High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - The Phillies Lose Two Of Three To The Brewers

Episode Date: September 4, 2023

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to the Phillies' weekend series against the Milwaukee Brewers. Presented by Miller Lite. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Go it is. Odyssey and Sports Radio 94 WIP. So it is. Another edition of the High Ops Podcast presented by Miller Lite. Chuck, we're like, what are those, like, almost like a ho-hum. How you doing, Jack? Like, they lost two or three and stopped the first two. It's like, oh, here we go, September 2. Like, just gut-wrenching ways to lose baseball games. Like, kick us in the junk to start september yep feels right but like coming out of

the series still up five in the wild card lost a little ground on chicago you want to watch that but it was like you know pretty anticlimactic i feel like we came off august and it was like every time we did a pot it's like oh, yo! Like, there's, like, something crazy that just happened. And now it's just like, all right, well, they lost 2-3. We'll get back at it on today, tomorrow, today. Yeah, you know, I mean, so usually what happens for us is they win the first two games of the series, and then we're recording on a Sunday or the next day. They always lose that third game.

Like, lock it up. Like, that's what they do for us. So they changed course here, which was an interesting move. Like, I mean, had we recorded Friday night, I don't know if the podcast would still be standing today. It was such a – it was like – I mean, for it recorded Friday night, I don't know if the podcast would still be standing today. It was such a September. It was like, I mean, for it to be September 1st and for them to lose that game like that was just almost too on brand, almost too on the nose. Yeah, I mean, and now we know what it's like to have been a Red Sox fan before 2004.

Because similar style of heartbreak, you know, the Buckner ball and Alec Bones ball. I think both key games, big games, I would say. So, yeah, it was good to share something with the Red Sox fan. But, yeah, like, I don't know. Like, yesterday kind of changed a lot of the narrative that I think would have headed into this podcast, which, like, I mean, the bullpen was lights out yesterday. Meanwhile,

on, on Saturday and Friday, they were not. Yeah. Alvarado alone. Like just that one guy, one way to the other was a completely different thing. I know.

And, and Alec poem. I mean, it's like, essentially all I could think about the whole, like, it's like the Josh hater moment versus that moment. It was like total opposite ends of the

spectrum for a human being in a building you know yeah but then he obviously has the big home run yesterday and and everything but i can't believe that got out by the way i mean again like i feel like i've seen ryan braun hit that ball out like a thousand times that ryan braun was also uh on something so so it's a little different um but the nice part about Alec Boehm is that, you know, I think that that happens, obviously, last year pre-I-Bleeping-Hate-This-Place. I think that sends Alec Boehm into a tailspin. But where we're at with Alec Boehm now is that he just bounces back. He has a couple hits Saturday, makes every play defensively, has a big home run Sunday, and it's like just a blip in the radar. And I think that's the biggest difference between, you know, this team and the prior teams is that when it feels like it's teetering,

they're usually pretty good at bouncing back, and they're usually pretty good at not letting it avalanche. Now, early in the season, it avalanched a lot. It was just awful. But since they found their groove and they figured it out, like, I'm not going to say it because then it's gonna happen don't say it don't say it don't say it keep it to yourself yep that's what we do on podcast we don't talk um yes we don't say the things on our mind that is the point exactly exactly people come here for it yeah but they've been here i say oh i've

got something interesting to say oh no wait you know what i shouldn't say it i'm not good it's not that interesting it's just jinxable and i don't want to i don't want to put no i don't want to put the fans for that because i care like dude losing the the way they lost on wednesday and then friday it's just like no human being shit like sports fans should have to go through back to back it was awful just an awful 72 hour period or whatever there's one important caveat here

they walked it off on Wednesday on Bryce Harper's 300th home run so I'm not really sure what you're talking about I get kind of what you're going for but I don't totally get it that's good usually I stay committed to bits You know what I mean? Totally. Yeah, that's good. Weddings stay committed to the bits.

Usually I stay committed to bits. That's what I'm saying. I'm trying to look out for you, buddy. That's a good assist. That's a good assist. So yeah, but they've been pretty good at letting a lot of things avalanche. Well, besides 27. Besides in there, they're all right at it.

And that's why I'm not... I don't have this overwhelming sense of dread with the bullpen that I think a lot of people have. And it makes sense. It's been something that has scarred us for a couple of years here. We saw the worst in the history of the sport. That'll, you know, leave a mark. That'll make you feel horrible. But, like, the sport that'll you know leave a mark that'll that'll that'll make you feel horrible

but like the way that they the guys they have back there the stuff that they have you know is there going to be audience where they're all over the place like a like gregory soto of course is there going to be an avarado is more shocking when it happens than not especially yeah well he's coming back still i think if if like he still doesn't look like the dude who you know like the velocity is back and that's exciting and you see it and you're like, well, there it is. And you're the pop and somebody hasn't looked as dynamic as he was before. Like he's still getting there. Yeah.

I thought yesterday was finally the first time where it's like, oh, there's the cutter that just goes right under. Same thought. Thank you. I mean, and they need that. Sir Anthony also back toback good outings which is much needed again and kimbrough looked great yesterday yeah and i don't know you know they got the job done because with kimbrough you know if his velocity was at like 94 or like sitting around there and didn't have that same kind of pop i'd be like that's cause for concern but like

even during this down period he still has been, you know, he's been throwing decently hard. His command has been off a little bit, which is concerning. But he's still throwing decently hard. But, like, last year's bullpen versus this year's bullpen, I mean, it was pretty much just Sir Anthony Alvarado in the postseason. I mean, David Robertson, like, would go out there and pitch, but it wasn't, like, good ever, it felt like.

The talent level this year is just... It's so much different. Even Soto, who's a hit-or-miss guy right now, just the arm talent on that guy compared to Robertson or the other, Bilotti, Brogdon, the guys they were bringing in games last year.

It's not the same. No. You have to hope that when you get into the postseason and you get into these bigger games and maybe the weather turns a little bit, that like – And velocity matters. Velocity does matter. Like that's one of those adages that matters in October.

Like it does. Again, a lot of things are funny about the Phillies. But the funniest is for years of us just begging for them to get assigned guys they're hard mike moran out there throwing 70 miles an hour it's like just get a guy who throws 100 blake parker i mean blake parker was was captain like split change up that he threw over and over again um and now they have the hardest run bullpen in baseball i mean they're averaging 96.3 miles an hour out of the bullpen. Think about it.

Every single one of them throws freaking Keat, like Alvarado, Strom, Sarandon, the whole group. They all bring gas, man. Soto, obviously. I mean, Strom probably throws the softest. Yeah, well, him and Kimbrough are the two softest. They're both like 94, 96. Like, okay. Yeah, yeah. It's Kimbrough are the two softest. They're both like 94, 96. Like, okay.

Yeah, yeah. It's a good time to be alive. So, you know, yesterday, I actually thought Rod Thompson had a really smart day yesterday. Because with Jelic and Freilich on the bench, like he didn't give them any opportunities until the ninth to pinch hit. So he kept putting lefties in there. So they couldn't bring them off the bench, which I thought was smart. But yeah, it's just...

You know, Friday sucked, and I get it, but it was just a normal series loss. They're going to lose series, like they are. It is what it is. The offense, I still thought, looks pretty good. That was one concern I think a lot of people had, is that they go on the road, the offense i still thought looks pretty good you know i thought that that was one concern i think a lot of people had is that they go on the road the offense lacks but the brewers have like a sick staff now they didn't face burns so like that helps but like the offense the bullpen like that bullpen's awesome and they have an arrow first off i'm shocked that the phillies

have the hardest throwing bullpen in baseball because i feel like everyone for the brewers comes out with 100 with like two inches. I'm so in it. They go sick. So, like, you know, I think it's important that the offense carried over and didn't go into a tailspin when they faced a good Brewers staff. And Wheeler was really good still. And I thought Ranger actually, you know, looked more like Ranger than we'd seen before he went on the I.L.

Yeah, and look, I mean, Trey Turner just, I mean, okay. Not in my wildest dreams of a turnaround that I imagined we'd see. But again, the dude just keep it. Clutch hit after clutch hit, clutch home run after clutch home run. It's been unbelievable. Well, and that's why I was surprised he struck out. I thought Saturday was like. I was surprised he struck it. I thought Saturday. I was shocked.

Shocked, dude. I was like, is he really going to do this again? I expect him to come through in every situation now. It's unbelievable. Like you said, you know, Beaumont, the big homer. I thought, I think from an offensive perspective, the way they battled again, coming back in that game Friday night in the first place to take the lead was awesome and this team yet again uh you know yesterday goes down comes back to win the

game just the hallmark of what they are and you know it's it is just ironic i guess and funny that uh what was the stat they were seven and oh right and then they lose back-to-back games the twerper leads off for the home run was kind funny. I didn't think about it until it happened. But, you know, look, you lose two or three in Milwaukee, but you lose two or three that you could have won either of those two games. It's a really good Milwaukee team here in Milwaukee, to your point. I'm not

freaking out. That last one was important. And you don't lose ground on the grand scale. Yeah, well, and the thing about the Brewers, you know what's so funny? It's that August we talked about was the most magical baseball month we've had here in a while. Oh, the Brewers were better, yeah. Dude, the Phillies had the sixth best record in August. I know.

The way we talked about it was like they didn't lose a game. I think the Dodgers went 23-4. Yeah, the Dodgers were insane, like insane in the month. Yeah, the Dodgers were insane. Like, insane in the month. I know. Mariners were insane. So, and the Brewers, before that series, I think they had won, like, 10 of 11, maybe? Yeah, they had a nine-game winning streak in there before that.

Like, yeah, they've been white hot. Yeah, which, again, how? I do. For the last five years, how? I haven't understood a single, like, yeah, I get Corbin Burns and Brandon Woodruff are good, and Freddie Peralta's good. Like, that's it?

I don't, they just like, it seems like, yeah, we'll pick up guys. Like, they're like, yeah, sure, we'll take, you know, that guy off the scrap heap. Oh, boom. He's like, Roddy Tellez. Boom. Dude rakes.

Like, it's just like, I don't get it. I hate that. No, I hate it. I don't get it. So I think I would handle losing to the Brewers in a playoff series worse than losing to Gabe and the Giants. I agree with that. Maybe not. I might say, I don't know.

It's tough. They're very similar. They're very similar. They're both like, you look at the roster, you look at it again, you look at it again, you're like going through all 25, 26 guys, like what's happening? And then you're like, how? How?

I don't get it. How are you winning baseball games? If this Phillies team with this payroll lose to that team, I will be inconsolable. I just agree. That's not something that should be allowed in baseball. That's my Rob Manfred step in like Joey Weimer. It's like, how does he ever get a hit? If you just throw him a slider, he's swinging at it. And he's he's got the it's quirky. It's all I I don't know. I guess the Brewers' defense is that they say, well, what we do is we pitch and play unbelievable defense. Like, sick.

Sounds horrible. Go hit some dingers. Yeah, what a boring way to play baseball. Like, come on. Oh, go get Mark Conda. There's the guys who are putting, like, defense doesn't matter, and then as soon as the season starts, God, defense really matters every single year.

I mean, what a bunch of dorks. I mean, seriously. Them getting Mark Conda, I was like, all right, screw you guys. Enough. Yeah. And like, Lowe's is back and he's, you know, taking us deep, which I didn't appreciate. I was not very kind of Carlos Santana. Do you think Carlos Santana, do you think he remembers he was a Philly at all?

No. I mean, maybe because of the TV thing. That's the only reason. He's like, wait, I played for them? It's probably one of those things where he'll be telling a story. I'll be like, yeah, I got a great story. One time I had to smash the TVs. Where was that?

It's one of those. There's like, was that in Kansas City? Oh, was it Philly? That kind of thing. That's how he remembers his time in Philly. Yeah, exactly. He was the original Schwarber argument. Oh, yeah, he was.

He was lead off, third base, the whole thing. We had some fun with Santana. He was batting 220, you know, but he played elite first base defense. The one thing about Santana, Santana would have been much better if he could hit like 25 homers. Oh, yeah.

Old Santana, like when Santana was an Indian, that player was a damn good baseball player. And he's had a nice career. Don't get me wrong. Carl Santana has done a nice job, had a really nice baseball career. He was a top prospect when he came up too, but old Santana was legit. He was a good baseball player.

And he still is. Real ones remember when he was a catcher that's right you're damn right he was buddy he was traded for the indians trade of the dodgers to get him really he was a dodger he was a dodger prospect well how cool is it that he's a he was a switch hitting catcher war 41 for vmart and then eventually became a first baseman vmart has one of my favorite like individual player quirk things in all the sports history that and i'm sure there are other guys who had it but vmart was the only one i knew that every team he was ever on he used to have an individual handshake for every single player on the team like so like all 26 guys he had his own handshake with each dude and if someone came up up, he'd have a new handshake.

That's dedication. That's a lot of handshakes. That's what I'm saying. Just remembering all those handshakes and knowing. I always liked that about V-Mart. That made me a V-Mart guy. I think V-Mart is much like Maglio Ordonez. One of the more underappreciated great players.

I totally agree with you. From 2005 to 2014, the most underrated players in baseball for me were V-Mart, Adrian Gonzalez, who every year was just like three. Totally, great, great guy for that reason. Great, great guy. I pulled him on a Rangers red side. He was like a 3 great guy. Great, great guy. I pulled him on a Rangers

red side. He was like a 340 guy. I know. Maglio was super underrated. Canerco, we've talked about him. He was super underrated. There are some dudes in there that just kind of get lost. Vmart's swing was just

beautiful. I loved him. Switch hit and catcher also. Travis Hafner. Hafner, pronk. The V-Mart swing was just beautiful. I loved him. I loved him. I loved him. So, Chittin Catarosa. Yep. Travis Hafner. After a pronk. Yeah. That dude was great. I had to be a couple years where he was just hitting bombs.

Yeah. Yeah. They go from Tomei to Hafner. It's like, ah, we'll be all right. We'll be all right. So, go Phils, obviously. Grid talk. Just diving in. So, go Phils.

But, yeah, no, like that Brewers team, like, I just, just diving in. So go, Phils. But yeah, that Brewers team, I get it. You guys want to play defense, but what makes it way worse than anything in the entire existence as a baseball fan is when I have to watch my bullpen-slash-starter meltdown on Saturday, and it's at the hands of Tyrod Taylor. It's exactly right. It's such a perfect way to, but it's like,

no, you're right. It's like, it's like losing to Tyrod Taylor. It's like Lynn football. That's it. I'm happy. You said that.

Cause that's the exact same feeling. You're so right. It's like, how, how is this dude doing this? Who is that? Yeah. I'm a batting average guy when it's not about.

I get it yes pick and choose all right let's get to that because that was the you know clear most disappointing part of the entire weekend even I guess Friday Friday was way worse it was but I mean like

you know good you know seven shutouts seven two runs we're starting to get there and then it was like the most aaron nola outing ever it's just like yeah that guy there he is i know that really really well i almost cursed i almost said really bleeping well i didn't i know that guy really bleeping dude it was i was sitting there i was sitting there i was outside my friend came over and he's just doing it again yeah and i'm like i just i want it to end like i just i want it to be over i just want to i want the whole roller coaster ride and the whole

everything that comes with the aranola talk about experience i just i i don't want to do it i i screamed uncle on on saturday i was like i'm just i can't because every time i start believing you know and it's like oh there he goes like you know bang seven runs to the freaking brewers on a saturday night coming off a game where they have an unbelievable late comeback. And, and I have an out bomb just can feel a ground ball. They probably win that game. Jeff Hoffman comes in and it's like a hero.

It was great. Hoffman was so great, man. Shouts. I feel bad for that guy. Cause it'll just get forgotten because of the bone marrow, but like to come in and get that strike out and to get a ground ball, there was like a really outstanding job. and then and then immediately talk talk smack i

know which was clearly like he was definitely if i could go inside the mind of jeff often in that moment he was mad at how happy the brewers were for scoring there and he was saying i got you out i agree do not be happy. Which is fair. I think he's right about that. Well, it's a very Fritz move to make. Oh, it's such a Fritz move. He definitely ingratiated himself to you with that one. I saw him, and I was like,

you know what, Jeff? I've been there. Now, like, it happens in you know, Babe Ruth or Legion or high school. A little different than you know, in the big leagues, but similar mentalities. So what can you do? But yeah, and then Saturday,

you're just sitting there and you see it coming. You see the worst part about an Aaron Nola start when it starts going bad is just the body language completely shifts. Like the first inning, dude, he comes out

freaking 95 mile an hour seeds. Striking dudes out like boom, boom. And the second it turns, shoulders shrug, everything slows down. You get a little

down about yourself. And all of a sudden you look up and five runs are on the board. And it's like, why? Why? What makes it so much worse is that you know he's so much better. Obviously, that's not breaking news, but that's what makes the experience so frustrating. You know it. Yeah, you know it doesn't have to be that way yeah just bear the frick down and and do like you can let up runs i don't care like just it can't be the five runs it can't be eventually

getting into seven which i know they were in hair inherited runners just keeping it too i'm not asking for shutouts but the offense is raking right now like just when when things are going bad bear down and get out of it and like that's that's been the the home runs are a problem for him this year but like we said two starts ago you can allow your solo home runs whatever it's the it's the extended extending of innings that is totally you know jacked up this season and saturday it was like we're just we're we're we're here again never believe never believe is the official statement never believe if he does it great if he does it awesome like if he goes on a run we're winning the world series but like do not let yourself believe that's my goal that's my the main message of this podcast don't believe and just hope how about that i look i hope it's

not a strategy uh you know you've mentioned that before with hyros and it's the only strategy with no there is no other strategy i'm very with with you. And even when I, like, these last few starts, like, oh, maybe it'll be good. Like, I didn't think he would be. I hoped. Like, there was no part of me that last night actually truly believed Aaron Nola was going to go out and shove. I hoped.

I maybe convinced myself it was possible. I didn't actually truly believe it. Because that's where it is. It is what it is with this guy. Like, done. I'm not. And look, could he go out and shove? Sure.

Of course he could. You know? Yeah. I'm never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever counted it. Like, it's what it is. And to your point, the very first thing you said, like, yes, I can't wait for it to be done, too. I'm going to pray we get a little run out of the guy.

Then good luck, Rangers fans or Astros fans, wherever the hell signs him. He's a Cardinal. He's a Cardinal fan. You're right. Then he'll shove in St. Louis with the best fans in baseball. And they're having it. Baseball having it.

All right. And I'm just saying this now because I can already tell where this is going. This is going to get clipped when Aaron Nola is... A World Series MVP and he's holding the trophy up. Yeah, no, yeah, yeah. Wait, come on. You know what we'll do here, guys. Come on. Let me just say this.

It'll be worth it. Oh, my God. You're going to play it over and over again. Play it to Aaron Nola's face. I'll stand there. I will stand there and listen. Like, watch Aaron nola listen to this clip in in in like the after they win i'd be happy to i'll sit there and take it i would not i know

you would be you would melt in yes i would know you it would be a puddle on the ground yeah i i do not no no that would not that's not that's not me trust me know. I would handle it for us. Don't worry. Two last things before take back for me. Just quickly, because you mentioned it, your thoughts on Ranger, because it seemed like you were actually pretty optimistic coming off that outing. Yeah. I just

thought he had pretty good command on both sides. I thought his curveball had a little bit of extra action to it. And what had me, I guess, feeling pretty positive after it was he got a couple of those ground balls back to him, which I feel like that's when you can tell Rangers are going kind of well, is ground ball back to him, and he's just being one of the best fielding pitchers in baseball.

He was able to turn a double play. He looked kind of spry out there. So he didn't to turn it over. Like, he just looked kind of spry out there. So, you know, he didn't have one rehab start. I mean, I know he's, like, throwing to live hitters, but it's not like he had one start down in AAA or anything. Not the same to just step right in. I agree. So, you know, you kind of take that out.

And just the fact that the bullpen after the weekend and the last week and a half, really uh was able to kind of get in there and and do their job i mean that's that's some big stuff and that's i mean really that's what they did the whole first two or three months of the season was like it felt like the starters outside of june would would go like four innings and then bang the bullpen would just kind of take care of the rest and then the starters kind of got hot and you know it's interesting because i feel like if they throw more you know obviously don't throw too much because then they get burnt out but the more they throw i feel like they have better feel for stuff um but when when the starters start going deeper

into games obviously it means less work for everyone involved besides like kimbrough um so yesterday and this weekend, I feel like a lot of guys through and hopefully this, they all kind of start writing the ship and, and, and going a little runnier. Yeah, that's huge. And especially with Ranger.

Cause I think, look, no matter how this plays out, even if Nola goes on a stretch here where he's great to, to end the season, like all Phillies fans are going to trust Ranger more in a big spot than Nola. We all are.

I know you and I will, that's for sure. So, you know, like seeing Ranger look good going into the playoffs would certainly do a lot for my mental psyche, Jack, that would be big.

All right. Last thing. And it's a weird one. We've had some weird ones. You always bring up, you know, like the weird positional things like having the worst bullpen ever having the worst center fielder for the first.

Yeah. We always are the worst. It's not like the, this is not a specific worst or best, but like the, for the first so yeah we always are the worst is i mean the this is not a specific worst or best but like the the jt home road thing is freaking weird man like he really does look like a different guy like he hadn't we hadn't been on the road much like during the 19 out of 23 or whatever at home so it was just like wow jt stinks you gotta forget and then they go to milwaukee all of a sudden it's

like oh yeah like that dude's good. Like, what the hell, man? Yeah, so he's at home. He's batting 201 with a 601 OPS. And then on the road he's batting 308 with a 963 OPS. Yeah, yeah. He is one of the best players in baseball on the road. And he is horrible at home. It's the weird – it's very weird. on the road, and he is horrible at home. It's the weird... It's very weird.

It feels like old school Coors. Those specific splits feels like the dudes from Coors in the 90s. Rob Thompson, I know he joked about it with the four kids thing, which is a great line. But at the same time, I think they come on the road. I guess probably not

every road trip, but I don't know it it's just whatever i mean i mean if they have to go on they're gonna have to go on the road in the in the ds and the cs but um and obviously hopefully the world series that garrett stubbs start every home game and and jt just play on the road is that is that what we're going for here? I guess. It's so weird, dude. It is like, again, it is reaching, and it's, you know, it's reached the point of like, that's really weird, and I don't know what to say about it anymore.

Like, it's not like that's fluky. It's like, this is weird. It's the full season now. Like, what's going on here? Well, and he also hit a ball. Like, I mean. The one at center field, the homer, like that was, he crushed that baseball. That ball's destroyed. He just like smoked it.

It's like, I mean, if that's at Citizens Bank Park, I mean, that's. It's over the freaking trees out there. It's killing the bricks. I mean, that's like, I don't know. I have no idea what to say either. It's, I guess, well, at least, I think this is why I never felt like JT was really killing them. I guess, well, at least, I think this is why I never felt like JT was really killing them. Because, like, I guess his road numbers are just carrying up his entire kind of offensive season. Yeah, yeah.

But I guess, I mean, like, once again, they are so good at having bits. Well, it is. They are the best ever at bits, Jack. It's so funny. We are a podcast of bits. Yeah. And it's nice that the baseball team has translated that. It's good.

What a great point by you. Like, such a perfect team for this podcast. I had it written down on the take back. I mean, there's more bits. I mean, the bits they have going on right now are out of control. So the more bits the Phillies have is they hit a big clutch home run late. Everyone's freaking out. This team's going to the World Series and then immediately blow it,

which is not a fun bit to go through, but as a bit podcast perspective. Pretty good. Pretty good. And their most consistent bit is, obviously, they go down early, and they can't hit until the seventh, and then they just wake up and win the game. They are a bit team that, you know, life's a bit, and they are clearly committed to that.

It's really funny. Dude, it's every game. It's every funny. Dude, it's every game. It's every freaking game. They go down, everyone melts down about the starter, the starter goes six innings, and they can't hit for the first five innings. When was the last time, last time,

that they just came out and won a baseball game? Just like went up 2-0, then 5-0 and then whatever. Just like won a baseball game. I don't have an answer because they just don't do it. They don't do it. They don't show up and say, here's six runs in the first three innings and you can kick your feet up. Every single Phillies game goes one of two ways. They get down early, they come back, and it could turn into a lapper,

but it usually takes five innings. Or it's late, they're tied or down by one, Harper Turner hit a great home run, Schwarber, and then the bullpen blows it. Like, that's every single, like, it's a script for the season. It's very simple. They will never, ever win a baseball game again. Yeah, it's, you're not wrong, buddy.

You're not wrong. Can you remember? I mean, seriously, can you remember? Yeah, like, so, like, they won, I mean, not huge, but big. They won that 3-0, that St. Louis game, where they just, like, kind of won it, and it was just, like, a 3-0 win. that's three nothing you know and uh i feel like all the blowout games they've won they were down and then came back later and then ended up like making it into a laugh or no they're not many i mean i'm sure i'm missing a few in there but yes the point

is i totally agree with this again like that's that and i haven't kept up with it but at one point it was like 20 of 21 and 25 or like they like whatever it is like 24 of their 30 wins since the ulcer breaker come from behind like you know i mean whatever that stat is now like it's crazy dude they're down every game it's not down every like now when schwarber hits with leadoff home run, honestly, stop batting him leadoff. Yeah. You've got to go down. You can't take the lead. That's not what's for you. We do not.

We don't know how to handle ourselves. You will never find a human being more comfortable being down 2-0 than Philly's fans this year. So funny. It's every game, dude. It's every game. But the bit of... Think about... We talked about this last podcast. But the Harper home runs they've wasted.

Oh, I know. And now the Turner. I know. That's a bit I don't enjoy. Yeah. Personally. It's kind of the worst bit. No, it's the worst.

Yeah, there's nothing. Because it's such a high. Yeah, exactly. When Turner had that home run. Like, what if you're bullpen and just blow a game like it happens? It's frustrating. Like when you're bullpen and just blow a game, like it happens. It's frustrating. Like we hate it. Like it's another thing when you blow a game after you have the euphoric moment of I can't believe that just happened.

I can't believe we're going to win now. And then you lose. Like it's so much worse. And they're wasting like so many yearbook moments. Again. Like, I mean. That's a good point. If you think about it, the Turner home run, like that could have been the back-to-back home runs off of Hayter last year.

Yeah, it could have. Instead, no one's going to remember the – well, people will, but no one's going to really remember the Trey Turner home run on Friday night. No. It was funny because I was at a wedding, and it was the first game that I didn't see until the 7th or whatever

and being able to get home by the way, Walker was great, first time away which is very exciting just a winner just a winner but we did leave early because like, you know

that's the point of having a kid you can use as an excuse I love it I love it hey first time parents we gotta get home I'm sorry nothing we can do sorry and everyone's pretty understanding that's the nice part

parents understand parents but I get home, sit down. I had, again, a bit guy. I had rally fritz going. There you go. And then Trey does it. And I'm like, this freaking guy, that's all he does. That's all he does is hit big home runs.

So whatever. Whatever. It was a good time. It was actually probably the least Philly's baseball. I went back and re-watched the game today. But i was golfing so i didn't see a second of it well look at you a whole weekend away buddy i just got a notification that they won and i was like wow should i never watch again i mean some are saying you know um all right are you ready to take back yeah well obviously you know I've got a draft to go to,

and you're just milking it. No, I'm just kidding. No, I know. Seriously, though, shout out to the Middle Light Bar of the Week. I actually love this place. It's like my mom's favorite place. My mom lives in Doylestown now. She goes here all the freaking time.

This place is great. I've been there. Zoe's been there. The whole crew. Today's Middle Light Bar of the Week. The Station Taphouse in Doylestown, where you can watch all Phillies game with $4. Miller Lite Pine Specials. Go to thestationtaphouse.com.

I have spent many a meal at the Station Taphouse. It is a great place with great beer, great Miller Lite there. Go have a good time. I was golfing at Wilmington Country Club yesterday, and round was done, went in, had a crisp Miller Lite. As you should. I usually just drink them, obviously, at home, but they had the mug that was frosted into the Miller Lite. So good.

Again, I think if they replaced Gatorade with Miller Lite during games. Oh, I like this. This is a great game. I mean, it's way more refreshing, first of all. Way more entertaining. You know what I'm saying? It would make the games way more entertaining. I'll say that.

Yep. All right. All right. Take back. Did you know that Stott's fourth in war amongst second basemen? I did not. Not surprising, though. I mean... Yeah. Like, if you asked me me is he a top five second baseman in baseball,

I'd say, yeah, I think so. Yeah. I mean, it's good. He's our guy. Although I will say it was semi-jarring that both him and Harper had an offer this series. Oh, I know, dude. Trust me.

Especially, particularly Harper because when he gets into these zones where he's like the hottest Philly we've ever seen in our lifetime for two weeks or three weeks or whatever it is, sometimes longer. Like it is very jarring when he goes cold for a series. It's like I go into this expecting him to just be like two for three, at least with a homer. If he doesn't homer, I'm like, what's happening here? No hits. Like, what's going on? It is jarring. You like come to count on it on a nightly basis.

And I'm trying to get out in front of the onswell of he hasn't gotten a hit since he came on Marks and Reese. It worked for you, yeah. So I would like for this a turn so we don't have to – I don't need to be blamed if the Phillies season goes awry, okay? It does seem like you get get one way or the other, people are going to come at you with blame or adoration. Oh, yeah.

Yeah, no. Again. You have a lot of power over this team. Who knew? Well, I've developed quite a few haters. Like, it's... Like, I just... I look at my mentions, and I'm like,

what are you so mad about? You know what the weirdest criticism of me is? What? It's not really a criticism. Like, people call me a nerd. And it's like, have you ever listened to me talk? I sound like an idiot. Like, there's not much going on up here.

You're not very nerdy. Not nerdy. Not nerdy. No. There's no nerd. No. There's no nerd there's no nerd dumb

there's no nerd remember me dumb guys come on there's nothing I'm a big dude played sports you're definitely not a nerd I'm more nerdy than you are

you read fiction books. I read books. Many books. All the time. Again, there's no point. There's no point. I love reading books. It's great. Are we sure that Phil's won 10 games in a row on the road? No.

Absolutely not. Wasn't it like 11 or 12? I think it was 12, wasn't it like 11 wasn't it like 11 or 12 actually i think it was 12 wasn't it because wasn't like the record 13 and they lost 12 or something like that yeah i'm pretty sure it might have been 13 even i think whatever it was they tied the franchise record and then they lost so no that doesn't seem like it actually happened. It really doesn't. And maybe because everything's turned around at home. 12. 12. Yeah, so there you go. Look at me.

Terrible. But again, I guess because everything's changed at home. Because at home, during that point, I was like, oh, wow. They're tight playing at home. Now, it's just like they go on the road. It's like, oh, no. The invasions changed everything at home. Think about it. They have a 12-'s just like they go on the road and it's like, oh, no. Well, the ovations changed everything. Think about it.

They have a 12-game winning streak or whatever on the road. And they're like two games under.500 on the season on the road. That's crazy. That's crazy. Well, that's because they were when they had that. We were talking about like what it said. They were like 15 under or whatever. Is there 12 unders?

That's not surprising. Kyle Schwerber has a positive war. We did it.'s point one we made it congratulations to everyone involved yeah thank you thank you um does does anything make a baseball announcer happier than when a crafty lefty or like-tossing righty is having a great game and they can utter the phrase, see, you don't have to throw 98 and strike everyone out. Nothing makes an announcer happier. He's getting by on guts and guile out there.

Yeah, dude. Totally, yeah. It's like, shut up. Shut up. It's so annoying. Yeah, that dude hit it 115 miles an hour but he did it right to the outfielder all right dude looks great out there cool yeah yeah didn't hear that when wade miley was allowing a 480 foot home run to jt romito or a or a laser beam to alec bone but how

oh see you can get you can get guys out not throwing 98 it is funny because wade miley no hitting them for five and two-thirds we didn't talk about how on brand that was too you want to talk about bits like the the soft tossing lefty just shutting them down for almost things was like yep that's right so let me say that tom eshelman is tom eshelman coming in to relieve him what's happening don't please don't bring up that name um dude that was i think that was speaking of uh former uh yeah former phillies bits when they'd only draft cal state fullerton pitchers because like uh was it ricky romero that went there i believe he was like the goat of cal state fullerton so like you know what we're gonna do we're gonna draft like connor seabold we're gonna get the next r next Ricky Romero. We're strictly Cal State

for Lurking, guys. That's all they drive. Not a fun bit. Not a fun bit. Oh, but I was going to say, I need Wade Miley to be affiliate at one point. He's just the perfect fifth starter. You know what I mean?

He's actually had a pretty underrated career. He's had a nice career wait while yeah yeah for like again not like having anything that's what i mean no i'm saying like he's really gotten what he could out of him i'm i am shout out to it mightly um so how much longer until we can start talking about Jeff Hoffman as like... A playoff guy? Like a guy who I... I'm not saying a T word. Not saying a T word. But like a guy late in game, you have a one run lead, two run lead in a playoff game.

Can Jeff Hoffman come in and do that job? Well, look, I mean, he came in and did it like that was a really awesome job he did came in bases loaded up a run one out and like got out of the inning if alec bone makes a play that that he normally makes and every third baseman makes like i think that if if if bone makes that play and they win that game i think we're talking that i think people people are having the Jeff Hoffman conversation more. But he was also really good yesterday. He's just good. If you're just asking me, would I trust Jeff?

Yeah, I would. I would trust Jeff Hoffman to come into a big game in a big spot right now. Well, and they fixed something mechanically with him. Because even when he was good when he first got up here, it still felt like he would walk the ballpark. But now he's kind of doing what Alvarado did last year where he stopped walking people and just said, I'm going to fill up the strike zone.

And you should, Jeff. You throw 97 with a wipeout slider. And the slider is nasty. It looks like it's increased in movement. They figured out something. They must have because it's looked like a devastating pitch lately. It looked awesome a couple nights. This whole series.

I'm liking the Jeff Hoffman experience. Me too. And the final thing in the take back is the Contreras ball on the eighth. It really did give me some hope for the Yordan Alvarez home run. Like you want to know why I thought that was a bop up is because that I thought that Contreras ball was for, I did too, for what it's worth.

I didn't think it was four 50, but I was like, that's definitely gone. Like gone. Can I, I'm happy you brought this up though. Cause going back to the J can we very quickly talk about how annoying it is to watch a game at Miller Park with the home runs?

Like, you couldn't back center field up, like, a little bit? Oh, it's so dumb. It's like every – like, it's like you never know if it's a home run or not. Did it bounce at the wall? Like, what the hell happened? It's so annoying to watch a game there. Like, fix your freaking stadium. Well, that's dumb.

That's dumb. That's dumb. The home run in Minute Maid, you have no idea if that's a home run. No idea. I hate that. The Brewer Stadium is horrible for that. It's horrible. When you're watching on TV, and sometimes the camera won't catch how high it goes,

and it kind of just drops, and it's like, did it bounce off the wall where it could did it just land like it's so annoying Chase Field Chase Field is the same thing where it's like if you hit it off the fence like it has to be over that line I hate that I hate it like just can we can we not guys can we not just have a real ballpark

well said Jack it's a great take alright you got any final thoughts? Final thoughts is, again, who cares about the little football team that starts on Sunday? Like, we got an important. This is good. Yes. This is good. This will go over well in this city.

I like it. Yeah. Can we just, can you just wake me up in november i'm with you on just like getting through september though like you know honestly that the first two games of this series i was like no man like i no i know no i know i don't know that you're not gonna do this i still don't know that you're not gonna do this like, just like a very strong firm. No, no.

And then when they lost Saturday, I was like, just end it. Like, I just, I do not doing this. Not doing it. I do not want to watch you.

I love you. You are my favorite thing in the world. Well, not do not want to. I hate, I loathe the September Phillies. Like like it's it's it's coupled with like it again it it basically september's it's what they do in like freaking may too or whatever it's just the heightened sense of this is act like for the entire uh for the entire baseball season it's like oh it's a long season like they'll figure it out and then all of a sudden september hits like well it's

not really anymore like we gotta sprint to the finish like that's it's awful um but yes uh yes the eagles are back sunday so yeah fun go phil's go phil's we'll be back this week react to sandy like this is a big series for our psyches too it's like west coast you know second straight road series like this is a classic break our hearts series in september so if they can win two or three i'll feel i'll feel damn good please do that all right uh we'll be back later in the week. Until then, he's for some salt.