High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - The Bryce Harper Walk-off Emergency Podcast

Episode Date: August 16, 2019

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz are back reacting to the Bryce Harper walk-off and then make fools of themselves in a podcast after.  See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information. 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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first round draft pick of the Philadelphia Phillies, and you're listening to the High Hopes Podcast with James Seltzer and Jack Fritz. This is the High Hopes Podcast. High Hopes. It's a bunch of baseball nerds talking about the Philadelphia Phillies on Radio.com and Sports Radio 94 WIP. Yo!

It is a walk-off Bryce Harper Grand Slam edition of the High Hopes Podcast. Jack Fritz, what the hell's going on, buddy? We are back! Don't let the feels get hot. Don't let the feels get hot. Ritz, what the hell's going on, buddy? We are back! Oh, my God. Don't let the Philz get hot. Don't let the Philz get hot. All right, so inside baseball, Jack and I, in classic High Hopes fashion, recorded a pod during the game that you will hear the vast majority of,

and you'll hear us saying, oh, it's pretty clear the Phillies aren't going to win this game. And guess what? The Phillies freaking won the game, Jack. Bang. Six runs in the bottom of the ninth inning. Bryce Harper is, look, Bryce Harper has had some awesome Philadelphia moments. None is even close. Jack, I think you could argue this is the best win in eight years.

Like, I'm not even kidding. Certainly the best win of the season. One of the best wins in a really, really long time. And we'll get into all the Charlie stuff later that you'll hear. We talked about it. We talked about the rest of this series and what's been going on. And again, you'll hear us say some really dumb stuff about not winning the game tonight. Yeah, they didn't have a chance tonight.

I actually think that we're the reason they won it. Just like with Bryce Harper, once we really get to that point where we give up on something, it seems to go the other way, Jack. Yeah. Hey, let's get it out there now. I have completely given up on the 2019 Phillies. Let's get it out. They don't have a shot to make a run in this thing.

Biggest, I would say most impressive win since the Chooch walk-off off of Broxson on the regular season was. Actually, that's an exaggeration. That was like 09. No, it was actually 10. It was 10. Either way, I agree with you.

One of the most ridiculous, like, listen, the Phillies never win that game. They don't win this game. They never win this game. Never ever. They haven't won that game since charlie manuals managing this team and guess who's back in the dugout damn right buddy this skip uh the charlie magic it feels real um i like i don't even care anymore if it sounds ridiculous like i'm all in on this team making a run i I said at the end of the podcast. You did. You did. People will hear that before this happened, you were all in.

You were ready. Yeah. Listen, I said it before. I'll say it again. No one talks himself into a Phillies run quicker than me. It is literally. You'll hear him say that again later. It's coming.

It's in the Guinness Book of World Records. Fastest guy to talk themselves into a Phillies run. And, like, that was just. They don't ever. It looked like such into a Phillies run. And like, that was just, they don't ever, it looked like such a classic Phillies game. Like, classic, like, oh, we're going to go down. We're going to be lifeless. We're not even going to give ourselves a shot to win this game. And then I was like half paying attention,

half trying to get ready for the postgame show. Let's go inside both of our lives. I'm the Eagles pre and postgame producer, so I'm here at the studio. That's why we didn't finish the pod. We wanted to stay on until the end of the game. And Jack had to go. It was what it was.

He had to go work. So we were like, yeah, they're probably not going to win anyway. And then we're texting each other. It's happening. Jack's going to be, it's hilarious.

It's going to be hilarious. We have to rerecord because they're going to win this game. Yeah. So listen, this is the best. Well, is this better? No,

no. The Bryce Harper rere-record was better. Yeah, let's be fair. You know, one game versus 13 years. But, man, this is pretty damn close, Jack. I mean, Bryce Harper has had three of his best games as a Philly in the last seven days. Yeah. Like, the two-home run game against the Giants.

The game last night. I mean, last night. Yeah, two homers last night, and then this. I mean, the Bryce Harper Yeah, two homers last night and then this. I mean, the Bryce Harper hot streak's here. Clutch Bryce Harper's here. He's already more clutch than Derek Jeter. And I just think that for all the bull crap that was spewed about, oh, this guy's never had a big hit in his life.

This guy's a terrible defensive player. This guy's a terrible teammate. Well, how about this? In the first year of Bryce Harper being here, he has absolutely written all that bull crap off and for a guy who's been like who's been like a semi-disappointing bryce harper season like the run he has gone on the last two three weeks has just been it's just given me so much life like i'm i'm sitting down watching games and bryce harper is breathing life into my life yeah no he is uh you know when he came here we talked a lot about like we haven't had that guy

here in a long time who was much was must watch television every time he stepped to the plate and it hasn't always felt like that this season oh baby is it that now i mean you can't miss a harper bat and it just you knew it was going to happen. As I'm watching this game, first of all, thank you to the Cubs for playing horrendous baseball that last inning. Errors, balls hitting off gloves, Pedro's strop just being horrendous. But you just felt like it was going to get to Harper with the bases loaded. When Hoskins was up, I didn't know how he was going to walk.

I didn't think he was going to get hit by a pitch. But I knew he was going to get on base because I knew it was going to get to Harper with the bases loaded. When Hoskins was up, I didn't know how he was going to walk. I didn't think he was going to get hit by a pitch, but I knew he was going to get on base because I knew it was going to come up with Bryce Harper with the bases loaded with the chance to win the game. And I, Jack, for the first time this season, a team that is just consistently disappointed, consistently frustrated, consistently come out after great efforts and crap the bed over and over and over again i knew he was gonna hit home run like i knew it was over i knew it was coming like you you're right jack and you said this at the end of the pod that they're gonna hear that was hours ago but it really feels special right now for the first time this really since the first week of the season

and again it's i know it's only three games, only two since Charlie's here, but tonight, last night, what's going on right now feels different. And these are the things that a team can believe in. These are the things that you can build off of. Having an 11-run outburst last night, and then having a huge comeback win tonight. Six-run ninth, Jack. They had a six-run ninth. These are the things that can propel a team forward.

Now you have Charlie Manuel there, who is a World Series manager, who is now your hitting coach, to go along with just like oodles of positive vibes. Like it was such a massive win. It was such a like, you could kind of see the Phillies fans turning. It was like, oh, they had the 11-run game,

and they come back with a dud. Ha-ha, classic Phillies. And then for them to come back, that's how quickly this town will come back to baseball. Baseball talk was legit maybe a week left until it was just absolutely dead. It was getting hard to do, man. I mean, this is the first time in so long i feel like you and i have talked to each other and we're both excited and happy

no it was it was it was such it was such a beautiful game it was such a beautiful game and that was one of those games where it's like there was a lot of casual phillies fans checking in the beginning of the season and they're like oh let me see what this bryce harper guy is all about like people say uh he's the face of baseball and whatnot. And to see him come through like that, having the face of baseball come through like that, having the face of your superstar come through like that, that's where you start drawing in the casual fans. That's when you're a little kid at that game,

little kid staying up with your dad to watch Bryce Harper do that. That's what sucks you in to the most beautiful sport in the world. And I just I just think that it like for let's go let's go blow this way out of proportion that's a game that sucks in Phillies fans for the next 10 years beautiful win thank you Bryce Harper best re-recorded in high hopes no question and also like that's the type of win and I know we've said things like this this season where oh maybe you know, you know, that four-game Mets series, the way they won those games, maybe that can kind of turn this around. Last night felt like the first win this season where it's like, oh, man, this could be a turning point. Like, we could look back at the end of this season, and again, we're not talking World Series or anything.

Yeah. Exactly. Yeah. But, but we're like, we could look back and say, Oh, that was when it changed.

That was when the season turned and they went on and they won a wildcard game and they gave the Dodgers a run, or they won a couple of games against the Dodgers or who the hell knows what it feels like. This is the kind of game. This is the kind of series. And of course coincides with a certain skip coming back to down, but that's the type of series where we, could look back and say oh that was the moment right there in that moment the entire season the entire trajectory of this team for this season and the

future potentially in terms of the reps in terms of the playoff opportunities in terms of all that stuff that could happen we could look back on this series and say, wow, that was the moment. It sure would be nice if their general manager didn't get them Drew Smiley and Jason Vargas to the deadline. You know what I'd be more excited about? This recent hitting hot streak and also an actual number two pitcher behind Aaron Noah. That would be nice to have.

Yeah, even a number three. We'll get to this later, but like a Tanner Roark would be one. He'd be the number two on this team. That's the sad thing, actually. No, he 100% would be. Easy. He 100% would be. I hope the pitching staff does not come back to bite them in the ass

because this offense is back. It has arrived. The talent is all there. And I just think that they were starting to slowly come out of the funk towards the end of the Maylee regime. And I just think that with Charlie here, with Charlie kind of giving that vibe in that clubhouse, with them getting two back-to-back special wins,

it is enough to where it can propel them. And I just hope and pray that this pitching staff does not hold them back, even though I know it will. And I know they're going to disappoint me because the Phillies pitching staff will always disappoint you. I just hope that it doesn't happen and they can just let this offense fly. Just let it fly because they are here. They have arrived.

Barrel Delphia back. Barrel Delphia is finally back, man. Just let it fly because they are here. They have arrived. Barreldelphia back. Barreldelphia is finally back, man. It's only been a couple months. Yeah, but hey, I will take it, man. And look, as we've talked about a million times and we'll continue to talk about, but that's the chances team has. If they're going to make any noise, it's got to be the offense that carries them, as we've said for weeks and months and all that.

to make any noise. It's got to be the offense that carries them, as we've said for weeks and months and all that. I actually finally believe for the first time since the first week of the season, Jack, that this offense could carry them. And now we've got the Padres coming in and down without Fernando Tatis Jr. And then you mentioned the

schedule in the second half of this podcast. This is when you go on a run. They're not playing good teams. The only good team they're playing in the next, what, four series is the Mets? And a two-game series against Boston. That's it. Okay, two-game series against Boston, but we know what happens in Boston with Aaron Noli. Pitch the best game in the history of baseball.

I don't even know if he's starting that series, but I need Aaron Nola to start that series. He has to. How about this? Aaron Nola game one, Spencer Howard game two. Oh! If they are in it in September and Spencer Howard is not here, it will be organizational malpractice. I agree.

Spencer Howard would be this team's number two right now. I am 1,000% convinced of that. Oh, man. Jack, I am like giddy, man. Oh, dude. It's 12-10. We've both been having long days. You were up at 5 a.m. to talk about some football team that no one cares about on CBS, on the news.

I didn't know there was a football team in town because this baseball team is just firing on all cylinders. You've been up all day. You've been up all day. I've been up all day. And honestly, I just feel like tomorrow is going to just be giddiness all day long. Just giddiness, jumping up and down, thinking about a possibility of a meaningful, actual, good September baseball.

When are we breaking out the rally towels? When's the first rally towel game? Because I could really use it. September 1st. Entire month of September, it's rally towel time. Let's go. Come on. Let's go.

Come on. Get me playoff NOLA. Get Franski to the playoffs. It's just so exciting to believe again, Jack. I feel like it's been so long since I actually believed in this team. And I do. I'm with you. I've talked myself into the run now, too.

People will hear that at the end of this podcast, I am hopeful, but not where you're at. I'm there, bro. I'm there, man. That was beautiful. What a win. What a win, man. By the way, both broadcasters just absolutely crushed the home run call tonight. Oh, yeah.

And John Kroc coming in, too. Oh, my God. It's amazing. I thought that was Tom McCarthy's best home run call. Wow. I thought it was an unbelievable Tom McCarthy call. And Franski, just Franski always crushes it. Just always, always crushes it.

If you can find the Franski call, I mean, we're going to play it all day. I was just about to say it's going to be on the radio all day tomorrow. All day long on WIP tomorrow. Just the Franski home run call. What a night. I just, Bryce talked about how that's one of the coolest moments of his life. Yes, literally said that. He said, you know, other than a playoff moment he's like this might

be the greatest moment of my life but this is one of the greatest moments of my life i mean that was the that was the fastest sprint i've ever seen around and not just he does the high step in first on the first baseline gets the knees up and then just takes off and almost caught up to uh hoskins like was this close to catching up to hkins? He was sprinting. He was so ready to get to home plate, get to the mob of teammates and celebrate. When they do the water, you know, the throw the water on him at the end, he's like,

bring it on. Like, it was just, it was magical, man. Like, it really was. We haven't had a lot of magical moments this season, and tonight was magical. Can't you just see, you see the end of the year book already? Like, and when did the season turn? And then you start

gut-breaking into the ninth inning. And it's got the error and then the Quinn single off the glove and Hoskins gets hit with the pitch and Harper steps to the plate and we're all sitting there like, oh my god, I can't believe they're actually in this game right now. I can't believe they're I can't believe they're actually in this game right now I can't

believe they're about to win this game right now that it's just ah what a night man there's a reason that we're talking right now when we very easily could have just said you know we recorded already or whatever like that was not an option we had to come on and and just

whatever I'll be tired tomorrow well I cannot wait to go home and and re-watch which is exactly what i plan to do when i get home well that's what i've been doing for the last 50 minutes waiting for you to finish your shift i've just been i've seen bryce harper's home run somewhere in the neighborhood of 400 times already oh i mean guess what it's not stopping anytime soon no no no i i just want to watch it on a repeat. When I go to bed, I'll be dreaming about it. I would just like our last little thing here.

Like, I know this baseball team has frustrated us. And I know it's been like just a very trying baseball season. I think it's time to put the first couple months of the season to rest. Like, just we can forget. We can forget the first couple months. Because season to rest. We can forget. We can forget the first couple months because I think this team has arrived. I just think that a run is in store. I think we can forgive the baseball team

for the last couple months because JT Romito has arrived. Bryce Harper has arrived. Scott Kingery has arrived. Reese Hoskins, please. I mean, need you? We could use a little Reese Hoskins hot streak? Hey, man, nobody got hit like a pitch tonight like Reese Hoskins, please. I mean, need you? We could use a little Reese Hoskins hot streak? Hey, man, nobody got hit like a pitch tonight like Reese Hoskins did.

Biggest hit by pitch of the season, baby. Guy's a warrior. Let's try to put the first couple months behind us and get behind this baseball team because there's just nothing better when it fills around a run and then we get meaningful baseball in September. So what a night. And don't listen to the second half of the podcast um but it's not gonna be as good as this part we sound like idiots and if you don't if you don't come to high hopes night on saturday

i tell you what it's gonna be way more joyous i'm so excited we've been talking about high hopes night for so long and we're as you'll hear in like two minutes, when we go back in time, we're so excited and we're so grateful to everyone who's coming out. But, um, we've been talking about this for so long and, and the last,

you know, few weeks, month, we're like, well, maybe it won't be quite as fun from the Phillies perspective as it will be from ours, but we'll still have fun.

It's pretty awesome that now we could be excited about the Phillies too. Yeah, we appreciate it. Yeah, thank you, Phillies. Thank you, Bryce. And I think that last point you made is a perfect point to go out on the idea that we've talked for a while about how this team, like you almost didn't like them at times, and there was that dichotomy. You even said you're like, at what point are people going to be in?

Is there going to be a week left in the season and they're a game out of the wild card? People are still going to be bitching about Kapler and complaining about this and that. At what point do people get on board? I think you're right, Jack. Right now. It's right now. It's time to get on board. It's time to have fun. It's time to

make a run, man. The words make a run just fill me with joy it's beautiful it's beautiful alright awesome Jack thank you for staying up and doing this with me obviously you were working anyway but

I'm just so happy that thank you thank everybody and for Bryce Harper the patron saint of the high hopes podcast. Thank you, sir, for that magical night and let's go on a run and coming out with us for the beginning of this run for this run in motion Saturday, I hopes, which we'll talk more about right now when we go back in time.

All right, let's, uh, let's start at the top. We'll dive into Charlie in a sec, but this is literally your last chance to coming out with us on Saturday if you want to. High Hopes Night, August 17th, this Saturday against the Padres. Pin tweet on Jack's Twitter profile,

my Twitter profile. It is the last chance. If you want to come hang out with us, if you want to hang with the shocking amount of. If you want to come hang out with us, if you want to hang with the shocking amount of people who have decided to come hang out with us, and thank you to all you wonderful, beautiful, amazing people because Jack and I are blown away with the response we've gotten. So last chance.

Come hang out with us at the game on Saturday night. Last chance. Last chance to come hang out with possibly the two future Phillies broadcasters after we send them tape of this comeback of this fight of the game. It would be a beautiful thing. Saturday, 5 o'clock, Jetro. 5 o'clock, Jetro. James and I will be there.

We'll tweet out a picture of the location, too, if you're struggling to find it in Jetro. Just check our Twitter when we're there and all that type of stuff. We'll do the best we can. – but Jetro's not that big. You'll find us. Yeah, I mean, Jetro's not that big at all. It's where Real Philly Fans Park. I've been – that was my – I think my first take ever, actually,

was Real Philly Fans get off at Jetro and Real Philly Fans get off at Packer. Wow, that was your first take. How about it? Yeah, I'm pretty proud. That's a pretty good firster. Wow, that was your first take. How about it? Yeah, I'm pretty proud. That's a pretty good first take. It's a very good first take. Unfortunately, Jack, we may have to retire your can you believe the Phillies chose you Darvish over Jake Arrieta take tonight,

but that's a different story. No, Jake's fine. He just has phones first. He'll be back next year. It would have been so much more fun, though, if Jake was like revenge season Jake and it was actually good. But unlike most things that we hope are fun, they turn out to be absolutely horrible.

Yes. And now all of a sudden you Darvish doesn't walk anybody anymore and he's great. So, yeah. The Phillies have made a career of this. Yes, a season of this. They've made a season of making average pitchers look way better than they actually are. So I am not surprised by tonight's occurrences yeah well we we couldn't

really expect a sweep right i mean well they're not allowed to do that they're not allowed not all right well let's dive into it obviously we'll get to the games in a second but charlie man charlie what what what was your like what i mean take take us through the jack fritz mind as he hears first and foremost a long time coming we have said on this podcast for john maylie to finally be gone but when it was not just that maylie's gone but that charlie freaking manual the skipper was coming back how did you react well i was walking into the the studio and you get it i got a text from you and you're like you're like charlie i was like i was like listen buddy i know people have called you charlie day before but it's not i didn't think

about that yes me and charlie you're not actually charlie day that's hilarious so no but it was like and then i as soon as you said that i was like oh my god like did they fire gabe and bring in charlie like which is the correct thought right that's the correct thought there's no way they're bringing charlie to be the hitting coach right yeah well actually my first initial thought was did they find a way to get charlie morton like like charlie charlie manual was so off my radar that's awesome I was like, what is going on with this team? So I check Twitter, and I see the Zaleki tweet, and it's just like. What happened?

How? My first thought actually was like, this is such a flyer's move. Like bringing in someone from the past that had success and expecting him to just get it back to the Phillies way of playing baseball. It was just one of those moments where it was like, you're excited because Charlie Emanuel's back and he's going to be in the dugout and he's going to be working with these guys.

And Charlie just being around a baseball team just makes sense. Like Charlie just being at a baseball field and in a dugout talking hitting is like the most baseball baseball could possibly be so there's that thought and then you have the thought of like what are they doing like like what is happening right now why are we bringing in charlie manual to be the hitting coach now i'm glad john maylie is gone and i like john maylie should have been fired months ago um i just my main my main hope of the Charlie Manuel

as hitting coach era is that seven weeks, he's doing Middleton a favor, and then we can move on this offseason. I don't want the Phillies reverting back to what they were before Klintak and Gabe kind of took over. I don't want them to go back

in the anti-analytics movement. This is a team that needs to move forward. Keep pressing the boundaries of how far you can go with the analytics stuff because that's what other great teams in baseball are doing. And I don't want this to turn into, well, see, I'm John Middleton. I'm an old school owner. I'm going to go back to the way that we used to play the game. I don't want that to happen at all.

I need this to be a seven-week, like, maybe jumpstart the offense, maybe get them going, maybe loosen them up, maybe send them a message that if you're not getting the job done, then you're going to be out of here like John Bailey, and a nice little jumpstart. But I don't want it to be anything more than that. And I don't think it will be, ultimately, at least with Charlie. I mean, who knows what Gabe's fate is going to be,

and I think a lot of it depends on whether they make the playoffs or not. But, um, I look, I think if nothing else, Charlie's 75 years old, he really likes the life that he has. He's made that very clear. And, you know, it seems that a lot of people who we know, who know Charlie and all that think the same way. I think that, you know, Charlie enjoys what he's doing now. He enjoys, you know, working with the kids, sometimes doing stuff in clear water, hanging out around the team when he can, but also being able to have his own life. And I think that's what Charlie wants. And I think that, look, it's clearly what Matt Klintak wants. I mean, Klintak said multiple times in that press conference that it was a short-term thing, seven weeks only,

just the remainder of the season. He found many different ways to let people know that Charlie was not going to be here past the end of the season. So, look, anything can change. Maybe the last seven weeks of the season and the team gets hit and then Charlie's like, crap, I really missed this and I realized how much I missed it. You never know what can happen. But it does at least to me feel like a short-term

thing. I think the bigger, more interesting kind of question with it is the ramifications for Gabe as, at least from a fan perspective, if this team does what they did in game two of this series and the bats get going, obviously tonight the bats less going. But if they can find a way to have some sustained success offensively and it propels them to the playoffs, then obviously Charlie's going to get all the credit and Gabe's going to get none of it. And if they don't make the playoffs and if the offense fails, it'll be on Gabe anyway. So it's really a no-win situation, it feels like, for Gabe Kapler. Other than the fact that if Charlie can get this offense going and they do get to the playoffs, that maybe that does save Gabe's job, regardless of what the fan reaction to it is.

But that was my first thought. My first thought was, yay, I love Charlie. That's fun. My second thought was, wow, what a spot for Gabe. What a spot for Gabe. I mean, it is, I've never, I don't ever remember a team bringing in a world series winning manager to be their hitting coach. You know, who was the manager of that team? I don't remember it happening. I certainly don't think in the history of baseball, a hitting coach name has been chanted by the fans the first time. I'm pretty sure that has never happened. Um, so it's a real, it's a tough spot for Gabe, but on a pure baseball perspective, there's only a handful of

people on the planet who know hitting like Charlie Manuel there really are like he is a hitting savant it's what he's always done it's what he's always been great at he was a hitting coach first that's what he always was before he became a manager before he became to the Phillies even with the Indians before he was a manager in the Indians he was the hitting coach of the Indians um and also the thing with Charlie too is that he is really great at not just understanding the art and the science of hitting, but at relating it to players, at imparting that knowledge and having them implement what he's teaching them. So I think from a pure baseball standpoint, Maitley sucked.

We all know that. And again, who knows how much of it is his fault, but he was not getting the job done. So I think from a purely baseball standpoint, this is a good move. Charlie is a better hitting coach than John Maley. I bet my life on it. So I feel good about it that way, but it's a really, man,

it's a really interesting situation for Gabe. I think it helps the locker, the clubhouse, in the sense that they are a little looser. I like the spark idea. I do think that matters. The idea of even if they weren't, and it is kind of a dichotomy because they weren't willing to invest in the club

at the trade deadline. They weren't willing to say, all right, let's go for it. But then they're willing to fire Maley and bring Manuel back and say, all right, we're going for it now and we're giving you that spark and we believe in you and all that. So it's kind of a mixed messaging type of thing and i think that comes down to the clemtac middleton disconnect on this but ultimately i think it's a

good thing for the team's chances the rest of this season i think it's a really iffy situation for gabe and how this all plays out moving forward would Would you agree with that? Well, I just think that with... Just at this season level, I think that Maile was a guy that relied a lot on information. He was a guy that, I think, in a way, these guys just had a little bit of information overload. And sometimes when you're getting fed this, it forces you to do

let's do it do something else and takes you out of your comfort zone so i think for the rest of this season just having a guy like charlie manual who you can go to talk hitting and it can it they kind of just exhale from the uh from the pressure of having all that information in your head and just going and trying to use it and apply it and whatnot like some players can handle it some players cannot and i think maylee's only approach was here's all this information here's how you have to use it here's what i want you to do and it doesn't it felt like a lot of my way or the highway and the thing that i like about charlie and what makes charlie so special is that he'll adjust to the player right he'll he'll take the player, see what they do well,

and then try to accentuate what they do well rather than you're like Scott Kingery. You're not a launch angle guy? Well, I'm going to make you into a launch angle guy. Totally. Totally, Jack. So from that standpoint, I think it's really good. But you bring up the trade deadline,

and here's what frustrates me. And I was in the last last couple days thinking about this and whatnot is like is like the way matt klintak looked and talked in that in that press conference with a guy that is fearful of losing his job for the first time and i just think that oh bricey um i just i just think that i just think that if you're going to say playoffs or bust or you guys are going to lose your jobs, then you should have been more forceful about them going after it at the trade deadline.

You can't say playoffs or bust and then leak the extension thing and then two weeks later change your mind and say, here's Charlie Emanuel, and if you guys don't make the playoffs, then you guys are going to lose your jobs. I hope that's not what's going on here, because that's an owner acting reckless and an owner just going haywire in a way. Because if these guys knew that their jobs were on the line,

they don't just bring in Jason Vargas and Drew Smiley and Corey Dickerson. They're going to go get an actual pitcher. They're going to give up stuff to go get a guy. I understand it's probably the best thing for this team that they didn't go and give up major prospects. It's not even major prospects. They could have got Tanner Rohwer.

They could have got Alex Wood. Alex Wood didn't get traded, but he's a rental. He could have been. Mike Leak. You could have found guys like that. You didn't have to go get a Marcus Str stroman even though i would have liked to go get a marcus stroman but i don't i just i hope that middleton's not acting out after a bad series against the white socks and whatever and seeing where this team is and forcing this like playoffs

or bus ultimatum two weeks after he was fine with the front office and whatnot, not making any major moves at the deadline because that feels like a dysfunctional organization. Yeah, look, I agree 100%. And we've talked about a lot. And obviously, we were all very happy when John Middleton got involved with the Bryce Harper situation. But that doesn't mean that we always want the owner being involved in situations for the most part. And obviously, the Jeffrey Lurie thing with chip is an exception, but for the most part, definitely not the rule. Exactly.

When owners get involved, it's usually bad. It's almost always bad. So the, the, the great owners are people who hire smart people who they trust to do their jobs and let them do their jobs. That's what the best owners do. That's what the best leaders in any businesses do. Any smart business people, any people who have

people working under them want to hire people who they trust can do a job, who they believe in to do a job, and then they let those people do that job. I mean, that's the best structure that you can have. So I agree with you. It is a little nerve wracking. I don't think Klintak's job is on the line for a couple reasons. I think obviously the extension makes a difference. And I also think that Middleton was so, so vociferously positive about Matt Klintak this off season. And, you know, obviously this feels like a Middleton move as has been talked about. And, you know, a few people have come out and said that Middleton, you know, basically Matt Gelb said basically that it was a Middleton decision to bring Charlie back. So, you know,

but even with that, we've still not heard John Middleton talk since the offseason, since Matt Klintak was his favorite son. And I just feel like it'd be really strange after a season where there are a lot of different things that you can point to. And yes, Matt Klintak, as we've talked about a ton, deserves a lot of the blame for the issues with this team. But I think it would be, I think it would be crazy for, for Middleton to talk the way he did this off season. And then with the injuries they've had and for a team that's competing, again, look,

if they collapse, you know, this is the caveat to all these discussions, the Gabe discussion, the Klintak discussion, whatever. If they somehow crash and finish eight games out of the wild card, all bets are off. But I do think- And they should be off. And they should be, exactly.

You can't do that again. You can't do that two years in a row and heads not roll. But outside of that, I just, And they should be. Exactly. You can't do that again. You can't do that two years in a row and heads not roll. But outside of that, I think it would come off as really strange if John Middleton, after being so pro-Klintak in one offseason with so many things that went wrong this season, I think it would be really strange for him to come back and say, all right, you're out because we didn't make the playoffs. Well, Middleton also was high on life.

Very true. Very true. Very true. Like when he signed Harper, I mean, it was the whole everything after that was all Klintzak was a genius. And he said Middleton's exact quote in two different times was that that Klintzak is an elite GM and also that Branch Rickey never had an offseason like this, like in two different quotes. so that Branch Rickey never had an offseason like this.

Like, in two different quotes. And Middleton would look like a fool to say that and then fire the guy that's offseason. He would look like a fool. Whether or not Klintak deserves to be the general manager of this team, like, it would look ridiculous. It would be really hard to take John Middleton seriously when he says things. Yeah, and getting to even a more macro level,

I just, I hope it's not a shift in philosophy. I hope it's not trying to go back to an old-school way of playing baseball because baseball is not going that way. Baseball is going the exact opposite way, and the best teams in baseball are the ones that are pushing the envelope and are investing more in analytics and player development and all that stuff. I didn't think John Maley was a good hitting coach, and player development and all that stuff. And I just hope that, and even like, I hope it doesn't,

I didn't think John Maley was a good hitting coach, but I also think that the idea of slug and the idea of X velocity and barreling baseballs and launch angle, I think those are all good things. I know that's like, oh my God, that's voodoo. Like you believe that launch angle could possibly be a good thing. But when it's implemented the right way.

Exactly. That's the key, Jack. Right. When it's coached the right way, when the analytics are applied implemented the right way. Exactly. That's the key, Jack. Right. When it's coached the right way. When the analytics are applied in the right way, you see what you get now with these great baseball teams. The teams that are operating at the highest levels of the sport are the teams that are using the analytics the correct way.

And I just think the Phillies have been poor at using the analytics the correct way. So I hope this doesn't turn into a whole organizational shift in philosophy of getting away from launch angle slug, all that stuff. Because that would mean the good work that Jason O'Chart has put in as the minor league hitting coordinator would all go to waste. And I just think that the system as a whole has taken a major step forward in what it's done. And the guys that we were worried about not being top prospects starting to figure it out. And I just think that a shift from that would be a massive, massive mistake. I couldn't agree with you more.

And I think you hit on a really important point here in the idea that, you know, people are coming out. Analytics. Oh, you know, back to basics. Old school Charlie and all that, is so ridiculous to say analytics have been in baseball forever, forever, for the history of baseball, whether it's batter versus pitcher data, whatever it is, they've just gotten more advanced. And the key to analytics is not just the knowledge and the data themselves. It's how you interpret and implement

it. That's exactly what you said, Jack is, is a hundred percent on perfect example. Just flashed on our screen. Carlos Santana just hit his 28th home run of the season. The Cleveland Indians are 72 and 49 with a lower payroll than the Phillies. One of the few teams out there that, you know, of a contending team that wants to spend less than the Phillies, other than the Rays, of course, who are the lowest in baseball but the indians do it by being smart and that's why carlos santana goes there and has a turnaround of the season because the indians like every smart team in baseball use analytics heavily they just use them correctly and they implement them and they teach them and it's just it's infuriating to to and and i get it that that

maybe maybe it was too fast too soon not from a what is smart perspective but from a the fan base accepting it perspective because it was it went from zero to 60 with the whole analytics in philadelphia thing they were the worst franchise in sports, in sports. When it came to using analytics, there was the, remember the fricking analytics plant? Like that was a joke for a reason. They had one guy in the analytics department. They had a plant. Like there was no analytics department and now they employ as many or more analytics people than anyone in baseball. So they've really gone from one end of the spectrum to the other, but that doesn't

mean that they're there. And that doesn't mean that it doesn't take time for these things to really work themselves out for philosophies to become organizational philosophies that work throughout the organization and all that type of stuff. So I'm, I'm so with you. I mean, if they were to, if there was an organizational shift, it would just undo any progress they have made from an organizational philosophy perspective and would set them back to square one while teams are already ahead of them. The Dodgers, the Astros, the Indians, all these great teams, they're ahead of them. They're ahead of them still. The Phillies are behind. Even though they are heavy in analytics now, they are still way behind when it comes to this stuff. And, you know,

it would be asinine to try and shift the organizational philosophy and it would be losing baseball. It would be losing baseball. Yeah. I don't think that's going to happen. I think...

I don't either. Again, I don't think Klintak's getting fired. I really don't. Well, it's not even Klintak. Even if they fired Klintak and they brought in Chaim Blum,

like, that's still moving in the correct direction. It would be like... Of course. It would be like firing Klintzak and bringing in like Steve Phillips or like... Right. That would be the worry is the point. Like, bring back Rube. Bring back Rube! Yeah. Why not?

Here's the thing. Sure, there's that little bit of worry in me, but I think Middleton wants to stay out of it and i think he just saw a middling team uh he saw 31 000 show up to alumni day he saw he hears the the reaction to this team how it's like so fun fun and not and boring baseball and how he he spent what 300 plus million dollars on a lineup 500 million dollars on a lineup and it's been underperforming and and charlie can just give them a jolt

for seven weeks and can kind of save face a little bit on what's just been a dreadful season. So I don't think it's going to be an organizational shift. I just think that if it is and it does turn out to be that way and they get rid of the analytics or whatever, it would be

I would probably stop following the team. We might become a Rays podcast if that happens. I mean, it would be so embarrassing. It would be so embarrassing. But it would also make sense for a team that's won two championships since 1983. Yeah. No, it's a really fair point. And I also don't expect it.

I'm not expecting that sort of shift back. I actually think you nailed it. I think if I had to assess how this played out, John Middleton was looking at the situation, looking at the team and saying, alright, what can I do that can create a spark, can create some fan excitement, some fan interest, and

just make people feel better about this team? And honestly, for that criteria of goals he was trying to accomplish, there's really no better move he could have made. Regardless of all the other stuff attached to what we've talked about, for Middleton in that spot, I mean, it's a move

that makes a lot of sense without really shaking up the roster or firing the manager. Yeah, I guess the one thing that does give me pause is that he pretty much went over Clint's axe head, and he went over McPhail's head, and made this... Obviously, against Gabe as well's head, and made this... And obviously against Gabe as well.

Yeah, and made this his decision. And I just think that if you're Klintzak and McPhail and whatnot, you kind of feel a little bit neutered in that you can't just do whatever you want. It's almost like, listen, if you guys are going to have inaction, you're not going to... I bet Middleton has been like, hey, let's maybe think about a move at hitting coach, and them just refusing to do it. It's not the best reflection on the standing of Klintzak and McPhail in that organization.

And if it's more reflection on McPhail, great. If it can make Andy McPhail look any worse, I would be all for it. Is that possible? It's also a little like, why't mcphail at the press conference the other day like a really good point like i don't really get why he wouldn't be there um honestly gabe and clintax sitting up there kind of looked like a like two kids that had to apologize to the classroom um clintax sounded tight man clintax sounded tight he sounded it it was if we you know obviously it's come out that it was middleton

decision but all you had to do was watch that press conference and you knew where it came from yeah yeah and and and freaking and him saying him saying uh we're not gonna sit on our hands and we're gonna do everything we can and that's that's what you do that that's what he's talking about talking out both sides of your mouth you just do you did at the trade deadline and then say that you can't do it it's embarrassing and trade deadline and then say that. You can't do it. It's embarrassing. Everyone that covered the team, everyone that listened to that press conference, it just invalidates everything you do from that point on.

Saying that we're not going to sit on our hands and we're going to do whatever, be aggressive, it's just not true. I was blown away when I heard him say that at that press conference. Yeah. It just came off as very hollow. And you've already got a problem with a manager who everything he says is hollow. Whether or not he's a good manager is a different discussion. And also whether or not we care if he rips the players is a different discussion.

But no one believes anything he has to say. We're at that point with Gabe Kapler. When he speaks, it is in one ear and out the other because I know that it is all BS. It's all BS. So,

I think when you look at that and you look at an organization where your president, your general manager, and your manager are all guys who the entire fan base, when they talk,

we are all rolling our eyes. It's not great. Yeah, the only one you believe is Middleton. Philly guy. Philly people know Philly guys. It's true. It's what we do. I will say, we're talking about powerful owners. We were talking

earlier about Lurie's really the only one where it worked out. People are going to bring up Steinbrenner. The only time Steinbrenner was good was when he was under house arrest or whatever. And he couldn't fire people. He probably would have fired Torrey. He probably would have traded Jeter.

He probably would have traded the whole court. Probably would have fired Cashman. Cashman's still there being awesome. And he might not be if Steinbrenner had been there. I agree. There's overwhelming evidence that most of the time when owners get involved, it does not

work out well. Unfortunately, it was great that what Laurie did, but just the fact that it's so close to us and that everyone remembers the Laurie moment is why people aren't as afraid of what Middleton did because it felt it did feel a little bit lorry like i'm taking my team back it definitely felt like that

yeah so um just such a weird a weird couple of days i hope it gets a little jump start um obviously last night was just like amazing and so classic like it was the most it was the if you had any like there was no doubt in my mind they're scoring more than eight runs in Charlie's first game. Oh yeah. I would have bet anything I had

that it was a minimum of six. A minimum. I would have bet anything I had. It was classic. Everyone's like oh Charlie's back

Charlie's back Charlie's back he's going to take Gabe's job. All this fun stuff and then for them to come out just bludgeon the Cubs and

Cole Hamels and ruin his return and have the Charlie chance. It was the most classic Philly sports of course this happened moment. Especially because let's be real. I mean if anything maybe

it was a more they hated John Maley and he's gone let's go out tonight and kill it type of thing than it was. Charlie was there for a day. Charlie is not changing everything in a day. Maybe he helps a guy or two feel a little looser or changes a little thing or whatever, but that 11 runs was not because Charlie came in and was like, this is what you're doing wrong, this is what you're doing wrong, this is what you're doing wrong.

That was not what happened. No. No, it felt like a big old exhale. It was 11 runs of just exhaling. Also, back to the whole trade deadline thing,

after the deadline, an organization that, as we've talked about many times, said, hey, we're not investing in you guys. Go out and figure it out. It was the first time in this entire stretch of poor play, of struggles and all that, where someone high up in the organization has said, no, I do believe in you, and I'm doing something about it.

In this moment, I'm doing something that I think can help us win right now, this season. So that probably helped. I don't think that hurt from a clubhouse perspective. No, and maybe they have the McPhail from a, from a clubhouse perspective. No. And maybe they have the McPhail cutout and they're throwing dark. Please. That's what we wanted.

Just do it, please. Please. All right. Let's, let's get into the actual series. And again, it is now five,

one in the top of the ninth. They don't think Jack and I are going to get to do our play by play, but who look, if they come back in the bottom of the ninth, we actually might be our big break track. This could be exciting. So we'll be here for it. But let's start with the first two games.

I mean, the first game, there's really not a ton to get into other than Vargas looked really good. The pen did a nice job. The fact that Blake Parker and Mike Moore can pitch high-leverage situations in big games on this team is just amazing. I mean, like, you got guys, and they picked up Jared Hughes, we should mention that, who was really good for Cincinnati last year. Dude.

Legitimately good. Jared Hughes might be this team's second best reliever right now. And that's what's craziest. Again, Mike Morin and Blake Parker are both guys who were literally picked up off the scrap heap. No team wanted them. And yet these guys are pitching the seventh and eighth inning of a two-run game, at the time Parker pitched a tie game, against the Cubs in a, you know,

must-win is a strong term, but really for the rest of the season, every game the Phillies play is in theory must-ish win. Like an important, the Phillies have no more non-important games left. So it's just, it's crazy to me to see that guy, that type of guy, who's picked him off the scrappy, pitching those types of meaningful innings. And I think it says a lot about the shambles, the state of shambles that this bullpen has been forced into. But outside of Game 1, obviously, I think the big night, the 11-1 game,

the offense gets going. What was your takeaway from it? Was it just the spark, or was there something else you saw that maybe gave you a little more? And obviously tonight is kind of back down to earth, but do you think this is something that really can make a change? Is there stuff that you saw in that 11-1 game that you think you'd carry over? Well, I mean, they were way more aggressive on fastballs,

and I thought just overall on the whole night, they looked like more of an aggressive offense. And I think they have players in this team that are more aggressive hitters. I think Kingery is. I think Segura is. I think Real Muto in a way. I think Harper wants to be more aggressive. I think Harper's really aggressive on 0-0 pitches,

and then he kind of settles into having his at-bat kind of work its way out. But they look like a team that was more ready for the fastball, more geared for the fastball, and look like they just want to jump all over Cole Hamels. Darvish is another guy like Samarja, where they just struggle

against guys that can throw a four-seam fastball and then also throw a cutter off of it to where it's always moving off the barrel, and they don't know how to square that pitch up. But yeah, them being more aggressive in them going out there and looking to hunt and attack fastballs i think is always a good um a good plan and maybe that i don't think much of that was charlie but i think they are they are kind of letting these guys start to think less i know i know that in sunday night against the the giants they didn't win but they scored six runs and had 10 hits.

And before the game, I think Gabe and Maile at the time were just like, yo, we're not going to game plan too much. Just go out there and let your natural abilities take over. And it feels like they're doing that more and more. And they hit pretty well at Cup Series. I know they struck out 15 times, but JT Real and. But, I mean, JT Real and Muto, this is the JT Real and Muto that we traded for. He has been just unbelievable.

He's been awesome. Every ball he's hit tonight has just been squared up. And I think he's batting 300 with like an 1,100 OPS in August. So, just like an unbelievable run JT Real and Muto's on. And this is the guy we traded for. He's barreling up everything. And see, where his numbers are right now are pretty much right in line with his career. And I think JT Real Muto's kind of had a down season. So it feels like he's rounding into form.

Bryce has obviously been rounding into form. Kingery, ever since they moved him out of the leadoff spot, has been good. Corey Dickerson's been good. There's something brutal with this offense. Hoskins has been absolutely brutal. Awful. Just awful. Just completely off timing wise. Just no

doesn't look comfortable in the box at all. It has no plan and whatnot. But the other four guys Segura's been hitting well. The offense was actually starting to come around towards the end of John Maley. Now that I think Charlie's here,

it's going to only get even better. So I'm excited. I'm excited to where this offense can get to and hopefully that for the rest of the season, we see what could possibly be 2020. Yeah, look, and the only chance they have to make the wildcard game to maybe win a game or two of the playoffs or whatever is the offense.

We all know that. The only chance is that those guys all start to play up to their potential. It's not Drew Smiley? Well, I was just about to get there, Jack. But I think that's the only real chance they have is the offense finds a way to really all get firing on the same time in the same way and kind of carries them. But back to Drew Smiley, as you mentioned it, not Cliff Lee.

Beginning to think he's not Cliff Lee. I'm pretty sure he's not Cliff Lee. Yeah. But I mean, he didn't pitch great tonight, but I also think that a lot of it was unlucky and not all of it but there was a good amount that i thought um was a little bit fluky and i still think at worst smiley can give them five to six innings and less than four runs i i i think smiley can be a good to decent pitcher for this yeah i'm with you i think smiley is is fine you know i think he's okay but

as as we talked about, not to get too carried away with those first couple starts, and it looks like he's coming back to earth. I think he's theoretically the four of the five on this team best case, which brings me to my next point. I should have mentioned earlier, but it looks like Jake Arrieta might finally be done for the season, Jack. Oh, he's definitely done for the season.

And it's probably about time. I think it's definitely about time. You could see it those last couple starts. Well, did we see it the last couple starts? Because the start before this one, he said he should have been left out there to keep pitching. He did, didn't he? Classic Arrieta.

And then after one start, he's like, yeah, season's over. Sorry, boys. It's so on brand. It is so on brand for jake ariana it's it's absolutely perfect so um it was another just great jake ariana season i am so glad that we paid that guy 20 million next year uh i cannot wait for john middleton to write that check check. I'm sure he's just as excited as you are about it. Like I've said many times, all I ask for Christmas is for Jake Arrieta to opt out. It's my...

Like nothing has ever been less likely than him. There's a 0% chance. I would take a Jake Arrieta opt out over a Super Bowl this year. Wow. I'm just kidding. Wow. I was like, that is over the top, my friend. I'm half kidding.

And you know what the funny thing is? I know you are. I know you are half kidding. Also, so we're all good. You think it's going to be Affleck-Mack in the rotation? Yeah, he's pitching on High Hopes Night. So we're going to have... Oh, lucky us yay yay just what we wanted while while uh zach efflin is

feeling heavy on the mound we will be feeling heavy in section 145 i'm not gonna lie to you i'm not gonna lie to you i legit was like in the back of my mind, I was like, maybe we get a little Spencer Howard. Maybe we get a little Spencer Howard. If we had Spencer Howard, it would be – Not to be, Jack. Not to be. There would be 200 people at High Hopes. How great would it be?

But not to be. Again, High Hopes Night, this Saturday, coming out with us. You can get tickets still at a discounted rate. Just go to our pinned tweets. Also, shout out to Logan Morrison as a Philly. Similar to Brad Miller, a guy who's just been

crotching it in AAA. You know, he's fine. I'm actually pretty upset that Fernando Tatis is not going to be playing this weekend. Oh, is he hurt? Yeah, he's on the DL.

Oh, no. I was very much looking forward to it. I was actually excited to see the next great superstar live. That is a bummer. It is a bummer. It's better for the Phillies, better for the chances of winning, but a bummer nonetheless.

Lomo, any thoughts on Lomo? My only thought on Lomo is that I cannot wait for Gabe to say the term Lomo for the first time. Oh, I mean, that's a lock. Oh, it's going to be great. Yes. Like lock that in. Like Lomo's going to hit

like an eighth inning home run. He's going to open the press conference like, I really thought Lomo was up at bat in the eighth. Changed the entire game. Really excited to have Lomo here. I like that. I like that idea.

I love it. All right. Obviously, as we mentioned, the Padres series coming up next. Then in Boston for two, at Miami for three, home for Pittsburgh for three, home for the Mets for three, in Cincinnati for four, in New York for three. And then it gets tough, Jack. If the Phillies are going to do anything,

if they're going to make any sort of run, which, again, this is team that is has not won more than five games in a row they're not allowed this season it feels like they're not allowed to but if if a run is going to happen it's going to happen now any hope or i mean like any hope or positivity that this happens yes charlie's here yes yes listen i it took me it took me one game game of Charlie to think that this team has a run in them. I, I myself am a eternal optimist with the Phillies. There is no one in all of Philly's land. It talks himself quicker into a Phillies run than me.

It takes literally one game for me to be like, you know what? They're going on a run. So yes. Do I think they on a run. So, yes. Do I think they have a run on them? Yes. Do I believe in my heart of hearts that they're going to win more than five games in a row during this run? No.

But. That would be a bad bet. But. But. I'm in. I love it. I'm in. I love it.

Screw it. Why not? I think Bryce is hot. I think JT is hot. I think Kingery I love it. Why not? I think Bryce is hot. I think JT is hot. I think Kingery's figured it out. I think the offense is poised for a run, and I'm very excited. All right. I like this.

Jackie Optimist here. This is a good thing. I'm an eternal optimist. Well, only with the Phillies. Yeah, that's true, which is really funny, actually. But with the Phillies, you are. It's a beautiful thing. And look, I'm with you, too. I, that's true, which is really funny, actually. But with the Phillies, you are. It's a beautiful thing. And look, I'm with you, too.

I think if nothing else, I think with Charlie here, the potential for the offense to really kind of turn the corner a bit. I don't know about a legit run, but I think they've still got a real shot for that wild card. And I know that's not a very bold statement. Only after tonight it'll be like a game and a half out or whatever two games out but um i think i i feel more optimistic than i have in a while about this team's chances to to do anything as they they

score run five two now jack couple errors here and then i'm bad feeling the cuffs are letting them back in it oh don't let the phils find it uh-oh uh-oh um all right so uh anything else from the uh the note bag uh my my only final thought is that i am thoroughly uh i i'm thoroughly much looking forward to jared hughes's first run out of the bullpen I don't know if you've ever seen Jared Hughes run. Oh, I love it. I'm such a huge fan of the run from the bullpen. I just think it's that, what's his name, that coffee that Reds reliever used to do it. Oh, Todd Coffee? Todd Coffee.

I just, I love it. I think it's so cool. I mean, I'm not going to nerd out like you. I just think it's funny to watch him run like he has to poop the whole time. I just think it's so cool i mean i'm not gonna nerd out like you i just think it's funny to watch him run like he has to poop the whole time like he i just think it's so fun i think it's so so weird like there's something so weird about it that i just love it he runs like forrest gump like he runs exactly like forrest gump he runs like he always has to take a poop and i i'm glad he's on my team now and he's got a nasty sinker that I just think he's impossible to hit.

In my life, I've never seen the Phillies get a hit off of Jared Hughes. So I'm excited that he's on my team now. Luckily, they don't have to phase him. They'd figure out a way not to hit him. Yeah, well, look, I think the goal is that by the end of the season, the Phillies will have a bullpen full of guys who are DFA'd by other teams and they just picked up this season. Is that possible? We're getting there. A bullpen full of guys who are DFA'd by other teams and they just picked up this season. Is that possible?

We're getting there. We're getting there. A bullpen full of guys that were let go with an ERA over four. Yeah, guys who sucked so bad that teams didn't want them, and the Phillies brought them in to be core members of their bullpen. Jared Hughes does have a $3 million option next year too, so watch out for that. Okay. Well, out for that. Okay.

Well, that's nice. That's a nice option if he actually turns it around and can be the guy who was in Cincy last year. That actually would be a really nice deal for the guy. Well, let's be serious. I just want to be serious for one second. I think the reason that his ERA is as bad as it is is that he had one outing where he allowed six earned. So that'll jack up any of relievers' ERA. Yeah.

That's a great point. And again, he was really good last year, and he's someone who, you know, passes the eye test as well. Like, he does have nasty stuff. He's nasty, brother. So, yeah, he's nasty. He's nasty, brother. He's like Hobie Milner. He's like Hobie Milner.

Lefty, what the, where is Hobie? What happened to him? I think he's teammates with Darren Ruff. Oh, poor Hobie. is Hobie? What happened to him? I think he's teammates with Darren Ruff. Poor Hobie. Poor Hobie. All right. Any final thoughts, Fritz? No.

I'm thoroughly. I don't know why I keep saying thoroughly. I don't know how to use the word. I'm very much looking forward to High Hopes Night. Me too. I can't wait to meet everyone. Hopefully we have fun. Hopefully we can all just hang out and have

beers and talk about a baseball team. Hopefully they don't embarrass us. That is what we need. Don't embarrass us. Maybe win a game for us. Either way, we're going to have an awesome night. That is my final thought as well. Thank you to everyone who bought tickets. Thank you to anyone who still

is going to buy tickets and coming out because just the idea that anyone wants coming out with Jack and I, we're blown away. We think it's a huge mistake, but we really appreciate it. No, we're going to have a lot. We're going to have a lot of fun.

We're going to bring some beers. We're going to have a catch. We're going to hang out in the lot. We're going to go in. We're going to have some fun at the game. And last chance to get tickets and everyone who has gotten tickets from the bottom of our hearts we we appreciate you and we love you and we can't wait to meet all you so um with that in mind with Roman Quinn batting and Jack having to go to work sadly uh if the comeback happens we'll add an addendum to this pod I guess he's probably

not gonna happen we'll see what happens. But if it doesn't, until next time, until Saturday night for all you beautiful, wonderful people who are coming, he's Fritz, I'm Salazar. We'll talk to you later. All-star closer, Kenley Jansen, we have a question. What's the best podcast of all time? Baseball isn't boring, baby. I'm Rob Bradford

and every single day I'm sitting down with the biggest names to show you this great game is the greatest game. It's my podcast. It's my passion. It's a cause I started more than two years ago and is now the most prolific national daily baseball pod there is. Another fact, so jump aboard the BIB Express. Follow and listen to Baseball Isn't Boring, presented by Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage on the free Odyssey app

or wherever you get your podcasts.