High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Final Out: Phillies Swept out of San Francisco

Episode Date: May 18, 2023

Jack Fritz reacts to yet another frustrating loss by the Phillies. 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

Well, it sure has been a couple bad days out in San Francisco. Welcome on in. It is the final out sponsored by Regency Furniture. Affordable never looks so good. I got to be honest, Buzz Dan Wilson behind the glass there. Made me feel way worse. It really hit home how disappointing this series was and how just disappointing this team has been. And it truly has been a season of one step forward, two steps back.

And I saw this stat on Twitter via Mike Chiodo. In their last 19 games, last 19 games, they've won four, lost six, won five, lost four. I mean, that's the definition of inconsistency, not knowing what version of this team you're getting on a night-in, night-out basis, and frankly, just bad baseball. Where I keep coming back to this team, and part of the reason why I find it impossible to give up on them, and believe me, I see the online reaction. I hear the phone lines, whatever.

It's like every loss loss on this team stinks. This team's been incredibly disappointing. Incredibly disappointing. And they've gotten close to crushing the goodwill that they put out last playoff run. And that's what stinks

the most. Because baseball truly felt back. And it felt back. The ballpark's been great so far this year. Even with the slow start, people are showing up. But if they keep doing this crap, then people aren't going to keep showing up. And it's going to keep frustrating people. And there's going to be a lot more talk of last year being a fluke rather than the next step in their progression.

And that's what sucks for me. And today was just brutal. Like that's what sucks for me. And today was just brutal. Like, Tywin Walker was bad. And he has been an absolute bust of a signing. Just a straight-up bust of a signing so far. They fight all the way back. They fight all the way back.

They make a terrible decision in the seventh to not bun over Josh Harrison, and Gregory Soto gives it away, bang, at 7-4, and they get swept out in San Francisco. To a Giants team that stinks, man. That Giants team is not good, and it was frustrating because all they really did all

weekend was just put the bat on the baseball and little bleeders here and there, but they played solid fundamental baseball. Again, it's insane right now. It's insane right now. And there's too much talent in that clubhouse for this to keep happening. There's just too much talent there. Tybo Walker's been around forever. He's got to be better than that. Trey Turner, it's just, I just keep begging for the day that he turns it around. He got two to be better than that. Trey Turner, it's just, I just keep begging for the day that he turns it around. He got two hits today. One was an infield hit. Who cares?

Again, in a big moment late in the game, I have just about no faith in him. The lineup top to bottom, there's enough talent there where you shouldn't be 27th and slugging. They are a bottom offense right now with the amount of talent they have out there. The starting staff, there should be good enough options there. I know the fifth starter spot's abysmal right now. There's enough there to get you through games in the bullpen. It's like, bang, one week, this guy's back, then he's terrible. It is brutal right now.

2-1-5, 5-9-2, 94-94 is how you get in. It is the final out. It's Jack Fritz hanging out with you. Here reacting to what was a sweep at the hands of Gabe Kapler and the San Francisco Giants. That Giants lineup stinks. They stink. I know today they climbed to the same record as the Phillies.

The Phillies should have erased the Giants. When you're looking at the difference in talent between those two teams, it's insane. It's insane the amount of talent that is on that Phillies team and that Giants team, and one team looked ready to go, and one team didn't. And there's a couple things that are just driving me nuts. I mentioned at the start of the show the last 19 games.

Win four, lose six, win five, lose four. Absolutely no consistency. No consistency. Can't roll with some momentum. Huge swings where it can't just be, yeah, we, we went to lose one,

win to lose one, lose to win one. Like what it's, it has to be to those level of extremes, but it's really the style of play that they've been putting on the field recently. And, and I just,

I keep looking at them and I keep feel like a feeling like I'm looking at a team that is resting on their laurels from what happened in the, in the playoffs last year. And they keep walking into places, expecting to roll out of bed and Hey, we're the NL champs. We'll go out and get the job done. That's not winning baseball. And there's just been too much losing baseball from this team. And frankly, hey, we're the NL champs, we'll go out and get the job done. That's not winning baseball. And there's just been too much losing baseball from this team. And frankly, just dumb baseball.

Dumb baseball. This series alone was insane from that standpoint. I mentioned it a little bit ago. No bunt today from Josh Harrison. You have runners on first and second. Josh Harrison's batting 200. He's lucky, frankly, to even be on the roster still. Winning teams find a way to get a run in there.

Winning teams do that. That's what they do. And not getting the bunt down there was terrible. Instead, Josh Harrison strikes out and bang. They do what they do, which they've been just brutal at recently and really the entire season, is they can't get a run in with Ron in scoring position. Just bad baseball. Bad baseball.

What happens later against Gregory Soto? Joey Bart, who can't bunt to save his life, gets a bunt down, all of a sudden his base is loaded, no outs. Gabe Kapler bunted. Rob Thompson did it. Gabe Kapler's team is able to execute the minor things that lead to winning baseball. Rob Thompson's overpaid team right now isn't able to do that. And that's incredibly frustrating.

Not having Turner in motion top eight. Trey Turner has five steals this year. He's five steals. This is a guy that should be stealing, especially with the new rules. I mean, the new rules should be letting Trey Turner steal multiple times a game. Now, if he's not striking out or popping up for his pitch, like, yeah, it would be nice. But still, when he gets on the bases and when it's late in the game and you need to make something happen, utilize him.

I don't know if it's a Rob Thompson call. I don't know if it's a Trey Turner call. But get the wheels in motion. The fastest guy in the league? Damn near. Like, what are we doing? Maybe Harper doesn't want you running. Whatever. You've no outs. Harper's up. One out. Whatever. Castellanos is up. Run. Steal second base. Make something happen. Dumb. Dumb. Dumb. Not having Turner in motion. Last night, Clemens can't catch a pop-up. I mean, seriously?

You know, I don't give a crap if it's drizzling. Oh, my gosh. Get under it and make a play. Brandon Marsh throws the wrong base. I know you're aggressive, Brandon. Throw the right base. It's okay. What do they teach you in Little League?

What do they teach you in high school? Think of the scenario before the ball is hit in play. There's none of that happening with them right now. Brandon Marsh, I don't know. I appreciate the aggressiveness. I do. Make the correct baseball decision. That cost him a run last night.

And then on Monday night, you know, Stott drops the ball at second base. First error all year, won't kill him, you know, whatever, it's fine. Drops the ball, Castellanos drops the ball on right field. I mean, that's in one series. You know, early in the season, it was the base running mistakes. Now, it's like,

it's in the field. They've been a pretty good defense team all year, but it's in the field. And they been a pretty good defense team all year, but it's in the field. And their at-bats, they just don't make sense to me. Like, I watch a Giants team who, again, I think stinks, look like they had a better plan up there than a Phillies team that top to bottom

should be the deepest and best in the National League. They're too good. They're too good. And I know Rob Thompson last year pressed a lot of good buttons and i get it but holy cow man i know you're laid back i get it but when you consistently see the dumb baseball you've got to do something about it because this is insane and i know that they're just saying themselves well we're 22-29 last year. We made the playoffs, yada, yada, yada.

You had 87 wins. You needed a Marlins sweep or take three or four of the Brewers to get in, essentially. Like, you were the NL champs. October was special. November was great. I'll never give it back for anything. It was the greatest.

But holy cow, stop acting like you're some superstar winning proven team and go play some good brand of baseball because this is not a good brand of baseball. This is dumb baseball. This is not being locked in baseball, both on the pitching side, dumb baseball. This is not being locked in baseball, both on the pitching side, base running side, lineup side, defense, managing. It's bad. And this can't keep happening. This is supposed to be the time where you're getting right. And you are turning the corner. Rangers back and Bryce is back. The excuses are gone. I know Alvarado's hurt. You have enough pieces back there to make it work. You have enough pieces. I'm sick of it. I'm sick

of it. Wake up. Wake up and welcome yourself to the season and stop resting on making the World Series last year because you're gonna let the season slip away yeah i know you're 20 and 23 i know you're right in the wild card mix but whatever why don't you mess around and get two games above 500 and then you know what we do after that maybe get to five games above 500 and get everything back rolling in the right direction too much losing baseball 215 592 9494 is how you get in. Dave's in Prospect Park. What's happening, Dave? Yeah, Fritz, what's going on, man? Oh, what's going on? What do you got? Dude, you gotta stop. They're not as good as you think they are.

They're not as good as you think they are. Why? Well, why? Dude, they leave men on base all the time. They don't score with guys on base. I said that there's too much talent there for that stuff to happen. There is too much talent there. Maybe the talent isn't as good as you think. I would disagree. Why?

They're not hitting the ball. They're not scoring runs. That's not what I'm saying, Dave. They're pitching it. Your pitcher didn't go an inning today. Come on, man. They're not as good as you think. They're not. I don't understand how you can possibly say that when you go

Stott, Turner, Harper, Castellano, Schwarber, JT, Bo, Marsh. That is enough to score more than they are right now. The Rodgers scoring position thing is a problem, but there's enough talent there where they should be able to figure this out, and that's disappointing. How'd that work out for you? What? You put Schwarber back in the five hole.

That worked out for you real well, didn't it? Yeah, well, it worked for a little bit. Yeah, he's been brutal. Okay, and what's Turner doing for you? Turner ain't doing nothing. I know. I don't understand how you can't get this through your skull. There's enough talent here where they should be better than they are.

I'm trying to tell you they're not as good as you think they are. Why? We just watched Trey Turner get a $300 million contract this offseason. I get it, but they're not a show. I mean, holy cow. Like, they're not as good as you think. The good players who I've watched be good for a while are not playing up to their standard like that's the disappointing part of this season 215 592

9494 is how you get in on the other side something that they have to do as soon as possible and frankly if they don't it's going to significantly hurt their chances miss the playoffs we'll get to that and your phone call is coming up next here on the Final Out. Well, some intense music. Welcome on back. It is the Final Out sponsored by Regency Furniture. Affordable never looks so good. Let's get to the player of the game brought to you by

South Jersey Gas. Committed to providing safe, reliable, affordable natural gas. Make the switch at southjerseygas.com slash lovemyhome. Well, it's not like the Giants were great today. Their starter was bad. And, frankly, it hurts to do this, but I'm going to give it to Gabe Gapler. I mean, he also managed his way through a game where it started in Go Deep.

And, frankly, his team was better at doing the little things than the Phillies. And, you know, he was able to, I assume he had the play on, but he bunted Joey Bart. And, you know, Joey Bart's a guy who traditionally, you know, when he came out of college was this big slugging catcher. He was able to get the bunt down. The Phillies were not able to get the bunt down. So Gabe Kapler is our player slash manager of the game.

So I tease this, and I do think it is really, really important. And, frankly, it's something that if they don't do, I think it's going to cost them some games. And that is not trading for a starter ASAP. Dave Dombrowski, like, this thing

is teetering a bit with the starting staff. You know, the starting staff, Tywon Walker has just been, you have no idea what you're getting. Nola, no idea what you're really getting. Wheeler, I feel like three of the last four starts have been pretty good. I didn't think last night was totally his fault. Ranger working his way back.

And then you get that five spot. And, you know, if you look at the options right now, Griff McGarry threw pretty well at double-A today. Mick Abel was pitching well before he got lit up the other night at double-A. Chris Sanchez is an upgrade, but how much of an upgrade? Michael Plassmeyer is a guy I think they thought had a chance. But, you know, he's been brutal at triple-A. Noah Skyro or whatever was a guy I think they thought had a chance, but he's been brutal at AAA. Noah Skyro or whatever was a guy that was starting to get buzzed.

He's like, oh, maybe they'll bring him up. He got lit up in AAA last night. So every single option isn't great right now. And when you have a week like Data's had, where it was essentially two bullpen games, it's going to kill your bullpen. And these guys are throwing a lot. And again, there's talent out there.

I think most Knights are going to give you a chance to win a ball game and keep you in games and whatnot. But they're going to get overworked if they don't go out and try to make a move for someone ASAP. Now, obviously, if a team is willing to give up a guy right now, probably suggests that he's not very good. I understand

that making a move in May is something that a lot of teams don't like to do because they like to wait until closer to the trade deadline and get as much value as possible. Believe me, I understand that. But if you need to overpay or you want to take a shot on a guy like Lance Lynn with someone I mentioned the other night as a guy that has been terrible this year,

pitched really well against the Guardians earlier this week, he's pitching on a final year of a contract. He's owed a lot of money. He's had an ERA over seven for a majority of this year. Like maybe you go out and try to take a shot on him and see if you can, can make some tweaks there and get a better version of them. But if they don't make a move for a starter, like then you're just waiting until the deadline and who knows where they're at, you know, as they head into the deadline, who knows where this team is at. There needs to be a sense of urgency of like,

we got to get a guy now. And even if it costs us a little bit more, it's a World Series window. I mean, this is a team that you banked on being able to go out and win the World Series. And to let it just slip away because you can't find a five starter. I know Andrew Painter,

I think he's going to throw up a mound next week, but still, I still think he's a month, month and a half away. You don't want to rush back a 19 year old with the expectation to save a season. So, you know, this is something that, that it's early and I get it, but Dave Dombrowski needs to be all over because the options frankly, aren't there and banking on Bailey Falter to go down and then get his confidence back up, it's still 91. And I was the guy that heading into the year, I thought Bailey Falter could be my five. Now, in a perfect world, he's going to be the sixth because you had Painter, Ranger, Taiwan, Nola, and Wheeler. He was thrust into being in the starting rotation, and he's just been unpitchable the last couple of weeks. So they've got to make a move ASAP,

or this thing could kind of spiral out of control. Greg is in Warrington. What's happening, Greg? Hey, Jack. What do you got there? Well, I just want to say, big high hopes listener. Oh, thanks, buddy. It's been a tough stretch.

Man, has it? No, I don't, man. Like, okay, I know you're tough stretch. Man, has it? No, I don't... Man, like, okay, I know you're just arguing with, I think it was Dave, but I just feel like this team is average. Like, and it doesn't make sense to me, because I agree with everything you say. They have way, way, way too much talent

to be this average. And Greg, I think that's fine. That's a fine opinion. But to say that they're not that talented, there's enough talent here where they should be able to figure this out. It's insane to me right now what they're doing. No, for sure. I don't know.

I can't figure it. I'm like, is it the pitching, the starting pitching? But now we've got Bryce back, Ranger back. I'm hoping that maybe, like, another week or two, they figure it out and, like, things start clicking. But these past – I mean, I thought, you know, after the Colorado series, you lose Sunday, fine, whatever, if you already won two. I thought, all right, San Francisco, at least take two or three.

You know, like, I don't get right, San Francisco, at least take two or three. You know? Yeah. I don't get it, man. And that team, like, who in that Giants lineup scares you? I mean, there's not one guy. Right. Yeah. It just doesn't.

And, Liz, I wish I had an answer for you, Greg. I really do. I guess I just keep – it's almost like I have to just go to bed, wake up the next day, and just hope this is the day that it clicks. But it's like since May 1st, Greg, they're the 25th best offense in baseball. They're batting 239 since May 1st. I mean, that's insane. Right, right. I mean, that's insane. Right, right.

I don't know, man. I'm starting to get a little nervous that they're just, they're resting on the World Series too much. Like, I'm hoping they wake up and realize they can't do that, but it feels like they came into the season and were like, all right, we got Trey Turner. We were just in the World Series. This isn't going to be that hard. And I hope that they can figure it out,

because it just looks like something's not clicking or making sense, and I can't put my finger on it, and it's frustrating. Yeah, Greg and I appreciate the call. And for me, I think it just comes down to a lack of focus in every aspect of the game right now, frankly. And I know that's putting it in simplistic terms. But when you see the mistakes they're making in the field, the dumb baseball on the base pass, the at-bats, when it's just like, can we grind out a pitcher one time?

The Trey Turner at-bats right now are so feeble. And I don't know what to do about Trey Turner. He's here for the next decade. I have to just bank on him figuring it out. Because if not, then we're staring at a decade of dreck. You know, like a lack of focus, managerial, pitching. Like every single aspect of the team, when you look at why they go from winning four straight to losing six straight to winning five straight to losing four straight, there's not enough lock-in. losing four straight there's not enough lock-in and you know i just i i i continue to believe that there's enough talent here where they should figure it out someone's got to say something

bryce was pretty passionate after the game talking about how last night was embarrassing um but like there's got there's got to be more than that and and rob thompson is a is a laid back guy and i get it but someone's got to light a fire i mean someone's got to be more than that. And Rob Thompson is a laid-back guy, and I get it. But someone's got to light a fire. I mean, someone's got to hold these guys accountable for what's going on in the field and not getting a – it's just – I don't – it's unfathomable what they're doing. Andrew is in Jim Thorpe. What's happening, Andrew?

Hey, my friend. Can you hear me all right? Oh, I got you, man. What's up? All righty. Yeah, I just wanted to man. What's up? All righty. Yeah, I just wanted to, you know, do what everybody else is doing and complain about the Phillies. I mean, this team was built to out hit their potential starting pitching deficiencies. And the starting pitching deficiency that has reared an ugly head. And I didn't think they

were going to be this bad to start. I mean, we've got some injuries but I mean can we get a freaking hit with runners on base like at all please I would would be nice wouldn't it wouldn't that be a novel idea uh what are they one for 28 or something before today yeah I think it's like five for the last 35 or something. It's insane. Yeah, you've got to start hitting. You've got to start hitting. I think we knew that they were going to be at least at the best average on defense, but they are playing little league baseball, dude. You've got eight-year-olds going out there and making sound plays,

league baseball, dude. You've got eight-year-olds going out there and making sound plays, and these guys are just balls are popping out of mitts and people are misreading fly balls and everything. It's frustrating, man, because this is the type of behavior, and not behavior,

this is the type of play on the field that got Joe Girardi fired last year in addition to his own just completely mismanaging of a talented roster. But you've got to start playing good ball. I'll let you keep going. Thank you for taking my call, man.

Yeah, I appreciate it, Andrew. And, like, it's just the frustrating part about the defense right now, at least, is that, you know, of the season, it wasn't a problem. What was annoying about the beginning of the season was that they were making a ton of outs on the base pass. They were stupid. And now, just the little errors and the lack of being locked in, at some point you've got to realize you're not good enough to continue to make these kind of mistakes

and win baseball games and become winners. I know for a month and a half stretch there, they were winners. But there was also what happened before them in September, before the Marlins went in and took care of business against the Brewers, where they were in the middle of a collapse again. And it's just like, figure it out. I have no other better way to say it than figure it out because banking on going down and being 22-29 again or whatever

and expecting to climb yourself out of that isn't a good strategy. And the reality is there's no Joe Girardi to fire this year. They could fire Rob Thompson. Is that going to be a yearly tradition now where you have to fire the manager because the players come out slow and lackadaisical? That sounds like a terrible idea. So it's on the guys now. Everyone's back. Ranger's back. Bryce is back. I know the fifth spot's a problem. I know Alvarado's hurt. It shouldn't matter. Ranger's back. Bryce is back. I know the fifth spot's a problem. I know Alvarado's hurt. It shouldn't matter.

There's enough there to get a job done. 2-1-5, 5-9-2. 94-94, it is the final out. On the other side, we will look ahead to the weekend and some positives that I took away from the day before handing things off to Rob Ellis here on WIP. All that's coming up next here on the final out. And FanDuel, of course, is back

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so far. Eh, not looking great, but he'll get rolling. No doubt about it. So what I have for you tonight and something that I think is interesting, Lakers are plus 230 to win this series against the Nuggets. Still feels like a short price. And in watching that game last night, the Lakers made an adjustment late. They put Rui Achimura on Jokic. That seemed to slow him down. So I think there's a good price to get the Lakers at plus 230 if that is something you're interested in to win their series against the Nuggets.

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Affordable never looked so good, reacting to what was a brutal Phillies loss and really just a brutal series out in San Francisco. Two for their last – or 22? No. Five of their last 23, I believe, out in San Francisco. So that seems bad. Just absolutely bad. And ever since Gabe – I think they're 3-10 against Gabe

in the last little stretch here. So it's fun. It is always fun to have a foreign manager have your number, but whatever. Doug's in Collegeville on the final out. What's happening, Doug? Jack, what the hell is going on? I don't know. It's just I have no idea, Doug.

I'm becoming despondent, frankly. But it is what it is. Long season. Long season, Doug. We'll try to keep our heads up, all right? There's too much talent. And Trey Turner, what's his time frame? Schwarber doesn't hit until June.

When does Trey Turner hit? Traditionally, he's been a slow starter. So May is usually when he starts heating up. And it's funny because he had an 11-game hitting streak mixed in there, and I think he was batting.250 during it. So, yeah, that hasn't been great. He looks lost. You know what I'm starting to think?

I'm starting to think about Lance Parrish. That's what I'm starting to think about. Well, the difference between that and this is that this is now a decade and $300 million. So, like, Lance Parrish back then, you know, it wasn't as long-term a contract. between that and this is that this is now a decade and 300 million dollars so like lance parrish back then you know it wasn't as long term a contract i just i doug i i can appreciate that i just i i can't live in a world where i think that try turn is going to be this bad for that long like he it would it would be blast all of a sudden all of a sudden he's going to

kick in the gear well you have to hope so. I mean, Castellanos was this bad last year, and he's been their best player so far this year. That's true. That's true. I'm trying to keep the faith here, Jack. I'm trying, but it's getting really hard. Really hard.

I appreciate it, Doug. And listen, what makes it frustrating is that – I know I've said frustrating like a million times tonight, but it's the only word I feel like I can use right now. But what makes it that much more frustrating is that every time you start to think that they've kind of turned a corner here, and it's like, okay, now you can get rolling.

Bryce is back. He looks like he's MVP. You win, like, what, five straight series there. You get on a little bit of a win streak where you win five in a row. And then it's just like, bang, four straight losses. You know, six straight losses. And they can't get on a roll. And I hope that's not this entire season where it's like, hopes up, hopes dashed.

Hopes up, hopes dashed. So it's been a tough stretch. Let's get to the Mike's Amazing play of the game. Presented by Mike's Amazing, the official mayo, mustard, and vegetable oil of the Phillies takes us to the top of the seventh and Josh Harrison at the dish. Yep. And why is it the Mike's Amazing play? Not because it was an amazing play.

Because it was amazingly wrong. And I understand modern baseball. No one wants to bunt anymore and whatever. I'm just saying that when it comes down to winning a game and when it comes down to getting a job done and when it comes down to actually trying to compete for a World Series, the best teams in baseball have the ability to do the little things. And Josh Harrison's been a vet.

He's been around forever. I think he knows that in that position, that's the time to get a bunt down. If it's Rob Thompson making the call not to, frankly, I think Rob Thompson has been around baseball for long enough. He's too smart of a baseball guy to let that mistake happen. You know, like, and there's been a lot of decisions this year with rob where it's like rob you you've been around the game long enough like analytics have their place and i'm not anti-analytic i think they're very important but when it comes to baseball sense

and when it comes to getting a job done and when it comes to situational baseball, and when it comes to getting a job done, winning teams can do the little things. Analytics are great. Playing for big innings, I understand. Home runs. That wins you regular season games. What wins in the postseason is the ability to do the little things, and that was a failure today. Joey Bar got the bunt down the eighth.

The Phillies didn't get the bunt down the seventh. Simple as that. It's a make-or-miss league, as the Sixers say. Three things I thought that were important for today when it comes from a positive standpoint. Matt Strom is adjusting really well to the bullpen. I don't think he's a guy that you can try out there as a starter every fifth day and expect to get great results.

He's had neat problems over the years. I think they want to limit his innings, I don't think he's a guy that you can try out there as a starter every fifth day and expect to get great results. He's had neat problems over the years. I think they want to limit his innings. But at least when he comes out of the bullpen, I feel like more often than not he's going to get the job done. He's going to throw strikes. He's going to compete. That's all I can ask for when I'm looking at bullpen pitchers right now.

And he generates a good amount of swing and miss. So he was a really good starter. He has adjusted really well to the bullpen, regardless of the other night where a couple of bleeders fell in. It looks like Andrew Belotti is getting closer to last year's Andrew Belotti. He looks good today. He looked good at the beginning of the series and getting him back to where he was last year, which was a really valuable piece of this bullpen. You know, he'd come in later in the season, he ended up coming into tight games, but he was one of those guys where if they're down by a few runs, he can keep the team in it. So he's been throwing his fastball a lot more since he's come back from his injury.

Slider still looks pretty good. So Andrew Belotti, I feel like is trending back in the right direction. And finally, and this is a big one, is that I think Bryson Stott is starting to heat back up a little bit. He got into a really, really prolonged cold streak there, where it was just, you know, didn't look great at the bat. But I would say the last four or five games, feels like he's squaring out the ball more and hit the home run today. And still at the top of the lineup, is working really good good, high-quality at-bats pretty much every time he goes out there. So it's important that Bryson Stock continues to hit

so they don't move him out of the leadoff spot, which I don't want them to do. And then looking ahead, so the Cubs come into town. They have about the same record. I think they're 19-23 heading into the game tonight. The Phillies now move to 20-23. They have, you know, they're not the most talented team. They've been gritty this year.

They have some pieces. Danzy Swanson's killed the Phillies over the last couple years. He's there now. They haven't actually announced any starters yet, so we don't know who the Phillies are facing yet. But the Phillies will roll out Ranger Nola. And then they went TBD for the fifth game of the series, which is a spot usually occupied by Bailey Falter, which could suggest we might be getting a bullpen game, which everyone

loves. So that'll be fun. But either way, Phillies called this weekend. Another, again, what makes the giant series that much more frustrating is that the Iraqis, uh, giant Cubs Dbacks for this little stretch here, and it's supposed to be get-writable. But when you go out and you lose three straight to the Giants, it kills that. And, you know, this is a stretch that you have to take advantage of,

especially before you get Braves-Mets in two series right after the Diamondbacks. So a missed opportunity. And yet again, continuing to look like one step forward, two steps back for this team, back to two games under.500. They'll get back to.500 or a game above, and then they'll be back to.500. So whatever. Frustrating. Just straight up frustrating.

2-1-5, 5-9-2. 94-94 is how you get in. Robbie E is taking your reaction to the Daryl Morey press conference. Harden opting out. And, of course, Phillies baseball, as always, with Robbie E. Dan Wilson produced this hour. He did a great job, as always. Robbie E is taking you through the rest of the night here on Sports Radio 94.