High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - NLCS Game 7 Postgame Pod: It's Over

Episode Date: October 25, 2023

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to a devastating Game 7 loss. Presented by Miller Lite. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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No hopes. No hopes. No hopes. What's the point of being here? Just honestly, this is the most disappointing I've ever been in a Philadelphia sports team. I know there are losses that are as painful. I know the Super Bowl we just lost. That was horrible.

2002 and all that stuff but yeah but for the way this season to for this season the way it was the way this playoff run started and all that for it to end for it to end like this for them to lose game six and seven at home man i just was saying to jack i'm like i'm sad i'm sad more than angry i'm like just crushed now. And now I'm getting angry now that we're here. You are. And we're talking about it because we shouldn't freaking be here, man. We shouldn't be here. This team didn't freaking show up.

How does this team that had done so much, that had, you know, had this ethos, the two more wins, the whole thing. Don't want to hear it. I know. I know. How? How does that performance come tonight? Like I'm crushed right now. those the two more wins the whole thing don't want to hear it i know i know how how how does that performance come tonight like i'm i'm i'm crushed right now yeah and the worst part is and this is not out of any disrespect towards you oh good i can't wait to see where this goes

we're off to a great start i don't want to hear anyone talk i feel the same way i don't want i don't want to be doing this this is the least I've ever wanted to do a show in my life, ever. Same. So I just – I don't know why that happened. And, like – so I think if I could boil it down to one thing is – and this is the most important thing – is their best players completely folded in the biggest games of the season. Cassiano is horrible. Trey Turner, horrible.

Bryce just didn't do anything. And it's not totally his fault they stopped pitching to him. But he should have just taken walks, man. Good at bats. All of a sudden, everyone just seemed like they totally forgot how to have an approach at the plate. No. So they totally started chasing everything.

They completely lost what got them here. They went up 2-0. They ended up 2-2. They brought in Craig Kimbrell into a game four. They brought Craig Kimbrell into back-to-back games, by the way. I just want that to be pointed out. They completely overlooked the Diamondbacks teams that they should be mopping the floor

with. That's an 84-win baseball team that didn't have business being on the same field as you. And to lose a game 6 and a game 7 at home is one of the most embarrassing acts in the history of Philadelphia sports. You can talk

to me. I've heard my whole life. 1964 and all these collapsing losses and all these bad losses. And I lived through 02. I lived through 10. I lived through 11. Like, this is absolutely and completely right up there. It was completely avoidable. Completely didn't have to happen.

They completely no-showed in back-to-back games at home. They completely folded in game three on the road that was very winnable. They completely choked in a game four with a lead. And they led a Diamondbacks team who stinks, by the way.

Stinks. Stinks. Thank you. Stinks. And they let a Diamondbacks team who stinks, by the way, stinks, stinks. Thank you. Stinks. Win the National League Championship Series. I cannot believe that happened. I still can't believe that happened. Yeah. Like, shock is definitely a word for it.

You know, it was embarrassing, man. And the crowd showed up tonight. You know, it was embarrassing, man. And the crowd showed up tonight. You know, shout out to the crowd. The crowd was great. It was the best crowd, like at least until the end, it was the best crowd of the whole freaking run. Like this crowd showed up ready tonight, and the players didn't show up. They didn't freaking show up.

They didn't match it. And I'm with you, man. Like, again, you know, I've lived through more than you, as you like to point out. I'm older than you. Again, like, there's been pain that's similar, but this is the most disappointed I've ever been. Like, I expected more.

I expected more from this group, from what they've done this season, from the way they carried themselves, from the freaking Brave series. Man, how do you win that series like that and then choke against this Diamondbacks team? Up 2-0, you win that game 10-freaking-nothing. 10-to-nothing. You win that baseball game. And you have a chance to close them out, and you give away two games.

Then you come back and look like the team we expected and win a game. And then you lose two in this building? That's embarrassing. In this building? It's embarrassing. It's totally embarrassing. Like, you can't. Like, it's a setback loss.

It's a setback loss. I mean, we talked about the ramifications that they lost this game tonight. I mean, next year, if we're going to hear stories about Citizens Bank Park, it's so special. And I think it can be. I think it should be held in super high regard. But the simple fact of the matter is, in two straight closeout games, they just completely got tight.

They got completely tight for no reason. Like, this place was waiting to explode at every single instance. And, like, I mean, you're – and the bat that i will keep coming back to and as we keep like so you know as it went on from 2011 game five you know i was like yeah that sucked and then he started thinking more and more about uh for nothing and blowing that leading game two i think as this series goes along and as this series continues to age craig kimbrell game four man game four is going to be remembered in, you know. In the pantheon of all-time Philadelphia sports losses.

This series is there, and in individual games as far as they go, game four is one of the worst losses in Philadelphia sports history. Right. But what is also going to stick with me forever, forever, legitimately forever, until this team wins a freaking title the castellanos at bat in in whatever inning it was where it's 2-1 to give all the freaking momentum and to strike out in that spot like a little leaguer is embarrassing you are a hundred plus million dollar player put the freaking bats on the baseball and do a job.

Do a job. It's not a different ball game if he does a job. As simple as that. Yeah. Yeah. And again, there were multiple spots. I mean, Trey Turner had a couple of those just swinging through his shoes. Know it, bats.

I mean, look, there's so many moments that you can point to. So many guys didn't do their jobs. Including Rob Thompson. Including Rob Thompson. Sure, but, like, what's the Rob Thompson killer move? Kill Kimbrel. Kimbrel. He brought in Kimbrel in that game again.

He brought in Kirkering multiple times when he shouldn't have. Are you kidding me? Topper deserves a ton of blame. There's blame to go around. They've no show in game six and seven. How is that Rob Thompson's fault? These two are not his fault as much as – Dude, they're up 3-2 heading home.

Game four is on Rob Thompson. Okay, that's one game. They had two closeouts at home. He brought Kirkering in yesterday again. It's over and over. They were down 4-1. They were down 4-1. And they made it 5-1.

Okay. They were down 4-1. Listen, if you want1. And they made it 5-1. Okay. They were down 4-1. Listen, if you want to kill the manager, sure. He's part of it. I'm killing all of them. Okay, that's fine. But that's fine. But can the players show up and do a job?

Of course. I'm not absolving the players. The players deserve even more blame than Topper. I agree with you. But all around, man, don't let anyone off the hook. Well, I'm not. I mean, I'm not. I just, I just. no one did their job.

I mean, it's as simple as that. I mean, Ranger was fine. He was fine. I just – Look, the pitching on the whole outside of Craig Kimbrell, the pitching this series was not the problem. You cannot blame the pitching. In this whole playoffs, outside of a couple innings

and Craig freaking Kimbrell, this pitching was great. The pitching could have won them this series. The pitching should have won them this series. That's a World Series staff. No doubt. The pitching was awesome. Awesome. Literally, outside of Kimbrell and Kirkering, the pitching was awesome.

The bats didn't show up. The multiple. They have five guys in their freaking lineup who make over $100 million. Five. Five dudes. By the way, in their freaking lineup who make over $100 million. Five. Five dudes. By the way, they all went back to May. Yeah. These last four games, it's back to May.

Schwarber was the only guy you felt like had a chance to come through in the spot. Of course. And that was it. Yeah. That was it. But I felt good about it. And JT for a bit there. By the way, the Harper ball was just like Raul in 11.

I mean, it was inches from being out of here. It just sucks, man. It sucks. Like, all their – like, if you want to – sure. I can already just feel it coming. You know, whoa, why didn't he pinch it for Johan Rojas in the third? It's like – it's bases loaded two outs. And if he brings in Cave there, they bring in the lefty and whatever.

And J. Cave is not good, by the way. And the season coming down to J. Cave. Oh, it was so fitting. It was so fitting. Yeah. This just really hurts. And I'm shocked we're here. I had a lot of confidence heading into this game tonight.

I felt like they were in a really, really good spot to win this game tonight. They had a fully rested bullpen. That panned out. They brought in Wheeler. He was ready to go. Ranger was fine. They just could never. And again, just little things that lead to winning baseball,

they got completely away from because their approaches turned to dog bleep. I mean, that's what happened. The biggest thing that happened, I mean, the Kimbrell thing, yeah, that's incredibly frustrating. But the last, I mean, besides winning 6-1 in game five, the approaches, as soon as they went to Arizona, the offense completely tanked. It completely tanked.

And Rob Thompson kept Alec Bowman at four. He had a home run tonight. Who cares? I mean, had a home run tonight. Who cares? I mean, he did his job tonight. It's Turner. I'm not going to crush Harper because I don't think he got many pitches, but it's Harper. It's Cassianos.

It's 100 million percent Cassianos. Just did not do their jobs. And they lost to a team that they should have won this series in five against. This team isn't who we thought they were, man. That's what it comes down to. That's not a very fun spot to be in. It's not.

It's not, but this team isn't who we thought they were. We thought this team was special. We thought this team was focused. We thought this team was different from last year. We thought that, you know, with the experience of last year and what they went through had primed them and made them ready for this. And they weren't. They weren't. Arizona was more ready. How about that? The Arizona Diamondbacks, who lost like a hundred games a couple years ago, weren't even close to the playoffs in years, were way more ready for the moment than the Philadelphia Phillies.

Like, that's all you need to say. That's it. This Diamondbacks team of way less talented, way less experienced, way less quote-unquote ready for the moment, was way more ready for the moment. Well, it's like the other Phillies were last year. I mean, no one knew that they knew how to win until last year. And then they completely reverted back into the negative this year.

So, fun times. And now next year turns into, you know, World Series or Boston. Well, the good vibes are gone. That's the problem. I mean, this team was full of good vibes. The celebrations, the whole thing, everything just felt so fun and so special. And that's why it hurt so much. Yeah, it's going to take a lot of goodwill to overcome this one.

Yeah. It's going to take, I mean, even regular season next year, I mean, winning the division will be fine, but as long as you do well in the play, I mean, getting back here is a must, obviously. But, like, everything from this point on is looking to avenge this and raising that trophy. I mean, it's as simple as that.

Like, this is where the bar is now. The bar is now win a title, have a parade down Broad Street, to make up for losing a seven-game series, blowing two games at home, to an 84-man baseball team and just having multiple chances throughout to step on a throat and not doing it. I mean, they literally, for a majority of the series, dominated it. And then they came back here and for some reason just said,

eh, we'll figure it out. And they did not figure it out. 215-592-9494. React with us, lament with us, cry with us, yell with us, all that stuff. Five more, Topper. Yeah, dude. It's going to be five more for a while, man. All right.

We'll come back. We're going to take your calls. We're going to get some reaction again. We're here. We're here for you. And I don't want to be, to be completely honest. But we're here. Call us, 215-592-9494.

We'll react to an all-time disappointing, disastrous Philadelphia sports loss. It's final out. It's iHopes Radio, Loves Radio, No Hopes Radio. We're coming right 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. It's Jack Fritz and James Seltzer. Sadly, reacting to a devastating, devastating night at Citizens Bank Park.

A devastating couple nights. A devastating series. I keep trying. We're not doing a podcast. You wouldn't let me curse on a pod anyway, but this is the most I've ever wanted to curse on the radio. I am just crushed right now, as I'm assuming everyone is.

There aren't really words for it. There's nothing to say that's going to make anyone feel better. There's nothing to say that's going to put a positive spin on this. Like, there is no positivity with this. And you know, Jack, I'm a positive guy. I try and find the optimistic angle on things.

And I got nothing. I got nothing on this. Yeah, I mean, it's not the night for it. I mean, sure, if you want to do the whole, well, there's only four teams left and the Phillies are one of them. Nope, nope, nope. No interest. I mean, they're up 3-2.

They should have been up, I mean, obviously, freaking game four. I don't know. It's a series that they completely blew. It's as simple as that. It was a choke job. It was an all-time choke job. It's an absolute choke job. And it's one of those losses that unless you win the World Series,

people are not going to get over for a while. No, nor should they. Nor should they. You should be angry. You should be sad. You should be disappointed. You should be frustrated because, I mean, that's what this team did to us, and it's a shame.

It's really a shame because it felt like this team was special. It really felt like they were special. The fact that with everything that happened this year, I mean, just an unbelievable regular season. I know it was only 90 wins, but there were so many moments, and the city was just so behind them. The relationship between the fans. That's the biggest one for me.

And this team. I've never seen anything like it in my life. I never saw a team be so receptive to the fans and make us feel like we were a part of it and make us feel like they cared about us and appreciated us. And that makes it that much harder right now. Yeah, well, yeah, because I think that we legitimately had a really, really close bond with this team, and rightfully so.

I mean, they lost tonight. I love this team. I do, too. I'll always love them. I'm crushed. It sucks. We're here. They shouldn't be here.

They should be ready to freaking go to Texas and play the Rangers. But, like, we love these guys. And, like, it's disappointing that they no-showed in 6-7 at home. I would love to try to get to the bottom of why. You know, like, why did you essentially fold in big spot? Like, how does Brandon Fott do that tonight? You know, how does the freaking lefty who couldn't find the strike zone. Saw a wink or whatever. Whatever. Like, how does the freaking lefty who couldn't find the strike zone saw a wink or

whatever like how how how does that happen last night you know like just dog bleep approaches for for two straight nights like i i legitimately i know i sound like a i sound like someone i've never been broken up with like i, I sound like someone who's been broken up with. Like, why? It does feel that way. This feels like a breakup. It does. Because of how close we were with this team.

And it's like, how? It's not like we got dumped at the altar, man. That's what it feels like. Because there's no real explanation for it. You lost a 6-7 at home. Well, they just look nothing like the team that we fell in love with. We fell in love with this team. No, they looked exactly like the team.

In game five, yeah, but then in game – No, I'm talking about – Oh, you're talking about the team we originally loved. Yeah, I've seen that team. I saw that team for the first two and a half months of the season. That's the team that I saw these last two games. I don't know how in this time when you have the freaking series by the

stones, you just fold like that. I will never get the answer to that, but personally, I would like to know why. 215-592-9494. Let's get some reaction. Let's talk to Gordon in Miami.

Hey, Gordon. Hey, boys. Not the way we wanted this to go. Believe it or not, no, that's not how we wanted it to go. But listen, I mean, I've been going back and forth over this with all my boys, and I'm listening to you, and there's a lot of bellyaching about the offense the last couple days and i get it at the same time like it feels like this team i gotta say was designed

to beat the braves in a five game set we knew this team was gonna play the braves in a five game set since june basically since the team started to get hot. And the Braves fans bitched and moaned about the format. It was like, you guys should have seen this coming. And then they went and played this series like it was a five-game set. And to me, like, yeah, we can complain about Cassianos and Turner, but Cassianos and Turner were the team's best two hitters when they beat the braves which was the actually difficult series to win um well right i think the series was lost when topper went and got suarez too early in game three

and he went and got sanchez too early in game four. Like, the bullpen clearly was running out of gas. And it just seems to me that part of the lesson of this is that you can think, oh, the Astros blew us out of the water with lots of gas over the World Series last year. But you've got to have a little feel for, you've got to trust your starters to win a seven-game series. And it felt panicky to me, not just the game six and seven where they were pressing at home, but it felt panicky in Arizona where we had the advantage in these pitching matchups and we were going to the bullpen just way too early. advantage in these pitching matchups and we were going to the bullpen just way too early and and you know we complained about kimbrough but we had no flexibility to go take kimbrough out of the

game because they've been pitching for they've been pitching the bullpen for three or four innings already no gordon i'm with you and good call i like i that's how i felt you know we jack and i debated that i i felt i felt like he was too aggressive with that i felt like he boxed himself into a corner in that game four by making all those moves early and not giving Sanchez more time. And, look, that's a game that, you know, we talked. How much did we talk about him pulling Wheeler in game six of the World Series? I mean, that was one of the main things that kept coming up the entire offseason.

Same thing. Like, we're going to talk about that game four in the same way. As if you couldn't feel worse. Bryce Harper, I'm missing the fastball on the seventh said not being able to come through is devastating for me. I feel like I let my team down. I feel like I let the city of Philadelphia down. God, man, it's so tough. I love that guy. I appreciate everything he's done. I appreciate the way he goes about his business, the way he embraces us as a city.

And I feel bad for him. Like, I wanted him to win. You know, we talked a lot about that, about how I, you know, going into this, I was feeling like I wanted this team to win for them as much as for us. And, you know, right now we're frustrated with them and angry. But, you know, I'm bummed and angry but you know i'm bummed for for them too i'm bummed across the board you know it just feels like such a massive missed opportunity jack yeah believe it or not yes it's a big opportunity to blow a six or seven home when

you had a three two lead um and and the thing that sucks about that Harper moment is that, dude, he hit it to the freaking wall. I know. And, I mean, it was so, like, this whole, you know, the moment I knew, the moment I felt, I guess, that they were going to lose this series was actually yesterday when, I don't know, Merrill Kelly had this strikeout in, like, the fifth. And he, like, he, like, turned around and kind of flexed a little bit and i was like that felt like the cardinal series this last two games just felt like 2011 all over again i was like i've i've felt this before um and it took 11 years to feel it again um but this is

i mean on one hand uh for a whole generation that missed baseball, welcome to Philadelphia. Welcome to being a Phillies fan, man. Welcome to the city. This is what we do. Like, it just, they just, they, I don't, I just, I can't put my finger on why, I just can't put my finger on why. It's like they thought that we were going to be way more harsh on them during the game when all we wanted to do was celebrate.

I can't figure out why they got so tight. Why did they get so tight? This place was fine. This place was a party. Tonight was unbelievable. Even when they get so tight? This place was fine. This place was a party. Tonight was unbelievable. Even when they went down 3-2, they're going to be fine. Dude, this place was awesome.

The fans were awesome tonight. Like, A-plus for the fans tonight. And I just can't help but feel like they just started playing so tight. Like, this place was on top of them. Like, it was early in the season where, you know, in May and April, we were talking about they keep trying to recreate the magic of last year's run. Let the game come to you.

And they just played so freaking tight. And I don't get why. I don't get why they, like they just completely threw their approaches away. I mean, like Trey Turner, he was three straight at-bats. He swung on a first-pitch slider. And it was nowhere close. And it's like, dude, just calm down. Just calm down.

And they couldn't. And they didn't let the ballpark be the wind behind their sails. That's all we want to be. And I feel like they used it as like a, oh, bleep, this is turning tight. Didn't have to be. Didn't have to be. And, yeah, like that Bryce quote, sure, it stinks. This ain't on Bryce.

No, no, it's not. This ain't on Bryce. No, no, it's not. It's not on Bryce. I mean, this is on an offense with a lot of high-priced players that completely just folded in the last two games here. Just completely folded. And sure, Bryce is a part of it. But he also smoked the ball in the fifth. Almost hit a ball out.

It just sucks. I mean, it just absolutely sucks. And I don't know. I just still can't believe we're here. I had to watch the Diamondbacks celebrate on this field tonight. I know. How? How?

How and why? I don't know. Well? How? How and why? I don't know. Well, fun times. Fun times, buddy. Yeah, we are really lifting the city up. 215-592. I don't want to lift the city up. I was joking, and neither do I, buddy.

I can't even lift myself up. 215-592-9494. One more segment for us to go. We'll take your calls. Continue to react to a horrible, horrible night. Just a horrible night, man. Just a depressing, frustrating. There's no words, man.

I don't even know what to say. We'll be back. It's Jack Fritz and James Seltzer eulogizing a season. You were wondering if I was going to get back on the microphone. I was nervous. I was nervous. I was nervous you were going to make this show. Can we be completely honest? Elliot and I were actually worried about you at the end of the game.

We were like, I hope Jack's going to be okay. I was fine. Yeah, okay. I handled it well. Yeah, sure. Well, now you are. I'm proud of you, buddy. All I wanted to do was be by myself and not be talked to.

You did. You did. And I sat by myself and talked to my good friend Ryan Phillips. Who knew? I will not tell this family of Diamondbacks fans that their team stinks. That's good. You did the last one. They're blowing kisses at us. Thank you.

Thank you. Love you too. Very nice. Can we cut the Bob Pantano dance party, Reed? In the middle of this. I don't want a dance party. Don't slander Bob Pantano. Not his fault. It is his fault. a dance party read uh i just the middle of this like i don't want to dance party don't don't don't slander bob pantano not his fault i um it is his fault man i just i hope zach gallon's family is happy by the way that's nice that's really nice i i just we just spent so much time with

this team man like this is such a commitment it's 162 of these things. Now, what, 170? 175, man. We watched his team 175 freaking times this year, and it ends with Jake Cave. It ends with freaking Jake Cave at the plate. Like, it ends with two straight losses in this building. Now the whole Diamondbacks family is coming up here. I know.

I can't do it. This is making it way worse. Way worse. Can it be worse? Can it be worse? It can't be worse. I hope you're all happy. Have a great night.

This has been one of the top five worst sports nights of my life. Thank you, Diamondbacks. The new Cardinals, by the way, for our whole new generation. Yeah. I just – 215-592-9494. Let's go to Allentown and talk to Kyle. Hey, Kyle. Hey, guys.

I'd ask you how you guys are doing, but I can pretty much guess just like I'm doing. Obviously, I don't need to say it. This is incredibly disappointing. We definitely choked this. I'm going to try not to curse because I really want to. Same. out to Curtis because I really want to. Same. You guys were touching on how you were going up and batting like little leaguers. To me, it felt like everyone that stepped up to the plate was just trying to have their moment at the bank to write in their hall of fame speech without realizing that they actually need to do it before they can write their hall of fame speech

and i i'm i'm disgusted but i'm still somewhat optimistic at the same time wow well and what what i mean like yeah i think the future is fine well no no don't get me wrong don't get me wrong this is one of the worst feelings the phillies fans have ever had but i can't help but think back to my late grandfather god rest his soul grandfather god rest his soul we were sitting there he got to see us win in 2008 but he never got to see anything after that and all he said we need to spend money to win and we never spent money we never spent money we never spent money we started finally spending money and then we started doing something and he passed even before then but that's not the point i'm not saying that oh you need to spend

money to win however seven years ago five seven years ago if you were a phillies fan asking if you'd rather be in the situation that you're in right now or go to back-to-back NLCS. I get it. And I appreciate the call. I'm not having any of that tonight. I'm sorry. I appreciate the message.

Like, I get it. And John Middleton's awesome. I'm so happy that guy's our owner. I do think that he'll spend. I do think he's desperate to bring a trophy to this town. I think that, you know, if you're looking for something that's positive, that's it. I do feel great about that, but none of that tonight, man. Tonight's not the night for that.

No. No. We're not looking forward to next year. We're not talking about spending money. We're not talking about, what are we going to do this offseason? No. We're lamenting a freaking loss. Are you kidding me? None of that. And I appreciate the message, but no. Tonight is a night to talk about the pain that this city is feeling.

Like, we care about sports more than any other city in the freaking world. Like, it is part of the fabric of this city. And this city is going to be down, man. Like, we're going to be depressed. I'm going to be feeling this. And I know we're all going to be feeling this. And the whole morale of this city is going to be a mess because of this. And it should be.

Because that's how much we care. It affects our lives. It does. I'm going to be depressed, man. For weeks. That's where it is. I don't want to hear about next year yet. We'll get there. Not right now, buddy. And I appreciate the sentiment. I'm sorry.

Well, I'm looking forward to opening day next year. Stop. Not now. Let's go to Louie in Philly. What up, Louie? Hey, what's up, fellas, man? I just left the park. I'm just in absolute shock, man. It's been a million years.

Two games to close out a series at the bank. Could you have told me that Bryce Harper, Trey Turner, and Nick Cassianos would have won a combined 0 for 23? Oh, yeah. Wow. I knew it was 0 for, I didn't realize, 0 for 23. Oh, yeah.

0 for, excuse me, excuse my language, 0 for 23. Dump that, Justin. Yeah, dump that. I'm sorry, man. It's all good. It's all good. Tough night. Yeah, I feel you, buddy. 0 for 23. Thank you dump that. I'm sorry, man. It's all good. It's all good. Tough night. Yeah, I feel you, baby.

0 for 23. Thank you for waving. I really appreciate it. Sorry, Louie. They're Diamondbacks fans waving. And when I say the fans and right field, we battled all night up until even when Pache came in, you know, we were still holding on to hope. The whole building was.

That first and second, like everyone, we were all into it, man. The place is ready to explode, man. The place stayed in it. We were just waiting for a moment, man. Yep. They gave us nothing. We were just waiting for a moment that just, it just never happened. It just never happened.

And then you think about it, the Diamondbacks are sending a team to the World Series with someone in the four hole that had two hits in the whole series. I know. They completely shut down Christian Walker. I mean, the Diamondbacks are legitimately one of the worst teams to ever go to the World Series. Just statistically. Oh, my goodness.

In terms of 84 wins, a minus 15. I'm just talking statistically. Don't get mad at me. Congratulations. You guys won. I'm very happy for you. I know. I'm just speaking facts. You't get mad at me. Congratulations. You guys won. I'm very happy for you. I'm just speaking facts. Statistically, like, statistically one of the worst.

And they beat the Phillies. They deserved it. They were the better team. The Diamondbacks were better than us. Like, flat out. Whatever. They won the series, dude. No. None of that. The Diamondbacks were the better baseball team. As tough as that is to say, as painful as that is to say, they beat us.

They beat us. They showed up when it mattered, and we didn't. End of story. Like, that's it. The Diamondbacks showed up, and we didn't. That's the story of this series. And if I can get one more point in, Jay. Go ahead, Lou.

That's a good segue when you talk about showing up. Because the staff literally had to tell me to go ahead, man, you got to get out of here because I stayed out there in Ashburn Alley leaning over the rail. I didn't see a single Philly sitting in the dugout. Like nobody came to the dugout. And I get it. I mean, it's a heartbreaking loss, and I understand that. But, I mean, man, you could at least sat there and let it take yeah like you take like

the rest of the 48 000 of us sat there and had to take it you could at least sat there and just took in that moment to say you know what i can't believe this is what we missed out on i'm with you i mean i i'm I haven't been this hard book Since Rondae Barber ran it back Yeah no And Louie good call And that's it We talked about it before

The In the pregame show And we said you know If they lose it's It's like that Tampa loss And that's exactly it Like that is the last loss That was as disappointing

As tonight's was As the last two games Is the way this series played out And for me it's even more painful because I fell in love with this team. I fell head over heels in love with this team. And like I said, I don't think I've ever wanted a Philadelphia sports team to win a championship more

for us and for them, for the whole thing, for the love affair. And, you know, for it to go this way, especially two at home, man, like to be up 3-2, to be up 2-0, to just have it play out this way, like it's the worst. It is the most disappointed I've ever been, just pure disappointment. Oh, now we've got to see the gallons come over.

No, this is your station. No, come on. This is us. You're supposed to be Phillies fans. Our people. Come on. This is making it worse. I know, Stacy. No, come on. This is us. You're supposed to be Phillies fans. Our people. Come on. This is making it worse. I know, Stacy.

I'm well aware. I'm well aware. Thank you. You guys won. I appreciate it. You deserved it. You deserved it. They deserved it.

Hey, can I get at least one Go Birds? Can we get a Go Birds? Look at that. We know how down Jack is when he's saying Go Birds right there. Go Eagles. Yeah. Now these guys are here. Go Eagles?

Can we get a Go Eagles? A little Go Birds? No. All right. A little. Oh, now these guys are here. Go eagles? Can I get a go eagles? Yeah. A little go birds? No. No. All right. A little go birds? You guys going to give us a go birds?

No. I'm Jimmy Seltzer. We'll talk to you in five minutes. What's up, man? Thank you. Yeah. All right, guys. Yeah.

Look, and you guys earned it. You guys freaking earned it. Like, the Phillies didn't, and you guys did. Congratulations. Well, sort of. No, facts, man. Like, be real. Not really.

Be real. They beat us. You know, yes, we didn't show up, which helped it. All, sort of. No, facts, man. Be real. Not really. Be real. They beat us. You know, yes, we didn't show up. All right, we get it. You already won. But they beat us. Thanks, Stacey. Good to talk to you. Having a great time here. Yeah, let's get one more call in here. I see our guy. It wasn't there to start, but he's there to end it. It feels appropriate that the last

call we'll take at this run. This is our guy, Black Gritty. Hey, yeah. A billion dollar bat didn't show up a billion dollars 700 million dollars worth yes open water 700 i mean castellanos you know i mean schwarber did his part but i mean there's a lot of money out there almost a billion dollars sounds good to round up um i last year i was with my daughter and she cried. Like she was crying. And this year she's like me. We are livid. I'm upset because I was so roped in for the feeling, because I was so emotionally invested.

And then you come and do this to me. So now I'm just angry that you show up this way. And Jack, don't say anything to me for a second. You done talked about the players, but this is the second year in a row where Topper just goes with his gut and goes with his feelings. And I watched the other manager make adjustments and make different moves and talk about telling their pitchers to be smart and walking our guys and having the strategy in place. And I'm just going with my gut. We're sticking with it. We're not doing anything.

So I'm out on Topper now. And he's got to do a whole lot to get me back because the whole going with your gut and just not changing anything, my goodness, it looked like they're batting. No change or approach. They only got a coach. They only got analytics. Can somebody tell you to stop swinging and touching your knees to the earth? You make $300 million. Do better.

We lost to the Diamondbacks, who are going to get smoked by the Texans, and you're going to feel even worse next week when that happens. So, good job. Go, Phils. My goodness, this was embarrassing. I that happens. So, good job. Go, Philz. My goodness, this was embarrassing. I am angry. I am not sad. So I'm not crying myself to sleep tonight.

I'm punching the air until I pass out. I love you guys. Love you. Good call, man. Yeah, and look, it's so funny because I came in right before we started the show. I was like, I'm not angry. I'm sad. And then we started talking about it, and I got angry.

I'm angry. I'm both, man. I'm devastated. I'm crushed angry, I'm sad. And then we started talking about it, and I got angry. I'm angry. I'm both, man. I'm devastated. I'm crushed. But I'm also angry. I'm angry that this happened. I'm angry that they didn't show up. Fritzie, tie a bow on it.

I don't know what to say here. Finish it out, buddy. Yeah. Because, you know, I don't think there's anything we can say that's going to make people feel better. No. Frankly, I don't really want to feel better. So it was a season in which I had a lot of hope, a lot of promise, and some special moments. And the thing that sucks about tonight is I feel like those moments won't really matter much.

And the unfortunate reality is that – keep going. Thank you. And by the way, for anyone on the radio that's wondering why we keep saying keep going. There's Diamondbacks family walking by us throughout. Yes, and they keep looking at us and clapping. Yes. And I just really don't want to hear it right now.

So the unfortunate reality is that now that they blew it, right, and now that they were one win away from the World Series and they lost, they now have the expectation or, like, they have to win the World Series to make up for this. That's what comes with the heightened expectations on a team. Because when you lose a series like this, and you lose in the fashion that they did, in a place where we were told for months and a whole season

and last postseason that it's impossible to win here, there's so many repercussions to this win like i will still love this team i think i consider the philly as a family member like that's not changing um but i i know how this works and that's how this works they have to get back to this point next year they have to go further further. And next year's regular season just doesn't really matter. I know it's 162. I know it's a long year, and I know that I'm going to

watch every freaking one of them, because it's what I love to do. But to go through all that, to just sucker in and believe in all that, and to completely no-show in two games at home with a chance to go to the World Series against an 84-win baseball team that stinks is a harsh,

harsh, harsh, harsh, harsh reality. And I think this is going to be one of those losses that's going to take a while for this place to get over, and it should. Yeah, it really should. This is one that sticks with you forever, honestly. And like you said, if they can win a World Series in the next few years with this group, it'll take the pain away. But I still hurt over 0-2.

I still hurt over that. When I think about Rondae Barber, I feel pain. I feel sadness. And the Eagles have won a Super Bowl since. But that's a Super Bowl with those guys. Exactly. It's a point. It's a different thing.

Well, I mean, I'd be very curious to see what they do this offseason. Yeah. Like who do they believe are the winners on this team and who do they believe are not the winners on this team? Yeah, well, there certainly weren't some winners on this team tonight. 0 for 23. That's good stuff. You're big star hitters. Yeah. Well, there certainly weren't some winners on this team tonight. 0 for 23. That's good stuff.

You're big star hitters. Yeah. That's $700 million there. Yeah. Yeah. Listen, thank you. I know. I got you.

I got you. No. No. Jack's talking about you. I got you. Thank you. This isn't great radio talking all the time. I don't want to do great radio. I know.

Thank you to everyone who called us this run who we saw at the ballpark you know if i take one thing away from this that is positive it's going to be that i feel like we got to meet um so many wonderful people and you know we we really felt the love this run and the phillies it felt special. But, you know, it's going to take a while to get over this. So I appreciate everyone. But, you know, we're going to grieve together, you know, because this season's dead. Like this season's dead.

And it shouldn't be. And it's going to take a long time to get over. But we'll do it together. I'll be on in five hours. So if you want to talk to me, call me then. Call me off the air and try and make me feel better. It probably won't work. You going to perk up in the next five hours?

No, no, no. Tomorrow's going to be a tough one, buddy. But we'll do it together, and, you know, we'll do it together. That's all we can do is kind of go through this together. Tom Kelly's coming up next, I'm sure. Oh, he's going to be a bundle of joy. Some things to say. If you want to yell, if you want to

cry, if you want to whatever, Tom will take those calls and we'll be back in the morning to take those calls as well as we move forward somehow. Again, thank you to Justin Morgan signing the studio. Great job. Fritz, love you

brother. Thanks for being a part of this I hope Spot will be there Maybe we'll take a few days off But we'll be there And stick with us And we'll get through this We'll do it together So

Until next time He's Fritz from Seltzer We'll talk to you guys later