High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - New Nickname: The Comeback Kids

Episode Date: September 2, 2021

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to the Phillies winning 6 straight. The guys discuss the Phillies propensity for comeback wins against the Nats, optimism for a fun September, and so much more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Shop Best Buy's Ultimate Smartphone Sale today. Get a Best Buy gift card of up to $200 on select phone activations with major carriers. Visit your nearest Best Buy store today. Terms and 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 and is now the most prolific national daily baseball pod there is. Another fact, so jump aboard the BIB 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. It's a bunch of baseball nerds talking about the Phillies on radio.com and sports radio, 94 W Y P. Yo, Yo, it is another edition of the High Ops Podcast. Jack Fritz.

Like, I don't even know what to say. Six straight, like six nothing today. Like, what do I say, Jack? What is this team? One week, they're the best team I've ever seen. The? One week they're the best team I've ever seen. The next week they're the worst team I've ever seen. They got Matt Veerling going out having four-hit games. They score more runs when we lose Reese Hoskins and everyone's hurt. Like, there's no rhyme or reason, Jack.

I can't believe it. Six straight. They own the Nationals' soul, Jack. No team has ever owned another team's soul more than they own the national soul all they do is let the nationals take giant leads and then they say watch this i i don't even know what to say jack hi buddy how you doing once there was a silly old aunt oh what a beautiful day. Beautiful time. Everything's great.

I have no idea, James. You and I. What is this? You and I are both, and listeners of this podcast, you beautiful, beautiful people. This lineup should not be scoring the amount of runs. It's like 7-1-12 in the last seven games? Like six times they've scored seven runs? And then a 12 spot?

And the 12 spot was the worst lineup. The 12 spot was the Veerling and Bonifacio. And, like, just like, I mean, again, like, Jorge Bonifacio. Like, didn't even know that guy was the first time he played a game for the Phillies, Jack. Well, it's unbelievable. Yeah, it's so – I have no idea how to explain it. But obviously the easiest way to explain it is that the Nationals are a AAA team. Yes, yes.

Boiling it down to the simplest fact of the matter is that the Nationals and D-backs are just downright atrocious. Yes. James, I've got a question for you to start off this podcast. Oh, right off the top. Yes. I like it. Okay. All right.

By the way, real quick, actually, before we get to the question. Okay. Obviously, like, thoughts and prayers with everyone in the area. If you're listening to this right now and you were affected or know someone who was affected or whatever, I know that Jack and I, we were, for the most part, really lucky with where we were in this storm. And obviously, a lot of people were not. not so just definitely thinking about everyone out there and um i'm sure there's a lot of you know a lot of tough stuff that people are dealing with and um we're just thinking about yeah and you know hopefully we can raise some spirits today just like the phillies did today by raising some

people's spirits yeah well the first five game five first five innings of the game didn't happen like that's just a fact um yeah right um so let me ask you this yes if you needed one out from your bullpen are you choosing this nationals bullpen or last year's phillies bullpen so it's so funny because i was trying to explain to Emily the fact that the Phillies became the first team in the history of baseball to win seven games against one team in a season where they trailed by three runs or more at some point in the game. And as I'm saying it, I'm like, so basically what I'm saying is the Nationals bullpen is absolutely horrendous. That's really the only way to read this stat. It's a great question, Jack. I think, like, what do I say? Last year, I think I still take this.

Here's the question. Here's the question. Is this Nationals bullpen facing the Phillies? Because in that case case obviously i would definitely not take them but are they this bad against everyone jack it's unbelievable dude i don't know man but that thompson guy every time he comes in i'm like oh here's at least three for three runs it's ridiculous and and the funniest part is like paulo espino like hurling 87 mile per hour fastballs over the heart of the plate. Terrible.

The Phillies can't hit this guy. But then all of a sudden it's like, let's go to work when this horrendous bullpen comes in. It's unbelievable. I think I have a nickname for the Phillies. You ready? Oh, buddy. Is it the yo-yo? Is it the roller coaster?

Is it the enigma? What do you got? Tell me if you've ever heard this. I think it's brand new. I think it's original. I don't think this has ever been used for a certain team or anything. But the Comeback Kids. First of all, never heard it before. Really?

That's what I thought. That is wholly original. I mean, I kind of think you're a genius for coming up with that on your own, buddy. I was thinking either that or the Cardiac Kids. I mean, how has no one done this before? It's so obvious. I feel like an idiot myself for not thinking of this. Yeah, maybe put it on a shirt.

But official nickname of the 2021 Phils, the comeback kids. Especially when they're playing the Nationals. Especially when they're playing the Nationals, yes. Parentheses on the shirt right below. That'll be a nice little addendum to it. Also, another nickname I was thinking of is Harper and maybe Segura McCutcheon and the kids. Yeah.

I mean, remember the whole like spawn insane and pray for rain? It's Harper and Segura and Cutch and pray for not much or whatever. Wow. That rhymes. That rhymes. Woo, buddy. Look at that at least who's hotter yeah i mean nobody jack how about this how about the fact that like the entirety of the time we've been doing this podcast until this season we never had the phillies win six games in a row and they've done it twice in a month.

What is that? How about that alone is such a ridiculous and I know horrible teams, but still like this Phillies group had never been able to, even against horrible teams, but able to string together six straight in the entire time we've been doing this podcast. Now we're in the middle of two of them. It's it, they are the,

they are the most like enigma mystery, impossible to, to explain team that I remember, Jack, I really mean this. Like again, that lineup they put out the game, they scored 12 runs in like just on paper.

Cause obviously they scored 12 runs. So, you know, the, the proof is in the pudding, I guess, but like on paper because obviously they scored 12 runs so you know the the proof is in the pudding i guess but like on paper that is the worst lineup i ever in my life remember seeing from a team that was competing for a playoff spot in late august yeah like right can you ever remember veerling and bonifacio and marshon and tereus i mean, it's like you expect to see that lineup in Reading or Lehigh.

Or spring training. Or literally spring training. It was a spring training lineup. That's what that was. I mean, it was the most unserious lineup I had seen from a competitive team in my life. Freddie, Segura, Harper, Kutch, Bonifacio, Torres, Bierling, Marchand. But that team.

You got to get Torres in that six hole if you can, buddy. I mean, come on, right? No, it's just ridiculous. Again, and I know it's the Nationals, but it's like, wow. They are just, how they're winning these games. I haven't seen this much ownage over a franchise since the 2018 and 2019 and 2020 marlins over the phillies yes it is that level of domination isn't it it's that you know it's so nice it's so nice to be on the opposite end of it for once. I mean, yeah. How about like like a player making

a massive game losing devastating error. Yeah. Against the Phillies. Really? Crazy. Like even I tweeted I tweeted

I tweeted feels like a loss today and I said to myself it doesn't really feel like a loss. Like this is this is what they do. The comeback kids as coined by this podcast. Yes.

For the first time ever. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, it is crazy because when they were down 6-0, I actually didn't think, even as out as I've been and annoyed, and even with the lineup they have, I didn't think it was over. I really thought they had a real chance to come back because they were playing the Nationals, which is crazy to think about. They're one and a half back right now, Jack.

We did a podcast talking about the season being over like a week and a half ago and and just the the the swings do you ever remember a season with swings like this um um both ends the braves now losing a bunch straight and the phillies like back and forth like i don't ever remember this just dramatic of back and forth this late in the season yeah yeah i mean this is what happens when you play in a division as bad as this has been most of the year. I mean, like, you look at the Rays, they'd be like 20 games back in that division or whatever.

Yeah. But who cares? Someone's got to win the division. You know? Yeah. You just got to play the teams that are in front of you. Also, but at the same time, like, they are only a game and a half out of the wild card too.

That's true. I think it might be two. Yeah. No, a game and a half out of the wild card too or that's true like i think it might be two yeah it's even no game and a half is right now no well no i think it's two because they're two and a half out of the wild card heading into the oh yes yes duh you're right so i was right initially it's two but like so like that that does you know it makes you feel a little bit better it's not like it's not winning last year's nfc east or whatever like it's right they Right. They're not a disaster team. That's a great point. I think that's a fair point. Yeah, they're just fine.

Listen, I think here's where we all need to be as Phillies fans. They are frustrating. They are going to rip our hearts out. But they're fine. They're going to make us miserable. They're going to do that. But they're also going to do this where they beat up on bad teams. They beat up on the Nationals.

And they keep it in. At no point is this season really gonna be over like it's not ever really gonna be over um until possibly the last day of the year so um it's just it's a it's a roller coaster you gotta keep riding it it's okay to ride the lows because they do feel really low um yeah yeah you could say that Well, you're questioning your whole entire, like, why do I even follow this team? Like, yeah, I think that's perfectly fair. That's perfectly allowed.

They won eight straight and then got swept by the Dimebacks in Arizona. It's unbelievable. Like, that is such an absurd turn of events. Like, the Dimebacks are horrible. Yeah, we don't talk about that Dimebacks series. It didn't happen. But, I mean, think about it. If they win that series, they're in first place. Yeah, we don't talk about that Diamondbacks series. It didn't happen. But, I mean, think about it. If they win that series, they're in first place.

They sweep them, you know? If they miss the playoffs because of that Diamondbacks series, I'm going to lose my mind. I know. Well, I think you made a good point. Look, they're going to be in it. And I feel like, as I say it, and as I heard you say it, I had, like, a pit in my stomach where I'm like,

do I want to even say this? Because, like, how many times have we said this stuff all year and it's gone back and forth but i do think it's i mean look optimism like optimistic wise like yes the braves have an easy schedule too but it's not as easy as the phillies the phillies only have two series left against winning teams like the series against the brewers next week and then the series at the end of the season against atlanta like that's it, Jack. Those are the only two series they have against winning teams. And like they get Colorado here. Colorado, one of the worst road teams in baseball.

The Braves are about to play four games in Colorado. Crazy enough, the Rockies, along with the Giants, the two best home records in baseball. They're like the freaking Giants at home. And they're the Diamondbacks on the road. So like that's a swing for the Phillies. The Braves still have another series with freaking Giants at home and they're, they're the diamondbacks on the road. So like, that's a swing for the Phillies. The, the, uh, Braves still have another series with Giants left. They have another series with the Padres left. Like, you know, like it is, if you want to go schedule like, and a Phillies team, we,

we, when we did the whole schedule thing and you, I thought it was a very astute point of time. You said, Hey, it doesn't really matter. Cause they don't beat the teams they're supposed to. Like, right now, the only teams they're beating are the bad teams. So, like, this schedule could shake out really nicely, man. Listen, honestly, I'm just going to go, you know, inside my brain here for a second. Oh, dangerous place to be.

Dude, when you said the Braves have the Giants and the Padres left, I started thinking about a packed business bank park with rally towels for the division series. I'm not one to throw out. We had that Mets series. That was like one-tenth of what that place could be. It just was the first time in so long it's been good. How special did that feel? I was there. It was unbelievable. It was the first time in so long it's been good like how special did that feel i was there it was unbelievable like i just it was the greatest it was the greatest it was literally the greatest and like dude i gotta be honest james this is gonna be a fun month it's

gonna be excruciating it's gonna be there's gonna be again there's gonna be lows there's gonna be highs but man we have legitimate legitimate play playoff baseball atmosphere for the next month. And honestly, James, if I said before the season that starting September, you're going to be a game and a half behind the Braves heading into it, you would take that, right? Yeah, especially if you told me you'd be a game and a half back in the midst of a six-game win streak. I mean, they could be a game back tonight.

Like, again, they're playing the juggernaut home Rockies tonight. Right, right. They are with player of the month CJ Krohn. That was totally deserving and definitely shouldn't have gone to Bryce Harper. Oh, I didn't see that. Harper didn't get it? Nope. CJ Krohn did.

That's bad news for the NL East, baby. Bad news for the NL East. Has. Bad news for the NL East. Has a player ever won MVP with never winning player of the month? I don't, I mean, I'm sure it's happened, but it would, it's unlikely. And man, I mean, like we talked about it, but I mean, the credit that Bryce gets for this, because we've, you know, I think a lot of people in Philly have dogged him at times and certainly some more than others, but we've do you know, I think a lot of people in Philly have dogged him at times, and certainly some more than others. But we've dogged his leadership.

We've dogged, you know, kind of needing him to really throw the team on his back. And when you see these lineups, Jack, and even if, and first of all, he has been producing like every single night, but even just his presence in the lineup is like the only thing that the other team has to fear. And he's still getting hits. He's still knocking pitches out of the ballpark like the fact that he sees they should be like bonzing him you know like it should be like one pitch a game that he could hit like i it's been unbelievable what this guy i know we said it last pop but it just he's batting over 300 again like this guy is just carrying a a really bad lineup right now like he is the heart

of this he is the the the engine the force the driving force and i mean if he can carry this through the next month especially if the padres fade and they don't make the playoffs bryce harper is going to win the mvp yes well it honestly, it might come down to Freeman or him. Like, whoever wins the NL East, it could come down to Freeman. It's possible. I mean, again, if Tatis gets them to the wild card, if they, like, leap the Reds and have a good last month and he's awesome, it could still be him.

It's one of those three guys. The top three in MVP are going to be Harper, tatis and freeman in some order and i legitimately think these next 29 games like the month of september is going to decide it yeah yeah i mean it's exciting too oh what a time we got a playoff run we got an mvp run unfortunately unfortunately i don't think i don't think wheeler's winning this i know that that has been uh has been put to bed, sadly. Yeah. He'll be a top five guy, and he's still an amazing season.

But you made a great point, Jack. I mean, tell people what you noticed about his innings. Oh, yeah, he starts in innings away from his career high. Like, we got to get this guy a breather. Six starts left this season. Yeah, we got to get him a breather. You got to make sure that he's able to, you know, at this point, Wheeler has gotten to September.

We got to get sure that he's able to, you know, at this point, Wheeler has gotten to September. We've got to get him through September. So, yeah, they've got to figure out a way to kind of give him a breather here or there. I know every game is important. I know that. But you also need him down the stretch run. So, you know, hopefully they can kind of push him back in one of these starts or, you know, whatever. Give him an extra day of rest so he's fully ready to go

because you can kind of just tell that his legs look like they're a little bit tired. Yeah, he just hasn't looked the same recently. I mean, it's pretty clear. Really, the holiday start is the only one of, you know, the last month plus or whatever where he's been totally unhittable, dominant guy. You know, otherwise, he's had really good spurts and he's had a couple of really good outings, and he's had a couple really good outings, but he's also had those outings where he runs into trouble,

and, you know, certainly the last couple have been that way too. So I think they'd be really smart. I mean, plus, I mean, you can't skip Matt Moore. I mean, anytime you can find an opportunity to slide Matt Moore in there. It is wild how they keep winning these Matt Moore games. I haven't kept track with the record like you were before, but, again, that other one the other night. Like, Matt Moore is absolutely horrendous. Likeous like just stinks and they win the game they come

back so um and like in reality i mean like look honestly i think what we saw today like them coming back is huge but what what we saw earlier in the game i want i want you to talk about this because i do think that the way this is shaping up and and if this lineup can still smoke and mirrors it and bryce kind of carry him and jt play first base and sagura you'll get back on you know hot and they can kind of find a way to to stay where they're at not necessarily seven runs a game but like playing you know scoring runs like it's going to come down to this staff and i feel really good about Wheeler if they can get him some rest. I feel great about Gibby. I feel great about Suarez, like we talked about last time. It's going to come down to the guy who stunk again today, September Nola.

And really, we don't even have to say September Nola this season because it's just been Aaron Nola this season. It has been the classic September Nola. I'm concerned. That's coming out of today. Super exciting, awesome win. I'm super excited about this team. classic september nola like i'm concerned like that's coming out of today super exciting awesome win i'm i'm like super excited about this team i'm hopeful again like i'm not gonna say that oh come on yo look look look i'm in on this team i'm i'm fully in i'm excited i i believe that they are going to play meaningful games in the september like i said they're gonna be in it

i can't say i like think're going to win the division, but it's only because I've been hurt so much. They definitely can win the division, and I'm all in. I'm excited again. I don't feel hurt anymore. I don't feel like an idiot for believing. What I'm going to do is just not fully go to where we went before

where we were like, oh, they're winning this division. It's over because it's totally not, and it's a real fight this September. But where we were like, oh, they're winning this division. It's over. Because it's totally not. And it's a real fight this September. But like, to your point before, Jack, like, this is exciting. This is exciting September baseball. And if they're gonna make this happen with the lineup they're rolling

out there, like, Aaron Nola has to be better. Yeah. And, you know, it's just a shame. Because actually, alright, obviously he pitched bad today. a shame because actually, all right, obviously he pitched bad today, but he actually did. I thought he actually showed some good signs for the most part, and then kind of just fell apart with the Soto stuff and whatnot.

And, by the way, speaking of intentionally walking people, can we just start walking Juan Soto? Same point I made about Harper before applies to this Nationals lineup. Like, there's nobody else in the lineup. What are you doing? Walk him every time. I thought his fastball command was still really good to the outside,

the glove side. Didn't have it inside the righties as much, but I thought at least he still had the glove side command on his fastball, which I think is massive. I just didn't think his curveball was bad today. So, yeah, it stinks that he did it today, but I'm actually not super down on Nola after today. Like, for me,

it all comes back to his fastball command and i thought he had that today i just thought he had a bad curveball and i don't think he used it in the right spots so i would be more out on nola if the fastball command was still bad but at the moment i'm not like i'm not like super disappointed in him if that if that like if that makes any sense okay i'll be super disappointed for both of us okay whatever i get what you're saying that you're like hopeful but he still sucked today yeah no he still has sucked his eras four five man yeah but his flash really his three of his last four starts have been much much much better like that's like five and a third two runs last time like better better but it wasn't

but again like like look like think about it way. And this may sound crazy to say, but if they find a way to get to the playoffs and obviously anything can be changed by how they have to get to the playoffs, how this month goes, do they have to play one game playoff? Do they have to fight till the last day? All that stuff. Can they set up the rotation? But in an ideal world, like obviously Wheeler's your game one starter i wouldn't want nolan game two i would absolutely start gibby in game two over him i just trust that guy more right now and get this jack i'd wrap i swear to god if i were making these decisions i would start ranger suarez in game three and nolan game four if that's the way it shook out like i just think those guys are better pitchers right now totally agree i totally agree with you oh nice no pushback push back on me a bit well no i don't i just i don't i don't feel it i really don't um you know i think wheeler will be good uh although yeah i mean i think wheeler be fine i dude i just i just trust ranger suarez no matter what like me too i i i can't get over it like every time i'm just so impressed with this guy. He's like the coolest, coldest, calmest guy on the team.

Dude, I'll never. Maybe it was this series? Yeah, I think it was this series. Or maybe it was. No, I think it was actually Sunday against the Diamondbacks. But he was pitching and he had a ball hit right back to him. He caught it, obviously. And he just started almost juggling it on the way off the field.

It's like, what is this? It's crazy. So I fully trust him in big moments. And then, first off, I do love that you're calling him Gibby. I like that you're already there. Oh, yeah. I was in on that immediately. Gibby, yeah.

More or less the moment he got traded here, he was Gibby to me. I've been waiting forever to have a Gibby. All right, Jack? Wow. It's such a great nickname. It is a good nickname. Yeah, it's a good nickname. I agree.

And it's a baseball nickname. It doesn't work for other sports. Antonio Gibson in Washington is a running back. Can't be Gibby. It just doesn't work. Baseball works, man. It's just like, I think he's going to... You have to find the guys that are going to

give you the best chance at six innings and less than three runs. Those three guys have that better than Nola right now. Obviously, you definitely have to see how Suarez finishes out September just because he's a young guy, hasn't been in this situation. But yeah, honestly, if it comes down to it, I would probably rather have a Wheatler in a game four on three days rest than Nola. Yeah, it's a really good point.

It's unbelievable it really jack when you think about playoff nola like any any long time listener of this podcast knows that phrase like it's crazy to have this conversation right now i know i know yeah bring it back to 2018 family start i. I know. How about just 2018 period? Like, wow, that guy. He was third in Cy Young. And he won, yeah, two elite seasons. Like, he could have won the Cy Young in other years. He had a Cy Young caliber season.

And now he's this. And it's like he's not much older. He's not, you know. It's just strange to see how much he's fallen off this year. He really is. I just think it's so sickening that we go from Wentz to Simmons to Nolan. I know. In three straight years.

I hate all these guys. I can't even think rationally about Ben Simmons and how much I hate that guy. And I can't think rationally about Carson Wentz. What a loser. But I did. I will say that one thing that gives me hope. I know this is, you know, Jack, sometimes we take hope from tangible, factual, statistical type of things that, you know, are reasonable and whatnot. But this is one of those um ethereal um unexplainable

not real type of things but i always said in and i'm not this is not a phillies are in the world series this year because i don't think that but i always thought that when the eagles finally won their super bowl when like it whenever it happened in our lifetime it would be an improbable way that it happened it would be something where like of course it would be an improbable way that it happened. It would be something where like, of course it would happen in this ridiculous, absurd way. And it did like that actually happened obviously with foals and the whole thing. Like it would be such an absurd thing to end this 10 year playoff drought with this season and this team on the field. Now, the way it is like with this lineup, with, with Matt Veerling Bonifacio and, you know, all these guys playing meaningful games in September and Aaron Nola being the four in the rotation as far as we're concerned in September.

Like it would be funny, like it would feel somewhat appropriate to end this playoff drought with a team like this and this kind of unexpected up and down, finally get it done type of season. Are you calling them a wacky, wonderful bunch of throwbacks? I am, buddy. I am. Did you just come up with that too? All by myself. All by myself.

You were on fire today. No one has ever uttered that sentence about a previous Phillies team. No one. This podcast could not be more on fire. Put it in the Podcast Hall of Fame right now. This podcast is playing the Nationals. Except we were never down. We just crushed them.

We didn't even need to come back. By the way, I think it was at this point in 2011, the 2011 Phillies were 42 games over 500. Oh, my God. We really took that for granted, didn't we? We did, man. Especially, you know, thank God we won one. Like, in hindsight, you know, everyone's like,

oh, we should have won more. Like, yo, thank God we won one. That's the way I look at it. I know there are a lot of people who don't but being a philadelphia sports fan and again to what we just talked about i mean jack as you like to point out i'm incredibly old and in fact we are 23 days from me turning 40 oh you had a good run kid i. Are 40 year olds allowed to host podcasts? I don't think so. I think I, this is it. You guys got me for 23 more days and then we have to find a youngster to come in and thank God, you know, someone who really knows what they're doing. Um, yeah, you know, but, um, as a, as a, you know, the, the resident old guy here.

Yeah. I'm going to be 40. Isn't that crazy? Um, as a almost 40 year old, I've won two titles that I remember the Sixers won in 1983 when I was like a year and a half old. Like that doesn't count. Yeah, exactly. I've had two titles, Jack.

So like, I don't take any for granted. And I think, you know, to your point, we did maybe take the, how good that team was and just like, when, like having after the last 10 years, like I just treasure the opportunity to go to the playoffs, making the playoffs, having a baseball team that wins on a regular basis, that doesn't drive us crazy. And obviously that's not been the case a lot of times this year but like it is a great point that like even though they only won one and they people kind of give them crap for it like that run of excellence was something we shouldn't take for granted especially right now so on philly's like yeah i uh i know it's the only time in their history jack wow that's it oh no i mean no. In the late 70s to early 80s, that's it.

They'd have two runs of excellence, and then they've had some outlier teams, like 93 and 50 and all that stuff. But they've only had two sustained runs of excellence in their history. Well, at least they've only been around since 1883. Yeah, it's funny. It's funny. I actually saw me and Jillill went over my parents for dinner on sunday and i don't know how it came up but i literally uttered the sentence like i just want to see one more philly's like world series in my life like that's if i'm looking for life goals i

just want one more world series like that because i legitimately not sure i'm gonna see it like i know it'll probably happen um but i'm not like 100 sure it's gonna no nor should you be again to the point i mean they've only won two since 1883 the actual odds say it probably won't but i think they will but i mean like they won two since 1883 yeah they both you can't say for sure they're gonna win one both my parents and jill were like really and i was like no really like i thought a lot about what i would do if they wouldn't want if they wanted another one i agree with you i agree with you man i really do feel that way i i and obviously like i'm sure as i get older and i'm sure you'll have this too when you have kids and stuff like someday you know i would love to see zoe be able to see them win a title and all that stuff but like you know all that but like i just want one more i just i want to now that we did it once and it

was like so like the first one was so amazing but also so weird because it was our first like we didn't even know what to do we didn't know how to act we didn't know how to respond like i want one more like with the experience under my belt to like really savor it and to really remember it and all that. If you had to bet right now, do they win a World Series in your 40s? This might be the most depressing question anyone has ever asked me in my life on so many levels. That question is just levels of depressing for me. Way to bring the pot down buddy um you know what uh bleep it i was about to curse but i didn't bleep it i'm gonna say yes

jack i'm an optimistic guy i'm not gonna go into my 40s thinking the phillies aren't gonna get me a title oh god get zoe and james a title for cripes sake i i wish that i had real conviction in that answer jack i wish i had been like you're gd right they're gonna of course they're gonna yep yeah i've got 40s thank that god what what else what else now i'm all like flustered from from having to think about being 50 in 10 years and and whether the fleas are going to win a title in that time it's great well at least i won six straight happy yes back to the present that's the move six straight i think we just spent the last 10 minutes thinking about the next you know 10 years of our lives and seeing how things are going to play out oh let's get it back to the

fills yeah yeah you know you're gonna you'll at some point i'll be making jokes about you being old when i'm like super old and then it'll be like reverse funny you know yeah so yeah that's something let's not look forward to it's exactly right though but to keep things way to keep things in perspective yeah i know we need it we, buddy. We needed a little perspective. Let's get it back to the Phillies, as they say. We're in the stretch run here, obviously. There's 29 games left. It's September.

I'm going to go. We just did the let's get it back to the Phillies. I'm going to go super old school sports radio on you. Jack Fritz, what's your confidence level in the phillies dude two one five five nine two ninety four ninety four um my confidence level in the phil's ten i mean obviously they're everything's fine um no i i my comp here's here's my confidence level i am confident that that brave series at the end of the year is going to make or break the season. Like, that's, and I don't think at any point they're going to be, I don't think at any point in the last month they're going to be four games out.

I don't think at any point in the last month they're going to be four games up. Like, it's just going to, it's going to come down to that last weekend. I don't think they're going to fall on their face. i don't think they're gonna fall on their face i don't think they're gonna run away with it i don't think they're gonna you know just well this this might this might go back to haunt me but famous last words coming i don't think they're gonna crap down their legs and and just have and not win and not win a game in the last week of the season and try to make the playoffs man yeah i just bold statement i think i think they found their groove here a little bit. I believe the starting rotation... I mean, that alone would

be progress, right, Jack? I believe in the starting rotation more this year than I did last year, and I believe in the bullpen more this year than last year. The lineup is just something I... I have no idea how they're scoring right now. And that's not to rain on everyone's parade. I just have no

idea how they can keep this up because, like, even when Didi comes back, they're adding a 2-12 hitter to the lineup. Sweet. Yeah, it's like, are we sure Didi's a better hitter than Torres? Torres or Freddie? I mean, Torres statistically has been a better hitter than Didi this year, which is ridiculous. Yeah, have a year, kid.

I know, yeah. But, yeah, so. Which is Yeah. Have a year, kid. I know. Yeah. But, yeah, so. Which is hilarious because we're like, he's batting like 260. We're like, have a year, Ronald. Yes. It's his birthday today, by the way. Happy birthday, Ronnie. Oh, shout out to Ron.

Yeah. So, yeah, it's just like, yeah, I trust them enough to stay in. I don't think they're going to completely fall apart. I think the starting staff's too good. I just have no idea. I have no idea about the lineup. I just don't think that they are talented enough to consistently do this,

but they've also scored what? Like seven straight runs, or five straight games with seven runs or more, or six, or actually, wait. Is it seven? Seven now? Wow, it's ridiculous. It's, no, yes.

It started last Friday night, yeah. It's six straight games with seven, or no, six or seven. But seven or more. It's been exactly seven. Outside of Wednesday, which they scored 12. Or outside of Tuesday, they scored 12.

So, one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, but they lost one. That's why I was thrown off. thrown off so yes it's been seven straight games where they scored seven runs except except for the one game they scored 12 so 7 7 7 12 7 7 whatever yeah very fun so it's unbelievable with the worst with the you know quotes worst lineup they've had all year it's it's it's unbelievable like it really, I probably said that word like 20 times this pod because it, I'm just,

I can't Jack. I didn't think. And, and Meg Culpa, my bad. Like you said, I should have been more in on him. I'm a coward,

Jack, but like, did any, I mean, I just didn't think we'd be sitting here talking about this right now. And it's awesome. Like it is awesome. I'm super excited.

Yes. And me too. And honestly, just the fact that it's September, we got meaningful baseball. I hope the bank reflects that, and I'll take it. I hope they make the playoffs. I'm dying for them to make the playoffs. But I'm just glad that they righted the ship here a little bit.

They're beating up on bad teams. They're having comebacks. They're doing all that stuff. That's good. And honestly, it's important for the growth of this team because they've got to figure out how to win together, and they're kind of doing that right now. And I like that it's the kids too.

I like that the kids are coming through and they're having some big moments. So it's not just the stars showing up. It's the depth pieces as well. Yeah. No, I'm with you. And, again, I don't know how they're doing it, but I'm excited to see if they can keep doing it. And it's just it's fun, man.

It's fun. I didn't it look like we weren't going to have a fun September. And, you know, again, dangerous statements. But I think we're going to have a fun September. And to your point, like even if they can just make it a fun September and not to steal your phrase earlier, crap down their leg in September. I mean, that That alone is progress. That's a big step for this baseball team. What a thought.

This would be the fourth straight disaster September 18-19-20. Yeah, it's 18-19-20. Ever since Reese had 100 homers in September of 17. I know. Back when the games didn't matter. That was sadly the most fun September moments of the last five years.

Is the best September moment of the last five years the Altair, Homer, or Kershaw? Probably. Yeah. Or I guess Nola versus Harper. Yeah. But, you know, it's skewed by the later September moments that follow. Exactly. Exactly. Yeah. All right. Take back.

All right. I'm not one to rip Scott Franski. Why? Who would ever rip Scott Franski? Well, where are we going with this? This is about as unexpected a lead as I can imagine. And Scott, if you're listening, I'm just kidding. But, you know, in the ninth inning today, Kiebert Ruiz hits that ball, and I thought it was like, oh, it's definitely game over.

Like, the Natchez walked it off. And the DuBois camped under it, you know? Like, you know, I didn't need that heart attack in the ninth inning from Scott Franski. Oh, so this is great that you said this, because I was driving with Zoe when the game ended. I was picking her up to for every at home because obviously it's you know tough out there with you know traffic and 76 676 close all that but but i was listening and i had the exact same reaction like when he started it

like it was like i thought it was gone i was like oh my god they just walked it off against us like what a devastating turn of events i was about to start cursing ian kennedy out my car and you're right and then he's like oh and o'double's underneath it and okay we're good Like, what a devastating turn of events. I was about to start cursing Ian Kennedy out my car. And you're right. And then he's like, oh, and Oduble's underneath it. And okay, we're good. Like, it was like, this is a great point. And I love Scott Franski, but it was terrifying. Well, it didn't help that he had friends in the back being like, oh, come on.

Come on. You don't need to ruin our days. I know. I'm so with you. I really thought that's, I'm so happy you brought this out. I saw the pitching matchup for this weekend in Miami, and it's, like, so favorable towards the Phillies, and I was like, oh, this is terrible.

Like, I just had a cold shiver down my spine. I was like, oh, here we go. No, they're not going to do this to us again. Yeah, I know. I can't even really think rationally about this weekend series well i think i said on the i think i said on the air in the postgame show like yeah we haven't had that uh we haven't had that disaster marlin series this year which which could be my famous last words like you know like right around the time of 19 to 11 11 like we're right in that range you

know you had to bring it you had to bring up 19 you're the one who brought it up you brought 19 to 11 I didn't bring 19 to 11 disaster series 19 11's what you think about when you think about the most disaster series yeah that and the the Marte ball off work but I will never get that just beat the freaking Marlins

this weekend guys please like please please please please please please one of my other takeaways from today and I think it's actually really important for the stretch run here, but I really thought Sam Coonrod looked great. And I think he's definitely more back than he was. I think maybe the spider attack thing affected him. Immediately after the spider attack went away,

he had an elbow thing. And the same thing happened to Glass now. And unfortunately, Glass now needed his season shutdown. But Coonrod was able to kind of work his way back. So, you know, maybe he's healthy now, healthier than he was. Because before, you know, when Spider-Tac was still in or whatnot, he was a massive piece for this bullpen. And if they can get him in for this retron, I thought he was great today.

Legitimate four-teamer back to 100 miles an hour. 101 at one point, I think, too. That's what you need out of him. So that could be a massive massive i mean we loved him early in the season i mean you know he was a really really big piece of the bullpen and one of the reasons we were excited about the team early on because the bullpen seemed so much better yeah if they can get something from him he can be regain that april may form i mean that would be like huge really huge uh it's with with reese being out andrew mccutcheon being in the four hole it would just be and kind of taking and run with it would be great because they need they for as much as we love tereus and the guys at the bottom of the lineup kind of coming through they need that

other guy that can drive and runs at the top of the lineup and it looks like mccutcheon's ready to do that now just lengthen this lineup a lot. So, you know, Cutch had a huge day today. The bats looked quicker, I want to say, the last three games. So if they can get him back to being the Cutch that we saw a little bit ago and he can kind of take the mantle from Reese as the guy that's going to drive in some runs and get some big hits, they need that. Because Bryce needs protection if he's going to continue to do what he's done.

So I thought today was a massive step for McCutcheon I'd like to see him in the four hole more even though it wasn't yesterday too with the uh like that moonshot home run like when they really needed it too um and obviously the double was huge today yeah I'm with you man and look I mean McCutcheon is the only guy in the lineup other than Harper who can be that, you know, can be that that masher. And look there again from June 1st or whatever, until he got hurt. McCutcheon was literally one of the best hitters in baseball legitimately. Like so, you know, he's already shown this season that, you know, he's we know he's not the old Andrew McCutcheon, but he still has these stretches in him. We know he's not the old Andrew McCutcheon, but he still has these stretches in him.

And if he can give him one here, it could go a long way towards getting him to play. Yeah, and I know he wasn't in the four-hole today, because JT was, but JT's just not a four-hole hitter to me. If I was the manager, I would put McCutcheon there, because they just need him. And also, quick side note, the Patrick Corbin 65-mile-an-hour curveball is the most joke pitch in baseball.

Major League hitters should crush that pitch. I know it's kind of a change of pace, but it's so stupid. Just throw the slider. Patrick Corbin. They're paying him, what, $82 million over the next three years? I mean, they won a World Series, so it's hard to rip that contract, but what a disaster contract. And then you pair it with that. You could definitely rip the Strasburg one because they won the World Series, so it's hard to rip that contract, but what a disaster contract. And then you pair it with that.

You could definitely rip the Strasburg one because they won the World Series, then gave them the contract. And that one looks like it might be the worst in baseball, or one of them. Reese back for the NLCS? Can he be? They just put him on the 60 day. I don't know. He had surgery.

Yeah, well, listen, pal. We need you back for the NLCS. I mean, I will say it did seem like even though he was clearly hurt enough to end his season, whenever he played, he was able to knock bombs. Dude, I know. It's like he's hitting tank shots and then he goes in the field. And then he can't move in the field. Yeah, it's crazy.

James, I have a question for you. Yes. Why was today the biggest game of the season? Or why was today's game so important? How about that? Well, I mean, obviously, there are many reasons. Every game is important

down the stretch. They came back from 6-0. I'm assuming you have some weird reason, so give it to me. Yesterday's rain out means that they didn't travel today, which means they didn't spend a full day in Miami

heading into a Marlins game. Look at you! That's a really good point, Jack. Which hopefully means they don't come out super slow tomorrow. And a day game, so they get there. You know, we all hear Girardi saying, well, we got in at 3 a.m., so this guy's unavailable tonight. None of that crap.

Like, you're getting in early. You'll be there. You'll be good to go. Yeah. Go win some games in Miami. Like, win some freaking games in Miami. All right? Yeah.

I mean, the fact that they won a game today where there was only 600 people there and they're able to, like, create their own energy. How empty was that park? Oh, it was terrible. Like, when you get shots of, like, the pitcher from multiple angles and literally from, like,

multiple angles, you don't see a single person in the stands, it's pretty crazy. I think the Nationals announced 12,000 today and there was definitely no more than 500 people there.

So... Max. The fact that they were able to do that against you know, they were able to create that energy hopefully they can do the same down in Miami. We're all the Nationals fans. Just want a World Series. Beating Philadelphia isn't as hard as Philadelphians say it is.

Good job, losers. This year it was, huh? 9-1 against them in Washington or whatever. Hard as Philadelphia can say it is. Good job, losers. Anyway. This year it was, huh? Yeah. Nine and one against them in Washington or whatever. Insane. Rafael Marchand can stay, man. Dude, in. Love him behind the plate.

Love the way he calls games. I love that he only hits homers in the big leagues and saves them all for up here and doesn't waste them in the minor leagues. I think that's important. And I just like his his actions back there um he seems like the perfect guy to kind of back up jt for the next decade yeah and also i mean i like a tight concise swing you know i like the way he like he doesn't feel like an automatic out the way another backup catcher this year has felt sorry i won't hate

on him but thank you um you know he doesn't feel like an automatic out. And, yeah, the home run thing is ridiculous. And he's clearly fantastic defensively. And I like the JT at first, him buying the plate thing today. I can roll with that. You know, obviously Miller's going to play some first two, but I can roll with that. Yeah, I mean, I would like him to hit more for for the 25 million he's getting paid this year but

whatever well of course but the point is i mean you know i i don't think it's that you know much of an offensive or that much of a lineup downgrade if you put jt at first and and you know keep his bat in the line but i agree look ideally well how about this how about this against righties miller first against left well that was my thought yeah something like that yeah um i don't know what Look, ideally. Well, how about this? How about this? Against righties, Miller first. Against lefties, Bates first. Well, that was my thought. Yeah, something like that. Yeah. I don't know what his ceiling is, but, dude, Vierling can hit.

I mean, that guy, I mean, he had five balls on Tuesday night. They were all over 105 miles an hour off the bat. Now, some of them were driven into the ground, which is boamish but um like he can he that guy can hit i don't know i don't know what his ceiling is i don't know where he's at long term i don't know if maybe you know they do a left field platoon next year with whoever else like whatever but that guy that guy impressed me impressed me this week for sure yeah yeah and you. He's hit pretty well. Every time he's got an opportunity, he's played like six games or whatever with the Phils this year.

A couple off the bench, but he's come through. I think he's 7 for 12 on the year. There you go. Batting title. Now, I have long stated that the Clearwater Threshers were my favorite team in the entire Phil system. But at the moment, they've been replaced by the Jersey Shore Bluegalls

because they called up Luis Garcia, Johan Rojas, and Griff McGarry today to Jersey Shore, and that just makes me straight up giddy. So the Phils win six straight. My three favorite prospects go to high A. Bryce's dot's hitting like 500. Everything's great in prospect land. Good to hear, buddy. It makes me happy.

It'd be nice to get something out of a Luis Garcia. Oh, wait. We did today. Thank you, Luis Garcia. Yep. Yep. The most a Luis Garcia has helped out a Philly's team ever. I mean, that was phenomenal.

I mean, what a horrendous error. Like, that was just, in that spot, that's about as bad as they come. Yes, just dreadful. So, man, what a day. What a baseball team. What a season. What a day. What a day.

I just, I can't believe I'm hopeful again. Like, I don't know how they pulled this off. It's pretty exciting, man. Like, I really was, like like getting apathetic about them you know on a night-to-night basis obviously we watch them we talk about them we're gonna pay attention but like i really that stretch the you know whatever it was they lost 12 of 16 like towards the end of it like i just was really feeling very hopeless about this team and jack the hopes are higher buddy that's good to hear everyone out there is just like thank

god james is not out oh i'm i guarantee you i'm not the only one my friend i think a lot of us were feeling the way i was feeling i was just honest enough to admit it bunch of cowards bunch of bunch of cowards yeah one member of this podcast never doubted this baseball team yes that is exactly what happened like yep yep yep you got any foul thoughts uh i don't i don't hope to see some people out of four fingers on saturday we're having a nice little cornhole tournament and uh we're hanging out having a good time so enjoy your labor day weekend pal you too buddy and everyone out there and again anyone you know going through stuff we're thinking about yeah our thoughts are you, and we hope for the best. And Jack, I will end it with this.

Who let the Philz get hot? Some AAA teams did, buddy. He's ripped himself, so we'll see you later.