High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - It Simply Needs To Be October 4th

Episode Date: September 26, 2025

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to the Phillies' series win over the Marlins and take a look at how the team's pitching rotation could set up when the playoffs start next week. 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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What's up, guys? 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 this is the high hopes podcast on the odyssey app and sports radio 94 wip the crowd is singing high hopes smiling through a broken nose oh high hope

I feel a little less along. Yo, it is another edition of the IOS podcast. Sponsored Miller, like official partner of the Philadelphia Phillies. Taste like Miller Time, Philadelphia. Celebrate response to me, Jack. I just want to, like, I just want the yo to go forever.

Like, I am so ready for the playoffs. I'm so ready to bring it. like it's got time you i know you've probably tweeted a hundred times i know i've seen at least once but like it just has to be october fourth a classic jack fritz line it has to be october fourth how you doing i'm doing good i'm doing good although i will say i'm getting a nice you know there's few sports things i still care really really deeply about you know like i did i get super invested in and get heartbroken when things don't go my way i'm getting a good taste of it early with how the Ryder Cups going.

And it's really getting... For those who are new listeners to the pod, like, Jack really cares about the Ryder Cup. And as always, like, you, every year, we talk about the Ryder Cup on this spot, you love the Ryder Cup. Every two years, yes. I mean, there is, there was nothing better.

Every year it happens, I meant, yes. But there was nothing better than like in college, when they have to go to European soil, I'd be up at 4 in the morning, me and my college friends, just like consuming Ryder Cup content. You want to talk about the 2008 World Series, 2008 comeback at Valhalla is one of the most remarkable golf moments of all the time. And the Hunter Mayhan shot in 2012 was still one of the worst moments of my life, 2013, whatever. But like, so they're getting blasted early at home. And I just, I'm pretty upset about it.

I was pretty tight about it. We had a Walker, a doctor report morning updating the phone, watching them just go down like dogs. The United States team is essentially every year in the Ryder Cup, the last couple of years, is the Phillies last year in the Mets series, where one team cares way more than the other, and they go down like dogs. But you know what can't happen for this Phillies team is they can't go down like dogs,

and I don't think they're going to go down like dogs. Well, I think to the point you just made, like, look, It's not like they didn't care in the last years. I do think they desperately wanted to win and all that. But it does feel, and we've talked about it so much, but it does feel like this group just has a different energy, a different vibe, but different, like, feel about them as we headed into the playoffs

where they're, like, it feels like this group knows, like they have to get it done. You know, it feels like there's that, that urgency, but not not in the last year it was like, oh, we got to win the World Series. That was it. It feels like almost like a quiet urgency, but it does feel like this team,

the way they talk, the way they're going about their business, like they know what's in front of them and what they have to do to get there and that as the group, it might be their last chance. Like as the group, the guys were free agents,

the whole thing, you know what I mean? Yeah. And I think the thing that just in listening to them talk and we had Dave Nobrowski on the afternoon show yesterday. Which was a great interview. If you check it out at Odyssey App and all that was really, they let Jack ask a bunch of questions.

It was great. Loved it. I was like, my dude's freaking interviewing Dombrowski. I felt like by himself for a few minutes here. It was great. Well, I kept waiting, I'm so used to when we interview people and you are just like, all right, Jack's going to nerd out for like five minutes and we'll bring it back. I was waiting for Spike to be like, all right, because I had more.

Like I wanted to. I'm sure you did. Yeah. You have no idea. I brought it up in the meeting. I'm a big, I'm a big check the temperature guy in the pre-show meeting, see what flies, see what doesn't fly. Sometimes you've got to press the button a little bit and see, okay, that was a little too far. We got to bring it back a little bit.

And in the pre-show meeting, I was like. I really just want to ask him about Aiden Miller and how he thought about his, about his end of season. And they both were like, you're not doing that. No, we're like, nope. We have a limited number of questions that we can ask. That will absolutely not be one of them. And I was like, all right, fine, fine.

Well, it is one of those things where it's like, because you want to ask him, we could spend four hours asking Dave Debrowski questions, you know? And it's like, you got a, you got a priority. I mean, like, we have Nick Siriani on every Monday. And it's basically like, all right, we're going to get like four questions in for Nick. Pick your best four. because he's going to talk for four minutes on each question and filibuster, and he's so good at it now.

So you've really got to strategize. Oh, yeah, 100%. You got to get the important ones out of the way. But just in listening to them talk and listening to Nebraska yesterday, you know, I was so struck last year heading into the postseason when Debrowski was sitting there in his pre-NLDS availability. And I just remember him saying something along the lines of, well, I hope we hit. Totally.

And at that moment, I was like, they're cooked. They're so cooked. It's not even funny. I think there's a much more quiet confidence about this group. And every single time we have that little feeling in our gut, the little pit in our stomach that is saying, ah, I don't like that. Like, I really didn't like the last game in Arizona.

Me too. Absolutely. No one watched. No one watched. No one cared. But, you know, I didn't like the effort out there. And Ranger didn't necessarily have it. I mean, it was six runs in like the second age, got roughed up.

but yeah and then the first game of this series they score early we're like all right great they're fine they're back and then just the bad baseball and and some of the bullpen warts starting to show themselves there was that little pit in my stomach of i don't want to see this heading into the postseason like this is the wrong time to have these kind of stinkers i want them to run through the rest of the season not just get to the rest of the season but then they went out and hit eight home runs in a game and it was okay we got it we got it we got it it. Yeah, last night.

And Lazzardo was freaking aces. Nails. Nails. Hazis Lazzardo. So, taking two or three from a pretty desperate team. They're not talented team, but they were desperate.

But they won 12 of 13 coming into the series. You know, like I guess it was 12 of 13 with that first win in the series. But like they've been playing great baseball and we're still technically, shockingly, mathematically alive until the Phillies beat them, you know? Yeah. So it's like to your point,

yes, it was like the Marlins, but it was a Marlins team that was playing really hot baseball. I had nothing to lose, was playing 20. win and a Phillies team that to your point look like we're starting to feel our three straight losses. It's like, hmm, like this team's grooving. I don't love what I'm seeing. And then when they have to, it's like, all right, magic numbers one, we're going to go out and we're going to kick this team's ass tonight. And they did. And to your point, Jack, I feel like this group,

the 2025 group, as opposed to the 24, the 23, the 22 group has done that so many times this year. There have been so many times where we've been like, oh, goodness, this isn't great. I don't love what I'm seeing for a game or two or eight or whatever. And they've righted the ship every time and not just righted it, but write it like emphatically. It feels like every time they need to, they go out and they hit a eight home or game or have a game like that where it's like when they want to,

it almost feels like they can go out and handle business. And at least for me, Jack, I didn't feel the same way about the 23, 24, 22 clubs in this specific area. Yeah, I think that two. The 22 club, who knows how we felt. I mean, that was a run. The 23 club, I think 23 is the comparable thing. I think we all last year felt like the Mets were riding higher and the Phillies weren't.

We were trying to talk ourselves in it. 23, we felt like that team was ready to go and all that. But it is crazy to think that was still, what, an 89 win team or something in 2020? Sure. But as we felt about them, they still lost the division by, what, 12 games to 101 win Braves team or whatever it was, and a Mets team that was 101 wins. So, like, I agree with you. We felt confident about them, but this team has been a better baseball team all season long.

Well, in the 23 team, I think the thing that looking back on that I feel is fair about them is that their whole thing was just, let's play at CBP and let's have fun. I don't think they truly knew how to win. I don't think they knew how to win. They got through the adversity, really, in that type of thing. Like, they got in and they destroyed the Marlins and like they did the Braves thing again. I think they locked in for the Braves thing. series and that was good but once they got punched in the Arizona series I they didn't have the they

didn't know how to how to cut a counter punch and that's where I think with this team heading into the postseason they've been more battle tested they've been through wars they know what makes each other tick a little bit and the other thing that I think is is really really important and cannot be overstated is outside of outside of one more true truly locked down right-handed arm to get the ball to Duran. Maybe that arm is really just Matt Strom. Like maybe he is just the eighth inning guy that can be the bridge to Duran. They're just so deep and well-rounded pretty much everywhere else.

I mean, Amundo Sosa had a three-home run game and he has no shot, really, at starting in the postseason. Because of... I mean, like, even having, like, Weston Wilson come in for an at bat or, or, you know, like those type of things like I feel way more confident auto I don't dude I don't got a 902 OPS since he came back up he's been freaking awesome like I'm with you like to that point even the bench and stuff I will feel way more confident with these guys pinch hitting with these guys coming in in big spots or these guys maybe getting a start or whatever like they're just it's such a good point Jack they are just a deeper better team

yeah it's it's an organization that I think is taking a big step forward from the standpoint of they have a bunch of of majorly quality players that can step in and do a job come up and do a job there's not really a super big hole with this team just not i mean i think i think the right-handed options before getting the ball to duron is a really big issue i think that's probably the biggest thing i'm worried about heading into the postseason is that specific thing because I've almost given up the idea of kirkering. I don't trust him at all. I don't trust him at all.

Zero. And having some magical postseason. I mean, Gelb had the article the other day about how when he gets to a game, he's looking at his horizontal and vertical movement to see if he has it. You know, he's, I believe he wrote that he's referring to the 2025 season in the past already,

which feels 09-Hamels-ish. Yeah, it does. It's a great comp. It feels O'9 Hamill is. And I don't, I don't know if he. O-9, Litchish, too, you know? Well, yeah, I mean, injury caused it, but you know what I mean?

He was a disaster. Yeah, so, so he, I've, I'd be pleasantly surprised if Kirkering all of a sudden goes on a run in the postseason and locks on that job. I'm not backing out at this point. And Robertson, I still mostly trust, like, he's gotten big outs for them at points this year. It was good last night.

You know, yeah. Yeah, but before last night, he allowed runs in, what, four out of five guys. yep so maybe leaking oil a little bit i still mostly trust them but it's not like we're watching some it's not we're watching 20 2015 Kelvin herrera or or madsen back in the day where it's like there's the the bridge to to the closer so and again maybe it's just strong like maybe we're overthinking it it's going to be strong and strong's been freaking nails or his last last 15 outings and it's very evident that they they they finally listen to the

And did a little phantom IL without actually putting him on the eye. Desperately needed. And look at the change. Like he's a different pitcher. He looks completely different now. And it's not just the numbers. It's eye test. You watch him and he just looks like the Matt Strom we've seen the last two years.

The guy's taken down so many things, never been heard, had to start his first time he got here. And he needed a break. He needed a break. And he had him pitched before last night. He hadn't pitched since last Monday. So that's a lot of time off for a guy who pitches a ton. So I didn't think they wanted, I don't think they wanted to use an IL spot just in case, like,

they had to break glass in case of an emergency, bring him in a, in an extra inning game or something. But they clearly, I think, make it a concerted effort to try to limit his innings for the last little bit here and make sure he's as fresh as possible. So again, maybe it's probably going to be strong. I know it's going to be strong, but they still do need another right to step forward. The one that I think is going to be interesting from that standpoint is, is Walker Bueller. So that was going to be the thing that I wanted to go. to it. I'm happy you did it because

I think that's the big question. I think for most Phillies fans right now, it's the Walker Bueller versus Nola thing, obviously for that fourth starter, when they need it, if they need it. But to your point, Walker Bueller has pitch out of the pen, not a ton,

but he has pitch out of the pen. He closed out the World Series last year. He has the stuff to play out of the pen. Where are you at with the, because look, you and I have been pretty consistent with still thinking here and Noel's going to get a start kind of no matter what we see.

I still feel that. that way, but I think there's a large, large, large portion of Phillies fans who, if you start Aaron Nola over Walker Bueller in a playoff game, are going to be very, very, very upset about it. So what, what do you see happening? And do you think Bueller makes sense as like a, not Swiss Army night per se, but like a guy you can use out of the pen in some big spots is right in a guy? Yeah. So one, I would not trust Walker Bueller in a playoff start over Aaron Loll at this point.

Wow. Even, I mean, he looked awesome last night, Bueller. I don't think he looked awesome at all. I thought. I'd shut out one hit. Like, numbers were good. Smoking mirrors.

Really? I really, yeah. Hold up, but hold up, hold up. That's fine. But like,

Aaron Nola is only, like he's at one start. Like one good start. We were there. Maybe we'd just have to be at every game, which we'll be with the playoff game. But like, I get it.

But I, you know better than me, especially watching Bueller and longer and the smoke of mirrors and whatever. But like, Aaron Nolan doesn't even have smoke. It's just mirrors. It's like, I don't know, you know. I still think that Nola has close to his stuff when he's peak Nola.

I know peak Nola is a bit of a stretch. Yes. Walker Buehle to me just doesn't look like, at least when he's starting, doesn't look like he still has the, like, a good enough fastball. I mean, the fastball looked pretty, it was, it was like 93 last night. It was all over the place. He didn't have command of it at all. like I think

I don't think he was that happy with his outing he went to the bullpen after to continue to work on stuff he walked three guys he struck out two again you give him credit for battling his way through it but also there are some

some double play balls in there that one was ripped right at a guy that he was able to get doubled up on and I was watching him last night and just thinking in the postseason against a much better offense, I think he gets blasted. So I know it was five shut out.

I know he's got a, I know he's got a, I know he's got a 0.66 IRA since becoming a Philly. Now, while saying that, I thought in Arizona, when he was just tasked with, hey, let it all loose for three or four innings, I thought that was a much different version of Walker Bueller. Like I thought the fastball played up a little bit. I thought he was much more aggressive within the strike zone. And like that was what intrigued me more than I'm more intrigued with Walker Bueller

as a righty option out of the pen where he's told go give us two or go give us one and let go out. Yeah. Rather than expecting him to go out and navigate through. Yeah. I just didn't see it last night. I really didn't. I know. And look, it's interesting.

It's really, it's an interesting take from you because, you know, I think most Phillies fans see the start, see the numbers and just say, all right, well, that guy's better than Nola. Yeah, I just, I don't. I would still give the ball to Nola. The problem is they don't, I mean, they're not going to really need them. Well, yeah, that's the beautiful thing. But NLCS, I mean, if they win that first round, they'll need them, you know?

I'm really curious what they're going to do with Nola in the, in the D.S. This is someone who has never pitched out of the bullpen. And I mean, they want to give me like two weeks off too, yeah, because I'll have the week off. then it be yeah i know you're right are they gonna are they gonna feel comfortable enough to pitch him out of the bullpen i don't think so i don't think so right but if you're the phillies he's starting he's starting tonight right against joe ryan tonight he's tonight he's since he's probably not i understand you want to get him and his footing down back as a starter or whatever but i want they can't do it now because taiwan pitched last night and walker biller pitched last night but if they

have someone else start the game and just see what nola would do and like just coming out of the bullpen like it'd be smart it'd be smart to just get a feel for it and see what you know but i's a little test run yeah i but i'm with you i think i think he's starting in game i think it'll i think he's going to get a start i think i'll have i think they'll have a short leash on him i think though whether it's bueller or walker or someone ready in case he struggles but i'm with you i think er nil's going to start a playoff game i don't know what they're going to do in that d s i really that's an interesting situation. My guess is he just doesn't pitch in the DS and he just waits, but I don't know. Maybe. Maybe, but if they need a tough, could he be a, could he be a fireman?

Oh, can you imagine? No, like Zach Eflin was, right? Yeah, come on, man. Probably has better stuff than it is pretty nuts. The 22 pen. It was freaking Zach Eflin and David Robertson and Sir Anthony and Ovarado. Like, what a, what a absurd pen that was. Guts and Gile, that's right and and and and prime angi blotty yeah forget and and connor brogden before he started knelt no brogden was okay you're right that's a good call a kind of rogden i wish brogden was good i love brogden we were we were the brogden we were in on brogden i know it's a shame shame yeah you want to talk about looking at a guy in a big moment and saying oh yeah no shot yeah you could like there aren't that many guys you can look at their face and be like that

guy is scared out of his mind right now like you could see it with conner dude he struck out yorda alvarez and what the cow sucker in the world series i know it was like a super super low leverage spot but come on man there's still something there that's still something there yeah but yeah i just i do wonder if it would deploy nola out of the bullpen at all in the in the in the in the in the nl ds and they do have options like let's say you know game one i'm pretty much if he doesn't go seven innings of two run baseball i'll be shocked at this lord with Chris Sanchez. My expectations for Christopher Sanchez are through the roof.

They just are. But now, with even Lozardo in game two and Ranger in game three, you could get super aggressive and say, give us four, let it all out there. And then we got Nola Walker and Bueller, who could get you through the- Is that a different look and stuff? Through the middle portion of the game.

The problem is, I need homeless. I need Holmesardo. I need Zeus. I'm so ready for it. I love that guy. He's so much. He's the man. Yeah. Extend him. Everyone's going with you, dude. I mean, what a year. Especially for someone who never come close to the amount of innings he threw this year to lock back in after the midseason or earlyish midseason struggles and to do what he did. I said it on the air yesterday. Like if you take out those two starts, the 20 runs in five and two thirds innings, he ended the season with a 303 ERA. I mean, that's awesome. That's over 200 strikeouts. That's. That's, over 200 strikeouts. That's. That's freaking awesome. Like, and the way he's locked back in after the Wheeler and Dr. I know we've talked about it in general with the group, but Lazzardo, probably the biggest difference between the guy before and after, you know, he has been so good for this team and such a, such a massive addition.

It's exciting as this pod once told you about. I'm glad you brought up, I'm glad you brought up the, uh, the 20 runs and two out of his thing because I, I tweeted that out yesterday. And, and, and I got a lot, did it do numbies? Oh, it was all right. But then, but the, the, the, the, the, the most. annoying thing about doing something like that is like the responses of yeah well if if my aunt oh god

i know i yeah it's like yeah it's like yeah we get it dude good one how stupid are you i understand that he you can't take out those two outings yeah it's just on the overall scope of the season he was a damn good pitcher now it wasn't just those two starts he had the red sox start that's why I just took those two out because it felt like I'm not taking out all as bad starts it was just like those two felt like a real outlier 20 runs and back to back starts so it felt like it's interesting

to see what it would have been if you just take those two starts away dude it's so funny how when we say this every year by the end of the year how how both long and fast a baseball season is it's crazy it's like it's like it's the adage as a parent too whereas like the days are long but the years are short

but the years are short And it's so true. It's unbelievably true. And with the baseball season, I mean, Lazzardo had the tipping pitches issue in Toronto. And then he had the problems out of the stretch, which they fixed. That was all within this year. Mick Abel pitched for this team. He's going to pitch against them this weekend.

How about that? On Saturday. The lineup that set the franchise record for home runs in a game didn't have Bryce Harper or J.T. Real Muto. it or Trey Turner in it. Like, we're going to tell, we're going to tell, you know, 30-year-old and 25-year-old Walker and Zoe that the team that set the franchise record for home runs in a game was Bader, Schwaber, Boe, Castiano, Kemp, Sosa, Wilson, Stott, Marshon.

That's it. That's the team that hit eight home runs in a game. That they hadn't hit seven home runs in a game until in 1998. This is a franchise that had been around since 1883. They did it again 20 years later, I guess in 2018. They did it in 21. And in the same month, they have had two seven home run games. In the same month.

Wow. And that wasn't the same month, but was Schwerber in this month? Or was that August? I think it was the end of August. I think. I could be wrong, but it's somewhere around there. Yeah. Yeah, and a four home run game in there as well.

so it was so funny whenever Rob Thompson would say we're going to slug I would essentially mock him okay Rob okay in the power department they've been really good much better they really picked it up they really did because through the first half of the season I mean you looked at their home run numbers and it was like Schwerber obviously way up there and then it was like it took a while for them to even have like a second double digit guy it felt like and then obviously it's second 20 homer guy until Harper got there and the injuries all like it really and now they're like Harper's close to 30 you know even with the games missed

you know they got a bunch of guys over 20 like they kind of like have gotten there yeah no and and Marr stepping up from that standpoint yeah they they're okay and I will say I will say that Bryson's dot home run the other night in the in the

you know eight homer game that was one of the better swings I like hits whatever you want to say about like that I was already in on brides in top of the playoffs like that swing i was like this guy's back dude this guy's that was the exact type of stuff where where last year that ball flies out to like not even the warning track it's like right before the warning track goes out and he freaking smoke that

ball i'm really psyched that's not now do you think they do you think major league baseball has juice the balls in the last week or two i mean maybe maybe they're going for it cow raleigh baby they got raleigh they got schwirves let's go uh judge hit two home runs the other night you see that was the first time in baseball history that three players over 50, all over 50 homers or got over 50 in the night had two homer games in the same night.

Yeah, it was, it was absurd. And then like, at Munoz, also one arming balls, 400 and some feet. Oh, I know. I know. It's not hitting one 441. I don't know. It was a little investigate the balls. A little fishy. A little fishy as they said. Just, just saying. Just saying. I mean, some of those home runs were

I know. That's what I mean the style one was a tank shot, man. 441. I mean, they're all just like flying out to left setters. Like everyone's like, boom. I understand it was a human night down at CVP, but. Hitting season, baby. Hitting season. Little fishy. Rally's rallies, one-arming balls out of. What is crazy. Like the baseball is like acknowledge that they have these Goldilocks balls and stuff. Like, okay. The Aaron Judge, it's like the numbers on the Golden Rock Ball is like, so you're like telling us that the Aaron Judges was like a little aided. Okay. Cool.

Weird. But thank you for that. Yeah. Yeah. Who needs it? It's all entertainment, right? I mean, right.

I mean, I'm the one who said in the vast make steroids legal in baseball. Let's hit some home runs, boys. Let's go. Let's get the game back. Let's get the game back. The game we love. Yeah.

Yeah. Only home runs. All right. One last thing before the take bag and then we'll get out of here. But I gave you a homework assignment. Now, We have found out what the Phillies plan is. Debrowski said it.

Topper said it looks like the Phillies are planning to take a day off on Monday, a workout on Tuesday, an intra squad game on Wednesday, another workout on Thursday, not sure what they're doing on Friday. I had positive the idea of maybe doing multiple intrasquod games of really kind of going for it this week and staying locked in and keeping the believers certainly warm and all that.

I asked you, what would you do? If Jack Fritz were in charge of the Phillies, if Debrowski and Taver came in his jacket to check, we need you, buddy. how do we do this what do we do to get ready for the playoffs what would you say well much like most of my uh school career didn't do the homework you didn't even think about it until you just brought it up that's great that's good

yep yep so um no the one thing i don't want to do the one thing i definitely don't want to do is i don't want to overwork them like i don't want i know the camera uh Oh, he's, he's freaking ready. Oh, play all day, 24-hour day baseball game. Let's go. When you think of toughness and athletes, yeah, he's holding this team today. Yeah, the paragon of toughness. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

So the one thing I would do is I would bring off some minor leaguers and let them face the, the bullpen arms. Like, I think the bullpen arms are the ones that I am most shook by. Me, too. Like, I'm okay with having, I want the big league guy. to get some at bats but also i really want bryce to get rest i i i worry about his his wrist and whatever almost every single day and you know he's he's hitting 180 something in the last seven games overstarts buddy that's all it matters just wins when it shows up when the team needs him he can hit home he can hit home runs when they when they need it that's what that's that's how we talk

about sports you just lock in yeah whenever he wants to it's like you know what i'm going to at home run at this about. I feel like it. Yeah, exactly. So him, I want to make sure he's healthy. Trey, obviously want to make sure he's healthy. Big time. Trey is probably the biggest question mark going in from an offensive perspective, just because you don't know what you're going to get. You don't know. And look, for those who didn't see it, really good comments from Trey, he did say very strongly. Like, it is not as bad as the one last year now that I've gone through it. I'm feeling much better. He thinks he'll be able to open it up. But we know what it was like last year. He couldn't open it up. Like, he just, he wouldn't. I should say he

wouldn't open it up. So, you know, that's a thing of turn. We want the timing, but also he has been such a irritant for teams on the base pass this year and has been such, such a good, aggressive runner. Like, it matters. You know, it's part of his game. Yeah. No, totally. And he can say right now all he wants, like, I feel fine, I feel fine, I feel fine. When the game starts, who knows, that's the- And will he trust it? Will he trust the hamstring to open it up? That's what it's going to come down to. Yeah. So the main thing I'm concerned about is really just the bullpen guys and trying to keep them in as much of a rhythm as I can. And even if it's not facing the big league guys, I want them facing some kind of live three times next week. Like as much as you can

to where they're not having four days off. Now at the same time, what's so funny about that is that, again, Straub hadn't pitched since last Monday. Now, I'm sure he's thrown bullpen. It's not like He just sat there with his turfs on and did nothing. But he looked incredibly sharp. We threw it 12 pitches last night and was perfectly fine. So again, I think my big overarching message, and I understand the question, I understand that people are going to talk about it for the next,

you know, week and a half really until they play. I just have a different level of trust in them that I had in them last year. I just think last year's team was cooked. I just do. I don't think any amount of extra work. this that yeah yeah i don't think it would have done anything i think that they were done i think they ran out of super hot start and i don't think they could pull themselves out of whatever funk they were in i have a different level of trust in this team i just do and and i don't have this

i really it's going to change game one the first pitch i see whatever i i just don't have this fear heading into the postseason that i that i had last year i had a little bit of fear in 23 of the marlins because the marlins thing i don't know I fell off. The Cardinal series in 22 was just, I'm so excited back. Yeah, there was no expectations. There was just, I hope we got a home playoff game. Like, that was it.

And listen, the Dodgers could come in and absolutely crush this baseball team and we're despondent. Yeah. But I just don't, I don't have much fear heading into this postseason of here comes a Phillies thinker. Here comes the Phillies choke job, at least in, in round one. So it's kind of funny. I was a buddy texting me yesterday like what do you because people have to ask me now they have to ask me on everything they preface it with what do you really think oh yeah because you're making it up

yes that's right i'm always i'm always just lying yeah exactly yeah really think uh and i kind of was just like either they get destroyed by the dodgers and the dodgers are just great again or they win the world series that's kind of i feel really really like right in that zone and look we get it like the mariners are a perfect example of a team that could they could face in the world series and the mariners pitching is freaking awesome like those dudes could come out whether it's logan gilbert prime woo freaking louis castillo like they can come out and shove and and who was heard right i don't know he just had 13 i think he got in that game in the 13th target team wow i think he left early but maybe you came back i don't either way the point is is like that is an example of a team

that could come in and out pitch you like that could happen but i'm with you jack like the dodgers i it's not even that I'm scared of the Dodgers because it's not like they've been playing great baseball. I just respect the Dodgers and I know that that team is talented enough, good enough. And again, another pitching staff where they can throw Yamamoto and Snell and glass now at you and win any game because of that. So like I respect the Dodgers, but I really don't, I don't feel like the Phillies are overmatched or outmatched in any series. Like, I feel like they're just as good as anyone they're going to play. And I feel like this group is, is as experienced and ready for this situation as any of these teams. Like, you know, we know, we know

anything can happen but I'm not I'm with you I don't go into this playoffs I'm not in fear like last year when the playoffs like afraid you know nervous like afraid that they were just going to break my heart and knowing they were going to break my heart this year I just don't expect that like they might but I'm not expected yeah and I've kind of out to the point like the only team that could beat the Phillies right now is the Phillies yeah love that what a good cliche that is oh man no one better it's one that's we're doing this podcast just all right let's do a let's do a quick take back here yeah I mean, nothing too crazy. I mean, Lazzardo was, again, was money.

I'm so impressed by him. I like how much energy he's pitched with. You look at his velocity ticks, too. You know, middle portion of the season, he was like 96 most times. He's gas in 99 still in like the in the seven, six inning. Yeah, exactly. That's good stuff. I really wanted to start game too.

I've been on, we've been on that for a while where it's, if you're at home, start Lozardo game two and start Ranger on the road. I just trust Ranger on the road more too. Like it's not just about Lozardo. It's both. You know, I trust Ranger to take the ball in any situation anywhere. It is hard to beat slow. And I just, he is starting to develop a big game feel to me where he is just attacking.

I think that's the biggest thing that's changed. We can talk about pitch mix all we want, you know, has he ditched some pitches, gone back to some pitches. The biggest thing that has changed for Hazers Lazardo is, is he's slas. Like, he's, there has clearly been a mindset shift of bleep you. And I think that's a kathomism. You know, last year, the whole bullpen had the bleep all hitters. Mantra didn't work in the postseason. But for a majority of the year, there were a great, great time.

I liked it. I liked the idea of it, yeah. And Mick Abel, they labeled him the silent assassin before the year and that. Mindset shift got Nick Abel back to being. the prospect that he was and eventually was good enough to get flipped in a jaunduron deal. So I think that is something they've really honed in on. And he's just like, he's taking it and running with it. And he's so competitive within the strike zone.

He's attacking guys. He's not nibbling. He's just going, going full, like, gas pedal down. If you can hit this, good luck. And I think that's been the most impressive thing about Lazzardo. And I cannot wait to see him at CVP in that environment with 45,000 people going nuts. And like the seventh inning strike out after he goes seven innings of one run ball striking out eight where he fires everyone up is going to be, it's going to make it's going to be a movie. It's going to be a movie.

I can't wait. And you say competitive in the strike zone. He just feels competitive, period. Like he just feels like a competitive guy to your point who shows the emotion all that. that and those are just the most fun guys when they succeed in the playoffs like when a guy get to your point strikes a guy out 10 to 7 and they're freaking fist pumping and going crazy coming up the mountain like that's awesome that's theater that's what we want so I'm right there yeah and they're probably going to get the 8 o'clock starts right because so the dodgers

we assume it'll be the Dodgers I would be shocked if they're not later in the day like they they certainly won't be the 1 o'clock or like they maybe are that like uh like 7 o'clock and then they do a later one for the West Coast, especially because the set series going to be in Chicago or in San Diego. It's in Chicago because they won the division, right? They have a better record. They're both wildcard teams, but I think Chicago has a better record than the Padres.

I'm almost positive. So I think it'll be in Chicago, but that's still an hour back. So you would think they could be later as well with the West Coast team playing in it. But it'll be fascinating. I definitely don't think we'll be during the day, though. I'd be shocked. We're not getting that.

I would love the 5 o'clock start. Especially because five o'clock's possible, especially because like when you look at the matchups, like, if it happens, Phillies Dodgers will absolutely be like the preeminent matchup of the thing. I forgot to be the Brewers. So it would be the winner of Cubs Padres versus the Brewers. So that's still an hour back. But anyway. And they're not going to put Brewers at eight over to Phillies Dodgers. I really, again, Phillies Dodgers would be the, I mean, I guess you could get Yankees Red Sox as a possibility or something like that.

There could be an AL thing that is as like big, so to speak from a from a team's perspective. like you're not going to get much bigger than Philly's Dodgers. Yeah, yeah. A lot of history, Phil's Dodgers in the playoffs, too. The most, they're the team we've played the most. Yeah. It's crazy. Let's add another chapter to it.

Yeah, buddy. We've got good history for what it's worth. Knock on wood. Yeah. So I think this is going to be the beginning of a lineup when, when Trey is back heading into the postseason. What do you think about this? Turner, Schwerber, Harper, Boehm, Marsh, Bader, JT.

I mean, I'm fine with it. I don't love Boehm in the Clamp spot. like I just don't I never will like I baiter's not a cleanup hitter but I still trust him more just in a spot so like I don't love the bone thing but I agree with you I think that is the most likely lineup I could just say like wanting to get the lefties in the middle of those three righties there and moving a marsh or someone up in between JT and I don't think you want baiter that low is the issue but I do think they could go with a lefty in between those three righties there If I could ask for one thing of the million things we're going to ask between now and the end of the year, or the end of the season, can you just give me first half of 24 Alec Bome for a month?

If you get that guy, oh, he's lifting the ball, pulling the ball a little bit. Oh, nice little bit. He's been all right since he's come back. He's unbelievable since he came back. That Homer, I mean, that was it. And also at the warning track shot prior to that, too. I know. He's been lifting it a bit.

No, I'm with you. I know. I know. Come on. I think he is the most. I think you are correct that that is the most likely top four. Yeah. Now, the one thing that I definitely want to make sure that Thompson is on top of and doesn't let linger is, I mean, especially they face the Dodgers when it's like Vesia and Scott and Dreyer and I'm not going to try to pronounce the one guy's name, but they have these lefties they can throw him.

And we already talk to the Brewer's lefties they can go, they can throw. Just don't stick with the lefties back to back just to do it. Like, Schwerber and Harper are both like above average against left and in pitching. I mean, listen, Schwerber just set a record. So, yeah. Basically, like, record against left-handed pitching this year. But don't be afraid to split those guys up, especially, you know, you can't. Like, you can't get sunk in a series and Thompson's been slow to adjust.

in series because he has what he believes but don't be slow to adjust with that thing like there's two Thompson things split up the lefties if you're getting smoked late in games I'm okay with doing it for the first two games whatever and making sure that we have a quick hook and a good plan with the starters

because we don't need to leave a guy out there one inning too long stop getting sick if everyone can stop getting sick that'd be great Kepler had the illness last night and then I want to

or if we're getting close to the point of just going back to Cassie full time in right yeah i don't know kepler is really disappointing really is going it'd be hilarious wouldn't it if the you know look i mean i will say again and i don't have any faith in castie obviously right now but he was arrested in the playoffs last year somehow some way so you know besides brice but yeah besides price but even then he like had more moments i mean that i mean had the walkoff hit had the home right even that his numbers were similar to bryce right i think they were pretty close. I could be wrong, but they were both pretty good. So, anyway, and look,

he's got moments. I mean, Casti has moments that, that 99.999% of baseball players can't even dream up, you know? And he had the big hit the other night of the Marlins game. I mean, come on. Come on. Come on. Just saying, just saying it in like 300 in September. All right. Last thing,

put your prediction hat on. Three teams live. The Mets, the Reds, the Diamondbacks. Unlikely the Diamond Max, they would really need the Mets and Reds to, you know, crap the bed this weekend. But Reds playing the Brewers. That's a fascinating one.

Still some games to play for the Brewers. Padres and the Diamondbacks, I believe, Mets, Marlins, who will be the sixth playoff team? The Reds. Wow. I'll say the Mets. And now the Reds do have the tiebreaker, so it gives them a little bit of a bonus there. I'll say the Mets finish it out against the Marlins, but I don't think it'll be the Diamondbacks.

I think it'll be one of those two. Yeah, I think that, that March they catch yesterday. felt like a moment. I agree. That was. No, that was an unbelievable. He got so high to get up there and make that catch. That was pretty awesome. All right. We'll be back next week. We'll start to preview. We'll talk about the playoffs. See what we're going to play. Get ready. Philly Dodgers, Philly's Reds, Philly's Mets, all on the table, buddy. Hopefully not Philly's diving back. We'll get on that. All right. We'll be back next week until then. He's friends themselves.