High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Phillies Advance To The NLCS Victory Pod!

Episode Date: October 13, 2023

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz are live at Citizens Bank Park, reacting to the Phillies beating the Braves 3-1 and advancing to their second straight NLCS. Presented by Miller Lite. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

All-star closer, Kenley Jansen, we have a question. What's the best podcast of all time? Baseball Isn't Boring, baby. I'm Rob Bradford, and every single day I'm sitting down with the biggest names to show you this great game is the greatest game. It's my podcast. It's my passion. It's a cause I started more than two years ago and is now the most prolific national daily baseball pod there is.

Another fact, so jump aboard the BIB Express. Follow and listen to Baseball Isn't Boring, presented by Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. Strom is ready, and the left-hander's one-two. Swing and a miss, he got him! Phillies come racing out of the dugout as Matt Strom has saved it, and the Phillies have beaten the Braves in the division series

for the second year in a row. The Phillies will return to the National League Championship Series. Yo! It is a very special edition of High Hopes Radio on Final Out. As we are looking at Citizens Bank Park right now, the scene of a real deal playoff win tonight. The tensest, most, the best baseball game we have seen this playoffs and fritzy the philadelphia phillies are going back to the nlcs for the second year in a row by the way home field

advantage monday night in this ballpark let's freaking go what a night i mean i mean what it was tense it was not this is the first time in my life I, out of the sentence, never had doubt and didn't believe it. I didn't believe it. I had a lot of doubt. I'm just going to be completely honest with you. Topper made us nervous. Yes.

Like, shout out to Topper. It all worked out. But the Kimbrel move, Soto, Strom to close. And yet, man, it all worked out. It all played out. Big home run. Nick Cast played out. Big home run. Nick Castellanos. What a guy.

How have we gone a minute and a half, two minutes, without mentioning the first person in the history of Major League Baseball to have back-to-back multi-home run games, and both were huge. The Trey Homer was huge to take the lead. Ranger pitch, great. Like, man, man, what a team what a win yeah awesome yeah it is awesome and um the big one of my biggest takeaways james obviously there's so much to react to but dude for 36 innings they freaking like just dominated the Atlanta Braves.

And that's a Braves team that has been unbelievable for a long time. They win a lot of games. They won the World Series two years ago. They also lose a lot of games. To the Phillies. And the way the Phillies are playing right now, they are just such winners, man. They are such winners and they are a, they're a,

Hey, we'll get to the regular season and figure it out. Bang. When they get in, it is freaking showtime. And they, they just continue to come out, do their job,

do their thing, win a lot of baseball games. And they can't wait to celebrate. They are very, very big on celebrating. They win to celebrate. And, you know, we might have gotten into that celebration. Yeah, we did.

For those who might not be on Twitter, it happened tonight. Jack Fritz and Trey Turner. A moment. It was a moment, man. It was really cool. It only happened because of Elliott. Shout out to Elliott Shore Parks, a superstar. Yeah.

Basically grabbed me and Jack and we're like, we got to go. We got to go get Trey. We got to. Shortbarks, a superstar, basically grabbed me and Jack, and we're like, we got to go. We got to go get Trey. We got to. And we did, and that was pretty special. Yeah, man. So I feel like Elliot, I feel like you are both kind of like looking at me, why aren't you happier? You're like in shock right now.

Let me just tell you, buddy. I know you are. Elliot's, I feel like, still learning. You kind of know this. I definitely know it. This doesn, I feel like, still learning. You kind of know this. I definitely know it. This doesn't – I can't compute this. It is – uh-oh. My brain is not like – especially not computing this.

Yes, if you can see what we're seeing right now. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I feel like my internal computer is shutting down. So it's been a big night. The Phillies are going to the NLCS for the second straight year. And they have a date with the Diamondbacks who, I don't know who's starting game three for them. I don't know who's starting game four for them.

Yeah. And look, the Diamondbacks, you know, nice little story. They've played good. But, again, I know we said it about the Marlins, the Braves. They have never seen what they are about to walk into Monday night. This place is going to be bonkers. Wheeler, huge. Finishing it tonight, allowing to rest up.

You got Wheeler one, Nola two. You're set up to roll. I mean, you couldn't ask for more. You get a few days to rest. We get a weekend off. And then it's go time, buddy. Then it's go time. Then it's go time.

And, you know, like walking into the game, I think that game played out exactly how I thought it was. I did say 3-1. You said 3-1. On the pregame. But it was like, it was tight. It was tense. It was, you know, it was playoff, like real playoff baseball. It was tense. It was playoff,

real playoff baseball. I know that it's Bank Park and the home crowd and how we get into it and how we do feel like we have the home field advantage. Tonight was tight. It was tight in a good way. It was still loud, but it was tight. Everyone was

into it. That kind of tight. I don't think it ever got to the point where the people were turning although when they were down one nothing well again the same thing right down one nothing the building gets a touch tight and nick freaking castellanos man and and you think about last year you think about what that dude did obviously in the playoffs and just the bats struggling. And, you know, at no point in the playoffs when he stepped up to the plate last year did we think there was a chance that he was going to hit a home run. He hits four in two games. And both the one last night and tonight,

I know we talked a lot about the Harper ones yesterday, but both the ones last night and tonight were like the – we talk about Schwarber settling it down, the leadoff homers in big games. That's what Nick did the last two nights. Nick was the one who said, guys, I got this. And he went out and he got the crowd right back into it, and the rest is history. Yeah, and we made this statement last night, but it's time to reiterate it.

Liam Castellanos, school is closed. Yeah, you got to be here, buddy. Listen. You got to. You can homeschool. Get the assignments from the teachers. Look, some things are more important than school. I'm sorry. Don't tell my daughter I said that, but that from the teachers. Look, some things are more important than school. I'm sorry.

Don't tell my daughter I said that, but that's the truth. That's a fact. Well, school doesn't mean – unless you're a nerd, school doesn't. Listen, Liam Cassiano, I'm sure he's going to be like, pops, we're here to play baseball. Yeah, he's cool. He's cool already. He's very cool.

And just it being over the Braves just continues to make it. It's sweeter. It's sweeter. It is sweeter. I think this buries 2021, the World Series. I mean, the fact that they lost the Phillies in the back-to-back playoff series. They were a 100-plus win team both years, 101 and 104. And I just – the Phillies are – they're really good.

They're just a really good baseball team. The look they have right now, and even in the clubhouse, sure, they're having a great time. But they just continue to have that look of, like, this is just a step. Now, Stubbsy, it doesn't matter. No. That's his role is to be here and party. But, like, a lot of the studs in the team, they're having a good time.

But it's not like – I'm not walking out of that clubhouse like they think they just won their World Series. No doubt. No doubt. It didn't feel like that at all. And it's been a team on a mission all year long. And you think about just – you were just talking about, like, this is a really good baseball team.

I mean, think about it. Think about all the issues. And, again, they were a fun baseball team that went on a real run last year and was a good team. Like, this year they're better in every facet. Like, they are a light years better defensive team. I mean, the Johan Rojas play, maybe the single moment of the game, that was the most tense the ballpark has been the entire run.

Makes an unbelievable play out there. That was huge defensively. They're so good. They're fast. They hit. The bullpen is so much better than last. I mean, Topper and I just bring it out dude after dude. Game one and game four.

No runs from the pen in each of those. Like, man, man, what a well put together team, man. And that's Dave Dombrowski. That's Dave Dombrowski. Dave Dombrowski has nailed. And Middleton. You know the two of them. Middleton spending and Dombrowski building it.

Totally. Totally. Jack Middleton. Jack, our guy. it. Totally, totally. Jack Middleton. Jack, our guy. Yeah, our guy Jack. That's right. He earned it. But, you know, like we mentioned on the pregame show,

the team that Dombrowski's built, sure, he went out and chose the right stars. He chose the right players that could handle Philadelphia. Totally. And that matters a ton. But what he also did was just fill in the right pieces, the Garrett Stubbs of the world. Like, listen, Gregory Soto had a super up and down year. He got big outs tonight, man. also did was just fill in the right pieces the garrett stubs of the world like listen gregory soda had a super up and down year but like he got big outs tonight man big outs tonight yeah it's

matt strom brought in this offseason craig kimbrough look it was scary man but i mean he got out he got out of it like there were prayers thank you johan there were prayers he should buy you on a gift basket you and johan on a nice moment i did in the clubhouse i went to you i'm walking out and i see him and i'm like, that was the play of the night, man. What a cat. He was really – I felt like it meant something to him. It was nice. He gave you a little celebration.

Yeah, he did. I was like, oh, look at himself. It was good. It was good. And then I don't think one of the stories of the game can be talked about without Ranger Suarez. Ranger. You're absolutely – we did the same thing with Noli yesterday. We talked about the home runs, and we're like, oh, by the way, 5-1 run.

Like, Ranger was awesome. Ranger Suarez is a big-game pitcher. No doubt. And the nice part about where this Phillies team is right now is that James, James, James, our three aces, our three best pitchers are all, I would say, big-game guys. Yeah. And guys that I trust in a big spot.

Like, listen. I mean, Ranger against unnamed starter number three for the Diamondbacks, I mean, that's a massive advantage in that game. And four. I mean, again, four for the Diamondbacks as well. I don't know who they're going to. So the Diamondbacks are – I think they're fun. They're energetic.

They are – Young and talented. I mean, Corbin Carroll, you guys, if you've never watched the Diamondbacks, Corbin Carroll, he's going to win. Think Shane Victorino. But better. But better. But, I mean, he just had One of the Best rookie seasons

We've seen in a while Was like 27-50 something And homers and steals They're really good They're a talented team I mean they hit But Like first and foremost

The Phillies team Is on a mission And they This ballpark Is something the Dimebacks Have never seen But on top of that Just factually

Like the Phillies Are also significantly More talented than the Diamondbacks. They're a better baseball team. This is going to be the first series where I walk into – well, that's not true. The Miami series was bad. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

But this is the first, like, real series where the expectation is go in. Go – yeah. I thought they beat the Braves, but obviously that's – they were the underdogs. I mean, they're plus 160. They were a significant – they were the biggest underdog of the four teams in the first round. The Diamondbacks were lower.

Really? Okay. But, yeah, but the Phillies, I mean, this is a series where this city is planning on having some World Series games, and I'm excited to see this team respond. Me too, man. And, again, like we talked about in the pregame, I just want it for these guys.

Like, I want it for me. Obviously, look, I'm 42 years old. Not older, as you like to point out. But I've seen, you know, 83. I don't remember. I was two or one and a half. Like, I've seen two championships in 42 years. I mean, that's horrible.

I mean, honestly, it's statistically improbable with four teams in this city. It's time to start getting some rings. And of all the teams that I've rooted for, I've never wanted a team to win a ring more i've never wanted a group of guys to summit the mountain and to get that title for for bryce for trey for nick for all these guys like i just i want it so bad man i want this team to be champions and i think they will buddy it feels like it feels like i think they will it really does i'm not trying to put to put their jinx on them, but they have the look. They have the feel, and they have the ballpark.

Yeah, they have the ballpark. The fans again, man. I mean, it got loud in here tonight. The strider chants, the attaboy chants, just really, really good stuff. Like we said on the pregame, people, I mean, they walked in tonight expecting to make a difference. Dude, Orlando Garcia lost his mind tonight.

I don't know if people have seen it. We didn't see it at first. He's broken. He was fighting with fans outside the dugout. The Braves came in here and they couldn't handle Citizens Bank Park. Again. Again. Shout out to the great Dave Scalish walking into the studio for a minute.

You're the best, Dave. We appreciate you. All right. 215-592-9494. Let's get some reaction. If you're on your way home, you're probably home by now, some people, but if you're not, if you're at home listening, call in. We want to get some reaction.

215-592-9494 is the Phillies. For the second straight year. Just like we always predicted. Just like we always predicted. We're headed back to the NLCS. Let's react. Let's start out in Philly with Trey. What up, Trey? Appropriate name to start the show off. What up, Trey?

Is this Trey Turner? No, this is Trey. Trey Angles, not Trey Turner. Apologize. No worries. We're happy to talk to you Trey Let me just shout out Jack Fritz Husky baseball player love you buddy Let's go buddy let's go Go Huskies

Shout out to the lab back at home I just want to talk about Nick Cassiano For a second For what he said after game 2 about getting punched in the mouth And responding What he did in game 3 And then tonight just putting us on his back and just absolutely balling out for us, hitting two more home runs tonight and just sending us the LCS.

I mean, you can't ask more for a guy like that. No, you can't. And, again, I know I said it before, but especially after what he went through last year, signing the contract, coming here and seemingly forgetting how to hit. For him to bounce back this year and then to have these moments, and again with his kid each time coming and pointing to Liam, it was special, man. He's a total leader, and he's a total leader.

I'm not sure they win these last two games if Castellanos doesn't ease the tension in the ballpark. Dude, I totally agree. Being in the ballpark, it felt like Nick Castellanos, over the the tension in the ballpark. Dude, I totally, being in the ballpark, it felt like Nick Castellanos over the two nights had the most important hits. Totally. Absolutely, absolutely. And then the Harper scare there in the eighth inning. Oh, my God.

You're not talking about it. Trey, in the building, you could hear a pin drop in the building when that happened. And when he came back out, it was awesome. Absolutely. I've been on Twitter refreshing it ever since I left the game. Harper said he hit his funny bone. I'm sure him partying in a locker room, he's forgot about the injury,

but I just hope he's good to go for Monday. We were in the locker room, and great call, buddy. He looks fine. He looks good. And I think it was probably one of those things where you get hit in the elbow, it was probably a surgical paired elbow, and it was probably terrifying. It was probably like, oh, no, this can't happen. And it hurt at first, and then, you know, good to go.

So thank goodness. Yeah, seriously. I mean, geez louise. All right, 215-592-9494. We want to continue to take your reaction as the Philadelphia Phillies, our Philadelphia Phillies, did it tonight. An awesome, awesome win tonight at home in front of an awesome crowd. And this crowd will be back here Monday night for the NLCS.

We'll continue to react. It's Fritz. It's Elter. It's High Hopes Radio. We're coming right back. Swung on. Hit in the air. Left center field.

Long run into the gap. Rojas is calling. He will reach out. Makes the catch up against the wall. And Johan Rojas has made his mark in this series. What a play by my new close personal friend, Johan Rojas. Yep. What a play, man.

It was fun to tell him that because, you know, he is – we talked a lot this series. A lot of people talk, oh, Johan with the bat. He's struggling. Would you take him out? Would you take him out? That right there is the reason that dude was in the game. Like, that was a brilliant play.

Yeah. And it was weird because he hit it. He hit it, and I feel like the ballpark was a little – I think people thought that was really gone. They thought it was gone. So I thought it was a double off the wall. Yes. I thought it was going to be a three-run double,

and I was like, you've got to be kidding me. Yeah, I didn't think it was going to go. I thought worst-case scenario, it's hitting off the wall. And he took – you know, Johan Ross is usually in the right spot all the time. He's like there usually. He took a weird route to it, but he got there. And shout-out to Kimbrel. Shout-out to Kimbrel, man.

Hey, it made it scary. But, you know, that was probably in the moment in the ballpark, I think, the biggest head-scratcher moment. You know, Strom to close was weird, but it made a little more sense when you think about the Rosario back coming up and all that type of stuff. But the move to Kimbrel in a dirty inning in the seventh to bring him in in that spot, like every single person we were around the building was like, what the hell is happening?

Well, and what I couldn't figure out either was why Snicker pulled Michael Harris for Darnot. I thought that was an insane – he must – I don't know, but Darnot must have numbers against Kimbrel or something. Sure, but like it's a lefty against a righty. It was so strange. It's not like Michael Harris can't hit. Michael Harris could hit her.

He's a better hitter than Travis Darnot, all things considered. And the amount of times that Thompson felt comfortable going – he put Alvarado out for a second inning. He put Kimbrel out for a second inning. He put Soto out for a second inning. He was very committed to working his way through that thing. Tonight definitely feels more lucky than a dynamite plan. But it got the job done.

And managers are only as good as the players that step up for them. And all those guys stepped up and showed some real stones. And they ultimately held the 3-1 lead. It was 3-1. And they held the lead from the sixth inning on. Four shutout. And they did a job. And shout out to Rob Thompson. You know who did not do a job?

Mark Bowman tweeting out, covers the Braves. Ronald Acuna didn't speak after the game. He grabbed his bag and said, I have to go to the bus as other players remain in the clubhouse. I'm sorry, in the sanctuary. Yes. Sounds about right, man. I don't think the Braves are handling this very well. I don't think they're handling this very well

at all. I would agree. And you know what? Good. 215-592-9494. Let's go to Ben Saugin and talk to Doug. Hey, Doug. Hey, guys. How you doing? What's up, Dougie?

Oh, man. That was so intense. I mean, I can't really listen to the game because I'm at work. I work in a factory, so I was just popping, refreshing. Ooh. Where's that? Doug, we are losing you there. Are you there, Doug? Losing.

All right, we'll put Doug back on hold. The phone's a little weird. Let's talk to Ben. Hey, Ben. Yo, how you doing, guys? What's up, Ben? So I had called in previously about Trey Turner finishing 280, and I have to admit I was wrong on that.

But was he in the playoffs? He's hitting like 600, 700 right now. Dude, I mean, he was the first player in Philly's history to have four hits in a game in a playoff game, and I believe his OBP is over 580. So how about that? That was that when that flashed up on the screen, that was that was shot. Like when Nick Cassio said, don't worry, we're like, he has to be the only player to ever do this.

We would have heard about this, whatever. We've heard about Reggie's three homers so many times, that kind of stuff. But I was absolutely floored that no Philly has ever had forwards in a playoff game before. Well, it's not like we have a bunch of playoff history. No, but at some point you would have thought it would have happened. It's incredible stuff. And speaking of Nick, that is my favorite player,

and I swear I've been to two or three games this year of him hitting two home runs, and tonight was just unbelievable. I can't think of a better guy to see have the success. He's embracing the city. The city is embracing him. It was just unbelievable to be there up in Section 303. Love it, Ben. I hope I got tickets for Game 6, NLCS.

I don't know if it'll even go to Game 6. Hopefully we don't need those. Hopefully it's in. Go to a World Series game instead, brother. Yeah, World Series game one I'm hoping to be at. There you go, Ben. Great call. 2-1-5-5-9-2-9-4-9.

It's going to be so weird having home field advantage. I know. It's so strange. Like, it feels unnatural. Like, the Marlins thing was like, oh, all the games are here. So it didn't even feel like home field advantage. It just felt like, all right, this is the series. It does feel weird to have a game one of a big series in this place.

Well, and it is funny because heading into the year, it was, you know, Arizona was not a place we liked the Phillies to play at. No, it wasn't. A place that has been a house of horrors. Not just the beginning of the year. Yeah, for many years. Yeah, it's been – I mean, it ruined the vibes after Zach Wheeler won a complete game against the Mets on holiday day.

They went out there and lost three or four. And I feel like I've just never seen them really play well. And then this year, speaking of poetic justice, go down there, took three or four. When they needed it. Remember that? That was a West Coast trip where they were struggling going into it, and that was a big trip for them.

Phillies, Diamondbacks. Phillies? Who would have thunk it? Not I. I don't think anyone. All right, 215-592-9494. We talked to this guy last night. It was a, I thought, a really special call.

Let's go to Zach in Roxborough. We spoke to Zach last night. Hey, Zach, buddy. Thanks for calling in again, man. Yeah, man, absolutely. I'm standing out looking at Citizen Bank Park right now, realizing that the Broad Street line is not running right now so I'll hop on a bus at some point

you'll get there yes I'll figure it out how about it section 310 tonight spend way more money than I should have to be here tonight but it was all worth it right it was worth every single dollar like I don't

care how much money you ask me for to watch the Phillies beat the Braves or move on to the NLCS. I don't care because the moment, the experience is worth every single dollar. I couldn't agree more. That next to some Braves fans. God bless them. I didn't know there was any here. A brother and sister duo. A brother and sister duo.

A brother and sister duo. A brother lives here in Philly, a sister lives in D.C. They came. She wore a jersey. He wore a hoodie. She had more pride and a ball in my opinion. Yeah, you're not wrong. And, you know,

just this night, man. Typical Phillies, right? Tight, hard. Never easy. You had your heart beating every freaking second. Keg Timble, really? Really, yeah. Really?

I'm with you, buddy. Oh, dude scares me every moment that he's up there, but I love him. And, like, I know he's fighting for us, but I swear Topper has stock in heart medication. What if he did? What if that was a big story? That would be a story. A big break. It is wild, though.

I mean, Zach, there have been so many moments this series where at least a lot of people have been like, what are you doing, Rob? And man, every time his players come through for him. They work. He's pushing all the right buttons regardless of whether or not our heart stops in the moment. Yeah.

Love it. And now, oh, yeah. Go ahead, buddy. Go ahead. Sorry, I was going to say, to any fan out there who has not seen this before, this happens once a decade, maybe. 2022, 2023, right?

2007 through 2000, whenever Ryan Howard broke his Achilles in St. Louis. 1993, 1980. Like, this doesn't happen for us that often, and we should cherish every freaking moment of it. Zach, well said for your calls man it's great to love you both keep them called keep them coming and uh man man like what a freaking night what a game what a team what a uh what a special group of guys and uh we're really lucky to root for them and i'm i'm so excited to get back to this place on monday night and and do it again i'm i can't wait all right two of us we're we still got a couple we might have more we got more this is kind of we're kind of in the middle right well

that's the thing like seriously that this team is signed man like this group is you know obviously nola is the the big question mark after the season but outside of that like you know most of the big guys all the all the the core of the team is here. Yeah, this could be not just a special season, but a special run here. It feels different, buddy. It does. It really feels so different.

It feels different. And we're lucky to be watching it. 2-1-5-5-9-2. 94-94. We'll continue to take your calls as we react to a special, special night down at Cisnes Bank Park as the Phillies, yet again, 3-0 against the Braves in the playoffs as they will move on to the NLCS.

It's High Hopes Radio. We'll be right back. Hey, fantasy football owners. The road to winning your fantasy football championship starts now. I'm Matt Harmon from Reception Perception. Join me and James Coe as we take a deep dive into the position that's going to make or break your fantasy roster. Wide receivers. We analyze route running, target share, and all the metrics that matter,

giving you the insights you need to draft the best wide receivers. As you prep for your draft, let us give you the coverage you need. Follow and listen to Reception Perception on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. Set up outside. The pitch swung on, hit to the air, deep to left field, Pillar turns, that one is going to be long gone! Just under the Lysio's bakery side in left field, Trey Turner is three for three tonight,

and he's given the Bills a 2-1 lead as the fireworks go off over the bell in right center field. So I got to tell you, and it's High Ops Radio as we react to the Phillies, whooping on the Braves this series. A tight win tonight. Barely even showed up. Really. Just like dominated the series.

And they showed up for what, two innings? Two innings. Again, the Phillies should have won in three. They dominated this series. But here in that home run, I got to tell you, like being in the building when trey does something good and random people just walk up to jack and start thanking him is like a really surreal experience yeah it's a weird one it's a weird one it's a weird one just

like you know meeting me that was the first time that's the first time i've been here for a tray well i was here the other night for the tray homer but that was like a real tray home yeah that was if not an make it eight to two that was a a real Trey Homer. Yeah, that was not an 8-2. That was a big one. It took the lead. It was 1-1. The nice part about the home runs tonight is that they're all freaking packed. No doubters. Every single one was like, well, that's gone.

Yeah, and everyone could immediately start partying. And Nick, the bat flip on the second one, he knew. I don't know if this is going to make sense to you or anyone out there listening, but the way I watch Castellanos swing right now is like he's swinging a lightsaber. Like, it just looks like a lightsaber. I love that take. Like, it just, it just, he kind of just, like, whips it through the zone.

He does whip it. Like, he really does whip it through the zone. Yeah. It is, it is. He looks like a lightsaber. Yeah. Next time you watch Nick Castellanos, when you go home and watch the highlights,

picture that as a lightsaber. Okay, I will. Next May the 4th. I want all lightsabers with Nick Cassiano. I love that. Yeah, no problem. No problem. He does whip it.

He does whip it. I mean, listen, when he gets going, he gets going. And the fact that Trey the last two nights looks back to the Trey that was on the hot streak. Dude, Trey's been awesome the whole playoffs. He had the most hits in the Marlins series on the team. He led the team in its in the Marlins series. It wasn't huge, but he led the team in it. And, like, the last two, he's been freaking awesome.

Yeah. Castellanos on a good streak. Harper, never worry ever. The one guy that really got to get going is Schwarber. Yeah, and Boehm struggled a lot, too. Boehm struggled a lot in a lot of big spots. Yeah, but Schwarber is the one where we expected, you know, the big moments. And look, you said it in the pregame.

I had forgotten. He didn't get going to the NLCS last year. Like, imagine if we can get the NLCS and get Schwarber going. Like, look out. Yeah. You know? And a lot of bullpen guys are running into shape at the right time. Sir Anthony looks the best he has all year.

Sir Anthony looks phenomenal. All year. Well, think about this. I mean, Nola looks the best he has looked all year. Rangers look the best he's looked all year. Wheeler. Seranthony. We talk about all these guys that we needed to get in the playoffs and get right.

They're all getting right at the same time. The Diamondbacks are going to create a new – like, for me, the Diamondbacks series is not a Kimbrel series. You have to use them in the right spots because I think they can steal a lot of bases on them. You know, like, it's – that team's going to present problems with their legs. They're naive from the standpoint of they're young. Yeah, they don't know what they don't know. They don't know what they don't know.

They're a good defensive team. Very good defensive team. Like very good. Like fewest errors in baseball. Yeah, like really good defensive team, yeah. So fewest errors in baseball. They'll take bags. They're young and a bit naive for the

moment but where where the phillies need to dominate this series is offensively when it comes to zach allen whatever i mean he's a philly guy hopefully he jokes uh give us one buddy give us one buddy come on merrill kelly i just you're terrified of him he's so uninspiring and he's such a guy he's gonna go seven with ten strikeouts or something. Sick thing stuff from Merrill Kelly. You have to beat up on the 3-4 starters, and you have to take advantage of a bullpen that's just flat out not that good. Paul Stiebel is pretty good.

He's fine. He's their closer. He's fine. But this is an – I know it's not breaking news. This is an offensive series. This is one that they have to go out and just mash their way to the National League Championship.

Dude, they're back in the NLCS. I'm trying not to keep talking, but they're in the freaking NLCS again. Again! And they beat the Braves to do it. How sweet is that? Like, we have not – just the fact that they're in and they won and it was a great game and all, that's awesome. We got to beat the Braves again.

Yes. And this felt like – you know, you and I were big on sports hate. We talk about it all the time. Hates. We want it. We miss it in a lot of cases where it's not the same as it used to be. Like, this Phillies-Braves thing felt like sports hate, like real sports hate.

And to handle them the way we did, you know, it really does make it sweeter. It really does make it sweeter. 215-592-949 let's go back to the phones get some reactions go to northeast and talk to dan hey dan yo what's up guys i called called about a week ago after uh marlin game one we're getting all jazzed to themselves i gotta call these guys tonight i'm scrolling through twitter jack how are you feeling like how was that moment with trey? Right? It was awesome, man. It was, you know, he was really, like, the whole thing was just normal. It was normal.

Honestly, being there for it, it felt like so normal. It didn't feel like a big deal. It was just like, hey, man, nice to meet you. Oh, cool. Awesome. Great job. That's amazing. And again, shout out to Elliot Jorbarks.

That does not happen tonight with that. Elliot grabbed us. He was like, there's Trey. We got to go. And he went up, and we're like, hey. And it tonight with that. Elliott grabbed us. He was like, there's Trey, we gotta go. And he went up and we're like, hey. And it was, it was really neat.

Yeah, no, he kicked butt tonight. Shout out to Elliott. That's unreal. I'm coming back. I've been there the last two nights. The park was pretty tight

last night until Castellanos hit the homer and again tonight. Just unreal performance by him. This team just continues to respond right after they go down.

And, again, like you guys talked about, credit to Dombrowski, Castellanos, Strom stepping up tonight, Turner. Like these guys just stepping up. And like Deion said, like it was just going to be a good game. It was just going to be a good series. But they all made it personal. Shout out to Orlando Arcia. Thank you very much for waking up.

Thank you. You never have to buy a beer in this town, Orlando. He's the NLDS MVP. He might be, honestly. Yeah, and it was an incredible night. And, yeah, go Phils. I wanted to give you guys a call. Great call, buddy.

Go Phils, brother. Go Phils. And it was an incredible night. And the Arcea thing, I mean, man, you know, we talked a lot about Harper using that as motivation last night. It really felt like the whole team rallied behind that thing. You know, and had their guys back. It shows the tightness of the team.

Totally. Totally. Again, I know we've talked about it so much, but, like, being in that locker room, you know, like, these dudes love each other, man. They love playing together. They love partying together. And it just makes it so much more special that way. It really does. It really does. It really does.

2-1-5-5-9-2-9-4-9-4. Let's go to the Northeast and talk to Richie. What up, Richie? Jack, baby. I hope you love this. You deserve every minute of it. James, tell Zoe daddy will be home after Halloween. All right?

Yeah, dude, I already did. Trust me. Emily knows. Shout out to my wife for being awesome. See you in November. Oh, my God. Yep, that's it. That's it.

You got to be committed. I love this team. It's surpassed the 93 Phillies for me. It doesn't even compare to 07, 012. Love that team too. But, I mean, my goodness. If I would have told you guys months ago that Soto and Strom would have closed out the Braves, you would have never thought it.

Would have said you were lying. Yeah, it's unbelievable and James Jack I've already told you before when I called in I am new to your time slot and dude I love you I've listened to the morning show forever James from day one you were on this team you were positive you and Richie talked people like me in the camera off the ledge kept telling us it's early just relax dude you deserve so much praise for the patience and just for staying in on this team you were locked in dude i just can't believe this this is amazing richie great call buddy and thank you look

it's it's a long season you know we want we get so excited for it and it's it's it's easy to overreact early i I think we love to do it, but I just believed in this group. I always believed in this group. I believed in Rob Thompson. I believed in the way the team was constructed, and I just expected the guys to get going. And, you know, maybe a little

standing ovation didn't hurt. That's for sure. That Cassiano second home run was nuts. Nut, dude. Second bat. The bat flip is... Dude, 100 off strider, man. That's 100 miles was nuts. Nut, dude. Second bat. The bat flip is a hundred off strider, man. That's a hundred miles an hour. God, man. Just looks in the dugout. He's like, yeah, I just did that.

It's a, they, so I got the double curtain call too. I, um, I'm not, cause I love, I love the 07 to 11 team. And I don't, I don't really want to compare the two, but I think the biggest difference between this team and the 07-11 team. And I don't really want to compare the two, but I think the biggest difference between this team and the 07-11 team is like they just feel more like our guys. Yep. Without a doubt. It's a different bond.

Like, listen, those guys are also unbelievably our guys at the same time. But the way this team has come together from the last couple of Septembers before last year and the city just really falling for a baseball team again. Like the 07-11 team, they'd had years of good baseball. They were good. You had Utley, Rollins, Howard, and the ballpark was new. So people were excited about baseball. And it built towards it.

It was like a linear. It was like, all right, they're getting better. They're getting better. And, oh, here we go. Baseball was dead here for for without a doubt a good stretch and everyone kind of simultaneously coming together and being like you know what pretty great sport and then pretty intense and pretty fun and um the way that they they've rallied around themselves they've rallied around the city that we've rallied around them it's's just – it's different than 07 to 11.

And I'm not totally sure how to put it into words because, again, that team was special as well. But there's just something different about this team versus that team. I mean, you know I've said this. I would go so far – It's like a more talented 93 team. Yeah. I would go so far to say it's unlike any team I've ever seen in my life.

Again, I've never felt so loved by a team. Seriously, though, we love them. That's what we do. We love the Phillies. We love the Eagles. We love the Sixers. We love the Flyers. We love our teams.

We root for them. We go to games. We cheer them on. But I've never felt like the actual players on the team cared about me, loved me, loved us as a fan base, as a city, and it just makes it more special. It just does. There's no other way to put it.

Fritzy, what a night, man. What a night. Put a bow on it. Well, we came, we saw, we conquered. It was strider night, I think. I'm actually happy they lost game two now. And real quick, shout out to the way that they bounced back after game two. Totally, dude.

Game two was a possible debilitating loss. You said in the moment, you're like, it felt like game five. Yeah, as a loss. And I think Castellanos, the way he talked, Harper talked, and they changed the narrative around it from, oh, bleep, to we just went down here and we did our job. What are you guys worried about? And that's important and that's smart.

And this team is just continuing to develop into legends. You know, Harper, a legend. Castellanos having legendary moments. Trey Turner having a big night. Thank God Bryce seems like he's going to be okay. Put a damper on it. Could have been a way less joyous postgame show. But this team is continuing

to develop, create memories, create legacies, and I can't wait to be in this ballpark on Monday and Tuesday, and I can't wait to see if the Diamondbacks

can handle it, because I think this city, more than last year, last year it was, this is really cool, and when we went to the World Series, it was like,

oh my god, we're in the World Series, like how did this happen? Dude, that's exactly the way to put it. We're here, and it feels more like we're expecting it than it's, you know, wow, crazy that we're here again. And it's a fun little run.

We're ready for it. What a time. And the team's ready for it. And they came into the season saying two more wins, and I think they're going to get those teams. It took a while for them to look like the team that was ready for two more wins. It did, but they are there in spades, man. They are fully there.

Thank you to everyone who called in to the show tonight. We really appreciate it. If we didn't get to your call, I apologize. Call tomorrow morning. I'll be back on the radio far too soon. Call Teeks. Call Tom Kelly. Stay on the line if you're on now.

Tom will be taking your calls, reacting through the night to, again, a thrilling night in Philadelphia, a awesome win by an awesome team against a team we hate. It doesn't get much better than that in sports. A really, really great night. Thank you to Fran and Justin back in the studio producing the show. Check out the pod, High Hopes pod. We will obviously be doing pods over the weekend as we get ready to preview the Diamondbacks series.

Preview the NLCS, baby, because we are back. We are going, and we can't wait. And I'm assuming we'll be here for pregame on Monday and postgame and all that. So we're looking forward to it all again. Thank you, everyone, who's with us. game and all that. So we're looking forward to it all again. Thank you.

Everyone was with us. And thank you for listening to a very, very, very special edition of high hopes radio right here on 94 WIP.