High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - They Did It Again

Episode Date: September 5, 2022

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to a very disappointing West Coast trip and more. Presented by Miller Lite. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the High Hopes Podcast. High Hopes! It's a bunch of baseball nerds talking about the Phillies. On Odyssey and Sports Radio 94 WIP. Oh, it is another edition of the High Hopes Podcast presented by Miller Lite. We love Miller Lite. Celebrate responsibly. Jack Fritz. It's September. It's the Phillies. Welcome. Welcome. This is we're back. It would appear. How you doing, buddy? Yeah, I would say the Phillies are back. Yeah, this is this is you're right. This is the most the Phillies are back. The Phillies have

ever been. This is as back as they get september philly's baseball is here celebrate yeah and i gotta be honest uh i am so disappointed in them like i don't really have any other way to put it like i am just i'm disappointed that they're that this team's doing it again. And it's annoying that, because I genuinely felt like, and I still mostly feel this way, that they are different. But then they go and they do that. And they go out to the West Coast. They go to Arizona,

which for some reason they can't figure out how to win at. And they, first off, they blow a 7-0 lead, which is just egregious in and of itself. And that kind of set off the tone for the entire road trip. They get destroyed the night after that. And then they come back and they win 18-2. It's like, oh, okay, it's not a total disaster. Like, it's obviously annoying.

But it's one of those, okay, whatever. It's a bad series. We'll take it. You win 18-2. It's like, good bounce back. They keep fighting all that stuff and then Friday night happens and it's the first time you know where you're really in playoff contention where people really feel like this is a real baseball team and Kyle Gibson goes

out and just lays a complete egg they they get their doors blown off. And it's like it's the worst possible way to start September. And I just don't know how a baseball team who is like, oh, they're talking to Bob Nightingale about how they're different and all this. Like how do you go and get blown out? You know, they get blown out Wednesday, Tuesday in Arizona. They blow a 7-0 lead Monday. They get blown out Friday.

And I just don't know how a playoff team does that. And a team that's supposed to be competing for divisions and stuff like that or competing for legitimate playoff spots. Saturday, there's a game they should have won. I mean, they were just three different instances where runners were left on base Where you gotta get the run home but you know Winning baseball teams usually do that they didn't do that And then yesterday it was

It was kind of like here we go A brutal loss to Carlos Rodon who's dominant JT gives him a spark late And then they blow it it was the most Old Phillies That the that this Current iteration of the Phillies that felt like in a while. And I'm really disappointed that we kind of feel like we're back here.

And I need them to figure it out. They still have a two-and-a-half game lead, really three with the tiebreaker. But it's just like I thought you were different. And for you to go do that and, and just kind of ruin the, the hopes of this, of this fan base with that kind of West coast trip is just, it's just massively disappointing.

Yeah. So look, um, I still think they're going to make the playoffs. I'm not, you know, totally freaking out. It's an incredibly disappointing weekend. I think especially because, you know, no matter how much we all believed in

this team, no matter how much we were excited about this team, I don't think there's a single Phillies fan who didn't come into September with, you know, their hackles up, so to speak, like a, you know, a fear of being hurt again, Jack. You know, an inherent sense memory in us that we just know what happens when the clock hits September. And, you know, like, so we all felt it. And I think, you know, we were able to kind of use our brains and say, you know, this team's different. There's a different year, a whole different thing.

Every time they remind us a Philly team's passed, they fight through adversity and they find ways to win, and they go on runs. So, like, I'm going to trust them. And then we get that. So, like, I get it. I think in some ways it's like even, look, they lost 5 of 6 on a West Coast trip. They're still 12 games over 500.

And to your point, essentially three games up on a playoff spot. Like, they used to lose 5 of 6, and we'd be, you know, 4 under. And saying, oh, well, you know, great. You know, like, so they have made improvements. Like, they used to lose 5 of 6 and we'd be, you know, 4 under. And saying, oh, well, you know, great. You know, like, so they have made improvements. Like, they really have. But to your point, to do it, you know, to start September is a disaster. And it is just a West Coast trip, right? And this team is not, you know, they've been better on West Coast this year.

But historically, this group has really struggled on these types of trips. And certainly these types of trips in September against weird teams for them they haven't won in Arizona since 2016 a series they for some reason struggle against Kapler and these Giants the last couple years so um you know I'm I'm not excusing it I'm right there with you it's incredibly disappointing especially after losing that first game the way you did. You'll come out lifeless the next night and then explode for that 18-run barrage and then just turtle up again. You lose, what, 13-1 the next game? Like, it just, it was a disastrous,

disastrous road trip, particularly, again, in the context of the Phillies and what we know the Phillies to be the last few years. So I'm right there with you with all of it. I still expect them to come home and be better against the Nationals and Marlins. I expect them to find their way into the playoffs, and I expect them to play better baseball. But, you know, there are concerns.

And, again, the Wheeler, you know, elbow thing is concerning now. There's just all kinds of a lackadaisical feel around a team that had great vibes. Someone decided that calling him Philly Rob would be a good idea. Like there's so many issues right now, Jack, but I'm not freaking out, but it's incredibly disappointing. Disappointing is such a perfect word because I can't believe we're sitting here talking.

I didn't want to do the podcast. I didn't want to do it. It's freaking Labor Day morning at 1140. I want to hang out with my wife and daughter. Normally, I can't wait to talk to you about this team this season. And, like, I didn't want to do it. You're like, we got to do it. I'm like, I know we got to do it.

But you know what? I don't want to. I don't want to talk about these guys right now. What bothers me the most, James, is, like, the Giants had lost seven straight heading into that series. Like seven straight. And just a general like bad run since the All-Star break to begin with. Like they were in the playoff race at the All-Star break and heading into the series were what?

Eight games out, ten games out, whatever it was, you know? And I don't know why they look so timid. All of a sudden, the pitchers who Caleb Gotham had done this whole thing about bleep all hitters. And that's their mantra. We're going to go out there. We're going to attack the strike zone. And we're going to do this. We're going to do that.

I mean, they had games this week where they walked eight batters, five batters. There was multiple instances where it was bases loaded, and it was just like, we can't throw a strike. Like, it was so, I don't, the Giants were reeling. Like, they were absolutely reeling. And they looked like the aggressor. And the Diamondbacks looked like the aggressor. Like, why are all of these teams looking like the aggressor and the the diamondbacks look like the aggressor like why are all of these

teams looking like the aggressors against the phillies who are again what for 15 games over 500 heading into this west coast trip like why are these teams doing that to you like you are supposed to be the team that is surging towards the playoff spot you're supposed to be the team that is that is is taking advantage of this West Coast trip with teams that are kind of faltering. And I know the Diamondbacks, by that point, they'd only lost one series in August heading into that game. And it kind of feels like... And look, they just beat the Brewers in a series, too.

Like, they've played good baseball, but still. 100%. But it's like, still, they're six games under.500. Exactly. They're not playing for a playoff spot. Like, it should be that simple on a basic, like, I hate to make things binary, but it's a matchup of two teams. One team has nowhere to go but the end of their season,

and the other team is fighting for a playoff spot. Like, that should be enough. Right. And what it comes down to this, James, is they haven't won a series against a good team since June 25th to the 27th. It is September 4th, whatever, today. Is today the 4th? 5th? Today's the 5th, yeah. They haven't won a series against a good team, and that was the Brave series back from June 25th to 27th. They went up to the Mets. They lost two or three.

They, the Mets came here. They took three or four. You know, they, they, they just, they haven't beaten.

It's gotta be July, not June. That seems. Dude, I'm telling you it was, it might've been July. Honestly, hold on.

I looked at it yesterday because they beat, they beat the Padres the end of June, right? That, that series with the Harper injury. I mean, they've had some. But I guess they have not played great teams. No, you're right.

Sorry. It's July 25th through the 27th. Okay, that made way more sense. I'm like, it's September. I'm like, that seems impossible. Okay. Yeah, yeah. Sorry. Threw me off there.

I was like, okay, good. Go. But since July. And then they had the Pirates series out in Pittsburgh. They split with Atlanta in Atlanta, which is whatever. They took care of Nationals. They took care of the Marlins. They lost to the Mets.

They beat the Reds. They lost to the Mets again. They beat the Reds. Pirates, yeah. We're all back. Like, it's been over a month since they've won a series, and it's a good team. And, you know, it's easy to beat up on the bad teams. And, yes, they've done a good job of that, and they get credit for that.

But the second they play a team that has any kind of pulse, to just do that, it really, for me, it just dampens the spirits of what I felt like was going to be, oh, we're going to break the postseason curse. We're going to finally be back for the first time in 11 years. Like, I'm kind of at the point where where unless they make the five seed and they, and they, they kind of surge here to end the season out, like just,

just outlasting the brewers who I think stink and getting the six seed and possibly losing the first round. Like I'm not going to leave this season thinking it's a big wild success. Like, you know, it's, it's one of those where it's like, yeah,

I'm happy to make the playoffs, but you know, I need, I need a little bit more and, and to go and do one of those where it's like, yeah, I'm happy they made the playoffs. But, you know, I need a little bit more. And to go and do that against a Giants team that, again, like has been just brutal and have them look like the team that was more competent and was ready for playoff level baseball. I mean, the Reese play on Saturday was infuriating. Like the runners on what?

First and second and the fifth they didn't get him home schwarber leads off with a triple in the in the seventh they don't get him home i mean the whole the other than the 18 run game it was basically every game was runners on base not like that was the theme of the the entire trip it felt like well i mean yesterday base is loaded they don't they don't get it in and and if they get one run there or whatever then the jt homer gives them the lead rather than just ties it up it's just like little things are starting to add up and it's at this point where winning teams teams that you think are really going to make a run and do different things like you got to lock in and the pitching staff has been infuriating um like the starters

I mean I think that I think the starters gave them like 27 total innings this week. You know, I mean, the Falter was the only one that went past. Falter, stopper. Went past the six. Cliff Falter, the only guy out there getting it done. I know. And it's just, it's teetering right now, James. Like, it's teetering.

And I'm not, I think they're going to make the playoffs. I still trust them. I still think that, you know, I'm not totally doom and gloom. It's more just like, I'm disappointed that they did that, you know, and I, I, I'm disappointed that they went out there and laid an egg on a West Coast trip against teams that are under 500. I know they played aggressive. I understand, but it's just disappointing that that was what the, the, the effort was

this week. Well, as is always the way with this pod, you, you know, freaking out saying the team's terrible. They're never going to win anything in me, calming you down and saying it's all good, Jack, we're going to be fine. I will say, look, and I'm not going to say what's all fine. I get it. Like, you know, this is to Jack's point, this is a time to be disappointed. Cause again, the September thing, you know,

I know it's a different season and I'm always hesitant to you know take you know certain trend type things and carry them from season to season because you know a lot of times it is a new group of guys and a lot of times certain things are either context dependent or somewhat fluky or coincidental or whatever but whatever this September thing is it's been five years in a row. I mean, you look at the records. I mean, they were, it's crazy, we forget, they were 11 games over.500 going into September of 2018. Like, they went 8-20 in September and October of 2018.

They went 11-16 the next year or something. It was like 12-17 the year after that. 14-16, including, you know, that October last year. Like they've just the numbers just support that they go into September every year with a chance and then and then fall apart. So there's something there. But even regardless of the, you know, how real it is or how much it's in these guys minds or not, like for the fan base, for us, like there is no way you can watch what happened this weekend and not think about it. Like, there's just no way. It is just part of us.

And until this team rights the ship, until they, you know, do what they've done really all season in these situations, right? You know, the Cubs series, boom, 12 out of 13. You know, all season long, Harper injury, boom, let's win a bunch of games. Like, they've found ways when they're at their lowest relative, obviously, Girardi fire, boom. They've found ways to battle, to battle adversity, to win games, to get it done when they've had to do it. And that's why I'm not, my main point is I'm not going to freak out

over a West Coast trip too much because it is a West Coast trip and we know these guys are human beings I know like you know people that's my thing I know but like they did play 13 or excuse me 14 games in 13 days when you include that double header got straight on a plane to go to Arizona played the next day in Arizona played three straight off day San Francisco like I'm not saying it's easy but it is you know it's been a long stretch of baseball it's been a long run and I can understand how human things can come out the the key as we always say is the bounce back and can this team you'll fight back from the the depths of adversity that

they have to face and in this case you know I think it's the the most trying one yet you know Harper going down is obviously the most trying but in terms of from a fan base in september like this whole thing i think it's just it's impossible for us to look at anything rationally you know it's it the phillies are are a good baseball team and they had a bad west coast trip and and that should be okay after being you know getting from from seven games or eight games below 500 to 12 games above 13 games above before the loss yesterday. You should be able to go to the West Coast and lose a series, but when it's the situation they're in this season

from a playoff perspective combined with the history we have of the last few years of these exact things right when September starts, I think that's what makes it so so jarring you know yeah and uh I guess for me it was weird that it it felt like they felt it which was it started as soon as they played September like what are we doing it really did it's insane Jack it's almost like you couldn't, like, again, like they went for their last series in August leading into September, and that's when it starts.

And it's Nola pitching one of the last games in August heading into September. We'll get to him. But, like, it just felt like same story, same song and dance. It was just like, oh, oh, yeah, this is it. We know this. And my thing is that, first off, I believe they're way better than the teams the last couple years. Way better.

What I keep hearkening back to is that I think this team's better. I don't have this total fear of a September collapse. I really don't. It's more that I just expected better, I guess. I think that's the way that I would put it. I mean, disappointment's a word. I expected better because I do genuinely feel like they're better. And you're right.

They've bounced back a lot throughout this season. But it's also the little things that have just really annoyed me. There's been a lot of little things that you can lose baseball games, but when you don't do little things that we know that, you know, you need to do in order to truly win in this league and they just completely collapse from those standpoints. That's what makes it frustrating for me. You know, you're going to lose baseball games. That's going to happen. It's when they don't look like the team we've been watching it's when we've gotten to fall in love

with this team that actually is a good baseball team and then we get a six game stretch other than that you know five out of six game stretch where they're they don't they're not doing any of the things that got them there and it looks like they're choking they're knocking the baseball around they're walking guys in their

body language is bad yes yeah and it has all the recipes of like here we go again um that's the stuff that drove me nuts again you're gonna lose baseball games in a baseball season even the worst teams win 65 games a year but between the the bases loaded walks are just insane to me insane bad defense out of nowhere. Multiple days in a row with bases. Like, what are we doing here? Ranger walking guys in with

the bases loaded. I mean, like, I don't even know what's happening anymore. Ever since Keith Hernandez's little thing. It's just that the defense before the Keith Hernandez comment was like the best feeling percentage in baseball before the Keith Hernandez thing. And of course, you know, ever the Keith Hernandez comment was like the best feeling percentage in baseball before the Keith Hernandez thing.

And of course, you know, ever since Keith Hernandez. It would go for a little bit after because I remember a lot of people being like, see Keith, look Keith, and all that. But then you're right. Like the last, all of a sudden it's all on par. Like the other, when anyone knows Sosa's even not making every play, then you know you're in trouble. Yeah.

But just disaster. Disaster West Coast trip. But, I mean, really, you have three straight get-right series. You know, you have Marlins, Nats, Marlins. You got to get right because at that point, after these three series, then it goes Braves, Jays, Braves. Yeah. It's nine games, seven against the Braves,

two against the Blue Jays in there. And that's big. And that's when we'll see what this team is truly made of. They should go seven and two in their next nine. I don't think that's totally unfair to ask for. Knowing this baseball team, they will win, what, like eight and then lose the last one? Of course.

Right before we're going to record, of course we're about right before right before we're gonna record of course yeah 100 so um i hope they bounce back i'm praying they bounce back i'm not totally like i'm not i'm not you know sounding the alarm saying here we go here we go here we go i am just so annoyed and disappointed that they did that and And they need to come home, get off the West Coast, and figure it out and write this whole thing. And look, I do think they will bounce back, at least to a certain point. I think they're, to the point you made before, I think they're better than the Brewers.

They're in a better position than the Brewers. Brewers have a similarly easy schedule. I mean, the Padres have a horrendously tough schedule, and they're right there with them too and have proven not to be anything special. I really think all three, they're going to fight it out, but I think the Phillies will be a playoff team. I think they'll rebound.

But look, there are things that are concerning, and we're going to get into them in a minute. I want to ask you about Nola. I want to ask you about Wheeler. I want to ask you about some of those things. But on the whole, look, I think the whole attitude that I have with this team, and I want to see them play

better baseball so that you know if nothing else when they do make the playoffs it feels to your point you made before like I don't want it to feel like ah you know they made the playoffs like whatever like this should matter like it's been a long freaking time we have waited a long time and even if it's three games that aren't in Philly and we don't get a game at Citizens Bank Park, which would be a bummer, like, I will be okay with the fact that they made the playoffs if they make it fighting their way in

and I at least feel like I got a chance going in. I don't expect them to win a playoff series. I'd be happy if they do, but I don't expect them to go into Atlanta and win a series. I don't even necessarily expect them to go into St. Louis and win a series. I think they could, but I'm not going to be devastated if they don't expect them to go into Atlanta and win a series. I don't even necessarily expect them to go into St. Louis and win a series. I think they could, but like, I'm not going to be devastated if they don't.

Like this is the, in my mind, the 07, you know, parallel type of year. If we're talking about trying to build something again, or, or, you know, if they won an 09, it was 07, like that type of, who knows where we're going to go. Like baseball's weird. But I do think that I want, I think they're going to make the playoffs and I want it to matter because it should freaking matter. Like it's been a long time. We should love it and appreciate it.

And for the most part, unless they struggle more, this team deserves our appreciation for giving us a really fun year. To your point, we just need them to like, you know, make it look a little better going in. And again, it's just five of six. I feel like I keep flashing back to that Cubs series and they were a way worse baseball team. They lost that three straight

against the Cubs coming out of the break and they were what, three games above 500 or something like that. And everyone's losing their minds. Then they rattled off 12 out of 13 against bad teams, which is what's coming up now. All right. Like let, let's just get into a couple of the specifics. Cause obviously there's not, you know, we're not going to break down every game of the the the i don't want to i want to pretend it never happened like i'm kind of you know in again i'm actually enjoying talking to you for what it's worth but i didn't want to um but it's very convenient by the way it's very convenient that you're you don't want to want to break down uh kyle gibson's masterpiece on Friday. Who? Very. Wait, who, what? Very convenient. Oh, I didn't even notice he pitched.

Oh, oh, my bad. Big Gabe Gibby. Look, we all know what Kyle Gibson is. Kyle Gibson is three good, one horribly disastrous. Three good, you know, Kyle Gibson's ceiling is way better than I would expect. He's just going to go out and give you some freaking super, super, super

big duds. If he doesn't go one and two thirds or whatever, maybe they don't have to pitch Roberts in 40 pitches on Sunday. This is called deflecting here from the other guys that we're about to talk about quickly, quickly, quickly, because

obviously with off day today and the series starting tomorrow, we probably won't record again before this because it is on Thursday. So Thursday, come hang out with us. We're going to be at Gleason's in Levittown. Fritz, me, we're watching the Phils, a Phillies watch party in Gleason's in Levittown Thursday. It's going to start at 6 o'clock. We'll be out there. And as last time, as you guys know, anyone who went to the one out there in Skipback,

at timeout, we stayed until the end of the game and have a blast. And, you know, your tourist family isn't here to almost ruin our night. And still couldn't. They won for what it's worth. Knock on wood. High hopes nights of any kind this year have been you know maybe the best thing the phillies have going for them in terms of uh spurring them to victory um this is gonna be fun so gleason's at levittown who knows how the rest of the season plays out but this is the only like the last guaranteed can come hang out with us for a game

thing we're hope there'll be more who knows knows what sprouts up? Who knows if they make the playoffs? But last one guaranteed for sure. Gleason's Levittown Thursday night. We're there. And, and one of us will be having Bills minus two and a half against the Rams on opening night of the NFL season. So I will, that will be both of us because, you know, opening game, I will definitely be placing a couple shackles. I am night of the NFL season. So that will be both of us because opening game,

I will definitely be placing a couple shackles. I am rooting for the Bills, so I will be in on that. I like the Bills, and I'm sure there will be a lot of fantasy football players in that. It seems like a fantasy-heavy game. Sure, there will be people at the bar. We've got Cooper Cupp and Stafford and Allen, all these guys. It's going to be a great night.

It's going to be a blast. Yeah, it's going to be a great night. And the Bills are playing another easy team which you know i i appreciate the people that decide the high hopes night well i mean can we be honest we were like oh and 20 or oh and 15 oh and 10 whatever we've done like coming into this year so you know yeah we deserve. Let's, you know, fix the total record a little bit here. Right. And, you know, that's probably the biggest sign that this Phil's team continues to be different is that they're actually winning

on High Hopes nights. So, yeah, really looking forward to it. Go Bills minus two and a half and go Phil's and go whatever fancy player. I have four drafts tomorrow, James. Like all. So, yeah, I have one tonight. Shout out to Dave Stoneback

who listens to this pod. He'll be in the draft. I don't know if anyone else in the league listens. Donnie McGeary sometimes listens. Shout out to both those guys if they're listening. I have that draft tonight

and then we have our WIP draft tomorrow. So that's a lot you got. I only have two more going. I had one. I've only got three leagues and then a guillotine league. So you got yeah well and i have uh i i was requested by my brother-in-law to draft for him as he is going oh yeah that's that's strong and also um jack told me uh um something and i'm gonna divulge it i'm just gonna say it uh this was this private conversation in the car together.

But Jack told me that, and this is a warning to everyone in the WIB Fantasy League, Jack's actually going to try in fantasy this year. So he let me know that this year he's actually going for it. Yeah, I had lost the fantasy itch, but there's been too much slander towards my name. And I would just like to remind everyone that I'm very, very good at fantasy football, and I will be returning with a vengeance. Yeah, yeah. See, that wasn't what you were expecting I was going to say there, did you?

Well, I also have my fantasy baseball playoffs, which are starting today. Yeah, we talked about that, too. Mine starts next week. I got one more regular season week, and then next week. I don't know who's going to collapse harder and this philly's team are my fancy baseball team like it's i've won the regular season last like five years i've lost my championship the last four it's just it's just been a tough go of it um and this year thankfully i kind of limped in got like the five seed and uh hopefully i surprised some people but yeah that's what i'm trying to do too i'm

normally like you know have do very very, very well in this baseball league, either dominant or usually win money in one way or another. And I, too, am limping in. I'm going to be the five or the six seed. It's what we're doing this year. We're under just like the Phils. Limp in, make some moves, Jack. How about that?

Limp in and then get hot. All right, let's get to a couple specific guys because it is Labor Day. And, you know, we've got families to hang out with. Specifically, let's obviously like, you know, we'll get to the wheeler injury. But, you know, we haven't talked since Nola. It was one of those, you know, can we finally trust him? You know, it's September. But, oh, he's been so great this year.

And it was like, he was basically like, bleep you immediately if you trusted me. Like, bleep you if you believed in me. September Nola's back. He's back with a vengeance. Like, oh my God. All right, what were your thoughts watching that? And then, like, honestly, all jokes aside, like, where are you at with September Nola? Well, listen, I was yelling at my, like, I was just like, why did you do this to me again?

Like, why? Why? Why do I have to hear the whole September thing? Like, why do you have to, why do you have to do this? So, obviously, I'm very frustrated. And it's like, come on, man. Like, I want, I want to believe in you. Like I would, I would love nothing more than to be like, Aaron Nola is my guy given the ball.

And I trust that in a big start, he's going to go out and he's going to give them seven, eight good innings. And he is going to, uh, you know, he's going to destroy all the narratives around him. And then he does that. And it's like, I just can't do it. I can't. I can't. Like, I can't shield the all the conversation that's going to happen around around him not being able to step up when his team needs him. Like, that's such a spot where it's like, you just blew a seven,

nothing lead the night before you lost 13 to seven. Just go out and shove man. Against a mediocre, bad team, whatever you want to say, like go out and shove. Oh, and,

and, and, and also going head to head with an ace, like going head to head with a stud, right? Like, like you're going up against Zach Allen. This dude's in the middle of a streak.

Like, like it's like when we goes up against Sch Allen. This dude's in the middle of a streak. It's like when he goes up against Scherzer and Bowsen and stuff. It's like show some freaking chutzpah going up against the other team's ace and be like, I got my squad against you, you know? Yeah. And it's like Aaron Nola is so interesting because he's definitely really good. Like he gives him a ton of innings, doesn't get hurt. But it's just you never trust him. You just can't ever be fully bought in because there's that little thing

that keeps pulling you back. And I would love, again, I would love nothing more than for him to shut it all down, shut down all the conversations and truly put September behind him. Now, to be fair, his last start was in August, right? I mean, it was, was it August? I think it was August 30th. August 30th. Yes. Yeah.

So that's what made it so funny. Yeah. Maybe, maybe the September NOLA really is different. But yeah, it was just, it was infuriating. And just like pitching-wise, he didn't really have his changeup. And I think what made him so good against the Reds was that he had a really good changeup that he could play off of his fastball. I'm still not a fan of the cutter.

It just doesn't look right. It doesn't seem like it dives at all. It just kind of floats up there. I guess it gives the hitter a little bit of a different look, but whatever. Again, I kind of watch Aaron Nola games with almost my hands over my eyes, just peeking out. And I want to trust him, and I think he's a good pitcher. He's got to figure out the September thing

because it's just going to be there until he shuts it down. Yeah, you're watching Aaron Noah. Like whenever, Emily hates horror movies. I love horror movies. But whenever we watch anything that, you know, she watched action, she watched stuff,

but there'll be like, you know, something that's scary in a non-horror movie. She'll always do the, you have to watch me, you have to watch me. And like cover her eyes and I'll watch and tell her what happens. Yeah, that's like an arinola like i want to do that with her i'm gonna tell her i'll do your horror movie thing you watch arinola starts me so i have to watch this okay just tell me what oh oh no was it give me that um all right and i'm right there

with you look as as ridiculous as it is because it's just a month of the year uh but you know i need to see nola pitch good in September before I'm, like multiple starts before I'm going to trust any September start against any team, you know, and that sucks because to your point, he's been great this year. Like arguably before that Arizona start, you could argue he's been their best pitcher, that he's been better than Wheeler this year.

Like he certainly has been there more, you know. So he's been great this year, and that start really unraveled a lot of it uh quickly on wheeler and then i got one more thing i want to ask you and then take bag and all that i know we got you know we got into a lot but um but um the wheeler thing quickly and then i have one more thing but you know obviously we weren't too worried then you know it's still sore mri no structural damage but it's sore you know uh where you at are you at? So I can't tell if they're trying to be, like, if they're trying to be cute and just giving him a good amount of rest

with three kind of cupcakes coming up and then working him back in, or if, like, I should be on panic sitting right now. Yeah, dude, I don't know what to do here, Jack. It's still sore, I'm just like, enough, I'm, I don't know what to do here, Jack. It's still sore. I'm just like enough. All right. And I,

if you are stringing us along, like not okay anymore. Like, I don't care about any, like, no, you know, just enough.

Right. Like, like, uh, this is our hopes and dreams you are toying with right here. I would, I would lose, I would lose a good amount of respect if they,

they say he couldn't make his next start. all of a sudden he's done for the year. I agree. If they say he could have pitched through it and he's having Tommy John, that's a real breach of trust type of thing with your fan base. I agree with you. I don't think they would have done that. Yeah, so I'm still kind of... I know teams lie about injuries all the time,

but it's the way you say it to where you can know if it's time to be Meltdown City or okay, just give. But it's also like it's not the time to be cute. No. I don't need this whole like, yeah, we're good, we're good, we're good. We're going to make the playoffs. We're like 14 games over 500 and whatever.

Like, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Like, let's get this thing rolling in the right direction. Let's get Wheeler back. I know he's still sore. Hopefully the next update is good. But I would be really, really disappointed if it comes out that he's actually, you know, really, really done. And I'm still –

I'd be furious. Disappointed. Disappointed is what we are after the west coaster furious is what we would be if they said he's fine he could have pitched through it we're just being cautious and then he's having tommy john i'd be furious right so i am still taking them at their word with the right to be furious if it comes out that he's done so uh it but it pretty much is as simple as if they don't get Wheeler back. Oh, it's over. Yeah, it's over. They might make the playoffs still, but it's over, you know.

Well, and then you start worrying about next year. Well, yeah. I mean, if he's the Atomic John now, then he's gone all of next year, most likely. It's a whole, yeah, let's not even put that out there. Let's just hope that they're rusty. Who knows? But I'm with you.

I'm not happy right now with that. That probably my honestly with everything my number one not happy is that um all right last thing i want to get to and then and then you can take back it up um and like you know of course you know phillies lose five of six you know phillies start fans of course we've had this fun thing where at least for the most part the vast majority of us have been on the team side this year on each other's side and vibing with each other and then of course you know the bickering and and whatever starts when when people start saying you know bryce harper's the problem and then all this dumb dumb we don't curse on that i came close dumb bleep happens and people are just like it's the most annoying dialogue that's been going on in a while on

philly's twitter but like like enough with it all right bryce harper is the mvp he's a superstar he's our baby but you talked about the last pod the chance that maybe they let up a little bit or maybe like it's clear that that obviously and i don't think it's one to one i don't think bryce harper comes back and they're worse because of it, but they've been worse since Bryce Harper's come back. You know, where are you at with that whole thing? Uh, it's, it's really annoying.

And you know, I did. Baseball is, is a individual sport wrapped up in a team sport. Like what a good way to put it. I love that. Like Bryce Harper is, is a really good player.

He, he, you know, they were also playing really good baseball before he got hurt. You know, it's not like they were 32 and 20 without him, and they were, like, bad before he got hurt. Like, they were already starting to turn this whole thing around before Bryce got hurt, you know? So it's not like, you know, it's not like, oh, wow, there's not a big correlation here. I know people will bring up, oh. Yeah, it's not like, you know, it's not like, oh, wow, there's not a big correlation here. I know people will bring up, oh.

Yeah, it's not like the Girardi thing. It's not like, you know, they were eight games under, they were seven games under, they fire him, and then they win a bunch of games. Like, they had already won a bunch of games. Yeah. And, you know, listen, the whole, like, oh, well, the Nationals won without him.

I understand. Like, here's the truth, is that Bryce is a really big personality, and that's kind of what he has. Like, superstars have a big, you know, there's a lot of attention around them. So, like, yeah, of course it's going to be a little – it's going to be different when Bryce is back. He's the MVP of the league. He's the best player on the team.

He has been the face of baseball since he's, like, been 16 years old. Like, there's different expectations when he's around, and they got to figure it out. It's not like Bryce is going anywhere. And I don't buy into the whole, oh, they're better without Bryce thing. No, they played above their heads against a lot of bad teams. And they knew they all had to step up without him there. And I give them a ton of credit.

I give them a ton of credit. What those guys did with Bryce out, you know, they should be rewarded for that. It's amazing. But he's back now, and it's not time to take your foot off the pedal, you know. It's time. It's go time.

And I do kind of feel like some of the guys in the lineup maybe were like, oh, Bryce is back. Like some of the pressure is off me. And maybe that little attention to stuff has just been kind of taken off. And it's like, no, that can't happen. So my hope is, James, is that they went out west. And my optimistic outlook is that this is a massive wake-up call that Bryce coming back is not fixing everything. And Bryce coming back is not the end-all the end all be all and they come home and

and they take care of business with bryce being a part of it um and the other thing i was thinking with the bryce um coming back and and whatnot is that people do forget that even last year in his mvp run um when he came back from the from getting hit in the face, his two weeks post that were pretty rough. Now, he's been better, I think, better than he was last year coming back from the injury. But it took him about a good two weeks to really get back to being Bryce. Totally, Jack. Totally.

And we're slowly approaching that point. He hasn't been bad. He just hasn't been driving the ball like he was, which I think is natural. Looks like he's been a little bit late recently. So, you know, I fully expect Bryce and everyone to kind of figure this whole thing out. My other optimistic

outlook is that, listen, they got a bunch of guys who are runners in scoring position. They're going to drive those guys at some point. Yeah. And getting those guys in those positions does matter. Yeah matter yeah no you just gotta yeah drive them in but yeah i'm with you on all that i think it'll be human for them to be like oh you know even subconsciously to let up a little bit when you get bryce back think oh now

we got bryce we don't have to push quite as hard and all that um but i'm with you i'm hoping this west coast trip is kicking the ass all right take back it up buddy all right so i'm gonna be completely honest here. I don't remember writing this out. This one, this first thing that I wrote down. Good. I love that. It was probably about 1.30 in the morning and it was probably delirious slash, you know,

when they were blowing a lead. I'm pretty sure I cracked open a few. Love this. Big fan of this. I wrote, I wrote, do other fan bases feel losses? You know, like, do other fan bases feel as crushed as we do when they blow it? Like, the 7-0, it was so, it was like, what are you doing? Like, why did you do this to me and to the listeners of this podcast and the fans? Like, why did you do this to me and to the listeners this podcast and the fans like why did you do that

um and i just wrote down do other fan bases feel losses the way that we do it's a great question i think there probably are fan bases particularly throughout all sports that do but i definitely think we are somewhat unique with that we go from zero to meltdown like yeah we are we are we are the we are the fans of the losing his franchise in the history of north american sports there are a lot of of uh you know idiosyncratic things that come with that and i think feeling losses is absolutely one of them uh the second thing that i have here is that if the phillies do uh full full-on collapse here and they – God, why are you even saying that?

What are we doing here? Well, because – What is happening right now? Because if that happens, Bob Nightingale, like I – Oh, yeah, yeah. He needs to be taken. Like, I don't know what we need to do. The biggest enemy of this podcast in the history of the world.

Just a disaster. Like, what are you doing, buddy? What are you thinking? What's happening here? I refuse. I don't want to see Philly players, anyone for talking to them, all of it. Everyone should... I don't even know what to say. I'm going to say something I don't mean. I'm not okay with any of it, Jack. How about they should all grow up and make

the playoffs first? Well said. Act like adults, all right? Yeah, and Bob... Enough. All right, Bob, stick to breaking news, all right yeah and bob enough all right bob stick to breaking news all right pal if you nightingale this whole thing up i there will there will be no bigger enemy of the high host podcast yes um besides ryan yarborough for breaking the kimoni x hand but i agree and blake snell and a few others but bob nightingaleale, enemy number one. Don't let it happen, Bob. So,

I am fine with Schwarber at the leadoff spot, whatever. But I want to see... Bryce has to get out of the cleanoff spot, right? Like enough of this? I want to see what Stott's... I hate it.

Relax. I want to see what Stott and Segura look like at the top of the lineup. Like, I want to... Mix it up. I want to know if it won't work before I totally dismiss it. I think those two, and they were great in the Giants series. Like, the only two guys that I felt like showed up.

And they just have a really good connection. And I feel like there's something there with those two that they kind of feed off each other. And I kind of want to see what they would do at the top of the lineup. And then it lengthens the whole thing out. Also, and I don't have numbers to back this up. Like this is strictly feel.

But it just felt like the last week where some of the guys at the bottom of the lineup will get on base and then it turns into like i don't like having two strikeout guys one two and i know they have value i know they're good players but i don't i would rather have not have those strikeout kind of guys up at that point of the lineup when you need to put balls in play. So Stott and Segura, I think, do a pretty consistent job of putting the ball in play. I know they struck out twice in back-to-back situations, I think, yesterday or Saturday that cost them runs.

But I think they have something special there, and I want to know what it looks like because I think it could kind of jumpstart this team. I have visions of Stott living off of the walk or whatever. Segura hitting the ball the opposite way into the corner. They go first, third, bang. You have those two up, and Bryce is coming up. Yes, I am with you.

We need to stop with the Bryce in the cleanup spot thing. It is egregious. Get him in the three hole, and let's figure this whole thing out. But I don't know how the rest of the lineup shakes out you know whatever but i want to see what stats to go to harper look like uh one two three yeah look i it's one of those where we went through the whole time like where do you put reese where do you put boom there's not blah blah like i'm down for whatever at this point clearly what they did it hasn't had the same vibe as the lineup did before Harper came back and you know

the lineup should not um feel less exciting when Bryce Harper's in it um you know so yeah I'm with you either way Harper has to bat three for me like other than that I'm down to try anything but sure you know I think it's an interesting idea and it gives you a lot of thump after too yeah and it lengthens the whole thing it does it definitely does it lengths it gives you a lot of thump after, too. Yeah. And it lengthens the whole thing out. It does. It definitely does. It lengths it out without a doubt. I mean, then all of a sudden you got, you know, theoretically, like, you know, you got, like, bone batting seven. You got, you know, legitimate guys at the bottom of the lineup. Yeah.

And two, I think, good table setters, one, two, just to kind of, you know, I want to see what it looks like. I think it would work. Gotcha. So, all right. I was going to say this for later, but I mean, the fact that I'm 45 minutes. I was about to say, it's pretty late. We're 45 minutes in. So, yeah.

Griff McGarry has been. Griffy. Griffy. Griff promoted AAA. And here's my thought on what they're. Let's go. Here's my thought on what they're... Going out of the pen. Let's go. What?

Here's my thought on what they're doing. Oh, by the way, real quick. I'm having a thing of something because the one thing I forgot to say before we were talking about the Harper coming back in two is like, not having Sir Anthony has mattered just as much as we thought it would.

Go ahead. Yeah, well, because everyone's thrust into a situation that they're not totally ready for. Like when you have Sir Anthony Hand, Robertson, and I'm forgetting one at the back end. But when you have when you have sir anthony hand um robertson and i'm forgetting one at the back end but when you have sir anthony hand robertson alvarado like you have those guys at your disposable disposal at the end of the games like it it makes things just so much easier now it's like we got to put baladi in a role he's probably robinson for two two innings

or this that anyway go ahead so Yeah, so it's been interesting. So, with Griff, this is what I think. So, I think that the rotation has been so brutal recently with going deep into games. They need someone in, like, the Nelson role that can come in and give them innings, like, middle relief, long man stuff if guys don't go deep. But then I was thinking, you know, I think Ranger needs to go in the IL again.

You know, there was talk in his last start in Arizona that he has back heavily wrapped. Like maybe the back spasms are coming back. It's been really annoying that like the fourth inning happens and like a runner gets on base. And Ranger's a guy that I had down as a guy that I could trust with gets on base and ranger's a guy that i had uh down as a guy that i could trust with runners on base and in big games and you know he's been kind of crumbling in those situations which is annoying um but i do i i i do lens and believe that hey maybe he's banged up again and and they they need a little il stint so with efflin coming back maybe they put ranger on the il they let effin open up games, give

them three or four. Griff takes down the middle, and that's the way that you can kind of piggyback your way through this. And get Ranger right for the first round of the playoffs. Right. I like it. So that's my thought there. The other thought is

I see a lot of, well, Evelyn's going to come out of the bullpen. I'm just telling you, it's weird. I don't never done it. Putting a guy in that spot to just come out of the bullpen. It's not easy.

Well, he has done it. He was out of the bullpen a couple of years ago. And when did, when was he out of the bullpen? I don't remember. Dude, it was like,

remember that, remember that time where they sent him down? Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh,

Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, yeah, but for a very short period of time. But yes, I do remember that. It was strictly like a numbers crunch thing and he came back. Yeah, I've never done it like any sort of real extended time as that role.

Right. I know what you meant. But it's just like starters going – he's a starter. And they have routines is my point. It's hard to go from like doing your whole starter thing to being thrown into a bullpen right so i i don't totally trust the efflin's uh bullpen thing i just don't know if that's gonna go well but if you want to open them and then have griff take down the middle i think that could work while you hopefully get ranger back but i also think that i think there's a chance for more here with griff like if he comes

in like he automatically becomes, when you're talking about pure stuff, out of the bullpen, I would probably put him fourth already. I think his stuff is stupid. I already have visions of Griff taking down big-time playoff innings and firing up the whole crowd. And Citizens Bank Park is sold out after they win a first-round matchup against the Cardinals.

And Griff is dominating like in Andrew Miller, Adam Wainwright in 06. Why not? Why not, Griff? Why not, pal? Why not? David Price in 08. So many examples. Griff McGarry, a Fritz guy, through and through.

You want to talk about Vinny Natoli's slider, or do you want to move on? That's the only reason. What do you think I want to do here? Yes. Yes. Looked pretty good. I'm intrigued. So we did it.

We did it. It was good. Looks like he generates a lot of soft contact. So in on Vinny Natoli. They have to take the kid gloves off of Sam Coonrod. He's been pitching in the fifth, sixth. Sam Coonrod looks nasty. I mean, he threw some 96-mile-an-hour splitters yesterday.

I was like, that is just stupid stuff. So it feels like they're kind of easing him back in. We can't do the easing back in thing. I need him high leverage. We've got to step up his role because the back end of the bullpen needs it. Strong co-sign this. Couldn't agree more. And my last thing, it looks like, in the take back is I was ridiculed and I was mocked on this podcast, not just by you, but by the listeners of like, oh, see what Jack said?

Oh, he really compared Bailey Falter to Cliff Lee. And I would just like to say, tell me you didn't think a little bit like, you know what? There's a little cliff here. There's a little cliff. That's four straight quality starts for Bailey Falter or four straight wins by Bailey Falter, whatever. I am just really, really intrigued here with Bailey.

And I've already started thinking about next year because that's what I do. And if you have a big game, Kyle Gibson coming off the books, you have possibly Eflin coming off the books. You have Thor who shocking, shocking is not the dominant pitcher that, Oh,

he was, he, they won all the starts so far. Yeah. Well, why don't you, why don't you see if you can generate a swing and miss every once in a while. But you have those guys coming off the books.

You have Wheeler, Nola, Ranger, and then you go Falter, hopefully getting better. That way, you know, you don't have to rush the kids up. Maybe it's Griff. Maybe it's Painter. Maybe it's Abel. But it gives you nice flexibility to where you have a solid four pretty much set um you can go get a a free agent starter there's some some good names out there um if they want to get another opener jacob degrom is is a free agent this offseason maybe if they want to do that

um but like it just it him developing into possibly a good rotation piece i'm not obviously going to go overboard with Bailey Falter, but it just makes everything a lot easier for next year when you have three pitch starting pitchers coming off the books. Yeah. I, I, I trust Falter more than anyone else right now.

Is that what you want to hear Jack? Cause it's true. Wow. That sounds like a disaster. They might not really collapse here. I want, I want Bailey Falter taking the hill over everyone else right now in the in the rotation so it's good we're in good shape things are good three starters yeah

i'm the guy who's like oh everything's fine and then i'm like bailey falter the guy i trust most it's great i'm not even kidding like with wheeler hurt like i'm not even kidding like in all honesty i feel i feel like i trust gibby next outing because he usually doesn't have two bad ones in a row so it'll probably be good next one but in general like yeah you know I trust Bailey and I don't really trust much else right now starter wise heading into this September so it's good

good spot to be in we're good you got anything else buddy no I guess I'll just give my final thought here and then you can wrap it up everyone can enjoy their labor day. Yes. Well,

whatever. Everyone, um, you know, as the two leaders of the, this, this will be mostly fine, uh,

movement. Yes. I would just like to say brutal West coast trip. Very disappointing. Annoyed. They did did that i thought they were better they weren't whatever put it behind us but i don't feel a september collapse coming i don't think everything is falling apart i totally understand that mindset because they've done it for four straight years and it's been just disheartening

but i still don't feel it with this team talk to me after this next like three series heading into the the big stretch in the mid middle september late september might be in a different spot but not there yet we gotta hold be strong it was never gonna be to be easy. You knew it wasn't going to be easy. They're not making it easy. I still think this is a playoff team, and the September collapse is not going to happen. I love it. I couldn't agree more.

A great point about it not being easy. We should have known it wasn't. Of course it wasn't. And it still won't. It's going to be tough. This is going to be infuriating. But I'm with you,'t. It's going to be tough. This is going to be infuriating. But I'm with you, Jack. They're going to get there.

And hey, if nothing else, we can do it all together, right? Go through the ups and downs. No, I don't want to do it together. I won't be around. I'm literally just going to say come to Gleason's and hang out with us. But sure, destroy my line before I even do it. I was like, we're going to do it together. And you can do it with us on Thursday.

And Jack's like, don't come. So that's good. No, no. Come to Gleason's on Thursday. Hang out with us and watch the Phils, all right? Jeez Louise, Jackie. We need a good homestand here in a big way. We need to get a homestand.

Coming out with us on Thursday will be at Gleason's in Levittown. We're going to have a lot ofand here in a big way we need to get a homestand coming out with us on thursday we'll be at cleason's in levittown we're gonna have a lot of fun we'll watch the phils and uh it's gonna be okay talk to us in a week but it's gonna be okay he's fed some seltzer we'll see you next time.