High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Phillies-Padres NLCS Game 5 Reaction Pod: THE PHILLIES ARE GOING TO THE WORLD SERIES!!!

Episode Date: October 24, 2022

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react on Sportsradio WIP to THE PHILLIES WINNING GAME 5 OF THE NLCS TO GO TO THE WORLD SERIES!!! 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

Two balls, two strikes to Bryce Harper. Suarez delivers. Swing and a drive. Left field. It's deep. It's going! And it is gone! Yes! It is bedlam at the bank as Bryce Harper has put the Phillies on top! Are you kidding me? His 10th career home run of the postseason. And he may never hit a bigger one. Yo! It is a High Hopes edition of Final Out

as the Philadelphia Phillies are going to the World Series. The words don't even feel real coming out of my mouth. A magical run, a magical night, a magical everything. And for Bryce Harper to hit that home run in that moment, one of the greatest home runs in philadelphia philly's history that guy to do it our guy to send us to the freaking world series let's go baby james seltzer jack fritz fritzy we're going to the world series buddy pinch me buddy pinch me i don't think, first off, I'm so happy. I am so, I haven't stopped smiling since the game is over. Being here for it and being with these people and everyone coming together.

And what we just witnessed is one of the greatest sporting events in our city's history. Simply put, they clinched at home. Bryce Harper, the guy that we paid $330 million to come up for moments like this where a lot of star players don't come through. Like, point blank, star players don't always come through in this moment. And what he has done is he has put in this team and put in the city on its back. And this is a special, magical, beautiful run. I want everyone out there to hug your loved ones, hug your friends. This is special.

This is beautiful. Soak this in. This doesn't happen very often. And it's just so much more special that it has come out of nowhere, man. It has come out of nowhere. Three and a half weeks, it was the freaking, they got swept out of nowhere. Three and a half weeks, it was the freaking, they got swept out of Chicago. Nick Maton pitching against the Nationals on October 1st.

13-4. And what they have done since then is take this city on a magical, mystical, beautiful journey to the freaking World Series, man. Like, they are going to the World Series.

It's something I never thought I'd be able to say again, is that this team is going to the World Series. And the last 11 years of pain, the last 11 years of, like, what's the point of all this for this moment? And seeing them on the field and seeing Rob Thompson get a massive standing ovation. It's insane. I am so happy.

Rangers for us coming in and making the last, you know, getting the last out there. And I would just like to send a special LCS ring to Bob Melvin. Oh buddy. What a decision. Putting Josh Hader. What a decision.

What a disaster. What a disaster by Bob Melvin, not bringing Josh Hader into that house. What a decision. What a disaster. What a disaster by Bob Melvin. Not bringing Josh Hader into that game, but we'll take it. And the second that he didn't put Josh Hader into that baseball game, I was like, Bryce is going to do it, man. Bryce is going to do it. And he did it. He freaking did it.

And not only was today one of the best sporting events of all time, I think that's the biggest home run in Philly's history. I don't think we'll see a bigger home run in Philly's history than what we saw today. This place was going freaking bananas. And, of course, I was sitting there in the eighth and I was like, before the Bryce Homer, and I was like, I don't want to get on a plane.

Because if they get on a plane to San Diego, I'm not sure they come back as going to the World Series. And the fact that he did that, I mean, special, high level, inner circle, Philadelphia sports moment, man. And what a moment for this city. Like what a moment for everyone out there that loves this baseball team for the last 10 years that like, you know, of all the talk of baseball's dead, this city's on fire.

And I just, I love this team. I love this team. I love this fan base. I love doing this show. And we're going to the World Series. We're going to the World Series. We're going to the World Series. And to be here tonight in this building, you know,

we did the show for the clincher last Friday or last Saturday against the Braves, and I thought I would never be in a building like that ever again. It was so special, and the noise and the energy and the electricity. And this was better. This was better tonight. The crowd was better. The moments were better.

And again, to your point, for it to be Bryce Harper, we never get that guy. We've never in Philadelphia get the Bryce Harper guy. And for him to come here with all the expectations and all the hoopla and all that stuff, and for it to be him, to not just have one of the best NLCSs in the history of baseball, but to be the guy who in the moment when all of us needed it so bad, we needed it so, like this place was so electric for seven plus innings. And then that weird, stupid rain soaked inning happens. And it was like, you could feel a pin drop, hear a pin drop in here. And then JT gets the single. He doesn't go to hater. And we all knew it was like you could feel a pin drop, hear a pin drop in here. And then JT gets the single.

He doesn't go to hater. And we all knew. It was like we were expecting it. And for him to deliver, how often do athletes deliver in that moment? Much less the best of the best. We got to see a Hall of Famer tonight hit one of the biggest home runs in the history of the franchise. Maybe the biggest home run in the history of the franchise. maybe the biggest home run in the history of the franchise, and now they're going to the World Freaking Series for the first time in 13 years, Jack Fritz.

And when Bryce Harper is at Cooperstown and they're showing his highlights, that's the moment. That's the moment. That's the moment that you are going to see as Bryce Harper enters into the Hall of Fame as a Philadelphia Philly. That's the moment. And you have these home runs by, like, you know, the Matt Stairs home run. You know, you have these, like, random players have magical moments. It's just, it's so hard to comprehend that your superstar doing that and also having like a 1600 OPS for an entire like what he's done that like 430 or 420 in the series or whatever it's insane dude it's absolutely

insane um what that guy just did has lived up to the to the contract has lived up to everything has lived up to has lived up to all of our expectations. And you talk about from being on the cover of Sports Illustrated at 16 years old and really being the face of baseball. I mean, Bryce Harper was the face of baseball at 16 years old. He gives up his senior year of high school to go to JUCO to play against older competition, goes there and dominates. He gets drafted number one overall by the Nationals, has the weight of a franchise on him,

and for a couple years there, they would get to the postseason, they would come up short. If you look at his postseason numbers, they were like, oh, this guy, he's not going to come through when you need him the most. He leaves here. In the first year that Bryce leaves Washington, they win the World Series. And the first thing you heard was that guy was the problem.

That guy was the issue. He was the reason that you were not winning World Series and you were not winning championship because he comes up small. And all of that can just get taken in the trash and be taken outside for what he did this series. And he rewrote the narrative on his career. And now when he used to talk about, you know, in big moments, like he would calm down and his heart rate would go down to zero

and he wouldn't feel it. I was like, yeah, sure. You have to feel it, right? I mean, you're a human. And maybe he's right. Like maybe he's right. Every time they have needed him this series, he has come through. How many big hits?

I mean, he had the big hit last night, the big hit tonight. And for it to be a home run in that spot. He had the home run game one. And again, think about we talk so much about just this team and the three weeks since we thought they were a bunch of losers. And now in three weeks, they are going to the World Series. But how about for Harper? The way the season ended, coming back from the injury,

we were all like, turn into a singles and doubles hitter because clearly the power's gone this year. Whatever. And then for the playoffs to start and him to turn back into the best player in the world again and just come through moment after moment. And for him to, to like how happy do you think Bryce Harper is tonight that he signed here seeing that crowd and having that moment and

getting the NLCS MVP trophy with the entire crowd chanting MVP at like he this is what he has always dreamed of he loves baseball more than anyone on the planet and tonight he got to have that magical night that he's always dreamed of and we were here to be a part of it. Alright, 215 592 9494. We're going to go to the phones. We want to hear your reaction because as

excited as we are, this is about you guys. This is about the us. All of us who have waited so long to be sitting here right now in this moment and reveling in what we just saw, celebrating what we just saw because our Philadelphia Phillies are going to the World Series. It's Fritz, it's Seltzer. Get on the line now. We're coming to your calls. All right? 215-592-9494. Celebrate with us.

The Phillies are going to the World Series. It's Fritz and Seltzer. We'll come right back. Suarez kicks. Here's the pitch. Breaking ball. Popped up. Shadow right.

Seguro going out. Castellanos coming on. Castellanos coming on. Castellanos has it. And the Phillies have the National League Championship. They have beaten the Padres 4-3, and they celebrate on their home turf. I hear that, and I can't believe it, Jack Fritz. And the Stones, the Stones on topper to go to Ranger in the ninth leg. Ranger pitch on Friday.

That's two days ago Ranger was on the hill to know that Ranger would be able to handle that moment. And Topper, I mean, what a miraculous run this guy's had. How many times have people questioned everything he's done and he just keeps coming up aces. It's like the magic freaking touch and to be here and see. And everyone had a moment. Like everyone's had a moment this playoffs.

Think about this team. You can go through every single guy and they've had their moment and they've contributed. It's just, it is, again, Jack, I feel like I'm in a fever dream right now. I feel like this can't be real. I'm like in a coma or something and I'm going to wake up at some point. It just doesn it is, it is again, Jack, I feel like I'm in a fever dream right now. I feel like this can't be real. I'm like in a coma or something and I'm going to wake up at some point. It just doesn't happen, man. Like it just, it just doesn't happen to us.

I mean, think of everything that we've been through as Philly sports fan, not even just Phillies, but like, this doesn't happen to this city. We never get these magical runs out of nowhere where all of a sudden the city goes from like not being that into it to where they're like our guys out of nowhere. And to go along with that, what Rob Thompson has done, I mean, obviously his regular season record was insane, but even down the stretch run, it was, you know,

there was a time where it was like, all right, you're so laid back, but come on, let's push the buttons here and start really going for it. And he just stayed calm, and he stayed true to himself. And there was so much talk about you've got to get Harper or you've got to get Hoskins out of the two-hole and Schrobert out of the leadoff spot. And he was like, nah, our guys are going to come through. He just puts the ultimate trust in these guys.

And if you're a player and you know that, it's so much easier to go out and play for that guy. It's so much easier to go out and be like, oh, Topper trusts me in this situation? Like, I got it, you know? And he's not panicking. He never freaking panics. And yeah, he pulled Robertson today.

But like, you know, Robertson has been great for a little bit here. Yeah, he just walked two guys, you know? He walked two guys in a row. And to have the wherewithal to already have Ranger warming up. Yeah, dude, that's what

I was impressed with because I saw Ranger get up early in, like at the beginning of the inning and I was like, oh, that's interesting. Yeah, well,

and I thought he was saving him for Soto. But obviously he wanted him for Grisham and shout out to Trent Grisham for bunting and just giving the Phillies a free out.

Thanks, pal. Especially with Ranger on the hill, like, of course he can field that. It's a free out the Phillies a free out. Thanks, pal. Especially with Ranger on the hill. Of course he can field that. It's a free out. It's a free out. It was dumb baseball. And Ranger was just like, I got it.

How about the Phillies being the smart team? That never happens for us. How about having a managerial advantage? Dude, how about – and just for Topper, and we're coming to the phones in one sec, but for Topper to be 58 years old. 59. 59 now. 58 when he got it or whatever. But to get this

opportunity at that age and to just freaking grab it, dude. I'm so happy for that guy. He deserves it, man. I mean, how many times has the interim manager go to the World Series? Like Jack McKeon. That's the only one I can think of, ever. And another old guy, which is funny. Alright, 215.

Higher old guys. Higher old guys. That's what we always say, right? Always go old. Don't go younger. Go older. All right, 215-592-9494. React with us. Celebrate with us.

Even if you're like me and you have no voice, we don't care. Bring it to the air. I'm guessing a lot of people in Philadelphia won't have a voice tomorrow, and it is so well worth it. 215-592-9494. Let's go to Atlanta and talk to our guy, Nick. What up, Nick? Yo.

My man. Oh, sorry, baby. And, yeah, I might be living in Atlanta, but right now I am at the Philadelphia airport because I was here this weekend. I was back here in Philly. My best advice, I went against it and went to the game on Friday, and we got that win despite all of my bad luck this year. I'm sorry.

We came through, broke the curse and uh my goodness i mean i i just say who who is this team who is this team and what did they do with the philadelphia phillies i need to know all of a sudden they're clutch all of a sudden they're hitting big homers all of a sudden they're making big pitches they're coming up well defensively maybe not but but they're there they have morphed into everything that we dreamed they could be and even better. Like they are better than what we thought. I mean, I don't want our Phillies back.

I want these guys. I mean, how many wins can they win? Hanging on down 4-2 for the win. I was in the building. It was such a tense energy. My buddy's a big Padres fan. He's like, it wasn't lit tonight. And I'm like, yeah, I know because we all thought they were they were gonna lose like it was just such a tense vibe in the ballpark

and then coming down from 4-0 I was at Xfinity for that one and then tonight our guy Bryce my goodness Bryce our guy Bryce in Xfinity live oh my gosh it's just like euphoria just euphoria it was silly it was silly and then you eat James said it before, but just shout out Topper. You know what I mean? Stick into his guns. Just, you know, go into our guys last night and get in the win. Get in game three or get in game four and just stick into it. And then tonight, pushing the chips in, going with Ranger,

and, you know, it's just unbelievable. So being home for this game, I told you guys I needed to be here. And I was here. We got it done. And I'm flying back to Atlanta right now. I'm about to go through TSA. But thank you guys for having me on. Love you guys.

You're the best, buddy. We're so happy you were here for it. I'm so happy for anyone who was here for it. Because, again, you know, I said last week, wow, that's the best sporting event I've ever been to. Like the best crowd, the best energy, like the coolest thing I've ever been to. I never thought a week later it would get topped in my M41. As you always like to point out, I've been to a lot of sporting events in my life.

To have the best two back to back is such a miraculous thing to happen. And, you know, for it to be, you know, again, did you think about, first of all, nine and two in the playoffs, 5-0 at home. This team has not lost at Citizens Bank Park in the playoffs. And how about winning a clinching rain game 4-3? How about that?

Just like 08. Yeah, exactly. Just like 08. 21-8 lifetime at Citizens Bank Park in the playoffs. Best record for any team ever, a minimum of 20 games at their home park. So, again, this is just it's crazy it's crazy crazy stuff and and how about this there are gonna be world series there's gonna be more there's gonna be more i mean the harp like the the sound this place made on the harper homer

like the hoskins one i was like wow that's the loudest I've ever heard this place. But, man, I don't think I'll ever see a moment. I don't think I'll ever see a moment like the Bryce Homer again. I doubt it, man. Like, I doubt it. Again, I'm 41. I've never seen anything close. Like, it's easily the best sports moment I've ever been a part of. What we're seeing right now is not normal.

215-592-9494. We are on until 10 o'clock. there is a lot of time to celebrate with us it is final out now we're staying on till 10 o'clock get on the line 215-592-9494 as we celebrate a all-time phillies night an all-time phillies team one all-time phillies team the 2022 phillies are somehow an all-time Phillies team. Well, we joke that this is one of the best 15 seasons in franchise history. And now it's above that. Now it's like one of the best seven or six or whatever it is.

It's absolutely insane. Get on the line now. It's Fritz. It's Seltzer. It's High Hopes. It's Final Out. We're coming right back. 3-0 pitch swung on hit deep left field and the Phillies have the lead Reese Hoskins comes up huge again

his fifth holder of the playoffs, his fourth of the league championship series. Talk about being on a heater. The Phillies are on a heater, and Scott Franski is on a heater. Just a magical run for Scott. We talked so long about getting Scott back to the playoffs, and man, as he met the moment,

I can't wait for him to hear him call some World Series games. It's just unbelievable. All this, like we're going to the freaking... Jack Fritz and I are sitting in Citizens Bank Park right now just looking around and I see like 2022 National League champions on the screen. It feels like I'm playing MLB The Show on. I know.

It's something that i can't comprehend and listen the uh by the way i mean the franski harper home run oh my goodness it vaulted right into the top five immediately of uh francy calls but um how about reese man like again i the home homegrown guys are always gonna to – you're always going to feel different about. Totally. Although Bryce has certainly played his way into that. And Schwarber has as well. And honestly, all these guys.

They're all guys. But Hoskins, we've talked about this a lot, but comes up in 17 and has that run. And then for the last couple years, like, yeah, there's an ongoing debate of, like, how good is he? How valuable is he? Like, the defense this, the defense that. And, you know, can he make – he's streaky. He goes up and down. And for him to do that today again, you know,

I didn't know if he had a clutch gene. Like, I didn't know if he had these big moments in him. And it's just – his reactions are so just pure. And you can just he wore the last couple of years on him. And I know he's on with you guys talked about it, but I know he's talked about being done spring training and seeing the World Series photo. And he's like, listen, it's great, but like we want to create our own memories. And what he's doing right now is he's creating his own memories, and he is creating lifelong memories for a bunch of Phillies fans. And, like, there's been nothing cooler to me.

Obviously, I'm really happy for people that saw 80, and especially the ones that saw 64. The people that lived through 64, yeah. I'm happy for you today. And this is not to say that I'm not happy for you, but I'm happy for the kids out there that are 18 to 26-ish that in like 08, you know, they were younger, under 10 years old. Like it's hard to remember and really like feel it.

We saw our buddy Adam tonight who was like, I was 7. Yeah, 6 or 7. 6 or 7. 6 or 7 when they won the World Series. And this crowd, the whole platform has been filled with kids in their 20s. And, I mean, I'm a kid in my 20s too, so I can't just say I'm so much older than you. But I remember 08. I remember the run.

And for the last 11 years, it's kind of been like a wasted decade from the standpoint of building and growing a fan fan base and i don't know how you couldn't watch what's happening right now and be like wow baseball is freaking unbelievable man um so i'm i'm just i'm really happy for the the people and the kids that haven't been able to experience what this is like because what this is is just it's the best like it's just the best when ballpark is filled, the ballpark's going nuts, and they're winning. Like, there's just, there's nothing better in the entire city than when that's happening. And we talked about this last time I think we were here. But, like, dude, anyone can be an Eagles fan. Like, it's one of the ways.

But living and dying with this team and the intensity of playoff baseball and living with every pitch and decision making. Like the decision making, we were questioning every move these guys make. And it's just awesome when the city just gets fully ingrained and behind them. Wow. And again, like this place was amazing. Yes. Like it wasn't just like, oh, it's fun to be here.

It's the national stage. Everyone is looking at this ballpark and being like, wow, I don't think I've ever seen a baseball stadium that loud. Because I haven't – I've never seen a baseball stadium that loud. Well, and the funniest part, in the moment that you know that the city is like really locked in. So we watched the game on the main concourse section around like 127 or whatever.

And when the game's going on, there's no one in the beer lines. There's no one in the beer lines. There's no one waiting to go to the bathroom. It's empty. And when the game's going on, there's no one in the beer lines. There's no one in the beer lines. There's no one waiting to go to the bathroom. Because people are just watching and engulfing themselves in every pitch. And we're going to the World Series. We're going to the World Series. And to your point, the generational part of it is what makes baseball so special. Is that my grandfather was a Phillies fan.

My father was a Phillies fan. My daughter is going to be a Phillies fan. My brother came down. I got to watch the game with my brother. Like, it just, it matters. Man, that stuff matters. And to get to experience this with your kids or your parents or whatever, when it's been so long, we've waited so long.

It just, it's a really special, special night here in Philadelphia. And everyone should really, really, really just soak it in because we don't get it. I think they're soaking it in. We don't get it that often. Our good friend Alex Coffey walked past here. Yeah. Hair was drenched in beer.

I love it. I think the Phil's down there are soaking it in. And the pictures I'm seeing from City Hall and downtown, people are soaking it in as they should. I was told baseball was dead. I was too. Let was told baseball was dead. I was too. Let's go to the phones.

Let's go to Bryn Mawr and talk to our buddy John. Johnny! Yo, dude, how are you? What up, pal? Johnny, we're going to the World Series, pal. Yes, we are, baby! We're going to the World Series, Johnny! Dude, I can't even. I still have goosebumps.

And James, you said you feel like you're dreaming. Well, guess what? So do I, but don't wake me up for like two more weeks after we win the World Series. Four more, John. We are going to win the World Series. And I've been saying to the camera, ever since they got rid of that manager, I forget his name, was his name Girardi or something? Yep.

They've been playing with so much fun. And, James, do you remember when I used the analogy, like when you're shooting pool and you're drinking beers and you can play so much better because you're not, like, thinking? Totally. And that's how they've been playing. I never gave up on these guys. Dude, I was standing right on top of the bullpen,

heckling the hell out of Chris. So you can all thank me. Good work, Johnny. Good work. I was with a couple from San Diego, and they were around my age, and we had such a good time. And they had a couple fans that were with them. And, you know, it was just we were like family even though they were, you know, rooting for the Padres.

And it was just a beautiful moment. Beautiful. John, it really was. It really was. And great call, buddy. And, look, to his point, I think this crowd mattered. There's a reason they're 5-0 here. This place is intimidating.

This place is intense if you're an opposing team coming in here, and I also think this team feeds off this. You can hear it in the way they talk about it, and tonight was no different. Well, and it's intoxicating. I mean, it's intoxicating if you're a player and you've heard how loud it is. You've heard this place just going crazy. And like Nick Castellanos saying last night,

Jungle, man. It's hard to come into the jungle, man. That is amazing. And I love how much the players are like, this is cool, man. You could see it even, even today when they were on the stage, like they just kept like saying, and the fans and we would go nuts and they would just stare and be like,

wide eyed. It's well, and I don't blame them, man. Like they were playing in front of like 18,000 people and they had to wonder like, does anyone even know we're playing right now? And to go from that to this is just, it's insane. but really it's like

a switch flipped and it's just like oh yeah boom yeah everyone's here and they're losing their minds and it's a sea of freaking red yep and and and this is what they were promised you know they were promised all year or in the last couple years like just trust us when you make it to the post season the city's gonna turn out and the city's going to be on fire. And I actually think it's been above what even I thought. It's way more. It's even more intense. It's even more of a home field advantage.

It's even more just bedlam when big things are happening here. And these guys get to experience it. And it's intoxicating. And there's no way that when – even when they're down 4-0 last night or today, that they're just like, I want to have another one of those moments. And boy, did our guy deliver. Oh my God, what a moment.

And he hit their total over. Yeah, well, that's important, obviously. What a moment. What a freaking moment from Bryce Harper. What a moment from this team. 2-1-5, 5-9-2, 94-94. It's the end of final out. Fritz and I are on till 10.

Some tight seconds. We're going nowhere, pal. We're going nowhere, and we're taking calls. So get on the line now. 215-592-9494. I can't believe I'm saying these words. But as we continue to celebrate, the Phillies go into the World Series. Stay with us.

We're coming right back. The return of Red October, indeed. What a Red October it's been. I don't even know if they thought, like, you couldn't tell me that. People are like, oh, well, maybe they'll beat St. Louis. Yeah, sure. And the goal heading into the postseason was like, just get a home playoff game I want to feel that again honestly the original goal was like just get to the playoffs it's been so long can we just end this stupid drought thing the longest drought in the National League blah blah blah like

can we just end that and then it was like all right get us a home playoff game that would be cool at no point were we saying you know let's just roll through the national league yeah and go to the nine and two nine and two dude and it's like obviously tonight was stressful last night was a freaking like once they got rolling it was like get out of the way uh game one was it was stressful you know i mean it's two nothing they had the bow and error in the ninth. Really just the Braves. They just rolled through the Braves. But, man. How many...

I know the run from 07 to 11. There was a lot of moments. But it just feels like there's different level of clutch moments. The Rollins walk-off was really clutch. I guess. Like the Rollins walk-off was really clutch. I guess like the Harper and Rollins walk-off are like – Similar. Very, very similar one too. And obviously we have the Victorino and Stairs-Homers in that game.

Yeah, but even that was like not as late. I agree, man. And it feels like it's been the whole playoffs from the Gene hit to the Castellanos catch to the Reese-Homer to the Harper. You know, like it's just been one thing after another. It's like moment, moment, moment, moment, moment. And you know what makes me – what I think about – I know this is like sappy and I know like –

It's all right. I know this is like – It's all right. Tonight's a night for sap, buddy. I just – I get to tell people and tell the audience and tell my – you know, I think about my future grandkids a lot during moments like this. And it's like I get to – I was here for the Harper home run, man. The Harper home run in the eighth to send the team to the World Series.

That is insane. Well, think about it. Bryce Harper's hit what, including the playoffs, like 350, 304. I don't know what the number is, but he's had a lot of home runs in his career. He's not at 300 yet. I thought he was at 300. Either way, he's hit a bunch of home runs in his career. This is the Bryce Harper home run.

Like, that's it. This is the one. I said it first segment. That's going to be the highlight of Cooperstown. Unless he does it in the World Series. Because the Phils are going, by the way. I want to make sure everyone knows that. Oh, my goodness.

And our guy is going to be – Dude, if he's first off – Do the Astros really want to play the Phils right now? I don't think so. I mean, I know the Astros have been really good. But at the same time, the thing with the Astros is – They haven't even had to work for it, really. They haven't had to work because the Yankees are an embarrassment.

And by the way, is it not sort of hilarious that the Phillies got back to the World Series before the Yankees did? It's incredibly hilarious. Are you kidding me? Oh, my goodness. All right, 215-592-9494. Let's get to some calls. Celebrate with us.

Look who's on the line. Let's go to Mount Airy and talk to our guy, Chuck. Chuck A! Oh, yeah. Yeah. And the winner is 215-994-9494. All right, Chuck. 215-994-9494.

Oh, Chuck, we can't hear you. Oh, Chuck, your phone sounds terrible I'm going to put you on hold, Nick will get you Talk to Chuck, get him good Let's go to Dennis in Mount Laurel Dennis! To quote Al Michaels, do you believe in miracles? Yes!

Dennis, I love you very much You gotta give up the Bryce thing That's our guy, Dennis That's our guy I was at 1980 When they won it and the horses and dogs came out You got to give up the Bryce thing. That's our guy, Dennis. That's our guy. I was at 1980 when they won it and the horses and dogs came out. It was an exhilarating night, and now we're going back. Sheltz, remember a month ago I said to you that the 1980 and the 2008 and this year's Phillies had the same record?

Yeah. No, yeah, that's crazy. Wow. And then you said, I don't think they're going to make it. Well, I'm glad you were they're going to make it. Well, I'm glad you were wrong because they did make it. Yeah, Dennis. And great call, buddy.

And always good to talk to you. Yeah. I don't think anyone. Did anyone really think they were going to make it? Maybe there were a few people. Like, before the playoffs. Maybe there were a few people. Maybe a couple.

And those people were liars. Yes, exactly. Like, none of us really thought we would be sitting here right now talking about the Phillies in the World Series. Let me ask you something. Yes. What was the moment where you thought, like, they really might do it? So it was the Reese Homer. The Reese Homer and that game. Like, that game in general, just beating the snot out of the Braves at home

with the way the crowd was and all that. I was like, whoa, man. And then for real, for real, when we were here for the clincher that next night and they just, again, whooped them again, that was the first time I was like, oh, my goodness. Like, they can win the World Series. Like, this team actually could win the World Series. Like, they have something.

It wasn't that early for me. I mean, props to you for feeling that. Obviously, I needed to see it to believe it. I think it was the Schwarber-Homer. The Schwarber-Homer in game one. It's like, just think about that and that tank shot and just thinking about how we're going to see that for the next, I don't know, the next 30 years.

I mean, obviously we'll see the Harper-Homer for the rest of our lives. That Schwarber home run is going to go down like the Stairs home run. And it's so funny. You know, I'm not a big fan of relating everything to championship runs. But there's been so many things this playoff run that have been so similar to 08 now i don't remember again 4-3 tonight i know i'm like how weird is that i don't remember i don't remember a big error late at all in the 08 run like the boom error in game one um the reese misplay over here like they were just a better defensive team but i don't remember like, defense really killing them in that run and being like, oh, bleep, here we go again.

But think about it. Like, the Reese Homer after the start at bat, much like the Myers at bat, Reese being in the two-hole and having a massive, like, tone-setting home run, you know, there's just been little things that keep happening. The stairs Homer. Zach Wheeler morphing into 08 Cole Hamels. I don't think there's one that compares to the Bryce homer. I really don't.

Even in the World Series, I mean, the oddly home run in game one was a tone setter, but it wasn't like – that's what I expect Schwarber to do in the World Series. You know what I mean? Even in the NLCS, it wasn't that year, but the closest comp is the J-Roll walk-off. But it's so amazing how symmetrical these two things are. And when you have something special, buddy, just get out of the way.

You're damn right, buddy. Just get out of the way. You are damn right. All right, let's go back to Mount Airy and talk to Chuck. You there, Chuckie? Yo, can y'all hear me now? Oh, we got you loud and clear, Chucky. Give it to us, pal.

Yo, and Jack Shelton. Hey, listen. Jay Shelton, Jack Fritz. We are dancing with the prettiest girl in the party. I told you. When the Phillies were going to go to the World Series, I said we had to get in. We had to get in. We had to dance.

Or we're going to stand against the wall, Jack. What are we doing right now? We're dancing, baby. We're in the dance, pal. We're dancing on our own, Chucky. That's what we're doing, buddy. Dancing on our own, man. You know what I mean? This team, man, sometimes with Jack, with this guy, Bryce Harper, man,

sometimes we take for granted what he does. This guy is amazing, man. He is the man. Bryce Harper is the man. I got the utmost respect for that what he does. This guy is amazing, man. He is the man. Bryce Harper is the man. I got the utmost respect for that guy, man. The way he just stepped up to the plate, cool, calm, and collected, and hit that thing out the park. He gave us that lead, and we ain't relinquish it.

Man, what a team effort. What a superstar. And I tell you, bring on Justin Berlander. Bring on Manny Machado, bring all those guys. Bring them all. What? Not Manny Machado. Jordan Alvarez, you meant. Bring on Jordan Alvarez.

Yeah, Jordan Alvarez. Yeah, Otuve. Yeah, Otuve. Yeah, that little leprechaun. Bring them all on. Because I tell you right now, you're coming in here to the Terra Dome. Philadelphia right now, the Terra Dome, baby. And we're about to win another World Series unexpectedly.

Let's go. P-H-R-L-L-I-E-S. Billy! Chuck A! A great call. My guy. I love Chuck. And again, hearing the emotion in everyone's voices,

hearing and to his point, I mean, you've said it a bunch of times, but superstars don't always, very rarely step up to the level this guy did in this series. And then to like cap it off tonight, like with the, again, one of the greatest moments in Philly's history. Honestly. Philadelphia sports. Yeah, Philadelphia sports. Philadelphia sports history.

You're absolutely right. You're absolutely right. And that vaults him into the uncharted territory that not a lot of our athletes get to. Totally. And for him, too, as, like, we all know Bryce by now. He's been here, what, four years now? Like, or three and a half, whatever it's been.

Like, no one loves baseball more than this guy. He's like a freaking nerd about baseball. And you know that for that guy, how much more it matters to do that. And what I appreciate and love about Bryce is, you know, he's always talking about the history of the game. Like, he's always talking about the history of the game. Like, he knows so much about the history of the game. He's a baseball nerd. And he knows, like, the big moments.

And you know he's going to go home tonight, and he's going to sit there, and he's going to say, I just had one of those all-time moments that someone's going to look at and be like, I remember the Bryce homer. Well, in the dugout, apparently, we didn't see it. But on the TV copy, they caught him saying, I really just did that. Like, he was like, wow. Like, I can't believe I just did that. His reaction was so funny when they hit the home run.

I know. They're like, what are you doing? Run. He's just watching it. I think we were running up and down the concourse here. He didn't even touch home yet, I don't think. We were running up and down just hugging everyone we could see. I definitely picked you up.

Oh, yeah. I got you. I think I might have picked you up, too, at one point. That's more impressive than me picking you up, pal. We know how big that is. But he was – it's like he just wanted to feel all of it. Like he wanted to feel what that crowd was like and know that he just sent this whole city into a frenzy, man.

Like he sent this whole place into bedlam. Like Franski said it. Bedlam at the bank, baby. Bedlam at the bank. I mean, just already put that on my tombstone. I know. As soon as I heard the call, when he said Bedlam at the bank,

I was like, that's the coolest thing I've ever heard anyone say in my life. Like, yes, Bedlam at the bank. Bedlam at the bank. First off, sounds like a headline that you're going to see on the Daily News or Philadelphia Inquirer tomorrow. But Bedlam at the bank is such a perfect way to encapsulate

what has happened here the last two weeks. It has been Bedlam. And Chuck brought it up. And these guys, they're going – the Houston Astros, you know, at some point you've got to be bored of it, right? You know, this is your sixth straight LCS. You're going to the World Series again. Yawn.

I don't know if they're going to be totally ready for this. Yeah, dude. I'm right there with you. And what a weird thing. Dude, I can't wait to shelve our lander. I need to shelve our lander. And also, it's going to be a weird thing for us. Get ready.

America's rooting for us, guys. We never have that. We are never America's rooting for us, guys. Yep. Like, we never have that. Like, we are never America's darling. Welcome, America. But we're facing a bunch of cheaters, and America's going to be on our side. Welcome, America. We're going to the World Series.

All right, it's Fritz and Seltzer until 10 o'clock. Get on the lines. We'll continue to take your calls, continue to celebrate a miraculous night in Philadelphia as the Phillies are going to the World Series. It's Fritz at Seltzer. We're coming right back. Two strikes to Bryce Harper.

Suarez delivers. Swing and a drive. Left field. It's deep. It's going. And it is gone. Yes. It is bedlam at the bank as Bryce Harper has put the Phillies on top

are you kidding me his 10th career home run in the postseason and he may never hit a bigger one are you kidding me LA let me tell you buddy that's exactly what I'm thinking right now. And, again, I just – we keep saying it. It feels like a dream. This doesn't feel real. It feels so unbelievable, like so magical that this team has done what they've done over the last three weeks and just rolled through the National League. And now they're heading to the World Series.

Great point from our producer, Nick, by the way. The Astros just lost to two straight NLEs teams in the World Series in recent memory here. How about that? If you're looking for trends, just throwing that out there. Yeah, that's a good trend. That's a good trend to have heading into the World Series. And I just keep coming back to like this never happens

to us like we we have to sit there and watch these teams go on magical runs and and and our guys are dope and it makes it that much more cool you know when it when it does come out of nowhere and you think about this team you know they they sign castellanos they go over the luxury tax and we're like okay they're gonna they're gonna going to end the playoff drought. They're going to get back to the playoffs. But they're probably still flawed. They probably need another starter. The bullpen's not totally complete, whatever.

And here we are. I know. He looks so miserable, doesn't he? Howard Eskin. Howard Eskin. Right outside the booth right now. I know. I know.

The king. Yep. A guy who never died on this team. Never once. He's positive. There he is. I know. I know. The king. Yep. A guy who never died on this team. Never once. He's positive. There he is. Positive all year long. Howard Eskin.

Howard Eskin in the house. Yes. Reality is reality. And the Phillies are in the World Series, Howard. That's reality. How about that? Yep. How about that?

Can you believe it? The Phillies are in the World Series. How about it? Well, I got to figure it out. We can figure it out. Give me one second. Yeah. Why don't you put that one on while he figures out that one.

Howard Eskin, pop it into the booth with us. There you go. Look at this. This is a professional operation we are running here. Yeah. There we go. You know. There we go.

Howard's going to get the mic on. There we go. Howard. There you go. We got it. We got it. You know, there we go. Howard's going to get the mic on. There we go. Howard. There you go. We got it. We got it. I guess it doesn't matter. There he is.

Howard Eskin in the house. The King. Howard, your reaction. The Philadelphia Phillies are going to the World Series, Howard. You know what? As Al Michael said, miracles do happen. I know. I know.

That's the reality of this. I mean, let's be honest. If you guys can, you know, take yourself away from the emotion, in the middle of September, even the all-time homer Jack Fritz thought they were in trouble. The last week of the season, 10 road games, Milwaukee's known for seven against average teams. But you can thank Matt Klentak because he screwed that team up too.

Going, he works for the Brewers because they sucked. But that helped. And then you take this in stages. The first game in St. Louis, they get a break because the manager for St. Louis didn't manage right. But theillies took advantage of it and then they took advantage down the line and then they beat a very good atlanta team and then san diego wasn't chopped liver and they beat them and then the home run i said to bryce arper i was walking out of his news conference i, you were looking for a fastball.

He says, my lips are sick. Howard, put that into context. The Bryce Harper home run. I mean, you've been to a lot of Philly sports. You've been doing this for a long time. Like, one of the most magical moments in my life watching Philly sports, where does that home run rank for you context-wise in Philly sports history? Home runs during the season, I think, have become,

because everybody tries to hit them, become kind of like ordinary. But think about this game, and I'll take it back. There was like four hits apiece going into the seventh or eighth inning. It was a 2-2 game until San Diego scored. That's a regular season game. You say, man, I'm out of here in the seventh. Really, think about that. But the whole dynamic of everything changes when you get to the playoffs.

Dramatics become bigger. So the pitcher threw a fastball, and that was the end of that. And Harper was obviously, you know, it's obvious he was sitting on it and waiting for it. I've seen dramatic home runs, and I go back before you guys were born. 1980 was my first experience of a world series championship for a Philadelphia team. Everyone's everyone's first experience.

Yeah. Mike Schmidt hits a home run in Montreal to get them into the playoffs. And I'm saying, oh, my God. They just, you know, in Montreal, which, again, you think, how are they going to win in Montreal? Montreal was a good team at that time. So I look back at that. But we never really can judge things on the past

when we're in the present of what we just saw. That was a really, really, really big home run. And that gets them into the World Series. So is it the most dramatic home run? There's probably been a lot of them. I've seen Jim Tomey hit a lot of home runs. I've seen Greg Leszczynski going back home runs. Mike Schmidt hit home runs. Reese Hoskins has a lot of home runs. I've seen Greg Leszczynski going back home runs. Mike Schmidt hit home runs.

Reese Hoskins has had some big home runs. We know he's not the greatest fielder in the world, but you don't want to live with it, but you have to live with it because you know his offense is good, and he's going to get some hits for you, and he's going to hit home runs. So the dramatics of that home run, because of what it meant, what it did, put the Phillies up, and then it pushes them into the World Series.

You can barely even get it out. It's hard to believe. That's the point. It's unbelievable. Because they were, and I'm not trying to criticize them, they were an average team in the middle of September. Yeah. Really, that's what they were.

Sure. But it doesn't matter. It's the moment. So you don't want to think about the World Series because Houston's going to win that series, obviously. But they are a really good team. If they beat Houston, it is probably – if the Phillies beat Houston and win the World Series,

it's probably the most unexpected baseball team to win in probably the last 15 years at least. You know, I'm trying to think back. I'm trying to page through all the things. You know, wildcard teams have won, but not the sixth wildcard team, who was really an average team going in. And if the Washington Nationals didn't exist, who knows what their record would have been.

But it's just, it's all, you know, obviously they believe in themselves, but they still have to go out there and perform and still have to do good things and still have to drive in runners when they're in scoring position. And they're going to have to do all those things moving forward. But, you know, Bryce Harper keeps on talking about four more wins. Yeah, so they're four more wins away. But so will Houston be four more wins away when they get there that's

okay that's the way it works yeah and so yeah it's just it was it's interesting and it's just it's amazing that's what it is it's amazing waste of the whole thing and I'm not a beer drinker but I know you guys probably drink more than your share they wasted so much beer in that locker room. They wasted so much beer. The champagne was gone immediately. You can only get so much champagne. They gave me a can of beer. I said, don't drink.

It doesn't matter. Take the beer. So it's crazy. And I actually was prepared this time, and I wore, like, one of those plastic ponchos. Smart. Look at you. So I didn't get it. Yeah, you're dry right now. That's good.

I didn't even know you were there. I still stink from beer and champagne, but whatever the case. It's worth it, Howard. It's worth it. Yeah, it was an amazing moment. And then I don't know that I would have pitched, but it doesn't matter, whether I would have been the alignment of pitchers that Rob Thompson used.

I don't know that I would have gone to Sir Anthony so early, but as it turns out, it's better that he did, but I don't know that I would have done that. Better that he did because he obviously didn't have it today. Then you leave, your closer is Robertson.

I don't know that I would have done that either. Matter of fact, I wouldn't have done. But he had the stones to pull him and bring him. He knew that Ranger was in his hip pocket if he needed him. And, you know, for one inning, that's all you care about is one. Yep. So and then people are going to criticize Bob Melvin for bunning. It's all time baseball.

I'm criticizing him for not bringing in Hader against Harper. I would have probably done that, but then he would have had to get six outs. But you know, whatever. These pitch ones in the series. No, there were no outs at that point. So it would have to be a six out save. Yeah, I would have brought in Hader

against Harper. No doubt about it. And he's a good manager too. Yeah, he's had a great career. Managers, I don't know in Hayter against Harper. No doubt about it. And he's a good manager too. Yeah, he's had a great career. But like I said, managers, I don't know if he lost the game. I don't know if they win him. Because you could say Rob Thompson's done everything right. Those players won that game. No doubt.

No doubt. And he just kept the trains on the track. No doubt. And that's what he's doing. He's keeping the trains on the track. Love it. It's just been a long one howard but a good one yeah i just uh that's all right i mean i do what i do you do what you do and

and you get to witness amazing things howard what a pleasure thank you for coming home with us my friend it's you guys here and you know it's you guys should feel at home there's nobody here for you so that's why i came in hey uh i had to get the little shot in there at the end howard thank you this is really cool you know 215-592-9494 the king yep howard eskin in the house for a magical night at citizens bank oh he seems all magic though oh yeah he's fired up yeah he's excited about this World Series for sure. For sure. All right, let's go back to the phones. Let's go to Wilmington and talk to Jeff. What up, Jeff?

Yo, dude, World Series. World Series? I, I, I, okay, I started believing after the Hoskins home run like you did. Like, I was all in then. Before, I was just like, all right, let's just get what we can get, and if we don't do it, next year, you know, right around the corner. But now, it's on. It we can get. And if we don't do it, next year, you know, right around the corner. But now it's on. It's just on. And listen to this.

Yeah. Oh, there it is. Victory honk. The victory horn. Love to hear it. I was driving. It's tough enough doing this job, but I'm driving, and I'm listening to Franski,

and I was five miles away from where I needed to be, and I was like, I'm just going to keep going. I'm not even going to pull over. I'll just, oh, man. I was just like, phew. I mean, I didn't think the Hoskins home run could be topped as far as excitement that I felt, and I know you guys felt. Well, I know at least James.

But, man, that Harper home run, my God. I mean, the guy's legendary dude I mean he's had legendary status for probably most of his baseball life going from you know you know moving up the ranks and all that but my god man he's just I I don't know man I'm with you Jeff um like it is and and great call buddy it is again for it to be Bryce Harper in that moment. It's never the biggest star, to your point. It's always someone who, oh, look at their moment. Bryce Harper is going to be in the Hall of Fame someday.

He won the MVP last year, and for him to have this moment after having the series he had, honestly, it's it's honestly it's almost too good to be true it's hard to contextualize what Bryce is doing right like when you start when you start thinking about the the guys in this city that we hold in the highest regard right like uh the old older time people will say Chuck Bednarik and the the legendary picture of him standing over you know Frank Gifford or whatever. It's like that's a legendary moment for a legend in this city.

Schmitter, obviously Schmitter's 500th and, you know, World Series and that kind of stuff. You know, you think about Dawkins. Well, I just really – it's the hit on Crumpler. You know, and you think about what Bryce did today to vault himself into a category that I wasn't sure he was ever going to really be at. He was a guy when they signed him where I was like, wow, they've got a really good player for a really long time

that I think is really going to help him. I never thought he was going to win an MVP here. Because I was like, oh, well, Acuna is really good. Tatis is really good. Soto is really good. He's got really good. Soto's really good. He's got a lot of competition to go up against. And what he's done the last two years is remind everyone of how freaking good at baseball this

guy is. And if you told me he's going to go and have a 1,500-whatever OPS in the playoffs, I'd be like, wow, that's... No, that's not going to happen. And he's done it, man. Like, this is different. I don't remember – I don't remember our stars having postseasons like this.

Like, the one that comes to mind is obviously AI in 01, you know, carrying that team to the finals. Like, this team is better than that team. But when it comes down to our one guy just kind of being like going and playing at a superstar level at the most important times like it just doesn't happen um and what he's doing is he's just he's continuing to cement a legacy here of an all-time philly like we're gonna like 10 years from now well he might still be playing here 10 years which is, which is insane. But we play all the highlights of the 07 to 11 guys.

And we're going to be romanticizing about the Bryce home run that happened here today and how big it was and how that's a home run that didn't make them have to get on a plane and go back to San Diego and possibly lose a series. I mean, there was a part of me that was like, if they get on a plane to San Diego, I don't have much confidence we're coming back here going to the World Series. Blake Snell talked before the game about this doesn't matter.

We'll get back to San Diego and we'll be in front of our crowds. I was like, ah. I don't want them to believe again. I want them to end it today so that the Padres don't believe again. That's what that homer was. That homer just changed the course of the franchise. We're going to the World Series. We're going to the World Series.

And Bryce Harper put us there. Let's go to Phoenix and talk to our guy, Jim. Jimmy! Boys, we're going to the World Series. We're going to the World Series, Jimmy. I know, Jim. I mean, talk about one guy that never doubted. I mean, Jim's been talking World Series for a while here.

Jim's been all over it, Jim. Credit to you, buddy. The power of positivity. I'll tell you, these guys are what makes this really, really fun and a great trip going through this next week or two is they're so likable. They're such a likable group. You just want to pull for them, you know, even if they have bad times, you just want to pick them up and pull for them

and get them going on the right track again. Like, you know, he felt so bad on Reese when he made that error, and then for him to snap back and hit, you know, the two-run homer and the two-run homer and another two-run homer, that was the magic thing was the two-run homer and the two-run homer and another two-run homer. That was the magic thing was the two-run homer. And then I just, when Bryce came up to the plate, I just felt it. I said to myself, wouldn't this be great if he could just launch one here? I said, I just want to see Citizens Bank Park shake.

And sure enough, they showed the camera angles when he hit the home run because, you know, they showed it four or five times, and you literally could see the ballpark shaking. And that was so exciting. And then, you know, I listened to the captain. The captain has a U-2. I listened to him, and you get some really close shots from the right field up the deck where he does that stuff.

And that is so fun. You know, just like you're in the crowd, and you're literally in the crowd. And I just couldn't be happier for you guys as Philly fans. I know you're just over the moon right now and looking forward to the World Series. And Nick stole my thunder. I was going to tell you that they don't like to play the NL East, but you guys already mentioned that. So I think there could be some magic dust around.

I know they're a great team. Houston cannot be undervalued at all. They're a great team. But there's just something about at all. They're a great team, but there's just something about our team. They've just got it going, guys, and let's ride the momentum and let's have some fun. I've been telling everybody all year long, enjoy

the ride as soon as Topper took over, and what a job by that guy. The decision-making that he makes on those pitching changes that he made and to pull Robertson, who's been a closer to his life and in the playoffs and all that experience, and just the gut feeling.

He says, I've got to get him out of there because he doesn't have his curveball today. And to bring in scores that he just gets. There wasn't even time to get nervous, guys. There wasn't time to get nervous. Jimmy, great call. Great call, as always. And, look, he brings up the point about how likable the team is.

And I think that's part of, like, how funny and unexpected this thing is, is that we didn't even know they were likable until they clinched. And then the celebrations and the dancing on my own. And then it's just like, oh, another celebration. And, you know, eight more top or four. Like, all this stuff. Like, it was just like all of a sudden in the span of like a week we fell in love with all these guys and we fell in love with the way they love each other and the culture that they have and the chemistry and all that like we didn't know like we didn't know that

these guys cared for each other that way and they believed in each other that way and they celebrated that way and that's been one of the funnest parts of this whole thing it's like when you go away to college and you see your high school buddies party for like the first time it's like wow this is not the side of you that i had seen that i grown up uh knowing um and and i don't think it'd be we haven't talked about this yet but dave dombrowski man shout out to like what yet, but Dave Dombrowski, man. Shout out to Dave, man. What a job. Dave Dombrowski came here, and you and I, well, mostly me,

I was very like, I wasn't happy with it because I was like, oh, my gosh, they're trying to overcorrect and they're going to go old school, and the sport is not going back to the old school way. The sport is advancing, and I didn't want them to take a step back. I know the clan tactic fail thing was a disaster. You know, and I just had this terrible feeling that he's going to try to trade all of our prospects, and he's going to get away from analytics, and he's going to do this and do that.

And, you know, two weeks in, I was like, nope, he knows what he's doing. He knows where the sport's going. He's not a dumb baseball guy. Like, he's not just this hardened old guy that's not going to adjust with the way the sport is trending. And it can't be overstated what he knows about building winners. And he talked this week with John Clark aboutark about kyle schwarber and how like kyle schwarber he said is is one of the best clubhouse presences he ever been around and the only one that's comparable is darren dalton yeah like that's insane for his amount of the amount

of winners that guy has built to to to utter the name darren dalton when it comes to leadership and walk into a clubhouse and commanding a presence about them, like the guy knows how to build winners, and the guy knows what the ingredients are. Going out and getting Brandon Marsh. Well, that's what I was going to say. I mean, just look at his deadline. You know, I mean, to get Brandon Marsh,

obviously Robertson wasn't great tonight, but Robertson has had moments for this team. He went out, and Syndergaard even had his moment. You know, like all the deadline moves he made have mattered. And Marsh obviously like totally changed the complexion of the defense. I said to you the other night, I was like, I want every ball hit to center field. Like every single ball just hit it there and I'm good.

No, it's a great point about Dabowski. You know, going out and getting Sosa. What's up, buddy? Going out and getting. I love you just saying what's up, buddy. To people who are outside the fishbowl that were in chat. To Mike Tafuri, that's who he's saying what's up, buddy? Going out and getting... I love you just saying what's up, buddy, to people who are outside the fishbowl that were in chat. To Mike Tafuri, that's who he's saying what's up, buddy, too. Very funny, though. I appreciate you

just going full stream of consciousness. But, you know, and going out and getting Amundo Sosa, you know, and shoring up the defense. Like, the first half of the year, it was like, ah, defense, smash the bell, yada, yada, yada. And they're like, oh, no, wait, hold on. We do need to, you know, prevent runs getting on the board. So they souped up the defense. And they're like, oh, no, wait, hold on. We do need to, you know, prevent runs getting on the board. So they souped up the defense.

And, you know, stick me with Alec Boehm. And James, this hasn't been talked about at all. We haven't talked about it, and that's because we're bad at our jobs. But Odubo Herrera's not here. And Didi's not here. And Jerry's familia's not here. And cutting the dead weight at the deadline and just going all in on the vibes of this team and going all in on the young players and trusting them I

mean we've said this before but the thing that I think the biggest difference between Rob Thompson and Joe Girardi is that Joe Girardi had absolutely no faith in the young guys and the second that he was gone he started hearing about Philly's daycare they're having big hits they're having big moments they're playing more confidence. Stoddy got hot. Bum started to figure it out a little bit. Vierling had some moments. And a veteran-laden

executive who has navigated this for a long time, has built multiple World Series championship teams, went down the stretch run with a rookie at shortstop. That doesn't happen. You know, that does not happen very often. He trusted Rob Thompson and shot at the day at the Browse.

Yeah, man. I mean, and look, cutting Odubel and Familia, like, sure, that makes sense. We're all like, but it took Stones to get rid of Didi. That's a vet who people like and all that, like in the locker room and all that clubhouse. So, yeah, I'm with you, man. Dave had a vision, and he executed it, and we're going to the World Series right now. He knows winners, man. He just knows winning baseball.

Let's go to Philly and talk to Rob. Rob. Oh, my God, Jack. I'm so excited. You know me. I want to introduce myself to Jack. Jack, my two favorite people today are Bryce Harper and you. Wow.

Wow, that's a big one, Robbie. Because they know me. I'm 76 years old. I've been a fan of the Phillies since I was seven back in the 50s. I lived through the 23-game losing streak in 61 to 64. So I'm a baseball guy. To hear you with your enthusiasm and your tremendous knowledge of the game that you have.

Well, Rob, I couldn't appreciate that anymore, man. It means a ton. I love listening like I know that was painful in the moment uh for you to go for 23 game losing streak in 1964 but like I love hearing like just passionate baseball talk it's the it's the greatest thing in the world yeah before you cut me off you want two thick quick things Grisham Bonano on his own he's in a swamp he just he just chickened out you know he just wanted to try and get a hit with it and then the other thing I was I was like really optimistic.

As long as that manager didn't bring in Hayter. I don't know why he didn't bring Hayter. At this stage, you put all the chips on the table at this stage. You follow me? Rob, literally, Jack and I couldn't believe it. We kept saying, I kept looking at the bullpen. I'm like, all right, Hayter's warming up. And then when Harper walked to the plate and I turned to Jack, I'm like, Bob Melvin's not coming out.

Bob Melvin's not coming out. Bob Melvin's not coming out. Like, we couldn't believe it, Rob. And I was hoping he'd get like a double or something. I was not expecting a home run. I don't think, I mean, like we were hoping for it, but we wouldn't be,

and great call, Rob. We wouldn't be Phillies fans if we were truly expecting it because this stuff never happens to us, man. We never see that. We never see that. And I do hope that they are crafting a LCS ring for Bob Melvin.

Just a dynamic job. Again, they had to fix the field because it was so wet, so you had extra time for him to warm up, dude. It's so reminiscent of Buck Showalter having Zach Britton in the bullpen in the 2014 playoffs. It's illogical. You have Josh freaking Hader, who is back, by the way. It's a lefty-lefty matchup.

Bryce is the only thing that matters. If Nick Castellanos beats you on a lefty-righty matchup, then you tip your cap to Nick Castellanos. You just say, don't let Bryce beat you. That's it. That's all you have to say in that spot. That's all that matters.

It's all that matters is do not let Bryce beat me. And you let Bryce beat him. And then, I don't know if it's a Bob Melvin call or a Trent Grisham call, but bunting

when you have the momentum and a pitcher who is coming in and closing. With one out. First and second one out, he bunted. And Rangers, what, 26?

Yeah. Like 26, and it has a chance to pitch his team to the World Series to the to the world series you know for the first time in 13 years like of course of course he's gonna be nervous and he just calmed it all down by calling for a bunt it was so stupid it was so stupid craft the ring for bob melvin such an amazing given an lcs right again like when do these

things go our way when do these things go our way? When do these things go our way? 215-592-9494. We're with you for another hour till 10 o'clock. We'll continue to take your calls. We'll continue to celebrate as the Phillies are going to the World Series. It's Fritz at Seltzer. We're coming right back.

3-0 pitch. Swung on. Hit deep left field, and the Phillies have the lead. Reese Hoskins comes up huge again. His fifth holder of the playoffs, his fourth of the league championship series. God, if you want to think about someone to be happy for tonight. Yeah. Reese Hoskins.

I mean, you mentioned it before, but for him to have been here through all of it and to hear the stories, and you mentioned he came on the midday show, and you could hear the emotion in his voice talking about how important it was for him to be a part of a Phillies team that went to the playoffs and for it to play out like this and for him to have, like, multiple moments like he has had. It's pretty amazing. Today was great. But, man, last night, too.

I mean, he has this. Last night, the one to make it 6-6 was, like, one of the biggest hits of the playoffs. And the homer to get him right back in and almost calm everyone's nerves down and think like, okay, we got this. And then obviously the Braves home run, which is just something that, again, I'll never forget. So I was thinking about the Houston series,

and some of the advantage I think the Phillies have is obviously the crowd. I mean, the crowd's going to be insane here. But at the same time, I think there's going to be a lot of Phillies fans making a trip down to Houston, and I don't think it's going to be impossible to get World Series tickets. This isn't a fan base that has not seen World Series games forever. They've been there multiple times the last few years. I don't think they're dying for a championship.

Let's be honest. They're not close to the same type of fan base we are, period. Right? And if we eventually get to the point, possibly, if we get a game down there after an Eagles game on Thursday night, that would be even more insane. Having the Eagles fans make their way over to Minute Maid Park. Can you imagine?

For that. So I think it's going to be really cool. I think legitimately Houston is not going to be this huge home field advantage that I think a lot of people are going to peg it as, you know, heading into the series because I think there's going to be so many Philly fans making that travel down and going down and trying to make that place their home because this city, again, they're just so behind this baseball team and they're ready to continue to make an impact.

And I'm not totally sure Houston's ready for it. You know, Cora was kind of their their big leader the last couple years um like atuve is definitely obviously 100 still a part of it um at the same time like they're starting a rookie at shortstop you know bregman's been there before atuve's been there before jordan's gonna be just terrifying he's the guy yeah he's gonna be jordan's the guy absolutely terrifying um i will say this i need to get this out there um if chas mccormick decides to show up and destroy my hopes and dreams of a World Series, he's officially not a Philly guy.

He's not a Philly guy. He's not allowed to see any tweets or anything about, oh, Phil, no. It's over. It's over, buddy. I'm not saying to throw the series, but throw the series. Throw the series. And again, it's also a rematch of one of the greatest series in postseason history, the 1980 NLCS.

Funny enough, the Astros, a National League team back then, but a five-game series. Four of those five games went to extra innings. Think about that. Think about how we would all be like, we would die. We would not be able to handle it. Well, I was barely able to. I swear to you, James, I was barely able to – I swear to you, James.

I was barely able to handle today. Me too. I was just pacing back and forth. I wasn't really talking to anyone. I was like – also, I couldn't really see. I had to be on my tippy-toes, and this thing I was got in front of me was able to help me out with that, which is great. I wouldn't be able to handle it from that standpoint.

Also, another thing about the Houston series, massive that it doesn't start until Friday. Huge, dude. Oh, my God. And for as great as Wheels was tonight, like Zach Wheeler was really good, the most interesting thing about his postseason so far is that when he gets to like 80 pitches,

he was throwing 94 tonight in the seventh. And I know there was a lot of critique of pulling him out of the game. It's like, man, Velocity's going down. Cronenworth just ripped a single off of him. You know, it's time to get him out of there. Saranthini could get the job done. That's going to happen. It also started downpouring.

It was the hardest rain of the whole night was that half inning. And then, you know, Major League Baseball let another team tie it up. Unbelievable, right? It's ridiculous. It was so weird. It would be pouring when the Phillies are pitching, and then it would just stop raining. It was so weird, dude.

Like, let me tell you, like, being here, that's what happened. It was so strange. Come on, baseball gods, give us one. Oh, wait, you did. We're in the World Series. All right, 215-592-9494. Let's go back to the phones. Celebrate with us.

Let's go to Ocean City and talk to Chris. Christopher! Yo, forget about dancing on my own. I went straight to sobbing on Control-B on my own. Like, I'm not even going to lie. Yes. That was, I mean, it was like, dude, it was like finishing like a 12-round title fight that was unbelievable, the ebbs and flows for the last two games.

And just thinking of where we came from, like, you know, I was out. I was out on this team. And you think when we overcame, I mean, you already mentioned Oduble and Chameleon and all that. But the gene injury, the bullpen woes, the Bryce injury, Ben Simmons' house, for Christ's sake. I mean, we overcame so much. Almost collapsed again in September.

They came so close to doing it again in September. And what's crazy is that, like, I think we forget, Bryce Harper is injured right now. That's why he's the DH. And for him to perform like he did, I mean, how is this guy even a human being? He's got to be like a demigod or a cyborg or something. He is like, it's one of the greatest things I've ever seen in my life.

It's just unbelievable. I still can't believe it. I can't believe it. I can't believe it. I mean, this is basically the equivalent of T.O. going for 150 in the Super Bowl on a broken leg. I mean, obviously the Bryce injury is not as severe, but

I'm talking about a great player having an unbelievable run. But he's done it over 11 games. But he's done it over 11 games. That's the difference. It's not just one game. Chris, I don't know if we're gonna see this again i go i'm trying to take this all in now because this is this is something that never ever happens to us this is special it's remarkable and i think it has the positive the potential to change the narrative around the city nationally i mean the the press

and the coverage that we're getting has been fantastic. And also, thank God the Eagles were on a bye. I could not handle another game. I couldn't do it. Chris, great call. I didn't even care about – I forgot football was happening. I was like – someone said like the Giants one. I was like, what?

Oh, yeah, football. That happened. I couldn't care less because we were here for this. And, look, I'll say it. You saw me i cried i cried i cried after the final out i freaking cried i called my wife and i cried on the phone to her because i it again like it's just so meaningful it is so meaningful to be back here if you love jack said this before but if you love the phies, if you're like us, where you watch 155, 160, 162, 140, whatever it is, like if you are with this team night in, night out, and have been there the last 11 years and really the last like five years where

they just keep disappointing him and getting so close and making us believe and bringing us back in, like just like it's all compounded to this moment. You felt again, I said this last week, it's the same thing in a day, like in this ballpark, you felt every day of those 11 years, every single day of it, you felt it being in here. And to, to have it play out like this in this, just, you know, again, just magical like dream type of way with Bryce Harper hitting the go-ahead home run in the bottom of the eighth inning, like at home in front of us.

Like it's just, again, even saying it, I'm like, I'm getting chills, and I don't believe that it's actually real. That's where I'm at. I'm still not sure it's real. I don't know if I can confirm. And thinking about the ballpark, there were so many times in the last couple years it was like yeah we just go to the phillies game and hang out for a couple hours and like there's no one around you know you wouldn't have to wait in line for a beer or anything like opening days were were packed and when the when

the dodgers or the red sox or the yankees or the mets came to town i was like oh okay the ballpark kind of has that feel to it again but man the man, the feeling is just – it's so back. It is so back in the ballpark. It's so loud. And, you know, at the end here, Andrew Painter is walking by. Yeah. I said, we'll see you next year, buddy. You did, buddy.

And there's no way that, you know, a guy like Andrew Painter, who is like probably the best pitcher in the basketball under 20 years old uh it's not like seeing this crowd and being like i want to be there yeah you know i want to be there next year and being a part of this i don't know how you could be a player anywhere watching this and not well i want to play there i know part of that i know and and believe me i i was thinking in the moment as i was looking around i was like what do you think trey turner's thinking right now, what do you think Trey Turner's thinking right now? Like, what do you think Carlos Correa's thinking right now? What are you thinking of?

And it's like, obviously those guys are great players, but at the same time, it's like, look at what we've got here. And look at our guys. And it would be a bummer to see Gene go. Like, I love Gene Segura, man. The bat spikingiking all of it like he he cares so much about this he cares he for we talk about the the postseason drought and like he wore it he wore that postseason drought on him um and and and him just being able to have this is another

like good for you like good for you man a lot of these guys it, good for you. Like, good for you, man. A lot of these guys, it's good for you moments. To your point, like, it's a lot of things where it's, like, the culmination of careers and stuff like that. And obviously there's still more to come and stuff. But Gene Segar waited 1,328 baseball games to play in the playoffs. Well, we waited 1,400 plus. Yeah, we did. But the funny thing is, he was 2012.

He started his career. He was a rookie in 2012. So Gene Segar went on the exact same drought as we did. Yep. And then he gets to have his moments. Relatable. Yeah. Relatable.

It's really special. Let's keep it rolling. Let's go to Tennessee and talk to our guy, Justin. What up, feller? What's happening, fellers? I am tickled to death for y'all, man. I swear I couldn't be happier for you. I, too, am tickled to death.

Yeah, I'm tickled. There's no doubt. I'm very tickled to death yeah i'm tickled there's no doubt i'm very i was sitting here watching the game i wasn't watching any football i was so pissed when they didn't like delay it because it was pouring down rain when sir anthony was pitched i'm like are you kidding me why can you why are you keeping them out there it was it was pouring down the rain that had to have affected him. Oh, without a doubt. I mean, the run scored on a freaking wild pitch or whatever it was.

Like, I'm sure it played a role. Exactly. I mean, I know they have to get these games in because of the late start to the season. But, my God, man, when it's raining like that, you know, have a little common sense about you. Yeah, I mean, they don't want to stop games. That's clear. They had to stop it in 08 game 5 or else it was like, we're playing in a damn near hurricane.

They clearly just didn't want to do it. And thankfully for the Phils, they got out of that inning and it wasn't like a total disaster. They lost the lead, but it wasn't like a total disaster. I haven't seen three straight wild pitches like that. I mean, that just doesn't happen. So they got unlucky.

And the whole story this whole postseason, Justin, has been resiliency. You want to add another level of resiliency to this team? That's what I was about to say. Whenever JT came up in the eighth and got that base hit, and I saw that they weren't bringing Hader in, I said this thing's fixing to be tight. Yep. I knew it was going to be tight.

I didn't think Harper would go opposite field. But, like, I know you guys were there. But what happened is exactly what John Schmoltz said was going to happen if he threw one on the outside. He said, watch out because he can go opposite field on you and drive it to left center. And that's exactly what happened on the very next pitch, dude. It was awesome.

I was screaming. My wife said, what are you doing? I said, I'm watching the baseball game. I'm so happy for you guys and my friend down here that you all have become friends with, Tony. Shout out to Tony. We love you, Tony. Go, Phil and Tony.

I'm tickled to death for you guys, man. I'm pulling hard for you, so I'm calling the shot now. Phil's in six. It's a wonderful world for you, so I'm calling the shot now. Bills in six. It's a wonderful world. Bills are going to win the World Series. Bows are undefeated. Eagles are undefeated. Go Bills.

I love you, boys. I mean, you're the best, Justin. Justin is just living in it down there. Yeah, man. And it is pretty crazy. Like, again, we're just talking Bills tonight, but it is a pretty damn good time to be a Philadelphia sports fan. Dude, I said this earlier. Give me Verlander here.

I've moved on from going to the World Series. Like, I need the Justin, Justin. I need Verlander here. I don't want him in Houston. I know he's going to pitch game one, whatever. Game five here. Game five here. Let's do it. Give me Verlander here. I don't want him in Houston. I know he's going to pitch game one. Whatever. Game five here. Game five here. Let's do it.

Give me Verlander. And, like, I'm trying to think of the, like, Framber is really, really good. Yeah, and McCullers is good. Like, they have great pitching. Oh, stop. Lance McCullers is going to come in here and win it. Look at you.

I like it. No shot. The Astros are really good. Like, they are a super talented team. The pitching staff, I showed you the stat. Yeah. It's pretty amazing. So the Astros, except for two guys, and between them,

I think they pitched like 13 total innings. Every other pitcher on the Astros staff who pitched for them this year had an area under four. They don't have a single Kyle Gibson or a single whatever. They're a damn good team. But you know what? I don't think it matters. Like the Phillies thing, look, you know a damn good team. But you know what? I don't think it matters. The Phillies thing.

Look, you know it's a damn good team. The Atlanta Braves are a damn good team. They won the World Series last year. The Phillies just rolled right through them. I don't think it matters. This team has something special right now. And the other great part is that Phil made time, broke his hand, so we don't have to deal with another brother story.

Yeah, that's a good point. Don't have to deal with another brother story. Yeah, that's a good point. Don't have to deal with another brother story. I love it. We're done with the brother thing. How about Nola making the last out, too? That was like, again, all the synchronicity stuff, but it was Austin Nola who flew out to end it. It's just one after the other.

How about Mrs. Nola was walking around our section, and I gave her a nice Aaron's better. Yep, and the chance, the crowd. Oh, my God. I can't wait to see what this crowd is going to do for the cheating Houston Astros. Let the trash cans in. That's right. Yeah, let the trash cans in.

This is a good thought by you. I tell you what. Houston's got the wrong city, man. They got the wrong city. Well, because they got off light. They got off light. Why are you yelling at me? I'm sorry, because I'm very excited right now.

They cheated, and it was that whole thing, and then there were no fans in the stands that first year. Yep. And they got off light. Let's bring it back to that moment and give them the vitriol they deserve. Let's keep it rolling. Go to Glassboro and talk to our guy, Black Grady. What up, Bo?

I believe in dreams again. I believe this run will never end. That's what he said. That's what he said. We're in the World Series. Jack, in the middle of the season, when Mark asked me that simple question when Bryce went down, do you still believe in the Phillies? And I followed by her heart and said, I still believe.

That's why I got off the chain, Jack. And I followed by her heart and said, I still believe. Yep. That's why I got off the chain, Jack. That's why we've been on this, man. We've been on this chain, Jack. Reese, all is forgiven. I don't know if you listened to Drunk Software, Reese, but I forgive you. I thank you. I love you.

Oh, God. This game. Like, my daughter was sweating watching it. You know what I'm saying? Like, she had a homecoming last night. They're watching it on homecoming. Philadelphia is dialed in, bro. Dialed in.

And I am here for it. I love everybody that can hear my voice. You ask why he's yelling at you. Because you can't stop yelling, okay? Everybody's yelling right now. It's what we do. We're dancing along, but we're together. I don't know what's going on.

But guess what? World Series, Philadelphia gets to stand and show. Yeah, grief them poles because we are ready to rock and roll. And let me just calm down and tell you, I love Bryce Harper. $320 million. His name, we're doing money. Guess what? The day he's not here is the day I fell in love with Bryce. Because nobody chooses me, guys.

No one comes here. No one ever comes. I got to get this funky, donkey trade with this weirdo with three draft picks. This man chose me. Came here through the drugstore. He said no money. They got him. No help.

They get another form. But the second he gives his talent to the press, he is on fire. I love you, Bryce. It's Bryce Sober. You deserve every penny. Donated $3.20.

Every listener, he deserves another $320 million because he believes he wants it. He's our leader. SB3. We're the world. There he is.

I'm yelling at you. world i love you baby mama oh what a call the goat comes through just as expected as expected and it might have been a more clutch call than bryce's homer gotta be honest that was i'm like shaking right now with excitement and that and that's what what this team did for us, man. They brought baseball back from the dead. They did. Literally from the dead. This ballpark was empty because the city didn't believe.

And all these guys had heard is like, just get in. Get in. And the fan base will show up. And here we are going to the world series and collars are melting down on the air and yelling at 9 30 at night and the fan base showed the hell up again to the point i made before i guarantee you bryce harper who chose us the only time a superstar has ever said yeah i'm gonna go to the phillies and and for him to get what he got tonight, too, because he gave it to us. But for him, I guarantee you, so many times throughout this series,

throughout this run, he said to himself, I am so freaking happy I came here. I am so happy I chose this because this is special. And I didn't think it was not notable. Jason Wirth threw out the first pitch today to harper and all throughout the the signing process and when bryce signed and he would talk about it all he would say is that jason worth kept telling me there's nothing like winning in philly there's nothing like winning in philly it's magical he got to see it tonight like everything that jason worth said to him came to fruition

and he threw out the first pitch today he had the hulk uh hand on which is just a nice touch he threw what you called by the way he threw a credit where due he said that was gonna happen dart too yeah he did straight up dart um and then bryce does that it's another another beautiful moment and i gotta be honest james houston has a problem i Houston has a problem Houston's got a problem 215-592-9494 we are here in Citizens Bank Park reacting to the Phillies we just saw them celebrate on the field going to the World Series we saw Bryce Harper handed the NLCS MVP trophy right there on that field a couple hours ago. Again, it's a dream. It's a freaking unbelievable, magical run that this team has taken us on.

And we get to do more of it because the World Series is coming to Citizens Bank Park. Yep. Look at the World Series on Halloween night. Can you imagine? Which is the first time since Hamels got blown up in 09. On the mound. We won't worry about that. Yes.

Because this is a different team. I remember where I was for that, too. This is a different team, a special team that has something special going on. 215-592-9494. We got you till 10 We'll continue to take your calls To celebrate To show the emotion like we just heard Also

What a night And I want to hear If anyone's been downtown yet Yes I got to hear from someone If you've been to City Hall Let us know what it's like down there I see Cindy Webster running up

Oh, we got to go to break Cindy's coming in Yes Cindy's coming in She's got no voice And I'm on the radio with no voice All right, we got to go to break. Cindy's coming in. Cindy's coming in. She's got no voice. And I'm on the radio with no voice. All right, we're coming back.

We'll take your calls. 215-592-9499. World Series. Wow, you sound terrible. She has less voice than I do. I freaking love it. She's got nothing. She's got nothing left. That is the beautiful thing about tonight.

What a celebration. We love you, Cindy. You're the best. I love you. I love all of you. If you're listening right best. I love you. I love all of you. If you're listening right now, I love you. That's how I feel. It's Fritz and Seltzer.

We're coming right back. Shout out to Sydney Webster. No one loves the Phillies more than Sydney Webster, and she is loving tonight. Well, I think I could speak for Sydney here. She doesn't have a voice, but I think if she could come on this microphone right now, I think she would say, we're going to the World Series.

We're going to the World Series, buddy. Oh, my God. I'm so happy. I'm so happy. What a magical night. Again, we are going to the World Series. The World Series. The World Series. The Philadelphia Phillies.

The 2022 Philadelphia Phillies. Who we never doubted, James. Never doubted. Never doubted them one bit that we'd be sitting here. We knew this was going to happen. Yep. Yep. And I would just like to point out one more time,

the Phillies got to the World Series again before the Yankees. Damn right, buddy. What a loser franchise. Take your 27 rings that you won when no one was playing. Oh, my God. What a year. And keep them in the whatever, Yankee Stadium. And beat the Braves on the way to get there.

The Mets lost. This is just the most perfect night. I mean, it's got to be embarrassing for the Mets. They don't play? They're done? No, they're done. Really? Yeah, you didn't know that?

This far into the season, they had Mets, but they had Scherzer in the ground. They had Scherzer in the ground. You know what their problem was? They didn't have Wheeler in Cindergarten. Remember when the Mets went 12-5 against the Phillies this year or whatever? It was 14-5. 14-5, even better. And remember how everyone was like, well, the Mets are winners,

the Phils are losers. Whoops. I don't know about that, because I don't know if you checked, but the Phils are playing in the World Series on Friday. You're damn right. Let's keep it rolling with the celebrating. Go to John in Northeast Philly. John, the Phillies are in the World Series, buddy!

Hallelujah! And they're going to win the World Series. Yes! Phils in six, Johnny! Phils in six! No, Phils in five. Hallelujah. And they're going to win the World Series. Yes. Phil's in six, Johnny. Phil's in six. No, Phil's in five. Oh. Bye-bye.

You're close. Look, they've been clinching at home. It's been a thing. We've done it twice in a row now. It's not a bad point, John. You've got to look at history. 1980, the fans were a whole different base. They were like

when they opened up the new stadium. It was sold out for a year, two years. You couldn't get tickets. And then they fell off the planet. Now, this team had, the fans didn't like

this. We liked them. We were waiting. When are these four home run hitters that could hit 50 home runs, the first four people in the lineup, Schwarber, I'm excited. All of them are power. All of them are power. Now, when we go to wherever, the Texas Lone Star dumb state, when we get to that big state and kick their butt, we're waiting for that 95-mile pitch now.

They got the eagle eye. I love it. They're ready. And what did this? Wait a minute. What did this? Was the ninth inning in St. Louis.

St. Louis. The Gene hit. That's right. When he hit that single and started that, that was the beginning. And just like 1980, I've had to listen to this on the radio.

We didn't have cable. We didn't have five NC, five wildcard teams go with all this junk. It's an amazing thing and good call. Fired up 1980, the last time the Phillies played the Astros in the playoffs

so we get to do that again yeah you can hear the emotion let's keep it I mean you can you like it the most fun part about this whole run for me is like everyone just remembered how much we love this team yep you know we love the Phillies and I know people

weren't showing up but like it was because they did they look you got to win at a certain point. When you lose for long enough, you know, at a certain point, you need to win them back. They needed to win for people to come back. And you know what? As soon as they got in the playoffs, this place was full. And this is a great baseball city.

It's a smart baseball city. It's a baseball city for the last couple years that correctly was like they're not good enough yep you know right and and and they they sniffed them out um and it's almost like the players when they got in they were like we got you let's let's show them what we can actually do like we got you and and they went to st louis they won again like two excruciating games. Like, I haven't been these last, like, ever since the St. Louis games, like, I haven't been that

nervous. I know. The first St. Louis game and the second two, but the first St. Louis game until the Genet is still this whole playoff run the most nervous I've been. Like, without a doubt. Without a doubt. I think it's because I was just dying to get a home playoff game, you know, and I wanted... And also, that was like, actual 11 years. Like, we had 11 years to get a home playoff game. And also, that was like actual 11 years.

We had 11 years to get in the ballpark. That was 11 years to watch a playoff game, and it played out that way. It was just like – I had almost forgotten what it was like to watch a playoff game with my team in it, man. Well, now I'm just so used to it. All we do now is just win. We just clinch when we're here. Yeah, it's no big deal.

And then, you know, screw them only winning 87 games. I don't care at all. No, winning 87 games. Don't care at all. No, you know why? Because they're 9-2 in the playoffs, Jack. And they're going to the World Series. And they're going to the World Series. Let's go to Langhorne and talk to Bruce, who's on his way home from the game. Brucey!

Jimmy! My man, Bruce. We did it, buddy. We did it, pal. We did it. We were sitting behind the bullpen the entire game, soaking wet, talking crap to Hader. It was awesome. What a great night.

Good point about this soaking wet. We've talked about it from the game perspective, but shout out to the fan base just sitting through an entire— It rained all game. It rained all freaking game, and this fan base was totally locked in, totally nuts. That was awesome. The rain did kill a little bit of the excitement in the middle of the game, but as soon as the tide started turning,

you couldn't tell it wasn't sunny and 65 or whatever because it didn't matter. This fan base was ready for it. It was so great. We were all standing together. Everybody was having fun together. We were all brothers out there. It was so fun. Don't get wet. Doesn't matter.

We got it. We're going to the World Series, baby. We're going to the World Series, Bruce. And to his point, we talked about this last time, but I definitely hugged more strangers tonight than I have in my life by far. With the Harper-Homer, I was picking people up.

I think you picked the security guard up. I picked the security. I absolutely picked the security guard up. It was just like it was Bedlam at the bank. Bedlam at the bank. There's no better way to describe what happened after Harper-Homer than Bedlam at the bank. That's one of the beautiful things about sports

is that everyone just comes together. When your team is winning, everyone comes together. Everyone's happy. Everyone's in good spirits. It doesn't matter what's going on. You just embrace. And it's pure happiness. It's pure joy.

And, you know, I didn't know half the people I talked to today. More than half. You know? They're just all fired up and they're ready to win. And that's the beauty of this run. And I can't believe we get to do it again, buddy. We get to do it again. Friday.

In the World Freaking Series, no less. So it goes Friday, Saturday. Friday. I haven't looked at the full schedule. I just made sure to know it was Friday. So I'll pull up this. Would they go Friday, Saturday, and then have a travel day Sunday? I'm guessing they have to get more days off, right, than this series was.

So Friday, Saturday, off Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, off Thursday, Friday, Saturday. So two off days this time, which is nice. Yes. So, man. And so they get a travel day Sunday, so they completely avoid football. Yep. Which next week's the Steelers. So obviously go to 7-0.

I mean, come on. I mean, there's no way that a football team is coming in here and dividing the city right now. Especially when the Phils are up. They split in Houston. Yeah. You know, they're coming back home to the bank on Monday night. We've got a Monday night playoff game.

A Monday night World Series game. Got to split in Houston. Yeah. Massively important to split in Houston. So I guess Framber pitches game two? I would guess Framber pitches game two for them. I would think so. I am more nervous about Framber than I am Justin.

Oh, I don't think there's a question. I mean, Justin struggled in the playoffs lately. Trash. Like the last couple, you know, series for him have been pretty ugly. Yeah, well, maybe father's time is catch up to Justin. Yeah, well, 39-year-old or 40-year-old pitching the best of his life, like, oh, sure. At 39? That's believable. Sure.

Okay. Listen. Wonder how that happened. I said it earlier, and I'll say it again. I need Justin Verlander here. I need to know what he feels when Bryce takes him 450. It's just going to be amazing. It's going to be amazing.

Let's go to Newcastle and talk to Jerry. Jerry! Yeah! Beautiful, Jerry. Jerry! That was my brother. They called out. I know.

We spoke to Jeff. We've gotten the brother's truck horns, which is amazing. All horned up. I'm down here in Justin territory. I can't hardly talk, dude. I'm just like that. I'm down here in Tennessee right now getting ready to pull in to West Memphis, Arkansas for the night.

And DeVries Harper, he just cemented himself as a legend in this town. And I was in Bedlam in my truck, dude, by myself. Just there on the road. I couldn't freaking hardly see straight, dude. I was crying to myself because this is the most jubilant World Series appearance that I've ever, and I've been, I'm 56, so I've been around 1980. Jerry, I actually agree with you and love you, buddy. Great call. Do your thing.

Focus on driving. Truck horn was amazing. But I actually, I actually agree with him. Like, and you know, obviously I was too young for 80, but in terms of I was alive for 93. Yes, I'm old, Jack. 93, 08, 09. And 93 was obviously a special out of nowhere year. But they were good all year.

But they were good all year. I don't ever remember sitting here on the night the Phillies go to the World Series and feeling more just completely and totally shocked by the last three weeks of my life. Again, I keep saying to you, I feel like the LeBron meme. They're like, whatever, is this my life? I can't believe this is my life. I can't believe this is my life, Jack.

Smiling through it all because I can't believe this is my life. It's insane. You know, it's the Flyers Cup run in 2010 on steroids, obviously. The 08-S championship game was, like, fine. You know, they got there. But we kind of had fatigue with that team anyway. This has been out of nowhere. And it's been out of nowhere that we waited 11 years to experience again

with a whole group of new guys and create new memories. We talked a lot on the podcast um the last couple years and like i love those memories i think they're great and every time i hear them i still get chills but like i needed something new and i needed to know i need to feel playoff baseball is like again because i love watching it i think i think playoff baseball is the best sport out there and i need to be able to experience what it was like again and like this whole run is just it's just it's taken it up to another level of just love for this baseball team.

I said this earlier, sappiness, but I can't wait to tell, and for the next, hopefully, 50 years of my life, about the 2022 Phillies. We get to bask in the greatness of an all-time great Bryce Harper, who's going to hit 500-plus home runs and go into the Hall of Fame as-time great, Bryce Harper, who's going to hit 500-plus home runs and go into the Hall of Fame as a Philly,

and his big moment. We get to talk about Reese Hoskins coming up and being our savior and going through the ups and downs, trials and tribulations, and having his big moment.

The one thing this game really missed was if Nola started it. Yeah. And was able to have a redemption moment. He's going to get to start in the World Series, Jack, so all good, buddy. And the guy that we paid here to be started it. Yeah. And was able to have like a redemption moment. But – He's going to get to start in the World Series, Jack.

So all good, buddy. And the guy that we paid here to be our ace. Yeah. And Matt Klintak got a lot wrong. That was the best move Matt Klintak made. Yes. I mean, Middleton was Harper. Right.

Harper was – I totally credit Middleton for Harper. Like the Zach Wheeler contract is like one of the best contracts in the sport. Like what you're paying – You're paying that guy $20 million. If he were a free agent, he'd get $40 million on the market. Are we giving Klintak a ring? Klintak get a ring. Who deserves a ring more, Klintak or Girardi?

That's a really good point because without Girardi leaving, this never happens. But I'm going to go Klintak just because like Girardi. I know. The funny thing about – I've thought about this a lot. The funny thing about the Girardi firing is that it's an ultimate – it's actually a great Philly sports what-if, is that if they fire Girardi after the offseason – It's not Topper.

It's not Rob Thompson. It's a great point, Jack. It's not Rob Thompson. And we all wanted it. It's such a great point. I didn't even think of it that way, but you're absolutely right. If they had done it in the offseason like we wanted, it's Raul Abanez, it's whoever.

Could be here still. Yeah, and now it's Topper, and Topper's here for the next two years and all that, or theoretically all that stuff. And to your point before we talked, you always said it like this, and I love the way you said it. You're like, I need new highlights. I need new highlights that will live forever. And Joe said it after he played that ultimate Phillies montage on the midday

show, right before the playoff started, he said in, in three weeks we could be adding new highlights to this montage. And I believe we have, and we have, man, I believe we have. And the Harper one tonight is in a prime place in it. And I think, I think the actual, I think that's what I know. I think that's why the Cardinals series was so intense is because I just didn't want it to end that quickly. And we waited so long for them to get into the postseason.

It's like, man, you're going to lose in the first round? I can't deal with that. So that's why I was just – that series was so intense. And everything from then on has been like not house money, but still like I'm just here to experience it. Yeah, me too, man. Me too. And again, we just won a playoff game at Citizens Bank Park, and we've gotten five and they're

five and oh. And now what are we getting, James? We're getting World Series games. We're getting World Series games at Citizens Bank Park. At Citizens Bank Park. It is unbelievable. All right. One more segment for us.

Bill Matt's coming up after that. Obviously, Bill will be talking Phillies all night. Yeah. Bill, no flyers, buddy. No one cares. Come on, buddy. Come on. All right.

We'll continue to take calls next segment. One more segment for us as we, again, we're reacting to the Phillies going to the World Series here on WIP. It's Fritz and Seltzer. We're coming right back. Suarez kicks, here's the pitch breaking ball, popped up shadow right, Segura going out Castellanos coming on

Castellanos has it and the Phillies have the National League Championship they have beaten the Padres four to three and they celebrate on their home turf. As the Phillies are the twenty twenty two and out champs. Celebration behind the mound as

the Phillies come back with two in the bottom of the eighth. And they have knocked out the Padres four games to one. And they're going to play for the world title. They're going to play for the world title, man. It's almost like he was, Francie was even like, really? I know. Oh, my God. You can hear it in his voice. He's like, I was, Francie was even like, really? I know. Oh my God.

You could hear it in his voice. He's like, I can't believe I'm about to say the words I'm about to say. Because it's on. Which has been this whole show for us, by the way. Literally this entire show,

I can't believe the words are coming out of my mouth, out of the caller's mouth. Like, I can't believe you and I are sitting in Citizens Bank Park right now reacting to the Philadelphia Phillies going to the World Series.

Like, it Series like it is it is like one of the coolest things that's ever happened to me in my life this is one of the great days of my life it is absolutely the greatest sporting event I've ever been to like it's just it's really special

it's really special and for this city for these fans that have waited so long like it is a really really special night Jack for this city, for these fans that have waited so long, it is a really, really special night, Jack. The Phillies win the pennant. The Phillies win the pennant. The Phillies win the pennant. I know.

Oh, my God. This is wild stuff, and they are celebrating on Broad Street. Couldn't be more jealous, by the way. Have some beers for James and I. How about that? Please, let's go down to Broad Street as we have Patrick on Broad. Patrick, what's it like out there, buddy? Man, y'all called it at the right time. I just cracked open a fresh beer after being down on Broad Street.

Beautiful. Love to hear it. What was it like down there? Was there bedlam on Broad? I'll tell you what, guys. I've moved out of the Philly area for about 10 years. I just moved back, and I've kept track of the teams throughout my time away. And I'm glad I'm back because they started

winning again. Welcome back, buddy. Yeah, nice job, bud. Thank you, thank you. But I'll tell you what, it was electric. I mean, you've got some random guy with a big-ass speaker playing Nightmares and Dreams, dancing on my own. Dave worked in an Eagles chant here

and there. There's fireworks going off. It was unbelievable. I missed the whole party on broad after the Eagles won. I'm so glad I saw that tonight. Yeah, man. And Patrick, thanks for calling in and sharing that with us. And look, I remember, obviously I remember the Eagles on broad, but I remember 08.

And I remember my wife and I and a bunch of friends were at a bar in in fairmount and i remember when they won it and we all just walked out and like we didn't know what to do we just walked to city hall like we didn't even and everyone's just kind of like walking around it's like i guess i get i guess we just go down there now like what i guess that's what we do oh my god we're doing this and and and to have that back again, I mean, again, it's been – and again, look, we got four more, four more topper, we know. But to be able to – it's been since the Eagles won the Super Bowl that we have had a night like this in Philadelphia

where everyone in the city is just leaving their homes and leaving their bars to go congregate in the middle of the city and celebrate together. Yep. And before we get out of here, you know, I was thinking about this as Patrick was talking and he started talking about 08. There's nothing cooler than – we talked on the podcast and on the radio a lot about, like, we haven't been able to do this.

You know, we haven't been able to do postseason pods. We haven't been able to do postseason radio shows. And shows and like what is it going to be like to to be there like it's not lost on me that you and i were in the stadium for them going to the world series after the years that we had put a put put in talking about a team that like no one cared about like i still remember you know i still remember like we got our first hundred downloads. Like, wow, that's kind of cool. And then we got like 1,000. And this thing started growing, and we built a community. And the amount of people that have said, I'm happy for you,

which I think is hilarious. It's like it's humbling. Yeah, it's like, well, thanks. I'm happy for you. We're all going to the World Series. It's not just James and I. We're all going to the World Series. We're all going to the World Series. It's not just James and I. We're all going to the World Series. We're all celebrating this.

We're all, you know, just rejoicing in what has been a magical run. And you and I being able to do this show tonight on WIB, it's insane. Like, this is a pinch me moment. Like, we get to talk to you the night that the Phillies go to the World freaking Series. Again, I never thought they'd get there again i know it sounds dramatic from like a 28 year old kid but it's like i just couldn't fathom a world where the phillies were gonna be good enough to go to the world series it's like

because i see the teams go to the world series and it's like oh well they got this this homegrown star and they have this pitcher and they have this bullpen it's like our guys just freaking did it man like they just that now they're the team that's like well if we can get in like we the phillies are team of destiny we're a team of destiny yeah man wow wow that sentence is uh is pretty crazy here and to your point like we've done so for those who don't know jack and i do the high hopes podcast we've done it for over five years now. And we've just talked about a lot of losing, man. And we've talked about a lot of disappointing nights and frustrating games and annoying blown losses.

And just like, it was a joke. We used to have a joke that whenever we were playing to record the podcast, something bad was going to happen because it always did. And now just in a span of like three and a half weeks, like it's completely flipped on its head and it feels like the polar opposite of what we've been through the last decade. It feels special and meant to be and just magical.

And, you know, it's not lost on me either. It's a really – I'm me either. It's a really – I'm sitting here. It's a special night, man. I'm sitting here with a – you know, messing around with a Cody Ashy wiffle ball. What a great – that's a great symbol of where we are tonight. Cody Smash. I mean, think about how – we stuck ourselves into Cody Ashy.

Yeah. Tommy Joseph. You know, Cameron Rupp. Cesar. Michael Franco's weekend in New York. His weekend in New York, I'll never forget it. All those memories, all those players, all those downright scrubs. And now we're talking about Bryce Harper hitting the biggest home run

in Philly's history in front of us to send us to the World Series. We were talking to someone out here that was like, do you think that's bigger than the stairs, Homer? Yeah, it's bigger than the stairs, Homer. Without a doubt. It's way bigger. Yeah. I mean, the stairs, Homer, and getting the lead.

And, you know, that's nice. But, like, this would have been like if Victorino hit that home run when they were down in the eighth on the road. You know what I mean? Like, they were down. Things were not trending in the right direction. Bob Melvin, again, Sam and LCS ring. Doesn't bring in Josh Hader, who's back to being the Josh Hader.

Yeah, it's special. But, yeah, amazing night. Let's squeeze one more call in here before Bill Matz takes over. He will take your calls as well. Let's go to our guy up in Vancouver, Tommy. What up, buddy? Yes! Yes!

Yes, I'm so excited! Oh, my Yes! I'm so excited! Oh, my God! I'm so excited! I can't believe it! I can't believe it! Tom, welcome to Philadelphia, buddy. Welcome to Philadelphia, Tommy. Oh, my God!

Can you believe I started listening to you guys years ago because of the Eagles? I listened to these training podcasts, like things that Jack was doing. And I was listening to Elliot when he was working for some other newspaper. And I was listening to BLG trying to do this stuff.

And now it's coming to this. You guys, you guys with the high hopes brought me into the building. I can't believe it. And this game, this game, game three, it's on Halloween. It's on October 31st. And it had better be at night. It had better be at night. It'll be at night.

You want to know why? You want to know why? Because Tom from Vancouver is coming home. His plane lands at 2.30pm Tommy we love you buddy hope to see you here pal

we can't wait Tommy we love you buddy thanks for coming on the ride with us pal I love all the listeners I love all the callers Tommy what a great call to end it and again thank you to everyone who called in and shared their emotion with us. What is Tom in Vancouver doing right now?

I just, again, but I love it. I love it so much. It's been so long. We've waited for this for so long. We've watched so many horrible baseball games and bad baseball players and annoying teams and annoying guys. And now we're here with a team we love, with a superstar leading the way.

And it just couldn't be better, Jack. Worth the wait, man. Worth the wait. Worth the wait. Buddy, we're going to get to do this again. Oh, my goodness. We're going to talk about World Series games, buddy. Why is that?

Because the Phillies are going to the World Series. The Phill goodness. We're going to talk about World Series games, buddy. And why is that? Because the Phillies are going to the World Series. The Phillies are going to the World Series! Everyone, thank you for listening, for calling. It's been a special night for us. I know it's a special night

for all of you out there. Bill Matz is coming up next. He will take your calls. He'll be talking to you. We promise no flyers. We promise. We are forcing him. No flyers.

Only Phillies. It's going to be awesome. We promise. We are forcing him. No flyers. Only Phillies. It's going to be awesome. Get on now. React with Bill. And again, thank you to everyone who called. Thank you to Dan and Nick producing the show. And just honestly, thank you to everyone who's been a part of this because this has been, you know, the best three weeks,

among the best three weeks of my life. Good stretch. And we got another one to go because the Phillies are in the World Series. High hopes, baby. We actually have high hopes for once. Alright, thank you again to everyone. Bill Mads coming up next. He's for it himself, so we'll talk to you guys later.