High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - It Kind Of Feels Like The Year

Episode Date: September 12, 2025

Hope are high after the Phillies' four-game sweep of the New York Mets. James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to last night's comeback and discuss what the Phils have to do to create a successful playoff run. 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

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and a weighting depth of 900 millimeters, the Defender 110 pushes what's possible. Learn more at Land Rover. Tom's new scrambled egg loaded croissant or is it croissant no matter how you say it start your day with freshly cracked scrambled eggs loaded on a buttery flaky croissant try it with maple brown butter today at Tim's at participating restaurants in Canada for limited time this is the high hopes podcast on the odyssey app and sports radio 94 WIP The crowd is singing, hi-ho, smiling through a broken nose.

Oh, high-ho, high-ho, I feel a little less alone. Yo, it is another edition of one. the ios podcast sponsored by miller light official partner of the philadelphia philly celebrate that tastes like miller dime philadelphia celebrate responsibly i apologize to everyone on the go but i had to do it fritzy i hood a thong turner goes down we do a morbid of like we'll see what happens pod and then we get the best freaking series of the season like they were awesome we went to the game together monday night watch nola throw up freaking jam it was awesome then they put up to just monster offensive performances and then yesterday

4-0-0 down in the first inning jack that teams could have so easily packed it up and said we're up 10 in the division we already won this series who cares and they freaking battle acoslato a freaking perfect game after that first inning 57 perfect fritzy Harrison bader my favorite jewel of all time

it's all coming together jack how you doing pal kind of feels like the year God, it feels like the year, really does. For those wondering, when you hear the power drill in the background, Jack's getting work done on his house. That's not just Jack's pure excitement coming out of him. Yeah, listen, we're getting some, I think that's a saw.

If I need, I think it's a saw. Like the boss saw that the fells are right now. Oh, it's the best of the business. Got him. Dude, feels like the year. It feels like the year. It really does, man. It really does.

It really does. It really does. This is how, this is how it's a little different than 23. Like, 23 kind of felt like just vibes and they were like good and they were here. And it's like a continuation of 2022, too, it was like, all right, this is what we do. We didn't know any better, you know? Yeah. And I think with, I think with this year's team, it's a combination of a lot of things.

One, they have faced real adversity. And that goes back actually, I think, to the Mets series last year. Like the Mets series, they, they could have came out this year like a dead team walking, you know, and just packed it up and gone home. And how they've responded to that Mets series and taking it personally, I think, that's a step of adversity. They lose Alvarado with the PEDs. They lose Nola for two and a half months. Harper gets hurt. BOM's hurt.

Wheeler's done for the year. Trey is hurt right now. and they just keep coming back. So I think they've dealt with real adversity. I think they have a real rallying cry in the Wheeler injury and even the tray injury to an extent. But it's a we all we got, we all we need. I know that. I know.

You know me, always looking to make Eagles references with the Phillies. You have a trade deadline that I think injected a different kind of chemistry into this team, something to throw the mix up a little bit with Harrison Bader. You have a magical season from Kyle Schwerber, which I wasn't sure we were ever going to see a 50 home run guy for the Phillies again, and we're seeing that right now. I think that what we're seeing with this team is it's a little like when the Eagles started hitting their stride last year where it's like they've got it. Like they've got it.

And I look around the rest of baseball. Padres can't hit home run. Dodgers can't really kick it into gear at all. Brewers are good, but also they haven't been great. It felt like the peak at the right time thing. It felt like they peaked the month ago, you know? And listen, I think they're really good. I think that they will put a lot of pressure on you,

but I would still be surprised at a team with like one and a half stars on offense is good enough to really win a World Series. And then I look at the AL. I don't see it. I just I feel like anybody was the tiger is the blue jays you scared of those teams not at all not at all I mean astros all perpetually be always always always always always go mariners take that division always I'm not afraid of the mariners not me neither me neither I'm a smidge afraid of the red socks

like the red socks are pretty good and they have like these young arms that keep coming up and are nasty but like it it really feels like it's all coming together like they're they have stars in the bullpen doing star things the lineup it's not even they're doing all this without shore burn harper really going nuts they're they're fine but it's not like they're carrying this team on their back it's everyone else and then james the nola great start the other night but that was more like we need to see that wait and see right wait and see yes but he was great the three of Lizardo and Sanchez and and and Ranger I mean they're pitching to what a 2.3 5 probably now after Lazardo last night after the after the Wheeler injury they have they have stepped up

everyone's stepping up and you know you try to guard yourself because we've been hurt we've been let down open your heart open your heart that's three Eagles references in one monologue I know you're on fire right now. You've got to open your heart because they've got it. And last year, when they were coming down the stretch, it was really, you were trying to convince yourself of something you didn't want to feel, which was that they were cooked and they were done. A totally different vibe with this team, totally different vibe.

Yeah, it's completely different. And it's, to your point, it is unlike anything we felt at this point in the year with this run with the Phillies. Like the last four years, I mean, we talk about all the time on this pod, but I think that the general public forgets in 2022 that they were stumbling into the playoffs, that they almost blew it to the brewers, that we were all super disappointed with that team as they had in the playoffs, even all the way through game one in St. Louis until Sagar gets that hit and things start rolling in the Sosa slide. And then, and then it was a magical

run from there, obviously, until game four of the World Series. Like, people forget that that was not some team that was firing on all cylinders heading into the playoffs. 2022 was, as you pointed out, Like, they were a good team, but they still got a wild card. They lost the division by, what, 13 games that year or something insane like that? Like, this team has been phenomenal at every step of the way. They've been so consistent, honestly, other than that one, nine out of ten, when Lazzardo had those two bad starts and they went to Toronto, all that, and Harper was hurt.

Other than that, they haven't had a, like a long stretch of bad baseball all season long, man. And I think you make such a good point about the resiliency throughout the season, because, look, I mentioned it just in the game yesterday, just the resiliency in that spot to go down 4-0 when you really don't need the game as much as the other team. The other team's fighting for the freaking playoffs. And they battle and they battle and they fight back. And it's been that as a season.

And I think it's such a great point with the Wheeler injury. The moment Wheeler goes down, Ranger Suarez has been freaking lights out since that moment. Jesus Luzardo, like Luzardo's never, what's he, like 100 innings over his innings or 50 innings, 70 innings. Like he's pitched so many more innings this year and he ever has in his life. And he's bared down and been awesome.

And obviously Sanchez has taken on the ace role. And then obviously offensively too, like a perfect example, they lose Turner heading into this series, this massive series. And the bats just keep going to your point. The bottom of the line, and we have a Kepler 5 RBI game.

Harrison Bader in 35 games as a Philly, he's betting 3.39 as a Philly Jack. Like, and it feels like every night, it's like two, three hits and a great defensive play. brandon marsh is like one of the better hitters in baseball since may first like it's it's crazy and and i did not expect these guys to be stepping up the way they were stott another one who since the all-star break has been absolutely white hot and jack you know it's it's one of those things with the marsh thing and the stott turner and all that like i kept being uh happy to see it but

i couldn't get myself to believe that when the playoffs come around i'm going to feel confident it when they stepped to the plate and that's changing jack like i'm starting to believe that what we're seeing now we can see in the playoffs we can see harrison bader and max kepler and bryson and stott and these guys make a difference in the playoffs and that is what could be the difference with actually getting it done this year well and i think that the the the vibe around the city i think is changing too with how they're playing whereas last year you kind of felt like you're walking in like i just i don't know I don't feel good about this. I don't, I hope I'm wrong, but it kind of felt like the Mets were going to run

through the Phillies in the, in, in last year's divisional round. This year, I think there's going to be like that, that re-invigorated juice going into the ballpark. I mean, if you, if they win the division by 10 plus games, they win 95 plus games, well, check, think about this way in 2022, they won 87 games. Guess how many wins they have today, 87? Yeah, yeah, no, it's, it's crazy. So, uh, there's, there's, there's,

There's so much to talk about. One, you mentioned Lazzardum. He has 200 strikeouts. Like, he got the 200 strikeouts. That's amazing, that's amazing, dude. He's in 169 innings and 200 strikeouts. He was, I don't think I've ever seen a start like that in my entire life. No one has, did you see all the stats about, like, for a Phillies pitcher, I think Steve Carlton was the first one to give up four runs in the first inning and last till the eighth inning.

He was the last one to do it. And the last one to do it and win the game was Robin, freaking Ron. Roberts. Yeah. Yeah. I know. It was crazy. And what's awesome about him last night is, you know, you had heard or they had told us. And I think Lazzardo, they've said it, like he feels like he's a bulldog. And through the first little bit of the season, I didn't see it. Like, I thought there was a time when things got tough. I felt like Hazers Lazzardo folded. And these last couple starts, what he is doing is so encouraging from the standpoint of you're seeing a guy grow into a true bulldog i mean that's he's just lardo with the with the marlins was a five-inning pitcher that would strike out a bunch walk guys and and and be super inconsistent he went eight last night after allowing four in the first in a big perfect man he was perfect for seven like that's that's crazy 22 straight retired to close it out and he's so he's fine i think he's finally understanding his arsenal.

I mean, he is right on top of hitters. He is coming after them with 99. He was hitting 99 in the 8th. I mean, there was no drop off. 99 in the 8th. And he was powering and going right at guys and commanding the strike zone. And it's like when you have 99 and then you've got to react to whatever that sweeper is at 87, it is just a.

He struck Lindor out on it. His last batter of the game striking Linder out on that. It was nasty. it's it's a hard at that so you have you have him rangers pitching out of his mind right now you have like we'll see with nola but still like it showed there he's not totally cooked it shows there's still something left in the tank now they're going to bring up bueller tonight we'll see how it goes but i know i know but they're going to they're going to extend these guys out so that they have a little bit of of rest so that when when the the lights are on it showtime and they are good to go

and as fresh as possible. So that's in the starting stuff. I think the biggest thing that has changed for them is just a buy-in you're getting out of out of the out of the out-of-the-out-of-the-out-of-the-out-of-the-out-of-the-out-field. Yeah. I think the outfield has driven in 33 runs in the last 14 games. Even Cassie, you know, hitting when he's playing now. I know.

But because what you're seeing is you're seeing Cassiano's buying into, okay, he had it, he pouted for for two weeks he was annoyed whatever it's clear that they got through to him and even a little thing and i know it's a little thing but the celebration with him and bader where they both point to the ring finger yeah like that i think that shows good buy-in from castianas to not say hey you know whatever i'm not i'm not a star player anymore i should take my ball and go home even even when even when kemp homered and cassie came around to score and kemp's like you could see the excitement cast he had for auto in that moment like it felt like he was being a great teammate he was waiting there for him to come around the bases you know i noticed that kind of stuff i'm with you yeah

it was what rob thompson said you got to check your ego at the door and it really felt like it really feels like casting honest of that and and kepler tell you what you know it's turning into a a quote machine dude he's wearing not just that wearing always sunny shirts before the game like my man is winning us back buddy never doubted him and Like the break in the bat over the quad. It's like Bo Jackson style out there. Just because, just because he wanted it to do it. So I think you're seeing serious by and.

You usually see that the strikeout. They'll come back to the dugout. Like he was just too cool for school in that moment. Yeah. And he was talking about after the game with, with Francki and L.A. About how, I mean, there's just, even when you're on the, even when you're on the bench right now, you feel like you're really into the game and you're rooting on teammates. and there's just an excitement about coming to the ballpark.

There's a different feel. Everyone can't wait to get there. And it looks like it when they're playing. Like there's a different level of energy with how they're playing right now. I think it's crazy. I tweeted this last night. You could make the case that that Bader was a more important acquisition than Joanne Duran.

Yeah, I think he, I mean, he has been so far, I think. Yeah. And Duran's been awesome. And Duran has one bad outing, or whatever it was, too bad outings. That's it. And he's completely solidify the background of the bullpen. Everyone's settled into a role. Strom looks completely different.

Robertson looks great still. Yep. Super, super important. John Ron. No doubt about it. But holy cow, I just, I don't think it can be said enough what Harrison Bader has brought to this team. Obviously, the bad is, it's not going to stay this time.

So that's what I was going to ask you. He is a career 247 hitter. A career 716 OPS guy. And this is a guy again who's 31, you know, but he is banging 339. with like a 940 OPS. It's been, and again, that's not even talking about

the fact which we expected, the just pure gold glove defense. It's, he, Jack, he's been a revelation. Like, I don't remember in my years

watching the Phillies, many trade deadline acquisitions like this, really in baseball. Like he, again, he's betting 3.39 is, and not just that. It feels like every important spot he's coming through in.

They put him in the lead off spot. No problem. Three hits. Two hits. it's home runs like it's just it's like he's unfa and then and then to your point about stuff after the game i mean when he was on with with timac in them after the game i mean just like i am so happy to be here you could feel the love of the baseball like he's like so into this it's just it's it's almost hard to believe and we loved him like there was one podcast in the wilderness

saying harrison bade her for years here but like even us even in our wildest dreams jack could You have imagined that he would be this guy for this team. Well, and listen, he's not going to probably not going to keep it up offensive. But he could bet $2.80 or something. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But the twins might have unlocked something with him. There's apparently a story I think about they told him to pull the ball in the air more. Like just focus on pulling the ball in the air.

If you notice when he's hitting, yeah. And maybe that's just kind of unlock something. But Bader is such a high energy guy. I'm sure that there is a feeling of coming to the ballpark and seeing that play sold out every single night in the juice for these Mets games where he's like, this is amazing. And I love that he, like, they have an inside joke now.

They all love him. You can tell the whole team freaking loves Topper the way he talks about him. Like, this guy has won everyone over immediately. And it was funny. I don't know if you read the, the Gelp story about Harrison Bader, but, you know, when Thompson,

And the other night for the short ber 50th, you know, he toasted. And at the end, he said, you're a gift. I was like, the reaction was just, it was weird. Everyone cracking up. It was clearly an inside joke. We're like, what's going on here? And the inside joke is that Harrison Bader just keeps saying to everyone, what a gift that says.

And if you have a guy like Harrison Bader walking around. Exactly. Like everything up. Summer's here, and you can now get almost anything you need for your sunny days delivered with Uber Eats. What do we mean by almost? Well, you can't get a well-groom lawn delivered, but you can't get a well-groom lawn delivered, but you can get a chicken parmesan delivered.

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I'm Jordan Robinson, host of the podcast, The Women's Hoops Show. We're heading towards the home stretch of the WMBA season, and there is so much to get into every episode. Twice a week, I'm joined by one of my amazing co-hosts as we dissect the biggest games, performances, and even some off-court drama. The playoffs are quickly approaching, and now is the best time to tune in.

Who will come away is this year's champion? the competition is heating up and so are we listen to and follow the women's hoops show available now wherever you get your podcasts they're going to win the world series they're going to win the world series dude he is so special and he has made such a difference here and it's such a good point i mean the fact that this guy's been here for for a month and a half or whatever and during kyle shore was 50th home run celebration like rob thompson makes an inside joke that's from harrison bader like that's that's that's in like infiltrating a clubhouse in such a fast and meaningful way and obviously the play

helps and the attitude helps and you brought it up like he definitely plays with an edge with a vibe that this team didn't have before and I think that absolutely adds to it the twin thing is interesting because I was just looking like he had a 778 OPS in in Minnesota which would be one of the highest of his career so like he he was hitting better in Minnesota before coming here too and the added juice of all this a better lineup better team absolutely so we'll see where that goes. And he's not scared. That's why I like the most. Oh, yeah. No, he's not scared of them. That's. Well, I mean, if you look like Harrison Bader, would you be scared of anything? I mean, he looks like he's a cartoon character drawn. Like he's the muscles, the blonde flowing locks. Like, he doesn't look real. So, yeah, of course he's confident. His role. He walks around. I was like, yeah, look at me. His world's serious speech is going to be one for the ages. Epic. Epic. Epic. It is fun to see someone come in and just kind of like become beloved in a city so quickly like this.

we don't like throughout all the sports i mean you know like sayquan last year like it's usually that type of of level of thing where someone just comes in and is immediately beloved at such eye level for someone who's like a you know was the uh uh in many people's minds like a fourth outfield or traded for him to come in and take over the city like it's a unique thing jack it really is yeah i i i i just love him and i love him i love i love him i love i love him i'm very curious to see what they do when when tray is back like obviously i think tray goes right back to the lead i do but does baiter clean up does baiter hit too well do you go righty right lefty left you i don't know but i mean he's been doing the the righty at the top uh harper schwarber then a righty again so you know

the three batteri at least have to face one of them and churber so good a man's left he's like bader in the cleanup hole that's on the table yeah or if they want to get if they want to get Schwerber behind Bryce you know so I don't know I don't know but he's playing well enough towards like he he should probably have some of the most of bats on the team too no doubt and in in high leverage spots but again it's not even just bait I mean stocks hitting like 3 30 since since uh the trade deadline I believe you're getting contributions from like Kemp coming back up and yeah two overs this series like what's going on that hit over yeah now Jeff McNeil in center field maybe shouldn't be playing center field I don't dreadful

What was that? Like, I didn't know they put him in center field. I had no idea they put him out there. That's crazy. Yeah, yeah. And they, like, the most, I thought, speaking, going back to Harrison Thater, you know, he had this quote before the series even started. You know, I think Uram was asking him, the Bulldog.

The best, dude. If you want a question asked at a press conference, Dave Uram is your man. So he asked him, are you using the last series up in New York, his motivation, for this and and bader said i don't really know what you're talking about obviously he knows what he's talking about yeah of course that mindset of of they they said that publicly but the way they played they took that series incredibly oh yeah dude i don't think there's especially at last game like again they could have so easily just said we we already won the series we're we're up 10 games the division's over and like man well and that's what like i've

been begging to see from this team is like take it personally take it personally so many times jack and so this is like so many times use it as motivation and and step on a freaking throat and maybe it was the keithernandez quote about how overrated they are maybe that got into the clubhouse i have no idea maybe it's just all we're giving pairs of beta credit for everything around here but they just took it to the Mets actually took it personally and put at least the division in a coffin like that is what they did and that's not something that we have seen from this team in the last couple years they love letting teams just hang around oh my God it's their thing it's their thing dude they took their magic number from 13 to 5 in a four game

I mean, that's awesome. Like, that's awesome. Yeah. No, I'm with, I, I, I thought, again, I've, we both been pretty in on this team since the trade deadline, since the way they played then. Like, this has been an evolving process. But this series where it was like, I, like, I, I think they're going to win at all. And they might not. Like, we know it.

But like, I believe. I fully believe in this group now. And it's something where I've been kind of getting there and getting there, like, I'm in. I'm fully in with the, like the bullpen. We haven't talked about it. You mentioned Duran, but like just across the board. I mean, they've been lights out on the back end there. And the way they put, I mean, Robertson, what a signing.

What a move to make sure that guy came here was such a massive thing for this team. It really helped kind of shape up, really how the whole bullpen played out. Obviously, Duran important too. But just the way it's worked out and Strom kind of coming together now, like it's, it's huge. Well, especially with the way Kirkcern's pitching. They needed Robertson. They needed it. They needed it.

They needed another righty that could step up. and hopefully Kirkring can find his footing through a 30 pitch that inning the other night which was not super super great um but yeah so maybe he gets his confidence back heading into the postseason but everything else like feels like it's falling into place strong has pitched to like a 0.75 in his last 13 outings banks is you trust him with your life freaking stones yeah yeah and then geron if he's going to start throwing that knuckle curve it might as well be game over well he's getting a lot of swing and miss lately more than you see the knuckle curves made a difference in terms of

striking guys and we at the game we were at that Monday night game like he needed those strikeouts particularly the one with one out like that was such a big strikeout in that spot and he is someone who's as hard and as dangerous as he is he's not like a as high as strikeout guy as you would expect he's like a 27% like you would expect him to be in the high 30s or at least mid 30s with his stuff um so it's big if he can get like especially in the playoffs you know how big those strikeouts can be yeah I just think that with that pitch it gets hitters off of his splinker and it gives him another weapon that

he goes from a two pitch guy to a three pitch guy where some of like those swings it was it was the most it was the most I'm geared up for 102 obliate that's that's that is that is what that knuckle curve can do and he wasn't even

he wasn't even near the strike zone on those pitches like he got all over the plate the one that way up there he's swinging that you like swung like a foot underneath it like that it could actually unlock it wasn't going to catch it i know that actually unlocks another level of duron just having that pitch and throwing it more and more and maybe that was something that cough them and and just they wanted to get his usage up on that to get him because teams they're major league hitters man and and they can square up 102 and you've seen that in the last couple of outings where yeah he's gotten out of it but

it hasn't been as clean and easy adding that knuckle curve and getting guys off the fastball dude it's 80 it's 88 miles an hour straight down and then he goes 102 off of it like i actually wonder if the splinker becomes the is this third pitch well becomes this third fish and that was that was that's a third pitch yes uh all right i want to talk and we'll get to the take back coming up a few but i want to ask you a question that we have you know because some people are willing to say oh they're definitely winning the division at the beginning of september this and that we're not those people you know we generally are very nervous about saying things they've won the division I feel very confident saying the NLEs is ours now.

So with that in mind, an interesting thing came up on the morning show today, the concept of something we really haven't talked about, because we want to get the buy, especially with the way the pitching shakes out with Wheeler out, you know, to not have to use the four starter until the NLCS and all that stuff. But we do know, and we saw it last year,

that kind of time off in between, you know, the five day break and all that. DeCamra is very big on wanting the Phillies to play like real games with each other on the time off. He's like, I will risk in, injury. Injury is unlikely enough that I will risk injury with these players to have them

be ready to play. And last year he said it, I was like, this nonsense goal, you know, don't do it. This year, like, I find it a lot more injury, especially the relievers. Like, I think that that's the thing we saw with the time off last year a lot was those guys who were so locked in and pitching every day, every other day, like five days off was a lot for them. They weren't in like gear. How would you like to see the Phillies? And again, there are no answers for this. This is still an evolving thing. We've only had three years of this new setup. But how would you like to see the Phillies handle the time off?

What I want them to do is not overthink it. Like I don't want them being so obsessed with like, we got to do like I think I think Snicker a couple of years ago with the Braves. I think he overthought it. I agree with the like simulator games they did and all that. Well, they let fans in to try to create like. So I think, gosh, like my fifth Eagles reference on this show. It's unbelievable.

Yeah. Well, listen, I do pay attention to them a lot. You don't have a choice. Yes. But, you know, Siriani, I remember its press conference like a year ago. Maybe he's at the end of 23 when they were collapsing, whatever. And he said it's important. Or maybe it's after the Browns game.

I don't know. But where he said, what's important for me, he tries to think about himself as a flight attendant. Where if you look at the flight attendant and they're panicking, then it's probably fair to panic because if they're panicking you're good analogy it's not going well so now siriani's saying that it's hilarious because he is highly emotional oh he's yeah of course or used to be used he's tightened it up though yeah yeah no totally so what i don't want to do is i don't want them so concerned about it so freaking out that it looks like panic moves i want them just keep it business as usual and like last year the difference between this team

in last year's team like last year's team was just done like they just they they just didn't have it the bullpen was surprising what happened in the postseason i think finding some way to keep them as sharp as possible as imperative but everything else like i just i think i just trust this team more than i then i trusted last year's team and it could it could slow some momentum but i think that they're so locked in and that at first game back at the bank and the excitement they're going to have. I don't want to go too overboard so concerned about it because, listen, while the Phillies did lose last year with the buy, the Dodgers and Yankees made the World Series as one seats.

So, and I don't remember any stories of like bringing in fans and all these simulated games. It was just a workman like, do your job, know your role, and let's go win some baseball games, rather than trying to do all of this kind of thing to generate some idea that you're going to be more locked in than not. Yeah, I'm mostly with you. I think that the bullpen thing is the one where I'm trying to keep those guys active the most. Yeah. Look, I mean, we talked about they do for the all-star break every year. Teams come back hot. Like, this is not, I think to your point, I think last year was much less, maybe the relievers somewhat, but I think last year was much less about the time off than about a team that just didn't have it and wasn't good enough.

We, we all ignored those stats going in the playoffs where it was like the Mets have been a way better baseball team for three months than this Philly team. As we're like, oh, we got talent. Oh, we were coasting. Like, they were, and they weren't as good a baseball team. And I think that was at the heart of it. So I'm with you. All right.

One last question that we had to take bag, because I'm interested in your thoughts on this. And I think after this Mets series, hopefully, and there's still a city field thing. We'll agree, whether it's cheating or whatever that else going on there. Like, I don't love Cityfield. But I think this is maybe backed off. After that Mets series, it was like,

I'd rather play the Dodgers than the Mets. I'd rather, you know, any team but the Mets in the playoffs, rank the teams from me and we'll keep the Giants and Reds out of it for now. Let's say the Mets get that last spot. You got the Dodgers, the Padres, the Mets, and the Cubs. How would you rank those four teams in terms of teams you most to least want to play? Man, it's crazy. They're not going to play the Cubs, but just put them in there for the second round, whatever. All that's the third round, whatever. It's funny. I'm not really that worried about any of them. I think the Padres, I think we have this feeling with the

Padres of I think from afar we're more worried about the Padres than actually are you know they can't hit home runs like they their their offense is really falling apart Jason Adam was a Jason Adam went dad that was a big loss that was a big loss bullpen's great you know even without him they still have like Mason Miller and Estrada and Robert Soros so I guess I still have a little bit of of concern about the Padres Dodgers like feel that they just can't kick it into gear this year. I, out of respect, I want to play the Dodgers the least. I think, I think you have to say it, just with the amount of talent and the big game, you know, experience, what we've seen last year. I think you have to say that they are the team you want to play the least. Like, the team I'm

most worried about is, is actually the Brewers. Like, I think that, I think they would, I think they would beat the Cubs. I'm not too worried about the Cubs. I don't think they have it. You know, Dodgers, I don't think they, I don't think it's their year. Now, Moogie is starting to look like mooky again at the right time, which is a little concerning. Padres, offense, not really. You know, and rotation-wise, I mean, Pavetta could be their ace, which is hilarious, you know. No words.

Sorry, Michael King. Michael King being back is back. Nevada, you Darvish, that's the, yeah. And Seas has not been good this year. No, as a fantasy owner of Dylan Seas. It's really, those teams are good, and they can turn it on, and I get it. I just think the Phillies are playing so well right now.

I just, I think they're more well-rounded. than those teams lineup wise pitching wise bullpen wise and overall feeling i think that they're in a good spot it's really the brewers from the standpoint of like they don't make mistakes they don't make mistakes they're aggressive they're on you and the Phillies i feel like the Phillies are they kind of let other teams dictate how they play sometimes and the brewers will exploit that plus their their bullpen is light out lights out like the five have more John, who's nasty from the left side, but I'm trying to think they have another lefty that I'd be super afraid of. I feel like the Brewers have, like, just roll them out there,

where it could completely neutralize, you know, Shoreburn and Harper. So for me, like, I feel confident against all of those teams. The Brewers are the one that would give me some cause for pause and the Paws and the Fills would have to really be on their P's and Cues to, to win that series. I feel really similarly. Like the Dodgers and the brewers are the teams that like kind I would put just clearly at the top for me. Like the Padres, I know they have tons of talent. They just don't scare me. The Mets don't scare me. I know the city field thing. I don't love it. But they just, this Mets team just feels like it doesn't have it. And the Cubs like, ironically, I think the Cubs have the third best record in the National League. It just doesn't matter

because they're in the central. But I'm with you on the Cubs, like especially from a starting pitching perspective. They just, they just don't scare you. Yeah. Well, And I do have a, and this might be, you know, 2010 and 2011 Jack speaking, but I, I don't, I don't need the Giants getting in. Oh, totally. Or the Reds on it. Well, I kind of like the Reds over the Mets, but like the Reds are they're pitching and Tito, like, they're a little, uh. A little frisky. A little frisky.

Yeah. But the Giants, you want to talk about. No, we talk about it. We talk about. Colby Ross videos, a week highlight. I can't, I can't do it. I don't want to. I don't want to.

But we talk about City Field all the time. They can't win out there. Oh, I forgot. God, yes, you're right. That's been since, like, 2012, or that's used and news of it. Yeah. Before 20. Even before, even before, even the great teams couldn't win out at AT&T Park and then now Oracle Park.

I don't need that. I don't need that. I don't need that. I don't need that. Yeah, well, not all of us are ancient. And they had a walk off with the Patrick Bailey inside the park. Oh, I forgot. Oh, God, what a disaster that was.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. All right. I don't really want the Giants. Good call. I agree on that. Yeah, it's a good call. All right.

Let's get the take back. All right. Covered a lot so far the podcast. By the way, congratulations to Aden, finishing out the year up in Lehigh Valley. Oh, and we should give up real quick,

real quick a shout out to everyone that came out to screwballs the other night because we had a freaking awesome time. It was a great crowd. So many people showed up for the trivia to hang out, watch a game. Obviously an awesome, dominant performance from our Phil's.

Jack won as Harper anytime home run bet. It was a lot of fun. It was a lot of fun. Well, yeah, a little doubt. Well, it almost went yard early. The end of the game, yeah, I know, I know. And I was like, oh, come on. Oh, no, no, it's really good.

So, uh, so screwballs is great. It was great. And Aiden is in AAA and, you know, which is fun. We're looking forward to next year already. I wonder if he probably, it probably just starts there. He probably just starts there after. I think so. Yeah.

And he will start the year as one of the youngest players there. Yeah. And he's also going in the Arizona Fall League along with Dante Nor. which is very exciting. Dante Nori brought up to Redding as well, along with Arun Escobar, a little and over his head in Redding, but that's all right. Yeah, yeah, it's been a big year for Don't. Aiden struggled a little bit in Reading at first, too.

You got to get your feet wet. You got to get your feet wet. So a lot of fun things happening in the minor leagues. So he's probably not going to be able to do it. He would need to go, like, nuclear for the next. Shwerver, are you going? Yeah. He's not getting his seat.

It would be so weird, though, watching him, like, legitimately chased down Ryan Howard. Oh, my God, I know. I would be happy for him, but there is a part of me that's like, like Ryan Howard being 58 home runs and being Ryan Howard and winning a World Series and being a pillar of the best run of my life,

I kind of want him to still have that record. I do. I want Ryan Howard to still be the single season home run gang. So I do too. And look, I will be happy if Shriver gets there and all that. Of course. Ecstatic. And essentially if you get to 60,

then it kind of makes it like that extra level of cool. But yeah, I'm with you. I feel like the Shwera season's already been great enough. Like the fact that for me, him getting to 50 becoming the first player ever with 50 homers and a four home run season in the same year. Like, you know, he's had an MVP type year. We've done all that stuff. Like I don't, it'd be cool. Don't get me wrong.

But I'm with you. Like I don't need it. Like this Shwerber year is already so memorable and so cool to me. Like it doesn't need that extra, you know, over the top. Yeah. So, yeah. I just, yeah. I like, I like that Ryan Howard.

is still the home run game. So what's it? We get 15 games left, 14 games. Yeah. So you have to have nine homers or eight to tie it. Like it's very unlikely he gets there. But that's his thing with Schwerber. I mean,

it's four in a game. You never know. Yeah. Now, if it's coming down the stretch running, he's two behind them, they got three games left. It's going to be exciting. It's going to be exciting.

It's going to be exciting. It's going to be exciting. So I did, I did try to rank the Schwerber season since 2000. And, oh, oh, oh, I love this. I did tweet. it out but it's all right oh i didn't see it see different audience beautiful thing so i ranked it this shoreboard season five okay lidge is oh eight four okay rollins oh seven three howards oh six two and halliday's ten i knew i would have bet my life that you were going to

put halliday there um come on man so i think it's between howard and and and holiday i grew with you I mean, it's so funny, too, because that Jimmy year, the 2020, 24, you think it's Ryan Howard for me. Oh, man. Dude, he threw a perfect game. I know. And anyone the side. I don't know if I young. It's probably.

You're probably right. You're probably right. You're probably right. But again, 306 with 58 home runs. 306. 58. I know. I know.

I know. You're right. Because of the era and how 50 home runs wasn't quite the same as 58 home run today. and what holiday i think you're probably right i think it's probably by the way it was 313 batting average was it 313 oh bad job by me even better 313 okay bad 13 is my favorite number it's a horrible job but 58 149 uh 659 uh 659 slugging percentage yeah absurdity it's a video game numbers i think he hit 10 home runs in september if i remember correctly like he just went nuts down the stretch

down the stretch of that year. Yeah, Howard's Howard's 06 is pretty rarefied error, but, but. You could say holidays led to a playoff birth while Howard didn't, which is something there too. If you want to,

if you want to try and find the distinctions, you know. Nine home. I just like to say they're all great and I love the Phillies and I don't need to rank my Phillies against each other, but you know,

would never do it. Yeah. I don't know if I brought this up on the podcast or if I said it on the radio, but speaking of like Rollins is 20 and 20 and 20 whatever the million 20s he had thinking about how good this tray season has been where he's going to finish top five in MVP and could win the batting title and he has seven triples it's unbelievable whereas rollins i had 20 triples is stupid it's crazy

especially playing 81 games at cbp where it's not it's hard to triple yeah you're right Avernous. So yeah. And J. rolls first, it is a Philly triple. Last it is a Philly triple. Oh,

I didn't know that. Really? That's a neat little factoid. I didn't know. That's a good one. I like that. Bring the bill. Yeah.

So the other thing with the Jimmy thing, too, is just on the field. If you add in the team to beat thing, it does elevate that Jimmy season. You know, because he really backed it up. And that was a bold thing to do. And he really,

I really love that Jimmy season. I think you're right it's holiday but like those three like those yeah they're just they're cut above and I would never point out

that utterly should have won MVP if he stayed healthy that year would never do that what he had 337 if John Landon didn't break his hand dude he was being he was on fire first half so the two best

offensive players well no this is this is a lie but just first half Utley in 08 and then first half of Bonia is in 09 still some of the most Bonas and it was nuts

It was stupid Oh and then this Saturday I'll be out of that with those teams like I'm not gonna get right But like off the top of my head like They have like five guys who had 30 or more home runs That team in 09 I mean they had Howard

Worth Abanias I don't think Worth got the 30 in 09 Worth had more than Abanias Worth had like 38 that year That was in 09 I'm sure of it I think that was look it up

Look it up Look it up Look it up I am looking at I don't know. It's going to be wrong. Oh, yeah, I am wrong. Yeah.

36. I was close. He was second on the team, right? Wasn't more second on the team that year? God, what a player, man. How about that, right? How about that? And then he followed it up with a 296, 27 home run, 46 double days.

He's definitely the most underrated guy of those years. Like, not just here, probably nationally. Like, people never talk about what a, he was a great player who elevated even more in the playoffs. Well, it was the funny. part about those teams is that obviously it's on offensively Rollins at Lee Howard but like

so true dude Victorino like we had dude Bonyes pens like these at like Victorino Victorino victory enough victory has their most hits in the postseason I still believe him and Rollins are tied they're tied for most hits yep so

like I just man Victorino and Worth had the most RBI for a while in the post season like the home run leader for a while until Schwerber or passed him, you know, like, like those, that's such a great point, Jack. Like, they had dudes who were like super star level players in the playoffs that weren't the top three super stars.

And the Phillies offered Shane Victorino back to the Dodgers for $50,000. And they said, no. And then, thank you, Dodgers. And put him in Wilkesbury. So, yes, like, it's amazing. Victorino, and then, and then worth off of this, the scrap heap, turning into a $125 million dollar player. Pat Gillick was great.

No, I think. Gillick was Worth. Victorino was the other one. I think Victorino was Wade. Yeah. Victorino was Wade, but Worth was obviously Gillick. Yes. Delick drafted Worth.

Yeah. I know. I know. I know. Now, never mind. Gillick had some misses, but whatever. Oh, he did.

But, but I mean, Pat Gillick is, I mean, arguably the greatest general manager in this or the sport other than like those Yankee, like whatever back in the day and the, well, what about what about when Dave,

Nebraska wins the world. And Theo. And Dave. Theo is obviously the top of everything, not counting Theo. Theo's in a class himself. But I mean, Gillick, I mean, those, dude, have you ever gone back and looked at those Blue Jays teams? Like, it's nonsensical how great those Blue Jays teams were.

I mean, it's like Hall of Famer, Hall of Famer, like eight time All-Star, Hall of Famer, eight-time All-like, it's crazy anyway. Yeah. And then we got cooked and McVail. Yeah. Oh, I know. What a drop off that was.

What a drop-off. They thought they were getting Gillick 2.0. We don't, we don't, buddy. this guy just kneeled on the football basically for four seasons he's like he's in my chat clear cool yeah yeah it was the most like it's just the most kneeling on the football job i've ever seen it was ridiculous so oh look a nice little trip down memory memory lane and once again once again if this team like this team deserves a world series so that we can talk about them in in the immortal sense that we talk about like the o8 guys i just i want those guys

these guys to be remembered as legends here that is what deserve it no i agree with you they i we all we love them like you know these guys have been there and been through this and then to be the first team in 12 years to get back and the whole thing and all that plus like it would just so change the tenor of conversation in our text are with elliott short parks if the phillies could just get this done for you like that it'll never be the same jack that text thread will change forever like you will have hand in that text thread forever. So do it for that, if nothing else. You know what I'm saying? Yeah. Yeah. And like, just for my mental sanity, like, just, just place when the world series. I don't like having to like always be darn up defensive. I know. And it would be

really nice to just open up and just celebrate. I just want to be left alone and I want to love my baseball team. And I want to be, I want to do this podcast. It's a very small list of demands here. I'm really not asking for much. I don't really want. I don't need to relitigate Harper every single day. I just hope he's good in the fall season and I hope he gets a World Series. So like we don't have to do the like every day is Bryce good anymore thing like on the

freaking world series. So he can be so I can free giant God status. Like me too, man. I'm with you. All the players desperately need it. More I, we said this in the past. I'll say it again. There's no player in my life in Philadelphia sports.

so I've wanted to win a title more than I want to price everyone. That's just it. Just it. All right. Royals this weekend. Ah, Bueller. Two or three. Why not?

Yeah. Come on, man. Roll out of bed. Roll out of bed. They're not good. I am very much. This, I guess the Dodgers series is still important.

Oh, Monday, Monday, no, that's big. That's the last one. Yeah. It still matters. When they came back and won that game yesterday, I was very much like, get me to October. Me too.

Me too. Me too. I was like the analysis over. We're getting a buy. Like, let's just, you know, but they still have to get the buy technically.

The daughter is a big one. It's a big series. Yeah, because if nothing, like that's a, that's a real like take one or three series. Depending on what happens this weekend. Like,

if they handle business this weekend, like you just got to take one. You know, like seriously. So, you know, and then if they take two, it's over, you know,

so. If they go out there and take two or three. Oh, oh, the boys. The boys. Holy cow. All right.

We'll be back after we. Again, probably Sunday, I would assume, depending on our schedules, but definitely after the Royal Series and then set you up for the big Dodgers series. Let's get knocked over. What are we doing here? Let's go. Oh, let's go. Saturday.

Saturday, King of Prussia. Oh, look, you get into my plate to the end of five. Saturday, King of Prussia, go get Jack's book. Where is it at? Conchalk and Brewing Company. Conchall. Oh, wow. Shout out to Glenn Mac now.

How about that? You go hang out with Glenn Mac now, drink some good beer and get Jack's book. Ring the bell book. ring the bell go get it beautiful thing thank you there we go never enough