High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - NLCS Game 4 Postgame Pod

Episode Date: October 21, 2023

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to the Phillies' 6-5 loss in Game 4 of the NLCS. 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

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. What an absolute disgrace we watched tonight in Arizona. Just a disgraceful performance, like sloppy baseball. Craig Kimbrell, I don't ever want to see you touch a baseball on a Phillies uniform again. Like what a disaster. Rob Thompson by far, by far his worst managing

performance in the playoffs. Like what was he thinking? How do you manage that game that way? The one advantage you have going into that game is you have Christopher Sanchez going and they have a freaking bullpen game and you turn it into a bullpen game. You use Jeff Hoffman in the third inning and manage your way into a box so that you have to use Craig Kimbrell in the eighth inning of a two run game when every single Phillies fan on the planet, on the planet knew that Craig Kimbrell was going to freaking suck. He was going to suck in that spot. We all knew it.

Like, what an embarrassing performance. What happened to the baseball team that we watched for the first part of this playoffs? Like, what happened to the two more wins? Like, where's the fire? Where's the focus? Fritzy, I'm pissed off, buddy. It's my third time here today, and I can't believe I'm talking about that game, dude. What up, man?

Yeah, I mean, I think you know me. I think the listeners know me. Not handling this very well. That's a game they shouldn't have lost. I mean, it's as simple as that. And you can bring up all the decisions early. You can bring up everything that happened. But ultimately, Craig freaking Kimbrell stinks, man.

Like, he absolutely freaking stinks. And if he pitches another game for this team, they're going to lose a World Series. It's as simple as that. Like, He is legitimately that bad. He has no clutch gene in his body. A game that you're up 5-2,

you're up 5-2, and you blow is embarrassing. I mean, utterly and completely embarrassing. Alec Thomas stinks, man. Alec Thomas is not a good baseball player. And to get taken deep in the eighth, you have been in, I mean, you're a Hall of Fame, quote unquote, given your Philly's career, I'll keep you out of there. I don't care. You are a quote unquote hall of fame caliber late inning closing

type reliever and to lose that game is freaking embarrassing and then all of a sudden we're all on edge and and it comes down to wheeler tomorrow versus zach allen but i just an absolutely disgusting effort i hated being here i hated being in this ballpark. I no longer want to be here. I want to be home. And I just, I'm not looking forward to tomorrow at whatever time it is. I can't figure out the West Coast schedule. Yeah, we're not even talking about tomorrow.

That's the rule for tonight. We'll talk about tomorrow. We're on the pregame at 6 o'clock. We'll talk about Wheeler and Citizens Bank Park after that. Because guess what? Guess what? We're going to be at Citizens Bank Park again. But like tonight is about reacting to a,

a all time bad Phillies loss. And like you said, an embarrassment, like I'm embarrassed that I believed in this team today that I came in saying, Oh, they're going to show up because that's what they do. Guess not. Guess not.

Guess not. Guess the team that we saw for the first, you know, whatever it is, eight games of the playoffs, seven games of the playoffs is not the team that went to Arizona. Like, how does that happen? How does this team that had played with such focus, with such intensity, that had used little slights as motivation, that had come through with big hit after big hit and big situations, that had gotten outstanding relief pitching in almost every spot where the manager had pulled every right lever and they go to Arizona and they all fall apart like how does that happen Jack like how do they like Topper was was horrible today like I'm sorry I know that he

was being aggressive and I appreciate aggressiveness like you had one advantage going to this Christopher Sanchez didn't pitch poorly is he a moron for not knowing how many outs there are? You're damn right. Like that was unforgivable. Like I'm with it, but he only gave up a run because of an error in the first place. Like I just, I didn't understand that. And then to use up Jeff Hoffman there, like the one guy who, and I know they were important outs, but there's so much baseball left to be played there. Even if you bring in a Lorenzen or something, why are they on the roster? Why is Lorenzen and Walker on the

freaking roster if you're not going to put them in in the fourth inning of that game or the third inning or whatever of that game? And again, it's not like I'm saying I want to see those guys, but I'd rather see any of them than Craig Kimbrell. Any of them in the eighth inning. James, I get it. I get it. But that's fine. The freaking Hall of Fame

closer blew a 5-3 lead in the eighth? Like, I don't care. James, I get it. I get it. But that's fine. The freaking Hall of Fame closer blew a 5-3 lead in the eighth. Like, I don't care. I don't care that he's off early. But we knew he would. We knew he would. And Rob Thompson should have known he would, dude. Rob Thompson. Do your job.

Do your job. Yeah, but come on, man, though. I agree. Look, I agree. He stinks. Jack, we can all agree. Craig Kimball, like, get him off my team. I want them to create a phantom injury

to get him off the playoff roster. Like, I'm fully done with him. I never want to see him throw a pitch. But like, you also have to blame Topper. We knew this. Every single Phillies fan knew that after last night, especially, that you can't put Craig Kimball back in a big spot. Like, that was a no freaking brainer. And Rob Thompson trusted his guy too much. Like, that's on Topper too. Like, yes, I agree with you. Craig Kimbrell is the number one culprit for the loss tonight. He deserves it. But Craig Kimbrell wasn't going to get out.

We knew it. Everyone knew it. You can't put him in that situation to allow him to blow the game like that. That's on Topper as much as it's on anyone. Simply one of the worst losses of my Phillies fandom. I mean, there's no other way to explain it. And the fact that we had to use Alvarado tonight,

it also stinks because that might take him out of the game tomorrow. Who does he have available tomorrow? Sir Anthony? Ranger. Yeah, sure. Whatever. Whatever. Whatever. They have completely and utterly blown a 2-0 lead. And, yes, I know Zach Bluer's in the mound tomorrow.

I know that we get back to Sissons Bank Park. It shouldn't have taken to get back to Sissons Bank Park. They had a 5-2 lead in this ballgame. And, listen, Ryan Kirkering, I am a huge fan of. He's going to be a good reliever here for a long time. Come in and throw strikes. Throw freaking strikes. Maybe if he had a leader reliever down there that knew how to throw strikes,

he would know how to be better at his job. I'm just sick, James. I'm just absolutely sick. But, again, I blame Topper for that, too. I know. I know. I love you, buddy. I promise you.

I'm not mad at you. But I blame Topper for that, too. Like know. I know. I love you, buddy. I promise you. I'm not mad at you. But I blame Topper for that, too. Like, we should have known. I get it. I get it. I get it. I want the guy that has closed out 420-some games to be able to come in and do a job. I understand that, like, Jeff Hoffman in the fourth and these decisions early in the game, I get it.

But why in the world can I not trust the guy who has done the job for the half of the year, whatever, and has been, why can't I give that guy the ball with any kind of sense that he's going to come in and do a job? It's sickening.

It is absolutely sickening. I agree. I 100% agree. But we knew it. You can't give him the ball because he freaking stinks. Because he can't get outs now. Like, that's what it is. And, again, you know, and, like, look, let's not also absolve the rest of the team,

for the most part, in terms of sloppy play. Like, the first run score is because of an error. Like, flat out. Like, if Boehm doesn't make that error that run doesn't score like the Christopher Sanchez not knowing how many outs there are I mean just so many spots to your point Kirkering not throwing strikes and again I wouldn't have put him in a high leverage spot this kid after last night and him just unable to get out like it felt like a a bad decision to put him into that spot. Again, I think Topper managed himself into boxes and into corners and wasn't able to manage his way out of it

because of how aggressive he was early. But I agree. Look, guys got to get outs too. It's on everyone. And guys got to make plays. Look, there's obviously a lot of blame to go around. Look, there's not a single Phillies fan right now who literally ever wants to see Craig Kimbrell again.

But I was really disappointed with how Topper managed this game. Like, I thought the one advantage you had was Sanchez going in. They just made it a bullpen game against a bullpen game. They did. They did. And their bullpen completely collapsed late in a spot where you have a big lead on the road you have philly's fans here ready to to you know blow the roof off this place i just i hope tonight is is and i'm just i'm being completely honest i hope that tonight is not remembered as one of the most

crushing losses in philadelphia sports history it's as simple as that that's a 5-2 lead in the seventh inning that i'm all for trusting guys i just i i hope that tomorrow we're not in the same camp of of trusting guys and i and i swear james if if craig kimbrell i dude i'll pitch kirk ring again i don't care if if you know i want taiwan walker i would pitch taiwan walker in relief i'd bring him into a dirty inning this is what he does every time man this is what craig this is the when everyone told me in the first half of the year about how this zoo is why he has 400 oh Oh, he stinks, man. He stinks.

And this is what I've been saying since they signed him, and it's why I didn't want them to sign him in the first place, is because when the games matter, Craig Kimbrell is not there for his team. That's his, like, listen, I appreciate you, and I appreciate the people that are going to bring up the fourth, fifth, and I totally get why that is frustrating and why pulling Sanchez early is frustrating, and I'm with you on that. But the simple fact of the matter is that a guy who has the least amount of clutch genes in his body

can't hold a lead in the freaking eighth. Failed again. I can't deal with that. I cannot deal with that. That is a spot that you, you Mr. Hall of Famer, the guy who is an all-star that closed out the all-star game, has to be able to hold. And if you can't do that, then what are you doing on this roster? What is the point of you on this roster? Pitching the fourth for all I care.

I am done with every single high leverage Craig Kimbrell inning that I can deal with. 215-592-9494. Let's get a reaction. How's it going on the phone line? Yeah, it's great. It's full. Let's talk to our guy Black Grady. It's what we do.

Oh, I don't know if you're going to be positive tonight. I doubt it. Let's huddle up, boys. I got black gritty. It's what we do. Oh, I don't know if you're going to be positive tonight. I doubt it. Let's huddle up, boys. First of all, this is why I kept saying about Bo keeping his head up. Because he finally starts hitting the ball, and then he loses his mind and tries to go Superman. Two times you do little league over base running. Like, what are you doing?

You're running in the outs, not paying attention, running for no reason, mental error in the first, and yet then Dominguez didn't know what out it was. And then it's just on Topper. It's on Topper and Boehm to me. Boehm just making stupid decisions because he's all in his head. And Topper, everyone in America, and I know Jack's right, do your job, but everybody in America knew that this guy couldn't do his job.

Everybody knew that this guy doesn't punch in on time. The whole internet was just like, why, Kimber? Why? And I don't want to see him again. I forgot Lorenzo was on the team. I literally because I'm so stressed out. I literally forgot we had somebody else. I'm like, well, who else do we got? And I'm like, oh, wait,

we do have two other people? I understand loyalty, and then I understand stupidity. It has to end now. Changes have to be made. It's over for you and this whole loyalty and I believe in them. Well, how do you believe in them when nobody else does and we're all right three, nine, eight times in a row? It's done.

Something's got to change. They must win tomorrow. They must win because right now, I'm disgusted. And James, you know, every time we lose, the first thing you say is brutal off and i always come back and say this is brutal tonight this was brutal tonight this was a problem and i'm trying to talk calm quote unquote so i don't curse uh break the huddle guys uh have a great show uh uh red october i don't know what's going on topper fix it this is on you bro love you Love you, bro. I agree. Alright, yeah. 2-1-5, 5-9-2.

94-94. It is a brutal loss. Like, literally, whatever happens, obviously, if they lose the series, it's a, you know, a pantheon loss. But no matter what, it's one of the worst playoff losses we've ever seen in our Phillies' lifetime, without a doubt. You can couple that with yesterday.

Yeah, just alone, much less with yesterday. But yeah, they got walked off yesterday. Just an absolute disaster. 215-592-9494. It's Final Out, High Hopes Radio. Fritz and Seltzer, we'll take your calls when we get back. Again, reacting to, again, just an all-time brutal Phillies playoff loss. We'll be right back.

Final Out, High Hopes Edition. Hopes not high tonight after. They never existed. I mean, what a disastrous, disastrous game tonight. But again, across the board, you know, lack of ability to get runs in. You know, I know they put up a five spot, which was better than the game before. But missed opportunities. You know, mentioned before, Alec Boehm had multiple mental errors, including an actual defensive error.

And obviously, you know, Craig Kimbrell, the biggest disaster of it all. And I thought Rob Thompson, his single definitively worst game as a manager in the playoffs. 2-1-5, 5-9-2, 94-94. Fritz and Seltzer on final out. Continuing to take your reaction to an all-time Phillies loss. As we go to Manny. I can talk to our guy, John.

Hey, buddy. You know what, dude? It's just, like, such a bummer. I'm stuck between both of you. I'm a little leaning towards Jack in the sense where, you know, if the Phillies special doesn't work, it's probably the worst play call in the history of Super Bowl history. You know what I mean? But because Doug Peterson's the man, he's got great roots, et cetera.

Like, this is the inverse of that first Braves game where, like, everything Topper did worked and it just looked masterful and everyone's like, oh, he's got to get an extension and all this. At the end of the day, like, I don't hate the idea that he trusts these players. I don't hate that he went to Kirkring and Kimbrough-Brooks and said. Kimbrough, really? Really? Kimbrough Broads and said, Kimbrough, really? Really?

Kimbrough, John? Really? No, no, no, no. Just hear me out. Kimbrough's Kenny Powers at this point. He's out of the league. Dude, I'll take Kenny Powers over him. Knuckleball Kenny Powers over him. Come on.

I agree with you. He's in the Mexican league tomorrow, or otherwise you have no integrity if you're Topper. What I'm saying is I respect Topper going to both and saying, I'm going to give you a second chance because I trust you guys to make up for what you did yesterday. Kimbrell blew it again. He's done.

If he starts again before next season for this team, then I have to question Topper and I don't want to extend him. So that, hey, I respect you. We're up 2-1. You give Kimbrell, who's got 400 saves, you give him the spot to make up for it. He blew it. He's done. I get it. I just wouldn't have given him the spot. And I think the

vast majority of people, every single Phillies fan, when he came in the game, knew what was coming. And that's what managing's about. Getting out in front of that. Don't put a situation in front of fans where everyone knows the guy's going to blow it, and he blows it. If we know that's going to happen, shouldn't Rob Thompson?

Like, again, I think the one advantage that Rob Thompson had coming into this game today was they had Christopher Sanchez, Ray Rowe, and the Diamondbacks had a bullpen game. And Sanchez didn't look bad. Like, Sanchez wasn't a problem from a pitching perspective. He made a dumb play. But I thought they pulled Sanchez too quickly, and I thought he managed it way too aggressively and set up a situation where Kimbrell was there in the eighth.

I would have put Lorenzen in. I would have put Walker in. I would have put anyone in over Kimbrell in that spot, John. I would have let Sanchez keep going, honestly. That's my point. That's my point. Yeah, it obviously wasn't managed properly, but I'm going to say that, like,

I mean, at the end of the day, Kimbrell just blew this game. You had enough leeway. With all the other accents, Kimbrel had the leeway and he blew it. But at this point, you just got to... For weeks on this station, I would call and say, you don't change the lineup

until you lose a game. And even when we lost the game, I said, don't change the lineup. It's going to look like we're afraid and we're weak and we're nervous. Now you have to change the lineup. You have to move Boehm. You have to do the bullpen. Kimball can't come anymore. You have to act like you have to take this team seriously. And you have to

say, you know what, dude? We're going to maximize this team. We let everyone have the leeway. Topper has real moves to show that he's not just a player's guy. He's a manager when it counts. And like I said, I respect that he gave him the leeway but now show me topper that you actually can use data and use the like show me that you can bench kimball for life yeah and that you can make better decisions but i love the show honestly suck you nice but great great show guys love you johnny yeah look i uh i to that point i think that you know i that he absolutely has to change the lineup.

We talked about that coming in. I think we talked last year so much about the Castellanos thing and moving him down. And you've said many times that might have cost them a World Series. Well, guess what? We're right back there with both the Kimbrel thing and absolutely with the lineup thing. And Jack, we talked about this before. You had said you felt strongly about Castellanos going in there over Boehm. Castellanos has been looking like last year Castellanos the last couple games. I'm not out on him or anything. But I do think JT at least has put the bat on the ball more consistently.

What would you do tomorrow if your're top or line of class? Yeah, I'm probably keeping Boehm there. I know it's a cop-out, but it's not like Cassianos has looked. Cassianos has looked horrible in Arizona. And he keeps trying to have the big home run, and I appreciate it because, you know. Yeah, they could use him, yeah. Without the home run against the Braves, I'm not sure they win that series. I probably keep Boehm there just for another – because, like, dude,

they scored enough tonight. Tonight's not on the offense, you know. I mean, like, there could have been moments where they broke through and scored more. Schwarber was great. Turner was not. You know, like, they pitched around Harper. I just – I struggle so much to focus on the offense.

Yeah, I get it. What happened with the pitching staff. I agree. And like full disclosure, I think Rob Thompson is a brilliant manager. If he throws Craig Kimbrell in another high leverage situation, like I just I think it's one of the most miscalculated moves in the history of baseball

I mean I think it's a borderline and look I wouldn't fire Topper but I think it's the kind of thing when we joke about fireball offense it's a borderline fireball offense it's a borderline fireball I'm all for sticking with your guys being the guy that when things get tough you look to them and say, Rob Thompson's got us.

Craig Kimbrell is not a Philly. I mean, he is not a part of this clubhouse. I don't care. He is not someone that is well-invested in being a member of this team. And you cannot convince me that he gives this team the best chance to win baseball games. He was great in the first half. Congrats on the All-Star game. He half. Congrats on the All-Star game.

He has been horrible since the All-Star game. So I don't care anymore. He cannot pitch in any high-leverage spot. Him and Tywon Walker can both enjoy the bench for all I care. They can both. He can't pitch in any spot. He should not pitch. Honestly, I would replace him with. Like, honestly, yeah. You should not pitch. Honestly, I would replace him with Dylan Covey on the roster.

I would have a fancy injury. Sure, whatever. Sure, yeah. I'll take Covey. I don't care. It's the fact that you are someone who's been in the league as long as you are. You can't figure out the pitch clock. You can't hold runners.

You can't. Like, there's so many things that make it way more frustrating than it should be. And also, in every big moment, you seem to let this team down. It sounds harsh. I'm sorry. The guy cannot pitch ever again in the postseason for this team. It's as simple as that. He cannot do it.

He does not have the it factor. He's never had the it factor. He has never in the entire existence of Craig Kimbrell in the postseason had a moment. Name one moment. One. You cannot do it. He can't pitch.

He cannot. He cannot. Yes. He cannot do He cannot. Yes. He cannot do this again. Yes. Thank you. 100% agree. I think we all.

I think you can tell. I think we all. I'm frustrated at one person. We are all in agreement, and I am frustrated, too. It's just sick thing. I think he is the number one person most frustrated in the city. But, again, I think Topper deserves a ton of blame for night two. All right.

Sure. Two on five. Sure. I agree with Topper. I agree with Topper. deserves a ton of blame for night two. All right. Sure.

Sure. I agree with Topper. I agree with Topper. Maybe my 5-3 lead, my 400 save plus closer can keep it. All right. 2-1-5, 5-9-2, 94-94. One more segment for us to go. We'll continue to take your calls and react to a brutal loss.

It's Fritz at Seltzer. It's final out. We'll be back. 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. Final segment for Fritz and me, Seltzer, High Hopes Radio. Final out as we react to a brutal, awful, horrendous, disastrous, awful. I said that already, loss.

Jack, I got here at four o'clock this morning and then i came back to do the pregame and now i'm back here now and every single one of those times i've been talking about an annoying or or angering philly's loss and i i'm i'm spent, buddy. I am spent today. Yeah. All right. How about that? With that in mind, I feel you. You know what?

Let's get someone else in because last night we had a call from one of the great WIP callers, and he was furious last night. And we were like, don't worry. Calm down. Our bad. Let's see if he's as furious as we are tonight. I'm going to guess yes. Chuck from Mount Airy, my bad, dude.

You were right to be furious. What a brutal, brutal, brutal showing. You all right, pal? No, I'm not all right. You know what, Craig Kimbrough, you are a scumbag. You know that? You're a scumbag. You have one job to do.

One freaking job to do. And that's to get three outs. Three outs. You can't even do. And if you get three outs, three outs, you can't even do that. You know what? You can sit there and you might as well just go back, pack your bags, go back to Philly and stay there because we don't need you no more. You better ever pitch in the Philadelphia. You hear me? One

freaking job to do. You sit there and you get a two-run home run. And the other day, you gave up that run to lose that game. And then you sit up here and you get a two-run home run. And the other day, you gave up that run to lose that game. And then you stood up here and you said you hit a pitch in the next pitch. You're a freak, man. You are a whack job. That's what you are, a whack job.

You're ashamed of yourself. And, Copper, I'm telling you, man, I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt. But you keep throwing this whack job out there. You need to be out there running, man. I'm sick. It's crazy. Now we have 2-2. Are you kidding me?

2-2, man. I don't know what the hell's going to happen next game. And we got to be out back against the wall. And we got to play all this pressure on so-and-so, Zach Willard. He's human being, too. Now we got to pick him. God forbid if he don't go to the seventh inning. I'm telling you, man, this is crazy.

This is supposed to be smooth sailing. We wasted all our bullpen today. It's a double whammy. You guys hear me? Yeah, Chuck, I just didn't want to interrupt you because I thought you were spitting fire. I thought you were spitting fire. I thought you were spitting fire. I couldn't agree more, man.

I couldn't agree more. This is crazy. I don't know what the hell is going to happen, man. You know what I mean? I'm going to go from being as high as we can or high hopes. Now we're going low hopes. Yeah, man. Because I want a guy in the bullpen that should never pitch a game.

We so happen to get past this series, which I hope we do. He don't need a pitch in the World Series at all. I bet I'd see him in that stupid pose again. Greg Kimmel, you suck. You suck. Chuck, great call, man. We'll talk to you soon. That was an all-time

Chuck call right there. Everywhere. Nailed it. I mean, God. like again i just i know like i i i sport take craig kimbrough i was about to say i hate him and like i'm on the verge of actually hating him but i i sport take craig kimbrough um but again like i just i can't believe he was in that game in that spot after last night. Like, it just happened. It just happened. He just blew the game.

Who was the losing pitcher yesterday? It was Craig freaking Kimbrough. And then they do it again. Like, I just, like, it was such a foreseeable loss. Like, how did you not know that was going to happen? I'd rather have Garrett Stubbs pitch in that spot. Wow. No, I'm bad.

I just got a little too far. Wow. You know. Yeah. A little too far. All right, let's get one more call in here. One more call in here. Let's go to Chicago and talk to Steve.

Hey, Steve. How are we doing, guys? Not well, Steve. Love you guys. Not well. Really got it in Chicago. Absolutely to Steve. Hey, Steve. How are we doing, guys? Not well, Steve. Not well. Philly guy in Chicago. Absolutely love you. This is going to be a venting session, for real. I don't know how

we don't talk about Kimbrel. I'll just get that out of the way. I mean, dude. I'm at the bar in Chicago. Every Chicago fan is a Philly fan because of Schwarber. They all know Kimbrel, obviously, played for the Cubs. And they, like, I don't even have to tell them. He walks in and they know.

They're like, oh, God, I don't have to tell them. I'm like, you haven't even been through what we've been through. But I have to get the Kimbrel thing out of the way. I hate to say it. I'm a sicko. I said, I hope Kimbrell, this is Philly fan 101, hope he blows this so we never see him again in the

playoff. That's where I'm at. Whatever it takes to get rid of that is so dark. Honestly, but you know what? I was in just the darkest spot and that I was, it wasn't that I hope he blew it. I was like, I know he's going to blow it. I know it. I know it. Like, I have no doubt. I had zero doubt in like, I know he's going to blow it. I know it. I know it.

Like, I have no doubt. I had zero doubt in my mind that the guy was going to blow it. Zero. And that's unforgivable. Like, that's an unforgivable mistake by everyone involved. Like, just a disaster. I mean, we're talking random strangers that aren't watching the field like us dialed in, and they know it. So I don't know if you saw Thompson's comments, but he said, I mean, we're talking random strangers that aren't watching the field like us dialed in, and they know it.

So I don't know if you saw Thompson's comments, but he said, I mean, what I read was they're not bringing him back in. He's going to talk to Cotham, blah, blah, blah. Yeah, well, at this point, I don't think there's any question, at least for the rest of this series. We won't see Cameron at a high leverage spot. Awesome. I would, you know, I think, I would assume.

But, Steve, thanks for the I would assume, but Steve, thanks for the call, buddy. And we really appreciate the support. Yeah. For it to, I like put a bow on it. If on the, the, the, the turd sandwich that was tonight. I mean, I mean, the bow is, if they come back and they end up belonging this series, that is looked at as one of the all-time losses in the history of the city. Like, it's as simple as that.

The Diamondbacks are an 84-win baseball team. You had them up 5-2. Kirkering was not ready for the moment again. Craig Kimbrell was atrocious again. And you had a chance. You had the momentum. You had this ballpark with a lot of Phillies fans, by the way, ready to just kind of be done with this.

Now it's 2-2. You have wheels in the mound tomorrow. I have full confidence in wheels, but they pretty much have to redefine every role they have in the bullpen. Because they enter this postseason saying Kimbrough's our closer.

He's not the closer. And I just, you know, whether it's Alvarado, are they going to pitch him on three straight days? Tomorrow is a huge, huge question mark. And Zach Gallin, you have him on the mound. He was not good in Philadelphia. I anticipate he is ready to go tomorrow at his home ballpark.

You have Zach Wheeler on the mound. But, you know, I don't know who he can go to tomorrow to where he says, go get me three outs. And maybe it's Alvarado for the third straight day. I hope it is. But I just, tonight is a crushing, and I mean crushing loss for this team. And I expect them to bounce back. I expect them to come out ready to play tomorrow.

But they also blew a 5-2 lead, and they had a guy that had 400 and whatever saves on the mound with a 5-3 lead, and he couldn't hold it. And he let up a bomb to Alec Thomas, and he had the stones to say after the game that he hit the ball over the wall. So just terrible. Yeah, it, terrible.

Yeah, it was brutal. Look, I just don't know what happened to the team we saw for the first eight games or whatever, the playoffs, and I hope we see them again. That's all I'm going to say. I'm going home. I'm done. Stay tuned for Tom Kelly. If you're on the line, he will take your calls.

Tom, I'm sure, will be breathing some fire as well right now. So, stay tuned for him. Thanks to Justin Morgenstein and Tucker Bagley producing the show, Caleb as well. And we'll talk to you guys tomorrow, 6 o'clock tomorrow, Fritz and I will be on pregame. We'll see if we're any less angry. Fritzy, go get some sleep.

I'm definitely going to. We will talk to everyone tomorrow. That sucked. See you later.