High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Final Out: Phillies Drop Game 1 In Atlanta

Episode Date: April 9, 2025

Jack Fritz reacts to the Philadelphia Phillies losing on Tuesday night and discusses some of the causes for the pitching struggles that has plagued them in recent days. Presented by Miller Lite. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Okay, flights on Air Canada. How about Prague? Ooh, Paris. Those gardens. Gardens. Um, Amsterdam. Tulip Festival. I see your festival and raise you a carnival in Venice. Or Bermuda has carnaval. Ooh, colorful. You want colorful. Thailand. Lantern Festival. Boom. Book it. Um, how did we get to Thailand from Prague?

Oh, right. Prague. Oh, boy. Choose from a world of destinations. If you can. Air Canada, nice travels. Moms, dads, are you the parent of a student athlete? Do you want to know how to get the most out of youth sports? If so, listen to the next Pitch Podcast to give you the tools to

raise an aspiring athlete. It's not simple, but we talk straight and give you the best insight there is when it comes to youth sports. We'll cover everything from nutrition and training to mental toughness and teamwork. It's a podcast you can listen to together with your kids so everyone can benefit. Follow next pitch on the Odyssey app or wherever you listen to podcasts. Ah Well, that was an annoying one welcome on in it is the final out Jack Fritz hanging out with you here on this Tuesday night as we react to a Frustrating loss down in Atlanta and you one that you hope doesn't wake the Braves up and one that frankly I think the Phillies that you hope doesn't wake the Braves up and one that frankly, I think the Phillies gave away the game wrap up is sponsored by Roto

Rooter when plumbing problems hit, wrap them up quick and call Roto Rooter their team tackles clogs and leaks. So you can stay in the game. Roto Rooter, your MVP for plumbing solutions. Two and five five nine two 94 94 is how you get into to react to this one a lot to react to this one Wheeler not great some some sloppy baseball We'll get to it all here the biggest takeaways of the game brought to you by Morgan and Morgan America's largest injury law firm and

It was just sloppy baseball all around tonight. You know, that was a game that When Schwab hits the home run and make it five three, I think you're feeling pretty good, especially as Zach Wheeler on the mound. But even before that, there was, there was some leaks, you know, the Rojas play that's going to get dissected. Terrible. It's as simple as if you played baseball, you know that the center fielder's job is to take command out there, especially. And here's what I, I just can't, just can't understand how He knows that Amunasosa never played left field in his life. I mean if there's ever a time to over communicate if there's ever a time to

Overly sell that you control everything out there. It's probably with a guy who's never played left field before so Again and when the ball falls right at your feet just stick your glove out I it was it was it was brutal and it it ultimately cost the Phillies runs now at the same time Wheeler's got to get out of that inning I mean Jared Kellnick who it was the lock of the century that he was gonna come out and have a good night tonight, but he stinks. He absolutely stinks. He walked three times tonight, inexcusable for a guy who was like the 180 hitter. And he obviously had the big catch late.

So that was always gonna come back to bite me. That's on me. But regardless, Wheeler's got to get out of that ending as well. And Wheeler's didn't have it tonight. Velocity was down, missing spots, walked three guys, threw a good amount of pitches and was just never able to The heat obviously eventually get out of the inning

I'm just saying wasn't able to get the big out at a couple times tonight And there was a couple two out hits that that hurt them So again not a great Zach Wheeler night But I don't think we need to press the the panic button on Zach Wheeler just just wasn't his night This happened late. I was it didn't really feel like there was much reaction to it, but it annoyed me To no end but after a leadoff walk again sloppy baseball the Ryan Kirkpatrick who's been great this year and comes in and usually throw strikes, but he allows a leadoff walk and then JT just lets

a slider get past them, sweeper get past them that didn't hit the dirt. He just whipped at it. That allows a Zuna to get second base. Next bat or Olson still up. He grounds a third base. It would have been a double play and, and maybe they don't score in that inning. So sloppy baseball led to a loss tonight. And it's disappointing because there was some good tonight. How they came back, how they fought, and how, again, locked in they've been at the beginning of the season. To let one get away like that is certainly annoying.

215.592. 94-94 to get in. The second biggest thing that hit me tonight and it's hit me even throughout the season when they've had a again a really good start and one where I think you you feel positive about them, but The thing that is is really gonna worry me and should be worrying you and hopefully it's worrying Dave Dombrowski is this bullpen because it's gonna be a problem like they're getting by Now tonight was not a good night, but they've been getting by with three guys

Kirkering strong Alvarado, but they're also a Using those guys a ton. They're using those three a lot and When they can't use those three it just gets slim pickings pretty quick. It Tanner Banks, again, I don't think can get get outs in the PSEC. He's his stuff just does not pop for a major league bullpen in the in the year 2025. Everyone should be throwing 95 miles an hour. He's just not that. And if he's not throwing 95, be deceptive, which he's not either.

Then you start getting into, like you're just, you're putting some faith in Jose Ruiz and you're putting faith in Joe Ross. And with Jordan Romano, being what Jordan Romano is, they paid him what, eight and a half, $10 million to be a backend option. He doesn't look at anything close to that. Fastball is down to 93 instead of 97 we've all dissected it but it's those three and if they're not perfect again Kirkland wasn't good tonight it gets dicey quick it gets really dicey and then it

gets into overworking those guys and then man it's that's that's a big concern the bullpen is a huge concern at at the beginning season as we go along here and you know maybe there's some some guys triple-a will get some some some things on that later but this is going to be addressed at the deadline and unfortunately it's April 8th it's April 8th but that is just sticking out and then final thing here before we go to the phones is I don't buy the Edmundos Osa left field thing. I know he had to catch early. It was awesome. I love Edmundos Osa. I think he's a super super super utility player. Catch was

good but there was some bad footwork in the in the bottom of the six on some of throws home that you know Normal left fielder is able to that's played the position for it's not even in Mundo's fault They're putting him in a tough situation, but you know the throw home on the Murphy play took like a million million crow ops and it was kind of like he's fumbling over his feet and then on the throw home just just not much on it on the sack fly Loving Mundo Don't know about the left field thing. It's a good catch early, but there was definitely some shakiness out there in left field.

When he's not hitting over 500, I don't know if we can justify having him out there in in left field So an annoying one one they let get away some definite glaring things here that that Are gonna need to be addressed and we'll we'll work our way through this thing Together tonight on the final out two and five five nine two Ninety four ninety four to get in on the other side will get to the player of the game The pitch count and there was some positives tonight as well We'll get to all that Conan next on the Final Out on Sports Radio 94 WIP. Okay, Martin, let's try one. Remember, big. You got it. The Ford It's a Big Deal event is on. How's that? A little bigger.

The Ford It's a Big Deal event. Nice. Now the offer? Lease a 2025 Escape Active all-wheel drive from 198 bi-weekly at 1.99% APR for 36 months with 27.55 down. Wow, that's like $99 a week. Yeah, it's a big deal. The Ford It's a Big Deal event. Visit your Toronto area Ford store or ford.ca today. I'm Joanne Robinson, host of the new podcast, The Women's Hoop Show. Each episode, I'll be joined by a rotating group of women's basketball experts to talk WNBA, college hoops, the new Unrivaled League, and the shifting landscape of the sport.

The game is growing and so are we. Listen to and follow The Women's Hoop Show and Odyssey podcast available now for free on the Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcast. One hole swung on hit deep right field and forget about it. Kyle Schwaber deposits one off the Chomp House. His fifth home run of the season a laser shot off of Chris Sale. Well that was certainly one positive tonight welcome on back it is the final out Jack Fritz hanging out with you here on This Tuesday night as the Phil's drop one a game. They let slip away down in

Atlanta so Schwabert big night Obviously was on cycle watch had a big triple That home run was the hardest hit ball ever in the career against Chris sale by a left-handed hitter, which is pretty remarkable and I mean Kyle Schwab just continues to look the part. I was thinking that Castellanos looked great, you know, Nick Castellanos it might be a little thing and It's it this might be an overreaction, but I just have noticed it more this year Is he's keeping two hands on the bat now?

I just sound like a little league coach like I understand that you don't have to do that as a big league hitter but I wonder if he's doing it to Keep strength through the baseball. I mean, his grand slam on Sunday looked a lot like Bobby Witt's swing, where like Bobby Witt does that where he keeps two hands on the bat and lets it kind of fling through the zone but doesn't fully extend all the time. So I mean, maybe it's something that he picked up

in the off season, but you just noticed it a couple of times tonight where he's like really doing a good job of staying through the baseball and driving it and staying behind it in a way and just the one thing is just keeping his hands connected all throughout. So that I thought was interesting. They did rip Chris Sale. I mean Chris obviously won the Cy Young last year. Now his first two addings weren't great.

You know he went five innings in each allowed three earned, but he obviously is Chris sale. So that was good to see. Had pretty good two out hitting, two out hitting, especially early in this one saw some dynamic things that could try Ken to the top. Also saw some not great trade things late. Uh, and I was impressed that they bounced back immediately after the Murphy home run and, and it was a lot of the game on Sunday against Dodgers, you know back and forth affair and at least early They they were able to come back nine hits. So they continue to rack up base hits and

There is still good But overall definitely a very frustrating night. Let's see what 11 o'clock Colin and Limerick phone call sounds like. What's up, Colin? Yeah, what's up, bro? Um, so with the two years on the bat, didn't Otz used to swing like that a lot too, like throughout his swing? Who, Otley? Um, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Or I'm misremembering.

No, no, you're dead right. The with the bullpen, he has a big concern. Um, now what's it, what's it going to be like when painters available? And what do you think about like what? D'Rangers over one year, Taiwan Walker, which really well last time. Um, and then Avery Crawford, what is it looking like for, for possibly? Using them as bait to get some get some relief in the bullpen Yeah, I mean listen I think the well painters not going anywhere the thing that the thing with painter is

I do wonder if if they feel like they're too far away from the trade deadline to make a trade if they are gonna limit His innings maybe they just try him in the bullpen early My only problem with that is a you want to develop them as a starter now the same time David Price in 2008 and we know about Adam Wainwright no six, you know They they went straight to the bullpen and then you know, they eventually transitioned into the starter So again, I I don't know what their plans are. The other problem is he's 21 22 and you know you're putting in, I would assume, pretty high leverage spots. He also has to be able to get hot, sit down, comes in one

outing and be able to pitch on back to back days given his entire life. He's been a starter. So there's a lot of little things there. Again, maybe Ranger, you know, that's obviously been something that people have talked about, but at the same time, he is in a contract here, I assume that he's gonna wanna start, seems like he's bouncing back from the back injury thing pretty well. I'm not gonna, you know, we don't need to get ahead

of ourselves with Taiwan and say, okay, there's our fifth starter thing, let's just put Ranger in the bullpen. It's dicey, it's really dicey Colin. It's and and Romano looking out He has looked so far. He's really throwing a wrench. That's looking killer. Yeah, it's That was that was the thing in the offseason he was supposed to be Hopefully someone that we could count on besides that I'm Schwabber they got to give his money man

He's a phenomenal no matter where you put them it's been absolutely phenomenal. Thanks for taking my call bud I'll talk to you later. Of course Colin. Yeah, I appreciate the phone call. Yeah, Schwabber turns out doesn't matter if it's batting lead off for batting fourth. He's he's still pretty dang good and is just off to a Really really good start this season the pitch count is brought to you by the Plumbers Union local 690 Protecting the health of the nation visit plumbers 690.org hundred and four pitches for Zach Wheeler tonight again velocity was down There's times that early in the season. Last year, it happens. Was missing spots. Walked three guys. Wasn't able to get the big outs when needed, it felt like. And was just a bad night.

Was just a bad night. Velocity is definitely something to monitor. We obviously won him up at 95, 96, 97. times last year He's able to live it live at 93. So not a great night for Zach Wheeler the player the game is brought to you by South Jersey gas conserve helping Customers and the community save energy and money visit South Jersey gas Dot-com slash concern. I guess I'll give it to Austin Riley for the hit late in the fake double there is no team better at heating up Austin Riley quite like the Phillies, so hopefully they Hopefully they nip that in the bud tomorrow Perry's in Atlanta Perry we get the game tonight, but

Yeah, I was at the game Jack. Thanks for taking the call I Kind of want to talk about wheelers start obviously if you take away the the drop You know the the error by Rojas, which I guess was ruled a hit I don't think it was horrible, but you know sitting in the game It looked like his velocity was like you said sitting around 92 93 I'm just wondering if you have any concern for that or if you're you're more chalking that up to be in you know early In the air and I'm not being fully ramped up

Yeah, appreciate the phone call Perry. I he was going through this last year as well Now the good thing about Zach Wheeler's is fastballs like when he's commanding and he wasn't able to command command it tonight But his fastball even at 93 is still is still a really good pitch just because of the way it spins so it's definitely something to because of the way it spins so it's definitely something to Monitor but I think it's also early in the season, you know Paul skeins got lit up tonight So Dylan cease is getting lit up right now You know some of the the bigger guys in the sport, you know off the first adrenaline of the first couple starts of the year

Are not exactly pitching their best Chris sale, you know Chris sale got lit up tonight so it may be just early season coming back down to earth a little bit after the Adrenaline to the start of the season now two things Coming out with seltzer and I James seltzer of the morning show Of course, and of course the high hopes podcast download it wherever you get your podcast We'll be at maxis on temples campus on Thursday night enjoying some Miller lights watching hazel's, Lizardo Their pizza is great. So come hang out. We'll be we'll be watching some fills he's giving me some fills trivia for Philly's tickets and

Hopefully we're watching a win. Hopefully we're watching when and as we continue to shamelessly plug Ring the bell book comm I wrote a Philly's book along with my good friend Kevin Revy and I I think it's obviously I think it's a good book, but would love for you to pre-order it May 27th last day to pre-order and If you pre-order through the website you get an autographed copy from us. You want to personalize? I'll personalize it I don't care whatever it takes and you get free shipping as well. So It's a it's a fun. Look at the history of the Phillies written by two Psychotic Phillies fans, so I I think you'll enjoy it and go to ring the bell book

Comm on the other side a look ahead to tomorrow and something that is growing more and more concerning by the day. Plus I don't often do this but when things are getting a little dire up at the big league club we got to take a look down at the minor leagues and there is some good developments up at Lehigh Valley tonight. We'll get to all that coming up next on the final out on sports radio 94 WIP. Welcome back it is the final out sports radio 94 WIP. Welcome back, it is the final out. Sports Radio 94 WIP. Jack Fritz hanging out with you for the next couple of minutes before handing things off to the Mac man, Jody Mac. He will take you through the rest of the night here on the station.

Get to some negatives from tonight after we talk to Travis in California. What's happening Travis? Travis? Travis not ready to go. Travis in California, what's happening Travis? Travis? Travis not ready to go. So listen, the BOM thing, there's a 100% a microscope on Alec BOM, it really feels like and it just looks to me like the pressure's really getting to him. I mean, tonight again, there was some bat slams and just some

real big emotions it felt like. And you just look at the guy and the part of me definitely feels bad. I mean, and the Phillies kind of created the situation by, you know, benching him in game two of last year and then spending all off season or the beginning of the offseason trying to move him telling everyone that he's available and then saying we were just people are interested in a good player and

It it it created this to where now he probably feels like there's a lot of extra pressure on him To go out there and perform because the team that drafted him, you know, maybe gave up on him. And it's just a lot, a lot of big emotions and it's a lot of, it's a lot of making it about you. And that kind of stuff is draining to be around. And it's really, it's not even just Bum. I mean, I think he's the one that people focus in on

because he's batting third or fourth most nights. And the first pitch thing is brutal sometimes. But a lot of the young kids, I mean, I mean, well, I guess we can't say young kids anymore because they're, you know, they are almost 30 and I'm 31. I don't know if I have the the permission to say kids but you know stop looks More like the player that we saw last year than the guy that we saw in 2022 striking out Way too much for a guy that is his best skill is supposed to be back to ball feels

He's down oh two or one two every single time he's up there and it's just not hard contact at all just not impacting the baseball in a meaningful way so stop not is looking a lot more like the stock that we saw for majority of last year than the guy that we saw in in 23 marsh same thing a lot of strikeouts i mean a lot of strikeouts. And I think all these guys are feeling the pressure. And I think these guys are hearing from critics in the city and the negative in the city for really the first time. And they're starting to become a focal point here

because you feel pretty good about most of the stars. I think Trey is always a polarizing player, but I think with Harper and Schwaber and even Castellanos and JT gets it, but again, he's a veteran. These guys aren't gonna, they're not gonna flinch, I don't think. Even Trey, if he goes through it, I know the ovations happen,

but I don't think he's gonna flinch. These guys look like the pressure of winning is wearing on them a little bit here. And that's kind of concerning because it's a make or break year for those guys. And I just think that none of them look like they've taken a step forward. And in fact, I think they've looked about how they looked at the end of last year and look like they're, like they're trying to break through and prove to everyone they're good every single time they're up there.

And, you know, Crawford's knocking on the doorstep at AAA, Aidan Miller is at AA. You know, I'm sure that those three have heard about those guys and what they, what this team might be thinking in their future You know Gabriel Rincones. He is a triple-a and speaking of triple-a Crawford a three-for-five night hit two balls over a hundred miles an hour Would you like to see and we don't need him again ripping baseballs into the ground ice fast enough to beat it out

But you know Crawford Knocking on this doorstep. He's had a pretty good start to the season up there at Lehigh Valley AutoCamp hit a home run. I know there's a lot of people that don't know AutoCamp, but he is leading the leading Triple-a in home runs his fourth home run of the year. He's interesting He's probably more of a bench back but an interesting right-handed bench back that that does have some pop can play now Not well, and he's by I think he's a first baseman by trade, but he can play the other positions. I don't think he's not gonna be a gold glover,

but I think he can stand there. I think he would provide some good right-handed, a good quality right-handed bench bat, I think Otto Kemp can be. Weston Wilson was 0 for 2 with two strikeouts in his in his debut down in Clearwater And then just two interesting bullpen options. Maybe is this kid the guys they picked up off waivers Last week throws pretty hard has been pretty good up at Lehigh Valley and then Max Lazar I thought was interesting last year when the Phil's brought him up, I think he's up to 96 at the Lehigh Valley.

He had another scoreless appearance tonight. So I have talked a probably annoying amount about the Iron Pigs, but I think the Iron Pigs actually have, I think it's the deepest Iron Pigs team that they've had. And I think there's quality big league guys in the lineup and in the bullpen and even some of the guys in the rotation I mean Mick Abel had his best outing in forever it seemed like his last his second outing of season up in

Rochester over the weekend not to get two in the weeds here but I think when we're looking at a bullpen that you've three guys you can rely on there might be some interesting arms up at Lehigh Valley and the Crawford thing If Marsh really struggles here maybe they they they take a shot on on one of their young kids to come up and Then see if he can add some spark there I mean, I think Johan Rojas is what he is. I would be surprised if tonight happened again You know I'm sure that they I like that Rob Thompson was on the first step when he was getting off the field and

Immediately addressed it with him. So I thought that was good, you know seem more Seem more Out of the ordinary than the usual for you on Ross, but still I don't I don't know if he's a big league player So there's there's some definite concerns. It's been a really good start to the season. Tonight was was was frustrating but you know I just I keep looking in on the the stop Martian bone and they really look like they're they're feeling a lot of the pressure and they're not they're not stepping up they're not stepping up it's as simple as that. Let's try Travis in California again what's, Trav?

Hey, can you hear me? Yeah, I got you, man. What's going on? All right, sorry, I was in an elevator at the worst time when you picked it up the first time. That's my fault, though. First of all, thanks for taking my call. Of course. I just had a couple things real quick.

I know you're about to get off, but I'll just continue on the Bones, Stott, and Barskin that you were talking about. I feel like every team, okay, not every team. Maybe I'm being a little dramatic, but I feel like a lot of teams have like these young guys that come up and they're either good right away or they're like decent and then they take steps forward. But for with us, I feel like those three, like if anything, they're just taking steps back. I know Bo made the All-Star team last year, but like

since the All-Star game happened, him, Scott, Mar, just been like atrocious in my opinion. Like Scott swings a freaking wet noodle up there. Marsh can't do anything but strike out and boom, if I have to see him roll over or pop up one more time and toss his bat, it's going to like make me explode. Like dude, it's brutal. It's brutal. It is like, I know they probably weren't going to win the game anyways, but short bird like had a day today he's on deck and

Well, the first thing is that just throwing four pitches nowhere close to Harper and then immediately going after bone He should have wore that first pitch or whatever. I understand and I'm swinging at the first strike He's doing his bat was just like dude This is exactly what the problem has been for years now Like it's been seven years of Harper having nobody behind him. Um, I don't actually cause Nick behind him, but whatever. And then I know you're about to get off. So real quick, the bullpen also is driving me insane. Like they lost, I understand often wasn't passing physicals, whatever that

situation was, but he's looked fine in Toronto so far. They lost Hoffman, they lost Des, two guys they considered high leverage and they acquired two guys that are basically low leverage now. I know they thought Romano would be high leverage, but that was like an iffy addition in the first place and Joe Ross was signed to not even be high leverage in the first place. So I just don't understand how they thought it was going to be good enough. Cause like right now we have three guys we trust, which is strong, Alvarado and Kirkering and like by the deadline, their arms are going to be

hanging on by a thread. Like they already don't trade enough prospects as it is. They liked to prospect hug, which I understand. I don't really know what they can do at the deadline this year to fix the bullpen because I God forbid one of those three get hurt like this bullpen is in way worse shape than it already is. Yeah I mean Travis it's all fair I mean all that is fair and I I noticed that in the ninth as well where they didn't pitch to Harper and they were like all right we'll face bone and that was terrifying because that

sense of cold shivered down your spine because that's what happens in the postseason ever since the Diamondback series. So yeah frustrating and I do wonder if they switch Castellanos and bone I mean Castellanos looks looks great and Castellanos It's been a it's been a really really strong start of the year and what makes tonight Frustrating also is that you know tomorrow you have Taiwan on the mound versus Grant Holmes And I know that Taiwan was great in his first outing. We also know it's a rocky so It would have been nice to get this one out of the way tomorrow, we'll see but I'm not exactly banking on a Phil's win and

And then obviously Thursday night We're all at maxis on the on temples campus We're all at maxis on on temples campus Lazardo versus Smith Schaver should be a win, but it's baseball tomorrow though. Taiwan Walker versus Grant Holmes is the the Tauwanisance Tauanimus we're all we're all Figuring it out as the big resurgence in Taiwan. We'll see hopefully he does Surgents in Taiwan. We'll see hopefully he does

Continue off of his last start But I'm not too too hopeful on that four innings four runs against the Dodgers for Grant Holmes his last time out good sweeper Feels like he's a guy that gives the Phil's fits at least for the first four or five innings So maybe a frustrating dude getting in the game tomorrow But either way I'll be back before the game with a full edition of leading off and I will also have you post game tomorrow. So we're back man. We are back frustrating one tonight. Lots of react to Jody Mack will react to it all. Conan next here on sports radio 94 WI pay.