High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - High Hopes Chapter 1: Playoff Bryce, Playoff Casty and Playoff Seltzer?!

Episode Date: October 15, 2023

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz talk about Bryce Harper's heroics and Nick Castellanos's hot start to the postseason. 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. So to start the pod, important question for today, Jack. Who is having a better postseason? Playoff Harper or Playoff Celts? Showing up nonstop this playoffs in the studio right now,

getting one hour of sleep a night, bringing it. Like I said, I have 18 different random notes and bits and things that I want to get into in addition to just the normal stuff. Like, I feel like I'm bringing it. Like, kind of like Harper, Jack. That's where I'm feeling right now. Well, yeah. I mean, I guess, you know, for a long time,

he was fraudulently named Big Game James Shields because he really wasn't Big Game James. I think it's time to rename that. Thank you. It's time to rename that. Thank you. Like, honestly, and I hope this isn't, you know, I hope this isn't like hurtful anyway, but I am shocked. uh i hope this isn't like uh hurtful anyway but i i am shocked like i i'm shocked at the at the amount of commitment to to the podcast you're always committed well you're going above and beyond which is not something i always expected giving your your new schedule and uh you know

given that you know usually it's me saying hey we should record it is you you are the heart and soul of the i am spot and always have and always will be yeah so um but overall yes i i am very happy for you and proud of you and i think the listeners appreciate you as well now i thought you were going to lead us into a discussion on how awesome nick castellanos is i for as much as i've thought about what b what Bryce is doing in the postseason, and for as much as Trey also batted 500 in the NLPS. Yeah, first guy with four hits. In the history of the Phillies, somehow no one has ever had four hits in a playoff game.

No big deal. Yeah, and Gale put out the horrifying stat that, you know, they went 62 years between playoff wins at one point as a franchise now obviously the the wild card and all that is is a total changes yes of course for everything so like it's obviously not the same scenario it's just imagine going 62 years without it's so hard to fathom in this in this current generation of sports but like nick castellanos i think has developed into not only like he i feel like he's almost the heartbeat of the team in a way it's like for i think schwarber was the guy because i've been

thinking a lot about like the makeup of the team right now i think schwarber is the calm down we're fine guy but the like it's time to win guys are harper and cassia i feel like those guys like the team turns to those two and like the way cassia is talking in the post game and the way that he's just so dead panned all the time it's it's so freaking funny watching nick cassia right now and he's also unbelievable at the plate. It's so much different than last. Like, they got prime, prime, prime, prime, prime Cassianos at the single most important time. Just adding, like, the ceiling of this team. Like, last year, Cassianos automatic out.

Like, a lot of these guys last year just weren't ready for that stage. And this year, they're all just thriving on it. Yeah. And like, I love that you brought up the Harper and Cassiano thing. One of my many things in my many notes that I have is, is to talk about that Alex coffee piece that came out about them playing together on team USA and teenagers as teenagers and how like they talk to

each other about being a Jeter, a rod and we could pick a better combo guys. I would like that. Yes. how like they talk to each other about being a jeter a rod and we could pick a better combo guys i would like that yes but like they talked about like they talked about as kids being together and doing what they're doing now like it is it is such a uh like it's magical man it feels it feels like you know we always do that you know me like anyone listens this pod if you're new to the pod welcome you know hopefully we always do the, you know, me, like anyone who listens to this pod. If you're new to the pod, welcome. You know, hopefully some new people tuning in for a big run. We will do no gatekeeping, right, Jack?

We're welcoming everyone. We never do that. Never, ever. If you don't know me, I'm very big on being a sap when it comes to sports. I love, like, to do the whole, this is why we love sports, and this is why we love sports, Jack. Like, seeing two kids who played on Team USA together when they were in their teens talk about someday getting to do this in the majors together,

and they're doing it. They had seven homers in the friggin' NLCS together, these two guys. And to your point, in terms of just, like, a quote, you know, if we say, oh, what a great quote that guy is, I legitimately think nick castellanos might be the best quote in philadelphia sports history like no one more consistently either says the right awesome thing or the freaking hilarious thing or whatever like he's

like jack honestly it feels like nick castellanos over this second run here and the season he had, but really, honestly, it feels like from the moment he was on the top step waving the towel during the Turner ovations. Since that moment on, Nick Castellanos has become a folk hero in Philadelphia. Yeah, so while you're talking there about— I'll get to more Castie on this in a second but when you were talking there about former Team USA teammates and eventually wanting to play together I couldn't help but think about Aiden Miller

of course. There we go see we are so back we're in rare form right now. So I look for I hope that Aiden Miller and Walker Jenkins were talking in the last year and a half about how they hope to play one day together and that Walker Jenkins were talking in the last year and a half of the house. They hope to play one day together and that Walker Jenkins,

ones of the twins don't want to pay him, enjoys coming to Philadelphia and replacing whoever we have out there. Maybe Brandon Marsh. I think that's like the, the appropriate timing should work there. Yeah. It seems like a natural segue into the 2020. It's probably the 2030 Phillies,

but listen, we're always two steps ahead. So, but yes, like, and what Castellanos doesn't get enough credit for is the role he's played in turning around Alec Boehm's career here, too. I mean, he was one of the—obviously, Schwarber was there. Some of the older players, like Kyle Gibson, were there when he said, I believe in hate this place, whatever. But Nick Castellanos is the only one who was also a poor defensive third baseman that came up on a team that had a bunch of high expectations. Those 2014, 2015 Tigers teams that struggled.

And for as much as like those guys are out there talking about it, I feel like Castellanos is like a one-on-one guy. for as much as like those guys are out there talking about it, I feel like Castellanos is like a one-on-one guy. And for the amount that I think he helped Alec Baum, like he has been, he has been, we've talked about this a million times on this podcast, but the Castellanos as the leader,

the quiet leader behind the scenes and kind of the stoic, like this, this unflappable, like tough guy. That's kind of – because this team loves to party. You know, this team loves to have a good time. But always having that guy behind them that is grounded

and keeping his eye on the prize. Like Bryce is that way 100%, but Bryce is also Bryce Harper. You know, like there has to be someone else that also is as locked in. And that's been Castellanos. That's totally been Castellanos from the standpoint of there's guys on the team. Don't get ahead of yourself. We're here to win. There's only one goal this year.

And that's honestly, you talk about the makeup of the team, and we've talked about other teams like the Mets, the Padres, who've also essentially been bought. We've talked about other teams like the Mets, the Padres, who've also essentially been bought. They're not able to sustain winning because they don't have a good culture and they don't have a good clubhouse. Well, the Phillies bought their players. That's true. But they also found the right guys. And that's been the biggest difference between this Phillies team and those other teams that have been trying to be bought. And Castellanos is a very, very important part of it.

Totally. It's that Jeff Hoffman quote. That Jeff Hoffman quote that came out this week was basically, and I'm paraphrasing, but he was basically like, the key to this team is the superstars are one of us. We're all together. It doesn't feel like the superstars are superstars. It feels like they're just like us, and they go out, and they play hard, and they party with us the same, and no one's above anyone and and you've heard that mentality from a lot of people johan rojas said that his quote

after the game too like it feels like you know in a lot of teams and i think the padres a perfect example if you read some of those pieces that have come out about that that clubhouse and you know all the stuff going on that it seems like you know manny machado wants to be treated like a superstar manny Machado wants to everyone to know that he's the the boss of the the clubhouse and all that type of stuff and it clearly led to a disastrous culture and a super disappointing team and it seems like it's the complete opposite here and it seems to your point Jack that that is such a key to why the culture is so great here is that these guys at the top are the ones for the culture

setters and what's what we've always talked about wanting and what we always talk about and believing and then for casty to your point you're talking about nick it's not just that nick says the right thing and and look with the bone thing i remember when that happened it being like castellanos who was like fully credited i remember them being like nick castellanos said to him own it like i remember that so you, not just from that side, though, and obviously the saying the right things, that, you know, we thrive when we get punched in the face, we're going to use this motivation. You know, that

stuff was perfect. Well, I said these are the game two is the perfect way to lose because I saw them celebrate. Exactly. And look, that was another one when they beat the Braves, that picture of Castellanos standing on the top step, looking at the congratulations and at least champs thing. You know what I mean?

That was like, that filter out. It's like, oh yeah, look at that. That dude did take that as motivation. But here's the thing, Jack, that makes it. By the way, we can agree that that was strategically done. Clearly. But props to the organization, to Middleton, to Dabrowski. You ever thought of that?

Like, clearly we were wrong in the moment. We were like, why would you congratulate the Braves? Because you were playing 4D chess. Great job. Thank you for being awesome. Chess, not chess. But here's the thing about Castellanos that makes it so impressive, Jack, is it's one thing to say it.

It's one thing to stand up and be like, we got to fight back, or we can't let this beat us or whatever. It's another thing to be the dude who on back-to-back nights, when you're down 1-0 and that building starts to get all tense, is the guy who hits the home run and settles it down. There's one thing to speak that way. Then when you can speak that way and be

that vocal leader and then go back it the hell up on the field, that's when it gets to that next level. You know what I'm talking about, Jack? Yeah, and I do wonder if Rod Thompson's going to have the urge to put him back at 4. Dude, so I was thinking the same thing. next level you know i'm talking about jack yeah and i i do wonder i wonder if rod thompson's gonna have the urge to put him back at four dude so i was thinking the same thing i was like you know he's he's the best hitter on the team right now like you know it's like do you move him up but i

feel like he's been so comfortable now i like i would leave him where he is me too because he does that he adds really nice obviously i mean when you hit back-to-back games with two home runs you add a nice thump to the bottom of the lineup. But having that down there, I think, is also important. And, you know, Baum had a bad series. He hasn't had a great playoffs. He was pretty good in the Marlins series. But overall, I never get too out on Baum because I think he's such a natural hitter that he'll be right back where we need him to be at going forward. And Schwarber, same kind of thing. Schwarber is such a... Again, he didn't do anything

last year until the NLCS so um yeah but but I do wonder if he's going to put him at at at four again but I'm with you like I'd rather just leave him where he's obviously picking up the team and and adding that little bit of extra thump down there to where pitchers just can't relax 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 to draft the best wide receivers. As you prep for your draft, let us give you the coverage you need. Follow and listen to Perception Perception on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. Yeah, I, and again, like,

why mess with a good thing? You know, it's working. And with Castellanos, like, for whatever it's worth, and it's small sample sizes for the most part and all that, but if you look at, you know, his numbers hitting in different spots of the lineup this year,

his numbers in the 6, 7, and 8 hole are drastically better than the 4, 5 hole. I don't know why. It is what it is. But there's something about him lower in the lineup this year. Maybe it's motivation. Who the hell knows? Maybe when he looks at the lineup card and he sees himself in the 6 slot or the 7 slot, he gets a little extra juice.

I don't know what it is. But there's been something about this guy in those spots. And to your point, I think it really sets the lineup up nicely because you have the pop at the top. And then you get those guys like Boehm and Stott or JT or whoever it is who have some pop but can also get on base and can get some hits for you. And then you get back to the potential for Castellanos to bring some pop back at the other spot a little bit lower in line. I'm 100% with you, dude. I would definitely keep him where he is. Like, don't mess with a good thing, man. And by the way, along the lines of Castie, and I was watching highlights of Game 4. Because, first of all, you need to when you're at the games, you know, for our job and all that, like, to go back and watch the games.

Just because there are strike calls you can't see as well and all that type of stuff. But like there is nothing cooler than watching this crowd on TV. Like being there is the coolest thing I've ever experienced. It's surreal to see it on TV because it's so impressive. It's like when I'm there, it feels like the coolest thing I've ever been a part of. When I'm on TV, it's the coolest thing I've ever seen on TV. So that's freaking awesome.

But the Cassie triple curtain call after the second home run gets the curtain call in the dugout, gets another one after the boom hit, then coming out to right field with the arms in the air. Jack, that was just a really awesome one. A really awesome one. Well, I couldn't get over that i mean he absolutely like 100 miles an hour just turned around and like that was a combination of the like the highest ball i think i've seen off a right-handed bat and like one of the furthest

i mean the ball was just when he when he connects and he like is like is fully on time and everything. It is one of the prettiest right hand swings in all of baseball. I mean, it is just it is a beautiful swing. And what I appreciated is that Sean Murphy had the exact same reaction to the Castellanos home run as he had to the Reese Batts bike home run. Like he had the same like like hands in the air damn it kind of uh kind of reaction to both so wait was sean burby on the braves last year uh sean burby was not on the braves okay well the catcher the same reaction in back would have been darnell probably and i was like wow that's like it's so uh it's such poet uh you know uh poetic right there

but yeah he's just i do the same thing So I go back and look at the highlights. And it just sounds so loud on TV. Unlike anything I've ever heard, Jack. We can say it when we're there. Like I have never, when we do the thing, I'm like, oh, I've been to hundreds and hundreds of baseball games. I've never felt anything like that. We've watched thousands upon thousands of baseball games on TV over our lives. Like who knows how many?

I've never seen anything like that.