High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - It Feels Like the End of an Era (But It's Probably Not)

Episode Date: October 2, 2026

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to the Phillies' 6-2 loss in the final game of the wild card series. Is this the end of this era of Phillies baseball?Presented by Miller Lite.

Miller Light, the official beer partner of your Philadelphia Phillies, is proud to serve as presenting sponsor of WIP's High Hopes Pod. So whether you're listening to the game, catching off on the latest High Hopes pod or at the ballpark. Remember, it tastes like Miller time, Phillies fans. Celebrate responsibly. This is the High Hopes podcast. High Hope! On the Odyssey app and Sports Radio 94, WIP.

The crowd is singing high hope. I feel a little less alone. So it is another edition of The Ikeb's podcast, sponsored by Miller Light, official partner of the Philadelphia, tastes like Miller's time, Philadelphia, celebrate responsibly. And like,

like this sucks, obviously, and I'm bummed, and I'm mad, and I'm mad at myself for letting the hope filter back into me. And like, I'm not mad for enjoying yesterday because that really was an awesome great Phillies game. But I'm mad for believing they were going to come back and show up today. I'm mad at Don Mattingly for starting Aaronola for Zach Beeler.

We sat here last night or yesterday evening, whatever it was, Jack, sitting here both of us saying, well, obviously you hand the ball to your best pitcher, your best player, an all-time great playoff pitcher? Like, you hand that guy the ball and say, hey, dude, pitch till you can't. Like, I don't care if Aaronola doesn't see the mound. It's so crazy. and I'm mad at all the players who didn't come through. And I'm mad at like the whole freaking thing. And I'm mad at Dave Browski for running it back.

We all knew it wasn't good enough all year long. Like we knew it wasn't good enough. And they went through stretches and at the trade deadline, not close to enough. And like I just tweeted this. But like all I can think about with this team is they're the freaking all-time hope-killing team. Like all they did all season was kill them. us and then do just enough to bring us back in, even if just a little bit at times.

And like, even though like today we knew, we knew that it was so possible that we were going to get kicked in the balls. And yet it's still freaking hurt so much to get kicked in the balls, dude. Like I, I'm so bummed. It's the end of an era. Like, and if it's not like they're going to be a horrendous baseball team next year, like, they're not good enough. Like, that's the number one freaking headline.

Like, like the Braves are. obviously a way more talented team. They had so many more dudes, both offensively. I know the Phillies have the three aces, and that's cool. And that really is awesome. And I'm so excited about Painter. Like we, it's like my shining beacon right now. But, but like, dude, that Braves lineup, that Braves bullpin.

Just guy after guy after guy. I mean, it just sucks, man. It sucks. I feel like I know we'll rip a lot of guys. I know Bryce is going to get crap for not running out, and he probably deserves it and all that. but like I'm just so bummed for like a lot of these guys who are like this this is the end it has to be the end of this group how you doing man are you okay I like at least at least they gave you like the moment nola went in there I felt like the game was over but certainly the

moment he gave up that over to Harris it was like you just knew it you knew they weren't going to fight you knew they were going to go out with at least somewhat of a whimper so you've had some time to process but like I know you're bum man I mean, that ending on a, on Kemper is very funny. That, that's a Dave Dumbrowski, like, special. Like, hey, Dave, you want to see what a crappy job you did with this roster this year and all the opportunities, all the moves? Otto Kemp ending the season. It's like, well, let me say this before we, before getting to anything else.

You know, one day, one of these years, it's going to end in a world series. It's going to be worried about. This is your ethos right here. This pain is just banked. It's like part of the whole thing. Like you've got a freaking truck full of pain that you're going to unleash and happiness when they win. And when I'm dead after, you know, the 40 more years and you're like a grandfather to multiple kids, you're going to be like, they did it. Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Browski's still going to be GM now, by the way. I just want to say that. It's not the time for this take, but I do think you got pretty unlucky this year. So it's not time for it.

We can do that in two weeks as we dissect this one. No. So like the good part, I guess, is they didn't really give you hope. Like they just kind of got it out of the way early. Yeah. It was a day of us. So, yeah, I mean, there's, there's things to be incredibly, you know, infuriated by. But I think the more and more that this series went on.

And by the way, like, if Harper's ball went fair in game one, maybe we're talking about a totally different series, which totally sucks. I mean, that, or if Duran makes a pitch, we're talking about a totally different series. So that sucks and that makes you feel like you're closer, then maybe you really were. And the thing that really just hit me the last, I don't know, two games. is they have two hitters. They have two hitters in this lineup. And dude, people are going to, people are going to be all mad at Bryce. Dude, it's a six two game.

I'm sorry. Like, Bryce and Schwerber at least showed up tonight, you know, a game where you felt like you. I mean, like, if you want to be mad at Bryce and Schwerber, knock yourself out. I just don't care. I mean, Turner did, Turner absolutely sold. this series was just, I mean, what, like, what, why are, how do you, why are you hitting pop-ups ever? Like, just get on top of a baseball and hit it the opposite way into the huge hole that is created in the, and between the first baseman and the second baseman. Um, uh, there's, there's things to get mad about.

Starting Nola is egregious. And when Wheeler is able to go four innings and pitch 65 pitches, And the offense, sure, like they didn't show up. And the effort they put forth tonight and the rolling over and that stuff is incredibly infuriating. And sort of microcosma as to who this group is. That's what makes yesterday hurt so much is that it felt like that you got a spark. And all we said was don't let it be a footnote. And we in the back of our minds felt like there was always a chance at a footnote. And starting Nola, when you know that Wheeler at least had that in the 10th,

Hank. I said it yesterday. I said today. But no one in that Braves lineup is afraid of Aaron Nola. And the second that you named him the starter, there's going to be a little bit of life. And this whole thing. And the other way for the Phillies, too, for your team. Like, you know, when they start wheeler, they're like, we got wheels on the bump

tonight, boys. Like, it goes both ways. And if I hear one more time about how he's never pitched. out of the bullpen. Andrew Painter has never pitched out of the bullpen. Zach Wheeler has thrown twice in his career out of the bullpen and it both came in a game seven lost to the debacks and tonight. So like screw off with your stupid point about how he can't pitch out of the bullpen. I don't give a crap. I don't care if he can't pitch out of the bull where he's never pitched out the bullpen. You got to figure it out. The best chance to win that ball game is by giving the

freaking baseball to Zach Wheeler and letting him go out there and see if he can lay on the line in the game three must win against the freaking braves in Atlanta. And they didn't even give him a chance. And like if Zach Wheeler was the ones that I, in my gut, I know Zach Wheeler wants that baseball. And the second you made that decision, you basically handed the Braves the game. And you can talk about Michael Harris at a ball an inch off the ground for all you,

all you want. I don't care that they did a ball an inch off the ground. He walked two batters before that and the stuff looked like crap. Like I don't want to hear any of that nonsense. If you give the ball to Zach Wheeler, you have a little bit of wind at the back of your sails. And if you're going to start NOAA, then you better start thubs. And all these morons, just morons all day doing the whole like,

small sample size of the who cares with the catcher? There has been multiple examples throughout the years of pitchers, pitching better to certain catchers. Like if you're going to start JT, who by the way is betting, well, today he was batting eighth, but for the most part is batting ninth anyway, then just put stubs in. At least stubs could get a sack punt down if you need to.

Like they lost, they rolled over, offense did nothing, end of an era, blow it up as much as you can, even though they can't really blow it up all that much. So like we can say end of an era all you want. There's not really going to be an end of an error

because of staff still here, the staff still really good. And you can't get rid of Tray Turner. And I don't want to get rid of Bryce Harper and Couch, because they're the only good offensive pieces of they have. So like, so like, end of an era means getting rid of bone, okay? And like maybe trading Stott. And what a just a horrible start night.

Like just a horrible start night. You want to trade Justin Crawford? Is that, is that the end of an era? I mean, I just don't think he's a major league player. I mean, not me, I think he's a platoon player. I mean, it's just not, not that great. How does he get doubled up in that situation? Like you, how is he so slow for being fast?

He's not fast. I don't care what anyone says. I don't care what any metrics say. Like even the crux, like, and I got him. He's a burner. He's not. He's not fast. Like, he needs like space to get going, I guess.

Like, but he, we watched him all year. At what point have you been like, wow, look at that guy move. Like, he doesn't. He's not that fast. It takes him too long to get going. Like, it's infuriating hearing that. He's like a, a 260s, 270 hitter who's going to eat like two home runs. Like,

what is that? Like, and maybe he can turn into a $2.90 or something. Like, he is, he is a platoon player most likely. And, you know,

look, I know he's young and people can grow. But yeah, they, like, to your point about the roster, yeah, I understand it.

But at the same time, it's, we have to start about, and I agree. I don't want Chorber Harper to go. And I, I know that Harper is going to get crap. And look,

I think everyone deserves crap for tonight. Like, that was a weak, limp, limp. That was a, you know, Trey Turner's the limpest, the king of limp, one for 11 in the freaking series, like just an absolute loser performance. Like a stone cold, I am the biggest loser on this

team in this city performance. And he's done it over and over again. Like he, the next seven years are going to be, they might just have to trade him away and attach a prospect or eat a large portion of salary. Like, I don't know. But like, here's what I'm saying. And I'm not saying, like, you know, go after him or anything like that.

But I'm just saying, like, if you're going to put this energy towards Bryce, like, and how much you, and he gets a lot of eight, and he's got a lot of love too. But like Bryce gets so much negative energy, everything he does. And a lot of times, look, it's deserved when he doesn't run around the base is harder, when he's like, you know, gets it in a dumb freaking base running decision last night when he lays on the ball. If he hadn't hit the home or he would have gotten deserved stuff. But like, bring everyone with trade turns just like, well, too bad. he stinks.

Like bring the energy to other places because that guy is awful. He is my least favorite Philly in as long as I can remember. Like, and I, like, he might just stink. It might not be his fault. Like, I get that. And I'm not saying, like, personally, I hate him as a player. I hate him. I hate the way he approaches at bats.

I hate the way he looks when he's out there. And like, it's just like, it's just such a, like, a welp. And I know he cares. But like it doesn't feel like that to me. It feels like he's going out and taking his hat hacks and he's putting his back back in. He's like, well, you know, like it just, it sucks. I hate watching him. And it's a shame because this team had such a fun start to this era.

But like, dude, they're like what, 11, what, 4 and 12 in their last 16 player, whatever it is. They haven't won a playoff series since 2023. I mean, they are losers now. Like they are looked at as losers. And Bryce Harper has like the third highest OPS and playoff history still. I just, to your point, like I, there's going to be so much to talk about and so much play. And it's going to be a fascinating off season to see what they can do.

Because I do think that they have to find ways to shake it up. Just like this group isn't going to get it done. Like they don't have it. This group, we've seen it too many times in this spot now where when their life is on the line, again and again, they can maybe get it up once, but like they can't keep it up consistently. Like they can't find a way. And I know I said that.

Like they just can't. Like it's they don't have it. They don't have it. They're not good enough. And I just like the fact, we'll talk forever. Two of the three biggest disaster managerial moves of this era will be not handing the ball or taking the ball

of Zach Wheeler's hands. Like, because to your point, and I said it before, not only is this guy your best player, he's one of the best postseason pictures in the history of baseball. And like, I don't care when you know, one of my biggest things, we joke about it,

but athletes are freaking human beings. And Aaron Nola going out and nibbling and looking like crap and then giving up a three-run Homer took all the life out of that team. And they deserve the, like, criticism for not being able to find a way to fight through that. Like boo-hoo, your guy gave up three runs. Like,

freaking get some hits and score some runs, have some good at bats. Like they deserve that. But at the same time, like, like, who knows what happens? If Zach Wheeler goes out there

and mows down the first three with the stuff, like at least look like he had, I know he wasn't perfect, but at least you could see it immediately. Like the life on his pitches compared to Nola's was, was the night and day. It just,

it is in all time. And again, I don't think they're winning, I'm going to run. Like, they weren't good enough. Like, they couldn't patch together forever.

But that, today was just an all time, all time, all time, awful decision. Yeah, yeah. I mean, again, I think it would have put, like, if you give the ball to Wheeler, and even if he allows the Albi's home run, it's a two nothing game. Like, again, I don't, to play the hypotheticals like, well, Albies at the home run, so that means that Wheeler would have sucked the beginning is nonsense. I don't think any of that.

Who knows, you know? You have no idea. the psychological advantage I think would have been worth it putting them out there. And guess what? You know what? Hey, I mean, as simple as this, I want to go down knowing, I want to go down with my best and knowing that I gave it my best. And if I have to go down and Zach Wheeler goes out and get shelled in the first four endings and the offense isn't show up, okay. But you know what? I would much rather do that than him coming in and the game down already three nothing.

You know? So, so I, uh, so I, uh, That's going to take a little while. I mean, ultimately, you know, I guess like one way to put it could be that, you know, yesterday was a, I mean, obviously at this point, but like yesterday was a blip. And it really, and I don't think it masked anything. Like, I don't think that yesterday should and will hopefully change with how they feel about this team and how you should feel about this team. I mean, how you should feel about this team is, boy, they feel. they feel pretty far away from

really truly being able to compete with the best of the best. And that's not even talking about, you know, having the money the Dodgers are spent. I mean, they, and this is such a thing to say at the end of the season. And, you know, going through this absolutely sucks. But like, like, they should probably bring up all the prospects, see who can play.

Yeah, I agree. whoever out that you can and you know try to reset this thing for 2029 like they yeah no you're absolutely right they won't because no care about getting their three million fans in the in the stadium that ain't going to happen buddy like that's not going to happen no so much like 2012 and 13 and 14 when they still had the star players and there's nothing else around them it's it's it's tell me we're going to it's going to well well I think that they are healthier than they were at the prospects are better than what they had in the system to begin with like having guys like hopefully aiden and like renteria and spangler and these kind of guys we can at least

hope for and and the pitching development that we've seen like I agree with you. I think they're in a healthier spot as an organization today than then. But it's scary to think about, especially because we know, like we talked about, whether it's the Turner contract or the Nola contract, like these are, are things that are, if you do find a way to get out of them, going to be painful for you to get out. Yeah. I mean, Nola, I mostly. It's obviously less than Turner, but like, I mean, he is so limited, man.

And I know he can go on stretches, but like he's only getting older. His stuff's only going to decrease. Like that, like, I mean, and his stuff looked weak today. I know. I know. The Trey one is just like, if you can find anyone to take the Trey contract, God bless you. Or whoever you at that you. Can we pay all of it and just give them to someone for free?

God bless you. The most frustrating part is, and I think we mentioned this yesterday a little bit, but, you know, just completely and totally waste. one of the best starting staffs in baseball for three years. And certainly of our lifetime, if not the best, you know, then verse 211, who cares? I mean, 2011 was unbelievable and those guys were revered and they're the best. But, I mean, this starting staff is right there with them. And, you know, this staff, and I give them a lot of credit when it's talking about the guts of the staff,

they laid it on the line this series, you know. And Wheeler comes out, three days rest. Lazzardo does what he does. I mean, Lizarro, yeah. I mean, so was Sanchez. They all were on short rest. I mean, that's like, you know, I'm with you, dude. And if they didn't, if they didn't, you know, D around the last week and they can

actually head into this postseason series being where they should have been, which is Wheeler starting game one and Sanchez starting game two and Lazzardo starting game. Lazzardo, yeah, it's a whole different. Or, or you can bring Painter out of them. bullpen whatever whatever it doesn't matter but like them them just totally crapping down their leg the last week of the season and and not the last last two weeks of the season and not not buckling down and and figuring out how to win a ballgame is is really just a massive bummer I don't

know man this sucks it sucks I know these days we're going to do a happy happy like they won a series podcast one of these days we have a world series podcast uh but like The way it sits right now, it feels so impossible and far away. And like, they're starting to ask them to keep them in games for as long as these guys are here. But the deficiencies that they have on offense are really, really hard to overcome. Like, they need four hitters. And I don't know how you're going to do that in an offseason. The harsh reality of where this team is at

is they will have a starting staff that can probably pitch them to 80 wins and then like at a minimum the pitch them to a 500 record and then like the lineup has and like you said like all the times they have two headers and boom has provided at least a half a hitter

in the last month and a half and he's most likely not going to be here next year and if I hear one more story about you know, Tray's working in the cage. I don't care. I,

I, dude, oh my God, oh my God, I know. Well, it's not working. Nothing's working. Like,

I don't want to hear any more about how we- Try not working in the cage. How about that? Try something different. How about it? I don't know. Take a little reset.

The performance that he put out. No one will stop you, Big Doug. Well, he's got plenty of time now. The, the performance that he put forth, and I know,

we're at the point of rambling on the pod, which is whatever. No, I know. But, But the performance that he put forth this series was one of the most pathetic performances I've ever seen from a Philadelphia athlete. And like, you know, Ben's up there, of course, what he did against the Hawks.

And the fact that they went back to him hitting leadoff and obviously provided nothing. Just kept him there. Kept them there. Did he bat like really anything other than leadoff or two all season long? Maybe under Thompson, like early, early, early. Yeah, maybe, but like how ridiculous is that? The core short from Viori is one pair I keep reaching for. Morning run, afternoon training, watching the game.

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Drink up, baby. Fantasy football happy hour is here to get you wins and have some laughs. Matthew Berry here and my podcast, Fantasy Football Happy Hour, has the sleepers bus and starts and advice you need to win your league. We're diving into the tape, we're crunching the numbers to bring you sleepers, bus weekly starts sit advice. Whether you're defending a title or desperately avoiding last place, I've got you covered every single weekday.

The bar is open. It's fantasy football happy hour with Matthew Berry, wherever you get your podcast. This guy just gets to be one of the worst hitters in baseball and golf. And it's not just that. Like the cage is BS. So he's working so hard on the cage. How about watching his bets?

Like the approach that like swinging pitches out the zone. Like all these type of things where it's like the just nonchalant attitude towards it. You know what I mean, Jack? Like we're we're I test men on this show. We always have been. Like, just watch the guy play. Like, sit him down for a week. Drop him to seventh in the lineup.

Try something different. Tell him to bunt once a game. Like, learn out of bunt better. Like, I don't know. I'm just like throwing a million. Like, these aren't even great ideas. But my point is you have a whole staff. You have a billion dollar organization or whatever hell it is.

Multi-billion-dollar organization. Like, this whole purpose is to maximize these guys skills, right? Like that's like what they're there for. That's why he paid him all his money. Like, and again, he deserves a lot of blame, obviously. But like also like, what are we doing? Try something. Just don't say, well, he's in the cage again.

Maybe it'll work now. Like, what is that? That's horrendous like sports, like management and process and all that. Like, it's just, it's, honestly, it's baffling. It's baffling to me, Jack, that like they just, there's been no, like, nothing with trade turner other than he gets to go out and bat lead off every day and play shortstop every day it's it's it's i'm like honestly i'm like speechless talking about it like i know we always do that howie roseman would never but howie roseman would never he would be

bummed that he spent the money and i know football's different you can get out of things and all that but how he would never just lose like that he would try everything possible he would bet him nine he would do whatever he could like it just feels like they're like they're like they're like like resign. Their whole strategy with trade turn on this year, Jack, was, well, we'll see if he does it today. Right. Well, I don't get, I don't know when they got so scared. I don't know when they got so scared to these guys. Like, what are they going to do? They're here for seven years. They're going to cross a trade. Okay. Sick. Like I, I, please. Yeah. I'm getting you. Like, what are you so afraid of? What are you so afraid of with any of these guys to tell them, to not tell them what they should be doing

what they should not be doing. If Rob Thompson, we think is the most laidback manager in the history of the sport is able to, like, be okay, bumping him to seven, then, like, the hell is Don Maddenly doing? Like, you're Don Mattingly. Have some stones. Yeah, you're Don Mattingly. I just, they are, they are tough, man. They are tough. They are, the feeling you get out of the team is, like, content being where they are, you know,

content having a, born-and-close club. We like, we like our club, you know? Like he always is like, we like our club. And boy, they feel far away. And the Braves, I don't even think are that great. And they took a toll. But they looked way better, didn't they? I mean, like, they go down that lineup and you see freaking, you know,

the dudes in that lineup with the Cooney and Olson and Riley. And I know Riley wasn't even good that year, but you still trust that guy in a big spot over everyone on the Phillies except Harper and Schwerber. freaking Albies and Baldwin and like I mean it's just dude Harris like they're all all better hitters than everyone in the Phillies they have like seven guys who are better than everyone on the Phillies except for we're in Harper you know maybe eight guys we even your bones better than most of the Phillies like you know what I mean like it's like and they are way better defensively and they are way better in the bullpen they are way better in the bullpen I mean I have like half the guys they have who they can come and somewhat confident in

You know, so like, or at least, and like, I don't know. And like, and they're not even the best. I mean, the Dodgers are better. The Brewers are better. Like, the rays are better, you know, like. Yeah. I mean, sadly, I have to wrap because I have to go on the radio. Yeah, and I have to go.

I'm rambling. I got like, you know, two quick thoughts is, uh, one, uh, I need Joey Votto to cut the mic. Oh my God. Thank you. Cut the mic. That was the worst performance I ever remember. And at least you could go through with.

saying that they were going to the braves were going to win he like stopped himself then he's like once the braves move on it's like oh i shouldn't say once no you can say it there but you don't say it for us like oh my god well yeah and uh yeah and then i don't know it's probably i think my other point was yeah it's just oh the broskey build a team in 2026 that you see where the sport is going super defensive team like enough good like they don't even slug like if you want to build a dog crap defensive

team please hit well you build a dog crap defensive team that also doesn't hit so I don't think that's a good way to build a ball club James if I was being completely honest with you is no ball go boom instead ball go through legs

yeah and then when you had the opportunity at the deadline to fix something we all knew Look, I still think that this team could have had a chance if they had a really good bullpen or even like a good bullpen. You know, if they had had just a couple more arms out there, who knows what happens? Who knows? All these. And again, you know, they don't screw around, all these things.

But like, even in the way the series was, if they have a couple more arms, if they don't go over at the deadline. All right, I know you got to go. I'm sorry. I'm waiting. I can't believe I got this mad. I can't believe they let me get this mad. All right. We'll be back like next week, obviously, to do with Jaze and look, but all that.

It'll be, Jack will be, right, again, thank God for Renneria and Miller and Spangler and all these guys who are the future and hopefully good better. All right. I don't know what I'd say. Talk to you guys later. All right. I love you, pal. I'll see you later. All right.

One of these years. I'll see you.