High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - I'm Willing to Die for This Team

Episode Date: June 10, 2022

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to the Phillies 7-game winning streak and the epic start to the Rob Thomson era. The guys revel in the Phillies being fun again, recap the Brewers series, and much more. 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. Goal! Oh, it is another edition of the High Hopes Podcast. The Topper edition. The Miller Lite came on board. The Phillies started winning games edition.

The, oh my God, Jack Fritz. I can't believe it. Edition seven in a row there. I mean, the, we got to get to the fact that they might actually kill you. Like there is the chance that you might not get to see the end of this beautiful run.

Cause you might die in the middle of it, Mr. I'm going to run a million miles every day, but I think it's all worth it, buddy. We might, we run a million miles every day. But I think it's all worth it, buddy. We might have to sacrifice you for this team. It's that much fun now. And let me make an official statement on that, James. I am willing to die for this baseball team. I'm not sure that needed to be said, but... No, there is not a single person listening to this pod who did not already know that.

but there is not a single person listening to this pod who did not already know that yeah listen man it's great times it is um man and it's not even like it's not even like they're just winning anymore like they're dude they bludgeoned the the mill the the brewers this week i almost called them the millers this week they they they killed them i mean they they like they have millers this week i know almost called them the Millers this week. They killed them. I mean, they were the Millers this week. Well, it used to be Miller Park. It used to be Miller Park. I know.

By the way, I like that you really went for it on that yo. I mean, like you... I had to. You fully committed to the yo on that one. And I thought, you know what? This could wake zoe up i was nervous about that part of it um but i was like you know what i gotta go for it i again jack like if you think about it this way i mean honestly as ridiculous as this sounds this might be the

most exciting moment in season wise in the history of this podcast because the only other comparable is like the eight game winning streak in terms of like them actually feeling like a baseball team in a run and that was fun and it was really cool but we all knew in the moment it wasn't real and then they went to lose like 11 and 15 this might not be real like sure it's possible but like it looks different jack we just saw a completely different baseball team the last week then we saw the whole season i mean you mention it like they put up two 10 nothing games this week they want to they won two games in the most absurd ridiculous fashion a grand slam to tie it in the eighth, then lose the lead in the ninth,

and then your rookie, who has only hit one home run in his life and it was a couple days before, hits a walk-off, a three-run walk-off in the ninth, then the next night, Alec Bowman, Matt Veerle, are gonna homer off Josh Hader to give up the first runs he's given up since last July?

Like, that's bat crap. I was gonna curse there Jack like that's ridiculous this is ridiculous what we've been watching it is a different vibe with this team they look like they're having fun man like what's that about yeah I I mean it's just it's just crazy to sit here and and them night in, night out. I honestly haven't felt like a loss in six games. I love that tweet you put out where you're like, I am obligated to say this, but it's the Topper era, so it is what it is.

It ain't going to happen. Not even worried about it. It's a different vibe. They look way more bought in. They look like their energy levels are just up. They just look like a real freaking baseball team. And what we're finally starting to see, James, is we're finally starting to see this talent take over. And the Brewers were a very good team heading into this week. First in the NL Central, all of that. And what the Phillies did was that they took it to them. They absolutely took it to them.

And this overwhelming talent that we had talked about when they signed all these guys, when they came together, and what made it so freaking frustrating was that there was enough talent here for them to compete with teams like the Brewers. And the Phillies looked like they were in a different class than that Brewers team and that is a Brewers team that has when I think of the smartest pitching organizations in the sport it's them it's the Rays it's the Yankees it's the Giants

um I mean that's the four off the top of my head I'm sure I'm missing one other one that really sticks out but I think the Brewers are right there with them. The Dodgers too. The Dodgers, yes. The Dodgers are a great one. They are one of those organizations that have gotten maximum amount of talent out of the stuff that they have there. And what the Phillies did this week was for

all the people that over the weekend were like, yeah, it's just the Angels. Go play a real team. They played a real team, a good team, a team that is going to win the NL Central. They made the playoffs four years in a row, Jack. The Brewers have made the playoffs four years in a row, and they're going to make it five years in a row.

And the Phillies looked like they didn't even belong on the same field. That's impressive. And that's something that can keep them going. And that's something that you can just build off of. I thought Sunday night winning a game like that was important for team growth, and it showed on Tuesday when they hit the home runoff hater. I still can't believe it. I know.

I'm still not sure it happened. That's how I feel. We always joke. We always do the bit about, like, oh, that game didn't happen or that series didn't happen and it's always because it was horrible. Like, I actually feel like that amazing thing didn't happen. Like, it's so, I felt no hope in that moment, Jack.

It's crazy. Yeah, that's pretty disappointing that you doubted the top around. It really is. You know, it's a new era now. We don't need to hide under our desks or whatever and be afraid that the big bad Phillies are going to show up again. Are they going to lose games? Like, are they going to lose games?

Yes. Well, maybe not. But I think they're going to lose games. But even if they lose games, like, I just trust them now. Like, I don't care if I i get heartbroken again i don't care if um i know we've been down this path what seems like a million times but it it feels different it looks different the talent that we banked on heading into the season is starting to pay off not all of them but but that's honestly what makes it even better is that they're not

all hitting at the same time yeah that sounds like castellanos is gonna hit at some point way too talented of a hitter so like maybe when another guy cools off there's there's castellanos starting to go off that's the beauty of this lineup so it's just so refreshing james that we're not about to head into a another summer where it's like man are they good are they not good why do they look dead? Why are they disappointing us? Why are they – why does it feel like we haven't had good baseball here in South Philly for 10 years? It feels like that's over, and it feels like we're about to head into what should be a really, really fun summer of baseball for our Phils, baby. A lot of Miller Lights, a lot of running.

I'm going to die, but it'll be well worth it in the end. Yeah, and obviously a podcast presented by Miller Lite. Celebrate responsibly, official partner of the Philadelphia Phillies. And we'll talk about the Ring the Bell night in a little bit as we get some awesome Miller Lite stuff going on. Like Jack said, we'll be out and about this season doing a lot of fun stuff with Miller Lite. But to your point there, Jack, I think the amazing thing is

just watching this team actually having a blast playing the game, which shouldn't feel like such a unique thing, but it really has not felt that way the entire Girardi era. I mean, at no point have we watched this team and been like, oh, there's been so much fun out there. Oh, this is a team that really likes each other. They got fun, you know, like everything they've ever done. We always talk about the Homer hat and the plant, the bamboo plant. It's always forced. It always feels awkward and not real. Like this week, watching them play, watching the celebrations in the dugout, the locker room after with the music and fun. And I know winning breeds fun.

I get that. But it felt different, Jack. They've won. They've had a few winning streaks. I mean, they had a six-gamer, an eight-gamer last year. It never felt like this. It felt muted. And there wasn't a real energy to those teams in the same type of way.

This feels real when you watch these guys. They're actually out there having a good time and we it was clear that they didn't like playing for Girardi like I don't care what anyone says there's so many people like on Twitter this that and people doing it with the Joe Madden thing where they're like oh you know uh yeah I guess the manager just didn't tell the guys to hit good enough or whatever and it's like so annoying because no you weren't here every night you didn't watch this team you didn't see the way they just hated for their playing for this guy like and i pretty funny i tweeted um this was like four nights ago or whatever i tweeted

unreal how the phillies look like a completely different team all weekend they must have really hated playing for gerardi and last night Rick Kinsler Brandon Kinsler's dad jumping into the fray and says they did and that's not shocking but like we know they hated playing for this guy and it is clear that that playing for Rob Thompson or maybe just simply having Joe Girardi gone has absolutely made a difference with the feel of this team and the energy and the excitement on a night-to-night basis. I think, Jack, I think that's going to carry forward. Well, yeah.

And I think this is the time where guys like Schwarber and guys like the young guys on the team, you know, the Moniacs, the Stats, the Matons, this is where they can kind of thrive. I think Bryce is going to be Bryce. I think JT is going to be JT. They're just lead by examples, guys, and that's perfectly fine. But this is where those guys can kind of get more life out of this team. Did you see DeeDee's post-game interview?

I didn't see DeeDee that happy in a Phillies uniform, I feel like, ever. They all look like they're having fun. I mean, they would hit the home runs, them walking down to the end of the dugout. Like, that's stuff that we'd see, like, the Red Sox do last year with the home run card. We talked about it all the time, man. I know.

And it's just, you know, I think I figured out the Girardi thing. I think the best way to explain it is that he kind of had this authoritative presence where he's just going to be the leader and you all play under me and I'm not going to get to know any of you guys. I think I saw Jason Stark, they wrote this the other day for The Athletic, I think, how he had heard that Girardi had only talked to castellanos like one or two times it is unbelievable it is entire tenure here which is just insane it's honestly jack like i i believe it but i find it really hard to believe that's how ridiculous it is

yeah but if that's how joe's wired that's how he's wired. Like, that's not, it's not really ripping Joe. That's just how he is. No, but it is kind of ripping him because you can't be a major league baseball manager in this day and age like that. Like, yeah, but it's hard to change a guy, change how a guy is. I agree. So that's where I'm kind of giving him a little bit because I think Joe's a

nice guy. Just the wrong fit. It just couldn't be the couldn't be more of a wrong fit. I think it's just so shocking. Bryce, his quotes have been very revealing. But honestly, every single post-game presser or post-game quotes you see, it's the same thing. It's like, we're having a lot of fun. And it's honestly the main reason why I believe this is different because even last year when they were winning and they went on the eight game winning streak,

yeah, the Wheeler game was special. And I thank him for that forever. I mean, doing that on Doc Day is a special, special thing. As Phillies fans that watch Doc and know how much he meant to this fan base, Wheeler doing that was ridiculous. But it still never felt fun. Like it was still like, yeah, you're winning,

but it's not really in convincing fashion. They're starting to destroy teams, and they're having fun doing it. And, James, those two comeback wins, I'm telling you, that's how the 08 team figured out how to win. This team for the last couple of years had not known how to win games and come back in games. But creating this naiveness, I guess, in your head that you can always come back is really, really important when you're talking about a baseball team.

So that's why the homers off hater, the coming back against the Angels, that's the kind of stuff that can last you through a summer yeah i think you could argue they had two of their three or four best wins of the last five years 10 years i guess 11 years whatever you want to say back-to-back nights i mean i guess back-to-back games because they had the off day in between but like i mean that nine seven win you know to again to to be down four runs in the eighth and have Bryce hit that grand slam with two outs and two strikes, and then to be down to two outs, two strikes,

down a run in the ninth and have Stout walk it off is miraculous. I mean, that is a miraculous win. And then I honestly, true, I know it was less of like a thrilling back and forth and, you know, you hit the grand slam and then you lose it. It was like more of a roller coaster, that first one, more of like a thrilling baseball game. But I think it is more shocking what they did the next game. I think the fact that it was not just that they beat Josh Hader like that, that they hit two home runs off him, two solo shots to take a lead in a one-run game i think the fact that it was alec bowman matt veerling in a pinch hit spot doing

that like and boom's a good hitter we like alec bone but not known for crushing baseballs like that out of the ballpark i mean that was he smoked that one um to off hater like to me jack that was even more shocking and i think you take those two games they're two of the most impressive phillies wins of the last decade that's crazy they're back-to-back games yeah um shout out to captain car shield matt veerling um being able to come through in that spot which is which is a worse uh local tv commercial is it is it the matt veerling car shield or the tyree's maxi commercial is it is it the matt veerling car shield or the tyree's maxi cure auto insurance oh it's definitely veerling no i don't think so

i love maxi but yeah but at least at least maxi's maxi like you know yeah it's fair he gets a little credit for it being maxi like the fact that matt veerling's even in a commercial is a ridiculous thing. Yes, but I listened to you talk about those two wins and how impressive they were. How about you have those big moments, the big momentum swing, and you're riding a high of beating Josh Hader for the first time in almost a year. So you have that. And then you come out with a 10 spot?

Yeah, come out the next night and just smoke them. I mean, because the Phillies, honestly, in the not Rob Thompson era, maybe in the Joe Girardi or Gabe Kapler, they had the big comeback win, and then I feel like they laid down the next night because they can't maintain the same kind of energy. How about, and also another example today't I texted you in the first inning? I said to you, they're going to lose today because we're recording tonight. And that's just the luckiest lock of all time.

They do a lot of fun stuff right before recording. Then they would like lose that game before. It's like that's what they do to us. And they didn't. They just handle business again. And what did I text you back, James? You said, yup. You're like, they're definitely going to lose.

We both felt they were. Yeah, but then I said. Then you said, yeah, you know what you said is not in the topper era is what you said, Jack. What happened, buddy? Uh-oh. Is it over? Did I win? I had a minor slip-up. Minor slip-up. Topper, just keep it.

Everyone knows it's Topper. I mean, the team calls him Topper. You can't fight that. Well, listen, I don't just go down without a fight. I know you don't. I know you don't. No, I think it's because everyone keeps calling him Topper, and I was like, ah, well, I guess it's Topper. But also, like, in my head, I was like, well, I still have the... It's still it's still topper in my head texting it to me was

a big mistake though yeah no i had a moment i had a moment of weakness for sure um but that doesn't mean i'm still not on the crusade to make sure it's topper and not topper um but good luck regardless but regardless i'm pretty impressed if you can pull this off. That might actually be more impressive than you getting Bryce Harper here. Well, what about running seven miles tomorrow? No, that's just a death wish, buddy. So let's get into the running thing. Because honestly, I mean, you got a lot going on right now, Jack. You got a lot of irons in the fire right now.

We got Miller Lights for Phil's wins. We got Run for It's Run. You got a lot going on. The run thing is, it seems to be hitting. People really seem to be in on the fact that you are going to keep up with this win streak and run each day. I feel like more tweets about you running than almost anything else in my timeline the last couple days first of all good work by you second of all horrible

job by you because you have to keep up with this thing where you at with this um oh where am i at um i was rooting very hard for corbin burns today to maybe dominate for once. Maybe give the eight shutty. And we get out of Milwaukee with a, no, it's all good. Like, it was funny because, like, Bryce at the home run, I was like, yeah. And I was like, oh, this is awesome. And I was like, oh, hold on, hold on. This means we're closer.

And then Schwarber hit it, and I was like, oh, my God, I really am going to have to do this. And then Oduble comes up, and it's like, really? It's like they're trying to kill me. Honestly, it's like they're trying. They won't do it. So honestly, you know, it's good. I will say the six was really tough today.

You know, I would say. Well, that's the thing too, is that it's, it's the consecutiveness of it too. It's not like you're like running six and then you work up to seven. I'll get to seven next week. It's like, no next day, a mile more next day,

a mile more like that's intense, buddy. Well, especially cause like, I just increased my daily running to four miles from three miles on like Monday. Um, so like, you just ramped that up huh buddy it's been a pretty quick jump you're like let's just go for it let's just ramp this baby up yeah so like i'm already preparing like i i had pasta tonight for

dinner um i'm gonna get up at like 6 30 and uh yeah i probably got like 6 30 tomorrow just so i can like do it like between 7 and 8 30 so i have plenty of time um to figure out all my stuff but it's you know it's good i really like doing it i don't i like i like everything it's good it's fine it's fine it's it's it's it's like you're like dave dombrowski talking about joe gerardi he's fine he's joe's fine he's really fine. I really like doing it outside of actually doing it. You love the bit. You love the bit. You don't

love the actual living up to it. Well, because last year during the first run, it was a mile and a half loops for Philly's wins. And I was just like, screw it. Let's go one for every way. It's all your fault.

I mean, you're, you have no one to blame it yourself. So it's, it's all good. I'm going to be out there tomorrow. All right. Well,

so here's the important follow up because, uh, Phillies don't have an off day till June 20th. So no rest for the weary. Um, do you like, and look look this would be a good problem like let's just live in the topper world that we live in now and we joke you know they might not lose again they'll probably lose again but like what if they don't for a while you know

well like i've already thought about do you have like a limit like if they hit 10 i'll just continue to do 10 or something if they get to 11 or are you like potentially could theoretically be on the hook to run 13 or 14 miles or something like that god willing please go phillies but where you at with this have you thought about the the you know potential outcomes or or you know how you would kind of handle those have i thought about it yeah all i think about all i think about is the a's or whatever winning 27 straight games yeah what was it the the guardians i think that yeah the guardians yes excuse me but they weren't like 21 straight if i remember no i think they got to 23 i want to say the a's

were 22 i think oh they were that's the one from money ball um i think it here you know what i can look this up while we're talking this is not that hard but have you thought about it of course i thought about it um it's just like all right like i love. This is so good. Like this all to yourself. I will, I will try, but like, I think I'm good up to 10. Like I can get the 10 and,

and feel pretty good about it. I just don't know like anything past that. First of all, I think it's dangerous. Honestly, I don't, I don't want you to do this. And I'm out there for like two hours and I do have like a job to do. And it's dangerous. Honestly, I don't want you to do this. And I'm out there for like two hours, and I do have a good job to do.

And it's also been blazing hot these days. Well, not in the mornings. The mornings have been nice. By the way, 26 is the record, but that was in 1916. The Indians got, or Guardians, but Indians at the time got 22 in 2017. The A's got to 20, so I was a little high on this. 22 was in my head. I was thinking of the Indians. I messed it up.

If it happens, it happens. I have not thought that far ahead. But I find it very hard to believe I'm running 20 miles for like anything more really than 10. You will hurt yourself before you get there.

I'm sorry, but you'll pull a hamstring or you will have an ankle. Oh, no. Did I pull it? Can't do it tomorrow. What a bit, man. Well, if it gets to that point, if it gets to that point, I think I could round up, I don't know, like 20 people. Like everyone does a mile. Oh, you have been thinking about this.

I like where your head's at, kid. This is good. Yeah, everyone take a mile. Let me just. You know, even. It goes from run Fritz run to help Fritz run. Hey, even Jesus had to rest a day, right? It's true.

God, you mean. God. That's on me. That's definitely on you that's good well buddy i feel like we're too i feel like we're way too early in the pod to be off the rails this feels early uh listen why don't you get us back on track here so i was about to do all right uh topper um I was about to do. All right, Topper. We've joked a lot about, again, the fact that he started 6-0 is unbelievable. It is really, really impressive. And I think that he has mattered in the way he's handled the guys,

the feeling in the clubhouse, the bullpen usage. I mean, it feels like I haven't really had a big problem with anything he's done. How about using James Norwood in an 8-2 game? How about using Andrew Belotti in a 10-0 game? Like, yeah, these are the spots I want to see these guys. That makes sense. Obviously, we all want to see Knievel out of the closer role, but that's an issue for another day.

But outside of that, just in general, like we've talked a lot about the feel and stuff, but have you noticed anything specific from a managing style with topper that that either impresses you or is something you're like kind of looking at moving forward because it does seem like he's you know kept a pretty consistent lineup he's made kind of conventional decisions in a lot of spots what have you thought about topper you know from a baseball analysis perspective frititzie? Well, I'll say this is that it is refreshing that every time they, they panting over to the dugout, he's like on top step, looking at the game or like talking to assistant coach,

you know, he's got his little, like his little lineup card, I think. But other than that, he's just like, you know, watching the game that's happening in front of them.

Um, dude, I, I legitimately think, I think Girardi just got too obsessed with numbers and it was like oh well the you know you can't take this guy out of the lineup because of his numbers against this it's like well you know what if he's costing the the the team games in other ways um yeah how real quick real quick how hilarious is that considering that they fired

gabe cavill right before. I know. I know. But I think Gabe knew how to actually use the numbers. Yes. Gabe didn't need to have his head in a book because he understood the numbers and knew how to use them and didn't need to like use a binder. Like he could do that on his own. Like that's what Topper, remember when he asked Topper about the thing with Gabe, he's like, honestly, sometimes I didn't even understand it, the numbers he was doing.

And Topper said he likes analytics, but he was like, some of the stuff Gabe was doing, I didn't even get it, man. Gabe's really good at it. There's a reason he's in where he's at with the person he's with. Yep. But yeah, it's just refreshing looking over and seeing him really invested in the games.

Even the post-game quotes, he's just he's just sitting there um and he's like yeah i thought we really hustled down to first base and like you know just just hitting on little different things talk about the dugout how special it is and honestly it just it's just refreshing seeing how much it seems like this means to him you know and you could you can just see it in his face honestly how much it means to him to kind of have the spot and he had talked i think he's talked like three or four times about how he kind of gave up on the idea of ever managing. And, you know, to be thrown in this position where you have a team with this kind of payroll,

it's almost a perfect situation for him. But, you know, even little things like putting Oduble in right field late in the game is like a defensive move. It obviously worked out because he hit the home run. But I think that's just smart. I mean, it's easy to manage. It should be easy, I should say, to manage when you're up 10-0 or 8-2. Like that stuff's good.

But, you know, I thought using Sir Anthony today in the seventh, I thought was a fascinating move because usually when you think of Sir Anthony, you think of a more late-inning option. But then when I looked at the lineup, it's like, oh, so he's coming in this point because it's the top of the order. Top of the order, baby. Right. But also, he had hand warming up for Rowdy Tellez

if it got to that point where it's like, crazy concept. He's actually thinking ahead, which is refreshing. So honestly, it's just you watch the games and everything kind of makes sense. Like Familia today in a 6-2 game rather than a 3-2 game, you know, using him in more low leverage spots. And hey, maybe try to get him going. I mean, we all know that he can be frustrating,

but, you know, he has been an all-star in the past. He has closed games. So maybe get him going. And on the Knable-Saranthony thing, like, listen, I would be all in on Saranthony as a closer. His whole idea of like, well, how do you know he can handle it? It's like, I don't know, but he throws 99 with cutter movement. Like, I at least want to see if he can do it.

He's impossible to hit, so I think that'll translate. I think he can handle the 9. I know it's tough to get those last three outs, i get it um but i would like to see it but i don't i don't hate canable closing at this point now i think it's it's if it's in august and it's still like this i'm all about switching and and even july whatever but i think this bullpen makes more sense if they can get knable right and i do think he's a good pitcher like i just i refuse to believe i refuse to believe he's bad because now he won't throw a curveball for a strike right now because he's all in his head so they need to fix that for sure um but getting him going locking down the ninth and then still being able to use Saranthi in the sixth,

seventh, eighth inning, still being able to kind of use him in a fireman role, I think it makes this bullpen deeper and more valuable. So I'm okay with keeping Knable there for now. But like, you're just walking a tightrope because he walked the bases loaded and then a scrub came up and he was able to get out of it on Tuesday night. night so like that's not gonna happen every night um but for the time being i'm okay with it but this whole idea of well i don't know if serenity can handle it i'm pretty sure he can handle it so um but it it just it feels like i'm honestly it feels like i'm watching 2016 2017 obviously we know they won the super bowl but it felt like going from chips play calling to doug's play calling when he had reich there before reich left and whatever that's how i feel right now it feels like oh this is common sense

and what we're seeing is common sense managing by rob thompson yeah i think common sense managing is great like like you know every move has just been the right, like pinch hitting Veerling in that spot. Like, yep, that's the right move. Like, simple stuff. Well, to be fair, I think anyone. I think Girardi would have done that too. Now, Veerling would have struck out if Girardi made the move.

Yeah, Veerling might not have been called up if Girardi were still here. Yeah. Tomper, it was crazy. I don't know if you saw the postgame quote. Tomper whispered in Veierling's ear, said, hit a home run here, and he did it. So he called the right play, and it was good to see. Girardi would have told him, hey, strike out here.

Yeah, Girardi would have said, hey, if you don't get a hit, you're going back down to the minors today. All right. I want to get to the line-up in a sec, but quickly on the starting pitching. Not a ton to get into. Nola was brilliant, and he's looked really good for the most part a couple you know miss outings but for the most part really good um can we stop real quick on nola can we stop being worried about

can we stop being worried about nola like i think there's a still a bit of a sky is falling this is going to crumble down like nola's been really freaking good i would say his last 10 starts and maybe has like one blow up or or two I think it's two. Yeah, two. But otherwise, and even the one blow up was six innings, five runs. You know, he had that one really bad start against the Mets early in the season. But other than that, like, you know, his worst start has been like six innings, five runs, which isn't great. Like, that's not good.

But, you know, he gave you six innings and it was kind of a weird start and stuff like that. So for the most part, and again again he's had some like gem gems in there too i mean he went eight he went eight shutty last night and could have gone after the ninth if he wanted like yeah if they weren't up 10 nothing i think he might have yeah i mean i mean aaron nola we never thought we'd see 2018 aaron nola but this is this is getting close to that i don't want to put that kind of pressure on him um but i don't think we have to be afraid of aaron nola anymore like kind of coming back him. But I don't think we have to be afraid of Aaron Nola anymore,

like kind of coming back to earth a little bit here. And honestly, like, I was surprised, James. His ERA heading into the game last night was 3.92. Yeah. That felt way off. I mean, even his 3.5 now after that game feels high. Yeah. And what's interesting right now is, you know how I've hated his cutter forever?

Oh, yeah, buddy. how I've hated his cutter forever? Oh, yeah, buddy. It's not really a cutter. It's kind of turning in more of like a slider shape. But last night, it was dancing a little bit. So anything he can do to where he's not just a three-pitch pitcher and he can kind of add another wrinkle. He was throwing some pretty sweepy breaking balls last night. It's obviously not a traditional cutter.

Corbin Burns throws a traditional cutter all the time. But it's growing on me, James. I'll say that. It's growing on me. It's more like a slider. I wouldn't call it a traditional cutter, but it's growing on me a little bit. All right. I'll take it.

The pitcher I was going to ask about though obviously is ranger i thought you know the rough start uh in milwaukee and then really settled in into might have been his best outing in the season certainly one of his best outings of the season what did you see from ranger in that game was it just look the brewers are not a good offensive team you know hunter renfro is the only player in that at least uh going into yesterday he was hunter renfro the only player in that lineup with an over 800 OPS. Like, you know, they're a bad lineup. Obviously, Yelich underperforming, but not a good lineup. But still, I thought Ranger looked awesome.

Was there anything that you saw that you think is a sign of good things, or do you think it was just kind of a good outing against a bad team? Offense. Well, here's what I'll say. And I'm just gonna be again this is what we do james uh completely honest with the high hopes uh podcast listeners body always it's what we do so we got so many bits but that's been our core we never lied to the high hopes listeners has been never lied to the high maybe the original and not a bit like the original ethos of the podcast. Well, that and the Phillies being terrible, which we're hoping will change. Yes.

The only pitches of that game I saw were the final two outs. Like I was at the hustle premiere. Oh, big time. Listen, I don't want to brag or anything. Really? Oh, listen, I don't want to I don't want to brag or anything. Yeah. But listen, I was with the Sandman, huh? I was on the red carpet. You know, it was so funny because like I wore what I usually wear to work, which is like I've started to dress a little bit nicer.

You agree, right? Oh, definitely. I mean, but it's definitely not movie premiere nice yeah so so we get to the we get to the philadelphia film center and like within 30 seconds i was like oh bleep like because like like sandler walked by and now to be fair he was wearing like sweatpants well yeah he can get away with it no one else can a little different i would say between me and adam sandler um but yeah everyone else was like all suited up and then there was me looking like looking like a dork um so i walked out of it and i saw the score and i was like ah damn it like they're really like i was like oh you know they

win the game sunday this is like a deflating loss. I doubt it. I doubt it, Tomper. But yeah, I listened to the home runs in my car driving home. Just absolutely fist pumping down 202. Well, Franski crushing it. Crushing it on those calls. A good Franski run. For as hot as the Phillies are, I would say Franski is

just as hot. It might be hotter. No offense to the Phillies. Franski is like white hot and has been hotter for longer. Oh, he's laughing at the Harper home run last night. Great stuff, dude. By the way, if you didn't see Suarez, we'll get to that next time. Hopefully, he won't

pitch again, I don't think, before the next pod. If he does, we'll react to that. But the offense, let's talk quickly. We've talked a lot about June Schwarber last time and he's doing what we expected. But man, and we'll get lot about June Schwarber last time, and he's doing what we expected. But, man, and we'll get to some of the guys struggling, but, man, like Bryce right now, dude. I mean, Homer, what, four of his last five games,

the one today was just such a tank shot. Just a – and the one yesterday was like a missile to right. I mean, it's just, he's so locked in right now. Like we've got MVP Harper right now. And again, the fact to think that he's doing this with some sort of elbow issue, whatever it is. I mean, it's unbelievable. He is as locked in as any hitter in the sport. It's amazing.

Yeah. And impactful home runs too yes the lot sharper yeah the last two last night yeah the one last night was like let me join the party boys like i'm still here um to put them up 10 nothing but even the one today like that matter yeah it was a 3-2 game it made it a 4-2 game with with this bullpen friends? Yeah, so he made it 4-2 today. James, I feel pretty comfortable saying that I think they have the best hitter on the planet. I think

Bryce Harper is legitimate. He's actually out-exceeding my expectations when they signed him. He really is. I thought they were getting an all-star. I didn't think he was going to win an MVP again because I thought Acuna, Soto, Tatis were kind of going to go back and forth on MVPs over the next decade. I still thought Bryce was great, and I thought he was awesome.

I just didn't think he was in that kind of category. I think he's the best hitter in the sport. And I think he has ascended his game to another level, and he really feels like our guy. And I think I'm ready to say he's in the Utley, Rollins, Howard category. I was going to say that to you. Now, obviously, they won a World Series, so obviously that is a special thing in and of itself. And had the run of greatness, we still need to harp in the playoffs.

But, I mean, I have no problem saying, Jack, and I, you know, yes, I am super old, but I don't – I remember the end of Mike Schmidt's career. Like, I don't remember seeing great – he was my favorite player just because I grew up with my dad saying, you know, this is the greatest third baseman in the history of the game, blah, blah, blah, whatever. But, you know, I saw the end of Mike Schmidt, and I saw the highlights, and I loved him. But, like, I feel pretty the end of Mike Schmidt, and I saw the highlights, and I loved him. But, like, I feel pretty confident saying that what we're seeing

from Bryce Harper right now is the best Phillies player I've ever seen in my lifetime. Like, kind of handily. Like, you know, obviously Roy Halladay, you could say, is an argument. Well, 06 Howard. Sure. Yeah, 06 Howard is right there.

But, you know, that was a one. I feel like Bryce Harper from all of last season through now, I think is right. And again, like, I mean, that season is absurd. But it was also a different era. I mean, 06, those numbers didn't look quite as impressive as what Harper's doing now. I mean, Harper, you know, leading the league in a lot of categories.

But again, you're right. I mean, that Howard season is so absurd. I mean, he batted, what, like 312 with 58 home runs. I mean, that's just like, I mean, that's silly. Like, that's not real. But you're right. But even then, it didn't feel like, Harper now really does feel like the best player I've seen in a Phillies uniform,

the way he's playing right now. That's the way it feels. And you're right, though. I should put Howard in 06 there, but I guess it's probably because I wasn't watching in 06 every single night with the same critical eye. I watched a lot of Phillies in 06, but I was also just out of college. I was going out a lot. I was doing that kind of stuff and I wasn't working in sports. So I wasn't as locked in on the night to night of it. So maybe that's why this feels more impressive, but you're right. That's the only other cup.

Well, and with Bryce, it just, it, it feels like just utter dominance. You know, we talk all the time about, well, you know, a baseball player can only affect the outcome of the game so much. And it's like, yeah, but you know, it's, it it's funny james there's two things that we have been told our whole lives that have almost been flipped on their head one was a manager doesn't affect the outcome of games i disagree given given what i watched here for 250 plus games of joe gerardi and that one player can't get term in the outcome of the team. I totally disagree. I mean, Bryce Harper out in,

in LA, what he did out there, the second he goes out of the lineup, they go into a big swoon. and just what he's doing now is, is insane. And like James, I,

I, I hold Utley, Rollins and Howard in like a very, very high esteem. Honestly, to even put anyone in their category is big because those guys mean so much to me and a lot of people that grew up in that era. But he's in there.

He's on that list. He is in the same class as those guys. And him winning one here would mean so much. And the fact that it finally feels like they're not wasting them. It finally feels like they're not totally wasting the prime of Bryce Harper. And they're putting this thing together. And they're starting to create magical moments. He's had magical moments. I did a top five on the air the other day of my favorite Bryce Harper and they're, and they're putting this thing together and, and they're starting to create magical moments. He's had magical moments.

I did a top five on the air the other day, my favorite Bryce Harper moments. It was hard to narrow it down to five already. So, um, like man, just, just special, special stuff from, from number three. Yeah. He's been amazing. All right. Um, I want to get to your tape bag and, and a top five if you have one, cause I know you've got, um, you know, big time radio interviews and all that stuff that you got to get to and tape bag and a top five if you have one, because I know you've got big-time radio interviews

and all that stuff that you've got to get to and whatnot. Relax, relax. And I've got to sleep because I've got seven miles tomorrow. I don't know if you know that. Seven miles tomorrow. I had heard. All right, so very quickly, and then we'll get to your stuff, and then I've got a final thing.

Oh, and also, quickly on Cassianos and Reese. We don't need to talk about Castellanos. He'll figure it out. Reese, where are you at on Reese? Hit the homer yesterday. You know, still kind of not really. And JT has been better, but still not where you want him to be. Those guys who are kind of, especially Reese,

not carrying their weight, where are you at with them right now? You know, I think Reese will be fine. I'm waiting for the reese hot uh the reese hot streak i guess yeah that's that's that's what he does um you know i still think he's working pretty good at bats and the thing with reese is i do still feel like he has big hits at big moments like i still trust him in in pretty big spots he had the big home run um uh wednesday night before it got out of reach when it was still kind of a tight game so he's still doing that which is good to see um it's weird though because like the obp is so low for for a guy that like he's been a career over 800 ops guy um and i think his ops is around seven

five right now um if i know it's really weird that's's the biggest thing. He's not walking. Yeah, I just think that as summer goes along, like one of the other guys will cool off. He'll kind of get hot. I think Castellanos will get hot. JT, I think, has been fine. And honestly, it's been so fascinating watching how much they're playing JT right now. You know, they're not giving him days off after a night game.

Yeah, we haven't seen Stubbsy in a while. They're letting the best batting lineup cool off. That's not a smart man. I mean, this guy's batting like 400. What are we doing here? Is there any party that's concerned that the Phillies are peaking too early? I mean, no? They are still a game under 500, so I'll say no.

I'll say no. No, but it's, it's something they have to monitor. And I know, I know that Rob Thompson been on this big, uh, trust the players thing, which is good. And I think it's, it's led to them winning, uh, six straight or seven straight. Now, uh, if we keep forgetting, I have to run seven miles tomorrow. Um, but I do think at some point you do, do you do you do have to protect your players so jt has has been hurt in september's the last couple years so the catcher's the one thing where it's like yeah you can tell me you can play but you do have to protect catchers i think more than almost any

other position all right uh take bag in a second miller light come So the Ring the Bell Night, we're going to be there on Saturday. We're going to be there from 2.35 on in the Miller Lite Liberty Landing. Jack and I will probably spend the whole game there. We did last time. It was super fun. Come hang out. There are still tickets available on WIP. You can win them on WIP tomorrow. So if you listen to the pod, check it out. There will be giveaways throughout the day on WIP. And if not, you know, buy tickets and come hang out in the Miller Lite landing with us. You know, we'll be there. So buy some tickets, come hang out, drink some Miller Lites with us, and we'll have a blast.

So it's going to be awesome. Obviously, you know how excited we are about Miller Lite, Miller Lite for Phil's wins. We've got a lot of people out there drinking Miller Lite. We love every single one of you. Every time I see a hashtag Miller Lite fulfills wins, it makes my soul happy. And I know, Jack, it's probably

even more. Jack's giddy every time. And shout out to the Miller Lite. I mean, it's true. Don't lie. Shout out to the Miller Lite Bar of the Week, Oscars Tavern, located at 1500 Block of Sam's. If you haven't been to Oscars, Oscars is a classic Philly bar. It's been there forever. I love Oscars.

I've been there many a time. It's a legendary dive bar right off Rittenhouse there. Enjoy $3 Miller Lites and pints and great pub grub for all Philly's games. And another thing you can win here, in addition the potential win tickets on WIP tomorrow. Go to the WIP contest page. It's 94wip.com and click the contest page. You can register and win a $25 gift card from Oscars.

Again, it's an awesome place, so check that out. Again, the Ring the Bell Miller Light Night. Jack, I'm like you there with the Miller Light. How about that? The Ring the Bell Miller Lite night. We'll be there from 235 on a 405 game. So we will be there a long time.

So if you want to come meet us, come hang out. We'll be there. All right, Fritzy, take that. Yeah, real quick. Have you come around on the hashtag yet? I mean, inside the podcast, you kind of doubted hashtag Miller Lights for Phil's wins. Yeah, I was wrong. It's been a winner.

It's a winner. You crushed it. I just thought it was a little verbose. I thought it was a lot to ask people to do. I was wrong. Mistakes were made, Jack. A big man admits when he's wrong jack miller lights for phil's wins um all right take back so the one thing that i have noticed this week

and let me know if you've noticed it as well i love that the young kids are playing all right we've been over that we've've talked about it. Young kids, they add a youthful energy to a lineup that has been perceived as dead for a long time. That's important. And I want Stoddy to play. I want Moniak to play. I want Bomer to play. I want those guys to play. But what's been more fascinating to me is that I feel like it's pushed the vets to be even better.

Like, DeeDee is just crushing the ball right now. He's been awesome, man. I think he's batting like 348 or something. And I think Tomper not playing him Sunday and letting Stott play kind of, it was DeeDee's first time off the IL. He's supposed to be the shortstop of this team. You would think that he'd be out there for that,

and he wasn't. And I think that kind of maybe lit a bit of a fire under him. So he's been great. He was hustling in the 3-2 game. I was impressed. I even tweeted about it with the triple, the beating out the ball to first base.

It did feel like Didi was out there giving it all he had. I think it's a really good point, Jack. And I think with Oduble too. Obviously we want Moniak to play, but I think Moniak getting a lot of playing time i mean oduble like it's it's small but he worked a walk last night that i was like wow he actually showed some some plate presence there so um you know i want moniak to play i want stott to play obviously stott has to play right now because they don't have a second baseman um and honestly if dd's going whatever but i think that the young kids playing is has gotten a lot out of

the veterans so i think that's interesting um interesting column by marcus hayes today and it's one that i thought about honestly for a little bit was the the gerardi firing this team's version of the Abreu trade in 06? Oh, wow. I mean, it's an interesting thought. Yeah. They were 10 out. They were 10 out. I think they ended up with 85 or 86 wins, right? Like something like that.

Yeah, they were right in until the end. That's a really fascinating thought. You know what I mean? Yeah. I think in some ways, maybe. Yeah, it's a really interesting point. I don, I mean, yeah, I think in some ways maybe. Yeah, it's a really interesting point. I don't know. Did the team hate Bobby?

No, no. I feel like this team really hated Joe Girardi or hated playing for him. They didn't hate him as a person, but I think they hated playing for this guy. Which is fair. But what all the players talk about from the Bobby trade was like, listen, Bobby was for the Rollins, Utley, Howard, the young guys that were there. It was Bobby's team. Yeah, it was his team.

So it was Bobby. It was David Bell's team, which is a joke. We had a couple shots, man. Harper, D. I know. We've been scratching right near it there. Meanwhile, Eduardo Escobar has one the other night for the Mets. It's just like, come on, can I get one?

No, but I think obviously Cabrera is a great player and whatnot, but I think moving him out of the way and letting Rollins, Utley, Howard kind of be the leaders and form a leadership group there, that's something that jump-started that team, and it feels like this could be the same kind of thing happening here i love it i think it's a yeah when you when you talk it out like that is a good comp i get it and uh again i i think that to the points we made i think that i think the culture the whole thing and by the way the poor in-game managing as we've

talked about many times joe gerardi literally cost them games with his tactical decisions in-game this season. But I definitely think the biggest benefit now and moving forward is what we're talking about here, is that it feels like this team is kind of grabbed, or the players are grabbing this team and saying, all right, this is our team. Let's have fun. Let's win. Let's go like show, show, show what we could do, you know, instead of kind of being under Girardi's thumb, so to speak. Um, I thought one of the things I took away from this week was I really thought they saw the ball well, just, just all weekend. And I think we're hopefully starting to see Kevin Long's, um, fingerprints on this offensive lineup, you know, Tuesday night regardless.

But Wednesday, obviously, he saw the ball really well. I mean, Schwarber, I thought was going to hit a home run every time he swung. I mean, he was just – he could not have been more all over Adrian Hauser. And even today, I mean, dude, Corbin Burns threw 108 pitches in four innings. I know it was excruciating to get through. I guess it was 4.1. But I know it was excruciating to watch, and it was like – they threw 400 pitches today, James.

Well, did you see the stat? I mean, a bunch of people tweeted out, but I saw it was Adam McAlvey first. I had it to bring up that the Rays and Cardinals played a full nine-inning two-to-one baseball game in an hour and 54 minutes today, which shout-out to those teams. That's awesome. The Phillies won one game. It took an hour and 54 minutes to play the first four innings of the

Phillies game today. Oh, I saw it. That's insane, dude. Like that's ridiculous. A one-one baseball game that takes two hours to get through four innings. That's crazy. That's a four and a half hour pace. Like that's nuts, man a four and a half hour pace like that's nuts man it is but especially by

the way real quick because the games the both two nights before like it was a three hour game the night before and it was it was like a two hour and 40 minute game the day the 10 nothing game was like super fast yeah um but they made corbin Burns throw 108 pitches, so whatever. I want to know what Willie Adamas' problem is. I mean, I feel like every time I turned around, it was like, Willie Adamas is up, and he's...

I'm pretty sure Willie Adamas took up an hour of my time today to play. The one at bat, I'm pretty sure he saw like 15-plus pitches. Oh, my God. It was ridiculous. Willie Adamas, calm down, man um i think that the stories about cassianos his leadership have been fascinating like he apparently told boom like listen you gotta pull this guy um and there's just been like little stories about cassianos kind of being vocal behind the scenes he doesn't seem like a guy that's a rah-rah guy um but it seems like behind the scenes he's having a pretty big impact with young players. And it seems like they kind of revere him in a way. So while Schwarber,

I think, is the outgoing, good vibes, whatever, Castellanos kind of seems like this is what they envisioned, I guess. When they brought these guys in to teach this team how to win was Schwarber as the outgoing guy and Castellanos kind of as the quiet leader behind the scenes. But you're starting to see more stories about that, which I think is a really interesting thing to watch. Love it. Love it. We talked so much last few years, but last year in particular about how they didn't have guys like that. And we talked about Alec Boehm, you know, and we were like this poor kids out there and there's like no one putting their arm around him and pulling him in um that stuff's really good to hear um the phillies have the most home runs to the nl i don't i just want to put that out there you know the the for for a long time this season was frustrating but here we

are in in june and they do have the most home runs in the national league so um and man might have a little throwback to oh wait around here um and and final thing in the take back before a quick top five is gonna have to be quick you're running out of time fritzy relax relax i'm not doing it i can talk all night you gotta go i mean i'm good oh yeah yeah yeah you've shown through many times here that you can talk all night oh it's never i yeah it's never my i'm always never yeah i do go though i I'll say it's late and I'm tired, but then I'll talk to you for an hour and 10 minutes, so, you know.

I know, I know. I don't hate playing, like, Oduble and Mickey together, like, even against a righty and kind of switching them off. I think it's important for, you know, I think Mickey should get reps. I understand that Oduble's probably the better player right now, but I think it's important for Mickey to get reps. And I, I'm just, I'm kind of fine with what they're doing.

You know, I'm kind of fine with whoever he feels the right option in center field against a righty that day, go with it. And then late in games, you can switch Veerling in there. I was actually surprised I didn't pinch hit Veerling late in today's game, but that's fine. Mickey worked the walk too good at baths today. Love to see that. So I'm cool with the center field plan right now.

And just, hey, if Mickey can show that he can do what he did in spring training, good. Take it and run with it. So I'm in on what they're doing in the center field position. Love it. All right. Top five. All right. Top five reasons to believe this team is different, James.

Love it. Had to be done. Had to be done. We wouldn't be this podcast if we didn't believe in this baseball team. Number five, I know they're at the bottom of the lineup, but the kids. And I can't wait for Maiton to come back. Stott, I mean, he's catching up the fastballs up again. I mean, against Corbin Burns today, he was handling 98 pretty well.

And a week ago, if you told me that he was handling Corbin Burns pretty well, I would have said you were crazy. So Stott is coming along. Moniak, I think, has added good vibes to this team. You know, sources close to Mickey say that he's been the clubhouse boombox guy, I guess, with the post-game music. I think that's important. Sources close. Love it. That's important for team camaraderie

in a way. The kids adding a spark to this team, I think, is important. Number four is the bullpens making sense. I know they don't totally have the most talent in the world down there, but at least what they're doing is making sense. Familia in they don't totally have the most talent in the world down there, but at least what they're doing is making sense. And Familia and Lowell Leverage, Saranthi in a good spot. Brad Hand, I thought last Saturday was a smart spot to use them. So it's smart, rational bullpen usage, which is a crazy concept. Number three is that I like that

the bats aren't hitting at the same time. This isn't like, oh, they're all just hot at the same time. No wonder they've won eight straight. Castellanos isn't hitting that well. Hoskins is fine. But it's not like they're just all clicking at the same time. That's not happening. So I think that's important. I agree with that one.

I like that. Number two is no Girardi. Obviously a massive one. Is number one Topper? No, number one is the Vibes, man. The Vibes are off the charts they are great they're happy they're having fun they look like they want to be there and uh shout out to rob thompson um for for bringing a common sense approach to to this baseball team and honestly

every article i read about oh they're already they're thinking about their replacement and whatnot like let the let let rob thompson cook for a little bit here we don't need to start thinking about his replacement right now no no no let this man do his thing for right now yep so uh shout out to tomper and uh man i can't wait for this weekend i know they got zach gallon tomorrow night that'll be tough but the d-backs aren't great so uh let's uh let's keep this thing going all right I love it uh final thoughts you're gonna get out of here my final thought is that I hope that I am alive to do this podcast me too buddy that was gonna be I had three final thoughts my last one was please don't die like we need you here buddy we joke around you know but we need you here okay oh

thanks it's a touching tribute yeah I'll put this on my gravestone yeah we need you here buddy we joke around you know but we need you here okay oh thanks it's a touching tribute yeah i'll put this on my gravestone yeah we need you here that's that's what i got for you um all right i have two final thoughts one is a a jack fritz thought and one is a baseball thought what do you want first and what do you want last uh baseball thought okay enough with the playoff odds in june and may and whatever like enough like i don't need to know that the Mets have a 98.4% chance to win the division in bleeping June. Like, it's so dumb. It's so dumb. So many things will happen between now and the end of the season that those, like the Angels,

a week and a half ago, or two weeks ago ago had a 78 chance or whatever to make the playoffs and obviously now it's like seven percent like baseball's weird there are ebbs and flows it's a long season enough can you agree with me on that jack one million percent i hate win probability and i hate playoff thank you it drives me crazy all right and my fritz thought and this is out of love because i love you and we love you in this podcast. Love you. I think you're starting to overuse grow up, you know,

like last night, you tweeting, I need the Celtics to grow up and put Pritchard in the game so he could get a three. I think, I think it's jumped the shark. What about grow up and put Seraphine in the closer role? See, that's okay, I think.

But I think you're just using a little too much. I think it's losing a little less time. I'm doing it for you. I'm looking out for you, buddy. No, it's bad because I've been... I know. It's bad because I love grow up. It's one of my faves.

I know. But now I'm starting to use the young people terms. I'm so topper pilled. That's one of those things and like this guy's goaded um so like i get it but it's like i just i think grow up is one of the funniest terms in the in the dictionary it's very good so i'll try i'll try i've tried with Feels Like A Loss I'll try with Grow Up I use it in back to back nights I didn't use it today so it's fresh for the weekend that's the Joe Girardi book

you can pitch Grow Up this weekend you should be fine thank you that's accountability on this podcast I'm looking out for you buddy Grow Up and stop using Grow Up so much, okay? I'll try.

All right. Go do your thing. The Phillies are freaking back, buddy. This is amazing. I love it. So much fun. We'll be back after the weekend. Yeah, it is the weekend.

I almost lost days there, Jack. Woo! He's for it's himself, so we'll see you later