High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - It's Ok to Believe One More Time

Episode Date: September 27, 2021

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to the weekend of baseball and look ahead to the most important Phillies series in a decade. The guys preview the Braves series, discuss Ranger's magical season, and much more. 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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Hot Cloud Storage on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. This is the high hopes podcast. It's a bunch of baseball nerds talking about the Phillies on radio.com and sports radio, 94 W Y P. Yo, it is another edition of the I Am's Podcast. Jack, I'm 40, so, you know, that's a thing that happened.

The Phillies needed six of seven, and they took five of seven. In classic 2021 Phillies fashion, five of seven in classic 2021 Phillies fashion. They went, came right upon the brink of, of really, really getting us excited and said, Hey, you know what? We're going to not show up again.

Some guy named Max Kranich, who after pitching five shutout innings has a six, eight, three or a six, two, three ERA. So, Hey buddy,

you know, I gotta be honest. Obviously, um um you are now 40 yes am i allowed to do the pod i didn't even really think should i stop are we done am i no you actually you actually came out on top of the uh people of the i will say i will say it was a little close for comfort for my liking i was hoping to win unanimously, but I guess my detractors are out there or the ageists are out there, Jack. You know, I don't know if it was that or people just are very concerned about the future of the podcast.

Yeah, it's true. I mean, it's fair. I mean, like baseball's a young man's game. Everyone says that. I mean, like, baseball's a young man's game. Everyone says that. Yep. It's definitely skewering to the younger demographic.

Yeah. I mean, listen, in 636 votes, 58% of voters said to keep you. So that's why you're here tonight. It's not inspiring, Jack. I'll say that. But I'm not going to say it gave me the warm and fuzz well if it well i don't know if this will make you feel better but probably won't i'm guessing but but what you got 300 hitters end up in the hall of fame so you're better than that that's thanks buddy you're i mean look if we're going with with that uh metaphor i would be the greatest

hitter of all time with a 580 career average. So, yeah, we can go with that. I don't think it works like that. You and September Juan Sodor are the greatest hitters I've ever seen in my life. Oh, buddy. All right, where are you at? Because you're the optimist. Look, theoretically, like, by the way, just watching the end of that, I'm so sad I flipped over to watch the end of of that Braves game, like runners on first and second, no outs, bases loaded one out. And you know,

the Padres just bleeped the bat. But, uh, I mean, it was just like, come on, man. Like Will Smith was just very, very gettable in that moment. And they didn't, but where are you at right now? Cause look, theoretically, look theoretically look you know if they sweep here's the crazy thing jack if they sweep because of the extra game that theoretically they could have to play that that day after the season against colorado like theoretically the phillies could win out and still have to play the braves in one game playoff to get in. So, you know, yeah. Where you at? Well, first off, it's when the Phillies sweep the Braves.

Yes. They sweep the Braves, then lose two or three to the Marlins, right? Dude, if I could guarantee one thing, it's that they will be in first place heading into the Marlins series. And they will lose two of three to that team. There is no bigger lock in the history of locks than this team taking care of business. Again, worst come. All right.

If I can guarantee one thing, they will take two or three from the Braves. There's no doubt about that. And then they will let us down in Miami. Well, again, even if they take two or three, they'll still be trailing coming out of it. That's what today was a killer. That's why I hate the San Diego Padres. I mean, that's why I think they should be relocated.

Yeah, it's a great point. I mean, look, all the other teams are moving out and have moved out of San Diego, right? I mean, yeah. I mean, listen, they should have seen this coming the other night when there was rain and there was a rain delay in San Diego. That should have shown you all you need to know about this baseball team and how much of a joke they are.

So, yeah, I mean, honestly, I was the same as you. I was sitting there watching the Braves game like an idiot. And I was just like, oh, come on. Dude, I felt like, you know, here's the thing. And here's what I'm, like, kind of struggling with. Like, you know, I'm watching tonight. I'm watching the little Yankees, Red Sox. And it's two like

88 win baseball teams competing for first in the wild card meanwhile like like we're just hoping to win a division with like maybe 88 wins i mean i don't know like 86 wins is kind of like our goal at this point it's just for as excited as i am about uh a a playoff run and all that stuff, it's kind of disheartening knowing that they're definitely not that good at a baseball team, and that it's not like this is some stark to magical 08 level run. But I don't care. I couldn't be more all in.

I was so excited for the game today. So excited for the game today. So excited. So excited for hands, Kraus. I dug that. Yeah. Dude, it was bad. Today was definitely bad. I did not enjoy one. Thankfully, I was watching the Slaughter by the Water on my computer,

which is the Ryder Cup. Uh-huh. I mean, dude, just smoked. Boosted your spirits oh smoke the european team which was just glorious um but it didn't help that i that i watched my baseball team who was supposed to be competing for a playoff spot uh playing a hundred loss team against a pitcher with an era over eight scored no runs like it didn't't, it didn't totally erase that from, from the memory. Yeah.

How could it, I mean, what a disaster, especially again, knowing what, you know, we know that like, it was such an important baseball game today.

There are going to be a lot of them that when we look back on the season, when, you know, and that's why, you know, as much as to the point you just made, and I feel you, you know,

this is certainly not the team that I thought would be the one to end this postseason drought in terms of like they are a very mediocre baseball team. But like take advantage of a bad division like that. But the frustrating part, Jack, is they're almost definitely not going to. So you're probably not going to have to worry about a playoff run. And we're going to look back on games like this, like today's game. Like obviously the three-game series in Arizona, that first game here against Arizona, the 2-0 game against the Orioles. Like there are going to be those games that we look back on and say,

when we miss the playoffs by one, two, three games, whatever it ends up being, like we're going to say, oh, that's it. Like we missed the playoffs there there there and there and that sucks you know because because in the moment today watching it happen like i know what this is i know this is them missing the playoffs almost definitely and like it's frustrating jack now uh i don't remember it probably as well as you did and this is actually like a serious question. I'm not messing around with you.

This is not an age joke. Well, it's just because only you would remember. So you're about to ask me about when Ty Cobb was hitting and, you know, Phillies facing Ty Cobb, something along those lines. So the 1950 was around this time. No. No, but like you would remember the, guess oh four to oh six phillies more sure like was that team is this team similar to that team or is that team way better i

i think that team was was better i don't know if it was way better i mean it's very similar i think kind of a team that was just you know had some had some really nice pieces. Like, Tomi was a monster for them. But, you know, just not enough to push it over the top. Like, 86. They won like 86 games, I think, one of those years. And like 85 in others. So they were, you know, I think that's what this team is, you know ultimately and and ultimately you can probably say they were a little bit better at least in terms of production because they weren't playing in a disaster division and playing the vast majority of their games against bad baseball teams you know so you probably have to give them the edge i i uh i propose a podcast idea for you uh for the offseason are you ready for it oh can't wait i i i don't know if this is serious or not so i'm like actually excited about it i wanna i wanna hang out with you we'll do it in person yes we'll have we'll we'll have a ton of beer yes and we'll we'll go through the schedule and we will say we'll go through like oh there was a win oh there was a win and

we'll just like like go through like the games that they've blown this entire season and just do a whole podcast on like they should have won that game yep you know archie bradley down in freaking miami in the saturday night game where they lost um there's like a thousand of them so i think it sounds like a fun podcast yeah is fun the right word jack is the word it's fun it's fun in our disease yeah and torture ourselves kind of way i agree uh yeah oh gerardi blew this game oh great awesome let's talk about it yeah i'm in it sounds like a uh it sounds like it has a very high potential for entertainment value. And also, like, heavy drinking. I swear I could go through the schedule and be like, they should have won this game.

They should have won this game. Oh, yeah. Broaden this guy. Well, I mean, think about all the blown saves. I mean, they tied the record for blown saves in a season. Like, there are so many different spots where we could think of. How many times do I feel like... I always feel like I've made the joke 10 times this year of,

in a season of gut-punch losses, this one was the worst. And I feel like I've done it 10 different times, that it was worse than the last or close to it or whatever. It's just... Yeah, man. Yeah. And then, I mean... They got swept by the Diamondbacks. The Diamondbacks are a 110-loss team, man. Yeah. And they got swept by the Diamondbacks.

The Diamondbacks are a 110-loss team, Jack. Neftali Feliz pitched big innings for this team in, like, July. Neftali Feliz. I mean, that's a problem. That's why we're here right now. It's just brutal. It's brutal. What were you just doing yeah i had to move my dog i she she's she was that was that was that uh millie's podcast uh yeah that was debut all right that was millie all right yes it was good um i think she made a lot of good points i think i

think you should have her on more. Oh, I think so too. Yeah. She is a, um, a dynamite interview, uh, with her clicking little heels and yeah,

it's great. It's good times. Jack, that's where we're at. I know that she has not aged herself out of demographic. Yeah. Well, she's pretty old.

She's 13. So for a dog, that's a, you know, yeah. And again, the demographic, I mean, we're talking like, you know, you've got to be in your, like, 90s to age out of the demographic.

You might be aged out on the underside for the demographic. I mean, you might be too young to be on a baseball podcast. We've never really talked about it, but, I mean, you know, I'm just saying. Well, I don't like things being turned around on me in a negative light. So if you could please change the conversation, that would be great. Yeah. Yeah. I'm down to change it.

I'm down. So seriously, how much hope do you have? Do you have real hope or is it like, do you really kind of look at this as this is something that's not going to work? Like, I mean, the odds really say. No. uh like i mean the odds really say no um if i had to be completely honest with you whatever causes me the most pain this week is what's gonna happen yeah yeah like it's not it's like all i'm expecting like again do it this is where i'm at as a phillies fan is that I love this baseball team. I live and die every day with them. I don't think they're very good.

And I think they should be in the playoffs by now. And it's frustrating that they're not. And it's frustrating having to watch the San Diego Padres just be terrible and physically incompetent at stopping a Braves team that I know is not that good and like freaking Daniel Hudson throwing a fastball to Jorge Soler last night it would dude I feel like I doubled up on watching the Phillies this week it feels like it feels like I've watched the Phillies and then I'll turn over and watch the Padres and it'll be like great, I'm just watching the Phillies again. Like this is a miserable existence. So honest to God, James, I just think that they're going to go into the Marlins series

and they're either going to be up or they're going to be tied or they're going to be down by like a half a game. I think they will do well in Atlanta. I think they'll, you know, I think they'll win two or three at the minimum. And I think that they will blow it in Miami because I've seen this baseball team. This is what they do. And I'm just physically preparing myself to be let down. So if that's hope, I don't know what is it.

I mean, look, that is the correct attitude to have. If we're being real with ourselves, with this team, this season, that's what you should expect. You should expect them to give you one last real burst of hope and then crush your soul. That's been all season long like it is the jack you uh when you someday torture yourself watching the 2021 video yearbook that's the video yearbook you know uh we're in it we're out we're in we're out we're in we're out we're in we're out like that's it

i did it i saved you the time you don't have to watch it congrats buddy i already can't wait to watch it i know i know look i've thought multiple times like i like honestly i gave myself chills thinking about the video yearbook after the wheeler start uh against the mets where i threw a holiday i Well, I mean, like the one thing we can say is that we can say is, I mean, it will be pretty cool to watch an MVP season in the video yearbook. That's something I guess, you know,

can we all agree? He's the MVP. It's over. Right. I mean, the way the Padres have tanked the end of the season here. I mean, is it,

is it, I know Soto has been amazing, but Soto, you know, the, the nationals are the worst team in the national league East, which is the worst team in baseball by miles. Like we all agree. Harper's the MVP, right? I mean, I know we hear it at high hopes and Philly's fans all think he is, but like he's going to win the MVP, right? Jack. Uh, I think so. I mean, I think it comes down to either him or ron tereas who has been at least a 10 win player this year i really like it's a great point here i mean who has more clutch

hits let's be honest dude i don't care what advanced metric you want to use that guy's been worth 10 wins this year that's a fact so um him or tereus i think but um i you know i think it's clear he is the mbp um and honestly just the the homer on saturday was just another example it's like he did it when the team needed it he's continued to do it when the team needed it and um you know it's funny when he feels the ball on right field now like i can't tell if he's doing it to bait runners into into going or if he is feeling it that way just because he doesn't really know anywhere any way else to do it um but it's worked because he you know he does have a hose connected to his shoulder, so it works, but it's just so not the way to field a ball in the outfield.

But I guess when you have 90 miles an hour, whenever you need it from your right shoulder, I guess it just works fine, but he's clearly the MVP. And the Soto thing is fine. I mean, honestly, Soto is one of the five best players in baseball like and I like he is incredible and I would do anything to have him on the Phillies but um like I just I have a tough time saying the most valuable player in the National League is a guy on a team that's gonna win like 60 games this year or whatever um so i don't think he's

the mvp i definitely don't think tatis is and you know i think harper given what he is doing and honestly if you were an mvp voter and you looked at the players around him it would be like, oh, he's obviously the MVP. I mean, these guys are like, dude, like JT had such a just gross game today. It was like, why did you even show up to the ballpark? He had like three pass balls. He left the runners on base in his first two at bats when they needed a jolt. And like if they're going to, I know it's super late in the season now, but like if you're going to walk Bryce all all the time and and basically give him the bonds treatment you need the guy behind him to step up and like he hasn't done that at all so like bryce has done this with like no

production in the lineup which is impressive he's done it mostly on the defensive end the base running is kind of shaky but oh yeah i offensive. Oh, yeah. I mean. Yeah, it's not great. He's an idiot. Somehow he becomes an idiot on the base pass, but yes, go ahead. Yeah, but he is the MVP. And this week, for the first time, I was like, oh, my God. We're watching a Bryce.

We're actually getting a Bryce MVP season. Honestly, when they signed him, I didn't know if we were ever going to get that. Like, we both wanted Bryce a lot, obviously, but I never genuinely felt like he was going to win an MVP here. And him winning it on this team would just be, you know, very fitting. Oh, my God. It's like we should have seen it coming. You know, of of course that's

the situation but i think he's just so clearly the mvp i mean you look at the numbers the production like you said i mean this team's like 10 games under 500 without price harper like i know he's not that much war or whatever but like that's the way it feels like with what he's done and his ability to continue to produce in a lineup where like why would anyone pitch to him and when they do it's not like he's getting a lot to hit and he's still like just I mean again like dude his slash line is 313 434 621 that's insane man that's a 1055 OPS I mean that's you know it's not just like clear the MVP it's one of the best Phillies offensive seasons of my lifetime, certainly of your lifetime. Like it's 06,

Ryan Howard. And this like, probably certainly of the ones that I remember. I don't remember early 80 Schmidt, you know, obviously. So like, I mean,

it's, it's up there with the great offensive seasons we've ever seen a Philadelphia Philly have like people who are our age. So, or at least, you know, the gamut of our age. So I'm old,

as you know. I mean, it it's it's an unbelievable season i think he's the mvp i think he's going to win the mvp and and yeah it is a shame that they're most likely not gonna capitalize on it again especially and that's a frustrating thing you know all the games we talked about and not capitalizing on harper's mvp season honestly out of all of it the biggest most frustrating part of not capitalizing is is not capitalizing on an all-time bad division i mean how often do you just see divisions one with like 86 87 85 88 games like that doesn't happen very often and they had an opportunity this

year to to get a division that was a disaster and the fact that they weren't able to capitalize on that i think for me is the most frustrating jack well how often do you uh also miss the playoffs with in a 60 game schedule and eight teams yeah well yeah i mean i'm with you well that's like think about it like they have six games left if like they they just need one more to go over 500 for the first time in a decade. I'm nervous that's not going to happen because, like, of course, they'd lose six, seven straight to go 81 and 81. Like, watch.

Well, I need Zoe to be able to go to top. I know, dude. Trust me. I just need one more win for my bet to. So let's go, boys. Bill. Well, last year, look, last year their last eight, they won one of them instead of two.

And this year their last eight, if you think about them winning two games and losing that one, they would have needed to win two of eight to go over 500. So I don't like the synchronicity there, Jack. No, and, like, again, I don't trust September Phillies with my life. Even though they were able to go 5-2 this week and 7-3 over the last 10, it's like, you know, it's nice, but it's not like they're playing amazing baseball teams.

I mean, the Pirates are terrible, but they also do, you know, they're bad, but they do have some guys out of the bullpen that I was like, wow, I would take this on my team. But that's because I've had to watch camp at Drosery and all these. They're bad, though. They're bad. And the Orioles are bad. No, they're definitely bad. I mean, the Orioles are really bad.

And, you know, let's. They're definitely bad. But it's um, let's, they're definitely bad, but it's like, um, I don't know. It's, it's, they will win one more game this year.

So you can catch your buddy. Okay. I'm pretty sure that they will do that. Do it for me, boys. Do it for me. Um, all right.

Uh, before we, we look ahead to this series and just, you know, quick thoughts on it and, and the take bag last thing for me, cause you you know, the you know, there's going to be time to talk about all the baseball stuff. But I we've said this multiple times already, but just again, obviously, in light of a couple of days ago, could not have been more wrong about not wanting Ranger to be moved to the rotation like hand up in the air i was wrong jack was wrong we were very emphatic on this show this pod about hey leave him where he is he's

crushing his reliever i ranger suarez is a stud man like what he is he is closer to zach wheeler in terms of best pitcher on the team than he is to Nola Gibson in terms of the third best pitcher. Like he's so clearly the second best pitcher on the team. And lately at times, obviously even better than Wheeler in some spots, but you know, Wheeler's definitely been the best of season, but man,

I just, just a rain. Basically, this is just me. And I'm, and then I'm assuming you just doing a Ranger appreciation statement. That game was masterful. It was awesome.

And I just, I can't believe what he's been for this team. Yeah, I mean, I said it yesterday, and I'll say it again. Like, the most surprising thing from this season is that Ranger went from dominant closer back-end option to a dominant starter like in the same season i mean john smoltz didn't even do that you know people talk about john smoltz being able to do both well listen ranger did both in the same season so step of your game john um but it's just been it's been remarkable and what he did yesterday i know know it's the Pirates. I know they don't have much offensive talent, but, like, that's ridiculous. And I just, you know, having to go from watching Ranger, who can spot up, can throw a couple pitches for strikes, will attack hitters, has a bulldog mentality, to have to watch Hans Krause today,

who like was just nibbling all over the strike zone instead of just actually going after hitters. It was like, wow. Um, I miss Ranger Suarez so much, but, um,

I was definitely wrong. Um, and you know, I, this usually never works out for the Phillies. I gotta be honest. Oh, I'm with you. Yeah. Right. Like, I think, this usually never works out for the Phillies. I got to be honest. Oh, I'm with you.

Yeah. Right. Like, I think, honestly, our initial reads were both correct that, eh, this probably isn't going to work out because these kind of moves never really work out for this baseball team. But it worked out. And, honestly, James, he's got to start game two if they make the playoffs. No question. Without question.

I am so sick and tired of Kyle Gibson. I mean, he's fine. But he's a 4-5. He's better than Nola. He's 3, Nola 4. Yeah, I mean, Nola's been woefully disappointing. I mean, I know that stuff-wise, Kyle Gibson's not better than Aaron Nola,

but I would rather hand the ball to Kyle Gibson before I'd rather hand it to Aaron Nola right now. I'm not even – I wish I were kidding, Jack. I wish I were kidding. But I would rather hand the ball to Kyle Gibson in a big game than Aaron Nola right now. Just I would. What a fall from grace.

Yeah. What a fall from grace. But I just, again, the thing with Ranger is I can't tell how good he is. I want him to be great, obviously, but I just can't tell because it is 92. It is not like an unbelievable slider. It's a good slider. And I think the changeup plays well off of the fastball. So I guess I just can't tell how good he is, but, um, I'm definitely enjoying the ride. And I think at worst, he's going to give you a competitive ball game each time he's out there. And I love him like i just i love that he comes in he throws strikes he goes after hitters and he pitches and i just i think that's really important i think a lot of these guys do need to learn how to pitch with some of their plus stuff so

um he reminds me a ton of john lester uh it took a while but I think so perfect it's so perfect I think we found the correct comp um you know John Lester never had overpowering stuff but the guy knew how to pitch the guy had stones you could trust him in a playoff series that he's gonna get the job done and like even if the Philz don't make the playoffs this year, I think having Ranger in that spot and just thinking about the 2022 stretch run and hopefully playoffs, 2023, I just think that that guy is going to be able to get big outs in big moments for a long time.

And I think we might have stumbled upon our Jon Lester. And I hope that he can be. And I already can't wait. And this may have sunk Aaron Noble in the past, but I already can't wait for Ranger Suarez's first playoff game. Mm-mm. Be careful. Playoff Suarez.

Playoff Ranger. Yeah, he's my favorite. Other than Harper's MVP season, like Ranger Suarez is my single favorite thing about this Philly season. You know, other than a few moments, like the Luke Williams walk-off with his family there. It's like a moment that stands out to me. There are things, and we'll talk about this at the end of the season,

but Ranger is certainly really, really, really, really high on my list of my favorite things about this Philly season. All right. Take back, Fritzy. Well, Ranger took up a lot of my take back, I got to be honest with you. Yeah, it makes sense. It was the best thing. It was the best thing.

The last few days, best thing. He is the greatest. Hans Krauss. I do want to talk about him for a second. He's fine honestly the thing that uh the thing that kind of hurts him i guess in my opinion is that his mechanics look exactly like felipe mont and like felipe mont was the worst and i uh i don't need that from a supposed top five prospect in the system yeah i'm with you and look uh you know just just one start in the pros and all that and still still a lot of potential and all that but yeah i'm with you i i certainly was not super impressed by what i saw

what else you have uh adonis medina i i need him to figure out how to use his legs more like he is so top heavy when it comes to to pitching like he doesn't use his legs at all and i actually think he could be decent if he figured out how to use like all of his gifts and it just frustrates me watching him um knowing that he could be way better but i don't get why he won't just you know use his legs more and and you know that kind of stuff so basically i'm frustrated with adonis medina i think he'd be way better yeah well i mean one of those guys like has been very high on prospect lists at the time philly's lists and all that and you know clearly there is talent there.

So I could totally see that why, you know, if, and again, the Phillies have not done a great job over the past, what should we say, like 150 years at really getting the most out of their young talent. So it's a fair gripe, Jack. Well, I agree, but also Matt Verling is is here and I need you to stop talking about the player. Lead off, lead off Veerling.

No, I love the, but we're in good, we're, we're heading in a good direction. I was more ripping the history of the franchise, but yeah, I love Veerling.

That, that dude's fun. That, that, and that play is for somebody who's played like 10 games at first base in his career, whatever that play made, uh, you know

a couple nights ago or whatever was phenomenal like that was an amazing defensive play so i love him um and i love that like his exit velocity numbers are like crazy he hits everything hard and i was it was it was nice to see the first homer finally go out because I feel like it's kind of been building for a while. And just seems like a gamer. And just seems like a baseball player. My thing is... A gamer and a baseball player, yes! Listen, do you need any more cliches to throw around about Matty V?

I love it. So, would... around about uh matty v but um so would would all right let's fast forward two months or whatever would making matt veerling the opening day left fielder be a mistake or no i i think it all depends like it's an impossible question to answer it's all about asset allocation and money allocation and you know if you're going to make him the the starting left fielder you need to beef up in one of the other spots you need to get a legit starting center fielder uh you know who's playing third base is boom going to be ready you know there are a lot of deity what are we doing there there's just so many different question marks with it that like i like matt veerling i like him more as of now

projecting the next season as one of my top guys off my bench because he can play all over the field than I do necessarily sticking him in left field when that's probably the spot that I can find a bat in the market, the free agent market, where maybe not as expensive to find a bat. I mean, we see guys like Adam Duvall or whoever have you know, have these type of seasons where there is value there. And a bat is, is this team needs bats.

We saw that at the end of this season. I mean, you know, obviously Hoskins will help and all that, but you know, when they, and obviously guys underperformed DD, boom,

all that stuff. But this team really needs some pop. They need some bats. And I think left field is probably an easier spot to fill that, if you know what I mean. Yeah, I agree. But also having a kind of, you know, not a big contract in left field that I think is going to be able to provide

value would be massive. And I don't know. I have an idea with Didi. Today was his last game at Citizen's Bank Park. That's personally my, that's my, I mean, I'm in, but again, we have an owner who, you know, Matt Klentag is still roaming the halls there cause he doesn't like to eat money, but you're just going to say Didi, here's 14 million. See you pal.

Thanks. Like, I mean, they got to figure something out. Like, I don't know. You know, not fun. It's not a fun. It's not cool, man. to figure something out. Like, I don't know. You know. Not fun. It's not a fun spot to be in. It's not cool, man. It's not cool. Not a fan.

But I think if he went into, like, I don't know. I do think he's better than a platoon player. So, I don't know. I like Matt Vierling. I wonder how high his ceiling is. You know, I wonder if he can be a full-time starter. But I got to say, say i mean early returns he hits the ball hard consistently and he is super athletic it seems they can play center field and

left field maybe they maybe they give him starts in center field next year as well so um either way i think they have a ball player there and i think he's a guy that's going to help the scene for a long time love it love it and i do like him a lot that's going to help the team for a long time. Love it. Love it. And I do like him a lot. I am in on him, but still a ways away to see how this all plays out for next season. Anything else? Yeah, well, it drives me crazy that Girardi continues to trust

Cam Pedrosian, who's been up here for a minute, over Bailey Falter and guys like that. Cam Pedrosian is still getting pretty high leverage spots. And like, why? I mean, like he's been out of baseball basically, you know, he's not a good pitcher, but you know, we got to respect the veterans on this. Girardi knew his dad.

He's a great guy. Oh, they played together. I'm with you. It makes zero sense. It's, it's a great guy. Oh, they played together or something. I'm with you. It makes zero sense. It's asinine. The dedication to playing the veterans on this team drives me crazy. Yeah, like Didi? Like Didi?

Go ahead. Yeah, like Didi. And the final thing I might take back is, like, I respect all the people that put out the, the playoff scenarios and all this stuff, but I don't care. Like all I know is that when I tune in Tuesday night at seven 20, I'm going to be living and dying with this baseball team and hoping to be a

game and a half out and like whatever happens happens, but I'm so out on all the scenarios. Just get me to seven 20 on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and I'll be happy. And you know, whatever happens happens, but like, I don't need the,

I don't need the whole math of like, well, they got to win this many games. I can't do it I just need to be able to sit down and believe that my baseball team can make the playoffs I like it I like it good luck with that pal I will try my best so what do you what do you think that this series the biggest series like even though they're coming into an F out it's a little more disappointing than if it had been one F out it is you know we've said on this pod many times

over the years because it's been true in a lot of these cases and you know a sign of the sadness and mediocrity we've been through the last decade but this is the biggest series in a decade without a doubt by far no doubt about it like a hundred percent uh how you feeling going into it i know you've you know said they're gonna find a way to to you know give you one last belief and then and then shatter your soul but but specifically just looking at these three games against atlanta how they match up you know where you at well i'm in a good spot because i believe in them and i I believe they're going to go down there and they're going to win two of three. I fundamentally believe they will take two of three. And I feel pretty good about that.

Starts off with Wheeler Morton. I'll take Wheeler. Then it goes, Knowles Max Freed, who Max Freed just threw a Maddox over the weekend, which does not make me feel good like honestly Wednesday versus the Braves

is like the biggest start of Noel's career I mean it really is like are you going to be able to put the whole September stuff to bed and go down to Atlanta and dominate or are you just going to be the guy you've been in September the

last three years like that's what's at stake on on Wednesday in Atlanta so I'm really excited for that and then I don't know Gibson Anderson don't feel great about that but I have just this weird feeling and this is just a gut feeling I have have a weird feeling that Nola dominates on Wednesday night. I know. I know. You're setting yourself up, pal. You're just going to hurt, man. I want to be hurt.

I know. Pod title. They hurt me. They hurt me. They hurt me. 162 out of 162 every year. Why not make it when the time actually matters? My name is Jack Fritz, and I think Aaron Nola is going to dominate in Atlanta on Wednesday night.

Oh, my God. Real question, though. Real question, though, before we go. Real quick clarification. That is not, though, before we go. Yeah, just real quick clarification. That is not the official High Hopes position. That is the Jack Fritz position. All right. Yes, sir.

Would you find a way to bump Ranger up to this series? Yes. Might need him in Atlanta, though. Yeah. Or might need him in Miami, though. yeah i might need him in miami you need him whenever he can pitch but they won't it doesn't matter we know gerardi he's gonna pitch his vets and it is what it is i mean it is what it is let's be honest right i mean good response to the question i mean come on you know what it is you know um all right you got any final thoughts fritz i don't i don't but I will say this, that I, uh, I know they're two and a half games out, but I can't wait for the series in Atlanta. Like I,

I couldn't be more all in. I couldn't be more locked in. And I just, I hope that everyone out there is, is excited. And I hope that everyone, uh, you you know it's okay to believe one more time why not it's one week left in the season if they let us down this week we can move on to the offseason but damn it they're two and a half games out they could be in it why not the phils i'm excited it's been a great weekend i know they only took five of seven you know that's good we needed six and one but but i'm very excited for this week and uh i'm prepared to get heartbroken that's for sure yeah yeah i know i know and you probably will but you know what like you said you never know you know they they could beat the Braves they could maybe run the table and maybe exercise their fears you know exercise their house

of horrors of Miami who knows if you could only bet on one happening this week James yes would you bet on them taking two of three from the Braves or two of three from them oh definitely two of three from the Braves right and I feel like that's such an obvious answer it's pretty sad it hurts how obvious I know I know um all right my final thought a shout out Jack because this is something we have talked about on this podcast many times and we've never actually done anything about it but we've hearkened back to the days of the wolf pack and the padilla flotilla and Sal's pals and all that stuff shout out to the knapsacks like good work guys like you the three of you sitting there by yourselves those burlap sacks on like

clever well-played props i'm i'm assuming you're with me on this jack well i just like that there's a fan group out there that appreciates a guy that calls a good deal you know like the guy that we gave $125 million to. It is nice that there's a couple of fans out there that appreciate a good game calling. Um, so that's good to see. And I, I don't know why James, but whenever I see stuff like this,

I like to think those guys listen to the podcast. Me too. Me too. I hope you do. If you guys listen to the pod, like well done. We're, we're, we're, we appreciate you. I hope you do. If you guys listen to the pod, like, well done. We're, we're,

we're, we appreciate you. That's for sure. Um, yeah, that was good. I appreciated it. Uh,

Fertzy, sweep the Braves, buddy. Sweep the Braves. He's Fertz himself. We'll see you later. you