High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - The Phillies Are A Direct Result Of Gentle Parenting

Episode Date: September 25, 2026

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to the Phillies' series loss to the Brewers and share their frustrations on the team's inability to clinch a playoff spot. Presented by Miller Lite.

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High Hope! On the Odyssey app in Sports Radio 94, WIP. The crowd is singing, High Hope, smiling through a row. I feel a little less along. Yo, it is. Another edition of the Ohio's podcast, sponsored by Miller Light,

official partner of the Philadelphia Phillies, tastes like Miller Time Philadelphia, celebrate responsibly. If you're wondering why I was laughing right there, because you're not watching the YouTube version of this, it's because I start the pot, I look up, and Jack's head is against his mind.

You could not look more sad or bum. So, yeah, like the worst morning we've had. I mean, it's so much fun to come in and be like, oh, guess what we're going to do on the radio today. Just crap on the Phillies all day. People calling up. Do you know how many callers, Jack, I had to say,

I want them to lose. We have reached the point of not even like, I don't think they're going to win the World Series or I don't believe in them. We have reached a point of, I want them to feel the pain of missing the playoffs in what would be next to 1964 the worst collapse in the history of the franchise.

I can't get there, Jack. I want them to make the freaking playoff still. But like it is a. But I get it. Yeah, exactly. I understand it. When they say it, I'm like, yeah, you know what? I do want them to feel that.

Like, they shouldn't feel that like burn and that pain. But also like I will watch it. I'm like desperately wanting them to win the baseball game. How are you? I love you so much. One of my best friends on the planet. I very rarely like, I'll joke like, check in on Jack. I don't really like today.

I'm like, you okay. Yeah. Are you okay, Phil? Yeah. Yeah. I mean, it's been a. a strenuous week,

48 hours. Week really, but like, yeah, the last, ever since they got the magic number down to two, uh,

down to two after Tuesday night. It was like, okay, they're fine, they're fine, they're fine, they're fine. We said Monday,

oh God, we need two wins this week. Yeah. They're making it painful. I mean, you predicted it. You were like, the only thing I know for sure is they're going to make this as

painful as they possible. I know. Now, saying and experiencing are two different things. It's way worse experience. Way worse actually going through it. So, Yeah, so last night I stayed up until like 1130, 1145, like, you know, four innings into the, or five innings into the Padres Dodgers game.

And I saw Shohei at two balls of the wall that I know if he's playing the Phillies. They are seven rows deep. The Mickey Mouse Dodgers couldn't beat. I did the Dodgers tank the series? Oh, they don't want to see the Phillies. Man, maybe, maybe. Well, they're going to get their wish. The.

So, and then I rolled over. at like five because, you know, Archie and the lights on. And it's like, this is awesome. That's great. I had forgotten about it. You have a baby in this moment. I know. I know.

It's like the worst time for this. Yeah, it's tough time. Remember they're undefeated in the Archerford's era. Oh, that was a beautiful moment. Yeah. Because like there is, we've talked about there is no, I can see. You keep doing the eye thing. Like there is no sleepiness like baby sleepiness.

And now you've got this Philly's thing just like weighing on top of it. I know. I know. Snap it at the boys. I really do feel free. Well, last night. Archie, shut the hell up. I'm sorry.

I'm sorry, kid. I'm sorry. Last night, last night when it eventually became 4-1, I had to go outside. Sorry, kids. Dad needs a moment. Yeah, just need one second. I'm like G-Ding under my breath. And then going outside.

And I don't know if they heard it, but it was big, like, like it was a big old one. And then, yeah, so then I rolled over at like five. I checked my phone and I saw the Padres one and I couldn't go back to sleep. And all I was texting with you, all I started thinking about was, oh my God, they're going to freaking, they're going to freaking blow it. Like they're going to text to me that. So I normally like I will everyone's because I have that or super early morning thinking very

rarely people respond every once in a while someone does. And like you'll respond sometimes, but I didn't even text you this time. Like five in the morning, four 50 in the morning. I just get a text from Jack. It's like, it wasn't quick. It was like a long text of, they're going to blow this. Sanchez's going to have to. this blah blah blah like it was just like i am not happy

and i was like good morning guy it's just it's just it's just they having to hear them talk about you we're gonna just hang around the clubhouse to one a mabel's like shut up shut up it's gonna go down and stubs in arizona all over yeah like that because real quick they're gonna celebrate when they like if it happens that way where because again the podres are playing later i'm sorry the dime max are playing the poddries later like if the philly's wind in night and they will stay up. And if the Padres win, they will bleeping celebrate.

You know they will. I know, which is fine once you get in. I just don't like the pre-ent. I don't like the idea of it. And also I don't like telling the world you're doing it. Like keep that bleep to yourself. Just say, we got to win a game today and we'll worry about that. It's so simple.

It's so, this was the simplest thing. They have been so toned up with this whole thing throughout the whole, like this whole period here. Like everything they say is like, Have you guys been here for the last five years? Do you know who you're talking to? It's crazy. Yeah. Well, I think that they are now currently feeling the wrath of real Philadelphia.

The booze last night as they are just going through another feeble offensive performance against a team that they don't even look like they belong in the same stratosphere with in the Milwaukee Brewers. They just play so much better baseball. We can talk about the payrolls, the difference in payrolls, what they're able to have the outcomes they're able to have with random players. and the lack of production that we get out of our players. Yeah. Or how about the fact that every reliever the brewers bring in as a sub three or a? Every single one. Every guy.

It's like, oh, here's another guy. 2.1.2 here. Here's another guy. Here's another guy. 2.97. Every single guy. Every single guy would be our best reliever practically. It's like other than Duran. It's crazy.

Meanwhile, meanwhile, like I don't know if Alex and Farms me to fuel his arm by Monday. Barry him. That's smart. Yep. Good job, guys. Good job. You still haven't used painter on the bullpen. But okay, sure.

They can't. They can't. I know they've even done anything, though. They've been able to prepare for the playoffs at any way, shape, or form. Other than burying McFarlane's arm and doing up downs with him. And then tonight, they're not going to be able. So tonight, they're supposed to have Sanchez or 80 to 85 pitches because they want to make sure he can start game too. Need a jab, Sanchez.

Well, now he's going to pitch the entire game. So or as long as he can go. And God, like, hopefully they can just win. But they can have Wheeler on Sunday. This is all going to handle with Wheel on Sunday. They have a bullpen game in the middle where we're putting our hopes and dreams of making the postseason on Nestor-Cortez and Jose Rikiki, which I didn't have that on my bingo car.

And honestly, sadly, I feel better with those guys because I haven't seen them. Then these, I mean, Lisa Creti will go one time over, I'm talking over our other bullpen guys. I mean, it's just like a disaster. That's how bad it's been. And then they get to- How do we trust? I've never seen Nessar-Kortez and affiliation.

You remember my trust him more to take the hill than I do, like, whoever. Alarado? Well, that was right on time, huh? That was the most predictable. I, so, you know me? I'm watching these games, obviously, with the island. one eye open. No, no, I was totally away for it,

but more just the eye on the clock. It's always like, how long is this game going? I have to stay up for the whole thing. Like, all right, like, slow game, fast game. I kept saying, I'm like, this game's moving a bit. I was like, but it's one one. It's moving, but it's one one. You know, it was extras or whatever.

And then Alvarado came in. I was like, I don't think I don't have to worry about staying up later. I knew it. I was like, he's going to blow this here. I was like, he's going to blow this and we're going to lose. I literally told Emily, guess what? I'm going to get to go to bed soon. I said that to her because I knew what was going to happen.

It was so obvious. As soon as he walked the first guy. As soon as he walked the first guy, and he'd been getting by with like walking a guy and then a double play, bailed him out two straight outings in September. So, yeah, I mean, this is going to be, if they get in, there's going to be no juice. They're going to have to earn some juice back.

If they blow it, I mean. You mean, not make the playoffs. Not make the playoffs. Like they know. It's after 64. It's the biggest in the franchise. And they will go down as, like just a bunch of like just jokes.

I mean, seriously. Well, and it'll taint the whole era. That's the point is like it'll taint this whole run. Like we, it not fully. Like I think in a decade we'll still look back at 22 and be like, that was awesome. What a fun time we had and all that stuff. But I do think of these like these guys because I do think if they go out that way,

like there will be some changes. Who knows with this group? They might just run it back always forever. We might be watching the, we joke about the 231 Phil's. Might be the same group guys out there just with the walk. who knows, 235,

Bryce Harper's that is 17 years of Philly. Like, like, who knows with the way this team has been run the last few years? But, like,

you have to imagine if they miss the playoffs, if this is like the all-time collapse, that like, kind of the end of this run, right? Like, if this group as it is,

like, you can't imagine it'll be the same. Well, and that's where the, that's where the, if you want to look at the silver lining of them missing the playoffs. I know.

I think that's why people say it. It's like, it's the only way that I think that people believe there will be real, substantial changes is if they they're embarrassed on a scale of that. Well, this is a team. This is a team for three years, three years, I would say, two years if you want, that has avoided

difficult conversations. This is a team that has. You can run the asylum. I know, I know. So they, they, they have, they have avoided the elephant in the room or avoided the problems by saying, hey, we won 90 plus games and we won the division. like we, this is, this is, we're fine, we're fine. We've got to get in and get hot at the right time.

And if they miss the playoffs, at least you would think that they would, they would be able to look themselves in the mirror and say, wow, we're really not as close as we thought we were. Like we weren't that close to beating the Dodgers last year. We are a flawed baseball team. And like, I have this just overwhelming feeling of just looking at these other offenses around baseball and then looking at this and saying, maybe this will finally get them to wake up and realize they got to get into the modern age

when it comes to hitting development, coaching, things like that. They get Kevin Long out of here. Well, the Kevin Long thing is what I'm talking about. I mean, Scott Lauber basically, like, told us not what we already know. But like the main reason Kevin Long is here is because Kyle Schwerber likes him, because Tray Turner likes him, because Bryce Harper likes him. Like, that is a absurd reason to have this guy as the hidden coach of this team. When this has been constant year after year after year after year, the same thing.

Like, they have to at a certain point decide who run. this organization. Like, who is making the decisions? Are they cowtowing to players? Are they doing what Bryce Harper wants them to do? Or they saying, Bryce, listen, thanks for your input, big dog. Don't care. We're going to do what's best for the team.

Because like, enough, enough of this. Well, yeah, I, I, the star players, I'm about over catering everything to them. So over with it. The Trey Turner still betting two. Is, I'm sorry. It is the most upsetting thing with the team. It's crazy. How is he betting too, Jack?

How? Explain it to me. because he wants to. I think it's ridiculous. He's so making shorts up, but I can at least rationalize that, like in season move. Nice play last night,

by the way, where he dropped it in. Dude, he shouldn't be playing shorts up. Put him in left field, like, whatever, but I can at least be like,

all right, like you can talk me into off season, whatever. Him batting, too, there's no, no explanation for it,

no argument for it. He is the, like, the single most limp baseball I've ever seen. Everything is just the best word for him. He's just so limp, he's just limp, limp, limp, limp, limp, limp.

It's just, he's just like let me just weekly hit a ball and oh I just there's so much blue on his savant page it's freaking crazy I and it's never like can tray do something it's just we accept that he sucks

and that we just have to accept that he hits too why do I have to accept that our 300 million dollar shortstop who makes more than Bryce Harper everyone's going to pin everything on why can I never just expect him to step up do his freaking job. It's just you are too, like he has been too good of a hitter his entire

career for, for this to happen. It is unbelievable. Look at all the teams in baseball and look at the two hole hitters. Are any of them, Trey Turner? Like it's, it's, it's just one up against Bryce Terang into two hole. It's bat bleep. Like, it is crazy that that that guy is still batting to. And it's not like they have a bunch of great options. I understand that. But watching last night, it was, it was just praying that anyone could do anything until like Harper and Schwerper got up. And when they're going through that rut, oh my goodness, they are excruciating. You felt no hope when anyone else was up. And even bone, bones been great.

But like, and there's not a bone problem. You go up and down the lineup. And they have the four hits last night, top one and three because, you know, they have the two whole hitter there who's doing absolute squat. And then you get to the bottom of the line of JT's Ofer's last. 29. You're getting the 2027, 2028 JT season. Yeah, you're right. And by the way, he also can't throw out base runners anymore.

Dude, Garrett subs, his pop time is faster than JT's. Think about that. Think about that. And Garrett Tubbs, like, like, I like Gary. He is not a super fast. He's like a base guy. Like, it's not like he's like amazing. He's good at it.

He's good at it. He's good at it. But like, JT was elite at it. Well, it's the reason why he's paid. Yeah. I mean, he is, he still is working at the pitching staff. I appreciate all that. He's not the, I'm not,

Pending my hopes and dreams on this team on JT, Real Mutual offensive resurgence. It's just a cog in the whole problem with this team and where they are at offensively. It's atrocious. I mean, they're back in September to being the worst in every single offensive category. They had that run with, oh my God, we're last in OBP. We'll change that. Yeah, we're just going to walk. And, you know, obviously, and I don't know why this is hard for, you know, people to grasp.

But when I'm like, why can't they just like walk all the time? Well, I don't know. You think teams are just going to walk you? No, they're going to get back into the strike zone. and they've gotten back into the strike zone and the Phillies can't make anyone pay because they are just a bunch of limp hitters. Like they are just a bunch of a nid.

And he hurt his ankle last night and that sucks. We'll see what happens with him. I mean, he's another one. Most overrated. He is just so fine. He is the single most overrated player in baseball. Dude, all you need to do to understand

why he's been on five teams or whatever in five years is have him on your team. And it's like, oh, I get it. I get it. Like again, he is not a bad player. He is he, there is a value of him. And if he's on a good team batting seventh, you know what? He's probably awesome to have on your 100%. But when he is your cleanup inner and the hopes and dreams of the lineup are placed on him, like he's nowhere close to good enough. And the pricing, let's get to the pricing because look, the numbers are what they are. It's very stark like the, you know, the swinging at the first

pitched off and just the numbers. But like, and again, Bryce hasn't been good enough. I hated his comments after the game last night. I thought it was just toned after me. And he was not wrong, but we're in the driver's seat. I just thought he didn't. The driver's seat since September 1. And also I didn't, it was so throat and it didn't feel like there was a motion there. Like, I was just like, I need something from you there. Like, so I'm not letting Bryce off duck.

I think Bryce has been bad this month. But I also, when everyone around you is doing what they're doing, I also can understand him going up and feeling like, I got to do something because no one else does anything. Like, so like, not excusing it. I'm more down on Bryce this month than up on him, like, obviously after a great August. But like, I also think that, like, I also think that, like, I got. seen so, to your point, I've seen so many people like, it's all Bryce, Bryce. Like, I think Bryce is like the least culpable offensively of all these guys, like almost, you know,

so like I get it. I, and especially leadership wise, I'm disappointed in Bryce in this exact moment. Of course. But I do think people have gone way too far just pointing out that the first pitch swinging numbers and being like, it's all Bryce's fault. I think I think people need to relax on that. No, I will say this. Tuesday night was was an atrocious effort. Awful. And I do think that he's getting the point where with like tough left, like tough left relievers, he is kind of going up there with the effort and being like, he's horrible. He gets left.

He is, but the point is before, like, he could still work in a bat. He could still go up there and like feel competitive. Like, it feels like he's just going up there and hacking. So like, I'm either going to hit it or I'm not. And I don't really know either way. And like it's almost, it just does it. It doesn't feel like there is competitive at bat today. But I know last time you got the hit on like last.

Last time was a good bounce back. Last night was a good bounce back. But in general, it doesn't feel like that where. And again, I understand him being frustrated with everything around him and swinging more and all that. But before it just. just felt so professional and so like the approach was so locked in every at bat. It doesn't feel that way as much now.

No. I mean, and what's so frustrating for me is like he knows that when he's at his best, it's going the opposite way. And last night, again, he did it. He was going the opposite way with that second hit. He got a base hit and was like, wow, what a concept. Like maybe just lock in on that and let everything else kind of be where it may. But like the thing about Bryce and I think where he.

deserves some like the criticism. Okay. Deserves criticism. Is I think that he is the like engine of the team. And when he looks checked out, when he looks not into it and he has the mopey thing going on, then the team feels mopee.

And they look like they're playing without energy. When he was locked in in August, when he was taking his base, when he was getting a base, when he was getting a bunch of base hits. It wasn't like a big power surge. It was just being a great overall hitter. It was the OBP.

It was the walks. It was on base. All that stuff. When he was doing that, they all bought in and said, if he's going to do it, then I'll do it. And what made Tuesday night so frustrating,

and I'd have to pin everything on one game. But Tuesday night, he has two outs with swinging at a first pitch with, in pretty key moments. Key moments. And the first inning challenge thing, which is, it's mind numbing. They have to get, I like it. I like hate to say this, but I do think they have to just say, Bryce, you're not allowed to

shock collar. Whatever. Seriously, unless Bryce, unless it's in the dirt. And I'm not saying like, oh, it's off the plate. Unless it hits the dirt, you are not allowed to use your challenges early in games. You can't be trusted with it. Like, if that were like, whoever, freaking Bryce and Stott, they would sit him for doing it. Like that.

And it's happened many times now. Like he should not be allowed. I'm sorry. I hate to. Guess what, buddy? They're going to let it. They're allowed to. Of course.

Everyone on this team is a lot to do whatever they want. And it's so refreshing. Yeah, like even Crawford challenged in the second inning. At least that was close. Like, at least it was closer, but like, that was crazy. It's a second inning. What are we doing here? And at least it was a runners on and whatever.

Price was two outs. No one on. Like, what are we doing? It was so refreshing watching Pat Murphy pull William Contreras from the game, pulled Cooper Pratt from a game earlier this year. And then meanwhile, we got the, these idiots who are just like, we're going to do whatever we want.

I just want them, I just want someone down there to grow a backbone. There's just, there's this big laissez fare of, we're paid a ton of money, we're made men in this league. We're family men, which is fine, of course.

We're family men too. It's like we're grown up. But it's like the, the standard for the Phillies is not high enough. like the standard for this team is to just make the playoffs that's the standard for them

and you know and that's okay when it's 2012 to 2020 and you haven't made the playoffs in deck and it still shouldn't just be the standard but when you've missed the playoffs for 10 years it's more acceptable to say hey let's get in the playoffs like you've been in the this a fifth straight year like that that has to change even if it's not okay for Philadelphia

to begin with if you do it at first that has to change well their only strategy when in October is we'll see what happens everything with the team is we'll see what happens. But the standard for the Brewers is if you don't hustle, you're out. I don't care who you are. Whether you're Cooper Pratt, William Gutreras, Jackson Torrio, you're out. And they know that. They know what is that. It's being intentional with how you talk and with how you act is the single most important thing, both in your household and

in sports. Totally. And you look at, and I can't believe I'm doing this of all people. but you look at the difference between the Eagle standard. Oh, wow. You're right. And the Philly standard down you're on the bills. You're doing it. But it's true. It's full on true.

The Eagle standard is if you don't do things right, then we're going to correct them and we're going to get on you and we're going to figure it out or. And we don't care if you're Bryce Huff and you are our biggest money signing of the off season. If you're not doing it right, we're going to sit you on your ass. Unless you're AJ Brown, who they let do whatever he wanted for you. Different story.

So we don't need to bring that up. But overall, I think Nick has that. He knows what's right. He knows what's wrong. And it's organizational. It's Nick. It's how it's Jeffrey. It's like from the top down like they is an organization.

Like I know they always get killed for it. It's collaborative. But it is like they feel collaborative there where they're all on the same page with these type of things. Whereas again, like with the Phillies, it's like we have times where like Dombrovsky and Mattingly at times the season felt like they were taking shots at each other. You know what I mean? Like we've had all kinds of stuff like that. Well, I'm taking shots at the players.

Well, of course, I wasn't even mentioning that, you know? But if the players don't know what's right and wrong, then they're just going to step over the boundaries. There are boundaries that need to be set that if you step over it, you know that you're going to get in trouble for it. I mean, for as much as we talk about Charlie and back in the day of being a player's manager, you bench Jimmy Rollins, man.

I think he had, what, two roles, beyond time and hustle. He benched Jimmy Rollins. Multiple times. Yeah. And when J.R. Stapts over the boundary, he was sat. Yeah.

And I just, the lack of, of backbone, the lack of like real leadership down there, both players and on the, on the, on the, on the managerial side is, it's infuriating.

For a team that you would think a team as veteran laden as this would understand that. Rather than, hey, I'm a 300 millionaire. I have won a World Series. I have been in a World Series. I know what I'm doing. Yeah.

Rather than that where the players I'll just do my thing. Okay. It's, I got my own hitting coach. Don't worry. I'm going. It's horse bleed.

It's nonsense. It's absolutely horse. I think you are 100% correct. Everything you said, I totally. And I think it's a great point to point out. And I know that people don't watch the Brewers play all the time. But like, like Pat Murphy makes a difference. Like you watch that guy manage games.

You watch just the way interacts with people. Like that guy matters to that team. Like that guy is helps them win games. Like I don't know how much a manager, whether it's four games or five. I don't know what the best manager difference makes. But Pat Murphy makes it. Like that guy makes a difference in them winning and losing games and who they are as a franchise. And like, I don't feel any of that here with Topper or Mattingly.

And honestly, I don't like I think particularly with Mattingly. Like I don't think it's his fault. Like he is an interim manager. He's entire year has been like Alex Quartz here next year anyway. Like I don't like I don't blame Maddie. Like this is an organizational thing. This has to be Dave Dombrowski. Dave Dombrowski has to set a freaking tone here and say, hey, listen to this how we manage.

This is what we say. We don't let players do this. We don't, like you're. day freaking to browse you're going to want the hall of fame man you're a hall of famer you've been in baseball since the 70s you weren't for bill freaking veck like what what are we doing here can one can one player can the manager can the the president of baseball ops maybe even the owner and actually the owner feels us more than those three I do too I mean it's a fan but can one of them

just say this is bull bleep yeah can someone just just just get fed up with this? Did someone say no? How about to the players when they're, whether it's Kevin Long, whether it's, I don't want to move it. No. Guess what? No. I mean, Louis the rise, they trade for me. I'm playing second base. Like, okay, pal, sure.

You got it. Why? Why? We're doing it? Well, that was, I mean, they had to. But I get it. But I'm just saying it's, it's endemic. It's what they do as an organization. Louisa Rice could come here and say, I get to call the shots because Bryce Harper calls shots. college worker calls shots because JT calls shots like

none of these people should be calling the frigging shots they cater to the players they do they cater and and this is how this is how this happens and this is how that happens and and we talk with the parallels and comparisons

but look at the difference between how they talk about this team and what we know happened in 1980 yeah in really 79 yeah you know when they really Carpenter was basically like winner you're done.

And they bring in a totally different kind of voice in Dallas Green. And he was like a bully to those guys. He was a bully. I know it's hard to do that in today's game with today's athletes. But like that's the kind of, that's the kind of shake up this team needed. And again, back to the point of missing the playoffs could be a good thing for them.

Like that's one of those things. And like maybe Alex Corr, he seems like a player's manager. But you know what Alex Corr, I think we'll bring is a little bit of fire. Dude, Alex Corr also like he might be. be a players manager, but he also, it seems like he's someone who will, will, will, like, stand up to the players when he has to.

Like, at least it seemed like that in Boston. Like, players like him, but it doesn't seem like he's a sick of fan. It doesn't seem like he's just like a player's like guy. Andrew Reed players, man, players coach and Charlie Manow players coach. You know, there's a player's coach is Pat Murphy, but you know what? He still sets a tone and stuff. But those guys love Pat Merck. Like you look at this.

You could look at them where he's talking like, you can see like genuine like love between those guys. Like, like you don't have to be like, you have to let them walk all over you to be a player's coach or players manager. Not to bring everything back to parenting, but it actually feels so. Oh, it's so does. You kidding me?

But looking at Pat Murphy and then looking at the Phillies is like looking at Pat Murphy was a strong like father figure. I fully agree with you. And then looking at the Phillies and this is not to call down. And again, I think Manningley is in a tough spot. Mattley's in a tough spot. It's organization.

And also to your point, like Mattingley was probably the wrong choice for an interim manager in that if you're just going to go with interim thing, like he's, he's Rob Thompson. They're the same guy in terms of the way they interact. the way they're both laid back. They're both like, we'll figure it out.

Did you appreciate him saying that it feels pressure last night? Miracle, right? Well, listen. Well, I know, but it's also I don't love that. No, I don't want my manager saying. Of course not. Like, so point being that like, if they were going to like, and it wouldn't be Larry Bowie's old,

but like if they were going to do the interim thing, like bringing someone who might like get a little annoyed, get a little angry, like bring in a different type of personality. And again, I'm not playing them. I think Madlingley did an okay job and all that. I just think like I can't expect Don Mangley to be the one to step in and be like, all right, boys, I'm running the ship now.

He hasn't been here. As I'm a part of this. Like, it's a hard spot to do it, you know? The Phillies are gentle parenting. The brewers are high standards. They're raising their kids right. That's right.

The Brewers are raising their children right. I really feel that. The Phillies let their kids dictate everything in their household. It's amazing because Don Manningley raised a great kid. We love him. We love him. He's a good father. Yeah.

Again, not really about Don Maddenry's parenting tragedy. And also in general, I think, like, He's not a great job, but I think Manningley is, like, if you're doing the players, Dumbraowski front office or whatever, Middleton, you know, whatever, the piece of the pie, like I think Manning is so far the last of the pie.

Like, he is so at the bottom. But he also has a house. Of course. No, I'm saying like he deserves some blame, but less than the others is what I'm saying. For this specific time. For this right now. Yes. This bullpen getting to this point.

No doubt. I don't think he's not a good job. Don't get me wrong. Well, he's definitely done a good job. They're not in 19. The, like, I don't think he's done a great job. Is that better? He's not a fine job.

He's not, he's done a B job. Yeah, he's like a B. I think that's a good way to put it. Yeah, right there. But again, I think that a lot of these problems we're talking about in the situation where him right now are stuff that like existed prior to mattingly where we're, we're to the point of letting the players have all these power. All these things, these things were here before he got here.

Dude, last night, last night in a tie game, their plan for the eighth was Alvarado and sugar. Yeah, that was the plan. Sugar. Sugar. That's where we're at. And, and, and poor McFarlane, dude. Because McFarlane, I mean, what stones last night?

Unbelievable. Like I, and you can tell he's his, like that first pitch, he almost hit the guy. I was like, he doesn't have perfect control. Like he was it three out of four nights, four to five, whatever it was. Like he's pitched a ton. Yeah. Well, and that was his first walk in nine games. Yeah.

But that was the most of all's gotten away from him since like, since he's been up, I think. I mean, Sanchez is going to have to give him eight tonight. I mean, honestly, tonight might be a game where he goes seven to give Durran eight, nine. Well, and you know what? Like, and again. But then who the hell's pitching them? And again, Chris Sanchez has been so much better than 98% of the players on this team this year. but like I need you tonight, Chris.

Like, there's a spot where it's like, you know, he has had a over year, all a great year, but he has had a bad September, a really bad September. And in general, the last, you know, three months of when it's good as the first three months. Like, this is a spot.

Your team needs you tonight, dog. Like, I need Chris Sanchez to go out. And I know he's not going to be, you know, eight shuddy probably. Like, I need like seven one run innings from Chris Sanchez. Yeah. I need that. Imperative.

Yeah. Seriously. It's a huge game. Yeah. It's a huge, huge freaking game. All right. We'll get to the take bag

in a second. But Jack, and this is, I think. Oh, no, not this one. Yeah, particularly relevant right now

because I think we're all feeling this right now. But you can use it all day. People regularly suffer from nausea. In fact, 100% of Phillies fans right now suffer from nausea every time they watch and play. But one and three people regularly suffer nausea. My wife,

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talking. She's hanging out. I'm like, you okay, okay? She's like, I feel amazing. It is unbelievable. It's been a miracle in our lives. It's really changed our lives in such a great way. We're thinking about cruises. Whenever we go out, it's just, we don't even talk about anymore. We just drive and have a great time. Get this. Relief Ben is 100% natural. That means no pills, no side effects. And it works in just minutes. Relief ban stops nausea from motion sickness, morning sickness. Meds like JLP ones. It even works for nausea for mangrovers. I tried it. It works. We still haven't figured out if it works for Philly's nausea yet. We're going to test that out this weekend, I think. Put relief ban on your wrist and turn nausea off. Go to Reliefband.com promo code James.

Use promo code James. That's J-A-M-M-E-S 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 Berry 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-sid advice. Whether you're defending a title or desperately avoiding last place, I've got you covered every single weekday. The bar is open. It's Fantasy Football Happy Hour with Matthew Barry, wherever you get your podcasts. Sorry, Fritzy. So they're probably going to make the playoffs.

Yeah. So real quick, I should have done the percentages. As of this morning, they have 88% chance to make the playoffs. Okay. So I believe it's like 68% to get the six seed and it's like 15 and 12 or whatever for the four and the five. Yeah. So like the raw emotion, of course, of how they're playing makes you want to, you know, gout your eyes out.

It makes many people say don't make the playoffs. Yeah. With a spoon. but the reality is if they can just win one game, they're probably okay. Because the Padres do still have stuff to play for. They're going to lose tonight. It's a hangover game.

But they have stuff to play for. We actually, we need the Cubs to win so that it stays there. Like they can stay. Yeah, we need the Cubs to win. We need, but we need the Padres still have a chance

to get the one game in front of them because they can lose the Tiberia. So the Padres do have stuff to play for, which is, I think Cubs playing a double-header day. They changed that, yeah. And by the way, the weather for Sunday looks horrible. Double-hutter tomorrow, maybe for the Phillies.

Have they thought about that? I have no idea. I mean, just to add to the pain of this, I mean, what if they had to go to Monday? And then, you know. They might. I will say Joe made a good point on the year that if they, like as opposed to a double-heder Saturday or Monday,

Monday means you could pitch wheeler if you had to do, which is, you know, you don't want to have to use them in that game. But if you need a game to get in and it's Monday gives you that extra day. You can pitch him on Sunday, too. I'm saying gives him full rest. he would be pitching on short rest on Sunday, Monday would be normal rest. So it's something. He's other than coming, this was surprising to me.

And it's that track he's in the playoffs. That many times other than with the Phillies, obviously never. But other than in the playoffs in the Diamondback series when he came back in a game seven out of the bullpen, Zach Miller's never pitched on short rest before. Really? On three days, ever. The problem with him pitching Monday is then, because I had a hope in a way, like if he had to pitch Sunday and get in. You could maybe use him in.

I can use him on his bullpen day. like one of those games and that's the way you can get through I can't believe we're talking about this by the oh yeah oh they've totally they've totally bleep down their leg it's unbelievable how much they've blown this

but that's what they do so um so yeah so as long as they can just win one as long as the dimebacks don't sweep which I'd be very surprised that they swept they can just win one freaking game just win tonight's you're facing Fred Peral

Who's been better with the race? It's been pretty good with the race. Yeah. He's still five and two thirds. But, like a five and a guy, but he's one round usually. Yeah.

And of course, of course, he's the one they live up on the Bryce Harper. Of course. Are you kidding me? Which means he's going to go and have the best,

he's got thrown a hitter. And so like once you get past the feeling of death with the idea of them that's in the playoffs, they're probably going to make the playoffs. It's just like, now you look at where

the bullpen is what they're going to do to get into the playoffs, possibly pitching wheeler on Sunday or maybe even Monday if it gets rained out. And it's just, pitching just tonight, like even just tonight. Let's say, whatever,

the fact that they're going to have to use sand just like a hundred, whatever pitches as opposed to be able to get a back on short resting game too. Getting ready of the playoffs. Like if it works out the way that seems like it's going to work out, I mean, no one. Noll is starting game one.

It works out that way. Which in, I mean, I have confidence in them. Sure, but what are we, what are we doing here? Like,

I did not have that on my again, big go card. I'm with you, though. I think, was it you said, you were kind of happy, Nola wasn't perfect last night. Like, it's like,

I couldn't have him on such a great running into the playoffs. Like, having him be like, kind of not great last night. I was like, okay, like, okay.

Yeah. And I also like, like get that out of the way, give up the first inning homer and maybe come back and be better. Yeah. Well, it makes people want to start stopping a playoff game. I know,

right? Does that make you feel? It was noticeable. Yeah, I mean. Yeah, I thought, I honestly thought that the reason they struggled two nights ago was,

uh, I actually thought it was the wind. Like I think that he is someone... The Terang Homer just took off. Yeah. Well, when you are not a guy that can pierce through the wind with your fastball. Oh, that's an interesting point.

You're right. The stuff doesn't move the same. Pitching the wind sucks. That's a really good point. That's a great point that we don't talk about enough. That's a really good point. Because you think that you're thrown into a spot and then it moves. So, yeah, I would chalk that mostly up to the wind.

I thought his stuff looked fine. So they're probably still going to get the playoffs. Now, however, I don't know what they're going to do about a rise. I think what I would do if I was in their situation, I put Harper back at first. I put Sott at second. I put Turner and short and bone at the edge third. And then I play Brian Dale of Groves every day.

Really over. So I think what they'll probably do at least tonight is I think they play Sosa at second or third and only move one person or potentially nobody. But that's interesting. So over, over Derek Hill, you would go BLC. I would go either one. I mean, I would. Because I trust Derek Hill more. He's obviously better to find him.

But I trust him more in a pinch hitting role than I do every day. That's fair. That's fair. And look, BDLC actually has some power, which I mean, I know Darryll can. at Pinch at Omer, but BDLC's got like real power when he can get a hold of one. It really comes down to which bad would you trust more heading with both. Now BDLC had, I mean, that strike out last night was the seventh or whatever. That ball, like, was it this far off the way?

Like that was about as far as a ball will be off the plate and you see someone swinging it. He caught the, he caught the Phillies, Juju. I mean, that's what we do. Some great fielding from BDLC last night as well. I don't care. Like he's like on the other side of the studio, the ball drops over there. It's always fun. Blinders on.

So, but, okay, so let's dig in this. So the way I. look at it and I don't disagree like and also look they're scouting important it's like what kind of picture is nick martinez in terms of how these guys hit and griffin jacks and all stuff like maybe you do specific things where it's like I think this guy's got a good matchup first this guy even though they're all in it but like philosophically I don't think there's a huge difference between edmundo sosa Derek hill and brian della cruz as players they're all similar vein like you move so many less guys if you just put soza in the infield so yeah yeah I mean I think they can honestly

it can be game dependent yeah I don't think harbors have any problem they're like I'm going to go back to first base. I think you'd rather be at first base. Anyway, so we'll say. We will say. How many Phileas fans remember 2020 when they, all they to do is not get swept by the race? So I didn't. I remembered the Marlins. I didn't

remember the raise. Ria told me this morning. She was like, do you remember what team and I knew by the way she asked the question, it had to be the raise? But as soon she asked that it kind of crystallized and I was like, oh my God, it was the raise. Come on, man. I know. I know. I mean, I would say this is the most important series against the race.

That's true. I'm happy that joke's back. I've missed that one. Yeah. It was a good one. I just remember watching. I remember watching that out at dinner with Jill. And it was still during like COVID.

And the only TV outside was this like small like box TV across the street from the restaurant. Like it was just like watching them die. So I in the moment it sucked. And obviously I don't want to repeat. But I will say, and we've talked about this. Like I am happy. Oh yeah. Girl day lost.

Like 2020 doesn't happen the same way if they had that little BS things. No. No. All right. Wheeler congratulations on 2000 strikeouts and I gave only 96 pictures ever in history So I'm happy you brought this up Joe said that on the morning show And I was shocked by that number

If you'd ask me to guess I would guess like 200 Yeah, 2000s strikeouts I mean it's not nothing but also it's not 3,000 Yeah I was really floored by it I mean like look I think in the 3000 Stragis Club There's close to like 25 or 30 people somewhere in that general range But the point is like it's almost a third of the people of 2000 Like that's shocking

And I do love Shores are gunning to take down Burlander. It's crazy. He's a psycho. Yeah. If Wheeler can, if he can get the $2,500, he's probably in the Hall of Fame. So I think he has such a fascinating case because I think that if you're a Phillies fan these last five years, like, I think Zach Wheeler should be a Hall of Famer. I think he, there are guys who I watch play who have gotten in the Hall of Fame. Like, I watch their careers who I do not think deserve as much as Zach Wheeler.

So it's like, but at the same time, it's like when you step back and look to your point, he does need some of those number marks because he did have such a, herky jerky injury filled in searchers career. So if he gets 2,500, he will have he'll have two Sy Young runner-ups. God, not winning Sai Young is so annoying. That really would matter. 21? 21 was the

year. 21 was the year. If he could have done it then, and we should go back in time and reverse it. But what's Corbyn's up to right now? Is he been playing still? He's pitching Saturday for the deback. Really need him to get shelved, but of course, he's going to I remember he went back after that contract

doing back to Arizona. The boy is like he's not what he was. That's really. sure. No. So, I mean, you can make the case, Wheeler's the picture of the 2020s. I mean, I know like skeins the last three years. And scoble, I think you'd have to say. Scooble, they've jumped in there, but from 2020 on. Especially when you're taking the playoffs stuff.

Yeah. So, I don't know. I hope he gets in. I hope he sticks around for a while. I desperately do. 2,500 strikeouts. That's what we need to get to. I think. I mentioned the weather. I mentioned the Brewers, how jealous I am of watching them play baseball. The defense is sick. Dude, there's so much. And again, like, the Pat Murphy thing. Like, I want Pat Murphy to be my dad.

I really do. I'm like, like even when he was talking to, you know, when he was coming out, talking to Arthur Base Coach and there's going to, it just looked like so friendly and like I, but he's friendly and stern. That's my point. Yes, no, he's friendly, but I feel like he would, I would grow up right. Like, it wouldn't just be like he would

done something like, oh, I'm going to let me do whatever I want. Like he's going to have rules, but I'm going to appreciate them. They're going to make me a better person. I'm going to look up to Pat Murphy as a as a young father of guy. That's what I want. Unfortunately, I really dig it, man. I'm really in on Batman Murphy. I really like that guy. My general tone is usually.

sarcasm. In the biggest start of his young career, Panner was great last night. It was great. 3.65 ERA since coming up from the minors, you know, that Oriol started his first start. And, you know, the fastball change of a combination is such an equalizer for him.

Having the change up where it is, gets people off of his fastball, which makes that pitch not get blasted. It doesn't work to it, of course. I don't think it's perfect yet. I thought last night it actually tapered off a little bit. But the fact that the change is so good and the hitters have no idea which one's coming out of his hand.

It's made him, it's made that fastball so much better. And it's funny, we said at the beginning of the year, I mean, a four or five ERA for PANTA this year's a massive win. Yep. And he's going to end the year, barring playoffs or whatever. I mean, it doesn't affect it anyway. But he's at the end of the year at the 5.4 ERA, and it feels like a huge win.

Totally. I mean, 5.4 ERA with 150 plus innings pitch, both combining minor leagues and major leagues. It's a huge win for Panner. And I think now this offseason is going to be able to really hone in on all those pitches and should theoretically get even better. I think it's a great point. In a moment where it seems like this is playing out potentially as like one of the worst seasons we remember. Hopefully not.

Likely not. But heading that way, I think Andrew Painter is such a win for us as Phillies fans this year. Especially considering, look, at the 5-4, like the 365, that's almost all that matters to me. What matters to me from the prior is not even how bad he was. it's that this kid like was able to go down for a week in a moment and come back up and have this like in him like I'm so impressed with Andrew Maine so impressed a lot of good signs for mental fortitude big time for manager and really there's two well three rokey he's been Crawford Crawford bounce back he had a fine year he's a fine year he's just what he is he's just a he's just a he's just a single's hitter a doubles like he's there's never got much power yeah we'll say like the my biggest concern with Crawford coming out of this year is I don't know if the speed matters. Like, you know what I mean?

He is too early to say it. But like, you like part of the whole thing was fastest guy in the league types up. And like it might not be practical game speed. You know, you know who he reminds me of is like him and Xavier worthy are the same player. Xavier worthy. Fastest 40 time.

But it doesn't translate to the field. You're right. Because it's straight lines. Yes. And that's it. And Crawford, it feels like when you've talked to it. It feels like it gets to get going a bit.

Oh, it feels like if it was a hundred yard dash. Yeah. super fast, like a 40 or dash less fast. You know what I mean? He's not zero 60 and yeah, like that's the difference. So again, I think he's a good player. I think he's been clutch. I don't know who he's a center field or a long term.

I don't think he is. And then how much value is it in a slap hitting left fielder? Yeah. So that's the thing. If you're not Stephen Kwan. Yeah. But again, yeah, look, if you're going to, but again, you know, I said this when they, when they brought her eyes in like, like, Justin Crawford's best case scenario is to be a guy like Lewis Rice. Like that's the career he's got to hope for it. And he's hitting ninth, not fourth. but all the rookies

I think they've they McFarland I think he showed a lot of stones last night and we've with what he did up in New York and just how much they're going to rely on him to just even get into the playoffs. So I think he is I've been impressed with him and yeah all their guys like all the rookies I think you feel pretty good about after after uh now and you know the champion Redding Phil's yeah I was going to get to him

but it feels like a damper I mean it's not damper it's great for them shout out to the vote we'll celebrate on another pod but I didn't want to go without men. Like the Redding's, Phil's a Chet at 31 years. 31 years. Shout out. Shout out to everyone we know there.

It is such an awesome time going out there. Next year, make a point to go see the champs play. It's an awesome place, awesome vibe. And I'm just happy for them because like, we know how it is to go 30 plus years without titles. Like,

it's not fun. So speaking of them, there would be nothing that would make me happier than just seeing the notification hit of them saying, the Phillies are calling up Beta and Miller. F it. Just see what he does this week.

We didn't talk much. We didn't talk much about the arise injury. Like, I can't imagine he's going to be back for the wild guard around, right? Like, agree. Yeah,

it feels like maybe second round of the playoffs. If they get there, we'll see what happens. Maybe a pinch hitter. Yeah. And second straight year. Like Bader last year. Second straight year,

their big off the trade downer edition gets hurt a week before the, oh, and Lazzardo hurt like Wheeler was. Can we get Ramon McCart, Markis back or? Well, that's what I was like, I'm never going to get over Ramon.

I mean, if Ramon turns into like Ramon, it's going to be an all-timer. It's just going to be an all-timer. So, but yeah, imagine they brought up Ringcon or Aden for the last weekend. That'd be fun. Just to see what they had. Give us up. Just see what they had heading into the postseason. Little juice.

Little juice. That's about it. Good. That's about it. A long day of talking about this team. Yeah, yeah. It's exhausting. They haven't made it fun.

All right. So obviously, we'll be back after the weekend. Probably sudden. I mean, oh, yeah. Yeah, Eagles will make. So maybe we do Sunday. We'll see how it all plays out. Yeah, I mean, probably have to go Sunday. Probably have to go Sunday.

I'm going to be around. I'm playing on it. We'll see how it all plays out. But either way, we'll definitely be back after the season ends to react to all of it. And maybe like we can do before if they claim. We'll see it out. We're around. And then next week, we will be.

If the, if, you know, I don't get out of yourself. We'll be, we'll be available. I see what happens. Okay, I'll just say that. Just stick with us. No matter what happens, there will be pods. I'll say that. How about that?

Is that good? there will be talking points there'll be things to talk about just don't make it just end it get one tonight yeah please get one tonight all right I look I can save them watch a diamond magazine pie

it would be fun to actually watch that want to watch if the Phillies and I'm not watching if they win I'm definitely watching it so all right we'll be back after the weekend until that he's worth some teltter