High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - The High Hopes Red October Preview

Episode Date: October 1, 2024

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz look ahead to the Phillies' postseason run starting on Saturday and discuss the Wild Card round matchups. Presented by Miller Lite. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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On the Odyssey app and sports radio 94 WIP I feel a little less alone. Yo. It is another edition of the I Hope's Podcast sponsored by Miller Lite, official sponsor of the Philadelphia Phillies, Tastes Like Miller Time Philadelphia. Celebrate responsibly, Fritzie. Yeah. Play us this week. Like this week, Saturday, this week. They're like this week Saturday this week The Phillies are playing a freaking game. We get to watch these other teams and just sit back and relax To play what a delight how you doing pal run October. It's October. Yes. So here's Ron that I'm not relaxing at all

No, you ever relax at any point This is a constant panic from the beginning moment. The season began. And this is why I hate expectations. This is why I mean, you've been dreading this really since the season started. Like, it's so fun. We're like a week into this season and you're like, I got to tell you, I like to think of as playoffs and I'm super nervous and I'm super stressed about it already.

So we never lie. The high hopes listeners, I am like, I'm obviously beyond excited for for football, baseball, but it's just I'm also like I don't know how to I don't know how to contextualize how I currently feel because I'm so worried at all times Wait, I really needed to go because and and we're I think you and I we are we like to wax poetic yes we like to think big picture we do we go maybe a little too far once in a while we go maybe a little overboard on like the significance and the importance of making sure that you can you know win a freaking world

sometimes almost bring myself to tears talking about course like we I would say twice a year we bring ourselves to your scene I listened to your montage this morning that you put together for the morning show seven Seven minutes of it. It's amazing. By the way, no response to my text message when I said you need to update it. Like there's no bedlam at the bank. There's no. No, no, no. You listen to the wrong one.

They're in there now. I was OK before last season we updated it. You must have listened to one season before we added them for last year's playoffs. It's going to now, to be fair, we have not added like our CS stared at any of that stuff from last year yet. Probably should think about. Yeah, I don't know if there's like a definitive not to stare down.

That'd be the only the only kind of like highlight. You know, the Rojas catch against the Braves, I guess. Yeah. Yeah. The Rojas catch. Braves is a good one. Soccer and slam, slam, slam for sure. For sure. Alex Thomas off camera. But so why I watched them all. Yes, I watched for sure. For sure. Alec Domb is off camera, but. Stop. Why? I watched them all yesterday.

Why? Why'd you bring that up? Because I watched it all yesterday. I just. By the way, at least Diamondbacks are out of the playoffs. Dude, I was so happy. Snakes are dead. Snakes are dead. I was watching for Domo bat over the weekend and I'm like, how did this guy hold up game seven?

Like, are you, that guy? Really? They were the worst. They were the worst. So glad to see you. Yeah. I was was I was thrilled. Yesterday's met sprays yesterday was I think that I don't I don't know if I want to be too hyperbolic, but it might be the best regular season baseball game I've ever seen. Well, it was very in the running considering the whole thing.

It was up there for the best regular season game. It was very similar to 2011 game. What was the one to 163? Oh, yeah. Yeah, I'm already a walk off and all of that good stuff. So, yeah, it's just I'm beyond excited. I can't wait for to start. I almost just need it to start to like feel it again.

Oh, yeah. This week is going to feel long. Well, yeah, it's good. Well, especially because like, thank God that baseball, the red October starting, because if I don't say the word Eagles for the next month, I'll be freaking ecstatic. Like that would be so nice to just forget about them and worry about a real team right now. Wouldn't that be something beautiful and like take us on a run, man?

It's been a rough week here. All right. I mean, I need some positivity in my life. It's been all right. So I know you. Yeah, that's fair positivity in my life. It's been all right. So I know you. Yeah, that's fair. I got everyone be okay. Well, that's part of the reason why I can't I can't have this.

Oh, so I mean, it's like, oh, the way these have so much riding on them. I like so much more. Like you've talked about a year this the pressure, the whatever, it's all there with a moment it starts. We're all thinking about games. We're thinking about the year before all that. But now like it's it's the whole city. We're here. We desperately need.

Oh, my God. All I saw was that it was a police police police. I was like, no, no, no, no. Let them go play. Let them go play and then hopefully they get it done. I just can't do it. I can't do it. Stop, stop, stop, stop, stop. That was you. That was the most fritzy thing I've ever stopped stop saying we need you

Okay, we all get it. We will see how they do Everyone's just we'll see cuz you know, we need them now We all need them. We all need them. He's such a training camp for us today, right? I mean sometime whatever clap your hands and change Right. I mean, sometimes whatever clapper hands and change. Hey, it's like, oh, goodness. I hate this. I hate this. I hate. Well, it's funny because like your whole thing is like everyone should love the Phillies and Mo's like the Phillies are the greatest.

But then the moment people start going to the Phillies, you're like, get the hell away from us. OK, this is our thing. Leave them alone. Leave them alone. They're doing their best. You really they're putting the best extremes there. Yeah, I think I think what it comes down to for me is I genuinely have no idea is our thing. Leave them alone. They're doing their best. You really they're putting the best for the games there. Yeah. I think I think what it comes down to for me is I genuinely have no idea what team we're getting. I just don't want the buy thing.

It really is like we can talk about it all year and oh, look at that. Like we have no idea how this team's going to react. We have seen to you again. The Dodgers won like one hundred and eight games, one hundred and eleven games, and they go and get swept in the first round. And that doesn't mean it's going to the Phillies. I know the Astros have been really good at getting the bye and winning. So like it's a team thing.

It's just to your point. It's not just not knowing what team we're going to get in terms of, you know, will the bats go cold and all the stuff we've seen the playoffs, this buy thing. I just think like, and thank God we have Zach Wheeler starting the first game. You hope that gets them through a bit of it, but I have no idea what they're going to come out and look like none. And if it's a team like the Mets, like if the Mets just roll through this Brewers series after winning that game like that yesterday, like that is a little nerve

racking because it's you're getting both ends of the spectrum. You're getting this team coming in flying high versus teams just been off. So here's my one counter to that. I do agree with you on the on the whole. I guess my devil's advocate point would be I think there would be a different level of we got to lock in because they are the division rivals. That's a good point. It's like whereas if it's the Brewers it's like ah, because I think the Brewers you look at like, I'm kind of relieved we got I mean, I is there a single Philly San who wouldn't feel that way when that I mean, we all feel that way. No, you want we will

watch a game yesterday. I don't want Francisco Lindor coming in here like at all. Like I don't want anything to do with. And he's got the clutch factor back. He's looking like a Indian's Glendor, but he's looking like the old Francisco Lindor. Without a doubt. I mean, he's the best shortstop in base. Yeah. So, yeah.

Other than Bobby, but yes, sure. Bobby is tremendous. Back to back years and fantasy champ for me. No big deal. Thank you, Bobby. You must play. I mean, years as fantasy champ for me, no big deal. Thank you, Bobby Witt. You must play. I mean, I'm not questioning the level of your league.

No, no, no. I'm way better than everyone. I'm doing it. It's actually shocking that after this league's been together for 15 years, it's like, how do I keep dominating you guys? Honestly, like I and there are people

who listen to the pod, so I'm sorry. Yeah, but it's like you guys got to step up your game. Well, it seems that way. Yeah. You know, I'm great. Like, let's not let's not take away from the greatness That is me as a fantasy baseball player just or continued dominance year after year. I'm just great at it But also yes, they should say she's just stuff up there. Oh things can be true

So the Mets have this thing where you know, even Nimmo My biggest fear at the Mets right now is that Nimmo had a Launched a home run yesterday and like kind of jogged around the base. I know. I was like, what is happening? I started to get a little cocky, a little cocky up there in New York. So Reese, yeah, Reese, come on buddy. I mean, this is your spot.

I mean, other than Jay Sutley, the, the, I mean, I guess warbird too, the best Mets killer we know of like go get it. How dare you? I mean, just the, the, the Pat Mets killer we know of like go get it. How dare you? I mean, just the the the Pat Burl or ratio. Yeah, you're right. Burl should be in there, too. You're right. No, tell me that's on there. Yeah, he's on Alzheimer.

Well, yeah, I just meant I mean, Chase is it. Chase is well, yeah, because he by himself because, you know, the way he handles it, yeah, because he hates them because he just is like, I hate I think Reese does, though. I think I'm sure real hate you. Yeah. I mean hates them. Because he just is like, I hate them. I think Reece does though. I think Reece has a real hater for the Mets. Yeah, I mean the slow trot will forever be one of the funniest best moments that Reece's time here. It was amazing.

Yeah, so the Mets have something about them. I want the Brewers. And it's not that the Brewers are some pushover. Again, we talked about this for the last month. All these things are good. Yeah, well look, I mean the Brewers. Besides the Braves. The Brewers just beat the Mets with two or three with the Mets like needing a playoff spot in the Brewers like housed him

I know that's my fear is like we're like, please get the bro. The Brewers are the most underrated team They're really good. I thought dude speaking of the Braves you seen who they're gonna like pitch. It's unbelievable Anderson dude, I he's a pitch in the big leagues and what two two years? I feel like. Dude, it's unreal. Ian Anderson was hot. Four years ago. Yeah, he was in the playoffs two years ago against the Phillies. Right? Yeah.

Anderson? I mean, the sale thing. I mean, we all thought he was docking. The fact that he's not pitching in this series, like, he's probably actually hurt. He's definitely hurt. He's not pitching in this series. This is like massive. I mean, the Padres, just go ahead.

It's gonna be annoying, too, what you don't want to see. I guess we have to play the Padres. It doesn't matter that much. They have cease going to game three. If they win the first two, they could just flip cease over to the Do you think the biggest change that they're going to have to make to the the I don't know how you can I don't know how you can just take out the buy as like an advantage for these teams. I think I think Major League Baseball is hoping that the Dillies and Dodgers. They are desperate that the my teams and because like, especially because we talk about this every year, but if you offered the like the Phillies all year,

we're like, we got to get the buy. Like these teams know the snakes here and know the history. And yet they want the buy. I think that says something, you know, is the biggest is the biggest change they can make, like receding. I mean, yes, because the Padres have a place that the Dodgers would not choose to face the Padres and in round. Well, you know, I I I never hated the idea of letting the top seed pick their opponent.

You didn't like it as much. I think it's I think it's fun. Like, I think it adds a little later. Yeah, but imagine I'm mad that makes. I know. Amazing. It'd be freaking awesome. What either that would be, you know, all I'm envisioning is like the hunger game That's how you see nonger games. Oh, yeah. No, we're there be people killing each other on the field

I'm saying how they announced everything. No, I know Did you I read the books that's the least shocking statement Before they were movies, can you believe it? That's amazing. It's amazing. You're such a good reader. You're so, you're so well rounded. I am a good reader. And you're a great fancy football player. Baseball, I'm a horrible fancy football player. Don't get me. I'm fine at fancy football. I'm average. But I'm a great

player. Now you helped a little bit. By the way, if we're just gonna like give me some credit, which are you gonna bring up your freaking white socks again? Yes! I was texting with Tucker and Tucker didn't respond to this, but I know he agrees with me. I think we all believe that I should be getting much more credit for this call. Like two weeks into the season, I said, there's going to be worst hot team of

our lifetime. They lost 121 games. Like I should be given some sort of award. Yes. Like a award of some kind. Okay. And hang a, hang a plaque behind you Or a banner of some kind, like just something you said, oh, I got this take both thing.

And I'm like, fine, I'm going to I'm going to own this thing on a level never before seen, never before. And no one brings it up. The bonds of the day. I don't know what dogs about it. So so here. All right. Here's my proposal. OK. So. It seems like you want to cook it cookie if you if you see if you see James add a playoff game you're going we're going Saturday and Sunday oh we're

going to every play every home playoff game we will be there hey how would you clutch up this year and don't hurt your ankle anyway last year oh yeah I wanted someone to Nancy Kerrigan here so that So that we go back to the World Series So if you see seltzer take him out, no, no, don't think about just buy him a beer They say hey congratulations in the white socks It's hard for me to drink at these games have to wake up so early on Saturday or Sunday No, you know what Sunday I do some Saturday by me. OK, there you go. Well, Sunday, I mean, the game's gonna be over. They're probably don't know when it's playing.

If I had to guess, they're probably the four or five o'clock. Probably because of the Dodgers. Well, so looking at today, right? So the the Mets and Milwaukee play at 530. That feels like a no time. They definitely want us. Kansas City, Baltimore played for the. Yeah, I can't. I'm excited for Detroit, Houston.

I'm excited for both those years. Kansas City, Baltimore and Detroit, Houston. I'm not that excited for the Royals. We're not. It's fun. It's fun to watch the roles and play. I see. Call Ragans. Yeah, I'm excited to see Bobby White.

Guys, a winner wins me fantasy titles. Yeah. Wait to see that guy. But they will not be like I think eight thirty is going to be one that obviously the Dodgers play. The question is the Yankees. I think they put us. Are they going to put Philly? Yeah, the Yankees are wait to see that guy play. But they will not be like, I think eight 30 is going to be one that obviously the Dodgers play. The question is the Yankees, where are they going to? I think they put us, I think to put Philly and the Yankees are going to be that. That's going to be fascinating. Oh, wouldn't it? Could you please major league baseball gods, a.k.a. people making these decisions.

Hook your boy up. All right. Last year, every single freaking game was like eight 30 or eight 20 or at like five o'clock, two o'clock, like I'm in man. No two o'clock. Fine. No two o'clock. Four o'clock, five o'clock in.

Okay. And you two o'clock you're against just because it's too early or you don't because what's the big game feel? That's my bread. All right. There's no big game. All right. Four o'clock, five o'clock.

I'm in. Thank you. We've decided it. All right. Until the end. I'll see us and that's eight. Well, then we're locked in. It is what it is. Yes, I accept this. Can we win a World Series, man? Like, seriously, we one month from now, one month from now, we could be freaking getting ready for Tucker could be shirtless.

Tucker could be shirtless. Doesn't take much. On the I love that. It's the number one thing to go to the tiger could be sure on the float. Yeah. So all right. So now that I got my beginning thing out of the way because it's genuinely how I feel I know that's strictly because of how I have to interact on WIP and my Twitter interactions So are you saying that that's not the real you what no it is the real man. I know I'm so barging against Okay, I was very good. I didn't understand what you meant there I'm not you seem like the same person in all spots.

What I... No, no. Here's what I mean. Here's what I mean. Is that now I feel like I'm in my safe space. Okay. I'm in like talking to you, talking to the high hopes listener. Yeah.

I need them to win a world series. I know. I know. I know. This has been the theme of the year. You know, all last year it was you were bored because they're not giving us anything to talk about in the off season. And then the second that they got out to the hot start and it was, they're playing like the best team in baseball.

All that matters is when the world series and that, and again, there's only so many opportunities that they have to, to get this thing done and it's right in front of them. How many years are we going to have a Wheeler, Cy Young, arguably season? I'm sure we'll get into that. Nola like he's had a good Nola season. And we still trust him in these spots, you know? Sure. Chris Sanchez has taken a step forward. How, like, I think he's going to be fine going

forward. That's not a big issue for me. The offense, we know where this core is at. We've talked about it a million times, but it's their time to go. It is go time. And they've talked all season about how, like, we want to win the division. We want to get a one seed and they kind of went on cruise control for two and a half months, but I think that we always trusted that they would be able to pull themselves out of it. And they did. And I just, it feels like such a culminating moment for this group of players to, to win the ultimate prize. You got there in 22. It was magical.

Last year you had a bit of a choke job in game six and he came up small job. And and and I just I hope and I pray that the internal fire from what happened in game six and seven does not like that feeds them to this postseason and they don't start chasing and they put together good at best and they play small ball and they play smart and Rob Thompson's being aggressive. Like there's not a great team in baseball. You could make the case the Phillies are a great team. And you are these times while I appreciate Middleton saying after the season,

we want to keep the window open and we're going to keep the window open. It's not going to be 2012 to 2019. There's only so many opportunities to bring home the World Series when you have a season the way they have. We have six guys in the bullpen that you feel really, really confident about. So I think that's why my nerves are so ratcheted up because I, I feel like this should be the year. I think this should be the year they won the World Series.

And I just, I hope they get it done because I don't know how many times you can continue to knock on the door and not break. Yeah. And look, you know, I mean, how many times can you go? Like, I know that Bryce has a little bit of that elbow thing and this and that, but they're pretty healthy going into the playoffs. I mean, you look at a team like the Braves who are going into the official, they're starting in Anderson, Anderson, Anderson lost Rob Ramo Cunha immediately.

It's Strider immediately. I mean, like Strider pitch unbelievable, right? Like, and so like, and that's, you know, not that's a lot of injuries. But the point is, the Phillies are going into the playoffs with every single guy that you wanted to count on to start the season, healthy and ready to go. Like, I mean, that's another thing to add to this. It's just the way this is broken. The fact that they are the two seed, the fact they've had this great year to your point, like things don't normally break this way like you you they just have to take advantage of by the way are people

happy that they got the two seed as opposed to the one see where they had to play the Padres in round two oh look at you i just want to know people are we okay we watch the Braves beat the Padres right you know i if they beat the Padres i well they lose whatever. I guess I'll never count on the break. Baseball, buddy, baseball. I know, I know. They're not gonna like it. And the good part is they do have the home field. They do make the World Series.

Obviously the Dodgers. Which is huge. That was what they had to say out in front of. Yes. Yes. Because I do want a home field in the World Series, believe it or not. But I just, they're in such a good spot. They're in a good spot.

And I just, I don't want this to turn into, Oh, there they go. They're, they're chasing again. Cause the excuses are gone. I mean, I mean, there's no more excuse. There's no more. This is it. Like even at the end of last year, like we, they choked and we said it, you know, where it was a little less, like if they do that again this year, if they

lose in the first round or whatever, like it's like the love affair is not that we'll still love them and root for them. And in terms of this, like, like belief in them benefited the Dow, like all gone. It's over. Yeah. Unless they go get a Watsos, but now you're on top of Middleton's comments. Across that bridge. Yeah. So I wonder how people, I should get to how people react to a Dodger series. You know what I mean? Like mean like obviously can't get swept. You can't lose in five if they lose in six to the Dodgers I don't think people are yeah melting that but even the Dodgers like who's their pitching staff?

That's the point who's are starting so who's their bullpen? Well the book. Yeah, I mean the starting staff, too I mean like Kershaw's hurt again, right? Like I mean Walker Bueller's been a disaster He'll be Yama moto's back Yamamoto, but he has landed in that and next their game for starter I mean, like Kershaw's hurt again, right? Like, I mean, Walker Bueller has been a disaster. Yamamoto's back. Yamamoto. But he has landed in the next game for starter. Yeah. That'd be fair. You could say Rangers Suarez. Oh, yeah. And I do want to get into Ranger because so I was Friday night.

I was doing it was not I didn't want I didn't watch it live. I think I got I got no I got home after he was already out. Yeah, it was it was it was rough. I went back and watch it really raw. I watched a Saturday morning He I I know we do the whole you know, trust Ranger in the postseason thing And I there's a part of me that still believes that But man, I heat so the thing that I thought I was seeing with Ranger is I think it's I think he's dealing with dead arm and Like I think the back is a part of it, but it but Lee do it

I mean it's all connected my biggest thing I kept seeing with Ranger is that and it's hard to explain but I thought he was reaching his arm back further to try to throw harder and I was seeing the Ball more and I was seeing like they change up more and I was seeing a fastball more and when you and there's this the ball more and I was seeing like the change up more and I was seeing a fast ball more and when you and there's this philosophy when you pitched it like reach back and try to try to get an extra extra sure it was still 89 90 and it made him lose all his command which is the issue like so it's not crisp it's not on top of the baseball anymore he's it's flattening out all the stuff looks bleh so I mean it's obviously gonna have to be a feel thing for Rob Thompson when they start Rangers for he's gonna start game four Barring like they're down to one and need to start Wheeler. So

But he's gonna have to Super quick now he comes out and he's on top of the baseball and it's 91 and he's dotting the short but but you need to If even it's going bad after one to like you. He's he's a huge worry right now. Massive. Again, I know, like other than what you just referred to, other than the fact that we know his heartbeat slow and that he has always been super calm and collected in these spots, other than that one thing,

which has nothing to do with how he's pitched this year. Like I have zero faith in Rangers Mars, like just that one thing, which has nothing to do with how he's pitched this year. Like I have zero faith in Rangers. Mark's like just that one thing. That's it. Otherwise, like I'm going to be nervous every time he's on every pitch he throws. Like, like, I don't know how you feel. How flat and so hittable, so hittable. I mean, it just I mean, Garrett Stone hadn't played.

That was the first game he played all year, by the way. They got this set up. Fifty nine games. Did he really? Yeah, he didn't play all year. all year, by the way. They sat off 159 games. Did he really? Yeah, he didn't play all year. But he was on the roster. Well, I mean, they up and down. He's come back from an injury. Yeah. So, yeah.

So he made his debut and he took Ranger. Oh, he crushed it. It's like it was like watching softball, like softball. What are we doing here? So yeah, I just Rangers a huge, huge concern. And I had. So let's say let's say they win, right? Let's say they win the NLDS, a Ranger gets shelved. What do you do? I mean, do you try to keep getting turnbull healthy and have turnbull go like, Oh, yeah, let's bring Turnbull into the playoffs out on no rest. I mean, like, man, I don't know. Yeah. I think you pitch a bullbanging, right? Like of some kind.

You let Turnbull start it. You let Chaterbank start it. This is not great for what you want to do for the, for the long-term playoffs. Cause you don't want to wear those guys out too. I don't know. The ranger thing's a big swing here. Yeah. It's a big swing. What? Yeah. The Rangers thinks a big swing here. Yeah, it's a big swing. I just, I hope that he has the playoff ranger kind of moxie. Yeah. And he could just kind of turn it on. Oh my gosh. I would be thrilled. We all would. I'm just, I can't, I I'm not counting on it. That's awesome. What about Taiwan? Buddy, I do. Hey, where we go home, Taiwan, Enjoy the playoffs from the comfort of your couch.

Oh, come on. I mean, clubhouse. Can't do it. You can't do it. Nope. Tyler Gilbert looks all right. I'm one bad Rangers right away. Oh, stop. Give Gilbert the ball game for Tyler.

And he's Louise. That's not good. Hey, Tyler, you're but there are no header ones. Yeah, that is he did. You're right. Hey, fantasy football owners, the road to winning your fantasy football championship starts now. I'm Matt Harmon from Reception Perception. Join me and James Co as we take a deep dive into the position

that's going to make or break your fantasy roster. Wide receivers. We analyze route running, target share and all the metrics that matter, giving you the insights you need to draft roster, wide receivers. We analyze route running, target share, and all the metrics that matter. Giving you the insights you need to draft the best wide receivers. As you prep for your draft, let us give you the coverage you need. Follow and listen to Reception Perception on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. So that I mean, that is that the biggest concern going in the playoffs for you?

No, the biggest concern is the offense. Not even close, not even close, not even close. Not even close is the offense. I am, they keep me up at night. If you're asking me the one thing that keeps me up at night, there's three things that keep me up. I love these. You asked me the one that, well hold on.

There's three things. There's three things. One's the offense. The strikeout numbers the last two weeks have been infuriating. And that's the thing that obviously gave everyone this shiver down their spine. I was like, that's what I saw.

That's game six, seven. I watched, I did watch a video last night of what the Dodger of what the Diamondbacks pitching plan was to the Phillies. And it was like, well, hopefully, you know, we watch this. Yeah, it's out there. Just watch it anyway. So the offense keeps me up at night. The strikeouts very concerning and

There's a part of me that's like, okay, we'll get him in and you know, they'll they'll figure it out The second thing is is really just Carlos Estevez because he's gonna be he's gonna pick beginnings and I Get a close some games. He's going to and I've accepted that even though he's their third best closing option. He won't yet fourth best reliever I would say yeah, you know whether I encourage is definitely better than him right now Yeah, you trust Kirkering Moore's right? I'm not saying he's a closer now. I'm just saying okay So he's the fourth best off. That's what I'm trying to say fourth best reliever. I would say yeah Yeah, so he's the fourth best option to close. It's gonna definitely be closing out gonna be closing so yeah, so Every single Carlos's devvez ending is there's

some kind of hard kind. Yeah and there's usually base runners. Usually base runners. Most of the time you've got to do it like Lidge except Lidge was way more nasty you know and sure you get a strike out a lot more effectively. So Estevez is going to keep us he we're going to be terrible. He's not Kimbril. I'm not going to put a Kimbril. No he's better than Kimbril. Was at that point of season. No Kimbril was good in the year. People forget he was an all-star. You forget. He's an all- terrible. He's not Kimbrough. I'm not going to put a Kimbrough. No, he's better than Kimbrough was at that point. He's no Kimbrough was good in the year. You forget he was an all star. You forget he's an all star. He played in the All-Star game before Bryce as a f-aid. Yeah, I know. Not even on the Orioles anymore. And I'm leaving because I see Sir Anthony and Soto. Yeah, they can do one of them. Yeah.

So but but as that is going to is going to Orioles fans are excited to see that team talk about collapse. Dude, dude. So my two big bets coming into the year, like the only things that I bet on the Phillies to win the division, because I put those out there crazy. That was an easy win. But the only two over unders that I felt super passionately about were the Phillies over and the Orioles over eighty nine and a half for both teams and the Orioles

190 and 91 the last two games like they sweated it like they were on 105 win pace for a while that it took to the last two last second last game of the season brought them to win their nineties so no they they paid really collapse so stephens keeps me up no doubt about it and and then three is is Ranger slash I still I still I'm not that worried about Nola I I'm not worried about Nolanola. It's playoffs. LBI. Look at that. But that audio, look at that. Cut that off.

You know, in area, you got it. You saying that almost made my stomach turn. Yeah, it wasn't great. Yeah. As soon as it came out of my mouth, I was like, oh, I'm like a little nervous. So we're handling it well. This is going well. Yeah, it's good that we can't say things because I know.

I know. It's great. No, I know. People still get mad at me because because I said, I think they're going to the World Series. I feel like there's every single pod we do. Someone tweeted us, oh, you said this now if they lose it. And then when they do lose or whatever, it's like I've got so many tweets are like, oh, you mentioned this guy and now he sucks. It's like, sorry for talking about the frickin team

on the podcast about the frickin team. I'm so sorry. I will rein it in next. I will have no opinion. I'll come on and be like, Bryce Harper is a player for the Phillies. Bryce Harper may be good plays. I know he plays. That's all I'm willing to say about. Yeah. Come on. The one thing and I was gonna put this in, in the take back, but we're, we're just talking, talking ball right now. Talking ball right now. It's basically one long take back right now.

One long take back. The one thing I don't feel that it seems like a lot of people feel is angst about Rob Thompson. And I do think it's an important postseason for Rob Thompson. And you can understand where people are coming from, of course. And not I'm not shutting down. I understand that there are people that are worried about Rob Thompson. And it's I think it's justified. Sure. It's just for me personally, like of the things that I'm worried about. He's almost of the things that are worrisome.

He's like the least of my concern. I think I it was something early in the season. Looking ahead, I was like, I'm concerned that he'll do the same thing again and trust guys or whatever. I think the way the season and the roster has broken out, it's just, I don't see those types of decisions coming really. Like there is no Kimball situation there. Like I was going to, he will, there'll be a pinch hit spot for Rojas or someone at some point that he's going to have to make. And I do think he learned from that.

Like he even said that specific thing last year. Like I would be much more worried if there was a old vet, like if Nick Castellanos were going into playoffs, like horrend, like struggling big time and like keeping the four old, that kind of, that thing I think he could still do. I just think the way it's shaken out, I worry if the playoffs go on and someone like that Castellanos in the four old is a disaster that he wouldn't move him out or something like that. But for the most part, it seems like there aren't going to be those decisions that feel like I know he's going to do this

and I'm going to hate so it's weird because because he's kind of changed his philosophy even up to the end of the season. So the whole year had been poem in the four spot. And then all of a sudden last weekend Cassie's back in the in the force and then comes in the five side He is showing some flexibility there and I guess I think if I did If I had to guess as to why they like Cassie on us in the four spot I think it's because of the power potential

I'm sure and they they maybe trust bomb worn out strike out they tried start there and I don't think that Stop took it in ran with it. Obviously like that hasn't gotten going well, yeah, so we'll see I mean, I'm very curious to see who's gonna have in the four spot heading into next Saturday or this Saturday, but The one the one decision I think he's gonna have more than any this postseason is how much is he gonna trust these starters? I think Wheeler he's gonna trust. Yeah, he's not gonna pull unless it's game six and you're on Alvarez coming up, but trust these starters. I think Wheeler, he's going to trust. He's not going to pull him. Unless it's game six and Jordan Alvarez is coming up. But he's not going to pull. With Nola, I think Nola is going to be a pressure point from the standpoint of there's going

to be a lot of people begging for him to pull Nola at one point and he's probably going to stick with him and it's going to be a coin flip. The one that's going to be interesting to me, I think they know what they have in Ranger I think Rangers a one time through the lineup guy at this point with Sanchez How long does he let out does he trust with Sanchez last year? He pulled Sanchez super early this year He's a two and two-thirds or something this year I think that Chris Sanchez has earned his trust but no doubt just trust enough to Let him pitch through things and that the interesting part about Chris Sanchez, whether he goes through your

it doesn't matter if it's if it's Nola or Chris Sanchez, the thing that he's going to have to factor in is I can't pull him here because I know I'm going to use a lot of my bullpen. Well, that's the ranger thing. That's what I was alluding to before, like, especially if I mean, you have to look at the ranger game potentially as Ranger gets me through one, maybe, and you hope for more, maybe you can go to and like ideally gets three, three, three and you're like, all right,

good. But you have to assume that you potentially could need eight innings of open or more if it goes X. So I'm going to I'm going to I've got myself in trouble with this in the past, saying things on the record and possibly quit in the pocket. I don't record and possibly quitting the podcast. Uh-huh. Yeah. I don't know why you put yourself out there. I know, but I felt this. I do appreciate it. I felt this a second ago and you're just gonna roll with it.

I'm gonna roll with it. So you'll quit the podcast. No, no, no, no, no, no, no. It's not about quitting the podcast. It's actually more. Because that is the most hollow of all your threats. This is, this is actually Serious and I and I've not ran this by Jill This is this is a winning idea right here already if Ranger Wins World Series MVP or goes on or pitches to an ERA under two I'll name my second

He's that important Imagine Walker and Ranger. I Ranger I love it I mean I think it's a great bit I don't know if Jill's as much of a bit guy I doubt it when it comes to the children's names I'm just saying Rangers a great name Walker and Ranger Rangers that important if they win the World Series and Rangers not like an impediment towards winning it yes I'll name him Ranger winning it yes I'll name him Ranger laying down the gauntlet yeah I so I already wanted them to win the World Series that's yes it's all I can think about you know like I said like if football might not even may as well just not play for the next month as far as I'm concerned like all in there well they'll play three I don't care about any football is my point like this the

narrow focus listen to the GoBirds. Yes. Now it's yeah. Listen, I probably talk Phillies for a few weeks. Oh, man. Awesome. Elliot's affiliate takes great narrow focus. Oh yeah. Elliot brings us great baseball takes. Yeah. We love when he texts. Oh, it's great. Although we are shifting into postseason. Yeah. The response from us is generally like Jack's got a new thing where he just says noted and then we move on. I'll just do like I'm not doing this and check out. Well the funny part about about Elliot is that for the whole season it's it's haha Phillies haha. I know and then it's like the Phillies are winning the

world. The second the second that he's in says thank park he's like this is the greatest. I know I can't miss this. So like I've had a focus. I'm all in on this Phillies thing. Obviously desperate. You want them to win the world series. This ranger thing is the thing I want the most. Like I want them to win the world series, but I need ranger to be great in doing it. Like this is just for the fallout, the reaction Jill's responsible thing. Like I ranger buddy, you have a chance to do the

funniest thing ever. Yeah. Please make it up. It's gonna happen. Like it's... Now you say honestly... There's no doubt about it. I said sorry but I just I just bet that... not a bet. It's a... No, it's a proclamation. It's a proclamation. Yes. If Ranger shoves and they win the World Series, this is great Put first up the great name. So it's a great name Ranger Fritz We've been struggling to find think of the right name for number two. So guess what? Sometimes you got it. Sometimes I got a roll with it. Sometimes. Yeah. Yeah, it's a what a story What is it? Oh my god, do you know why your name Ranger? Let me tell you. Yeah, I'm bad I have this podcast Ohio. You know uncle James. I know he's 70

Remember Uncle James he I know he's 70 Remember Uncle James he died a few years Yeah, that's why your name's Ranger, yep, so another Another full-on snort another bit that I have I want to run by you and this is actually Just to throw it out there your last bit not great. Oh, it's I wanna know. Yeah, that was a bad one. The worst was that all of a sudden on online,

I was turned into a pro Taiwan guy. That was your fault. Yeah, sure. Basically it was like, oh Jack, no, I love him. That's your boy. Yep. Relax. The next bit that I have,

and I'm trying to decide if I can actually pull it off. So I think it's a great idea. And I think it would I think it'd be fun. Is the Phillies have 11 more wins to win the World Series. Mm hmm. 11 miles Saturday morning. So for for 11, really, and then 1110. Oh, go backwards. Then go the other way.

Could you imagine that last mile if they got it done and I had to do it, how joyous that would be. So I love this bit. Can you run 11 miles? Have you done that? I think I could. I think I could. I've done nine. I could do 11. I could do 11. He's frigging go for it. But is it 11 and then 10 the next day? It's a great idea. It's just, you're really committing yourself here.

Yeah, I know. No, I know. There's no bigger mistake than giving me a mic. No, no, it's so true. Like more so to your own. I mean, Graham, this is not like a bad thing to run and work out, but just you really put yourself out there. Yeah, I know. So I appreciate it.

I think I'm going to do it. I think you should. I think it's a no brainer. You just said it. You have to do it. Now, if you don't do it and they lose everyone, the posse, like it was your fault. You didn't do the bit. So you've, you've like a lot. So this is Jack inside baseball here. Uh, Jack,

especially back in the day when it, when the Phillies were less good and whatnot and it was less exciting to come in and record the pod all the time. Jack used to lock me in by tweeting there will be a new high hopes pod. Uh-huh. Like that was the agenesis of that was to lock me into recording. Uh-huh. You've just locked yourself into running. Like that just happened. Sure. Yeah. It's great. I love it. Yeah. I'm really excited about this. Yeah. So you're gonna run 11 miles on Saturday. I can't wait. I'm trying to get up at five. Yeah. I'll see you at the ballpark. It'll be great. ballpark legs legs will be jello.

It's basically I think see you here. It's his ankle now. I think the grocery runs 10 miles. It is correct. No, but no, it's a 10k. So it's even less than 10. Okay. No, right. Yeah. Okay. Is 10. I think it's 10 miles. Oh, it's not 10k. No. Okay. 10 miles. There you go. Yeah. OK. There you go. Go Reese. Reese. Wheeler thing. Sayan. Never get into that. Yeah. Bring that back around.

Let's bring it back around. So this has nothing to do with me having him plus nine fifty to win the Sion. But by the way, that's like one of your new things on Twitter, too. Like you'll just treat something like this is not gambling.

It's not. And it's always it's always. I think that's the whole point of new things on Twitter too. Like you'll just tweet something. You'll be like, this is not a gambling face. Isn't it? And it's good. It's always gambling related. I think that's the whole point of the- He's yelling at Jared Goff. It's the whole point of the face. Throw the ball to Sam Laporte. You put up 42 points last night. I know.

Did he get the guy a touchdown? He almost broke his ankle last week. Anyway. Not gambling related. But you threw 23 more innings. You threw 23, it was almost two and a half starts. Okay. And I know that Chris Hales had a great year, but again a triple crown How about do you remember that last time we had a triple crown winner in both leagues for pitchers free web?

This school balls and Google won it. Yeah Yes, he is a nasty Do you think the Tigers are happy they didn't trade him at the trade deadline? In team stop trading way It's players for the hope of whatever? Yeah, so listen, sales is probably going to win it. It's just, I hope it's more of a conversation point now. Again, I mean, Wheeler went over 200 innings. Is it really that big of a difference in ERA and strikeouts and that stuff?

Like I just, it's more of a coin flip. And I think that given what he's done the last couple of years and 2021 should have won it then, he deserves it. I agree that sales great picture. Yeah. The problem is the given what he's done for it. Chris sales never want to say young and he is, I mean, he's got a world series in arguably like as a better career resume than we already just does.

So, but again, are we going to start awarding gold medals to marathoners who run 23 miles? I love what you're doing here. Chris sale, better ERA, more wins, more strikeouts. I love this. This is a good, I love it. You're like, yeah, he clicked. Like you're not even like, you like mentioned it off handily,

but it's like, this is no, no doubt in your mind. Like, Zach Miller is the runaway winner. Not the runaway winner, not the winner. But again, I didn't know that you could win the gold medal for not finishing a marathon. It take and he didn't. He didn't. He hasn't pitched in September. What 19th?

It's outrageous. October 1st. Barely barely squeaked into the playoffs. Come on. I mean, it comes down to can you finish the race or can you not? And Wheeler made every start and he's outside of the three bad starts that he had. He was the best pitcher in the national league. I agree. God, look, I think we got those three starts.

I it really is wild. I mean, it is, you know, Chris, they all had some bad starts too. Apparently not bad enough there. One point, you know, like 1.5 year. If you take out three starts out of like 29. It is insane. It's an insane fact. 29.

Yeah, but it's pretty insane. He deserves it. Braves fans didn't like that one. No, I'm guessing they didn't. Well, you gotta give them something. Like dude, dude, Braves fans. So I'm not as like online as I used to be which is good, which is good I don't yeah, not a huge fan. Yeah, dude. Let me tell you I'm I'm as offline as I've ever been. It's great

Yeah, it's it is the life. You know what I do Jack bring it back around read Just Ali us. That's been nice to be done ten ever guys bang book right there on the phone. So great. Love it, but Like Braves fans still tweet like 2012 I know where they still think like bombed in touch home is a funny bit and they still like troll Like they do the fan base troll like thing. It's like we was 2012 all over again so they're so dumb it's like I put it in the tweet I put a tweet out about Wheeler and they mentioned Chris turns into a whole world but whatever go Padres we should roof the Braves all right are you single by dress so they beat the Dodgers no I

just want them to knock out the Braves. Screw the Braves. Yeah, but would you rather the Dodgers lose and then we get home feeling? I know, you love the Braves. Yeah. Wait, no, no, no, no. What I just said was root for the Padres,

but that way I said wouldn't rather the Dodgers if they have a better chance to beat the Padres. I was more just get rid of the Padres. I don't know, honestly, I don't know what I'm rooting for. Nice. I'm rooting for whatever's best for the Phillies. I just don't know what that is. You're rooting for the Mets?

No, we already said we'd rather play the Brewers. That one's set. I'm just saying that people forget that you lived in Queens. I did not live in Queens. Right next to Shea Stadium. I lived in Manhattan. Get it straight. Until you were 10. Get it straight. Until you were 10, right?

I was much closer to the Yankees than I was to the Mets. You want to get it straight? Hated them. 10, right? So what was it? How old were you when you moved? I was 11. Long time. It's a long time.

Long time to get indoctrinated into the city. Is that your best? Did you say let's go Mets? Watch it, pal. Dude, there is no worse thing than growing up a Philly sports fan in New York. Let me tell you, especially when our team stunk at that age. And I'm freaking Giants fans winning Super Bowls and the Metz are in the freaking playoffs.

I hated it. I hated it. Okay. That all you got? What about the take back? I went through the take back. That was the whole take back already? Well, they haven't played. Any thoughts on the division series? On the division series or the Wild Card series?

That's what I meant. Excuse me. Jumping ahead, buddy. You're jumping ahead. You're jumping ahead a little bit. I don't know, man, I I the math we've talked about enough that Padres are gonna win. Oh wow you think they're just gonna beat the diets over they mean they are way better gonna be the brains yeah like the Phillies Marlins last year yeah it really is so I don't know I'm excited for the playoffs obviously start you know I'm excited for actually when there's nothing else to say this I want the Orioles to figure it

out I do too I really am rooting for the Orioles in the I would love a love a Beltway World Series. It'd be great. I actually like, other than the Yankees, I kind of like all the, and the Astros. I like all those teams. Like I had the Tigers, super fun story. Unbelievable story, really. The Tigers getting in the way they did. They have a 0.8% chance of getting a playoff. 0.8 in August, in like mid-August. That's wild. I mean, the Royals, that's fun. Guardians, fun. No issues with the Guardians. It's really the you know, as long as it's not the Yankees. Yeah. Yeah. But I wouldn't it'd be fun to beat him. I wouldn't I wouldn't hate to see the Yankees go on a little bit

of a run. It'd be fun to beat the Yankees. I don't I will. Again, I've tried. You love the Yankees. I don't hate the Yankees. I hate the Yankees. Yeah, it's a very like, it's very Yankees more night the Astros at not fair until 2022 2022 kind of even out but like I I hate the Yankees more Nate I think hating the Yankees is a very like 35 and older thing to do I think you're right about that I it's 96 through 2000 like I remember it so well and that does nothing you're right. One of my first good point they really haven't been that great the majority of your life

Yeah, no, I'm like For his what's funny is for much as I troll Jeter. He's like my favorite. I know Funny and then I learned about advanced stats and he can't move but No, the only thing I remember at the about this is gonna make you feel old Oh, what else the only thing I remember at the early 2000s? Yankees was it was game seven of Oh one. Oh, that, uh, Louise Gonzalez, the great moments of my young life as a sports fan, cause my teams never won anything.

Honestly, up until that moment for the diamond backs last year. Stop. All right. Up. What a jerk, honestly, other than 93 and we lost it, but like that, let's put it this way in 01, that was my the most excited I had ever been about a team winning the World Series in my life. Just because it was the like Yankees losing. Yeah. And I'm chilling. Like, you know, I love chilling back. Yeah. Like that. So I went to, I don't

know, is it some like dinner party, I think with my parents And everyone there was like I think I was like the only kid which is an odd one I've made the youngest mm-hmm, and I just remember everyone. I think some football game was on or something and I went over the change of TV, and you would have thought it was The worst thing that's ever happened The worst thing that's ever happened is like, hold on. I'm seven years old. Take a deep breath. But I remember watching this and I was like, can I please just watch? Yeah, it's not.

It's World Series. Please watch this. Yeah. So that's funny now because if it were reversed and the World Series were on and a kid did that, you would be the one being kid with freaking out on the kid. Yeah. You know, so times have changed. Well, no, I was changing from football to the,

I know I'm seeing if it were the other way around and you were watching baseball now as an adult and a kid went up and changed it to football, you would lose your mind. Of course. So you can understand the reaction. Yeah. Yeah. But again, I don't watch sports with people.

I know by the way, very big on that. Other, other than, other than citizens, I'm Mark, which, which I feel like I'm by myself We will be there. So everyone if you're coming to the games We're gonna be there both sirens and we every home game they have but sirens. I will be there We'll be doing the pre and post and all that stuff. So check it out. We'll have it in the phenom But come say hi. Yeah, I see it's outside one 26. Yeah It's like the biggest thrill of our year is getting to see people at the bank park in October

That's why I was trying to fast forward from May on. You're right. I'm happy we got here. I was ready. I'm happy we got here. This is good. And now just end it. Just freaking win the World Series, dude. Please. Yes, please. All right. We're back with Playoff Baseball. Yeah, I've had. Wow.

Enjoy the wild card round. Yeah, enjoy the wild card. You're watching knowing like I'm gonna like we're gonna be so we haven't had this in a while. We're watching like who we're gonna play. It's a really strange thing. Mets Brewers. We're watching online. Yeah. I have to drive home but like we're watching online. Locked in. Locked in. Let's go. All right. Red October. This is let's freaking make it happen.

Yes. All right. We'll talk to you guys this weekend. He's for themselves.