High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - The Phillies Retaliation Last Night Gave Us Chills

Episode Date: August 8, 2024

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to the Phillies comeback win over the Dodgers and Matt Strahm hitting Gavin Lux. 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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or wherever you get your podcasts. This is the High Hopes Podcast. High Hopes! On the Odyssey app and Sports Radio 94 WIP. The crowd was singing High Hopes. Smiling through a broken nose. Oh, High Hopes. High Hopes. I feel a little less alone.

Yo. It is another edition of the High Hopes Podcast presented by Miller Lite, official partner of the Philadelphia Phillies. Tastes like Miller time. Philadelphia celebrate responsibly. Fritzy! They won a series. Thank God.

What a miracle. Thank God. Freaking miracle. I mean, I don't know if you could tell. I don't know if the people listening could tell. Needed that series win. Yeah, no doubt. They really needed it.

Five straight series losses. Six. Six straight? Awesome. Even better. Five straight series losses. Six. Six straight? Awesome. Even better. Five straight since the All-Star break. But in excruciating fashion, for some reason, this team just owns the Dodgers. Feels like we're going back to the Brockson era.

How about it? Like, five of six on the year, right? I mean, that's unbelievable. Listen, I know this is not the same Dodgers team. We can put all the disclaimers out there. But, like, this is a team that needed to show that they still had the it factor. Like, they still have that. And I think that that's the biggest takeaway from the series,

that they still have that. Like, they can still be a great team. And it started Sunday in Seattle. Really started Saturday. They lost the game. But, like, if it weren't for Jeff Hoffman magically sucking for a night, like, they should have won.

It felt like they had, and I know it was a horrible loss on Saturday, not to, but like it felt like for them it started, like it felt like Saturday night they came out with a purpose, and it felt like a different vibe around the team. Now they ultimately lost in horrendous fashion, but I did feel like Saturday like, you know, they came out strong. Like, Schwarber

got right on base, scored roughly. It felt like they kind of like, they were 5-0. Like, it felt like they, you know, so I felt like they've had a different mentality the last four games. Yeah, and it completely coincided with Kyle Schwarber going into Kyle Schwarber mode, and this is why Schwaggist? Are you in on Schwaggist? It's not bad. It's okay, right? It's not bad. I didn't hate it.

I didn't hate it. Richie Love's just combining words. I know. It's ten times better than Howe Free. Yeah, or Schwoon. Schwoon was bad. It was so bad. It sounds like a right? I didn't hate it. I didn't hate it. Richie loves just combining words. I know. It's ten times better than how free. Or schwoon. Schwoon was bad. It was so bad. It sounds like a swoon. It sounds like they're going through a swoon. It was flawed from the jump. Come on, Richie. Do better. Do better.

It's this kind of thing that shows the value of Kyle Schwarber. This is the value of Kyle Schwarber. It's the value of having him lead off. Bang. Set the tone. Having him at the top of the lineup so Kyle Schwarber. Like, this is the value of Kyle Schwarber. It's the value of having him lead off. It's bang. Set the tone. Like, having him at the top of the lineup so that the pitcher's like, oh, bleep. In three batters, I got to face Kyle Schwarber.

I think that does have an effect on those guys. And when he gets in these modes where it's, by the way, like, I think the most important thing of Kyle Schwarber right now is it's not just home runs. I know he had three home runs last night. He's banged 260, Jack. I know. And I mean, I've always been pretty defensive about Schwarber. And I would say, well, I don't care about singles. I hit the home runs.

But him doing this, it's increased his whole entire value. He's not going to hit 47. If he hits 47, it's a pretty good run. No, he's going to be. It's a pretty good run. It's a couple of June Schwarber runs there. 35 home runs batting 260? It's massive. It's pretty awesome.

The biggest thing with him right now is that it's not just the home runs that he's hitting that are setting the tone. He is doing that, but it's getting the single two nights ago. That single against Kershaw, that was the biggest bat of the game probably. It's getting the single against Kershaw. The double last night. It's the double

last night. It's just kind of these situations where it's getting a single against kershaw it's double last night it's the double last night it's it's just kind of these situations where it's not bang here's a home run it's doing a lot of the little things and it's really showing the value of schwarber especially because listen bryce is going through it yep you know bryce is 100 going turner's going through it turner's going through it even more yeah he did hit some balls well last night so that was a good to see but it's really been schwarber and and and he's kind of carrying the was a good to see but it's really been Schwarber and and and he's kind of carrying the team right well and you know it's one of those things where you know with Schwarber we've heard so much about him the leader off the field which has been you know clear you know and obvious I mean Dave Dombrowski we've talked about it but calling him the best leader

he's ever been around I mean that's such a a big statement coming from Dave Dombrowski. But Schwarber's, like, this is Schwarber on the field as a leader. Like, this team in the lowest depths of depression that we've seen this season, the worst they've been, like, he's the dude who's brought them out of this. He's the dude who's leading off three of the last four games with home runs or whatever. Like, he is there two of the last four or whatever. Like, he's come out and he's like, we're not losing today because I'm not going to let us lose and I'm going to go out

and I'm going to freaking come through. And basically it feels like every at bat, I mean, four for four, three home or seven RBI last night when they need it. Like he is setting a tone with his play in addition to the offense. Well, and I think the biggest thing with Schwarber off off of that is they talk about in the clubhouse, obviously Bryce is pretty emotions on the sleeve guy, like Bones emotions on the sleeve guy. I'm sure people over this last stretch, over the last two months,

are like, we got to wake up. We got to figure it out. And I feel like Thompson is obviously calm, but a manager's word or a coach's word only goes so far. It always means more coming from players. And the way that it's talked about in the clubhouse is Schwarber is the guy that says, we're going to be fine. We're going to be fine.

Just trust our process, I guess, in a way, and we'll be fine. And it just makes it so much easier for guys to believe that when he's doing that. It's so true. fine and it just makes it so much easier for guys to believe that when you're out there and i just i'm they definitely are trending towards being more back than not you know the fact that they came back is 4-1 last night tyler phillips obviously didn't have it earlier there's some misplays but yeah the defense did not help our guy out it's hard to get two on him last night but again the fact that he i mean he ended up winning the game, which is hilarious. You're right, yeah. He kept it right where it was.

Stayed in for five, like battled. Yeah, so I just... And to your point, just being down 4-1, that they battled back, I mean, that has not been a hallmark of this team the last two months. It has not been. It has not been.

So, again, I'm just really, really happy that hopefully the doldrums and hopefully the swoon, as it were, is now hopefully over and they can just move on. Now, we'll obviously continue talking about the Dodgers series. This Dimeback series is going to take years off my life. 14-4 since the

All-Star break. Yeah, they're really good. Them and the Padres, the two-ass team. By the way, I didn't even notice until I was looking at the scenes this morning. They're both three games back of the Dodgers all of a sudden. The Dodgers, it's so funny because we go into that series with us scuffling. We're like, oh, the Phillies. The Phillies were still in a way better shape than the Dodgers were.

The Dodgers needed those wins more than we did somehow. Yeah, the Dodgers only three games up on both those teams. That's getting wild out there. And by the way, a message to the schedule makers. You don't need every night game. Can we mix in a day game? Who are you talking to? Did you stay up last night?

No, I didn't. Of course I did. It's impossible. I have to wake up at 3 in the morning. It's impossible. I'm so annoyed. I watched as much of the game as I could. I finished in the morning.

But it's like I'm speeding through stuff. I'm like, all right, I can get there. Because I had to look at the scores. I'm like, all right, I can kind of move through this. It sucks. It's not fun, especially for such a big series. Give me a freaking game, man. Wednesday, it's supposed to be a getaway day.

It always is, right? When do they start? I know. Jeez. Outrageous. I had to. So I obviously was at Zach Bryan lastan last night big night and good times it was a good time well the concert was great everything else was annoying oh the like the

traffic the party i'm only again only 30 but going on 60 you are you are way more like yeah i'm already too old so it's funny because i was thinking about you in the concert last night and i was like struggling to picture you at a concert just in the concept of like, you know, like you seem like you're an old man and you hang out and jam out. When ZB's putting on a show, beers in the air, you know, we're singing along. It's beautiful. Beautiful scene. But it's definitely not. It's definitely out of my comfort zone.

Now, the only thing is. But when they down 4-1, I was just on my phone. I had to lock in. I was a little worried about your bet. I was like, it started off with the two straight losses, the Saturday, or three straight, whatever, the Seattle. Oh, it's dead, yeah. So I didn't bet against them last night, but I bet against them the night before. So we're in a holding pattern. We're figuring out the pattern.

Exactly. We'll get it. It didn't get off to a great start. No, I thought it was going to catch on like wildfire, honestly. I'm surprised it didn't because usually when I'm like, I got it, it usually goes. No, but it's funny. So I was like, again, I was like, ah. So Arrival usually goes for, like, 15 minutes. I'd say Zach Bryant's song, I'm assuming.

Yes. I can get down to 15-minute songs. But it's not really. It's a three-minute song that they play a lot because they bring out all the people on stage. Regardless, I was like, all right, do I really want to sit in all this traffic? Or can I, like, see a little bit of revival, get the gist, and get out of here? So I got out of there and nailed it right like like there's there's no one's everyone's still in there he's still playing when i sit in my car he's still playing like perfect go to get out of the

out of the parking lot it's they have one lane they have one lane open to get out of there so it's still backed up i'm sitting right I moved maybe 10 yards in an hour. Oh, no. I'm sitting there watching as like there's a gate where you can get in that they're just this lady just sitting there like not opening it. So just open that gate. We can all get out of here. So I watched about four innings on my phone while sitting in traffic.

So I caught it. I caught the game. I was like, oh, I'll get home in the sixth. I'll be able to like, oh, I'll get home in the sixth. I'll be able to, like, it was dreadful. It wasn't bad because I was able to watch the game. But it was like, I was thinking to myself, imagine like 10 years ago. You can't stream that on your phone. No, you're right.

Franski, save me. Yeah, save me. But, yeah, it was an experience. But, yeah, so I watched the Schwarber home run in my car. So that was not bad. I think I heard some honks, too, when he an experience. But, yes, I watched the Schwarber home run in my car. So that was not bad. I think I heard some honks, too, when he hit it. I'm sure. I mean, if you're sitting in the car at that point, you know,

you can't hear the concert anyway. You may as well bust on the fills. Yeah, let's turn on the fills. That was good. Turn on the fills. Yeah. Oh, you know, it happens. It happens.

It's all good. Yeah, be nice if none of these – I guess Sunday is 4-10. Thanks. You know, be nice if one of these games, they're all freaking 9-40 or whatever. 9-40. They give us the extra half hour. Yeah. But this series is going to kill me.

I'm so not excited. So not excited. I mean, I'm excited, but not excited. No, I know. My point being that, honestly, I'd rather play all 29 other teams. Or 28 other teams. Whatever. If I could face any other team right now, then right now, I would face any other team.

I think the Diamondbacks have—so, I think they live rent-free in my head. I'm going to be honest. I don't feel good about that. I hate them. I hate them. I respect them. I hate them. Like, I could tell Marte on my fantasy team, but, like—

Been good. He's arguably the NL MVP. Like, Otani didn't exist. White's good. By's arguably the NL MVP. Like Otani didn't exist. White kid. By the way. Did the Phils own Otani? They did. Hey.

Hey. What did I say, James? What did I say last podcast? If Shohei Otani only played seventh through ninth innings, he's getting $5 million a year. He's going to go $40 million. Yeah. Well, guess what? Guess what?

How many of those home runs were in the seventh inning or later? How many of those home runs were in big spots? or later? How many of those home runs were in big spots? There you go. Yeah. I would say zero. I wish everyone could see the way Jack just looked at me after he asked the question. You literally just eyed me up. How many of those after the seventh inning?

Eye. Yeah. Zero. Yeah, that's what I thought. Zero. Yeah. That was good. Yeah.

Because guess what? No clutch, Gene. So, I hope you enjoyed it. I mean, look, as far as we know. Front-running show. Yeah. Front-running show. I mean, look, as far as we know. Front-running showhead? Yeah, front-running showhead. I mean, he's yet to prove it in a big spot. He's like –

He's struck out Mike Trout. I mean, that doesn't count. That's like straight out the other – That's what I'm saying. He's a pitcher, and also you're straight out the all-time, like doesn't do anything in a big spot guy. Exactly. He's got too much Angels –

Too much Angels DNA in him. Yeah, exactly. But – They've just ruined him. Well, by the way. He's tainted beyond repair. By the way, Dodgers fans, not every pop-up's a home run. Oh, I know.

The one off Strom two nights ago, that's a routine pop-up. They're like, oh, there it is. Deep breaths. Hey, learn the game. I will say, you know who the Phillies absolutely should have signed this offseason? Shohei Otani? I was trying to be more realistic. Sure.

Teoscar. They missed on that. We said it. We talked about him. I wanted him last deadline. You were pretty bullish. You wanted him on the deadline. Teoscar Hernandez, exactly what the Phillies need.

Literally, exactly. Two good high hopes calls, okay? To the Oscar, the deadline last year, being pro to the Oscar. Yep. And then Tyler O'Neal. Oh, yeah. We wanted Tyler O'Neal in the offseason.

Tank shots, still. Again. He's on my fantasy team, so at least I'm getting some of that joy. It's just, I say to fans, there's like no one cares about our fantasy teams. You're so perfect. I know, I know. Like, I one cares about our fans I know like I care

deeply I do I do yeah like let me tell you like there are not many people that I love

in this world more than Bobby Witt like the list is short I'll just say that yeah well at least you didn't trade him away I know

for a guy that you didn't end up keeping I'm so sorry it's like hey I'm powered along without Kyle Tucker okay if that makes you feel any better

like Kyle Tucker now I can sleep first month half of the season is like wow he's gonna set records and then It's like, hey. I'm powered along without Kyle Tucker, okay, if that makes you feel any better. Like, Kyle Tucker, first month out of the season is like, wow, he's going to set records. And then it's like, all right, great. The problem is. Now they're like, oh, he's resuming baseball activities for like the sixth straight week. It's like, we're doing great. The problem is I just have such a, I always nail the prospects.

I know. So I feel like I could get rid of Bobby Witt and I'd be fine. Yeah. I do have Jackson Holiday now. I have Jackson Churrio, who's, by the way, developing into a stud. Jackson Holiday looking good. Jackson Holiday. Return of the majors.

Well, again, I've already convinced myself he's Trout 2.0. Trout came up, sucked. He did. Trout sucked for him on. Yeah, and then they sent him down. They gave Jackson a quick trigger. I know. It was like two weeks or whatever.

Yeah. Well, when you've got 10,000 guys you can play at the major league level, you know, it's like, eh. Yeah, but you know what you don't have? Kosh Warber. That's true. Or a pennant. I see what you did there.

Pulled us out of the fantasy talk. I did. That's what I need. The listener was like, thank you, Jack, because that was deep. They're looking at us. We're going to turn this podcast off. They're going to skip out. Let me hit the 30 second, 15 second.

Mean review. Just so you know, the mean reviews break Jack's heart. Well, I haven't looked in a while. I'm lying. I looked this morning. But they severely don't review podcasts as much anymore.

I don't know if it helps grow the bot anymore. I don't know if it matters. It used to help grow the bot. I don't think podcasts as much anymore. Yeah, it's not a thing. Yeah. I don't know if it helps grow the pod anymore. I don't know if it matters. It used to help grow the pod. Yeah, I don't think it matters anymore. Yeah. We can move on. Nah, but listen, leave a five-star review, help us grow the podcast, and I love them. Yeah.

But honestly, just do it to make Jack happy, because Jack does check them, and if you write something nice about Jack, you will make his week. Yes. Yeah, it's all he cares about. The thing I don't like about reviews is you can't respond to them. Yeah. I know. You do love to do the, like, someone will say something mean about you on Twitter and

you'll just be like, why? Yeah. What are you so mad about? I know. Why are you so mad? Well, why? Yeah. What did I do?

What is the tone? Why do you have to be so mad about that? I just don't see it or ignore it. I know. I know. I do my best. You got much better. I don't look that much.

Good. I'm really proud. Because I actually, there's actually too much. Yeah. I know. I do my best. You got much better. I don't look that much. Good. I'm really proud. Because there's actually too much. Yeah. I know. They suck. They suck. Fire Thompson.

Harper's a loser. It's like, where are you people coming from? All right. We've got the lie detector people back. They're sitting in the room with us right now. You're on the lie detector machine. Okay. Are they really back? I think they are really back. Okay. sitting in the room with us right now. You're on the lie detector machine. Okay. Are they really back?

I think they are really back. Okay. Like, I'm dead serious. I do, too. I think they're really back. I do, too. I think they're through the worst of it. So here's what I like.

By the way, I'm going to start pushing for this because I – it's not that I don't like Aaron Nola, but Chris Sanchez is this team's second best starter. Whoa! Like, he's their second best starter. He is. He is. Wow! I trust He is. Wow! I trust him more.

Wow. I think if, the home road spits, I know he dominated the other night in LA, but like, You're saying start him in game two.

I want to start him in game two. I put Noel on the road because I think it gives you your best chance to go up 2-0 in a series. I don't disagree with that. Like, Chris Sanchez

is no longer just like a cute story. Love Ranger, love Noel. He's just better than them both. Wow. He throws 96. Who'd have thunk we were, I mean, Ranger was the Cy Young

at the National League. I know. Let's talk about a different season. I know, and our call about the fantasy thing has come back the other way now. Maybe you should have taken Chris Sanchez. They were right. They were dead right.

I know. They were right. Okay, listen, we don't get it all right. Yeah, right. They were dead right. I know. They were right. Okay, listen. We don't get it all right. Yeah, we miss once in a while. We maybe took a victory lap on that one too quickly. Would never do that. Would never do that.

Yeah. But he's just really freaking good, man. Yeah, really. I enjoy watching him. He's confident. He's in the strike zone. His fastball now plays up with 96 late in starts and he just is when he gets in the rhythm and he's so it must be a a just nightmare on right-handed hitters

because he can go fastball up fastball up change up a way like to spots you know what i mean like he can hit the fastball up he can hit the changeup away. And when he's dotting both of those, I don't know. You're just 100% guessing because he's going to get you out on both. Because the changeup's borderline impossible to hold off on because it's 85 miles an hour. It's a 12

mile an hour difference from the fastball. And it's just like, it looks exactly the same. He has the Hamels repertoire. Like, it's Hamels. Chris Sanchez is Cole Hamels with a slider. I love him, and I think he's really good. I think he's underrated, and I think he's his team's second-best starter, and I trust him.

He was an all-star this year. He was an all-star, but even that was like they needed four injuries to happen in Ranger. You know what I mean? And Torrey Lovello hates the Phillies, so we had to get him out of there. I just, like, Chris Sanchez PSA is this team's second best starter. Wow, that is a bold

statement. I don't think it's that bold. I think it's obvious. I mean, it's bold. I mean, Aaron Nola is still, historically, like, you could say Chris Sanchez has done it for not even a full year. One start for the rest of your life, game seven. He's starting Chris Sanchez right now? He's starting Aaron Nola. I'm probably starting Chris Sanchez.

Thank you. That's crazy. It's not that crazy. We love Nola. It's just there's still that. I said this to you in a text like a month ago. Aaron Nola is the Greg Maddox of Aaron Horan. Yes, I know.

It was such a good line you said. Like, that's what he reminds me of. He's a very good pitcher. He's a valuable pitcher. He has upside. He has his moments. But, like, I just think Chris Sanchez has taken his game to another level. Wow.

I mean, look, there is no denying whatever level you think Sanchez is at, I mean, that contract was a masterstroke. I mean, we are going to look back at that in three years and be like, thank God, what a steal we just got with this guy at that number. I mean, it was a really, really good contract. It was. Again, we don't talk that. You know I've brought up a million times about how the Braves get these guys

to sign these just insane. This feels like the first one of these affiliates have signed a long time where it's like, wow, like that is crazy that his agent let us sign that. That is amazing. What are you, again, you just, sometimes you just forget history. The Phillies had that deal. They had a 22, 23-year-old second baseman that was Pedroia. Good point.

That was Pedroia with more talent. Good point. I forgot about it. Did you forget how great that contract worked out? They ruined him. Iia. Good point. That was Pedroia with more talent. Good point. I forgot about it. Did you forget how great that contract worked out? They ruined him. I forgot. I forgot. Gabe Kapler. Blame him for all of it. Man, you want to talk about... Obviously, that was the doldrums of

the city being behind the eight ball with baseball. Yes. In the Stone Ages. In the Stone Ages. Again, because people weren't really paying attention for about six years. Look, the Phillies earned that with their play. They did. But like the Kingery, well, they moved him around. They

taught him long shangles. They ruined his career. It's like, that's been documented. Hey, we've seen players move around all the time. Maybe he just wasn't that good. Maybe he's just. But. But he's been white. Just saying. We're one little. Listen, Austin Hayes, hopefully he's fine. He has to go on the IL. Bringing up Scotty. Listen, Austin Hayes, hopefully he's fine.

He gets to go on the IL. Bringing up Scottie. Oh, by the way. They'll bring up Cal Stephenson. Is Wes Wilson still on the roster? Yeah. Okay, I didn't know if they had moved him off or not, because they would bring up Wes Wilson.

I think Wes is still here. Wes will play. Cal Stephenson has 1,000 OPS. A guy. All right. Love our callers. Love our listeners. We were at the, we were at the trade deadline day.

And one of, and one of our callers came up and he was like, you know what I would do? I'd bring up Cal Stevenson. I'd bat him lead off. And I was like, whoa, who are you?

I was like, I think he's having a good time. I feel like this is me. Like you're like me, like on. What are you talking about? I was like, I think he's having a good time. I feel like this is me. Like, you're like me, like on steroids right now. What are you talking about? I was like, yeah, man. Not a bad idea. Definitely not.

I was like, you know what worries me about that, though? Cal Stephenson. Cal Stephenson. And how David Dahl is batting 700. And how, who was that? Jake Cave was batting 700. Yeah, crushing it. Maybe there's a difference between Major League Pitching and AAA Pitching.

I don't know. Just a little bit. Pretty much the same. Love the passion. That's what I always say. Hey, love the passion. Not the best idea. Hey, fantasy football owners.

The road to winning your fantasy football championship starts now. I'm Matt Harmon from Reception Perception. Join me and James Coe as we take a deep dive into the position that's going to make or break your fantasy roster. Wide receivers. We analyze route running, target share, and all the metrics that matter, giving you the insights you need to draft the best wide receivers. As you prep for your draft, let us give you the coverage you need. Follow and listen to Reception Perception on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts.

So I'm going to rip myself right now because I'm the point guard. I kind of lead you in certain directions. Sometimes I'll just do what you do. Are you struggling to get me back? No, no, no, no, no, no. I'm going to say that I screwed up. We're almost 22 minutes into this podcast and I have not talked about the single most Jack Fritz thing that happened last night or maybe this

entire season. We actually saw a guy get plunked. I'm glad you brought it up. Like a retaliation. We saw old school baseball last night. What did you think? My fault. I should have brought this up way sooner. This was like as up your alley as anything that's happened. Sure. I apologize. And I had it in the take back. I figured we'd get there, but I should bring it up. This is important enough. This should be on me. So,

I'm actually not kidding. Good. So what you're about to say is not a joke. You're going to think I'm joking. So I saw it this morning because I got got home i was listening to it at that point obviously a little a little little fist bump out yeah when i was driving home so i watched it this morning i got a little chills like i had a little moment to

myself where i was like i was like dude casty got a little little feisty i like the cast here's not like is he like and i think we've seen that from Cassie before. We saw with the umpire, with the 10-year vet thing and all that. Cassie is like, this is the way the rules... He's like an unwritten rules guy. He takes it very seriously. He's like, yo, that was way too... Bro, what you doing there? He's like, you want to hit me, hit me.

I thought that was cool. But also, I guess I don't know why they hit him. I don't think they hit him on purpose. I think it got away from him. You think he hit him on purpose? Well, I didn't know. I don't know. It hit him. I don't think they hit him on purpose. I think it got away from him. You think he hit him on purpose? Well, I don't know. It just doesn't make any sense. Why would you hit him there? Sure, I agree with you.

I'm just saying that Castellanos' reaction of being like, that's a little high. Oh, I know. So it's almost like he was anticipating it. He was expecting getting hit. I know. I don't get it. I don't know where. It was weird, you know?

He's almost like, yeah, I knew you were going to hit me. But like, come on, man. That was close to my head. Sure. It was weird, right? I thought it was weird. But I love the, that's the Castell but come on, man. That was close to my head. It was weird, right? I thought it was weird. But I love the... That's the Cassianos I love.

The Cassianos that's flailing and putting the other feeble at bats, don't love that one. No, this one, big fan. By the way, has a 900 OPS. He's been their best. He's been their... For about a month and a half, he's been their most consistent hitter. I was percolating the idea of if Boehm struggles,

which he's not. He's back. Oh, Cassie back in the four spot. Just like it was always intended. See, that's the thing. He needs to stay down. He does his best work when he's not the pressure. I will say the lineups, we'll get back to this, obviously, lineups looking pretty good besides Turner and Harper. You know, like Boehm's back up.

And the Hayes injury, we'll see what happens because, look, we like Rose defensively, but if he has to play every day, he's better. He's better. Are we in on finger wag, Johan? No, we're not. I don't know, man. I'm so out of it.

He is pretty cocky for someone who. He's like Jalen freaking Mills out there. He's like, dude, like. He's pretty cocky for a guy that hits like a pitcher. That's my point. It's like, dude, like, ring the hell in, dude. I like it, though. Look, it's fine. It's fine. It's just very funny. It's like, I didn the hell in dude you know look it's fine it's fine it's just very

funny it's like i didn't i didn't expect it to be a thing i didn't exactly like oh so now he makes a great catch every time he's gonna do the finger wag like don't come at me it's branding it is yeah no you're right you're right he gets it it's branding it's good work by him yeah no i like it so but the the and the fact that it was strom too like strom has that bleep you factor to him that i love oh big time i mean again just like the twitter stuff i mean like the just seeing the way he interacts with people like he clearly he's a different dude and he's gonna like yeah but i i thought it was he gives no f's as the kids said i thought it was a legitimate bonding experience like i, and I,

the camera panning the Castellanos after it and Castellanos looked like happy. Looked like a proud dad. He was like, yes, right. Again, not advocating for the head, not advocating, but like it's just that kind of stuff can bring a team together. So, like I loved it. It brought

back some, dude, dude, they executed it, well, executing is a bit of a stretch. Strong word. But they executed a bunt. They did. Even though there was an obstruction at third base. Yeah, now there was. Good call, Blue.

So, yeah, well, let's be honest. Obviously, college forever the star of the night for the Phillies, but if you had to choose number two, it's Hunter Reynolds that. So, I mean, let's be honest. Making it about him. That was a horrendous call like I don't know what else Miguel Rojas could it and we hate Miguel Rojas he is a long time enemy of ours by the way didn't do much no it's other than that moment he actually you

know but like I don't know what else he could have done he was moving it's a natural baseball it's a baseball play and the rule is if they're like in the act of going to get the ball or catch the ball, they're allowed to do it. He was even in the process of trying to move that foot to open his legs. He slid. I thought, thank you. Who knows what happened? It completely changed the game.

They had a 6-5 or 6-8, whatever it was. It was massive. I thought that was a disaster. Dave Roberts has only been thrown out 12 times in his career. He's clearly someone who does not argue, does not get thrown out. I thought that was a Dave Roberts has only been thrown out 12 times in his career He's clearly someone who does not argue, does not get thrown out I thought that was a righteous ejection It was But of course, good call

Great call Great job And I'm not sure how that game goes if they don't get that call I think they might have won because of it It changed the entire complexion of the baseball game Yeah But I legitimately do think that kind of stuff. This team has been looking for an edge.

Totally. They've been looking for something. A break, too. Well, looking for a break, but also looking for like, listen, this is the dog days of summer. I'm sure that when they were losing, I'm sure it was natural to have some bickering. No doubt. So maybe this is like, no, we're still bonding together this. And not to go all the way back to 07, but we all remember the tarp.

Damn right we do. And this is a very, again, it was a one little kind of offshoot moment. But the fact that Schramm did defend Nick Cassianos, like we've seen them just not do that and seen baseball not do it, but it's about defending one of your guys. And I think that Cassianos, I think he appreciated it. And, like, would have loved a little, likeianos, I think he appreciated it. And like, would have loved a little like,

Hey, we'll benches clearing. Yeah. Well, I'm also Gavin Lux. Like just go to first base. I know, dude.

What was that? Did you even hear like, I love stalker. Like stalker is like, like, you don't usually hear a little edge from stalker when he hit him. Wherever stock is like, just keep walking,

man. Like, he's just like, keep walking. Like he was just like, bro, keep walking. Like it was good. I thought it was like, there keep walking, man. He's just like, keep walking. He was just like, bro, keep walking. It was good. I thought it was like a little edge there. I was like, all right, Stock.

All right, Stock. That was something with the Phils in LA, man. Well, the thing I like about it too is this is absolutely a potential playoff matchup with these two teams. They're going to be the one in the 2C most likely. You'll see how this plays out. Bro, bring that to October. Let's get a little like actual animosity in October.

Right now you can only play a seven-game series against the Dodgers when Mookie gets back. So Mookie gets back. Next week or they're saying like soon. So Yamamoto, he's not season ending, right? I haven't heard it, but he's still been out for a long time. Like longer than I would have expected. All right, would you rather play in a playoff series? But I think he's not season-ending, right? I haven't heard it, but he's still been out for a long time. Longer than I would have expected. Would you rather play in a playoff series?

But I think he's coming back. A more healthy Dodgers team. Mookie back, some of the pitching back, or the Diamondbacks. Dodgers, obviously. I was waiting for that. Dodgers, Dodgers, Dodgers, Dodgers, Dodgers. Dodgers a million times over. I would rather play the Dodgers.

I'd rather play the Dodgers than I'd rather play the Dodgers. Again, I'd rather play Sandy Koufax than Dodgers. I'd rather play any Dodgers than I'd rather play the Dodgers. Again, I'd rather play Sandy Koufax than the Dodgers. I'd rather play any Dodgers team in the history of baseball, including their best. Oral Hershiser right in the middle of his scoreless streak in 88. I'd rather play him than this time, Maxime. I want nothing to do with the Dodgers. Yeah, I think for far too long this year,

when it's talked about the National League, it's like, well, it's a three-horse race. It's Phillies, Dodgers, and Braves. By the way, Braves might not make the playoffs at this year. It just might not be the Braves year. Look, when you lose your two best players to start within the first month of the season, it's generally not your year.

And I think people got a little too caught up with the Mets. I still don't see it. Like, I think they're going to have vibes, maybe they'll make the playoffs. I don't know. But the Diamondbacks have to be factored in to the best teams in the National League. Yeah, without a doubt. Yeah. And I think you have to throw the Padres in there, too.

The Padres have to be factored in as well. Padres, I think, are obviously when they got a rise. You know, that was one of their big moves early. And then they made some – I mean, they're back into the bullpen going from, you know, Tanner Scott. They have. Suarez is legit. Robert Suarez, except when he plays against the Phillies. Except the Phillies, yeah.

They have. And there's one more they have out in San Diego. Yeah. They got another dude. Oh, the guy who struck out like whatever guy, 13 guys in a row. Estrada or whatever. Well, yeah. Yeah. But he's like, he's even, even him, he's almost like a mop-up guy.

Yeah, he is, but he's good. He's very good. He's got dudes. He's very good. No, there's one more freaking guy that I know they have in their bullpen. Oh, well. Oh, well. But they have, the back end of the Padres' bullpen is very good.

So there's just a lot of interesting teams in the National League to where it's not just a three-horse race at this point. So, yeah, I don't know. It's going to be a really interesting. It's going to be really interesting, especially because the NL is really across. The Padres and the Diamondbacks are both scary teams that can kind of turn them.

Oh, Jason Adam. They got Jason Adam. They traded for Jason Adam, yeah, with the Rays. Oh, and Cease is the best pitcher on theays. Oh, and Cease is, like, the best pitcher on the planet. Yeah, and Cease is a stud, but then you all, like, even, like, the, like, not the Cardinals, but if the Pirates found their way in, like, I wouldn't want to play Paul Skeens in a short series with Jones.

Like, I agree with you. The National League is more interesting than I think people have given it credit for. Brewers are, you know... Brewers are the Brewers. Well, the Brewers, they've always had the pitching. It's never been the issue, but now they have, like, Jackson. Yeah, if losing Yellich hurts them, that's a big, big loss. Reese heating up.

Yeah. Hey, that would be fun to face off against Reese. Well, it would be fun if they won. It would not be fun if they lost. It would be devastating if they lost. All right. Let's get to the take back. Whatever else you got from the series, I'm sure we can include it in there.

But first, shout out to Moonshine. Today's show is sponsored, oh, excuse me. No, we did the last show by Moonshine. I apologize. But shout out to Moonshine. Also a great place. But today's show is actually sponsored by The Rook,

which I think is a great name. Have you ever had a rook in your life? Yes. I had a teammate in college. His nickname was Rook. Yep. Yeah. We have my cousin's cousin by marriage is called The Rook. Great guy. The Rook or just Rook? We call him was Rook. My cousin's cousin by marriage is called The Rook.

Great guy. The Rook or just Rook? We call him The Rook. You go just Rook. No, we go The Rook because he is The Rook. Shout out to today's show sponsored by Miller Lite and The Rook in Manion. Check out The Rook for every Phillies game and $3 Miller Lite drafts along with the Rooks

special chicken cheesesteak spring roll with Cooper Sharp and Longhats. That sounds awesome. Miller Lite's for Phil with the Rooks special chicken cheesesteak spring roll with Cooper Sharp and Long Hot. That sounds awesome. Miller Lites for Phil's Win Celebrate Responsibly. Are you a Cooper Sharpsman? I am a Cooper Sharpsman. Long time Cooper Sharpsman. I don't know if I could tell the difference between... What's the difference between sharp cheese? You know what I mean? It's got like a

tang to it. A little edge. That's like when I say that Spike Giglio. Who else? Some people here talk about the Phillies with a sharp tongue. Oh, yeah. Yeah.

Oh, that's a good point. They do. A little sharp tongue. A little sharp tongue. Yeah. Yeah. Big time. Yeah.

I'm sure Elliot was despondent that the Phillies were back. Oh, it was devastating. It was crushing him. It was crushing him. Yeah. He was so happy. He was so happy with how bad they were playing. Yeah, reveling.

Unfortunately for him, I don't know if he got the news. We're back. I don't know if he got that news, but we are back. I really hope Austin Hayes isn't hurt. I know. I was enjoying the Austin Hayes. He's been all right. Yeah.

He was heading into last night hitting.286 as a film. And look, you can't tell because we felt like the Trey Turner one, it didn't look that bad in the moment. He's out for six weeks. It didn't look bad. It seemed like it was something where Hayes felt it immediately. He stopped running immediately, kind of pulled up, and was able to jog a little bit after.

Like, I'm hoping it's something just tightness, and he just was smart enough to get out of there immediately and not mess around. So we'll see. But, yeah, look, if they put him on the IL, it wouldn't be shocking at all. It's a hamstring. Yeah.

But, again, I can really use him just being all right. And Kyle Stevenson up. He can lead off. Yeah, everything's fine. That's how you jumpstart this offense. That's how you jumpstart this offense. It was good to see Jose Averado have a pretty clean inning last night. Kirkering, same kind of thing.

Like, you need to get those guys going. I had them. Did you see my bullpen trust rankings? No. Ooh, I didn't even know this was a thing. Yeah. Well. I mean, Hoffman still won, I would guess, even despite the last outing.

Oh, well, last two outings. Two outings. Yeah, we gave up the home solo shot. Yeah, you're right. You're right. So, I put out my bullpen trust rankings, post-Trey Dillon edition. I said, with my life, slash please extend, Jeff Hoffman, trust being regained.

I think he's back in my full trust, Matt Strom. Okay. Trust, but there will be some hard contact. Not the easiest inning, and the umpires might hate him. That's Carlos Estevez. Like, it's a good amount of hard contact. Yeah, but I agree with you, but, like, it just always feels like it's out.

I don't know. I feel pretty good about it. But you say that, and it's like, okay, but how sustainable is hard contact at people? They just get out. I know. I was making a joke, but it's kind of true. He's like Genmar Gomez with a 98-mile 98 mile an hour fastball no no no no no no jenmar was a was the man i loved him yeah nice little sinker yeah i can't believe you just went jenmar gomez carlos estevez 99 yeah uh a guy that i'm trusting maybe too much might not be that good

but i trust him a lot as t Banks yeah you're fully in on Tanner Banks I love you've really come in like Tanner Banks you're just in well I just like a lefty reliever that just comes in

I was so tired of bullpen guys who just walk people and with Estevez doesn't walk people with Tanner Banks

doesn't walk people they are my gods yeah it makes me so happy I'm so happy for you buddy and Kirkering and Alvarado need to regain my trust. Okay.

I mean, all the- Leaking oil. I mean, those five, if Alvarado and Kirkering get back, that's a five, man. For sure. That is as good a bullpen as they've gone into the playoffs with if those guys can get back. There's no obvious Kimbrel. Yeah.

There's guys that are struggling, 100%. There's no, like, I don't trust that guy at all. I think Alvarado, for most people, is there. I've just seen him have too many moments in the postseason to be completely out on. We've seen him have these lulls and come back up again. The only difference is, when he had his lulls, I felt like it was more walking people. The difference between this lull and the stuff just doesn't look as good. That's the difference between Alvarado of the past and Alvarado this year.

Look, and he's been used a lot the last couple years. It is possible that his arm just doesn't have the same juice this year. It's certainly possible. Yeah. But, yeah, the biggest question I have on the bullpen right now is really just Estevez and the hard contact and seeing how that can kind of translate and does that run its course as well.

And I had this written down, but I don't think it has much merit anymore because they won two straight. But I did think him not pinch hitting JT for stubs in game one was like almost, it reminded me of Kniebel in Atlanta where it was like. Oh, yeah. The end of Joe Girardi. Like you just got to make the in Atlanta oh where it was like yeah it's like end of Joe Girardi like you just got to make the move

yeah it was like crazy and even then like it's like fine you know what if you want to do the JT's not a good pinch hitter you had your whole bench like pinch it with someone else and have JT come in and catch

if you actually do tie the game and keep going like it felt like such a a white flag it felt like a white flag well and, and it was a little too much. There's a balance right now that they're fighting

of keeping guys fresh for the postseason and getting this thing righted. And I think that how they've played in the last week is like, we gotta get this righted.

Like, if you go win 7 of 10, okay? Yeah. Then we'll worry about the playoffs again. Then we'll rest, guys. But like,

let's go win some ballgames. And my only fear we'll get to worry about the playoffs again. Then we'll rest guys. But like, let's go win some ball games. And my only fear with what he did there was the clubhouse being like, what are we doing? Like, like we, we need to start winning again and we need a little bit of urgency. Yeah. And I'm glad they've responded the last two nights the way they did.

And they, they maybe calm that fear down, but that's what it reminded me of. Because I don't know how you're in the clubhouse. You see that happening. You love Garrett Stubbs. But it's like, what are we doing? Yeah.

And even, again, like you said, even if it's not JT, pinch it someone else. You know? So he did say, to his credit, I mean, he said after the game, he's like, yeah, I thought about it. It wasn't like a no. And then he said, I think the next day, he's like, or maybe they talk about this on the broadcast. They asked thought about it you know it wasn't like a it wasn't like a no and then he said i think the next day he's like or maybe they talk about this on the broadcast they asked me about it and he said we're gonna start doing that like okay good so we learned from the mistake learn from the mistake good good don't know why the mistake had to happen yeah but yeah but as long as there's hey growth mindset yeah oh yeah look at you you growth mindset guy yeah well yeah i i figured

out the growth of you you passed it you've moved on i'm on to another oh good oh i'm so you've grown is what you're saying i think that's obvious you don't seems like you're mocking it you don't see the growth wow wow unbelievable but yes this again this series is going to be very. That's what I was going to say. Growth mindset. Let's talk about the Diamondbacks. Growth mindset.

They're going to get swept. No, I'm just kidding. So, I mean, I would. If you told me right now you could just fast forward to Sunday and you split the series, I would take that in a heartbeat. Give me a split. Like, without. You know me.

Normally, you'll be like, oh, I'll take a split. And I Give me a split. You know me. Normally, you'll be like, I'll take a split. I'm like, no! I want the 3 of 4. I will take a split. Losing 3 of 4 and then coming home would just be a little bit of... Not much wind at the sails. No, no. So the Marlins and Nationals when they get home.

And it's tough again after that. The rest of the month is tough. Ramps right back up. Some really fun pitching matchups this series. I mean, tomorrow is not that fun, or tonight's not that fun. We get the Jordan-Montgomery matchup that we've been waiting for all season. Versus Colby Allard. I can't believe you're in the room. Just a couple of lefties battling.

But you're right. Taiwan's almost back, man. Taiwan's almost back. Taiwan, five one-run innings yesterday. Hashtag don't take your time, Taiwan. Don't take your time. Wow, they played the Braves twice in this month. Oh, good.

So here's the rest of the month. Have you looked at it? No. Okay, so they got four against the Dimex. To your point, good pitching matchups. You got Wheeler against Ryan Nelson, who's been hit or miss, but has stuff for them. Nola against Zach Allen is obviously a great one.

And then your guy, Chris Sanchez. I will say I'm very happy. I don't have to deal with Brandon Fott yet. I don't want to watch Brandon Fott. I would never want to see that guy again. Yeah. No, he can stay in Game 7 forever. I think Merrill Kelly's on his way back, too.

Maybe he's pitching Sunday. Well, hopefully not. I don't want to see him. I just have such Sunday. Well, hopefully not. I don't want to see him. I just have such bad memories. I hate it. I don't like them. Don't like it. After that, I think two at the Marlins, three with the Nats at home,

which is good. But then, ready for the stretch to round out the month, three in Atlanta versus the Braves, three in Kansas City versus the Royals, who have been way better at home and are just a good team, period. But they've been really good at home. Three against the Astros, who are, you know, right back in it. And then three against the Braves

around the month. So they got Braves. So Nats and Marlins, five games. But then Braves, Royals, Astros, Braves. Yep. Not ideal. Then Braves. So one more game against the Braves. Then September cools down. So they really do get a... Maybe not, depending on the Mets are. So September goes two against the Blue Jays, you get the Marlins again,

four against the Marlins, that's huge. But then the Rays, who are kind of fading. But then you got three against the Mets, three against the Brewers, three against the Mets. Nice. Mets, Sanchez, and Cubs, Nats, so that should help. Sure, sure. But, you know, their second half is way tougher than the first.

Why do they always play the Cubs the last week of the season? It's like, what are we doing here? Why do we have to deal with the Cubs at that point? Yeah. Well, no. They are. It's going to be. It's a tough stretch.

They'll be nice and battle-tested heading into the postseason. Hey. They're playing a lot of decent teams. They're going to be ready. They're going to be ready to go. They're going to be ready to go. Hopefully they're going to be ready to go. But I think they're more back than not. Nervous about this series.

Desperately. 100%. Very nervous. They go out and take three or four. Then it's like back with a capital B. Yeah, back with a capital B. So either way, no day games, strictly 940 starts. And we will be here on Monday.

Yes. Because Sunday night, it'll be late. Not that late, but late for you. Late for me. I'm hosting on Monday, but we'll be here Monday. Yeah. Joe took off Monday, too. He's back on Tuesday.

He needed a four-day week. Whatever. The Eagles play Friday. Did you know that? Dude, you got me, buddy. But I'll step up like I always do and carry the show. Ridiculous. But we'll be back on Monday.

Unless, I know we said it last time and we still were going to be here either way, but I'm telling you right now, Jack, I don't care what you say to me. If they get swept by the Dimebacks, I'm not recording on Monday. I'm saying that right now to all the listeners. I just want everyone to know. Jack's like, we got to be there for the people. And I agree with that. I'm not doing it.

Okay. This is the one. This is my Mulligan series or whatever you want to say, my Vito series, whatever. If they get three or four, they lose three or four, I will be here. That's fine. But if they get swept, that's my challenge to the Phillies. If you guys care about IOPs as much as I know you do in that locker room, that clubhouse

cares about IOPs, win a game. At least. Is that fair? Okay. I'll be here if they get swept. Guess how... The Jack Solo bot after Kings 7. There'll be a bottle next to me.

How's that upbeat hour of just wallowing in my self-misery? We'll have to put a warning on it. This is going to be sad. that upbeat hour of just just wallowing in my self misery yeah it's like we'll have to put like a warning on it like this is gonna be sad like don't listen you know if you're if you're if

you're down right now maybe find something else to listen to because this will not help your help your mood at all it will not did that did that sneeze help the podcast good I think you know I add a little a little

texture a little character to it that's good all right you got anything else no all right we'll be back on Monday. We better be back on Monday. He's for himself, sir. We'll see you next time.