High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - High Hopes Chapter 1: Losing To The Marlins Would Be Embarrassing

Episode Date: October 2, 2023

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz preview the Phillies/Marlins series that starts tomorrow night. 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. Listen, I'm doing my best, buddy. Like, I'm really trying to not overlook the Marlins. I know you. So, okay.

I'm with you. Trying. So I'm not doing it. I'm just not doing it. I'm trying not to look past the Marlins, but, like, I'm not going to be scared of the Marlins. I refuse to be scared of the freaking Marlins. I'm not going to do it.

I know that I should be. I've been here the last decade. I know. I feel it. I see those uniforms, and I get a chill in my body. I understand that. I can't do it. I can't look at our roster and their roster in our stadium and say they're going to beat us. I can't live in that world, Jack. I can't do it. I can't look at our roster and their roster in our stadium

and say they're going to beat us. I can't live in that world, Jack. I can't. And neither can this podcast because I don't think there will be one. No. Losing a home playoff series to the Marlins would be the single worst sports thing to ever happen. Like the single worst.

You can have the Ryan Howard Achilles moment. You can have Rondé Barber. The Super Bowl of his last year. Yeah, well, they'll be all right. You can have the- The Yordan home run. Yeah, you could have the, what the heck was the guy's name? Patrick Kane goal.

Yes. You could have the union loss last year. Oh, look at you. Whatever. Giving Elliot a little have the union loss last year. Oh, look at you. In the whatever. Giving Elliott a little solid there. It was nice. There would be no more catastrophic event in my entire life than a team with Jake Berger batting third.

I know. And like. And Josh Bell, because of course, right? Of course. Why wouldn't Josh Bell be on the Marlins? I did kind of. He was on the Padres last year. But it was like a different. He was kind of a part-time player for the Padres. Like we're getting the full on Josh Bell experience. the Marlins? I did kind of. He was on the Padres last year. But it was like a different.

He was like kind of a part-time player for the Padres. Like we're getting the full-on Josh Bell experience. It'll be a good test. Because, you know, obviously we grew up with the conines of the world. And people forget Cody Ross was also in Marlins. And he was in the Halliday Perfect Game game. And one of the more underrated players of all time, in my opinion, Jorge Cantu. Jorge Cantu? I did not, Jorge Cantu. Jorge Cantu?

I love Jorge Cantu. He's not a Phillies killer, but we know Conan, right? We know Josh Bell's a Phillies killer. Now he's in a Marlins uniform. That's nightmare fuel, frankly. It's not great. It's not great at all. I do not love the thought of Josh Bell in a playoff series against us.

Even though we went to it last year. It's like, sure, bring Corbin Carroll here. That's fine. Josh Bell? a playoff series again. It's like, as sick as that is, it's like, sure, bring Corbin Carroll here. That's fine. Josh Bell? No, thank you. Please. Yeah. Please, no more. Makes sense. The one thing that I do feel very confident in is obviously the Marlins have not played here with what this is going to be like. No doubt.

They've never seen anything like this. Correct. Like, literally. Literally, though. Maybe if they've played for other... I mean, no one's seen anything like this. Correct. Like, literally. Literally, though. Maybe if they've played for other— I mean, no one's seen anything like this, but, I mean, those guys play in front of a morgue in Florida. Like, they've never seen anything like this. Right. And how I feel early is I'm actually more worried

about losing to Braxton Garrett than I am Jesus Lozada. So am I. Braxton Garrett's been really good the last month of season two. He's just, like— He's annoying. He's that kind of guy. Yes. You's been really good the last month of season two. He's just annoying. He's that kind of guy. We talked about this with Justin Steele. Justin Steele's the perfect guy to shut down the Phillies. Braxton Garrett is 92.

He's funky. He's a little Jaime Garcia-esque. And Jaime Garcia, the Phillies, never able to hit him. Lozardo, to me, reminds me of Matt Garza. When Matt Garza tried to pitch here in 08, where it's like he's the... Like, Lizardo to me reminds me of Matt Garza. When Matt Garza tried to pitch here in 08, where it's like

stuff's really good. We love Jesus Lizardo. He's our guy. We bet on him to win the freaking Cy Young this year. Isn't that a good full circle moment? Really, dude, I... Let me tell you, the fact that Jesus Lizardo is starting this game, this first game, is definitely not lost on me the like holy crap I

can't believe I started a playoff game against us yes a Fritz guy hey just a part of a championship fantasy baseball team for me no less nice I'm very happy for you thank you it was

one of the great teams I've had in a long time it deserved the title it doesn't get talked about I've been really upset if I had not won the title so yeah yay me yeah you per usual

it's a prelude I'm telling the Phillies, get on my back. Watch what I just did. Watch what my team just did. Get on their back. 8-2, 8-2 in the playoffs. No big deal. Just, you know, up my back and do what I did. And don't do what I did. Which is lose a freaking tiebreaker, even though I had the regular season matchup win,

but for some reason we changed the rule four years ago and decided to go by regular season win total, even though we're head-to-head league. So who's to say? It was crushing. It was crushing. That sucks. It was crushing.

Anyway, I would have been a three-time champ. Anyway, so yeah, so like, Lozardo, it seems like the classic, classic four innings can't handle pitching here. Jump on him. Like, they're going to jump on him. I'm with you. I really, I do feel, I agree with you. I looked at it, it was like, Braxton Garrett scares the hell'm with you i i really i do feel i agree with you i i looked at it was like braxton garrett scares the hell out of me man i do think it

comes down to game three i really do i think it comes down to game three and i swear to god and this is just a psa i love the phillies we love the phillies our listeners love the phillies i do not think this is gonna happen but there's been too much of like i don't know maybe taiwan starts that game for me which is like Who's saying that? All weekend, it's like, well, you know There's been a little too much of the Taiwan Taiwan shouldn't even be on the postseason roster I agree. I'm just saying, in no way. Did you see how his ERA finished

in the first inning for the season? Did you see that? Is it over 8? 7.04 was his ERA for the first inning for a year. For the entire year he had a 7 ERA. Now I will say do they have his ERA for the first thing in the season. For a year. The entire year, he had a 7 ERA. Now, I will say, do they have his ERA after allowing four runs? I don't know. It's probably Sterling.

Well, he's the best pitcher in baseball. He's never allowed a run. He's unhittable after allowing four. It won't happen. Rob Thompson's too good. Yeah, I know. It would be the ultimate. If they use win total and for the amount they score in Tywin Walker starts

as a reason to start Tywin Walker, I will refuse to go to the ballpark. They won't. They won't. That would be hilarious. It's like, I'm not going, guys. They won't. I believe they won't. But it is funny. I mean, speaking of bids, I mean, just the fact that it's the Marlins here. It's like, of course it is. It's all coming together. I would let Vinny Velasquez throw out the first pitch.

Just to put 19 to 11 to bed. Exercise the demons. I would put Vinny game one. I would go Brandon Workman game two. I don't even know who else. I guess we could bring back Wes Helms.

Heath Embry. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Just the worst. Worst. There's nothing worse. Now, they were good back Wes Helms. Heath Embry? Yeah. Just the worst. There's nothing worse. Now, they were good against them this year. Now, Pache also aided them with that big home run down there. Where I didn't feel like the Marlins...

And after they won that game, those next two, they clearly were checked out. They were like, we won that game. I was on the matter. Two days before the All-Star break, so you give them a bit of a pass there. I didn't feel the Marlins... If they got the games not down there, I would there, I might pick the Marlins to beat us. Oh, yeah, 100%. There would be no chance.

No chance. There would be no chance. Just concede. Don't even show up. I actually don't think I would watch. If the Phillies played a playoff series in Miami, I do not think I'd be able to watch. It would be a lock loss.

There's nothing they could do. I don't care if the Cassianos home run happened although i will say i will say now i don't know what his role is with the team now like feed me david robertson like oh buddy like feed me what he's gonna be like at that ballpark yes either way um but so so the one thing about the marlins and again i haven't like really felt like the marlins like angst this year. I thought they actually slayed that dragon last year when they went down there and took 2-3 before the All-Star break. And they were just normal against them going forward. And Hazer Sagalar is no longer there, which makes me feel better.

Yeah, and Miguel Rojas and all these guys. Oh, Miguel Rojas. If Miguel Rojas were on the Marlins right now, I would feel worse about it. I would. It's crazy, but I would. Really? No, probably not. No, but I would. Really? No, probably not. I understand the point. Yes, you get my point. It is just so sickening.

It's like Josh Bell is not a Marlins Phillies killer. He's just a Phillies killer. All those guys that we hated down there, it doesn't feel like those guys are there. No, it doesn't. And like Jake Berger, I don't have enough history with of back-breaking hits. I mean, Sterling Marte was still there. I would feel that. You know what I mean?

Like, I guess, I mean, Sanchez, the guy that hit the ball 450 feet off of Sir Anthony's is one that does come out. They did lose

two or three to this team not that long ago. You've already gotten in there. You got there. And look, I like the idea that you were nervous about Braxton Garrett.

At least we got Nola going up against him, right? Yeah, our guy. I just, I don't think it's, I know, they're gonna win oh they're gonna win i'm not worried about that i'm i really i really i know that from like a fear perspective the marlins scare us more like the diamondbacks are better than the marlins like they're more talented than the marlins like they we should be happy i know that no one is we should be happy we got the marlins i know that no one is. We should be happy we got the Marlins. I know that sounds crazy, but we should. I agree. I agree.

Sort of. I don't think you've ever said anything that you don't believe in more in your life right there. I don't think it's going to be a rollover series. I think this is going to be tight. Division series. They play us all the time. They're not going to be afraid. And they're not going to be afraid, which is what worries me.

I agree. Now, the one thing to the point that can rattle them is the worries me. I agree. Now, the one thing to the point that they might that can rattle them is the ballpark. Like, they have not played in a... Look, we had that... We're in Pittsburgh this weekend. Good point. And they did have the Mets fiasco. That's true. Good point. I mean, seriously, though, like

Thompson talked about the four hours of hell thing, and we agree that was a brave... Some of them were brave, I'm sure, but like, the Marlins have not stepped into something like this. It's not like it's a team of veterans. It's not like a team of guys who played in a bunch of postseason games. Like, I do think that that is at least something.

And look, it might not rattle them, but at least it does have the potential to rattle. Yeah. Well, the big thing that worries me is like, Solaire going nuclear. Dude, he's the number one player. By the way. He does.

He's a World Series MVP, Solaire. So, yes, he actually has a career. Solaire and Schwarber being the two leadoff hitters in this game is a win for modern baseball fans. Yeah, it's just awesome. But he is the, even over Josh Bell, Solaire is the player on the bonds I'm most scared of. And I'll inherently always be afraid of Uli Gurriel.

Yeah, and obviously our guy Luis Reyes, who entered coming to the series. Yeah. I mean, he's been their best player this season. He's hurt, you know, might not play.

Yeah. Something. Dino had more, I believe it was more total bases than Luis Reyes. More appearances on base this year.

I guess that's total bases. Schwarber? Schwarber. That's awesome. God, I love that. That's so awesome. Luis Schwarber. That's awesome. God, I love that. That's so awesome. I'm not surprised it was at like 700.

Yeah, it's so good. It's a win. That's a win for everyone. But yeah, it's like this should not... If the Phillies-Marlins, there's no history, right? And you're heading into a playoff series. And it's like, all right. This is their lineup.

Solaire, Bell, Jake Jake Berger Jazz Chisholm Who is a really good player? Give him Jazz. Brian De La Cruz Jesus Sanchez John Birdie, who I know I'm gonna hate Dude, I... The lock of the century is we're going to hate John Birdie. I already do

I am so expecting John Birdie to annoy, he's going to have a big stolen base, he's going to make a play, like he's going to be so annoying. No, I don't,

Wendell, I mean another PSAC guy? Joey Wendell? Is he? Oh, Joey Wendell, yeah, yeah, I knew about that, yeah, I thought you were

talking about Birdie. What, really? It'd be tough to see, you know, back-to-back years of a... I know, I don't like that, I don't like that aspect of

it, alright, enough PSAC guys coming up against us. Garrett Hampson, whatever. Former Colorado Rocky Garrett Hampson. And the one that I know, if he gets a hit this series as a disaster, is

Jacob Stallings. But he always for some reason hits home runs off us. He annoys me. He is literally equivalent to a pitcher hitting. And for some reason, he gets back breaking heads against the Phillies. It's a horrible baseball name. All about it. I hate everything about that guy.

That lineup is trash. I'm sorry. That is a trash We're talking about a team that has five guys with 20 plus homers this year. We're talking about Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber. This team can't lose to the Marlins. You said it before, forgetting the pain and all that. Cause obviously we feel it.

It would suck it off. Like if the painfulness of losing the Mons wouldn't just be like, Oh my God, we lost the Mons. It would be the, it would be an embarrassment. Like this Philly team and anything in that minute, three game series.

I get it. There's so much more talented. The Phillies are so much more talented. Yes, they are. 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.

Now, my big concern about the series, in all seriousness, obviously besides the Marlins. The lefties. There's so many lefties. So many lefties. I mean, look, they're starting two in the first two games alone, much less the bullpen dudes they throw out there. And they picked up Matt Moore for no reason. Yeah, just cuz. Of course, just why not? Go pick up a guy. You know, last time we saw Matt Moore, we know what happened. I know, Harper took him deep. 300, no.

But like, Steven Okert, Puck, Matt Moore, Tanner Scott, like all these guys. Tanner Scott's the next. Well, he's their best reliever. That dude's good. Yeah. He's like, legit good. So, I just, I don't, like, I'm confident, I'm excited, I can't good. So I just I don't, like I'm confident I'm excited. I can't wait. It's just the, whenever

people get over confidence where my That's a Philly thing, of course. And again, it is the Marlins. Like that is just part of it. We said it going in, we're like as dumb as it is of all these teams. All the teams that were in it. The Reds, the Cubs, everyone. We're like, just not the Marlins. And I can't believe it ended up being the Marlins. the teams that were in it, the Reds, the Cubs, everyone, we were like, just not the Marlins.

And I can't believe it ended up being the Marlins. I can. Of course it's the Marlins. We should have known. Season full of bits. We should have known. It's going to end up with this. All right.

So specifics with the roster as we end. Let's talk a little baseball. Not the question I was expecting to ask, but I'm going off the last thing you said. Is Wes Wilson on your playoff roster? Yes. That was a big miss by you. Yes, Wes and Wilson is on my playoff. They need a right-handed bat. You almost have to.

Yeah. I mean, they sent Rodolfo Castro all the way down. So, I'm not giving up on Rodolfo. If you squint, you solve both of that. I don't think he got a hit. I think he had one hit. I do my dad. I don't know if he had hit. Did he? I think he had one hit. I do my doubt.

I don't know if he had a hit. I think he had like three at-bats. Well, he never had a well-struck hit, I'll put it that way. That's for sure. Yeah, Weston Wilson has to be because they need a right-handed bat. I agree with you. They can at least like...

Especially because Pache's been struggling heading into the playoffs, too. Yeah, Pache has. Like, I... You're probably leaving him on there just because of the defense, but I don't know if they do. And again, I think you just need

right-handed bats. Well, and you need them for against AJ.J. Puck in a big spot. Yeah, it's true. In a big spot. But yeah, I think Weston Wilson has to be up there. And the other ones are Ryan Kirkering. He has to be on it. I think he has to be.

I just wonder what role they're going to put him in. I obviously love a Ryan Kirkering. A guy who's pitched two innings in the majors in a big spot in the playoffs. Like that's a risky move, obviously. Yes. I'm just,

he's going to have some growing pains because you start to see it over the weekend. Like he keeps on the slider over and over again. And eventually someone's just going to go down there and golf it. Like I've, I've already, there's again,

sicko brain, but I have a hundred percent had a vision of Jorge Soler going down and hitting it like 700 feet. And if they get to the first round, Ronald Cunha does that all the time. That's like a classic Cunha move, but I get that. It's Cunha. It's Riley.

All those guys. We'll get there. But I just... And he throws a slider instead of the fastball, which says to me that his fastball doesn't grade out very well. It's flat, but it's 99, so maybe hitters can kind of pick it up more.

It's just... I like that he got into the tough situations. He got in first and second, won out, and was able to strike his way out of it, which is a good sign. I think mentally he is able to handle it. He seems pretty unflappable. I've been pretty, and again, the playoffs are a different beast, obviously, but I've been, for a kid pitching his first experience,

especially a kid who was an A earlier in the season. Low A. Low A. Low A. He does not look at any point as nervous or as like, it doesn't look like he gets uncomfortable out there, which is really, really good. Yeah, I just would like to see what it would look like if he went more fastball first. Fastball to set up the slider. And then break all the sliders. Because I think eventually if major league hitters see a slider Over and over and over again

They're going to They're going to square it up And do some damage And we saw that A little bit over the weekend With the Mets They went down and And just you know

Kind of ripped it into left Now he didn't allow He allowed a run But it was unearned But still That was just something I kind of Took away from the weekend

I was like I think this stuff's really good I think he's going to be A really good reliever here Year one is still like Yeah it's like it's year one with like a bullet. It's not even... He didn't pitch in the majors all year. It's like

beginning of year one, essentially, as a major league player. Yeah. I would... This might be my famous last words, but I still trust Sir Anthony more than him.