High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Final Out: Phillies Take Game 1 In Miami

Episode Date: August 1, 2023

Jack Fritz reacts to the Phillies getting a win in their final game before the MLB trade deadline. 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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Jack Fritz hanging out with you here on this Monday night. Yes, a rare Monday night, it seems like, for the Phillies to play a ball game. And one where they needed to get back on the right track because it was a brutal weekend out in Pittsburgh. It was one of those weekends that I think shook you know, shook a lot of the fan base to the core. And it was officially dubbed freak out day on WIP. But they go down to Miami.

They take care of business. And kind of how I felt leaving that series out in Pittsburgh. Yes, it was frustrating. Yes, they played Little League Baseball. Yes, the at-bats were annoying. And they weren't able to come up with clutch hits. There was dumb errors, bad base running, all that stuff. I think they needed that wake-up call.

And when you're heading into a stretch, when you, I mean, the next, after the Pirate Series, it was Marlins, Royals, Nationals. You have to be locked in. I know the Marlins are a playoff team right now, but you have to be locked in against those teams. Before this

easier stretch in the schedule, before August, when they have 19 home games, again, they play the least amount of home games in baseball, that changes in August. Conversely, that means they're going to have the most home games for the rest of the season.

They needed a series like Pittsburgh to say, we have to be crisp and show up and play every night. I thought Rob Thompson was clear about that postgame yesterday. I thought Bryce Harper was clear about that and his comments after the game. And they showed up tonight. There were some frustrating points early, 100%. But I thought that was a much more crisp, solid baseball game. 2-1-5, 5-9-2, 94-94.

If you want to get in and react deadlines tomorrow, we'll have some thoughts on that as well coming up here. But my biggest takeaway of the game, and the biggest takeaway of the game is brought to you by Morgan & Morgan. My biggest takeaway of the game is I think we can finally stop praying to the heavens and we can stop whining and complaining and freaking out about the two-hole in the lineup because, by golly, the Phillies have found one. And I know it's July 31st.

I know that it's taken a while to get here. It's a tad annoying it's taken so long to get here. But my biggest takeaway of tonight is that they have a two-hole hitter, and his name is Alec Baum. Is he the most traditional two-hole hitter? I mean, he's 6'5". Usually those guys are reserved for hitting the ball at the ballpark. I don't care at this point.

The guy hits the ball hard. The guy hits the ball the other way. And he rarely strikes out. Works good counts. I mean, there was a story on the broadcast, I don't know, about a week and a half, two weeks ago, about how when he was growing up, he would be benched if he

didn't get the job done and bring a runner home from third base with less than two outs and play complimentary good baseball. And just being able to have a guy like him in the two spot that can control the bat and work a pitcher and do a job. I mean, the bat lay in the game today was just brilliant. It was brilliant. It was a ton of pitches, fouling off pitches, staying in there, fighting, not giving in, and eventually working the pitcher down to where he can just

drive the ball the other way and bring in a key insurance run and make it a little bit harder for the Marlins to come back. Like, professional, professional hitter. And if – I am pro Schwarber in the leadoff spot, but if he continues to scuffle from the average thing and you want to switch things up if the offense is taking a downturn here, I mean, stotbombe one-two is definitely something that is very, very enticing. I'm keeping Schwarber there. I've had two more walks tonight.

He's walked a ton these last four games. So regardless, they have a two-hole hitter. And Alec Boehm, thank God, because I think a majority of why they've struggled so much on offense, I don't think it's Schwarber totally. I don't think he's a huge reason to help it, but it is what it is. I think a main reason that they've

struggled so much offensively is that two-hole spot. Turner has just... He was a black hole there. Castellanos when he was put there, this last little stretch. Terrible. It was a spot, and it is a spot that you can't just waste it. They get the second

most at bats during a game, but it's traditionally where now your best hitters go. And Alec Baum is one of this team's best hitters. Simple as that. And yes, we would like to see more home runs from a 6'5 guy that is strong and whatnot. But at this point, he drove the ball off the wall today to right field. Hopefully, the power continues to develop. But right now, I need professional hitters batting at the top of this lineup. And if Turner goes down and bats 5-6 and gets going and looks like the guy they paid for, sure, you can make that change and put him there. I don't think that guy's coming this year.

And for the time being, Alec Bowen's my two-holder. And it's an important revelation. It's important that the first game there, it's not a dumpster fire again, like it feels like they've tried to do with a two-spot in the lineup. Man, it's a big, big thing for this team. My second big takeaway from tonight, and again, 215-592-9494 if you want to get in, is this team is starting to walk at a pretty high clip. Now,

Edward Cabrera obviously helped tonight. I mean, he's walking the ballpark, and I do not appreciate, do not appreciate Jake Cave swinging first pitch after he walks two straight batters. That is just terrible baseball. Now, we give Jake Cave a pass because later in the game, he lays down a beautiful bunt that sets up the Rojas double. So we give him a break, but, you know, we got to hold people accountable here. But 25 walks on offense in the last three games, Rojas double. So we give a break, but we've got to hold people accountable here. But

25 walks on offense in the last three games. Edward Cabrera helped tonight. Schwarber's been getting on base a ton. If they're not going to be a team that is going to drive the ball out of the ballpark, and they're not going to be a big home run team, you hope that this is something

that they can hang their hat on, and they can say, okay, well, if we get on base more, eventually, even if you struggle with running a scoring position, it's very rare, I guess, that you're going to go completely over. So at least by getting on base somehow, at least by being out there, having some ducks in the pond. If God forbid, a guy drives the ball into the gap

or hits a home run, I mean, that's obviously more runs coming home. How's that for simple math? So it's something to definitely look at. A majority of the season, I think they have been struggling in the walk department. I don't think it's been something

they've been great at. So the fact that I think Schwarber is starting to work really, really good at bats and he's looking more comfortable, and you're just starting to see them draw more and more walks, hopefully with more runners on base, even with what I think they are doing, which is struggling with runners in scoring position, hopefully eventually this ends up in that scoring more runs

and finding more consistency on the offensive side. And my last big takeaway here before we go to the phones is, listen, he battled early. The Soler homer was a bomb. I was definitely concerned about the Velo early. I mean, he was like 89-90 the first couple innings of the game. But I think the biggest thing

you can say about Tywon Walker as a Philly so far, outside of the first month of the year, is the guy's a battler. He's a bulldog out there. And the fact that he was able to pitch into the 7th tonight, give this bullpen a bit of a rest after being used a lot yesterday

with Chris Sanchez getting pulled early, that's valuable stuff. That stuff matters. And you take that outing every single day from Tywin Walker. I was going to be very concerned about the velocity stuff, but late in the game started to uptick to like 94 out of nowhere. So that kind of eased some of my concerns there. But regardless, Tywin Walker did his job tonight. And I mean, he's the first pitcher in baseball to win 12 games this year, which is crazy.

So a good signing. It's something that he's been more of an innings eater than I thought he was going to be. Pitched deep into the game tonight and really, really did a job. Matt Strom comes in, does a job. I was definitely worried about sending him out there for another inning. But one of the biggest revelations of the season has been Jeff Hoffman. And I think that Rob is starting to be rewarded for putting him into high leverage spots. Like high leverage spots a month ago for Jeff Hoffman,

very concerning. But I mean, Friday night, he comes into a tight spot, gets out of it. A couple of times over the weekend, like close tight games, Jeff Hoffman has been able to keep his composure. And again tonight, that's a close game late. And he just comes in and does a job.

And obviously Craig Kimbrell has just been shut down late in game. So overall, good pitching staff night. But Tywon Walker being able to take down some innings, give this bullpen at least a little bit of a breather, definitely one of my big takeaways from tonight. 215-592-9-94 is how you get in. Let's take Ryan in Allentown here. What's happening, Ryan? What's going on, Jack?

What's going on, man? What do you got? I got two things for you. So I listened to the pod today. You guys said how the last two games, kind of like the Cubs series last year out of the All-Star break, and I agreed. I was like, yeah, that is so accurate. That's such a spot on take.

That's exactly how it felt. But this was a game for me that felt like they came out, they battled hard. It was just a gritty win to go down to nothing early and then fight through those at-bats like that. It was awesome. It was fun to watch. Yeah, and they needed that. Sometimes all baseball teams need is a little bit of a wake up call to, to lock in. And hopefully tonight was a bit of a lock in.

Hopefully that, that, that Pittsburgh series was just kind of a, a blip in the radar. Now it's hard to say that because they're eight and eight since the all-star break now nine and eight. And, you know,

series wise, it's been more 500 ish. Um, but, but still, I mean, tonight was a crisp game and big hits late. And I think the higher you get Stott and Baum in the lineup,

I think the more consistency you'll see because, I mean, those guys, they just don't shy away from big spots in games. And that's definitely important as we go forward here. Yeah, I love that move. And then my other thing was that I just love seeing J.K. drop down a bunt. I love seeing the small ball and putting faith in the rookie, and he just comes through there. I think that's huge for him.

I think that's big for his confidence. I know we're not crazy about his offense, but seeing him come through there was just really good to see. Well, it certainly made up for the first pitch swinging in, like, the second inning after the first two runners walk. Yeah, you have to have Cave drop one down there. Yeah, yeah. He's got to pick up his teammates for sure.

But yeah, it was a good, solid win that you hope they can carry. I mean, listen, the Marlins were ahead of them heading into the series and you have a chance. If you can take three or four here,

kind of separate yourself from the Marlins and springboard into two straight Royals National Series. Like, it's go time. Absolutely. All right, buddy. Appreciate the call, Ryan.

Yeah, I mean, three or four would be a blessing. I would sign up for a split. But if you take three or four, and with the Royals and Nationals coming after that post-trade deadline when they probably deplete whatever assets they have, like the Nationals traded Candelario tonight. The Royals traded a couple bullpen pieces and traded Nicky Lopez yesterday.

So they're starting to lose some of their, you know, any talent they had. But either way, hopefully they can use this and kind of get on a run. 2-1-5, 5-9-2, 94-94. It is the final. I'm Jack Fritz, hanging out with you here, reacting to a

big Phil's win. And, you know, not a season saver, but one that I think a lot of people needed. And now it's on Dave to make a trade. What's going on with the trade deadline? I'll give you the latest and give you some of my thoughts coming up with that coming up next. This is the final out. Sports Radio 94

WIP. Welcome back. It is the Final Out here on Sports Radio 94 WIP, 215-592-9494. Final Out, as always, is sponsored by Regency Furniture. Affordable never looks so good. It's time for the Mike's Amazing Play of the Game, presented by Mike's Amazing, the official mayo, mustard, and vegetable oil of the Phillies. And, I

mean, you know, what other play would it be besides our boy, Alec Bohm, providing the Phillies some insurance runs late into the game. The runners go. The pitch swung on. Line to right. A base hit.

Around third, Rojas, he will score. Schwarber headed to third. And Alec Boehm comes through. What an at-bat for Boehm. And the Phillies now lead it 4-2. And with that, ten pitches from Alec Boehm tonight. And, again, it's so refreshing having – again, it's one game and I get it, but he's always pretty consistent. He gets into periods where he's a little bit pull heavy on the ground

and it's a lot of soft contact to the left side. But for the last little bit here, he's been pretty good at driving the ball the opposite way. And if he can just be a guy that can hit the ball with power to right center field, and it doesn't have to be a pull home run guy. I think that kind of idea is dead. I just don't think he's ever going to be a pull home run guy. Just be a natural hitter.

And if Alec Baum is a 290, if he's a 280 to 300 hitter with a 340-ish, 350-ish OBP and 20 homers, would you like more power from first base or third base, wherever he's playing? Sure. But I also like professional hitters. And if you can find power all throughout the lineup, it makes it that much easier. So, yes, that is our play of the game. And, yeah, it was a 10-pitch at bat late, an important insurance run. And there was something quite refreshing about, you know, Schwarber's up, whatever. They get the next batter.

It's not Trey Turner or Nick Cassianos. It's Alec Baum and this is able to come through. I mean, what a refreshing sight. 2-1-5, 5-9-2, 94-94. I meant to add this in. Earlier, the biggest takeaway of the game is brought to you by Morgan & Morgan, America's largest injury firm. I've got some thoughts here on the trade

deadline with some latest stuff coming up here in one second, but Gordon was at the game tonight in Miami. What's happening, Gordon? Yo, what's going on, brother? First time, long time, et cetera, et cetera. I was going to call about Bomer in the two-hole, but you addressed that already, which is it's got to stay that way.

It's got to stay that way. The Mike's amazing play of the game was not his hit. It was that play he made behind third base that Cave booted the ball at first. That might have been the best defensive play that he's made his entire career. Yeah, I mean, he's been – it's so funny because he's gone from like, I would dread every time the ball's been hit his way to like, eh, Boehm's got it. Yeah, no, no. He's got great form.

You can really see, especially when you're at the ballpark, you can really see how forward and through the baseball he is at third base these days. But you were talking about Walker's low velocity early on. And if you told me that the hardest place to play in all of Major League Baseball as a visiting player was Miami, I'd believe you. Because that place is dead on a weekday, and it's freezing cold. Like, it's really, really cold when you go in there, Jack. Like, you know, like, there's no reason to have the roof closed.

They have the roof closed all the time. It's freezing cold, and there's just no energy. And, like, I'm not surprised that his velocity picked up as the game went along, because people start to file in. They've moved the start times up to 6 45 just like the phillies have but there's no one there and it's not even like when the phillies were in town a couple weeks ago where it was a weekend series and the place was popping with phillies fans it was really dead tonight both from a marlins fans and from a phillies fans perspective it's cold

it's really cold in there i'm not surprised that uh that it takes a little while to get going okay well listen gordon that's that's good info obviously you know i haven't been to a game there really cold in there. I'm not surprised that it takes a little while to get going. Okay. Well, listen, Gordon, that's good info. Obviously, I haven't been to a game there. Frankly, I don't really desire to go to see a game there. I think a lot of that has to do with, I mean, it's just a

dead ballpark. And the Phillies never play well there. So, yeah, it's tough for me to be like, yeah, let's go to Miami. But it's one of those places where you got to create your own there. So yeah, it's tough for me to be like, yeah, let's go to Miami. But, you know, it's one of those places where you got to create your own energy. And like Rojas,

I like Johan Rojas a lot. I still have concerns about his hitting. I mean, he's been really good so far. And that hit earlier tonight, it was like, it's interesting

because I definitely, he's a kid from double A straight to the big leagues and, and never looks overwhelmed. Like I have concerns that eventually, because the, the, the reports on him all throughout the minor leagues was just throwing

breaking balls. He can't see it essentially. So I do wonder as he plays more teams adjust to that and, and maybe a little bit of a kryptonite there. But in the meantime, I mean, he provides, he, I feel like every time Johan Rojas is on the field, something good happens. I mean, his defense is electric. He can steal a base whenever he wants.

And he's got big hits. I mean, he almost played a hero. I mean, on Saturday night against Pittsburgh, he had a big hit late and had JT on the ground to a double play, like keeps that game alive. So he has electric on one of his armbands, and he lives up to that so far. We'll go back to the phones here in one second.

Trade deadline tomorrow. And I know people are frustrated that there's been moves out there to be made. I just think that Davis is not going to overpay right now. You know, like, is there really a big difference between an Adam Duvall or Teoscar Hernandez? Not really. So whoever he can get at a better price, I think, is what he's going to do. I think it's going to be Adam Duvall.

He was scratched from the game tonight. I wonder if the Phillies are working through something there for him. The interesting part for me with this deadline is Dave, the last two trade deadlines has gotten players from the same team. So two years ago it was Ian Kennedy and Kyle Gibson. Last year it was Syndergaard and Brandon Marsh. Now I know that was two separate trades, but still, he's taken multiple players from the same team.

If they do Adam Duvall, I think it would cost more. But if they do want another starter, James Paxson, who might not fit into their future plans, the part that I don't understand about the Red Sox is they're still right in it. Now, maybe Adam Duvall is an expendable piece, but still. And then Teoscar Hernandez, I don't think the city, for as much as people highly dislike Schwarber, Teoscar Hernandez has more strikeouts, I think,

if not more than almost the same, and less walks. He doesn't really walk. So there's definitely a concern there but but my big thing with tiosca hernandez is he smokes lefties um he has been really good with ron's scoring position and he can he can hit home runs simply like as a right-handed bat they need someone that can hit some home runs because without Reese, they're just lacking in that department. And the one thing that Siouxsker reminds me a ton of is Jorge Soler. And Jorge Soler, who ended up being the World Series MVP that year,

was batting 190 with a 654 OPS before that trade and ended up being the World Series MVP. So it's definitely a shot on a bounce back. He has not been like this brutal. I mean, he is 11 strikeouts away from passing his whole total from last year. So he's running like career high strikeout rates. But the last three seasons,

and really four, he almost had an 800 OPS. But the last three seasons, he really four, he almost had an 800 OPS. But the last three seasons, he was a 919 OPS guy, 870, and 800 OPS guy. So it's definitely been a bad year for Teoscar. It's a rental. It's for the rest of the year. He hit some home runs. It's a shot on getting him out of that ballpark and here.

So there's no perfect fits at this point in the season. But I'm not anti-Oscar Hernandez. I still think Adam Duvall is a guy. Doesn't seem like Tommy Pham is a guy. There was a report from a Mets beat reporter. The Phillies were not on his list, apparently. So it doesn't look like Tommy Pham. I think it's the Oscar Hernandez or Adam Duvall

with me leaning towards Duvall. And I think one thing that, that definitely needs to happen tomorrow. I don't know where it's coming from, but they need to get another bullpen piece. I think they've, I think they've done a great job with,

with Strom and Kimbrel's been great. And Jeff Hoffman's been a revelation and Junior Marte has been a revelation. Soto's been pretty good. But it feels like the same guys are pitching every night, and they could just use another body out there. Sir Anthony's hopefully just working his way back, but I don't know if he can bank on him this year.

And Alvarado, listen, they're kind of slow playing him, which I feel like they never slow play injuries. This is the second time he's been on the IEL this year. It might just be one of those, he pitched a ton last year, and he just can't get totally right this year. So maybe another lefty bullpen piece to go with a Matt Strom. Because Matt Strom, I feel like the more and more he pitches, the more and more he gets worn down.

So they could use another lefty like Brooks Raley from the Mets and Aaron Bummer from the White Sox. Brent Suter, who I loathe, and from the Rockies. There are some left-handed relievers out there. There's some big righty relievers. But I think they need a bullpen piece tomorrow. I'm not totally big on getting a starter. You know, Tom Walker, when he's throwing 89, I thought he was hurt.

I was definitely more in the panic, go get a starter mode. But Christopher Sanchez has been such a breakout guy in that spot. Am I finding a sixth guy that can just extend the rotation and maybe give guys breathers? Sure. Like if you want to go get a Rich Hill who, you know, carved up the Phillies on Sunday, that's not going to cost you much.

I do wonder if Dave gets into the controllable starter market. Dylan Cease is a guy who apparently the White Sox are taking calls on. I think if he left that organization and came here, he'd be in a much better spot. I think the White Sox are dinosaurs, and the Phillies have done a good job of developing pitchers recently. outside of that, it's going to be more, if they do get a starter,

more of a 5-6 type that I think can let them go six-man and hopefully conserve Nola's innings, conserve Zach Wheeler, all these guys, and maybe give them a breather. Either way, I am not panicking that the Phillies haven't done anything. I think that Dave Dombrowski is being meticulous.

I don't think he wants to overpay. They only have a certain amount of assets they really want to use, I'm sure. And I'd be pretty shocked if Mick Abel, Griff McGarry, if their top, top guys move tomorrow, because I don't think that guy is out there for them to go get those guys. And I don't know if this team is like push all your chips in good. I think it's going to be more, hopefully, 2021 Braves, where it's a bunch of kind of extra pieces.

2-1-5-5-9-2, 94-94 is how you get in. Kyle is in Scranton. What's happening, Kyle? What's going on, man? How you doing, man? Doing well. Fells won. They did.

My concern is I think we're too we're stepping too much on this team. I think there's a lot of problems. Um,

I don't know. Yeah, man, your phone is just a little bit too bad. Let's, let's see what's, what Herb's got going on tonight, Herb.

What's going on, Herb? Hey, boy, what's going on, boy? Oh, we can finally nerd out some baseball stuff. What do you got, Herbie? We finally got a W.

We should have won three out of four in the last five. But listen, what I want to talk about is I just heard you bring up this kid's Suter name. Is that his father used to pitch Bruce Suter?

No, it's only one T, not two Ts. Oh, okay. Alright, so it's a different guy. Did you know Bruce Suter is that nah it's only one T not two T's oh okay alright so it's a different guy yeah did you know Bruce Suter

did you know Bruce Suter yeah I know who he is absolutely absolutely he had that he used to

have that split finger and we lost her he was at the Drake concert tonight so it was a big night for her. 2-1-5-5-9-2. 94-94 on the other side.

We'll talk about our player of the game. And look ahead to tomorrow. Trade deadline. All that stuff on the table before handing things off to Jody Mack. It's Jack Fritz here on the Final Out. 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,

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Follow and listen to Reception Perception on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. This is the Final Out, Sports Radio 94 WIP. Welcome back. It is the Final Out, sponsored by Regency Furniture. Affordable never looks so good. Might as well keep up with the theme of the night. The Player of the Game, which is brought to you by South Jersey Gas.

Committed to providing safe, reliable, affordable natural gas. Make the switch at SouthJerseyGas.com. Slash love my home. Two walks, two hits. A ball off the wall and a key insurance run late with some good defense. I mean, is that Nolan Arenado or is it Alec Baum? Man, there was definitely a stretch, I don't know, about a month ago where it's like, I don't know.

Is he ever – like what is Alec Baum? I mean, he's almost 27 in a couple days, which is shocking because it feels like he just got here. And it was like, what is Alec Baum? Is he ever going to develop into power? Is he just going to be a 6'5 slap hitter? The defense took big improvements. But I think the last, you know, most of July, it's been a lot of power doing some damage the opposite way.

Runner's scoring position, he's been really, really good. I mean, he's got the most – for a guy that was batting sixth, seventh most of the year to lead the team in RBIs, I mean, it's kind of indicative of the top of the lineup. But he's someone that just steps up in those spots and relishes in those spots. up in those spots and relishes in those spots. And it's nice and refreshing that two of our younger homegrown guys are the ones that you trust the most in big moments. And I think the stars in this team, I mentioned this on High Hopes. By the way, check out High Hopes if you ever want to just nerd out of some

Philly stuff. But I look at the stars right now, and it feels like, outside of Schwarber, you know, he's still like, I think the before the Pirates series, in the Pirates series, he's starting to work better at bats and keeping

the train moving rather than just trying to hit home runs. Ton of walks in the last little bit, so I think he's starting to give more selfless at bats. But Turner, Castellanos, JT, even Bryce, it feels like they're all trying to be the guy that's going to carry this team for a month rather than just passing the baton to the next hitter. And that's what makes, I think, Baum and Stott so refreshing

is that they don't care about that stuff and they are clutch and they I think the stars are just all trying to be the guy and all break out at the same time and it's like just calm down do your job and and it'll come so it's it's just it's refreshing to see that the young guys are the guys that are able to to come through in these big spots. And it makes you have more and more hope that if these stars do get going, that you already have Statenbaum and mostly Marsh in play and good to go for big spots. So tomorrow on the mound is Ranger Suarez.

And I wish Ranger pitched tonight before the trade deadline because I would like to have a better idea of what I'm getting post-trade deadline from Ranger Suarez. Unbelievable in June. And it's just taken a step back in July. And it stinks because I love Ranger. But it's just, it's been mostly meh. I mean, he let up three runs early in his last start and

ended up pitching well and got into the six and didn't allow another run but that's honestly been the story of of every starter this year it seems like it's like early three runs and then you wake up or you you look up it's the sixth inning and they're still in there and doing their thing. That's what I feel like every star, it's been the story of their year. One bad inning and then settle down. Ranger, maybe we're just, I drank the Kool-Aid too much in June, but just has not looked comfortable for a little bit here. And it's funny, it's almost like him and Chris Sanchez have just switched bodies. You know, they feel like Rangers

pitching like Sanchez used to do. Walking a ton of guys, you know, not looking comfortable on the mound. Now Chris Sanchez just goes out there and just goes on a roll. So, again, I'm not in the you gotta get a starter camp.

I just wish I had more information on what Ranger I'm getting for the rest of the year. And, again, hopefully tomorrow is one of those, like, turn the corner, get on a roll, get back to close to June Ranger. You know, he comes back from the injury, doesn't really have spring training, gets on a roll, and now it's tiring a little bit. But regardless, you know, it's definitely a bit of a show-me start here for Ranger Suarez. I think his command's been mostly eh to begin games,

and then he locks in as it goes on. Now, on the other side, they face Sandy Alcantara, who, I mean, it's shocking the level to which he has fallen off this year. I mean, an ERA mostly in the high fours, low fives for a majority of the year. But I'm worried he's starting to turn a corner here. He's got a 295 ERA in his last six starts through a complete game. One earned run outing against the Rays in his last time out. So you have to hope that Sandy is not

starting to turn a corner here and he goes out and goes shove City against the Phils tomorrow. But I would just be flabbergasted if he continues to be as eh as he's been this year. Rangers-Warriors versus Sandy Alcantara tomorrow, 640. We'll be live at

McGurk's. It stinks. The trade-in line's at It stinks. The trade aligns at 6. We're off the air at 6. So maybe Greg Murphy will break down some trades for you. But regardless, we will lead you into the game, and obviously I'll have you for postgame, which I feel like they win a lot

when I'm doing postgame. 215-592-9494. A couple phone calls here before handing things off to Jody Mack. What's happening, Jim, in Arizona? Good to talk to you, buddy. Jack, how's it going? They got a win tonight. I needed it.

I really did, Jim. Well, Alec Boehm. Alec Boehm. What is Alec Boehm? Alec Boehm is hitting about 385 and is a top five in the National League with runners in scoring position. Alec Boehm, ever since he got together with Bobby Dickerson, has gotten better and better in his defense and his prep.

The way he sets for the ball when you watch him, you get the wide angle on the game. You can see he's in a really good fielding position. He's just gotten better and better. He's so underrated as far as how he holds his team together. He plays third base for us. He plays first base for us. He's in the middle of rallies, and he doesn't kill them most of the time.

He's my favorite player on the Phillies. I've always liked Alec. I think he will hit more home runs as he matures and gets older. He'll get a little bit bigger probably over spring training this year. And he drove the ball off the fence. I mean, you listen to the camera in the morning and he sounds like he wants to trade him. You know, he's got nothing good to say about the guy. And I get on him because I'm like, listen, Alec does a lot for us, Joe. So, you know, I'm really proud of him. And I think he's,

him and Stoddard are just kind of keeping this team together in March 2 at times. And I want to see the high-paid players start producing a little bit. I mean, Harp doesn't look like he's hitting the ball with authority at all right now. And JT looks lost. And all these guys that we're paying all the money to, I think Trey is getting a little bit, the ball real hard today in the left field. I think he's coming along. I think

hitting lower in the lineup is going to help. And I agree with you, Jack, before I leave here. I like Aaron Bummer. I think he would be a great pickup from the White Sox. I'd love to get Dylan Cease. I just don't know. It might be too high of a price to pay for him. And I want Adam Duvall.

I want Adam Duvall, Jack. He's the purr. He's got really good defense, much better than Hernandez. He's got a great arm, and he's a right-hand power bat, and he's got experience in the playoffs, buddy. So I'll listen to your comments. It's always good to talk to you, Jack. You too, Jim. And I think you're going to get your wish.

I think Adam Duvall is going to be a Philly. If I had to put betting odds on it, I would say 75%, 80% Adam Duvall is going to be a Philly. If I had to put betting odds on it, I would say 75-80% Adam Duvall is a Philly. I'll leave the other 20% for Teoscar Hernandez. Either way, it should be an exciting day tomorrow. We'll be reacting to it all on WIP.

You can always check me out on Twitter at JackFordsWIP if you want instant reaction. But regardless, it's going to be a fun day. I think Dave's going to be a fun day. And I think Dave's going to be active. He's not going to punt the deadline. He's Dave Dombrowski. So I'm excited to see what he's got up his sleeve tomorrow.

Either way, keep it locked in here on WIP and the High West Podcast, of course. That's going to do it for me. Jody Maxx coming up next. Francisco Rojas produced the program tonight. Phil's win. I'll be back tomorrow leading you into the game and obviously for the final out. Phil program tonight. Phil's win. I'll be back tomorrow leading you into the game and obviously for the final out.

Phil's win. Phil's win. Phil's win. Sleep tight. And I think we'll wake up with Adam Duvall as a Philly. Have a great rest of your night. Jody Mac's coming up next.