High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Please Just Win Like 2 Games This Week

Episode Date: September 21, 2026

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to the Phillies splitting the weekend series against the Mets and look ahead to the final six games of the season against the Brewers and Rays. With the magic number sitting at three, can the Phils punch their ticket to the postseason?Presented by Miller Lite.

Miller Light, the official beer partner of your Philadelphia Phillies, is proud to serve as presenting sponsor of WIP's High Hopes Pod. So whether you're listening to the game, catching off on the latest High Hopes pod or at the ballpark. Remember, it tastes like Miller time, Phillies fans. Celebrate responsibly. This is the High Hopes podcast. High Hope! On the Odyssey app and Sports Radio 94, WIP.

The crowd is singing, hi-ho. I feel a little less warm. Oh, another edition of the Highland. Jeez. Sponsored by Miller Light, official partner of the Philadelphia Phillies. Tastes like Miller Times Philadelphia. Suburates, obviously I could use some Miller Lights. My voice is shot.

It's so shot. Nashville. I left my voice in Nashville, Jack. I apologize. Now, I know you appreciate that I left it watching a lot of country music and trying to talk over it to people who are having a great time with me doing a show. And this is, I. told you and you're like, I was like, I'm ready to record. We're going to do the pod. I was like, I just want you know. I didn't get to watch much baseball this weekend. And I have no voice.

And I think you thought I was kind of kidding about the voice. Wasn't kidding, buddy. How you doing, pal? Good to see you. To be honest, I didn't read that part of the text. So that's, that's on me. You kind of sound, you kind of sound like an old, old car revving up a little bit. You know, that's kind of maybe, hey, hey, maybe that's a good metaphor heading into the postseason. Is this, this old car revving up one last time for one last ride? I mean, think about this way. People hate my voice anyway. So, you know, it's not like I can go much worse.

It's a different, now you can hate it for a different reason this time. Yeah. Well, it is shocking that you smoke cigarettes because it didn't help, you know. What, you mean back of the day? I didn't smoke for a national. Yes. Yeah, I slept as I was 22. So it was early in life I was a smoker.

Yeah. But yeah, certainly, certainly probably nothing help. There's a reason I sound like I sound. It is what it is. Yeah, it's all right. So, yeah, no, I did not anticipate you watching much baseball this weekend. You were perusing all throughout Nashville. You really saw the one good game.

I mean, yesterday was good. We'll get to it. But the good game on Thursday, you missed a nice little, a nice little bullpen effort on Friday. Actually, a hose of your kitty, they're pretty good. Like, you know, four score lists or something, right? four plus scoreless or something like that he's not going to he's not going to make the postseason roster but he's going to get a ring when this team goes on a run and it gets makes the world series he's he's going to get a pennant ring he's going to be super super important i love when they get

random dudes who have in fantasy before multiple times over like hose er kitty has been on multiple different fantasy teams for me over the years at different times for spot starts and whatnot it's always fun to see those guys roll through it's like oh yeah i was er katie i remember you sure welcome to the welcome to the squad pal here number 70. His whole thing was crazy. He was on the White Sox on Thursday. He's on waivers on Thursday. And then he gets on a plane and has to pitch in a game. I guess a stocker was saying that he walked onto the bus and he's introducing himself to people. That is wild. Introducing himself to his teammates. So let me play is on playoff teams though. White Sox Phillies. You know what I'm saying? Sure. Well,

he's in the pirates this year as well. I think he's been on five teams. How about this? If the pirates were in the American League, they'd be a playoff team. How about that? Oh, would they really? Yeah, actually. Nice. How crazy is that? The American League something. Dude, the pirates are 79-77. They would win the AL West. Nice. Nice. Nice. But, uh, yeah, listen, they went up to New York. They did all we asked, which was go up there and work a good split. And they, they worked a split. Magic numbers three. Yankees really help us out too much.

So the magic number is still three heading into, heading to this week where you face Brewers and Rays. Brewers and Rays. Oh, the Brewers, they're pretty good. So is it the actual, I think it is the two best. Yeah, okay, so the Dodgers have one more win than the race. So you have two of the three best records in baseball to finish out. That's fun.

Look, what you got to hope for it. Look, looking into standing down, the brewers are obviously locked into the one or the two seed. you have to hope that so there are two games up on the Dodgers I don't know if that you know who's the tiebreaker between those teams because we could find out quickly I think it's the broers I think they played well against the Dodgers this year but I don't have a definitive yes or not on that because that can that can make a difference with that being the actually not as much because I guess they play the bros first so you really want to are the rays set so the rate the brewers are going to be playing for the one seed the raise I think are locked into the one seat correct yeah so the rays are at least locked into the ones or I guess they have six games left and there's six up on the one seed. Yeah, but the thing with that is it's just, it's not like the other sports. I don't give up. I know.

Teams don't just, I know. I know. And they have time off. They don't have to play a first round. So you're right. You're right. Now,

they'll probably manage innings, but it's not like the raise and broers have these stars that are going deep in the games. It's not, they're mostly five and guys anyway. So I don't think that, I don't think that that's really going to help them at all this week. Great.

Great. The key is that like, they really just need to like, win two games. You need to win two games. Right? Two games is what it is right. One in five and five and one and you're in trouble, right? That's kind of out play. Pretty much. And like the debacks almost have to win out and go five and one. Now what is nice is the debacks do face the Padres this weekend. So the Padres will have stuff to play for, of course. And they play the Rockies this week, the Debacks do to start it off.

Rockies still have a little friskiness to them. We still have a little friskiness. There's some players in that team I like. I mean, besides obviously Mick, but like Cole Carrig, I like a little bit. Of course you do. And, uh, and, uh, Jake McCarthy, of course. But Hunter Goodman is crazy. He is crazy. He's awesome. He's one away from 40.

I know. I know. Yeah. So, yeah, it's not really a stress free week, not really a stress full week. They, they, they are in a good spot. And as you can tell, well, not you because you didn't watch much but they they are really really limiting the starters and how my on how many pitches they're throwing i mean i think they pulled painter after 85

pitchers finally oh so they finally decided to do it in the last week and have the season good well i mean well i'm kidding they had they're fighting i'm joking i'm joking i just you know with the the way this is played out you know yeah i'm still i'm still smarten from the lizarro complete game sorry oh yes yes you had to do that you had to push it into the ninth. But then again, the bullpen sucks anyway. So you need as many wins as you can get, I guess. Let their arms fall off in the playoffs as far as we're concerned. Yeah. Yeah. Well, I mean, it is really interesting because I think you're starting to see their plan heading into the into the playoffs starting to take shape here. And I think there is certain reasons as to why it's

happening. You know, one is obviously the Lazzardo injury is forcing their hand a little bit here. It seems like he's going to come back and only be available in relief, not ready to start a game and give them two or three innings, at least in the wild card round. So I was the way that's what Gelb said, right? It seemed like Gelb made it pretty clear that from his reporting, he like the starter thing is like probably off the table. Is that right?

Yeah, that's the way that it seems. And I think he threw it out there one month ago or earlier this month about bringing, bringing him out of the bullpents. That felt like a soft launch into what they were thinking. but then he started pitching so well he might have to start game one if Wheeler and Sanchez are going to pitch like this. Now Wheeler is bounced back.

Sanchez will get into it, but he looked closer to the Chris Sanchez than we are used to seeing. So now it is open up the door. And obviously Nola pitching as well as he is pitching opens up the door as well to use Lozardo in this kind of spot. But I think you're starting to see their idea and their blueprint for how they want to get through

at least a wildcard round and maybe even further. And it's Dodgers-esque, but I don't think they don't have the depth of starters that the Dodgers have. But, I mean, Don said that he wants to get painter bullpen endings this week, which is really interesting. And I think if they have it their way, and listen, Mike Dyson said that everyone has a plan until you're punched in the face.

But if they have it their way, they'll have Wheeler in game one. Hopefully he can give him six. Lizardo gets you through the seventh, maybe even the eighth. I don't know if you want to go to the eighth, but he gets you seventh eighth. Let's say Wheeler can only go five.

Lazzardo gets you six, seven. And then, you know, you got to figure out you want to go McFarland or Alvarado for that eighth inning. Nice. And then in game two, it's going to be Sanchez. And then I think that's where they go Painter.

So then you have Painter off of Sanchez, the lefty. You have Lazzardo off of Wheeler the righty. and then you could possibly maybe maybe bring back Lizardo on game in game three on the ballpoint we know maybe I thought you were going to say game two I was like no true so you're not you're not doing that yeah

game three out of the bullpen and that's how you could how many pitches he throws in game one depends if he goes one or two and I think you'd have to like you hope it's on the table right of course so it seems like that that is the that is the blueprint that's their idea to raise up a bullpen that currently has an elite closer and no real plan to him the ball is using these guys. Yeah. And look, that's like you said, it's what the Dodgers

did they more dudes to do it with and whatnot. But like that's the only plan that that makes any sense. I mean, we can't have some of these. I mean, outside of McFarland and I mean, Alvarado's going to pitch and, you know, Bolin, who knows if he's even going to be back, probably not. Like, I don't know. But at Bowling seems like he'll be back. He'll be back. We don't know what level. But the boys like other than those guys like, I don't know that you can put anyone else in a playoff game. Like, I don't know that you can hand the ball to something. I mean, Chase Schubert's getting high leverage innings this week. And look, you know, I like Chase Sugar more than the average Joe. Like, Chase Sugar is not pitching in a playoff game for me. Like, anything possible that I

could do to make sure that Chase Sugar is not pitching a playoff game for me. Like, so, yeah, I don't think they have much choice. I just don't, I hope the guys can hold up and that, you know, guys like, a painter is interesting because if they use them as really, first of all, you know, if they do it this, we'd be the first time his life he's ever. doing it as far right we know like he he piggybacked before in that game where he had the migraine or whatever it was and then came in a pitch well but like he's come in after an opener before but he hasn't really done like bullpen work um you know so and then is he your game for starter if he had passed the first round i mean how so there's just a lot of they do what it really

comes out of what you're pointing out it's like the dodgers were able to do this last year because they've just so much depth i mean look the dodgers in the playoffs like through a guy who pitch what was it will climb through at six shot outings who wasn't even like in the majors a few weeks before, whatever the hell it was. Like, they just find ways to get this done. Like, the Phillies are going to need dudes stepping up and getting big outs and stuff. And it's just, I think to your point, I think the plan could definitely work early on. It's just as the playoffs go on and you need that, like, can Lazardo pitch three times in a seven

game series out of the bullpen? Four times in a seven game series out of the bullpen. Like, I mean, I've no believe an idea. Like, I have no idea. So, like, it's, I do think that, you know, I think it's the smart way to go. the only way to go with how this is all shaken out. But it's definitely, you know, it's risky. 100%.

But it's also it's their only option. And it's something that could, I mean, could work if they, now, Lazardo, I would hope that I know what Gelb said. I just would hope that he is okay to like get back into the rotation. I'm fine with it for the wild card round. Like maybe the NLBS. but like the value of Lazzardo is also how dominant the starting pitcher. But also I guess it might be the only way that he can get through it is two winnings at a time or or an inning at a time rather than the stress of having to start a baseball game.

But they are actually seemingly going to be using a lot of this depth. And it was good that it was good that Painter, the stuff ticked back up. Clearly they clearly they got back in the lab. He probably was getting a little bit over rotation. when he gets over rotational, that's when his fastball doesn't really pop. And it looked like back on Saturday, it sucked Francisco Alvarez

hit that home run because he was cook. And I think he retired his last, I think he struck out of last four batterers actually after that. But yeah, Lazardo or Alvarez got him on just one bad pitch. But besides that, like the stuff was, he had the most whiffs in baseball

on Saturday, 19, which is huge. Wow. That's stunning. Oh, yeah, dude, he's back. He's back. So it was good to see him kind of rebound a little bit. And it did get me excited about the possibility of him coming out of the pen and just letting it air out for a little bit. It would be fun to see, right? I mean, we've never seen him do that.

Just give it all for an inning. Let's get to Sanji, because to the point you're making and the hopefulness that I hear in the plan, like, and again, you know, we know their situation, but I get it. Like, this is the smartest thing they could possibly do in this situation, given the lack of pieces they have. But for this plan to work. Christopher Sanchez absolutely has to be Christopher Sanchez. Like they need good outings from him and they need innings from. Like he has to be better than he's been the last two months, month, month and a half, whatever the hell it's been, you know?

How do you feel about Sanchez this weekend? And how much do you feel a guy like Sanchez can struggle into the playoffs and potentially flip a switch? Like, he is that good a pitcher. And that's why that's something we haven't really talked a lot of. about but like it wouldn't be the most shocking thing in the world if he's kind of like this until the playoffs and he's like all right time to lock that f in and he just and he becomes christopher sanchez again where are you at in that whole like tapestry of sanchi yeah i 100%

believe and think he can do that 100%. i think yesterday it was like the wheeler start maybe three ago where i said it was 85% of zach wheeler because it was it was about 85% of of chris being Chris Sanchez. I thought it was a step in the right direction. I thought he was much quicker down the mound. I thought it was, I thought his arm looked quicker. I thought,

I think he got more semi-same thing. I think he was a little bit, I think he was rotating too much. And I think they got him more in line yesterday. I thought he was much more direct and to the plate. Early in the game, I thought he looked really solid from the standpoint of his, his fastball was getting in on righties again.

The real equalizer for him yesterday was that, slider. He threw it a lot. He didn't throw like that many changeups for Chris Sanchez's sake who usually throws a ton of changeups. And maybe the slider is something he's going to use more down the stretch here because I think teams are starting to jump him a lot with just trying to jump on that fastball

early and drive it. So I thought at least early in the game first four or five innings, he kept the ball down and a lot of soft contact, not much of anything. The slider was an equalizer. Changeup wasn't a great one yesterday. He threw a really good one to Bichette.

And then the reason why I think it was like 85% of them is that in like the sixth and the and the seventh, the sinker was just up and it was starting to get smoked. And that brought back some of the bad memories I have of the recent stretch here with Chris Sanchez. And there was also maybe four pitches that he just ended up right down the middle that they were not able to take advantage of that I just had worries about in October. back going wrong. So like he started missing his spots. His sinker was up a little bit. Viantos just missed a three run home run that would have changed. Would it change the game. It is crazy. Just a couple years ago doesn't miss that, does he? No. The Vento's fall off is crazy. Insane. He's a bench player for them now practically. Like it is, he was like their rising star in that plan. He was great in that run for it. He was great in the postseason,

but he is he's unplayable. And you look at the record like with him without him. And that's not like the end all be all for. one player, but they're so much better without him versus him just being there. So, yeah, I thought it was like, again, I thought it was 85% of the greatness of Chris Sanchez, but not a step in the right direction for sure, which I feel good about, but it was not like peak Chris Sanchez. All right. And I want to, in a minute, I want to get to the situation and kind of where they're as

of this moment, they're a game behind the Padres and the Cubs in the wild card race. as we talk about the Diamondbacks thing, it's its own thing. Hold the tiebreaker over the Padres, not against the Cubs. Really interesting potential matchups and how that plays out, and we've talked about potentially wanting to be on the road and all that, and obviously it could play the Braves as well. I want to get into all that in a minute. But quickly, again, because I didn't see it, Tanya,

followed the games and I saw a little bit in bars when we were moving around Nashville, but we're out with the bats right now as we get close to the playoffs, because I know, I know, I know. It feels like, I mean, when you're talking about Alec Boehm being potentially one of your most trustworthy bets heading into the playoffs, not once by I'll start. I'm sure people will not feel that way, but he's been one of their best hitters.

It's concerning the way the bats have kind of, it feels like we have like two weeks of like, wow, look at this, look what they're doing. And then it's just it always goes back to where, like their homeostasis or whatever you want to say. Yeah, it's funny. I think Bone, Marsh, and Stott are all going to end up right around the same OPS.

By the way, Stod, did you see you? I mean, Marsh is that graphic that was going around yesterday, his OPS since like the All-Star break is like 290 or something like that or somewhere around us. 2-90. Yes. I believe his weight of runs create plus is like 27. Like the so league average is 100 and he

is. Yeah, it's really bad. 27. But yeah, again, it's just it's the same old story with the offense. I want to see them walk more. I want to see them get traffic on the bases. They did a good job of that in the seventh yesterday where they I think

walked three times in the inning and then Crawford blew the game wide open. He's, he's, he's, he's, he has a clutch factor to him. Like in the, in the late game, he's, he sparked the amount of rallies for this team in, in late situations. I feel pretty good about having Justin Crawford the plate, but regardless, I mean, he's the nine-hole hitter. So it's not like the, you know, it's not like he's the three-hole hitter.

But, yeah, I mean, I, I want to see them recommit a bit to, to getting on base. It was not, I mean, yesterday was good. Saturday they shut it down. I mean, they're, they're really an offense that you're going to just have to hope and get three or four runs and the pitching staff's going to do their part. I mean, that's really just that. I don't know what else to tell you.

That's mostly playoff baseball. I mean, a lot of these games will be close, but like, you know, it just is like. It's going to be a lot of tight games. It's going to be a tight game.

It'd be one thing if we had a good bullpen. I'd be like, all right, like, let's go into the playoffs and let's, let's take our chances and play some close games. And I trust this pen. It just, it feels like,

one run and two run games, it's like this is going to be like the most stressful playoffs you've ever watched if they go far just because it's like at no point where we feel any confidence that they're going to hold any lead they have. Like I'd almost rather they'd be down late in games. At least I feel like this team comes back every once in a while, not literally, but you know I'm sad,

you know. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Well, I mean, so Schwabor is, Schwerber is at a weird year.

I mean, he's going to set the strike out record. But he's also at 45. He's also had some clutch moments. He's hit. I did not real quick. Just as an old school, us fantasy players,

all that. Like I it does not surprise me. I did not realize it was Mark Reynolds. Like that totally jives. Oh, totally makes sense. Yeah. Totally makes sense. I just didn't realize it was Reynolds's record. Congrats to Mark Reynolds on a nice, whatever. It was, you know, 10 year run, 15 years on that record. Yeah. He had a good run. So, so Schwerber has been, like, weird. Turner actually had a good weekend. It gave me some hope. I thought yesterday, like, again, we talked about like he could change the whole narrative on a season. If he just turned into freaking Trey Turner.

on his Philly's career, if he can like be one of their best hitters on the way to a championship, like all from before is gone. Like it's that simple for, and I know that seems like too easy, but it's true. Like if Trey Turner is awesome and leads them or helps lead them to a world series, like we will

all feel completely different about that guy forever. 100%. I thought Harper looked pretty locked in. It's not like he had a dominant weekend up there, but I thought he was engaged and locked in and sometimes pitchers just at you, but I feel like they were, I feel like he was, he was fine. A rise, it's so funny how teams are just playing him now and it, I don't know what took them so long, but basically Juan Soto was playing deep shortstop when he was up. It was, he was, he was so shallow and it cost him a couple, but I think

they ended up scoring anyway, but it cost them a run in the moment that Alec Bohm, thankfully was able to drive home in the game on Saturday. But, like, teams are going to start doing that more and more. You just play shallow as you want in left field. Keep the ball in front of you. And if he beats you over the top, I mean, God bless him. But that'd be very surprising. Haven't seen him do it yet. I can't think of a opposite field fly ball of the warning track or anything from this guy.

Yeah, I can't. Like, it never happens. Well, he is running a career high and fly ball percentage since he's gotten here. So that's good. Good. Solid. Bowman's been money. I mean, Bome has been shockingly great for about a month and a half now.

and with running scoring position, he's on such a heater right now. It's just like it was in the first half of 24 where he was on base for like 150 RBIs. So, I mean, he's probably the guy that I trust the most right now heading into the postseason, which is a good spot to be in.

How does it make you feel? How does it make you feel everyone at home? Come on. Our guy, boom. Stott, no real confidence in currently, but I do think he's been all right in the postseason. Marsh, no, zero confidence. J.T.

no real confidence, but, you know, he's had some big moments this year. So again, he's a moment guy for me. He's not someone I'm going to rely on, but just get a big hit every once in a while. And then Crawford, just fine, you know, get a big hit. I just, I don't have, I would like to see some Brian Dela Cruz this week, just to see if maybe we can cut into the Marshy's playing time a bit. Derek Hill, I think we trust in moments, but you can't hand the keys to Derek Hill. So, I mean, over Marsh.

Maybe, maybe. that's what we're at. I mean, like, you know, at this exact moment, righty or left, like obviously left, righty on the mound, I might rather have Darkelet to plate the marsh in a big of bat. Like, certainly in a big and bad, but just period, I might. Yeah.

Well, I told you to pee at a bad spring training. I told you that's Marsh. And you, you did your little victory lap early. You did your little victory lap early. See, this is what you should do with the great, great spring trainings be like they're going to be awesome at the end of the year. Just get ready, okay? That's what they always say.

You have a bad spring training, a great start of the season, then you really peter out at the end. That's what always happens. Always. Yeah. Yeah. So, yeah, I just, the offense, I am so just of the mindset of have a moment. I do not, I do not have confidence that they are going to be able to hang six.

I don't have any confidence in that. I am banking on three or four, three or four. That's a tall task for them. And a great pitching staff stepping up. and taking control of whatever series they're in. That is my official statement on where we're at heading into October. I think that's fair. All right,

let's get, before we get to the bag and the minor league minute and all that stuff, let's get to the actual playoff situation because I actually, I think you and I are on the same page. I actually want them to start on the road. Like, I'm fully there with you. I obviously,

I'd love to go to Chicago. I think it'd be fun to play in Wrigley and all that, but just in general, look, I don't necessarily want them to travel across the country, but I feel comfortable going to San Diego. if that's how it plays out. I feel comfortable going to Atlanta.

I'm not scared of that team. I don't think this team is scared of that team. And like we've talked about, they've won the last couple of playoffs series. They play against them. And when they go in and see those guys, I'll be like, I've beaten you in the playoffs recently.

I know what that feels like. I think there's something to that. But I also think they could lose any of these three teams in any of at home or on the road. I think the Padres obviously had the team you'd like to play the most. You feel the most confident. Hey, not me. Oh, you want to play race. No, I want Chicago.

I want you. Okay. They would kill that Cubs team. They're going to kill that Cubs team if they played them. The Cubs might put up 40 runs against the Phillies and three games. Against this pitching staff? Come on. Yes.

They're not going to do it. Okay. Kirk Corker is not here anymore. It's okay. By the way, thank goodness. All right. So lay it out. Lay it out. Tell me,

so Cubs, tell me the order you want to play them and tell me road home and kind of how you see this. So I want Cubs the most. In Wrigley, 100%. Start on the road, I think that would be good for this team. Shwerver returning to home and killing them would be fun. I would go, I guess, Padre's second, but I think the Padres have some juice, man.

It's a different team than when they beat them. You know, I don't like how people bring up their six and no against them. I understand it, but also they were going through a historic offensive rut at that point. And, like, Thai France now being there and being a real, piece has helped them. Fernando Tatis turned back into Fernando Tatis. He's been unbelievable just in time for me to not be in the postseason anymore

in fantasy baseball. But after tanking my first two months of the season, but who cares? Who's keeping track of that stuff? No one. No one. And the thing that scares me about the Padres more than anything is they could turn it into a five-in-in-game.

I mean, it's the best bow-bed in the league by far, dude. I mean, that's lights. out, man. Maybe they could sign Kepler for the postseason and he could take Mason Miller Dean. That'd be fun. Did you see that home run that Griffin Conon hit off

of him? I didn't know. Griffin Conon, if the if the Marlins weren't dumb anymore because I think they're smart, I would be trying like all hell to trade for Griffin Conorne in this offseason. I think that guy's awesome. Anyway. Jeff's kid. I mean, it's amazing, right? It's crazy. And he kills the Phillies, kill the Phillies twice this year.

Dude, he had a ball. Mason Miller threw it 102 miles an hour and Griffin conines. It was Matt Stairs-esque. He had 110 miles an hour. You should look it up. It was one of the most, it was one of the most perfectly squared up baseballs I've ever seen in my life. It was it was perfection. It was Schwabber off of Darvish and it was Stairs-ish. Wow. Okay. It was awesome. You should look it up. Okay. It was cool. The, um, so, like, they could just hand the ball to that, that bullpen. I have a zero faith that the Phillies would be able to score in the six, seventh, eighth, or even the ninth, obviously with with Mason Miller. So the Padres worry me, like the Padres.

might be ahead of the behind the Braves. Like I might, they might be the team on a base at least. Oh my God. Oh my. Oh my.

Like a perfect, perfect barrel on that. Look at that. Yeah. Wow. Put a barrel on a bullet. Ah, dude. Oh,

that's a fun one. Yeah, that's a good one. Tied it up too. And the 90s. All right. Yeah, it was a big one.

So I actually might have the Padres last, like of the team I want to play the least. Wow. Just because, just because the Tati's heater. that he's on and that bullpen. I have such little faith in this Phillies team being able to do anything

against that bullpen. And then the Braves the problem with playing the Braves in the Wildcard round is I think why I would still probably have them the team that I want to face the least is I just feel like game one's

I feel like game one's a loss because of sale. Like I just I know that sounds like a defeatist attitude but I mean that dude is money, he's nails, he's prime curse sale again. I know that they scored three against him, but also they did squat after the, it was one hit.

It was like that one inning, they got, they got to him and Derek got a big hit. And that was pretty much it, right? And when they beat them in the postseason, was he healthy? I'm trying to remember. I'm trying to remember if he started any.

One of the two, certainly not the first one. Was he there in 23? He was. That's what I don't think he was there in 23. Because he won the side. For sure. He won the Sigh Young in 24.

Right? Yeah. So I don't think he... I don't remember them facing him in a playoff game. Do you? He might have started that game two where Wheeler started it and they lost in the Harper Atta boy game. But I don't think so.

I don't think so. Tucker put it. Okay. He was in Boston 23. Okay. So. Yeah. It makes sense.

Egg on our face. Egg on our face. So, but yeah, I just... So we were right as the point. What? He didn't. face the Phillies in 22 or 23. That's what we're. Yeah, yeah, we were. I just, yeah.

But so this, the sale factor in a three game series where I feel like you're going to lose game one. I don't love that. At least against the Padre starting staff, I mean, you're facing Paveta or Mize or Robbie Ray. So, I guess Michael King is in there as well. Well, Michael King's pretty great. Wow. Wait, hold on. Chris Sale does as a 635 postseasoner. Is that correct, Tucker? Wow. Wow. Okay.

I don't buy it. Give me the praise. Sales, Sales Kershaw. He's Kershaw in the postseason. I mean, he did. 24 runs and 34 innings. Wow. Wow.

So he's a huge fraud? Is that what I'm hearing about Chris Sale? Actually, feed me the braids. We're going to dominate Chris Sale in game one. I know they don't have the great starting step after that. It's just game one I'd be worried about. So I don't know, man. I mean, they all present their own challenges.

the nice part about the I mean the Cubs by the way I mean Bregman will be back but I don't know how much Andrews it looked awful I mean that that picture he tweeted out or Instagramed out or whatever like that was he got messed up man he did I know PCA's been unbelievable

but you know I've never been in the playoffs before right as he I don't think he's ever played in my house right or if he had if he has not in a past the three game series well and and I watch the feel has dominate Shoah O'Htony in the postseason last year. Like, it's, it's great pitching, hopefully beating good hitting. And he's obviously been great. And I love BCA.A.

And this is one of the best individual seasons I can remember, you know. But like, Shohei, that was the year that, I mean, he was D. And the, well, now, last year didn't go 50, 50. That was two years ago. Regardless, regardless, I saw what they were able to do against him. And I have not all the confidence in the world, but it's really just for them. It's him. and then it's like say it's had a bit of a down second half like michael bush i'm not going to be

up and i think about michael bush uh braving in a big spot 100 percent but who knows how he is right now and everyone else after that is is getable i mean they have some aura uh wriggly's wrigley but they're not this juggernaut yeah look i it's funny because i it's not like i have a ton of confidence in the Phillies but i also am not really super scared of any of these three teams you know When you get to the Dodgers and Brewers, we can have a different discussion. But look, I think they could lose or beat to any of these teams. I think that for me, I get your point. I'm not as care of the Padres, but I think that's probably influenced just by the fact that I feel like.

And it's not right. It's always something into the Toronto Raptors and never won until they won. But it just doesn't, it doesn't feel like the Padres have that juice when it matters. Like it feels like every year they get there. I feel like every single year, the Padres are the. team where it's like, oh, don't want to pay the Padres going in the playoffs. Ooh, that's a scary Padres team. And every year they fail every year.

So, like, I need to see the Padres breakthrough to believe that I'm going to be scared of the Padres. So, like, I would take the Padres first. I'd take him here if possible, obviously, but I would be go to San Diego. I wouldn't be too worried about that. The Phillies have played really well in that building the last year. Like, this group of Phillies has played pretty well out there. So I would probably go Padres one, Cubs, two, Braves three. But I agree with you in the sense that I think you can make an argument one way or another

for any of these teams. And the thing with the Phillies is that whether it's the bats, the pen, whatever you want to point to or just the injuries are like that they could be got on any level. So any of these teams that match up in a certain way, you could paint a picture where it's like, well, the Cubs hitting's going to get them. It's going to get those relievers. There's no chance this pen can shut those Cubs out up.

No way they're going to get hits against his Padres. Penn games over after five eight. Like you can kind of paint a picker. Sail wins game one. Then they just got to take one of two. It's over. Like Cacacacuna is going to go nuts. You can find a storyline to.

believe with any of these. I think it is pretty similar. I'm very with you though, and I know it is counterintuitive. And I understand that I am sacrificing the chance to go to Citizens Bank Park in October for at least a couple games, which is like I wouldn't do for anything. But I think it's better for this team to be on the road. I really do. We are fully aligned on that. I think this team needs a little bit of a kick in the ass. And I'm going on the road and being an enemy territory and being the underdog and wanting to get home rather than hit the home run in the moment at home, I think it would be a real motivator that can, I think this team needs some, some confidence, some juice, some role. I mean, like, we know, again, they were losing until

the ninth inning in St. Louis in 2022. And again, there's a different team. I'm not saying they're going to be like that. But they were losing until the ninth inning. And Gene's got that hit. And Mundoz comes in later and slides in. And like, it was a different thing. Like, it was different. Harbots into Homer the next night. Like, it's like, this team feels different in two games than they did for almost the entirety of the season outside of that your run they had in the middle. So I do think things can change on a dime confidence-wise, belief-wise, and I just, I think that's so much more likely to happen with them going on the road. I have very little faith, which is crazy. I just have such little faith in them just showing up and going, you know, balls out at home.

I just, I, I, I don't feel it. I don't feel it. There's been too many tight ballpark moments. Maybe they take their cues from me, you know? Like when I, they can tell when I start pacing around the stadium by myself. Don't do that, guys. Don't do that. Again, not the model, not the, not the face of strength.

I am not that kind of guy. Not there, fully locked in. But never the rally the troopsman. You're not the rock to lean on and lift on and build around. I mean, you are in a different way, just not in, that moment, you know? No, no, no. Don't want to be there.

Don't want to be there. I don't want to be there. I don't want to be there until they went on the road. I don't want to be there until they win the wild guard round and then they split in whatever NLDS game they are. And then game three of the NLDS, I can't wait to be at Sison the Bank Park. Like that will be, that's my, my blueprint to October is, is that. Go into on the road and then I'll see you at the bank. We're fully aligned.

We're actually fully aligned on this. It's counterintuitive and I think most people disagree with this. I feel super strong about it. So, all right. Let's get to the bag in a second, but Jack, did I know this? Say it, say it. Do you remember the number?

The one and three people suffer from nausea. That's right. Regularly suffer from nausea. And as you know, my wife family is one of those people. And it should be horrible in our lives. I mean, driving anywhere has been an adventure and pain tolerance. She's sick to her stomach. She'll turn green.

Zoe and I are trying to. to talk quietly so it's not to upset her. There's no fun. There's no hanging out, an idea of a cruise or a train trip, anything like that. Out of the question, we've never even considered it. It's been a real impediment in our lives. That's until relief ban came into our lives. For us, it's been an absolute miracle.

It has literally changed our lives. We can go anywhere, and Emily is completely fine. She puts it on, it's like, bang, I'm good. Let's talk. Let's listen music. Let's hang out. We've talked about taking a cruise. It has been an unbelievable change in our lives.

I know. The cruise was on. A cruise. A car ride was off the table, Jack. Whoa. It is completely and totally opened up our lives. And relief ban is 100% natural. No pills, no side effects.

It works in just minutes. Relief fan stops, nausea from things like motion sickness, morning sickness. And for meds like JLP ones and Jack, get this, I can verify myself now. It even works for nausea from hangovers because this voice isn't the only thing I had in Nashville. Phil, I got a hangover from going out on Friday night and drinking way more than I meant to. Yeah, more.

And I'm 45 now, kid. You're damn right, buddy. And I felt it. But you know what? I did on Saturday morning. I had to do a show. I get up. I put relief in on.

Bang. I felt better. It was like magic. It was unbelievable. Put relief band on your wrist and turn nausea off. Go to relief band. com. And he's J-A-M-E-S for 20% off.

ReliefBan.com promo code to James. And we're beta testing if it's going to work in October when. We're there. Yes, yes. That's a real sub. We can say it works October. We got a real thing here. If it helps from that perspective of staying calm in the ballpark.

Drink up, baby. Fantasy football happy hour is here to get you wins and have some laughs. Matthew Berry here and my podcast, Fantasy Football Happy Hour, has the sleepers bus and starts-in advice you need to win your league. We're diving into the tape. We're crunching the numbers to bring you sleepers. Bus weekly starts-sid advice, whether you're defending a title or desperately avoiding last

place. I've got you covered every single weekday. The bar is open. It's fantasy football happy hour with Matthew Berry wherever you get your podcast. We touched on it, but Kirkering. I mean, just, you see it on the mound.

He's got no confidence. He is, they sent him down in the Iron Pigs game. It was the last game. It's over. Yeah, they set him down to nothing. They sent him down to just go away, is what they said. an absolute miscalculation by them in the off season. I understand rebuilding his image and things like that. Who could have seen him?

They should have traded him. Like, here's what's going to happen. He's going to, they're going to trade him this off season for nothing. He's going to go to one of the random AL teams. He's going to have a good run. And then he's going to get traded probably somewhere else. And then he's going to turn right back into a Ryan Kirkland. I agree with you.

I don't think he has it in big moments. I just don't think he has it. Like Alex McFarraf. Barlin has the stones that you wish that that Orion Kirkring has. I know that's early to project on Alex McFarland, but you see him, you see how he acts in moments. You, you,

Kirkring would have a scared face. McFarlane doesn't. And maybe it's all those reps closing out games for Redding. Until mid-July. See, you were criticizing them, but that was the whole point, the whole way, Jack.

They, they had a plan. High leverage spots, you know. Yeah. I mean, the, the,

sequence to Soto yesterday where second and third two outs, Juan Soto Alperme's first and second two outs. And there's already to run home and he's in for Sanchez. Sanchez stays in the mound clearly pissed at Don Maddenly for taking him out of the game. Clearly mad.

The death stare in the dugout. And you know, I know it's a Sunday. You know, no one's watching because the Eagles have the win of the century against a hapless type. Titans team.

But the quarterback just magic. His magic was the word of it. Oh, he's just so magical. Yes. Yes. Yeah, who could have executed that?

But the, it's a Sunday. It's raining a team not in the playoffs. That's still Juan Soto. And two weeks prior, Alex McFarland's facing Acuna and throws seven straight fastballs on a Cooney blast one.

And yesterday, McFarland, three straight fastballs, 102 on the last one, blows it right past Soto. Juan Soto. So, like, he has something. And I, like, Don, after the game's talking about like he's like the kid. And I understand it.

But I think they still kind of treat them that way. And they're going to go into this postseason. They're going to put Alvarado into the eighth. He's going to blow it. And, and it's going to be infuriating because this kid has something. He has something. And he's your future setup guy for as long as Duran's here. And then maybe he takes a.

over who knows that's down the road but like he can be a madson yeah he could be like you know he can be that kind of like he could be an eighth inning guy again he could be a closer but he could be your eight he could be your full stop eighth inning guy he could be what brad keller was supposed to be madsen was back at it like he could be that kind of guy yeah if they would give him a little bit of rope um so that's one of the situations that i'm monitoring is is the alvarado macfarlane deployment in october and even the rest of this week and big spots, but I was impressed with him yesterday. And that was a big spot.

Maybe he's going to be a seventh guy and then you give the go up the ball to Alvarado for the eighth. But I just, man, it, it's, I don't love it. I don't love it. Yeah, I hate it. Can I ask you a question? And again, I know, because you don't get it either. And I'm not saying like that you can give an answer to something that makes a ton of

sense. And look, I get that over the last month, Jose Alvarado's numbers have been better. They have. You know, like, it doesn't always look great and stuff like that. but, you know, I just looked it up, and it's a more surprising I thought. He's got a .79 area over his last 28 days.

Like, that's shocking to me. That is absolutely shocking. I'm floored by it. But how can they trust him as much as they do, Jack? Like, what I don't understand is when, like, and I know Maddingley hasn't been the manager here the whole time, but like these are all organizational things. Like, Mattingly is not by himself choosing those.

No. Like, Kauffin clearly loves him. They're at that. And what I owner says, I can go through what we've gone through with Jose Alvarado and still love him. No, what you do? Like, I'm not even talking, I can't even go there my voice, but like, I can't, like, I'm even talking about the steroids or any of that tough.

I'm just talking about the inconsistency, the fact that we know that this guy, even when he's pitching well, can come out and throw the ball the backstop in a big spot or whatever. Like, it's just, he is so impossible to trust, especially with, even with the 0.790 or whatever it is over the last, you know, 28 days. He's still got an year over five on the season. Like, it's not like this guy has been, has been good at all of almost any point. point the season until a little bit now. And is it just that he's been here?

Like, I need to understand how they can possibly feel okay, putting these guys in the spots. They put him in, especially, like, I just, I'm so mystified by it. Well, and especially because he's been bad against lefties this year. It's not like he's been a lefty, he's a better against right. He's than lefties. I think it's more than willing it into existence than it actually being the existence. I think that they want to believe that he is some weapon out there.

there is no bigger fear I have out of the postseason than them having like a 3-1 lead in the 8th and they're giving the ball to him. Like that's my. And by the way, like they need to grow up when it comes to using Duran just in the 9th. Like if you're telling me, if you're telling me eighth inning,

they're facing Acuna, uh, Harris Olson or whoever they did the brain. What are we doing here? Then you're giving the ball to Duran. I'm sorry. And if he has to go two innings, so what?

I don't, I don't care. I really don't. I really don't care. They got to grow up with like the only ninth inning thing for Duran. And it's probably like, it's something they should test out this week, by the way. I know. I said this a month and a half ago or whatever with Tucker. I was like when Tucker was a month ago, I was like, what are we doing?

And then they did the one up down because they had to in Los Angeles. They've done another since. Like, what the hell are you doing? Are you not like, it's so crazy you have. I'm sorry. I can't do it. Well, and it's it. They made the mistake with Robertson last year.

Robertson they didn't do it at all until game one. They're asking him to go back out there. It's crazy. It's crazy. The Duran could not be relegated only to the eighth to the ninth. If they're going to win, if they're going to win, it's all hands on deck, all hands on deck. And then find someone, you want to bring like Lazzardo to close the game. Like if you have to, you have to, Ranger, Ranger closed out the game.

Game five and 22. And then they got to, they got to grow up with that. But Kirkcoring seems like he's never going to throw a pitch with Phillies again. And man, what a, what a fall from grace, man. I mean, he was, he was really, really something when he came up. And the stuff. Remember his first moment with the video with his dad and all that. Like that was like,

you know me. I mean, that's like my kind of. Oh, the dad crying in the sand. I still talk about Luke Williams. I mean, that's how much I love that kind of stuff.

Like that stuff gets me. And like that was an awesome moment. I felt so cool. And also we have a fond like, Kurgering thing where it was like that was, you had such a great call Kerkering. Like that guy was in single A and you're like, yo guys.

Hey, everybody. Look at this guy. He's good. He can make it to the majors. He made to majors that year. Like it was nonsense. It was such a, like, it felt like, wow, we got something.

We got something so cool and unexpected and fun. And it's a shame because he does have stuff. He just, to your point, the stones that, however you want to phrase it, like, he just, I said before, his heart beats faster in the biggest moments. Whatever you want to say, like, he just, he just doesn't have it. It big, like, doesn't happen. And maybe it can change. But right now, like, I wouldn't trust him in the fifth inning of a 10-run playoff game.

Like, he's that untrustable in a big spot. yeah he's scared of the moment i mean he's just he's terrified of the moment and he shrinks in the you can see it shrinking you know when he's out like him him just melting on the mountain so uh will not miss uh the experience in in october this year with him for sure uh and then that's pretty much i have on on that oh uh you missed it on saturday but that game got blown open by brooks raily who i just i can't believe he sucks i the mess are mystified that he sucks apparently like franski's fransky said that they don't know why he's bad, but he's just horrendous. And I,

I mean, look, he's 38. Maybe he just finally fell off a cliff. It is possible. But I, but he doesn't, he had been quick.

I don't know. I don't know. I'm trying to come up with something, dude. Talking about, freaking figure it out, Brooks. My goodness.

Although in that inning, Crawford took the worst route to a baseball I've ever seen in my life. Yeah, I saw you tweet about it. It was the worst route I've ever. seen. How that was the read off the bat was crazy. So we're going to need to lock that in.

Now, Crawford made up for it with the base clearing double yesterday, so appreciate that. But I do have a minor, minor, minor, minor fear of his defense in the postseason, even though it's a minor, minor, minor, minor fear. And then Redding took game one of the Eastern League finals last night, a thrilling

1-0-1-0 win for the boys against Erie, caught a little bit of the game at the end. So it was now Gage is on the developmental list. I don't believe he's going to pitch. So it seems like his season might be over if I know that correctly. But yeah, so we'll see if Redding can take home the

Eastern League title. Everyone's on pins and needles, hoping that the fighting fellas can get it done. Biggest thing in Philadelphia sports right now, I think probably. I totally agree. We all got to have our wins. We all got to have our wins. All right. All right.

All right. So we're a week away from one way or the other next Monday's pod is going to be freaking awesome. Like next Monday's pod, like whatever, however they get there, whatever, we're going to at least be able to get excited for a for a series and see what happens from there. But as long as they win two games this week. Well, yeah, yeah, you're right. Yeah, hopefully. Next Monday's pod could be the worst pot we've ever done also. It's either going to one other two. So get right.

Yeah, yeah. I mean, either way is fun. Yeah, super fun one or the most least fun pot we've ever done. Well, I was talking to some people out of the Burr. Great time out of the borough last Thursday. The borough was awesome. Shout to the borough. Shout out to JT running it.

Yeah, he was awesome. Super nice guy. They were a great spot. Yeah. I know I was talking to people out there and they were like, you know, when you have your meltdowns, yeah, they're few and far between, but they, they, we like those. And it's like, well, well, they usually coincide with just horrendous performances

from the baseball team. So we're not rooting for that. but just win two games this week. We don't have to worry about it. Yeah, and we'll be back later in the week to react to it all and all that. All right. Anything else before we get out of here, Fritzy? Nope.

I'm going to go soak my throat and salt water and whatnot and hopefully it's better. I'm not actually going to do that. I'm just going to hope it gets better. All right. Okay. We'll be back later in the week. Take two and through from the brewers and just end this whole thing and we can just be good and look ahead. But at least one would be nice.

At least one. All right. Until that, we'll talk to you guys later in the week. Until that, he's for some shelter.