High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Once There Was a Silly Old Ant...

Episode Date: June 10, 2021

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to the Phillies walking it off in back-to-back wins over the Braves. The guys talk Luke Williams saving the season, MVP Ranger Suarez, Ace Wheeler, 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 W Y P. Yo! Yo, it is another edition of the High Hopes Podcast, a back-to-back walk-off edition of Luke Williams saved the season edition, and Jack Fritz, let me just say this right off the bat. Who let the Philz get hot, buddy?

Who let him get hot, Jack? Once there was a silly old ant. Thought he'd move a rubber tree plant. Oh, anyone knows an ant can't move a rubber tree plant, buddy. And hi, oops. What a day. Speaker 0 1 0 2 3 0 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 23 24 25 video yearbook crew is working overtime. Oh man. I mean, all we've been asking for is for some life, some fire for them to seem like they're having as much fun playing the game as we do watching it. And like the last two nights, Jack, I mean, you know, like everyone

listening to this pod knows you're the one who's ready to hop in any time. Like I'm so ready to hop in, like this does and and look they gotta they gotta keep bringing it but like this feels like the kind of like we've said a million times like all the things that are the start of something like this actually feels like it could be the start of something it feels like good vibes jack listen we're gonna completely ignore we're gonna completely ignore the first uh the first nine innings yeah yeah and also we're going to completely ignore the first nine innings. It didn't happen. Yeah.

And also, we're going to ignore Friday night. Or excuse me, not Friday night. Tuesday night. Because that didn't happen. Or Friday night, I guess, too. Yeah. Either way, we're going to ignore those ones and bowl. Yeah.

I mean, listen. I mean, I need a listen. I mean, I need a towel. I mean, seriously. It was another... Listen, it was an excruciating ball game. I mean, it was. Actually, it actually wasn't. It was an excruciating 10 minutes.

Yeah, it was a quick, well-pitched game prior. Oh, dude, we were like, oh, man, we got to plan a show today. We weren't planning to do that. Um, I will, I will freely admit, and I swear to you, my intent was, was with the most reverse jinx impossible that I could do. I texted Jack after the top of the 10th and said, well, the Phillies are making it easy for us not to have to record a pod today. 10th and said, well, the Phillies are making it easy for us not to have to record a pod today. Yeah.

And then what happened? Then what happened, James? They got hot. And I gotta be honest. I was on this take last year and I'm on it again. I freaking love that the runner on second base rolled extra innings. It is both painful. It is joyful.

All mixed into one. It's a good rule. And today it really, really helped. I mean, listen, I'm in a good spot. There are obviously some flaws with this team. But here's the God's honest truth, is that no one in the NL East is that good. And none of these teams are that good. And why not the Phils?

Why not the Phils? not the phils get get get right you know get get the big guys back i mean bryce enough with enough of the bad body language it's time to figure it out a little bit um that's disappointing but like they're right there and this is a big weekend i know i don't want to get too ahead of ourselves but like the yankees are coming to town and this is not this is is not the 1927 Yankees. This is not the 09 Yankees. This is not an unbelievable Yankees team. You've got to take care of business.

Prove to me you're real. That's all I want. Yeah. And especially at home. Right. Because we're about to go to the West Coast. Oh, Dodgers and the Giants. Yeah.

Spencer Howard starting Monday in L.A. Come on. Like, you know, we know how this goes. So, like, these two games are even that much more important. But, like, we'll get to that. Like, they won two of three against the Nats. Like, cool, whatever. You know, like.

The Nats stink. They're bad. Waste of my time. Get out of here. We said coming into the season we thought it would be a three-team race. And I think in the end it's going to be a three-team race. It's looking like a three-team race. And this was just, like, what a massive back-to-back here i mean like it felt like if

they lost that game last night the season was over and it like and i know i know we're being dramatic the season was not actually over i said not on this podcast today i said to jack at work today going to today's game i said must get must win game like but like that's what it felt like it felt like with this team like with the inability to like start getting on a roll like at a certain point it is too late right at a certain point you know it passes you by and all of a sudden the mets are like eight games up and it's like you know what the bleep just happened like you know you do need to at a certain, go on a run and start playing better baseball. And we've just been dying for it, man. We've been dying for it. And like to do it in this way with the, I mean, back to back walk-offs for this team, two straight games where

it just felt like it was over. Like no Phillies fan on the planet, other than maybe Luke Williams's family thought that we were going to win that game last night. And, and even more so today, even more so, especially if you're like the, it's funny that you mentioned that the zombie runner as Scott Franski calls it, I'm in on that. It's better than the ghost runner. Like it's great. It's a great line for it. But the zombie runner actually helped the Braves more out the Phillies. Cause the Phillies didn't give up any fricking hits, but still two runs. Like at least the Phillies because the Phillies didn't give up any freaking hits, but still two runs. At least the Phillies came out no outs,

raked in the bottom of the 10th. So uncharacteristically Phillies the last few days, Jack. This team won games we never thought they would in the moment. And you know what makes it even that much sweeter is that I hope that all those miserable, tomahawk-ch chopping Braves fans know how we have felt for, I don't know, the last decade ever since Kimbrough blew the, blew the save in 2011, like knowing the pain that it has been to have these backbreaking losses

against the Braves to return the favor the last two days. And in all seriousness, like I hope the Phillies are putting the Braves thing behind them. And every time they're up a little bit against the Braves that they're not doing this whole, oh, well, we'll find a way to blow this. Like they need to figure out how to beat them and the Marlins. And today in these last two days might be big steps towards being like, no, we're right on the same page as you guys. Now, heck to –

Well, especially – real quick, especially with Freddie Freeman – and we'll get to the – you know, should have caught it. Like, let's be real. But Freddie Freeman homering there, like, of all people, just felt like the most – like like it's happening again, right? Like the exact what you're talking about is Freddie Freeman homering in that spot. So anyway, go ahead. Yeah, it's just and listen, Hector, Hector's got to figure out his thing against the Braves.

And of course, Hector allows one one bad pitch that Oduble should have caught. And every time it's like, well, get him out of there. Why is he on the team? His ERA is under two. It's under two. He made a bad pitch to the reigning NL MVP that the center fielder should have caught. Enough. Enough.

Closers blow saves. Brad Lidge going 48 for 48 was the worst thing that has ever happened to this franchise. Seriously, it's the worst thing that has ever happened to this franchise. Well, especially after he struck out Acuna. That was like Hector at his finest. We all know how great Acuna is. That strikeout pitch was like Hector Splitter. We know how good it is. That's in his Hector Splitter. We know how good it is.

That's like in his Hector Splitter Hall of Fame. That pitch was so nasty. And also, he's pitched once in like two weeks. That was my thought. And the paternity leave thing and all that. Enough. Dude, Hector's the only guy I truly trust in this bullpen. All right, we saw Alvarado. Well, you know what?

Worse is not trusting a guy to actually be able to throw strikes is. No, no. You're forgetting a key one. Very disappointed in you. Oh, Ranger. You're right. Honestly, I'm sorry. MVP of the season right now.

I mean, Rangers are. It should be an all star. Dude, that was. So Ranger, 20 and a third innings. No earned runs. He's given him one unearned run. He's given up six hits and four walks. Like, dude, he's got a.5 whip and a zero ERA

and 20 and a third innings, Jack. Like, that's not nothing. I know it's a small sample size, whatever, but like, that's not nothing. Well, where were you when Ranger Suarez turned into the best reliever in the sport and Luke Williams saved the Phillies season? All right, let's get into the two save the seasons guy,

and we'll get back to today because I have a Zach Wheeler question that I am. I didn't tweet it because I wanted you to, in case you saw the tweet, I wanted a live reaction from you on it because like i feel i think it's a really fun phillies wheeler question well and and to be honest james i also have a wheeler question for you and i'm and i'm wondering if we have the same question it's gonna be so good we'll find out all right um luke williams game first yeah uh let's start with suarez and then we'll get to uh luke and actually efflin too like the efflin suarez combo you know are the reason they i mean luke williams is the hero and we'll get to that moment and what it was i want to talk about that but like

like they only win that game because of efflin and suarez as well and for ranger to come in the way he did and pitch three perfect innings again and eflin looked good man eflin got out some tough jams bases loaded no outs in the second had that double play ball the turret by the way real quick aside like how nice is it to have ron therese playing shortstop for these games and actually watching like a major league quality defensive player making defense plays but the double play ball like got got out some big jams there. I was impressed with the gutty effort from Eflin to keep them in that game. And then Suarez, man, what did you think of those two and the combo? Because, again, they don't win that.

I know the Luke Williams-Homer, which we'll get to, like, is the moment that we'll all remember, but they don't win that game without Eflin and Suarez doing what they did. Yeah, Eflin's back. Obviously, the days off helped him. I think he had nine days off. So anytime you can get that, it'll help. You called that, too.

You were dead on about that. I thought that moving around the rotation the way they did was the wrong move, and you were like, I actually really like it, and here's why. And you were right. Yeah, I mean, you could just tell. He was much quicker, much more decisive towards the plate. Because the last start against the Rays, he was just kind of slow and sluggish and his mechanics

were getting out of whack and he was kind of cutting himself off and he wasn't able to get inside to lefties and he was leaking out over the plate. So whenever you see that, that means your mechanics and you're just a little bit tired. And I know he's had the heavy body stuff in the past, but like, yeah, it was good to have him back on track. I mean,

what do you guys, six innings, one run? So, listen, it was a good Eflin outing. And then Rangers now throwing harder, too. I mean, watch out, baseball. I mean, he was 91, 92, like, last week, and then now he's up to 94, 95. I mean. Yeah. And 93 with regular.

It felt like he was, like, almost sitting at 93. Yeah, I mean, I just hope the rest of baseball had fun because the best reliever in baseball is just warming up. But yeah. Like, is it, is it deceptiveness? Is it the change of speeds? Like, what is it that's making him so effective? Well, his sliders are really good pitch and he can throw over strikes.

And then he can spot, he, I don't have the numbers in front of me. I'm sure like, I'm sure people out there would be better at this than me anyway. But just – I want your eye, Jack. We can all look at baseball savant. We can all look at Brooks baseball. I want the Fritz eye. I mean, that's what I trust the most as well.

But the Fritz eye tells me that his fastball, while not very hard, has very high spin efficiency and just gets on guys. He's one of those lefties that's like only 93, 94, but it like it jumps to to right hand batters and they can't square him up on the inside. So to me, it looks like his fastball spins very efficiently. And that's why he's so hard to square up. And he can throw his his his curve or a slider for a strike. It's a pretty good pitch change up. Same kind of thing it's like it's like he's a three pitch starter that's coming out of

the bullpen that throws strikes and um yeah he is just i mean he made he made freddie freeman look the the worst i've ever seen freddie freeman look against a philly's pitcher which i didn't think was possible by the way like real quick aside i know he hit the home run but man like that was the least scared i've been of Freddie Freeman in my entire life, I think. And even after, look, the first game, Acuna obviously had that big game, but shut him down after game one, too. The last two days of pitching from Eflin Suarez to Wheeler

and what happened today, shut Acuna down. In big spots, too. Acuna had some shots. Yeah, man, I'm with you. Look, that'd be you know and again like if if oduble catches that ball which like look i know it's not like the easiest catch it is a ball that was clearly over the fence but like he just missed it like we all saw it like he if he had jumped correctly and jumped where the ball was going with his glove he easily could have caught it so like i don't want to you know i know people are with his glove, he easily could have caught it. So like,

I don't want to, you know, I know people are always home run, whatever, like he could have caught that ball. And if they do, like, we're looking at this Freddie Freeman series, like they shut him down, like completely shut him down. So I'm, I'm with you, man. Like, and the Suarez thing. And it's like, I know a lot of people are like, put them in the rotation. We talked about that last pot and stuff. And I can see the value in that, especially look Vinny, the last couple outings shaking around where is he going all that but like the howard suarez piggyback and more so the versatility of the fact that suarez can go like two three days and then give you another three two four innings like like to have that kind of rubber arm at least in today's term you know like you know back in the day these guys real rubber

arms but like i think that's more valuable in a way jack yeah and and what they're having him do i mean you need him for like it for me ranger is the best of both worlds and it allows the phillies to have a best of both worlds because like he's the perfect guy to put behind spencer because you know spencer at this point's a four inning pitcher and you hope he's a perfect guy to put behind Spencer because you know Spencer at this point is a four-inning pitcher. You hope he's a four-inning pitcher. Did you say four? Yeah, sorry. Oh, that'd be sweet. My bad.

One time he was. Donovan Chespad. Donovan Chespad. Let's go two and a hope for more. Yeah. It's like spawn insane and pray for rain. It's two and a hope for more, except not as rhymey. No, it wasn't rhymey at all.

We're going to scrub that last 30 seconds. I was trying to, in the moment, think of a rhyme. Didn't go well. No. No, it wasn't. Not good at that. Some of us are quick. Some of us are not.

I'm good at other things. I'm not good at rhyming and puns. I'm really bad at puns. Oh, listen. Yeah, I don't know any of that stuff. No, I just... I once knew a guy who like it was like it got to the point of annoying like it was like all right enough but like he could

pun anything in any situation it was like all right dude like we get it like you love to use puns like enough yeah but it was at first it was like wow that's incredibly impressive anyway the only thing that i'm good at saying is never a doubt and don't let this team get hot. You're forgetting one. Feels like a loss. Oh, it feels like a loss, yes. Come on, Jack. Why do I have to tell you?

Well, I just don't know if there's a more consistent person in Philadelphia media than me. I'm just about as consistent as they come. Well, yeah, I think that's fair. I'll give you, you know, there's some, not on the Phillies beat, but there's some grumpy media people who are consistent in their grumpiness. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. But I'm talking about how I am the ultimate three true outcomes Twitter guy. I don't think you want to sell yourself as that these days.

Three true outcomes has never had less appeal. Back to Ranger. It is a... Good job bringing us back. I was like, where were we? Should we just get to Luke Williams? All right, go ahead. No.

Why would we get to the most important part of the podcast? That's what I'm saying. It's a Ranger. Yeah, let's stick with Ranger Suarez's three innings of relief last night. In all seriousness, I do like the plan. It's fine. You don't need to rush Ranger Suarez

into the rotation while you have those guys here because he's almost more valuable being able to go three innings two times a week than he is one time six innings. Now, obviously, it gets to a point where it's like Spencer's terrible. You have to. For right now now i'm cool with it i am too man i'm too all right luke uh i mean first of all last pub you called for it we called for it like bring luke up yeah awesome um so obviously the the

win itself so important but like jack I'll be honest with you. Like that was one of those moments, those nights that like, I know this sounds super cliche and whatever, but like I will remember it for the rest of my life. such a beautiful moment to see that dude in his first major league start with his freaking family in the stands do that in that moment in his first start and then the inner the whole thing from the homer to around the bases to the water you know the whole dumping on him with the interview and like that how they kept coming back and the price Harper hug, like that moment with him and Bryce and the straw hat and like the interview and, and shout out to Tom McCarthy shout out to Ben Davis. Like those guys did a great job with that interview.

And like, like where he, you know, encapsulating that moment for that dude. And, and Scott to Franski's call, by the way, as well with the,

what, what, what a, what a week, you know, what a moment in the Alzheimer. What a what a what a week. You know, what a moment in the what a week for for Lou Williams. Like they both like encapsulated that moment and like to the interview and him like, you know, it's like I'm going to cry. You know, it's I can't even put into words. It's pretty awesome.

Like, Jack, I know that I'm a hyperbolic person. I know that. I know that I go to extremes and I like to, you know, say things. But like, honestly, like that, for me in that moment, like it felt like one of those, like, this is why I watch sports. I watch sports for moments like this. And I'm so happy they won today because it kind of can carry that momentum. But like that moment for you, did you have that same type of like,

you know, obviously it was a big win, but that, that kind of even more so like this is the best Phillies moment, like easily since the Harper grand slam and one of the best Phillies moments in a really long time. Yeah. I mean, I'd argue the, uh, the Pavetta complete game against the reds, but it's definitely, it's definitely up there. No, it's – yeah, and it's just so – to see how happy – You're so on brand.

I know. I feel like I had to break up all this happiness. I'll do it for you too as well because my other thought in watching it was like normally when i'm watching any moment of philly's game i'm thinking like what if jim nance were the phillies oh there it is what would he say about it but in that moment because t-mac and scott franski were so amazing in that moment it didn't even creep in my mind jack so yeah the the yeah and and the thing is like he seems like a great dude and he seems like a guy that's like super easy to root for, he seems like a great dude, and he seems like a guy that's super easy to root for.

He seems like a gamer. The walk-off was cool, but the bunt to get the third base was also awesome. So, yeah, and it was just like, yeah, because that's every kid's dream, right? I mean, you grow up, and you're playing baseball. The walk-off home run your first start um your whole family's there like it's just like i mean this kid's on a hot streak it's it's probably the biggest hot streak i've ever seen uh a philly athlete have i mean go to the olympics come up get called up walk off home run win the lottery all that stuff the straw hat's amazing like i just

it's it was a for as dreadful as the first eight innings were and eight and two thirds really um yeah it was just it was it was magical and it's one of those moments that um yeah i i'm never gonna forget the luke williams walk off like i'm trying to think you know last deck i would say all right 2012 on like the good yeah that's 2012 on that's the move like the Goodell whatever Tyler Goodell whatever the throw at home to to get out to win that game

the Harper walk off the Pavetta complete game against the Reds and the Luke Williams walk off I mean they're all there it's a short list it's a short list it's a short list it's been it's been a rough decade so um but yeah Vinny V throw from left field yeah Vinny V left-handed throw to first I don't know the Vinny V 16 strikeout game yeah that's there you go it

is sad oh listen it's been it's been a long decade. It really is one of those moments, but to your point and to what we've talked about the whole time is like, imagine what that moment becomes if they actually freaking use it. I know. Don't curse on the I Am Spotcast. I know. If they freaking use it after yesterday

and today and they use it, like, it's like, then we look back at that moment and like the whole like, oh, Luke Williams saved the season. It's like, Luke Williams saved the season. Like, you know, then we say it that way. And like, it would be awesome because it was that kind of magical storybook movie moment. And if that were not only,

because it is it in a vacuum, no matter what that moment is that. It is a movie, like you said, it's magical. It's like a dream for any kid ever. Like, what that moment is that it is, it is a movie. Like you said, it's magical. It's like a dream for any kid ever. Like what, what a moment. But if it's also the moment that propels this team towards a playoff run towards a division run or whatever, it's like, there's an added resonance to it and added like significance historically

that would be awesome to be able to attach to it. You know what i mean yeah and i and i i'm sorry for even putting this in the in the atmosphere but i couldn't help but think about at least grand slam the to start his career like i i couldn't help but think about that as luke williams is like rounding the bases i'm like oh my gosh what if we got another outlay so it was a whirlwind of emotions for sure and full disclosure i was on another i was on another podcast when i saw the the home run going out and i was like oh my god i know i know i know so i i had a delayed reaction but um i always have a delayed reaction

dude it is it is brutal it is absolutely brutal like you're not even close through it i tweet through it because you know i'm just sharing my emotions with people and if you see it when something else has happened then it is what it is you know i honestly i'm streaming i'm streaming it it's two minutes mine what do you want me to do i know and and listen if there's anyone out there that wants to uh uh advertise in the high Host podcast, please reach out because James doesn't have cable. And I can't take the delayed reaction to Philly's games, to sporting events. He is consistently minutes behind whatever is happening actually on the field at that moment. The tweets don't make any sense when he puts them out there so if you're interested in in advertising on the podcast please reach out because james

james needs it i could use it yeah i could use it yeah you know you should all be happy i'm tweeting it all um all right let's get to today let's do it zag wheeler dude like all right do you should we say our question at the same time, or is that just going to be- No, let's try it. Let's do it at the same time, all right? Okay. Give me a three, two, one. Give me a three, two, one.

Yeah. No, you know we do our pre-show check normally with the clap and Inside Baseball, the editing. So we'll do one, two, three questions. Okay. All right. One, two, three. Is Zach Wheeler the second best starter since 2000 in the Phillies? Zach Wheeler better than 2018 Aaron Nola.

I think we asked the same question in different ways. Yeah. It's the exact same question. My question was, is he the second best starter since 2000? Yeah. Oh, wow. So yours is even more. Mine is, is he better than 2018 Aaron Nola, which is basically asking, is he the best

since Halliday? Right. Which is just similar to question to what you're saying, right? Like you're basically asking, is he the best since Halliday? Right? Uh, yes. Because that's who the answer would be for who's the best since 2000. It's Halliday, right?

Because you know, your shillings prior to that. Yeah. So, so like that's exactly where i was at jack like that's where my head is at you know this version of zach wheeler right now is jell freudian slip buddy um like this it feels and look again like what those guys did is they did it for the full season, right? I mean, you know, the guys were talking, like, Roy Halladay's 2010-2011 season. Like, that's rarefied air type stuff.

Like, Zach Wheeler has to finish the season out to do it. But, like, what he's doing so far, what he is right now is, like, I think, Jack, the best I've seen since 2011 Roy Holiday. That's where I'm at. Wow. Yeah, I mean, here's the thing. Nola had a 2-3-7 ERA in 2018. I agree. And Wheeler has to finish this out.

Like, this is like, obviously, like, we're in June. But, like, if this continues at, like, some level of what he's at, man, I mean, Nola was amazing, but Wheeler's striking out double digits every start. Yeah. Here's how I'll put it. If I needed one start, am I trusting 2021 Wheeler or 2018 Nola? I'm choosing 2021 Wheeler.

Me too. And I think he's the second best starter. I don't know, man. Cliff Lee was unbelievable. The 0-9 stretch for Cliff Lee. I guess, yeah, Cliff Lee and 0-9. I was thinking since Halliday. So I wasn't thinking in the 2000 terms.

I didn't really give that much thought. But you're right. 0-9 Halliday's there. I mean, same level. Yeah, so, but, yes. 0-9 Lee. So Wheeler already has five straight double digit strikeout games, which is crazy.

And Scott Lauber tweet about how he's the only, he's only second, second pitcher in Philly's history to have no only. Oh yeah. You're right. Only Philly's pitcher since 1891 to have at least two starts in a season with 10 or more strikeouts and no walks. Yeah.

And it, and it's, and again, no walks, no runs, no walk. And it's June and it's June. more strikeouts and no walks. Yeah. And it's, and again. No walks, no runs, no walks. And it's June. And it's June. Yeah. Yeah, no walks, no runs. Yeah.

Dude, like, man. Now, we do have to factor in the. And to your point earlier, I test, like, this is not, like, numbers. Like, this is, like, I test. Like, this guy is dominant. Dude, it's ridiculous. And he's holding 98 into is dominant. Dude, it's ridiculous. And he's holding 98 into the eighth. It's stupid.

And his secondary stuff is on point, man. Yeah, what's funny about Wheeler last year when Wheeler so far this year, or at the beginning of this year, was his slider was never really... It's a pitch that's like, if you get it over, great. But if I'm a hitter,

I'm just wiping the slider out because I need to focus on his fastball and that stuff. If he throws a slider that's like, if you get it over, great. But if I'm a hitter, I'm just wiping the slider out because I need to focus on his fastball and that stuff. Like, if he throws a slider for a strike, great. That's a win for him. Tip your hat to the pitcher. But he's actually throwing that for a strike now. And he's a guy, and I would, you know, I think some Phillies pitchers need to trust this guy.

But he's a guy that has been with Cotham since day one and has been, I mean, he signed here partly because of the Phillies analytics department, which is crazy, and they went and got Caleb Cotham, and look at what we're getting from Zach Wheeler. I mean, we're seeing a guy take the Garrett Cole leap right in front of us,

and he's also getting the New York Mets run support for Jacob DeGrom. So it's, it's unbelievable watching him pitch. If I wonder what his ERA would be, if he didn't have that one bad outing where he allowed four in the first. Yeah. And, and,

and that outing, he allowed four in the first and still went six. Yeah. That's what he says. You know what I mean? Like we, that was a quote unquote bad outing, but it was six innings, four runs.

And he had that horrible first and shut it down after. Like, other than really one inning this season, he's been dominant. Yeah, and the nice part about when you get a pitcher on a run like this is he becomes must-see TV. And he becomes like, hey, let's go to the ballpark and watch Wheeler pitch tonight. Like, that's what you're getting.

I mean, when you sit down and you watch Zach Wheeler start, you're expecting seven innings and almost double digit strikeouts every single night. Like you did that to the Braves today. And I know the Braves, like, and listen, you can,

you can, people can continue to be afraid of the Braves all you want. That team is not that good. Like they're just not that good. And losing Ozuna, like you noticed it That team is not that good. They're just not that good. And losing Ozuna, you noticed it because this is the first time we've played them without Ozuna.

You feel it in the lineup. You feel like he was that kind of bridge where Riley is your five hitter is a real difference maker. Riley is your four hitter and he's been great. Riley's been awesome. In general, that was a big hit to their lineup. Danzy Swanson to make a rally as your four and he's been great is not you know Riley's been awesome but like in general it just really that was a big hit to their line Dancy Swanson

six like it's a totally different lineup that way yeah Dancy Swanson stinks and like it was your five hitter all right I mean lose between losing Marquez and Azuna it's it's been it's a real tough scene for that Braves team but and like their starters aren't that impressive the bullpen

doesn't scare me Matt six stuff starting to fall off. Like, I think the Phillies are better than the Braves. Like, I know Acuna is amazing, and I know Freeman's amazing, and Albies is whatever. He's not that special to me. But, like, that team is just not that scary. They are not that scary. And they will, again, they will beat us in some back-breaking way

towards the end of the year. I know that, I know that, I know that, but that team is just not that good. And the Phillies, I hope that these last two games, they started to say, we know they're not that good. We can beat this team. Like let's, let's, let's go here a little bit. Let's, let's bury the hatchet with this Braves team. So, um, man, man, what, what,

what two games. All right. A couple other things before we get to the take back from today's game. Uh, the Oduble not running on the double could have been a triple, you know, on the, what he thought was on or whatever.

Again, with that and that, that Freddie Freeman, Homer, like reminder, I know Duble has been, obviously we all know how we feel about him, but he's been good offensively for this team,

good in the leadoff spot, but that is a reminder of the type of player, the boneheaded stuff, too. The bullpen. Look, Hector, I'm not at all worried about, like we talked about two weeks ago, but Alvarado, sometimes he just doesn't have it. And then going back to, to obviously a couple of nights ago,

Brogdon didn't look good. And, and the bullpen in general, you know, the, the stat was going around and I don't know if it, how close it was if it changed with a clean eighth inning today, but the, I know I saw Joe Giglio tweet out that the, you know, heading into yesterday, at least the bullpens, ERA in the eighth inning this year was worse than the historically bad bullpen from last year. Where are you at with the bullpen? Because Kunrod had the rough night.

Like, dude can't, it seems like can't pitch with runners on base, you know, which, by the way, we didn't give enough credit to for Ranger Suarez. The guy who's like a starter turn reliever. Like, that guy seems it doesn't matter what situation he comes in he's like lights out but anyway um where you at would depend because i you know and archie's been better i think that's a positive but um it has been a little concerning more concerning lately well i mean they are a bullpen i mean you're not gonna you're not gonna be shut down every night so like as some guys falter some guys have to step up and that's kind of where we are right now um and the only and i think the only reason their eighth inning bullpen

or eighth inning era went down today was because zach wheeler was out there so that definitely helps um but yeah so like listen i think i think coonrod is definitely in a slump he's been a slump for a little bit here uh i do worry about the spider attack, whatever's going on there. He seems like a guy that they want to get the spin efficiency fastballs out with him. I hope that he

figures it out a little bit. Brockton I'm not too worried about. I know the home run happened, but I still trust him on most nights. Hector's fine. Alvarado is just a roller coaster. I have no idea. I just have no idea what they're getting. It's wild, man.

It's like one night to the next. You literally never know what you're going to get. Literally no idea. And it's like immediate. You're like, oh, this. But then he was able to say, honestly, I was so ready. When they brought Kotham out to talk to him, I was like, why are we not just taking him out here?

He doesn't have it. And then he settled in and got out of the inning, and I was shocked because it just feels like some days it's just like, all right, he does not have it, and you've got to go move on from it. Yeah, I guess the problem with where this bullpen is right now is that, you know, you just don't know who you can trust on, because it seems like it's night to night with these guys, you know. Like Ranger, we'll see.

I mean, he's been lights out, but we know that won't last forever. Hector, you can trust on most nights. But other than that, like, you don't know if Archie's going to come in throwing 94-91. You don't know if Brogdon's going to have the feel for his changeup. You don't know if Jose Arborado's going to know where the ball's going. Same thing with Sam Coonrod. Like, on some nights, like, yeah, great. They're fine. Perfectly fine. And then some nights, it's like, yeah, great, they're fine, perfectly fine. And then some nights, it's just like, oh, they're the worst pitcher I've ever seen in my life.

So, yeah, their problem is they have no one they can just trust to come in and do the job, and everything will be fine. So, the bullpen, here's where I'm at with the bullpen. They have talent. We don't know what they're going to get. We're going to be frustrated with them. But more often than not, I think that they're good enough to not kill

you like last year's bullpen killed you. Yeah. And like we always say, look, coming back to it, like, start hitting, right? Start hitting and then a lot of these problems go away. You know, the bullpen doesn't have to be as good if you put up eight, ten runs. You know, like, I mean, seriously, like, that's the strength of this team.

And look, DD on the AAA assignment, that's good to hear. Like, hopefully he's coming back soon. And like, you got your eyes back. Like you said, Bryce needs to get his feel back and all that, but there is a reason to be optimistic from that perspective. And that can really make up for some of those other deficiencies. All right. Last thing. And it's more of a question for me before the take bag. Why? And I know like day off and all that but like i thought it was weird that that gerardi went marshawn over jt today and then obviously look at you can't blame gerardi for marshawn who's a great defensive catcher all of a sudden just kind of losing it in the the 10th and and those two pass balls it's not easy when you when the guy i agree i agree i agree but like

certainly the one of those like he should have been able to stop like he went for his glove like he should have gotten his body in front of it in that spot but regardless like why do you think he went marshall number jt just to get jt a full day off to have him as a pinch hitter later i don't already know he already he already pinch hit jt oh i'm an idiot yeah that was my bad yep you're right yeah he already pitched it he but he couldn't but he could have kept him in is the other thing yeah yeah so that that's why i think i i was like why is jt not in the game still at this point that's a bad job right like so so what what he what he probably should have done was he probably should have put him in for nap he should he should

have pinch hit him then leave him in for nap and then it opens up the nap spot so that you could use Miller or Joyce rather than having to use Janikowski as a pinch runner and then Joyce and burn two bench bats back to bat. And also, at that point, so if you put JT in for nap, then you're not left with a situation where napaps, well, Naps still in the game and your only backup plan is Marshawn. So it was interesting. I mean, like within two-

That was clearly a, I'm watching Zoe at this moment of the game and definitely spaced on T-Bag. Well, and there's a, you know, and there was a span there. Why wouldn't he stay in the game too? Like, it makes no sense. Well, I genuinely think he just wanted to give him a full day off now the the frustrating part is that even off day

tomorrow so you know right yeah and had and had like so many off days lately yeah i mean we had the rain out the off day after that they had the other friday off day like they've had like a lot of off days in a normal course of a season lately. So not the Monday off day, off day today, tomorrow, like you said. So anyway. All right, Fritzy, take back. Yeah, so the attendance has been weird. Really weird, man. Really weird.

And I think, you know, I'm not like worried about it. I know people are like, oh, well, no one wants to go to the games. Like, I don't know. I'm not like dying to get I know people are like, oh, well, no one wants to go to the games. I don't know. I'm not dying to get back down to the ballpark. I mean, I know they're technically open 100% and stuff like that, but there's still a little bit out there that's like, ah, you know, I'm not ready to go back to the ballpark. We just went through a pandemic.

I think there's still a lot of people who aren't ready to be back in large crowds and all that yet, and that's okay. I think that's okay, obviously. Yeah. I mean, obviously, if it's in the playoffs and they're – Yeah, probably. Yeah. Well, you see the Sixers and it's full and it's packed and it's like, oh, like, you know, it better be that way if they get good.

Yes. Yeah. So maybe go on a run here so we can get some fans back in the ballpark. I mean mean this is the run like like like we again to say what i said earlier in the pod like we did the the cigar gerardi thing the seven running against the marlins price getting it in the face like so many things we've said that the the bird poop like all these things like ultimately the iops live show really truly i mean five of sevens but whatever like this feels like these two games back to back if you can't use this as fuel

like i'm nervous yeah well the problem is though that the problem is though that like they do have a gauntlet in june i mean like i know i know man i guess starting with two that the two of the best teams in baseball on the West Coast, and they're still 11-19 on the road this season. The Phillies are doing what we're doing excited about right now at home, so that's still a big hurdle they have to clear. Yeah. Yeah.

Luke Williams, he is such a valuable guy for Captain Double Switch just because he can play anywhere. a couple of things. He's such a valuable guy for, uh, captain double switch. Um, just because like he can play anywhere. I mean, like he can handle shortstop center field, their base, like wherever they need to put Luke Williams,

they will. So, um, I wonder if they're going to try to start them, uh, like each different night and kind of go from there, or if they'll use them as a bench player. And then for a,

uh, double switch late in the game. I don't know. I just wonder what they're going to do with him. I wonder where the plan is. I mean, today he started for Boehm. I know Boehm has been down a little bit, but I actually thought that he took his best swings of the year this series.

So hopefully he's breaking out of it. I mean, he smoked the ball today, which is good. Smoked the ball a couple nights ago. So hopefully he's kind of breaking out of this a little bit but i wonder how they're going to use him if they're going to start williams or if they're going to use him as a super valuable like can play anywhere guy late in games yeah uh look uh it's it's a good question i think the fact that he can play a bunch of positions really like you said really helps um especially with you know look teres is gonna stay that's he's been great and it's joe's guy so he'll be here so you need someone

who has the ability to play outfield as well for that extra bench spot and look with brad miller too they have versatility right i mean they all of a sudden one of our big complaints with this team this season has been the bench the depth and all that like when guys are healthy and dd comes back like i i kind of like the bench you know that's not even factoring in scott kingery either so we didn't even talk about that yeah well we brought it up last podcast so we're did we yes we met he wasn't outrighted when we yeah we did it was the end of the podcast oh wow all right my bad uh nola nola is just he he is he is so frustrating to watch right now um and i don't know what he's got to do to figure it out but like he's trying to ignore that that game happens i

know i know i know i know but i can't i can't i can't i can't like you gotta do what you gotta do i get it i get it enough with the fastballs up in the zone like nola is at his best when that fastballs are riding down in the zone and he's getting ground ball after ground ball after ground ball. And it's just like, man, figure out your mechanics or something. Like it, this is your ear, your ear razor before now, like this is, this is not good. And it's just, he's continuing with these fastballs that are up. And when they're up, he's starting to leak them out over the middle of the plate, and they're getting smoked.

Like, it's time, man. Like, enough. Enough of these last seven starts. Get the fastball down, and let's go on a little bit of a run here because it's just it's been too many meh starts for a guy as good as Aaron Nola. And if this team's going to go on a run, it needs to come with Aaron Nola getting back on track. Yeah, I'm so with you, man.

Like, I'm so with you. I mean, he's been the third best pitcher on the team this season, which is crazy to say, but he has. I mean, Wheeler, obviously. But Eflin's been better. I mean, the numbers show it, but he's been better. At least he's been more trustworthy. You know, you feel like you can trust Eflin's been better. I mean, the numbers show it, but he's been better. At least he's been more trustworthy. You know, you feel like you can trust Eflin more in these spots.

So I'm with you. And look, I do think he will. Like the history of Aaron Nola, he's gone through cold stretches, and this is a long one. But, you know, he usually finds his water, finds its levels. You like to say, like, he finds his way back there. But to contend, you know, with the way the season's gone, even if the offense gets better, like, you need those three.

You need Wheeler, Afflin, and Nola to really be legit. And also to your point again, like, we need Nola to take down some big games, some big spots. It feels like whenever this team's spiraling, like, he's not the stopper. So, you know, you need that. Yep. They only struck out 16 times that entire series. Hey, yo.

Wow, buddy. What a... I don't even know what to say. And it's a shame that their offense went cold the last two games because their offensive approach Monday night I thought was beautiful. I mean, bunts, hitting runs, and like, when you're not hitting the ball at the ballpark,

you've got to find a way to manufacture some runs. But to his credit, Segura stepped up today and picked up Oduble when he wasn't on third base and was able to bring him home. Alec Bowman, a ball through the hole. Knappi bunted today when there's a huge hole on the left side. That's great. Yeah, I mean, listen, analytics are analytics, and I get it, today when there's a huge hole on the left side. Listen, analytics are analytics and I get it, but I just know as a pitcher that

anytime a runner gets on base, more stress is added to the pitcher. I would like to see if you're not swinging well, get the bunt down and take a base when you can. 16 times in a weekend, especially with starters

and pitchers hitting, is good. It seems like their strikeout rate's going down. I think it's been going down a little bit. It seems like they're making a conscious effort to make solid contact and not strike out all the time. Huge.

It's exciting because it's a much better brand of baseball to watch because it's a much better brand of baseball to watch. It's a much better brand of baseball. And again, they were the second worst team in baseball and probably still are. I haven't checked, but even with this weekend and whatnot or the last few days and whatnot, like they're probably still up there. They've been the second worst team in baseball in terms of strikeouts. It's not fun to watch. I mean, when they're striking out over a quarter,

one of every four hitters that steps to the plate is striking out. That's crazy. I think that's important, Jack. Yep. Big series this weekend. Excited to see the Yankees. If there are not 30,000 a night, that's a disappointment, right?

Oh, yeah. I mean, the Yankees. And look, let's be real, it's going to be it i mean the yankees i know i mean and look let's be real it's going to be an annoying amount of yankees fans there but yeah you need you need i mean yeah you need to capitalize on that um and high hopes night at four fingers brewing company is july 10th we will see you there come out have some beer watch some films, and hang out. Yeah. We have to get Luke Williams on the podcast somewhere, I think, right?

I guess that's my task. I got to figure out a way to get him on there. He feels like one of our guys. I know. He feels like, you know, the guy of the sky. He has sure found every mic possible in the last 12 hours. You know what? Good for him, dude.

Yeah, he is sure. Capitalize, big dog. I'm with you. Yeah, I mean, and I know they're there, but, I mean, the family is on the broadcast again today. I mean, it is a big Luke Williams moment these last couple days, and it is great to see. It's good to see.

Good for the kid. Love the kid. I just genuinely have this special feeling about Luke Williams. Not that he's going to be some superstar but I think he's going to be a Philly guy for a long time. Yeah. And look, he has that vibe. I mean, he's

like you said, he's like a baseball guy he's a grinder he just feels like he's got it fingers crossed it's exciting are you got any final thoughts Fritzy? no but I do have to think now because I had long stated that I thought Nick Maytom was going to be their Brock Holt

but I think that Dave Dombrowski has found his new Brock Holt well at least Dave's found something, right? I mean, you're tweeting about Carson Ragsdale at an alarming rate. Well, he's got the fourth most strikeouts in Miley baseball, and it really pains me to see how good he's doing. Dave, you've got to redeem yourself, buddy. Well, the draft's coming up here in a little bit,

so he can redeem himself then. And the trade deadline, so, you know, let's, buddy. Well, the draft's coming up here in a little bit, so you can redeem yourself then. And the trade deadline. So, you know, let's go. Let's make something happen. All right. Final thought is just, like, don't make the phrase, we'll let the Phillies get hot, be a joke. Right.

Make it real. Right. Okay? Make it real. Get hot. Like, use this. Like, show some heart. Show some emotion. Okay. Make it real. Get hot. Like use this. Like show some heart. Show some emotion.

Like this is awesome. Back to back walk offs. Let's go. We're ready for you. Philly is ready for you to freaking grab it and go. So let's freaking do it. All right. He's Fred Sonser.

I'll see you later.