High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Final Out: Phillies Finish Giant Sweep

Episode Date: May 7, 2024

Jack Fritz reacts to the Phillies taking all four games against the Giants this weekend and looks ahead to the next series against the Blue Jays. 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

All-star closer, Kenley Jansen, we have a question. What's the best podcast of all time? Baseball Isn't Boring, baby. I'm Rob Bradford, and every single day I'm sitting down with the biggest names to show you this great game is the greatest game. It's my podcast. It's my passion. It's a cause I started more than two years ago and is now the most prolific national daily baseball pod there is.

Another fact, so jump aboard the BIB Express. Follow and listen to Baseball Isn't Boring, presented by Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. They're just so good. Welcome on in. It is the final out, sponsored by Regency Furniture. Affordable never looks so good.

I mean, I get it. Regency Furniture never looks so good. Affordable never looks so good. But how about the Phils, man? How about the Phils? 25-11, and it's so... I know that's their record, and I know this might be a little overdramatic

for a beginning of a regular season, but I'm kind of in a pinch me moment. I mean, it's been a while since we've had a team this good or start the season this good around here. We're going back 10 years. I mean, it's been a while since we've had a team this good or start the season this good around here. We're going back 10 years. I mean, they're so good. I'm starting to think, I'm going to be peaking

a little bit too early. We can't be peaking in May. We need to peak at the right time. Let me slow down a little bit, Phils. The game wrap up sponsored by Blazer, Swiss Lube, and Kravitz. The metal working fluid specialist providing professional CNC machine cleaningaser, Swiss Lube, and Crevits. The metal working fluid specialist providing professional CNC machine cleaning, coolant

maintenance programs, and waste coolant disposal. Crevits.online. 215-592-9494 is how you get in. If you're leaving the ballpark, another good crowd today. I mean, a Monday at 4 o'clock with some bark in the park, a lot of dogs

in the house. Not even talking about Brandon Marsh in the park, a lot of dogs in the house. I'm not even talking about Brandon Marsh. But there's a lot of dogs in the house today. 35,000-ish in the ballpark. Pretty good. I mean, pretty good. It's been good crowds. Last night on Sunday Night Baseball I thought was just great.

So if you're stuck in traffic on your way home, give us a call and tell me what you saw today down at the ballpark. But my biggest takeaways of the game, which is brought to you by Morgan & Morgan, America's largest injury firm. And my big takeaway, you know, the reaction, obviously, when you lose a great player is, oh, bleep. Like, they're playing so well, the last thing you want to happen is to slow down any momentum that you have. And what this team is doing right now, I know it's only been three games. But this is a lot like what happened when Bryce went down in 22 after Blake Snell hit him in the hand. Where every player in the team just kind of stepped it up a little bit.

And I'm already having a little bit of 07 Tadahito Gucci vibes from Whit Merrifield right now. Saving the team. Saving the team! Saving the team! But this is what good teams do. And the Phillies have good depth in the outfield, in the infield. Merrifield, smart from that aspect of he can play second, he can play left field

if needed. But what you're starting to see is a lot of the big guns starting to wake up and pick up because like listen it's easy when you see a guy post every day batting 350 ish to be like oh well trey's got us there's a little something that clicks when he's all of a sudden out of the lineup to where everyone feels like they got to pick up their weight a little bit more obviously the greatest example of this is and it's not as dire as that was,

you know, it's just May, he's gonna miss six months, six weeks, whatever. But the most dire was obviously when Wentz tore his ACL. But what Malcolm said, and really what happened after that is that we all we got, we all we need, and every single guy on that team started to step up a little bit. And that's what we're seeing at least so far with the Turner injury. I mean, JT looks good in the two hole. Schwarber, Schwarber. Harper's starting to heat up here a little bit. Baum had his 18-game hitting streak come to an end today.

But you're starting to see a lot of these other guys starting to pick it up. And that's a sign of a good baseball team. So 10 straight at Citizens Bank Park. But it does remind me, their record was pretty good with Bryce out of the lineup in 2022. And that's obviously when Schwarber heated up. And I think we're kind of starting to see the same here from this team. The second thing, second biggest takeaway from the game today is, let's just keep pitching Zach Wheeler on regular rest.

Seems like a pretty good recipe for success. Obviously, he did not pitch on regular rest in his last start. And it was maybe the worst command we've seen from him in a long time around here. So, back on normal rest today. Back to normal Zach Wheeler. Just dominant. 11 strikeouts. Probably would have had, I mean, obviously it wasn't earned. It was unearned. Had stopped,

made a good throw in that inning. But still, I mean, just efficient strikes, fastball command right back where it usually is. Let's just maybe stick Zach Wheeler on regular rest. And I brought this up last time. It's like, well, why can't they go six man, but if they want to keep Wheeler

on his regular days, if they couldn't do that. Maybe something they try to figure out if they want to keep any kind of a six-man kind of rotation, but regardless, seems like when Zach Wheeler is on his regular rest, he's doing his thing. And the third biggest takeaway is Bob Melvin. is Bob Melvin. What does he do? Do we have some voodoo over Bob Melvin here at Citizens Bank Park? For those of you that don't understand what I'm saying, Bob Melvin is the Giants manager.

Two years ago, in 2022, he was the Padres manager who did not bring Josh Hader in to face Bryce Harper in the eighth inning. Was that a Bob Melvin decision? Was that a Josh Hader decision? I don't know, but Josh Hader in to face Bryce Harper in the eighth inning. Was that a Bob Melvin decision? Was that a Josh Hader decision? I don't know, but Josh Hader was warmed up, so I'd assume that he was ready to come into the game to face Bryce Harper. Bryce Harper, nevertheless, hits Bedlam at the bank, and Philly's baseball is never the same. If Josh Hader's in that game, I could see it going a totally different way, but regardless, it didn't happen. Then Bob Melvin today, Mason Black. Now maybe they didn't tell Bob Melvin this. Maybe they said, hey, we're not going to alert the manager

to this guy's career high in pitches. Mason Black had not pitched more than 71 pitches in AAA this year. Melvin's got him out there in the 80s facing the Phil's lineup for the third time, and that's when Bryce Harper goes yard. And what is he doing? It's like he comes to Citizens Bank Park, and he just has a ton of brain farts. It's ridiculous. 215-592-9494 is how you get in.

My player of the game is obviously Zach Wheeler. Player of the game sponsored by South Jersey Gas, committed to providing safe, reliable, affordable natural gas. Make the switch at southjerseygas.com slash lovemyhome. We've got a good ball club here, folks. We have a good, good baseball team. 25-11. If you're leaving the ballpark, get in now.

215-592-9494. Steve's in Norristown. What's happening, Steve? Hey, Jack. How we doing? I'm excited. Hard not to be, buddy. I mean, it's been a long – listen, they've had good regular seasons

like after June the last two years. I mean, what we're seeing right now is them just starting the season, getting hot, and hopefully can just ride this wave towards at least a division contention in September, which hasn't been the case the last couple years. Absolutely. I don't know if you remember me. I called you two

weeks ago and gave you some pointers for your best man speech. I was on the High Hopes podcast that it went well. It did. It did. I think your tips definitely helped. Oh, good. Okay.

The Philzo, I'm so happy and I'm so excited with this team. The fact that Cassianos got on four times today is awesome. It's beautiful. I had a great day where I left work early, I went down, I had my radio, just Grancy LA, me, and keeping score, and it was just an awesome me day. I highly recommend it to any baseball fan. Just have a me day at the ballpark.

It's awesome. Plus, there's a bunch of dogs around you, right? There was. It was so fun., there's a bunch of dogs around you, right? There was! It was so fun! I didn't even know going into today, and my wife texted me. She's like, you forgot your dog. And I was like, well, I'm here, so that's good enough.

That's awesome, man. Glad you had a great day at the ballpark. Yeah. A little bark at the park action. For more sparse crowds, I feel like it makes sense. When it's 35,000, I kind of feel bad for the dogs. 215-592-9494 is how you get in. Biggest takeaway from the game and a whole lot more. Coming up next, on the other side, the injury report was something that

might have happened in the ninth inning to keep an eye on and some other bright spots from today. It's Jack Fritz hanging out with you here on the Final Loud on Sports Radio 94 WIPA. Hey, fantasy football owners. The road to winning your fantasy football championship starts now. I'm Matt Harmon from Reception Perception. Join me and James Coe as we take a deep dive into the position that's going to make or break your fantasy roster.

Wide receivers. We analyze route running, target share, and all the metrics that matter, giving you the insights you need to draft the best wide receivers. We analyze route running, target share, and all the metrics that matter, giving you the insights you need to draft the best wide receivers. As you prep for your draft, let us give you the coverage you need. Follow and listen to Reception Perception on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome back. It is the final out sponsored by Regency Furniture. Affordable never looked so good. Yes, you heard that. You heard that piece of audio right there. It may be May 6th, the month the season's already done.

And no, he hasn't missed any time to injury. And no, he hasn't sat a game yet as he is running down Cal Ripken one day at a time. One day at a time, Nick Cassianos is getting closer and closer to chasing down Cal Ripken one day at a time. One day at a time, Nick Cassianos is getting closer and closer to chasing down Cal Ripken. I mean, the true Ironman of our generation, Nick Cassianos, you can't take him out of the lineup, especially how hot he is. But one of the bright spots today

is what Nick Cassianos did at the plate. And yes, that is his first double. Yes, it is May 6th, but regardless, it is his first double of the year. On base four times today, two walks. It seems like he's walking a bit more this year than in years past, which I guess is a good sign.

Had two hits, had a double. Just hope anything can get him going. I mean, the nicest part about where this lineup is at right now is they've been able to survive. I mean, you look at the stats on offenses in baseball, and by every metric, they're a top five unit. And I know it hasn't felt that way at times. And I think a lot of that was aided because of what happened early in the season.

But really, since the first week, the offense has been fine. So the nice part of where the offense is at right now is that with Stott not really hitting, Castellanos not really hitting, Rojas being Rojas, it hasn't sunk them. Now that's a testament to the jobs at Schwarber and obviously Turner and Baum. And Harper, I think, is starting to heat up here a little bit. But it hasn't sunk them. And they've been able to stay afloat while those guys find their stroke a little bit and you know when to act like every one of the lines can be high at the same time is just

unrealistic i know we have this idea that's how baseball works so hopefully you know if some of the other guys start cooling down here a little bit that's where casillano steps up that's where stock gets going and then it's just it's just ebbs and flows of a baseball season. Casillano's had that game out in Los Angeles that I thought was going to really kind of get him going and then hasn't really taken off from there. Maybe this is breaking you out of this thing. But regardless, I haven't felt the Casillanos struggles the way that I feel like you typically would for a guy who's played every game and is hitting 197. They've done a nice job of treading water while waiting for him to kind of get going here. So I thought Castellanos, that's a positive to hit the plate. Continue to like what Merrifield brings.

He reminds me of Polanco a lot. Same kind of swing. Not really here for power. Can't hit one out of the ballpark. I think he's got, what, two on the year. But really, just a hitter. That's what he is. He's obviously a little bit older. He's 35. But he's a good second base.

That double play in the first inning was pretty smooth. It's obviously his best position. He can play left field, but it's more stand there. It's not like he's an excellent left fielder. Second base seems to be his calling card for sure. But early in the season, I was worried this guy just might be cooked, just might not have it. He's 35, was injured last year after he was an all-star, might just be done. And I haven't felt

that way in watching him in recent weeks. And with Turner going down, I feel pretty good about where the middle infield is, whether they want to put Stott at short, whether they want to put Edmundo at short. I think both those guys are pretty good at it. Stott did have the bad throw today, but made some nice plays at shortstop. Witt's a pretty good second baseman, but they have enough there to where the Turner injury should not crater them. Obviously, we need Satt to get going a little bit at the plate more, and Witt needs to keep it up. But overall, it's not something that should sink them.

But at least Witt Merrifield now doesn't look pretty cooked out there, so that's good. And the final thing here before we get to some phones and the injury report is I thought Kirkering that was a good step forward for him I I'm a really big Kirkering guy I think he's got dynamic stuff and the one drawback of him I guess so far is it's like dude you got 98 man like throw the fastball a little bit. Today, I thought he threw the fastball a little bit more. I think his fastball usage after today is probably going to be around 60%, which is fine because last year, no, his sweeper usage is going to be about 60%. Last year, it was 89%, I'm pretty sure. It's too much. It's too much. The sweeper is one of the better

pitches in baseball by the numbers. I know Ben Kenney's a huge Stuff Plus guy, but by the numbers, it's one of the best in the sport. But we know the major league hitters are going to hit it if they see it more, the more and more they see it. So he needs that fastball. If he wants to pitch backwards, that's fine. If he wants to use the sweeper as the pitch he throws more often. But the fastball has to be there. And it looks like they added some sink to it. It was moving a good amount tonight.

So it's just big. And get guys off the barrel. So it was a good step forward for Kirkering. And they need another right-handed option out there. I know Turnbull's out there now. We'll see what his role is. I'd be surprised if he is a high leverage kind of guy. I think he could do it. Maybe his stuff sees an uptick being in the bullpen. But I think they kind of want to keep him stretched out and maybe piggyback some of these guys. But with Marte going down, Sir Anthony, well, I think he's slowly throwing the corner.

He's not exactly in everyone's trust tree. And Hoffman, who is just dynamite, they need someone else there. And Kirkering needs to be that guy, especially for right now. So I thought that was a good step in the right direction. Throwing that fastball more and more is something that he desperately needs. And Matt Strom is just Matt Strom. Just continues to be solid, solid,

solid. 215-592-9494. If you're leaving the ballpark, we'd love to hear from you. Richie's in Philly. What's happening, Richie? First of all, Jack, I want to compliment you. I'm a baseball guy. I'm in my 70s. I've been following the Phillies since the 1950s with Anderson Roberts and stuff. I usually call him Jody Magan.

It's really refreshing to have a really good, excellent baseball guy like you. I mean, really refreshing. Appreciate it. You know your stuff. Thank you, man. You know your stuff. I mean, I've been listening to decades of radio. And at the beginning of the year, remember, Jack, when these people in the Phillies were 2 and 5?

I thought they wanted to get off to a fast start. I'm saying to myself, they're treating it like a football season. Yeah, and that's when you know the casuals are out early. Everyone's just paying attention. Right around now is when they stop paying attention. Yeah, but Jack, you know that the first 8 or 10 games are like 2 minutes of a football game or something. I know. And you know this year they're going to go into a shoot.

Baseball is a game of ebbs and flows. You're going to probably lose maybe five or so times. You've just got to look at the macrocosm, the whole thing, basically. Yeah, and I think the good part, Richie, is that, and what I hope happens, them being 25-11, they're obviously going to go through a bit of a swoon here. I just don't think we're going to get the freak out if they go through a swoon. I hope that what has happened now is that people just kind of trust

this team, given that we know them now. We went through 2022. We went through 2023. I think we know who these guys are. I hope we don't get the Fire Thompson freak out when they lose 4 of 6, because we know that's going to happen. One quick thing before you let me go.

Are you going to be on every postgame with the extra extra in every postgame, Jack? During the week. During the week, I will. I've been listening to you. I mean, like I said, I've been listening to you for decades. I mean, you're like a real baseball purist, and usually I don't like to hear most of people. I like Jody Mack a lot, and I like Ricky Ricciardo

because they're baseball guys, too, but you understand the game, and it's not that common anymore, you know? Well, I appreciate it, Richie. Thank you for the kind words. I mean, another pure baseball guy is coming up after me in Robbie. I mean, when I think of Phillies baseball, Robbie is one of the faces of Phillies baseball coverage.

215-592-9494. The Injury Report is sponsored by the Plumbers Union Local 690, protecting the health of the nation. Visit plumbers690.org and one to monitor here so alec bohm missed the game over the weekend with this hip injury that you know is kind of there i guess it's lingering they pulled him out of the game a little bit early and everyone's like oh here we go turner's hurt now bohm'shm's hurt. Well, in the ninth inning tonight, it looked like he was kind of fighting it again. And just file that one away.

Because the swing didn't look as powerful. I know he didn't get a hit. He's 0-4. No reason to cause panic in the streets. But I wonder if he's got a little bit of a hip thing and he just played through it because he's on the hot streak. Maybe they sit him tomorrow. Maybe they get him off his feet for a day. He said he just played through it because he's on the the hot streak maybe they sit him tomorrow maybe they get him off his feet for a day he said he's played through worse but i just couldn't tell if late it looked like he was he was fighting that thing a little bit so one to monitor for sure on the other side we will look ahead to tomorrow blue jays coming into town

we'll get to the play of the game and run your phone calls before handing things off to robbie here on sports radio 94 wyp uh-oh someone's eating up. Welcome on back. It is the final out sponsored by Regency Furniture. Affordable never looks so good. That is our play of the game sponsored by Mike's Amazing, the official mayo and mustard of the Phillies. Yes, Bryce Harper, back-to-back days of the home run. Almost hit one early in the game, smoked the ball late. I still can't believe his average is only 235. I look forward to it being 285 by the end of May. That's my prediction. By the end of May, he'll be around 280, 285, and he's already at eight home runs? He's at eight home runs?

I'll put him at 15 home runs by the end of May. When Bryce gets in these modes, pretty hard to stop. And especially with Turner going out, this is where it's like, all right, Bryce, more pressure kind of falls on your shoulders here. And so far, so good. Looks really good today. Back-to-back days with the home run, opposite way. I love when he's thinking opposite field.

That's how you know that he's kind of in a zone is when he's thinking opposite field. And shout-out to Bob Melvin. Again, I'm not sure what he's doing. I just don't get, like, did he not look at the scouting reports to decide, like, hey, this guy's thrown more than 71 pitches in anything. Should I let him face the top of the lineup for a third time in his major league debut? I mean, maybe Mason Black was looking to give one back to the team

that he grew up rooting for, but I don't think that was the case. Bob Melvin, man, just comes here and completely forgets how to manage. We'll look ahead to tomorrow in one second, but Rays in Delaware. What's happening, Ryan? Hey, I want to just say that he's a ticket holder, and I would love to hear other people's perspective, but I think there's just a

different vibe with the fans. People are more positive. When I left the ballpark tonight, there's not a big anxiety to rush to the gate and cut people off and I'm going to beat you. Like previous spring, people, I think there was tension. Like, oh, man, we're off to a slow start. And I think it did affect people even.

I just felt more positive. Even coming in, like, hey, how you doing? Let's go. It's just, it's amazing. It's a different vibe. Not that I didn't enjoy the other games, but I like these a hell of a lot better. So that's my cut on the game tonight.

Yeah, I appreciate the call, Ray. I don't know how other people feel, but for me, I just have this calmness while watching them now. Early in the season, I mean, it was Meltdown City with some of these losses last couple years. I think it's because I put so much pressure on them.

Like, don't collapse. Don't fold. Like, just stay in this thing and go on a run and just be good. So I don't have to deal with the backlash at work on social media and stuff like that. And I guess I just got to a point now where I just trust them. I guess I just got to a point now where I just trust them. And I think they're just a damn good team that I think is just – I think a lot of people are just kicking back and saying, all right, what's the team going to do now?

Like, how are they going to find a way to win this ballgame? And I think that – I think it's a couple things. I think the fan base is just more calm. And, listen, that will ramp up in the postseason. We know that. but i also think that i think people just really like this team like listen we we work at wip we find things to talk about and it's like what do we talk about with the team i mean the the biggest talking point or the thing that that drives people crazy is the Schwarber leadoff thing. And it's

like, well, at some point, it's just is what it is. They win with them there. They're off their best start, one of the best starts in franchise history. And it's every game Schwarber has been a leadoff. Last couple years, they've tried to take him out of leadoff. They put him back in there. And it just works. Is it unconventional? Yeah it works it works so like thompson gets it i mean people crush him but like the guy's loyal and if it's may and he wants to stick with the starter because he wants to tell him like hey i got your back maybe that gets the best out of that starter a couple weeks from now or a reliever, hey, I still trust you. You can have that leeway. You can have that leeway when the team gets off to as good of a start as they did.

And you obviously hope that when October rolls around, Thompson has a feel and knows when to get guys in and out of spots rather than leaving them in too long. But for right now, it's just not that big of a deal. But everything else, like even the Marsh interview last night, it was like, that's this team. And I just think they are a super, super likable group, plays hard, wins a lot. And I just think it's a real love affair between the city and the baseball team.

And it goes back to the standing O's last year. The 22 playoff run with everything that happened in that game during that run. So it's really kind of just all carried over. It's a good, good time to be a fan of this team. Rich is in Swedesboro. What's happening, Rich? Rich! It's a good, good time to be a fan of this team. Rich is in Swedesboro. What's happening, Rich? Rich. Rich.

Hello. Hey, what's up, Rich? How's it going, man? Hey, good evening. I just wanted to mention, we were at the game the night I had tickets. We were sitting at 124, which is like maybe we were 25 rows above home plate. But to the left of us, I guess it was 125 section, there was a bunch of San Francisco fans.

And I didn't realize it, but they were there to see the pitcher from Scranton, Kid Black. And when they took him out in that game, he got like a nice standing ovation from Philly fans. You know, they really – he was acknowledged for what he did. I mean, he went, you know, what, four or five innings, all of us to one run at that time. And then we, of course, operate the home run.

But he got a really nice round of applause. And that shows class, and I don't know anyone who mentions that. Yeah, well, listen, we're a classy organization, Rich. That's who we are as fans, as Philly fans. First thing out of most people's mouths is class. And, yeah, you know, Mason Blacks obviously grew up in Scranton. He's a big Phillies fan. I heard on the broadcast that Roy Halladay was the guy that he really looked up to as a kid.

And, I mean, so did I. Well, I guess we're not around the same age. I think he's 24. But, yeah, Halladay was my guy, too, as a young pitcher. He's like the perfect guy to kind of resemble yourself after. It's funny. A lot of kids growing up now are going to say Wheeler, and rightfully so. I mean, the guy is just dominant.

But, yeah, I mean, that's good stuff. And maybe it's because also they just got done scoring five off of them and it made it a little bit easier. But, yeah, it was a nice touch by the fans. Tomorrow, Blue Jays are in town. Blue Jays, a bit disappointing. You know, a couple years ago, it's like, wow, Blue Jays are in town. Blue Jays, a bit disappointing. A couple years ago, it's like, wow, Blue Jays are next. Blue Jays,

they signed Springer, Vladdy, Jr.'s looking like a stud, Bo Bichette, Kevin Biggio at the time, not much anymore. It was like, okay, the Blue Jays are that next team in the AL, and they've just never really figured it out. And tomorrow, Chris Sanchez is on the mound versus Jose Barrios. Barrios has had a

really good start to the year. He's kind of struggled since going to Toronto and never really lived up to the hype with Minnesota, but he's got a 1-4 on the year, so Jose Barrios is off to a hot start. Chris Sanchez, I'm curious to see people always talk about Taiwan and Turnbull.

You've got to get Taiwan out there for Turnbull. Two straight shaky Chris Sanchez starts. Change-up hasn't looked, obviously, as good. He seems to be turning it over more and more. It's interesting. He started throwing a little bit harder. He was more 91 to 92 when he was actually dominant. And it seems like the last three starts, he's had an uptick in velocity.

And it's actually harmed him from the standpoint of having a good feel for that changeup. So I'll be curious to see what it looks like tomorrow because he's another candidate to where if Turnbull, or if he slips up here, that Turnbull can kind of take his spot in the rotation. The flip side is he's a young pitcher. He's under club control. You want to develop him. You're off to a good start. He is pitching to a 3-6 ERA, which you take from your 4-5 starter every single day of the week. Do you want to rush him out of the rotation for a guy

that you gave him a $2 million major league contract to? I don't know. So it's a tough situation to be in. Regardless, Christopher Sanchez goes tomorrow and we'll look to get him back on track a little bit. Either way, that's going to do it for me. Thanks to everyone who joined the show tonight. Ben Kenney produced Behind the Glass. Rob Ellis,

Robbie, he will take you through the rest of the night. I'll be back tomorrow. We've got both leading off and final out on afternoon. I'll be back tomorrow on the final out here on Sports Radio 94 WIP.