High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - On the Seventh Day God Rested But Jack Didn't

Episode Date: August 9, 2021

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to the Phillies sweeping the Mets. The guys lose their minds over 8 straight wins, first place in the division, and 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

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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 WIP. Yo! Yo! It is another edition of the High Hopes Podcast. Jack Fritz, eight straight. In first place, we just swept the Mets.

They actually swept a series. We wanted them to win. Jack Fritz. Who let the Phils get hot, buddy? I have no idea, but thank you so much. I don't think I've ever been happier in my entire life. I really don't. This has been an unbelievable hot streak. It's been a beautiful time.

I love this team so much. Did I hate this team a week ago? You betcha. Sure did. You betcha. Many times this season I've hated them. Yeah, yeah. But honestly, like, I just, I'm sitting here and I'm just in disbelief.

I'm just in straight up disbelief. How have they won? They've won eight straight i know they haven't done it since 2011 jack like we were like oh in the history of the podcast this is like the biggest series we've ever had like they haven't won eight straight in like years before we started the podcast it's insane man they haven't won eight straight in 25 years it's pretty unbelievable it is it is something that i never thought i would see again would that be since i was in college is They haven't won age straight in 25 years. It's pretty unbelievable. It is something that I never thought I would see again.

What would that be? Since I was in college, does that math play out right? Right. For all the jokes that you and I have done about, like, they're not allowed to win more than four games in a row, they're actually doing it. Yeah. Like, they're actually – like, dude, what if it gets to 10 games? Like, what if it – and, dude, I'm so happy.

I'm just so happy. It's just nice that finally, like, us, right? You, I, our listeners, the diseased Phillies fan. It's like now we can really show our true colors and show, like, how much we love them and how much we just want to be in on them all the time. And the ballpark today was unbelievable. The crowds this weekend were unbelievable. It's back.

The bank is back. Yeah, it was unbelievable. It was unbelievable. It's like, wow, crazy concept. The fans show up when T's good. Who could have seen that coming? I don't know. Who could have ever thunk that was the case?

Oh, they said the all-time sellout streak when the team had its best run ever? Wow. Do those things go together? It doesn't make any sense. But honestly, it really was. Not to joke around, seeing Citizens Bank Park with life again, with real energy, with games that mattered, and the Phillies doing good things in games that mattered. It was like, it really was like a breath of fresh air, man.

Like I've forgotten what it felt like when Citizens Bank Park was rocking and seeing all the Mets fans crying and Mets fans getting into fights with each other. Like it was just, it feels like for so long with this team, certainly in the history of this podcast, like easily, but really for like almost a decade, it feels like things always just go wrong.

Like whenever, and granted you're quicker than most to give your heart back to the team, but whenever we give our heart to the team, whether it's the start of a season or in a season or whatever, it's just inevitably, inevitably it gets broken and we know it's gonna get broken this feels real man like i feel so confident that this team is going to win the division and and yes man that's terrifying in and of itself but it feels real they did it this weekend without reese

without dd for the majority of it without kutch like man they're just winning games they're handling business and i know these teams that they're just winning games. They're handling business. And I know these teams that they're facing are not like the best teams ever or whatever. And the Mets are, you know, the freaking Mets. But they are handling business. They're fighting. They're winning games late.

Like, they're doing everything we could ask. They're six games above 500, Jack. I didn't know that was allowed. It hasn't happened in like two years. Like, it's just, it's awesome, man. It's awesome to watch this team. It is. And, like, it just feels so real.

It feels so, like, this is how it's supposed to be. This is legit. This is, you know. A good baseball team? Well, and they're actually rising to the occasion. You know? Like, I was honestly heading into the series james on friday like i know i know we exuded a lot of confidence on thursday

and all that stuff and rightfully so because it was a great comeback but like i was thinking myself on friday like i am genuinely terrified at how in the city is on this team right now because like the we you and i have watched a lot of phillies games our listeners have watched a lot of phillies games they always blow that series like i'm just telling you i'm happy they're hot i'm all in i can't wait for tuesday night i hate that they have an off day tomorrow they always lose this weekend like they always find a way to make it miserable and they just didn't james they just didn't like they just showed up they won games they played well they pitched they had clutch hitting they made saturday night way too close and like like they just they

just play baseball if they finally do they're a real team like there's just a real they're a real freaking baseball team they're clicking on all cylinders their stars are bringing their stars their starters are being their starters like they're just clicking they're just on all cylinders their stars are being their stars their starters are being their starters like they're just clicking they're just and i'm just they're finally playing a brand of baseball that is suitable and it's like this is how you win sure the defense is shoddy but they're picking it up like i i'm just well i think what a moment i think it's just like what a moment i think it's such a good though, about like the stars are being the stars. Like, right?

Like, how long have we just waited? I mean, Bryce Harper is on his way to an MVP season. Zach Wheeler is on his way to a Cy Young season. Like, there is a real possibility that when this season ends, the Phillies are at least champs. Bryce Harper is the National League MVP and Zach Wheeler is the National League Cy Young. That's ridiculous, man. That's awesome. That's ridiculous, man. That's awesome.

That's something to get excited about. We haven't had something like that in this city for this team in a decade. And it is awesome. And it's the combination of the stars getting the job done, JT with clutch hits, obviously Bryce, just a monster, and big hit after big hit in this series, and the big guys. But then also the Torreses and the Jankowskis, and they're getting something from everyone. Like, guys are contributing.

I mean, it feels, like you said, like a baseball team, and they feel like they have confidence, and they feel like they can win games, and they're winning in fun ways. And, again, like, they get the big hit. It's just, it is, it's thrilling, man. It's so exciting. It's been so hard to, it's thrilling, man. It's so exciting. It's been so hard to try and, like, muster it up for this team the last few years because every time, like we talked about, every time something like this happened,

and never eight straight, as we know, obviously, never seven straight, never even six straight, Jack. But, like, whenever they would be out in front or have a good record, it just, it didn't feel like it was sustainable. It didn't feel like it was sustainable. It didn't feel like it was real. And this feels real. We keep saying it because it feels different than the last few years. And it's because the stars are contributing.

But it's also because it's a great mix of guys. And it feels fun. And for the first time in years, it feels like they're having fun. It feels like they are in it and and bringing energy and we're getting clutch hits and everyone's excited for everyone i mean reese hoskins like the the shots of him on the bench this this series you know with going nuts at the miller homer and the harper homer and the oduble homer like like that's awesome man like that is awesome to see a team where it actually seems like they like each other and like playing with each other.

Yeah, and I think we're finally starting to see an identity built. And it's a good identity, too. It's an identity where they don't first, they don't feel like they're out of any game, which is good. And we talked about that last podcast about how, yeah, we get it. It's the freaking Nationals. But just getting that, it's basically psyching yourself into this idea that even when you're down you can come back and you can still kind of win and now they're just taking care of business like they're literally the mets came in this weekend they were crumbling things are falling apart and the phillies just said guess

what we're gonna make your week that much worse worse. They haven't done that in the past. And, you know, it just feels like, again, it feels like they have an identity. It feels like they're just starting to do the little things right to win games. Even when they mess up on defense, it's not catastrophic. Like, if Bo messes up on defense, then Gibby picks him up. And, yeah, I call him Gibby. I don't care. Oh, dude, dude oh dude dude dude dude

he's gibby i'm like all in on him honestly i'm not kidding when i say this other than kutch he's already my favorite philly like i'm all in on gibby like the emotion the passion that guy plays with obviously got out of some tough jams bases loaded no outs two first and third one out like dude has like a toughness a fortitude and and he's just into it man like who was the last pitcher we had it was that animated you know out by out and just like like into it that way it was awesome to watch well yeah yeah you know poor poor Gibby might think this is how it is all the time but hey it might be this way all the time I mean who's to say who's to say it might be this way all the time i mean who's to say who's to say it might

be this way all the time um and yeah he was just he's just he's just a good pitcher also him uh him getting the hit and then smiling like a millisecond later outstanding outstanding yeah he's fun man he's fun i don't i don't know how i don't know how how else to quantify it or or anything. It's just, it's a special feeling right now. I believe it's something that we can kind of sustain here for a little bit. And it's something that, honestly, like, James, for as excited as I am about where this team is at right now,

and I'm very, very excited, to me, this feels like the beginning of something. This doesn't feel like the end of something. This doesn't feel like the end of something. This doesn't feel like, oh, it's a minor blip in the radar. This feels like this team is starting to come together and figure out how to win with the core that we brought in from the outside and told them, hey, you guys have to start a new culture. Well, I think they're starting it, and I think they're starting it,

and I think it's awesome. And I just think that this is, even they however the season plays out this eight game stretch how they've really played I want to say since like that Red Sox series heading into the all-star break like we're starting to see the foundations of the next great Phil's run and it was just so refreshing seeing the ballpark just in on them just just in on this team because they're starting they're starting to feel like our guys James because they're starting to feel like our guys, James. They're starting to feel like our guys, and I'm so happy about that. Yeah, and that's why it's so important that they finish it out. That's why it's so important that this sustains through the rest of the season,

and we think it will. Look, again, you know me. Everyone knows the inherent dynamic on this pod. You are the one who is willing to jump in. And I am not like, I am the one who is generally like, it's not real. We can't buy into this,

blah, blah, blah. Like I'm in man. Like I think they're winning the division. And if they can carry this through and, and, and win the division,

like what that means moving forward to your point, to this culture again, you know, we go back to your boy nicky p talking about like i just had to go somewhere that knew how to win like i needed a different like and you know what screw that guy obviously sorry jack no offense but i mean come on but but that doesn't matter right like with this group and what they've gone through the last few years with the september collapses with the you know uh issues to like get on these type of runs and really kind of grab a stranglehold of a division or whatever, like, like this is important for them to know that they could

do it to establish a winning culture. And then you can add to this, you know, they didn't go over the luxury tax this year, but that doesn't mean they never will, especially if you see an opportunity where a core has shown that it can achieve something. And if you can add to that core in a few ways, like you got a real shot. So I'm with you. I think this turn of events here, this last week and a half could really be a turning point type of moment for this franchise

if they can sustain it out through the rest of the season here. And it's a turning point, I think, for Bryce. You know, obviously Bryce came here with a lot of big expectations. And, you know, he's been good. Like Bryce has been definitely good, but we haven't really felt the big Bryce like, you know, moments. What he's doing right now is why he's here, like why he was brought in.

I mean, it's not it's not the hits early in the year where they're either up big or down big. And there he goes, like, putting up numbers. Like, it's big hits in big spots to really help this team. Like, Friday night. Friday night was – that homer. I don't think I jumped that high in a decade. I swear to God. Like, I don't think I jumped that high in a decade.

Because it was just, just like it was magical. It was magical to hit that home run as far as he did. You see Edwin Diaz pointing up to the top. So good. And it's a tank shot. And he takes his time.

You know, the world wins the bat. And it's like, that's it, man. That's why he's here. That's a big homer. That's a big homer for Bryce. But just big hit after big hit after big hit. And that's why he's here.

And that's why we paid him all that money, why he's been showering and all the love that he's gotten. And you're just starting to see it now. And this is big for him. Because I do think that he has to be the leader of this team like he whether he wants to be it or not like he's the guy that everyone at that clubhouse is gonna look up to you know all the young players coming up all the trade deadline acquisitions all the free asian acquisitions him and jt are those guys and i do think that reese is starting to get in there too uh definitely because Because, dude, his reactions have just been.

Honestly, it might have been the best thing of the whole weekend. Like, just from a watching the games perspective, his reactions was maybe the most fun thing all weekend. And I do feel bad because it's like, I mean, he talked after Thursday just about how rock the bank is going to be and how he can't wait to play there. And then, like, he doesn't play once. I know. i know but i mean you could still tell how how intuitive he was so um it's just yeah it's just it's just it's just great well and that's not a point to like undersell they won this series they swept this series with hoskins playing zero games kutch playing zero games and dd playing in

the first game and having to leave and then not playing anymore. I mean, that's that's massive that they were able to overcome those injuries to key members of this lineup. I mean, we talked about how important it was with Cutch out for Reese to step up and kind of carry the load. And then you don't have either of those guys like that's a real hole in the lineup that they were not only able to to overcome, they were able to thrive. They swept the series. And I just, that only adds to how impressed I am with the weekend. Because look, we know the Mets are not a great team. They're fine. You know, they have some talent. They've got some big holes. They've got some injuries, all that stuff. But that doesn't take away how important this series was and the pressure that these players were feeling heading into it. And for them to win it the way they did without the

guys they did, like, I don't know how you can them to win it the way they did without the guys they did. Like, I don't know how you can't look at it as impressive no matter who the competition is. It's what normal baseball teams do. Like I can't emphasize that enough. Like it's what normal good baseball teams just do is they have some injuries because baseball is a marathon. We all know that and they overcome them and them, and they just play normal baseball. Like, it's not – it's crazy.

It's crazy. Obviously, I want those guys in the lineup because they make them better. But they were out, and the Phillies are on such a roll right now, I didn't even notice. I know. Brad Miller's hitting bomb after bomb. It's like, no biggie. Yeah, everything's fine.

I mean, yeah, it's just, it's absolutely insane. It's absolutely insane. And, like, the thing that I am worried, though, being, like, Reese being banged up, Kosh being banged up, Sylvora's clearly banged up a little bit. Like, there's those little things that are starting to happen. Oduble the late scratch today

right efflin obviously not able to get back um brogdon still hurt like they've faltered who knows if he'll ever pitch again i mean it's just yeah that you're right that it is again it's impressive they've done it without these guys but they are missing guys they are missing guys they are and you know what they're doing they're saying hey we're gonna we're gonna step up around them and again that's just not been this team's identity for the last couple years like they they have not been a a tough team but right now they're a tough team they're a team that believes they're a team that's having fun and again we talked about this last podcast i don't know i don't know who to like who do i shower with praise like it's almost like a lot of guys you know i think i think it's joe gerardi

i think gerardi has set a good tone for this team i think it's ron torres i think it's freddie galvis i think it's bryce um you know i just there's so many guys that are just are just are just contributing to this right now. And and I mean, we've kind of ripped Girardi a lot, but I think he should be right at the front of it. Yeah, I don't know how you couldn't. Again, if we're going to rip him for all that we've ripped him for. And again, even like I said on last pod, I still don't trust him to make the right decisions with the bullpen in the right moments. But but this team has been tough and they fight and they've gone out and won games with missing guys and they've you know battled through adversity and you absolutely have to bring that back to the manager like a lot of props to Girardi no question like whatever and we talked about that right when

we talked and we're ripping him and stuff but we always said like and you especially hammered on this that that it does take time for a manager to institute a culture or his culture or his way of things. It's not something that's just going to happen overnight. He's not going to walk in the door and all of a sudden everyone is marching to the beat of his drum. So I do think that potentially that we're starting to see that long work start to play out in terms of Girardi's culture.

I will say, though, I mean, if we're being honest, Kyle Gibson starts one game for the Phillies, and they haven't lost since. So it's probably all Kyle Gibson, right? Gibby. It's all Gibby. But real quick on Girardi. Yes, yes.

Like, he's navigating games where his starters are going two innings or three innings. Yeah. And he's able to get through it. And obviously it comes down to whether or not pitchers can step up and whether or not pitchers can come and do jobs. But, like, Regis Wars went two-thirds on Saturday. Then he got through the rest of the game with J.D. Hammer, Hector, Alvarado, whatever Olivera did,

and then Ian Kennedy. That's managing, man. Being able to get through games where guys, you're just having to put guys in situations you're not ready for, that's what difference-making managers do, and that's what he's doing right now. I mean, Saturday was a really good example of that. Ranger went two and two-thirds.

I don't know why. I mean, are we making the starter or not? Yeah, I know. And he looks great, too. It's not even like they're hard. They're not hard in two and two-thirds. They're just like fine. They're just good. And they're just like, eh, you know, we're going to get you out. But

to navigate the rest of the game with not great options right now, that's just ultra impressive. Yeah, I agree with you. Look, J.D. Hammer, eight innings, has yet to give up a run this season. I mean, credit where due. Not a ton of high leverage, but the last outings have been.

And, you know, got into a little trouble that was cleaned up for him a couple outings ago. But still, you know, it's a great point. Look, again, I can't kill Girardi for some of the bullpen stuff and not give him credit when he gets through a game like that. And, you know, did he leave Maurice Yolvera in there one batter too long? Probably. Wow.

But he didn't have a choice. I know. Was it the third batter? I guess, yeah, because he started the inning. So, yeah, you're right. It would have had to be a three-batter thing. I mean, regardless, unbelievable. But, look, they got through it.

And Kennedy came in, didn't give up a homer. Nice to see. And you're right. You know, credit where due. That is a tough spot. And he's had a fair amount of those. And, again, to the overall point, it's not like he has dynamite options out there in the pen.

You know, Hector has looked great. Hector looks like he's back. Now I'm sure he'll be terrible as soon as we- Yeah, don't say that. Hector's not bad. He's still bad. Still bad. But there aren't a lot of options out there that you feel good about in any spot. So you're right. He does deserve credit for that. Let's get to some of the more specific stuff from the weekend. Gib, Gibby, uh, you know, obviously the fire is awesome. The hit was awesome. What, what from the start overall, did you take away other than the, you know, the stuff that we all took away, the, the, how fun it is to have Gibby on the Phillies part of it.

What a sentence. What a sentence. I just love him. I'm, I'm, I'm so in on Kyle Gibson. Yeah. I mean, he's, here's the thing, is that he's fine. Like, he's just good. I don't really have anything much to say other than Kyle Gibson is just a good pitcher.

And I like that, you know, I like that he goes after guys. And the sinker definitely dances. And the slider is a good pitch. And, you know, there's something that has to be said, I guess, for guys who have pitched a long time in Major League Baseball, getting in big spots, and just kind of knowing how to navigate lineups. Like, I would say

for two starts, Kyle Gibson hasn't really been great. Just, like, if you're watching his stuff, I feel like there's more there. And I just think that, you know, I think he's been fine. But the fact that he's able to get through these these games and get to the six and give this team innings and give this team

length and over 100 pitches each start um i think that's just that's just massive for this team going forward he's like a he's like a really good innings eater you know in a sense he's like high quality innings eater yeah and look i mean to your point if he was just fine he's given up three runs in 12 and two thirds i mean exactly it's almost like it's almost like it's almost like how wheeler has been for the last couple starts where outside of obviously his masterpiece today where it's been yeah he doesn't look the same but he's still giving us six or seven innings two runs or less so you take it every day of the week it's just i think there's i think there's more to cal gibson i think as he gets more and more comfortable he'll he'll be fine um but yeah

he's just he's just a good pitcher and getting out of that bases loaded jam was was massive and um you know and i think in years in years past they'd probably blow up there. A million percent. Allow five runs and all that stuff. And he was just like, hey, here's a ground ball. Everything's fine. So, yeah, I'm in. Honestly, I'm glad he's here for another year. Me too.

He's going to be a very, very good fourth starter next year and this year. I had the same thought. And, look, we heard all the stuff about what a clubhouse guy he is and how great a guy he is and all that. And I know that that can kind of just be like, oh, whatever. But this team, and we talked about it, it's part of the reason you like the Freddie move and stuff, is bringing guys like that in, veteran guys who've been through it,

who are also great clubhouse guys, who are guys clearly emotion on the field, like an energy to that guy as he plays, the way he goes about his business. Like, I can't have enough of those guys on this team. You know what I mean? So it really feels like not just from an obvious clear help on the field, especially compared to the guys we were rolling out in the four-starter spot or three or whatever you want to call it.

You know, such a massive upgrade just on the field, but also I think the other stuff really important for this group of guys and will only help. You mentioned it, Wheeler's masterpiece today on Doc Day. I mean, just like almost poetic, you know, some of the stats that were put around. I know the Matt Gelb won the Zach Wheeler, the first pitcher to retire 22 consecutive batters in a start since Roy Halladay's perfect game. And there were a bunch of those ones around today where it was just, it almost felt kismet, like meant to be there today.

And it certainly felt like Wheeler felt like it was meant to be, as he was like a man on a mission the entire start and as good a version of Zach Wheeler as we've ever seen. What did you think of Wheeler today and obviously the moment and all that? Yeah, I mean, like I was down there, obviously. I didn't know I saw I saw your tweet, buddy. It was like you couldn't help yourself. You had to be there.

You had to. I had to be there. There's there's no you know, there wasn't debating in my mind. At least there is debate in someone else's mind of whether or not I should go. But I I'm happy you worked it out. I'm happy you worked it out. mind at least there is a debate in someone else's mind of whether or not i should go um but i uh i'm happy you worked it out i'm happy you worked it out i compromised i left after the third and i said i'll be back and i was and i was there and then i got to the i got to the family birthday party and i snuck down to the basement and watched the uh the end of the phil's game like honestly

i i'm turning into a pro at being able to sneak down and uh you know watch and watch them uh some baseball so um yeah they're very thrilled they see me like oh there he goes again but yeah um nice you know you gotta do what you gotta do i don't blame you that's exactly i think i think most people would have done what you did thank you very much so um being down there first off, the ceremony was just unbelievable. I mean, I had chills all the time. It was chills after chills after chills, a little welling up, of course. And Doc was just – because there is this little bit of a debate going right now.

You know, because there is this, like, little bit of a debate going right now. Like, well, why would they really retire Doc? You know, because obviously he had two great years here. And, you know, if you're going to retire Doc, you've got to retire all the Rollins and Howard and maybe Cole. But really those three because they were more integral in actually bringing a championship here. integral and actually bring a championship here but then you just like start thinking about doc and you start thinking about the guy and how his first two years he just like showed up and was unbelievable from day one and like put the phillies on his back at some point and like just you're talking like when you're talking about greatness right you're talking about franchise greats like rory halliday for those two years like it felt like he's he had been a philly for a decade like he was that special he

was that special of a guy he was that special of a pitcher he was that dominant um he was that much of a of a fun guy to watch and and it's just it just completely justifies all of it so um like raul gave a great speech it was so funny seeing all the old guys, not that old, but the, the older players coming back and it was just, it was just magical. And,

and the fan, the crowds were just insane. I mean, I haven't seen it that full for a non opening day game in forever. And, and, and sure, like there's probably bigger crowds because,

you know, the Dodgers or Yankees or Red Sox come to town but that was like a phillies crowd and it was just it was absolutely magical and then for wheeler to do what he did like it's and gerardi said this after the game it's like roy was touching him it was the same exact thing as watching roy holiday except four miles an hour harder in his fastball like he didn't miss a spot like he just he was just dominant the whole game 92 mile an hour swiders they're moving more than I'd seen and it was just so massive from the standpoint of for the last couple starts I felt like Zach Wheeler was kind of getting to the seventh, but he wasn't getting through the seventh. And today he was just like powering through. So didn't miss a spot, was electric, good velocity all throughout.

They clearly found a hole in Pete Alonzo's swing, but he needs to close up because it's the most obvious thing in the entire world. I mean, the guy can't hit it high inside fastball. I mean, Ian Kennedy blew his doors in on Saturday with 94. What do you think Zach Wheeler is going to do to that? Not do that? So just a beautiful, beautiful pitch game. JT sticking with the fastball is massive. Honestly, the biggest upset of the weekend was JT sticking with six straight fastballs

on Saturday night with Ian Kennedy. But yeah, just Zach Wheeler was just magical, just beautiful. And it was like watching Doc all over again. Yeah, and we talk about rising to the moment, you know, on Doc Day to do that. And we've talked a lot on this podcast about what was really like an idea, a hope, a dream of playoff NOLA. And I think we have to retire playoff NOLA.

The dream is playoff Wheeler. Like, that's the dream. This guy is a big moment guy. And obviously, like, when he's on, he is, again, without a doubt, the best pitcher we have had here since Roy Halladay, the most dominant pitcher we have had here since Roy Halladay. And I can't wait to see him pitch in a massive game, man. I cannot wait to see Zach Wheeler go out there when all the chips are down.

It's a playoff game. Like, playoff Wheeler, I feel so confident in that. It's something I've never seen before. In a way, I never felt I was excited about playoff Nola. I feel confident in playoff Wheeler. I have no doubt that this guy, like Halladay did, and maybe he won't throw a no-hitter in his first playoff start, but I feel like he's that kind

of guy. I think so, too. It just seems like his stuff kind of plays up to it. And I just feel like sometimes with pitchers, if you get over-amped for a start, it's actually detrimental. And it seems like for him, if he gets more amped for a start,

especially against the Mets and a team that kind of disrespected him on his way out, it's almost like he, like, welcomes the challenge and wants to go out there and prove them wrong with every single pitch. And when the postseason rolls around, again, it's just going to be really hard to consistently square up his stuff it's just it's really hard i mean the ninth inning today and he threw like 100 straight fastballs to brandon nimmo um and of course he finally squared one up but still i think the point was remaining that like you just hey try to hit this fastball and eventually he did which is fine but i just love

the mentality like i just genuinely love the mentality where it's like, hey, sure you've thought off a couple of them in a row and you think you're confident, but try to hit this. And unfortunately you did. But the overall sentiment was like, you can't touch me. And I just, that is pitching, man. I just, that is pitching, man. That is, what Zach Wheeler did today was just straight up,

like, high, high-level pitching. And I got to be honest, like, maybe the best pitch game since the holiday no-hitter. Oh, I think it probably was, man. I think, like, the only other option is that earlier start this year, the 12 strikeout shutout from Wheeler. But I think today was better. I mean, he looked unhittable for the vast majority of today. other option is that earlier start this year the 12 strikeout shut out from wheeler but i think today was better i mean he looked unhittable for the vast majority of today even hamels no hitter i mean even hamels no hitter was like yeah it's fine but like hamels does not have the the dominant

stuff that zach wheeler has no it's like nola like nola has had some of these starts where you know he is dominant you know the 10 strikeouts in row, the complete game shutout and stuff, but not to the level Wheeler is. Wheeler is one of those guys, and there's only a handful of them in the sport year to year, where if you're going up against him, you feel helpless watching your team hit like that is a a rare feeling where a pitcher can make the other team feel completely helpless like it is a lost cause against you today wheeler has that kind of stuff he does he does and and he says to begin this podcast but they have a realistic chance i mean they have a realistic chance of having a freaking cy Young winner and the MVP of the league. That's insane. I haven't looked, but I would guess they're both favorites. Like, I haven't checked.

Zachary is now the favorite. He's plus 185. That would make sense. And I would bet if Harper isn't yet, he will be soon because I know Tatis was the favorite. And obviously, the longer he's out, the less likely those odds are going to go down or the more likely those odds are going to go down. So, yeah, it's pretty crazy, man, especially for how this season has played out, you know, because for the vast majority of the season, it just felt like this mediocre average middling,

as you always say, remarkably consistent at average, you know, and Harper getting hit in the face and it felt like it was going to be that year. And then slowly but surely, and Wheeler's been the one constant, he's just been right there and awesome all year but but it really it is kind of it and I know it's because of an eight-game win streak that we're really you know as high as we are and whatnot but it really has snuck up on us the idea of like man when this season ends it could end up being a really special year even if they don't win at all or whatever like we could look back as like the year things turned the year we won the MVP and the Cy Young in the same year the year the Phillies finally went back to the playoffs like it can still be a really fun magical year and that's

like it's exciting man we've talked so we've talked ourselves into so many bleepy i didn't curse bleepy phillies teams man and like if it's so exciting to like not have to talk ourselves into one to just like watch them and be like oh yeah this is what it's supposed to look like it's awesome man it's awesome um all right uh i have a couple other little things but anything else from the weekend specifically you wanted to get into? No, I think I got everything else in my take back. Okay. I have a couple things here. First, Sir Anthony, how real do you think this is?

Because, you know, we see guys come back from Tommy John in this time and the velocity is usually there. It's usually a control thing and all that. But I mean, if you look at the way this team is constructed right now, and we're obviously past the trade deadline, I mean, if they could get a, this team is constructed right now, and we're obviously past the trade deadline, I mean, if they could get a, and it doesn't even have to be a high-level Sir Anthony, but a solid version of Sir Anthony, I mean, that could be a potential game-changer for where this team is at right now, Jack.

Yeah. Yeah. Like, yeah. Again, like, 2018 Sir Anthony was one of the best relievers I've seen in a Phillies uniform. I mean, just coming up 98, like, legit cutter. Like, it was a 98-mile-an-hour cutter. Now, 2019 obviously took a huge step back. But, you know, I don't know how hurt he totally was.

And now, obviously, we know how hurt he was because he got to get Tommy John. And now, obviously, we know how hurt he was because he got to get Tom and John. But, dude, if you're adding an arm like Sir Anthony, it's an absolute game changer. Because I do think the bullpen is kind of starting to figure it out a little bit. I think Archie's been really good. Hector's been really good, taking out a couple innings mid in the middle of the game. Alvarado, I think, has been really good, not walking couple innings mid um in the middle of the game alvarado i think it's been really good not walking the whole ballpark and and kennedy i mean i think he's okay i mean i'm gonna i'm gonna keep telling myself he's okay um but but i mean at least he comes in and strikes he's fine you know he's fine look ian kennedy was never i hope people didn't expect

a shut down like lock it down closer. That's not what he is. He's a fine reliever who has experienced closing games and has done a fair job at it. He's just better than what they had. Yeah, exactly. He's just better than what they had. Yeah, and it lets everyone kind of settle into a role. But if you add in Sarantino to those four that you feel pretty good about,

night in in night out that just changed the whole complexion of the team and you know he looks good i think in clear water um and i mean they have a month like they have a month to get him ready and if he comes up they have another high velocity power arm at the back of the bullpen that can change things for this team and it you know getting him and a couple of the injured guys back like again what like what are they good like how like if they put they're gonna play the brewers in round one if they win the division they could they could beat Brewers. They could beat the Brewers. They could 100% beat the Brewers.

I know how good Corbin Burns is. The top three. Look, yeah, going up against Burns, Woodruff, and Peralta, that is a tall order. That is three of the 10 best pitchers in the National League this year. Fair to say. So, yeah, it's legit. But Wheeler can go up against anybody.

Nola, on the right night, can go up against anybody nola on the right night can go up against anybody and you just need the bats to show up you could absolutely win three three of five against against milwaukee for sure like i'm not afraid of the brewers like i'm just putting that out in the universe right now i'm not afraid of the brewers but if you get if you can get efflin back and efflin healthy massive kyle gibson can just be kyle Gibson. And then you add in Sir Anthony. That's a good-ass baseball team. That is a good baseball team. I don't care what anyone says.

Get me to the postseason, damn it. Like, just get me to the postseason. Seriously, that is what we're talking about when we're talking about adding a guy like Sir Anthony to this bullpen. Yeah, I'm with you. And again, I am dubious that, you know, I always am dubious when a guy comes back from Tommy John in a year

that the control will be there. Yeah, but he's also been kind of rehabbing for about a year and a half now. Totally. Again, I'm excited, cautiously optimistic, and whatever you can give them, like he is a higher quality arm than a lot of the arms they have. So I'm very hopeful. All right, two more things

and then take back and that's all I got. One, why are you tweeting, do I have to run? You know you have to run. What are you doing? What's that poll about? What do you mean do I have to run?

Of course you have to run. What are you talking about? We would just stop running in the middle of this? That's asinine, Jack. What are you talking about man but they don't play tomorrow oh oh never mind that's a bad job by me um right that's a bad job by me jack i didn't think i just saw the tweet on its own um huh i don't know actually

that's a really good question i lean towards running just yeah just because just because you know like why mess with a good thing i know they're not playing but it's just like the consistency of it but it's a fair question i'm sorry i can't my bad i came down you did come in very hard i was like what are you kidding me like you're gonna stop with this now all right i just want to make sure there was no question of stopping run jack run run fritz run like i just want to make sure that's that's going because it not at all because honestly like i i it's funny because i was at the you know the family party earlier and like i was trying to explain to them like oh man what a conversation that must have been i gotta be honest don't think they got it i'm pretty sure they it. I'm pretty sure they didn't. I'm pretty sure they didn't.

Yeah. I don't think they totally understood what the, like the amount of pressure that I have on me. Let me just put this into perspective, James. God rested on the seventh day, but I didn't. Oh really? Oh, there it is. Good. Good. You and God. That's the, That's the bar we've set. It's good. Well, who had more pressure on them? That's a great question, Jack. It's a really good one. I mean, you, I'm sure, I think is the only way to take this.

But yeah, so like, but I also did tweet, um, after a few on Saturday night, just celebrating the fills, but how I'd run three miles tomorrow. Um, but I don't think I'm going to do that. Um, just because like carried away, a little carried away as I say, well, yeah. And like, I don't want to jinx it. Right. Like, I don't want to, no, I agree with that. Actually.

I think you have to stick to the formula. That's a very good point, Jack. It's a very good point. Listen, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. I've been with that, actually. I think you have to stick to the formula. That's a very good point, Jack. It's a very good point. Listen, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. I've been told that many times. Good point. I think I'm just going to stick with it. I'll run my mile and a half tomorrow because I do run every day anyway before work.

I'll keep doing it. I'm not afraid to stop. There's no time to slow down. We've got a pen chase to win or a division to stop. There's no time to slow down. We got a pen chase to win or a division to win. Even though they're off, I'm not off. Yeah. Very happy to hear that.

I just wanted to make sure, looking out for everyone here, looking out really for the Phillies. One more from me and then take back. A quick game of are we sure he's good, Jack? Are we sure he's good Jack are we sure he's good I'm assuming you saw this tweet knowing you I'm sure you saw this tweet let me read you

a tweet I just visited the players in the clubhouse they are ready and in a good frame of mind for this game a good frame of mind for this game that was written of course by Mets owner Steve Cohen are we sure Steve Cohen's a good owner, Jack?

I've never been afraid of Steve Cohen. What a loser! As soon as I heard the first time that he was afraid to go over the luxury tax money worth $11 billion, I was like, oh, well, same boat, pal. Same boat. No, Steve Cohen obviously is not. That Mets team, they have just completely fallen apart. You hate to see it, Jack.

You hate to see it. The Phillies aren't even good right now. Straight up, the Phillies as a roster are not well put together right now. There's a lot of injuries, all that. And they freaking kicked their ass, like, all weekend long. Like, they kicked the Mets' ass. And they literally, they rose up to the occasion. And I don't think that can be overstated, James,

is that the Phillies, who routinely make us very sad and never rise up to the occasion, swept the Mets at home to take over first place. That's a great point, Jack. It really is. I can't let that be lost on anyone listening to this podcast right now. All of a sudden, the Phillies are not just in first place. They're two games up. They are handily in first place right now.

It's a great point, though, about rising the occasion, especially considering that for the first time in a long time, and it wasn't quite playoffs, it wasn't quite that full, but as close to a playoff field as these guys, this group of guys have played in at Citizens Bank Park, was what this weekend was, and they rose to it. That's awesome. It doesn't matter who they're playing.

That's awesome. So, James, I don't want to call you out on our own podcast. Is this a Bruce joke? Are we doing a Bruce joke now? No, it's not. I just need to know, and I think many of those out there need to know this. Do you trust the Phillies? oh jack um all right i've said who let the phils get hot i said i would never do that again i've said i think they're gonna win the

division jack i trust the phillies that is good to hear that is good to hear. That is good to hear. You trust them. I trust them. I trust them. Because, like, here's the thing. Here's the thing. I can't believe it. These words escaping my mouth feel like a different language or something. I know.

Now, here's the thing. I don't think they're going to win every game for the rest of the year. I don't think they're going to win every game. But you don't know for sure that they're not, is the point. I don't know for sure they're not. But here's the thing, is I think that they have created so much mental fortitude that even when they lose, I don't think they're going to be down and out. And that's the mark of a team that you can trust.

You know, I made this comment a lot, I feel like, maybe like a month ago, you know, right around the All-Star break. Like, and I was being dead serious. Like, even when they lost, it wasn't in, like, the worst way imaginable. Yeah, yeah. Like, they just lost normally. I remember that. And they just came right back and would win the next day.

And, like, it was fine. And that's how I feel about the team right now. And it's just so weird to me, James. Like, why did they play so terrible heading into the All-Star break? And that's how I feel about the team right now. And it's just so weird to me, James. Like, why did they play so terrible heading into the All-Star break? Was everyone just tightening up at the same time? And then post-trade deadline, did they not think they did enough? Because really, if you take out that week where they were just the worst and they were back to being bad Phillies,

they had played good baseball for a month, month and a half there where you could trust them again. And then we kind of stretched, kind of freaked everyone out and said, no, I can't trust them. Like I just, why did that happen? I wish I had an answer, pal. It makes no sense in hindsight when you look at it. And even in the moment we knew it, we felt it was stupid. Like were like what is happening here why is this happening i don't have a good answer i really don't they gave away a lot of outs along the way whether defense stupidity they gave away a lot of outs um they really went through a lot of weird stretches where they just couldn't drive runners in like it felt like there was a long stretch. Yeah, it's right in the scoring position.

Like, for a really long time, it felt like, what's going on here? So, I think that's part of it. But, honestly, I think that they just – I really think it's just all coming together finally. Like, it's coalescing. Like, to your point, like, there's a culture there now. There's a belief there now. They feel like they can win these type of games,

and they go into these games believing they're going to win. And I think it matters. I think it really matters. It 100, like honestly, you can trick an athlete into like just thinking they're good just out of nowhere. And I feel like this last week has just kind of tricked this baseball team

into thinking that why not us? And they have played that way like they've they've just won games like saturday they just won the game they just played well big hit home runs all that and they just won the game and i that just cannot be overstated enough and it's just again i can't believe we're here i can't believe we're here. I can't believe we're here, James, talking about it. I know. Honestly, I didn't know if this podcast would ever happen, in all honesty. Eight straight. And this might as well be our World Series. I don't care if it never won again.

This is it for me. That's how beaten down we've been the last few years. Eight straight, we're like, it's the World Series. We did it. We climbed the hill. We did it, man. We did it. It's pretty amazing. You got anything else in the bag yeah i do i do i do i do it's been quite a it's been quite a week a lot of dude i don't think

i don't think the forrest gump gif has been used as much as it is uh tweeting at me oh yeah i'm sure dude i am sure it's uh it's out of control now it really has gotten out of control somehow some way who to thunk it with you one of these bits we get out of control never never could see that happening well it's about time um you know i'm not one to to throw jill under the bus but oh my goodness is that where we're going now is that is that the direction this podcast is heading so we're walking around town today and i mentioned so along with the running stuff i also like have worn the same underwear during these during this oh my god that is not great dude and i haven't changed the socks during the seven-day stretch. Dude, Jack. And obviously we all know about the stretch. What are you doing?

Are you out of your mind? This is disgusting. That's disgusting. I need them in the postseason. It's pretty much as simple as that. Oh, my God. This is horrifying. I'm horrified right now.

So I'm not wearing the same underwear that I run in as I wear around, obviously. So let's get that out of the way. I guess that's really good news. Yay. So Jill said to me... Who are you? Jill said to me on our walk today, or, you know, we were walking around.

I'm already on Jill's side. I don't even need to hear the rest of the conversation. Jill's right. That's it. Jill said to me... It's done. Jill said to me, your actions have nothing to do with the outcome of these games. That's it. Jill said to me, it's done. Jill said to me, uh,

your actions have nothing to do with the outcome of these games. And I would like to say completely disagree. It's like worst things you could have said to you. Like worse, worse things. You could have been like, I don't love you anymore. And you would have been like,

but this matters, right? What I'm doing matters. Yeah. Good. We're good. Yeah. Yeah.

She could have said yeah she could have said she could have said i'm gone yeah i'd say yeah but the fills are hot yeah oh my god you were something else how does she live with you you know a lot of people ask i i i it's a fair question man i don't think she has that thought um hey you know what i didn't hear this weekend, James? I'm waiting. Oh, these games are so long. Oh, baseball's so boring. Oh, baseball's dead.

Oh, it's almost like when a team's good, baseball's fine. Like, oh my gosh, you people are so stupid. Like, it really just drives me crazy. Yeah, co-sign. If you don't like baseball, don just drives me crazy yeah cosign if you don't like baseball don't watch baseball it's okay you don't have to oh oh oh the games are so long then don't watch pal yeah you you don't have to watch like it is actually a choice to watch these games games so yeah we do right um dude you know who was really good james who ryan howard like you're really really uh bringing the heat here thanks for that super fiery take you know who's good at baseball? Ryan Howard.

MVP Ryan Howard. That guy was good. Bro, 08, man. So I tried to compare Bryce and what he's doing right now to Ryan Howard in 08. Ryan Howard had a 852 slugging percentage in September of 2008. That doesn't seem real. That doesn't seem like a real number. No, I don't think it's real.

It's not real. There's no way it's a real stat. So he had an 852 OPS just with his slugging percentage. He's like Gene Segura as a baseball player with just his slugging percentage. That's unreal.

What is an 852 slugging percentage. It's unreal. What is an 852 slugging percentage? It's not real. It's not a real thing. I don't believe it. I honestly don't. Because Bryce is obviously doing amazing right now, but his OPS is... His slugging is still like 660

something. Which is great! Which is amazing! That's what I'm saying like it's freaking amazing and still ryan howard was so good at baseball he did 852 slugging percentage james 852 that's just nuts again it doesn't seem real you can't you can't you can't compute that in your head so for as much as i you know there's there's a lot of people out there saying like oh we we need high hopes in the playoffs and we need you know fritz and seltzer to to get to the playoffs for them a guy who i need in the playoffs again is scott franski like oh i love this this is a

great take by you dude the guy is just like he it's almost like he's it's not that he's he's always amazing in his job like franski is incredible i'm like i love him but like it's almost like we're he's remembering how to call big games again it's been a while man it's been a while yeah like dude his call of the bryce homer on friday it was you would have thought it was back in the heyday you really would have like he's rising to moments again and like i just he is such a treasure and those like franski la franz and i dude i think i really think franz and it's just been unbelievable phenomenal and he's like. And he's like, he improves. He's getting better and better. I've been

so impressed with Franzen. He's legitimately... I learn something about baseball every time I talk to Franzen, and that's coming from someone who refuses to learn anything about baseball. You mean someone who already acts like they know everything about baseball, I think is what you meant.

I don't think I act that way do you know i don't want people to think of it i know everything i just you're not a no at all don't worry just yeah exactly yeah well um thank you but dude like he's just and i and i saw the tweet today. I wasn't able to listen to the game like at the end. And he supposedly gave like a great ode to Halliday and Wheeler. I'm just like, God, I need Franski in the postseason and Franski in L.A. I need them all in the postseason. Yeah, the strongest of cosigns to this. I don't know who's out there saying, oh, we need it for High Hopes.

We need it for Franski. Many people are saying that. No, that was the thing. I appreciate it. Thank you. It's very kind of people. Let's do it for Franski. Yes.

And then my final two things is, if you thought we were getting to this podcast without talking about some minor league baseball, boy, were you wrong. It seems like the perfect time to talk minor league baseball right now. Nothing on with the major league club let's just you know yes good idea jack lay it on me buddy griff mcgary i think about a lot like dude i'm prepared to say griff mcgary is better than max meyer and max meyer's a good top three pitching prospect in all sports what are we doing oh real hold on real quick before you before you kill me um you might not make it like his least his lowest spin rate pitch in his first outing was a curveball at 2800 rpms oh my god thank you anyway Oh, my God. Thank you. Anyway, last thing. James, when are we getting rally towels, pal?

I need rally towels so bad. You know, at the ballpark today, the one thing that was really going to make that day even more special was rally towels. When are we getting rally towels? Yeah, why wait? Like, I know they do it for the playoffs. Like, why wait? It's meaningful August and September baseball.

Like, get them out now. I'm so with you. But if you are listening, Philadelphia Phillies, and we know you are, RallyTel, it's a great suggestion. Like, listen to Fritz. Fritz doesn't always have the best suggestions. It's a pretty good one. Wow.

You see what I did there? Ending this podcast on a shot. You see what I did there? Ending this podcast on a shot. You see what I did there? Ending this podcast on a shot. Unbelievable. Oh, buddy. Eight straight, Jack. Eight straight.

Eight straight. And we don't have to talk about a stupid Eagles open practice. Run, Jack, run, buddy. Run, Jack, run. Run, Jack, run. Go, Phils. Frickin' first place. And just remember that God rested on the seventh day, but I didn't.

He spreads himself. We'll see you next time.