High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Final Out: Well, That Sucked

Episode Date: July 30, 2024

Jack Fritz reacts to the Phillies 14-4 loss at the hands of the Yankees on Monday night and previews Tuesday's trade deadline. Presented by Miller Lite. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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or wherever you get your podcasts. 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 Monday night. As we react to the Phillies getting completely pantsed by the New York Yankees tonight. And by their fans as well.

It was down there earlier. A lot of Yankees fans and by their fans as well. It was down there earlier. A lot of Yankees fans. Very, very chesty. And they lived up to it tonight. It was fine. They deserved it tonight because what this team is doing right now is just absolutely brutal. It's just absolutely brutal.

And, like, we'll get through everything tonight. We'll talk our way through it. We'll vent our way through it. Again, get in, 215-592-9494. If you're stuck in traffic, don't really want to hear from a Yankees fan, but I guess it's a big night for you. But, listen, we knew that rough stretches were going to happen, and we knew that this team was not going

to play 650 baseball they weren't going to set the mariners win record frankly that was good like i don't really want to do that because ultimately it doesn't matter and i hope i hope i hope i hope i hope that at the end of this all we will look back and we'll say man what were we freaking out about in july as this team turns it around? And I still think that's there. Like, I'm not – I don't do the whole doom and gloom, season's over, these guys suck. Like, I'm not that kind of fan. I react.

I get down. I've been down all freaking, like, two weeks it feels like. Just this team is kind of sucking the soul out of me right now. just this team is kind of sucking the soul out of me right now. But, like, tonight was so, like, so embarrassing. And let's get into it. Like, the game wrap-up sponsor, I, Blazer, Swiss, Lubin, Kravitz, the metalworking fluid specialist providing professional CNC machine cleaning coolant maintenance programs and waste coolant disposal.

And that is my biggest takeaway of the game. And the biggest takeaway of the game is brought to you by Morgan & Morgan, America's largest injury law firm. Like, tonight was embarrassing. And I just, listen, I appreciate Rob Thompson's ability to stay relaxed. I don't think Bryce Harper really stays relaxed. I think he is, like, mad right now. I think Bryce reacts like we react.

I appreciate them saying, we're fine, we're fine. Sure. But I hope that there's something that's hitting this team tonight of like, what just happened? What just happened at our ballpark? We got overtaken by Yankees fans. Our ace got lit up. Aaron Judge combined baseball's, I don't know, 800 feet tonight.

Juan Soto had a big night, and they got absolutely pants. A game started by Zach Wheeler, ended with Garrett Stubbs on the mound. That's a disaster. They brought in the bullpen pieces. We went through the Marte stuff. Gregory Soto, looks like he's handling the whole, well, you're not going to be a high leverage reliever thing pretty well. Another brutal Gregory Soto performance. Like, I just, I think they'll be okay if games like tonight hit them and it pisses them off. Because we're all pissed off.

You're pissed off. I'm sure the front office is pissed off. But, like, I need those guys to feel it. Because they got to feel it. Because they gotta feel it. Because what's bothering me the most about this team right now is for

the longest stretch here of this season, when they go down I don't think they they're gonna come back. Early in the season I always felt like they were gonna come back. I never thought they were out of the game. And right now, when they go down, I feel like I'm watching them fold right in front of me.

And we can't have that. There's been too much talk of this being the most resilient team these guys have ever been around. But show it. I mean, freaking show it. And wake up. You can go through a 500 stretch. You can go through a tough stretch. You can go through a tough stretch, but

they've lost five straight series openers. Five straight series openers that they haven't looked ready to go in. You want to go back to Friday night. Friday night was egregious. Again, these teams are coming in to Citizens Bank Park because you have the best record in baseball, and

you have a bullseye in your chest, and they want to go show you that, no, we're actually the best team in baseball. The Guardians believe they're the best record in baseball, and you have a bullseye in your chest, and they want to go show you that, no, we're actually the best team in baseball. The Guardians believe they're the best team in baseball. The Yankees believe they're the best team in baseball. The Orioles, early in the season, they believe they're the best team in baseball. Like, there's a target on the Phillies' back, and they're just wilting right now. They're just absolutely freaking wilting right now. And that's what's frustrating.

Like, where's the backbone? Where is the backbone of this baseball team? Yes, I appreciate stars got to be stars, trade deadline, whatever, whatever. I agree with most of that. But where's the spine? They had a spine early and the biggest thing that worries me right now is that that that kind of that that the toughness the resiliency like i we need to see some signs of that because they rolled over tonight against this yankees team they rolled over tonight and i'm just waiting for them to to lock in and go win a ball game and we're just

not seeing the team that we've seen for a majority of the season 215 592 94 94 is how you get in we mentioned the stars being the stars and Bryce said that yesterday after the game and for the most part, he's right. Bryce has won for his last 21. Trey won for his last 17. JT, three for 21. And Alec Boehm, three RBIs in June. Three. Sorry, July. Three RBIs in July.

Three. Three from the cleanup hitter. I mean, holy smokes. Like, holy smokes. Stars got to be stars. I mean, we saw Judge put on a show tonight. We saw Soto put on a show tonight. Where were our stars?

Schwarber walked a couple times. But, man, it's like all these guys are kind of going through it right now. We saw some signs of life from Bryson. I hit a ball to the wall. But,, but the thing that hits you in the gut, and I feel it, I think you feel it, this is the offense everyone was worried about.

This is it. Now, thank God it's in July and not in October against the Diamondbacks or in the World Series against the Astros. But this is it. This is what has worried us in the past. And that's the thing that's kind of hitting me in my gut.

2-1-5-5-9-2, 94-94. And final thought here before I kind of go to the phone lines here. on a thought here before I go to the phone lines here. I just refuse to believe that Dave Dombrowski is going to get a Sir Anthony replacement and Estevez, I think, could be the closer here. They're certainly upside. But essentially, they're replacing the Sir Anthony spot in the bullpen with Estevez, and hopefully it goes well. And Austin Hayes is going to be this team's deadline.

Like, come on, man. Austin Hayes is maybe a good player. I appreciate him being an all-star last year for the Orioles. I do think he smokes left-handed pitching. But just going and getting a nine-hole hitter and wipe our hands, call it a day. Bang, we got Austin Hayes. That's the bats.

That's the bat. We got Austin Hayes. Wipe your hands. Deadline done. Over. All good. All good. And, again, I hope it works out this is this is not

rooting against the move but i just find it so hard to believe that we're giving this guy a ton of runway in august to take the left field job and run with it. Like, what is that plan? Can we have something? Well, what if he doesn't run away with it? Marsh showed some signs of life tonight. Smoked the ball, got a hit. Great.

Well, if Austin Hayes can't do the job, then we're right back to the Johan Rojas, Brandon Marsh thing. Like, it just, how can that be the plan? How can more more 25 games over 500, the big move of the deadline is Austin Hayes and Carlos Estevez? Like, I just, I refuse to believe that they're done. I just refuse to believe they're done. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe we'll get to 6-0-1 tomorrow and nothing's going to happen.

But like, that's it? That's it? That's the deadline? I don't buy it. I don't buy it. And, frankly, I know it might be overreacting to the last couple of series. I think they could use a jolt. Like, you're telling me they make an all-ink kind of move tomorrow?

Don't know what that looks like. I mean, I could tell you about Garrett Crochet and Luis Roberts, you're blue in the face. But, like, if they take a big swing like that, I guarantee the clubhouse is like, holy cow, it's go time. It's time to wake up. Because that's, I mean, they need to wake up as soon as possible. 215-592-9494.

Dave's in Maryland. My guy, Dave. How's it going, man? Just brutal. They got bullied tonight. The Yankees came in, took their lunch money, and I just don't get it. Just a trade deadline talk. Myself, I said it to you last week.

Austin Hayes and Estevez are not going to be in. That's not enough. When I look at this team and the team that you're supposed to be, you're telling me when you hit the playoffs, Brandon, I mean, I know he had a good game

tonight, but he struck out 44 out of the last 100 at-bats. He's the five-hole hitter? I know. I know. That's ridiculous. I mean, I know that Castellanos, but, like, again, I mean, they're going to do that against a right-handed pitcher. And then what do you do when a good team brings in lefties in the middle of the game?

Like, are you bringing in Rojas to pinch hit in the five-hole? Like, it just doesn't make sense. Like, Austin Hayes looked just overmatched against the righty tonight. And there's a guy that came back tonight. He didn't play, but he was activated tonight. I think I've always said makes sense for this team, especially now, Cody Ballinger. I mean, listen, you want to talk about –

See, what's so weird, though, Dave, is – and I've been kind of anti just because I think it's $27 million after – like $25 next year, $27 after. I don't know. It seems like a lot of money. It seems like they wouldn't want to do it. But I can't figure out what the Cubs are doing. Like, they traded for Isaac Paredes the other day, who is under control for a couple years.

Are they buying? Are they selling? What are they doing? But, yeah, I mean, you want to talk about a possible big swing. I mean, Bellinger's another name. Yeah, I mean, I think it balances the lineup a little bit better if you're going to keep Boehm in the four-hole, which

that looks like you're going to do. Can my four-hole hitter have more than three RBIs in a month? Exactly. I mean, I don't know. They've got to, in my opinion, if they want this season to end where they want it to, they have to do something tomorrow, and I don't know if they've got to, in my opinion, if they want this season to end where they want it to, they have to do something tomorrow. And I don't know if they're going to.

And it's shocking the reputation you heard from Dombrowski when he came in, was he's going to deplete the system and that he's going to go after things. And he's been, I mean, granted, we've built the system, but what was the saying in the beginning of the year? We're saving the powder. Well, the powder got you Estevez and Hayes. That just doesn't make sense. Yeah, I appreciate the phone call, Dave, and I'm with you.

Save the powder. Well, it's time. It's time to use some of the powder. I mean, people know me. If you time to use some of the powder. And I mean, people know me. If you listen to me, like I love these prospects. Like I,

I watched the games. Like I care. I, I, the whole system up to down, but let, or top to bottom. But at some point,

like you got to pull the trigger on something. And even it costs them, these guys to take a big swing, to try to get this team over the hump and in the world series. I don't know. Like, I, I don't know how you say no to that because we are really concerned about the future. And I do trust the guys that are in place right now to be able to continue to find talent. They found George Claussen in the sixth round last year.

I trust them to be able to continue to find that kind of talent and get the most out of them. So, man, tomorrow is a crucial day. I do not think Dave Dombrowski can just sit on his hands. I just don't believe that. I don't believe that at all. 2-1-5, 5-9-2, 94-94 to get in. It is the final out here on WIP. On the other side, something that happened tonight on offense that, for me, is very, very concerning.

And another bad kind of sign about how this team is trending offensively that they need to fix ASAP. Plus, they played the game and kind of saw a glimpse into how teams might start pitching one of the Philly Stars tonight. It's a lot to react to. It's a bit of a venting session here on the final out on sports radio, 94 WIP. Hey, fantasy football owners, the road to winning your fantasy football championship starts now.

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Blasted. Oh my goodness. Way back to left. And that ball is gone. Aaron Judge with his second home run of the night. Number 39 on the season. Another no doubter. And it's 9-3 New York. I mean, that guy is ridiculous. I mean, just absolutely ridiculous. I mean, he hit some moonshots tonight, and, I mean, he already is at, what, 100 RBIs on July 29th?

And, I mean, man, he is remarkable. I mean, he's huge, you know, being there in person for the first. It never even looks like he, like, even totally connects. He's just. He's huge. Being there in person for the first time, it never even looks like he even totally connects. He's just so freaking strong. I mean, the second one, yeah, the second one was an absolute no-doubter. But Aaron Judge, absolutely our player of the game, sponsored by South Jersey Gas, committed to providing safe, reliable, affordable natural gas. Make the switch at southjerseygas.com slash lovemyhome.

And this is the final out, sponsored by Reg furniture affordable never looks so good jack for it's hanging out with you on this monday night reacting to a brutal night and what has been a brutal stretch again losing five straight series openers not great because what what they were doing so well early in the season is that they would get the first one out of the way and then you know obviously you kind of hope to take care of business the next night. But that's how they racked up all those series wins. I mean, they can't even win series openers right now. And I just keep waiting for them to be like, all right, no, we're going to go out there and try to kick some ass tonight.

And they're just not doing it. I mean, again, tonight they got bullied around the ballpark tonight by the Yankees. And the Yankees, by the way, have been horrible for a long stretch. I mean, they won a series over the weekend against the Red Sox. They won two straight and obviously three straight now. But, like, for a long time there, they were brutal. And it was just like Judge was going off, but no one else was doing anything. Soto was great.

And, yeah, they got Stanton back tonight and Jazz was in there. But, man, like, the Yankees have been going through it as well. And for them to show up tonight and kind of put it on you, I don't like that. And the one thing that – like, the offense is the thing that's kind of sticking with me. Like, Wheeler, he's not going to be that bad. He is now not the favorite for Cy Young. Chris Sale is the favorite for Cy Young with Paul Skeens, you know, barreling right behind him.

Wheeler's fine. Whatever. I mean, in the postseason, he's been so money that he can have these regular season things and it happens. ERA is still under three. And the bullpen, I would like an addition tomorrow. I mean, we know Marte at this point is waving the white flag

and Soto's not to be trusted. Again, I would like a bullpen move tomorrow. But the offense, like the offense that we'd seen in the first half of the season, you know, the 45 and 19 before London, was not this home runner or bust offense. You know, they're getting a lot of hits with two outs. They're great with runners in scoring position. They were doing little things well. They were grinding more at bats or walking a little bit more. And what has really happened and what's been tough, really, the last, again, these last five, six series, is that it does feel like if they're not hitting a home run, they're not getting that big hit. And when Trey Turner grounded into what could have been a double

play tonight but it was bobbled by glaber torres at second base and scott mentioned this on the broadcast it was the first time that their offense scored a run that wasn't a home run since last Last Wednesday. Last Wednesday. Again, that's not sustainable. It's hard to hit home runs. Especially against the velocity and the spin. There has to be other ways to score runs. Going back to this boom or bust kind of offense, I just don't trust it when it gets to playoff time.

But that's kind of how they're built. Either way, definitely boom or bust. And then you get to Trey, and Trey's definitely going through it. You know, obviously he was scorching hot really up until the All-Star break and even the first couple games after the All-Star break. But tonight, at best, it mattered, you know, before it was out of hand. I mean, Trey got eight straight sliders to him. So, I mean, that has to be the playbook right now. We're not going to give you fastballs.

If they are, they're going to be up and out of the zone and see if you can go after them. And we're just going to spam you with sliders and see if you can do any damage on them. Like, he has to obviously lay off them. He cannot try to pull them because it's going to be ground ball city. He has to be content taking it the other way and get that out of the mindset of opposing teams. But that's something to definitely monitor with these teams and their game plan against Trey.

He's going to be here for a little bit until he can kind of work his way out of this thing. 2-1-5-5-9-2-94-94. Let's go back to the phones. Matt is in Haddon Township. What's happening, Matt? Hey, what's up, man? Thanks for taking my phone call.

Of course, man. What do you got? Hey, man. I'm a diehard Phillies fan, man. And, you know, tonight, you know, that was brutal. That was an embarrassment. You know what I mean? It was like Yankee Stadium there tonight.

You know, and it's like, you know, I called in last night, and, you know, where's the accountability? You know, where's the sense of urgency? You know, yeah, team goes through, you know, a rough patch, but, I mean, come on now. You know, didn't you think there should be like a meeting, like a closed-door meeting? You know, Bryce sees the face of the franchise. Don't you think there should be a meeting, like a closed-door meeting?

Bryce sees the face of the franchise. Somebody has to get these guys together to start hitting again. You know what I mean? It's like those guys are all professional hitters. They're making a lot of money. At some point, you've got to hit the ball. Like you were saying earlier, you know, Austin Hayes, I'm like, okay, I'm okay with that deal.

But they need more than Austin Hayes. And, you know, watching Jazz Chisholm tonight, you know, he's looking, you know, pretty good. I'd rather have had him than Austin Hayes, to tell you the truth. Yeah, and I got you, Matt. And obviously it would have cost you more, but whatever. I understand the sentiment. The issue is I don't know what the move is.

Like, I mean, Dave brought up Cody Bellinger earlier. Sure, if that's something you want to go after. I mean, Saez Suzuki's had a good run for the Cubs. It was not Luis Robert. Listen, Luis Robert is a polarizing force in this city. And I guess my one final, because, again, I feel like I've done this a million times. My one final pitch for the idea of trading for Luis Robert and giving up a good amount of prospects for him is, again, he's on an awful team that has no talent around him. He comes here.

I know they're down right now, but he has Schwarber, Turner, Harper, Robert, you know, Boehm behind him, Castellanos behind him, you know, big bad Austin Hayes behind him. Like, at least it's easier to kind of fit that in. And he is coming off a year where he hit 38 home runs as a center fielder playing gold glove caliber defense. And it just kind of fits in seamlessly. Now, I've said this also, that there is red flags with him.

The injuries are real. He's played over 100 games once, and it was last year. And what they kind of need in a perfect fit, but again, I don't think that guy's available, a perfect fit for this team is a patient righty that is not going to chase every slider that they see. That's just not available. So I understand not trading a Soto package.

And first off, I don't think it costs a Soto package. Like, not trading the Soto package for a guy like Luis Robert that's more up in the air. But I'd like to take a shot. Like, I'd like to take a shot on getting the best version of Luis Robert. Because the best version of Luis Robert is one of the best players in baseball. Like, that's the upside of Luis Robert. So, that's my final pitch. I will. That's the upside of Luis Robert. So that's my final pitch. I will not belabor the point on Luis Robert.

But yeah, I would be very, very, very surprised if their whole plan is we get Austin Hayes, we're fine. That's our left fielder. We're going to let him give. Again, if you want to give him runway in June, you want to give him runway in june you want to give him runway in may to take the job and run with it fine but it's gonna be august and we're trying to win a world series like that's the concern for me could he do it could he sure but

if you get louis robert guess what you have out also you have hayes and left who rips left-handed pitching and you have brandon marsh who is heating up against righties and you have louis robert in Robert, guess what? You have Hayes in left who rips left-handed pitching, and you have Brandon Marsh who is heating up against righties, and you have Luis Robert in center field who, at worst-case scenario, can hit a long home run for you, have a minimum 750 OPS, play gold glove defense, and steal some bases, and give some pop potential behind Bryce Harper. We'll see. We'll see.

We'll see. Ron and Monko, my guy. It's been a while, Ron. I missed you, pal. It has been a while. Fresh magic, my friend. What are you doing? What are you doing?

Moonlighting? I don't know what that is, Ron. Well, you have a daytime job. I know. I know. I know. And then I come home. Well, moonlighting is an old guy saying for working after your regular job at night, make an extra money. That's what it means.

Listen, Ron, you know me. Blue collar, binder. Listen, for somebody that is not a doom and gloom guy, you're laying it down pretty nice. Wow, I'm pretty mad, Ron. I'm pretty mad. Come on. Jack, listen, man. What are you...

Where is this guy that you were just talking about? Is he the Chicago White Sox guy? Yeah, he's a center fielder. Richard, what's his name? Luis Robert. You were just speaking about. Luis Robert. What team is he from? The White Sox. Okay, that's what I? Luis Robert. You were just speaking about. Luis Robert. What team is he from?

The White Sox. Okay, that's what I thought. Okay, let me tell you something. What are you willing to give up for him? I'm just curious. What are you willing to give up for this dude? I would do my best to keep Aiden Miller and Painter out of the deal, and then it's like Crawford, Caba, Tate, and one of your pitching prospects.

I don't think Abel has much. How many players are you willing to give up? Probably four. Four. Okay. Jack, you can't. You can't do it. You can't do it.

You can't keep doing this. Listen, this is Middleton and Dombrowski's mess. Okay? Now, you're not going tobrowski's mess. Okay? Now, you're not going to go in and pirate. Okay? He's been given full reign, and they opened the checkbook for this guy, Dombrowski. Okay? So, if this thing goes bad, which it's going to do, okay, it's going to come down on him, and it's going to come down on Middleton.

Okay? I don't want my franchise totally torn apart, Jack. Okay? Because this is their baby. He made his bed. Let him live in it. Let him sleep in it. Okay?

You want to go get a center fielder? Here's I got an idea. Why don't you? You got some dead wood. Give him Marsh. Give him Rojas. And give him a pitcher. Give him Marte for that center fielder or

somebody like that. That'll get it done, Ron. Yep, yep. Well, you can't, listen, listen, I'm telling you, this team is burnt. They're spent. That's what they're spent. I said it two weeks ago. They are cooked, okay?

And we've seen this before. We've heard this song before, and we know what happens at the end. They fold their tents up. Okay. Two years ago, they had a World Series. They came within a couple of outs. They couldn't pull it off. Oh, well, okay.

Next year, would they go one round? Then they got knocked out? No. This team is getting old fast. This signing for Trey Turner is one of the worst signings I've ever seen in my life for $300 million. This guy, Jack, in two years, this is only his second year on a 10-year deal. First of all, he loses the leadoff spot. He loses that the first year.

The second year, he can't play shortstop anymore. He's done over there. Okay, so he's going to go to second base next year. And let's see if he can't play shortstop anymore. He's done over there. Okay? So he's going to go to second base next year. And let's see if he can even handle that for $300 million. This is what we did. These are the kind of moves we made. Castellano killed you, Jack,

for two and a half months. Am I right or am I wrong? You're right. This is not good, Jack. I'm telling you, I hate to say this, but it's not good. This whole era of, let's just call it the Harper era, because that's what it is. They had a decision to make, Jack, way back when, six plus years ago, which direction they were going to go. They had two things.

They had the building, and they had the Philly fanatic, and they went and bought the sacred cow. Okay? They put everything on him. So after they got him, they had to follow it up with all these high-dollar contracts. It was another perfect storm for the Phillies. You know, just like Lee going down and Halliday going down and not getting rid of those guys in time to collect and reload your farm system.

This goes back, dude. This problem goes back. And I'm telling you, if they let this, if they don't do something here, can you imagine watching Trey Turner four years from now? Can you imagine? Listen, I got you. And I appreciate the phone call. I can't do it.

Like, listen, I'm frustrated. I'm mad. They're still in a good spot. I'm not ready to close the window for the Phillies. And Trey's also, again, in a top spell. But he's been batting over. He's hit number 320. So, always interesting.

Can we work through that deal again? It was Marte, Rojas, Marsh, and another pitching prospect for Luis Robert. Who says no? Who says no? How about the White Sox? That sounds like a Jim Bowden trade idea. All right. We'll regroup.

We'll regroup. On the other side, a look ahead to tomorrow, plus the play of the game and a whole lot more. Here on the final out on Sports Radio 94 WIP. Another 3-2 pitch. Swung on, line to right, that's trouble. It's going to be in for a hit, it'll one hop the fence.

One run scores. Around third is Volpe, he will score as the throw home is late. Volpe scoring, standing up. Juan Soto drives home two with a double and the Yankees again a three-run advantage. They lead it five to two. And that's another thing that's changed recently with this team

is even pitching-wise, when they would get into trouble earlier in the year, it'd be like, they're probably going to find their way out of it. Like something miracle is going to happen, and I know it's basically a little one-out, but they'll find a way out of it. I don't even trust them to get the big out right now. It feels like the Phillies are not getting the back-breaking hit, and they're having the back-breaking hits happen to them.

And that's a tough spot. You have your ace in the mound. It's going up against Juan Soto. Struck him out earlier in the game. It's the fifth inning. I know his pitch count was high. It's one of those things where you pull him and it's like Wheatler's mad at you. And both could come back to bite you.

He is going to trust his guys. And I just hope that the trust pays off. And they can right the ship here. But they've got another tough task tomorrow. By the way, the Juan Soto double there. Again, it was a 3-2 ballgame at that point. He doubles there and makes it 5-2. That is the play of the game sponsored by Mike's Amazing,

the official mayo and mustard of the Phillies. So it doesn't get much easier tomorrow. Garrett Coles on the mound versus Aaron Nola. Would love a nice little stopper kind of performance from Aaron Nola. But again, Tyler Phillips isn't pitching until the next series. So, no stopper this series. But, you know, Nola on the mound tomorrow and Garrett Cole. A nice little matchup here of guys who love giving up solo home runs.

So, we'll see kind of how it goes. And I'm already like, again, this is like full doom and gloom. But, like, just a hanging curveball that Judge hits 900 feet. That's already my fear for tomorrow night. But I guess we just got to keep waiting around for this team to wake the hell up and remember that they're a damn good baseball team because I don't need the Yankees fans taking over the stadium again. I don't need this team kind of rolling over.

Again, I just want them to find the backbone again. I don't need this team kind of rolling over. Again, I just want them to find the backbone again. And again, tomorrow is a huge day. What moves do they make? Do they stand pat? How big do they go? They could use a bat. I think another

bullpen piece. I do think that they're going to make a little run here at Garrett Crochet. See if they can pry him away from the White Sox. White Sox, a disaster day for them. So either way, we'll be out at McGurk's all day. I'll be on at 11. So 11

through 6. And then I'm going to the ballpark. I'll be down at the game tomorrow night. Hopefully a fun one. If it goes like tonight, I'll tell you what, we'll not be there in the ninth. I know baseball doesn't have a clock, but, man, having to sit there as they're getting bludgeoned and Garrett Stubbs is letting up a home run to Jazz Chisholm, I mean, that is, like, my personal hell.

I mean, that's just absolutely brutal. But I guess we just have to keep waiting. We have to keep waiting for this team to turn it on because, man, they are going through it. They are going through it. Let's close it out here with Max in Roxborough. What's happening, Max? Hey, Pritzy.

How are you doing tonight? Not great. Not great for me either. I was personally at that game, and if it wasn't for spending so much money, I would have left before the night, just like you were saying. Yeah. Now, did you stay the whole game? Unfortunately. game, and if it wasn't for spending so much money, I would have left before the night, just like you were saying. Yeah. Now, did you stay the whole game?

Unfortunately. So I've got to watch that subs, Jim. You're right. I give it up to you, man. That's good work. I'm not as tough as you. I would have been out. Yeah, it was testing my limits.

But I've got a trade idea for you tomorrow. I know we're talking a lot about bullpen pieces. I kind of want to see them go for a starter, whether that's crochet or whether that's three screwballs from the Tigers. And I kind of want to see them move Ranger to the pen, not for the full season, but rotate endurance starts. His innings have been getting up a lot. I know Sanchez is getting up there for his high inning rates. And we know Topper likes to go to him in the postseason do we think ranger is that long-term solution when it comes to that

bullpen piece at least for this year to give them a little more flexibility especially with some of the injury issues whether this is phantom or not yeah it's tough man because obviously if you can get ranger back to anything like he was for a majority of the first half it's like okay well he's one of the best starters in the NL. But if they are worried about the back, that could be a thing. And the one part that I find at least interesting about it, I mean, for right now, if they don't trade for a starter, he's probably still my number four.

I would trust Chris Sanchez in a playoff start over him. I'm not at the point where I'm starting starting tyler phillips obviously like ranger's still in there um but but the one interesting part about ranger in the bullpen is at least i think he's going to come in and show stones and and and throw strikes and when you you're left the options right now strong really good alvarado hopefully working his way back and soto's completely unreliable i mean at least ranger would have the ability to do that go multiple innings. Like, I wouldn't be surprised if they did it. I do think that's more of a playoff thing

than it is a right-now thing. But at the same time, if they like the Lorenzen-type starter, which I hope is not, obviously, a Michael Lorenzen-type, it goes a little higher. If they go that route, I would try to go get Nathan Ivaldi from the Rangers given that he pitched out

the bullpen in 18 for Dombrowski with the Red Sox. He's started games and has huge stones in the playoffs. If they don't go crochet, they don't go some of these other kind of Scooball, I mean, would love Scooball, but holy cow, you talk about trading the farm. I mean, you're going to have to give up them all, I feel like.

So Evaldi is the name that I think would be really interesting tomorrow if Dave does want to get another starter in here. And they might need it. You know, with Tyler Walker, who knows. Tyler Phillips has been great. And Ranger now on the side of Elston. Evaldi is a name that I'm kind of keeping an eye on tomorrow.

Sounds good. Appreciate the call for us. Thanks, Max. Appreciate the phone call. Well, that's going to do it for me.

Buzz Dan Wilson produced the program tonight. Jody Mack, he's coming up next and he'll take you through the rest of the night here on Sports Radio

94 WIP. And the final out is sponsored tonight by Regency Furniture. Affordable never looks so good. Jody Mack, he'll take you through the rest of the night here on Sports Radio 94 WIP.