High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Immediately Reacting To A Big Comeback Against the Diamondbacks

Episode Date: May 3, 2025

Jack Fritz reacts to the Phillies coming from behind and beating the Diamondbacks on Friday night. Later, he discusses what the team should do with Johan Rojas, who started the game on the bench, but made a game-saving catch in the ninth inning. Presented by Miller Lite To purchase Ring The Bell by Jack Fritz and Kevin Reavy go to RingTheBellBook.com 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

Are you ready to dive into the story stats and personalities that make baseball the greatest game in the world? Rob Bradford from the Baseballs & Boring Podcast here, and we'll have you covered every day with podcasts that bring you closer to the action. From the bleachers to the clubhouse, whether you're a diehard fan or just a casual observer, these conversations are aimed to educate, entertain, and most importantly, inform you. Follow the Baseballs and Boring podcast in the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcast. This is the High Hopes Podcast. High Hopes. On the Odyssey app and sports radio 94 WIP. The crowd was singing High Hopes.

Smiling through a broken nose. I can't tell if this is heaven or hell I can't tell if this is heaven or hell I can't tell if this is heaven or hell I can't tell if this is heaven or hell If heaven lives by, it's hell I feel a little less alone his little solo edition of the high was podcast on this Friday night as we react to a big Phil's win down at the ballpark tonight. Obviously no final out tonight on on WIP, but when they win a game like that, that's tight against a good baseball team. I tell you what, it's pretty hard not to get on here and immediately want to react to what we saw and and how it all went down.

So there's a couple things I want to get into tonight. Before I do just want to make sure next Wednesday we are out at Casey's in Drexel Hill. So we'll be hanging out watching the ball game. Casey's Drexel Hill hanging with the peeps and then end of May, May 31st up in Redding we are going to see Aiden Miller he got a hit tonight he got a walk extended his Eastern League leading on Baystreak to 16 games so as Aiden Miller's road to the show continues we are there with every step along the way only a limited number of tickets available

so definitely get in and get your tickets as soon as possible because They'll probably going pretty fast. So a lot of stuff going on with the podcast. It's officially our season I mean it doesn't get any better than this and and being able to win a game like that and Especially against a real opponent obviously beating up on the Nationals last couple days that and especially against a real opponent obviously beating up on the nationals the last couple days always fun. The game last night Thursday night if you're listening on Saturday incredibly frustrating. I mean one of those games where they just played a poor brand of baseball made little mistakes and you know ultimately were not able to to make big plays when they were needed.

Tonight they bounced back in a pretty nice way. The first, you know, Lazardo obviously did not have his best stuff. His fastball command was off all night. But where I give Lazardo credit, and I think it's been the biggest step forward for him, is he really battles. And when you have 96 and you have the stuff that he has

battling is certainly a lot easier and you can make a lot more mistakes and get away with them but I think he he battled tonight didn't fold and against a really good offensive team I mean the Diamondbacks are nasty offensively and it is painful to say obviously because the diamondbacks Live rent-free in my head and I'm sure they live rent-free in your head but I really thought he battled tonight and that's the evolution of hazel's lizardo and and where we've seen his development kind of go is I continue to believe that we're seeing him develop into a pitcher and kind of go is I continue to believe that we're seeing him develop into a pitcher.

And I think that's been the biggest thing that Caleb Coffin, that this Phillies coaching staff has gotten out of these starters the last couple of years, is sure they have pretty good stuff, some plus stuff in in some instances. But I think that what has helped have this staff take a step forward is also encouraging early outs. That's OK. You don't always have to chase strikeouts. And I thought was art from that standpoint tonight. He got his strikeouts. No doubt about it.

But I thought as the game went on, he got stronger. It got more efficient. And I just continue to believe that the development of Jesus Lazardo is really, really positive. So would have liked to see him go deeper into the game, but still he did his job and kept his team in it and gave them a chance to come back. And I tell you what, I mean, what a,

I mean, what a bang bang comeback by this team. I was sitting outside, Walker and Sutton were both still up. I was actually, I was FaceTiming with my buddy as he was asking me to be in his wedding, which is of course phenomenal. And all of a sudden trying to live in the moment a little bit, Schwabber goes yard. Were they even back from break on TV?

I don't even think they were back from break yet. And all of a sudden you see the ball flying out of the ball yard. So that was amazing. And then, like obviously a big development for the team the last week is Schwabber in the fourth spot looking more and more comfortable and Hopefully settling into the role as as Bryce's protector

Maintained all along that that's the single most important thing that can happen for the team this year There's gonna be some bumps in the road and there certainly was Kyle Schwabr heading into this week was had a slugging percentage under 300 and As averaged around 208 he's obviously lifted that this week but that's one of the beauties of how long a baseball season is is that you have time to iron out any of the kinks that you kind of have and there was no need to rush Kyle Schwab back to the leadoff spot. There was no need to Jumble everything around let things play out Bryson's dot has obviously done a very good job in the leadoff spot and it's great to see Trey has come alive in the two Hall we'll get to Bryce here in a second, but

What has sunk this team in the postseason the last couple of years is that guy behind Bryce not providing adequate protection for him. And what we've seen this week is adequate protection for Bryce. And I think ultimately it will lead to more success for Bryce. We all know he's going through it right now,

no doubt about it. But the fact that Schwababer is doing what he's doing and he's getting more comfortable and he's still just torching lefties. I mean, torching lefties. It's one of the most shocking developments of my adult life. Is Kyle Schwaber launching baseballs

against left-handed pitching. Would like to see like I just, the fact that he was able to do it in one off season makes me wanna tell all these guys that, hey, if you can do it, you can do it, but still, but still, Kyle Schwabert, just slowing down, getting in that moment, being in that moment,

being in that spot, it's really important for the, this team, I guess, reaching the ceiling that we want them to reach. Because I think we've seen them reach the ceiling with Kyle Schwab in the leadoff spot. It's led to a lot of wins, but it hasn't led to the ultimate win. And while I still maintain a a feeling of wanting a really impactful bat in the leadoff spot because they do get the most of bats in a ball game. Stott again is doing his job, but for this team it just makes more sense. It just makes more sense. So Schwabr looks like he's settling into a role. A guy that is 100% settling into a role is Max Kepler.

And really the last, ever since the Friday night up in New York against the Mets, he's looked like a totally different player. That night was when we first heard about Kevin Long making some swing adjustments with him, having him stand more straight up, and moving him closer to the plate. Really since then, we've seen a much, much, much different Max Kepler. And, you know,

I noticed in the middle of this game and the last three games, it looked like pitchers are starting to try to get fastballs by him up in the zone. And he has just missed a couple of those and it's resulted in weak flyouts. The nice part about that being the hole in Max Kepler's swing, because I do believe it's the hole in the swing is a fastball up, is that for a pitcher, it's really hard to,

unless you're like Verlander or some of these guys where you can live up in the zone most pitchers can't consistently hit that spot so if Kepler can let the at-bat come to him and not try to jump on a fastball up and which for a majority of his at-bats results in a weak fly out to the outfield. If he can just be patient and and wait for one of those pitches in the Nitro zone it's a it's it's really not a bad plan for him going forward. I do think there's a hole in his swing. I think it's a fastball up,

but I do believe it's hard for a pitcher to hit that spot on a consistent basis. And when they miss, he can't miss it. You're starting to see him hit the ball harder. You're starting to see him spray the ball to all fields. You're starting to see just much, much, much more squared up contact. I'll start seeing uptick in the field as well. You know he went and

got a ball in the middle of the game tonight which was really impressive I think from a left fielder. Now maybe it's just impressive because I've watched Phillies outfielders the last couple of years but him going and getting that ball was really impressive. Him hitting in the home run. I mean, you're starting to see a real trend up of maybe we can get to a 270, 20 to 25 home run season out of a left fielder for us. I mean, talk about a big win and talk about a big win versus what we've had the last couple of nights. So Schwaber obviously settling into that spot. Max Kepler settling into his role.

Jesus Lazzardo 100% battled tonight and something that you wanted to see against a really good offensive team and a team that just doesn't quit. I mean, I know that Perdomo had a bad bunt attempt that JT made the really nice play on that helped kind of bail them out of that inning, but they just played the game in a, in a different way than watching the fills. They, they do have some of the slug. They now I guess they've been struggling with

running a scoring position, but they do the little things like trying to get a runner over to third base with less than two outs. It's a it's a throwback brand of baseball and obviously it's one that that sunk us a couple years ago in the postseason, which is still the worst. So I think I think winning games against this team right now that has played good baseball this year and they got Katel Marte back tonight, which is a huge, huge positive. Katel Marte, one of the best players in the National League, no doubt about it. And he left the game with a single and they kind of held him in check from that point on. So a lot, a lot of good tonight. Speaking also of some good is I hope for the most part, again, don't want totally to get ahead of myself.

But I think we're starting to see a bullpen that's maybe settling into the season a little bit. Strom, good tonight. Tanner Banks might have chalked that one up as a Fritzell. I don't think he's great. I wouldn't put him even really close to Strahm in that kind of stratosphere or any of these left-hand relievers, but he's getting outs right now. ZRA is 3.1 on the year. Jordan Romano, they get a little bit dicey there, 100%. It got a little bit dicey, but at the same time that's a one two three eighth and then alvarado You know there was a time It'd be about a week ago we can have to go where you had some shaky outings

I made two out of three and I mean this week has just been straight up sick. I mean Making quick work of guys up to 99 mixing with the cutter. I Don't know how guys don't swing at the cutter. It seems ridiculous. It seems like It just dives like a slider at the plate so he is on a it's on a really ridiculous run, but getting Romano back to to where they Obviously anticipated when they sign anticipated when they signed him, when they signed him, maybe start seeing him go into the Kirkering role.

I don't think with Ranger coming back, they would send down Kirkering, even though he has options. And Thursday night was not really on Kirkering. You know, Marchand and Trey had that play up the middle of the field where I think Marchand kind of double clutched it and obviously if Trey could block that ball, it'd be great. But Kirkering still got the strike out immediately after that So I don't think they would do it, you know He has options and maybe they view it as like a little bit of a mental reset but I would not be surprised if we have Romano and and

And Kirk Reign kind of switching spots here for at least the time being, because it certainly looks like Romano is settling into the season. Now, a couple other things before we get on out of here. One is Bryce changed his setup tonight. I think we all noticed that. Now, he has done that in years past where when his timing's off, when he's in between pitches,

he kind of goes to that swing where there's no load. It's kind of already in the load position because I think he wants to to get his timing where it needs to be. Sometimes that that does zap some of his power. He also smoked some balls tonight that just happened to go foul. So I actually thought it was a positive night from Bryce overall. It's been a really disappointing start to the season for Bryce, both on the field. And I think, and I think leadership wise, you know, I talked about today on the air about how, and we said this last podcast, but you know, he, he is the,

he has to be the thermostat where he's setting the temperature for the team and he can't be the one that is zapping energy from the team. And I think some of the stuff that you've seen last week has been a lot of the stuff that that boom has been criticized for. And the difference between bone and Harper is obviously Harper's Harper. But, you know, like Harper was doing the whole it's about the name on the front of the jersey, not the name on the back. And in my opinion, I just think we've seen a lot more name on the back stuff from Brysa last week. I thought tonight was a step forward from the standpoint of not looking too mopey, not looking too checked out.

And I think swing wise, he's close. I really do. I think swing wise, he's close. He almost hit a home run tonight, hit a couple balls, hard foul. And that swing change, which he does when his timing I think is off a little bit, it usually lends itself to to good results. So he's hitting 235 right now, which is jarring. It's tough to kind of compute. I wouldn't be surprised if you look up at the end of end of May, it's in the two 60s. And then by the end of the June, you're getting back into the 280s. Like the Bryce run is gonna happen. I'm not too worried about it from that standpoint. I think that too good of a player, don't think he's on a super, super decline.

And there's gonna be a prolonged stretch here where he just gets hot. And I thought tonight, I really do think that tonight was a positive step forward from that standpoint. Some, some good swings and new, a new approach to the plate and one that has yielded good results in, in the past. And then I just want to talk about, I just want to talk about Johan Rojas because he seems like such a conundrum for people.

And I totally get it from the standpoint of he does have some plays in the outfield and on the base pass and the fact that he didn't play tonight I know they said lower body injury well he was out there late in the game so I'm sure it was probably more of a benching than anything and play last on Thursday night with the going for the triple infuriating he still gives you a better chance to win than Cal than Cal Stevenson. Cal Stevenson is a quad a player. Most people know that. And him being out there tonight could have cost them that game because he got

turned around and missed that ball in center field that I think Johan Rojas gets it. Now, maybe if Johan Rojas does not get sat down and is not gonna have a talking with Rob Thompson maybe doesn't go and get that ball in the ninth inning and and help save a ballgame for this team but Johan Rojas is playing good baseball he is a damn good outfielder he has some some moments out there where it doesn't where he has some some some mental lapses a hundred percent. But as your nine hole hitter and and someone that can go make a play like he made the ninth inning I just think

that there's been way too much overreaction to every little thing that Johan Rojas does. I think he's playing a really solid, mostly solid brand of baseball. And there's gonna be some times where he doesn't get a bunt down, sure. He's also hitting well enough to where, I want him to be able to get bunts down, but what he's doing at the plate matters more

in the long run and this season than getting some Buntz down. So it seems like every little thing Rojas does wrong, it's like, there it is, not a major league player. And I've been there, you know, from that standpoint. But with how he's been playing the last two weeks and really a majority of the season, let's give the kids some leeway I mean, let's give the kid a chance to breathe here a little bit because He's helping this team win more than he's helping this than he's hurting this team. So I just see a lot of visceral reaction to everything Rojas does and

Again fully acknowledging that there are some frustrating moments with him. But I don't think we're talking enough about the good that Johan Rojas is doing, because there's legitimate good stuff that he's doing both in the play and in the field. We haven't seen many centerfielders for a majority of my life and your life, whether or not you're, you remember Shane Victorino or you watch Gary Maddox.

We haven't been able to see many centerfielders that can go get it like Johan Rojas. Now sometimes coming in and making throws and base pass, totally get it. Once that stuff to be cleaned up. But there's a lot of good in that kids game right now. And I think you're seeing him develop at the plate. You're seeing him put the bat on the baseball more.

You're not seeing him look like a lost cause up there. And he is helping this team win. And to get Cal Stevenson out there tonight and say lower body or general soreness, just ready to go out there in the ninth and ram into the wall. I'm not really buying it, seemed like a benching. Now, Cal Stevenson will probably be out of here tomorrow as it looks like Marsh is coming up

and maybe get little Marsh, Rojas, Platoon there in center field but even with that and I love Brandon Marsh you know I think he's another solid big league player I'm not just pulling the plug on what Rojas is doing right now I'll I'll wait until Rojas cools off and and proves to me that he shouldn't be out there before I'm rushing Brandon Marsh to play every single day in centerfield. And obviously with what Kepler is doing, there's nowhere really else to put him. So centerfield is going to go back to the platoon tomorrow and we'll see what Rob Thompson does. If there's a righty on the mound,

are they gonna stick with the Johan Rojas at this current junction? I would. I would stick with Johan Rojas. I think he's doing more good than bad and man I can't believe we're kind of there. What a play in the ninth inning. Good to see him bounce back up and Good to see him bounce back up and yeah, just a really, really solid overall win by the Phils tonight. Wasn't easy, wasn't pretty, but again, when you're playing against one of the better teams in baseball, it's not always going to be that way. And the Dimebacks are certainly that. So hopefully tomorrow we can continue to keep it going as we got a little what?

We got a little 6-0-5 start. Aaron Nola versus Brandon Fott. They are really rolling out, they are really rolling out all the the demons of the NLCS in 2023. They really are. So fought on the mound tomorrow, who obviously started game seven. Nola, really big from the standpoint of, was last start against the Cubs more of an aberration, or is that more of the Nola we can expect going forward? I think Nola's always gonna have those little blowup starts.

It's gonna have people saying, ah, there he is, bleeping Nola. But what he did against the Cubs I thought was different. It was interesting. Again, my thoughts were a new plan to righties of a cutter away and a backdoor two seamer, not being overly reliant on the curve ball. And we'll see if a team kind of adjusts to it.

When he went up last week, he went up and out of the zone really curious as to how it goes against a good offensive team just like the Cubs were and Cubs heading into that game last Sunday night were one of the best offensive units in the game so Aaron Ola tomorrow versus Brandon Fott if I see the Phyllis Jays against Fott again it's not gonna, it's not going to be a fun night. It's going to bring back all the horrors of game seven, but regardless, obviously can't wait. So it probably won't be a reaction after tomorrow night because we'll be back with a full pod on Sunday after the

game, but I always feel like the first game of the series gets forgotten in the the reaction to in the reaction pods because obviously we're usually reacting to the game and maybe the game before so want to make sure we got this one up tonight and React to a big win and a fun night down at the ballpark as Listen Zeus in the in the city connector Zeus might be a bit of a problem. Might be a bit of a problem either way. Thanks for hanging out with me again, next Wednesday at Casey's and Drexel Hill. And of course get your tickets to the game up at the Redding fighting fills on May 31st. So, uh, we'll be back on Sunday after the game. Talk to you then. Thanks for listening to another edition of the high hopes podcast.