High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Final Out: Ranger Suarez Is 9-0

Episode Date: May 22, 2024

Jack Fritz reacts to Ranger Suarez improving to 9-0 and Bryce Harper leading to offense in Tuesday night's win over the 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

Make your nights unforgettable with American Express. Unmissable show coming up? Good news. We've got access to pre-sale tickets so you don't miss it. Meeting with friends before the show? We can book your reservation. And when you get to the main event, skip to the good bit using the card member entrance.

Let's go seize the night. That's the powerful backing of American Express. Visit amex.ca slash yamex. Benefits vary by car and other conditions apply. All-star closer, Kenley Jansen, we have a question. What's the best podcast of all time? Baseball isn't boring, baby. I'm Rob Bradford, and every single day I'm sitting down with the biggest names

to show you this great game is the greatest game. It's my podcast. It's my passion. It's a cause I started more than two years ago. It is now the most prolific national daily baseball pod there is. Another fact. So jump aboard the B.I.B. Express. Follow and listen to Baseball Isn't Boring, presented by Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage on the free Odyssey app

or wherever you get your podcasts. Two balls, two strikes. Here's the pitch. Swing and a miss on a ball in the dirt. JT will pick it up. Seager walking away is tagged out for the final out. And the Phillies again take a series opener. They start their matchup with the defending champs with a 5-2 win tonight

as the Phillies have now won 14 of the last 15 series openers. And Ranger Suarez is now 9-0. What a start. But who have they played? Who have they played? 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 Tuesday night reacting to another just phenomenal, phenomenal Phillies win down at Citizens Bank Park. The game wrap-up is sponsored by Blazer Swiss Lube and Kravitz, the metalworking fluid specialist providing professional CNC machine cleaning, coolant maintenance programs, and waste coolant disposal Crevice.online

Hey man, first off, what an atmosphere. I mean, for a Tuesday night in May, listen, I know they went through the sellout streak back in I don't know, 08 through 12 I guess, 250 some straight sellouts. But man, it certainly feels

like we are right back into that where this fan base is just totally all in. And they were loud all night. Ninth inning kind of felt like a playoff game. It was electric in there. So if you're leaving the ballpark, you're still stuck in traffic, we'd love to hear from you. 215-592-9494.

As we revel in a team that has the best record in baseball, and for the first time in franchise history, first time in franchise history, they have gone on a run winning 27 of 33 games. That's

insane. No matter who you play, winning 27 of 33 games, like, it's hard to compute. This isn't basketball. I mean, basketball, if you have a better team, if you have more talent, you're very likely going to win the game. Baseball, again, the worst teams in baseball generally win 60 plus games a year. again, the worst teams in baseball generally win 60 plus games a year. It's incredibly

impressive what this team is doing and it was good to see against a team that, yeah, like Adelius Garcia goes down and obviously he's a really big force in that lineup, but the Rangers have some players.

They're now under 500. Bullpen's a some players. They're now under.500. Bullpen's a bit shaky. They're injured, obviously. But still, like, they've got a pulse. The Phillies haven't exactly played the murderous row of teams in the last stretch they've been on. We all know that. But it was nice to see them show up tonight

and win convincingly against, again, the defending World Series champ. Let's get into it all. The biggest takeaway of the game is brought to you by Morgan & Morgan, America's largest injury firm. Biggest takeaway number one is Ranger yet again. You know, I mean, what a scrub, though. You know, he only dropped his ERA from 1.37 to 1.36 tonight. I mean, is it even that impressive anymore?

But, yeah, I thought Rangers didn't have his best, best36 tonight. I mean, is it even that impressive anymore? But yeah, I thought Rangers didn't have his best, best stuff tonight. You know, he's hovering 89 to 92, whereas when he's been on on, it's been more 92, 94. And the most impressive part about Ranger is that even when he's off, he still just finds a way to get

through innings and get through the lineup a couple times because he can throw so many pitches for strikes. So when he can throw so many pitches for strikes. So when you can throw so many pitches for strikes, hitters have no idea what's really coming and that's how Ranger, even when he doesn't have his best stuff, it never

snowballs into, okay, five innings, four runs. It seems like obviously he'll have bad-ish starts but that's why I feel like it never seems like he gets rocked out there. And just tonight, some tough decisions by Rob Thompson. That was my other big takeaway tonight,

is I thought it was a good Rob Thompson night from the standpoint of he stuck with Ranger in the seventh tonight. And if you watch enough baseball, you watch around the league, that is a spot where all these managers, we press the panic button. He has a runner on first base. We got to get him out. And Rob Thompson stuck with Ranger Suarez. And I think that kind of stuff just matters. I think it matters when you talk about the makeup of this team and you talk about how this team is wired and how they get up to the start that they have, they believe that the manager has their back. The manager believes in these guys,

and sure, is there times where it's going to backfire? I mean, look at Tom Walker's first two starts of the year. People are complaining, well, he's out there for the seventh. He's out there for the seventh, and the seventh inning doesn't go well. But what that is showing is that Rob Thompson believes in those guys, and if you've played sports, when a coach believes in you, you get so much more out of you. So I thought Rob Thompson sticking with Ranger tonight, and Ranger's given him no reason to pull him in that situation. It's not like there's been a long track record of him not being able to get out of

a situation like that. But I just think that little stuff like that, even if it would have cost him, I think is important. Because having the belief and having the trust that your guy's going to go out and get a job done is huge.

Now, while he did show loyalty and trust in Ranger Suarez, I thought it was also the correct decision to pull Jeff Hoffman, who didn't have his best off. I mean, Corey Seager just jumped on a fastball and hit it out. A little bleeder up the middle. No, it wasn't a bleeder. It was a semi-decent hit.

And then the last hit was just kind of squeaked by into left field. Not big red flags for Jeff Hoffman, but he brings in Matt Strom, lefty on lefty, to get out of that. And I know it sounds simplistic, but that is a good microcosm of Rob Thompson having a good feel for this baseball team. Trust Ranger knows when to get Hoffman out. And that matters the most when it comes to October and it comes to playoff

baseball, two and five, five, nine, two 94, 94 Ranger yet again, just continuing to, to,

to have an unbelievable start to the season. And my, my final big takeaway from, for the, for the game tonight, before we go to all the phones here, is I love the way that they're scoring on offense. We have fun with Howard talking about slug,

and we talk about hitting home runs, and that's the only way they can score runs. And to an extent, I agree with him. I don't think it can just be all long ball all the time. I think versatile ways to score matters when it comes to the postseason. And just the ways in which this offense can beat you right now is really good. I mean, only one home run tonight. It seems like a lot of their scoring outbursts or the nights they score 5-6, it hasn't been three home runs.

It hasn't been these guys kind of going off for the long ball, which we know isn't always sustainable. What's sustainable is base hits, is two-out hitting. I know Brandon Marsh got thrown out tonight at the plate, but that's another two-out RBI. I think Schwarber had a two-out RBI earlier in the game. That kind

of little stuff matters. And being able to put the ball in play and driving the ball into the gap, because that's kind ofump proof if you're if you're a home runner bust then you you're just so much more prone to go through prolonged slumps and and the way that they're scoring right now it just makes it feel so much more sustainable so So I just, I continue to believe more and more in the offense when they're playing like this rather than when it's home run or bust. I just think that this is sustainable. 2-1-5, 5-9-2, 94-94, a really, really good night down at the ballpark.

Let's get to the phones. Liam's in Pennsville. What's happening, Liam? Hey, how's it going? Long time listener, first time caller. Appreciate it, man. I just really want to know what we got to do about Castellanos here. I feel like everything's

clicking with this team. I just hate to be that guy, but Castellanos, I don't know. It's hard to watch. Aren't we starting to get a little too obsessed with Castellanos? Like, they're 21 games over 500. Like, they're just letting him kind of play through it. He hasn't killed them from that standpoint.

And if he sucks, he sucks. But, like, they just beat the defending World Series champs 5-2. Ranger was really good. Again, they scored in a multitude of ways. Like, I just can't do the Castellanos, oh, my God, like, fatalistic thing. It's like we have to point out the one thing that kind of sucks right now. It's a good night, Liam. Live a little bit.

I mean, when it comes to October, though, we had the hole in the lineup last year with Rojas. I mean, we got two guys that we can't count on in October. I don't know. I don't know. Yeah, and I got you, Liam. I also think that a lot of the guys last year, you know, Boehm wasn't this last year in the postseason.

I think Stott's taking a step forward. JT's been a good postseason performer the last couple years. You know, like I just, like Castellanos did have three hits on Sunday. I know it's like grasping at straws when it comes to just begging for him to kind of figure it out. I guess much of the mindset of they're going to play, they're going to let him play through it. Hopefully we get this Castianos hot streak.

I don't really believe he's cooked. I just don't. And I'm okay with letting him kind of just play through. And if he gets hot, he gets hot. If not, they have to make an adjustment. But when you're 21 games over.500 on May 21st, you can just keep riding him out there and see what's going to happen. Hopefully one day the switch flips and bang, there's Nick Cassianos who can get

on the hot streak and kind of carry a ball club for a little bit. And then around the deadline, which is July 31st, if they have to make a move, they have to make a move. I don't think they're going to let Cassianos sink the season, but we'll see. 2-1-5, 5-9-2, 94-94 to get in. If you're stuck in traffic, would love to hear from you on the final out. On the other side, the pitch count and the player of the game plus. There's something that opposing teams are doing to a current Philly,

and he's letting the game come to him, and we're seeing a different player at the plate. I think it's kind of funny. So we'll get to 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 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, target share, and all the position that's going to make or break your fantasy roster. Wide receivers. We analyze route running, target share, and all the metrics that matter, giving you the insights you need to draft the best wide receivers. As you prep for your draft, let us give you the coverage you need. Follow and listen to Reception Perception on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. And a 2-2 pitch.

Strike three. Call. Got him looking. And it's a 10-strikeout game tonight for Ranger Suarez as he ties his career high. No runs. One hit. One left. And Ranger dazzling against the Rangers tonight.

Welcome back. It is the final out sponsored by Regency Furniture. Affordable never looks so good. Yes, Ranger Suarez continuing to dominate the pitch count tonight. It is sponsored by the Plumbers Union Local 690, protecting the health of the nation. Visit Plumber690.org

108 pitches for Ranger Suarez tonight, which is a good amount of pitches. I've made the comparison before, and he continues to just bear it out, it seems like, every single start. He just reminds me of Cliff Lee.

When Cliff Lee would get on a run, it'd be bing, bang, boom, done. It wasn't 97, it wasn't 98, but it was accurate, it was in and out, it was rushing right, he's in, good it was accurate. It was in and out. It was rushing right. He's in. Good changeup away. It's like watching Cliff Lee all over again.

It's different than watching Cole. Cole was more methodical. Ranger is just get it, go, field your position. He is a throwback pitcher. I mean, he is a throwback pitcher's pitcher. He reminds you of 90s guys when they want to go glavin'. I don't know.

But if you are a baseball fan, I guess, over the age of 30, because obviously I remember Cliff Lee, this is what it used to be like. And it's super fun to watch. It's super fun to watch a guy who doesn't have overpowering stuff. I obviously love watching guys with overpowering stuff. It's super fun. watch. It's super fun to watch a guy that doesn't have overpowering. I obviously love watching guys with overpowering stuff.

It's super fun. But watching a guy that is living at 91, 92, and just knows how to pitch, the art of pitching, pitching in its purest form is an art. And it is just consistent masterpieces being painted by Ranger Suarez right now. Like, he is a pitcher's pitcher. And there was multiple times tonight that a couple of Rangers righties were just fooled on fastballs up. And they didn't know what to do with them. And it's just, he is a machine right now.

Part of that report is also the injury report. Trey, before the game, did a lot of good stuff. He was, I guess, going 80%. He was hitting on the field. They seem to have this, I mean, he's progressing at a pretty fast pace here. They're playing a lot of Cody Clemons. They're playing a lot of Edmundo Sosa, which is good. Those guys are out there.

It's been interesting. Not as much Whitmerryfield, which they signed for $8.5 million. I don't think they're going to give up on him. But it seems like they're kind of squeezing him out in the time being for the hot bats and Cody Clemons and Amuno Sosa, which it's a bit of a change of course. I feel like they usually stick with guys with track records, and Whitmerryfield is certainly that.

So they're going more with the hot bats. I don't know what they do. I really don't. It's a tough position to be in. I tend to think that they're just going to send down Cody Clemens and say, thank you for your help. I mean, last year, Andrew Ellis hit like three home runs in two games and they sent him back down. I mean, how many people even remember the Drew Ellis run of last year, Buzz? I mean, it was a magical weekend down in Washington, but he was sent back down. Rob Ellis certainly remembers. Oh, well, who could forget?

They are brethren. But yeah, I just think they're just going to send down Cody Clemens, and if they need him again, he'll be back up here if he continues to rake down in AAA, and Witt doesn't look like he's turning it around by the trade deadline. Maybe they bring him back up, and they

move on from Merrifield again. I've talked about this a good amount, but they cut Didi, they cut Oduble, they cut Jerry Sarmilla in 2022, and that was late in the season. Those are some veteran guys and went with younger, less established players. So we'll kind of see what happens there.

Let's go back to the phones. 215-592-9494 to get in. Dave's in Maryland. What's happening, brother? Hey, man. This is special to watch every night. Just the fact that, you know, tonight you give up the run to make it 3-2 and then immediately bounce back and score 2.

Yeah. It's just they're playing just winning baseball and in every aspect of it too. I mean, they've made mistakes. They made an error tonight on the play late in the game for Boehm, but like they just rebound and they cover for each other so well. And the caller before, you know, talking about Castellanos, what this team has done is allowed him to work out of it.

And if he does, great. It's just another piece. And this team is just so fun to watch. I'm heading up to my first game on Thursday. Wow. I can't wait. And just getting ready to enjoy it.

It's just so enjoyable. It's so weird, Dave. This is going to sound odd, but I almost get excited when they go down. When they go down by a run, I'm like, oh, sweet. Let's see how they come back tonight. It's awesome.

A little adversity. And what's awesome about it is that the Braves have to look up at the scoreboard every day, like we've had to do for so long. And they're just looking up and they won again. They won again. They won again. And that has to wear on you as a team that's chasing. And obviously, we've done it for years.

And it's nice for the shoe to be on the other foot. Yeah, well, they've won 27 of 33 games, which feels impossible. And I appreciate the phone call, Dave. It's just awesome right now. And I think why it feels like the city is just so behind them. Obviously they're winning, and that matters. But I do think that the style of play is something that every single type of baseball fan can get behind.

Like, obviously, I'm younger. Obviously, I am mostly pro-analytics. But, like, this is a perfect combination of it all. I mean, you have the throwbackness of a ranger, of these guys throwing deep into games. I think they do the little things pretty well. Obviously, bunting's not a huge part of the game, but

generally, when there's a runner on third base less than two outs, I think they know how to get the job done there. I think for the younger baseball fan, they're a lot of fun. For the older baseball fan that maybe has been turned off by the, you know, you get all worked up about launch angle and exit velocity and stuff like that, I think you can appreciate what this Phillies team is because I think that they are –

I think the Phillies are a super talented – like I'm not – super team is a big term to throw around. talented. Super team is a big term to throw around, but I think they are a mega talented throwback team. You look at this roster compared to the 07 to 11 teams, and yeah, the offenses in 07 and 08 were probably better on paper, but this team is averaging more runs per game. Then it's like, okay, well, even if the offenses are a wash or you believe in 08, 08's offense more, then it's like, okay, well, this rotation is essentially the 11 rotation right now. So you have the 08 offense with the 11 rotation combined with a bullpen that I love that 08 bullpen, but it was Lidge having an out-of-body experience. I mean, he went 48 for 48.

Madsen was – you put Madsen in this bullpen, it's the same thing. I mean, Madsen was just sick. And then it was like J.C. Romero out of nowhere and Clay Condries of the world and getting Scott Ayer off of the waivers. And, yeah, they – and Chad Durbin. Sorry, did not mean to disrespect Chad Durbin, who I was a huge fan of. But it's like those guys were more pitchers than like power stuff. JC had power stuff. Madsen had power stuff.

Lidge had the slider. But it's like you look at this bullpen, and even if you think the 08 bullpen is better, it's like they're pretty comparable. So you have the 08-ish lineup, 08 bullpen, 11 starting staff, all mixed into one, and they play the game in a really clean way. I mean, that's what we're watching right now. It's just unbelievable. 215-592,

94-94. The one player I wanted to bring up, because it's so fascinating, and Kevin Stocker pointed this out, and it is interesting. It seems like teams have completely changed how they've pitched to Schwarber, and they're trying to beat him up with fastballs. And all he's doing is getting on top of it and ripping singles. Would we like more home runs? Sure. He only has nine. We know that June's coming. But he's kind of just letting the game come to him. And, you know, the ball's up in the zone.

He's just kind of taking it and ripping it into right field. It doesn't feel like the strikeouts have been there as much. But I wonder if that's the adjustment to Schwarber to where he can't lift and launch it is live with the singles and hope that he can't, you know, hit it out of the ballpark with like a laser,

you know, to kind of mitigate the 47 home runs that he's had the last couple of years. It'll be a fascinating watch, you know, watching these, these teams kind of combat the power swing because he hasn't hit a home run in what feels like a long, long time here.

So maybe that's pitching up in the zone and not letting his hands get to it and drive it out of the ballpark. The 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. You ever just feel a home run coming? I mean, they've had Bryce Harper at bat, and Bryce Harper is my Player of the Game tonight,

a double and a home run, which was called by Spike Eskin on the afternoon show today with leading off. You could just feel that coming. He was all over that left-year reliever that came in. He was launching baseball's foul, just missing it by a millimeter, and then bang, a big fly there. And now Bryce so far in, in may is off to a good start. And I tweeted the Bryce run was coming. We might be in the middle of the Bryce run.

So, um, so far in may Bryce Harper is batting. I believe three, three 50 something. Oh, it got deleted. Oh, well I believe, 350-something. Oh, it got deleted. Oh, well. I'll look it up later.

But either way, it feels like this Bryce kind of surge is coming in. And with Schwarber, you know, June's right around the corner. Harper, he's had these games where it's bang, there's a home run, and it's a three-for-five game. It feels like it's been more rollercoaster for Bryce. Getting those two on any semblance of a tear like we know they can go on would just be massive for this team. So I feel this Bryce run coming a little bit here,

and that at-bat tonight was like, yeah, he's going to launch one if he leaves one out over the middle of the plate. Wayne is in Ocean City. What's happening, Wayne? Great game to be at. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, electric atmosphere.

When June, July, and August, end of this season, he'll have 20 to 25 homes when it becomes his season. Who, Schwarber or Harper? Castellanos. Both of them will have well over that. But Castellanos will have at least 20 homers when it becomes hidden season. Last week he had five or six balls that did like the warning track that are going to leave in a three, four weeks.

Yeah, I haven't given up on him. You know, he had three hits yesterday. He ripped the ball up the middle. I think there's still a good hitter in there. I don't see a guy that's cooked. I think he's just a little bit off. The nice part is that they are 21 games over 500, so they can kind of live with it right now.

Yeah, and I don't know if they showed it on TV, but being at the game, it was just a class act how they showed Lorenzen's no-hitter and then went on to him in the dugout, and the crowd gave him a great ovation, and he tipped his cap saying thank you to the fans. And I thought it was just a class act how the Phillies did that.

I didn't know if anyone. Well, yeah, I saw some tweets about it, and I heard it on the radio. But, yeah, I thought that was a really good touch. I mean, the Phillies are a first-class organization, so I wouldn't expect anything less. Now, does Murray Field have a no-trade contract? No, but I don't think anyone's going to really trade for him at this point. Okay.

Is that it? I don't know. If you could maybe take a contract if someone has three or four years left that teams don't think they have three or four the player has three or four years left well why would you yeah but like

what kind of I don't even know a player we would even be talking about that you'd take you'd rather just get Merrifield off your books than take another guy with three extra years on his contract. Or maybe a team that needs a backup and get two single-A prospects. That way you could keep Clemens there. Yeah. And fit in while he's not.

Yeah, I mean, we'll see what they do. I don't think he's going to have a robust trade market with Merrifield, but I hope he can figure it out at the plate because I do think he was... He's obviously a really good player for a long time, and it'd be a shame that... Because having the ability to play second, third, outfield

is nice, but Cody Clemens is just playing better right now. It kind of is what it is. 215-592-9494. To get in on the other side, could we be looking at something that hasn't happened around here in a long, long time, plus the play of the game? And we'll look ahead to tomorrow,

all coming up next on the Final Hour on Sports Radio 94 WIP. Here comes Harper. He will score. And automatic Alec comes through again. As he gives the Phillies the lead, it's 2-1. Welcome back. It is the final out. Presented by Regency Furniture.

Affordable. Never looked so good. Automatic Alec. Pretty good nickname from Scott Franski there. And that is our Play of the Game. Sponsored by Mike's Amazing, the official mayo and mustard of the Phillies. So, why that's Play of the Game is that that gives Alec Baum 44 RBIs on the year. And I just wonder, it's obviously very early, but could we be seeing 150 RBI season from Alec Boehm?

Ryan Howard, no six, through 48 games. Yeah, through 40. Oh, man. So, they're on the exact same pace. Through 48 games, Ryan Howard had 44 RBI. And after tonight, Alec Boehm has 44 RBI, which is pretty ridiculous and obviously shows how great the season has been for Alec. Now, the best stat I saw tonight on Alec Boehm's historic start to the season

is from our friend Anthony Sanfilippo, who tweeted out this. He said, just one more note on Alec Boehm. Up to the minute, he is on pace for 17 home runs and 142 RBI. The last time a major league player finished a season with that many RBI and that few home runs was 1894. 1894. I would think Boehm's going to hit over 20 home runs, but imagine if that holds up. It's

pretty ridiculous. By the way, Richie in the Northeast checks in on the Harper stat that I thought I had, but I ended up not. He's up to 359 in May with five home runs and an 18 RBI, so he's got an OPS over a thousand in May. So that Bryce run is definitely coming. And could we be seeing a 150 RBI season from Alec Boehm? I don't know, but it's been a ridiculous start. Now I was going to give play of the game to whatever Ezekiel Durant was doing

in left field tonight. I mean, Buzz, have you ever seen a left fielder play a game like he did tonight that like wasn't Reese Hoskins out there? It was ridiculous. It was just running all over the place and sticking his glove up and going, look what I found.

And he caught every one. He caught every one. So, man, it was pretty insane. Let's go back to phones and close it out with Kashmir, who, I mean, are you back, buddy? I mean, you're full bore. You're back on the final out. it out with cashmere who i mean are you back buddy i mean you're you're you're full full bore you're back on the final out well i know man it's like can i man i'm just too excited right now with this team i just can't get enough of it i mean another great night just

another great night i mean but apparently you know but apparently still we don't uh apparently it doesn't count still because you know the team technically is now under 500 because, again, we put them there. But, you know, I digress. Yep. It's ridiculous. It's ridiculous, Kashmir. Yeah. Unfortunately, Jack, I hate to say this, but, I mean,

it's just kind of the fact of the reality is, you know, when I hear these national pundits or they kind of talk to these fans on social media because I'm in a couple Phillies and Braves chats, we're never going to get the respect that we really deserve until we actually do play like the Yankees of the world, the Orioles of the world, the Dodgers of the world, the Braves of the world again, or the Mariners of the world. We're just not going to get that respect until we actually play a team

that's like way over 500. But it's like, I don't know what you want us to do. We're 33 and we're 27 and 6 in the last 33 games. I know. I know. 27 of 33 is so hard to comprehend, Kashmir, given the baseball that we've seen them play in the regular season over the last couple years. Again, no team in franchise history has ever done this no and and it and here's the fact of

the matter here's what i'll tell you jack right so traditionally at least the notary the last two years we don't really start playing until june for whatever reason we don't start playing until june that's when we start playing our best baseball like obviously we were 21 and we were 21 and 29 starting june 1st we were uh i think we were 29 and 35 just last year june 5th um and now like obviously now that we're 35 and 14 i just like it's like here's the thing we've actually played from june the traditionally the last two years jack we've actually played at a 95 win pace and a 97 win pace from June on the last

two seasons. So it's not like this is a big enough sample size to show, okay, this is actually, and the team that was actually in the World Series two seasons ago and was literally one win away from going back to the World Series again last season.

So it's not like they don't have a sample size of how good we are, and it's not like we don't have the same talent on the team that's actually added. I don't understand what these national pundits or the national media is looking at in terms of baseball or some of the other fans or some of our fans that may not want to buy on Boyd with his team yet. I don't know. But, hey, it's whatever real thing before i hang up you know i love analytics and everything and i do and i think it's great but you know what i think the phillies are kind of reinventing the wheel here a little bit let me let me just tell you real quick like 10 seconds

so wheeler nola and ranger none of them really throw over 98 to 100 none of them really throw besides wheeler on a on a day, he could probably throw 98. But he really can't throw 98 anymore. You know, that was 2019, 2020, 2021. That was his best year throwing, you know, in terms of, like, throwing high velocity. We really don't have pitchers that can do that because we actually have pitchers that know how to pitch. And you as a pitcher, I'm sure you know, you've got to go in and out. You've got to go side to side.

You've got to go up and down. You've got to change eye levels. You've got to change speeds. And you just have to know how to pitch. And that's the thing. It's like all of these pitchers, Nola, Ranger, Wheeler, even Sanchez, even Sanchez, they know how to, Sanchez is starting to learn

how to pitch they're really learning how to really get to a batter without throwing 97 every single every single every single pitch and striking out 15 batters a game I get it's fun it's it's fun to see that but we really have that in the bullpen which which I would prefer. And also it's like, like you said, we don't need five, six, seven home runs. We don't need to hit home runs like, like the Braves did last year, the last couple of years. And that's one of the reasons why they probably struggled in the postseason against us because we kept them in the ballpark. The reason why, like you said,

this is slump proof and the reason why I really believe our team performs in the postseason so much, we don't need the home run to score we can got we you know what oh we have a guy on first and second and third last couple of jack i mean i mean how many times do we see you know the phillies not score with a with faces loaded nobody out or second and third nobody out second and third one out and we wouldn't be able to score. Now it's like, oh, Bryce made it out? Oh, no big deal. Bumble's coming in. He'll take care of it.

He'll get another RBI. Yeah. And it's like I already knew Stott was going to get an RBI. I already knew he was going to get an RBI. Because that's just what he does. He just puts the bat on the ball and either gets base hits or puts the ball in the outfield. They just have professional hitters.

And it's really impressive to watch. Yeah, it really is, Cashmere, and I appreciate the phone call. They're doing the little things right. And I've been honest for a while. The Phillies starting staff is saving baseball. In a generation, in an era where pitchers aren't going deep into ballgames, the Phillies are turning back the clock, and they're letting their starters cook. And I just think it's so much more healthy for baseball when that's the case,

when you're letting your starters go deep into games, trusting them. It's more fun for fans. And once again, not only did Philadelphia save baseball with the crowds and the excitement they've brought to the sport the last two postseasons, now they're doing it on the field with the pitching staff going deep into baseball games. 215-592-

9494 is how you'll get into Jody Mack. Is Jody Mack coming up next there, Buzz? Jody Mack attack. Wow, we got a Mack attack coming up. I don't know why. I gave the phone number, but whatever. It's all good. It's a Tuesday night hang. It's a Tuesday night hang. It's a Tuesday night hang.

Reacting to another Phil's win tomorrow. Tywon Walker got over the foot injury versus Andrew Heaney who listen, he's always had pretty interesting stuff so I wouldn't be surprised if he gives the Phil's fits for a little bit.

But they'll probably figure it out. Either way Tywon Walker, I thought it was trending towards a loss and a possible blow-up start against the Mets in his last outing before he got hit in the toe. We'll see what he's got tomorrow night. Either way, the afternoon show, we will have you set with leading off, and I'll be back

after the game reacting to it all here on WIP. Buzz Wilson produced the program tonight. Again, Jody Maxx coming up next. He'll take you through the rest of the night here on Sports Radio 94 WIP.