High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Only A Buffoon Would Not Platoon

Episode Date: August 11, 2025

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to the Phillies sweep of the Rangers over the weekend and the success the outfield has had since the trade deadline. Presented by Miller Lite To purchase Ring The Bell by Jack Fritz and Kevin Reavy go to RingTheBellBook.com 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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I hope, high hope. I feel a little less along. Yo. Oh, it is another edition of the I-UPS podcast, sponsor, Ben Miller-Light official partner. of the Philadelphia Phillies. It's Miller time, Philadelphia.

Celebrate responsibly. Fritzy, they actually swept the team. It happened, no less. By the way, and shout it to Dave, you ran for this stat. Obviously, Dave is psycho at finding stats. He's the best. Dave,

heading into this weekend, Jack, the Phillies were two and 12 lifetime in Arlington. Two and 12, and they won three games there as a good. How about it? How you doing, pal? Well, I think it was, I think Bob Vitron said the last six Phillies Rangers series have been sweeps by either team.

Wow. That's fascinating. That's really weird. Listen, I didn't expect to have a lot of obscure Phillies Rangers. I know, right? Yeah. Stats out of this. But holy cow.

I mean, so, like, to be completely honest with you, we've watched a lot of these AL teams the last couple of weeks. We've watched the Yankees. We've watched the Tigers. Red Sox. I really felt like watching the Rangers. I thought the Red Sox were probably the best. But I think the Rangers are like a real team. And you look at some of the pitching numbers,

they're right behind the Phillies in starting pitching rotation, ERA. And then bullpen-wise, they had a really good bullpen heading into this series. Offensively, like slowly kind of heating up a little bit. Obviously the one wills. I don't think the Phillies just like went down there and took care of a. okay rangers team i think the phillies went down there and took care of a very good rangers team wow

look at this and you know to me most impressive series win of the uh of the season wow whoa oh i love to hear that look they've played really good baseball since the trade deadline they're seven and two since the duran move by the way i'm sorry for allowing us to go more than 30 seconds into this pod without mentioning the metts now they've lost seven straight and they were up five nothing yesterday and they got walked off in Milwaukee. You love to see it. Philly's a 5 and a up right now, Jack. I mean, this team has since

Bader and Duran, and we should mention Bader because, I mean, look, the catch yesterday was like casual. It's like no big deal. Let me just reach over the wall and just yanked your bag and just act like nothing happened. No big deal. And it was so well-timed. Like, it was just, it was just, it was watching. It was casual.

It was like, it was casual. It was like, it was like watching an artist, honestly. It was, it was symmetry. It was like tracking a deep ball in football where he's just like, there it is, there it is, there it is. Easy, bang, let's bring that one back. Yeah. I feel pretty, he hasn't been like unbelievable at the plate, right?

He's been good, though. He's been good. That was a big homer that it was 3-3 at that moment, that big three-run shot. He's getting on base. He's scoring runs. Like, he's doing stuff, getting hit. Like, he's doing stuff. I feel pretty justified for him to be on my perfect off-season three years running.

So I'm pretty, pretty baitered up, not going to lie. I don't want to get too Keplered up. Yeah, this whole city's Durand up. We're baited up, baby. Let's go. It's what this podcast does. It's what this podcast does. But it does, look, and we talked about it about, you know, Dave going out and making

real trades at the deadline and what that could do for the energy, the group, how they, and you feel it. Like, it feels like this team has had, like, juice inserted into them in some, you know, like they've had like an infusion of excitement of vibes and like they're playing like it jack to your point i mean they just swept the rangers they won two or three of each of the last series prior that they played damn good baseball since duran's come here yeah and i think that's the you keep looking at this deadline versus last deadline where they went out marginal moves as dev as we could argue should not have been a marginal move but they got a guy rather than the guy

and and Duran's the guy very clearly the guy Hellsley not off to a hot start in New York Mason Miller's pretty damn good he's he's gonna be fine with the Padres but you know I just think that with this team and and that clubhouse and the way they've played it's been pretty it's been pretty workman-like

and it's been pretty like it's go time and I think that that's been the biggest shift since July 31st is there's a lot more now we go. And I actually think that goes to the manager as well. I think Rob Thompson is managing for October now. And the fact that he felt perfectly fine, not having Castellanos in the lineup on Saturday,

where last year at the beginning of the season, he let Cassie play every single day when he was struggling. Now a bad month where Cassie hit like 205, it warrants maybe a platoon in that spot as well. Now, I know it's a huge outfield. I know it's a cavernous outfield. You want as good outfield defense as you could get, sure. But we've seen them playing big outfields before, and Cassiano's has been there. So it feels like he is managing much more aggressively after the trade deadline.

He feels comfortable with where he's at, with late in the game. Okay, we're going to go Marsh here in this spot in the 6th, and let it kind of ride out. And what I think has been the most positive development is it, It feels like no one's surprised in that dugout. It feels like they are on board with the plan. And the platoon fills are here. Yeah, and that's since 93.

We're back to the 93 squad. I know. I know. And it's sort of 21 Braves, except without like the bunch of different outfield editions. It's a lot of internal additions. And we'll eventually get there. I don't know.

I've no idea what's going to happen with Crawford. But like, and by the way, we've talked about the outfield platoon. what's going to happen when bones back and so yeah exactly second base third base camp yeah like you're right i mean that's not a class of patunes are both right-handed but i mean certainly stott and sosa i mean you could have platoons at four or five positions theoretically you know i mean but stott's hitting i think 277 since the all-star break and even better since the trade deadline i think 400 in august so far and again even since you also think that's a month the baseball 277 it's not amazing but for him that that's much better than he's been the outfield has the sixth highest slugging percentage in baseball since the

trade deadline just let everyone know you like that one the sixth highest is a phenomenal well i was so excited i was so excited i was so excited number right there that's really good i was so excited because last night i looked it up post trade deadline and they were second in slugging percentage and then they had a quiet game and you're like oh yeah it hasn't been that many games since the trade deadline So I wanted to wake up and tweet it out so bad. And then I was like, nah, it's not what I thought. I'll just throw it in on the pod.

It'll be fine. The pod, it's all through. It'll be like, oh, that's kind of cool. And people would be like, oh, that's kind of cool. Twitter would be like, they suck. They still suck. You know. So, but yeah, I just, and the nice part, I guess the positive of a platoon is it does

push guys to all feel like now it could push them negatively. They have to contribute when they get the opportunity. Yeah. Yeah. But it could push it negatively. where you feel like you put a lot of pressure on yourself but it could also push them positively saying like well if i want to play i got to i got to produce so i just think they're in a really healthy spot i think they're a really really healthy spot duran at the back end allows everything

else to kind of figure figure itself out so it's it's a good time man they're playing good baseball and i think they're re-energized and and thankfully i feel like the fan base is is pretty re-energized Oh, there's no question, Jack. I mean, you know, people down, like the people are rooting for less runs, latent games because they want to see the rank. I mean, it's wild. And look, to your point, too, I think you're seeing it throughout the lineup. You know, I mean, this was a weekend of the bottom of the lineup carrying them in games at times.

Yeah. And look, to your point about Topper, and I agree, and especially after how frustrating it was with the whole Topper Cassiano's thing earlier this year in Miami, he has the the stones to finally do something and goes out and makes the replacement and they sits him and the whole blow up and he hasn't made a defense replacement with him since you know since that happened he has yet to go out late in a close game and say nick you're out of the game so it was nice to your point to see him being willing to do something like sitting him for a game like that and kind of asserting it and look all weekend and it really feels like a lot of times this season

and every time Twitter is up in arms about a lineup decision that Rob Thompson makes, it goes in Thompson's favor. It's been, I mean, we had the Kepler one at the end of this past week, you know, and all weekend. I mean, Wes Wilson yesterday gets the game winning it essentially, take the lead. Like, I mean, over and over on Saturday. Kepler on Saturday. And then also Kepler on the Thursday or whatever it was with the Homer, that game, too.

I mean, it's been every single time Topper gets crushed for one of these decisions pregame. It seems like the guy who he's getting crushed for comes through. then we got to keep crushing it we got to keep crushing there's no doubt about it every time we're like this is stupid it's all right take right yeah keep doing what we're doing here did you have any idea i think they flashed on the broadcast on saturday did you have any idea that they have the the most runs in baseball seventh inning on no i didn't i have pretty impressive yeah it is it is it is it's it's impressive and look it's felt like that lately like they really do feel like they're not out of games like i'm

starting to get that feel with this team where i watch him and I'm like it's five nothing in the fourth I'm like they come back from it you know like we've seen this enough lately and look yesterday was an example they were down two nothing for a while until what the six inning or whatever and they battle back same thing on on uh you know that game we were just talking about uh a couple nights ago yeah so the ground they were down they came back late okay oh kepler got him our guy max kepler he came through never said a bad word about him on this pot i know that well guess what guess what he's not going anywhere he's just he's here yeah yeah He's not getting DFA'd now.

He's not, he's no longer on DFA. Like he said, is probably the right move. Like, would I rather have Max Kepler or Wes Wilson for a big spot offensively or defensively in the playoffs? It's probably Max Kepler. Yeah. Although, West Wilson's looking a little hitterish. I know what?

Big hit yesterday. You know what you just got his bat on the ball, found this hole, squeezed it through. Good base running from Bryson behind it. Coming around to score, you love to see it. Yeah. Now, I did make this point. I don't know if anyone listened to the, the final app broadcast because the music at the link was so freaking loud that I could barely

I were sitting next to each other we could not talk to each other it was so loud yeah they're getting ready for the season oh plus they got the true eaglesman on the call they had you know open practice time to make a real call in WIP who do they call jack fritz out of the bullpen obviously sitting in merrill seat talk about talk about absolutely not deserving to be in that. Talk about some tweets you're going to get you were a Merrill's seat as an outrage yeah yeah well it's my seat now I'm just kidding so I'm just kidding that's just a joke just chill out everybody all right just but um so you know we talked about you know running it back right and then they brought the same team back

would have liked to see some of the players not here but I think overall the one benefit of running it back is again these guys know what makes each other tick and I think that when you look at the seventh inning on numbers and not feeling like they're out of a ball game the the nice part about having guys that have played together for a while is there's probably a lot more of going like we're fine I know like we've been through this before remember that game remember this moment you know exactly You can have more open conversations. You don't feel like you're going to step on someone's toes if you have to have a conversation.

You know, even the thing a couple weeks ago, and Bryce said this to Edmundo, like, we don't do that here. And that was fine. And then Bryce got thrown out on a check swing. That was pretty funny. It was great. Like, a lot of credit to Edmundo. Listen, that's not what we do here. And we know, I know you've been here for three years.

like let me just tell you how it works like well do you think Mundo was like what about alec did you did you say that to Alec when he did it no no no Alex's fine no worry about we well I mean who could forget and hold on in Bryce's defense hold on easy in Bryce's defense he was the one that has arm around Alec Bone was crying in Kansas City it's a good boy it's a good boy right when we're up by a 10 runs and Alec Bone was crying because he didn't get in front of his family I remember they had scored more than like three runs in two weeks they were horrible i do think that was that was the moment for you with boom where like that was of all the boom stuff that's happened that was the one

that made you the most upset i remember doing that pod you were like you were so annoyed with that guy in that moment you were like it's one thing it like we're losing it like we're off 10 runs bro like it's been a bad stretch of baseball you needed a laugher and and that happened so yes so but i credit to Edmundo for not being like what do you mean we don't I mean you do it like what are you talking about so and by the way of all the Dembrowski

positive moves I mean getting Amundo Sosa here yeah we don't talk about enough and like Joe Romero's been pretty solid like it's not like yeah Jojo like that was actually one of those trades where I think it worked well for both teams but Edmundo's been such a big part of this team

the culture the whole thing well he had obviously the home run on sunday but his defense on saturday his defense on saturday when i saved that game he was ridiculous over at third base he was phenomenal and they're actually they played pretty good defense lately man how about the freaking trey turner play in the ninth for duran when we thought was going to be the first hit duran gave up his it would come on the next a bad or two bats later or whatever but that play to get the first out in the ninth that was a beautiful play by tray turn beautiful well and he had the he had the ball at center field where bayer was playing so far back caught up

like that game on saturday tray had a couple nice backhand stabs in the hole credit we're due and now he is obviously had the homer on friday which was desperately he's been struggling offensively he has been and still somehow is not homered at home somehow but well that's going to happen that's going to happen in october it's there it is the first it's he's it's a bit it's a bit i like that uh but defensively he's been much better and the team is a whole they they've they've played pretty good defense as far as it goes for something that we thought was a was an issue i feel like it's not really an issue right now Yeah, I mean, and the one thing, he's been, he's obviously had a really up and down, well,

mostly down here at the plate, but holy cow, what Bryce and Stock can do defensively is a second base. He is a phenomenal defensive. Like, just a, he is so much fun to watch out there. Yeah. Yeah, and it kind of feels like that they're starting, they're starting to really value defense in, like, I think Thompson on Saturday, that's a, that's a total defense. Yeah, the defensive lineup.

So maybe they're putting a little bit more emphasis on preventing runs because, you know, they have the starting staff, they have this bullpen offense. You have really no idea what you're going to get, so you might as well try to prevent runs as best as you can. But yeah, they flash some serious leather down in Arlington this weekend. Yeah. And look, I don't know if for the Cassiano's part, because that defense, when you put Kepler and right, Bader and Center, Martian left, that is an above average.

defensive outfit. I mean, that's a really good defensive outfield. And I didn't really, Cassiano's, I saw the stat over the beginning. I believe it's Fanggrass War.

Yeah. So Fangraph's War, did you know that Nick Castianos is one of only nine qualified position players this season with a negative war? According to Fangraphs, however you take war, I know,

but like that I was surprised to find it. In their eyes, he is such a bad defensive player that he, he is that bad that he is a negative player, he's been a whatever. offensively but he's that bad defensively that it pulls him to one of the nine it's just the point being that you know i don't think we talk enough about like yeah he he catches what comes to him but he is a bad defensive right fielder neck well anyone with eyes i mean we all watched

plenty of baseball we we we know he's a poor defensive out of no matter if he doesn't have a while i've been tired of the no errors and the catches in the playoffs like i think there was a time and an extended period of time where people are like he's fine he's fine out there he is not fine out there he is a bad like bad not even below let when you say below average he's like a little like he's like he's like he's like a little like he's bad like it is he's a bad right field one it's got it seems like he's gotten slower he's just yes it does it seems like he's gotten significantly slower out there he's just he's just an okay baseball player yeah like i i don't at the plate it's not super valuable what he does i i know that he's hitting what 2705 is he still

like around that range. Somewhere on that. It's a hollow 275. Well, it's not impactful. I mean, that's the issue is that it's not impactful. And again, I like the top of the lineup,

obviously, you know, where Turner, again, it was 31 games without a home run, which is surprising. Yeah, it was feeling it.

And, you know, he needed that. That's great. Shorber's been great. Harper's been great. I feel, I actually kind of like

the bottom of the lineup a little bit, it feels like that they are taking it first. It's that middle of the lineup that I don't I just don't trust, you know? And JT's on a heater. JT's been great. Like just been great. It's been great. It is hilarious. And the Rangers fallen off. You could have

said Ranger at start too, but the three big contract guys, especially when Ranger was killed. Like, I mean, Schwerber and Romuto are just making this so hard on the Phillies. They really are. I mean, Schwerber is just up, up, up, up in course of the season, whatever the contract would be.

And the Romuto thing, I mean, we came into the year, me, I came in being like, no matter what, do not resign. And now, like, you kind of just got to resign him, right? It's completely flipped. They have both done an amazing job of really pushing for that money. Credit to this. Yeah, I do, like, I wish there was a live cam on John. Oh, I know. Right.

Every short run. It's like joy in the sadness all in one. Well, especially the one on, on Friday, where it's, you know, The 10th hardest home run ever, something in the second. Was that way it was? I mean, it was a blast. I think he's 115 miles an hour off the bat or 112 miles an hour off the bat. And he's like, you think he's sitting in the owner's suite?

Like, is that foul? Is that foul? Check the tape. Check the day. Damn it. Like, but the thing, it's like, all right, all right. We're up one. We're up.

I mean, it's, is it, is it, is it, I mean, it might be the greatest contract season in, in our lifetime. Like, I'm trying to... The judge, the judge hit... No, no, no, I'm talking to Philadelphia. I'm talking for... I should have specified that. In Philadelphia, as the four teams that we root for,

is there ever been a better contract season? I mean, it's in the running for an LNVP, so it's, you know, one of the better seasons you're going to see, period, but... Yeah, there's one that's... There's one that's sticking out that I keep forgetting. Like, I'm sure there is, but it's up there, man. It's hard to do more...

Yeah. And I, and I, it's funny, usually I'd be inciting panic about the Schwerber thing. Oh, yeah, buddy. I just don't feel it. I think he's going to be a Philly. I think he wants to be a Philly. I think they want to make him a Philly. It's going to cost them.

Like, I mean, it's going to cost them a boatload. Like 4-110, 4-120, something crazy like that. Which actually isn't that. Like, for the production, it's not that bad. Like, we've seen. If you look, 440, that's 30 million year for sure. I mean, that's fair, you know? Right.

I mean, it is what it is. If he put up these numbers, if we put up these numbers, while playing the outfield every day it's like four it's like seven three 30 yeah so it's for what he does it's actually actually not that bad of a deal so i guess i just i'm not super super stressed by the schwarber thing i think he's going to be here i think that the PR blow but if they lose swarber don't pay anyone and just restart it's like i what are we doing so i think that they know that the resign schwarber they me, Middleton's basically come out being like, I get it. I know.

I'll pay him. So I guess until he's not affiliate this all season, I'll expect him to be a Philly. And I do not buy that he wants to go play for the freaking. Enough of that. I've heard so many. That is like the classic. If you're the agent for the player,

you get it out there. Oh, you can go to the hometown team. I just know he's from there. He loves his home. He loves it there. Like that is every time we hear that. How often do they go to the hometown team? How many times does it happen?

I feel like it never happens that they actually go to the hometown team. So I'm with you. Yeah, look at Mike Trout. Look at my. What a perfect example, the loser Mike Trott. Okay, let's get to, uh, I, it might fall. I wanted to focus on some wins and some good times and on.

Let's get to the Wheeler thing. Because we really, we've probably been deficient going this deep into the pod without getting to the Wheeler thing. He pitched yesterday, which was great to see. He went five innings, 83 pitches, got him out. I, I was concerned he wasn't going to make the start on Sunday going in. I was happy to see him out there. I just, you hear him talk after the game and he starts by saying, oh, you know, no, it's, it's much better, but I don't really know what's going on.

I don't really know why I've been off. I don't really know. He's like, it's been happening for a while, which we didn't know about. Like, it's like, I, I'm happy he was out there, but I look at this. He doesn't know what kind of why he's been struggling these last few, you know, five starts, whatever it is, since the complete game. There's something going on there. The imaging is clean. That's great. but what do you make of the Wheeler thing? What should they do? I know we've all talked a lot about the 2022 thing. Should they sit him down for a few weeks? Whatever.

Where are you at with Wheeler after you? Again, the velocity down on every single one of his pitches, a mile to two. Like, there's reason for concern. Where are you at with the Wheeler thing? I mean, it seems like dead arm. I mean, this happens all the time. I mean, it's classic case of dead arm.

And the thing that's been most interesting about Wheeler is some of his misses are just big misses and he's missing a lot of glove side which you never see from him he he had he had three yankees in that one yankee start where i i mean at least one of them maybe two of them were left-handed hitters like he and it looks like just looks like he's tired i mean he does look like he's tired so i think i think it's actually a big start tonight for for Taiwan from that standpoint like if he can go out prove to be serviceable nola has one more start in lehigh valley and then he'll be brought up i just would i would love i would love a wheeler just two three weeks yeah three week i l stint just get him right just get him right and i'm sure that

he wants to win this i young and and i'm sure that he wants to make every start he wants to post because he's the ace and that's what aes do too bad we just got to be we got to be smart about you got to protect him from himself sometimes that's what happens with a lot you know these athletes they want to go out every time and take the ball and all that Wheeler, even though in that complete game, we both think the comment Rob Thompson made was to Zach Wheeler saying, hey, when I come get you,

let me freaking get you so we don't end up in this situation. I am a billion percent with you on this. I think they need to go to Zach Wheeler and say, hey, Zach, you're sitting down for two weeks, buddy. Sorry. Well, you're 35. I mean, you're 35 with his pitch mornings than anyone in baseball in the last five years. And I'm sorry, like it sucks.

Paul Skeens is winning the side young. Like, it sucks. it's over buddy like it's over he's got an under two er a like he's winning it like there's everyone's talking about him like i am so sorry you deserve his si young more than anyone i am it sucks i really hate that he doesn't have one he's going to be second this could be a third time honestly sanchise will probably end up second if they can get miller out for a go week but regardless like it sucks but like it is what it is man you're not winning it i'm sorry you know so yeah it's it's like having to come to reality with that but yeah i'm not

super concerned until i see him until i see it falter in the postseason like i think i think he's going to be all right the fact that there's nothing structurally wrong with it the fact that he's kind of talking about like i don't really know what's going on that just screams dead arm i'm sure he's dealt with that arm in the past but maybe he hasn't you know he's had a pretty live arm for his entire entire career so maybe this is the first time he's really going through something like this where he doesn't where he doesn't have it and that's fine but the fact that the fact that the that there's nothing structurally wrong with it he's he feels okay at least going out there and giving what he's got i'm not super concerned with it i think that it'll eventually come back and and everything

is going to be okay but i would like for it to happen after a two to three week i elston and let him relax and and bring him back in september and when it's when it's go time and give him four starts to ramp up for the postseason i feel exactly the same way a hundred percent on the same page and the Taiwan thing is big and look I you know I'm sure there are some people yelling like what about Painter I think we have to stop yelling so for those who didn't see it yesterday Painter four and a third nine hits seven earned two walks two runs allowed his eri and triple is up to 5.42 and 16 starts Andrew Painter is not going to help the Phillies this year I think right yeah yeah and at this point at this point it's just about taking down innings

getting through the year healthy. It's been a year of hopefully growth from him facing adversity and battling his way through it and staying healthy. And again, I mean, he pitched in the fall league. Like, he's, he's pitched a lot in the last year. So it's disappointing 100%. You know, you, when you have someone that is viewed as the best pitching prospect in baseball and they're getting shelled at AAA, it's a little humbling. And especially with the added pressure that they made him untouchable at the trade deadline, which added on, like, it just added this thing with the camera was like, well, you got to come up and be dominant or all still like do you stink. So that on top of everything else, the fan expectations, total bummer. So it a bummer.

But as we've said a million times, I'll give grace to a 22 year old coming back and pitching professional baseball and reaching AAA for the first time. You know, as like, you know, skeins goes to college, all these top prospects, they've gone to college. takes a little bit longer sometimes with high schoolers and especially one coming off of Tommy John. So like I, as long as it gets for the year healthy, next year, I mean, he's going to have to start, he's going to have to try to be pitching in the rotation because they're probably going to lose Ranger. But it, I would, I would pretty much say the Andrew Painter thing is, is over. Yeah, yeah.

I, I am not at all concerned long term, you know, that this doesn't, you know, it is what it is. I didn't, honestly, I thought it was. unfair to your point to really expect too much out of him two years out from Tommy John. Like it takes that long to just get back to being right. And then he has to get back to pitching again and get it right and pitch it. And again, this guy's never pitching the Myers and he's young. He's in the majors and he's young. He's 22.

So I'm with you. I'm not concerned long term about it. But it is, uh, you know, I think we just have to get it out of our minds for this year. Yes. A lot of people are still kind of if they're not following it,

whatever expecting painter is like a, a potential, you know, uh, a golden, you know, whatever that could come in and help. And I just don't think that's going to be the case.

I think if we're in the same spot next year, then it's, or that, then it's a real concern. Yeah. Yeah. Then, then, then, then, then, then, then it's more real. And even then look at McAbel. Let's not forget, a year ago at this time, Mick Abel was like a lost cause. Like, we were like, is he going to be anything? And he reads, and it's a different situation he had time.

I'm just saying, like, with prospects, it can change very quickly in terms of writing yourself and showing it and you're right back to where you were. Yeah. So deep breaths. Deep breaths on Andrew Pan. and then we'll uh we'll see you hopefully for the opening day roster 20 25 26 can't believe the 2026 fills are a year away it was always I can't believe it the bit is almost here we're going to be doing the all-star game here next year this is the first thing to care

about it how about that although we're really more on to the 2027 Phillies yeah 26 actually too fast of the timeline we got to slow this thing down slow this thing down slow we can win it all this year and then you know slow it down again everybody whatever. All right. Let's get to the take back. All right. So one guy who I'm legitimately concerned about as strong, I just, like, I know he had to score this ending yesterday. Also, the last ball was almost launched off of, you know, the big baiter. It was, it's a huge outfields of who knows how that goes somewhere else.

I don't know. He is, I thought he was turning the corner. I thought that he was rounding into form. Stuff kind of looks like it's back to being, to being flat again. which is not super super great because now banks has been solid of course our guy always steady eddy Tanner banks your go-to lefty in the playoffs is that what we're saying well I just again it's talk about phantom ILs or I else then talking eighth inning one out two on one run game lefty coming to the plate is it Banksy it could be but just when when When Alvarado's back, put Strom on the IL or something, and, again, make sure he's fresh,

and then run Alvarado into the ground. And, again, hopefully he's good in the postseason. But the Strom thing, because Thompson is going to keep trusting him. It really feels like he views him as a true high leverage guy, him and Kirkering, and they're going to flip, flop back and forth as the who is starting the end. Seeger starts the ending, there's Strom. Now, I do wonder. So in the eighth inning on Saturday, that's two, three, four. And I do wonder in the postseason if Rob Thompson goes to Duran.

Yeah. Yeah. And he should. I mean, he should. I agree. And I think Topper believes that he should. But again, they made such a point. I mean, DeBrowski said, we've talked about it.

He's our closer ninth inning. Like, I don't think they will. I think he should. I agree, but I don't think they will. I think Duran is your closer. But Duran also said. that he's willing to do whatever i look i would do it i'm with you if the like if it's two three four i'm doing that i'm having to rom face those guys i agree i'm just saying i don't know

and the strom thing is it's a real concern i agree with you heading into the playoffs they need i would i'm right there and he's pitched a lot of innings strom i mean he doesn't really miss much time over the last what two and a half years since he's been here you mentioned this on a recent pop but i think we forget that you know he came in here and was a starter for the first couple months he was here and going five innings and all that stuff. So they put a lot of mileage on him the last few years. So yeah, I'm with you. That's a concern, especially with how important he is this bullpen? How in are you on the, of all the things to be in on with Duran, the little hop skip and a shimmy after a strikeout? It's so good. So I'm a big game field of him. I'm a big

sword guy. Like I'm a big K-Walk, K-struck guy. Like I think it's, if, if batters are going to strut, I think pitchers should be able to strut too. So I, love it. I love a good, like, whatever they're going to do after a strikeout. Duran, he's got it going on. It's great. Yeah. Seems like Duran really knows what he's doing in the ninth inning. It's really, it's got an old thing. It's a whole thing. It's quite refreshing. It's quite, you know, it's kind of like when you get to the tush push and you're like, oh, we got this.

It's really only a nine yard. Like, you don't have to get nine yards if you're the Eagles offense. You're really not to get eight innings. It's a great point. With the Phillies, with, with Duran now back. Another great Eagles analogy from our Eagles guy, Jack. I know. I know. I'm sure Preston's punching the air right now. But, yeah.

It is crazy, though. He doesn't, Duran hasn't, like, missed a ton of bats here, but it's also super soft contact. Yeah, just get ground outs and soft pop-ups and stuff. Yeah. The only one is- He's just pitching. He's just pitching at 103. He's a pitcher's pitcher at 103, the 98-mile-hour splitter. He's pitching a contact at 103.

That's what you do. Yeah, that was the thing that sunk Jordan Nicks for a long time. He couldn't miss bats. But 120 saves behind Jonathan Papabon. Yes. All times saves record in franchise history. Let's go. We're getting closer.

We're coming for you, Paps. Already getting mixed reactions on that one on Twitter every day. They're like, oh, it's corny. Disagree. Does everyone understand how important it is to take down the Jonathan Pauvin record? Come on. Stop, come on. We don't do corny.

I don't see you doing any. bits that people are talking about, right? That's right. So many bits. So many bits. Yeah. What is the, I mean, obviously,

Bome's just going to play third when he's back. Yeah. But, man, I guess, I wonder if they would, I wonder if Kemp goes down. Yeah,

what are we going to do with Otto? Otto's, you know, been a player. He's cold off. Also, he just, I never need to see him play third base ever again.

He's horrible. So you, Like, I mean, they would send West down before Kemp, don't you think? Maybe. Maybe. I don't know. I would keep Kemp over Weston Wilson. I think they have some, they seem to like Westing Wilson a lot. So, I don't know. And then it turns into what, Kemp and left mostly?

Because I think if you're looking at second base, which, you know, advocating for two weeks ago. But if you're looking at second base, it feels like Sosa is kind of taken that from a left-hand hitting perspective. or left-handed pitcher on the mound, him. So, but it also stock did start against a lefty yesterday, so that was interesting. But I was also associated getting in lineup. I don't know. I wouldn't be surprised, I guess, if they sent camp down to get more reps, maybe. But I would send Wessler.

There aren't that many reps left, right? I mean, minor league season ends in September, right? I know. I know. Who knows? So the good part is that a lot of players are performing, so it makes it. it easier, both harder and easier. So it's good, it's good.

But I don't know. It's good when you have a lot of, it's good when you've got a bunch of guys who are like just not good enough, but then you hope that some go just above the line and they're playing well. Well, the tough part for Thompson is like a lot of guys are hitting well.

How comfortable would you feel like taking them out of the lineup? I am not what he's been dealing with, you know? That's like Cassino's sat on Saturday because Cassinos has not been hitting well and all the other guys are. Yeah, so this is why it's paid the big bucks. Speaking of Thompson, I do think that, and this is a conversation for another day, but I think we do sleep on the job that Rob Thompson does. I really do.

I think he does a much better job than people give him credit for. And we like to do the thing with the bullpen. You don't know who's up, who's down, who he can go to here. And also, they all stunk for the most part for the first half of the season. You know, what do you want to do? When should I pitch Joe Ross? never never rob you know that's the answer which i pitched jordan romano never never like those are the answers he can't do that so yeah i think it's a very good it feels like i haven't seen jordan romano

pitch in i never want to i'm so good with that i'm so good with that like i was texting with ria hughes during the game when romano was warming up and she's like no not romano and i was like rea have a very strict romano rule he's only allowed in the game if we're up 10 runs or down 10 runs and that's it. That's my Jordan Romano rule. I feel like that's fair. What do we make? I think he's been really good.

Has Mars arrived or is he going to go back to the down? Jack, it's the question with this team right now, for me at least, is the how real is this Brandon Mars? And he has been so good really since June 1st. He has been, and obviously the last month,

especially at the four hits on, on Friday or Saturday, I think. He's been awesome, man. And I think the biggest question is, what's he going to be in the playoffs? Can you trust him in the playoffs? Will they pitch him differently in the playoffs? All that type of stuff. I can't trust him until I see it happen in the playoffs.

There's too much sense memory of past playoff failures of past years, failures of the bat. So like, I'm not there yet. But right now in a regular season game, I trust Brandon Marsh when he comes up. Well, and certainly against varieties, but he's been just mashing. Yeah. Just mashing. And a good part about Mars, who, by the way, I think he's still second in baseball history in Babbip. Is he really?

That's wild. Like, when he puts the ball on play, he has the second, I think second highest in the history of baseball. That is an, especially because usually, like, I'll bet you the rest of list is guys who have, like, high career averages. Like, normally that translates towards, you know. Well, I think it's like Ruth. It's usually great players. That's what I say. It's probably great players because I, you know, you have high average.

is that bad average balls play is going to go even higher you know obviously yeah yeah so it's something stupid i feel like i feel like that list is probably a lot of players who are great and brandon marsh if i had to bet on what the list looks like or some or like greater than marsh would be my guess yeah mostly mostly but yeah i just i the good part about marsh is that you're not seeing the ugly chase as much anymore which is huge like he is doing a much much better job of not expanding the zone getting his pitch and not missing. And he's hitting the ball hard. I mean, even that sack fly yesterday was smoke.

He also has seven hits as a pinch hitter, which is, which is encouraging. Which feels like it's something that we have not had ever. I feel like the last five years, this whole run, like pinch hitting has been a wasteland. Now, it almost doesn't matter anymore, you know, with the DH and all the stuff. But still, it is, it is, the times it's happened, it's not other than Cody Clemens, who is a star. Yes. Well, and they remember last year? Twins, right?

Isn't he the most longest ten-year twin, I think? Do you remember last year when they did not have a pinch-hit RBI in the United States? Yes, yes, yes. Our guy, David Dahl, yeah. And then they had one up in Toronto, I believe. Yeah, yeah, that's amazing. Yeah, so Ty Cobb, 383, he's number one. So this is what I'm saying.

I assume it was players like this, yes. Brandon Marsh 370, number two. And number three, Rogers Hornsby. I knew it would be guys like that. It's the only thing that makes sense. That's hilarious, dude. And Brandon March. It's crazy.

It's crazy. It's crazy. Aiden Miller is an OPS over a thousand since straight, that line. By the way, I'm going to just start. That line from Brazil is so true. I can't believe we don't say it every time he mentioned his name. He's the youngest player in double A. The youngest player, you think he made a impression.

I don't think he made it. it up. I think at one point he was. It was true and it's not anywhere. Okay, well, one of the youngest players. Yeah, it's a good, it's a good thing to have, but I'm pretty sure that Kevin McGonagall is now there and George Lombard. Oh, because the guy's got up since. Okay, I got you. I got you. Yes, yes. Now, he started the year as the youngest player in double A, but I don't, he's no longer. I'll take it. I'll take it. Yeah, yeah. I would never want to, I would never want to call out anyone on his podcast. You just said, you literally said, I think he lied

is what you said but that's fine it's good but either way either way Aiden Miller OPS over a thousand since the trade deadline

maybe it's just taking the deep breath yes Jack he's a human being just saying athletes are human beings

it's a beautiful sentence and speaking of guys I don't know how you can bring Crawford up I just I don't know where he's gonna play and if they think

he needs to come up and play every single day well that's the way do you do do you have to think that way if you're the Phillies do you think that it is smart to say we think yes way every day or would you just bring him up and play him three times a week or two times a week or whatever and have him as a pinch runner and have him as a whatever like what do you think yeah i guess i'm just i guess i would just i would just keep him down unless like someone's really struggling and then it's obvious but like i don't know where he's cracking the road i would because i want i want him to come up and play so i'm almost in the

mindset of like that's your starting left fielder next year. Like on opening day. Like Justin Crawford will be like you don't need to go out and sign a Max Kepler for for 10 million. I think Bader has a has an option. I wouldn't mind a Bader Marsh, you know, little center field thing.

March is, if this is real with March, March has to play every day next year. Yeah, but he's not hitting lefties still. Like he's, I'm just saying, we'll see what kind of.

We'll see what he's developing into is the question. I know. I know. I know. So exciting time. I'm for the platoon outfield fills, man. Platoon outfield fills, we're here. We're here.

All right, two or three from the Reds. It's somewhat big series, bury the Reds a little bit, you know? Yeah, Andrew Abbott's good. They smoked them last time. He's got like a 240 R.A. this year, Andrew Abbott. Yeah. Hunter Green is coming off the aisle on Wednesday. I remember when Hunter Green was the best pitcher in baseball for a month.

Yeah. He had like the greatest start to the season. One of the great starts you've ever seen. It didn't work out. It was on my fantasy team. Yeah, it was on mine last year with my great team that you did. helped me with all my pitchers, which was awesome. Yeah. And now every pitcher I like this year

has died essentially. I know. It was a rough year for the Fritz list. All right. We'll be back after the Red series. Three game series against Red. Then four game series against the Nats. No days off this week for Phillies and for us always. No days off here.

We'll be back after the Red series. And we will see how Zach Wheeler's feeling after that. We'll lead into the next series. Play Wheeler doing well and move forward. All right, I feel good about the Phil's Jack. I'm happy starting on the right track here. Starting to feel like things are possible, buddy.

All right, we'll be back after the Red series. Until then, he's Fritz and Seltzer.