High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - The Phillies Are 3-0 In The Archer Fritz Era

Episode Date: August 31, 2026

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to the Phillies sweep of the Angels over the weekend discuss how encouraged they were by Zack Wheeler's start on Sunday. The guys also go in-depth on Bryce Harper's red-hot month of August and the bullpen's performance in recent weeks. Presented by Miller Lite.

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

The crowd is singing high hope. I feel a little less alone. Another edition of the High Hope's podcast, sponsored by Miller Light, official partner of the Philadelphia Phillies, tastes like Miller Time, Philadelphia, celebrate responsibly, obviously winning 13 of 15, first time with four, three or more game sweeps in a month than 35 years. Like, the Yo was going to be good. But let's be honest, there is one reason that Yo had to be great is someday when you play the first high hopes pod ever in Archie's life, Archer Fritz's life.

The yo had to live up to it. Shout out to Archie who is undefeated as a Phillies fan. Magical. His first game was like one of the all-time regular season games with the Sosa Grand Slam Night. Like Archie, good luck, baby. I love this. How you doing?

But congrats, man. Mazel tov. I'm so happy. What an exciting thing. Yeah. Well, exciting and unexpected. little fellow was ready to go, it seems like. So yes, little Arch was three weeks early.

Zoe was five weeks early. So trust me, I know that game, buddy. I don't even remember that. I don't remember that. Yeah, yeah. That's crazy. So, yeah, everyone was four pounds and 13 ounces and she was born. She was real little. Yeah, that's that's, that's, because Arch, so, uh, walk was over eight, Saudi was over eight and he's like six. And now, but picking up, it's like picking up air. Like it's just there's it's crazy. I can only they last take her home. I was like,

you're letting us have this little tiny thing. It's so windy. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So it was an eventful time in the hospital. By the way, I have to tell everyone. I think it was both me and Tucker got a text of Archie. You sitting there with Archie the night he was born watching the Threshers on your laptop.

That happened. Oh, yeah. He watched the Threshers before the Phillies. So it is, we are nailing. it right now. Well, they had a doubleheader on Friday. So, and I, and dude, being in the hospital room is, it's like, there's just nothing. It's the worst. You're just sitting there and sitting there and sitting there. And, you know, I feel like they always come in and they expect both of us to like,

it's like, you don't even need me. The number three, I, I'm here for emotional support and to go get food. And I don't know any of this. Like, we're, I'm part of the team, but there's a, there's a star player. And then there's a, whole player. Yes, yes. I am the support staff here. Okay. Yeah. So, yeah, now Archie, Archie watched two Threshers games and then, yes, that that game Friday night, a real welcome to the, to Philly fanhood for the kiddo as the stop ball is, I texted you during it. I was like, this is a good start for the kid. We let him get used to disappointment. Yeah. Well, again, I do think this city needs to start getting some hair in their chest again with

some painful losses. That's the biggest thing that's changed with the Eagles. These kids today have no idea what it used to be like. So I would like for a little bit of a little bit of turbulence to build some mental fortitude

when it comes to the football team. But the baseball team, they give us plenty of heartbreak and plenty of people. Forever. That's all they usually provide is that. So, no, it was funny. We were in the room on Friday night and the stop ball happens.

And the nurse is in, like, doing vitals and checking on on arch who i keep wanting to call sutton but uh i can imagine i can imagine because we were just here with yep exactly and and and the stop all happens the nurse is like you know doing her job it's 12 15 at night and i'm over there and i let out like damn damn damn damn and she the nurse goes what is a replay and i'm like no it's not a replay this this is happening. I know it sounds crazy, but she was still in the room for the Sozo home run,

which I was like, yes, yes. So I, I do wonder if she was worried about sending old Archie home to a stable household. But yes, all good. And we finally got out of there on Saturday.

That's awesome, man. And then, like, just a neat way to start Archie's life from a Philly's perspective. I mean, what, look,

you know, I don't know what my first Phillies game was. My dad didn't tell me. I don't remember. like the fact that someday you can like show him that hitting and be like arch this was this is when you're born is such a it's pretty i'm really happy because it felt it really felt when that stop ball was caught there was like all right yep okay yeah yeah oh you're talking about the phillies i thought i was talking about the phillies but yeah both you know yeah that's the unfortunate

part like walker doesn't really have any like the only sports related thing with him is that we knew he's a boy when Jill got super into the 22 Phillies out of nowhere and we're like that's hilarious. Yeah. Sutton, the only, of course, because the way our minds work, everything goes back to like,

has this relate to sports and like, during a time period of your life. When Zoe, Zoe was born the night, it was a Monday, she got born Tuesday morning, but it was a Monday night Eagles game. It was the,

against watch. It was like the last great game once played as an eagle. I feel like, oh, the Matt Collins game. Remember that game? Yes. So we watched the, in labor.

No, not that one. It was like the last great one he played. It would have been 18. Oh, the Greg Ward game. The Greg Ward game, yes, yes. We watched it in the hospital, me and Emily, as she's in labor. And like, you know, it's so true.

Yeah. Yeah. We knew we were having, Jill told me we were having a second, the night that Maxi hit he hit those threes against the Knicks. Oh, wow. That was awesome. They were all coming back. Yeah, everything relates to sports.

Everything relates to sports. But yes, Archer. See, Archers is his full name. By the great name, by the way. Archer, both. Thank you. Both, both. I didn't know it was Archer at first because you texted us Archie and I was like Archie, elite, elite. And then when I found out it was Archer, I'm like, that's even cooler because you get the Archie and Archer itself is badass. And Arch. So like if I wanted to call him, course. The way that I funnel names, and this is again, this could sound like a sicko. But the way that I think about names is, can I yell this out quickly at a baseball game? Of course. So like, can I get a, huh, March, you know?

Just let him know that I'm right there. But yeah, all three are fun. I found myself calling him Arch more than anything, which is fun. Well, Arch is great. And he's got the Arch Manning thing coming. I hope he's good. So my one question, though, as someone, you know, last name is a noun, Seltzer is a thing.

Do you think Sutton will be upset? You've got Walker, a verb. Yeah. You know, you've got Archer, a verb. Sutton. Don't know what that is. Yeah, just a name. Simply a name.

Yeah. I think you'll in that Tim someday. Yeah, hopefully he's all right. Everything else is a literal thing except this. That's what I'm saying. That's what I'm saying. Yeah. You have to teach archery.

I mean, you just have to, right? I mean, he has to be a good archer. Yeah, I agree. This would also make, and maybe Sutton will get a little jealous of this one, but I did name both Walker and Archer members of their respective draft class. so Walker could be named after Walker Jenkins who's to say he got called up this week and Archer could have been named after Archer Horn

who was mentioned as one of the guys that I was interested in them drafting before they got Tyler Spangler so it's all simb it's all symmetrical it's perfect it's great it's like oh he was named after oh I'm named after this famous thinker I'm named after I was named after a guy got drafted he never made some majors flamed out in single A but yeah he's a guy Well, Archer Horn has been made of the majors.

He took his name out of the draft to go to Stanford. So we'll have to track his progression. That's great. This is beautiful. All right. Let's talk some fills because it was a thrilling weekend. And especially after, look, we haven't talked much since that. We talked at the end of the Mariners series, but you and I haven't.

That's what I thought. I was like, we didn't talk after that because Tucker and I did. You know, they go and lose that first game. That was like the lockiest lock loss in the hit. history of Phillies baseball, going to the West Coast after the walk off and playing the next day. Like, they were going to lose. Second one lose. We're getting a little like, okay.

It was so funny how quickly everyone went from nine straight were great to like the two losses. Like, yeah, they're bad again. And then four straight again, man. And I know that the angels, it's insane the amount of ninth inning games they have lost. The stats are going to, they got like six or seven more than any other team in baseball. So like, you know, and I get it. We've heard you and I work at WIP, so many calls, shout out to Chuck and Cherry Hills,

so many people going, five and 21 against good, play of the best teams in the league, and whatever, blah, blah, and they haven't beaten anyone this streak, whatever. They got something, man. Like, they're flawed.

They're not the favorite. Like, I'll still pick the Dodgers to win at all and whatever. This team has something, dude. Like, there is an energy and a vibes and a belief and a way of playing baseball. And again, I know that it's just been one month and they've done this, and we know they've reversed.

and we've seen it. But today, on August 31st, I come into this pod feeling by far the most hopeful about this team that I've felt all year. Like nothing's even close. Like I, the way they play, the way they fight, I mean, three ninth inning wins this season when they were down like three or four runs or whatever it was. Like they're the only team in baseball to have three. No other team has more than two. And at least has two combined. Jason Stark put that out.

You see guys like Hill and Sosa. and BDLC. And like, there's an energy to this team that they haven't had since, really since 22. It feels like where they've been good. They've had some good vibes moments and stuff, but it feels,

and again, I know they're flawed, but it does feel like the way they're playing right now and the feeding off each other and stuff, it feels like for the first time all year, I know they played well after Matt and came in. It feels like they've really found something as a team, as a group.

And that's been the most encouraging thing for me. Yeah, I mean, they found a spark. And I think the Iowa game certainly helped bring them together and stuff like that. And they might just be August merchants. I don't know what it is about this month, but the 20, I mean, 22, they were great in August. 23, they were great in August. The 23, we talk about the best you felt about this team over the last couple of years. The 23 August where you had the Trey stuff, the Lorenzo no hitter, the Bryce clutch home runs.

Like that was like, okay, here we. go. And 24 was a total dumpster fire. There was no good moments after like, after the first game in London. The first game in London was amazing. And then it was all over. Yeah, all pain. March to a slow death. And then, I mean, last year, last year was the best I felt about them with the, like when they got Bader and all the Bader energy. Like that's, that's how this feels right now is much like when they got Harrison Bader. The thing about this team is that I, I, I think. think the maddingly maddinglyness now i have my issues with don 100% like the bullpen stuff still drives me nuts sometimes um but i do think that there's a different sense of of like taking this personally yeah taking this personally being accountable things like that

um you feel good about where the bench is i mean the bench like when they used to go to the bench you were like well this is not going to work out now when we go to the bench i'm just waiting for one of those guys to have a moment which is awesome totally dude totally i mean derrick hill and sosa have been incredibly clutch. Like they've been good for it. Like, so, that struggled early, has been great lately,

but just in terms of pinch hits and clutch and coming in spots, like, when was the last time the Phillies had this many big pinch hits in the year? Like, I don't remember. Oh, wait, Dobbs? I mean,

it's what I mean. It's been a long time. Stairs when they got stairs. I mean, but you talk about some of the benches they've gone into the posties and not to make everything about a bench, but it does matter,

especially in today's day and age where, you know, platoons are more and more prevalent and you need a lot of, you need 26 guys to win a world, series. It's not just one guy kind of carrying you. So it's hard to separate how they played this weekend versus the opponent they played, you know, and they still got shut down by Kikuchi. And Dettmers, actually, I did a pretty good job. They had traffic on the basis. They just

weren't able to get, you know, get more runs across. They had eight hits against him, which I think is a win, given how well he's pitched recently. By the way, the Angels are a good example for anyone out there that says, hey, I want to be more scouting dependent and not analytically dependent. Like, the Angels fired Mike Maddox, who forever has been like a legend in the pitching community, but has turned into a dinosaur like all these guys have. And they've had the best ERA in baseball since they fired him because they went to more, again, analytically driven stuff. And you look at the team and it's just, it's a good, it's a good point of,

if this is really what you want, this is what you're going to get. This is what they were 2012 to Clinton. You know, Clentac had his issues, but I think that he was trying to get them into a modern way, I guess. And the angels are looking at the Phillies, what they were in the 2013-ish-type era. Anyway, so they stink. I mean, they have two and a half hitters,

if you want to count Wade Meckler as a half a hitter. It's Nettoe Trout and Wade Meckler. Is that it? That's about it. I'm with you. I agree. Yeah. No, I'm with you. Like, Von Grissom has some interesting underlying numbers and stuff like that. I can't believe about bad Christian Morris. He's hit in like 150. I liked him a lot coming out of Tennessee. Who cares? But the bullpen's horrendous.

You didn't name your son, Christian. I'm right? Exactly. The bullpen's horrendous. Kurt Suzuki was tanking that game on Saturday. He let his rookie making his majorly debut pitch three innings, including extras. Like what? It's crazy. So, I mean, they are horrible. That Ryan Johnson guy who started on Saturday is, I think stuff-wise, the worst starter in baseball.

It was, it looked like you could notice it when he was. I, a couple times looked up. I was like talking to Emily and I looked up and I was like, for half a second thought it was a position player pitching. I didn't really, it went fast, but like the way he wound up and through, like it was like it looked off. Well, it looked like I thought I was watching a baseball game in like 2005. Yeah.

It was just just slop. I mean, that's how the game used to be. Just a bunch of those guys. No wonder they hit over $300 all the time. Ryan Johnson would have been a number two in like, in like, in like 2005. That's how that's how terrible he was. And then there's one run off him, which was quite annoying. So like on, on one hand, I am I am thrilled that they show fight and they come back and they, they add on.

They're doing some of the little things right. And I do, I agree with the vibes. I think that's really, really important and all that good stuff. On the other hand, that team is just they are walking dead. They're walking dead. And they're trying to lose. I mean, they're not actively going out there and putting their best foot forward to win. So happy they won, neat sweeps.

You've got to rack up them at this time of the year. You're not tie with the Cubs. You've got to stay ahead of the Cows because they own the tie breaker over us. But overall, positive. Yeah, and look, the fact that they're tied with the Cubs is very impressive. And that is a real turnaround for them. Dude, PCA. Oh, dude, are you kidding me?

Like, that might have been, like, the best month we've seen a player half. I mean, he was insane in August. Dude, first of all, I'm so glad someone besides Show Hey, it's winning the MVP. I mean, I know, I know. I know. I know. It gets boring and tiring and all that. And, like, and not just winning it, like, deserves to win it.

Like, PCA should be the MVP. Like, done. He, he's the best defender in the sport. Watching him play center field is an absolute treat. I've never seen someone make a look as easy as him. I'm not going back to Andrew Jones. Like I remember Andrew Jones, but I didn't consume all the Andrew Jones game out there.

And I'm Griffey, no, I don't know. That's the Griffey was what popped in my head. But yeah, Jim Edmonds, but yeah, I know what you mean.

But PCA just makes it look so easy. And then it's like he's such a good, and by the way, he was horrible until June, you know, because it's unbelievable. I know. It's crazy.

And then you look up his OPS, this is 950. He's got 37 home runs while being the best. 32 steals. He's going to give 40-40. We're going to have another 40-40 guy. Like, it's and and the the august he had i mean it is he's like the all the stats he's like first player

to do this it's like he's on lists with like ruth and williams and all these people like it's crazy the the what and i know we've talked about this before on the pod but like it will never ever get tired to say he was a met and they traded because yes i never get tired of that i just i have to always remind people that thank you it's crazy but yeah he he's he's pretty remarkable right now. And looking at the numbers, knowing how well he plays defensively, it is,

I mean, it's one of the, one of the best all around seasons we've ever seen. I mean, he's that, is he gonna finish year with 10 plus war? I mean, he has to.

Yeah, well, he's like nine, right. It's like 9.2 or something. Yeah, he's like so far ahead. I think seconds like five something.

It's crazy. Yeah. It's, it's even better than the season, Bobby went out a couple years ago. We played the best shortstop in the league about like 330 with like 35 homers and 30. Like, it might be better than that.

You know, And that was like an unreal season a few years ago and should have won the MVP if it weren't for Otani. By the way, quick off that, or quick off this whole conversation. We mentioned the stolen bases. Like, there had to have been something teams were cheating with last year

with all the stolen base numbers because they've gone down this year. I mean, last year we called. Yes, drastically. So, and I think a lot of it had to do with, do you remember the rule they put in at the end of the year that the coaches have to stay in the box? Oh, yeah.

So I think that that had to have been something. Oh, that's interesting. Yeah. Because all of a sudden, sudden, I mean, Shoah had a 50-50 year. Yeah, 50-50. A cunea, about 40-70 a couple of years. You know, like, yeah, I know.

Soto got 40 bags last year. Yeah, I know. I think he got just under. I think he was like 43. I was close. Something like that. Still. I know.

Soto can't move. So. Tray Turner can't take advantage of that, but whatever. Oh, why would he? By the way. Very funny having Fransky on the call. And I know. And he going, oh, a stolen base.

Oh, and how about when he got the hit with the runners in score position? He was like, oh, ho! Yes, yeah. Well, the funniest part, because Team Mac doesn't pull off or he doesn't do the sarcasm. I mean, Francky's whole bit is being sarcasm. It's like, it's the best. He's so good at it. Yeah, like he had the one a few days ago where they were talking about soccer,

talking about Harper, and he's like, oh, well, you know, you got him first. And he's like, yeah, but you can't. And he's like, but he doesn't want to. And, okay. Like he's just so like he just he's hilarious man. He he I think too like not to go on a tangent, but I do think that you know, the job of local broadcasters like I'm not saying you're supposed to be a homer, but you're supposed to be a fan of the team. You're supposed to be excited about it and all that. Like I fancy honestly might be the best I've ever heard at like clearly excited as a fan of Phillies all that.

But like keeps it real. And I you don't hear that that often on those type of broadcast. He is we say it all the time. We're still looking at all the guy. I mean, TMAX awesome. We're so like to have all the guys we've had. But, like, I think Francky is legitimately one of the best play-by-play guys I've ever heard in my life. I think he's that good.

Yeah, I mean, to go from, you know, having Harry for all those years into Fransky and obviously Team Mac as well. But Fransky, I just, like, you could, I could listen to his Sosa Home Run call over and over and over again. He destroyed that ball. Ah, it's so good, man. It's so good. Yeah. He rises to the moment. He rises to the moment.

And he doesn't like hearing his calls again, which. I know, which is so funny. I love that. I get it. I never listen to anything I do. Good idea. Yeah, I know. Everyone hates my voice, so I probably will too.

All right, let's get to some of the actual action. Look, we'll do the social thing. We'll talk about that game, but I think the biggest thing, and I think you tweeted it, but like, there is no question, especially considering the opponent, the single biggest thing that happened in these three games this weekend was actually yesterday. Like, we have talked so much, so concerned, six, seven straight starts, whatever it was. the last one maybe the worst you know is it a mechanical thing is he tipping all this he looks really

good you know struggled a little early but then got it together and was just you know pretty like i want to i don't want to say lights out but like six innings one run six k's like he looked he looked much better than he has over those six seven starts and sounded positive about it after uh 100 percent yeah he so i think he's the one that i can watch and the way that he pitched yesterday and feel like i i don't feel as if he was facing the angels i think that would have worked against anyone. And I would not have said that in the first inning where I was, yeah, yeah, I was getting 2013 holiday flashbacks, but, but after that, he looked exactly like Zach Wheeler.

And it was, it was huge. And I think the biggest thing that happened for him is, well, first off, just what I saw is that the fastball command was, was much better, like actually able to pitch both sides, go up down whenever he wanted, having late life on it, being able to, to blow it past guys, you know that you saw that with the way he was pitching uh the split had nice depth to it again which was good to see and then i thought the sweeper was was how it had been before he went on this six eight start uh stretch so the biggest thing that came back is the fastball command i assume that that is something working with caleb katham working with the pitching staff they probably

found some kind of mechanical tweak and they got it back the one thing that i thought i noticed is I felt like he was doing a much better job of when he when he plants that foot that front foot landing spot I felt like he was able to stay back more and get more of the uh uh recoil I guess to it um so I felt like I feel like he did a much better job of staying back staying behind the baseball and letting it kind of get through the zone rather than rather than to the zone um so I'm sure that they worked. I'm sure that they, you know, I think he had little elbow drop stuff and maybe he was just getting back on top of the baseball again. But I thought he looked like Zach Wheeler. And that's huge. And now you look where the rotation is and you had the wheel of a concern. I think it's still,

you can still have your guard up with Zach Wheeler. But all of a sudden, I thought Sanchez looked like Sanchez. It was awesome. The fact that you were in the seventh inning again and he was at 70-some pitches, it was like, this is Chris Sanchez. You could have given him the eighth. Was it 91 or something like that? He was only 91 pitches. So I'm sure they're worried a little bit about fatigue at this point of the year. I was fine with them not. I'm just saying you could argue it.

100%. But then you look at now where the staff is with painters development, with Nola turning around. Lazzardo's been money. Sanchez, hopefully back in them Wheeler, there's no holes. There's no real holes in the rotation right now, which is huge. So, yeah, and heading down a stretch from where you're trying to catch the Braves, you're trying to lock down the one seed for the wild card. You need those guys to be money.

And it seems like they're starting to fire on all cylinders. Yeah, it's so true, especially, you know, the getting Wheeler and Sanchez, but we've talked about this, but they, they don't have a chance if those guys don't get back to who they are and what they can be. They can't win. And it's huge seeing these starts. And I felt confident they would. I mean, we've seen Wheeler go through this before.

And I know the little different because of the, you know, the Rask outlet and all that, not sure how he'd come back, but super duper encouraging. And really the painter, I want to get the painter's side, but the painter, Nola, for surgeons, to your point, about maybe beating the Cubs and having that series here, or, you know, beating the Braves five of seven and having a chance or whatever it is, so important to be able to compete in every game, whereas there were two days a week where they were just at such a massive disadvantage.

I mean, that was that they went like two and a half months without a win from the fifth starter or winning a game when the fifth starter started. So huge. All right. Let's get to Painter because like a recent classic painter start, Friday first inning. I'm like, well, yes, it's one of those nights. Awesome.

Three innings of the first, struggling gets out of it. And then nails the rest of the game. If he only gets through five or six, I didn't pitch a ton, but still, like, his struggles in the first inning are definitely a thing, but his ability to write the ship and that toughness and fortitude he's shown, I think it's been super encouraging overall,

but he's obviously got to figure the first inning thing out. Yeah, and that comes with time. And he probably says to just change up his routine a little bit. make sure he's good to go because it seems like, man, it seems like he's just not warmed up enough because he comes out. It's like 95, 94. He's all over the place. And then once he locks in,

he locks in and he's fine. It's just, you know, maybe he's not throwing it all or maybe he's not stretching at all. And he's just, hey, I'm going to take the mound completely cold and we'll see how this goes. Yeah, that's a good idea, right?

Yeah, yeah, yeah. But it usually just comes down to changing his routine, making sure that he is firing on all cylinders. And then, straight at one point. Again, they're facing a lineup with two and a half hitters in it. So it's not the end all. Be all, but it's not nothing either.

And it's so funny watching him and Lazzardo pitch because they both have 98 in their back pocket, but they pitch like junk ballers. And it's modern baseball where even your junk ballers throw hard. Like they both just throw all their off speed pitches and then use their fastball as a show me or like a surprise pitch for guys or they actually instead of hunting strikeouts with instead of hunting strikeouts with your curveball breaking ball stuff they hunt strikeouts with their fastball which is not exactly what it used to be i mean the old adage growing up was they got establish your fastball and it's like well no you don't i mean like you need fastball command i agree but these guys are like you know

spitting in the face of the idea that you need to come out and throw eight straight stuff's changed so much man right you know yeah well i wonder if there's ever going to be a market inefficiency of throwing a two one fastball again there might be of course i think this stuff always flips around i bet you there will be you know because i don't i i i need to go next one tonight's game i'm going to watch how many times there's a two oh or three one count they throw a fastball because they don't ever do it anymore it's it's strictly breaking balls and maybe that'll be the new inefficiency is getting back to the two one fastball to surprise or trick a hitter yeah right what a crazy concept but um But yeah, no, he's he's continuing to evolve.

I think the most important thing is the mental fortitude. I think early in the year he probably folds after that first inning. I totally agree. He really pitched his way through it and was pretty nails and money after. So it continues to develop in the right direction. There was some fastball stuff early I didn't love and then the fastball locked in, which was big. But the painter development's been very, very good and much needed.

It's super, super important. And especially, you know, if he can give you some stuff out of the bullpen in the playoffs, potentially, you know, he looks so much better. And the toughness and fortitude that he's shown, and not just in starts, like the first inning and then being able to reestablish and, you know, plow through guys. But his ability that he would send down to the minors for like a week and a half. We're all like, they're bringing him back already, all this stuff.

And he has really handled it incredibly well, especially for such a young kid. So I've been really impressed with him. Yeah, and obviously cried to the PD staff for what they're, what they did when he went down there and his ability to to adjust and their ability to adjust has been, I mean, I thought this was going to be an off-season thing. I thought there's no, yeah.

There's no way they were going to be able to fix this in two weeks or three weeks. And they just did. All right. We're going to eat to the bag in a minute, but I want to, two more quick things. One, baby boy. So look at this, baby boy, baby boy. This is perfect, perfect timing.

I know. Alex McFarlane is legit. Like he he has stuff. I checked it just to wonder because like you watch it and it pops. His fastball, according to Savant, is in the 99.8th percentile of major league baseball. 99.8 percentile. That's how hard this guy throws. It's, um, look, he's a kid, you know, never pitching the majors before now, all that stuff.

Who knows when the bright lights come on and all that? But he does feel like the type of guy who like potentially could make a difference. for this team. Oh, yeah. With an arm they didn't have. They didn't have anyone like this, and they obviously need setup help. He, like, I'm, I'm pretty enthused about Alex McFarland

and the potential for him to help this team. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, huge. I did feel like that. What was that one, CNN? It was the guys on CNN, and the wife has to come in and get the kid. Oh, yeah, it's so good. Yeah, that's what it felt like. So, yeah, no, Alex McFarland is a total, like, bullpen riser.

you know, and we had a lot of questions about this pen heading down the stretcher on, you know, who can we turn to, who can we rely on? Kind of a shaky bowling weekend. I mean, I didn't think Friday. Yeah, the eighth on, though, what was it? The Saturday. Saturday. Yeah.

Now, I mean, Netto was a homer. Yeah, but. That was a good little player, but still. And then Friday, I didn't think it was really his fault. Like, Raraj just makes that play. They're fine. Yeah, it was horrible. Yeah, I agree.

Yeah. So, but McFarlane, I just continue to come back to, they really had this sitting in Reading until mid-July drawing 100. Facing double A hitters. And they were like, you know what? I think we're probably going to trade this guy. And it's just why?

He could have been here. He could have been here two months ago. And they decided not to keep his numbers up to possibly trade him versus, hey, a homegrown guy of talent, maybe let's see if you can help our bullpen out. It was such a waste of everyone's time. What did you think you were going to get for a 25-year-old reliever.

That would be better than the potential upside of what he can give you. Like, it's just so strange. Oh, so annoying. It was so annoying. Anyway, but hey, we won't hold the past transgressions against them. He's here now and he is, is and looks fine in a levered spot yesterday. I know that was more circumstantial than anything. And yes, Kirkcring did get the last couple loud.

So, you know, but technically McFarland spot was a bigger spot at the point of the game. So, okay, we take that. he ate Trout's lunch money all weekend long. I mean, that first on Friday night, it was three pitches. It was awesome. And he just, he mowed him down. So I've been really impressed.

The stuff plays. The command, I think it's been a little overblown. Like, he'll walk guys, but I think he knows where the ball's going. Like, Ben Joyce had no idea where the ball is going.

That's command issues. That is, that is, he has no idea what he's doing out there. I think McFarlane has an idea of where the ball is at least going. So, yeah, it was good seeing him stay calm in a lever spot. You hope that he can eventually take Kirkering spot. And then if you can go bowling and McFarland,

Kirkering in a little lower lever spot, it's not too bad. Like Painter, we've talked about being in the bullpen, but he's not an eighth inning guy. Yeah, he's not a bullpen pitcher either. You know, yeah, he's never done it, you know. He's a guy that can help you out in the fifth, sixth, seventh. Like, God forbid, you need him for three.

three innings or two innings. So, but McFarland legitimately changes the, the makeup of that bullpen in a, in a huge way. And the fact that he's just coming out and he got to face him in like the seventh has to be demoralizing. Like,

like you think you have a chance tonight. Here's, here's McFarland bowl and Duran to close it out. And how it's Ron, two winning win yesterday. Did you, I'm, I'm hoping you were too busy and didn't listen to the pod that Tucker and I did on,

on Thursday or Friday or whatever it was. But I said in that pot, I'm like, why have we not done an updown yet with Duran? Like this guy's going to have to pitch more than an inning at some point in the playoffs and we've got 20-something games left and he's never done one here. What are we doing? And then Matt,

so Matt, so Matt, we confirmed Don Mattingly listener of the pod. So thank you. Yeah, had nothing to do with the bullpen being in a bit of a tight spot. Appreciate you listening, Don.

That's what I'm saying, you know? So no, but that was cool to see because they're going to need, if nothing else, they're going to need to know that he could do it, you know? And he said he could do it. I mean,

of course, of course, but he'd, well, the biggest thing that I want is like let's say you need to use Bolin and the seventh and I don't want two winnings to draw on like all the time

but I need to know that he can come in and like with two outs runners on second and third or base is low like I need to know how he would handle a dirty inning and like the eighth and then being able to come back out for the ninth I mean that's when the that's when the walk to Mookie happened the Moogie walk was not

it was I think it was the eighth I don't think it was the ninth I think it was the eighth because I think he you came in for yeah I think he did I think you're right yeah because he came in for for more than one

I think so I'm almost positive but I'm not sure yeah because but I don't think we had seen that until no that point in the year and obviously the famous one

from last year was Robertson who oh buddy how can we ever forget dude the bullpen management in game one was one of the worst management horrible one of the worst managed bullpens

I've ever seen it was infuriating infuriating it was awful yeah all right one last thing oh and by the way I looked up, I was thinking with the painter thing, because sometimes they're just guys who need a little time to settle in.

Tom Glaven, I always remember being like that. So I want to check the numbers just to be sure. And I was right. Tom Glaven's OPS allowed in the first inning of games in his career was 7.51. In no other inning was he higher than 729. And in most he's 645, 666, 654. You know, so 703, 704. So sometimes they're just guys who they need an inning to kind of get settled.

hope that's not, it continues, but it is not like something that hasn't happened before. All right. I mean, the old adage is, you got to get to ACEs before they settle in. Exactly right. Yeah. That's been a thing forever for a reason. Yeah. And we've talked about a few days here.

Not that painter is a, you know, that has to be a ace right now. All right. Last thing. And then you can hit other stuff in the bag. But I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the major league baseball leader in walks coming off a just, I mean, seriously, though, like, you know, the guy has gotten a lot of love a lot of hate it's all up and down this and that whatever and Bryce Harbor this past month

was freaking awesome. Yeah. He was awesome. Like he had an over 500 base percentage for the freaking month, dude. Like I just, I want to acknowledge what Bryce did and how important it's been. And ever since our eyes got here, all of a sudden,

look what Bryce is. I just think it deserves mention. That's all. Yeah. I mean, I kind of thought it as the day that, we're going to do the podcast and then Jill went into labor. I was fully prepared to come on and start talking about how we're just not talking about

this price season. Yeah, right. Because every having you talk positively about him, people shout you down saying, what is he won, the nationals got rid of them, is he elite? Is he elite? Blah, blah, blah, blah. So it's not even worth talking about because people just get so worked up about it. But like the people that can sit back and appreciate watching, is he still?

elites probably not but watching a hall of fame player still having really really really good you know uh seasons in their mid 30s or early 30s i think we can appreciate that and understand where he is in his in his baseball journey and what sucks is like if you i know you can't take out the month of july i'm not saying you should take out the month of july dude i mean he might still finish top five in mvp like if things go the way they are. Obviously, we know that PCA or Shohei is going to win it. But a top five MVP finish for Bryce is a huge win. If he's having...

Top 10, Jack, after, you know, like top 10 would be a big win. If he had a normal Bryce year, if he had a normal Bryce month, he'd be squarely in there. His OPS would be over 900. You know, so it's been, I think the walk thing has allowed him to, you know, settle in at the plate a little bit, not feel like he has to do too much. It's good to see some of the power coming back.

It's good to see him going the opposite way all the time now. It's like, thank you. This is when you're at your best, when you're just thinking the opposite way. So, yeah, I keep waiting for the Schwabber, you know,

run to kind of happen again, where he can go nuclear. The tray run may never happen. It's only seven years left. Only seven years left. Oh, God. But at least we have. I don't even have words.

I just, I was trying to think of something to say. And I'm like, I got nothing here. It's one of you just got to forget exists in a way. Yes, it's very easy when he's on your TV every night, right? Yeah. But Bryce is still doing it. You know, Bryce is still doing it.

And it's pretty remarkable. Did you realize before he broke his thumb, when Blake Snell broke his thumb in 22, that his OPS, that point was over 1,000? I did not, really. So me and Arch as we were killing time, I did, I'd never watch. Watch the full bedlam of the bank game.

Like, oh, start to finish, you mean? Yeah, yeah, yeah. So they're talking about Bryce and, and they were like,

yeah, you know, before that broken thumb, he had an OPS over $1,000, and was on the school, possibly winning a second MVP. And I was like, oh,

third MVP. Can you imagine back-to-back MVP's though? I know, but he was, like, kind of trending that way. And then, because if you,

I mean, if those remember, because it brought me back to July of this year and how awful it was, because that's how it was in September before the post season. Like, That's September when he came back.

It was terrible, yeah. It wasn't until the Homer in St. Louis that he kind of got, yeah. I'll never forget. I think we had the camera on leading into the postseason series. And he was like, like, are we going to be Bryce's legacy? Is it going to be in question or whatever if he has a bad postseason? And then he went on and had a great run until game four of the World Series. And then it all kind of fell apart after that.

So, but yeah, he asked me talked about. He's been great. and and still doing it versus like seeing some of the other guys slow down, like your mooky has had and some guys like that. And this guy is still putting up, he's a top 20 hitter in the sport. You want to say top 15? Okay.

But that was not the way he was talked about heading into the year. He was talking about like he was, you know, barreling towards the grave as a baseball player. And he stayed fully healthy, which is huge. And knock on wood with that. He has a chance of a 162 for the first time of his career, which is pretty well. So I don't know that I want him to,

but just the idea that he can. And look, after the injuries he's had, he is 33, the offseason stuff, the lead stuff and all that. Like, you know, Bryce, whatever everyone, like Bryce was challenged this offseason by his own team. And he has responded. And like that,

that in and of itself is impressive. All right. Let's get to the bag, but first, Jack. Yes. Did you know that one and three people regularly suffer from nausea? Well, now I do.

Now you do. And my wife, Emily, one of those people and it's been such a problem in our lives like a car ride is a adventure and pain tolerance she gives basicized her head between her legs the entire ride she goes green we can't talk the idea of having a conversation or enjoying the ride it's foreign to us non-existent trains boats forget about it cruise wouldn't it be nice to take a cruise jack and she doesn't fake it just to get you to stop talking no believe it or not it's real yeah well so she trust me she has listened to me talk more than anyone has listen anyone talk.

She is very willing to be like, I need a break from me talking. She has no problem saying that. Trust me. But, dude, it's awful. I can't, I talk to her. She doesn't respond.

So I guess it does just shut me down, even if it's not on purpose. But it's been horrible, man. A cruise can't get it, can't go on the water. It's not even a possibility. Horrible.

That's until Relief Ben came into our lives. For us, Relief Ben's been, it's been an absolute miracle. I honestly mean that it's a life changer. Emily's completely fine on every car. We listen to music. We talk.

We're hanging out with Zoe. It has been unbelievable. zero discomfort. It's been life-changing and it's opened up a whole new world of possibilities. Relief ban is 100% natural. That means no pills, no side effects, and it works in just minutes. Relief band stops nausea for motion sickness, morning sickness, and for meds like GLB1. Jack, it even works on nausea from hangovers, buddy. I know you're too young to have to really worry about that. But when you get older, you drink and you're crushed. So let me tell you, putting a relief ban on and not feeling hangover sickness, that'd be pretty sweet. Put relief band.

on your wrist and turn nause off. Go to reliefband.com and use promo code James. That's JAMES for 20% off. Reliefband.com promo code James. Drink up, baby. Fantasy football happy hour is here to get you wins and have some laughs. Matthew Barry here and my podcast,

Fantasy Football Happy Hour, has the sleepers bus and starts it advice you need to win your league. We're diving into the tape. We're crunching the numbers to bring you sleepers. Bus weekly starts sit advice, whether you're defending a title or desperately avoiding last place.

I've got you covered every single weekday. The bar is open. It's fantasy football happy hour with Matthew Berry, wherever you get your podcast. All right, Fritzy. All right. Not a crazy amount. I actually don't even have anything.

We kind of touched on. Oh, just do it on the fly. Well, all the points that I had, we already talked about. I was prepared today. I didn't want to screw up Archer's first pod. I really became ready today, you know. Yeah.

Kurt Suzuki was tanking on Saturday. Had to have been investigate. investigate. Well, it's risky on a one-year deal, you know? Yeah, well, why? Why would he care? I'm just pointing out the fact that it's so crazy that he's it's the most ridiculous thing

they give him one-year-deal. Just an atrocious little, etrocious. They've been atrocious. I mean, for so long, man. Like, so long. Trots played in two post-season series. Yeah, that's all right. They were the first two years of his career. No one to blame but himself. Yeah, on one hand, you appreciate it in today's game,

staying loyal. Yes, sure, yes. On the other hand. Not at the detriment. detriment of your career. Yes, yes, definitely not that. All right. Just some minor league stuff I want to want to have. We've talked about all the big names. We all know the big names. You know, there's a lot of exciting stuff happening there. You know, Spangsy's playing. Pletka. He struck out a couple times yesterday, but he roped a baseball at the right field, which is, which is beautiful to see. So, listen, the big names are the big names. Brian R. Cohn has been unbelievable since like post-trade deadline.

So maybe maybe feeling relieved that he is still here. I don't know what his, I don't know what his future is here because he's getting close to being ready. And I mean, next year's AAA team. I mean, can we move trade for a great defensive shortstop? That'd be cool, right?

What I thought. Yeah, as long as the bat's real, maybe. No, I know. I know. I know.

He still feels like a trade guy to me, but he's at least, I mean, now he's really helping his trade value. He's the fifth prospect in the organization right now. Wow. According to Pipeline, who I don't totally trust.

But regardless, like he's starting to get back into prospect circles, which is huge. And it'd be a big one for PD, given that he was a 14th round pick turning into, Yeah. But we need, they've been pretty good at the first rounders, but they need to start hitting on some of the later round picks as well. Yeah, sure. So a couple of names just to keep your eye on. There's a guy named Richie Cortese, who is a, who is a. I was not expecting the E on the end there, the double E, Richie Cortezie.

Yeah, it's C-O-R-T-E-S-E. Well, it's C-O-R-T-E-S-E. So it's an S-E at the end. Yeah, okay. So it could be Cortez. It could be-I-N-I-I-I-I-I-N-E-I-N-E-I-K-E-T-E-2. it could be i don't know whatever anyway he's a d2 kid but not psaq so it doesn't count but he but he's a division two kid his era in division two was 5.17 which is crazy crazy in it in the minor leagues like

what are we talking about here 17th round pick last year has anyone ever had that high in era in division two and actually been drafted it's wild i'm just saying my er a was only 8.7 something check the per nine though check the caper nine it's pretty damn good anyway um but yeah so i think he i think he played other sports and just focused on baseball late and when they lost marty garre i was disappointed because like we need the bullpen we need a bullpen of arms like way pond is awesome he looks like he's back he was dealing with some arm injury so he's a relief prospect for them obviously alex mcfarlane is one of them but cortez he should be in there as well because he is like sitting 96 97 and then he throw was this like just whiffle ball looking slider a

like yesterday two winnings five k's it was the easiest one of the easiest settings it was like watching young kirkering coming through the system i love wiffle balls like i there's so few things more but like when blake trident used to like witch the ball around like yeah it's just so fun to watch when people can really make a move like that you know what it looks like it looks like remember kyle krick of course yeah yeah yeah one of the first spin guys or yeah of course uh It does rate, like there's, it, it touches over 3,000 RPMs. So that's, that's, look, I'm not Mr. RBA.

Over 3,000 is, that's legit, yeah. Yeah. And the fastball plays too. So he's, uh, he's an interesting one, one that can kind of, I hope he ends. He's coming back from an injury. Like, he's only pitched there, I think, for three weeks. So, um, I hope they get him in Jersey short before the season ends. I'm going to be so sad when the minor league season ends.

I do, dude, as soon as he's hit before the season ends, I'm like, oh, man, you better prepare your stuff is coming. We're getting close. But as you sent me that tweet, for anyone who needs to know, a major league baseball lockout will not affect the minor league. So, you know, that was a big win for you? As long as some members, well, yes, the other players, yes. But like, as long as Gage and some other players aren't on the 40-man roster,

they will be able to play. Oh, yeah, that makes sense. Good point. Good point. But either way, you'll have something. We'll have something. We'll be all right. We'll figure it out.

Cade Climmy might be their next undrafted rookie success to go along with Auto Kemp. Raider Tello's been really good. Keaton Anthony, Nathan Humphreys. Yeah, this kid is from Houston, had an OPS over 1,000. It doesn't seem like he has a position. He's technically playing third base right now. But the thing I like about him is that he just swings super hard. And he seems to have a good eye in the box.

And I just think he rakes. I think he rakes. It's very early, very early. And then Carson D. Martini, who was a baby boy from a couple of years ago. I remember the name, a great name. Seems like he is settling into his own up in AA. The only thing he's ever going to be like a star, but I think he's going to be a valuable role player. Always remind me of someone like the Dodgers would have that should be able to come off the bench.

It looks like he's swinging harder, which is good. You want guys to generate more bat speed. It's one of the bigger trends in hitting development right now. Hit a ball of the wall off a lefty yesterday, which was encouraging. but his is his lineup in reading right now is like 280 average 400 OBP so 8 that's good 897 OPS I believe so looks like he's turning into a professional hitter and that is encouraging and then they didn't make some changes in the player development oh I didn't see this oh yeah yeah so Luke Merton is no longer the farm director but he is now an assistant general manager slash like

director of hitting. The way it seems like, and Galbra wrote a great article on it, but the way that it seems it was happening is that like once Preston left and got ascended that a lot of people, they had like, I think Luke Merton was doing a lot. You know, he's trying to be trying to help on the scouting side, trying to be the hitting guy and also being the farm director, which is like in charge of everything. A lot of work. Yeah, it's a lot of work. So I think he was just spread to thing, too thin. And now they're going to hire someone whose sole job is that.

It's just being the farm director. They can handle everything else. And then like Luke, let all these guys just, get back and settle into the roles that they're supposed to be in. And the way it seemed like in the, in the Gellb article,

I thought it was good as well, is it seems like they're being aggressive in trying to make sure they are a good spot hitting-wise. Because it's been my one issue with the system is that it never feels like they are, it doesn't feel like they're ahead of the times with hitting.

it feels like they're behind the time's hitting. And especially where they are pitching-wise, I think there's like, they're one of the best organizations of the baseball if you want to be a pitcher because of the PD staff, the major league staff. Like, you want to be a Philly, like one of the five best or at least 10 best,

PD teams when it comes to pitching. Hitting has always felt like it lags. So it feels like they have acknowledged that and they are being aggressive and trying to get that right, which I think is encouraging because the first step to, and the growth is admitting that you are. Yes. You have a problem.

Yes. That's right. So that's encouraging. We'll see where it goes. But definitely interesting. Nonetheless, there will be a new farm director. It's good news.

Look, again, just the idea of them acknowledging that they're spread tooth in there and they need to bring someone in. Like, I want them being proactive and putting resources towards that stuff.

I was just talking to Emily over the weekend about and deep cuts, but is what happens when your Mary does about Francisco Renairia and how bad the Phillies have been historically with Latin American scouting and development and all that and how we're turning that around, how it's like one of the most important things for the franchise that we just don't talk about enough.

And I'm so with you. I mean, you know, I've said like, Dombrowski had some good moves lately. You know, there's been misses and hits on the major league roster, but I don't think he gets enough credit for what he's done behind the scenes just in terms of like, to what we talked about before, an organization that was like angels-esque

in terms of the way they ran the the club um the brouske's you know made it look and and act like a major league organization and i think that that is now we're taking steps towards becoming one of the better ones and and that's it's thrilling honestly well and it's it's the most important thing for the 2030s like one's most important thing for the franchise like for the health of the franchise it is the most important thing not even close not even close obviously when the world's there's year would be massive but of course making sure that they are healthy and stable for the future when the contracts get a little bit older. You need to make sure that.

And by the way, like, you know, slowly but surely, like painter turning a corner, Justin Crawford being super clutch late in games. And not just that, he's had really, like, if you look since July or whatever, he's been like three something. He's been pretty good. I think 313. I think it's something like that. He's been pretty good.

And late in games seems to be money. Obviously, Mundo's the late game king as right now. But yeah. Start another catch. Like it's a guy. It's like every week, every other week the guy's got like, oh, that's one of the better judges I've seen in Philly making a while. Yeah.

So when we're looking at young players coming up and helping the major league roster, painters look serviceable. Crawford's been serviceable. And what McFarland's doing is huge. So there's three. There's three that are finally helping at the big league level, which is big. So all signs seem positive. Love it.

Love it. All right. I don't think we got anything else. I was going to like, what do I have to promote or anything? We don't really have anything else to promote right now. Just check out the pod, man. Everyone put good thoughts out there for Archer Fritz. I love this.

Welcome to the world, buddy. I'm excited. It's beautiful. Yeah, it's a great thing. All right, we'll be back later in the week. Huge series, you know, obviously a little less big than it was. You know, a week ago now that the Phillies have really created some nice separation there between them and the podjave and IMAX, but still like a bad series here,

all of a sudden it's closer and it shouldn't be. So handle business, if they can handle business in this series and, you know, like especially a sweep, but even two or three, like, we've seen bad things happen. But like if they can handle this series, they're, they're in, they're already in great shape to make the playoffs, 97% whatever. But like winning this series like more or less really, you know, locks it in almost. You know what I mean? So it's a big one. Yeah, well, unfortunately, I think Cattel is back tonight. He is.

Of course. It would be interesting for the very, like it would be interesting to see how that plays out and stuff. So I can't wait to get mad at Toro Lavello again. It's going to be awesome. It drives me nuts. Yeah, he's good enough. He's good, though. He is.

He is annoying, though. He's annoying. But if you were our manager, we love him. Like, during that series, when he's doing this, like, the defending his guys, the stuff, and all stuff. Like, we would have loved that, you know? 100%. Yeah.

If it wasn't all core it up, I mean, I think his contract's up at the end of the year. So nobody. Could be another name. Well, the funny thing, too, I was going to say before, but like, we haven't really talked about the fact. And look, I, especially we. because like the Maddenly Bryce thing. It didn't like whatever.

But like that Cora story came out and they've won like 11 of 13 since or whatever it is. Like it was like they had just, I think they won the first two of this streak. And it was that Sunday or whatever. And that Cora story comes out and they've just gone nuts. Like maybe they're fighting for Donnie. Who knows? A masterclass. How about it?

A manipulation. Yeah. It's by the front office. Yep. Beautiful. All right. We'll be back later in the week. And thank you to Tucker.

And thank you to Archie. and you'll Walker and Sutton too and Zoe we got a family here and all the kids all right we'll be back later in the week until that he's rid themselves to me.