High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Never A Doubt, Phillies Split With Marlins

Episode Date: July 1, 2024

As Jack Fritz deals with power issues, the guys react to the Phillies' comeback win on Sunday and the prognosis of Bryce Harper's hamstring injury. 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

Make your nights unforgettable with American Express. Unmissable show coming up? Good news. We've got access to pre-sale tickets so you don't miss it. Meeting with friends before the show? We can book your reservation. And when you get to the main event, skip to the good bit using the card member entrance.

Let's go seize the night. That's the powerful backing of American Express. Visit amex.ca slash yamex. Benefits vary by car and other conditions apply. All-star closer, Kenley Jansen, we have a question. What's the best podcast of all time? Baseball isn't boring, baby. I'm Rob Bradford, and every single day I'm sitting down with the biggest names

to show you this great game is the greatest game. It's my podcast. It's my passion. It's a cause I started more than two years ago. It is now the most prolific national daily baseball pod there is. Another fact. So jump aboard the B.I.B. Express. Follow and listen to Baseball Isn't Boring, presented by Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage on the free Odyssey app

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. It is another edition of the High Hopes Podcast, sponsored by Miller Lite, official partner, sponsor of the Philadelphia Phillies, Tastes Like Miller Time Philadelphia. Celebrate responsibly, as that could have been a very sad, you know, it felt like it was going to be a very sad, you know, and look, still, like, especially, you know, look,

sometimes we get in our emotions Friday morning. I was down, buddy. This whole series, what a roller coaster like you know we get the the just all-time disastrous night it felt like in the moment both the loss itself and the losses that we'll talk about and obviously good news since then on those fronts compared to what it felt like oh yeah that one well because you because you got screwed because you are obviously the curse and a blessing of the morning show is you are the first show to react to everything. Because if people, it seems like, and listen, I'm not going to take this as an ego shot,

but it seems like people weren't listening at 1030 on Thursday night as I was also incredibly got away with that one got away with that one incredible down yeah yeah and i was still like i was like the season's not over like they could easily win the world series i'm just like this just felt like a freaking magical run and last night felt like a night where it's like oh maybe the run is like not going to be as magical. It just felt like the first night where it was like, oh, like, you know, we don't curse on the spot. But it was like, oh, bleep.

Like, this is like, this is what we've been terrified of, especially Bryce Hovland around. But, you know, we'll get to it. Good news. But you have that game. And then you have the next night with just Sanchez, the stopper, just coming out and just being brilliant exactly what you need then you get the the good Nola start that falls apart with Strom again and then and then today where they come like it really was a you know a you know a true roller coaster series one of the more roller coaster back and forth splits I I honestly ever remember i needed today so bad like i just

yeah if they lost three or four i i know what tomorrow is gonna be i know what the rest of the week's gonna be and to be fair like i really wasn't in that headspace like i just i i just i like to avoid the meltdowns for no reason. I was at the point where I was already talking to myself, like, what are they supposed to do with those guys out of the lineup? Like, it's pretty drastic without them there. By the way, can I just also say the, you know, when you have to wake up at 3 in the morning after going to bed right after the Harper thing

and going to bed, like, just so sad and depressed that carries over sometimes you feel it anyway go ahead it was but it was the most like pure and i thought that we had gotten past this james i thought we had gotten past the marlins thing but it was the most Marlins freaking Philly series since like the heyday, since the heyday of awfulness. 19 to 11 and all that. Yeah. It was gross. Like it was gross.

Is there anyone else that game, that specific Thursday game could have happened to happen against like with every part of it, the ending on the Harper injury, the way it did the Schwarber getting hurt and just leaving the game the the obviously the wheeler start and the ump call and then losing the lead and then you know just like it was just so like no if you said to me if you just told me the beats of the game without saying any opposing player's name i'd be like oh marlins huh like you just it was such a you're so right dude and it and it felt and not to make this sound incredibly dramatic it felt like game 5 2011 like which is just an awful awful place to be in as as harper is well and then after and then

after the game he's like i've never felt anything like this before because of course i know and then he ends that quote by the way going it hurts like that you have to end it when it hurts man like oh and i'm like oh i can't even i dude well because i put myself in that headspace like we got thank god it's not as bad as we thought but like i definitely thought he was out like six weeks six weeks minimum. Me too. I was like, lock six to eight weeks or fine, whatever. Just be ready for – well, I was – so, again, you and I, very steady. Just calm, cool. Never – emotion never guides us.

We are – like Rob Thompson, you know, they say he's like – that's why everyone loves him because he's the same guy every day, win or lose, even keeled. That's us. that's us that's us you know and nick sirianni at the end of the year which is probably the the funniest quote of all time like most ironic quote of all time nick sirianni saying that he likes to he looks at like the the flight attendants and if they're panicking he's panicking meanwhile he's like the most emotional guy of all time which is funny but it's also good advice. Like I've thought that before when I'm on a flight and like,

it'll be like super bumpy. I'll look at the flight attendants and they're just chilling. And I'm like, all right, this isn't that bad. You know what I mean? Right. I do too. But like, again, Nick's definitely the one like freaking out. Is that.

Oh my God. We're all going to die. Oh, well that's also you, by the way, buddy. I mean, if there's. Yeah. You're the first one off the plane. Screw the women and kids. As we've said before, me and Nick Sirianni might have some personality traits that are similar.

Similar beards, too, man. Similar beards. You both have also aged in your new roles a lot. I think that certainly has been there. Dude, I got white on my beard on the very bottom, which I've never had. I've had it on the sides, but like white hairs on like the chin. Yeah. You had a good run.

You had a good run, but I'm finally fulfilling the prophecy of this podcast. It is being old when you call me old. Anyway, it is, but like, and I, I admittedly,

I'm trying to filibuster here. Cause I forgot what I was saying, but, but like, you know, the Marlins, the Marlins been here because I forgot what I was saying. But, like, you know. The Marlins. And this whole thing was kind of, like, teetering. But I don't know. It's just, it's like the Harper.

Oh, oh, yeah. So I was thinking, I was already going. Like, you just word saying stuff. That was good. Figured it out. I figured it out. I was already worried about, like, 500 home runs, the MVP, you know, because I, while it will not, like, if they don't win the World Series,

this season is not a success. Like, I think we've reached that point. Bryce getting his third MVP and second as a Philly would mean a lot to me. So, like, I became super invested in it. Now, it doesn't help that Shohei otani is is single-handedly the greatest baseball player i mean if you're if you're a listener who's into like and i know it's it's hot and cold people but like um stat cast batting data like just google shohei otani stat cast and like look at his baseballs ofvant page he's he's hitting the ball

harder better on the barrel more than every single player in the sport it's unbelievable what this guy's doing this year but like i it's also in addition the mvp it's the it's the fact that like he was as grooved in yes as like again he was the he was the best player of the month in may and like clearly the player in june i mean his ops was what like 30 40 points higher than than joey or something like that really it felt like shohei heading into getting hurt yeah i know shohei had more home runs but but harper's ops harper's batting like 390 or 380-something in June. Well, and I, of course, the night he got hurt, he got his 12th hit in a row. And I was like, it would not surprise me if Bryce flirted with a 30-plus game-hitting trick or something like that.

Like, it really went on one of those insane runs. So locked in. He was so locked in. Yeah. So, thank God, dude. And the All-Star game. How about just seeing him in a Phillies uniform in an All-Star game? All of it hit me so hard, and I was like, this sucks, man. It really did, dude. I'm still putting

myself back there. I was so bummed that next morning. It really did. The All-Star game is definitely a big thing as well. I mean, it's not the end of the world, but I do... No, again, it's all the compounding of all these things that we care about, even they're not even if all that matters is winning the world series all these compounding things that that add to it which part of it is will harper come back and be grooved in in time if he's out for six to eight weeks you know all this

stuff so anyway go ahead i will say it's a great bit him never playing in the all-star game is the feeling like anything it takes like it's it's a pretty all- him never playing in the All-Star game as a Philly. Anything it takes. It's a pretty all-time bit. Especially because for the stuff that we care about, like Inner Circle Hall of Fame, Career Legacy, and all that, he still gets the All-Star appearance thing on his resume. Who really cares? I know.

I know. It's just sickening that I've seen Craig Kimbrell close out an All-Star game in a Philly's hat. It's sickening that I've seen Craig Kimbrell close out an All-Star game in a Phillies hat. It's sickening that Bryce Harper, this is, it's 2019 he got here. It's been five years. And granted, I guess they didn't have an All-Star game in 2020. But whatever, this is his fifth year with an opportunity. Four years, five years, whatever.

2019, one, two, three. Yeah, this is his fifth year with an opportunity to play in an All-Star game. And he won't have, like, I mean, it's just, it's so crazy. two three yeah this is his fifth year with an opportunity to play in an all-star game and he won't have like i mean it's just it's so crazy now now he's got a chance now i'm saying in the moment i know like all right how does the town react if he doesn't play in a game until the all-star break but plays in the all-star game so it's actually really funny too because the mb'd olympics thing is like happening like almost simultaneously coming up too and we all know how many people are going to

call wip and be like you should be playing in the olympics this guy gets hurt and you know i dude i think it's great for mb to play in the olympics i think there's so much proven data of these guys uh like improving their game, improving relationships, all that type of stuff, improving like understanding what matters, like just from these type of things. Anyway, sidetracked. But like I personally,

if the doctors say Bryce Harper is okay to play in the All-Star game, and we know that Bryce is not going to, you know, run the second base like Chase Utley in the All-Star game, if he hits one in the gap, like he going to, you know, run the second base like Chase Utley in the All-Star game. If he hits one in the gap, like he'll stroll, you know, or whatever. I assume he wouldn't go all out in an exhibition competition.

I know it's hard for him to not go all out in some situations. Like, you know, if he's trying to catch a ball, he'll dive into the stands no matter what I feel like. But like if the doctors say he's okay to play in it i personally have no problem with it but i definitely think you know like we will have people who are like why would you risk it it's so stupid like why would you do this yeah just take the extra time like it's it's free rest like why wouldn't you take it with that soft tissue just just wait man it's like i'm talking myself into him not doing it you know what i mean

like that moron in the afternoons. He's going to say he shouldn't play in the, in the all-star game. But I just, I'm so like, dude, so I kid you not. I kid you not.

And we'll get to the game. We'll get to the series. It was actually a pretty crappy. Like I said, like an unbelievable, entertaining up and down series. If you weren't like dying with the doubt, an unbelievable, entertaining, up-and-down series if you weren't dying with the doubt. If they were not 25 or so games over 500,

it would have been the worst series I've ever experienced in my life. If this were a June from a couple years ago where they finally turn it around a bit, and they're getting around 500 or something like that, and then this happened, we'd be like, nope, not to the bottom. I will quit the bottom.

We wouldn't be. Yeah, exactly. But I, so Gal tweeted out, I don't know, maybe two 15 on Friday. Like you would have thought that the Phillies won the world series of my

reaction. Like I was totally, I was so happy. I was so happy. It was the, it's my favorite tweet of the year it's better i'm sure i'm sure congratulations and there were other people who added i'm sure and it came out here but matt no but that was first he was okay good matt was because that's what i

saw first were you was it nappy time for you were you were you in that time to you i texted it to you but you were like five minutes late. I mean, per usual. Per usual. You're always late. Elliot was asking us, when's it going to come out? And I think you said like probably around three. And then I sent the Gelb thing. So, you know, there you go.

I actually was sent it by our pal Mike K. Sent me the Gelb tweet and I sent it to you guys. So, Mike K. actually probably deserves the credit for letting me know. I would not have seen it, as you know. Once again, too many Panthers tweets from Mike K. The ultimate credit goes to Gelb because that tweet made me as happy as any tweet this year. Thank you, Matt.

It really was. Again, I thought it was like six to eight weeks, and they're like, Harper's going to be back before the All-Star break. I'm like, what? And the short, I wasn't as worried about the short word thing. It was just the compounding thing. But to just find out at one tweet, like in one story, Hey, they're both going to be okay. Like, this is okay.

Don't freak out. Like, even right now, I felt like I just like, like exhaled, like in a way, like I felt like my body, like relaxed. They're just saying it. Cause like, it was, it was horrible, man. man like i hated it everyone heard me on the radio i apologize i was tired i was upset but i was freaking bum man anyway go ahead sorry i will say i will say you're you're and this has been i've had to we've had to have our our discussions about this your ornery your ornery levels have gone up a little bit.

I know. And you add a Bryce Harper out for six to eight weeks on top of it. I mean, it's like, why even text Seltzer? Because you're going to get your head bitten off if you say the wrong thing. So, like, yeah, it's been a disaster. Like, Seltzer, I'm just letting everyone know. Like, you look at Seltzer in the eyes, mostly fine. Inside, he's dead and angry.

Which is not... Which is really... I'm just tired. I'm tired. I'm good. I'm good. I got a great daughter. She's hilarious. But yes. If you would let me...

Again, if you would just let me control your life, I would be able to help you with a lot of this. That's a really enticing proposition. By the way, speaking of my daughter, speaking of your son, which we're going to get to his first game action, both of them will be in Wilmington. Come hang out with us. Last chance, July 3rd.

It is Wednesday coming up. There won't be another pod before then because the Cubs series goes through Thursday and obviously the holiday and all that. But, you know, this is the last pod we're doing before Wilmington. So this is our last chance to make a plea on the pod to coming out. We've been, like, overwhelmed with the amount of people who are coming. You all rule. Thank you. Can't wait to hang out.

Well. Do we have like a meetup time or something? You can say hi to people or something. Yeah. I was thinking that. I guess we're all in the same section, which is good. Or sections. Three sections.

We have sold 200. No way. Wow. Like 12 tickets, I believe. The last time you told me it was like 130 or something. Wow. Everyone's awesome. You all you all i love you so much it's gonna be awesome to me good night and uh both kids will be there the families it's gonna be a fun high hopes night there i have i have communicated with people close to the situation and aiden will be in the lineup and because you know so he'll be the lineup

yes that was a it would have been you know that could have put a damper on the whole you know the whole thing yeah so a couple thoughts on this and then back and then back yes but i figured i probably should have done this at the very beginning of the pop it was the game all good and all the yes all good so there are still tickets available uh but like again it's a select tickets available maybe they'll open another section i'm not sure but we've still like 200 some tickets uh ike and spike are both coming so so if you want to see ike and you want to see spike they will also be there which is which is also great and it'll be nice to also great. And it'll be nice to meet those guys. It'd be nice to meet them for the first time.

And I feel like spike's going because he wants to like rub it in that, that Ricky gets like thousands of people at events, you know, and he can still like, I'm still the best, you know, but besides that, besides that,

I want to get out in front of this because I can feel the onslaught coming. Yes, Aiden Miller, been a little cold to start his Jersey Shore career. A little bit cold. He got a hit today. That's good. He was heating up. He did not get a hit in his first three games. So he's been like around 200.

I'm just letting everyone know that Gunnar Henderson, who we all agree is unbelievable. Maybe is on pace as of now to be the greatest baseball player in the history of the sport. Yes, go ahead. First 11 games as a 20-year-old at single A, a high A. He got one hit. You don't have to defend this. I didn't even know what happened this is nuts what are we talking about letting everyone know gunner henderson one hit in his first 11 games

27th last year to being like somewhere between 20 and 30 on like literally every mid-season prospect ranking that has been put out like we're good aiden you're the man dude i can't wait to watch you play. I don't care if you go 0-6 with six strikeouts. I'm going to be so excited about your future. So that's where I'm at on that. Good. And so for Justin and Crawford.

I don't think Clawson's going to pitch, but if Clawson pitches. It's okay. It's okay. We can't ask for too much. This is high hopes after all. If Clawson were pitching, I'd almost be like, oh, I don't feel good about this. Things are lining up. Things are going too well.

Yeah, exactly. You know, exactly. So, it's okay. Aiden will be in the lineup. We're going to see our guy play. We're going to see Justin Crawford play. We're going to see the rest of our guys play. So, who knows?

Some of these people, like, you never know. Someone's going to turn into a star. I mean, let's talk about our guy chris sanchez bro like someone who even a year ago much less a couple years ago we would never obviously be talking about the contract last time but would never think even just watching this guy i mean that was you know i think probably the best start of his career i mean just it's it's not just how successful he's been you know what is he he's second in nl and era or wherever he's at third whatever it is but he is uh like it's a i test we're i test men we always have been like he passes it dude like whether it's

the marlins or not like his stuff is just straight nasty like it was they needed that too they needed that after the night before they only scored two freaking runs stott both just manufacturing him like that was that was huge dude he was awesome this lineup by the way before we get to chris sanchez it's gonna be rough until like it really adds some like 2018 vibes to it can we be honest they only got runs today because the marlins shortstop missed that easy, easy double play. And then the other one, like, it was a hit, but, like,

he should have gotten it. Well, dude, Tim Anderson. Like, what a disaster. Was it Tim Anderson? Yeah. I was like, oh, God. Well, it was a good game plan. You know, just keep ripping baseballs at Tim Anderson and see what he – Yeah, you can't go wrong.

See what he can do. No, Cassie has four hits. And Trey, obviously, the big hit, which is huge. No, it's not to Cassie. Maybe not defensively to Cassie as much. By the way, up to three errors. Yeah. I think they're giving it.

Like he, I mean, that's the thing. You know, as much as I, I think the Ripken streak is the one I'm more excited about because it feels more authentic and real and possible. Whereas that one was like, you know, yeah, he doesn't get a lot of errors but like how many balls does he not get to that if he taught if he took an extra step he would get to and and like 85 percent of you know right fielders would get to yeah anyway

what i think anyone great serious great anyone with two eyes see he's not a great defensive like when the balls hit to him he largely catches it yeah that's big but like chris sanchez i know he just retired best since cole i mean dude i mean it's a lot of the same kind of stuff i mean cole by the end got up to like 94, 95. And Sanchez, by the way, like 97. It was harder. Yeah. Exactly. Yeah.

Well, he's long, too. He's so big. Like, he's bigger. He's taller and longer than Cole, too. And Cole's tall. But, like, you see Chris Sanchez. I know when I saw him down in spring training when we were down there, like, he looks like he's like, you know, his arms. Like, he's like an NBA draft prospect or something.

Well, the fact that he can go 97 on his fastball and then 84 on his changeup, that's so impossible. I think he's done a really good job of mixing in that slider. The slider is more of a show-me pitch than anything, but it's a good enough show-me pitch to get hitters off the other pitches. Did Cole ever have that? I'm just kidding. I don't need to compare chris sanchez to cole i almost believe the change-up is probably the world series mvp and then we'll start what if chris sanchez does though man like what if chris sanchez that's the thing though is like he's like and look they have four guys like that and i know we'll get any you know some recent struggles for certain

guys and all that type of stuff but but on any day they have got like guys who can go on a month run where they're the best pitcher in baseball like if if you told me christopher sanchez had you know uh four playoff starts and and had like a under one or under two era like i'd be like yeah sure dude i totally believe that like yes that kind of stuff so you know, and it seems like the demeanor, too, you know, but that's something. Well, dude, I thought the emotion he showed on Friday was phenomenal. Like, just really getting into it. I 100% hope he makes the all-star team.

And it feels like he's so underrated around baseball. It feels like all the Phillies pitchers besides, obviously, Wheeler. Look at the contract he just got was underrated, you know, and I know he had security and stuff. Early returns on the contract, pretty good. Yeah, I think it couldn't be better. Two straight freaking gems. Yeah, he deserves to be an all-star.

You're right. He really does. I mean, he's got, what, 2.7? Well, numbers-wise, he's clearly an all-star. It's just a question of if they're going to do it. We know how the sport works and stuff. And the thing that I like the most about, and Ranger, we'll get to Ranger,

but like Chris Sanchez and Ranger, I think to more of an extent, but I think Rob Thompson had a better feel for Ranger. But Chris Sanchez, I don't think Rob Thompson knows really. Like, and it's not a critique of Rob Thompson. I think it's more has to get more data on rob thompson has to get more or on chris sanchez has to get more feel because you and i i think watching the game thing we trust chris sanchez and in a lot of spots like

he has that feel of like not doesn't let the moment get to him but i think the biggest thing that's happened this year is he's letting him pitch deeper into starts and i and the way i the way i watch games and the way that i think rob thompson is is currently watching games at least in june is is collecting data for the postseason and i think that how he's handled chris sanchez the last couple of starts where he is letting him work through things now he it's been pretty dominant so it's not like he's had to work through much but but extending him so he knows okay here's when to get him out because what made last year so frustrating in watching Chris Sanchez and even getting to the postseason is that third time through that's when Sanchez is actually at his best like the longer games go on traditionally chris sanchez is better so i hope

that when we get into the postseason barring them going and getting like a bleep you level reliever like they're gonna have enough data points on chris sanchez on ranger they know wheeler they know they know nola to where they can extend those guys because one of the most frustrating parts of the last two postseasons is pulling those two specifically earlier than than than needed now last year game seven he trusted ranger he did not get out corporate carol which is i'm not we don't need to even then it was trusting him like the fourth inning or whatever third you know like like in terms of like really trusting ranger the way he has trusted these guys this year and creating not the playoffs, a different thing.

But, like, in terms of, like, what he pulled Ranger after, like, two and two-thirds in game three, I mean, look, I also think, though, just to add to your point, it's not just a data point for Rob Thompson. He's also giving Christopher Sanchez a chance to be in these types of situations and learn what he has in his tank and situations and learn what he has in his tank and how to use what he has in his tank and how to purposefully maybe conserve energy and all that stuff. I mean, those are big. And granted, it's different in the playoffs.

Obviously, it's a different thing with the emotion and, you know, that intensity of every pitch that's needed. But still, it gives Chris Sanchez a chance to be in more and more like you know it's like the 10 000 hours thing in any of these situations these reps where he gets reps pitching through the eighth and trying to conserve for the ninth they're pitching to the seven trying to conserve the eighth or get through the seventh and that's valuable too in addition to the data that gives thompson you know i mean yeah just a heads up it seems like it's pouring rain here so if i lose power so quickly quickly on ranger and no i don't want to i don't i don't need to rush i'm just

letting everyone know that if i if i all of a sudden the screen goes dark yeah it's because i probably lost power because it's kind of kind of dumping here it's and i have i'm just letting you know i'm letting all of our listeners know. I have reached the point in life where I get excited about rainstorms because I think my lawn needs it. It's a good place to be in, man. It is.

Whenever you've had a basement flood, there's always the back of the mind like, oh man, I hope that doesn't ever happen again because that's the worst yeah well that's the reason why elliot's afraid of rain i know i know he took it too far like i don't you know he's you know tell you i think it's raining here too or i or it's raining so loud there i can hear it in my headphones yeah i can't tell i can't tell yeah

yeah but i think it's pouring all over if i had to guess so good thing they got the game in uh good thing they got the game in although i would i would have taken the canceled game is when they took the lead yeah well we all would i mean when they were down six two i would have been like shut this down shut it down uh ranger like obviously his worst start of the season by far um just didn't have it today i mean not just the the runs and hits you know he was in the hits you know he was just getting hit harder and and more crisply than normal but no strikeouts is is wild dude three whips by the way i know i he just use it i was thinking about as i was watching this and i was thinking about it back with the wheeler

eight run game i didn't make the point on the last pop but it is you know we always talk about just baseball and how you know you get that 300 average with the best players and it's a game of failure and like it's just so wild on the flip side where like the best guys in the sport at pitching you know the the guys who are ranger has added two yeah i haven't looked i'm probably above it now with six. But at an under two ERA in the game, you know, Wheeler, who had a low twos, was the Cy Young frontrunner probably, you know, heading into that Orioles game. I haven't checked all this stuff. Maybe he's back to it. He is.

No, he is. Yeah, I figure. But again, like, these guys can just, like, just be off a little bit. And that it's like, we crush you. We're going to put up an eight spot against you like it's like it's so hard baseball's so hard at the highest level it's so wild anyway ranger today was it just anything concern you or just like an off day because he hasn't been as sharp the last couple starts as he was obviously really on the 10 and 1 9 and 1 whatever it was

yeah so i think that the one thing it seemed like the Marlins were doing today, and I wonder if teams are going to start doing this. So Ranger is obviously fantastic at throwing first pitch strikes and getting ahead of guys, and it seemed like the Marlins just wanted to jump them as best they could because they know that when you get the two strikes with Ranger Suarez in the mound and he has essentially five pitches he can go to to get you out, it makes the hitter's job that much harder.

But if you're around the strike zone and you're – Dude, I'm telling you, this light's about to go out. I can hear it. I can hear it. It's nuts. It's nuts. But if you're around the strike zone and you are aggressive within the strike zone like Ranger is, I think that maybe the league adjusting back to him is, okay, well, we're going to ambush you. And I wouldn't be surprised if in the next couple of starts, teams just try to ambush Ranger. And it's on him to kind of adjust. Obviously, it's a league of adjustments.

It's a copycat league, James, as I'm sure that you well know. I've never heard that. I've never heard that. Yeah, yeah. Did you make that up, like that phrase? Because that's creative. Thank you. There's a ring to it. I feel like it could catch on.

I think it could. And so I think teams might try to start doing that. It's a lot like now when you can execute against Wheeler, to get into Wheeler for a second, think that the plan for most teams against wheelers like just get him out of the game as fast as possible so when he does not have command or he'll be hanging something unexpectedly and you can take advantage of it that's about it you know sure but like you know when that doesn't happen often that's my point you know but he didn't have great command for his sweeper on Thursday,

which feels like an eternity to go and one of the worst nights of our lives. I hated it so much. It was so bad. It was like the worst possible game of all time. I was like, everything. Everything about it. Every facet of it. I hated it. Because it didn't feel like a loss.

It didn't feel like one. I can feel a loss coming. Dude, at 3-0, Wheeler leaving and Strom coming in. It's like, all right, this is pretty good. I feel pretty good about this. I'm going to get to bed early tonight. No big deal. It's always about the freaking bed for you, dude. It's always about sleep.

It's a part of it. Go ahead. God, again, I'll send you i'll send you some stuff i'll help you enough of this nonsense look at you yeah but but but like when wheeler doesn't have command for his for his any of his off speed which he didn't on thursday teams just really foul ball him to death because his fastball while fantastic like you can foul it off it's hard to square up it's hard to do damage on because it's so heavy. But,

I think the, so, the Marlins fouled off 28 pitches, dude. 28 pitches on Zach Wheeler. That's the only time we've seen Wheeler. That's nuts. It's a lot. It's not like the Marlins are some, you know, elite contact lineup, you know. Dude, against the Phillies,

they are unbelievable. I mean, they suck, dude. Yeah, I know? Dude, against the Phillies, they are unbelievable. I mean, they suck, dude. Yeah, I know. They suck. I mean, Josh Bell, I don't even want to talk about it. Can we just not say his name again? That's it. And we can all just accept that, like, thank God the Marlins are, what,

like 31 and 50-something or whatever. Like, we don't have to worry too much about them in the postseason this guy hopefully don't treat him to anybody but like i just don't want to talk about him i like i hate him i he is like it's you know it's one thing when you know like uh a stud comes in and beats you it you know that happens you get it it's it's baseball it's like wow wow, you know, whoever. He had it, you know. But when it's someone like that, you know, where it's just like he is like a 180 hitter coming into a series. Hold on, man. 2.35.

2.35. Whatever it is. Whatever it is. And it's like, oh, now I'm Babe freaking Ruth. Like, yeah. Well, he's all time, man. Like, so obviously during our lifetime, we have Ryan Zimmerman. We have Jeff Conine.

We have Braun. We have Braun. We have Brian McCann. There's been all-time Phillies killers. Yep. Josh Bell, if we're doing the – so catcher's McCann, first bases. I know. My God.

First bases is 100% Josh Bell. Third base is Connoy. Well, Freeman, which is so funny. Can we make Bell the DH and Freeman the first baseman? Sure, because Freeman had about 700. Yeah. Yeah. And also, Freddie, Bell at least hasn't killed us with defense as far as I know.

You know who the shortstop is? You know who the shortstop is? Who is the shortstop? Lay it on me miguel rojas oh totally dude did you see the dodgers record by the way with with him and uh when he gets a hit there's something like 28 now or something they're 22 it's insane it's so weird like there's a really weird that maybe they've lost since last time i saw but as like a few days ago like they had some insane record when it like undeated a bunch of wins.

Well, that's like the Harper stat when the Phillies had an RBI. They were at 22-0. That's more like he's the best player on the team. Yeah, that makes sense. Rojas is just a winner. Yeah, a freaking winner. Miguel Rojas, known winner. He made the playoffs like once with the Marlins.

A freaking winner, dude. He made the playoffs like once with the Marlins. Winner, dude. Wins, man. Yeah, but the Josh Bell thing is sickening. 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. All right, Seltzer's back. Oh, man, that was fun. Yeah, good's back. Oh, man. That was fun.

Yeah, good times. Good times, buddy. All right. So we'll see what Tucker edits in and edits out. Well, and my professional advice would be cut out the last five minutes where there's dead air and no one's talking. But I'm saying after you left, I put in a thing saying, I don't know if Jack will be back or not.

We'll see what he does. But the last thing I mentioned, and then as abbreviated, a take back as is possible because I do have to still make dinner and get to bed. You may not know this, but I do need sleep. So we're going to a minor league baseball game

on Wednesday night, and I can't wait coming out with this. All right, here we go. Ready? Thursday and Friday. Hey, I'm go. Ready? Thursday and Friday. I got stuff to do. We got to go out to the Burbs one day. I know. I'm not complaining. I'm very happy and I love my family and I love my job and I'm lucky.

I'm lucky that anyone wants to come hang out with us at a minor league baseball game. That's insane. I love all of you. I'm very lucky. I'm just saying if we can get me to bed, it wouldn't hurt. Quickly. The thing that I said is like the last thing that we didn't talk about that we really had to is just the actual prognosis for Harper and Schwarber.

And, you know, Schwarber never felt like it was going to be that bad, but, you know, it just seems to the, to the gelb tweet. Thank you again,

Matt, you, you hero for getting us that information as quickly as possible. Um, that, uh, you know, it really couldn't have been better the way it seemed for both that

night, you know? Well, I was more, I was worried about Schwarber from the standpoint of like after the game and athletes always going to say, they're always going to downplay injuries. The adrenaline is going and given like Spencer Bryce,

who's going to say it hurts. I've never felt like this. I don't know what to do. Spencer Turn've never felt like this i don't know what to do spencer turnbull just said on i don't know was it tuesday he started wednesday it doesn't feel like anything too bad and then it's like bang six to six to eight weeks he's done so which thanks but i am very very very very very very much looking forward to michael mercado on tuesday night because i bet you are that's as fritzy as it gets oh i can't wait again like uh he's one of those and and you know to the

theme we mentioned earlier with the old thing um you know he's one of those you know now i started to see athletes and i'm like wow like you look like a child compared to me he's one of those he looks so young my has to be born in the 2000s minus the fact that he's like eight feet tall he looks so young anyway well and i know that the old adage around baseball is hey don't trade with the rays au contraire mon frere doesn't doesn't seem that bad doesn't seem like osama rado ever heard of him just saying Alvarado, ever heard of him? Just saying. Chris Sanchez, ever heard of him? Oh, so I'm so happy.

That's what I was going to ask you before we got sidetracked. Are you finally ready to admit that the Phillies won the Curtis Meade and Chris Sanchez trade? Have you gotten there? Because this was, I mean, don't go back and check the tapes, but you might have not always thought that the Phillies won that trade. That's all I'm saying. Well, they did trade away.

Again, if they just traded anyone else, it did end up being like a top 75 prospect. And he was like a guy that was. He's not Chris Sanchez, buddy. You know what Chris Sanchez is? He's not a prospect. He's a. Stun.

He should be all-star in the major leagues. No, he's a stun. So, yes, yes, I am happily wrong about Curtis Bees and the Chris Sanchez trade. We're very proud of you for admitting it. But Michael Mercado also on that trade. So, listen, they just dominate trades with the Rays, which brings me to eventually – Sam Fold?

Like Sam Fold, insider agent type thing maybe? Who knows? I would – You know, most sites, Ani. I would say it's Ani. Yeah, Ani too. It's always Ani. Yeah, both.

All of them. Who could never. Again. The Alvarado trade was before Ani. Yes, it was. That was like Dave's first trade. Yeah, it was. But maybe it was an inside job by Ani.

That's true. Oh, yeah. Like, hey, Dave. Look at me. I'll help you out. No, no. We're just joking around. It is unbelievable, though. You know, the R the raise you know they they do it every year yet you know you

can't mess with the phillies yep well again there's there's a couple people who are never allowed to leave the organization ani is one of them and preston mattingly brian barber you got people yep yep yep by brian caplan seems like he's like, I don't know enough about him. He seems like he's on his way to be on that list. Yes. John Middleton. How about that? Yeah.

I don't think I have to worry about that. I'm just saying. I'm just saying. I'm naming people who are indispensable right now. Until he sells the team to us. Yes. Well, wow. That is, I would have, like, what a thought principal owners yes yes yes yes

slash advisors uh 0.01 of the franchise to uh you know i don't know shut you guys up or something i don't know i don't know why they would ever happen but yes i uh thank you thank you. It will happen. But the Mercado thing and the Rays thing does have me feeling pretty positive about the idea of trading for Randy Rosarania. Ooh, look at you. You're betting against the Rays now. Always bet against the Rays. Love this. Hey, always take good players from dumb teams.

And that's my philosophy. All you need is one dumb GM. I will say, as far as they go, like, obviously right-handed stick, which is good. But, I mean, I don't – and, look, he is really struggling. Homer today? No, he actually – he's heating up. Yeah, he's getting better.

He's in a great gym. I know. I have him on the WIP Fantasy League team. But he's also someone who is a bona fide, not the biggest sample size in the world, but a bona fide playoff stud, like someone who has been in those spots and performed and had massive moments and been awesome.

And I never hate the idea of bringing a guy like that in when we're talking about needing big hits in October. You know what I mean? Sure. Sure. Actually, I've got a couple of names that I want. You really,

you really, that was like a, yeah, whatever matters. Don't give me that. We know his heartbeats a little slower in certain. Oh man. Oh,

thank you very much. This packed raise playoff. This is my fault. I got a take bag. I got to go to bed. Hey, I got to make dinner. I got to get Zoe to bed. Take that. Go ahead. were in certain oh man all those all those thank you very much those packed raised playoff this is my fault guy take back i gotta go to bed hey i gotta make dinner i gotta get so we're in a bed take that go ahead so obviously louis robert like i just i i watch every at bat he and i i still feel incredibly torn on what on giving up the the proverbial farm for him yeah i know me too but god the upside is just so good he had a ball 470 the other day he's playing gold glove caliper defense like it's just in his last like nine games he's got like a

900 ops so buddy he's heating up he's heating up but some other names one of those all about the package like the risk is all about the package you know it's what you can get him for and then it's like oh i like that risk or I don't, you know? But some other names to run past you before we get out of here. One, kind of intrigued by Jazz after this weekend. Yeah, dude. He was pretty locked in. He had some really good.

Looked good against lefties. Looked really good against lefties. The strong thing, man, like. What's wrong with that? Yeah, good point. What's going on with that? I think it's just a moment, right? I has and we were talking about it well and i trust matt strong with my life you know i got to that point with him and for for him to immediately

have that backfire pretty much you know is is incredibly big spies i mean they they lost like you know he wasn't the reason they lost both the, but he lost the lead in both games they lost in this series. There's no other way to put it. It felt like they could not get a big out all weekend long. All right. Let's wrap this thing up. What a disaster. The floor is yours, Tucker.

Enjoy editing this. You can take out my ending that I put in. Again, my second. Keep all the Seltzer endings in there. Yeah, just add it together. Anyway, you're right. Keep it in there. It's pretty funny.

Go ahead. Right. So interested in jazz. And then Sayazuki I'm also interested in. Yeah, sure. As like the next year he signed and all that stuff. I'm nervous about the Mets. The OMG Mets.

The Grimace Mets. There's a little bit of vibes around the Mets they haven't had in years. Yeah, the Grimace thing, I have not enjoyed watching the Grimace thing unfold. I'll say that. That's fun. It is killer. One extra base hit in his last 23 innings by Chris Sanchez, by the way. One extra base.

Only one home run allowed all year, too, which is equally as crazy. Boehm looks like he is starting to pull the ball. He smoked that one today. It was just like a laser. 22-7 after a loss. Love it. 22-7. You know I'm a fan of that.

Which is unbelievable. Do you think they're going to pick up the team option on Witt? That's a really good point. It could be either way. The question question is is the team option even going to be an option or is he going to be gone at the trade deadline like as in cut and the ladder an extra body that's a better aggression like oh my disaster but it's not one day yeah because they need them dude like they need that kind of it's in your shape dude because we've talked about but like you know phillies a lot of of Phillies fans just watch the Phillies,

and I get that. A lot of baseball fans just watch their team. Like, Whit Merrifield's been, like, a really good player and a fun player. He's been fun to own in fantasy over the years. If you play fantasy and stuff, and, like, Phillies fans' impression of him is definitely not going to be great. Not good. He's approaching Josh Harrison territory, which is...

No, dude, I think he's way past that. I mean,osh harris at least there weren't expectations like this guy signed for almost 9 million bucks anyway yep and i guess like uh final thing one of the most random sponsorships of all time is this build submarines thing like it's like oh yeah dude it's like first off what normal baseball fan is building submarines yeah why does it exist and i'm very confused by the partnership with major league baseball and build submarines out of absolutely nowhere it's a good take by you i'm happy we log back in to make sure you're able to get that on that was the quickest take back of all time so i appreciate it yeah uh coming oh walks first game was great oh yes walks first game one and oh the most important stats all matters great job thank you we'll obviously detail it more as we are in person hopefully sometime this week yeah well it's yeah exactly

yeah coming out you can see us see a bunch of people apparently spike and ike i could spike i don't know which way both i can spike yeah there we go yeah fritz fritz fritz and there it is fritz i can spike that's the way we say here that's for damn sure all right um thank you for doing that quick buddy that was good stuff uh my third i know trust me two me. My third ending of the day. We'll see how many are in here. Tucker, thank you. Good luck, buddy. Come back in Wilmington. Until then, otherwise, have a great

holiday. Great independence. We'll be back after that, Popwise. Until then, spread some seltzer.