High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Final Out: Wheeler Dominates, Rhys Homers, Phils Win

Episode Date: June 4, 2024

Jack Fritz reacts to the Phillies winning in Rhys Hoskins's return to Citizens Bank Park. 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. What a night down at the ballpark. Welcome on in. It is the final out sponsored by Regency Furniture. Affordable never looked. So good, Jack Fritz, hanging out with you on what was like, you know, for regular season

baseball. It was a pretty special night down at the ballpark. Obviously Reese returned. A lot of like little fun moments. All throughout some good defense, some good pitching, some timely hitting. A new hero has emerged. A lot of little fun moments. All throughout, some good defense, some good pitching, some timely hitting. A new hero has emerged. A lot to get to on the game wrap-up.

Sponsored by Blazer, Swiss, Lubin, Kravitz, the metalworking fluid specialists. Providing professional CNC machine cleaning, coolant maintenance programs, and waste coolant disposal. Kravitz.online. 215-592-9494 to get in. It was packed down at Citizens Bank Park tonight, obviously with Reese's return, but also best team in baseball.

It probably helped out with all of that. The biggest takeaways of the game brought to you by Morgan & Morgan, America's largest injury law firm. Obviously, first big one is the Reeseervations. And the first one was really special. And we're messing around on the afternoon show today. I said, I hope I can get there for first pitch. Was able to do it. I was able to get out, get down there, park, bang, get in for first pitch. And Zach Wheeler was dominant at the beginning and three up

three down Phil's went out you know also a slow start uh but yeah it was it was it was a lot of people still in the ballpark or still you know the most of the the ballpark was filled by the time Reese came up before Reese even had his at bat they played a video tribute right before the inning so for the inning started they played a video tribute right before the inning. So before the inning started, they played the video tribute, and that got the first ovation for Reese. He was still in the dugout at that point. And then he takes center stage. And if you missed it, here is how it was called by France Game LA here on WIP.

Now batting for Milwaukee, number 12, designated hitter, Reese Hoskins. JT Romito embracing Reese, steps up in front of the plate. He and Sean Barber talking and letting the moment unfold as Hoskins with the helmet off, wandering around the dirt circle. Now steps out onto the grass, puts a hand over his heart. Nodding his head, a big deep breath. Hoskins with the helmet back on. Everybody standing.

Harper and Boehm both in the infield clapping. Clapping their gloves, acknowledging their teammate. Certainly beloved. And I thought it was beautifully done. It was a long ovation. I think it was over a minute. Being in the ballpark, it felt long, but I'm happy that he got that moment. I'm happy that a guy that, again, it's been detailed all day here on WIP, on High Hopes, and I'm sure that some people are Reese Hoskinsed out. But it's just, it continues to show how special of a baseball talent this is because it is.

I know that not everyone was paying attention when he came up in 2017. Obviously, 2018, he played left field. It was a lot of ups and downs, some obviously insane moments, like the bat spike and NLCS game four and owning October in game five. He was a Philly. He was a Philly, as simple as that. Reese Hoskins was a Philly. He had that moment, a big ovation.

You could tell it meant a lot to him. I thought the crowd was great. I thought the Phillies were great. It was just one big kind of goodbye and thank you for everything. Then he hit a home run later in the game. If you listened to the afternoon show today, I did say I would quit if he got

ovations after he hit a home run. I think if it was a different circumstance, like he didn't have a 3-0 lead and it wasn't a solo shot, he probably doesn't get that reaction. I thought I would be more annoyed by it, but I thought it was a really classy gesture. I did. I probably, full disclosure, would have done the same thing if that happened.

It just ended up being a cool moment. So I'm sure it's going to tick off some people that he got another kind of round of cheers after he hit a home run against the team that he left. But I thought it was a cool moment, and I just continue to see class from Philly sports fans. And it was a really, really cool night. I was glad to be there, wanted to be there. And I'm glad Reese kind of had a really cool moment. I'm glad he got thrown out of the plate.

That was also awesome. But overall, a special, special night down at the ballpark. So other things to get to. The Pitch Count, which is sponsored by the Plumbers Union Local 690. Protecting the health of the nation. Visit Plumbers690.org. And Zach Wheeler, 114 pitches, a season high. I thought he was fighting it.

I did, and it's so funny because I felt like he's been fighting it for the last five outings, I want to say. But he's still really good. He left five hits tonight and went seven innings. He allowed one run, and it was one mistake to Reese. He dodged some traffic, and that happens, and I get it. I still think he's fighting it, but this is kind of what he's done in the regular season.

Even last year, a year before that, it's like he's really, really good, but I still feel like he's kind of fighting it. But the fact that you can fight it the way that he does and still go out 114 pitches, which Rob Thompson said after the game, he's got like a week off, so they felt comfortable pushing him there. And the bullpen pitched a lot last night, so they pushed it and extended it a little bit. But still, Zach Wheeler is just so interesting.

Watching a guy who you kind of see fighting it continue to put out a lot of excellence. And that's what makes Zach Wheeler an ace. He's an ace's ace. He's an absolute horse. And he was really good again tonight. But one of the other big storylines from tonight, before we get to your phone calls, 215-592-9494 to react to everything that happened

down at Citizens Bank Park. By the way, they beat a good team tonight. They beat a team that was 13 games over 500 and was in first place in the NL Central. Maybe this team's just good. Maybe this team is just good. But a new hero might be emerging in David

Dahl. Don't need to get too far ahead of ourselves. But I kind of felt before the game, and I felt I've liked David Dahl for a while. Now it's because I've played fantasy baseball, and he was always like this great hope of a pure hitter in Colorado. It was like, oh, he's of course going to be good because the Rockies just pump out hitters. And he just has never been able to really stay healthy. But you see what they did with Spencer Turnbull. Hard not to feel like they might have found something here with David Dahl.

I mean, David Dahl was an all-star in 2019. He's always been able to hit. When Marsh went down, it was like, yeah, that stinks for Marsh. But I just trusted this team to be able to pick him up and step up around him. And you see what David Dahl was doing in AAA. Sure. Is it AAA? Is the competition not great? Sure. He was batting 340 though. So that does mean something. And maybe he could be like the Spencer Turnbull of the off field. There is some pedigree there, just like there was a Spencer Turnbull. They might've found something with David Dahls where he can just stabilize that spot.

But again, it just shows the depth of this team and the depth that Dave Dombrowski has built here from Dahl to Sosa to Cody Clements. They probably whiffed on Witt, but whatever. There's been a lot of good here. And being able to find a guy like David Dahl come up and at least have an impact like that, it's really solid.

Now, the one detraction, and it continues to bother me, is they just give out the number 35 to whatever outfielder they feel like giving it out to. Whatever random outfielder they're going to bring out for three games or a couple of weeks. It was Oscar Mercado that they gave 35 to and broke the Hamels number thing. It was then Bradley Zimmer, I believe. And then now it's David Dahl. Again, I don't need all these guys wearing

35. I know it's petty. I know it's small potatoes. But it just doesn't really sit right with me. 215-592-9494. Let's check in with David in Westchester. What's happening, Dave? Hey, Jeff.

How's my favorite Bloomsburg Husky? How you doing tonight? I'm doing pretty well, man. That was a fun, it was a good, like, middle of the summer, early summer baseball game tonight. It was a lot of emotion, and they went out and still did their job. I'll tell you, it was electric down there. It was like that standing O that Reece got was about a minute long.

And, I mean, you could feel your heart beating. You know, it was so cool. And then I, like I said, I screamed and yelled when he got thrown out at home. And then I was, we're just getting back. I'm with a bunch of drunken idiots. Nice. I mean, it was great. I mean, just the whole thing.

But, yeah, it was actually a really good time down there tonight. And, you know, I loved it. Loved every minute of it. Yeah, I appreciate the phone call, David. Yeah, I mean, for a Monday night in June, it was a good atmosphere down at the ballpark tonight. The Reese thing obviously added to it, but the crowd was just into it from the jump.

And they've really been into it this entire season. It's, man, it's really fun when this team's gone well. So, another great, great, great game by this baseball team. 215-592-9494 to get in your takeaways from the game all throughout the

final out. But, on the other side, the takeaways from the game all throughout the final out. But on the other side, the player of the game and a shocking stat, a shocking stat about one Philly. Don't miss that coming up next on the final out on sports radio, 94 WIP. Hey, fantasy football owners, the road to winning your fantasy football championship starts now.

I'm Matt Harmon from reception perception. Join me and James Coe as we take a deep dive into the position that's going to make or break your fantasy roster. Wide receivers. We analyze route running, target share, and all the metrics that matter giving you the insights you need to draft the best wide receivers. As you prep

for your draft, let us give you the coverage you need. Follow and listen to Reception Perception on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. Yes, that home run made David Dahl, 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. David Dahl comes up tonight.

No one really knows who he is unless you're a sicko, fancy baseball player like myself. And he has a big night. Again, there is some pedigree here for David Dahl. Again, wearing number 35. Forgot. Drew Ellis also wore number 35. I guess he's giving it out willy-nilly. I guess that's what we're doing with the World Series

MVP from 2008. The one title most of us have been able to see in our lifetime and second in franchise history. But whatever. I digress. Maybe David Dahl can break the streak of giving it to mostly a scrub. I know that Drew Alls had a moment.

I appreciate that Drew Alls had a two-home run game last year down in Washington. But maybe David Dahl. Maybe David Dahl can break it. But either way, it really does show and give a testament to how deep this Phillies team is that it can bring a guy up from AAA again. It's the right kind of signing. I mean, it's what Turnbull was. Turnbull is a one-year, $2 million, like, this guy's had some stuff before.

He was a breakout candidate like four years ago. He's coming off Tommy John, but we think there's stuff here. And he comes up, and he's been really good. And we'll see if he ever gets back in the rotation. And then there's David Dahl, who was, again, an all-star in 2019, has never been able to stay healthy. But, hey, you get him here, you get him in this ballpark, you get him in front of those fans, and I don't know, man.

Maybe there's some rejuvenation there. He said that the standing ovation he received after he hit the home run was the coolest thing he's ever experienced on a baseball field which is pretty awesome to hear for a guy who again i don't think many people knew of before earlier this afternoon it's a special special place when the team is playing well and the whole reese reaction i mean it seems like i mean it was a pretty jovial atmosphere in the ballpark tonight i mean a lot of good vibes. So I think anyone could have almost got a standing ovation as they stepped on the field down at the ballpark tonight.

But still, David Dahl, my player of the game. We'll get to a shocking stat here about one Philly in one second. But Brian is in Churchville. What's happening, Brian? Jack, what's happening, man? What's happening, brother? Oh, man, what a fun night this was. Holy mackerel.

The ace was really good again, and the defense behind him. JT, are you kidding me? Are you kidding me with that throw at the first base? Holy mackerel. It's a ridiculous play. It's a ridiculous play. It really was ridiculous. Yeah, and it's funny, and I give you

credit. You talked about Dahl earlier on the afternoon show, and man, he did show up. Holy mackerel. And I didn't even think, and I love Cole Hamels, and I didn't even think about the number thing. Holy mackerel. I mean, it's a little much. We've given it some absolute scrubs here over the last couple years.

Yeah, it's so true. It's so true. And it's funny because, you know, Wheeler is just amazing. But it's funny. It almost seems like unless he gets in really high-leverage situations, he just kind of dials it down a little bit. And then when he does, he's just really, you know, he's amazing. But when he gets in those high-level situations, he's just unbelievable.

Yeah, I've never really had a fear, even when the bases were loaded, that I just felt like he was going to get out of it. They've been doing that a lot this season where it's like, yeah, this seems bad, but they'll probably find a way to get out of this thing. We talk about Ranger being a close cucumber cucumber which is 100 true but wheeler's not wheelers really kind of the same way well i mean there's a reason why he's also been unbelievable in the postseason since he's gotten here i mean ranger we we give him a lot of credit and that's totally fair but i mean wheeler's been better you know he's going deep in the games and

yeah no no exactly and you know hence hence the big contract which was with which was extremely well earned and uh yeah the uh the again the doll thing tonight was just such a cool storyline it was it really was listen i'm not one that that is uh i don't i don't do the fan group thing like i don't have time to get down to the ballpark because of you know doing the final round and walker just saying there's a there's an opportunity here for the dollhouse. Love it. I love it. There's something there, Brian. Someone's got to do it.

But the idea has been set in motion. How about that? I love it. I think that's awesome. Yeah, because like you said, he's had some success. He's had injuries. If he can stay healthy, he could end up being a huge boon to this squad. For sure, Brian.

I appreciate the phone calls. Again, it just kind of speaks to the depth that they have. Now, I have to make a correction here. We're all about accuracy on both the Phillies broadcast and the final out. Bradley Zimmer never wore the 35, but Oscar Mercado did and drew ellis did so and now david doll has so it is no no bradley zimmer but it's still been given as a players who will be good trivia questions i guess 10 years from now even if whatever if there's most people don't even care but i care i care so the interesting stat that it's certainly

i mean just in watching him in most of the bats it's like yeah maybe not ready for this level but johan rowas is hitting over 300 now with runners in scoring position which is obviously really good like you you would have taken that any day of the week before the season. And he's showing some signs of life at the plate. And now with Marsh going out, they could really use some outfield production. Good start with David Dahl tonight. But Rojas, oddly clutch. Let's put it that way. Oddly clutch, hitting over.300 with the runners in scoring position.

So good to see. 2-1-5, 5-9-2, 94-94, leaving the ballpark. Would love to get to you. But coming up on the other side, the play of the game. Something I need the Phillies to do ASAP. Plus, a look ahead to tomorrow. All that's coming up next on the Final Out on Sports Radio 94 WIP. That is my play of the game sponsored by Mike's Amazing,

the official mayo and mustard of the Phillies. Welcome on back. It is the Final Out sponsored by Regency Furniture. Affordable never looks so good. And that play was nuts. So I had left the ballpark by that point. I had to get home and do final out. And through no fault of his own,

it was such a bang-bang play. I don't think you could see it from that angle. I didn't know that the ball hit the ground. So JT had to make an insane pick. I mean, that's a really tough play. Obviously, it's that angle. I didn't know that the ball hit the ground. So JT had to make an insane pick. I mean, that's a really tough play. Obviously, it's Wheeler. That's not a typical throw that a pitcher has to make. I mean, that is a super, super high-level play there by JT Romuto. And obviously convert that, if they, you know, that gets by, makes a bad throw there,

and JT can't make a play, turns into a disaster, and maybe they don't win that ballgame tonight. But a massive play by JT. You could go with the Johan Rojas throw out of Reese Hoskins at the plate where, I mean, JT gives Reese Hoskins an extra little smack on the way out. And again, it was just a good vibes night down at the ballpark

which has been a lot of nights this year. So really, really awesome stuff. But yeah, JT, a really, really good night at the plate. We'll get to some thoughts on something I need the Phillies to do as soon as possible. But first, Joe is in Delco. What's happening, Joe?

How we doing? What's happening, buddy? I got a one comparison, and I got one other new tidbit about the Phillies. They've been doing things they haven't been doing in the past few years. They're doing

small ball. They're doing small ball. They're doing small ball. They're not relying on that big home run. That's got to get a home run. Got to get a home run. Got to get a home run. And that's why they're up so much in terms of wins division. Not because Max

Freed's down or I'm sorry, Strider. Not because Strider's down. It's because we're playing small ball. We're getting the wins. We're doing the wins. We need to get the wins. They're doing a lot of things well. They're getting the runners in from third base, less than two outs, which you have to do.

That's the small ball. For sure. They have the highest two outs runners in scoring position average in baseball, which is really important. They have a little bit of a clutch gene. It's funny because I talked about the offense earlier today. It's not like someone's having some super career year. Like, Boehm's having a really good start to the year. He's cooled off since May.

It just seems like one guy a night is kind of stepping up and doing a job, and it's been enough. Yeah, absolutely. What else you got? I got this one little question. I brought up to my buddies, and we all discussed it at the bar the other day. 08 team versus this team, best of seven, who wins? Yeah, I appreciate it.

Man, it's super tough. I would probably go this team, just from the standpoint of I trust the staff more. Obviously, if you get 08 playoff animals, you're doing pretty well. But I'd probably go to the staff. I'd obviously take that offense, even though this offense is technically scoring more runs per game than that offense. And I'd take this bullpen.

I know the bridge to Lidge was nasty, but they got some dudes down in that bullpen. So I think it would go six, maybe seven, but I think I'd take this team over the 08 team, which shows how truly great this baseball team is and how fun the start of the season has been. But speaking of the bullpen, they got to find a way to extend Jeff Hoffman as soon as possible

because he's pitching his way to, I mean, $30 million maybe kind of contract, maybe more. I mean, he's been really good for about a season and a half now. And it's like not even a stressor when he comes into the ballgame right now. So they've got to find a way to get that done because he's an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year. He can sign whatever he wants, and they can't let that happen. He's developing into a huge piece in this bullpen. I mean, Sir Anthony Kirkering and Hoffman, it's a pretty good 1-2-3,

righty options out of the bullpen. They can even make another trade if they want to. They want to add someone else just to make it even that much more souped up. But Jeff Hoffman's developed into a huge, huge piece for them. He's pitching all the time, it seems like. And they need to find a way to get that done. I mean, I know they got Strom done before the season, and that's obviously been a really, really good move.

Hoffman probably wants to cash in as much as he can. Either way, I don't need him hitting for agency and then possibly thinking he's going to leave here because he's developed into a super important weapon for this team. Again, pitching back-to-back tonight, no problem. Just doing his job. It's hard for a

middle reliever, not a closer, to make the all-star team, but him and Strom I think 100% deserve consideration. Maybe Strom gets in. Again, he hasn't allowed an earned run since opening weekend. It's been crazy. So, tomorrow, Christopher Sanchez takes the mound versus, now, Murph's set after the game.

You know, the guy who opened up the game tonight, maybe he starts and then they go to Colin Ray. It's not the worst strategy in the world. I mean, it's excruciating, like, to have to watch. It's just, I hate it. I am a purist when it comes to starter goes out and lets them

be the starter, but it's smart. When you have Schwarber and Harper that are going to bat in the first inning, having a lefty opener so that the starter can start with the fourth batter most likely, I get it. It is what it is. It's baseball in 2024.

You've kind of seen a decrease in teams doing this, but the Brewers have always been kind of on the forefront of a lot of pitching stuff, so it's not surprising to see. Either way, Chris Sanchez has been on a pretty good run. You see his fastball velocity getting back up to 97 in some cases late in the game. He's one of those guys that gets better as the game goes on he starts finding the release point on his change up and when he can

get in that rhythm where he can go 95 96 sometimes 97 and then break the change up off that it is a it is a lethal combination so uh excited to see what sanchez has tomorrow colin ray probably going after the opener tomorrow for the Brewers. But either way, looking to take a series from a good Milwaukee team. Do I think they're on the Phillies level? No. Do I think they're probably the fourth best team in the NL? I still would put the Braves in there, even with the injuries they're dealing with.

But they were on a five-game winning streak heading into today. And they were 13 games over 500. So they were a team with a pulse. But fun reaction, a fun night down at the ballpark. Thanks to everyone that tuned in. Enjoy the rest of your night. Ben Kenney produced the program tonight. And Jody Mack, he will take you through the rest of the night.

Oh, Robbie and Ashlyn Sullivan, they will take you through the rest of the night here on Sports Radio 94 WIP. I'll be back tomorrow leading into the game and post game as well. Enjoy the rest of your night and thanks for tuning in on Sports Radio 94.