High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - If You Wanted a Season's Over Pod, The Phils Shouldn't Have Won 11-3 Today

Episode Date: June 4, 2023

Jack Fritz and James Seltzer react to Drew Ellis saving the Phillies season in Washington. 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

This is the High Hopes Podcast. High Hopes! It's a bunch of baseball nerds talking about the Phillies. On Odyssey and Sports Radio 94 WIP. Yo! It is another edition of the High Oaks podcast presented by Miller Lite. Jack, relax. If you're watching the video right now, shout out to Miller Lite.

That is a strong move by you, Boston, out to Miller Lite. I, of course, can't drink because I have to go to bed when we're done recording. So I can't drink on Sundays anymore. That's my life now. But, hey, the Drew Ellis game game and it's june for schwarber look i uh i you know this is one of those you know look they won two games from the nads the friday game was just a devastating like devastating loss fighting back and then losing but you know obviously as as i think we said but i'm gonna predict it i haven't spoken since you know, obviously, as I think we said,

but I didn't get it predicted, I haven't spoken since, you know, before the Mets series. Shocker. What happened? This team's driving me crazy, Jack. And look, today was fun, and yesterday was a nice win. But, like, you know, like, I am much more angry than happy, no matter how fun a game it was today.

And shout out to drew Ellis. Like you go, dude, but man, they are a frustrating baseball team. How you doing? First off, I'm surprised you're not weeping with the jurors game.

Cause Luke Williams hit one Homer as a fill and you still waxed about the family in the stands and and the whole dynamic and them asking about it had nothing to do with who the like the actual whatever all right and it was a walk-off too all right all right so so here's where i'm at right now um it's been a long week it's been a it's been a long season they're five games under 500 it's been a long week. It's been a long season. There are five games under 500. It's been soul crushing. I proclaimed them dead on Thursday,

and they went out and they proved me right on Friday. But man, that was fun. You're talking to the wrong guy. You're talking to the wrong guy. I know to the wrong guy i know buddy and yes there's a lot obviously full disclaimer it's the nationals and yeah but the nationals are a little frisky nationals are frisky um but like you know way to grow up a little bit like way to what it is go out and do jobs and and act like professional baseball players and just take it to them just like okay we're still pretty good just today today i mean they barely won yesterday they lost that's a bullpen game though it's a bullpen game i know i know you know why they needed to win it though because your freaking stud who looked like

he was back looked like crap. And granted, didn't get help from the umps or the defense or anything. But like, man, just a. Who? Who? Wheeler. Oh, yeah. Horrible.

I mean, it's worse out of the season. Got absolutely crushed. You know, so like. Seven earned. Seven earned bad. Yeah. You know, I don't know you you be positive guy i'll be negative guy i this team's driving me crazy i know it took drew ellis coming

through with some big hits the last days obviously today multiple big ones like like what that's where we're at right now drew ellis like yeah man and that met series was so frustrating and drew ellis the the way drew ellis started his philly's career was so frustrating like but you know nice win today it was and look you know you hope that schwarber gets going you know the two bombs say that was huge i think that that's big and we'll get into it on look you know the the by far the the funniest possible outcome this season is like bryce's bryce he's just you know off the table he doesn't count but like everyone else sucking and nick castellanos being a superstar is like easily the funniest outcome this season like

but like cassie's been amazing like he's been like 315 or something he's freaking awesome i think he had i think he had eight hits this series. What a stud. What a stud. I mean, they lost a game where you had two home runs. It's like, so look, make me feel better, buddy, because I am, you know, today was fun and you know, but I am frustrated

right now. I'm frustrated. Look, the schedule helps with the Tigers coming up, but I'm frustrated. So let me say this let me say this yes yes i don't want to get this out of the way the phils are still dead they're not like they're not they're done it's over the season's over so like you know i'm strictly just watching the team now uh looking ahead and seeing who can be on the best phillies of all time, which is the 2026 Phillies. Oh, we're back. See, we can say that's back.

See, unlike something else that we can never say and are not. No. Flat out not. No bits here. Like, not. We can say that the 2026 Phillies are back. Like, that is back. Yeah.

No, the 2026 Phillies are going to be great. So, I'm just – my main goal for the rest of this year is who's going to be a part of that team. You know what I mean? Like who's going to be – who's going to be a part of the next great Phillies round because this one's over. I mean, it's the Nationals. They stink.

You know, the Phillies played down to their competition. Why would anyone still believe in them? So with that being said, with that being said, they are 2-0 to try to turn our batting cleanup. Oh, that's it. Yeah, what a ridiculous line. It's so funny.

It's so funny. Like, just absurdity. I love it. I love it. I love it. We texted. You texted me. You're like, did you see the lineup? And I wrote back, that's the actual literal definition of grasping it strong.

Well, the funny part was that I was on with Howard on Thursday night. And he said something like, I think Rob Thompson should just put names in a hat. And that's like that lineup. Yeah. That's pretty much what it was. I mean, that's something like, I think Rob Thompson just should just put names in a hat. And that's like that lineup. Yeah. That's pretty much what it was. I mean, that's pretty much what it was that all the names that align up and we'll see it,

see what happens. So, um, yeah, so it's, so this is, I mean, you know,

me, our listeners know me really hard. Like this is, I don't know how to, I don't know how to talk about them. Like, for example, had we done this podcast on Friday, you're getting a big-time Fritz rant.

You are getting a season proclaimed over. You're getting all of this. The problem is, is that they've won 11-3 today. And they've won two straight. And it's like, in my stupid, dumb, warped philly's brain i'm like okay i've already put up i've already i've already now i've i don't i don't produce for mbc sports

philadelphia yet um like i'm sure that you know yeah no i'm just kidding but i don't produce for them but i already have the durellas segment of the phil's yearbook yeah come on i'll bet you do so like you tell me you tell me how i'm not supposed to be positive when schwabred's too homer some guy named durellas who i said i'd never heard of in my life i had never heard of in my life i literally i have never, before he was called up and ended up batting in the pivotal at bat of the last game of a Mets sweep, I never heard him. Right. And it's just, I'm so mad at myself. I'm so mad at myself.

But I'm just saying that this is one of those weekends that you look back on at the end of the year and you say, there it is. There it is. The true Ellis, like having two home runs, being in the line, starting three games out of nowhere. And you want to know how sick my brain is, James. And this is a... Like, I'm sicker than you're telling us? Like, I go, James? And this is a... Like, as sicker than it already is.

You're telling us it goes sicker? This is a real thought I had during the game today watching Drew Ellis. As I said, Drew Ellis provides for this team what Reese Hoskins did for them. Oh, my God. Stop it. Works a great at-bat. Works a great at-bat.

Hits for some power. Yep, hits for some power. hits for some power except except better defensive player oh my god okay we are we are we we've we've hit rock bottom it just it does feel like like you gotta hope that friday was rock bottom like that has to be rock bottom the hope at least look, I still like this team is way more talented than they've played. And I'm not, I'm not saying the season's over, but I certainly am like, you know,

we did the whole not concerned through June 1st thing. Like obviously they won two in a row. I'm concerned with the injuries, with the issues. I mean, losing boom. I know drew Ellis, like, you know, did they upgrade? I mean, losing Boehm, I know Drew Ellis, like, you know.

Wow. Did they upgrade? I mean, he's already got what? Boehm has three homers or four homers on this season. He's got two in a game. I mean, what are we doing here? 2-1-5-5-9-2-9-4-9-4. Smooth.

Who starts at third base when Alec Boehm gets back? Oh, my God. I mean, because obviously you can't take Cody Clemens. I mean, that goes. Hold on. The guy's a gamer. The guy's a gamer. He saved the game earlier today with that defensive play. Great stuff. Yep, yep, yep, yep, yep, yep, yep, yep, yep.

Yep. So I'll say this. I'll say this. There's still a lot. Obviously, there's a ton to be concerned about. There's a ton to be concerned about. Ranger, the way he's thrown, the way he's thrown the last two outings is really important.

With Wheeler having the setback start. Now, I could argue that there's a lot of little things that went wrong for him, like some bad defensive plays and whatnot. But at the same time, he wasn't striking anyone out. And that's kind of been the issue with him a lot this year is he's not striking enough people out um in some outings so you you don't know what you're getting from wheeler which officially is back on the the the burner here is that you don't know

what you're getting out of wheeler um no you have no idea you're big you know and we did the whole thing that last ball you're a 200 million dollar guy. Go beat the Mets, man. Go show up against the Mets. And nope. Nope. Like, of course not. Like, why would we expect him to show up in that spot? Like, why?

Why? Tywon Walker, again, no idea. Yeah. He's just. Yeah. He looks like a. And I know a lot of people talked about it, but it did look like the back or I don't know what's going on. But he looks so

uncomfortable out there you know so he left the he left the game or a locker room with a wrap around his legs so legs whatever it was he looks super uncomfortable out there so you know that's great it's good yeah yeah so with those four and then you get to the fifth spot which that guy that's like a roulette wheel. Just spin it and see who pops up. Well, Dylan Covey can never throw another pitch for this team. No doubt about it.

But they did improve to 2-9 in games started by their five starter yesterday. So that was a good sign. But they have that concern that's still there. Lineup, I think JT was a good sign but you have that they have that concern that's still there lineup i think that i think jt was a really positive jt weekend um he has been just bad in a lot of situations going through those one of those jt phases where it's like like what are you doing

man like jt goes through this where it's just like well it was the exact same last year the exact same it was that Toronto series whenever I think it was maybe a little earlier than this was I don't remember exactly when it was but it was right around can't remember if it was a little earlier a little I thought it was later I thought it was like June 15th was the thing I've had my head but then I was like that sounds too late

either way like you know and then he took off and then he was literally awesome the rest of the season so you know yeah I you know you hope that this is the weekend where that kind of turns. Yeah. And I guess Saturday, I think Ben Davis was talking about it, about how all he heard was JT just taking BP. All he saw was JT working with Kevin Long.

So it seems like the early returns are obviously paying off. Cassie Ons is going nuclear. June Schwarber is obviously... It's the funniest thing in the world. I have no idea why it happens, but whatever. And at this point, and I'm sorry to everyone

that doesn't want this to happen, but that's your leadoff hitter. I'm sorry. Yeah, well, now it is. That's your leadoff hitter. I'm sorry. Yeah, well, now it is. Now it is, yeah. That's your leadoff hitter. And look, unlike last season at the time when everyone was complaining, he is walking a ton this year as opposed to, like, he's getting on at a much higher clip than he was when he was doing his struggles last year comparatively.

You know what I mean? Yeah. So Schwarber is going to be a leadoff hitter, although I will say, so obviously I think Stock can do it, but someone that I'm definitely interested in, if this keeps up, is Marsh. Yeah. I mean, I think he can do it.

I mean, I feel like he works a ton of 3-2 counts. He does, and he's obviously super fast. He rarely, I feel like, gets out early in counts. He usually is battling. He had like an 11 pitch at bat today. So, again, whoever the chiropractor was that fixed his back, and we don't need to bleep it. It's a body part.

Yeah, and we've got two references. Yeah, but in the right way, in the right context. Yeah, it's called skirting the line. That's exactly right. That's exactly right. Yes. That's exactly right. So, yeah. So, like, if Schwarber can go back to being the Schwarber that we've seen at the beginning of the year, I think Marsh can get up there and do a job as well.

So, what's frustrating about the starting staff, because it feels like I just refuse to believe the offense is going to be this bad the rest of the year. Look, Harper still hasn't turned on the power. You know we're going to have stretches where he carries him for two weeks. Schwarber's going to carry him likely for a period here. You're totally right. They will get guys who lift them up.

And look, I don't think Trey Turner is going to suck all year. I don't think he's obviously going to be what people thought, but I don't think he's going to suck all year. So I agree with you, but I don't think he's going to suck all year. So, you know, I agree with you, but you know, let's go.

Right. So the thing with the, the, the starting staff, which is hard to believe in at the moment and the lineup is more just like you hope they figure it out rather than like, I don't know. There's no tangible evidence.

They will. Is, is that like the bullpen has been one of the best bullpens in baseball for a month and a half now. You know, like at this point, Brockton is probably the biggest question mark. Like, you feel pretty good about Vasquez. Jeff Hoffman is such a freaking, like, it's like we did it.

This is what smart teams do. We unlocked and unleashed Jeff Hoffman. I mean, it is what it is. Andrew Vasquez, same kind of thing. They're on like 97% sliders, I feel like. You know, that's the bottom of the bullpen. And then you get to the top. And it's like Serantia, I think, is really good. Like, it's just the bullpen. And then you get to the top. And it's like Saranthi, I think, is really good.

Like, it's just the bullpen. And Alvarado's coming back. I mean, they've been doing this without Alvarado. I mean, their best stretch in terms of bullpen ERAs, but without Alvarado, which is stunning, considering he was the best believer in baseball until he got hurt. Phil's bullpen better without Alvarado? Yeah.

Seems like a big topic, 21592 94 94 do you do you bring back alvarado yeah with how well they're pitching right now yeah good question good good so we should check with middleton and see if it uh compares to the fourth best era bullpen era for the second half that season or whatever the uh is. Let's not bring up bad times. Let's not revert back into that phase. Middleton's not the one to blame right now. No, he's not.

No, he's not. It is an unfair shot, per usual, from a WIP host. You know me. That's what I do. Take shots. I'm a shots guy. Or as Jonathan Gannon said pew pew pew pew pew uh yeah i don't know it just it's they're still but like how did they get five how are they five games under 500 still like how man how did you let that happen like how did you as a baseball team let this thing get to where

they are right now and having to climb like climb out of this again like that's that's what's so annoying about infuriating annoying isn't even it's infuriating like you didn't have to do it this way like just go out and be good just be good you. You are a good enough team on paper. It's not like we're relying on a bunch of rookies to step up and do their job. You guys have been around forever, man. There's no reason. Friday night was a disaster for a couple of reasons.

Obviously, your ace being one of them, but also, I mean, Rob Thompson putting in Brogdon instead of Sir Anthony in the eighth was also egregious. Either way, it's like you shouldn't get swept up in New York. The Mets aren't playing well. The Mets have been a disaster this weekend. You shouldn't be losing the amount of

runners in scoring position that you have. What annoys me about where they're at and what is infuriating for you is that especially the runners in scoring position thing and the playing type thing it's like most of you you know most of you've been around baseball forever like most of you have been in like big ish kind of spots you just we're in them you all we're just in them like the vast majority guys literally we're just in the biggest of spots

why did it why did it not translate into like you don't have to have this a massive amount of pressure on your back all the time to like figure it out i mean like it just it just doesn't it just it doesn't make sense to me you shouldn't you shouldn't have this like overwhelming sense of like last year should have been the the exhale last year should have been like the deep breath like okay we're really good let's go freaking play and it's just they're they're acting like they hadn't made the playoffs for 11 years like they had last year yeah well that's what's infuriating to me is that and then we talked about it going into the season and i i can't stop thinking about every time we think about this and look at this team is like the opportunity that was in front of

them and has been i mean like the ballpark has been great. Like I have been so impressed considering how bad or marginal to bad this team has been this season with like, people keep showing up to the ballpark and go to the games and like, you know, that's going to stop if they're terrible, you know, but they had such an opportunity to really build on this excitement and this belief. And it sounded like they were going to do it. They made us look like idiots. We're like, Oh, two more wins. terrible you know but they had such an opportunity to really build on this excitement and this belief and it sounded like they were going to do it they made us look like idiots we're like oh two more

wins they got this like this ethos like they're like a team a culture let's go and then they come out and play like crap and just there's no urgency there seems like there's no accountability like the whole thing all the stuff that annoyed us about the phillies before the run last year was just like on display again i mean the fact jack that they have what like four separate four or five or more game losing streaks this season already like how does that happen how do you have like two six game losing streaks already how do you like have the trey turner moment that we all were like, Oh, look at that. And then lose like five of seven or seven of nine or whatever the hell it

was. Like, how does this keep happening? Like you guys are better than this. Like you're losing the crappy teams out there. And, and even if you're losing a good teams, like the spots,

there's like no momentum. There's no like building on anything. There's no sense of urgency. There's nothing. And I think that's why I get, I'm, I'm, I'm infuriated and frustrated because it feels like there's been so little to grab onto from a positivity. Like other than Castellanos, like my guy, like, thank you. I love you, buddy. You're awesome. Like, it's been so little to get excited about, you know, there's so many questions and so now i'm sitting there all through freaking april and maybe like don't worry don't worry they're too good to be out and then it's all of a sudden it's like all

right you know what like enough like play better you you did yeah we don't curse on this pod but i was about to i'm like you blanks you bleed whatever like play better like because this this is this is infuriating because you're way better yeah and and i think the the the team obviously felt that i mean i thought alex coffee wrote a great article today um as usual very usual um and it was just like she was talking to um the players in the clubhouse about... Yesterday was the anniversary of the Girardi firing. And how much things have changed,

I guess, even though... Sort of. The more things change, the more they stay the same, right? Yeah, but she was talking... Castellanos specifically was like, listen, Joe was tense, and we felt it, and he really wanted to win. Sometimes he wouldn't communicate with the

clubhouse in a way because he wouldn't think baseball because all he wanted to do was get the win. He was just... He made them all tense up. It was just so interesting them talking about Rob Thompson. Every single player was like, none of this is on Rob. it was just so interesting them talk about Rob Thompson and they were like this, not every single player was like, none of this is on Rob. Like none of this is on Rob.

This is completely on us. Like we got to own it. We got to push forward. Um, and it just, there's, there seems to be way more self-awareness in the clubhouse of like, cause last year, I mean,

and accountability to that point, you know? Right. Well, we remember last year, I mean, Corey can able who, you know? Right. Well, we remember last year. I mean, Corey Knable, who ends up not being good anyway, but he was like calling down to the dugout. Like, I can come in the game. Like, just let me come in the game.

Like, I'll close it out. And I think that was where Girardi lost a lot of the players. Like, you're already not talking to us. You're already tense. You're already not letting us play. And now you're not listening to us, which I think is something that is hard to come back from. And it's just... I just...

The one thing I continue to believe is that I think the guys in the locker room and in the clubhouse, they're going to figure it out. And I think that they're going to start playing looser. And I think the Turner thing has just kind of tensed a lot of people up. And I'm sure it's tensed a lot of people in the higher ups up of like, oh my God, dude, what are we doing? But there's just too much track records there.

There's too much winning baseball. There's too much being deep into the playoff run last year to where I just think that they're eventually going to figure it out and hopefully today was a good start for that. Even Friday, they lost, but the offense was like they came back from 7-0 down. No, they didn't.

6-0 down, but whatever. It got to 7-1. And down 7-1. Regardless. And I just look forward to that kind of switch being flipped are the things that I'm most worried about the starting staff is far and away the thing that

is the most concerning even with Ranger having two good starts in a row because I just when you have no idea what you're getting out of 1-2 1-2-4 and 5 and 5 but 5 so bad it's not even When you have no idea what you're getting out of one, two, it makes them four, you know, and five, five, five. So bad. It's not even who's first starts back from the aisle.

Stunk. It was fine. It was a spring training training. No, it was. It was. He's had two good starts and we're like, he's the only one we can trust. You know what I mean? It's just like, what the hell?

Like, that's it. That's where we're at. You're you're right like that's it's bad like it is bad it's concerning and you know wheeler at least has had some real flashes of brilliance like nola it feels like you know even when he's had a couple really nice outings but at no point has made that 110 strikeout game but like that felt you know i don't know it felt like uh it was like the game and and kind of uh bad approaches and all that type of stuff but at no point have i watched noel this year and been like that dude looks awesome and that's a that's a problem man like that's a huge problem yeah you know at least wheeler and again i'm concerned about both for sure but at least wheeler we've seen him go out a couple times and look at least wheeler and again i'm concerned about both for sure but at least

wheeler we've seen him go out a couple times and look like zach wheeler like i feel like nola hasn't really looked like aaron but i do think that i think if the offense can just get consistent a little bit a bit yeah yeah i think the pitching staff i think the pitch that almost calms down you know and because i'm sure that they're thinking right now well bleep if we don't go out and dominate we're not gonna win you know and only gave up four runs the last one or whatever it was it was but it was like you know sorry for too many you know and like that sucks but it was you know or two starts ago whatever it was no it was the mets already left it was the mets that's what i thought yeah it's just like you know and that's like that's not good enough.

But like, you know, sometimes the offense can pick them up. That is something that can happen. God forbid, right? I mean, God forbid that the offense could pick them up. Yeah. So hopefully today was you know, and especially with the Troy coming in with the Schwarber. I mean, like you really hope

that that it's like, okay, go time, buddy. Yeah. Well, and I thought actually, you know, obviously at the two homers today, I thought the most interesting Schwarber moment of the, the whole weekend was the, the single to start off the first game, the Friday night game. Cause he gets a single and he goes to first base and he like puts his hands up in the air. Like, he's like, thank God. Like, and it was like, you know,

it, i think it showed how much i've been weighing on him like the stats about like 10 hits in may or whatever and seven i think he had two singles yeah yeah and a double or something and then the rest were homers like it's like a disaster like so i think i think it showed that it was weighing on him too and you know he had a couple hits that night and then obviously today gets the power going so you know i think that's of all the things that happens we then obviously today gets the power going so you know i think that of all the things that happens we can obviously outside of you know drew ellis you know yeah you're well saving the ellis name outside of remembering where i was when drew ellis's hall of fame career began um you know

schwarber to me is the thing that i'm i think is most important right now especially for a team like we just talked about where harper's been really good but still only three home runs has not had a lot of power since he's been back, you know, well, like, and this team just doesn't have power is kind of where I'm going. And,

and at all, like shockingly and, you know, Schwarber, you know, kind of carrying them to that perspective is, is even more important. Well,

the most interesting part about them is that, um, like if you look at, if you just look at the whole numbers, right, and you look at the offense top to bottom, and it was like, okay, Shorebury, you can see 161, and it's like, that's bad. We know that's bad.

But Stott's raw numbers, good. Bryce's raw numbers, good. Castellanos' raw numbers, good. Turner, obviously bad. Boehm's raw numbers, good. Turner, obviously bad. Boehm's raw numbers are mostly fine. Marsh's raw numbers are definitely good. All the kind of... If you just put the lineup on the screen,

you're like, oh, the Phillies offense is pretty good. It's the runners in scoring position thing that just kills him. I mean, Bryce, if you look at his numbers, it's like, oh, he's had a pretty good year since coming back. I believe he's 2-for-20. He's 2-for-21 on Friday

with Ron in the scoring position. I don't know what he did over the weekend if he added to it. But when you're betting under... There's so many guys when they have a chance to get the kind of back-breaking hit or get back to a game that aren't coming through. That's what's sinking the offense right now.

It's clutch hitting. It's not, it's not broad. It's not number of hits. It's clutch hitting and home runs. I mean, like the home run thing is runs and, and mistakes,

you know, and like whether it's been base running mistakes or whatever in the past, like they've done less of that, but there's, they're still playing. Well, I mean, guess the, I was got thrown out. Exactly. That's my point.

They're still playing dumb baseball and they have not hit enough with runners in scoring position to give up outs when they're not, you know? So it's God, I just, I just, I need, I need this to be the week. I need this. Honestly, honestly, before the last two games, like if you had asked me on Friday or Saturday morning or whatever, I would tell you that in the moment right now, this is the most disappointing Philadelphia sports team that I remember,

at least since like maybe the dream team or something. But even then, like, like after like, I thought they were going to the world series. I said it before the season. Like I thought they were going to win it this year. And like right now, you know, obviously I just want them to, to get the 500. Just get to the playoffs to to get to 500 just get to the playoffs yeah yeah just get to the playoffs and and look that is the you threw all this that the biggest saving grace and like it or hate it and i know

there are a lot of people who don't like it in general but but the third wild card makes a difference even the second wild card like that does keep the phillies you know because look if they if it was like old school baseball you know they'd be out of Phillies, you know, because look, if they if it was like old school baseball, you know, they'd be out of it by now. You know, they could their their season could be over if it was just like division winners make it. You know, they'd be in a lot of trouble right now trying to climb out of that type of deficit. And and I again, the division is probably unlikely.

You never know what can happen, but unlikely just for that reason. And that's frustrating. And to your point, Jack, it's like they didn't this didn't have to happen. And you almost have to wonder. And again, you know, I don't know, but you almost have to wonder if, if, you know, them doing it last year almost gave them a false sense of security where, you know, as they're kind of struggling and stuff, they're like, I will figure it out. You know, we'll be fine. Instead of being like, yo, like, let's figure it out right now. Like, and I don't know if that's true or not. I'm just saying psychologically,

all that type of stuff. You have to at least you have to at least consider it that that could have been part of the pressing the struggles or that or the lack of it early on or whatever. I think definitely I think definitely to begin the season. I believe there is a lot of that of we figured it out last year. We'll be all right. And it is going to be annoying if they do go on on a similar run and it's like hold on like no please don't please don't make us do this every year please don't just be better but i will say how they've responded at least through the at least through the the

the media um and what they've said to reporters and had in articles they seem genuinely upset like with what they agree with putting on the field so like if i felt like there was a a sense of like ah whatever maybe tomorrow is a new day maybe not anymore my point was maybe you know uh three weeks ago for and two two and a half weeks ago before like because it's been a while since we've you know they probably should have put a little more urgency on the way they play baseball and and they haven't you know yeah um and you know it the way they've talked the way that they at least played the last two nights and for the most i mean friday was just bad because the starter was bad friday just yeah wheeler yeah, Wheeler got roughed up. And again, to your point, I was,

especially now since they won the last two, if they had not maybe look at it differently, it was crushing in the moment to come back and then just give up the run like that and then lose. But now with them winning next two, it's like, if they do go on a run, we'll look back at them fighting back in that game as part of the turn. You know what I mean?

They didn't win it, which is lame, but sick thing. Yeah. Yeah. Well, again, like honestly,

if, if this season continues the way it has, they're going to lose the next two to the tigers. So we'll see, you know, they got a long way to go here. Well, uh,

uh, uh, Wentz is starting tomorrow night, so there's no way they lose that game. I think honestly, are you going to go buy tickets and boo them? Just to get the satisfaction? That's hilarious. This poor guy

is just... That is so funny. Like, ah, this guy has just great stuff. Beautiful. He has no idea why Philly fans are going to be so hostile tomorrow. They need to fly Jalen Hurts in to throw the first pitch. That'd be hilarious.

Yeah, Joey Wentz tomorrow with his 728 ERA. Or Foles or something like that. Hilarious. Yeah. Salto will be there booing. It's going to be great. Yeah, well, you know, I probably won't be, but I will be booing him at home.

Just win. Like, just beat these freaking teams man like jeez louise like i watched some marlins out there like just beat the crap out of the a's like they win the first two by like 30 combined runs or whatever and then they you know they're down five one today and they battle back and they win again it's just like you know like take advantage of these teams like that and the tigers have not been close to as bad i mean no one's been as bad like we honestly we as a baseball media in general are not talking nearly enough about the a's being the worst team we've ever seen potentially like they're on base for like 33 wins or something like that jack dude they have a like going into today and i guess they'd be lower now, but the Royals had the second lowest run differential at minus 75. The second worst.

That's the second worst. The Royals. Then the second worst record. Minus 75 heading into today. Minus 75. The A's were minus 199. What is that? Are you freaking kidding me?

They're all-time horrible. But the Tigers are not a good baseball team. Like beat them up, man. Take advantage. Like to the point you made before, like this has to be a turning point. There has to be one at some point or else this season's not going to happen. Right. And like, you're playing a very dangerous game. If you wait until August to make it turn and look, teams have done it again. With the Braves, like I said, you know, won the world series being under 500 until August two years ago. But,

you know, it's just your margin forever is way, way, you know, smaller. And then on top of that, Jack, I think the biggest worry in relation to that too is not just starting pitching, like you said, but also the injuries have mounted up. Like losing Hoskins before the seasons mattered. Like we talked about Derek Hall and coming back, but who knows, that mattered they get Pache he's like oh this is good gets her you know now Alec Boehmer in a hamstring you know those things can linger we know that so you know I think there's there there's a very a much smaller again threshold there in terms of

margin for error so that's well that that concerns me that's why i need them to really start winning some games with some urgency and the other thing is that i i think that this year and especially with the new scout uh the new schedule is that i think it's gonna be harder to have those like nine game win streaks or or 10 game win streaks like this team needs that in the worst way right now well the starter situation they have it makes it hard to get out in any sort of so so now now the fifth starter spot being as bad as it is it makes everyone else in that rotation like you pretty much got to go out and win whatever game that you can now the good part about the bullpen games is that their bullpen is not a disaster so like

they can kind of work their way through it if they want. It just sucks so much because, like, I'm sure that Rob didn't want to use Sir Anthony on Friday because he figured, I got to use Sir Anthony on Saturday. And it ended up costing you a game. You know, it ended up costing them a game on Friday night. And there's a lot of that, like Strom. Like, I'm sure they, you know,

coming into the season, the way they had wanted to use Matt Strom, it would have been, he'd be pitching in a lot of different spots and games that maybe could have won Phillies games or, or, you know, close games, kept them close to burn or whatever. But instead he's, you know, being forced to be this Jack ball trade starters, you know, opener starter guy, all this stuff. Yeah. You're absolutely right. Like it's, it's all cascades you know

yeah it would just be so refreshing like just give me a nice easy should be easy easy enough five six game win streak you know just just just just kind of write the ship here your five games under

yeah get back and and then next three like sweep a series you haven't swept anyone all year right just kind of write the ship here. You're five games under. Yeah. Get back. And, and then, and then next three, like sweep a series. You haven't swept anyone all year, right? Have they,

other than the two game series, that doesn't count. They haven't swept anybody, right? Like sweep these fricking guys, like sweep the tigers. Then it's a five game win streak. You get a day off on Thursday and you can start to be like,

okay. All right, guys. Yeah. But then, but then who comes to town? We're not worried about that i'm just worried about a five game win streak like i've come on man like i'm not setting my sights that high yeah yeah yeah yeah so uh man just again would just would just kill for it and

but with the balance scheduling with the fifth starter thing but it's just it's hard to see them kind of doing it so now it comes down to just win series like just just win series and and slowly dig your way out of it um because like i again i i just the team's in front and i hate the third wild card i understand why it matters but i know you do i get it like i understand i don't because i like the idea of teams staying in it and fan bases staying in it and makes it more compelling but but i get it. I understand. Because I like the idea of teams staying in it and fan bases staying in it. It makes it more compelling. But I get it. I totally get it. I totally get it. But without it,

the Phillies would be in trouble. Of course they would. Miami started 2-28. I find it hard to believe they stay in it. Pittsburgh, I find it hard to believe they stay in it. Yeah, the Diamondbacks are good though. The Diamondbacks are definitely good um max are good and dime actually eight games up on them or something like that or whatever it is seven seven somewhere in there like they're they're

they got a nice margin you know yeah they have a better record than the they have a better record than the braves which is insane insane. They have young talent. They are. So pretty much for that third wildcard spot, I assume it's going to come down to because I think the Marlins eventually fall off. Alright, there's

really two though because Pittsburgh will fall off. So whatever. For sure. It comes down to Mets, Giants, giants padres phillies for me you're just giving the okay yeah i agree so the diamondbacks and dodgers are in in your mind yeah i'll give them in right now yeah that's fine like when people say when people try to do the it's early thing it's like it's not it's just not early it's like they have to they have to start winning if they're like four back of of the Diamondbacks or three back,

then it's like, oh, it's still early. Don't worry, whatever. You're seven back or whatever. That's tough, man. And you have to. I mean, to win. No, this was before Friday night. Just to get to 88 wins, they had to go 62 and 8.

To get to the 87 wins, they had to go 62 and 8. Or to get to the 87 wins, they had to go 62 and 44. Yeah. So. Played nothing close to that clip this year. They basically had to do what they did last year. And to have to have to do that every year is just insane. So, again, it's not like too late to do it. It's just insane.

So again, it's not like too late to do it, but it's also you've just dug yourself such an annoying freaking hole that you didn't have to do. And that's what sucks. So hopefully today was a turnaround and go play 20 games above 500 for the next 100 games. How about that?

That's what they essentially have to do is play 20 games above 500. How's that make you feel? Well, it's not great, Jack. And then especially cause like with all those teams competing, there's less people, starters on the market.

There's more teams training for starters. You know, you gotta figure out the fifth starter thing to do what we're talking about there. Like, yeah. Good, good. But you know you gotta figure out the fifth starter thing to do what we're talking about there like yeah um good good but you know look it also to the point it's early like it's gotta start now like it's gotta start now you can squeak into the playoffs if they play decent baseball and then you could get the third wild card to pay on goes but like you know those are a lot of teams that could be in it and and you didn't mention the cardinals who you just you don't know you know the cardinals have played better baseball than they did they're not as

far back as they were they're like kind of where the phillies are now so um just another team that could be in it um all right uh let's take back it up all right so you uh you've been anti-take bag recently which has um been really is that the way you interpreted that yeah i take well if you know i take everything personally so um so here's what i got for you good obviously the first thing and most important thing in a take bag is uh junior marty just continuing on his trajectory getting back into this a much needed win i mean just what a pitcher what a pitcher um i mean it's a big spot yesterday it's a big spot that rob no it was you're right i was i was actually shocked you put him in i was shocked i was uh floored uh this is this is just a something that i gotta get

off my chest and and i know that ultimately when i do this the phillies are gonna lose next they're the eight of the next ten because that's usually what happens when um i do this the phillies are gonna lose next they're the eight of the next ten because that's usually what happens when um i go over the top and and really fully back someone but i have to do it because it drives me insane like i'm not firing rob thompson this year like i'm just yeah enough i'm so with you dude do it yeah it's it's super annoying like it's been frustrating it's been annoying they Like, it's been frustrating. It's been annoying. They haven't played their best baseball.

But if we just, like, look at this thing holistically, what is the team? I mean, first off, Hoskins isn't there, so he's missing a 30 and 100 guy. We've just mentioned the fifth starter thing. His two aces have been bad. Alvarado's been hurt for a month, and they've been pitching well. I mean, Kyle Schwar've been hitting 160 like

trey turner's putting 235 horrible like honestly honestly i get embarrassed a little bit when people talk about firing off thompson right now like i as as a phillies fan like that is an embarrassing conversation to me right now like you know what maybe rob thompson isn't the guy long term we're gonna find out you know obviously he's not the guy super long term but you know in terms of like the next few years we're gonna find out but you know what i'm certainly not firing him two months into a season when i saw him you know have a great four months last year like or whatever it was well and like i just i believe he's a good manager and i believe that that caleb coppin coppin's a good manager. I believe that Caleb Coughlin is a good pitching coach. I believe that Kevin Long is a good hitting coach.

The earlier terms in this season are that it's just a season from hell. One of those dumpster fire seasons that they can just never get right. Part of the reason why I don't even

think it's... I don't even think it's, I don't want to fire him, is like, I just want, I want some conviction from upper management to say like, this is our guy and we're sticking with him and not be overreactive and just like,

like believe in your plan. Believe in the guys that you brought in. Don't change course because you have a ton of injuries and guys are underperforming. You know, like, great coaches have had down years. You know, like, great team, good teams. I don't know if they said the Phillies are great. They have down years.

To always have to go back to firing the manager is just, it's so, it's just so stupid it's like what do you think like he's not pressing the right buttons okay uh the first the first thing was just have a set lineup okay he sets his lineup and they're still terrible okay we'll do something but hold on i thought you just wanted him to set the lineup. Okay, now he does something. It's like, well, that's off. That's weird. Go back to... Every little thing, it's like, okay, he's doing that.

He's trying something new. He's doing this. He's doing that. What, do we want him to come flip a table every day? Just calm down. Calm down. We're not firing Rob Thompson. I can't take it.

Yeah, 100%. I have nothing to add. Again, we're two months into the season. Four months of baseball left. And again, as annoying as they are and as horrible as they've been, they're five games below.500. They're not like 15 games below 500 they're not like you know fire the

manager territory when he like again like this is his first season as a manager like full season anyway go ahead and he's a game six of the World Series last year now if he if he does what he did on Friday again he might need to be fired but at this current point no

uh eighth best ball penny array in baseball since May 1st He might need to be fired, but at this current point, no. Eighth best bullpen in the array in baseball since May 1st. That's exciting. Drew Ellis saved the season. He's the next Reese Hoskins. Let me run this one by you. Okay. Because it's just how I feel watching the games.

And I don't know if you feel this way, and I don't know if our listeners feel this way. I feel like I grew up, and it was like Rollins to Utley, Utley to Rollins, bang, go to bed, kick your feet up, there's a double play. I feel like the Phillies never turn double plays. Yeah, it is a great point. What a good point by you.

Wow. It's just like I watch them, and and i say that's a routine double play and somehow some way it feels like they never turn double plays the guy always beats it out like i feel like the guy running the first beats it out like every time or like if they do miraculously do it it's by like the it's so it's such a razor thin like – It is a great point. They never turn them. They did today. It's a great point. I don't know.

And it's been years too. I don't think it's just Trey and Stott. Yeah, it's a good point by you. Meanwhile, every other team, routine, there's double play ball. Guys out by like 10 feet. I mean, I feel like the Phillies – I see the Phillies ground into a lot of double plays, so sure. Always turned.

They're always turned. Phillies never turn into a lot of double plays. Always turned. They're always turned. Phillies never turn. They never turn double plays. It's so annoying. It's one of the most routine plays in baseball. So there's that. One of the things that I believe could have turned around the season, and you know that I do this from time to time,

is I had to change my work password again oh buddy yeah and i made the mistake i made the mistake of in my last work password uh talking about like please phillies win you know like please don't ruin my life kind of like pleading and i feel like the baseball gods don't like pleading you know they want you to just go do your job good point yeah they want you not to sound desperate and weak. Exactly, and I would never want to do that. So I changed it. It is

now something to the effect of this team sucks. And they are 2-0 since that. Coincidence? I don't think so. I don't think so at all. I don't think so at all so you're welcome and then my final thing

now he's not very good and if the guardians couldn't figure him out I don't think the Philz can but Zach Plesak was designated for assignment today so like if they need someone that can come in and be the fifth starter,

I get, I mean, it's sure. He's had moments and he definitely was you know, someone who had his, he's going to be an awesome fantasy guy moment too. People like this stuff. Yeah, he's just been

rough for the last little bit. But unfortunately with the current situation that we are in we don't really have uh i mean we had done covey i definitely like if you just said to me which of those two guys do i like more not you know without watching it like three weeks ago before done covey's if you said which of these two guys you like more it's not even a question like i would have absolutely not said no no so we'll see if they pursue that i still now chris santos is good again today i guess they're trying to they're they're giving him working them up they know but they're they're making them like the

the second guy out of the bullpen to eat up innings piggyback so maybe that's like that's what their plan is going to be as strom opens up and then it's like strom faces the top of the order the and of the order and then he's like two innings against the best hitters and then you hope to steal an inning. Yeah, it makes sense. Exciting stuff. This is good.

If they don't want to do that, I'm going to be a proponent of Griff. He wasn't great. He started at AA, but I want to bring him up and see what he can do. See if he can give them a little bit of a spark and whatever. We go from there.

We'll see if they kick the tires on Plesak. I mean, he's pitched a good amount of games. He's still young enough. I would do it. I'd rather do it than Kobe. Sure. Yeah. So, yeah.

So that's pretty much what I got. Yohani Morales, Yoyo Morales, my guy in the draft, is going off, which is unfortunate because he's probably going to be going higher than 27. I want him to calm down a little bit. But I didn't tweet it. Usually I tweet it. But when they lost on Friday, I was like, all right, let me start looking at 2024 draft prospects and and and see see who we get now

if they lose out and we get like peyton stuval from arkansas so be it you know we take it at this point he's not gonna go number one but i just think the kid rakes yeah i think the kid rakes so you're there you're like you're there well listen so full disclosure and i'm sure you know this i'm sure the long longtime listeners of this podcast know this. No one's quicker to say sell than me. Oh, yeah, buddy. As soon as you see those prospects, those that, you're like, oh. What can we get for Nola, Kimbrel?

You know, these kind of guys, Gregory Soto. We can get for Soto at the deadline, deadline you know and like use it as one step back also get a high draft pick and then that's your your future star to go along again let's always about it's always the 2026 we can't do this yet we can't do this but i will say i like if anyone was worried if i would be able to pivot off of a bad Philly season. No, I'm sorry. No, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I will be able to pivot off a bad Philly season. I'll be down.

I'll be depressed. I'll be crushed. Yeah. But just know that I will rise above it, and I will have us figuring out the right players trade at deadline, draft prospects, and I promise you the 2026 Bills are going to be great. Everyone's thrilled to hear it,

buddy. Thrilled. By the way, Ethan Wilson's been fantastic at AA. And Jalen, if Drew Ellis was not... If Drew Ellis was not... I'm on the pod, so I can't go to bed. This is very rude of you. No, it's not. It's on the podcast.

Everyone knows what you're doing. It is not on of you. No, this is not. It's not. It's not on the podcast. Everyone knows what you're doing. Everyone knows what you're doing. It is not on the podcast. I wake up in the morning. I'm up very early on the weekend. My wife is waiting in the kitchen to eat something super quick with me so I can go to bed. But, you know, no big deal. No big deal. Sounds important.

Let me tell you about what Jalen Ortiz is doing at AAA with his over 900 OPS and hitting the ball, the ballpark again. So if true Ellis didn't save the season, Jalen Ortiz was well on his way to do that along with Weston Wilson. So get excited. Everything's fine. Yep. I'm not going to ask you a final thought.

I'll give you an opportunity. We'll be back Thursday. My final thought is this. Like if you sweep the Tigers, I know that's a final thought. You get out of here, and it's not a two or three. I always say two or three. Sweep the freaking Tigers.

Tigers, all right? Sweep the freaking Tigers. He spreads himself out there.