High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Final Out: Jack reacts to the Phillies demolishing the Marlins and Sandy Alcantara

Episode Date: April 11, 2023

After the Phils beat the Marlins 15-3, Jack takes your reaction and reacts to everything that happened. What were the big takes of the night? And how does tonight play out? It’s all on this edition of Final Out. 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

Welcome on in, it is the final out here on Sports Radio 94 WIP 215-592-9494. Jack Fritz hanging out with you here on this Monday night. The final out sponsored by Regency Furniture. Affordable, never looks so good. And this is one of those games that you just can't stop smiling when thinking about it. I've just been sitting here giddy, you know, waiting for Murph to get on the air. Unfortunately, or Murph to get off the air. Unfortunately for me, there was like a million highlights

because this was an absolute demolition. They demolished the Marlins tonight. Maybe the whole Marlins fear thing is over. Maybe that's done. Maybe we don't have to do this whole like, oh, well, maybe the Marlins are going to kill us this year. Maybe that's all over. Maybe tonight made up for 19 to 11 and all the awful trips down to Miami over the last couple

of years. If you're coming home from the game, we'd love for you to get in and react to what was just a beautiful, beautiful night down at Citizens Bank Park. An unexpected night. 100% an unexpected night down at CBP. You never expect to score more than three runs off of Sandy Alcantara. And they lit them up for nine earned. Nine earned to Sandy Alcantara. Look at the fills without Bryce Harper, Reese Hoskins. They're down a couple players. They came out tonight and they destroyed the Marlins

a beautiful night for baseball a beautiful night down the ballpark and it was one of those games where I think they took that loss uh to the Reds last or yesterday personally they made a bunch of mistakes on the base pass and they looked like a team that had a bit of a heart-to-heart. Obviously, you don't need a players-only meeting when it's the first nine games of a season. But I think there was a little bit of like, we're pros, we're professionals, we played like little leaguers yesterday,

we've made like seven outs on the bases. Let's figure it out. Let's come together here, and let's not let this continue to happen. And what I saw tonight was a prideful baseball team. What I saw tonight was a team that was focused on one thing and one message, and that looked like the team that we had seen for a majority of last season and definitely in the postseason.

Like, that level of locked-in-ness, that, you know, picking up each other, you know, feeding off of one another, it was a great, great sign that they were able to do that against Sandy Alcantara. Just a great, great sign. 2-1-5, 5-9-2, 94-94. If you want to get in, you're coming home from the game, stuck in traffic, pretty good crowd. Like, obviously, you Obviously, it's April.

It's the fourth home game of the year. It's never going to be sold out night in, night out yet, but I thought it was a good night. A good sign down at the ballpark. A good crowd, and man did they get their money's worth. Let's go through this one real quick.

First off, Matt Strom versus Andy Alcantara. The Phillies, I believe, were dogs heading into this game, and it makes sense. I mean, Matt Strom's a guy who, yeah, he pitched well against the Yankees, but ever since he's been a starter, hasn't been great at it.

So, you know, you're facing a guy who won the NL Cy Young last year, and has been great so far this year. Like, Andy Alcantara picked right up where he left off last season. Strom versus Alcantara looks like a mismatch, but I tell you what, there's something about Matt Strom. Like, there is something about this kid that I don't know if they're going to keep him in the rotation.

I probably wouldn't because I just think he can do both. I think he can start. I think he can come out of the bullpen. But when I look at your options and it's Falter, I don't think his stuff plays up out of the bullpen. Tywon Walker, you're obviously not putting there. Andrew Painter, you know, we'll see. Ranger Suarez, like, unfortunately for Matt Strom,

like, he just profiles as a better option out of the bullpen. But, man, it's just like when you're looking back on this season and hopefully it ends in a parade down broad street, but if you're looking back on them making the playoffs, like what Matt Strom is doing at the beginning of the season right here, it's special stuff. It's Philly's yearbook stuff. It reminds me a little bit of like Vance Worley in 11,

where it's like, oh my gosh, we have all these studs, but here's Vance Worley having a moment. And Matt Strom's been their best starter through two games. I mean, it's been awesome. So both are cruising through three. Alcantara's kind of grooving. Now, hand up, after the third inning, I tweeted that Sandy Alcantara's going to throw a no-hitter.

So if you want to give me any credit here, immediately the Phillies, you know, throw that tweet right back in my face. Bottom third, Jake Cave leads it off with a home run and just an absolute tank shot from Jake Cave. And it was like, that's what I saw in spring training, and Jake Cave is a guy that is going to have to produce for this team with some of the injuries that they have, and if he can just be competent, like we don't need Jake Cave to be an all-star. I don't need Jake Cave to carry the Phillies, but if you're batting 8-9,

if you're batting in the 7-8-9 spots in my batting lineup, I think he's a really good defensive player. You've got to produce something, and I know he's been a journeyman, and I totally get that. But tonight was a really good sign. He almost hit another ball out later for a home run. So that ball is absolutely demolished. And that's what we saw a lot of spring training.

So hopefully he's getting over the jitters of having to start on a team that has World Series aspirations to begin a season. But I thought today was obviously a positive start for Jake Keefe. But it just continued after that. Bryson Stott singled, steals second in his first game at the leadoff spot. Good start for him at the leadoff spot. He had two hits, worked some good pitches, worked some good counts, and just looked comfortable. And I think that's the big worry you have is this guy's been batting 6-7. You don't want to throw him off his rhythm.

He gets into the leadoff spot. Things look pretty good. Turner singles. He's 0 for his last 8 heading into the game. He had a couple knocks tonight. He singles. Schwarber walks. Bang.

Castellanos hit the double off the wall. And it's like, wow. Maybe this Castellanos thing is starting to become more real. Phil's go up three, nothing. Alec Boehm, the beginning of his RBI machine kind of night gives them a single bang. They're up five, nothing. I thought this was a big part of the game. You know, it's top four. I've seen the Phillies go out and score three or four, even five runs, and immediately the pitcher kind of gives it back. And Matt Strom goes out there, bang, one, two, three, shut down inning, top four, and it remains 5-0. And that's deflating.

If you're the Marlins, that is deflating when you're thinking about trying to come back against the Phillies on this Monday night. Bottom five, the Phillies get right back into it. Turner leads it off with a single. Schwarber also singles after him. Castellanos with the ball up the middle. 6-0 Phillies. Boehm singles again.

A little dribbler up the third baseline makes it 7-0. Sandy Alcantara pulled at that point. Bottom five. It's already 7-0. There are two runners on base that are stranded there for Devin Smeltzer to come in and try to get out of. Bang.

Brandon Marsh hits the ball to the wall. 9-0 Phillies. Nine earned runs against Sandy freaking Alcantara tonight. And they bring in Devin Smeltzer. And I feel bad for Devin Smeltzer. We heard the story tonight, obviously. Like, battle cancer, Chase Utley, you know, out in L.A.

I mean, this is a Phillies fan that's like, that might have been his first time pitching against them. And they just left him out there to just eat it. And that's a tough spot to be in as a pitcher. And the Phillies just took advantage of it. Marsh double. He had a double against a left in as a pitcher. And the Phillies just took advantage of it. Marsh double. He had a double against a lefty and a homer against a lefty. So hey, crazy concept. Maybe

let your everyday center fielder face lefties. I don't know. That's just me talking here. So they go out 9-0, bottom five. McKinley Moore comes in, keeps it a 9-0 game. And then just a little bit of insurance here in the bottom of the sixth. Turner singles again. Schwarber doubles. And I got to be

honest, it's nice seeing Kyle Schwarber have some hits besides home runs. You know, I don't, I never love seeing the 158 batting average, but he, you know but he had a couple of knocks tonight, getting that average up to 200-plus. So with the shift being gone, Kyle Schwaber, I think, can take more advantage of some more base hits and doubles rather than everything being home runs. Castellanos, another hit up the middle to make it 10-0.

Trey Turner scores. And then Alec Boehm, who has gotten off to a scorching hot start here a guy who uh you know a lot of people including myself had as a as a breakout candidate this year uh has the his first back-to-back home run game with this bomb that he hit in the bottom of the sixth. Smeltzer kicks some deals, and the pitch is crushed. Way back to left, and I mean gone. Wow. Alec Baum way up the alley and left center field.

It's a three-run home run for Alec Baum. And a six-RBI night so far. Mercy. My goodness. It's 13 to nothing, Phillies. And that for me was my Mike's Amazing play of the game presented by Mike's Amazing, the official mayo, mustard, and vegetable oil of the Phillies. And I know it was a game that was out of reach at that point.

I understand that. But I think that Alec Baum continuing to show growth here and continuing to drive the ball out of the ballpark and continuing to lift the baseball is a great sign. He had six RBIs tonight. I mean, it was a monster night to play for him. Three for five, six RBIs, a home run, first ever back-to-back home run game

in his career, and I've watched it like a million times. It is a thing of beauty what we're starting to see him develop power-wise. 440 feet. I mean, that ball is absolutely destroyed. So a good sign there for the Phillies

and hopefully it just continues to grow. You want to see, obviously, the power develop there if he's going to play first base every day and all that good stuff. Game's out of reach at that point, 13-0. But I thought this was notable as well. Bottom eight, Brandon Marsh hits a bomb, and I mean a bomb to left center field off of a lefty. So that gave him a double and a homer off of a lefty.

That's two hits. And I just think that, you know, this whole idea of, well, we're not going to let him face lefties, whatever. Like, he can't hit them. It's like, well, let's let him do it first before we worry if he can't do it. So I think he's continuing to prove that to the Phillies. Like, hey, I can do this. And, like, that's not a cheapy home run.

Like, hitting a home run to that part of the ballpark as a lefty that, like, he's never really shown that kind of pop, that's some special stuff. So you look at the beginning of the season for the Phillies. Boehm, Marsh, and Stott have all taken the step forwards that I think a lot of people were asking for. taking the step forwards that I think a lot of people were asking for. And with Reese being down and Harper being down, those three picking up the slack is just, it is massive for this team. Let's get to the player of the game brought to you by South Jersey Gas Conserve.

Helping customers and communities save energy and money. Visit SouthJerseyGas.com. And we could go Alec Boehm. There's a lot of candidates from tonight but the guy I'm giving it to is Nick Castellanos. I think he is continuing to show that he is more on his way to being back

than not. Leads Major League Baseball in doubles right now. He's tied for league lead in doubles right now which is awesome. The power still has to come, but for right now, we'll take some doubles. We'll take driving the baseball. And I think him getting thrown

out tonight was another example of him getting his swagger back. It can be meaningless. I'm sure that Rob Thompson wasn't thrilled with it, but Nick Castellanos is a cocky player. He is a confident player. And when he has that little bit of swagger,

you see the best version of Nick Castellanos possible. So I like that this stuff is happening. I like that he's halfway down the third baseline over the weekend messing with the pitcher. I think this is really, really important stuff when you are hopefully evaluating whether or not the Phillies are getting back the guy they paid $20-plus million a year to come in here and hit.

So good signs tonight all around for the Phillies. 215-592-9494. It's Jack Fritz hanging out with you here on the final out. If you're stuck in traffic, you're on your way home, we will get to your phone calls on the other side, but also some massive positives I want to go through tonight,

not just from tonight but from the beginning of the season. What are some of them? We'll get to that and all of your calls coming up next. Play him around the other way in the outfield to pitch. Swung on, belted, left field. On the run, Della Cruz won't get it. It's off the wall. In to score is Turner.

Schwarber on his way into third. And in to second with a wall ball double is Nick Castellanos. And the Phillies with a three spot off Alcantara here in the third lead at 3-0. Yeah, that happened earlier tonight. Nick Castellanos continuing to show signs of life at the plate. That was one of the many reasons why he was 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 slash lovemyhome. Castellanos on the night. Three for five, three runs scored, three RBIs. And it's nice to see that this whole idea of him being done and last year being like, well, he's completely done. He's over. We're never going to see prime Nick Castellanos back. He made this swing adjustment, and I noticed it on the home opener,

where he was getting more set. And he seemed like he was in a more still position before going after the baseball. And all weekend long, he was smoking balls to left field again. And he looked a lot like the Castellanos that I felt like I had seen for the last decade in Major League Baseball. That's what made last year so confusing to me, was that for about a decade, Nick Castellanos, while he was playing in Detroit, was never a big home run guy.

Now, a lot of that was because, obviously, the stadium out there doesn't lend itself to that. I mean, it's a massive stadium. But this was a guy that was always towards the top of the league in doubles. He seemed like a guy that would break your heart. Like if you're facing him in your favorite team, like he's going to come up in a big spot and he is going to usually deliver. And last year, just the feebleness and the striking out

and the swinging at every freaking outside slider. It was like, this is hapless. I mean, he had 13 home runs last year off of a year where he had 34 and like 109 and batted over 300. So I was just, I was so perplexed as to how he had gotten to the point of where he was. But you saw over the weekend against the Reds, he made a swing adjustment. He was doing different cocky Castellanos things where he's halfway down third baseline.

He did that on Friday. He did it on Saturday. He's had a lot of walks this year. Even though the hits are just starting to come now, he's been walking a ton this year, which has been really, uh, encouraging. He hasn't been chasing out of the zone. Um, and, and, and tonight, um, you know, like he, he went back a bit to, uh, like the Sheffield-ish style swing setup, but it just looked more confident, and he looked more back to feeling himself.

And maybe he's starting to be like, I've settled in, I got it, and the Phillies can really see what Nick Castellanos can do. And the ball off the wall today was smoked a couple singles one to right field there's poked it over the first baseman's head on the first pitch no need to wait around and get to two strikes just get it over with same thing with the single later in the game just up the middle like just taking where the pitches was given to you it's just he is looking more and more confident. I think it's okay to believe here a little bit.

We don't have to say he's going to be back to 309 and 34 homers, but to get back to 280, 20 homers, well, hopefully he can hit one home run first before we start throwing out 20 home runs. And then towards the top of the league in doubles, I think that is back into existence here for Nick Castellanos. So that is such a

massive development when you talk about losing Reese and you talk about Harper being done and hey, maybe he's back in late May, early June and it's like, well, who cares? But then at that point, you're adding him back into hopefully prime Castellanos. And that is a massive difference maker. So that was one of my big takeaways from the night

is that Castellanos continues to look great. Another guy that continues to look great is Alec Boehm. I mean, Alec Boehm, you know, there was all spring training was like, well, he added 10 pounds of muscle. And he is starting to lift the ball, and it was like, this is exciting, but we got to see it translate towards the regular season, and man, is it translating. I mean, it is translating in a big way,

and he's not sacrificing his hitting ability for power. He's just letting his 6'5 frame just take over. I mean, we are sort of watching the Jason Wirth-level breakout here from Alec Boehm where he's using the leverage that he already has in his body and just hitting tanks, man. 440 feet from Alec Boehm? I mean, he was a slap hitter last year he's a 6'5 slap hitter

and now you add the muscle you lift the baseball he's not missing mistakes he's looking to do damage and deposit balls into the seats I mean you want to talk about a reason like I haven't stopped smiling about this game

but between the Castellanos and Boehm thing, it's like, this is what we wanted. But there was so much more than that. There's, like, it's been a frustrating start for the season, and I get that. But those two things, Bryce and Stott, I thought, looked just like a natural at the leadoff spot. Like, you know, I was advocating this morning on High Hopes. By the way, check out high hopes, of course. But, you know, I was advocating for putting him in the two spot. You know, you put him in the two spot.

Turner's going to be aggressive. I like the idea of him being aggressive. He can get hits. And you still have that speed at first base with the back control guy batting two where crazy concept, you could still do some hit and runs. But I know that doesn't happen in baseball anymore, but who knows? Like maybe with the new rules and whatnot, it's coming back. But they put him in the leadoff spot immediately first at bat.

I know he ended up getting out, but he worked a 2-2 count. And there's too many times at the beginning of the season with him and Schwarber batting one-two, Turner and Schwarber, where it was like three pitches in and we're already at the 30-hitter. Like that can't happen. So I thought Stott looked great. And he didn't look overwhelmed. He didn't look like he felt too much pressure.

We're talking about a kid that was starting at shortstop in the World Series last year as a rookie. Like, he's been through a lot of baseball, and he's kind of handled it all with stride. So, Cassianus, Boehm, Stott, big. And then the Brandon Marsh thing. Like, we talked about before the season, if Boehm, Stott, big. And then the Brandon Marsh thing. Like we talked about before the season, if Boehm can break out here,

if Stott can break out here, and Marsh can prove that he can hit. We weren't asking Brandon Marsh to hit 320 home runs. All we were asking Brandon Marsh to do is hit 260 or whatnot. Like 260 and like 15 home runs is a perfectly acceptable acceptable brandon marsh here when he plays the caliber of defense that he can play but what you're seeing here is a kid who the angels tried to ruin that is overcoming that and is is developing into a stud here like he he has

i don't think he has the the i don't think he'll ever hit for the same average as these two players, but he reminds me a ton of two guys. One is one of our favorites here. And that is Shane Victorino. And the other is Johnny Damon, like Johnny Damon hit for a higher average, average Victorino, same kind of thing. But Marsh is like a, a, a similar mix of those two, very high energy aggressive he'll make mistakes in the base pass we know that um but it's it's mostly good from him and he is just developing into a stud and those three things weren't even factored in when he talked about the rest of the lineup at the beginning of the year it's like yeah if they happen that's great

but the rest of the lineup is so loaded well after, after Reese goes down and Harper's continues to be out, those three taking big step forwards was imperative. So you look for reasons to be excited about the Phillies early in the season. The young studs are starting to turn into, or the young guys that you believed in, are starting to turn into studs. And Nick Castellanos seems like he's well on his way back. So just a massive, massive night all around for those guys. But it's not even just tonight.

It's been like this for a majority of the season. I mean, Stotts had seven two-hit games already. Seven. Seven two-hit games. So exciting stuff. And then just rotation-wise, like Matt Stroud. I mean, just giving them really, really high-quality innings. And we'll see what they do.

I would put him back in the bullpen personally. I understand what he's done so far in the rotation, but I just think his stuff translates better to the – or easier to go back into the bullpen rather than a falter or obviously ranger or whatnot. So he's helping the team now, but I think eventually goes back to the bullpen rather than a falter or obviously ranger or whatnot. So he's helping the team now, but I think eventually goes back to the bullpen. And the final thing here that I want to touch on, because I've talked a lot about it on the final out so far this year,

is people being frustrated that the Phillies weren't scoring runs and they weren't taking advantage of runners in scoring position. I'm with you. I totally get that. But tonight it was like a nice example of hits turning into runs. I mean, it's not like they scored all their runs on home runs tonight. I mean, they hit two or they hit three. But two when the game was kind of still semi in reach, I guess. But it wasn't like they were living and dying by the long ball tonight.

It was a lot of hitting the ball all over the ball yard and score runs in different ways. And I thought it was nice to see them kind of break through. And we talked about water fighting its level. I think we kind of saw that tonight. So just a beautiful night all around. And one of those nights where it's like, it scored nine off Sandy Alcantara.

I mean, look at the fills. Look at the fills. 215-592-9494. This is the final out. Sponsored by Regency Furniture. Affordable never looks so good. If you're coming home from the ballgame, we'd love to get you in. 2-1-5, 5-9-2, 94-94.

React to the Phillies just absolutely destroying the Miami Marlins tonight and ruining Gene Segura's homecoming game. That's disappointing. Listen, I mean, Gene, we'll take you you we'll take gene back i think in a couple months here you know he's uh why not come on bring gene home he looked like he wanted to come home uh but i was really really happy to see him get a a good ovation tonight and and get the recognition he deserved i mean gene batted 281 here you know obviously he had some up and downs with uh what happened in denedin with Girardi.

And we know about the Andrew McCutcheon thing. But, you know, him getting into the postseason last year, him having the games he had in the postseason last year, and just like the great vibes it seemed like he kind of had, it was good to see him get rewarded for all that. So I was happy for Gene tonight. But also, you know, we'll see you around the trade that line, pal. 215 592-9494

on the other side. We'll get to your phone calls and a look ahead tomorrow night before handing things off to Jody Mack here on the Final Out on Sports Radio 94 WIP. Welcome back to the Final Out here on Sports Radio 94 WIP. 215 592-9494

Jack Fritz hanging out with you in the final segment here before handing things off to Jody Mack. And his final out is sponsored by Regency Furniture. Affordable, never looks so good. Let's check in on David in Burlington. What's happening, David? Hey, Fritzy. What's up, man?

Oh, nothing much, man. It was a beautiful night down at the ballpark. Oh, beautiful night to be down at the ballpark. Yeah, were you down there tonight? Yeah, I was down there tonight. It couldn't be a better night. Yeah, I mean, listen, it was one of those games where, obviously, I don't think you were heading into it being like,

oh, Matt Strom's going to out-duel Sandy Alcantara tonight. You didn't think they were going to put up nine runs on Sandy? Yeah, believe it or not. You know, talk about – maybe I should just hang up my betting cleats for a little bit here. I had Sandy getting 10-plus Ks tonight. That was going off of plus 750, so I'm doing good work there. I didn't bet Trey Turner tonight, and he had, you know, two hits,

whatever, we take it. So, yeah, I mean, listen, it wasn't a great night for my bank account, but we'll take it when the Phillies score 15. Yeah, man, I feel you. I had Sandy six plus Ks in a parlay, and I thought for sure that was it. But, you know, I guess you can't get too mad that the Phillies are hitting them around. No, I think we trade our like $10. I guess you can't get too mad that the Phillies are hitting them around. No. I think we trade our $10.

I would 100% trade $10 for a Phillies win every day of the year. Oh, for sure. First off, it makes me way happier. And ultimately, it makes the rest of the Delaware Valley happy. So I say this every year, but I will mush the Phillies into a playoff appearance. That's the least I can do is use my powers for good, Dave. Oh, appreciate that, Fritz. So I guess the point of my call was I wanted to get in on the Phillies daycare. I mean, you know, I think we all expected them to contribute like they did last year.

But, I mean, they've been carrying the team at this point. I think we all expected them to contribute like they did last year, but they've been carrying the team at this point. Not that some of the bigger name guys are playing poorly per se, but the young guys, Stott, Boehm, Marsh, are just carrying the team it seems like offensively. Yeah, and you saw Saturday. Saturday, Marsh comes off the bench, gets the big hit there. Stott comes up and walks us off.

And it's just it's so refreshing, you know, for so long was like, oh, you can't buy your way to a championship and you need your young studs to come in and do some stuff. Well, they are like I know they brought in Marsh from the outside, but he's essentially one of the young players. He's 24, 25 years old. essentially one of the young players. He's 24, 25 years old. And then Bowman and Stoddard, homegrown guys that, you know, for years the Phillies have been maligned for not developing homegrown guys. And these guys are thriving, and they're in big spots. And them going to the World Series last year is only going to help all three

of those guys be more comfortable in the regular season. So it's just been huge. Oh, for sure, man, for sure. I appreciate the call, Dave. We'll talk to you soon, buddy. But, yeah, I just think that those three guys, you know, and going to the World Series last year and being in big spots and seeing what that ballpark can be like.

Like, Turner and Harper are going to be here forever, but seemingly forever. I know it's not technically forever. But, you know, with Hoskins possibly going at the end of this year, there has to be people who have been here for a while that can teach the newcomers what it's like to be a Philly and the Phillies way. I mean, part of the reason that Jason Kelsey and Brandon Graham

and Fletcher Cox have stayed around for as long as they are is because they, you know, instill the Eagles kind of culture in a way. And they're like, this is how we do things here. And we've won games. And, like, that stuff, I believe, matters in clubhouses. So, you know, those guys having the experience of what last year was and now having it translate over to this year where they know what it takes to get back.

It is only good stuff. And those three and Castellanos, again, with the injuries they've had, with seeing the bottom of the lineup tonight, it's still like Cave and Stubbs and Cody Clemons. You need some guys to step up if that's the bottom of the lineup. So it's been really, really encouraging to see the new version of the Phillies daycare kind of thriving here. And they beat Sandy Alcantara tonight without Nick Maton, which I didn't know was possible.

Nick Maton is the Alcantara killer. So maybe Jake Cave is the new Nick Maton, which I didn't know was possible. Nick Maton is the Alcantara killer. So, you know, maybe Jake Cave is the new Nick Maton. Who knows? Let's look ahead to tomorrow. It's, you know, I don't want to say, obviously, it's too tough of a start because I thought Sandy Alcantara was going to be a load for the Phillies to kind of handle tonight, and they hung a nine spot on him. So, you know, as Cliff Lee once said, that's baseball.

But in my opinion, they have their hands full tomorrow with Jesus Lozardo on the mound. First two starts of the year, he pitches into the sixth inning against the Mets, strikes out five, but doesn't allow a run. And then his last start against the Twins, seven innings. He allowed an earned run in that seventh inning, five but doesn't allow a run uh and then his last start against the twins seven innings he allowed an earned run in that seventh inning so he was dominant before that struck out 10 and he is

developed into uh one of the better young pitchers in baseball he was one of the top prospects in all baseball a couple years ago uh struggled for a for a couple years there with the athletics and the marlins um he was traded to the marlins uh for starling marty a couple years there with the Athletics and the Marlins. He was traded to the Marlins for Starling Marte a couple years ago. Had a 644 ERA in 2021. Last year got down to 332, the 332 ERA. But towards the end of the year, you started to see his stuff really have an uptick. So it led you to believe that we have a carryover effect. And I believe in his last six starts, dating back to last year and obviously this year, a 180 ERA.

So the stuff is finally starting to translate for Jesus Lizardo. So it's Nola on the mound. Nola has weird games against the Marlins. I thought he was really good against the Yankees. I don't think the runs are totally indicative of thought he was really good against the Yankees. You know, I thought that – I don't think the runs are totally indicative of what Aaron Nolan did against the Yankees. I thought he was great. I thought he was actually better than Garrett Cole on that day.

And Garrett Cole I thought was brilliant. So, you know, I need Aaron Nolan to continue to, you know, bounce back and give this bullpen a little bit of a rest. I mean, Strom gave them some good innings today. They haven't been totally overworked, but when one of your aces is going out against a Marlins lineup that is not great, could definitely use a nice seven-inning performance from Aaron Nola and give them a little bit of a rest.

But again, I think they have their work cut out for them tomorrow with Jesus Lizardo on the mound. So, Noah versus Lizardo, if you're a pitching nerd, if you're someone that loves pitching, I think we are in for a treat tomorrow. I don't think they're going to do what they did against Sandy Alcantara tonight. It's one of those things where you're watching it, and it's like, yeah, this is awesome, 15 runs.

watching it and it's like, yeah, this is awesome. 15 runs. But generally the offense, I feel like struggles after they put on a show the night before. So hopefully tomorrow that is not the case, but Lizardo versus Nola is definitely one of those matchups that, uh, I think we'll be excited about if you're, if you love pitching and hopefully they can do similar things to Jesus Lizardo that they did in Sandy Alcantara tonight and and and you know go up and at least win the series outright and we'll see what happens in game three but that's honestly that's what makes yesterday so frustrating losing that game to the Reds yesterday and and you know losing the chance of the sweep you have a lead in the ninth blowing that like the Phillies would be on a nice little streak right now,

and it would go a long way towards calming some of the fears that we had the first week of the season if they went on a little bit of a streak immediately after struggling. So unfortunately didn't get the job done yesterday, but tonight they did in a big, big way. Exciting, exciting game down at Citizens Bank Park. A game where 18 runs were scored. In two and a half hours, the game was over.

Holy cow, look at modern baseball. That's going to do it for me. Thanks for hanging out here on the Final Out. Jody Mack will continue taking all of your reaction to the Fillsburg win tonight down at Citizens Bank Park. Tucker Bagley produced. Final out, as always. Great job with that.

I'll talk to you tomorrow night. Marks and Reese will do leading off, and then I got you for final out, reacting to what is hopefully another Phillies win. Thanks for hanging out. Jody Max got you next here on Sports Radio 94 WIP.