High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Just When We Thought They Couldn't Go Any Lower...

Episode Date: August 12, 2024

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to the Phillies disaster in Arizona and look ahead at what's next for the struggling team. Presented by Miller Lite. 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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or wherever you get your podcasts. This is the High Hopes Podcast. High Hopes. On the Odyssey app and Sports Radio 94 WIP. The crowd was singing High Hopes. Smiling through a broken nose. Oh, High Hopes. High Hopes. I feel a little less alone.

Yo. Yeah. It is. Another edition of the IOS podcast sponsored by Miller Lite, official partner of the Philadelphia Phillies. Tastes like Miller Time in Philadelphia. Celebrate responsibly. I didn't want to be here.

Jack made us do the pod. Thank you, Jack. I just did the morning show. I don't want to talk about this team. I don't really have a about this team i don't really have a lot to say i'm super annoyed right now like i like that sucked like that sucked oh they're back two or three or four two or three they won a freaking series like the walk-off there's a walk-off It had like 23 runs in two days.

Just like Jose Alvarado forgot how to pitch. I guess he just stinks now. He's done. He's like, he stinks. Like, what do we do? Like, where are we at? What is Fritzy? I'm, I, what are you asking me?

I want to go home and go to sleep. All right. I want to nap. That's where I'm at. No, no. Cause we have serious things. I know we're here. We have to discuss. We're here right now. Again, I'm at. No, no. Cause we have serious things. I know we're here. We have to discuss here right now.

Again, I don't care about what you did on your little morning show. There's a, there is a problem in these. And it's on this podcast because it is like, again, just when I thought they couldn't get any lower, just when I thought that they couldn't or like,

all right, that's Saturday in in Seattle yeah that was rock bottom right till the walk in the run it was like all right we did it we reached rock bottom it's not gonna get worse than this well and and what I keep thinking is like it's like all right all right we get it like you you want to cool off for a little bit, but can you just wake up a little bit? Can you just... Do you want to be the Dodgers? Knock yourself out.

First off, that Dodgers team, the Dodgers team, we'll probably see in two months. So knock yourself out. But they got absolutely dog-walked the last two days by the Diamondbacks. And what made it that much worse is it's like, that looks like the team that has like the mental edge over this team. Like the,

the way that they laid down and just were like, eh, it's so much of like, eh, not our day. Like, I just hate it. I just hate it so much.

Like enough with the, it's not our day. Like, how about you grind it out and go win a ball game but it's like i don't even know like where they can go to from here the pitching staff's regressed the lineup is not as good as it was i mean after boom after boom it's like automatic outs practice unless casting gets eight or two like i can't believe we're sitting in a world where where either it's marsh or stopott in the five hole. That can't happen.

Brandon Marsh has 44 strikeouts in his last 90 at-bats. Are you kidding me? That doesn't seem possible. 40 strikeouts last 90 at-bats, whatever it is. It seems impossible. That's almost a 50% strikeout rate.

It backs it up. I mean, it all makes sense. It has the eye test sense you're right yeah you could have told me it was 60 strikeouts and 99 at that you could have told me that but it's like it's like what are they doing and and like all right so there's there's there's either two camps right like and and both could by the way be 100 true. All of this is on the table now, which absolutely sucks. A, they're cooked and really 100% peaked early and put so much energy into getting off to a good start

that they forgot there's 162 games. Unfortunately, that's on the table. I'm not really there, but if you're there, I don't blame you. You see a majority of the bullpen. They look cooked. You see the starting of the bullpen. They look cooked. You see the starting staff who got off to such an unbelievable start. They're tiring down outside of Wheeler.

And then lineup-wise, again, we just went over. Trey's back to chasing everything. Harper isn't driving the baseball. He's getting some singles. He almost had a home run yesterday. Bone's been really, really good. After that, you have no idea what you're getting. Unless Sosa's in line.

Exactly. Either they're cooked, and they might be. They might be cooked. Dude, the Braves and Mets just aren't very good. No. I think that's part of it, too. I think the team, too, is like, we're such a big lead.

It's the imperative to turn it around. It hasn't been there because it's like the division's so bad. By the way, they're not in first in the National League anymore. They're tied. They're tied with the Dodgers. The Brewers are right behind them. They could very easily be playing in the first round of the playoffs like that.

They'll win the division, most likely. You never know with how bad they're playing. But yeah, dude, it is it's unbelievable so there's the they're cooked camp yeah versus the like the rangers did this last year they lost that then it was like 10 straight at one point like nine straight at least and and then when they get in you gotta just bank on a hot streak like it was it was always gonna be lucky to win a world series. I get that. Some things go your way, but it's like,

it's almost like we're just counting down the days until the start of the post season. Cause I don't really know what else to say. Like I didn't want them to have the, like, I didn't want them to go for the win streak. I didn't want them to do any of that stuff because I think we've seen so many teams like not win the world series that way.

But it's also, I don't want them being under 500 for three months heading into the postseason. Well, think about it this way. I mean, they've basically been bad as long as they were good, right? Now they were like unbelievably good. No, they were, and they are not as bad as they were good. But still, they have been the three whatever they are three four games under 500 team for the same amount of time they were the 30 game over 500 you know i mean and they've just

completely flipped what their seasons have been it's unbelievable it's literally inverting it it's like exact same thing just flipped around so it's like it's almost it's almost where i'm at of i could see them losing in the first round and then we're at the like but they could be the dime first round look at that like sure but they could lose in the first round. And then we have to like... But they could be the Diamondbacks in the first round. Sure, but they could lose in the first round to make some serious changes and, you know, come back next year. Or they're in the World Series again. Like, there's...

That's where we're at with this team, where it's like, they showed us a lot of good, but the way that they're trending right now, it's like, what am I banking on turning around and moving in the right direction when the playoff all of a sudden starts like it's like oh the the bright lights are on citizen bank park is packed by the way the thing that would stink about where they're kind of at right now i wonder if there's a little bit of a dejected crowd yeah like there's a little bit of like obviously 2022

is like wow we're just so happy to be here last year you know they were really really good in the second half regardless of what happened the the last week of the season. And we were coming off the year before the magical playoff run. Let's do this again. This is fun. This year, we're coming off game seven loss, two years in a row blowing it, and then this season, you're right.

I just wonder if they win. If they win two in a row and they kick ass, there's Grand Slam, like tomorrow, people will be on board. But there's going to be a very, very, very, very, very quick tight ballpark deal if they get down early in one of these games. It's the blessing and the curse of expectations. The blessing is everyone's watching. Everyone's watching.

Everyone's reacting very strongly to what they're doing. Especially here. And people care. People legitimately care. Our good friend Elliot, little Elliot, he has been like, they're treated like a minor league team in this city. Who cares? Well, they care. Everyone's mad.

We're mad. But the curse is that there's real expectations to go get the job done this year and go get the job done is not winning and beating the braves in the nlds going back to the nlcs like they got to get it done this year so you know it's just i'm definitely nervous i definitely feel more like i don't know like i think they can pull their way out of it, but like these guys are so many guys are just not doing what they're

supposed to be doing. That's like, man, I would like to see glimpses of it. Yeah. Look, we can, we can look back to 2022.

We just brought that up. I mean, there, that was a team that in September we thought song. Can we tell it again? Yeah. We hated him. Like we were like,

are you, are you freaking kidding me? And then, you know, as soon as they get in, all of a sudden, you know, the really the, the Segura hit in the ninth against Helsley. And then it all kind of just spun and they went on a magical run. So like, we know that you can, it can change quickly in baseball, but like, they just need to believe in. Yeah.

And also like, look, I think that, you know, I think they, they did push hard early. And I like, look, I think that, you know, I think they, they did push hard early. And I think some of these, we were, we loved like using pitchers going deep into games and stuff, but guess what? I'm coming back to bite him

a little bit. Like Ranger throwing 120 pitches or 115 pitches, wherever. So you get a complete game. It's like, that's nice. But like,

maybe now that's part of the reason why they're, they're, they're struggling. And then on top of that, like, look, I know the prices were high, but this is why we said do more than Austin Hayes. This reason why they're struggling. And then on top of that, like, look, I know the prices were high,

but this is why we said do more than Austin Hayes. This is why we said it. And I know with Austin Hayes out right now, it hurts, but injuries are part of baseball. Like this was like, we knew that there were these holes here. We knew that there were these guys who were hot and cold and that we needed someone who could come in and be consistent for this team,

or at least, you know, put the ball, you know, in play more often. And they didn't do it, you know put the ball you know in play more often and and they didn't do it you know and and it's a shame i think yeah we're gonna look back on this deadline of like if it doesn't end in glory of like what missed opportunity what did they do yeah why do they do that we said leave no stone unturned and they made two tiny like this isn't a tiny trade but they made two like for all intents and purposes a tiny trade, but they made two, like, for all intents and purposes, tiny-ish trades. Like, they did not trade a top 100 prospect. They did not trade for an all-star player. Like, they didn't go above and beyond to bolster the team.

And I think that the biggest misread there is this team needed a spark. Exactly right. This team needed a jolt. And even Bryce said it. Remember that quote that we made so much of going into the break where he's like, Dave will do it if he wants to. It was so weird that he said it that way, but it was like they needed something.

Yeah, and to this point, again, Austin Day's been pretty good. It stinks he's hurt. He's been fine. Nice addition. I can't believe, and it's nothing against Cal Stevenson, but again, he's our center fielder. I mean, this feels like 2019. been fine. Nice addition, but I can't believe, and it's nothing, it's nothing against Cal Stevenson. But again, like he's our center fielder. I mean,

this feels like 2019. It does feel like 2019. He's not, he's not a major league. I don't know. He's not, but at the same time, he's as good as Brandon Marches as a hitter.

Right. And that's the problem. That's a big issue. Well, then again, and that's my issue with the Austin Hayes move in and of itself was they were like, all right,

we're doing this with the idea that Brandon Marshall is going to be an everyday center fielder. Like we knew that wasn't going to work. We knew it wasn't going to work. We know it doesn't work offensively and defensively. It's not as good as it could be. It was just like, it just felt like it was like, uh, we're betting on our guys again thing.

And it's like, no, like add it to to your guys have more guys so that when your guys struggle which these guys all do at some point they're streaky dudes like have someone here pick them up yeah yeah i just don't get it i mean i get it but like it's like they keep like the third year in a row they keep doubling down on the same guys. And, like, it worked the first year. It worked the second year, mostly. It's just, like, at some point, what's frustrating is that I think

a lot of people watch this team in the majority of the year. First half was unbelievable. But it's, like, I don't know how seasoned baseball guys, you know, like Dombrowski and Thompson, how they don't see this as well. And that's the thing. It's like we brought up the deadline, and I believe it more and more as we're watching this core.

I think they're worried about the window. And I think that that's why they didn't push all their chips in. Because they want to extend it. We talked about after the deadline, is this about the World Series or is it about the window? And it feels like they chose the window over the no doubt about it. We got to go win the World Series this year.

And I just hope it's not something that has, you know, gone through the clubhouse of like, well, you know, they didn't really, you know. Look at human nature. Like, who knows how big it is. But human nature, if you're a player on that team, like, how could you not look at human nature like who knows how big it but human nature if you're a player on that team like how could you not look at it and be like okay i guess like all right so you're not like

we're not really going for it huh like i mean how what other interpretation is there than that yeah i don't know i don't know but they they need a spark they still need a spark and it's why yesterday and like i don't know why it's so like voodoo to do this like i don't know how trey turner wasn't benched yesterday like that was the it was the seventh inning you had some momentum back on your side it was nine five if he beats that ball out totally you have bryce harper coming up with a chance to make it a nine seven game seven game with one you had just gotten those two runs too so you're like well momentum whatever and it's that scrub dylan fluoro who who no one has ever said a good word about would ever want to trade for dylan fluoro like that's a situation where one of your highest

paid players one of your leaders of the team completely dogs at the first base and gets doubled up kills all the momentum and then jose alvarado comes in and and it bang it's 12-5 games over like it shouldn't like if if that's something that ruins the relationship between trey and rob thompson then you don't have the right guy like that that was a situation where i think if you if you at least just like just bench him and say that's not acceptable maybe that's something that wakes up the rest of the clubhouse like it's at some point there has to be something other from from rob than just well i trust this team we'll get on tomorrow exactly which was exactly what he said again after all all, good, be good to go home.

And these guys will grind. We'll win some games. You know, it's like, you sure buddy, but there has to, there has to be something else. There has to be something else besides like,

yeah, when we get home, everything's fine. Like by the way, I mean, I think it's going to be fine. I mean, they said that last time and they came home and lost.

He's always said that. He's always said that. I'm thinking about Bryce too. Like Bryce, I can't wait to get home. It's like, well, okay. Then he went one for one for 30 last time he was at home like i just think that's not something that i think would have harmed anyone i think trey would have been like i get it like i messed up you know and and maybe it gets him relocked i don't think

you would have lost trey turner no by by benching when that situation, but someone has to know that that's not good enough. Sure, maybe they don't come back and win that game, and it would have gotten out of hand anyway, and it's like, oh my God, does Rob not believe in us anymore? No, but something could have woken that team up of

Rob's not messing around. There has to be some... Even Charlie. People talk about Charlie all the time. He shot Rollins, man! He was a player's manager. Charlie Manuel had the respect of those guys in the locker room of

you're going to respect what I say, and if you don't, then you're not going to play. In 2010, Rollins has moved down to four or five, six in the lineup. There has to be something other than, I trust these guys, I trust these guys,

I trust these guys. That's fine, but there has to be something else that can also wake them up as well. You have to be a manager. In that situation, Trey Turner should have been benched. It's fine. He's not going to go home and not want to play anymore. That's a situation where if he holds one of their best players accountable, who's struggling, by the way,

it could wake everyone up in the lineup of saying, Rob's not messing around. It was an opportunity, and I think he missed the opportunity. And I don't know why it becomes so, again, voodoo to be like, yeah, I can't bench him mike it might lower our win probability of course it'll lower your win probability like you're taking on trey turner out of the game like but at some point there has to be some kind of like some accountability in that clubhouse and i thought yesterday was a real opportunity i don't know why he didn't do it and it just it

could continue on more and more. Yeah, no, you're exactly like, that's the thing is I know that they, part of the reason they love Rob Thompson so much is because he's the same guy every day. And we hear that from so many players and you're that about a lot of managers where it's like,

that's what players want. They want someone who's going to be even keeled. Who's not going to overreact to things and all that. But the whole point of being that even-keeled guy and why that works is that when you do lose it or when you do bring some sort of hammer down, it's more impactful because you're so calm and measured that you have that in your tool bag where when you need to let it go, it's like Silent Bob doesn't speak in the movies. And when he speaks, it's like, bang, it's impactful. it matters because he didn't speak the whole time like you that's why

you are that way so that when you have to bring the hammer down you have to have that hammer and i'm with you like i don't know that rob thompson has a hammer i don't know it like and i think it it's a similar type of thing with these issues that we've seen the playoffs with the trusting his guys too much like i think it's all part of the same ball of wax so to speak where it's like like at a certain point you have to realize like yeah craig kimbrough stinks now like he's not good anymore i know he's my guy and i'm even killing him but you know what he's bad now so he ain't gonna pitch like i think it's it's part of the same thing where rob has this just unyielding, unending trust in this group and the guys and the vibe and the whole thing. But it's like at a certain point, man, you got to do something to spur things.

You can't just assume it's going to happen. And especially with how sloppy they've been. Yesterday, again, Bryce just drops the ball at first base. What was that? I don't know. Scores runs. Run score because of it? I don't know. Scores runs. Run score because of it. I don't know.

JT, it's the freaking one leg thing and looking to scoop it on the back end. Like, it's a runner on third base. You don't have to do that. Yep. Block the freaking baseball. Like, you've done your whole life as a catcher. Like, get your knees on the ground. Get your freaking chest behind it and let it bounce off you. Like, every catcher. That's like your go-to. Spoken like a true catcher. You're damn right, buddy. Spoken like a a catcher. Get your knees on the ground. Get your freaking chest behind it and let it bounce off you.

Every catcher, that's like your go-to. Spoken like a true catcher. You're damn right, buddy. Spoken like a true catcher. Damn right. Even though it was 70 years. It's exactly right. Even then, get your body in front of it, man.

They have to know that what they're doing is wrong. It's not going to destroy Trey Turner. It's not going to. Even if he did it to Bryce. Even if he did it to Bryce. Even if he did it to Bryce. And he hasn't really deserved it. But that situation yesterday, it's harmless. Harmless.

9-5, seventh inning. You're probably going to lose anyway. Just he did something wrong. Your team is struggling. They know they're struggling. It sounds simplistic. If you're Rob Thompson, you know that Trey. I think it's like, it's like, it's, it's almost, it sounds simplistic. Like if you're Rob Thompson, you know, that Trey Turner probably knows that he messed up.

You know, that these guys want to put the ball in play in situational baseball and get hits. But like a little bit of a jolt, a little bit of a wake up call and a little bit of it's okay to, to be on edge a little bit around the manager. It's like, he doesn't a little bit around the manager. He doesn't have to always be your friend. So I just, I thought it was a really big missed opportunity yesterday to maybe snap them out of it and be like, okay, again, Rob's not messing around.

And it's not showing panic. It's not showing, oh, he's not steady. It's showing some freaking stones. It's an accountability, like you said before. This team has been so freaking soft for two months of just, well, when we get to the postseason, we'll be fine. Someone has to step up down there and show a set of stones and be like, this isn't good enough.

You think it's the players. You hope it's the players. But the players haven't done it for two and a half months. So has to be someone else and yes i know it's august i know that it's september i know the postseason doesn't start today but like they they can't just limp down to the the finish line here and then expect to turn it on like they have to right the ship a little bit they have to get the pitchers moving the right direction again they have to get the lineup in the right direction again. They have to get the lineup moving in the right direction again so they know when they get into the postseason what works versus what doesn't work. Also, are teams just not going to throw them strikes like the Diamondbacks did

in the postseason and they're just going to let it happen? Are they just going to let teams know how to pitch to them and lay down? I mean, it's just, I don't, I cannot for the life of me take the we're gonna like there's this foot off the gas thing it has to be a little bit of foot on you're gonna blow the one seed which they've already kind of done well yeah but you're gonna you're gonna end up playing in that wild card game and it's a three-game series and you don't know what's gonna happen maybe again they get in bang and and the three-game series is great they get back back to be at home, and they can go off. But I just...

It's a dangerous game. It's a dangerous game. And frankly, I think this team needs five days off. I look at every single pitcher, every single pitcher, even often, who I trust with everything. And Del Castillo, I mean, what are you, 700 of the series? Jake McCarthy. Yeah, unbelievable. I hate that team. and Del Castillo, I mean, what are you at? 700 of the series, Jake McCarthy. Yeah.

Unbelievable. I hate that team. Jake McCarthy has like a seven 80 career slugging percentage. And they added Josh Bell on top of everything. And like, I know. And they, they,

they're just on fire and they're, and they're, they're playing damn good baseball. Like they're a damn good baseball team. And they do the platoon thing, right? Our platoon is robots and Marsh. Their platoon is Corbin Carroll,

Jake McCarthy, Alec Thomas, who stinks, Louris Gurriel. They have a bunch of dudes. By the way, they lost three and fourth. Ketel Marte not playing. Besides one game. And Christian Walker's hurt, too. They're good. The Dimebacks are good. Listen, I'll go Pedro.

I'll go Pedro. The Dimebacks are my daddy. I don't know what to tell you. The Dimebacks are my daddy. I went on Arizona Radio on Thursday. They're like, hey, you want to come on? I'm like, yeah, we'll have fun back and forth. I think I scared them. I did. I was like, the Dimebacks make me want to die.

They do. They got off. I think I hung up the phone. They were like, that was jarring. He might need to check in somewhere yeah we know we know we know they're gonna they're gonna fully break like i'm mostly holding it together are you is that is that is this that's the question is this you holding it together we can go lower don't lose in the first round don't lose in the first round or it's gonna be

i you i don't even need you on the podcast. I really don't. I'm leaning back. 45. I'll give you 45. They're getting close. Again, you put on a brave face. You're smiling your way through it. You're just hoping that one of these days they wake up and remember

how good they can be. But how good are they, James? That's the big question. How good are they? Were they all just playing it over their head the first two months of the season? How good are they, James? That's the big question. How good are they? Were they all just playing it over their head the first two months of the season? How good were they? How good? Why don't you tell me how good they are? I don't need to talk. You just keep answering

your own questions. Internal monologue at all times. Internal monologue. Yeah. How good are they is a good question. Hey, fantasy football owners. The road to winning your fantasy football championship starts now. I'm Matt Harmon from Reception Perception. Join me and James Coe as we take a deep dive into the position

that's going to make or break your fantasy roster. Wide receivers. We analyze route running, target share, and all the metrics that matter, giving you the insights you need to draft the best wide receivers. As you prep for your draft, let us give you the coverage you need. Follow and listen to Reception Perception on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. It's a good question.

Because right now, again, the 5-9 is a hole. At least we got Austin Hayes. Yeah, thank God. See, the big issue, and it's an off-season issue, clearly, they need to find another real bat, middle of the lineup. Yeah, they need another real dude. That's exactly right. More internal monologue.

Here's what pisses me off, too, is that you look top to bottom, they should be the deepest lineup in the NL. You want to take Freeman, Otani, Betts, to the Oscar, it's fine. Probably the Dodgers. Yeah, but top to bottom like they should regardless if they're not right they should be up there i agree we can't live in a world where starts hitting well that's what i say is like bryson starts like bad he's bad he's bad at no point this year have we seen the guy we saw last year and no point i mean defensively he's been

great like credit all cry we're doing still great second baseman though. He did have the one yesterday where it's like, dude, like, but I mean, offensively, like the guy we, I mean, we went in this year with people talking about a fricking batting title,

the league and the average. So like, what, what is it? What have you seen? Like, what do you think it is with style? Like,

cause it's, it's, I mean, it's hard to believe when I watch it, like Marsh, I get it. Like Marsh has always been a hot and cold kind of guy. He can't, it left you wherever, by the way. Yeah. I mean, you's hard to believe when I watch it. Like Marsh, I get it. Like Marsh has always been a hot and cold kind of guy. He can't left you.

By the way. Yeah. You want to talk cold? As cold as anyone has been all year. Why do they do that? Why? You don't have to all go cold. I know.

It's crazy. Why do you all suck at the same time? They're cold. It's unlike an 18-member. We had a caller say today, and I thought it was an interesting point. He's like, we always give them such credit for the vibes when it's good. They're all vibe-a-webber. He's like, is it possible because they're so close

and they vibe so much that when they're all struggling, they all vibe struggles? It was an interesting thought. It could be because it does feel like it all is the same time always. Do we need to float up? I mean, do they need to cut carrot stops? Just as a wake-up call exercise

the demons the old wake-up call cut carrot stops i mean is that what they have to do to yeah just say hey we're we're not messing around now or the marsh and people very do we have to do this standing 0 2.0 i mean do we have to do we have to do it i don't want to i don't want to do it i don't want to do it i'm too mad at them do it. I'm too mad at them to do it. I know. I know. They might need it. They don't deserve it. Yeah. So it's a sad thing. Like,

and then we'll get sick back and all, but like, just not alone. Like, cause I think of all the, like, there's a lot of struggles that, that annoy me this year.

That's the one I think I'm most, the, the, the, how big the drop off is. Like, I think it's the most surprising thing to me this year is just how bad a hitter he's been yeah because he should not be and that's my point like at last and what we saw last year i

thought at least is like i thought his floor was much higher you know i mean like i don't i don't him win the bank title like he's third year player like all it's up but but i didn't expect like i thought if nothing else this dude knew how to hit and he knew how to cover the plate and he knew how to put the ball in play if he needed to well Well, there's time last year. What do you go like a month with striking out two times? Exactly. Like what happened to that guy? Yeah. And I can't tell if he got so caught up with like walking that it actually harmed him at the plate. And maybe that's

that is what it is. And this offseason he gets back to just trying to hit. But so it's a couple things. I think I think his pitch recognition is pretty off. It seems like very in between like when he thinks he's getting a fastball, he's getting a curveball and he's just he's couple things. I think his pitch recognition is pretty off. He seems very in between. When he thinks he's getting a fastball, he's getting a curveball, and he's just off.

There's been so much more this year where he gets... And it actually happened a lot last year. He got into one-two counts, but he just... But he battled and then would get to three-two. Yeah, I don't know, man. The swing looks loopy, but it's always kind of looked loopy. But yeah, it's just, he cannot be for this team to be as good as we think they can be.

Like Bryson's that has to be a two 80. It can't be a two 30. No, it's, but it's really, you know, outside of the established guys, like a lot of the,

the younger guys also like haven't gotten that much better. Like boom. I don't know. I'm the only one. Yeah, really good. He's the only one. All those guys, he's the only one

who's taken a tangible, real step forward this year when we thought a lot of guys would, or if nothing else, would maintain. Well, what makes me so mad is that you look at the Dimebacks, you look at the Giants, not this year, but the last couple of years, you look at the A's, right?

The A's are arguably one of the best lines in baseball. I know Brent Rooker is also insane and lawrence butler is awesome but it's like it's a bunch of no names yeah but it's like i feel like i watch so many other teams and it's like they have a plan they have a plan and ours is again even with the hitting coach and the and the and the hitting coach and the and the manager are very big on the whole. The other pros, they'll figure it out. They'll figure it out. Do your freaking job. You're the freaking hitting coach.

What are you talking about they'll figure it out? Help them figure it out. Make them figure it out. I hate that. And when we see them go through these lulls where it's like they go on a month stretch or in a postseason series where they all go cold and they can't adjust back, someone's not doing their job. And while I do agree to an extent,

how much is a hitting coach really going to matter? But we've seen hitting coaches all over the sport now. The sport has changed to where they all have a plan. They all have an identity. They know what they are versus these guys are pros. And I just, like the kevin long thing it's it's it's hard again to know exactly what a hitting coach does but it just feels like there's so many nights where it's no approach and it's we'll go up there first pitch ackin awesome that's great love when

you do that you know and it's just very few guys i feel like have a plan of attack i don't think turner has a plan of attack i don't think cass feel like have a plan of attack. I don't think Turner has a plan of attack. I don't think Cassianos has a plan of attack. And when he's hot, no problem. But when he's not, it's like, what are we doing? That's how you go into this super, super, super cold streak. I just, the Kevin Long thing is going to be something to monitor. Look, if they.

This is too good of a lineup on paper. Well, if they flounder out, if this Lamp doesn't get back on track and they lose in the first round of the playoffs or whatever, Kevin Long will be the lamb. He will be the sacrificial lamb, if I had to bet. Because if they flounder out and don't get... Let's say it's a steady decline from going World Series, NLCS, first round or whatever, NLDS,

someone will go. We're at the point where, like you said, two years ago, it was like, what a fun run. We're in the World Series. That was cool. Last year, it was like expectations. They lost. I'm not going to destroy them, but they should have done better.

They blew it. This year, it's like, all right, enough. Not a feel-good story anymore. Now you're expected to win, and you came up small. So I do think that that a head will roll a lot on the table a lot on the table if this goes down the way i agree it's currently going down all right uh shout out to today's sponsor of the show in addition miller light today's show is sponsored by miller light and manny young brewing company the manny and brew

pub shout out to my wife emily's old stomping ground she used to work at manny and crew pub with you were you had some tables there back in the day. You guys both worked at breweries. Yes, I have worked at multiple breweries. I've waited many a table in my lifetime. But my wife did work at the Maniang Brew Pub. The Maniang Brew Pub. Shout out.

Check out the Maniang Brew Pub for every Phillies game and enjoy $3.50. Miller Lite drafts. Great deal. Along with the honey sriracha wings, fried pickles, and yes, an extensive fresh sushi menu. How about that? Miller Lite. The Phil's wouldn't celebrate responsibly.

All right, Fritzy. What do we got in the bag? Well, it really made me mad how fired up the Dimebacks were about this being a big rematch. Because it should be us, right? We should be the ones going in and being like, you bleepin' a-holes, we're gonna come rip your faces off. The team of the first half was that team.

No doubt. The team of the first half was like, we got a message to send here. And they are not sending any messages, but they're playing A-OK. They're tweeting out, like, we're dancing on our own. Sickening. You know what? The replica rings. Good for We're dancing on our own. Sickening. The,

the, you know what? The replica rings. Good for them. They can do it. Yeah, exactly. Like shut them up.

Phillies. How about that? They just laid. They absolutely laid. Especially if they win the first game of the series. Like that was a nice win. And like, they fought back in game two game two.

It was that the walk off then, then it just all fell apart, but they, and really look, they were in game three. Game two. It was that the walk off then it just all fell apart. And really look, they were in game three until Junior Marte and then it just all fell apart. Another spot where Rob Thompson's just like, go ahead, die out there Junior, let's fight. Yeah.

Did the Brent Rooker game ruin the season? Did they feel like they were so unstoppable that they didn't have to, you know, they didn't think they could lose that bad to an opposing team, and they lost that bad. I wonder if that was a little bit of like, oh, man.

I think they were like, wow, I didn't know that someone could actually hit a ball that far. Oh, he hit two of them that far. Cool. Yeah, it's awesome. It's awesome. But yes, the Diamondbacks, very, very happy, and i'm very very mad that the phillies could not match and at least show some guts so some yeah some gumption jake mccarthy was sickening just i mean they were the phillies were

on the right track trying to trade for him when they were playing oh yeah yeah no i love those reports i was like yeah go get that guy that guy. That guy's good. Fast. Bring that guy. It is funny how they just have a bunch of dudes like Carroll, McCarthy. They have different versions of the same player. They even look the same a lot, especially McCarthy and Carroll with the long hair and the lefty stance kind of like

straight up similar. I'll look up and be like, which one is it this time? Oh, okay. It's Carroll. It's the big, strong guy. That's from Scranton. He's a Phillies fan. And we could have brought home. I didn't know he was a Phillies fan. Big old Phillies fan. That's why he likes to stick it to him. What is up with that?

I know. I know. Gallon Walker. I know. The Orioles like all the old Phillies. The Dimebacks like everyone. Greg Soto, not as... Not a big fan favorite down in Baltimore so far. like all the old Phillies. The Dimebacks like everyone. Greg Soto, not as... No. Not a big fan favorite down in Baltimore so far. How about them winning the Colby Allard

start? I know. Of course. Well, that's like they won all those Tyler Phillips starts. They have their three best going. By the way, are you all fired up about Max Lazar? Shout out, baby. Max Lazar. Go Jews. I tell you what. Another Jew. He was good. He didn't suck. just about as low leverage

as it gets you know the old 10 runs down but looked good looked like a funky delivery it is funky it is funky

yeah I agree whatever it takes to have him in Junior Marte and maybe Jose Ruiz Junior Marte do you doubt God

like Junior Junior whatever you want like God he is he's gotta go yeah he can't I can't watch him not good yeah not good You're Marte. You duck God. Like junior, junior, whatever you want. Like God, he is nice. He's got to go. Yeah,

he can't. I can't watch him. Not good. Yeah, not good. And I did what I usually do when the Phillies are struggling. I watched them finally. Oh,

okay. That video yearbook, baby. Okay. Aiden's figured it out in August. That's good. Oh, that's good.

Good news. Well, he's still Philly. So that's good news too. Who'd have thunk that we would, you know, three years in, be like, Dave, trade the prospects! Who'd have thunk it? And who'd have thunk you would have said, mm-mm. No, sir!

No, you know what I'm not going to do? Trade anyone. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. We're 25 games over 500 in the best record in the NL. In 2029, look out. Well, I do appreciate that. I'm very excited for the 2028. Yeah, it's a Fritz move. Yes, but

Justin Crawford hit a grand slam over the weekend, which is great. I know. They look like a change of swing around a little bit. Looks like he's got a little more pop. Look at that. He's always had great ball skills, but getting the ball in the air is, believe it or not, important. I'm excited for our all center fielder

outfield. Well, listen, the Diamondbacks did it. I mean, seriously. You're right, they did. That's exactly right. That's what they did. And they're pretty damn good defensively, except for Gurriel, even though he made that stupid catch yesterday. I know.

And then Gabriel Rincones. Very, very quick hands. I'm in. I'm very in. This is the only time you smile, though. Yeah, no. Not because I know. All of a sudden, now you're like, oh, I'm very in. This is the only time you smiled a lot. Yeah, no. Not because I knew. All of a sudden, now you're like, oh, I see your teeth.

Not bad. Not bad. Listen, I've seen too much Cal Stevenson, all these guys. Brayme Rink-Gones. I feel like the money ball. I feel beat up right now. Yeah. I feel like I've been through the ringer with this team right now.

No, well, it was funny. I was thinking about today. It's like, man, early in the season, we were saying, oh, it's so easy. This is boring. Yeah, well, this is boring, yeah. I would prefer that. Oh, big time.

We were like, how do we do pods like this? What do we even say? They're just good at everything. Way better than those pods. By the way, I've never seen Chris Sanchez not miss the middle of the plate like he did yesterday. He was just off yesterday. He completely changed around his tendencies. I think he was 47% change-ups yesterday.

It used to be when he's pitching well, it's completely flipped with that and the fastball. That's weird. He was not even close to having it. He was all over the place. 11 hits against them 12 12 okay I think it was his career high I think it's 12 12 hits it was

not great I cannot believe this yeah especially right after we do the last part and you're like oh well it was vintage I mean it was about as high as it is so I appreciate that they they still commit to our bets. I'm surprised at how much they're laying down.

I don't believe they're not trying. When you're struggling, it looks like you're not trying. Yeah, exactly. I think they're pressing. I think they all feel it on their shoulders. I think they're all the one who wants to break

it out and break them out of the slump and hit the home run and this and that and i it's not working team could use a lapper the team could lose use a lot yeah yeah the team definitely could use the marlins and the nationals it's just like handle them yeah that's the big issue and it's only five games then you get back to you know the mats the braids you know yep yeah right back into it yeah but use these games yeah use them like use these games uh as like okay get back on track yes yes again i don't need you you're streaking into the postseason i don't need it 20 and 7 september but like show that you are still a really good baseball i need it i need above 500 in september i need an above 500, for sure. I did spend too much time looking at the Rangers of last year

to convince myself everything's okay. Okay. I mean, look, it is what it is. That's baseball now. The playoffs are chaos. It really is. You really can be struggling heading in and going to run, but it's just we got a glimpse of what a great a truly great phillies team can

look like and and then it just got ripped away from us can i say something really depressing sure can't wait but what a lead-in yeah we're gonna look back on 2022 is like the best of my my biggest fear is that's the magical year that's my biggest fear is that 2022 was were we down enough like was that was that actually necessary like we could have just ended the pod i know you didn't have to like you know punch them when they're down one last time you didn't have to throw that little well in there. The reality is, James, is that you say punch people while they're down. But really, I'm punching myself. We know. No one's taking it harder than you. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's like when

Sirianni watched the Super Bowl every day. He didn't really say that, but it felt like he said that. He's like, you gotta beat yourself up. It's like, yeah, well, that's what I'm doing. You're bringing everyone with you. Yeah, bring everyone down with me. That's what I do. I don't lift up.

I dare not. That's what I do. But I really hope that 2022 is not the year. Oh, God. I need it not to be the year. I need Bryce on a float. I need one. Just one. I'm not going to get greedy. I just need this group

to win one okay the lovable phillies still those were the days those were the days those were the days all right uh damn it we'll be back later in the week i'd say if they lose two to the marlins we won't be but jack will make us so we'll be here most likely. Season's teetering. People need us. We are teetering. No, we're teetering. I mean, you are for sure.

On edge. I'll probably be okay. Yeah, you'll probably be fine. You'll get a lot of life experience with this type of stuff. Well, but think about it this way. You might have life experience, but do you have a long life left? I knew you were going to go there. I was wondering how he was going to get there. How much life do you have left?

How much do you have left to experience? I knew you were going there. Thank you for that. Really just a ball of joy and positivity. Just think about it that way, James. I will. That's all I'm going to think about now. My whole day is going to be thought about that. It's great. We'll be back later. Give Zoe a hug.

Yeah, I need to. Who knows how many hugs I have left? That's great. All right. Well, we'll be back later. Give Zoe a hug. Yeah, I need to. I, who knows how many hugs I have left? You know, that's what I'm here for. Keeping it in perspective. I'll think about that. Keeping it in perspective.

I'm sorry, but it was funny. It was funny. I was driving yesterday and like Walker starting to like understand what we're saying. Oh yeah. It's great. Which is, which is funny.

Yeah. Yeah. There's nothing that brings that, that brings me more joy than like, we'll get up in the in the morning i'll be like do you want to go downstairs and he's like yeah you know there's nothing better yeah but i haven't totally figured out the whole cursing out the phillies thing oh yeah yeah yeah. So yesterday we're in the car as Marte is blowing up. And I'm just like gripping the steering wheel and like trying to restrain myself. Oh, see, I've yelled like, you know, F-bomb or whatever.

And somebody will go, why F? And I'll be like, Phillies, don't say that in school. Yeah, don't tell your mom. Yeah. But I'm trying to and then jill's like daddy just we can do it on the podcast you can't curse on here you could bring that to the yeah i know i know but jill's like daddy gets very upset when the phillies aren't playing though i actually wonder I was thinking about this too, like

am I going to be so intense about the Phillies that it actually turns Walker off? Well, I don't know. It could be that or it could go the other way where Walker is like so anxiety ridden based on the Phillies because he knows that your mood hinges on it.

I don't want to be that guy. Where it's like he's like oh god the Phillies lost, oh god what's going to happen tonight? That won't happen. No, not really. You know what I to be that guy. Where it's like, he's like, oh God, the Phillies lost. Oh God, what's going to happen tonight? Like, you know, like that. That won't happen. No, not that.

That will not happen. You know what I mean though? Just that like, it's like when the Phillies lose, he associates that with you being sad. Right. And then. He tries to pick me up.

Yeah. But here's what I need. Is I need, when I reach your age. Someday. Yeah. Someday when I reach your age. Many,

many, many years. I need Walker to go through his first real slump with the Phils. Yeah. And then with all of my life experience slash life expectancy left, I'll be like, son, remember the 2024 Philly. Are they going to be the 64 Philly? Stop.

What is wrong with you? Are we going to go 64 to 2024? What are we doing here? All right, we're out of here. I need to just just turn his mic off we'll be back later in the week he's rich We'll see you next time.