High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Final Out: Phillies Sweep The Dodgers

Episode Date: July 12, 2024

Jack Fritz spends 40 minutes reacting to the Phillies' three-game sweep of the Dodgers. 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

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or wherever you get your podcasts. Swing and a ground ball to short. Turner to Stott. On to first. Double play. And the Phillies complete a three-game series sweep over the Dodgers for the first time since 2011. As they beat the Dodgers tonight 5-1, the Phillies pitchers allow five runs total in the series as the Phillies take all three from the Dodgers this week. Team is a wagon.

Welcome on in. It's the final out. Sponsored by Regency Furniture. Affordable never looks so good. Jack Fritz hanging out with you on this Thursday night as the Phillies complete their ninth sweep of the year. Ninth sweep of the year. They've swept the Brewers. They've swept the defending World Series champs.

They've swept the Dodgers. I mean, all they do is just beat up on bad teams. It's just sickening. I mean, the Phillies are basically given a last-place schedule. How could they? Of course they have the best record in baseball. All this team does is win baseball games. What a team. What a season. And they just go out there, especially at that ballpark. Especially at that ballpark.

And don't discount what this fan base and what you are doing to help lift this baseball team. Because when they play at that ballpark, it is special. It is a special, special place. The game wrap-up is sponsored by Blauser Swiss Lube and Crevits, the metal working fluid specialist providing professional CNC machine cleaning, coolant maintenance programs, and waste coolant disposal. Kravitz.online, 215-592-9494 to get in. Listen, three straight nights of sellouts.

I feel happy for the people that were able to enjoy tonight. It was not humid. It was not humid. It was not miserable. It was a beautiful night for baseball, and the Phil showed up. 215-592-9494. If you're leaving the ballpark, stuck in traffic, would love to hear from you. Or, like me, you just sat on your couch and watched the game. Would love to hear from you as well.

Let's get into it. A lot to get into tonight as the Phillies once again sweep the Dodgers. First time since 2011. Improved to 23-13 against teams that are 500 or better. And more importantly, 19-10 in games started by Garrett Stubbs. The biggest takeaway of the game is brought to you by Morgan. Morgan, America's largest injury law firm. And really just, we should take a step back and kind of take a look at this series from a whole. They outscored the Dodgers 19-5.

And I mentioned this, maybe after the first game. I don't know if I said it last night. It's been a doozy of a series. Like, listen, when the Phillies are hot and I'm positive, I'm just overflowing with emotion. So I could have said just about whatever. But the Phillies, like, they took this series so seriously. And it gives me so much hope heading into the postseason that they're focused, they're locked in. And I think that they are just so consumed with an opportunity that they gave away last year.

Like, they're not giving away an inch this year. Just when we think that things are shaky, just when we think, ah, here comes a little – like, they've lost, what, three games in a row twice this year? It might only be one time, frankly. I know it's not more than two if that's the case. I know it's definitely one. But it's just like whenever there's, ah, I don't know,

like the Braves are starting to heat up. It's just, oh, Harper's back in the lineup. Oh, Schwarzer's back in the lineup. Oh, the Dodgers are in town. Bing, bang, boom. We're going to go sweep him up and outscore him 19-5. And they outscored him 19-5. And Bryce didn't even really do anything.

Like he got one hit tonight. He didn't play last night. He's clearly still dealing with that hand injury. It's fine, but it was everyone. It's the whole team. And when everyone's in the lineup and when they get JT back, it's a deep lineup. You look at this Dodgers lineup, and I'm glad they swept.

That's clearly a depleted Dodgers team. We've got to keep it real at the same time. I'm glad the Phillies went out and took care of business, and that matters, and that's important. That's what great teams do. That's a depleted Dodgers team. Mookie, obviously, when he gets back, makes their top of the lineup better. They still feel a little bit top-heavy rotation-wise.

We know what they're dealing with. Bullpen has never really been that great. It's a a depleted unit. You know, we got to keep it real, but it doesn't matter. Like Bryce Harper didn't really do much. Didn't play last night. They're getting a lot of clutch hitting up and down the lineup. You know, I've tweeted a lot about how the bottom of the line has just done a great job throughout this series. But really, the bottom of the lineup was the middle of the lineup last week. Of course the offense struggled. So the bottom of the lineup is really, really doing their job. Obviously, Turner's just been ridiculous. If he didn't get hurt, he would

have been in the National League MVP consideration, 100%. He's been ridiculous, and he's doing it with power. If he didn't get hurt, I wonder if he would have hit over 30 home runs this year. I mean, he had 26 last year. 26 home runs when he was, we all know, was brutal before August 4th and the ovations. Like, he would be right in there. He'd be right in the National League MVP mix. He's been unbelievable. Schwarber yet again, bottom of the lineup doing their thing. So, listen, you look at this series from a whole,

super, super impressive clutch hitting, bottom of the lineup, home runs, and maybe most importantly, the bullpen allowed one earned run this entire series. One. One. One earned run. And, boy, did they do a number on Shohei Otani. Shohei Otani is terrifying every single time that he gets up there,

but the Phils did a damn good job, and Knowles did too. Let's get to Aaron Nola. The pitch count is sponsored by the Plumbers Union Local 690, protecting the health of the nation. Visit plumbers690.org. 101 pitches for Knowles tonight. It was only six innings, so obviously they made him work a little bit. 10 strikeouts will do that to you. That will get the pitch count up. work a little bit. 10 strikeouts will do that to you. That will get the pitch count up. And, you know, people will say it was a mistake to Gavin Lux. That was the most BS home run since A-Rod

in 09. I mean, it was ridiculous. I've never seen that. That ball had... I'm shocked that ball got out, frankly. Aaron Nola was really good tonight. He was really, really good. Struggled a little bit early. Obviously, that second inning kind of derailed his pitch count. And then really found the feel for it and was fine after

that. It was so interesting. Great against the top of the lineup, and then for some reason, and again, it's so frustrating when you look at that Dodgers lineup, how he's, and how the Phillies pitchers really all series struggled against the bottom of the lineup. Like, I'm almost more worried about the bottom of the lineup than I am

the top of the lineup. Rojas, and well, I'm never worried about James Altman. Oh, my goodness. What a horrible series. Chris Taylor. Gavin Lux. Kike. Like, those guys I felt like I was more terrified of than, like, Otani.

Definitely not Freeman. I got too much PTSD about Freddie Freeman against the Phillies. But, man, I thought Aaron Nola was really strong tonight. Really strong. It was good to see him back again. 552 ERA in his last five starts. So, did a much, much, much really strong tonight. Really strong. It was good to see him back again. 552 ERA in his last five starts. So, did a much, much, much better job tonight.

And, you know, really kind of putting a good stamp on what's been a very good first half for Aaron Nola. I think he was pitching to an all-star level. He had a hiccup. His last, again, about five-ish outings where it hadn't been as good. He was pitching to like a 2-5, I believe,

heading into that Boston series up in Fenway, and then just hasn't really been the same. But even when it hasn't been the same, it's been a much more three earned runs over six than what we got last year, which was five earned runs over six. So he's had a really good first half, and with what's going on with Wheeler, hopefully he's fine, but maybe he skips some starts.

Ranger could be dealing with a little bit of a dead arm. Chris Sanchez has been very good, but, you know, this is going to be the most innings he's pitched ever. Like, having a consistent and a strong Aaron Nola is just really important for this team. And then final point here, before we go to the phones, is defense just brilliant tonight. You know, the Dodgers got in some good situations for them. A couple times the base was

loaded, and then, you know, obviously the Rojas play, that could have set up a big inning for them, but he runs that down, and it shows the value of Johan Rojas. Listen, he has not been great at the plate. He did get a hit tonight with the runners in scoring position. That was good to see, but I think the biggest thing that I can take away from Johan Rojas since coming back up Not been great at the plate. He did get a hit tonight with the runners in scoring position. That was good to see. But I think the biggest thing that I can take away from Johan Roassens coming back up from Lehigh Valley is he's just doing the little things so much better. He's getting behind the baseball in the outfield. He's going to run it down. He's not being a little lackadaisical out there and letting some balls drop.

You know, he's really honed in on the little things. And if he can just focus on the little things and he can just play smart center field and he can lock in from that standpoint, you almost can just take whatever you get at the plate. I think he hasn't looked brutal. I mean, it's not like I expected him to hit 301 like he did last regular season.

But again, the defense and everything else has really just looked much, much more locked in. And obviously regular season. But, again, the defense and everything else has really just looked much, much more locked in. And obviously the stop play with, again, what are the Dodgers doing? Where are you going on that? You freeze on a line drive. What is this, Little League? I mean, how many local coaches out there were yelling at the TV,

you freeze on a line? I know I was. I know my coaches were as well. But what a night. 19-5, they outscored this Dodgers team. One earned run by the bullpen. A lot of home runs. And all of that really without Bryce doing much. It's a special team. It's a special season.

And the A's coming to town. Hopefully, you know, keep riding this momentum into the all-star break. Jake is in Queens Villas. What's happening, Jake? How we doing, Fritz? It's a good time right now, brother. It's a good time. It absolutely is. I was thinking about the bullpen,

and I was thinking about in 2021 how you and I definitely both, every single game, bullpen comes in and you just expect that they would blow it, and how much of a luxury it is right now that whenever they come in, we just expect that they're

going to get the deal done and win the game. What are your thoughts on the bullpen at the deadline? Because I don't think we need an addition, but I know you can never have too many arms. What are you thinking in terms of pitch? I've said it a couple times, and it's still where I'm at. I think things obviously can change in the next 19 days. I just view it more of a luxury than what they need.

I would 100% take another bullpen arm. I think the Alvarado situation is something to definitely monitor from that standpoint, but I still am in the mindset, I've got to go get another bat. So bat number one, bullpen number two. But it's definitely, again, again, I take it, and if they don't view any of these bats as a big upgrade or they gotta pay a ton to get one of the bats,

you know, it's not the worst idea in the world to just build a souped-up bullpen because theoretically they should cost less than whatever outfield, or if the outfield prices are too high. Sure, but we're past the point of needing to push all the resources into the middle of the table for mason miller exactly yeah i don't think we need to do that i don't think we need to and like

the a's aren't trading him like they're just not he's got i know how cheap the a's are i know that they would get rid of any talent for for whatever but he's got six years of control like that would even be egregious for the A's. Sure. Sure. And are you still all Luis Robert or Buss in terms of the bat? I would say, MJ, and I appreciate the phone call. Yeah, he's just – Luis Robert to me is really just the guy that is perfect for them. Do I wish he was more patient? Do I wish he got on base more walking do i wish that he was

not striking me out as much as he can he is prone to do sure but he can play center field he can hit 35 plus home runs i we've been over the red flags sure are they going to move them i'm not sure are the phillies do they have to put painter on the table to get the deal done? I'm not sure. But at this point, we don't, I don't, you know, 19 days away from the trade deadline. He's still my number one target. I have a name that I've been talking about the last couple of nights that I'll get to next that actually jumped out even more tonight, but it's going to be a really fun little, little rundown to the trade deadline and and i just just so happy simple as that i'm just so happy 215-592-9494 on the other side the player of the game plus i have

some more takeaways from tonight and of course your phone calls get in now 215-592-9494 it's the final out here on Sports Radio 94 WIP. sharing 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. Swung on, belted, deep right field. Forget about it. Way, way back to right. Brandon Marsh greets Landon Mack with a bullet home run to right.

His ninth of the year, 2-0 Phillies. How about Marshy? I think Marshy against righties is maybe my favorite player in the Phillies. It's good to see him back. Beginning of the season, he was on fire coming out against really mostly everybody. Then he went a little cold there. The lefties thing is still there. But, man, him against righties is just a solid, solid ball player.

Love him in left field. Would love to be able to keep him there, obviously. Hopefully Rojas can kind of do his thing in center field. But we were on cycle watch for Brandon Marsh, and I hit the home run, got the triple, which was good to see. And he is my player of the game, sponsored by South Jersey Gas, committed to providing safe reliable affordable natural gas make the switch at southjerseygas.com slash love my home welcome on back it is final out

sponsored by regency furniture affordable never looks so good and tonight was like for for people that don't want louis robert or don't want jazz chisholm cody vellinger that's probably done now with him going on the IL with the fracture in his hand. I mean, tonight was really what you wanted to see. Johan Rojas makes that play. Again, like we talked about last segment, looks more locked in since coming back up from Lehigh Valley. And Marsh against Reitys is just a really, really solid player.

I mean, I think he's batting close to 300 against Reitys right now, which is awesome. And, you know, I mentioned it before we went to the break, the name that I'm becoming more and more interested in is Lane Thomas. I mean, Lane Thomas of the Nationals, he's hitting a lot better overall the last month and a half, but he's just killing, killing left-handed pitching. Again, if you combine Marsh and Lane Thomas as a platoon player in left field, you have the best player in the sport maybe i mean he's batting over 330 with a 970 ops against lefties lane thomas is crushing left-handed pitching

i've never really noticed how brutal i guess he is against righties i believe he's hitting like 245 on the season so he must be terrible against them uh but i think he's a pretty good player he can if they and again if they wanted to like if Rojas is struggling or whatnot, Marsh can go to center field. He can play left. It's a good little move. He's under control for one more year if they want to do the Marsh-Lane Thomas thing.

He's a solid player. He's not like a wow player. The cost on him is probably one of the five, maybe two of the five to ten prospects in the system. You know, when I tweeted about that earlier tonight, and the big name that gets thrown back at me is Brent Rooker. I got to be honest, I don't buy the Brent Rooker thing. I really don't.

It doesn't make sense. The Brent Rooker thing doesn't make sense. He has three more years of control. He is more of a DH. You're not putting Schwarber back in left field. So you're going with an outfield of Rooker and Castellanos. Like I just, I don't think that's really in the, in the mix here. I just don't, you know, I think, I think that that's pretty good, but he is third and he is third in baseball and K rate does strike out a lot. That worries me coming here.

So like, again, it's, it's a, it's a pretty good name. It's just, it's not my favorite. I mean,

if they get them, I guess I'd be happy because the bat, I just think the fits weird. And it doesn't really pass my smell test. This reported interest that they have in them, because I do think he's more of a DH and short was under contract for, for another year. So do think he's more of a DH and short was under contract for another year. So I think it's like I would rather go after a Taylor Ward.

I'd rather go after a Lane Thomas, see if Ian Happ's available, Saya Suzuki, see if he's available. There's other names out there. The Brent Rooker thing, it doesn't really pass my smell test. 215-592-9494. I'll get some other thoughts from the game tonight. I'll But back to the phones and talk to Zach in Roxburgh. What's happening, Zach? Jackie Baseball!

What's happening, brother? How are you? Oh, man, I was at this game tonight. It was wonderful. It really was, man. I mean, all this series has been crazy. I got there late because I had a late meeting, and the guy I met with late was like,

if I didn't have this meeting, I would have a baseball game. I was like, I didn't have this meeting, I want to play a baseball game. I was like, well, let's knock off this meeting and go to the baseball game. So got there. I walked in as Nola striking out Shohei Otani and having 40-some-odd pitches on him after two innings, right? And then it just took off from there. I missed the Turner home run, but I got the Barsch home run. I got everything else.

It was beautiful. Yeah, I mean, listen. This team assistance bank park is just crazy, man. They obviously show up. I like their attitude all series where it was like, yeah, we want to go show the rest of baseball. We're nothing to be messed with. Schwarber and Harper, I know there's debates of pushing them to come back

this close to the all-star break, but I like the mentality. I like the mentality of this baseball team. And just this series alone, we can win going away. We can win close. We can win in any way that we need to. We can get insurance runs, which I feel like this team has not been able to do in forever. Yes, and against the odds on favorite to win the pennant and win the World Series.

Like Shohei Otani, the quote-unquote best baseball player in all of baseball. There were so many people there that were clearly there just to watch Shohei do something, and they got nothing today. And I feel so bad for those people, but I also have to laugh at them a little bit. A little bit. Listen, this might come back to bite me, and Justin Morgenstein, do not cut this audio. Feed me Shohei in October.

Feed me him. At this point, that's a Philly thing. Just bring it. We want the best of the best because we want to show you we are the best of the best. Talk to me about this guy who you want um who's really good against righty or lefties or whatever marsh isn't good against uh yeah yeah you think it would take two out of the five best players we have in our in our

farm system to get no sorry mister i think it would take guys in the five to ten range like you know maybe maybe two of those guys and then someone a little bit later, he's under contract for another year. They've had a pretty high asking price on Lane Thomas for the last couple of years, but that was also with more years of control. We'll see. Again, I'm not in the GM

office, but I think that's about what it would cost. Here's the last thing I'd say about Rojas. If you can save me one to two runs a game, I don't care if you score me one to two runs a game. Yeah. That catch was amazing. It really was.

And what was your perspective from that? How was your vantage point of that? How far did he have to go? Did you think he was going to get there? I mean, so we were bouncing around. We had seats in the 300 level, but we were just wandering around the first level like my buddy and i because it was it was last minute decision um from i think somewhere up the third baseline he he had to run at least 30 to 40 feet or whatever it is like faster than i think i could

you know run like five so um like the the kid's speed, and to your point, I think he's way more hyper-focused and laser-locked in on what he needs to do defensively in his position. I think he's probably looking better at the scouting reports from the team, maybe, and that's getting him in a better position. Well, and I appreciate the phone call, Zach. I think it comes down to all offseason, they were like, you're our guy,

you're our guy, you're our guy. Went to spring training, wasn't hitting very well, you're our guy, you're our guy, you're our guy. They sent him down, and maybe it was a wake-up call. Okay, I've got to start doing these little things or else I might not be here. I have to get Bunce down. I can't make Allison. Again, when they sent him down, he made them, he'd been picked off the most in the team, like with three.

Can't happen, especially with how he largely is offensively. So I think it was more about having a wake-up call and saying, I don't really want to be back down here in Lehigh Valley. I'm a big leaguer. So I think's more from from that standpoint but man i think so there's been a a a i guess growing narrative the last couple years about shohei and the clutch and actually looked it up career he's only in 244 in late and close situations you know late and close i believe is two runs up or down eighth inning or later. Some questions as to whether or not

Shohei Otani has the clutch gene. And Matt Strom and Nola did a great, great job against him tonight. Matt Strom will join the afternoon show tomorrow at 2.30, so looking forward to talking to him. Some other takeaways that I had tonight. Didn't mind going back

to Alvarado. It's either go back to Alvarado or just shut him down and give him the two weeks or week and a half off heading into the All-Star break. I'm not of the mindset that he is a huge problem. I think

he is someone that we in October mostly are going to have stomach ulcers watching with nerves. But I think that he's still a good pitcher. I think he's going through a little bit of a struggle right now. Mentioned it last night. I mean, he pitched really deep in 2022, deep last year. He's just had a lot of bullets on that arm. So it's something to monitor. But at least they went right back to him. So I thought that was interesting. And last night, I anointed Jeff Hoffman, the closer. And then tonight, he takes down the eighth. And it's one of those things where you fight the battle

of traditionalism with the back end of the bullpen. But they are committed to the mix and match thing. And it does make sense. Like in the eighth inning, it's a 3-1 game. Would I rather have Alvarado start that inning off against Will Smith or would I rather have Jeff Hoffman? I'd rather have Jeff Hoffman and take my chances in a perfect world with Alvarado against the bottom of the lineup. Like that kind of stuff makes sense.

And if you're of the belief of go get a lockdown closer, whoever you think that is, I don't know how many are really available. But, you know, I think that's one of those situations where it's like, all right, well, if you want to use Hoffman in the eighth, I would like a more, quote unquote, reliable option in the ninth. But at least for tonight, at least for the little bit going forward, it does make sense giving Hoffman the eighth when the leadoff hitter is a guy like Will Smith who can do damage. And I'd rather have him on Will Smith in the eighth rather than Jose Alvarado. So it was interesting going right back to Alvarado. At least it built his confidence back up. And he had a relatively fine ninth inning.

Obviously, he got a double play, so that helped as well. Another thing, Schwarber 343 against lefties now. 343. It's crazy. It's crazy. And that ball tonight was absolutely launched. And the poor dad can't make a play on a 120-mile-an-hour baseball. Isn't a kid crying because the dad dropped it? I mean, come on. He did his best. As a new dad guy, we're just trying to do the best for our kids. I didn't need the tears, frankly. Didn't need the tears. So we're on team dad on that one.

But the one thing that really sunk in about Schwarber, and this is either going to make you happy or it's going to drive you nuts, but I'm just letting you know how this is going to go down. I mean, Kyle Schwarber is going to play here until he's 40. There's like no doubt in my mind. Because even when he's not a full-time DH, when he eventually slows down, you're telling me you don't want that guy in the stairs role? You don't want that guy as a lefty pop off the bench that can take you deep in an instant? Kyle Schwarber's never allowed to leave Philadelphia. I'm just, it can't happen. Again, unless the team falls out of it, unless, you know, this thing goes real haywire, and then, you know, I guess four or five years from now, Kyle Schwarber might as well be affiliated for life

and then start being prepared to be the manager. He should just create permanent residence. I love that guy. I love Kyle Schwarber. And it's time to just accept he's going to play here until he's 40. And then my final takeaway is Harper is clearly still hampered by the hand. Really wasn't able to swing with much authority, it didn't look like to me. And then the play in the Hoffman inning looked like he was a little hesitant

to reach for it and get it, possibly ran into by the base runner. So definitely something to kind of monitor here in the A series. But I think he's definitely a little hampered still by that hand. Tom is from Abington. What is happening, Tom? Hey, you. John Fretz. How we doing this evening? I'm doing great, man. I'm sure you are. This team's awesome. This team is awesome.

All right. Shohei who? Exactly right. Shohei who? Listen, man. This team is special. You know what makes this team special? What? Aaron Nola just told me on the postgame show that it's the chemistry because think about it.

Like we've been talking about it on the whip for a couple days now, right? Chemistry versus talent? Yep. All right, so there's a few talented teams in the league, and the Phillies certainly are one of them, and that's important. But the other teams don't have this chemistry. I agree. Yeah, and that's what makes it special.

All right. This team, even though it's not complete, even though I know, I think I know where it's going to go, this team is more special to me right now than the 2017 Eagles. Wow. Okay. Why? Why?

Yeah. You're watching why. Like, there's not a weakness really on this team. What's their weakness? I mean, when he's not hitting, you could say outfield, or you could say center field. Right now, I guess you could say. he's not hitting, you could say outfield, or you could say center field. Right now, I guess you could say. But they're like, the nice part about them is,

like, people will say whatever flaw they have. Like, these other teams have just as many flaws. But the Phillies, like, they're so well-rounded. Like, if the bullpen has a bad night, I feel like it's just a bad night. Like, it's not really indicative of who they are. The rotation, I think we can all accept the rotation is very, very good. And the lineup, sure. Do they have their

cold spells? 100%. But they're clearly just clicking on all cylinders. I don't know. They really don't have one. So what do they do with the trade deadline? If they stood pat with this, would you really be that upset? For me, I just want more, and I've said this a couple times,

like, for me it's about insurance and almost like, it's not a hedge, but, like, if the lineup goes cold, just give me one other, like, real bat so that I can, so that if they go cold, at least someone can maybe not be cold? You really need three hitters to be going at the same time. So if I had to add someone, I wouldn't go the bat route because if the bats go cold, they're going to go cold, and one bat's not going to save it. If anything, I'd add one more piece to the bullpen.

Yeah, that's where a lot of people are, Tom. I heard Ruben Amaro talk about that today on the morning show. And again, that's fine. In a perfect world, Tom, I want an outfield bat. Luis Roberts, my pipe dream. We've talked about some left field options, the platoon with Marsh. And I do want another bullpen arm. It's just, we're

ranking the luxuries here, or ranking the priorities. It's still bad for me, but the argument for a bullpen makes sense. I mean, getting one more kind of lockdown guy and turning them into a super pen is enticing. All right, well, on my way out, I'll just ask you, am I a foxhole guy? But here's the problem, Tom.

You're a morning show caller. You know what I mean? I just said guy. I didn't label myself. Well, I know, but we're looking for foxhole, like, afternoon show guys. Have a great night, John! I appreciate it, Tom. There he goes.

Tom in Abington. Joe in Philly. What's happening, Joe? Hey, I just want to talk about tonight. Yes. I'm a young Philly fan. I'm 17. I love, you know, and it's... I just want to talk about how good it is

to be in an era of Philly baseball that is so just electric to watch. I think tonight, I was at the game tonight. It was my first game of the season, and it's probably the first one. Pretty good one to go to. Pretty good one to go to. Yeah, it was great. I mean, Dodgers are one of my favorite teams to watch in baseball, but I really feel like if I was living anywhere else in the world

or the country, I would still be jealous of every Phillies fan to be able to watch this hot streak of just – because it's just fun baseball to watch. And for a young guy like me, it's been just – it's been cool to have this, have this for, like, one of the first times in my life, like, where I'm conscious of it. You know what I mean? Like, I also want to talk about tonight Alec Boehm.

Yep. Because I feel like no one's given him love. Because I feel like some of these defensive plays, like, recently, especially against, like, these top-heavy teams of, you know, these teams that have really great hitters and then, you know, some other guys that aren't getting, like, their flowers. But I feel like Alec Boehm, a few times tonight, made some pretty good conversions on some balls that were his way.

I just wanted to shout him out for that. Yeah, I mean, he's – I appreciate the phone call, Joe. The nice part about Alec Boehm now is that you don't really get worried when the ball is hit his way. He'll make his little plays that still aren't totally crisp, and we get it. But for the most part, he's pretty damn good over there. And it makes me so happy the amount of younger Phillies fans that are now kind of back in. Because that was my biggest worry from 2013 2013 to 2021 is they've just killed a

generation of of fans here because growing up man i grew up really in the heyday 07 to 11 it was the best it was the best and and it really it's nice that we're right back into that and everyone's like ah you know it's fun having a good team. But the amount of young fans that are getting down to the ballpark is really, really cool. So it's been a special summer. And I just really, really hope it ends in how we hope it or how we all pray it ends. 2-1-5-5-9-2, 94-94 to get in. We'll get to your phone calls on the other side, but also the plays of the game. Any look ahead to tomorrow as the A's come to town.

It's the final out here on Sports Radio 94 WIP. Swung on, hit it in the air, left center field and deep up the alley. Rojas on the run to the track, reaches out, makes the catch! On the dead run, Johan Rojas in front of the

Giants sign, makes a huge catch for the Phils and back to first goes Taylor. Welcome back. It is the final out. Sports Radio 94 WIP. Jack Fritz hanging out with you tonight. That's our first play of the game.

Johan Rojas, a great catch. And it looked like he covered half the outfield to get there. Shocked he got there. I mean, it was pretty reminiscent of the play in the playoffs last year against Acuna, but it's nice to see him go run it down. And it's funny because in the beginning of the year, you know, you look at all the advanced metrics, and it was like, yeah, he's still making plays,

but it didn't feel impactful. It didn't feel like, man, there's a difference making play. He's made a couple. You know, he made a diving catch the other night in the ninth inning. It didn't feel like, man, there's a difference making play. He's made a couple diving catch the other night in the ninth inning. It was really good. Friday night down in Atlanta where it's like, okay, there it is. There's the special defensive player.

There's the next Andrew Jones defensively. We're starting to see more and more of that from Johan Rojas. Heading into the trade deadline, that's massive. Again, they need to go get a big name in center field. If he can just do that and hit a little bit, again, there's something there. And then, you know, probably trade less for more of a platoon bat with Marsh in left field.

But it's getting exciting. I feel like it's every single day. I'm like, do I want to do this? I want to do that. Is it bullpen? Is it? So it's definitely going to be a fun time. These next 19 days are going to be really stressful.

And then the next play of the game was later. Again, tight spot here. Bases loaded. One out. Jeff Hoffman, not all his fault. Obviously, Harper had the misplay. He would have made two outs, but it was not going well. And then Jeff Hoffman induced a really nice double play here.

No dice. no dice. It was a stop play late in the game. So all good. Those are the plays of the game sponsored by Mike's Amazing, the official mayo and mustard of the Phillies. Stop play was huge. It was funny. I heard L.A. talk about it during the game,

and it's like, this is an office point. First base, second base, whatever. They were all off. Again, just teaching those fundamentals out in LA. You freeze in a line drive. You freeze in a line drive. Good plays all around, and some good defense tonight by the Phillies.

It was good to see, minus the one Harper kind of play, but again, I think that's more hand-related. We'll get a look ahead to tomorrow here in one second. We'll run some phones here. Andrew on a cell. What's happening, Andrew? Hey, Fritz.

How's it going, man? Good, man. How's it going? Good. I want to talk to you about Nola tonight pitching, in the pitching. Yeah. So, I know people get worried about Nola, you know, going into, like, the fifth, sixth, seventh inning because they think he gives up some runs, you know.

But tonight, I think he was phenomenal. Yeah. Well, he struck out 10 guys, man. He was great. Yeah, I mean, other than that mistake of the lucky home run by Lutz, I mean, other than that, he was great. I mean, he went out Otani. I mean, Otani, Smith, and Freeman combined were 0 for 11 with 6Ks.

Well, that's what made this series so annoying, is that the guys I was actually more worried about was Chris Taylor, who's batting 158. Austin Barnes, he didn't play tonight, but he had some hits last night. And Kike and Gavin Lux, the bottom of the lineup did much more damage than the top of the lineup. Yeah, I mean, I know Noah stresses people out, but he pitched great tonight, and he's a beast in the postseason,

so I think they just got to let him do his thing. I mean, he pitches, what, every five days, goes in there, throws. He stays healthy. He just can't ask for more. Yeah, no, I appreciate the phone call, Andrew, and it's nice that we're having a little bit of a throwback Noah season, a nice little, oh, yeah, Aaron Noah's kind of good. He's a good pitcher kind of season from from him this year and a really strong first half from him and

again if he doesn't have the last little hook up or last little hiccup you know he's again 5.52 era in his last five starts that one boston start he would 100 be in the all-star conversation. But again, even his quote-unquote bad starts, like I mentioned in the open, it's been more six innings, three runs, rather than six innings, five runs. He was pitching deep into games last year, but it was way more runs, and there was more snowball kind of innings. Hasn't really happened this year. He's gotten out of trouble. He hasn't let innings get out of hand. He's put the stop to them. He's had a really, really good first half. I know we've

talked about Ranger, and we've talked about Chris Sanchez, and obviously Wheeler's Wheeler, but Nola deserves to be right in there. He's a really important part of this team, especially with some of these arm injuries that are happening right now in the starting rotation. Having a guy that you feel pretty comfortable taking the mound every fifth day, he's going to give you at least six innings.

It's super valuable. Jim's in New Jersey. What's happening, Jim? Jimbo. Jim. Yo, you mean Tim? Sorry, it says Jim. What's happening, Tim?

How are you, man? Hey. We're back from the game. You settled a bet for us. I'll try. In the playoffs, who would you rather have at the bat? Would you rather have Harper up at the bat, or would you rather have Otani up at bat?

Give me Bryce. Give me Bryce. Thank you. Thank you, son. Thank you so much. I appreciate that. I'm in Philly. There. Thank you so much. Bye. I appreciate that. I'm in Philly. There he goes.

Tim in North Jersey. It's easy. Come on, man. Mr. Clutch versus 244 in late and close situations. Get out of here. What does Shohei Ohtani want? He's in one regular season games. No, Shohei's a great player, but give me Bryce.

Give me Bryce. Tomorrow on the mound, Rangers-Swarers versus Hogan Harris. Actually, a pretty's a great player, but give me Bryce. Give me Bryce. It's more on the mound. Ranger Suarez versus Hogan Harris. Actually, a pretty tough little pitching matchup here. Hogan Harris actually liked a good amount. He's not going to blow you away, but he's got some stuff. He sort of reminds me of Randy Wolfe.

Randy Wolfe pitched in with modern mechanics. I don't know. He's got a similar little wind-up to him, but he finishes as a pretty hefty 12-6 curveball. So Hogan Harris has some giddy-up on that fastball. It's not 97, but it's like 94 that looks like it jumps a little bit. So I don't think it's like a pushover performance for the A's. And the A's, while I looked at the record,

and it wasn't as good as I thought, they were kind of competitive early in the year. They did pour out like 19 runs against the Orioles last weekend, so there is some pop. It'll be interesting to see Brent Rooker obviously get more of an up-close-and-personal look at him.

And I know he's someone that Phillies fans want to trade for and definitely something to monitor heading into the trade deadline. Again, not my first option, but I get it and then rangers on the mound versus them and and would be nice to have ranger close out the first half with a strong start against the ace again he's been scuffling here and there's been i think some worry about where we're at with rangers for me it kind of felt like regression was going to come at some point so So I'd rather it happen in the first half than in the postseason. And this time off would be really good for him.

So end the first half on a strong note. See if you want to pitch in the All-Star game. I think it lines up bullpen-wise for him. So it makes sense to get him some work there. It would be cool to see Ranger Suarez in the All-Star game. But I think teams have kind of been jumping him these last couple starts, trying to not get behind 0-2 or 1-2 because he's pretty tough to deal with when he gets two

strikes on you and has a bunch of pitches they can throw for strikes to get you out. So, we'll see if Caleb Gotham and Co. work to change up any of his sequences. I don't know. But I'm not giving up hope on the Rangers to Warriors year.

Still a really, really good pitcher in there. And hopefully tomorrow can kind of end his first half on a super high note. Either way, that's going to do it for me. Justin Morgenstein produced the program tonight. Justin, who's coming up next here on the station? We got Brodes coming up. Brodes! Well, listen, Brodes is bringing the energy after a sweep of the Dodgers.

I don't have to worry about that. But thanks for hanging out. Tomorrow we will lead you in the game on the afternoon show. Then we're actually going to be there. So it's going to be a fun night down at the ballpark hanging with some listeners. So thanks for hanging out. Phil sweep, Phil sweep, Phil sweep.

Good baseball team that we have here in Philadelphia. Enjoy it. Broads will take you through the rest of the night here on Sports Radio 94 WIP.