High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Final Out: Reacting to Cristopher Sanchez's Latest Gem

Episode Date: June 9, 2026

Jack Fritz overcomes spotty internet to give his thoughts on the Phillies' series opening win over the Blue Jays on Monday night. Presented by Miller Lite.To purchase Ring The Bell by Jack Fritz and Kevin Reavy go to RingTheBellBook.comTo buy tickets for the High Hopes Night in Reading CLICK HERE.

Miller Light, the official beer partner of your Philadelphia Phillies, is proud to serve as presenting sponsor of WIP's High Hopes Pod. So whether you're listening to the game, catching off on the latest High Hopes pod or at the ballpark. Remember, it tastes like Miller time, Phillies fans. Celebrate responsibly. Welcome on in. It is the final out. Jack Fritz hanging out with you here on Sports Radio 94 WIP. Reacting to a Phillies win tonight up in Toronto as they are.

Sort of just taking care of business. They are back in the mode of... I mean, they've been in this way for a little bit now, obviously 27 and 11 under Don Mattingly right now. So, listen, they are certainly doing their part and they are getting back in the win column and just playing pretty good baseball. The game wrap-up is sponsored...

Sorry, the Final Out is sponsored by the Philadelphia Parking Authority, offering valet park at Philadelphia Airport. So, yeah, the Phillies win tonight. 5-2 as they go up to Toronto and take a very, very important game one. 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.

Again, 215-592, 94-94 to get in and react. This one, one where they scored some runs early, kind of shut it down, and Chris Sanchez was masterful. Speaking of that, the biggest takeaways of the game are brought to you by Morgan. And Morgan, America's largest injury law firm. And yes, Chris Sanchez is my biggest takeaway of the game. He was brilliant yet again. Now, by Chris Sanchez standards, he was fighting himself. All right, welcome back.

It is the final out. Jack, Fritz hanging out with you. having a little bit of internet issues here, so that's good on the old home front. Hopefully that won't happen again. But we were into the biggest takeaways of the game, which were brought to you by Morgan and Morgan, America's largest injury law firm.

And, yeah, my big takeaway was Sanchez, who, for the most part, was really good tonight. And there was some big moments late. Sixth inning allows a double to start the game. And then... and then strikes in the next three batters, including Vladimir Guerrera Jr. to get out of that inning.

And, I mean, if you listened to me before, you know that I'm a big fist-pump guy with pitchers that they let out a big fist pump. You know, that's a lot of emotion that has poured out. It's hard to kind of recapture and go back out there and have the adrenaline flowing game. Well, Sanchez did that. Now, in the seventh, he also was in a bit of a tight spot runner

in scoring position. It was a 5-2 ball game. he had some wiggle room, but still you want to kind of shut that down. And he did. Those two big back-to-back innings where, you know, an ace, that's kind of stepping up when your team needs it. And again, it was only 5-2, 5-0 at one point. He had some wiggle room to where he didn't have to be completely perfect. And he just kind of managed it.

And especially that 6th inning was really, really big stuff from him. So Sanchez, I did think he was fighting himself a little bit, but I didn't think that, and again, there was some hard contact and that Blue Jay's offense, at least last year in the World Series. You know, we talked about how, you know, it felt like they found every single gap if they could. So, yeah, I overall, it wasn't like the most crisp Sanchez game. But again, seven plus, or seven innings, 10 plus strikeouts. it's like his his standard is just so high

that when he's not perfect it's like wow not his best start and then you take a step back it's like still pretty dang good so Chris Sanchez was was great tonight and went up there and really helped his team out

and got a big game one especially because the Dylan sees tomorrow and then Max Scherzer off the IL next two games so being able to take care of business against Patrick Corbyn was certainly important tonight. The other big takeaway I had was the offense where it was really the story of both good and bad, because the good is early, they were looking apart.

Patrick Corbyn, obviously, not the same guy that he used to be, but it's had pretty good numbers this year at least. and, you know, early, it was refreshing. They were taking their walks. Brandon Marsh got hit by a pitch. Adoli Garcia hit a home run. They kept the line moving. You know, Bohm got a hit. Real Muto got a hit.

And kind of looked like we were on our way to a nice little laffer with Sanchez in the mound. Unfortunately, it didn't end up that way. But they kind of just shut it down after that, which was annoying. Like, we've seen the Phillies do that in the past, and it's like, come on, guys. Like, given where we are, run differential-wise, where we're still in the negatives, but all of a sudden, you're like six games over now. We got to start getting that thing in the green so people don't think that we're a fraudulent team.

But at least early, they were doing the good things. They were keeping the line moving. And that was good to see. but like simeon woods richerson was so bad that he got cut from one of the worst teams in baseball in the minnesota twins like well they're 30 and 27 but overall they're not like some juggernaut and he was not able to crack that starting rotation so uh that was that was a tad annoying would have liked to have seen them add on but uh regardless it's kind of this offense is little jekyll and hide i mean early it was like hey maybe we need to go get scoble his

offense is fine and then they kind of again shut it down yes fillers are 36 and 30 all of a sudden this team was 9 and 19 and they had lost 10 straight and you sit here 27 and 11 under don mattingly it's remarkable it's remarkable donny baseball made his return to toronto tonight that was cool tim meza the sheriff got a got a tribute video from the blue jays Miller'sville zone, P-Sack pride. But, yeah, seven seasons with the Blue Jays. I never even realized that. So Tim Maze was there for a long time.

Those guys get the return back to a place that they had a lot of success in, and that's always, always good to see. 215-592, 94-94. I think the technical difficulties are taken care of. So we are smooth sailing. Phone lines, of course, open. And if you want to get in and give your take on tonight's game. On the other side, we'll get to the player of the game

and some other things that stuck out from tonight. All that's coming on next here on the final out on Sports Radio 94 WIPA. Just huge stones from Chris Sanchez there. He is my player of the game, brought to you by South Jersey Gas, make the smart play. Save Energy and Money with South Jersey Gas at SJG Saveenergy.com. Chris Sanchez, huge spot there. Again, 5-2 ballgame. Still fine.

Still fine, but there's no need. to kind of let the Blue Jays come back and start feeling like they have some momentum. They've been a good team this year in coming back in games. They've had a good amount of comeback wins. Offensively, I get that they've been in the same kind of tiers of Phillies this year, but they've had a bit of a power outage. The Phillies, I think, have 20 more home runs than them, which is shocking because not like the Phillies are, you know,

slug city when it comes from that standpoint, but it's a dangerous offense. So you didn't want to give them any breathing room. And yes, it was a double to start at the inning. And then he reached third on the air by Garcia in right field. Garcia just kind of dropped the ball. Adelis did make a great play after that late in the game in the Keller inning. That was really good to see.

But yeah, so the runner on third, no outs. And Sanchez just goes beast mode, strikes out all three. And really kind of kills some of the. the Blue Jays momentum. And again, I think that's a sixth straight start of seven innings or more. It's 10 plus strikeouts, a lot of K's. And even though he was kind of fighting himself, Chris Sanchez is still pretty dang good. Now, some other things I do want to get to, speaking of Brad Keller, I mean, the guy is just a heart attack.

He really is. That ball of the wall, that Akamoto hit, thought that was gone. course he allows, I would love to know the amount of innings that start with him either walking the lead off hitter or a rocket that the lead off hitter hits. So I don't know, man. He's just, he is a, he's a heart attack. He tries to work so fast. He's rushing. He's all over the strike zone or all over the batters box. He did make some, he did make a good pitch to Vladdy to get him to strike out, but still he is, the next clean inning will feel like the first, frankly, for Brad Geller.

So he is a heart attack waiting to happen out there. You know, Bryce did not get a hit tonight. There was a play in the first inning that, you know, and it was an error, and he should have been on second base for that, no doubt. But it feels like this year more than years past, he's smoking balls right at guys. It feels there's been a lot of Bryce hard contact

that's ended in just being ripped at someone's glove. So I know his overall average, he's in the low 260s. But if I was to look at his expected stats, I would think his batting average and everything would be a smidge higher. He's been really good this year. But, you know, I'm still kind of waiting for that. He's been just solid, really, since the first two series of the year. Solid.

You know, good to great. Not, like, spectacular. Just kind of steady. Keep waiting for that, that show. streak where he really turns it on. And I do think that he is hitting the ball hard. So hopefully those start ending in base hits. And he just missed the home run. Was that yesterday, tonight just missed one. So he's close. Again, hasn't been bad. It's just you're kind of waiting for this, that Harper two-week tear that gets his numbers to like 285, 290. And he can kind

of just stabilize from that point on. And then, Bome had a good hit earlier in that game. early in the inning when they were, you know, keeping the train moving. He's nine for 21 in his last six games. So when he had a two-day reset, he was on fire, kind of cooled off that last week, and he's kind of reheating back up. Line drives all over the ballpark, which is vintage Alec Bowman. Certainly, they are going to need him. 215.5.592.94.

Dave is in Maryland. What's happening, Dave? Hey, just a nice solid start to the road trip. I thought if they got, Adolus got that hit down the line, what had broken it really open. It just felt like they got five runs for Sanchez, and they're like, okay, this is enough. We're got, yeah. He's got us.

And that's how they kind of played the rest of the game. But, you know, just a, it didn't feel. It felt like it was, it felt like it was slipping away there for a while. but, you know, Duran came, coming in in the ninth and having a really nice inning. And just nice to see Adolus get some hard contact. I know he struck out a couple times, but it's good to see him starting to contribute,

and hopefully wheels can keep it going tomorrow. Yeah, they just, they couldn't tack on. There's some moments. I agree with you, the Adolese ball down the line, good play. Just they couldn't fully break through and put that one on ice, which was concerning. But, you know, when you have that guy in the ninth inning, it's really an eight-inning ball game.

So he changes the equation for them. He does. You know, it's, I feel the same way about Bryce. I feel like he's, you know, the last two days, he's hit some balls really hard. And, you know, just hope he, you know, starts to get a payoff for that because he has been really good this year. And, you know, the, I'd like to see Schwerver

start to get in more of a home run groove as well. I'm wondering if the move to the leadoff has affected them at all with that. Yeah, I appreciate the phone call, Dave. I've been thinking about that too. Just having Bryce hitting behind Schwerber versus having Trey hitting behind Schwerber, I mean, I'm sure it's pitched a little bit differently.

You know, I don't think, with Harper in the protection, I don't really buy it. Like, the strikes are the same. I think tonight they avoided him in some instances, but I just feel like the last two years with Schwerber in front of Bryce and having Bryce protecting him. You've gotten a pretty dang good version of Kyle Schwerber. Tomorrow I'll look at the numbers on his, you know, since he moved to the lead-off spot. But it certainly has not been the pace that he was at when he was hitting second for sure.

Brian's in Springfield. What's happening, Brian? Mr. Mustack, what's going on, man? What's up? No, I'm very close to buying a Dols-Garcia jersey. Not going to lie, man. He is absolutely raking the last couple of games, and I just really hope he goes like a half a season.

That's all we ask for him. I know. Because, you know, Dave and Routes, that's spent double digits money on him. He needs to show up for half a season. You know what? If this is what he needs, a little bit of batting practice? Hell, give Kevin Long's attention.

I'm just joking. But, um, I mean I want your opinion the morning show today was saying they don't trust Lazardo he said he's having down here

what's your thoughts on that yeah and I appreciate the phone call Brian I just don't buy it I think that there's been a couple starts that have kind of jacked his ERA up yeah

a shaky start on on Friday for sure but he's been on a really good streak outside of like the first you know the first kind of couple starts of the year

and then he had that rocky start that was pretty good and then he went back into the toilet. But it's really just been a couple starts that kind of jacked the ZRA up. I mean, before that one, before that one on Friday, he had the Dodgers start where he allowed two runs. He had the Padre start where he allowed none. He had the red start where he allowed two. He had the Red Sox start where he allowed zero.

He had that rocky start that random Friday night where he allowed. five and then before that it was at miami two earned giants zero cubs one so he had a 2.444 era even with those two kind of stinkers in there in the eight starts prior to that game against the white sucks so i think that's an overreaction to be honest with you i think that lizardo again he's the number three it's not like he's the ace of the staff to not trust him i mean i think that in a playoffs last year he showed a lot of stones. So, no, I'm good on him. And Adolese, yeah, we are certainly starting to see some signs of life from him and very, very good to see.

On the other side, we'll get to the wow moment of the game and a look ahead to tomorrow. All that's come next here on the final out on Sports Radio 94 Wight Bay. Yes, that is our wow moment of the game, brought to you by the New Jersey Division of Travel and Tourism. from waterfalls to fairways, Mountain Resorts to Lighthouse Tours. Find your wow at visit nj.com. It is the final out, which is sponsored by the Philadelphia Parking Authority. Jack Fritz hanging out with you here on WDYP,

a couple minutes left of the final out before handing things off to Jody Mack. We'll take it through the rest of the night. So yes, Adelie's three home runs in his last five games, all of a sudden up to seven on the year. I had a big hit even on Saturday to help them kind of clawback in the game, had a hard, you know, ball hit up the third baseline earlier today that Akamota made a good play on. So he did strike out a couple times late, but honestly, you take the strikeouts if it's mixed in with some pop and mixed in with some home runs. And again, Adolese is going to have to really, you know, climb his way out of the early slump that he went on.

really that slump that was three for 57 with 30 strikeouts that totally tanked his overall average. And hey, maybe he can do enough to where they're like, hey, maybe we don't have to go and spend resources on a right-handed bat. We got a right-handed power bat. You know, maybe him batting eighth being lower the lineup makes it feel a little bit more free. Maybe being in the four spot was a little bit too much too early as he's kind of working on finding his swing.

Obviously, we all know now about the batting practice heard around the world when he came in on his off day and he's been a different player ever since. But still, really, really important signs of life. We know that they are dying for some production from the right side, especially in the power department. And he is slowly but surely starting to provide that and hopefully he can keep it up.

Yeah, the Phillies all of a sudden, 36 and 30. And again, like I said, in the open. I mean, 9 and 19, I mean, you're kind of feeling like if they can just get back into the mix around the all-star break, you'd be happy with it. And the way they sit right now, you know, they're a game and a half up on the Diamondbacks. They're the number two seed right now for the Wild Cardinals, and they're a half game behind the St. Louis Cardinals. I expect the Cardinals to eventually fall off, but who knows? You know, the Padres are in a free fall. There's a lot of teams just kind of might not be ready for a playoff run.

Pirates feel like one of those teams, nationals. I know Reds got in last year, but we'll see. It kind of feels like this is going to shake up and end up being, you know, Phillies, Diamondbacks, Cubs that the Cubs can write the ship. I know when we play the Cubs, they look like the best team in baseball. Well, they have fallen off a cliff ever since that time.

So really, really impressive stuff by the Phil's. 36 and 30. This is a huge week of Blue Jays into Brewers this weekend. So some good teams. Speaking of the Blue Jays, Wednesday night, we'll be at Tony's Place in Warrington or in Ivy Lynn. Me and Seltzer will be hanging there, enjoying some Miller Lights, playing some Phillies trivia for Phillies tickets and hanging out. So come on out. It'll be a fun time. We'll have some fun, thoughts, some baseball, watch the game, and hopefully be talking about a series win. Now, tomorrow they do go for the series win as Dylan Sees is fresh off the IEL. He'll make the start versus Zach Wheeler. So Wheeler versus Sees. Dylan Sees, if healthy, I don't know how long he's going to go in this game, but he is pretty nasty. He isn't, this feels like the first year. He's, really putting it together.

And, I mean, after you get a 70-year, $210 million contract, even though your numbers have never been that great, it's always been the theoretical idea of Dillon Sees, kind of feels like he is putting it together this year for the Blue Jays. So they will have their work cut out for him tomorrow. So Dylan Seas versus Zach Wheeler. I will have you for leading off and the final out tomorrow again. And so looking forward to all of that.

Francisco Rojas produced the program tonight. Jody Mack is next. He'll take you through the rest of the night here on Sports Radio 94WIPA.