High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Final Out: Phils Win, Set Franchise Mark For Best 50-Game Start

Episode Date: May 23, 2024

Jack Fritz reacts to the Phillies improving to 36-14 to start the season after another easy win over the Texas Rangers. Presented by Miller Lite. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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or wherever you get your podcasts. Soak it all in. Welcome on in. It is the final out, sponsored by Regency Furniture. Affordable never it all in. Welcome on in. It is the final out sponsored by Regency Furniture. Affordable never looks so good. Jack Fritz hanging out with you on this Wednesday night as we just continue to see pure and utter dominance from this baseball team. The wrap up tonight sponsored by Blaser Swiss Lube and Kravitz, the metal-working

fluid specialist providing professional CNC machine cleaning, coolant maintenance programs, and waste coolant disposal. Kravitz.online and it's just I think that we're starting to run out of words for this team.

And we're starting to just be like, eh, they're going to be like yeah they're gonna show up they're probably gonna win tonight when they went down to nothing i was like oh great like kind of a challenge tonight that's that's exciting to me it's exciting to me when they go down early in baseball games they can just fight their way back it's it's it's good it's fun but where this season is quickly heading for me is like dude this, this might be a team that we're going to have to tell future generations about. Listen, they're on pace for some ridiculous things. They're on pace to surpass the 116 win Mariner team. Alec Boehm is on pace for 150 Rbi like there's they are doing some unconscious things right now and are they

beating almost bad teams sure the rangers obviously they're wearing the belt as the world series champs but that's not the world series team that we saw last year but they're just they're just taking it to teams and this might we might be watching an all-time philadelphia sports team it's as simple as that i mean i mean it reminds me of the 2022 eagles regular season reminds me of the 17 eagles regular season 11 obviously comes to mind but this feels better than 11 they they are a freaking wagon man like they are a wagon and we might be in the midst of seeing one of the best teams we've ever seen in this town. And when it's all said and done,

if they get the job done, if they set the wins record and they bring on the title, we could be watching the best team that many of us have ever seen in the history of this city. It's as simple as that. That's what we're watching tonight. That's what we're watching so far this season. They are 36 and 14. 36 and14. It's their

best 50-game stretch in franchise history. I understand it's 10,000 losses. There's been some bad baseball mixed in there. It's the best start in the NL through 50 games since 1998. And yes, it's the best 50 game start since the 2001 Seattle Mariners. What is going on at Citizens Bank Park? Let's get to the biggest takeaway of the game. Brought to you by Morgan & Morgan, America's largest injury firm. And if you are stuck in traffic,

you're on your way home, would love to hear from you. 215-592-9494 to get in on the final night. Would love to hear from you. 215-592-9494 to get in on the final night. Tonight is yet again another huge crowd down at Citizens Bank Park. My first big takeaway, and we'll get into things that happen in the game, but I love the messaging that has been coming out from the team the last two days. Harper yesterday saw a quote.

He wasn't referring to the Rangers as the Rangers. He wasn't referring to the Rangers as the Rangers. He wasn't referring to them as Texas. He was referring to them as the world champs. And it's like, when you are off to as hot of a start as they are, you have to continue to find motivation. You have to keep finding little chips on your shoulder. And I think by putting the You have to keep finding little chips on your shoulder. And I think by putting the World Series target on the back of the Rangers, it got this team even more ready to go. I like that Matt Strom, after the game with Scott and Stock,

was talking about, you know, they presented him that it's the best start in Philly's history. And Matt Strom was like, it's the best start, but it ultimately doesn't matter unless we bring him a ring like it just doesn't matter and then Thompson after the game they're saying this is the best start since the 2001 Mariners and he was like who? They're just they know that this doesn't

really matter like this is great this is fun they're 36 and 14 they are locked. They're loaded. I love what JT said after the game. But ultimately, they have to get it done or else you're just a great regular season team. And they know the mission. So I just, I continue to love the messaging from the team. They seem very focused on one common goal. Second big thing tonight is they've done a really good job this year. I would say better than years past on capitalizing on mistakes. I mean, four errors by the Rangers tonight was egregious,

but it felt like the last couple years, and when this team would struggle, they would consistently let teams off the hook. They would consistently not make teams pay. The Phillies right now are making teams pay. And this stat courtesy of Ryan Spader, two out runs. So I made the observation that it feels like they've

gotten more two out hits this year than they have in years past. That kind of back-breaking, like, of course the Phillies came through. It feels like that always happens to us. Teams always had back-breaking, like, oh, of course the Phillies came through. It feels like that always happens to us. Like, teams always had back-breaking hits against us, and now it feels like we're reversing the trend here. So 2022, they had 1.72 runs per game with two outs.

2023, 1.88 runs per game with two outs. And this year, they're averaging 2.14 runs per game with two outs. And this year, they're averaging 2.14 runs per game with two outs. And yes, if you want to go back to 2008, and we've been comparing this team to all those teams, 1.92 two-out runs per game in 2008. So they're doing a really, really good job of capitalizing on mistakes. Obviously, in the playoffs, the mistakes seem to shrink. But for right now, they are doing their job. The third big takeaway, and I tweeted this during the game,

they're off to a better start than this team. But if it ends the same way, we're going to be ecstatic. This team reminds me a ton of the 2018 Red Sox. And yes, that was also a Dave Dombrowski-built baseball team. But they remind me a ton of that team where they just got off to a hot start and rode it. I mean, they won 108 games. They ended up winning the World Series. Dombrowski traded for Nathan Evaldi and Steve Pierce at the deadline. And off they went. Now, I would say top to bottom, this Phillies offense is better. But they also had J.D. Martinez and Mookie Betts that year.

J.D. Martinez had a bet at 330 with 43 home runs and 130 RBI. It's been a really good start for Alec Boehm, but I don't know if he's getting to the 43 home runs that J.D. Martinez got to while hitting 330. And they also started a guy named Sandy Leon, who was putting up Johan Rojas numbers, but he was valuable defensively, so they kept putting him out there.

They had Rick Porcello, which I'm going to compare to Tymo Walker, of course. Took down a ton of games, took down a ton of innings and pitched to a 4-2 ERA. That's what they do. Sale is Wheeler. Is that fair? I think this bullpen is better than the 18 Red Sox. Now they have Kimbrell, and it was still Pete Kimbrell,

but in the postseason they couldn't pitch him because he's Craig Kimbrell. But they just remind me a ton of that Red Sox team. Winner vibes, guys up and down the rosters that knew how to win baseball games, and that's what this team is. And then the final big takeaway before we go to the phones here, again, 215-592-9494 to get in, is I think Thompson's developing a good feel. You know, first month and a half of the season,

two months is usually a feeling out period. You trust guys. You figure out where your pressure points, I guess you could say. I thought last night, I thought he had a good feel letting Ranger finish out the seventh. I thought he had a good feel letting Ranger finish out the seventh. I thought he had a good feel the next inning, pulling the reliever before it got a little bit out of hand. And then tonight, Taiwan, while they had a 6-3 lead, and he probably could have got the last out, he went to Strom, and he had to tax his bullpen a little bit tonight.

Sure, we understand that. But he nipped it in the bud there, and he had to tax his bullpen a little bit tonight. Sure. We understand that. But he nipped it in the bud there. And he brought in Strom. Strom did his job. And then Strom went another inning. I mean, Matt Strom has probably been the unsung hero of this team. He has not allowed an earned run since opening day. It's ridiculous.

And he's got stones. Matt Strom has stones. There's a lot of guys in that bullpen that have stones's got stones. Matt Strom has stones. There's a lot of guys in that bullpen that have stones. But, man, Matt Strom continuing to do his job. And you're starting to see, I think, Rob Thompson developing a good feel for this team. 2-1-5, 5-9-2, 94-94. Let's kick it off with Blake in Narberth.

What's happening, Blake? Hey, Jack. Thanks for taking my call. And what can you say? Just another great dominant effort by the Phillies tonight. Ho-hum. Ho-hum. It's getting boring, Blake. It's getting boring. I know. Gotta enjoy it. Gotta enjoy it.

I remember some of those bad years. I was down at the park last night, and it just... I was thinking Rangers fans watching that game must have been saying to themselves, how do the Philadelphia Phillies in May have a better stadium atmosphere than we did in the World Series? I mean, you see people standing up, seventh inning, eighth inning,

ninth inning, supporting the pitchers. I mean, you talk about these teams like the Braves, the Cardinals, whatever. They have good fans. But our fans, they treat it like a playoff game in the ninth inning. And you see people coming down there like it's an A-list performer. People from all over the city, the area, coming down. Because it's a A-list performer people from all over the city the area coming down because they know you go down to Citizens Bank Park and you're going to see a performance the Phillies will just bludgeon a team and it's incredible I mean sold

out park it's like those 2007-2011 years I don't remember them that well but everything was Phillies Phillies Phillies and it's really great we're back in that time period. Yeah, and if I was a Rangers fan, I think I'd be watching these games like, I'm glad they choked last year. Like, I'm glad they lost game six and seven because who knows if they're even World Series champs right now. I know that it's a different Rangers team, and I know that they were pretty nasty last year. But I'd be a little like, we might have got one last year

if the Phil's not in it. What do you got on Clemens versus Pache and Sosa? Yeah, I was just going to say, people love Cody Clemens, and people are saying they should keep him up. I think he's played well. He's been a great little spark plug for this team. But the unfortunate thing is at this point in time, I think you have to send him down.

It's the same reason Rob Thompson said about Junior Marte. He alluded that Marte's probably going to go down to Lehigh Valley when he's healthy again, just because of how well Jose Ruiz is pitched. And Marte has the option. Ruiz doesn't. Merrifield today has paid him too much. If he's still performing like this at the deadline,

they can move on from him. But with Pache, you need a right-handed backup center fielder who can platoon with Marsh, because Marsh, we've seen, cannot hit lefties well. Pache hits the lefties. He's one of the highest OBPs on this team. He's a plus defender. And you also don't want to box yourself into having to keep Rojas. If someone like the A's

for Brent Rooker or the White Sox for Robert Jr. say, we want Rojas, and then you don't have Pache, you're in a bit of a bind. So I think you have to... I appreciate it. But I mean, like, Luis Robert's going to cost way more than, you know, like Rojas is probably more lower on that pedestal than, you know. I mean, like, Luis Robert's a stud.

And I like Yohan Rojas, but you're starting at, like, maybe Painter for Robert? Yeah, you know, they'd probably want, along with maybe Klaassen and a couple other guys. Rojas would be a piece to that. Let's say they want a center fielder to replace that. In Oakland, they want Estre Ruiz to replace with Rojas, someone like that.

But he could be a piece to it. But they see value in his defense. Yeah, I appreciate the phone call, Blake. Listen, they're probably going to send Clemens down. I'm with you. I think that I would be surprised if they gave up on Whitmerryfield this early. But, man, there's – we'll get to it coming up a little bit later. The way that Amundo is swinging the bat, the way Clemens is swinging the bat,

I mean, we've seen them do this in the past. 2-1-5-5-9-2, 94-94. Dave's in Maryland. What's happening, Dave? Hey, what's up? Just love the messaging after the game. I'm strong and topper after the game. Just kind of downplaying the start and just saying the ultimate goal is the ultimate goal. The great thing about this team is they have such a winning culture right now

that that's more important than anything. Tonight, first play of the game, they botched that pop-up. In years past, you kind of throw that as almost like a scheduled loss game. This team doesn't have that mentality this year. They just go out and they just hammer teams. The Rangers make a mistake, and all of a sudden we put four on the board. And it's just great to see, fun to watch. And, you know, I'm just enjoying it.

I mean, as a fan, though, I want to enjoy this every night because this is just special. And I don't want to have that mentality of, oh, I can't wait until October. Although it's coming, I just want to have that mentality of I can't wait till October although it's coming I just want to enjoy every every one of these every one of these games at this point well it's fun it's funny you know you bring up this team and the winning mentality they have and like when Stott had to misplay in the first inning and you know it was runner on first and and whatever i was almost like i think i feel like that was last year in early season or the year before i would have been panicking i've been

like oh here we go they didn't show up to play and and and now it's just like yeah no big deal like i everything with this team like again when they go down i'm like oh cool they can actually like foot on the gas a little bit tonight. It's going to be a little bit of a sweat. It's insane what this team's doing right now, Dave. I'm obviously in the mindset of they've got to get the job done and bring home the World Series and cap off what has been a special start to the year.

At the same time, we might be watching an all-time philadelphia sports team so like we gotta soak this in yeah there's still 112 games left and i i can't wait to watch this team 112 more times it's just like that it's just every day it's just like you know i can't wait to get to the tv at night and and watch sit down for two or three hours listen to the pre-game post-game and just relax after just relax after a good day and just wake up the next morning. My daughter wakes up in the morning and she'll say, did the Phillies win? Every day I say, yeah. She's like, well, this is just not normal.

And I said, no, this is not normal and you got to enjoy it. Yeah, totally, Dave. And I appreciate the phone call. And tomorrow, we're going to have a lonely night. You know, the Phillies play at 1 tomorrow, so we're going to have no companion to spend on a beautiful Thursday night. 215-592-9494 to get in and react to another Phillies win down at the ballpark tonight.

On the other side, the pitch count, the player of the game, plus someone who I believe is getting slept on for one award and some interesting stats about the Phillies' leadoff hitter. We'll get to all that coming up next on the Final Out on Sports Radio 94 WIP. 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.

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Welcome back. It is the final out. Sponsored by Regency Furniture. Affordable never looks so good. That was also the 14,000th home run in Philly's history. JT hitting that one out early. He's my player of the game tonight. Sponsored by South Jersey Gas,

committed to providing safe, reliable, affordable natural gas. Make the switch at southjerseygas.com slash lovemyhome. He has been, you know, for as much as we talk about Emundo, we talk about Cody Clemens and those guys stepping up with Trey Turner going out of the lineup, JT in the two hole has been beyond massive. JT in the two hole has been beyond massive. I mean, I think his average is still over.350 in the two hole, if not in the fours.

I mean, he's been ridiculous since Trey's gone down. And home run tonight, the 14,000th in Philly's history. Yes, Spike Eskin, two for two in his home run predictions the last two days. So JT's my play of the game. Had a big hit late to kind of extend the lead and turn this into a laugh or turn it into an 8-3 ball game. So, yeah, JT has been really, really good in the two-hole since Trey went down. Give us some thoughts on an MVP candidate and Schwarber here in a second. But let's go back to the phone. Steve's in Mount Laurel.

What's happening, Steve? Hey, Jack. How you doing? It's Steve Galwell, your buddy. Nice meeting you in Clearwater this spring. How are you? What's happening, pal? How you doing? Welcome to the final out. Listen, dude. I am not quite as old as your buddy

James Helter, man. I'm turning 40 this summer. I have never seen a Phillies team that makes me worry less than this team. And that makes me worry in the long run. For sure. I don't understand how they can go. They go down 2-0 with Taiwan on the mound. And, you know, I'm tweeting cockily on Twitter, this guy stinks. But in the back of my mind, I'm like, they're gonna

get out of it. This offense is too good. This team is too good. I don't quite understand what is going on. I don't know how to react. I'm sure you're the same way. Yeah, well, what's so funny, Steve, is like, you know, us sick Phillies fans, like, and the people I follow,

they're posting, you know, Hector Neris giving up a home run to Pablo Sandoval a couple years ago, Ian Kennedy, 19-11, Starling Marte off of Brandon Workman, and all those crushing, soul-crushing moments are starting to flood back in. And when you watch this team, it's almost like – it's almost like you feel nothing. Like, when they go down, it's just like, well, they'll figure out a way to come back and win tonight.

Exactly. I have full confidence in these guys, which is crazy after game six and seven last October. But, you know, I can't believe where they're at now. And if they have – I was telling your producer, if they have any less than six all-stars, it's a crime. I mean, you're talking about Trom, Sott, Boehm, Harper, Wheeler, and Suarez. I mean, how can you keep any of them out?

Well, and I think Nola might be working his way in there too. Right. You take out the Brave Star. You take out the Brave Star, I think Nola's ERA is like 2-4. Yeah. You're going to see some snubs for sure, especially if – it sounds like Trey is going to be back in a couple weeks. You know they're aiming for that London series,

which would be great to see him in. If he's back by early June, he could be in there as well. You're going to see some snubs, and maybe that's what we get upset over. But it's a great time to be a Philips fan, man. Yeah, appreciate the call, Steve. Good talking to you. And speaking of Bryce, you know, I feel like, because I've kind of been guilty of this too, where it's like, yeah, he's kind of been hot, cold, been more rollercoaster.

His numbers in May have been really good. He had the home run tonight. And I feel like the MVP talk around Bryce has been a little quiet. He's up to, I think, 6th in all of baseball in home runs. Kyle Tucker's had a really good start to the year. And Sho

has had a really good start to the year. But he's up to top 6 in home runs. He's got the highest OPS amongst first basemen. He's Bryce Harper. He's got the highest OPS amongst first basemen. He's Bryce Harper. He's playing good defense at first base. Like, Mookie had a really good start to the year.

Shohei is obviously doing his thing. I mean, Shohei, he's really good. But I feel like Bryce has been a little slept on when we were talking about the MVP all around baseball. And, again, last night when he hit the home run, you kind of see, like, here comes that patented Bryce streak. Hits the home run tonight

and I just... It kind of feels like we're about to have that two-week binge where Bryce really kind of cements himself. Right now, I'm just saying, he's plus 1,200 for the MVP. And I think that nationally his start to the season has been a little bit slept on. Average is still only like 277, 280-ish.

So I guess that, you know, you look at Joe Hayes batting 350, I guess. So, you know, he's obviously had a little bit better start when it comes from that standpoint. But I just, it feels like this patented Bryce run is definitely coming. And also Schwarber. You look at Bryce and Schwarber, and at the beginning of the year, as they go, the Phillies go, and Turner's in there as well. Schwarber only has one home run this month. But, quietly, a 400 on base percentage. He has the most walks in baseball, right back in it. like right back at the top of the most walks in baseball.

And I just think he's doing a good job. Like the strikeouts are still there, but I feel like he's doing a better job of not just being home run walk or strikeout. He's mixing in more singles. And I think that when he is starting to walk a ton and he is getting that OBP up around 400 in a month, that's when he's starting to see the baseball more, and that's why he usually has the June surge.

But only one home run in May, and it hasn't felt like he's really slumping. I think that's a good sign for Schwarber as we go along here. Anthony's in Philadelphia. What's happening, Ant? You know, I honestly couldn't be happier. We're driving home right now from that incredible game, and I just don't know how we could lose at this point.

I mean, we are the greatest team in baseball, and this is the best Phillies team I've ever seen. Yeah, and it's like, they go down, they come right back, no big deal, and then the way they just continually pounce on teams. Like they don't let them off the hook. I mean, they made four errors tonight, the Rangers did.

And it felt like the Phillies made them pay every single time. Like I'm so used to other teams making the Phillies pay for every little thing they did. And they're just flipping the script on, I feel like, what it's been like being a regular season Phillies fan for a long time. Yeah, I mean, you know, I just can't wait for June. I mean, June is like what I always consider like the month in the season where we're smacking home runs.

If we're not doing this good before June, you know, I'm just enjoying the ride. You know, I can't wait to, you know, of course I can't wait for Red October, but, I mean I'm just enjoying this regular season. We went to the game. There was like 39,000 people on a Wednesday night. Nobody is doing that. This is such a special moment in time if you're a Phillies fan.

It really is. Yeah, I totally agree and I appreciate the phone call. The Pitch Count tonight is sponsored by the Plumbers Union Local 690 protecting the health of the nation. Visit Plumbers690.org. Tywon Walker, 86 pitches tonight. And again, I thought Rob Thompson did a good job of knowing when to get him out of there.

He was a third of an inning away from getting another win. Getting another win for Tywon. He is a win merchant, but whatever. He did not get the win tonight. So, you know, it's just the Taiwan win thing is so funny to me. I guess it's like how people feel about the Schwarber win thing, but that's meaningful. Taiwan, though, again, I don't know.

I'm surprised. I'm surprised that guys aren't launching baseballs off him. Sometimes they are. They just happen to be right at people. He's striking out more people than I thought he was going to, but I never leave. I feel like every time he gets someone out, it's by mistake. That's how I feel watching Tywin Walker.

On the other side, we'll get to all your phone calls. If you're leaving the game, get in 215-592-9494. Are we seeing a Philly getting phased out? We'll get to the play of the game, plus a look ahead to tomorrow. All coming up next on the Final Loud on Sports Radio 94 WIP. The 0-1. Swung on, belted.

High and deep, forget about it. Way gone. Bryce Harper off the facing of the second deck. A moonshot for Harper. It's his 12th of the year. And it's 11-4 Phillies. Welcome back. It is the final out.

Sponsored by Regency Furniture. Yeah, listen. Bryce starting to heat up. Still think he's being slept on for MVP. And plus 1,200 right now for those of you that are interested in those kind of things. And I just... The only thing I care about, honestly, with Bryce is I just need him starting the All-Star game at first base. I'm so...

The fact that Craig Kimbrell and Nick Castellanos and Pat Neshek and these guys, well, Pat Neshek is like before Bryce, but whatever. You get the point. Pat Neshek was an all-star for the Phillies. And I haven't seen Bryce Harper in a Phillies uniform on the biggest stage, not in the World Series. It's insulting. So all I care about is that he is the starting first baseman.

And it's looking pretty good. Right now he is that he is the starting first baseman. And it's looking pretty good. Right now he's the highest OPS amongst first basemen. Freddie Freeman's had a bit of a down year for Freddie Freeman. Matt Olsen's had a down year for Matt Olsen. Alonzo's had a down year. Olsen and Alonzo's OPSs are in the 750s. It's crazy. So Bryce, again, raising his OPS tonight.

And I hope that he is. He'll be the, barring injury, he should be the starting first baseman in the All-Star game. The play of the game, sponsored by Mike's Amazing, the official mayo and mustard of the Phillies. And I'm actually going to go with the Amuno Sosa home run, and it launches me into the idea of are they phasing Witt out and Rob Thompson finding a feel for this team

and knowing when to get guys out, knowing who to trust, who he can go with, riding the hot hand. And I think you're starting to see Rob Thompson developing a really good feel for this ball club. And I was really pro the Witt-Maryfield signing

in the offseason. You know, $8.5 million. It's pretty expensive for a bench bat, but I thought he'd come in, get a hit, play some really good defense at second base and be able to stand at the other positions. Might just be done. I'm not writing him off. I'm not saying

he's done. I'm not saying that Billy's career is over. But there's also the reality that he's 35. He might just not have it anymore. He's adjusting to a bench role and that's kind of hindering him. And the way that Cody Clemens is playing and the way that Amundo Sosa is playing, they're not really giving Witt a chance to get in there and show what he can do.

Maybe he plays tomorrow. There's a lefty on the mound for the Rangers. Seems like a spot where they get Witt in there. But you also can't take Edmundo or Clemens out of the game. I mean, Edmundo has been really good since Trey's gone down. Now, JT is hitting.375 in the two-hole since Trey went down,

courtesy of our guy Richie in the Northeast, but Edmundo has been just as good in the shortstop spot. He struck out three times tonight, but had that big home run, and has been really, really good defensively. It feels like they're kind of phasing Witt out. Again, they did this

in 2022 with Didi and Oduble and Jerry Sramiglia, where they just pulled the plug and said, thank you, but we're going to go with different horses down the stretch run here. We'll see what happens with Witt. I would think he's probably in the lineup tomorrow.

Really, I hope it gets going because I think there's a really valuable player in there if they can get Witt Merrifield back to being Witt Merrifield. Josh is in Chester County. What's happening, Josh? Hey, Jack Fritz. How are you, my friend? Great to talk to you tonight. I'm doing

great, buddy. How are you? Yeah, doing great. I was at the game with my buddies. We had a phenomenal time. The last Phillies game that I was at was in 2021, and the team, needless to say, was not the team that they were now. Alec Boehm, kind of a joke back then. He had not a great night tonight, I felt like, but still, he's playing so well.

I was kind of okay with it. I know he had that bloop single earlier in the game, but, man, it was just so much fun. I had such a good time, and I had a question for you. I just wanted to get your take on this. What is different about this team versus the 2011

team? Because I want to get excited. I want to say this is a World Series team, but we had that same feeling in 2011. Obviously, they had already won a World Series. What's different about this team? Well, and I appreciate the phone call josh i i think the the difference for me is that i think that offense by that point was living more off reputation than like what they were putting out there on the field like the reputation was bombers all up and down the roster and up and down the lineup. It just wasn't the case. Again,

I think Ryan Howard was the only Philly in 2011 that had more than 20 home runs in a year. So, yeah. So, Howard had 33 and Ibanez had 20. No one else had more than 20 home runs. So, I just think that, you know, Ali was obviously coming back from injury. He only played like 100 games that year. So I think that offense that year was living off of reputation and who they were in the past versus what they kind of put out there. I think this bullpen on paper is better. You know, that bullpen ended up being pretty good.

Madsen was a closer that year. Had 32 saves. That was the Mike Stutes run. I love Mike Stutes. Bastardo came up that year, I believe. They had guys that had good years. I just think that there's more stuff in this bullpen.

Rotation-wise, listen. Howley, Lee, and Hamels, they were both all-stars that year. Oswald pitched to a 3-6. listen, Howley, Lee, and Hamels, they were all All-Stars that year. Oswald pitched to a 3-6. Vance Worley gave them 21 starts and pitched to a 3-ERA. So, obviously, their rotation is really, really good. I guess the one way to answer that is that was also a World Series team. They just fell short.

It sucks, but ultimately, it is baseball. Things can go wrong for five days in October. Things can just go wrong. And they went wrong for the 11 Phillies. They can both be World Series caliber teams. It just comes down to if you can get the job done or not.

The way this team is playing and the way they're built, I mentioned it last night on the final out. I mentioned it on my morning walks with walk. Phil's thoughts is they are really a good combination of all those teams from the run, from 07 to 11. You know, they have the offense of the 07-08 teams. They have the bullpen of the 08 team. They have, I think, the pitching staff or starting staff of the 11 team.

And I think they have the smart baseball of that entire run. This is a pretty smart baseball team. Do they make some errors in the base pass? Sure. But I think that they are generally a smart baseball team that plays solid defense finally, given what we've seen in the last couple of years. And they're just a wagon right now. Alex is in Bethhlehem what's

happening alex yeah jack it's just incredible man this this team is being mentioned with the likes of the 01 mariners the 90s brave and it has everything to do with dave dombrowski i mean he's the guy who found edmundo sosa when he was batting 180 in St. Louis. And he's the guy who paid Matt Strom when other executives were crying about Dombrowski resetting the market. It was a bunch of garbage because Dombrowski knew exactly what he was doing. And Strom is such a valuable player. I mean, look, our starters already go seven-plus innings, but when they don't, we have Matt Strom and a host of other arms. It's just, to echo what the other callers have said,

just so much fun to watch this team on a nightly basis, man. Yeah, and listen, people will say, well, what about Taiwan and Castellanos for that? And listen, I am shocked Castellanos is this shaky at the plate. I thought they were getting at least 280, 25 homer, a lot of doubles.

I'm surprised he's been this meh. And Taiwan I was not a huge fan of, but he does take down innings. I get it. But everything else, I mean, it's hard to spot the losses for Nebraska. And look at where the team's gone. Like, Klintak, I think it's kind of like getting the Ed Wade credit,

where it's like, well, Ed Wade technically did not draft, you know, Rollins, Utley, Howard, Hamels. It was Mike Arbuckle. But regardless, like, Ed Wade started getting credit when that team went on a run. I think we're starting to do that with Klintak. You look at Wheeler, you look at Real Muto, you look at drafting Bowman-Stott, you look at Harper,

but Dombrowski is doing the Gillick thing, where he knows how to build a winning baseball team, and I think that's been the biggest difference. Yeah, I think you're spot on. You mentioned some futures bets, man.

How about the Phillies, man? Still 5-1 in some places to win the pennant and 10-1 to win the World Series. Look, this team should not be the fourth or fifth team in the pecking order to win the World Series. I'm putting my money on this team to go all the way, Jack. Yeah, I appreciate the phone call, Alex. They're finally just leaped, I guess, the Braves in division odds.

Whoa, that's crazy. All right, coming up tomorrow, Zach Wheeler on the mound versus Andrew Heaney. Zach Wheeler, up, down, up, down. Had a bad start against Miami. Was pretty good in his last start. Hopefully he can, like it's funny, he's pitching to a 2-5 right now. It's like, well, he needs to round back into form with the start tomorrow.

So it's a getaway day before they go on a West Coast trip. Feels like a lay down spot, but I don't know if this team lays down. So Zach Wheeler, Andrew Heaney on the mound for the Rangers. Pretty good stuff. He might stifle the fills for a little bit, but they're probably going to come through and win a ballgame. What a team. What a time. Enjoy this. We might be talking about this

team for a long, long time around here. That's going to do it for me. Ben Kenney produced the program tonight. Broads! Hunter Brody. He'll take you through the rest of the night here on Sports Radio 94 WIP.