High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Final Out: Phillies Win Third Straight

Episode Date: August 20, 2025

Jack Fritz reacts to the Phillies' 6-4 win over the Mariners on Tuesday night. 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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From the bleachers to the clubhouse, whether you're a diehard fan or just a casual observer, these conversations are aimed, educate, entertain, and most importantly, inform you. Follow the baseballs and boring podcast in the Free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcast. With a count nothing in two, the windup and the pitch. Three pitches, blew him away. Three straight heaters, and the home run leader goes down as the final out. as the Phillies with a six to four win over the Mariners. That was some baseball.

Welcome on in. It is the final out. Jack Fritz hanging out with you here on this Tuesday night as we react to one of the games of the year. One of the games of the year team continuing to respond post-wheeler offense doing some good things. and one of the aces doing ace things. A lot to react to. Cannot wait to get into it. The game wrap-up is sponsored by Roto Router.

When plumbing problems hit, wrap them up quick and call Roto Router. Their team tackles clogs and leaks so you can stay in the game. Roto Router, your MVP for plumbing solutions as I am sitting on the floor in my new house, especially 2-0 in the new house. So pretty good signs early. We got good vibes. But we're getting floors in. I don't have any tables down here.

They put the internet in today. So my only option was to sit on the floor. But you know what that means? You know what that means? There's no turning back. So you want to know why? There's no turning back. We're burning the boats.

We're burning the boats. The biggest takeaways of the game are brought to you by Morgan and Morgan, America's largest injury law firm. First off, 215, 592, 94-992. 94-94 to get in if you're on your way home stuck in traffic another unbelievable atmosphere first two games of this mariner series pretty ridiculous crowds maybe people just want to go see cow rally i don't know but first couple games pretty crazy pretty crazy so 215 5992 94 if you're stuck in traffic or if you watch just one at home like i did would love to hear

from you as well but biggest takeaway is burn the boats and if you don't know what burn the boats is so it's a an old-time you know war-like rally the fillies lose zach wheeler and they have two options either they can fold it they know they can fold it up and go home take their ball and go home where they can burn the boats no retreat keep moving forward nowhere to go back to because the boats are burned and you leave it all the lines, you do the little things well, and you galvanize and save the season. And so far, a minor hiccup tonight with a Ryan Kirkry,

which we'll get into, a minor hiccup. But post-wheeler, been really impressed, really impressed with this baseball team. Starting staff doing their job, we'll get into Sanchez. but just the overall feel, the overall juice down at the ballpark. I think the fans feel it too. We don't want this season to just go to waste. We don't want this season to go out of the tubes. We understand that this could be the last ride for this group of Phillies.

And I think the fans are also saying to the players, burn the boats. we cannot let the Zach Wheeler thing hang over our heads and end what could be a special season. I think the ballparks had extra juice. I think the players have had extra juice. The offense I've just been really impressed with the last couple of days. I know 11 runs down in Washington. It's the Nats. It's hard to take too much away from that.

Last two nights against this Mariners team, impressive. Last night, they got to Gilbert tonight. I know that Bryce Miller was making his first start in a little bit, but still made him work early, doing it in different ways. They hit a couple home runs tonight. That was great. They also got a sack fly. It's not just home run or bust.

And you're starting to see the stars doing their thing. And JT with the big hit was unbelievable. his resurgence we've talked a lot about it i don't know if we're talking enough about it he has been so freaking good i mean he's got like a sitting 3 30 i think since since memorial day he's he's been money he's been absolute money and for as much as we talk about kyle schwarber and how we need to extend kyle and and don't let him leave we're reaching that point at j t too it's not going to cost as much as kyle it's probably going to be a two-year deal don't care don't care he is in

Intrigal. We all know what he does behind the plate. And what he is bringing to the plate, it was funny. There was a time there where it felt like you never got a big hit. And he never, when there's runners on base, it felt like he never came through. I know he had the big hit down in game one in Houston. But besides that, he never felt like a clutch Philly. Man, the big hits that J.T. has had this year, and he smoked that ball. I mean, Randy Rosa Rania didn't even move. I mean, didn't even move.

So the stars are starsing, and you know what else helps? Is having another one to step in when Zach Wheeler goes down. The pitch count is brought to you by the Plumbers Union Local 690, protecting the health of the nation. Visit plumbers 690.org. 96 pitches for Chris Sanchez tonight, and he was brinked. I mean, Chris Sanchez is continuing to be the best bargain in baseball, continuing to be the most underrated guy in baseball, but maybe now people are starting to take notice of who he is. And I thought tonight was so important from the standpoint of Zach Wheeler's down. There's not that safety net where, you know, Sanchez feels like, well, there's, you know, Zach Wheeler's still the ace of the staff.

So if I, you know, for some reason, come up short, I got wheels to lean back on. That guy's not here anymore. And for Sanchez, now with having the weight of the starting staff on his shoulders, we'd love for it to be Aaron Nola, right? He's paid $172 million, but I think by now we know that Nola's not that guy. And Sanchez tonight looked like he took the responsibility of, of being the ace of the staff, of being the guy that is probably going to start game one of a playoff series, he looks poised, he looked ready for the moment, continues to look ready for the

moment, and pitch his butt off tonight. I mean, he absolutely pitches butt off tonight. I mean, he has a very simple formula. Fastballs and changeups and mixing the slider just enough to keep hitters honest. But, you know, he was mowing them down. 26 of 27 batters first pitch strikes which you know broadcast said it was the best number since 2000 so i just we the the progression of chris sanchise developing into a real one and tonight with the pressure of carrying the torch with with the zach wheeler injury he stepped up in a huge way and they take the first two games of a series of against a team with the Mariners who are one of the better teams in the American League.

The Phillies, I think, are 10 and 3 against the A.L. this year now, and they face some of the better teams in the AAL, and that can't be right. They lost to the White Sox 2 or 3. They lost to the Angels 2 of 3. So regardless, we're all about accuracy. We're all about accuracy because we're all about accuracy because we carry that over from the Phillies broadcast. but still they he has been you know the Phillies have just been on a really really good stretch here and just when it felt like they're starting to show some flaws it's almost where the wheeler

injury comes in and can galvanize and wake up a team that was maybe trending towards playing some bad baseball and then just the final thing here before you go to the phones again 215-92 90 for it to get in, wow, is Duran and Raleigh at the end of the game? I mean, that's, that's baseball. I mean, I know it was very quickly two outs per usual, which you wander on. I know this is being a little bit, you know, a little bit of hyperbole. It's really hard to envision a world in which this guy's going to blow a save. It just is. And he's easily the most talented pitcher or most talented reliever that we've ever had. It's game over. And yes, when you need to start a GoFumme or whatever to have the TV broadcast show the entire intro when they're at home. It has to happen. We cannot

miss that. It's must-see TV. People are going to the ballpark to see it. And we simply just have to make that happen. But, you know, Duran, end of the game. And it's the kind of confidence that you like having at the back of the bullpen when you have a guy that just says hey i know you're the the home run leader in baseball this year try and hit it just try and hit it and he went 102 102 102 good morning good afternoon and good night if that's not self-confidence if that's not a closer and by the closer i mean a freaking game Ender? I don't know what is. That's impressive stuff. He said to Cal Raleigh. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I see your little 47 home runs. Try and touch this. Try and touch this. I love it. Man, what a night. What a night

down at the ballpark. Dave's in Maryland. What's happening, Dave. Burn the boats, buddy. Burn the boats. Burn the boats. Just a great, I mean, resilient game. Like, you know, you just feel like, you know, that kirkering didn't have it tonight but you come back and j t just put the freaking swing on that and it it was oh geez it was great to see uh being a high school athletic director i'll just i'll leave you at this uh my wrestling team had uh you know perennially the bridesmaid and a couple years ago uh my coach comes in he's like hey i want these t-shirts on the back burn the boats two straight state championships so love it uh they're starting to play for each other and that that that's that's a uh when a baseball team starts to play for each other that's uh that can be

dangerous especially when they're as talented as the Phillies uh you have an ace obviously you know you wish that we were the best family and uh you have an ace and you have a guy that can get the last out of the ninth inning of the world series now it's just time to step up you're going to have some ups and downs the rest of the way but uh coming out in this series and taking it to a really good Mariners team, burn the boats. Burn the boats. Burn the boats.

Brutche at the phone call Dave. So to clarify the staff, they're 10 and 3 in series against AL teams this year. So it was just a bit off. And 26 and 15 against AL teams this year. AL's down. It's not a great AL. You watch some of these teams and you say,

if the Phillies face these teams in the World Series, I'd feel very confident. The Phillies problems are going to occur in the National League. National League is much, much stronger. Grady is in New York. What's happening, Grady? Hey, how you doing, man? What's going on?

Not too much. I was watching the game at a Phillies bar in New York. What would you tonight? And, man, it was just a complete all-around. You guys both hit the nail right on the pin. You just said, you know, they're playing for each other. And I think you absolutely hit it. You said Wheeler's injury, it really did galvanize the scene in a really beautiful way,

because we're starting to witness, when you look at that box score, just up and down, everyone's contributing. Props to J.C. Real Muto. He has just consistently been, like, behind the plate so dominant, and, you know, what he can bring hitting in the four spots, too. It's just great to see. And then you guys have already said it, but I would just say, like, to Sanchez and even Ranger Suarez

yesterday. Like, they really knew what they had to do. They had to step up because this team had lost something that none of us

would have imagined and they really, they show that they could still do it, you know? Yeah, and, and so part of the thing about, you know, burn the boats

and why, you know, there was this sense of, sense of it's not over yet, I think, with the Wheeler thing, is because of the 2017 Eagles, and we live this,

And losing a quarterback is much more dramatic. I mean, they just affect the game so much more. But, you know, it was one of those things where every single one of those guys just got a little bit better. And they were a little bit more locked in. And Ranger talked about it after the game last night where he's driving the ballpark. And he was saying that, you know, it falls on me. Like, I got to step up now. There's no, there's no safety in that.

Again, like, Zach Wheeler was a safety net for this team because they felt like every fifth day. It was like, okay, well, we got Wheeler on the mound today. We're fine. And I bet the offense kind of felt the same way where they're like, well, got one of the best pitchers in baseball today. We're fine. As long as he scored two, we should be all right. It's kind of human nature. But now that that's gone, and again, like, rooting like heck for a Wheeler, get healthy.

like wanted to obviously pitch again this year but it seems like everything that we're hearing and every doctor you talk to it feels super super unlikely now that that's not there everyone has to be just a little bit better and I love the way they talked after the game last line I'm sure they're talking again tonight about how everyone has to just step up and lock in a little bit more and yes there's still a month and a month and change until the start of the post season so hopefully it's something they can keep going but at least for the first couple of days when we when we said we're going to learn a lot about this baseball team are they going to take their ball and go home or are they going to go on a run and so far they're responding in a very very

positive way burn the boats burn the boats coming next more positives from tonight actually a lot of positives tonight that i want to talk about your phone calls and the player of the game. It's the final out on Sports Radio 94 WIPA. Book Club on Monday. Gym on Tuesday. Date night on Wednesday. Out on the town on Thursday. Quiet night in on Friday.

It's good to have a routine. And it's good for your eyes too. Because with regular comprehensive eye exams at Specsavers, you'll know just how healthy they are. Visit specksavers.cavers.cai to book your next eye exam. Eye exams provided by independent optometrists. I'm Kristen Press, and I'm Tobin Heath. We're World Cup winners, Olympians, and the hosts of the recap show. Every week, we sit down with the icons, disruptors, and game changers on the field and beyond it to talk victories, heartbreaks, and everything in between.

We've built a space where athletes, changemakers, and people creating the future of women's sports can show up and show off as their full, unapologetic self. follow and listen to the recap show wherever you get your podcast swung on hit deep left field and that one is going to put the Phillies in front JT unlooms it's a two-run home run and the Phillies are back in front here in the bottom of the eight six four felt like a moment felt like a moment I know it's not playoff baseball yet but that was that was pretty damn close big game call from from fransky some la reaction in the middle of it man and 65 degrees out right now

if this doesn't scream playoff baseball i don't know i don't know what does i don't know what does but that felt like a moment i tell you what the the reaction from jt the the the emotion he showed i love the emotion that bryce showed i i appreciate the stoicism like i appreciate the workmanly like mentality of those two and and Turner and Shorebird too you know like the the stars in the team the older guys they're very much you know show up to your job lead by example and things like that but I do think now again with the Wheeler with the Wheeler injury you need to to let it loose a little bit and have some fun and and really just you know live and die with this thing down the stretch run and you know the emotion jt showed there the power that he's showing jumping on a

first pitch a rose iranian not even moving i mean it was it was it was awesome you know just when the kirk ring inning happened take the momentum right back pick your teammate up that is what winning baseball is. And again, JT's our player at the game, brought you by South Jersey Gas Conserve, helping customers and the community save energy and money. Visit South Jersey Gas.com slash conserve. Kirk Green just didn't have it tonight.

You know, I'm okay, going to him in that spot. You have a, here's, I guess, the thinking or the logic behind Thompson tonight, because I'm sure, you know, people out there say, why would you pull him, why would you pull him? At some point, we do have to start thinking about managing these guys innings and managing their workloads. And Chris Sanchez is now someone who we are going to have to put a lot of expectations on

heading into October. So it was 96 pitches, good amount of pitches, just walked the leadoff guy. You know, Thompson got burned a couple weeks ago, or not a couple weeks ago, in Lazardo's last start, where he left him in there, walked the leadoff guy, trusted him, and it blew up in his face. tonight you know he's like all right walks the lead off guy i got uh you know uh or the second guy whatever walked and then a righty righty matchup with kirkering i'm okay going to him in that spot kirkering hadn't walked someone in in 12 appearances like sometimes guys just

don't have it now kirk grain isn't exactly stepped up the most in the postseason so it's my concerning from that standpoint, but I chalk it up to just him not having his best stuff tonight. And again, you know, you got to start being cognizant of Chris Sanchez's workload. I know he's been great and it's tempting to just leave him out there and let him grind through things. But it's about October. It's not about August 19th. And it's a three-run lead. You expect your bullpen to be able to lock that down. Bullpen is fully rested the night he had everyone available is what it is luckily they came out with the win didn't come back to burn them too bad i have trust in kirkering that the next time goes out there he'll be he'll be fine

but the one thing that i think rod thompson has to start doing and i'm sure it's going to infuriate you at home and hopefully it leads to october glory but i think he does have to start managing these starters workloads because again they were just talking about going to a six-man rotation before the Wheeler thing came down, and that was to spread out the starters and give them a little bit more rest because they've been used a ton this year because the bullpen was inadequate for a majority of the season, they got to start managing these guys. Lazzardo has pitched a ton of innings as well. I mean, he's going to cross his career high innings this year. They have to be smart about that. So expect, I think, Thompson did.

to be a little bit quicker in getting guys out of games, even if they're pitching well, because they got to make sure that those guys are good to go in the postseason. So let's go back to the phones. 215-592-94-94. Connors in Westchester, what's happening, Connor? What time is it right now? Oh, it's 1032 at night.

It's a little late for you? It is a little late. It's a little late. A little bit. A little bit, but we're out. I thought you're a serious competitor. I know Joe to Cammer's probably in bed right now, getting ready for, what is it? Your next competition coming up here soon.

Well, some of us have to work, and I think he's been in Italy for a week and a half. Why didn't he tell you guys about that? What's going on with him? He's a secretive guy. He's a secretive guy. I have no idea, but it is just running, and hopefully everything goes all right there. How do you feel about the Phil's? Well, I will just say it's Fritz and three either way.

I'm just going to say that. Thank you. All I want to say is. flowers to Christian Sanchez. I mean, the guy is just out of his mind right now. And Kyle Schwerber, what else is there to say?

This is a fun team to watch, and I think some of the people in the Philadelphia area that call in every day on this team, you know, it's baseball. It's a long season. The fact that they're putting it all together

right now, I'm feeling inspired. How are you feeling about it? I think this a team that we really need to be serious about. Well, sorry, I appreciate the phone call there, Connor. Yeah, I think that this is a real, real moment for this team. It's a real moment. And so far, they're kind of captivating it. I mean, there can be a rallying cry when one of your best players goes down.

And so far, so good. They're 3-0 offense is doing, the offense is doing the things that we've wanted them to do for a majority of this season. And it was really good to see, again, it wasn't the, seeing Ranger last night and hearing him to our reading the quotes after the game about how he's driving the ballpark and he felt like, all right, this is, this is on me now to step up and help the starting rotation with Zach going down. And Chris Sanchez, I'm sure, feeling the same way today and just the emotion that the offense is playing with. I'm sure being back at Citizens Bank Park helps from that standpoint. But it's a really good vibe early in the burn the boats movement, in the burn the boats movement.

R.C. is in Glenn Mills. What's happening, R.C.? Burn the freaking boats. That's right. That's right. Burn them. Burn them, Fritzie. And I'm going to have a present for you on Friday night. already got it up, and there's only going to be two people with it,

and it's going to be me and you, to start this movement, to start this movement. I look forward to it, buddy. It's going to be awesome, man. Fritty, I think, you know, you know, I'm a baseball guy. You're a baseball guy. I think there was two things that stood out to me in the last 24 hours that changed, I think it's changed this city's belief in this fall club. um first rangers quotes last night and you've mentioned it twice or three times already in this in the show yeah i mean i mean he he made it very clear for it and and he knows you know it's him and sanchise and and they got to go to work and to get those two to do what they did the last two

night. I'm with you. I think there's a lot of promise here. There's a lot of hope that they're rallying behind an unfortunate situation with wheels. Yeah, dude, I appreciate the phone call, RC. I feel it too. And if this post-game show is any indication of how the rest of the fans feel, I think the fans feel galvanized as well. I've done a lot of final outs this year. We got a full board of callers, and it's not after a loss where we're all yelling at Rob Thompson or yelling at the offense or yelling at a starter. It's a galvanizing moment. The fans feel it, the players feel it, burn the both. All right, some other things that I saw from the night that I liked. I mentioned it a little bit earlier. Offense grinding starters. I mean, they had 56 pitches,

I think, on Price Miller in the first two winnings. You know, three innings maybe. Logan Gilbert grinded him down on Monday night. That makes them have to go to their bullpen earlier. Bryce Miller eventually settled in a little bit better than Logan Gilbert did, but at least early in games, I think they're doing a much

better job of getting back to passing the baton and trusting their teammates around them. They got away from it. You know, heading into, I think after Friday night, you know, they were back to doing all the bad chase stuff and the strikeout rate was bad and they weren't walking.

That's changed in the last couple of days. Seems like they've gotten back to the basics offensively. They grinded Mitchell Parker on Sunday. So that's been a really positive development of the same. You can try tonight. You know, let the game off with a nine pitch at bat and then Schwerper went yard. I love that stuff.

And that little stuff that can help your team win ball games. They are starting to do that. David Robertson looks great. It's crazy. his stuff, I know he took half the season off, and I understand that. But his stuff right now looks better than it did at any point of his first two Phillies ten years. Now, I know no one listening remembers his first time around with the Phillies. But in 22, every single time he went out there is like walking a tightrope.

And it felt like he had no juice left. Well, at 40 years old, he's throwing more cut on his fastball. That knuckle curve is a real weapon. and now like he's getting he's getting chase on that pitch he looks great and he could be a real like he was someone that the the first couple of outings and just the general feeling was okay maybe he comes in and you know if you're down by one he's a guy that can keep it there but is he really going to take down high leverage spots well with romano certainly not jumping up and taking the job.

Kirk Grings, they're high leverage righty. Robertson's right there. I mean, it's crazy how quickly it seems like he is flying up the trust rankings for Rob Thompson, but he looks awesome. He looks legitimately awesome. Bryson Stott really hitting well, the nine hole. Him and the nine hole is a good spot. You can view it as a second lead-off hitter if he can get back to grinding out at bat,

fouling off a ton of pitches. Obviously, when yard tonight, that was great, had a double last night, hitting the ball harder, you know, starting to get on top of the baseball again, which he needs to do. When the swing gets along and looping, it looks like he's swinging a pool noodle. It's an excruciating watch, but when he can get on top of the baseball, he can really, really do some things with the bat. So nine hole, maybe it's something that he can develop into, and he can take it personally and say, all right, well, I'll be the second leadoff hitter, grind out a pitcher for Trey, and turn the lineup over, but Stott could be taking to the nine hole. And speaking of some of the other stars, you know, Schwerber went yard, that was great, but Turner extended his hitting street

to nine games. And Harper, you know, under-talked about, I was surprised they lifted the lefty spear for Matt Brash. Matt Brash has pretty sixth stuff, but still, you have Harper leading off the inning. Seems like an easy spot where you let the lefty stay in and then you go to Brash but thankfully he didn't you know and and Harper ripped that baseball but early in the game on the sack fly just missed a home run it seems like even his outs right now are lasers so really really good stuff from Bryce on the other side we'll get to more your phone calls plus a look ahead to tomorrow before handing things off to you jody mac it's the final out on sports radio 94 WIPA

On hit deep. Right field, that's going. Bryson Stott with a laser off the auxiliary scoreboard in right field. And Stott with his eighth home run of the year. Philly's lead four to one. Going to be honest, got a little cocky at that point. Felt like the game was well in hand, but as always, it's the hope that kills you. But still, the Phillies were able to squeak went out.

Good stuff from Bryson Stott. Like I mentioned last segment, maybe that second leadoff guy at the bottom of the lineup that can turn the lineup over, you know, grind out in the bat for Trey, let him see pitches. It's good stuff. And I think the biggest thing, he's really starting to get back on top of the baseball.

When the swing gets loopy, no one likes to see that. So signs of life from Bryce and Stott, signs of life from a lot of guys on offense. Bomes looked really good since coming back. We know about J.T. Turner's been on a heater. Harper's been on a heater.

Schwerber's been Schwerber, a lot of positives. Even like Cassiano's, he can live with this, this version of Cassianos. I assume that S.M. Kepler will be back in the line up tomorrow. Bader, you know, struggling a little bit, but, you know, what he brings defensively is important. So, yeah, it's a really, really good feel down there. Super jealous of the people down at the ballpark. It seems like a true festive atmosphere. And, you know, even the, the ovation when Sanchez is walking off the mound, it was, it was beautiful.

I mean, it was, you can get, you're, you're getting drowned out and the cheers for a regular season start. And then the JT thing, and then, and then the Duran intro, that's a baseball game. I mean, that's a, that's a game that I think will make young fans excited about. the sport. What a, what a game. What a game. Let's go back to the phones. Bill is in East Hampton. What's happening, Bill. Hey, what's going on, Jack. How you doing, my friend? Oh, man. What a beautiful night at the ballpark, Bill. Oh, man, it was really good. I want to address, and I'm a positive thinker. I want to quickly address the negative, and then I want to, let's talk about the positive. The Wheeler News is very disappointing. The Kirkering appearance, very disappointing. Okay,

that's about it. Let's talk about the positive. Thank you. I got to tell you, dude. I think Sanchez, I think he may win the NL Sayun Award. He's that good. I think he's ready to embrace the role of Ace on this team right now. One, and I was a huge, a huge step in that direction, you know, and not having the safety net of Wheeler that he always known that he could post and be out there.

I mean, Sanchez is the guy now. responded like he was the guy 26 out of 27 first pitch strikes tonight that's ridiculous isn't that sick i know he's got what is he at the second or third lowest er in the national league second i mean i skeins is yeah skein's still i'm telling you he's he's a legitimate si young candidate for the end all this year totally totally and and maybe you know skein's falters a little bit maybe they manage his workload they're not going to make the playoffs anyway so maybe they only wanted to throw like five innings a start and Sanchez jumps him by a lot in innings pitched and you know kind of he makes his case that way but Chris Sanchez if he's not

if he doesn't win the Salyong he's probably going to finish second in the Salyong and that is a ridiculous turnaround from where he was a couple years ago exactly he was ready to when Ranger was struggling a couple weeks ago I mean he was willing to embrace the number two role this kid's got the desire and it's got the talent and that's why I'm not that worried about the Wheeler I'm not that worried about it

I think this team can still put it together and make a run I'm pretty sure you feel that way too I 100% too but the thing that's going to have to happen and it's why I've been doing the burn the boats movement is that everyone has to lock in and just be a little bit better

you know like there's not the safety net Zach Wheeler there every fifth day to give you a good outing. Ranger has to step his game up. Taiwan's got to continue to throw. Nola has to figure it out. I mean, Nola has to figure it out because, I mean.

Yes, Lazardo, you know, it's been better recently. It was good his last time out before the decision by Thompson to leave him out there. I mean, everyone just has to be a little bit better. But I think the one of the most positive things that has happened since the Wheeler thing, the Wheeler injury, is that it really feels like

they're coming together and they're banding together, and you're seeing them play their best baseball this season. I believe so, too. They're circling the wagons, and they feel it, and I know this team wants to go to the end. They want to go to the finish line. Yeah. Burn the boats. Burn the boats, Bill.

Man, it would be just such a good story. You turn something so negative and someone who is an integral part of this team and has shown up and posts and is there. But this team using it as a rallying cry and I'm already envisioning the video yearbook. It's perfect. It's all, it's all setting up. Brent's in Ephrada. Man, I definitely didn't say that right. What's happening, Brett, Brent.

What's up, Jack? How are you, man? Good, man. What's going on? I want to talk a little bit about JT and just the team in general. I was at the ballpark the last two nights now. And just whenever someone comes with the bat, no matter who it is, one through nine, it seems like there's a sense of, you feel like there's someone's going

to do something big, and that's what they've been doing. I mean, 21 hits Monday night, and then tonight just an all-around amazing performance. And it's just good to feel comfortable and confident with the Phillies. Yeah, well, it's just so funny. And it's such, it's like the roller coaster of baseball season. Last Monday, after they beat the Reds, it was this team's different. They're, you know, everyone's feeling it. We're back.

Then by Friday, after they lose the Red Series and then lose the first game of the national series, people are like, ah, see, they're frauds. Now, here we are on Tuesday night, two big wins over the Mariners, three straight. and the burn the boats movement, everyone's just like, we're back. It's truly, following a baseball season is not for the faint of heart. Hey, Jack, this is Brent here actually with my buddy here. Big fan of the High Hope's pod. What do you think are the chances that Taiwan Walker makes a postseason start?

That's hilarious, and I appreciate the phone call. I mean, it would take, it would still take a good amount. I guess, you know, Sanchez goes game one. I'm kind of just penciling in Nola's game two. Obviously, he still has to earn it, but just given the money, you know, kind of feels like a Nola spot. And then it's still arranging Lazzardo. off. So I think if they get the first round by, then they don't need a fourth starter until the

NLCS, which would be nice, given the current state of the rotation. But, yeah, I mean, Taiwan's pitching well. And Nola could theoretically pitch his way out of it. I guess I would just be surprised because they're paying a lot of money. And he's been a decent postseason performer. So there is some rain in the forecast for tomorrow. So hopefully they can get this one in. But if they do, it'll be Hazus Lizardo on the mound versus Luis Castillo. Last four has been good for Lazardo. They made that switch with going to the stretch where they're trying to make it look more and more like his wind up. You know, they changed around some of his position with his leg, you know, having him start a little bit behind. You know,

having his right leg start behind, his left leg with an idea of trying to create what it's like for him in the windup. He's had so many problems out of the stretch. There's been problems with the tipping, but kind of seems like he's rounding into form a little bit. Tough to take too much away from his last outing because it was the Nationals. But he did pitch really well, pitched into the 7th. We all know that Thompson left him out there too long. Didn't need to have him start that ending. Let him get out there on a good note. And the inning kind of blew up in his face. But overall, the last four starts, I think he's pitching to get 2.5-something ERA.

So maybe getting back closer to the early season, Lazzardo, rather than the Jekyll and Hyde random blow-up type of outings from him. And Luis Castillo, another tough task. You know, they face some tough starters this week with Gilbert. And I know Miller's coming back, but he's got pretty good stuff. And Castillo's another one. Now, his strikeout rate is really falling this year, but, you know, ZRA in his last two months is like 3.3. So, yeah, they will have their work cut out for them as long as the game starts because it is, again, supposed to rain.

My guy, Richie and Philly, what's happening, Richie? How good going, Jack. Big one tonight, fun one down. I'm feeling great. I want to bring out two really important improvements in the Phillies that you obviously know, you know, people elite like you and me. I hope the others see it as well. The bottom of the line of, right, starts putting a little life in the line up there, right? He's hitting the return of Bohm, right?

Yep. Okay? So that's two right there. And then, of course, Ramuto was unconscious in the last couple. Oh, it's crazy. It's crazy. And the bullpen. Think about the day before we got Duran, right?

Three pitchers we got Duran. We got Robertson, to me, I like to be three strikes, okay? And then we got, what do you call it? I'm getting old the third guy and we got Avarado back yeah

the bullpins like incrementally improves that we got rid we're going to get rid of like Romano we're not going to be having Romano with these high leverage

situations nah it's not happening anymore yeah no but you know what I'm saying like yeah so you need the bottom of the lot of there's a lot more

you know like vital and like dangerous and and our bullpen has been since I said just a day before that we got you know our Duran we got you know

Robertson and then we got the Alvarado and then we got Nola back. I think it was going to be okay as it started to do. Yeah, I hope so. I mean unfortunately his last outing was a little bit of I kind of expected that, Jack. I really did. I didn't expect much. Yeah. Yeah, I'm not, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. Like, I think he, I think he's going to pitch his way into being a serviceable starter again this year. I guess it was

annoying that his first start back looked a lot like his first couple starts this year. Can I make one more point, Jack, yeah of course yeah yeah i really like character and the problem i have and i'd like him a lot he's got good stuff he seems to fall behind a lot when he gets when he has problems and i know i follow the pitch cats you know the thing on that on the computer as the game goes on that sweeper gets him in trouble you can't think you get it over i wish you'd go more than a get ahead because the get ahead is important look at losar look at the uh sanchez and i getting ahead 22 23 guys whatever totally you know yeah yeah do you notice that sweeper with him you don't

noticed that he gets behind on that a lot. Sweeper outside, sweeper to it. Then he comes, he has a good fastball. I know. I'm sure J.C. knows that better than me, but, you know, I'm just throwing you away because I like your feedback on that. Yeah, and I appreciate the phone call, Richard. Yeah, I mean, he, what's made him so good and what's made him break out this year

has been the fastball command, he's changed his fastball to more of a sinker rather than the traditional four-seamer. And, I mean, tonight, again, he hadn't walked a guy in 12 outings. and he just didn't have it. And, you know, maybe using a sweeper over and over again, it seems like the pitch that he goes to. It's almost like Nola when he feels like he's in trouble. He starts spamming that knuckle curve over and over again.

Yeah, it was disappointing. And I'm okay with Rob Thompson letting him pitch his way through that. But I guess the one concerning thing is we have, he's a really, really important part to this bullpen. And in big spots in the postseason, hasn't exactly come through. So, again, don't need to sound the alarms on a Ryan Kirkering. I chalk it up more as to one bad night,

but, you know, he won't go tomorrow because he's pitching too straight. But we'll see the next time he gets out there. That's going to do it for me. Luke Nichols produced the final out tonight. Coming up next, Jody Mack, who is leading out the show with Rub and Amaro Jr. So Rube, coming up next alongside Jody Mack. It's going to be a fun listen on what was a beautiful night down at the ballpark. They go for the sweet tomorrow.

They go for the sweet tomorrow again, if they get the game in. That's going to do it for me. Jody Mac is coming up next here on Sports Radio 94WYP.