on most nights, I think they're going to go with Alvarado as the closer

and make sure we lock down the ninth. The ninth still matters. I understand there's other important innings in a baseball game. I totally get the idea of a fireman. But we all know the last three outs of a baseball game are the hardest to get. And the role that he is on, ever since he got into the mindset of strike one, strike two, strike three, good night, or whatever, he wears the shirt around the ballpark, like, whatever.

Since he has found that mindset mindset and he's found that cutter and he's finally throwing strikes, like, that's your closer. So just stick with him. 2-1-5, 5-9-2, 94-94. Where do you come down on that? Jose Alvarado for closer. Are you a part of the movement, or do you think that Rob Thompson is going to continue to fight it?

Sean is in Molka Hill. What's happening, Shawnee? Yes, Alvarado needs to be the closer and should have been the whole entire time. Yeah, I mean, it's something they've fought for years, Sean. Like, they've never wanted to just name a closer. And I've gotten it for the most part. Like, I know the seventh inning matters when, like, you know, runners on first and second and when you get out of it with a lead.

But he actually has options now. And I hope he kind of trusts those guys. I agree. And I have to say that I think that Trey Turner might have took Joe Giglio's statements earlier today a little personal because I heard Giglio saying, oh, I don't, you know, he's ever since the baseball classic, that's what we've been wanting to see, and we're not really seeing that that much.

And then Trey Turner comes out and, you know, what, goes three for five with a home run double. I mean, I think it was a little personal attack against Julio today. Well, that's usually what happens, you know, Sean. It's usually what happens with Julio. Like when he finally, you know, turns on an athlete, they usually respond. I mean, who could forget last year after the Cubs series, which admittedly was like, what are you guys doing?

I believe he went on the air and said that he hopes they don't make the playoffs, and they responded by making the playoffs and going to the World Series. So the fact that Jilio threw in the white towel today, that's a good sign for the Phils. Well, I need him to come out with statements like that every day, and maybe we won't lose ever again the rest of the season. Yeah, well, he usually does. I mean, although I will say he did have a Josh Harrison

anytime home run yesterday, 25 to win 250. So, I mean, maybe the guy knows some baseball. A little bit. I have to say, too, today was a start you really needed from Tywon Walker, especially after last night's game. But, you know, with the bullpen, the bullpen is going to need a break at some point, but this was definitely a start you needed from, especially for Tywon Walker's

fake, because he hasn't been great. Well, and it's too straight that they've needed. Like, Falter getting into the 7th last night after they used Soto, they used Soto, Kimbrell, Sir Anthony Alvarado in Game 1 yesterday, and then Falter getting into the 7th yesterday, they only

allowed Luis Ortiz, so that allowed them to come out today, and they Falter getting to the seventh yesterday, they only allowed Luis Ortiz, so that allowed them to come out today, and they went right back to the three guys at the back end of the bullpen that are able to get outs for them. Yeah, and real quick, my last point, the only thing I wanted to make, I feel really good about this lineup with the fact that when Bryce does come back,

if you're going to move Stott down, Stott was hitting when he was batting seventh and eighth, and now he's still hitting at leadoff. Like you have pieces that you can still move around with confidence that this team is still going to hit, like you were saying. So really with everything that we have to look forward to, there's a lot of positivity still around this team. There's no doubt about that. Yeah, Sean, I appreciate the call. There should be positivity.

Yeah, Sean, I appreciate the call. There should be positivity. You know, I know when what happens in this city, and it happens in only a couple cities in America, because we are one of those fan bases that is passionate about everything, and we live and die with everything. And what we experienced last year with the Phillies going to the World Series is like, oh, my God, baseball is great, and I want to have this intoxicating feeling all the time.

The reality is that 162 is a long season, and it's one of those things where you can't possibly match the excitement of October for an entire baseball season. And I think when the season started, everyone was still clinging on to what happened in October and November. And when they didn't come out hot, it kind of, it kind of killed people's expectations.

And I just, I don't think we need to keep doing that. They're showing more and more positive signs, um, to where it's okay to buy back in on them. 215-592-9494. One thing I want to hit on before we hit a break here and more of your phone calls, Edmundo Sosa missed the game again today.

And, you know, my antenna was up when he missed Sunday and then, you know, missed the double header. And they said, I guess, before the game today that they hope he avoids an IL stint. It's not great. I mean, Edmundo is developing into hope he avoids an IL stint. It's not great. I mean, Emundo is developing into an everyday-ish player for this team. You know, I think on a great team, he's more of a role player. But with the Hoskins injury and Boehm having to play first base with Derek Hall being hurt,

like, Emundo is turning into a very, very valuable player here. And the fact that they're hoping he avoids an IL stint, I mean, now it's going to turn into Josh Harrison playing every day. And I know Josh Harrison had a good series out in Chicago, but still, you know, Edmundo, I believe, was developing into a better offensive piece for this team combined with very good defense. You know, I thought his defense, I guess you could attribute to the back problems, but it wasn't great in guess you could attribute to the back problems, but it wasn't great in Cincinnati.

And now that the back issues have kind of come out, it's like, well, that makes more sense because Edmundo has always been shorthanded. So again, they keep saying, you know, we think he's fine and we could use him in emergency spots. And now today it was like, we hope he avoids an IELTS. Then that doesn't make me feel great. 2-1-5-5--592-9494.

On the other side, we will look ahead to tomorrow night. Phil's return home. And get to more of your phone calls before starting the Marks and Reese portion of the program today. It's Jack Fritz on the Final Out here on Sports Radio 94 WIP. Welcome back. It is the Final Out sponsored by Regency Furniture. Affordable never looks so good. Jack Fritz hanging out with you here on WIP.

215-592-9494 is how you get in. Tomorrow, Phillies return home. And it is Matt Strom versus Ryan Feltner. And it is Matt Strom versus Ryan Feltner. So, you know, last year, the Rockies were a bit of a get-right series for them. I believe they were 6-10 when they played them last year. And they swept them, and they got back to 500. So, you know, hopefully a similar thing happens here.

I mean, the Rockies are just... I know they have... They paid big money for Chris Bryant. And he's actually starting to hit some home runs finally, which is, you know, cute. Like, welcome to 2023 baseball. But, you know, Chris Bryant and CJ Chrome, whatever. But that team is just terrible. I mean, they had their lowest attendance in a decade today.

So, you know, that kind of resembles how, you know, the fans out there, I guess, feel about them. how the fans out there, I guess, feel about them. So, you know, Ryan Felton has an 8.7 ERA. Has always thrown hard, but has never really gotten out. Versus Matt Strom. And in reality, could be Matt Strom's last... I mean, Ranger will probably have a couple minor league spots, but Matt Strom, I think, only has a couple more starts here.

And maybe he can get five innings in tomorrow, five or six, whatever, and continue the upward trajectory of the pitching staff. But I continue to believe that he'll go back to the pen. He'll be a good swing man, a guy that can give you a couple innings if you need it. Obviously, you don't pay him to be a long man, but if you need a guy to get you through the 6th, 7th, if your starter can only give you 5 and keep you in a ballgame, I think Matt Straum is going to be good at that.

He's been great so far. The outing out in Cincinnati was a tad annoying. I think he was dealing with a bit of a blister issue. Rob Thompson, I thought, pulled him when he kind of got into a rhythm a little bit. Then Will Myers, who stinks, hit one of his two home runs in the day. That felt more like an anomaly than a downward trend for Matt Strom. But either way, Strom versus Feltner, and then it's Noah Davis versus Aaron Nola. And then, you know,

they go from there. So, Phillies Rockies, Phillies return home. And you just hope that, you know, when we talked a week and a half ago, we viewed Reds, Marlins, Reds, White Sox, Rockies as a time to get right.

They missed an opportunity against the Marlins. They should have taken two or three. They should have swept the Reds if they didn't blow the ninth inning on that Sunday. You could argue they could have lost the game Saturday, whatever. Two or three, two or three, and then the split on Cincinnati. It happens, whatever. They took care of business this week out in Chicago, and now it's time to like,

go take three or four at home against the Rockies and get on a roll here. Two and five, five, nine, two 94, 94. Owen is in Glassboro. I call him black.

Ready? What's happening now? What up? No low. What's happening, man? How are you? We are all Trey Turner.

Cause I didn't put any money on it today. I know. I know. It felt good though. It's like, okay, Trey Turner because I didn't put any money on it today. I know. It felt good though. It's like, okay, Trey, welcome to the season. Yeah, I was like, the other game, he's going to win today because I didn't put it. Then I bet the next game he didn't again. We all helped him out today, but I'm not betting.

It was good. How do you feel about the fills right now? Are you more positive or still pessimistic? Tell me what I'm supposed to do, Jack. Tell me what I'm supposed to do. Because I've been so up and down. I had to tell myself, like, it is early and it's going to be okay. But I'm so worried about the pitching.

But then the pitching starts looking okay. I'm like, okay, but this is the team. What is it, Jack? Tell me what to do. Tell me what to do. I told myself I'm not going to be worried or upset until, like, May 15th. Like, give me, like, two more weeks and stay in the state. Well, but we all know that's not the reality there, BG. I mean, people are going to melt out all the time.

And especially when the expectations were as high for this team as they were. Like, people did not handle the beginning of the season well for the Phillies. And I think they've just kind of settled into it, and they're going to start playing good baseball rather than bad baseball, and I think they're going to get in a role here, and we'll see more series wins, and you know, win maybe

7 out of 10 games, and get right back into the swing of things in the NL East. And that has so much to do with our reactions, because just because I love the game so much, I'm like, riding off of last year, I'm like, everybody's going to be at the ballpark, and they were losing. I don't want people to go away.

I want people to keep showing up to these games. I want to have a good atmosphere. I want to have a good time. That doesn't mean I need to win 99% of the time, but certain outings were just killing me. And now, like you said, we're starting to get into a rhythm. We're starting to get into a roll. So I still believe we're going to be good. Bryce is coming back. He's going to be pitching first base

in right field, left field. Also, co-sign me on getting a Marsh jersey and a wig and wetting my hair. Wet hair, don't care. That dude is showing out. He's showing his stuff. Marsh is out there showing his stuff. So I'm excited. I'm happy. It is what it is. Great show. I'll talk to you about it.

Alright, there he goes. BG. Black Gritty. So, the Brandon Marsh thing is just fascinating. Second highest OPS in the NL right now. And when they traded for him, I was like, man, we're trading away our best position prospect

for a defensive first center fielder. But credit to Kevin Long and credit to Dave Dombrowski and whatever they saw and whoever they talked to because they might have lucked into an absolute stud. You know, I don't want to label him a star player just yet because I think what he's doing right now is maybe a little bit unsustainable. He's not going to have the second highest OPS in the NL.

But if the worst case scenario is that they have a guy that I think he can rely on pretty consistently to give you 260 to 275-ish average with 15 to 20 homers and go-glove center field caliber defense, I mean, that's a very, very valuable player. And Logan O'H Ohapi's been unbelievable. And it hurts my soul every single time he has a home run. But at the same time, they might have gotten a stud 25-year-old center fielder

that you can realistically expect can man that position for the next six years, seven years. He has hit lefties well this year. He had to hit late yesterday off of a lefty. Had another home run today, like driving balls of authority. So, I mean, Brandon Marsh has just been amazing. And, you know, you talk about Stott's development and Boehm's development. Marsh's development has been the most surprising of them all.

Like, I came into this year not convinced he was going to be able to hit. You know, I was just happy if he batted ninth and, you know, go hit 250 and hit some home runs out. But really, all I need from you to do is just go out and play good defense. Just go play good defense, and the rest will kind of take care of itself. But what we've gotten is so much more. 215-592-9494. It is the final out.

Sponsored by Regency Furniture. Affordable. Never look so good. Jack Fritz hanging with you here for the last little bit of final out before we start Fritz at 6. Coming up, obviously,

at 6 o'clock. And I'll get back to your phone calls, but I just want to kind of reset where I am with the Phillies. And I'm really curious to see where you're at and how you feel about this baseball team. Because it felt like after the first week and a half of the season it was like and those guys stink again that's who they are uh last year as they flash in the pan oh they only won 87 games anyway and where i'm at now and where i think we should be at as a fan base is in on this team it's time to buy back in to this baseball team. It was a frustrating start to the season.

And it was a start of the season, again, like me and BG just talked about, there was such high expectations. We all had dreams of Citizens Bank Park being filled again. And people going down to the ballpark, and it being the place of the summer, and what they did the first week and a half, two weeks of the season, was just about kill all sort of buzz

for the more casual fan, because that's what they attracted towards the end of last year. And that's not a problem. I mean, that's what happens when a team gets in a roll, is that kind of casual fans tune back in. We have's not a problem. That's what happens when a team gets in a role is that casual fans tune back in. We have our diehards like me and Mike and

Tucker back there. We will live and die with the Phillies. But the reality is to make a sellout and to have people wanting to spend their money and go down, it takes the casual fan to be like, you know what? I'm interested in this baseball team. And it felt like after the first week and a half, it was like casual fan to be like, you know what? I'm interested in this baseball team. And it felt like after the first week and a half, it was like, eh, they're not worth it again.

That's who they are. That's who they'll always be. They're losers. And I think to continue to have that mindset is just putting on blinders to what they are showing you. And I've got a couple reasons here why I think it's okay to buy back in on the Phillies and not be wary of them kind of letting you down. The first, and I mentioned it in Final Out a couple segments ago, but the lineup's only getting better. Like, they're already good. They have four guys hitting over 320.

When's the last time we could say that? I mean, even a guy hitting 300 was like, oh my God, is this allowed? But four guys hitting over 320, highest team batting average in baseball. The lineup at the top is set. I mean, Stott, Turner, Harper, Kast, or sorry, Stott, Turner, Schwarber, Kast is going to be what it's going to be until Bryce Harper comes back. And when you look at what they've already done so far this year, and the runs hopefully starting to continue and starting to pile up here, is you start dreaming on what they can be when Bryce Harper gets back. Like, you're telling me that I'm supposed to give up on a team after the first week and a half of the season when Bryce Harper gets back and a lineup looks like Stott, Turner, Harper, Kast, Marsh, JT, Boehm, Cave, Sosa. I mean,

that is a deep lineup. Would I bat Boehm seventh? No, I wouldn't bat Bohm that low, but it seems like that they want to do that regardless. The Bohm 7th thing is there, but the reality is they have a damn good hitter batting that low in the lineup, and that's exciting. Think about how good that lineup is going to be on a night-in, night-out basis, and it's already a lineup that has the highest batting average in baseball. We all talk about the Rays, and yeah, the Rays are doing stupid stuff. I mean, they have a home run in every game and whatnot, but they have the same batting average as the Phillies.

And it's not the NLB at all. They have to drive the ball to the ballpark. They have to have extra base hits. But if you get more ducks in the pond and you get Bryce Harper back and hopefully Castellanos continues to get comfortable, he starts looking to hit the ball to the ballpark more than just get his bat on the baseball. Boehm continues to develop. JT gets back into a bit of a power stroke here.

Turner, I think when Harper comes back, we'll start to see the best version of Trey Turner. Stock continues. The lineup's already this good, and it's only getting better. So for me, that's the main reason why it's okay to be back in on this baseball team. The second reason why is that you want to talk about a lineup that's just getting better, the staff's getting better, and it's only going to get better when Ranger Suarez gets back. And when Ranger Suarez gets back, you go Wheeler, Nola, Ranger, Walker, Falter. On paper, that's a solid starting five. It's not to four aces, but no one is. But that's a five that should give you a chance to win on most nights. And then you get to the bullpen. And the bullpen was Soto and Kimbrel and Sir Anthony and Alvarado

and these guys that hopefully can get back into a rhythm. The Brogdons of the world. Matt Strom gets worked into the mix there. Andrew Bilotti is not being pitched into the ground by Rob Thompson, and he gets into a bit of a rhythm. Like, you look at the whole thing that's going on with the Phill by Rob Thompson, and he gets into a bit of a rhythm. You look at the whole thing that's going on with the Phillies right now, and you start to see the makings of them turning into a really good baseball team. They are turning into a really good baseball team in

front of our eyes. And if you're still in that mindset of the first week and a half of the season, I think you're missing what is going to be a great summer of baseball down at Citizens Bank Park. It's coming. A month from now, I would not be surprised if we woke up and the Phillies were four games over 500, five games over 500, and it's turning into a Mets-Phillies thing for second place in the National League East. The Braves are a juggernaut. They're a wagon. Like, it's okay. They're a very good team. It's okay to say that. But the Phillies are coming. Are you in or are you out on the Phillies? I'm in. And if you're out, I think it's time to buy back in for a multitude of reasons. But one, the lineup's getting better. They're starting to drive in runs.

And that number three is coming back. Second, the pitching staff has settled down. They're starting to develop roles. And you have to trust that Wheeler and Nola will revert back to being Wheeler and Nola. I'm not one of those people that's like, Aaron Nola's a three. Fourth and Cy Young last year. Like, we can grow up a little bit with Aaron Nola. It's been annoying. I understand. He'll let you down. But holy cow, we don't have to overreact to everything the guy

does. Do I wish he wouldn't let the thing snowball over and over again in some spots? Sure, of course. But at the end of the year, he's going to pitch to a mid-three ERA or lower, and it'll be another Aaron Nolte year. Zach Wheeler, you hope there's no injury there at the back, whatever. But if you get those guys back rolling, the rest of it all just makes sense. And the final little piece here that has me feeling very in on this team is I don't think we need to do the whole Rob Thompson needs to be fired thing. I think Rob Thompson has found

a good feeling for this baseball team. I think he has a set lineup now. The bullpen, I think, has settled into some roles, and the base running has been cleaned up. So, you talk about the aspects of the team that was killing them at the beginning of the year. It was the starting staff was not going

deep in games, thus taxing the bullpen, a lineup not driving in runs, base running being annoying, and every single thing Rob Thompson touched didn't work out. But all of that is turning around now. And you look at the talent, you look how they're built on paper,

and it's only going to yield more positive results. Henry is in Glassboro. What's happening, Henry? Yo, what's going on, Jack? Oh, nothing much, man. Phil's are back. Thank God. I know, I know. I heard your take on Alvarado being better than Lidge,

and I wanted to hate that so bad. But the more that I looked at it, you're right. I know. He's absurd, man. I didn't think he was all that until the playoffs last year, and he really proved me wrong. I mean, and that's fine with me. As long as Rob Thompson actually sets on a closer,

I think this team will be fine. But I just want to talk about the lineup a little bit. I'm so glad that Marsh is just forcing his way into the lineup card. He's basically just forcing Rob Thompson to put him in center field because there's just simply a better team with him in the lineup.

He makes stuff happen. Even when he's facing a lefty, he showed, was it game one that he laid the bunt down? They weren't facing a lefty, but I'm sure he could do that against a lefty and make stuff happen with his legs. Late in the game two yesterday, he got a nice little hit to left field. Just play him every day.

They trade away a guy who I think is going to develop into a top five offensive catcher in the sport for Brandon Marsh, and he's actually proven you right in a massive way. So just play him. Just play him. And if he can't hit lefties, whatever. But you can't be playing Christian Pache

three times a week if he fades to lefty. Exactly. And I mean, while I did like Logan Ohape, or Ohap, however you pronounce his name. Ohape, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. He – it was one of the best, like, both improvement –

it was a win on both sides. Yeah, it never happens, but you're right. But, I mean, I just really love the direction that this team is going. Yeah, me too, Henry. And I think that a week – I think a month from now, we'll wake up and it's going to be like, wow, they turned this thing around. They got on a roll.

Everything settled down and they started playing like the team that we dreamed on in the preseason. 2-1-5, 5-9-2, 94-94. It is Jack Fritz. I got you for the next hour. Fritz at 6, coming up next. If you want to keep reacting to the Phillies, I would love to. Are you back in

or are you still hesitant? Are you still pessimistic? Still waiting for the next shoe to drop with this baseball team? I think that's foolish. I think that's a foolish mindset given what they have shown us the last week and given where they are currently at.

So if you want to talk, Phil, also mixing some NFL draft. We are exactly a week away at this point next week. We'll be getting ready for the draft, and we'll mix in all of that along with your phone calls on everything. First at 6, coming up next here on Sports Radio 94 WIP.