High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Final Out: Phillies Comeback Fall Short, Dodgers Take Game 2

Episode Date: October 7, 2025

The Philadelphia Phillies dropped Game 2 of the NLDS in heart-breaking fashion to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Down 2-0, the High Hopes podcast is LIVE from Citizens Bank Park, reacting to another playoff defeat. 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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The Women's Hoops Show We're heading towards the home stretch Of the WMBA season And there is so much to get into Every episode twice a week I'm joined by one of my amazing co-host as we dissect the biggest games, performances, and even some off-court drama. The playoffs are quickly approaching, and now is the best time to tune in.

Who will come away is this year's champion? The competition is heating up, and so are we. Listen to and follow the women's hoops show, available now, wherever you get your podcasts. Yo, it is. Final out, a special edition of High Hope's Radio, Jack Fritz, James Seltzer with you from Citizens Bank Park. why are you putting in that spot ma'am what are we doing like i like i i am so frustrated sitting here jack it felt like it was going to be a no show and then they get our hopes up they actually have a real chance of runner on second when no outs in the freaking ninth and you just need

the guy to score yeah how you do i know i know you uh you disappeared on us in the sixth or seventh inning whatever per usual just went and found a spot to sit by yourself Well, yeah, yeah. I mean, I walked around for a little bit. Got a sympathy ice cream cone. Good. No one bought it for me. It was me personally.

And then I thought there was some magic after the tray hit. I was like, I found an older I hopes listener, and he understood me, which I appreciated. I actually went, like, all the way up into, like, the 400 level to walk around. So that was nice. And then, yeah, I settled out of the bleachers for the last, for the last inning and a half. And I really thought I found my spot. I really did, you know. And it's the hope that kills you.

You know, it's the hope that they couldn't even just die. I know. With a wimp. And I'm happy they fought. Obviously, I'm happy they fought, but it definitely made it more painful. It is what it is. Well, what made the ninth hurt so bad is, listen, I'm going to be muttering in my sleep tonight about why would you punt there? Why would you bunt there? Why would you bunt there? And so here's why you don't bunt there.

You have Bryce and Stottup, who is very good at controlling the bat. You can't pinch run for Castellanos because Wilson has to pinch run for Bader, because Bader cannot run. Okay. But you bunt in that situation, Freeman's crack, and spare me with they disguised the wheel play. What else are they going to not cover third base? Like, are they going to concede third base? There's no other play. What do you think they're going to do? That's the point. You're not reading a blitz. Well, especially,

especially, Jack, after the first pitch the ball, like we saw them crash down. Like, you already saw it. It's a point. You saw what they were going to do. They showed you what they were going to do. And, okay, so you bought, all right, let's say you're on the first base.

Freeman nails you at third. Yeah. And it's just trust Bryce and Stott to pull the ball and get a job done versus a lefty. to bunt there, and you're playing for the tie, play for the win. You like, you like, you like where your bullpen's at? Who cares about the bullpen? You've to score runs.

Guess what? The bullpen never pitched again. And that's two in a row. It's two in a row. It's two in a row for Thompson. Last night and tonight. And it wasn't the main reason they lost, but it was also a reason why they could have won. No, no doubt.

And so you look at the 9th, right? You look at, for some reason, keeping the bun on a 1-0 count rather than just trusting one of your best bat ball guys to pull the baseball. And then you look back at other things. You look back at both deserve blame for me in Trey and JT. T. make a better throw. JT blocked the freaking plate. 100% on the tasker play, 100%.

Block the plate. And then and then and then Pah has pops. out and you're out of it, even if you walk Muncie, which they clearly just pitched around Muncie, but Pahas pops out and you're out of the end. Cassiano's prior to that, not throwing the ball to second place. Oh, yeah, I know. There are so many little things like that throughout the game that we're sitting here freaking out in the moment being like, what are you guys doing? What is happening right now? And Kirkering, of course, inherited runners, Will Smith gets a hit. And it felt backbreaking. It felt backbreaking. And on top of all this, the star's no-showed.

Well, that's, yeah. I think when we're, you know, on the radio tomorrow, talking about tonight, that Twitter, whatever, I haven't looked. But I guarantee you the top two issues that people have right now, and rightfully so, are Rob Thompson's decision to bunt in the ninth inning, which is a whopper, a whopper of a bad decision. Just have a feel, man. Especially, again, you have, it's one thing like, I get, yes, or on second, no outs, you're down or run. Like, I understand the theory of bunting in that situation, but you have to look at the whole situation.

You have to look at the guy you have on second base and the fact you can't run for him, and he is as slow as molasses. Like, you just can't put yourself in that situation. And then look at the guy at the plate in Bryson's not, like you talked about. Someone's good at getting the bat on the ball. Like, that's what he does.

I just, it made no sense. And then the other thing is going to be Schwerber and Harper. Like, and Turner in the last at bat, but. Yeah, I mean, Turner hit the ball hard. I mean. It's Shoreburn Harper. It's Shoreburn Harper. that seventh, was it seventh inning or eighth inning when they came up and, you know,

the Schwerver strikeout was, I mean, Schwerber, the entire series, both games is a disaster. And look, Bryce, you know, we give him lots of credit when he comes through. And even last year, you know, I got really upset about that one of bat in the sixth in New York. But for the most part, he didn't take a lot of heat last year. Guess what? You deserve it now, man. Like, like, that was for the showman for Mr. Playoffs to come up this small. two straight games with multiple opportunities where the team needed you.

I mean, again, everything they did tonight was the bottom of the line. Max Kepler has been the best hitter in the series, Jack. Max Kepler. Max Kepler has more extra base hits on the top of the line. He has been flat out their best hitter in the series. Coming to the phones in a bit, 215-592-94-94. Get on the line now. Let's get through a wrap-up sponsored by Rotor when plumbing problems hit.

Wrap them up quick and call Rotor. Their team tackles clogs and leaks so you can stay in the game. Roto-Ruter, your MVP for plumbing solutions. Jack, the top headline. Do you think it's Topper? You think it's the Schwerber-Harper duo? I think it'll be Topper, but the bigger problem is Schwerper and Harper.

It sucks because you've done a pretty good job of limit. I mean, you've done a great job, limiting Otani. I mean, Otani had the one hit tonight, I'm sure. You've pretty much limited Otani bets and Freeman. You've done it. And they've lost two games at home now. What are they, two and nine? Two and nine in the last 11, they lost five of their last six.

And their record here is a disaster. Yeah. Yeah. And it's like, I was thinking about this last night. It's almost as if these teams can't wait to try to find a way to silence this place. Totally. And they take it as personal extra motivation of like, we're going to be the ones that are going to silence them. And, yeah.

So I think Harper and Schorber are going to get a brunt of it. I think in the exact moment right now, I feel more Thompson. I didn't have a problem not going to Duran. I understand the sentiment in the seventh instead of Kirkring. Kirkring pitch well, man, until the end when it kind of unraveled. Like, if Trey makes a good throw, like they're out of the inning, you know. And don't let JT off the hook.

And JT, both. I'm saying if they make the play, they're out of that inning, you know, after the next out. Like, they had it. Blocked play. It's like, I know you have to. an ankle your way around it you can't just lay on the but do a better job than that i mean do a better job than that um i don't know man it's uh it sucks because you felt like he gave game one away you had them right there this is a really good dodgers team and and the thing that that sucks is that

they're not even losing they're not they're not getting bullied they're not getting bludgeon they came back they had a chance tonight the ninth it's actually the thing that has worried you to last couple of years of them just playing bad baseball. I mean, them just not finding a way to make the winning play. Like, that's the, the Dodgers haven't really outplayed the Phillies this entire series. I mean, I know the Phillies made a miracle run in the ninth there. It's just been the little things. And they are doing little things right.

And the Phillies are doing little things wrong. And you've watched this team for four seasons, really, and saying, They never seem to do the little things well. And it's been fine when you're launching home runs and you're doing stuff like that. But when you're facing a truly great team and it's crunch time, it really comes back to bite you. It really, really comes back to bite you. It sucks. You're sitting here.

You feel like they're almost right there with this team. but the Dodgers have a little bit extra, a little bit extra. And you're kind of sitting here on what feels like a funeral. Yeah. Of the 2025 season. I have multiple people. So we've, you know, over the years gotten to be friends with the people who work here. I have multiple people say, see you next year.

It crushed me, dude. Yeah. It crushed me. Yeah. And who knows what this team is going to look like. I mean. Well, we got Aaron Nola in game three. I know.

Who knows what it's going to look like? There's a lot of things are on the table right now. I mean, this team is not, again, if it ends like this, you assume it will. If we're back here next Saturday, it's a freaking miracle at this point, right? But you look at it right now, and this is a core who's come up short, and this is a manager who might not be the guy that can get this team over the top. Yeah.

That's the main thing that's kind of hitting me tonight is, Some of the members of the Corps, I'm annoyed with. Harper's not going anywhere. Schwerbert, we can have that discussion. But really for Thompson, I think he's a really good regular season manager. And I think that he does a damn good job. And I think he's a smart baseball man. But too often this team in big moments doesn't get the job done.

He seems to make the wrong decision rather than the right decision. And there was a guy fired or moved on from by the Texas Rangers Who's got four World Series Yeah, the best manager of our lifetime, I'm in Tito Him, Tito, Tony Larissa Three Best He's right there He's right there

And it might be time to pull that lever on this core And give them a bit of a wake-up call 2-15-592-94 to react to it all I'm with Jack I came into the postseason saying I didn't think there was any way that Topper can manage himself out of a job. And through two games, he is heading that way.

And look, the decision is starting Nola. We'll talk about that coming up next. But, you know, that could be another one. There's not a single Phillies fan who is excited that Aaron Nola is starting instead of Rangers Wars in game three. Like, I can't imagine it. And that's another one. If it doesn't work, it's going to come back on him.

All right, 215, 592, 94. We're going to get to your calls next. Continue to wrap up the game. It's final out, a special edition of High Hopes Radio. It's fritz and sounds comical. Yeah, I shouldn't say special. Or I hopes. Just say a final out. Okay. That's fine. That's fine. No hopes.

No hopes radio. It's Fritz and Seltzer. We're coming back. Fly Air Transat. Seven-time winners. Champions out again. Fly the seven-time world's best leisure airline champions, Air Transat. At the Nissan All In Clear Out, there's nothing more chill than financing an award-winning Nissan for just zero percent. Enjoy the soothing relaxation of zero stress, zero worries, zero indecision. Hurry in, because once they're gone, there will be zero left.

During the Nissan All In Clear Out, get zero percent financing plus up to $500 bonus on some of our best-selling models. You have zero reasons to wait. Conditions apply. See your local Nissan dealer today. It's Fritz, it's out. We're broadcasting live from the DeBora Heart and Lung Center broadcast booth. DeBore Heart and Lung Center, Delaware Valley. only art hospital let's get to the pitch count injury report brought to by plumbers union local 690 protecting

the health of the nation visit plumbers 690.org obviously not much the baiter you know gets the head can't run we'll see what happens with that i have a question that was such a moment man like the ninth it was uh i was trying not to i was trying not to believe yeah i know i kept trying to keep you be like it's not gonna just just don't get your hopes up but man i felt it man i felt it well i felt it until the bunt and the throtted third and then i was like even after that though i mean bader got the hit i know i mean badeer got the hit i was i it took it away the moment felt lost to me but uh for this injury board let me ask you a question do you think at all it is at all possible that ranger is hurt more than we thought and that it's been a decoy not necessarily but like i

maybe go if you know mentioned he's available whatever but i can't explain the nola decision to me explain it to me over ranger i get it if it's aaron no i don't get it but i at least you can to understand if it's Erin Nola over a young guy. Someone hasn't pitched in the playoffs before this. That, like, Ranger has been better in the playoffs in Aaronola. Like, flat out better. He's been better this season. He's someone you can trust.

Like, I don't understand the decision. Yeah, I think that they're just viewing it as, I mean, listen, maybe he's more hurt than we think. I guarantee you if they lose in three and he doesn't pitch, that'll be, yeah, you could go, sorry, guys. You could barely walk. That's how bad the, he was being carried. to the dugout yeah yeah yeah yeah but i guess if you're looking from their eyes

can nola get you through the lineup twice and then get a ranger i mean that's the plan so and i think that if you look at from from that perspective you trust ranger's ability to come out the bullpen better than nola's nola's never done it before absolutely yes so then so if if nola can go two times through ranger can get you through the middle portion of the game strong and theron to close about cool cool cool You asked the question No, you're right, I did. I walked right into that, didn't I? So I think that's what it is.

I think that's what it is. And maybe they just believe in Nola's stuff more right down than Rangers. It's not like Ranger finished the season in the strongest fashion. So listen, I know he's shown stones. But I really think it has more to do with they trust Ranger coming out of the bullpen than they trust Nola coming out of the bullpen, given that Nola's never done it before.

Good. Good. At least someone trusts Nola for something. I just keep, I keep, I keep wanting to just curse. I'm letting you know, like, the amount of GDs I want to, like, just lay out right now is absurd. Dan Wilson back in the studio, B, you have the quick Twitch, buddy. It's not even just a mad GD, it's a, you know, like one of those. I get it.

Because here's the thing, it's like, they didn't totally die. Like, then that's the thing that sucks, man, is that they, I can't tell if I'd rather they had just, died for nothing i know i know i know sure turn out there but like at they just at least if you go out like that it's obvious right it's obvious no i'm with you but it's just not making the winning plays when winning plays are necessary for what makes that even so annoying james as i continue to go through just the freaking stream of conscience yes exactly this is the team of veterans if this is a young team making their first playoff run and you and you make those mistakes you could excuse it away.

But this team has been together for a long time. It's guys like JT and Castellano's all these guys try making mistakes. Like that's like, you know, these guys are vet. They're in their 30s, man. Well, they're just a dumb. They've been a dumb baseball team forever. And it's catching up to them. No doubt.

In big spots, yeah. To your point, the Dodgers are good. Like, this is not like the Diamondbacks. It's a great baseball team. You can't give them extra outs. You can't give them extra opportunities. Like, they will take advantage of it. You have to, like, everything has to be buttoned up.

Because, like, the Phillies are not as good as the Dodgers from a talent. So you have to do the little things better. Yeah, exactly. Bochy. 2155992-924-94. Let's go to the phones and start off with our buddy Jordan and Princeton. What a lovely evening, not for the Phillies, but that I get to talk to both of you gentlemen on the air live at the same time. Two of my favorite WIP personalities.

Good evening, guys. I appreciate you, Jordan. You know, I had an excruciating weekend where I was with people who were not well. I actually had to put my dog down today. I can't even believe that this happened. And everyone that I touched this weekend had more fights than the Philadelphia Phillies had this evening. Lizarro. They showed a decent amount of fight, I thought.

And in the ninth inning, yeah, but it was too far too gone. We have stars on this team. Guys, we have stars on this team. Where were those stars tonight? Yeah, no show. Where was the top of the lineup? It was just a complete and utter no-show. It felt like a non-effort from the people who are supposed to give us the greatest effort in this baseball game.

Luzardo is a journeyman who found himself here on this team. He performed excellent. How about the guys on the long contracts? How about the guys with the big names? Yeah. I'm disappointed in the group of stars tonight. And I think that the one word that I come away from this game with is it's fraud. is this team fraudulent?

Are our stars frauds? They're great in the regular season, a group of stars not stepping up in the postseason, incredibly disappointing. I hope that they can pull it together, but it's a long run, and I love this team, and I love them personally,

but this game showed me that they don't have what it takes to get it done. Hey, Jordan, great call, good talking about you, and at least against the Dodgers, yeah. And look, they've earned that. Like it or not Those guys have earned that You know

Bryce has had real moments In the playoffs and all that Like he's having a horrible series But like Man Schwurber like Can you get a hit in a freaking NLDS Like this is not a bit This is not funny

Like I know he's had some good moments In the NLCS and whatnot But like Are you serious dude Like And not just that For someone who is Has good at bats

Like they were trash at bats From Kyle Schwabber Like he Like it didn't look like He was working to count it all. Like, wasn't taking pitches? I mean, like, look, I didn't have the best view,

obviously, when you're in the stadium to see if every pitch is a ball or a strike. But it felt weak from Shorebur. Well, you know what Shorebur's reverted back to in the last, like, two months? He's that I feel as if he's gotten away from just taking a single and just being a more complete hitter. Like he was, yeah. And he's gotten, and maybe the home run chase got to him. It's possible.

Where he just started thinking, I got to take down run. Howard, I got to take down Ryan Howard. And I feel like you've seen way less, like way less singles. Oh, yeah. You know, I feel like the last single he had was the last meaningful single, maybe, was the series out in Milwaukee before they lost that third game of the series where he hit one before Bryce got out. So I think he's had a total, I think he's at a total just falling up.

Reversion. Yeah, like reversion back to the badge war. For me, he ended the year hitting 240. You know, for majority of the year, he's in the 260. So, you know, that's been one thing I've kind of been noticing with Schwarber. And the thing with Bryce is you just might be, you might be seeing Superman not having escape anymore, you know? And look, he's turning 33 this month. And like we've said, 33 isn't sound old.

But when you've been playing Major League Baseball since you're 19, you know, he plays the game pretty hard. And he's had a ton of injuries. Yeah, we've had him here. And he might have a degenerative wrist. Yeah. We said it when they signed him. We talked about his swing and how violent it was. And how it would age.

That was our only concern with it. Yeah. I felt heading into the series that it was a show me series from Bryce from the standpoint of. I still got it. Are you still that guy in the playoffs? And we can just be like, all right, just coaster in the regular season, put up your numbers. But when the lights turn bright, are you still going to show up? You're going to be a red light player.

And that's been a really disappointing part of this series. it starts to kind of hit you in the face that maybe that version of Bryce is done. And I'm sure after the year there's going to be stories about his wrist and things like that. Well, who knows that risk is ever going to be right? And I think what made this team a team that you felt as if he could believe in was, you know, they do have good depth. And they do have guys that are able to. The most talented group of all these groups from top to bottom.

And the bottom of the line, for the most part, credit to them. They were the best part of the game. Doing their thing. Yeah, yeah. They gave them a chance. You just needed those guys to come through. And you know what they needed more than anything? Is just those guys to have a homer or something.

Just something. A moment. To just have everyone start believing. And the crowd was there, man. The crowd was there. The crowd was great, man. I couldn't believe it. I expected it to be tighter.

I expected the crowd not to respond in certain moments. And the crowd Absolutely righteous to boo when they did the Duranah show. It was not Duran, but like, come on, guys. Like, come on. All right, 2-1-5-92-94. We're going to get your calls coming up next. And continue to wrap up a, I was going to say, disappointing,

disastrous really night here at Cissons Bank Park, the season on the line. I mean, a must-win games for the rest of the series, if they can find a way to win any of them. All right, we'll come back, we'll react. It's the final out. It's Fritz at Seltzer. Platinum, access to exclusive Amex pre-sale tickets can score you a

spot track side. So being a fan for life turns into the trip of a lifetime. That's the powerful backing of Amex. Pre-sale tickets for future events subject to availability and varied by race. Terms and conditions apply. Learn more at mx.ca.ca. slash Yanex. This episode is brought to you by Peloton.

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Explore the new Peloton Cross-Training Treadplus at OnePeloton.C.A. It's final out, Fritz and Seltzer. We're broadcasting live from the Deborah Hart and Lung Center broadcast booth. DeBora Heart and Lung Center at the Delaware Valley's only Heart Hospital. yet again have to read this let's get to the player of the game brought to you by south jersey gas over 100 years of reliability always dependable always ready

south jersey gas dot com slash love my home i guess blake snow i don't know yeah i mean yeah they they he was mostly in the zone they had chances man

yeah it felt like they like the that was the thing all night the bottom of the lineup felt like they actually worked at bats like they were taking pitches. I mean, Brandon Marsh, Bradham Marsh worked to freaking walk against him

besides Otto. But yeah, Brandon Marshwork, you know, like it was like the guys who you wouldn't expect it from where the ones going up there and having good at bats

and getting on base and finding ways to get things done and are trying to and then the top of the order would come up and just, you know, sorry. I just, 96 wins.

I know. Well, not just that. The best home record in baseball. Yeah. This team in this building was the best team in baseball this one, man. And it's one of these times, and I know, you know, people aren't going to want to hear it or whatever.

But it's like, I actually think I said this to you before the game because I was just nervous or whatever. But it's one of these times where it's like, I hate how much I love. Yeah. It'd be so much easier to just disassociate from it. You know, I'll be like, all right, well, let me go on with my life. I know, I can't do it. But I always see this. It's something else I always say.

I say it on the pile of time, but, like, it's a real commitment. Yeah. To commit to a baseball team for a season. It's a lot of your life. It's every freaking night. Like, it, you know. And I hear, and I, I wouldn't want it any other way. No, I love it.

Yeah, I love it. But that's what happens is that you get super attached and you care so much. And then when this happens, like, it just hurts more. Rips your heart out. That's why you've got to be willing to get hurt if you're going to invest that way. And I just, and it's different than football. It's different than football. then, you know, I think football is the only one that comes close in the city.

Like, football is once a week. It's very easy to go best your life. Totally. Mondays might suck, but you know what, then we can move on. Sure. And thank God the Eagles are great. But, but man, a baseball season, it's 162 of these suckers. And it's jarring.

Honestly, it feels wrong. It feels wrong that this season can be over in three games. It's like, that's not the point of baseball, you know? Well, I mean. If I know this team, like I think I know this team, we'll be back here next Saturday. And then they'll break our home. Yeah, yeah, yeah, they'll find. You're so right.

That is the most likely outcome somehow. They'll find a way. But, man, it's just, it's one of those, it's one of those real reflection points. And I'm not going anywhere. You're not going anywhere. No, I'll be here. It's, uh, it's, I, I felt this Saturday night where I was like, well, maybe next year, you know? And that's a, it's actually gotten semi to the point where, like, before the Eagles won the Super Bowl, right?

where every year it was, well, maybe next year is the year. The problem is, I don't know where they go from here. You know, they can move on from Thompson. Like, it's move on from Thompson, bring in Boshi, sign Bregman, let some of the guys go, see what Crawford Painter and Miller give you. It's kind of where I'm at. I don't know. I don't know.

There'll be a lot of offseason to deal with, but we've got a game three with Noel. Oh, buddy. We got big game knolls in the mouth. Yeah, everything's fine. Let's go to the phones. Let's talk to Dan and Delaware. Hey, Dan. Fellies, how are we doing?

How do you think, bud? That felt like I just got kicked below the belt. Yeah, after that one. The biggest question here, and I've never been a Tampa hitter. I've always been, you know, I love Tampa, and a great regular season guy, like you guys said. But I did one thing that really kills me. called in a few weeks ago, and I said, the two guys, I trust the least back in that pen, and that's strong, and that's cuckering.

Well, but who else are you going to go to? I mean, that's the issue. Well, bringing in a lefty the other night against Tia. I'm not worried about Otonio, Taya Oscar Hernandez. He's the hottest hit on the Dodgers right now, and we bring in a lefty to face a righty in a big spot the other night, and then, you know, I would rather Tana Banks, and then you have a guy who was a two-time world. series pitcher who pitched for this team and you got them in the pen doing what we can't use him yeah and dan could call walker bueller obviously i'm assuming he's referring to but that i mean you got to be kidding that if that's what we're doing here we're calling for walker bueller then

we've we've lost the plot he stinks he stinks he stinks i don't know what to tell you he's got nothing left in his right arm it's as simple as that the two guys he dresses at the least kirk kron shram's last 15 out he's pushed to a 0.70 r a like he's he's pitched to a 2.7 he had a really bad middle of the season he's been dominant and he made a bad pitch with t oscar and see oscar didn't miss it who knows if he was tipping or not the problem again was bringing robertson back out for the inning you just give him a clean inning and who knows how it goes and maybe it's a different ball game stop i mean stop let's go to bill and east hanson what up bill bill bill oh that's my guy bill put bill on hold i was going to drop him but i put him on hold give him another chance Let's go to Matt in Havvertown. Yo, Matt. Yo, what's going on, guys? What's that, brother?

Yeah. So, this is what I've annoyed at, is that, you know, when we first went to the World Series, God, was that, like, three years ago, everybody was like, oh, yeah, this is our destiny. And then, obviously, we lost it, and we were just, like, you know, so sad. And then now it's like, wow, we just had one of the best seasons since, God, I think, One of the best Philly seasons ever. Yeah. They haven't had that many great ones.

Now we're just like, you know, watching it just like, you know, collapse. Well, Matt, let me tell you, when Jack and I, after that 22 World Series ended, Jack and I did our pod right after, and I remember Jack just being, like, absolutely crushed. And I was like, crushed, but I was like, you know what, this is the first year. We got here. And Jack was just like, it's so freaking hard to get here. they had a real chance to win it and it was so true like it's it's really freaking hard to get there it's really hard to win it and you know i hope that we don't look back at this run and say 2022

ended up being their best chance like boy we are we barreling towards that i know that's why i said it yeah but right now that's the most likely outcome of this run as much as i'm a freaking a fricking fluke ass end of the season barely you know scrape by the skin of your teeth to get in go on a run with a, again, a fluky team with half a bullpen. I mean, Zach Eflin was your closer. Like, what do we do it, you know? Yeah. But tomorrow, what I'm more concerned about is just Aaron Nolan because he is a five-inning pitcher.

Uh-huh. There have been so many games where he just collapsed in the fifth inning. Uh-huh. And, you know, he's been, God, with the team for since 2015, what is that, 10 years ago? Yeah. And it's like, do we really, it just sounds like what Thompson is basically saying to Philly's fans that I've given up. Because we, the last time Noah had a good game was probably about a month ago, but that was only one game. And he had a great out against twins.

He had a good out against the Mets and everything else's been bad. And look, look, we're going to end in the Nola thing next. We'll start to look ahead. Obviously, we continue to react. Well, at least we have two and a half hours of post. It's fun, right? Yes, yes, pregame. We can't wait for that.

Tune in to listen to us, get you ready for game three at 908 on WIP. But we'll come back. We'll continue to take your calls. We've got another segment left. By the way, it's the one game they're going to win. Yeah. They're going to win a game. The 908 game that people are just out for.

And then their season is going to die on Thursday. During an Eagles game. It's the most likely outcome without a minute. All right, we're going to come back. We'll get you set, game three, and continue to react to just a disaster. disastrous, disastrous night at CBP as the Phillies again. Find a way to lose to the Dodgers and O2 hole. No more wiggle room here.

Musseling games throughout. It's a big game. We're broadcasting the ice. It's a big game. Can't lose muscle win, all of them. Broadcasting live from the Deborah Hart and Lung Center. Broadcast booted to Borough Heart and Lung Center. Delver Valley's only heart hospital.

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You're not wrong. It's Fritz and Seltzer, final out. High hopes, low hopes, broadcasting live from the DeBora Heart and Lung Center broadcast booth, DeBore Hart and Lung Center. Delaware Valley's only heart hospital. Just play this song in the clubhouse on Wednesday. Again, not to give the Phillies ideas, but do you know how good of a rally and cry, a live by Pearl Jam will be for this team?

Oh, buddy. I mean, if they could just win and then play it in the... Oh, I'm still alive. Come. Dude, I'll see everyone back here next Saturday. I'll see everyone back here next. Sanchi Outdoles Glass now in game four. I've already resigned my...

They're going to win game three. Well, yeah, and if they do win game three, I do think with Sancheon, the Hill, there will be some hope. Like, if they can find a way to win the Nola game, you know. And Zeus back here in game five, I mean, Zeus was great. Dude, that's... Yeah, I'm glad you bringing it up. It's a shame because Haseleu Sazzardo and his first playoff stars of Philly,

his biggest spot as in Philly, like, absolutely shoved. I love that, dude. He was awesome, man. It was 17 or 18 straight after that first inning hit. People were saying, don't put him back out there. That was crazy. You'd send me something pitches. Like, that was, honestly, I was ready to be furious.

If he didn't, you put him back out there. I was ready to freak out about it. Yeah, what a shame that they didn't do anything for Zeus tonight. And one thing in an effort to credit, Rob Thompson, I appreciate how quick he got him out of there. Yeah, you know, the two hits, boom, out, Ray, roll he had guys up the inning before just to be ready which i was happy about seen situations where guys weren't ready to go and you couldn't get guys out because of that

dude isn't it crazy being in the ballpark you can't like you just feel the game oh it's so much different you can't really tell what's going on like behind him play you know calls and and stuff like that but you can feel it totally and uh yeah there's just something you have innate ability to to feel being in the ballpark but lizardo was great and that really I think he might finish top five in Sion next year. I think he might have really clicked for him. That might be another guy they're going to have to talk about resigning, but that's obviously for another day.

But at least from a standpoint of can he pitching the post season, he really, he answered the ball. His stuff played in the post season against a great lineup. Yeah. And that's the thing that sucks, man. That's the one right there. I know. is they've done a good job against their stars.

It's been the extra MFers that have ruined everything. I know. Will Smith, who, like, why can't they just start them? It's so weird. Why are you bringing them in for four innings and five days a game? What are you doing? Load managing Will Smith. I just, yeah.

I can't believe we're losing to Dave Roberts. It's so annoying. Oh, I know. Like, we're talking about Topper's decisions, not Dave Roberts' decisions. It's crazy to me. I know, well, because, of course, we entered into the series saying they have a manager

advantage and that's completely backfire but again like they've they're they're right there that's what makes these first two games so annoying is that they're right there with this team but one team makes winning plays and one team makes losing plays and on one hand and this is I'm glad it's finally showing I'm glad that they're finally getting exposed for the dumb baseball that they play on a night-in-night-out basis that gets masked because of the talent that they have. Like, I'm glad that finally it's getting exposed. I mean, they really are the Yankees.

It's crazy. Like, they're the same team. They, they... Where did Topper spend his hope for you? They're dumb. They do a lot of analytic decisions. They got stars, but they're not a very complete team. They're very similar.

They're very similar. But, you hope that this season has taught them be better at the little things, and maybe you'll be world champions. Oh, sure. yeah but god like they're just they're getting they're getting beat by such dumb stuff and that's it makes it even more frustrating let's go to thomas and brumo hey thomas hey guys um yeah this this team my belief that they're they're gonna come back is totally diminished i mean like about about the hitting about the big names what makes me

feel like they're going to do this in LA oh the bats are just going to wake up you don't have Citizens Bank you don't have the fans well maybe getting away from this park for a little bit to help them I do think there's the potential for like them overplaying here a little bit they want the pop so bad they want that you know moment so bad here that maybe they're overthinking it I don't know but look I certainly don't

think that them being on the road is is an issue at this point. I'm actually excited they're going on the road. They're not winning in this building. Like, if you can go take two on the road, maybe you get your mojo back, and maybe next Saturday it's a party. I don't know.

And this is what hurts not having Wheeler. I mean, we could at least be one-in-one. Starting pitching hasn't been the problem, though. No, but it would help. It would help a little bit, I think. You know, it just sucks. Thanks for the call. Look, I mean, Wheeler might have gotten through game one better than Sanchez probably.

Yeah. But, again, Sanchez. was fine. Sanchez was, he could have bitch better, but he was fine. Man, I know. Let's go to Travis in California. What up, Travis? So, guys, I just, I'm so beyond upset, man.

I'm just like, why do they always make it this way? It's always so freaking heartbreaking. Like, they can't just lose in, like, a normal way. It's all, they find, it feels like they find new ways to lose in, like, miserable fashion every single October. Was dying. for a 4-0 loss today. I thought when it was up with 2-0-0,

or down 3-0-0-0-0-0, 3-run home or 6-0-0, and we can all just go home. Yeah, it seems like in every big spot, it seems like we never come through while we're just waiting for the opposing team to come through in the playoffs, and they always seem to do it. And, like, it just,

the starting pitching is always so good. Like, if I told you, if I told you guys, the Phillies are in the playoffs, the starting pitcher, did his thing, 5, 6, 7 innings, whatever, no runs Matt Strom slash Orion Kirk Green came in gave up the runs the offense did nothing like what year do you guys think I'm talking about

it's like the same thing every freaking year it's the same damn thing and it's so frustrating because it's always with two outs it's always with two outs like they need to freaking nut up you get two outs and it's like to like take a deep breath like okay I'm almost out of this like you have two damn outs man like just get the last it's always with two outs we're always

getting the first two outs like okay maybe they can get out of this, boom, the back breaking hit. Every single time. I know, Travis, I feel you. And good call, man. I look. I feel you never get the back break. Oh, ever, ever.

And the trauma, the tasker, I think it's like they never, ever, ever do. Yeah. It's what makes a great team great. And exactly. And to that point, too, I do think with the bats, especially the big bats going cold. And in general, look, the bats, I know the bottom of line works in bats up, but they've scored four runs in two games like there. Or was it right?

Or, I'm sorry, they've scored six runs in two games. They've scored on only three innings this entire series. They had the three runs in one, two in the nine today, and then the one earlier. I think the bigger thing, Jack, is that this is what everyone feared coming in. Yeah. Everyone came in and said, oh, this is what we heard all year when we heard people on WIP calling in and being like, they can't win. The bats are going to go cold. The bats are going to go cold.

And it's why people struggled to invest in the team. And the team won people over it. It really felt like the trade deadline, Bader, Toronto, all that stuff. Like people were like, all right, like, let's go. This is fun. I'm back, I believe. Yeah. And then for this team to, like, give us the, what looks exactly the same as last year, essentially.

The bats not showing up, especially your biggest bats and the bullpen, you know, not doing good enough. And Rob Thompson making some bad decisions. Like, it feels like the last three games of dime back series, it feels like last year. And it's what people were expecting, which makes it so much worse because it's like confirmation for everyone that, you know, I knew it. I knew it. Yeah, well, yeah. I mean, I think people, I think people open their heart again. I think they opened their heart and they said, all right, you know.

And that's sports, man. Like, you should in a way. Absolutely. That's being a sports fan. You should because, I mean, what's the point, right? I mean, what's the point in being super guarded? Unless, I mean, unless you just want to tell people that you were right, which I would never do. Not your stuff.

But I agree with you. And this is, if it goes the way that we think it's going to go, this is going to be one that it's going to take a good. And this is the one that you just think has to inspire change. It has to inspire changing up the. Like it's too far. I mean, look, you never know. Again, I didn't think they do the, I did think it, but I didn't think they should do the Duran intro again down tonight. But they did it.

Yeah, it feels like, just from a fan. You don't make decisions based on the fan base, but it does feel like they are in danger. If this plays out poorly and they can't get it done in L.A., that this team is in danger of, I'm not going to say losing the fan base, but people will show up next year. People show up if they're good and stuff, but they will lose a certain level of excitement and energy

and belief that people have had in this team and in this group. It'll be dampened and they'll have to win it back. Yeah, and like the kids will have to be. great immediately. Oh, yeah. I mean, Crawford, Crawford Miller and Painter. But I don't feel that.

I feel, I feel, as of right now, a manager move, a, and I don't think Gassia House is going to be here. I think tonight could have been Gassianas his last home game. Yeah. And,

which is funny because, not tiered number, but I know, he had a chance. He's getting big hits. I know, the hit was a big hit. Like,

it really was such a big hit. And then, and honestly, I thought he was going to be at second. I mean, I couldn't believe that he should have he missed the tie he hit who beat it and then for it to play out that one she's like you gotta be getting have they have they not homered in a postseason game since game two not they have yes they

have not homered tucker was talking about that before they have not homered since last yeah since game too yeah this year they obviously haven't yeah since the harper one that's terrible that is that is really bad let's get one more call on here let's talk to lance in arizona what up lance Hey guys So a couple of things The only thing I didn't like What Topper was the fact that he did that Bunk because that Dodgers bullpen is bad

I want them to earn the three outs Not give them one Yeah the the The bump was definitely I think that is the number one thing That people will be upset about tomorrow Yeah Like the thing with the bullpen is

I look at it this way How many guys in that bullpen do you trust To go into that game And do their job right now Duran Maybe the only one in that that bullpen that I trust right now to go and do it. So any move he's making, you're just praying it works.

Because frankly, this offseason, you spent $10 million on Romano, didn't work out. Kirkland was supposed to make the jump. Didn't work out. Alvarado was supposed to come back from being bad the second half of the year last year. The Alvarado thing really hurt him, man. So like every move you made with the bullpen besides going out and getting Duran at the trade deadline really hasn't worked out for you because David Robertson, the last month of the year was at like a 60RA so like everything hasn't worked out your bullpen's just not good enough

like i live on the west coast so i've watched the dodgers i thought three weeks ago their starting rotations looked phenomenal they were like pitching no hitters into like the sixth seventh inning and if you don't get them out by the fifth they were going to just piggyback glass now or i don't think kershaw's on the roster but kershaw he is yeah they just have dudes they got some dudes yeah out there like that's why the bad bullpen doesn't affect them as much when You've got two of your best starters and two good starters and Chianna you throw out there. It changes the complexion.

And that's where the wheeler thing does. And Sasaki, too. Susaki turned it around by going to the pen. And that's where the Wheeler injury does hurt you is you could put one of those guys in the bullpen. Thanks for the call, Lance. And he can't. Yeah, the Dodgers figured out. That's the one thing on top of everything else.

They need to figure out this bullpen in the offseason is one more real righty. And drop car crankering down a spot, you know? Like if you can head in the next year's season, the nice part about, building next year's team is you have Duran. So Duran, at least, like, you have your closer. You have Strom. He had the besting option for six and a half million. Seven.

Oh, okay. Seven. And then. But it was just a good deal for him. And then, like, Kirkring will be here. And, you know, maybe next year is the year that he puts it fully together. But if you add one more real righty, then you feel pretty solid about the bullpen. But whatever.

That's next year. All right. Typo on it, Pritzie. And by the way, you can hear me and Jack together again, free game, getting you set for a 908 start. Oh, I'm postgame for that one, too, late night. So it should be fun. Please, don't make me do a postgame at one in the morning

for the end of the season, please, guys. Yeah. So what do you want? You want more negativity or a smidge of positivity? We've done enough negative to throw a touch a pie. I know you're dying to throw at least a little positivity out there. They show decent fight late. They showed a decent fight late.

They, I think getting out of this ballpark will be a good thing. I do too, which is a crazy, crazy thing to say. I'm so sad that we're there, but I agree. They've played well out in L.A. They've had the Dodgers close the last two nights. Flip the script. Okay. Flip the script out in Hollywood.

Oh, script, Hollywood. I see you did there. Maybe that'll make the year book. Yeah, that's right. No, but the, um, I, until they're dead. Until they're dead, I'm not going to give up hope.

It's part of being a sports fan. And, you know, this is one of those times where, it's one of those times where you're really reevaluating the amount of time that you spend, loving and consuming this baseball team, but it kind of is what it is. It's part of being a fan.

I love them as a family member. You love them, I think, like a family member as well. I know there's people out there who, You know, might only root for the football team that are very happy with how these last couple nights have gone. But overall, overall, for the majority of the city, we are down right now. And you really felt like this was going to be the year. And they had all the makings of the year. And they've ran into a damn good team.

It's not like they're losing to an 84-win baseball team. They're losing to a really, really good team. And a lot of their flaws have been exposed. but until there's no time left, until they're absolutely dead, absolutely 100% dead, I still think they got a shot. And I actually think getting out of this ballpark

will be a positive, getting out to L.A., seeing if they can close out a series. I'll see everyone back here next Saturday. Love it. Look at you. This Saturday. You nailed it there. That was great. All right. Thank you today. I'm also producing show.

Thank you to Tucker Bagley. helping out on site. Keep it here. If you're on the line, stay on the line. Tom Kelly is coming up next. I am sure he has something to say about the decision to start Aaron Nola in game three. So keep it here for TK. And again, Fritz and I will be on pregame and post for game three on Wednesday. And we'll have a pot out between then and now, too. So check it out. So again, thanks for listening to a bummer of a show. But we appreciate you being with us. and we will be back to preview game three, and hopefully the Phillies show up for us.

Until then, he's Fritz himself.