High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Sweep the Rays...Neander Stays?

Episode Date: August 23, 2021

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to the Phillies winning two of three in San Diego. The guys talk Bohm's demotion, Nola's almost perfect game, and much more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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You need a better yo than that. And here's what I'm hoping that yo conveyed. Oh, come on. Dude, they won two of three in San Diego, and they lost a game in the standings, Jack. And I'm sorry. I'm just going to be real. We never lie to the IOPs listeners.

It's the ethos of this podcast. It's what we do. Honestly, honestly, I know they won two or three in san diego the loss is the one that sticks in my head like how do you lose that game how do you lose that game jack a walk-off two-run or excuse me a tying two-run over on the ninth and then a walk-off wild freaking pitch jack like that see recently on this podcast you've been the you know one of your things about why it's been better to watch phillies is like oh they don't lose painfully anymore it's just a normal loss guess what pal we're back how you doing yeah that game was painful although i didn't see it

because i fell asleep but yeah you're so lucky dude i'm so jealous of you for falling asleep because my dumb ass is sitting there nine thinnings saying oh it's gonna be great we're gonna win this game game nola this is awesome awesome and then yeah it'll hurt way more in the moment i'll tell you that buddy yeah um i listen i didn't plan on falling asleep uh but like i'm not gonna lie a little disappointed i mean no and for as disappointed as you are and all the listeners out there are about what happened. I agree. I'm with you as well.

I felt so much shame when I woke up because it happened. It happened on Friday night. I mean, you call me the old guy. We're just, you know, if the old guy or the young guy, we're going to like fall asleep during a game. Like that's the old guy trope, not the young guy trope. It is. I'm just saying. It is, and that's why I'm so embarrassed, because I usually make fun of you for being the elder statesman of this podcast.

I know. But I just, I don't, like, I woke up, so I fell asleep, and I woke up at 12, like, whatever, and I looked at the score, and I was like, ah, damn it. But then I was like, I was like, come on, man. They really blew that game. But again, I'm not happy about it. I'm not happy about it. Now, I did go back and rewatch. So I'm all good.

But falling asleep is probably the most embarrassed I've been as a Phileas fan in my entire life. I pride myself in loving the West Coast games. I pride myself in real fans. Yeah, you actually make it a thing. You like make a, like almost, I know life's a bit, but you make a bit out of it. Like almost like the real ones stay up. It's kind of your shtick.

That's my point. Is it real fans stay up for West Coast games? And I fell asleep. I fell asleep. Now, in my defense. Here's my defense. I honestly don't even know if we can do an in in defense here i think you just almost take it on the chin but but you know give whatever excuse you're

gonna give your gut friday i was drunk and saturday that's it that was it that was all don't give me your five hour show because that better not be excuse i did 10 hours of radio the two days prior so i i hope you're not going to do that. I did a five hour shift on Saturday and it was just a really long day. That's a lot. That's five hours of radio and doing radio is a lot. So like, listen, I mean, I was tired. I was a little, I was a little tuckered out.

Wow. And it was man. So, so here's the thing. As disappointed as you were in the moment, waking up, seeing they lost the game, I'll see you tomorrow. Probably a good thing. That was really painful in the moment. As disappointed as you are in yourself, all of us as in high hopes nation is that much more disappointed for the excuse you just gave. for the excuse you just gave like we're all i mean embarrassed for you is probably the the word you know that's the sentiment that i'm feeling right now no yeah and and they should be and and but five hours of radio no five hours of radio is a lot and i was tired and i was driving a lot and i just you know i don't know how it happened like i saw i understood how friday night happened

i went out had some fun, came back, fell asleep. That happens. Saturday, because I did a whole— You fell asleep both nights? Both nights. Hold on. Both nights. You buried the lead here.

I said I did it both nights. I was up at 1.50 a.m. watching the Phillies win that first game, and I was also up on Saturday. That's what I'm saying. That's what I'm saying. So Friday night, I went out with some friends and jill and i got back and i watched it and then i fell asleep outside which makes it even worse um it actually doesn't dude on like a freaking lawn chair too like like or whatever like who does that dude how old are you like you're you might we're getting dangerously close

to you not being able to make fun of me for being old anymore. That's, and it's my favorite bit in the entire world is making fun of how old you are. I know. So, yeah, so Friday night I fell asleep and I woke up at like 345 and saw they won and that was great and all that. And then, like, James, I made a bit out of it the next day on the radio saying, well, that won't happen again. Like, I'm so embarrassed. Yeah. Yeah.

And I did this whole thing about how, like, I'm so embarrassed I fell asleep and all this stuff. And then I brought on Franzen and Franski from San Diego and said, you guys made me fall asleep last night. You were so boring that don't do that again. And then I fell asleep again. Oh, man. Dude, I know. I appreciate you admitting this to everyone

because, you know, it's borderline maybe actually lie to the IELTS listeners type of thing. We're like on the line there. What if you didn't? I appreciate you not. You can't say that's the ethos of this podcast and then do that. I agree.

I agree. I agree. And I'm happy you didn't, because that was the right decision. But man, you know. It was a long week, though. It was a long week. I mean, we had to get up early. Do you have any more excuses?

Do you want to just like rattle all the ones you have off in a row so we can just get them out of the way? I do have more. Or do you want to just keep throwing them in as we go? I do have more. I had to get up early on Tuesday, up at like 6 on Tuesday. Oh, yeah, to go on Tuesday? Yeah.

I was at fish shows last weekend. Yeah, well, at least I was able to do a podcast on Sunday night with someone who would get a new computer. Not to turn this around on you, pal, but I was ready to go on Sunday. Tuesday, I had to get up early because I drive Jill to work on Tuesdays, and I was really tired. Wednesday, I stayed up for the Diamondbacks game. Tuesday, I stayed up for the Diamondbacks game.

And Thursday, I was stressed out all day, so my brain could barely handle it because I had to do the Eagles game on the radio. And then Friday night, I was out with my friends celebrating a good time, and then I fell asleep. And then Saturday, I did five hours of radio. You ever done it before? No, you haven't done it before. So why don't you calm down i've done i did 13 hours of radio no you didn't on the air on the air you did 13 hours were you producing now i produced for i produced

for my i produced a 13 hour show okay which is different so now i've done five hours on the air though but that's the max but i've never done five hours by myself look i mean it's a it's a we don't curse in the house podcast but a bull bleep uh excuse for why you fell asleep for a phillies game but i've not hosted five hours a lot it's a lot i'll give it to you now i will say falling asleep with that NOLA performance is probably the most. That's what makes it harder. Yeah. And no, what makes it hard is that you made a bit out of it and gave Scott Franski and Kevin Franz and crap about it. And then that's by far the worst part of this.

Like, light years, the worst part of this. Now, I will say, didn't fall asleep yesterday. Oh, yeah? You stayed up for the afternoon? i'm so proud of you buddy good job thanks it's good work i appreciate it really what do we do what do we do here we keep talking because we got a podcast to do and i i re-watched it all so we're all good okay all right all right all right i just gotta turn the new nance thing where you're gonna go you stay awake for the games uh it wasn't going to until you suggested that and now i think i might yeah so yeah and i'm good looking out life's a bit all right yeah so here like in all seriousness and we'll get to the games himself but like like honestly how do you feel

about the fact that they won two or three in San Diego and come out of the weekend another game back? Like, are you as frustrated as I am right now? Do you have, like, honestly, do you have hope? Are you hopeful right now? Oh, of course. I mean, yeah. Yeah.

I mean, of course I have hope. Like, I mean, they're only. All right. Here's where I am. Just being honest is that I was actually really frustrated after they won Friday night. Now my eyes were closed, but when I rewatched, because I was like, that's fights. You guys actually fought.

You guys played hard, and you grinded out a win, and you found a way to win a baseball game instead of losing a baseball game. I thought the Segura bat in the sixth was the biggest example of that. Gene Segura, he's on this one for 21 streak he was on. He grinded out. He finally got to a 3-2 count, fouled a ton of balls off and all this stuff. And then I think JT did it next as well and actually grinded out at bats.

And it's like, how did that diamondback series happen like that diamondback series cannot happen and like my thought was like that's the that's what makes a winning team versus a losing team simple as that losing teams have momentum go into arizona and get swept winning teams a la the team in atlanta go and take care of business 117 and 19 and 19 straight like against bad teams that's what they do and take care of business, win 17 and 19 and won nine straight against bad teams. That's what they do. They take care of business. And the Phillies, to be able to rise to the occasion

and clearly play up to competition, that annoyed me. It annoyed me that they were able to do that, given what we'd seen in Arizona. So, yeah, I'm frustrated that they were able to do that. But on the other hand, they're only four games out of the wild card. They're in the honestly. Wow, we're going wild card now. Wild card fever.

But James, like, but here's the thing. This season is decided with these next three series. It's as simple as that. Without quite Labor Day. By Labor Day, Jack, you are 100% right. By Labor Day, the season will be decided. Because the Braves have a tough stretch here. The Phillies have an easy stretch.

So the Braves have two against the Yankees, three against San Diego, three in Los Angeles. And then for what it's worth, I know it sounds ridiculous, but four in Colorado. Colorado, one of the best home teams in baseball this year. I know it's crazy. Like one of the worst road records in baseball by far. But they've been a good home team.

So it's a tough stretch for them. It is no it is a tough stretch and so like this is gonna decide it um and then my other my other main like thoughts uh we get to this i'm sure but whatever i mean we're talking about where we're at with this team is that like i need the offense to figure it out because i genuinely feel good about the starting staff and the bullpen. Are they amazing? No. But they're much better than they were at the beginning of the year. Like, Ranger's been a nice addition.

I don't think that Diamondback start was like – even he didn't pitch well, and he's only allowed three runs in five innings. Like, I'll take that. So, and obviously – Yeah, he pitched bad. He pitched bad. He did. He allowed 12 base runners in four and two.

I know, I know. But he hasn't shown that he's done that in the past so no range has been fine yeah it's been fine um matt more matt more like i'll keep i'll keep liking what i'm seeing but i can't go fully in carrying the torch oh you're not like last pod when you went fully in oh i mean he's he's back to back no hitter and then you know another good another good outing so um but other than that like the bullpen i think i think gerardi's kind of found the guys he can kind of trust there you know i think he can trust almost night hector bradley and kennedy to get the job done and kennedy i think he's really turned the corner it's like it's like when kennedy first got here he was like oh wow

it's just jumping straight into a pennant race huh and then he allowed like three homers in three games and then ever since then i think he's been pretty good. But the offense has just been brutal. The offense has just been straight up brutal for how much talent is there, outside of Bryce, obviously. But they need to get going because I think the pitching staff as a whole has kind of figured it out in a sense. Yeah, look, and we've talked about it. I mean, it's all season long. It's been a theme.

It's been before the season. Something to come back to that this team ultimately on a basic level is either going to win or lose because of the offense. If they make the playoffs, it's because the offense went on a streak for the last 38 games. Like, that's why. Like, so I'm very with you on that. And that's I agree with you. That's me. I mean, six runs in three games against Arizona, the worst staff in baseball.

agree with you that's me i mean six runs and three games against arizona the worst staff in baseball when we look back at this season when they likely don't make the playoffs to your point you know i agree it is not over and i really do think these next 10 to 13 games like by labor day because it is looking it's it just feels so silly to talk about all the phillies have easy games coming up because it doesn't matter like as we know and we just saw, but they do have four at home against the Diamondbacks. They've got three against Nats. Like, they've got some easier games coming up after this Rays series starting tomorrow. So, like, it is the time.

Like, if they're going to make a move, if they're going to catch up to the Braves, it's going to be now when the Braves theoretically, hopefully struggle and the Phillies can take advantage of that. But I do think your bigger point is the right one, is they need to hit man like they need to that time back experience was so unacceptable and at the end of the season when we look back and when i think they don't make the playoffs likely we're gonna look back at that series yeah like that diamond back series is gonna be the moment like it's gonna be the series it's gonna be the one where like that was it that was

it it's the astro series of 2012 that's what it was yeah jack that's a perfect comp man that's a perfect comfort like it's the it's the pivot point and we're gonna look back and be like man that was it they had it and they blew it yeah but and to their and that's again that's what made like this weekend so frustrating like yes i'm glad they they took two or three and really they probably should have swept but um I'm glad they took two or three and really, they probably should have swept. But I'm glad they took two or three. But like, you should be able to lock in all the time

when you're in a pennant chase. And like, I don't care if there's 7,000 people in the stands. There's been 7,000 people in Miami forever and the Braves went down there and took care of business.

There was maybe 500 people in the stands at Camden Yards over the weekend and the Braves down there and took care of business. There was maybe 500 people in the stands at Camden Yards over the weekend and the Braves went there and took care of business. Like winning teams do that. Losing teams play down a competition and can't rise and can't grind and can't figure out to win games against bad teams. Yeah, it's exactly right. And look, there's Braves streak and I know they've been at home and all that stuff, but

like it's a perfect example of that, right? It's like, look, the Braves are not a great team. We've talked about this a lot. I still firmly believe everything we've said about the fact that the National League East does not have a great baseball team this year. That's okay. That's why the Phillies are in it. But like the Braves, what they're doing is

they're a team that, as we've talked about many times, they made the playoffs, what, three years in a row? They know how to win these games. They know how to kind of buckle down when itves, what they're doing is they're a team that, as we talked about many times, they made the playoffs, what, three years in a row. They know how to win these games. They know how to kind of buckle down when it matters. And they're doing what it takes. They're beating the Marlins. They're beating the Orioles. They're beating the Nationals.

Like, they're beating these crappy teams. And that's the thing the Phillies have not been able to do for years now. Like, just beat the crappy teams. Like, it's so simple. Seemingly so simple, Jack. And jack and you said it credit to you man like when we all did the whole like second half schedule look at the philly everybody was like the go-to thing for pundits and radio and and podcasts everyone to do was to say hey look you know i know they're buying the mets right now the met schedule is really tough and the philly schedule is really easy. And you sit from the jump like, yeah, I know the schedule is easy,

but they don't beat easy teams, so I don't look at it like that. And you were right, man. You were right. Like, until they start to beat the teams they're supposed to on a consistent basis, they're not going to be a playoff team. Right. And, yeah, shocking that my semi-negative Phillies take ended up being the one that I get it right, which is highly annoying.

I know, right? Like, seriously. Like, I can't get one positive Phillies take ended up being the one that I get it right, which is highly annoying. I know, right? Like, seriously. Like, I can't get one positive Phillies take right, but the one where I'm like, oh, I don't know if they can actually beat bad teams. It's like, wow, you did it. You finally got one right, pal. It's like, yeah, I know.

It's just absolutely brutal. But, yeah. Yeah, and that's why this next little streak here is simply put the most important stretch of baseball in this town in a little while and um the thing that the thing that honestly sucks right now james is it feels like it's like they took two or three from the padres and it felt like no one cared um no one cared because jack it doesn't feel like no one cared no one cared like i think I think this city is like so hurt about what happened post eight game winning streak. That's going to it's just going to take it's going to take a lot more.

Like they build up a lot of equity in that eight game stretch and to completely just, you know, lay down after that. I mean, it's just I don't think I don't think the city and us and our listeners have quite totally, you know, bounced back. No. And guess what? I don't blame them. Look, our last podcast was titled I Feel Like an Idiot. Yes. For that exact reason.

Because that's how I think. I think that was, like, emblematic of how every Phillies fan felt. Or at least, like, all of the ones who bought in. There were. Shout out to the people. had a few cars at the stage and there were a few people who were like no no no no i'm not buying this i don't care i'll be the killjoy i don't care like and good for them because they were right but the vast vast majority of us jack we've been waiting a decade yes a decade to feel that man like the fact that it was their first eight game winning streak since 2011 and first seven gamers since 2012 like tells you all you need to know it's that we were just

dying for something dying for real hope for real a real belief a real like feeling that oh this isn't a mirage this isn't early in the season this is real and and that eight game winning streak was that for us and i and as a result clearly we just bought him way too much to it like because we were just so desperate jack so desperate for something like that like desperate i know and i like i couldn't even i couldn't even seriously utter the sentence who let the phils get hot like that's that's when you know that's when you know you're down bad that's when you know you're down bad i couldn't even seriously utter the sentence, who let the Philz get hot? Like that's, that's when you know, that's when you know you're down bad. That's when you know you're down bad. I couldn't even muster up the,

the strength to say who let the Philz get hot and, and do all that. I still tweeted it though. I still tweeted it cause it's funny. It's sarcastic. Um, but in all seriousness, I couldn't do it.

Um, and listen, I like that you choose, you choose the forum where sarcasm is lost the most to be sarcastic, which is pretty, pretty funny. It's probably a mistake it's probably a mistake i know you should say it on here where people could tell what you're saying but no you tweet it where no one has any idea well here's what i do james is i keep people on their toes you do you do it's good i'm um you know that's why we love you jack yes that's, that's exactly right. But I guess, I guess to wrap up the point,

um, like there was a point. Yeah, I know. Like to wrap up the point is that, is that like, even I, and I,

I love talking myself into the fillies. Like, dude, that diamond back series, like really took it, like took it out of me. Like it just, it's,

it's, they need to like slap me in the face and say i'm for real for me to like and now of course if they sweep the rays and do all this stuff like yeah obviously be back like i'll be back faster than most but um like like i just i just i can't understatement of the century i know i i just can't i can't blame people for not being sold at the moment and like and i i can't even fully get there myself because like, like that dying back series kind of told me all I need to know. And I just,

I can't shake it. I just can't shake it at the moment. I look, I think that tells our listeners all they need to know, you know, for you to say it that way, to, to feel that way.

I mean, that's strong, man. Like for me, let's put it this way i'm not believing in them again until they're in the playoffs like i'm just like no hot streak no they could be three games up with three games to play and i'm not gonna believe they're gonna make the playoffs so they do it jack like that's what i've learned from the same game win streak as the one who wasn't ready to jump back in and i I did. I jumped. I was in.

I said it to you. I was like, they're winning the frigging division. I'm out, man. I'm out. They have to be in the playoffs. When they clinch, I'll be like, okay, I believe in these guys again. That's what it's going to take for me. I do think, and I mean this in a very endearing way,

I do think you are the biggest idiot of everyone. I think you should you should like that you led with the endearing you should feel like you should feel like the biggest idiot because you spent all year raining on everyone's parade i know and then you bought in like an idiot and then they came back and they said i should i should be taking a victory lap right now i should not be talking about what an idiot I feel like I should be. I'm like, hey, I told you. Listen to me, guys.

And I can't do that. Well, no one likes the I told you so guy. I don't either. I would have never done that. But I could have is the point. But anyway, you're right. I do feel like such a big idiot. All right.

Let's get into some specifics. I think, obviously, you look at the weekend. The winds were nice but i think nola's really that game okay i mean you didn't want jack let me tell you watching it live like man like really it wasn't the work like i've gotten so numb to these losses these you know rip your heart out of your chest losses that i can't even like really think what the actual worst one is like there are ones that stick out in my head the wilmer defo one in washington the hector three straight homers against the dodgers like like there are those games over the last two three years that like stick out 19 to 11 man 90 absolutely

especially that considering the moment of the season that that happened. Like there are a bunch that just this series in Colorado. Like we can say that in 2018. How about the last four years of Phillies baseball? Yeah, exactly. There are so many of them. But like the thing is, man, Saturday night was right there. Like it's there.

You get a two-run homer in the ninth to tie it and a walk-off wild pitch, pass ball, whatever you want to call it. Man, that's high on the list. Let's start with the Nola Girardi part of it. How much do you blame Nola for giving up, for ultimately not being able to finish it out? And how much do you blame Girardi for leaving him out there? Well, I probably would not have put Nola out there if i if i was in joe's shoes i probably wouldn't have just because um i felt like his it's funny the location was still there but it was down

i mean like the the velo is down like 92 uh and i already thought he kind of had done his job for the night and i did trust the guys behind him to come in and get the job done if needed. So I probably would have pulled him. I understand why I put him out there. But I just didn't think – it didn't feel as effortless, I'll say, as like the Cardinals start earlier this year or the Yankees start. It was obviously dominant, and it was like literally the best I've seen Nolan forever. But I felt like those last two innings were, were harder than, than it was heading into the late stages of those games from earlier this year.

Uh, so I probably would have pulled them and, and whatnot, but at the same time, you know, he was, he was an out away from getting out of it and, and he led the home run.

And so it, it, it backfired, but like it easily could have worked out. Also like Jankowski was like freakishly close to making that catch. Dude. Would that have been the best catch of all time? Well, because if he had made it, he would have made it over the wall.

He would have gone over the wall, fallen over, and come back with the ball. So, yeah. Yeah. Might have been one of the great catches in the history of baseball. And it looked like he was going to make it like i thought for a second he was going to make it going over and falling over the fence he was going to make it and man yes that would have been what because because there's no way he makes that catch without like fully going over the wall you know i mean how often think about how much we watch baseball i was like how many times have you seen someone go over the wall

and come back with the ball right like never jeter i mean like the jeter play that was in foul that was foul though that was a foul ball like talking a home run where the guy goes over the wall and comes back over the fence with the ball like never bleeping happens so yeah and the only way he makes that catch is go he went over the wall anyway like he went over the wall without getting the ball like if he gets that ball if he has that extra you know two inches whatever it was he's going over the wall so yes i honestly think it's one of the all-time great catches if he makes it um i agree with you by the way and and here's the thing like look it's not you know there have been so many gerardi moves this year that we've been angry about that we've talked about and

there've been just you know flat out disastrous ones disastrous ones, like, you know, the, the not having NEL on the lineup card and like the ones where it's like buffoonery. And there've just been a lot of poor decisions and, and some, I understand some, I don't, some work, some don't, but in this one, like it really did. I get it. I get it. You know, I think there are a lot of people who kill a lot of managers for not letting pitchers pitch deep into games and finish things out and all that. I get it. Like I generally lean more towards the we're softer with guys than we should be, you know, mindset these days. But but in this spot, like this was not one of those like, oh, second guess it after like what? like oh second guess it after like what and and maybe a little different watching it after but in the moment watching it live like there was no question he should have put there no like there

was no question in my mind and if you're on twitter during the game every single person on twitter is like why is no out here and after you let the base runner i'm like fine you want to let him start the inning cool like once you give up the base runner like he had to pull him out of that game like in the moment for me i was really angry about it jack and i agree with you i do think it's one where it's not as definitive it's not as obvious it's not like he was totally 100 obviously wrong it was a a gray area call but in the moment i felt very strongly that it was the wrong decision to leave no on that game well given the track record of joe i mean of course it was gonna probably end up being the wrong decision which is

yeah benefit of the doubt is not uh it's not gonna skew his way yeah and i do think joe's done a better job recently um and you know maybe that was just him using his feel but i i didn't think he was as dominant the last couple innings as he was in the previous complete games he's thrown. So, yeah, I probably would have pulled him. You know, again, I think Kennedy's done a good job. I think Kennedy's turned a corner here. And I just thought that would have been a better use of resources.

But honestly, like, that was the best Nola has looked in forever. Like, that was the best Nola has looked in forever. That was different. I mean, I'm still thinking about his changeup because it's never had that level of depth to it. It's always been one that kind of moved in a two-seam way, but it never had that sync to it. And it was dancing all over the place. It was an absolute game-changer.

And if he can actually have that pitch, and it's not just a one-start fluke, I mean, there's a different level there in NOLA and maybe back to 18. This is – I actually probably have said this so far, but this is the best I've felt about – I mean, that was the best he's looked since 18. In all honesty, he's thrown complete games. He's struck out 12 in a row. He's done all that stuff. But the fastball was darting

all night long and the changeup was disgusting he found the curveball a little bit late but that's what 2018 NOLA looked like, that's what he was and that's what we saw on Saturday night it was unbelievable and it's unfortunate that it kind of blew up in their faces

but man, if they can get that NOLA for the rest of the year, they have a legitimate shot at this thing. Yeah, and I agree with that statement. I just don't know how you could expect to get that guy. I mean, you're right. That was the best, but he's been awesome at times this year. He had the 10 straight strikeouts.

He had that complete game shutout. He had the 7-2 shots with the Yankees. He's had brilliant outings this year. He had the 10 straight strikeouts. He had that complete game shutout. He had the 7-2 third shots with the Yankees. He's had brilliant outings this year, but they're always interspersed with these four innings, four runs, or this or that, or whatever. It doesn't feel like Aaron Nola all of a sudden at the end of the season is going to rail off six

straight dominant starts. Why would we expect that? Wouldn't that be a reverse course? Terrible. September? Some are saying that some are saying that noel's mr september um but yeah i i listen i agree i agree i i can't trust him yet um but that was he was nasty it was a really good that was a really good start on on hopefully him being back because again like if, if he has that changeup, it was by far the best his changeup has ever looked.

So, just ridiculous. I'm with you. I'm with you. He finally wasn't missing spots with his two-seamer into lefties. You know, he's finally, like, hitting the low and outside and all that. Like, he was finally spotting up glove side. And it's, like, about time. Because I'd never seen aaron like miss his

spots as much as he had this year so you know you kind of hope that you hope that he wasn't just amped up to face his brother and you hope that's why he was so locked in and uh and hopefully get him back on track uh heading down the stretch run here yeah gibby was awesome i mean just just a professional sure right like just a guy who goes out and just gives you good innings it's it's so refreshing to see that guy take the hill it really is oh what a crazy concept just just goes out there and goes deep into games and all that stuff we are we are 30 plus minutes into this podcast and we haven't talked about probably like just in terms of news surrounding team the biggest news that happened We'll get to Reeves being back and what that meant, obviously, a lot yesterday.

But boom. And we've talked about it in this pod, but outpumps in the minors, Jack. I definitely did not think August 23rd we would be doing a podcast, no matter where this season went. I didn't think that at this point in the season we would be talking about outpumps getting sent down um what are your thoughts yeah it's funny because um you know i i was pretty on the record that i thought he was going to be their best offensive like clearly their best offensive player so so yeah you know uh uh what's where i'm looking for full transparency um the wip website we had to do our bold predictions

for the philly season um and if you go back and look at mine it is alec bomer will be the best sitter on the the phillies and i even said i don't even know if this is that bold so yeah and now he's in the minor league so good take um let's let's say not the best that are on the billings this year believe it or not so yeah not even not even close so um yeah it's the right call i mean overall it's the right call and i uh the the whole his numbers since june 1st or whatever july 1st like he's batting over 300 and all that stuff he might be batting over 300 but it's not like impactful numbers like it's it's these singles yeah it's single yeah it's it's not impactful uh he hasn't driven the ball hard all year and honestly like his problem for as much as his defense is his problem obviously which he needs to work on like he was just kind of mopey and you know he he wasn't handling like

honestly what happened the majors this year is probably the first time he has kind of had the first time he's felt any failure at baseball in his entire life like a real failure um and he just wasn't really handling it well you know he very emotional both sides you know defense offense and and the the struggles the plate translated to the field and that just can't happen. So he's got to figure that stuff out. He's got to figure out a way to dig deep and get out of slumps and grind your way through it. The body language was just off.

So you hope you set him down, you get him right, and then he comes back and he can help you out. I believe that he is going to be a high-level impact bat at the big league level. I don't think it's going to happen. I said that, what, two months ago. I said, I don't think he's going to figure it out this year. And, you know, unfortunately he's in the minor leagues, and that stinks. But he's down there.

He's got stuff to work on. He's got defense to work on. But I think he's going to be an impactful bat. I don't know if he's going to. He's got, he's got stuff to work on. He's got defense to work on, but, but I think he's going to be an impactful bat. I don't know if it's going to be at third base and, and I'm glad the move happened because you need Alec Boehm to get right. And he was not going to get right at the big league level. It just was not going to happen this year. He needs to,

he needs some seasoning. He needs to, he needs to figure it out a little bit. And it just was not going to happen at the major league level. Yeah. Uh, he's a DH. We need the just was not going to happen at the major league level. Yeah. He's a DH. We need the DH in the National League. I know you hate that, Jack.

Disagree! Disagree! It's for the best of the Phillies, my friend. We need it. I agree with everything you said. I think it was absolutely the right move to send him down at this point. I mean, what use is him sitting on the bench six out of seven days a week, you know, honestly, if we're talking about him progressing if we're even talking about helping

this team i think what is alec bone pinch hitting twice a week valuable starting once every seven eight days like does that do anything no it doesn't especially you know like you talked about i mean defensively he's unplayable um and look send him down i mean unplayable jack send him down let him get a bat. Let him, you know, work on the confidence. I mean, the confidence is clearly shot. I mean, we've known it all year. All year we've watched this guy play baseball.

And you could just see it. I mean, if there's a player who wears his emotions on his sleeve more now, tell me who it is. Because all year long. You're right. Yes. Well said. Like, all year long, we've just seen this guy, and we've seen him go through this.

And it has been so evident and so clear watching these games what this guy is going through. And you know what? Like, get him out of this. Get him out of it. He's not going to figure it out here. And I'm very with you in the sense that I still believe in him long term. There's a guy with.338 last year as a rookie. Like, he stepped into the major leagues and hit.338.

Like, that's not easy. That's not easy. That's not fluky. You need to have a certain level of skill to be able to do something like that. I still believe in him long term. I think Alec Boehm's development, to me right now, is more important than this season. I absolutely

am ecstatic they sent him down. He needed to be sent down. Either you play him every day or you send him down and he can't play every day you know so pretty simple in my mind yeah and the the the part that has to get factored in here is that freddie is on his way back and so yeah well i think that was a big part of it even if you don't like the the thing that we're at with tereas right now is that he is starting to get exposed a little bit. Uh, the bat, the, the, listen, round three is not a good hitter.

Nope. He's never been a good hitter. He got a little hot this year and had some nice hits. Like he's always been a utility guy, a bench guy who plays great defense. Like, yes, they were relying on him too much offense.

So the big question for me is like when he, when Freddie's back, do they put is, is, when Freddie's back, do they put – will Didi play third? Like, are they going to be able to put Didi at third base? I mean, he would be – Well, it's a great – Jack, it's a great question because obviously defensively for the club, having Freddie at short is way better than Didi.

But no, if I had to bet, I'll bet you it's Freddie at third. I would bet that as well. Because, look, the club would be better with Didi at third and Torres at short, right? Right. Yeah. Yeah. And I would bet you Freddie's more comfortable playing third than Didi is. Yeah. As much as it sucks.

Yeah. Yeah. So I guess they're going to have to live with it, but I would like to see if Didi can play third because Freddie obviously is a much better defensive shortstop than Didi. Yeah. no question. Alright, I got something else I want to get at

about non-Phillies related and we got to get to the take back, but is there anything else from the weekend you wanted to get to? Well, I thought Matt Moore, like, I just, I wish Matt Moore had this game plan the entire season because it's what he was doing in spring training. Like, this is what he was doing in spring training.

This is what he was doing in spring training. And the season maybe would have turned out much differently if he didn't get away from the plan. The plan was fastballs in, change-ups away, curveballs or strikes. And for the majority of the season, he's throwing his fastball 60% of the time. Dude, it's not a good fastball. It's not a good fastball. So I don't know how this is going to turn out i don't i don't and i'm not going to start selling you on matt moore's is the goat and all

this stuff but like the way he's pitching right now is actually what are you sure yeah i know but the way he's pitching was how he was pitching and in spring training and that's what made me believe in him and like right now he looks like a legitimately good-ish, decent starter, which is fine. It's fine. I like that you threw the ish in there. Thank you. But it's just frustrating.

I like his plan right now. I like his plan of attack. It would be massive for down the stretch if he can continue to ride this hot streak and pitch well down the stretch here. Yeah. Look, it'd be great and i mean as far as i'm concerned anything you get from matt moore is is a bonus yeah um but look look he was great in that you know no hitter yep can we talk can we just say that he's been better he's been look's put it this way. This is like the faintest praise that I can give, but it also feels like the most appropriate praise I can give Matt Moore.

I'd rather he start than Chase Anderson and Vinny Velasquez. That's right. That's exactly right. But, yes, I agree. And in all honesty, three out of his last four appearances have been pretty good so maybe there's some hope here love it what else you got no that's about it i i can say everything else for the for the take back okay so we'll get to take back in a second i'm gonna go off topic for a sec um i didn't know anything about this but i see a tweet from the

marks and reese account um should jack fritz do the milk crate challenge explain well have you seen what the milk crate challenge is yeah no i know what the challenge is like are you trying break your arm are you trying to break your leg like what's what's the plan here jack you're a big guy the milk crate challenge is not built for someone of your stature let's be real is that a fat show is that is that no no you're a big i said big tall well you know okay i'll i'll decide i'll decide after the after the show if i'm personally offended by that but um i don't know like he, we brought it up. We talked about it on the air.

And then, like, Mark said, well, why don't you make it a Twitter question? I made it a Twitter question. And then, like, they both don't think I should do it, which is probably a good call because it would definitely be a bad idea. But they were like, well, what if it gets, like, 10,000 votes? And I said, all right, sure. So hopefully it doesn't get 10,000 votes and I don't have to do it. I don't want to do it. But I will say I'm pretty graceful

I have good balance and I feel like I could just like fall and turn and flip over and I wouldn't land on any crates okay you don't think I would do well? no are we being real real look i

bet you're back in me i thought you're gonna run the under eight minute mile until i saw you that day and you talked about heat stroke and i was like maybe you're not going to but i believed in you up until then i believed in you against elliot i believed you against joe shockingly enough i really didn't put it together to this moment but like for some reason i think you're a way better athlete than you are i I always have your back in these things. I am a great, I was, I am a great,

I always have your back in these things for some, I never really put it together until I'm talking this out now though, but I guess it's instinctual, but I always have your back. No, for the first time, Jack, I think the milk grade challenge is like the worst thing you could want a

step too far, a step too far. You think the milk, literally and figuratively yes i would probably agree i don't think i would do it even if it got like i'm all for life's a bit i love bits i like you know creating content and that i think is fun for people i don't think i would do it i really don't think i would do it i don't need a broken neck that makes that makes me happy yeah like I appreciate that you know your boundaries.

It's good. Every video I see, I think, wow, I would never do that. I'm going to take that approach to this and say, I would never do that. Smart. I'm really proud of you, buddy. It's part of growing up. More and more evidence that I'm not the old guy on this pod.

You're wise. Yeah. You know? Yes. Well, it's part of being fun. You know, you gotta be around for those kids.

Not being a Baron, but bungle. All right. Uh, take that. All right. Um, I think nap got crossed up on Saturday.

You know, a lot of people I saw were ripping. I thought you were going to say, I think nap sucks. Can I take this moment? Can I, I have to people I saw were ripping that. Oh, I thought you were going to say, I think Knapp sucks. Dude. Can I take this moment? Dude. Oh, sure. I have to apologize to everybody for abandoning my Andrew Knapp sucks initial strong take

that I had and loving Andrew Knapp. Guess what? Andrew Knapp sucks. Nope. We're back, Jack. Nope. We're back. Literally could not be more wrong.

I'm shocked at how little you know ball. Anyway. I mean, he's like. No, he's not. Nope. We're back. Literally could not be more wrong. I'm shocked at how little you know ball. Anyway. I mean, he's a, like. No, he's not. Dude, dude. Minor league player. Oh, this is ridiculous. Like, bring Marshan up.

No. He's better than that. No, he's not. Nap is horrible. No, he's not. No, he's not. Every single starter has a lower ERA pitching than Nap. He is here to call a good game.

He is not a good hitter. What is so hard to separate the two? He's a horrible hitter. Yeah. Maybe block the ball. I don't know. Maybe play good defense. He is not a good hitter. What is so hard to separate the two? He's a horrible hitter. Maybe block the ball. I don't know. Maybe play good defense. That'd be cool. Maybe, you know, catch the ball when it's thrown to you.

Like, he got so lucky in that rundown play. Like, he blew that play. And he got super lucky if the guy went to third. I understand. He had a bad stretch. He stinks. And you're not stinking all of a sudden. He does not stink.

It's a real tragedy. He stinks. Okay, Aaron, if JT is starting that game on Saturday, Nola's getting lit up. stinks and you're not staying he does not think he does not think it's a real tragedy he stinks okay air if jt if jt is starting that game on saturday nola's getting lit up so that's all i gotta say about that i mean i might be a better catcher you're not i'm not sure i'm not sure that i am but like it's possible your your lack of of knowledge of ball is disappointing. Anyway, moving on. Oh, is that so? Yes, moving on. Ball knows ball, Jack. Ball knows ball.

Big Yankees fan this week. Rode the 28, baby. Oh, got to be. Did you see that stat, by the way? How unbelievable is that? So this is the first the Yankees and Braves play in the night. We're recording it any minute they're going to start playing. It is the first time since 1901 that two teams with a nine- wins trigger more playing each other it's pretty amazing wow really yeah isn't that an unbelievable stat i

couldn't believe it when i thought i was like what that makes sense i mean it's hard to win in some ways it does yes but you would have thought like randomly at some point since 1901 it would have happened well here we are here we are so go yanks big yankees fan love that team always have road 28 um you know yeah road 28 really yeah all rise that amazing thing you've never said a bad word about derrick gator too in your life yeah now I meant to bring this up when we brought up... You see what I did there? I know. I knew the exact way to go with this. But when you bring up the Jankowski you know, the Jankowski play earlier

I would just like to point out on the Derek Jeter falling into the stands thing first off, any normally athletic shortstop is like camped under that ball. And second, he could have easily stopped before, before running into the stands. Like he literally could have stopped,

but no, it's all going to be always Derek Jeter. Oh, it's just, it's just, it's just bad. It's just all bad. What was that Yankees fan?

I couldn't, weren't you just doing a bit about being Yankees fan? I know, but then the Jeter bit overtook the go Yankees bit. I got old. Who's a longer term Yankees fan? You or Spike Askin? Who has been a longer, like a more dedicated lifelong fan?

Spike's an actual lifetime. Okay. All right, good. Just want to make sure I'm trying to get the bits organized. Okay. Believe me, buddy. I got gotta keep the bits organized too um i got old dicks exposed over the weekend um i saw this look at you buddy i just there's no dumber accounts like it's just like grow up with the the who cares about old takes anymore like what a good what a good response

like people have people have opinions on sports you don't have to turn into a meltdown people are wrong all the time about sports the high and mighty oh you're such an idiot it's sports and the Braves fans

there is again no dumber fanbase they think the whole boom didn't touch home thing is like a funny joke um and i've had that i've had muted for like whatever i looked at it's like a hundred quote tweets like holy crap really and they all think i they all think i like put the tweet out two weeks ago i put out two years ago and also also austin riley stinks like he's gonna go back to being the 240 20 homer guy next year it's not that big of a deal and then i'm gonna get my revenge i promise you james i'm going to be right on this i would much rather have alec bohm than austin riley right now ever for all

time i like it i jack let me move it this way i hope you're right yeah yeah i think all of us many people are rooting for that one to be right bell yes yes all right there's nothing to do with you so yeah nothing nothing i'm totally not salty about it um i thought pat mccarthy was great our guy pat mccarthy thought he crushed it yo Yo, yo. Shout out to Pat McCarthy. He was awesome. Friend of the podcast. Yes. Big moment, big moment over the weekend stepping in for Pops, who I am now calling Wally McCarthy.

And it's you know, it's just, it's good to see Pat. Great dude. Called some good games over the weekend. It's so funny, like, he almost, so his first ever, you know, at bat is Oduble games over the weekend. It's so funny. His first ever at-bat is Oduble. He goes yard. That's a fun little start.

And he almost had a perfect game. We'll talk about a start to a career. Yeah. I think there were very few Phillies fans who at some point during that were not thinking, wow, can you imagine if Pat mccarthy gets a call perfect game his first game like how crazy would that be i know i know i texted him i texted him and i was like uh hey buddy good start to your career huh it can only be downhill i mean seriously it could literally only be downhill from here so um shout out to pat if i did a great job obviously we love

t-mac we're not calling him wally t-mac to his face but um it's just uh yeah good for good for pat look look look one of the two listens to this pod that the other doesn't that's true we're pat guys i love tom i really do i think he's fantastic. Love Tom. I mean, Pat over Tom. It is what it is. I'm sorry. I got to be real. I got to be real. You have to choose.

It's Pat for us. One listens to the podcast. One does not. So I think it's as simple as that. And I did totally butcher my first TMAC impression. You did a TMAC impression? Yeah. I remember it was terrible.

Oh, on the pod. Yeah. It was like, I can't. Honestly, like it wasn't even an impression. It was terrible. Oh, on the pod. Honestly, it wasn't even an impression. It was just a disaster. It was the most embarrassed I've been on this podcast ever. I'm pretty good at impressions.

Decent enough. I'm not like Conklin, who's unbelievable. I'm pretty good at them. It was just an abomination. It was one of those, as soon as it leaves your mouth, you're like, it was just an abomination. Disaster. Yeah. Yeah. It was one of those, like, as soon as it leaves your mouth, you're like, I can't believe I did this. What a mistake this was. Yeah.

Total mistake. Total mistake. So shout out to Pat. That was awesome. And hopefully you can do it again. I'm sure he put some good tape out there. You know, good tape. Yeah.

Tape for the other teams to kind of check out. Go get that tape, buddy. Go get that tape. Listen, big fan. Big fan of that kind of stuff. And my last thing in the take bag, and I'm going to say this, and I really hope it does not come back to bite me. Are you ready?

Oh, buddy. Nothing ever good. Don't worry. Never happens with you. So we're good. Hector Neris is very good. He's just very good. Are you literally trying to submarine?

He's a free agent. You're trying to submarine his career. You're trying to get him not paid. Actors out there trying to get paid. And you're just like, watch this. Very good. Hector Neris is very good. What he's doing right now is straight up tremendous.

And I am just so happy for his success. And I'm sure this will not backfire it never does i mean particularly with this one guy right like it's so rare that anything we say about hector ever comes back on us so exactly right yeah so i think that should be fine but in all honesty like he's been the best pitcher, like the best bullpen pitchers teams had for a while now. Like he's been absolutely phenomenal. Um, really just looking back, he's given up like basically since July 6th, he's only had two starts where he's given up a run. One of them was three, but otherwise one run. And that's it.

Like it's like zero, zero, zero, zero, zero, zero, zero, zero, like just like zeros. He's been phenomenal. And my final thing, actually, I forgot in the take back, is that if the Phillies sweep the Rays this week, we get to keep Eric Neander. I don't make

the rules. I don't. But if they sweep the Rays, Neander stays. Love this. And co-sign it. And we'll even give you Dombrowski. We'll even send you Sam Fold. Sure. I mean, a Ray.

Yes. I mean, like a Ray legend. Yep. Who doesn't remember that April he had in like 2015 or whatever, 2016. And that catch. And that catch. An all-time April. I mean, people still talk about it in Tampa Bay.

Sam Fold's April. So, yeah. I like this. I like, people still talk about it in Tampa Bay. Sam Folds April. So, yeah. I like this. I like this. Okay, this is the new thing. We get Neander. Yes. The Rays don't know it.

The Rays don't know it. But, yes, Neander stays. Too bad we won't sweep. But, you know. But if they do. It's only two. It's only two. Man, it would be really cool if the Braves lost a game

or two so we could actually get excited wouldn't that be cool they will just a couple you think so you think they're winning out I'm kind of in a they're going to win out mode my Yankees haven't won 27 championships without just knowing

how to take care of business I fully expect my Yankees to come through this week. Me too. You got any final thoughts? My final thought is that I don't like not being all in on the Phillies. Take two from the Rays. Keep Eric Neander. Go Yankees.

And we'll talk to you probably not on Thursday, but we'll talk to you soon. Yeah. My mom's in town guys. So that's on me. Don't blame Jack. It is a hundred percent my fault. Well,

technically Tina's fault. If you want to blame Tina, blame Tina. She wanted to visit her granddaughter. Oh brother. Very selfish. Right. I mean,

you get to see her twice a year. Isn't that enough already? Once should be enough. I gotta be honest with you. That's what I'm saying. Like zero. Like, come on. But I mean, uh, you know, you get to see her twice a year. Isn't that enough already? Once should be enough. I got to be honest with you. That's what I'm saying. Like, zero. Like, come on. But, I mean, you know, you have said, I counted in my head, actually.

This is my actual final thought, James, is that you have said on the air three times in the last three days or whatever that the Eagles being good this year would mean the world to you and i just you know it hurt a little bit it just it oh so so we're supposed to hate the eagles is that the idea everything's a rivalry if you make it yeah yeah no uh let me clarify that statement um it's strictly business like my life will be so much better if the Eagles are good, Jack. Like, same for you, pal. Like, my everyday life, if the Eagles are good, is just so much more enjoyable than if they're bad.

So it was really from that perspective. I didn't say I want them to be better than the Phillies, Jack. I took it that way, pal. I know you always do. I mean, chip on their shoulder is like, it doesn't even come close to describing, Jack. Yes, I take everything always do. Chip on their shoulder doesn't even come close to describing Jack. Yes, I take everything very personally. I think it's a complex.

We're in the middle of a pennant race. The Eagle season hasn't even started yet. My final thought is thank you for understanding that my mom's in town and we will be back as soon as we can. Shout out to Tina. Shout out to Tina. Shout out to Zoe. And shout out to Jack not doing the milk crate challenge because we need you here, buddy.

We need you here. Do you? All right. Do you, though? I do. I mean, not really, but I, you know. Yeah. I'm a fan.

Cool. He's written some songs. We'll see you later.