High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - High Hopes Chapter 1: Yo, We Swept the Rays!

Episode Date: July 7, 2023

Jack Fritz and James Seltzer are excited after the Phillies' sweep of the Rays in Tampa this week. 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

So what's it like to buy your first cryptocurrency on Kraken? Well, let's say I'm at a food truck I've never tried before. Am I going to go all in on the loaded taco? No, sir. I'm keeping it simple. Starting small. That's trading on Kraken. Pick from over 190 assets and start with the 10 bucks in your pocket. Easy. Go to Kraken.com and see what crypto can be. Non-investment advice. Crypto trading involves risk of loss.

See Kraken.com slash legal slash ca dash pru dash disclaimer for info on Kraken's undertaking to register in Canada. 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. Yo, Jack, we just swept the Rays in Tampa! 12 straight road wins! Like, who is this Phillies team? Jack and I texting during the game last night,

we were just basically going back and forth with all like, what's the most ridiculous thing that's happening? I was like, Craig Kimbrell, the fact that he's good is the most ridiculous thing that has happened this season. And Jack's like, well, actually, 11 straight road wins, which then became 12. And then we had like 15 things like, we're here now. The Phillies are good. We did it. We did it. We did it.

We got a season, buddy. That's the big one. Thank God. The big one is that. Thank God is what I have to say. I know. And as someone that never doubted this baseball team, it feels very validated. Check the tape, friend.

Never once was like, you know what? This team might not be it. And my big takeaway from the series in Tampa, which, by the way, just can't believe it happened. What a series. They just played great baseball. It wasn't just that they beat one of the two best teams record-wise in the sport. They played sound, fundamental baseball.

We got the best Aaron Nola. We've seen him forever. Like, everyone just showed up. So I texted some people that. I felt like that was the best start he's had since, like, the Reds. Boston! The Red Sox start. I had the same thought, dude.

I had the exact same thought. The Red Sox start that year. Maybe the one last year in Houston to close out the season was pretty great, too, in that spot. Six and two-thirds perfect or whatever. That was pretty great too, but this one he goes eight. Seven and a third, 12 strikeouts. And the spot.

There wasn't as much pressure as it felt like in that. They still had three games to get in. They just had to win one of three. This was a spot that Aaron Nolan never comes through in it feels like. He was just brilliant. he was just brilliant. He was just brilliant.

And it's like, there it is. Just do that. I would love you, buddy. I really would. I would. But my big takeaway from the series is that they have that look again. And they have that look of, we're good. And, you know, yesterday, even when I feel like i would usually have the the the thought of

like they're probably gonna lose this game right i texted you i know you did i know you did i just i didn't i didn't i didn't really have that you didn't respond to me i i said i tagged a jack i think it was like in the 10th inning i'm like they're not actually gonna win this game right and he didn't even respond and i was like i don't know man like the way they're not actually going to win this game, right? And he didn't even respond. And I was like, I don't know, man. The way they're playing and the confidence they had and just like the starters on a roll, the bullpen on a roll, offense just do something, just sneak one out, and I feel like you're going to win it.

They have that look again. And I know it's early because it's July, but that felt very October Phillies. Totally. It really did. It felt like the Road Warriors thing. The last time it felt like that it's July, but that felt very October Phillies. Totally. It really did. Well, it felt like the Road Warriors thing. The last time it felt like that was when they went on that run on the road and then go to the playoffs and keep winning road games.

That's what it feels like right now with this team on the road, that this group has just bonded and come together again. And the big balls celebrate. That's right. So that's what that is, right? Yes. It's Sam Cassell. Well, Sam Cassell, it's also Major League, like, the maubles.

I got those maubles. Like, Major League Two originally is where I first saw it. But, yeah, the Sam Cassell thing, it's clearly what it is. There's no other. I guess, and maybe Alex Coffey can get to the bottom of this. We need you, Alex. Yeah, come on, Alex. As always, there's no one else on the beat who has a chance to get to the bottom of this.

You're our only hope. I just want to know why they changed. Like, why the switch up? I was wondering the same thing. And then they, because they did multiple. They had the glasses thing. So I think that's for triples. Okay, just for triples.

I think that's for triples. And obviously we had the thumbs up for a while. It's kind of gone away a bit. Although the bullpen still holds everyone accountable. Yes, they do. They make sure that you go out there and do that. But I do, I'm very curious where the new celebration, the origin story of it.

Me too. Well, you know, the celebrations are one of the most fascinating things in the sport to me. I asked you at the beginning of the season, I'm like, do teams like coordinate so you don't have the same ones? Like what if you're playing against a team and you're all doing the thumbs up? Like I'm so fascinated by it all. And the switch mid-season is definitely unexpected.

Yeah, didn't see it coming. Frankly, didn't see it all. And the switch midseason is definitely unexpected. Didn't see it coming. Frankly, didn't see it coming. But I just, there's so many important factors to what they're doing right now. And like the celebrations and the camaraderie and the stuff they do on the road. You know, I think that's really important. Obviously the postgame stuff, like the dumping water on each other. The whole bucket on Bryce. Yeah, like that's fun.

That's good stuff. And I know it's a small thing, and I know that this can be viewed as geeked out about something that doesn't really matter. No, we never do that. Never. But when Schwarber hit the single yesterday,

and they panned to the dugout, and the first guy on the top step of the dugout was Josh Harrison, who was not in the game, not going to play, hasn't played all series, and he's the first guy on the top step of the dugout was josh harrison who was not in the game not gonna play hasn't played all series and if he's the first one like let's go yeah and i think that when you have the whole team being bought in to like we gotta win this game and putting the importance on winning that game i just think that that kind of uh breeds uh like a winning culture and what what you've seen on the road is what a winning culture to me looks like and it's been a while since i felt like we could

say that but that's what it looks like to me and and it's just they went down like dude i texted you this this this also yesterday it's like they went down there and they they took the raised lunch money. No one goes down to the Trop and takes the Rays' lunch money. No one had this year. They're the first. They're the first team to sweep the Rays at home. Only the second team to win a series there. Tucker tweeted this out.

They only lost three home series. They only got swept in home series. Three have lost 102 home series. So this never happens. It never happens. And the Phillies just looked like a better team than the team heading into that series with the most wins in baseball. The Phillies looked better than that.

They did. They were just absolutely better. They did. Finally, the Rays magic is running out. These scrub players that are all of a sudden good down there. But, man, what a series. What a week. 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. Again, like last night when they didn't score in the 10th, I was 100% sure they were losing that game. And then Strong comes out and just handles it. The bullpen just doesn't give up runs anymore. That's pretty sweet. It's a fun development. It's a really fun development. I and just handles it. The bullpen just doesn't give up runs anymore. So that's pretty sweet. It's a fun development.

It's a really fun development. I'm really enjoying it. Yeah, well, and one of the most under-talked about things is, I mean, two weeks ago, they essentially just gave Matt Strom the week off because they want to limit his innings as best as possible. His last two outings looked back on early season, Strom. Yeah, it was exactly like that. Fastball's getting by people.

It's got that zip to it. Come on, man. That was my watch. You're so fired up that the watch is going off. Yeah, my watch is going off. That's not my... But yeah, dude,

I mean, Strom looked awesome. Look, they've been giving up a run at nine outings or nine games, the bullpen, and Sir Anthony's hurt right now.

We came into the season and that's our best reliever. They did it without Alvarado for a while. I mean, the depth, the amount of talent back there is something we have not seen in our time doing this podcast by a mile. And the big development to me is also, you know, and we were calling for Belotti to come back up and maybe even Brogdon. But Junior Marchant.

Junior. It's a win for you, buddy. Finally. You can take the win, I think. Finally. He's nasty. Yeah. Now that he's trusting his stuff, and to your point, unafraid to just throw the 98 down

the pike, whatever, that slider, he's nasty, dude. Let's talk about a crazy development that Caleb Cotham has taught the pitchers. Hey, throw it down the middle. It's like Craig Kimbrell. It's like the whole thing. It's like, what are we doing here? It's like, just throw strikes, throw it down the middle. It's like Craig Kimbrell. It's like the whole thing. It's like, what are we doing here? It's like, just throw strikes. Throw it down the middle. Christopher Sanchez, throw strikes. Jose Alvarado, throw it down the middle and let your stuff play.

All these guys, just, hey, hey, hey, you see that? Just throw it there and let your stuff just work off of it. Crazy concept. Caleb Gotham, assistant coach of the year. So, but yeah like junior marty dude he can't like like the craziest part about where we're at with this philly's pitching staff is that i have no fear i know like i'm just it's like chris sanchez going six innings

with one earned yesterday i was like of course he did dude i picked him up in fantasy for a spot start it's like he's got it that is sickening has it that is sicken. That is sickening. Chris Torres-Sanchez has it. That is sickening. It is sickening. I mean, how ridiculous is that? Again, that's where this team is at. Again, Junior Marte coming into a 1-1 game in the seventh. He's going to do his thing. Of course he is.

That's what he does. Simply what he does. Jeff Hoffman coming in the other night in an 8-4 game. By the way, great managing by Rob Thompson to not have to use one of his studs there and trust Jeff Hoffman coming in the other night in an 8-4 game by the way great managing by Rob Thompson to not have to use one of his studs there and trust Jeff Hoffman that's great because then it lets Alvarado pitch yesterday yep um let's use you know Kimbrough again the whole thing and that's trusting that's trusting your guys and that's what that's what made they don't win the game yesterday without that I agree but that's what made him I think topper last year was that the guys believed in him because he believed in them.

And I think you're starting to see that again. You're starting to see like, OK, Jeff Hoffman, like, go do your job. And he's like, all right, I'll go do my job. By the way, like his his stuff is stupid, man. Well, he's a top, top pick guy. Like he's one of those guys. He's the ninth pick in the draft. He's one of those guys who like a real ped pedigree guy, who, you know, injuries

and got off track and stuff, but, I mean, the stuff has never been a question with Jeff Hoffman, ever. Yeah, no, not at all. And he's finally, again, another guy, hey, just throw it down the middle and see what happens with your stuff. You know, like try to throw that splitter, like right down. I feel like I could do Caleb Gotham's job at this point. Dude, I know, but man, and I don't think, I did this whole thing on the final out last night, but like, who, besides most of Nola's season, everyone else has gotten.

Everyone else has gotten better. Like, they've gotten, when, dude, when have we seen the Phillies get the most out of random guys? Never. Never. This has been our issue forever. We always talk about like, we never have those guys. The guys just come up and get outs for you and make plays. They never have those dudes.

It's full of them. We got Pilate in the minors. The dude hasn't given up a run in a month in the minors. Can he get back on the major league roster? That's crazy. Well, and I think it's time to start putting the Phillies in the conversations of the teams that are great at developing pitching.

Wow. Not developing just prospects. No, but taking reclamation projects. Yeah, reclamation projects. Rays, Dodgers, Yankees, Astros. Wow. Phil? Phil?

Honestly, I'm speechless right now. I don't even know. But you're right. You're right, but I don't. Like Craig Kimbrell. Craig Kimbrell wasn't on the postseason roster for the Dodgers last year. Dodgers? Fraud Watch? Hey, I'm just saying. We fixed Craig Kimbrell. Craig Kimbrell wasn't on the postseason roster for the Dodgers last year. Dodgers? Fraudwatch?

Hey, I'm just saying. We fixed Craig Kimbrell. You know? Hey, the Phillies are better than the Dodgers. I'll say that right now. I feel very confident about that. We are. I'm talking as a team right now.

Team right now. The Phillies, the team this season are better than the Dodgers. We have reached full high hopes. Yeah, we are there, dude. We are better than they. Hey, bring on the Dodgers. Bring on the Dodgers. I don reached full high hopes. We are better than they. Bring on the Dodgers. I'm not scared of anybody right now. I really am not. The Braves are damn good. I get it. I'm terrified of the Braves. Yeah, they're great.

We beat them in the playoffs last year, and let's be honest, their offense is amazing. Philly's pitching is significantly better than Atlanta's. At least the last month and a half, they've been better. The bullpen's better. It's just the Braves have the best lineup we've seen in a while.

I mean, like maybe in a while. We don't need to, listen, this is our podcast. We don't need to wax poetically about the Braves. Pretty good. Pretty good. You're damn good.