High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Final Out: Trea Turner Stays Hot, Phils Win 5th Straight

Episode Date: June 17, 2025

Jack Fritz reacts to the Phillies winning their fifth-straight game in a 5-2 victory over the Marlins on Monday night. Presented by Miller Lite To purchase Ring The Bell by Jack Fritz and Kevin Reavy go to RingTheBellBook.com 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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in the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcast. And the right-hander deals, and it's a swing and a ground ball to third. Boom, gobbles it up, throws to first, ball to third boom gobbles it up throws the first ball game over and Orion Kirkering gets the save and the Phillies get their fifth win in a row as they start the road trip tonight with a 5-2 win here in Miami. Oh Welcome on in it is the final out Sports radio 94 WIP Jack Fritz hanging out with you here on this Monday night as

we react to the Phils continuing to play good baseball continuing the momentum from this weekend and riding the ship after what was a tough 10 game stretch there. They lost 9 of 10. Well certainly they have figured it out from that point on and are playing damn good baseball without Bryce Harper in the lineup. 2 1 5 5 9 2 94 94 is how you get in. The game wrap up is sponsored by Roto Rooter when plumbing problems hit. Wrap them up quick and call Roto-Rooter Their team tackles clogs and leaks so you can stay in the game Roto-Rooter your MVP for plumbing solutions again, if you were watched one on your couch like I did or if you were like one of the Pretty pretty good amount of Philly's fans down in Miami tonight

I know that tomorrow we're gonna move the game up to 610 to avoid the Marlins traffic. Can't have all that overlap with dozens of people heading to Lone Depot Park So I would love to hear from you would love to get your takeaways again to one five five nine two and ninety four ninety four my biggest takeaways of the game are brought to you by Morgan & Morgan America's largest injury law firm and you know kind of said that at the beginning there but just a good old fashioned professional win. I love coming on this show when they just win a normal baseball game. It got tight there a little bit. Strom wasn't great. Hasn't really been great for a good stretch here but you know it got a little again a little tight obviously want a little bit more breathing room I actually you know I

obviously not locked in on every single Marlins game that I don't think that's a dreadful offense I think they have some interesting pieces I don't know why they have Dane Myers who Abel smoked in the elbow retaliation for Bryce who's got smoked in the elbow Why is he hitting 333 batting knife? I would think that guy should be batting higher up either way Like I didn't I don't think this is as bad of a Marlins offense as as we've seen I don't think they're a dumpster fire So and when we've known that this is a place that has been a house of horrors for this team going back, you know to the to the real Doldrums of trying to break out a playoff slump. They've been better there recently

But that's a a mostly dead ballpark to where the energy level isn't always high It's nice when you lead the game off of the home run certainly a solid way to to ease into a series. But starting pitching was good. Bullpen was pretty good. They got runs early. They got runs late. And at the end there we were able to kick our feet up. So overall I just think that they came into that game able did a good job scored early. They got Alcantara out of there pretty quickly I mean they felled off a lot of pitches against against Andy Alcantara who was clearly

not totally back to The guy that won the Scion a couple years ago. Obviously everyone knows that he is Coming back from Tommy John surgery, but still I think that Being able to to foul off a lot of pitches, work a lot of professional at bats and get him out of there. And the fifth shows that you you came into the ball game, you know, looking to do a job. And they certainly did that.

And then the second biggest takeaway for me tonight is, you know, the non stars, I think during the time when they're really down and the offense was slumping then everyone was kind of struggling There was such a light on the bottom of the lineup just not doing their jobs You know whether it was real Muto or Kepler or Marsh or boom Really after Castellanos in the lineup you can go through and say that guys are giving me nothing right now That guy's a zero and on Thursday June 5th and remember this day I labeled Marsh Boam Kepler all three of those guys as zeros tonight tonight they continue to break that label boom huge hit late has been really solid here for a good stretch it's no

longer just singles you know when he was Hitting over 300 but there's a lot of singles. I was like, yeah, whatever like you're you're not you shouldn't be a slap hitter and you know he He rips that ball late had a double obviously had the 433 foot home run yesterday, which was maybe the the shock of the season Uh, but he's been really good kepler slowly, but surely tapping into his power It's been a lot more one for fours with with with that one ball being absolutely roped But it's good to see him go big fly tonight off of Alcontre had two hits in

Yesterday's game and you're starting to see some of the slug now might be paired with a 230 ish overall average But at this point if you can get 230 with 20 plus home runs from from left field You you die for that kind of production after what Max Kepler looked like he was going through I mean there was a time there where I think Kepler was you know for for 40 something slump. I mean it was it was just dreadful So his swing looks more balanced He talked yesterday after the game. I thought it was interesting it's about how he had to remind himself how good of a player he is and

When you're slumping and you're you're in a new city and you're in a new team with a new team And he'd been a part of the twins since he was a teenager coming over from Germany having to switch and stuff like that. I mean, I know we sometimes forget that these guys are human beings. He needs to produce. He's in a one year contract. I'm sure he's putting a lot of pressure on himself. Kind of looks like it's slowing down for him a little bit. I think his bat quality has really gone up.

So Kapla doing a great job. Kapla's doing a really good job. I want to say think his is it bat quality has really gone up. So Capa doing a great job Couples doing a really good job. I don't say great bones been great, especially with with Harper going out He's really stepped up in a massive way and they need him because he's hitting behind Turner and Schwab and during that time when Bryce was out originally it was it kind of felt like This is a two-man lineup right now Well, he's helping extend that a little bit.

You know, Cassiano said a big night yesterday, didn't do too much tonight, got a hit which was nice. But Bohm's been the one. And it's not just singles. He's hitting the ball in the gaps. He's sometimes taking the ball to the ballpark. Already up to seven home runs, which is really good to see. And then I like that they're keeping Marsh marsh lower in the lineup, even though he's been hitting like four six heading into tonight

He's sitting 467 since I put him on zero watch so He had the triple tonight, which is great I thought he worked a couple really good quality at bats I worked a couple three two counts one two two count and then I thought off some pitches and battled like Brandon Marsh Brandon Marsh can't have the strikeout numbers that he has had the last couple years like Brandon Marsh should be a grind type of of of at bat foul off a ton of pitches make the pitcher work and Just and just dig in. It doesn't be a big power guy. But all of a sudden, you know, his average is up to 254 Power guy, but all of a sudden, you know, his average is up to 254

He's he's hitting the ball much harder making better quality of contact hit a ball earlier hard But but right at a guy so it hasn't been just Turner and Schwab urs since Harper's gone out Turner's been great. We'll get more into that but But man, I the the the non-stars are really picking up their game without Bryce. 215592, 9494 to get in on the final out. On the other side, we will get to the injury report, the player of the game, and a possible changing of the guard tonight. Did we see that? We'll get to that coming up next on the final out on sports radio 94WYB.

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Shop now at NoFriills.ca. Mom, Mom, did you see my race? Of course I did, darling. Look, you did your best. You tried. The thing is, it's not about winning. It's about taking part. Next year you might do better. But I did win, Mom! You did?

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But his eighth homerun of the season all eight are on the road not a single homerun at Citizens Bank Park and He is barreling towards another all-star appearance with the Phillies. Now, Lindor's probably gonna be the starter. I think Ellie, Francesco, am I right? Ellie De La Cruz is second in the all-star voting. Is Ellie that high?

Is he? I think he is. He shouldn't be, but probably. So Trey is third right now in and now Voting for the for the officer game at shortstop you can vote like five times a day So we might have to start the push for Trey Turner. I'm looking at right now Slendor Mookie and then Trey and Ellie's behind them. Okay. Yeah, they do the whole Mookie shortstop thing Yeah, even though Mookie's been kind of this year But regardless, I look he's Mookie's a great player.

I just think that, you know, Trey, we're in the midst of top 11 week and it feels as if Trey gets absolutely no mention, like cannot be considered one of the 11 best athletes in the city. And he had the stretch last year where he made the All-Star team, his hitting over 330 and looked like he had arrived

We know what happened after that hamstring kind of drill to season wasn't the same player the tray that we have seen this year And I know he was hitting 330 last year, but this is the tray that I thought they were signing. I mean, this is he's playing like one of the 15 to 20 best players in baseball right now and he's impacting the game in so many different ways and I love that He's hitting leadoff I was fine with the stop thing while he was fouling off a ton of pitches and it lengthened the lineup out and he was hitting like 280 something and It was old-school. It was non-traditional but said to myself. Okay. Well, it makes sense for where they are right now

They have to do it. But this is a high-impact leadoff hitter He can take you out to start the game. He can get on first. He can steal it back. He's running Way more this year and the nice part about Trey is You're starting to see an uptick defensively. I think because of what he's doing offensively It's just giving him an extra little pep in his step. We're seeing the Trey Turner finally, and I appreciate starting the All-Star game last year and I know he was really, really good. But he hasn't really slumped this year.

He didn't get off to the hottest start, but since what, like April April 18th I want to say he's hitting over 310 and you haven't seen that drop off you haven't seen the bad strikeouts you've seen a two strike approach you've seen some power developing I I've been really impressed with them and and him being this way Does make you feel good. I think heading into the postseason that they do have another star to pair with Bryce Harper I love Kyle Schwab er, and I want to resign Kyle Schwab er I don't think he can or I don't think he should be the second best offensive piece in a lineup It should go Harper Turner and then Schwab er and short was a any lead three but Turner just the the dynamic nature the way that he plays the game offensively again he has some

first base it feels like a double he can be the way he's playing the game right now it's almost on cruise control and it looks like the game is coming easy to him I mean that he had that RBI in the middle of the game tonight where's first base he's playing the game right now it's almost on cruise control and it looks like the game is coming easy to him. I mean he had that RBI in the middle of the game tonight where's first pitch just bank slap right to left field get the run home from third base do a job get the triple and there's Trey

just driving him in. He's also been great with uh... with the runners in scoring position so i've just been so impressed with Trey. Even late in the game where they're looking for an insurance run. He smoked ball right Stowers and Stowers made a great play. Still the ball is the ball is killed. So I just think that he continues to be I think slept on for how Gray is playing because of the contract and the defense and some of the scar tissue here and You're letting that shield or blind you to a Guy that is truly a great player and he's my player the game brought to by South Jersey gas conserve

Helping customers and the community save energy and money visit South Jersey gas.com Conserve some other things I mentioned a possible changing of the guard and Gas.com slash conserved some other things. Um, I mentioned a possible changing of the guard and really interesting bullpen strategy tonight by, by Rob Thompson. So Abel only goes 77 pitches and I would have extended them. I, I, he, I, we didn't see Rob Thompson talk after the game. Would have loved to have heard what he had to say about that.

My thought process, I guess, was that that was the third time through it's the middle of the lineup. He had done well. He had some high stress innings early. I mean, he was at like 42 pitches early in that one. They found off a ton of, uh, a ton of his pitches early. And then he got to a nice rhythm there where I think he shut down set eight in a row at one point I didn't think he had his best stuff tonight and I didn't think he had great feel for his change-up I think as the start went on it got a little bit better curve or curveball slider got a little bit better as it went on but I didn't think he had great feel for it he sort of reminds me of this.

I know the name is going to like shock you, but I'm not saying he's him, but he reminds me of Wheeler Lite from the standpoint of I think that fastball is really good and Wheeler can dominate a lineup with just using his fastball. Able can kind of do the same. It's not as Elite doesn't jump off the page But it's a pretty dang good pitch and he can navigate a lineup with that fastball when the off speeds Well, then when the secondaries aren't working as well as he'd want them to work So he has that little bit of Wheeler in him So I thought he I thought he was okay tonight. I didn't think he was great, but you know 77 pitches He's up in the big leagues. You want to keep his innings for later in the season?

Maybe they saw it was a good time to get him out of there I'm not sure but I was a little surprised because he's in a decent rhythm when they when they got him out Taiwan works a quick inning there. I wonder if they didn't give him two because they want to use him Later in the series and again, they don't really have an off day for for a good stretch here I thought Romano what that was a super early spot for him obviously he's been pitching later in games recently, but the change in the guard might have been Kirkering and He's been pitching really well since Alvarado went on the IL or not the IL since he got suspended He's been he's been dominant.

So I think they always feel like Kirkring has had back end of the bullpen stuff and closer stuff. I wonder if they felt like he had it mentally yet, but what he has done since Alvarado went down, I think you're starting to see real maturation from Orion Kirk ring and it's super exciting and and I think what's most exciting is you're seeing just a little bit of extra swagger to him on the mound and he looks like he feels like he belongs and He's finally throwing that that sinker more and more when he first came up He's a traditional foreseen guy and that ball is getting smoked It actually reminds me a lot not I'm sure not many people are grinding Andrew painter tape But Andrew painters fastball right now looks a little flat to me

I think he needs to add a sinker to it to do his repertoire or a cutter or something You know, it looks a little flat to me That's what Kirk Green looked like when he first came up that fastball now is totally different pitch and it looks better to lefties Looked like when he first came up that fastball now is a totally different pitch and it looks better to lefties 97 with that kind of sink that he's locating down the zone. It's pretty dang tough to hit combined with his sweeper. So I He's a hundred and twenty three saves behind you other battle bond I need someone else that actually makes us proud to to own that record and hopefully tonight was the start of the Orion Kirkering run as closer.

And plus, you know, not as important, but definitely something to factor in. It would really help them out the trade deadline if he is just the closer. And they can go get someone else that's not gonna cost a ton of prospects. You don't have to go trade for Felix Bautista, who has two years of control left,

even though I love Felix Bautista, but still, Kirkering to the closer, we might have seen a changing of the guard there now the injury report is brought to you by the Plumbers Union local 690 protecting the health of the nation visit plumbers 690 org and I It it didn't look great when Scott swung a missed on that pitch and he was huddled over and we've seen that before where guys Swing a miss and there's so much torque with Swing these days that they then have hurting themselves when they don't make contact It was just like the one last year down in Miami where they say that's when he hurt his elbow. I Don't know but that's definitely one to monitor tomorrow

See how he wakes up, but they were looking at him for a little bit So we'll see how Scott is feeling in the morning, but definitely one to see if If he's gonna be alright on the other side, we will get a look at tomorrow and Something Thompson did in this game that I wonder is going to be a trend going forward We'll get to that coming up next here on the final out on sports greater 94 W by Bay the left-hander kicks and fires in the pitch, ground ball through the left side it's a base hit. Marshawn scores. Marsh coming in as well. He'll score well ahead of the throw. It's a two-run single by Alec Bohm and the Phillies break open some breathing room here in the ninth.

They lead it five to two. Ah there's the old Alec Baum driving in runs, whatever it takes. It's not a double play situation, so I got a bunch of confidence in him. Alec Baum has been really good. There's even been some times where he's looking to lift and launch. What's gotten into him? What's gotten into Alec Baum? 433 feet yesterday? I didn't know he had that in his bag. Turns out he does. So man, Bohn has been great. Really stepping up with Bryce going out. Big hit there and just, listen, do I want him batting fourth? No. When Harper gets back, I want Schwab back there 100%. But if he can be a consistent run producer in the middle of the lineup, it just makes him so much better.

Boam is a frustrating player. He frustrates me, he frustrates you. But the best version of this team is still with Alec Boam at his best. So I really hope that we can get this for majority of the season. He's going to go through the slumps. We know that. But as long as he can be a consistent run producer, it just helps him out immensely. So, now the one thing that I thought was interesting tonight is Thompson, he'll pull guys when it's a blowout, but for the most part, outside of,

there's been a couple of times where he's pulled Schwaber as a pinch runner late in the game and I've always been worried about that because it's like It's usually a tie game and then I feel like Schwaber is gonna come up again in extra innings and I haven't totally loved it But tonight he pulled Nick Castellanos from that game in the eighth after he after he hit in the seventh from that game in the eighth after he after he hit in a seventh in a two-run game which I'm for but that's not something that Rob Thompson traditionally does and I think they've reached a point now with Castellanos the last couple years he hasn't made errors out there and he's been I think

serviceable as a stretch but he's been able to stand out there and make plays. This year, he looks slower. His routes to ball, to fly balls looks off. And Ty Dobert laid this out on Philly's Nation earlier today, just about how by some of the advanced metrics, now I don't want you to drive off drive off the road, but by outs above average and some of the other advanced metrics defensively, he's the worst defensive outfielder in baseball and him going to Kepler there and Am marsh Rojas outfield now

Maybe they did it because it's Miami. It's huge ballpark. You got a cover ground out there late in the game protected to run lead I think that's smart. I'm saying that's not something Thompson has has traditionally done so One to monitor going forward. Do you sacrifice the idea that game possibly possibly being tied and not having gas canisters bat for defensive replacements, we'll see. But I thought that was at least something to point out because it's not something that he usually does. Alright, tomorrow, Jesus Lazardo starts against his old team. Last time out, obviously great.

Still jarring to me seeing his ERA be in the fours. It's, I really hope it doesn't cost him money. Those two starts and he's just back to being great. Hazus, Lazzardo, cause I would just feel horrible. He's been so good this year and those two starts were obviously dreadful. We know the last time out there was some tipping pitches conversation. Looks like he remedied that and tomorrow gets a pitch on his own mound. So looking forward to seeing which Lazardo we get tomorrow down in Miami.

They're facing Cal Quantrill who is ERA is over five, but in his last seven outings, he's pitching to a three five three ERA, although not going very deep into games. And the last time the Phil's face them, they lit him up for, for seven earned runs before we sneak out of here. My guy, Dave's in Maryland just in time, Dave, just in time. Just a, uh, just a solid baseball win tonight. And, uh, I love the restructuring of the bullpen. Uh, tonight, I, I just feel like with Romano having him in the seventh inning, I like having a safety

net for him if something does go wrong. I feel like the way Kirk Ring is throwing with the current personnel out there, I just feel like it creates more it just creates more of a safety like I feel I feel safer with that in the ninth inning as opposed to a high wire act from Romano, but If they can you know add at the trade deadline in the bullpen and get another viable Big piece like a Felix the Batista guy from Baltimore or Helsley something back there. I think that will will help that immensely Yeah, and I appreciate the phone calls we get it in under the wire. Um,

Bautista would be awesome. His fastball has been, been ticking up. It was over a hundred this weekend. He's a real weapon. Again, he's got two years left under his contract. I would like to get someone else on top of just Bautista, but who knows? But Kirk Ring if he can if he can take this job and run with it What I mean, what a thrill young closer having her team control for a long time starting to develop some moxie I hope it's a change of the guard I don't get ahead of myself because I have had concerns about him pitching

late in ball games during his tenure here. We've seen him in the post season. Now, some of that could be obviously because of, you know, young and inexperienced. But there's been some times this year where correctly late in the game has gotten lit up and it hasn't gone the way that you had wanted. So it's definitely wishful thinking.

He's always had the stuff. We'll see if he can put it together. But we know the ninth inning is a high wire act that not everyone can do. So hopefully there's a change in the guard. It was fun to see tonight. He's really been dominant since Alvarado went down and maybe just takes the job and run with it. That would be phenomenal. Either way, that's going to do it for me. Francisco Rojas produced the final out tonight. I'll be back tomorrow With the pregame show it likes I can spike and then obviously final out as well. I'll be here For you, but coming up next Taking you through the rest of the night is Tom Kelly with his new

Open if you haven't heard the new Tom Kelly open, you don't know what you're missing. So stick around for that. TK is next. He'll take you through the rest of the night on sports radio 94WI-Bay.