High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - THE PHILLIES HAVE MADE THE PLAYOFFS EMERGENCY POD

Episode Date: October 4, 2022

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz do the pod they've been waiting forever to do. The guys react to the Phillies finally ending their postseason drought and much more. Presented by Miller Lite. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the High Hopes Podcast. High Hopes! It's a bunch of baseball nerds talking about the Phillies. On Odyssey and Sports Radio 94 WIP. Oh, it is another edition of the High Hopes Podcast, a.k.a. the edition we've literally been waiting to record since we started this thing. They finally made it. Like, Jack, I got to tell you, man, like I know there's

been so much talk the last two weeks about the collapse and how annoyed we were and all that. And it's totally fair because we just want a good baseball team. We want to have fun. But man, you know, honestly, like I'm actually like emotional right now. Like I'm like nervous to do this podcast. Like I don't care about any of the, what's happened the last few months. Like that's a baseball season. There's ups and downs and the last 11 years, they weren't able to do what they did tonight. So you know what? It's okay to be fricking happy. It's okay to watch this team celebrate and get the feels because it's been 11 years and they're in the freaking playoffs fritzy what up buddy 4,014 days the last time that we had seen playoff

baseball until this friday night this friday we're going to see the goddamn philadelphia phillies playing in the freaking playoffs dude and like i could not echo what you just said at the beginning anymore these last two weeks have been excruciating there's been a lot of means mean things said about this baseball team but i do not give a flying bleep i don't care i do not freaking care and like it's a baseball season they did it in september again who gives a crap because you want to know what happened james you want to know what happened is that they ended an 11-year playoff drought with the guy on the mound who has been the center of, oh, you got to get rid of him. Oh, loser this, loser that. Can't pitch in big games.

Can't pitch in October. Can't pitch in September. And he had a freaking perfect game heading into the seventh inning tonight. perfect game heading into the seventh inning tonight. I mean, it was, listen, it was just about as, it was about as perfect of a baseball game as we have seen around here in a while. They came out locked in. I mean, freaking Schwarber. Like that's what you signed that guy for. That's what you signed that guy for. Leading off a game in a freaking clincher with a home run and then doing it again. Doing it again.

And Bryson Stott is just a winner. Doing it again late. He's like fixed the defensive issues. They played a clean, crisp, solid, beautiful baseball game, and it was finished by Zach Eflin, who has just been through so much in his first ever save appearance. Zach Eflin goes out and just like, ho hum, guess what? Here's the next generation of Trevor Hoffman. Like it is, it, it, it was, I'm so, I'm so happy.

I just, I am so happy. I was so nervous all day. I was, I kept saying myself like 4,014 days, 4,014 days, 4,014 days. Like, I don't give a crap what the little Eagles have done. The Eagle, the Phillies are going to the postseason, James. They're going to the postseason. Yeah. going to the postseason, James. They're going to the postseason. And like you said, I mean, for it to be Nola to go out after, you know, everything

that he's gone through and look, you know, earned the reputation the last few Septembers, but to go out and do what he did tonight and, you know, be perfect through sixth and two-thirds, and we'll get to more of that. I want to talk to you about all the etiquette stuff and all that but for him to do what he did and then for for Eflin for it to be those two guys to close it out like that really like that you know that is

it's poetic it's storybook it's you know and again you know that you don't get a storybook for making the playoffs as a wildcard team or whatever but but that specific thing you know that's I always you know you I love the wax poetic about the Luke Williams home run and and we don't have to do that anymore because we can wax poetic about playoff stuff again but um you know it just is like a great sports moment and having Nola win the game open the game do what he did and for Eflin to close it out like that, I mean, as a Phillies fan, if that doesn't give you like a little bit of a, you know, on top of just making the playoffs a little extra feels like,

I don't know what to tell you. I know. And like it was just, again, I can't overstate enough just how right it felt. believe me i was one of the people that were like please stop with the brewers like excited that they tied it up got a guy like because i'm just like dude i just want to get i just want to make the playoffs but of course there's that little thing in the back of my head like man it would suck if the brewers uh already lost and then we already knew our fate heading into the ninth like it added that that little bit extra of like oh my god they could potentially blow this and of course it lasted

bat i mean oh my god dude are you kidding me it was was that as long as the rain delay bad was that as long as the rain delay in 08 i mean it was as long as steve tracks will start seriously it's such a great point and look I'll cop to it you know I texted you and I said is it wrong that I'm kind of just a little bit happy that the Brewers you know didn't it was before they actually won the game but when they tie it in the ninth because I was like I want the Phillies to maybe if the Phillies were not winning in the moment I wouldn't have said it but you know I wanted to see them close it. I wanted to see them have that moment where, you know, we didn't have that anticlimactic, like,

I was even thinking about with, like, tweeting. Like, what do we tweet? If the Diamondbacks close out, it's like, all right, we're in the playoffs. Guess we'll finish this game out and then get really excited because it doesn't feel like we should be as excited until they actually win the game. You know, it was weird.

So I think it, you know, was weird so I think it you know honestly it really it really played out perfectly for for a team that has had so many non-perfect nights let's say after the last over the last 11 years the the actual day where they finally ended the drought you know really did kind of play out perfectly. Yeah. And it was so funny because it felt like T Mac, you know, he thought he had five, five to 10 minutes for the, for like the setup. Oh yeah, buddy. And that starts getting out. Yeah. Yeah. And meanwhile, it was like bang, bang, first two,

first two batters and swinging the first pitch. And it's like, Oh, I guess I got to set this all up really quickly. And it's just like, when you think about everything that we've been through, James, bang, first two batters, a swing at first pitch. And it's like, oh, I guess I got to set this all up really quickly. And it's just like when you think about everything that we've been through, James, like everything as Phillies fans, like 11 seasons in baseball isn't normal. Like it's just it couldn't be less normal having to go through what we went through. And we went through not only – Especially as a market like Philadelphia.

You know what I mean? It's one thing, and even what the Mariners went through is crazy, but it's one thing to be a team that doesn't have a massive baseball market, isn't this huge top 5-7 market in sports. It's crazy, Jack. And think about everything that we've gone through, right? So we have the best run in franchise history from 07 to 11. And then immediately the window closes.

Howard gets hurt. Utley has the knee issues. Halliday's not the same guy. Rollins was not the same guy. Cliff Lee was still pretty good for a couple years there. And it was like, okay, so we're pretty much just in purgatory. Like A.J. Burnett burnett was affiliate at one point uh like uh michael young the michael young experience um you know grady sizemore was it was a center

fielder at one point during this uh cedric hunter started an opening day for us in left field um jeremy helixson started multiple opening days to back, back to back opening day starter. Yep. Yep. Yep. Dustin McGowan, the, the,

the amount of just dog bleep relievers, Sean O'Sullivan getting hit in the throat. Like it's just the, the Tyler Goodell throw out to the camera and Rob. I mean, there's just, it's been such a just decade of misery. And yes, could they have killed an entire young fan base with not making the playoffs for a decade? They

might have. But it just, I mean, if you even want to get into Klintec, McPhail, the disaster they were, like everything that we have been through, likeilly's fans what this podcast has had to endure five straight well four straight september collapses this year uh is a common philly success um it's just september miracle yep yep it really is it it's it's been so much dreck and honestly like like seeing seeing Hoskins start willing up like seeing how much he felt it we we talked about at the open but like Nola being on the mound was just perfect you know him being the guy that could kind of shut up all the haters and and and going down and dominating and then Jose Amarato who like I mean, all of a sudden is the greatest reliever I've ever seen put on a Phil's uniform,

and that includes O.A. Bradledge. Like, he is insane. And then Eflin closing it out, you know? Eflin closing it out is just, it was everything I could have asked for in a closeout game other than, obviously, it being at home. ask for in a closeout game other than obviously it being at home. But it's just, it's been such a long, long time to get where we are today.

Yeah, man. Jose Alvarado, like the only reliever who's immune to your correct theory of bringing guys out to get a big out and then bring him back the next inning. It seems like he's immune to everything. He's just like, sure, I'll go back another inning. No problem. I'll get outs. All right.

I want to get into some specific stuff. But first and foremost, in classic High Ops fashion, because, you know, we finally made it to this freaking podcast. Like, wasn't sure it was ever going to happen. I wasn't sure if we would ever get to talk to each other about the Phillies actually being in the playoffs. sure it was ever going to happen. I wasn't sure if we would ever get to talk to each other about the Phillies actually being in the playoffs. But with that in mind, let's dole out some quick credit because obviously presented by Miller Lite, as soon as Miller Lite came on board,

you know, we know what happened. The team started playing better. You know, some might say, you know, it was Topper and the end of Girardi and all that. And I would agree with a lot of that if we're giving you the portion for the whole season. But I just would like to draw attention to, you know, it was September, and we were collapsing. And, you know, the man who's been so tied to Phillies fortunes, it almost seems like he can swing them with a tweet, Bob Nightingale, wrote this in an article talking about the Phillies collapse.

And he said, little wonder why James Seltzer, a host and producer for Philadelphia Sports Station WIP, tweeted back in May, there is no team in the history of sports more frustrating to root for than Philadelphia Phillies. Still true, obviously, even in spite of tonight. But, you know, I'm not going to say that Bob Nightingale and me got the Phillies in the playoffs with the perfectly timed article that I was a part of.

But I'm also totally going to say that that's the reason the Phillies saved the September collapse. It saved everything right when it happened. Jack, you know, sometimes you just got to give credit when it's due. So give me some credit. I will give you credit. Also, shout out to Bob for finally helping us out rather than trying to sink our season like he did at the beginning of September when he wrote that the Phillies are confident that they're going to end their playoff drought.

Also, I believe if we're not big pat ourselves on the backs, guys. But I believe I did tweet on saturday after the 13 to 4 game which was again that did happen um a mere three games ago uh i don't know what you're talking about yes uh 13 to 4 did happen i believe i tweeted during that that the season is over so um i just had to you know do my people quick. If people just took all your tweets from this season and put them like in a row, it would be such a wild ride, man. That's what we do. Listen, it's hop on board a roller coaster.

I try to maintain level head in this. But when I felt like my very easily should have cakewalked into the playoff season, falling apart right in front of my eyes with a straight season. Sorry if I was a little bit emotional. But you know what, James? As I sit here, it's about 11.45. It really doesn't feel like it, pal. It feels like it's about 9.

It does not feel like 11.45. You know, my only thing is that I don't really care because the Phillies are going to the playoffs, James. Have I mentioned that before? Have I mentioned because the Phils are going to the playoffs. James, have I mentioned that before? Have I mentioned that the Phillies are going to the playoffs? They're going to the freaking playoffs. And before I want to, before we go any further here, can I just do something real quick? Like, I think this is important and I. And I think it needs to be said.

And I think it's for a lot of people out there, you know, that are feeling, oh, well, they made it to the third wild card. And, oh, this isn't really that special. And yada, yada, yada. I just want everyone to take a step back and just think about everything that they have overcome this season and have still won 86 games. And I believe I have laid it all out here, James, in a simple notes app. Are you ready for this? I am so ready, but don't short them. They've won 87 games after tonight, but go ahead.

87, even better. I think an important number for a lot I'll do my Al Michaels an important win tonight not just for the Phillies making the playoffs but for a lot of other people around the country that officially wraps up the Phil's over by the way so yeah that was my boy never a doubt but like

if any other team overcame what this team has overcame so far this season i think could be much more positive i mean they're already three wins away from 90 like whatever but think about this joe gerardi first first and foremost that's the biggest one. 22-29 when he was fired, you know? And if you're looking for some hope for a possible run here, I mean, the Nationals did this in 2019, and the Braves did it last year, where they weren't in first place,

they weren't in playoff contention. The Braves won 88 games last year. The Phillies overcame Joe Girardi being an absolute dunce that should not have ever been back as Phillies manager. But you know what? If he doesn't come back, then it doesn't lead us to Rob Thompson. So maybe it wasn't the worst thing in the world. They overcame a Bryce Harper injury that caused them to miss 52 games. They did go 32 and 20 during that time period, but they lost Bryce Harper. Zach Wheeler,

all of a sudden, towards the end of the season, he has to miss time. Eflin, he has the knee injury. He misses time. They didn't have a closer for the first half of the year until they put Sir Anthony in there. And it was like Corey Knable and whoever else is like, that's our closer idea. They overcame not having closer they overcame having Didi Gregorius who who I forgot was a Philly on opening day honestly um honestly forgot uh no homers as a Philly um and just simply couldn't play anymore um they overcame Didi Gregorius being a Philly they overcame Oduble freaking Herrera playing center field again for a majority of the season.

Oduble Herrera is another thing they had to overcome. Kyle Gibson existing is another thing they had to overcome. That's a direct shot for you. They overcame. I'll take it, buddy. I'll take it. They overcame. I take it buddy i'll take it i they overcame i bleeping hate this place they overcame jerry's familia being jerry's familia they overcame james norwood

existing they overcame gene segura missing two months of the broken hand they overcame pre-canada jt real amudo um they overcame they overcame uh sir anthony missing time for the last uh month and a half they have overcame so much and like honestly if you take a step back and you lay all that out the fact that we're 87 wins and and more, and they've ended the postseason drought, that is impressive stuff for a team that it feels like people are like, well, I don't know. I don't know if it's time to jump all in. Like, damn it, man. Who cares?

Who cares? They've overcome a lot. It's a long baseball season, and they're in the postseason. Yeah, they're in the dance, yeah they're in the dance right you got to be in it to win it and to the point like we've made the entirety of this podcast is oh they're a team and really a franchise team each year in a franchise that doesn't know how to win that hasn't done it in so long that they've had a culture of losing and like you gotta take baby steps like of course it's not always just gonna be like they come out and win a hundred games and it's like oh they're amazing

like it was a to jack's amazing list he just put together a season full of of adversity and trials and tribulations and they have found their way to the point now where and again like the funny thing is the padres are tied right now. Who knows? Like Phillies could be the second wild card. They still have a tiebreaker on the Padres. So that's up in the air, you know, the whole third wild card thing. But, you know, they're not a BS team.

They're going to end up winning somewhere between 87 and 89 games. I mean, that's a really good season. You know, that's a season that gets you in the playoffs a lot of years, even before them adding this third wildcard thing. Let's not forget, they talked about in the broadcast the last time the Phillies were in the freaking playoffs, a 2011 Phillies team that won 102 games and lost to an 84 wing Cardinal team that went on to win the World Series.

You know, so anything can happen now. And I do, I thought, you know, a lot of people made this point heading into the last couple of days. And I thought it was a really good one that, you know, this team was really tight and feeling the pressure of trying to make the playoffs. And I think that was something, the drought, the talk of it,

the, you know, people who have been here for so long who had never gotten over that hump and all that, that I think that was something that was really, you know, weighing on this group. And, you know, you could even tell when, you know, we're crushing Thompson for his hump and all that, that I think that was something that was really weighing on this group. And, you know, you could even tell when, you know, we're crushing Thompson for his speech and all that. And I think that was why he said it. And I still disagree with it.

I still disagree with the approach. But I think that everyone there was kind of feeling it. And, you know, I think that to get over this hump, to make it in the playoffs, you know, you're coming in as one of the underdogs. You're coming in with, you know, kind of playing with house money in a lot of ways. So I do think, you know, I'm not I can't say I expect them to go on any sort of run or anything like that. But I certainly it wouldn't be shocking to your point. Like the last couple of years have proven that teams can get hot right now and make some things happen, especially.

I mean, we've talked about important wheeler is if he's gonna pitch that game one which he's lined up for i mean if we're gonna get anything close to the aaron nola we got tonight i mean you know you could easily win a three game series with those two guys oh dude they're winning a postseason series like i don't even have to think twice about it like enough of the enough of the the beating around the bush there they're winning a postseason series i haven't felt more confident about a sports prediction in a while than the phillips are winning a postseason series and then that could be a guess that frankly i don't care um they're winning a postseason series and i want the city of philadelphia

to understand that tonight when their heads hit the pillow or when you wake up tomorrow morning and you put that fresh cup of coffee down in the morning after you just freshly brewed it and you start looking at the celebration from last night. You start looking over Noel's up. You start looking at 07 to 11 highlights again. You start weeping when you see them close out the 07 clincher like I did this morning.

I want everyone to understand that the Phillies are winning a postseason series I am not afraid of the Cardinals I am not afraid of the Mets I I think if you have Zach Wheeler in game one you have a shot and I think that letting them in was a mistake letting the Phillies who have Phils, who have been playing tight, who have been playing scared with this mountain of pressure on the backs of their shoulders,

this mountain of pressure of you're going to collapse again. You're going to collapse again. You know what happened tonight is that that was lifted. That was lifted from them. And I don't care if it's the third wild card. I don't care if it's the second wild card. I don't care if it's the third wild card i don't care if the second wild card i don't care if it's viewed as backed in it doesn't matter because they made

the playoffs and i just have this feeling that a lot of weight was lifted off their shoulders and honestly james how they played tonight like that was so it was like strange like they walked into this game and it felt like maybe once they saw the magic numbers down to one they were like let's go just end it tonight I mean it was it was unbelievable like I mean I know there's a couple double plays which is infuriating but I felt like they were more locked in. I felt like they weren't just giving away at bats. I felt like the pitching was locked in. I felt every single aspect of this team was crisp. And that's what they were for two months under Rob Thompson, or two and a half months. And the last month, they've gotten away from it. And yes, that's been infuriating,

but there is still a really freaking good baseball team in here, James. And when you think about it this way, you have a Wheeler game one. You have October Nola in game two. You have Ranger in game three, who I might trust more than those guys. Oh, yeah. We've always talked about it. Like the guy's heartbeat slower in those spots. It just is what it is

he's not going to be phased that's for sure you have those three ready to go and then you get into a situation where you can bring falter out of the bullpen you can bring efflin out of the bullpen robertson hasn't pitched in a while especially with falter and efflin i mean falter particularly he's been starting a guy who's pitched out of the bullpen. Getting Syndergaard even a little bit of work out of the bullpen helps. Like, you've got all these guys, you know? Like, it's really interesting, Jack. Like, they got a lot of starters who I feel like could be postseason factors,

especially if they do win a series. What about Gibby? Gibby? Off the postseason roster. I'm not even kidding. Like, he can't be. What use is he on the postseason roster. I'm not even kidding. He can't be. What use is he on the postseason roster? No way.

No way. Vibes guy? He seems like a good vibe guy. Let him hang out. He doesn't have to leave the locker room or the clubhouse. No one with their September. You see, his ERA is like 10-15 in September. It's like, how could anyone still?

And we love you, Dave Shaw. You are our guy, and I love you. And shout out for running the marathon, with basically just being like, I'm going to run a marathon, doing it in a Phillies uniform. That was super cool. But I'm hoping you're out on Gibby with me, because no sane person can still defend Kyle Gibson,

as far as I'm concerned, Jack. But it is interesting like they got and again look the lineup is is still legit you know and and obviously if they're locked in and if these guys are hitting they can do damage against anybody I mean look you know obviously that 13 to 4 game was a disaster and like you said you you know when season's over and all that, but you know, since then they, they put up eight, eight, you know, they got enough to win tonight. Schwarber has four homers in the last, what, two games, you know, three games or whatever. I mean, so, um, you know, it's like you said, I'm, I'm not quite as confident as you, but I appreciate it.

Um, they, they, they are dangerous. they are a dangerous team with those starters and the depth in the pitching staff and the lab all right so quick because you brought it up and let's just talk about real quick first and foremost you know obviously they were way better than us this year and and all that but the mets collapsing is is bleeping hilarious i almost cursed there but it is I can't help it. I'm sorry. It's just so funny. It's so funny. Like I, and they're better than us.

And they be favored and they kicked our ass all year. And I can't, I know I can't talk, but like, I can't help it. Like schadenfreude, I can't help it. It was hilarious this weekend. And it's so funny because we're a Phillies team that, you know, and even like we talked about, there's definitely people in the fan base who are like kind of not as excited as they they should be and i think will be like look they made the freaking playoffs i think people will

feel it even i i was super excited i felt like way more emotional than i expected to tonight like i expect to be excited i was like emotional like i'm i've been feeling it you know but i think with the mets it's so funny because we're heading into the playoffs now you know kind of on on a real positive streak just to finish out obviously it was really tough for a while but at least we're we're on an uptick at the end here and like the mets and mets fans like even though this team won like what like 10 12 more games in the phillies or whatever it is uh you know like they are coming in way more disappointed way more upset with their team if that happens if it's a really interesting dynamic but the question i want to ask is you know mets or cardinals like if you have to choose

because i think you know it's obviously interesting i think that that situation the mets coming in kind of down is is interesting but you know they do they do have Scherzer. They do have DeGrom. They have owned us this year. I think the Cardinals are a less talented baseball team, but it's obviously the Cardinals, the last team we faced in 11. We talked about that. You know, and look, part of it, too, just on a sports fan level, you know, just from a fun perspective,

obviously they're both cool series, but, I mean, Phillies-M mets in the playoffs for the first time ever after this year the way it's gone would be you know pretty epic um where do you come down on it oh um man uh vibes are down in mets land uh after just getting it's unbelievable yeah. Like seeing the reaction videos today has just been it's been bringing a little bit of a tear to my eye. It's still the Cardinals. But I will say that I'm not as terrified of the Mets as you know, I would have been a month ago. And I keep thinking back to that. What was it?

1978 or whatever. When the Dodgers own the Phillies in the regular season and they won, like, what, 11 out of 12? And then the Phillies beat them in the postseason series or whatever the stat was. So I think of that a lot. DeGrom and Scherzer, obviously, one-two is terrifying. But, I mean, listen, they went down to Atlanta

and got swept with those two on the mound. So, and and and de gramo do what he does you know give him a good four to five innings and then turn it over the bullpen so yeah you gotta you gotta factor that in i just the cardinals thing worries me a little bit from the standpoint of it's like man like pool halls is all of a sudden like i I mean, if he stays around, he might hit 800 homers. It seems like they're planning for Wainwright and Yachty and Pujols to kind of go out at the same time and all retire the same year, which I don't love having to go up against that. And they've been really good here for like two months. But I look at that team and Wainwright's whatever.

I mean, he was part of the team in 2011. I mean, is Chris Carpenter still pitching? No. But, I mean, like, Flaherty actually looked pretty good the other day. But then it's, like, Jordan Montgomery and Jose Quintana. And, like, am I supposed to be afraid of that? Like, Ryan Helsley in a playoff series terrifies me. He's nasty.

And Quintana, for what it's worth, has been awesome for the Cardinals. Yeah. La, la, la, la, la, la. Don't care. Don't care. Do not care about awesome. Get me to the postseason where my big game pitchers step up like Aaron Nola. Playoff Nola, Jack.

Playoff Nola. I'm at it. Was that, like, one of the first staples of this podcast? Yeah, that was, like duper duper early on. Well, I did feel like it was back in 18 Fenway NOLA tonight. I mean, that was the best game he's ever played. He was better. It was the best he's ever been.

Not even close. So, like, yeah, the Cardinals are kind of tough. Obviously, Goldschmidt's MVP. Arenado's been insane. But, like, there's just – they're the freaking Cardinals. Like, I would love to beat the Mets. I'd love to play the Mets. But, you know, I want to make up for 2011.

And I just – I view the Phillies, and I think the three things that make me feel confident in this team, James, the three things that make me feel confident in this team, James, is one, what I laid out earlier about, I think, like, Major League Baseball made a mistake letting the Phillies in the playoffs. Like, that's exactly what I think. And I think that them getting in and being able to exhale and be like, we made it. Now let's go play ball, I think is just such a massive win for them then i think about their two horses and also ranger but then i think about schwirby and i think about like if he just goes on a freaking run and it kind of feels like we're better than june schwerber if we can get that and then bricey and reese just you know maybe gets hot out of nowhere. JT's been hot for like three months.

JT's been hot. I have these visions. I've had these visions of like these guys turning into like September, October. It's like those are our guys. And they're going to have some moments. I need a Bryce moment, like, real bad. Real bad need a Bryce moment. But I just have had these, like, I just have a good feeling about this team heading into a playoff series.

I really do. It's not even, like, it's not even, like like bid enhanced. I think when they get in and they are now in, I have felt for a little bit here that there's going to be a little run here. There's been so much of this bull, which has driven me up a wall, where it's like, well, they're going to get in and get swept. Why? Why are they going to get in and get swept? You have Zach Wheeler, who was dominant on Sunday for his five innings. You have Zach Wheeler, you have Aaron Oli, you have Ranger Suarez. I mean, that's a good one through three.

You have a high-priced lineup, and it's the best bullpen they've had in forever. I'm already annoyed by it. I can already tell. They're going to get swept. I don't care. Grow up. I don't think they're going to get swept. I think they're going to win. I'm so sick and tired of them getting out in front of it. They're going to get swept. I don't care. Grow up. I don't think they're going to get swept. I think they're going to win. I'm so sick and tired of them getting out in front of it. They're going to win their first round series. They're going to win. They're going to win. I don't

care. I don't care. They're going to win. Okay. I love this so much. That was a phenomenal just in the moment being like, screw it. I'm getting out in front of this. I'm saying it now. All right. First and foremost, I agree with everything you said. Ultimately, the Mets would just be so fun. As a sports this. I'm saying it now. All right. First and foremost, I agree with everything you said. Ultimately,

like the Mets would just be so fun. And as a sports fan, I'm all in. But the correct answer is the Cardinals. For everything you said, plus, you know, just as an added thing, they don't reseed after the first round.

So you want to be the six seed because you want to play the three seed and not face the Dodgers in the second round. Not that it really matters. You're going to have to beat. No, I love that angle. I love that angle. We're going to NLCS right here.

That's what I'm trying to do, Jack. I'm trying to watch as much Phillies freaking playoff baseball as I possibly can. That's my whole goal right now. Well, and you got to think about it this way too, James, is that the Phillies own the Dodgers in the playoff series. And four and three against them this year, just saying. Yeah, and should have been. Should have been five and three.

Corey Gnavo. I know. Well, would that be five and two? Look at all those losses. How many gut punch losses over the years? You did a list before. Like, we had so many of them. The Hector Narises, all this stuff.

All right. I have two more things. And then if you have anything else. But here's my last two. One is a statement slash a kind of a mini ask of you. And then the second is a question for you. Statement. I would just like to point out that after all the slander on this podcast over the course of the season, some titles, some things were said. I would just like to point out that in seasons that Zoe Seltzer has gone and sat at a Phillies game and watched the team play live, they've gone to the playoffs. I'm just saying it, all right? There was a lot of slander about one Zoe Seltzer,

yes, my daughter on this podcast from someone here, and I'm just saying. First season going to games, playoffs. Boom. So the small ask is, I want to know if you want to apologize. Well, I see your comment about Zoe, and I would like to raise you. Oh, baby princess. I mean, the season turned around at that point yes yes this is the way i would characterize this is the most jack prince response in the history of responses

ever the way i would characterize this predicament that the podcast is currently in is that zoe seltzer was a liability and You had to have a baby just to fight the ship. And Baby Fritz came around to make sure that we really, truly ended the playoff drought. Baby Fritz is not here yet, but sure. Yes, I like this. Well, soon. And Baby Fritz is going to wake up in a world where... As a world champion. Well, he's also going to wake up in a world where... As a world champion.

Well, he's also going to wake up in a world where... Or there, sorry. The baby. I keep saying him. But they're going to wake up in a world where Aaron Nola is a career winner, where Bryce Harper is a winner, and Reese Hoskins is a winner,

because they made the post. Where the Phillies are winners, Jack. That is the most impactful statement you can say. You're damn right, pal. You're damn right. So, I mean, like, think about just think about everything that that this podcast and our listeners and just the dreadful, dreadful. I mean, we have been through a lot. I mean, from being excited about Matt Klintzak and to the downfall of Matt Klintzak to Harper Lent to the JT trade to, you know, they fire Klintak, they hire Dombrowski, they did the Brian Barber hire.

Don't forget to throw if we don't, we don't in there. If we don't, we don't. The McFail, the McFail era. Like, it's been a long time coming. And I think we said it when they signed Cassie on us, like, we deserve this. And it just feels so good that we are sitting here uh beginning of october big game aaron nola just went out and shoved and pitched the phillies into the post

season just like we always thought for the first time in in 11 years and we made it we made it. We did it. And listen, it's okay to geek out. Like you deserve it. We all deserve it. It's been a long freaking time coming. And I just have this feeling that it's only going to get better, James. Like I think this was just the tip of the iceberg. I think this was just they got in and then it's like, we figured it out a little bit and now it's go time. And I couldn't, I just, I can't be happier. Like I was, I was, you know,

I woke up today and I had to watch the second half of the Jags game again because I forgot and I was stuck in traffic. So I had to rewatch the Jags game. But after that, game again because i forgot and i was stuck in traffic so i had to re-watch the jags game but after that i watched the uh the 07 clencher just like to feel it again welled up a little bit that's whatever um that isn't that can be scrubbed from the record i'm sure um then i like was driving to work and i'm just like dude like i just i needed to be a 10 and I kept saying in my head over and over again like 4014 days that is absolute that's insane James it's that's insane for a fan base and a franchise that is as like that is you know spend as much money as they do 4014 days and we made it through the day. I was nervous all day. I was finding anything else to do.

And at 8.10, I just had this calming sense when I watched Knowles. And it was just a magical, magical night. I can't freaking wait for Friday. I can't wait. I need the schedule now. I can't believe that we are being saddled with Michael K and A-Rod. Well, not necessarily. Again, if we get the two spot.

Oh, good point. Good point. Good point. Like, I mean, of course, Joe Buck quits Fox. I know. The Phillies are back. I know. So he goes back when he did in the OAA. He wasn't good not now he's good at baseball but anyway good but i can't wait for friday and um

i just it's gonna be amazing and i don't care how long it lasts i don't care it's been an up and down season um and i just i i really think i just really think we deserve this and our fan base deserves this um and it's okay to believe in the phils again like we don't need to do the scaredy cat oh this guy is falling like they're good they're good they're here they're gonna be here for a while. Stotter's a winner. Schwarbs is a winner. Knowles is a winner.

You know, it's a good time. And how about Gene and JT? Yeah, it's awesome. Making the playoffs for the first time in their career. Yeah, it's pretty insane. I mean, the fact that the two longest streaks in baseball games played without making it were both on the Phillies coinciding with the Phillies having the National League drought and just an insane drought. It really is. Again, it just adds to how cool it is that they finally broke that barrier and made it.

And I echo everything you said, and I will be breaking my steadfast no podcast on Friday's rules so we can record after the first game, obviously. I'm sure. Assuming they win, of course. It's awesome. I'm with you. I can't wait to get to Friday. All right.

Last thing I said, I had a question, and then I got to edit, and we're going to bed, Fritz. I haven't complained about being up late once. That shows how insane this is right now. Last thing, how much do we blame NBC Sports Philadelphia for putting a perfect game ticker up in the sixth inning? I'm not really like, look, I get with broadcasters and stuff like, you're doing your job, especially national guys. You have no allegiance and stuff.

I get it. You're doing your job. national guys of no allegiance stuff like i get it you're doing your job and even then like i would talk around it i'd be like well you know 15 up and 15 down huh like that kind of stuff like i get it you have to do your job like try and avoid you know certain buzzwords but for the whole network to put that up on the ticker like even me who is not you know i'm not too precious about that. I was like, what are we doing here? Jack, we've given out a lot of love on this pod and deservedly so in praise. Do we have to end giving out, you know, a little bit of a, you know, not praise, blame, whatever? Well, as someone who has often been labeled a mush in their in their in their lifetime um it kind of

takes one to know one you know and and that's what i would say i wasn't even like chill i was watching the game of chill and she's like why are they being so weird like what's going on and i'm like just don't just you know just we can't just don't say it just don't say it um so even i was like all right we can't do this today it was a weird like a perfect game alert makes sense if you're if the game's on like mlb exactly exactly yeah it's an odd move it's an odd move you know that people are watching that game i think we all have a general idea. We're not idiots. Oh, my God. A big old swing and a miss, but it's overlooked. Yeah, and who cares?

Nola was amazing. He was brilliant. He finally stepped up. And they won. And we get to do playoff bots. It's so cool. Oh, is that allowed? I didn't think we'd ever be able to do a postseason podcast.

I mean, I was legitimately thinking if I was ever going to see the Phillies make the playoffs again. And that was a mere three days ago. And the turnaround from three days ago to oh my god, we're going to the postseason. And also, one last thing, even though I might have like eight other last things.

Oh my god, let me go to bed, Jack. Stream of consciousness. I would like to give a shout out to the Miami Marlins. Oh, my God. Let me go to bed, Jack. Now I will. Stream of consciousness. I would just like to give a shout out to the Miami Marlins. I mean. Oh, hell yeah. Great point. Great job. We wouldn't be here without you.

We really wouldn't be here without you. Would you say we're all fans of Phish? Yeah. Yeah. I've always been a big Phish fan. Exactly. And Don Mattingly going out as a winner, per usual. Miguel Rojas delivering the almost season-clinching single with a broken wrist.

So much poetic stuff happening, you know? Yeah. It's been special. And we get more. And we get more. We're not just doing a, oh, season's over. That was fun, Pod. Like, we've done like eight trillion freaking times

it's good it's very good pal it's very good um i'm i'm really happy i'm really excited i'm way more um again like this is awesome and you should be happy if you're a phillies fan you've freaking been with it i was like trying to figure out with emily i was like thinking like you know i was like if i watch you know for at least like let's just say the last five years you know when they were actually competitive for you know 2018 on you know five seasons you know if I miss you know with weddings or this or that or a vacation where you can't watch one and you you're even better about you know being completely inappropriate making sure you watch games but like 152 155 153 154 whatever games it is a year with this team over the last five years it's like it's like

almost like 800 games with this team over the last five years like that's you know these are three and four and three and a half and you know these are these are you know our games like these are real commitments life commitments we spend so much time with this team and and spend so much time to see so much losing and so much you know just unfulfilled expectations you know our freaking podcast is called high hopes how many times have we joked about how inappropriate a title that is you know it's been a lot of losing like like, don't let the feeling of frustration with the team not finishing out the way you thought they would and, you know, almost collapsing and all that.

And that's been the theme of this pod is, like, don't let that, you know, hinder or limit the absolute joy you should feel because the Phillies are freaking in the playoffs again. And that's awesome because we watched so much bad baseball and so much mediocre baseball and so much losing when it mattered they finally won

enough when it mattered they finally won enough games over the course of a season battled tons of adversity to get there and it's freaking awesome Fritzy I love you buddy this is awesome i'm really excited to do a playoff bobby yeah yeah love you too love the phils um loves our high hopes people this has been uh i don't say i don't know if i would have made it through the last five years without them

like you know this is uh this is for all of us we uh we really went through a lot together. And guess what? My final message to everyone out there is that we're going to win a postseason series. It's not... I don't need to... I'm not worried about the Cardinals. I don't care if it's the Mets. Trust me.

Trust me. The Phils are winning a postseason series. And we're going to have a home playoff game at Citizens Bank Park. And when we do, tears will be shed 100 so uh i can't wait for it and also look out for james and i potentially uh on thursday afternoon maybe some stuff going on well uh yeah could be cool could we go oh five throw your annulus that out there you can't not oh yeah i was so excited about real quick because i'm i need to go to bed and edit this. But give me this stat, because it's awesome.

Yeah. Full disclosures from Jill Lee on the pregame show, which I'm pretty sure he got from baseball reference. But Aaron Nola tonight became the second pitcher in baseball history, history, to pitch and strike out 230 batters and walk less than 30 in a season, which is insane. And the other guy was in like 1884. Shout out to Aaron Nola.

So it doesn't really count. You know, for a guy who's really been so maligned over the last few years because of the September, it's awesome. He deserves some real credit tonight, and the whole team does. It's so exciting, Fritzy. All right, we're going to be back with playoff pods because the Phillies are in the playoffs. The hopes are high for real, for once.

He's Fritz himself. you