High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Final Out: Nola Deals In 1-0 Win

Episode Date: May 5, 2026

Aaron Nola looked like his old self and Bryce Harper's solo home run was the only offense the Phillies needed in a 1-0 win over the Marlins. Jack Fritz reacts to the series finale and looks ahead to the upcoming home series against the Athletics. Presented by Miller Lite. To purchase Ring The Bell by Jack Fritz and Kevin Reavy go to RingTheBellBook.com To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Welcome on in. It is the final out. Jack Fritz hanging out with you. As always, the final out is sponsored by the Philadelphia Parking Authority. I know it is a massive night in Philly Sports. I know that many of you are probably locked in on the other teams, but have no fear I'm here.

They're still on TV one for me. They're still on TV one for me. TV 1, the Phil's tonight. We've got important business to take care of. Important business. We've got to get this thing turned around. Remember when Miami and Lone Depot Park or Marlins Park, what it was before that, they used to go down there and just

lay down like dogs and play the most embarrassing baseball that we've seen this team play? Tides have turned the last couple of years. Maybe the Christian Pache home run was the one that broke the curse of Lone Depot Park. The game wrap up is sponsored by Roto Rutter.

When plumbing problems hit, wrap them up quick and call Roto Router. Their team tackles clogs and leaks so you can stay in the game. Roto Router, your MVP for plumbing solutions. 215-592-94 to get in and react to this one. I know we're waiting for a certain overtime. One of the games seems like it's out of reach in Sixers Land. But if you want to get in, talk about the fills and give me your takeaways from this one. We'd love to hear from you.

215-92. 94-94. Let's get to the biggest takeaways of the game, which are brought to you by Morgan and Morgan, America's largest injury law firm. And listen, one of those nights where a win's a win. It wasn't pretty offensively, but you know what was pretty, this pitching staff. Good stat from Scott Lobber and talking to Don Madeline. 37 innings by the starters, eight runs, their last turn through the rotation. I mean, if they are going to go on a run, if they're going to get back into this thing, if they're going to play at a 90 plus win pace, like they pretty much need to to be in true playoff contention, the starting staff was always going to have to be the thing that was

going to have to get right in order for that to happen. And what you saw down in Miami this series was that. And what you've seen really since the firing of Rob Tom, really since Wheeler came back, There's been some Painter starts that haven't been crisp. Obviously the one Nola start in Atlanta. That wasn't great. But besides that, everyone else has really stepped up and done their job. Lazzardo was brilliant. Zach Wheeler has looked like Zach Wheeler, Chris Sanchez.

A good outing against the Giants is last time out. He goes tomorrow night against the A's. And Nola was a big one. You know, when you lose a guy like Ranger and you replace him with a rookie in Andrew Painter in the rotation, you have to expect that there's going to be some growing pain. and that's happening right now with Andrew Painter. He's not getting blasted. You see flashes, but he's a five-inning pitcher right now,

and he hopefully gets out there allowing three runs or less. You cannot have your $27 million a year pitcher beat Taiwan Walker out there. And Aaron Nola was great tonight. Now, a couple caveats. Maybe a little bit warmer. That helped him. Also, I think eight days rest helped him. He's been off for a long time.

He probably won't get. He won't get that luxury his next time out. But still, good. And I think the one thing to monitor here with Nola is, are they changing up his plan of attack to hitters? Because what you saw tonight was instead of trying to get ahead with a fastball and establish a fastball and be down with it, he went a lot of curveball early to get ahead and get over rather than, you know, that kind of being a pitch that he would hunt with with two strikes to get strikeouts. that is a pitch that could maybe get some of the hitters off of his fastball

and not let that pitch just get smoked. It has not been a very, very effective pitch this year. So I thought what was interesting about Nolan tonight is first time, first two times through the lineup, a lot of curveballs early, trying to get the hitters off balance a little bit, changing speeds, and then fastball's late.

And then third time through the lineup, he changed it. and there was more cutters early, there was fastball early, and just when it felt like the Marlins hitters were adjusting to, hey, we're sitting curveball early, that's what he's doing tonight. Nola made the adjustment back. That is pitching. That is pitching 101. That is old school starter stuff.

You know, it's not the modern age where you let it all fly in the first inning. You kind of, you've got to work your way through it. So I thought that the Aaron Nola was great tonight. It was the Marlins. Now, I think when we say it's the Marlins, that's a little bit. but too much of a throwaway. They're not the Marlins of a couple years ago where they have no offensive talent. I mean, Otto Lopez is a good little player.

Xavier Edwards, good player. Stowers will be a good player. He's coming back from injuries. They're not a great offense, but they're a scrappy offense. They're an offense that can put the ball in play. So I don't think it's a Nola versus a no-one lineup. Certainly not, you know, murderers row. Every time I'm baseball, it's like, they're not 27 Yankees.

So, yeah, it wasn't the most, it wasn't the best offense in the world, but also wasn't a slavch offense. And I think that that's what was impressive about him. And then the bullpen did their job. Banks, good job overcoming the tray error to start that inning. You know, that was good. He shaved the mustache. He's not the most important member of their bullpen, but he's still a piece. And he has had a downstart to the year.

Alvarado is really the only one I leave tonight thinking we might have something here Alvarado's last time out was Friday night if you remember he was really shaky per usual because he's been shaky his entire year and the last batter I kind of thought something clicked with him where he got mad he got angry, he got aggressive

and he struck the guy out on three pitches that was the guy that we saw tonight where he was aggressive in the strike zone attacking hitters, letting his stuff play, letting his stuff eat, rather than trying to nibble. When he tries to do, when he tries to be too fine, that's when he really kind of struggles. And I thought tonight was peak Alvarado. I mean, that's what he looks like at the peak of his powers. And, you know, the fact that he still has that in his bag, I thought, was a good sign.

We're not out of the woods yet with Alvarado, but it was a good sign tonight with what he did on the mound. I thought he was, I thought he was brilliant and an easy inning for him, which was much needed. And then Keller, I still got to see him more. I give him credit for working the double play, but that was two balls that were smoked to start that inning. He allowed another base at after that,

and then a weak ground ball that did shatter a bat on the last out. I just expect more from Brad Keller, really. I mean, they're paying him $22 million, $11 million a year. They need him to be a shutdown back-end option. And so far this year, he has not looked like that. And, you know, Duran's back tomorrow, which is nice. We will not have Keller closing out ball games. But he's still going to be taken down big eighth endings for this team.

So he's someone they really got to get right. That change up to non-starter right now. kind of throws it a little too hard. We did throw a change up tonight at 95. Like, what are we doing? Take a little bit off, get in the strike zone. It's a throwaway pitch at this point. Fastball command hasn't been there.

It was a little bit better tonight. But overall, yeah, I need to see more from Brad Keller. Thankfully, he did get the job done tonight. And then offensively, it was a big Bryce night. He had a, he ripped the double early, hit the home run, which was nice, and then had another hit late. But besides that, you know, Dolies hit two balls hard. which was good.

Stubbsy got a hit. There's no one that is more excited to get out of Miami than Kyle Schwarber, who had a horrendous series. He was pretty good yesterday on Sunday. But overall, I mean, he had eight straight strikeouts at one point. Tonight, not much. And in this series, they didn't score a run off of reliever since game one. And it was really just one guy.

It was that Gibson kid. He was the only guy, only reliever that they scored runs off of. Marlins threw out some really interesting good arms that, you know, they've kind of done for a long time. But still, they did not muster up much offense when it wasn't Chris Paddock out there. So offense, I mean, but at the same time, this is what they were. I mean, this is what they were last year. Generational pitching staff, good bullpen and an offense that you hope can just do enough. And if they get back to that baseball, then you hope they can.

can start rattling off series wins. But still, going down to Miami, taking three or four, still kind of riding the wave of the Thompson firing and the maddling, the Matting Lee promotion, so far, so good. So far, so good. We'll get some things that I did not love tonight, but that will come out next. Let's go to the phones, 215, 592, 94-94-94. Still checking in, even though there's a lot of sports going on.

It's David Marilyn. What's happening, Dave? Hey, what's up, Jack? It's just good to see, like you said, the pitching. kind of rounding into form a little bit with Duran coming back tomorrow that hopefully will get the bullpen back in order as well

with Keller and Alvarado kind of getting into their spots in the seventh and eighth inning rather than not knowing where they're going to pitch. I think that helps out the bullpen tremendously knowing what pockets you're going to go into for the game.

I thought an underrated guy tonight was scubs behind the plate. I thought he called a great game and then throwing out the two runners was huge. I mean, he's come up, giving him a little spark. You know, honestly, we make fun of that, and now he's the DJ and all that guy. Guy can play a little bit.

He's a good kind of backup catcher for what it's worth. As a Marchand, in my opinion, and hopefully he starts to get more time back there over Marchon. Yeah, I appreciate the phone call, Dave, as always. Marchion, I think, does provide value defensively, but I think that him and Stubbs are pretty even from that standpoint. I think Stubbs is an underrated arm. I think the Marlins probably looked at him,

and they were like, we can steal on this guy. And he said, absolutely not. And the one was big. It was like the fourth inning. I know it sounds a little much. A thrott in the fourth inning was big, but in a one-run game it was. You know, it was...

Adelaup has led the inning off. I believe that was the one that Trey had trouble getting out of his glove, and Stubbsie threw him out. and again, I think he's really good behind the plate. I think he calls a good game. You know, I mean, I was Noel's best start or second best start of the season. Colorado is really good as well. And, yeah, I think he provides value.

Now, the tricky part is they don't have much catching depth, so do you want a DFA Marchan? I think that's what they're, I think that's why they're carrying three catches right now is they are delaying that decision. but I think Stubbs should play. I think Stubbs is a good little player. You shouldn't play all the time, but once a week, and I do think he should be the backup catcher. 2.15-592-94. We will get to the player of the game

and some little things that need to be cleaned up after tonight. We'll get to all that coming up next here on the final out on Sports Radio 94 WIP Bay. Hey, Ontario, come on down to BetMGM Casino and see what our newest exclusive, the Price's Right Fortune pick, has to offer. Don't miss out. Play exciting casino games based on the iconic game show only at Betmgm.

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tenure as philly's manager but yeah like i said last segment nola did a did a much better job of of changing speeds, going fast, going curveball early, fastball late, keeping hitters off balance all night long. And I guess I was the Marlins. But I also think the Marlins are some pushover, like they have been in years past. And he's someone that they have to get right

if they're going to write the ship here and go on a run. And he can do it. I am surprised that his ERA is where it is. I kind of had him pegged as a four ERA guy heading him this year, which I noticed it sounds too great. But when you're taking the ball every fifth day and keeping the train rolling in a way, you're going to have your really good outings.

You're going to have your flubs. And all in all, it ends in an ERA at about four. You know, that's kind of where I expected it. I did not expect his ERA to be high fives. I mean, it is, yeah, it's 5.06 even after six shutout tonight. So a mid-five ERA was not what I was expecting from Aeronola heading into this year. And of course, every bad outing, you're like, well, only four more years of this deal. So we're going to have to deal this one for a little bit.

I would like the next four years to not be absolutely miserable. So we are rooting for Aeronola from that standpoint to figure it out. Some things that I think they need to clean up in just a second. But let's talk to Owen in Florida. What's happening, I know? What's up, Jackie Baseball? doing, man. How you doing?

How are you doing? We're at the game tonight by any chance? Nah. Miami's like four and a half hours away from me. I was there for the classic, but couldn't make it up today. But with this team, man, is the starting pitching is their strength. And when they struggled, it was always like, the offense, it is what it is. But the starting pitching was a glaring hole.

And the way Lazzardo pitched, the way Wheeler pitched, Payner and Knowles, okay, Nose was great today. But I did a map out. And I said, if they sweep the Giants, already done, take three out of four against Miami, done, win the next two series against the A's and Rockies. That puts them at 19 and 22 on May 11th. As you remember, in 22 and 23, we were seven games under 500 to start June. And my big thing with this team is, just get into the dance with this starting pitching, anything can happen.

I'm fired up, and I'm just so excited that we can, in my opinion, have a good Philly season the way it was looking last week. Well, yeah, I think they're definitely They're saving the season from that standpoint I feel like we're walking into a summer where they're going to win 70 games It feels like they're going to be in the 86 to 89 range Is where they can and really should be Yeah, get into that third wild card man

And I'm telling you like the offense has looked a little bit better Stoddy with the two homers That big hit against the Giants that led to that walk off If he can just be an average player with his defense. I firmly believe it can lengthen this lineup. Trey, I think, is eventually going to figure it out with Kyle and Bryce looking good.

I mean, it's not what it was looking like last week when they lost that series against Atlanta. No, no, it does not feel hopeless, and I appreciate the phone call, Owen. Yeah, I mean, a week ago, exactly a week ago, which is so funny,

so baseball, everything felt hopeless. We were wondering if Rob Thompson was going to survive, And then we woke up on Tuesday morning. I was on my drive to work because all Philly's news breaks on my drive to work. And Rob Thompson was out as Philly's manager. And so far, so good. They've only lost one time since he has been removed.

And again, I don't think it was all Rob Thompson's fault. I don't think he had a great year. I think the biggest thing that is changed under Don Mattingly is maybe a different sense of accountability. You know, when Don Mattingly says it, probably holds a little bit more cachet than when Rob Thompson says it. I liked, I liked, what was it, yesterday, Sunday, that he immediately held Felix Ray as accountable in the dugout. You know, I guess there's one thing, there was a story, I think, from Zalecki earlier today, that they're going to have, I guess, monthly meetings, or whenever they feel necessary to assess the ball club, see where the trends are. I guess it's something that the Blue Jays did, and Maddenly wants to kind of take from them. so it seems like they are proactive in cleaning this stuff up, which I appreciate.

Tonight was not a banner night defensively. I thought Stubbs is great, obviously. Trey had two bad plays defensively. The one was a, I don't believe was an error, but it easily could have been. It would have been a tough play, but that's a play that he has to make. And then one going to his backhand, he didn't make. And then the Bome run down. I feel like this team flubs are run.

a rundown one out of every three times. It's infuriating. Throw the baseball. What are you trying to get cute for? Throw the baseball. And so far, under Don Maddenly, that has been something that they will clean up seemingly. Heading into the night they had not made an error under Don Mattingly.

That changed tonight with Trey. There was some bad defensive things. But I do like, and it does seem as if Don Mattingly is being more proactive and more on top of the little things getting cleaned up as soon as possible. 215-5-92-94. A look-ahead to tomorrow. Yes, they are on a plane now, getting back to Philly and have to play tomorrow night against the A's. We'll also get to the wow moment of the game.

And speaking of Don Maddenly, another underrated thing that he's doing that I appreciate. We'll go to that coming up next here on the final out on Sports Radio 94WIPA. Yeah, harp was locked in tonight. He was all over. Hanson Junk, he gave away one at bat. Like, there's nothing more frustrating, and it's just what he does at this point. But, man, the one-pitch Harperouts are infuriating, given how high quality his bat can be. Now at the same time, when he smokes baseballs and laces them in the gap or hits home runs,

you feel great when he spends first pitch. Just being aggressive, when he gets out, it was always a bad decision. Well, come on back. it is the final out sponsored by the Philadelphia Parking Authority. Jack Fritz hanging out with you here. Rob Cherry's coming next busy night in Philly Sports. He will have you. He will

take care of it all. Flyers still in overtime, which is exciting stuff. So that was our wow moment of the game. Bryce Going Yard, our wow moment of the game is brought to you by the New Jersey Division of Travel and Tourism from waterfalls to fairways,

mountain resorts to lighthouse tours. Find your wow. at visit nj.com. Bryce Harper, three for four tonight, got his average up the 271. The OPS is in the 880s after the game, he said, still not satisfied. Appreciate that.

We got to be locked in. We got to be the starting first basement in the All-Star game at CBP. For whatever the season turns into, I need Bryce both in the home run derby, although it'll be short. He had two of the same team. But Schwerber will be in it, probably.

I do need Bryce in the All-Rour. All-Star game. And I'm sure that for his brand, he would also like to be in the All-Star game. So Bryce looking good at the plate for sure. Now, I did mention another thing that I like that Maddenly is doing. And he has to be a little bit, you know, careful with this because it can backfire having your relievers warming up a lot. You know, a lot of updowns out there. Rob Thompson always like to stay away from that. And it seems like Maddenly is taking a different approach. because the one thing he's doing that I find really interesting is in what he kind of views as the starter's last inning, he does have a bunch of, he has relievers up and ready to go.

He's done at both Lizardo starts. He did it tonight for Nola where it was the sixth inning, and Banks was getting loose just in case. And being a little bit more proactive rather than reactive. You know, I think that's, again, it could be something he learned from the Blue Jays. This is not who Don Maddenly has traditionally been as a manager. He is usually someone who just lets his starters go. And this is totally different than what I was expecting. And it could be something he learned from John Schneider up with the Blue Jays of,

hey, just makes you always have someone ready to go in case the starter all of a sudden loses it. And Nola was good at last out inning. But you started to see some fatigue. Lazzardo, same thing. a lot of home run. So he kind of lost command in that last inning. And bang, right away, Chase Sugared in. He let Nola work his way through

that sixth inning, but still, the fact that he had someone ready to go, just in case started going off the rails. You know, I keep thinking about the Friday night in Atlanta, Andrew Painter's start, where you know, Andrew Painter, he got through five

really, really good innings. And Thompson did not have a lefty up, did not have backs up. Got him up too late. All of a sudden, Michael Harris is up, and it's an opal leap got caught here. And that has not been the case under Don Maddenly. And I do think that Rob Thompson felt like it was protecting his relievers. But we also had baseball games to win. I think that was one of the issues of Thompson is he would be sometimes a little bit too late in getting guys out of it and would trust his guys a little bit too much. Duran, like I mentioned earlier, we'll be back tomorrow,

which is good. Let's everyone kind of settle into a role. in that bullpen. Maybe Keller back in the 8th will feel more comfortable. Hopefully so. They need him to get going here. But still, having the big fellow back. Big bullpen getting healthy at the right time. Bowling back now, Geron back. And, you know, maybe they can, I think they've been rounding it to form. But obviously, the rotation is taking a step forward. And hopefully the bullpen can as well, because this is a pitching staff that's going to have to carry this team because I don't think the offense. Like, they'll have their night that they score seven, but it can be a lot of three-two type ball games rather than, you know, seven to.

And tomorrow on the mound is Chris Sanchez versus Louis Severino. Severino, been the same way for two years. Great away from Sacramento where the A's play. So, you know, he's still Louis Severino, much better on the road. He's still like a three, but obviously he throws super hard and has good stuff. So, Sevy in the mound and Chris Sanchez looking to build off of what was a great outing, his last time out against the Giants. Some base hits early, but really long.

in and looked like Chris Sanchez after that. So looking forward to that. A good A's lineup coming in here to Philadelphia for the first time since they blasted the Phillies in 2024 before the All-Star break. And I think left us off feeling incredibly nervous about the rest of that season. So that's going to do it for me. Thanks to everyone who hung out for the final out tonight. Rob Cherry is next recapping a huge night in Philly Sports. He'll be back.

You'll be coming up next. I'll have the final out tomorrow night and leading off as well with the afternoon. show. So talk to you then. Enjoy the rest of your night here on Sports Radio.