High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - High Hopes Chapter 1: Aaron Nola's Best Start Of The Year?

Episode Date: September 21, 2023

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz discuss Cole Hamels' appearance on WIP, Aaron Nola's performance on Wednesday and Seranthony Dominguez's recent struggles. 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

All-star closer, Kenley Jansen, we have a question. What's the best podcast of all time? Baseball Isn't Boring, baby. I'm Rob Bradford, and every single day I'm sitting down with the biggest names to show you this great game is the greatest game. It's my podcast. It's my passion. It's a cause I started more than two years ago and is now the most prolific national daily baseball pod there is.

Another fact, so jump aboard the B.I.B. Express. Follow and listen to Baseball Isn't Boring, presented by Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. By the way, Cole was on W.I.P. yesterday. He's great. He was, like, great, right? And talked about a lot of stuff that I hadn't heard.

Like, talked about the struggles in 09 and what that was like for him. Talked about getting booed off the mound that first game. So I didn't remember that. So, yeah. See, that was an age thing, probably, because I remember that well. I remember Eaton getting booed off the mound that first game. So I didn't remember that. So, yeah. See, that was an age thing probably because I remember that well. I remember Eaton getting booed. It was one of the most disgraceful moments as a Philly fan. Was it opening day?

It was his first start. No, but was it opening day? I don't remember if it was him. Yeah, it would have been him, I think. Yeah, it must have been. Yeah. Because Cliff came. Cliff came at a deadline.

Yeah, the deadline. So, yeah, it would have been him. I don't remember because I was there. I mean, I was there to boo at Eaton. I remember that boo. Well, that is a good one. It's probably my most proud been... I don't remember, because I was there. I mean, I was there to boo at Eaton. I remember that boo. Well, that is... It's probably my most proud fan moment. It's my favorite boo of all time.

Well, besides, I did get in the head of Chad Qualls. Yes, you've told this story before. When he was a Marlin. Yes. The dugout, or the open. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

It was going out. So, but I didn't remember the boo off the mound on opening day. Yeah, it was not good. That's not a great look. The guy just won the World Series MVP.

It was tough. Yeah. It's not what you want to see. Yeah. But no, Cole was great. He was great. It was not good. It was not a great look. The guy just won the World Series MVP. It was tough. Yeah. It's not what you want to see. Great. Yeah. But no, Cole was great. He was great. He was great.

And it gave us a good, I think it gave us a good glimpse into Nola. I agree. Well, that was what was so interesting about it. Yeah. And Nola went out yesterday.

Let's get to it. Yes. So what did you think? I thought, especially early on, the swing and miss stuff, like actually getting some swing and misses early

looked good. Like, you know, had the fourth and the fifth inning. And in each of those two innings, I was like, here it is. Here we go. We're going to be losing at the end of this inning. The five runs, six runs. I was texting buddies, here it comes. You know, and then, you know, gave up two runs.

But he didn't. But he did it. He found his way through it. And he ended up pitching six, two runs. Like, the best start we've seen in a little while. What did you think from what we saw from Aaron yesterday? I was happy. I was happy for a couple.

I was happy. It was good. It was nice. That's a big take. 2-1-5. That was a take. But so he had, what, eight strikeouts, no walks. I think it was eight, yeah.

Eight strikeouts, no walks, and no home runs, which is big. But first time all season that he's had two starts in a row with that home run. Whoa. First time all season. Pretty amazing. To make it to September and not go back-to-back starts, that could be a moment. We getting noels? Noels?

We getting big game noels? Playoff noels? He's back? Playoff noels. Well, it's time. I told you. It's a chance to rewrite a season. And we said this last year for Cassianos, right?

Going into the playoffs, we were like, it's funny because he did, just not with the bat, but we were like, hey, you know, this guy has had an abysmal season. People have hated having him here, but all this guy has to do is have a month, and no one will remember any of that stuff. And you're right. Aaron Nola has a chance to take a season that has been dog bleep. We don't curse on this pod. Except for you. A good amount. Yeah. That's right. Aaron Nola has a chance to take a season that has been dog bleep. We don't curse on this pod. Except for you.

A good amount. Yep. That's right. Me sometimes when I can't help myself. It's like a phuh. I know. I stop myself. It is funny.

You make a great point that I talk on the radio for a living and never come close. Never even come close. And never even come close. Yeah. But on this pod. Every day. You can get me going, buddy. Thank you.

Yeah. So, yeah. So, Nola has a chance to rewrite a season. And I thought it looked good yesterday. Obviously, the swing and miss was good. A strikeout's good. No home runs the biggest kind of thing there. But I like that he battled his way in and out of those innings.

I know it was back-to-back. I know it was annoying. I know it felt like here it comes. And I think we all felt that way. But his ability to get through that, I think, is going to be a big mental hurdle for him, hopefully. Against a great lineup. Against a great lineup.

So if he can say, okay, I did it there. The avalanche didn't happen. I got through it. And if he can just unlock that, I think we can see a different Aaron Nola. The other thing that I thought was really interesting, and I thought yesterday was a big day, if you wanted to get a glimpse into what Rob Thompson really thinks about this team

and who he trusts and who he doesn't trust. I don't think he really trusts Aaron Nola. The fact that he pulled him out for the sixth I thought showed that. I thought it was a lock he's going out there for the seventh. I was shocked. I was floored. And he didn't. And I think that shows that he's going to give him a chance,

but his rope is tight. His rope is tighter. And then the other part of yesterday was there was two classic Sir Anthony spots in the Hoffman inning and in the 10th, where Strom came in, that that's always been Sir Anthony's spot. He didn't pitch him. And I think that I've been asking for him to put Hoffman there instead of Saranthony. I was glad he did.

It wasn't like, I thought he had a bit of a quick hook on Hoffman, but at the same time, you want a lefty on Olsen so the game doesn't get tied up. And Soto, for as bad as he's been this year. He's picking against lefties. Well, lefties are batting 110 of them. So he still can get lefty and hitter style. So I thought it was an aggressive Rob Thompson, but I thought it was also a glimpse into what the postseason around here might be like.

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Follow and listen to Reception Perception on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. Yeah. No, I think that's really fascinating. And look, I think we've all been kind of where we're at with Nola. And yes, she was encouraging. The Sir Anthony one for me is in some ways, not more concerning. I do think Nola is more important, but in some ways more concerning in that I expected him to get back.

Nola, it would be a pleasant surprise, but I'm not expecting it. Sir Anthony, I am surprised that he is still struggling. Yeah, and I know people will. Now, the one caveat, and I don't think it's the case personally. I guess he threw Friday, Sunday, Monday? Friday, Sunday, Monday? Yeah. Friday, Sunday, Monday. I think that's right.

Whatever. So he had pitched like three out of the last five games, I'm pretty sure. But still, I mean, he has been known to push guys and put guys in. I mean, he pitched the night before. But I still think that at this point you need that win, and those felt like Serenity spots. And it's not like Hoffman. It feels like he's pitched every game. So, you need that win, and those felt like Serena Anthony spots. And it's not like Hoffman. It feels like he's pitched every game, so whatever.

And also should theoretically be on more of an innings limit and all that type of stuff. Yeah. The home run to Walker happened. I just think he's looked better. I don't think he's looked like a complete. Now, the home run thing is concerning, and I get it, and I think that's a product of trying to sacrifice stuff for control.

Because I think he got so out of whack with trying to overpower people that it was costing him walks and he's giving up free bases. And now he's figured out how to rein it in. Like, you haven't seen him walking people much recently. But I think it's caused him to lose some of his stuff and maybe flatten out of some of his stuff. So, I think that's a bit of a process. But I think he is showing some signs. stuff and maybe flatten out of some of his stuff so i think that's a bit of a process but i think he is he's showing some signs the problem is it might just be too late and we might have to figure it out in the postseason like we might have to see if he can just if he has a red light if he's a

red light player yeah no and look i mean he was great last year you know it's we certainly have seen him flip the switch before and just kind of go from struggling to awesome, and the stuff is like that. It's just frustrating because we haven't seen all year really with him. And he had that nice stretch where he was getting outs and stuff, but at no point have we watched him and been like, wow, that's the best pitcher on this team, which we have felt many times over the last year.

I mean, Peaks or Anthony is the best reliever we've had here since. Yes. And Alvarado for the beginning of this season. Those two for like a month, you know, but that's it. Yeah. So, and current Jeff Offman.

Well, obviously. Who goes without saying. I thought that was just accepted. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Respect Jeff Offman. So yeah, it's definitely the big thing. And it's funny because the way we talk about

Serrano and Nola is how we were talking about Trey Turner. Whereas like, well, I'm not expecting it this year. Just chalk this one up as a lost season. But much like Nola, Sir Anthony has a chance to turn his season around. And I haven't given up on the idea of Sir Anthony being good. Who do you have more confidence in?

Of the two. If you had to say one of the two will end up turning it around and having a really nice playoffs for this team, which one would you pick of the two if you had to pick one? Sir Anthony. I would too. I know. Which is, you know. Sir Anthony.

Mostly because Noel has more opportunities, mornings, whatever. I just, I don't know. It's weird with Sir Anthony because I think if he gets into a tight game in a postseason series. You still kind of trust him. I feel like he's still got a little something. Look, I think so too. I won't know how I feel like he's still got a little something. Look, I think so too. I won't know how I feel until I actually feel it,

but trying to put myself in that spot right now, maybe it's just because it was great last year and we saw him do it, but I feel like if certain things come into a playoff game, I'm not going to feel as good as I did last year, but I'm not going to I'm still going to need to see him fail before I'm going to believe he's going to

fail. And obviously he has the stuff to still do it. And he kinda has, I mean, his inning on Friday in St. Louis was just like, bang, it's over. The inning Sunday in St. Louis, it was trending that way, and he made a bad pitch to Jordan Walker, Jordan Walker didn't miss it. So, I just, I don't know. There's still some part of me

that has belief in Sir Anthony. Yeah, I think that's where I'm at too.