High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Final Out: The Plan Might Be Working

Episode Date: August 19, 2026

Jack Fritz reacts to the Phillies winning their fifth-straight game thanks to an offense that has gotten red hot now that the players have a plan at the dish. Presented by Miller Lite.To purchase Ring The Bell by Jack Fritz and Kevin Reavy go to RingTheBellBook.com

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. The 1-0 on the way. And a ground ball, deep third. Backhand pick, Stott, he's got it, gets up, fires across, and he got him.

Two great plays by Stott to close it here in the ninth as Brooks Rayleigh gets to say. and the Phillies for the first time since the middle of May, they've won five in a row as they come from behind to beat the fish six to four. Ah, they're going to make us believe again. Welcome on and it is the final out. Jack Fritz hanging out with you. On this Tuesday night as we react to another Phil's win, their fifth straight, there are 11 games over 500, their highest mark of the season. They are, what, 12 and 5 in August? Come on, man. I was out, but with more information, and a meeting and a trip to Iowa

and have a plan at the plate fills, I don't know. I don't know. Might be time to start believing again. 215-592, 94 to get in. The game wrap up. is sponsored by roto-ruder when plumbing problems hit wrap them up quick and call roto-ruder their team tackles clogs and leaks so you can stay in the game roto-ruder your MVP for plumbing solutions now i know

a lot of people aren't leaving the stadium because they had to get locked in get their seats set for the flowrider concert but if you are on your way home and stuck in traffic or if you watched on your couch like I did, would love to hear from you at 215, 592, 94, 94. Let's get to the biggest takeaways. The game brought you by Morgan and Morgan America's largest injury law firm. And we have made a lot of the grand meeting and the Phillies buying in to the idea of passing the baton and working pitchers and going up there and sticking to your plan. not necessarily always having a plan up there.

I think that's pretty obvious, but the way that it's been described is that at some points, they would deviate from said plan. And in watching them for the last four seasons, I think we could all agree that we see them deviate from the plan every once in a while. And I think I mentioned this last night. I mentioned on the afternoon show today. We have seen them, quote, unquote, commit to offensive strategies in the past.

and when times get tougher, they get bored, they just go back to being who they are. So it's why you watch them, you get excited. I think it was the first or second time that we saw them do this. It would be way more of, oh, what's this? How real is this? What are they doing? Wow, look, look what they're doing on offense. Now that we're, you know, four or five times you've seen them change a little bit.

I think we have a little bit more trepidation. But I tell you what, if they can legitimately commit and stay true to this and just have total team buy-in, it's pretty dang good. It's pretty dang good. Now, the caveat is, of course, they haven't faced the best pitching in the world. There's going to be better pitching. in October. They haven't faced a great starter in a little while.

And yes, it's been two series worth. But there is good stuff that was, you know, starting to bubble under the surface when a rise got here and it was kind of equal, or it kind of just got derailed by the amount of double plays they were hitting into. They were having a lot of base runners. The difference now is they are finally starting.

to bring those base runners home. And tonight, the first six innings, little shaky, little shaky. But in that sixth inning, you have the Turner hit by pitch, Harper flies out to the wall, Arise dumps a ball over the second baseman's head. By the way, a vintage Luis Arise night, three hits, and the hardest hit ball was 72 miles an hour. So Arise singles, boom, big double. He's been great. Stott rips a ball up the middle.

Marsh singles, Crawford singles, all of a sudden, a five spot of four-run inning, and they are up five-three. They got some insurance runs, or they got an insurance run late from Kyle Schwerber. And you look up at the end of the game, and even though you were frustrated with the first five innings, overall, the exit tonight with 10 hits, four walks, Harp walked again, walked twice actually, five for 10 with runners in scoring position,

after they were five for 12 last night, good stuff there, and it's their fifth straight game where they've scored six runs or more. So it's not the best pitching in the world. We know all the caveats, but when you look and you evaluate the team, what they're doing on offense and it not just being an offense that relies on the deep ball

and just waiting around for Schwabord to hit a home run or Harper to hit a home run and finding other ways to score. That is exciting stuff. I mean, that's back-to-back games without a home run. And they still scored six runs in both of them.

That has not been Philly's baseball. So I am, I promise, I'm trying my hardest not to go over the top and jump off a deep end because we've all been hurt before. And we did the same thing last year in August. We did the same thing in the August of 23. And for the most part, 23, everything was fine until they just no-showed game 6 and 7. But we know how the last two post seasons have gone.

It's still pretty dang inside. exciting. And if you look at the top of the lineup now, and even with, not the top of the first six hitters right now, with what Bowman Stodd are giving you, it turns into a pretty long lineup. If Marsh can heat back up, Marsh is a month and a half removed from starting the All-Star game in left field. He's betting seventh for this team right now. J.T. kind of take the production when you can. And Crawford all of a sudden, not all of a sudden, but quietly, is up to 270. Not the most ethical base hits, but for a rookie, playing center field every day, that's never been at the big league level before this year, 270, you take that.

So, man, you try not to get too ahead of yourself, but it's hard not to when you watch what they're doing on offense. It does seem like that there is buy-in as to what they're doing. And if they can stay committed and keep getting traffic on the base pass, someone's going to get a hit. I mean, that's been the problem in the last couple of postseason. It's just waiting around for the home run. Are they in the most fundamentally sound team?

No. Do I wish they were a better situationally? Yes. But the more and more traffic, that you have, the more base runners you have, the more you can grind down a starting pitcher and get into the bullpins. I mean, that's how you win.

That's how you win in October. And I just hope that they see the light. And maybe that meeting was something that really jumped started and got them going again and going to Iowa, brought them closer. I don't know. We're all

just trying and hoping and praying that this year will be different. But it is certainly exciting. Their longest win streak since May, it's funny that the Cardinal series happened and it felt like everyone was done with them. And I was, I was incredibly frustrated. I felt like they were running on gas, running on fumes. And you look up and they've had a pretty good August. And they have their highest, their most games over 500 on the season. So that's baseball. That's baseball. Some other things that suck out tonight, I mean, obviously, Bowman Stott are the, if you want to

make co-players of the game, but Bowman Stott are just on fire right now. You know, Bome's been an RBI machine at the plate. Really nice play at first base that we'll get into. And then Stott, you know, drives in that run tonight in a big spot, huge. And it's just a vacuum over at third base. He's unbelievable. You move them all over the field. Doesn't matter. He'll put up gold glove caliber defense at multiple spots. And he is certainly playing his way into a contract extension discussion. Boom, I still don't think so, but he's in Fuego right now. And this is how he looked at the beginning of, you know,

it was at 24 when he made the All-Star team where he was on base for 150 RBI. You know, and it's probably the best he's looked since then. Last year, when he came back from the IEL, last 28 games, he hit 315, and you thought, okay, maybe this is when he really turns the corner and figures it out, but those two are really doing their part to help carry the offense right now. And then just a really gutsy effort from the Phil's bullpen tonight. Wheeler only gives them five. We'll get more into that in a little bit. McFarlane, kind of a dicey inning, but overall, I thought was fine. Alvarado, a quick inning. The double play certainly helps. Kirkering has the ball come back to him and man, I feel bad every time there's a ground ball back to Kirkering

because you can just feel him you know going down his leg and then Brooks Riley free and easy 1, 2, 3 9th inning first saves since 2023 he's a good reliever. He's had some shaky moments here but he will be a solid

solid reliever for this team. 215-92-94 to get in Peyton is in Easton what's happening Peyton? Jack, What's going on? Thanks for taking my call. I'll tell you what, man. It's exciting. I'm trying not to get my hope's too high, but I'm definitely excited with how the baseball team's playing, and how the bullpen's coming along. I trust the starting pitching. It's just the one thing,

man, I just cannot trust Alec Bohm. I just think in October again, it's just going to be another one of those helmet slams and whining in the dugout. And, you know, I just want of your thoughts on it, and I just can't buy end. And I appreciate you taking my call. Yeah, thanks, Peyton. It's tough. I mean, I have been on the countdown. For the remaining games of Alec Bohm in a Phillies uniform for a couple weeks now. Of course, he heats right up. And, you know, you look at his swing, and he's starting it a little bit earlier. It looks like he's trying to catch the ball out front a little bit better,

you know, rather than letting it get super late and all of a sudden he's getting jammed. But I'm mostly with Peyton. I mean, we've seen him go on these spurts before, and it's kind of, trying to, you know, tapered out. For the Phillies sake, I hope that he keeps it up. I would love nothing more than an Alckbone World Series MVP speech where he can get up there and say, I bleeping love this place. Would be great.

It would be a nice cherry on top before he goes to signs of the Royals or whatever. But it's tough. He does look good. I think he's made some swing adjustments. I have bought in on the... the Alec Bomes, swing adjustments, more times than I can count over the last couple of years. He's playing good. I don't want to get ahead of myself.

I almost don't want to talk about it. I just want him to go play. Just want him to go play. 215, 5992, 94 to get in. If you are in traffic, the flow rider concert, I assume is still going on. But if you're in traffic and want to get in, give your takeaways on the game or if you watched it at home, would love to hear from you. On the other side, we'll get to the wow moment of the game and some other thoughts as well.

Here on the final out on Sports Radio 94 WIP. Drink up, baby. Fantasy Football Happy Hour is here to get you wins and have some laughs. Matthew Berry here and my podcast, Fantasy Football Happy Hour, has the sleepers bus and starts in advice you need to win your league. We're diving into the tape. We're crunching the numbers to bring you sleepers. Bus weekly startsid advice, whether you're defending a title or desperately avoiding last place. I've got you covered every single weekday. The bar is open. It's Fantasy Football Happy Hour with Matthew Berry, wherever you get your podcast.

Hit on a line, caught by Bob. Steps on the bag and doubled him off. It's moved by Alec Baum makes the catch. And like a wide receiver on the sideline, toe taps at first base to get the double play. He's doing it all right now. Yeah, you can do no wrong. Alec Bone can do no wrong. 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 and visit nj.com.

Welcome back. It is the final out. Jack for its hang out with you on this Tuesday and I reacting to a Phil's win over the Marlins is always the final out sponsored by the Philadelphia Parking Authority offering valet park at the Philadelphia Airport. Big spot there. You know what I mean? Alvarado a lot of base hit to start that inning. Immediately, Don Maddenly had Chase sugared up just in case. Just in case. It was one of those Alvarado nights. And, you know, thankfully so.

He got the DP there and everything ended up just fine. But, you know, it was a two-run game at that point. You want to keep the momentum on your side. And Alec Bowen designed is a little pirouet on the sideline. He did have both feet and bounce. You know, you don't need to go to the booth to review that one. He did keep both feet. feet in bounds.

Get us some other thoughts on the night, including Zach Wheeler and what he did tonight. After talk to my guy, Richie and Philly, what's happening, Richie? My favorite baseball guy, Jack Fritz. This is Richie. How are you doing, Jack? What's up, Richie? How's it going on? How do you think I'm feeling?

I'm feeling great. I know. And there's two or three things I pointed out. You like me, we're both baseball officials. The Phillies are walking a lot more, right? they're walking a lot more, which is translating into runs. And the one thing, I pitched in high school, you pitched in college. I always say throw strikes, it's hard to get hit, you know.

Let me do what that line drive out of run who gave up. Got out of BB, right, and they ended up getting a double play. You can't walk people, you know what I'm saying? And I'll tell you between you and me, I know he's not a closer, but even though he's, which I call was down, Duran was down. I felt for some reason I felt a calm confidence in rail than anything. I just felt, well, he's enough of the strikes. If they hit him, they hit him.

You know? I've seen him to put it enough to you throw strikes. Listen, Rich, he's been around for a long time. He's 37, so you'd hope by this point, and he's had a really, really solid year, really solid last couple of years. He is someone I'm not worried about. Even when he allows runs,

he let the home run last night, I usually think he's a solid pitcher, and he should probably be their leverage lefty over Alvarian. Exactly. One question before you let me go, okay? What do you attribute the change in boom with? You think he's just getting better pitches to hit or he's being more selective? Or what do you?

I mean, you have a good eye for baseball. Yeah, Richie, and I appreciate the phone call. I mean, I wish I had a better eye for hitting. But I think with him and the way that Scott Lobb wrote a good piece today on it in the Inquirer, just inside the meeting that now is going to become famous, like the Office of Lime going to meet with Siriani and say, let's just run the ball in 2024. But the way that it was explained in there is they deviate sometimes from their plan

rather than just doubling down on their plan. And obviously we don't know what that totally means inside the offensive meetings with Kevin Long, the hitting coaches, and the hitting analysts. But, you know, I mean, just being committed to going up there with an idea and hunting the pitches that you want to look to do damage on. Rather than seeing a slider away and swinging through it, just spitting on that pitch. And if they can locate it, then you tip your cap to the pitcher.

I mean, that's part of being a good hitter is knowing your strengths. I mean, there was so many times this year where it felt like, oh, oh, there'd be a slider, a foot off the plate, and guys would be swinging at it. And it's like, in what world were you looking for a slider away for first pitch? Never, never. It's just going up there with a better plan of attack. And I also think that BOM's doing a better job of trying to catch the ball a little bit up front and lifting it. You know, I heard Rube mentioned something about, you know, using his hands more.

He does look quicker from that standpoint. But again, we've seen this before, and he goes back to being Bones. So cautiously optimistic, but certainly showing good signs of life at the plate. And by the way, the defensive lineup all the way around been pretty solid. You know, Bohm, solid at first. Now, picking the ball, I'd say Harbors has better picks over there. Big target, I think, certainly helps. A rise has been fine at second base, that throw tonight.

I think that Bome could have caught it on that double play opportunity in the McFarlane inning. And one ball kind of ate him up with the ball with smoke. I don't blame him on that. And then, you know, Turner's been pretty solid defensively in August. You haven't seen the yips that he was experiencing in July. And obviously, Stott's been phenomenal at third base. So the defensive alignment that we talked so much about has been working enough. It's not like they're all gold glovers, but it's been working enough.

And you certainly don't feel like that they are costing the team on most nights. Now, Wheeler, he had only allowed one hit heading into the fifth. But, you know, the thing with Wheeler, it was nice to see early. The velocity was up. It was 95, 96, and there is some legitimate zip on there. But I just feel like with him, he doesn't feel like he can operate in the strike zone enough. So he has to just nibble, nibble, nibble. That's how you get to four walks on the night, a lot of pitches, a lot of foul balls,

a lot of deep counts. I think he had seven three ball counts tonight. I don't know if he fully trusts that he can just throw his stuff over the plate and let guys hit it where it used to be that way for him, where the fastball is so good he could just throw it in the strike zone and it'd be really, really hard for guys to hit it. and now it's almost Nola-ish where he's got to be around the strike zone rather than in the strike zone and hope guys are just going to fish a little bit and if they don't fish then he's in trouble

but that fifth inning was pretty jarring because it felt like all the stuff just fell off a cliff just like last week in in St. Louis and I guess my optimistic, sense is he can go four and he's got to adjust or readjust to get through that fifth, six inning spot. He's dealing with some fatigue. He didn't have a full off season. Is it maybe a little bit of a dead arm period? I don't know. But he also can't be a five-inning pitcher of this team is going to try to get in and go on a run. And tonight they're able to get through it. But if you have him giving you five, I think that we should be able to bank on six, but right now it's five.

Nola's five. Painter is five. Chris Sanchez has been more six than seven or eight. And Lazardo, to his credit, has been more six or seven in which is nice. But if you're going to have three guys in your rotation being five inning guys, puts a lot of wear and tear on a bullpen that we're not exactly super confident in. So he's got to find it. I hope he can find it.

I hope this is not something that we're going to be dealing with the rest of the year. But the guy who saw in the 5th thing looked like a shell of Zach Wheeler, a shell of him. And, you know, I hope this is not going to be a recurring trend where he just falls off a cliff in the 5th. There's a precipitous decline of stuff. And you got to monitor getting him out of there. in the fifth inning rather than the sixth or seventh like we are used to. All right, on the other side, we'll get to the player of the game and look at the tomorrow and another solid night around the league for the Phillies as they look to shore up a spot in the

National League wild card. All that's coming next here on the final out on Sports Radio 94 WIP. Welcome back. It is the final out. Jack Fritz hanging out with you. Last segment here before we hand things off to Tom Kelly. Aloud is always sponsored by the Philadelphia Parking Authority offering valet park at the Philadelphia. Airport fills win 6-4 as they

take another series and push the Marlins further and further back in the nationally playoff picture. Speaking of the nationally playoff picture, all of a sudden Braves lose again out in Minnesota. Unbelievable. That Minnesota team, I think,

stinks. Five and a half out of the division. So that's a good sign. The division, I guess, is not dead yet, although I would not bet on it. The Padres did win. They did beat the Mets. So the fear-mongering from Spike maybe will cease tomorrow as I think he's going to be okay from his b-sting. So everything moving in the right direction there. But Padres do win. And the debacks just kind of getting smoked up in Boston these last two nights as they

try to figure out the Cattel Marte situation, but D-Backs lose here three games up on the dimebacks right now, which is massive. The 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. I'll go with Alec Boem yet again. His good play defensively was huge and what he did at the dish big as well. Alec Bohm, our player of the game. Tomorrow, we got Aaron Nola on the mound versus Sandy Alcantra. I feel like they face Sandy Alcantra a hundred times in my life. All they do is

face Sandy Alcantra. Now, he has been on a tear recently, so we've been asking ourselves, okay, well, you've done it against some mediocre pitching. Now go do it against someone who is not as good as he used to be, but still very, very good. He is someone they've had success against, but still, Sandy Alcantra is one of the better pitchers in baseball. I would say he's a top 20-ish pitcher in baseball. And he is someone that has a pulse. And we'll see if they can continue the have-a-plan-plan-the-plate dish fills. It's been a fun run.

Five straight wins are the longest winning streak since May, 11 games, over 500. And obviously, no, see if he can continue the streak that he has been on as he has been a little bit resurgent here. For a fourth starter, give you five solid innings. You take it. He's not DFA worthy like he was a little bit ago. You take the air and all the five innings.

You hope it's less than three runs. And you run at this point. So looking forward to it. I'm very interested to see if the offense can do it. And I think we give a lot of people a reason to continue to believe that, hey, maybe this is a year they can go on a run in October. That's going to do it for me. Luke Nichols produced the program tonight.

Like I mentioned, Tom Kelly's coming next. I'll have you for a leading off tomorrow with the afternoon show and have you after the game as well, hopefully reacting to another Phil's win. But that's going to do it for me. Enjoy the rest of your night here on Sports Radio 94 WIB.