High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - "This is One of the Greatest Sports Nights of My Life"

Episode Date: June 6, 2022

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to the best weekend of the Phillies season so far. The guys discuss the Rob Thomson effect, June Schwarber, Seranthony >>> Knebel, 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. Yoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo It is another edition of the High Hopes Podcast presented by Miller Lite. Celebrate responsibly, official partner of the Philadelphia Phillies and Jack Fritz. It was Miller time to fire Joe Girardi. And who knew it was Miller time to hire Rob Thompson, statistically the greatest manager in Philadelphia Phillies history up until this point, Jack.

I mean, I like I. So we weren't even planning on recording today. We were like, oh, it's an off day tomorrow. We'll record tomorrow. You know, yeah, it'll be. We'll see what happens. But but then, of course, like what a game like the Harper Grand Slam and then you think they lost it with Knievel and then of all people like Jack I just wanted Bryson Stott to work a walk I was like again I was 3-0 and then it's 3-2 and I'm like oh my god oh my god I just wanted to get a walk give Schwarber a chance and then boom and the kid in the freaking stands we all know that if this is the run that kid is gonna be like shown 10 million times with the tears and the kid in the freaking stands we all know that if this is the run that kid is going to be like shown 10 million times with the tears and the celebrate it was a magical weekend man

like who knows if it was just firing the manager is that freaking symbol but they look like a totally different baseball team just an amazingly awesome week like the best weekend of the year by far, Jack. Yeah, and capped off with today, buddy. Like, I don't mean this lightly. Oh, can't wait. It was one of the best sports moments of my life. Like, it really was, dude. I know. It's been a long decade, man.

They've beaten you down real bad i we are down so bad as a fan base but it was man uh i honestly they lose that game a week ago uh they lose that game we've seen them lose that specific game multiple times this season like literally for most of my adult life the phillies lose that game um and i just it was so funny too because the the game's going on the the gibson fourth inning's a disaster um and it's like they hit a couple balls like schwarber hit one that should have been a home run that didn't go out hoskins hit one one Harper hit one earlier I think um and it's like okay today's just not the Phillies day like today's not their day whatever move on I'm still happy they took two or three but there was this little bit in the back of my head that was still like man this kind of feels like the

same old fills and just like Bryce hitting that home run um and and just sending us all into a state of euphoria. And then to go down classic because, you know, Knievel couldn't just get out Kurt Suzuki in the bottom of the Angels lineup. But it felt like they're about to waste another Harper like heroic moment that we can like tell our grandkids about. But then to do what they did in the ninth it's like you know they're just there there has a different feel around it it feels like there's been this kind of weight lifted off of their shoulders I we I think we all understand that there is more James than just uh firing the manager and they're gonna all of a

sudden go on a super, super deep run into the playoffs. A manager can also only do so much. But at the same time, I just think that he was such a drain on a lot of things, whether it was playing the young guys, his nonchalant attitude, his corpse-like demeanor in the dugout. I mean, they played like a team that was just happy to have a fresh start this weekend. I know. Jack, it really, like, honestly, and again, we'll see how it extends throughout the rest of the season. And we talked about it before with the idea when we wanted him fired that it does happen in baseball

where sometimes you see these teams that make these moves in season and it does give them a burst obviously you know the Jack McKeon Marlins the the most classic example of that going on to win the World Series but you know we do see it you know the the dude who's the the Cardinals manager now Schilt he came in and basically got the job by having a big run after getting you know an interim job so you know we see it happen it can give a team a boost but i don't ever remember such a quick you know and again it has to extend to really really hold but such a quick such a dramatic like where it was again jack it looked like it looked like the team we saw play baseball this weekend is a team we haven't seen all season. They felt like a normal, good baseball team.

We saw different versions of it. They jumped all over them on Friday night and just whooped their asses. And it's clearly freeing game for all of them with Moniakak and Stott and all the young guys in the lineup and, and the, you know, just onslaught. And then the next night they, they get up early and, and have a, you know, a nice game, a nice, you know, the bullpen holds up. They add some insurance runs. And then today a, a magical come from behind, especially a game where you're, you're down

for so long, you know, it's one thing where you're kind of always fighting back, but they were just down down 5-2 for a while 5-0 for a while then 5-2 and then it's all of a sudden and 6-2 and then all of a sudden it's a tie game and then you know obviously going to win it it just it felt like a completely different team Jack I just I understand that that they got rid of Girardi and that really does make a difference from all the reasons we talked about. But it was shocking to see it be just such a big difference this quickly. And it does give me hope. Who knows? It's early, and the Angels, again, have now lost 11 straight.

So they're not playing the best baseball. But I don't know, Jack. I come out of this weekend feeling as hopeful about the team as I have since the start of the season. I come out of this weekend feeling like we're about to have a summer, man. Like, I really do. I feel like we're about to have a freaking summer. And I tweeted a couple of times, a couple times but like season starts now i mean i understand they're starting the season i to me james this is opening weekend i don't know

how to also explain it like this is this is opening weekend the first uh two months of the season did not happen it the season starts now and there are four games under 500 to start the season which is a little weird most teams traditionally don't have to go. Yeah. Also, double digits back in the division is a tough way to start the season. Yeah, whatever. I don't care about the division anymore. I'm pretty much sold on let's make a run on this wild card.

Yeah. The Mets just keep winning. I know. So it's like, what's the point? Yeah, the damn Dodgers. What a bunch of frauds. I watched that game, too. It was just brutal. Brutal. Dave Roberts doesn't know the rules of the sport,gers. What a bunch of frauds. I watched that game, too. It was just brutal.

Brutal. Dave Roberts doesn't know the rules of the sport, which seems like a problem. But, you know, whatever. Who cares about those teams? We got our own team. We do. And the thing with the Mets is, like, the day they lead this division wire to wire would be a shocking day to me. That's all I'll say.

Not just you i think pretty much anyone who's watched the match play baseball for the last 30 years you know yeah except for what 2015 yeah their cute little run um but you know the the in uh the influence of the young talent on this team i think has meant meant a good amount. You know, it was so, I tweeted this last night, like 250 plus games of Joe Girardi, and he didn't realize that, hey, maybe playing young kids and seeing what they can do, and maybe they can add a little spark to a team that has looked generally dead for most of the time

that we've done this podcast. Maybe they can add a little bit of things to this team rather than, hey, let's just play Didi every day and Ronald Torres and Oduble. And, you know, let's see what the kids can kind of do here for a little bit. So, James, I feel like we've done the whole this feels different thing, I don't know, a million times. A zillion. A zillion.

But it's just, you know, I don't know how else to tell you how I feel. Like, I love this baseball team. I will always defend and be all in on this team when I can. And for the first time in a long time, I was like, all right, we're going to have a little bit of a summer here. You know, I think the Angels are obviously reeling, and they've lost 11 straight. But, hey.

They still have talent. They still have talent. We've seen good teams come into this ballpark who are in a bit of a downturn, and the Phillies will make them hot again. So maybe they're riding off the firing of Girardi, but I looked at a team all weekend long that just felt like a weight was lifted off of their shoulders. And, you know, I think Joe's a nice guy,

but I just had this sense that he wasn't that approachable. Like, I couldn't get past that for the last two weeks where his job's been on the line. No one came out and said... I am so with you on this. You brought this up last time. I'm so with you. I think it says so much, Jack.

And, you know, Thompson's talking about, by the way, it's Topper. I'm not doing the whole Topper thing. Well, it won the poll, so it's Topper. Why you got to, like, not accept a loss when you have a loss? I mean. Because I'm a true baseball guy, and as someone that has been a part. Topper is a great nickname. It's a terrible nickname.

It doesn't even make any sense. Topper. Topper. Like like let's stop i mean you see thompson you think topper you don't think topper okay topper topper topper no but you know he talks so much about communicating and being around these guys and they just looked like they were having so much fun in the dugout and And for as much as I think that is young kids playing, having that little bit of energy, a little bit of jolt, I also don't think it – well, it certainly doesn't hurt,

but I think there's something to be said. Kyle Schwarber starts off Friday night with a home run. Kyle Schwarber starts off Saturday with a ball off the wall. Like he's gotten going a little bit, and having him at the top of the lineup, like it just – it's hard not to have this feeling of it's go time. June Schwarber might be the best player in baseball history. June Schwarber. We'll get more to June Schwarber,

but I really totally agree with your points about Thompson, a.k.a. Taber. Look, I think that with Girardi and my whole athletes are humans thing, and we've talked about this with this specific thing, but to all the points, they didn't seem like they were having fun playing Girardi and you know my old you know athletes are humans thing we've talked about this with this specific thing but to all the points I just it they didn't seem like they were having fun playing Girardi to the point where Alex Coffey did an article in the Inquirer about it that we talked about where again like players families who watch them play their whole lives or watch them and going and wow you guys really look like you're not enjoying this like what what's the deal here and I think a lot of that comes from Girardi. I was, as we talked about so many times,

we hated the tactical in-game bullpen, you know, pitching management decisions he made. But the way bigger issue we had was all the clubhouse stuff and the culture stuff. And it seems like, if nothing else, Topper is loved. Like, throughout baseball and in that clubhouse. And I think that, to your point, it gave the guys kind of some freedom to have Girardi out.

And it kind of made them feel like it's their team more. And, you know, I think it was, like, the evident, look, we'll see again how it plays out. You know, it's just a one-week-end jolt. But you can't totally ignore the fact that they came out and looked like a completely different baby. It's not just playing young kids. It's the whole thing. And I just, I think it matters. Look, if you go back and listen to all the pods we did leading up to this, we talked so much about how we didn't feel like we could believe in this team until Girardi was gone. That Girardi was that big of an issue for us, for this team, from a culture perspective and from a managing the game perspective,

that we felt it was that big a hindrance on the team. And now he's gone and we see them look great for a weekend of baseball, including one of the best wins they've had in the last decade or whatever it is, sadly, five years, whatever you want to say. I don't know. It's up there to have the double comeback like that, the walk-off with the Grand Slam with Harper, those moments. It's up there.

It is up there, especially to kind of sweep a team like that. So I don't know, Jack. I'm with you. It's one of those things where I understand if people wanted to say, hey, it's just a weekend and the Angels have lost 11 straight and whatever and Schwarber's getting hot and all that. But I also don't think you can just ignore the fact that they wanted Girardi gone. And Harper's comments afterwards that you pointed out last time on the pod you know

it's like it's yeah it's our fault but it's also his fault i mean it and your point just now about him not getting defended by one player all these things it's just it just seems so clear that they were not happy playing for this guy and they were not having fun playing for this guy and if nothing else for a weekend it seems completely different well and how about it how about his comments today after the game i mean just just continuing like these little subtle shots of the manager um i mean i don't know for the people didn't see it um he said after the game i'm so happy for the kid man what an at-bat what a situation for him being able to put our trust in our young guys the last couple of days and really just let them play, it's been great.

And it paid off today. Dude, James, can I just say something? I would love nothing more, Jack. We have been freaking robbed of good baseball in this town because of that manager. Again, I said it last time and I'll say it again. Like, I had never been the manager of this, manager of that. He's costing his team wins.

He's doing this. He's doing that. Until that guy started managing this baseball team. And just seeing the Harper quotes, seeing how they played this weekend, like what a waste of freaking time the last 250 games of our existence as Phillies fans have been. Like, what a utter waste of time with this guy as manager. I mean, it's so annoying having to watch him look dead postgame. It's so annoying talking about just managing for September all the time.

It was just so refreshing seeing Rob Thompson talk. It really was. It was like, this guy seems like a guy I want to play for. And also a guy who actually wanted to be there maybe. A guy that was emotional about being a manager for the first time and he's been in baseball forever. And he finally gets this opportunity. And man, I don't know how long

it's gonna last i i don't know i i don't i don't i i want this to last for the rest of my life i want the rob thompson is the goat but i mean he's never lost i'm just saying it's hard to argue it's just i i just i feel like i got my baseball team back i i talked about that friday but i just i all weekend it was like, oh my God, like this is what could, this is what it could be like all the time. And, and being able to win a game like that, James, you know, for, for, for a team that has struggled to figure out how to win in years past, for them to be able to do that today, I just hope that's something that gets instilled in them,

that we can do this more going forward. And we can, even if we're down, trust this offense to come back and win a ballgame and putting them in a position to succeed. I hope that Stoddy, this is kind of his welcome to the big leagues moment, where it's like, I can play here. I can stick. is welcome to the big leagues moment where it's like, I can, I can play here. I can stick. And I know Camargo's hurt. I know Jean's hurt. I know Maiton's hurt, but I, I just, I,

I want Bryson to play shortstop. I don't want to see DD out there. I know it's probably not going to happen now because of the injuries, but like, I want to see Bryson go and play and, and get comfortable and stick there. I want to stick bomb at third base. I'm glad he's fine after taking a bat to the jugular, which was shocking to see. It was insane. And I hope Moniak plays like, like I think there's something to the kids being in this lineup.

And I think just coming back and, and finding a way to win that game today, I know it can be fluky. I know home runs kind of just happen, but that's a kind of win that you hope. I know it can be fluky. I know home runs kind of just happen, but that's a kind of win that you hope can just instill a level of confidence that, hey, we can do this more often. Yeah. Well, I'm playing the young guys works both ways. Like, obviously it can add a spark to a team for, for, you know, them bringing some energy and some fire

and all that. But it's also like, these guys are never going to gain the confidence as players and hitters that they need if they don't get these opportunities like we just talked about Bryson Stott this could be a seminal day for him from a confidence as a major league baseball player perspective and if he's not playing and he's not in the game and he's not you know pinch hit for or whatever in that situation he doesn't get that opportunity. And who knows if Joe Girardi were here. And the same thing goes for all these other guys. They need reps. They need opportunities to prove themselves and to show that they can or can't hang at the major league level.

And they need their manager to be confident in them. Like when you're Mickey Moniak the other night and you get pinch hit for with the bases loaded for another left-handed hitter in Odubel you know what does that tell you about your manager's faith in you and his belief in you like there's so many examples of that type of stuff so I think this just matters across the board that then I think you know I hope it's something that continues with Topper the you know belief in the young guys and giving them the chance and the confidence to to grow and and

because to your point, it is important, especially with all the injuries, right? I mean, like they need these guys. Thought has to be good for them. You know, he has to be able to play Boneyack has to be able to play for them. They're going to Mayton hopefully isn't out long and he needs to come back and has to be able to play for them. And look, boom, not just, you know, Boma a big day today with the bat, but also, you know, he got that rally going.

If he doesn't get that hit there, and shout out to DD2, you know, both big hits there to get on base for stop. But I'm really with you. I think the young guys, for both reasons, for their development and their opportunity and also the best version of them coming out as well as for the team right now. Well, yeah, and it's not even i just as we're talking it's like it's like if you're a big league player and you've done this for a good amount of

time and you are a professional and a manager doesn't trust you enough to like know if you can pitch three days in a row or these kind of scenarios. Like, if you're a big league player, you're like, dude, what is this joke? I mean, seriously. Like, if Cora Kniebel before the game last Tuesday night or two days ago is like, give me the ball, I'm good. And the manager shuts you down, like, wouldn't that just sit poorly with you? Like, I'm an adult. I'm a big leaguer. I've done this for a couple

years and yes, Gnable has been very, very shaky and frankly annoying. We're going to get to more about Gnable, don't worry. But if you if you're one of those guys and you've played long enough and your manager is like no, I don't care that you say you're good

to go. Totally. It's basically like I don't have faith in you to do that. Like, Tomper in his first couple days here has already been like, no, I'm going to trust my guys. Totally. If they tell me I'm good to go, I'm good to go. And he's treating these guys like big leaguers. And I think that's important.

I think that kind of sets a different tone in that clubhouse. And it's like he thought Girardi was going to be the adult in the room, but I think it might've been the exact opposite. Yeah. Couldn't agree more. All right. I want to get to some specific things, but also quickly, you know, I haven't gotten a chance on behalf of, you know, my good friend, John Middleton.

I just want to say you're welcome to everyone for playing a role in making this happen. I'm sure, you know, I'm sure my conversation with John in at least some way factored in. You know what I mean? Right? So what, Girardi getting fired? Yeah. I mean, I thought you were more advocating for the podcast slash Ani.

I was. I was. But, you know, I threw some subtle stuff out there, you know? Yeah. I mean, listen, you once uh, you, once again, are putting this fan base on your back. So that is, uh, it's good to see, you know, I'm proud of you buddy. All right. Some specific things you just mentioned him.

Let's get to my number one thing. Um, because I have been like, I think it's very clear and we've talked about it quite a bit and there've been some guys who've pitched better, you know, Brad hands look decent of late and some you know whatever but sir anthony is the only guy we we the only elite guy in this bullpen right now the only guy we really trust i've been big on liking him in the high leverage spots and you know he can go in the fifth inning or the eighth inning or whatever and give you you know i don't love the wraparound thing but he can do it and all that type of stuff but um you know knable is rough right now man and you know i don't know if you know sir anthony is definitely the best pitcher in this bullpen and if you're of the opinion that the best pitcher in

the bullpen should be the closer then he should probably be the closer where do you stand the whole sir anthony closer thing knable thing in general well i'm usually not you know i would love to be able to say okay uh sir anthony you're my fireman i'm going to bring you in the sixth seventh eighth uh whenever we need um a rally killed but the fact of the matter is is we both know that the toughest three outs in any baseball game is the final three and especially for this philly's team especially in the last few years so i listen i i wish it wasn't the scenario i think sir anthony has a ton of uh uh flexibility to pitch whenever but i need him closing games at this point i need him back there i need him to just close it and be done with it and because man i need a good afternoon good night uh or good morning good

afternoon good night kind of ninth inning and sir anthony is just he's pitching at an insane insane level right now he's awesome it's it's it's 97 with two seam run cut run like it's it's it's unbelievable um he's also like just messed around with a changeup at 90 and a slider. It's like, God, what is this? So, yeah, I'm putting Sir Anthony back there. And, hey, maybe Knievel can kind of settle into a role as a fireman in a way. And maybe, hey, down the road, if he can go back to closing, that's fine. But the best thing for this baseball team is putting Sir Anthony in a closer position and just at least locking that down, getting those three outs done.

And it's crazy, James. I mean, Brad Hand's ERA is like 117. Dude, he's been awesome. Now, it's somewhat misleading. He's been better lately. Yeah, he's left a fair amount of inherited runners. But he's cut down on that recently too. He's been good lately.

I don't trust brad hand but it you know sadly if you ask me who do i trust the most after sir anthony in the bullpen i'd probably say brad hand wow that's uh that's not a great spot to be in no buddy hey oh well that's a real quick real quick i i 100 agree with you you nailed it like i feel exactly the same way i don't want him to be the closer but he has to be the closer or go trade for a closer. Like we talked about, like give up something for David Bednar or whatever and get somebody who's just freaking awesome and bring them in.

And, and let's not worry about this for the next three, four years or whatever. But I agree right now, Sir Anthony is the guy who has to be there. Go ahead. We love Bednar, but I mean like five years of control.

Yeah. An example, anybody like bring in someone who could be your closer who's on a cost to be there go ahead we love bednar but i mean like five years of control yeah an example anybody like bring in someone who could be your closer who's on a cost control contract for a couple years and just shut it down how about our guy topper um using jairus familia in a non-high leverage situation thank you oh my gosh i'm so proud just having you and that's the thing is we're joking you know but like we're not joking at all about the culture thing. But I also do think that, and granted, it was a good weekend and they won the games, but it just felt like it wasn't overmanaged.

It felt like it wasn't, you know, all the decisions just made sense. It was like, oh, yeah, this guy in this spot, sure, I think this makes some sense. You know, maybe there was one or two things you could quibble with, but it just felt so refreshing not to be, you know, freaking out over so many decisions each game. It's crazy. It was really noticeable, Jack.

Well, yeah, and I know it sounds innocuous, but Brad Hand coming in in the seventh on Saturday rather than later in the game, but he knew he had Otani up third that inning, and worst-case scenario was, like, like they have runners on first base or whatever, but he still have a lefty matchup. And then he has to get out Trout. And then he has another lefty-lefty matchup.

So it's kind of just limiting the damage, especially when Hand is pretty much their only lefty in the bullpen right now. I know Chris Sanchez pitched today, but pretty much Brad Hand is their only lefty option out of the bullpen. Only high leverage lefty for sure. Right. And in most cases, traditionally, they'd be like, oh, no, safe in for the eighth or whatever.

I think deploying him in the seventh last night and just trusting him to kind of get those outs there was big as well. So, it is funny. It's like I watched the game this week and I was like, oh, what a normally managed baseball game. What's just the A, B, C, D?

This makes sense. Good job. This is how it should have been all year long. And again, it feels like we wasted 50-some games this year having Joe Girardi continue to be his manager. 50 some games this year um having joe gerardi continue to be his manager so um yeah just uh just a refreshing weekend all around for our baseball team james all right we've gone long enough go ahead june schwarber oh my god i mean oh are we gonna hear about his average over and over and over again and how much of a disaster strike out yada yada yada i mean how about schwarby man i mean it's just it's just tanks on tanks on tanks he is the power is so effortless

you know when he gets one it really like it almost doesn't even look like he's trying to hit it hard and it just explodes yeah and i i just hope that you know next year when he's still around and i hope that everyone just like all right he's a slow starter he'll figure it out yeah everyone's gonna be very calm and take things one day at a time when it comes to schwarber but um i will say like uh experiencing june schwarber for the first time uh you know as fans of the team that he's on at the moment it is a spectacle. It's thrilling. It's can't miss it bats.

It's like Harper is the only thing we've had where you're like I can't miss when he comes up to the plate no matter what. Schwarber right now kind of feels like that. There was no doubt in my mind that if Stott walked that I thought Schwarber was in. Well that's why I wanted him to walk and i'm sorry bryson i doubted you i was wrong but i i i wanted him to walk when it was 3-0 i was like thank god like just walk and then it was a strike and then

it was a foul and i was like ah man i really just want to walk here i don't trust anything else and then you know boom oh by the way shout out to joe madden for pulling his closer oh i know dude i meant to bring that up just unbelievable joe madden just a uh man really gone off the deep end as a manager that guy stinks i mean he's horrible his managing uh uh like a really but he's like joe derardi though he his managing in the 2016 world series was the worst i've ever seen um like show walter not putting in britain with something but yeah that was pretty epic but madden i mean madden in 2016 like game seven was just some of the worst managing i've ever seen and then pulling his closer today was just one of the most absurd decisions

I've seen on a baseball field, along with like a bunch of things that Dave Roberts has done over the years. But no, so like Schwarber, I think for as much, I brought this up earlier, but I think for as much as the young kids have definitely ignited this team a little bit, I think having that guy at the top of the lineup, and he seems like such a, he seems like the emotional leader of this team in a way. And I think it's hard to lead in that way when you're batting 185 or whatever. But the fact that he's kind of starting to put it on a show a little

bit and prove that, no, I am still Kyle freaking Schwarber, I think it gives him confidence. And I think it really just sets the table for the entire lineup. If he's going out there thumping balls off the wall or hitting balls out and coming up with big hits late in games, he should have had another homer today. He should have had three homers on Friday. It's pretty ridiculous to watch, man. Yeah, again, it's pretty ridiculous to watch, man. Yeah. It's, uh, again, and it feels effortless and every time it feels like he's going to hit a home run. It's really, it's awesome. Um, all

right. Uh, anything I have, I have a hypothetical I want to throw at you that someone threw at me and I want to see what you think, but anything else just, um, either, you know, from the lineup or from, you know, Eflin was great, you know, not a lot from you know efflin was great you know not a lot of pressure on him because they got out early but efflin was great wheeler really good uh obviously gibby got beat up today but but they you know came back there's my uh my phone how about that jack that was uh highlights right there oh are you watching some you're watching some no i was i had the box score up and i must have hit the thing anyway um anyway that point being uh before the hypothetical um anything else kind of stand out to you from the series um yeah i guess i mean like all right so a couple things

did did i need to know if if bryson stotts follow through today reminded you of any ex Philly and let me know if it came to mind yet. Um, are you talking about the Homer on the Homer? Yes. Yes. It did. So,

you know, I'm really bad at these. I know, I know you, but I'm sorry. I'm sorry for putting you on the spot. It's okay. What I will say is,

well, I can't quite place it. It did look familiar to me. It did. It did look familiar to you. And I can't, I don't know. What was it? Give it to me.

All right. Tell me if Bryson Stott's follow through today on his walk-off home run did not look like Bobby Abreu. I could see that, dude. I could see that. There you go. Same little thing at I could see that, dude. I could see that. There you go. Same little thing at the end. Yeah, yeah.

I was thinking of Banez, but I was like, it's not a Banez. Abreu, I like that. You're the king of these. I would never doubt you on these anyway. Kyle Gibson's ERA in fourth innings is 8.33. Seems bad. He is, man, when runners get on base, it's pretty frustrating.

I feel like he can never just, like, put guys away. And it feels like it always snowballs whenever runners get on first base. Like, the biggest thing we've been robbed of james in the last 10 plus years of of playoff baseball in my honest opinion is just goaded franski calls i mean oh how much did he crush it today dude like some of the best all-time franski. I gotta be honest. Dude, the stock call was just fire. I mean, the price thing he's like, and he did do it. Yeah, they were both just amazing.

I'm so with you. And my final thing for now... And everyone, it's where T-Max call of the stock homer was amazing too. Oh, yeah. No, actually, T-Max getting hot with the big calls. Yeah. Alright, last thing before I think of something else to end the podcast with.

But, you know, I would just like to say that I hope Mike Trout is happy. You know, I wonder if he's sitting there in center field. Love this. As Harper's hitting one 440 plus feet into the right field seats. What a good take. Well, and I'm just hoping, I'm just hoping that as he's seeing the fan base that he turned his back on, just expressing pure jubilation for our guy, Philly guy, Bryce Harper.

I hope in center field there's a little bit of like, man, what did I turn my back on? What did I leave behind? Why couldn't I have been a part of this? And, you know, it's a real shame seeing him bat 100 in his career at Citizens Bank Park. I love this. This is just really good stuff.

No hits at all. So good. All series long. And just getting swept out. I hope you're happy with your 11 straight losses. Your Angels are now under 500. And I hope that as you saw Bryce and Stott hit that home run, I really hope there was a little part of you that was like,

man, this could have been me. And I could have been here with Bryce dominating baseball. But instead, I chose to be in L.A. for the rest of my life and not win anything. So I hope my child's happy. Congratulations on the minor standing O's and congratulations on having your, your Eagles tickets. That's adorable. Um, I'm over here winning baseball games and about to win, uh, about to make the wild card. So, um, big, big, big weekend for, for that side of the brand for sure. Love it. This is a, I loved everything about that. Um,

really well done. It's funny cause it does in a way lead into my hypothetical that I'm going to give you. Also, by the way, super annoying just watching the Angels games because, like, the red helmets and stuff, every time you always have to kind of do a double take and be like, wait, the Phillies aren't bad. You know, it's just annoying. And 11 straight losses.

We always joke about the Angels being the Phillies of the West of the American League, so to speak, and all that. And man, what a Phillies day it was today for the Angels. To lose your 11th straight game like that is just pure Phillies. I mean, I felt like I was looking in the mirror. I know, I know. It evokes exactly the spirit of what our last decade has been. So congratulations to them for that. All right.

I'm going to get to my hypothetical in one sec. Reminder, ring the bell night coming up this upcoming Saturday. There's going to be opportunities on WIP all week to win tickets. There will be spots to go to win tickets. And if not, you can just buy tickets because we're going to be there. We're going to be hanging out in the Miller Lite area. It is the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, 4-0-5. We're actually going to be there earlier at like 2.35 in the Liberty Landing,

Miller Lite Liberty Landing area. So come check us out. Come hang out. We had a blast last time. We basically just hung out there the whole time and met a bunch of people. So if you're around, come out. It's going to be awesome because we love Miller Lite. We'll be drinking Miller Lite because Miller Lite rocks.

Official partner of the Philadelphia Phillies, Jack. Did you know that? And hashtag Miller Lite fulfills wins. How about it? We're getting it going. You know, your boy here has not missed one yet. I'm just saying. Well, no.

You missed the first like two. And then i said hey can you do this and then you're like oh fine well i don't i don't i don't remember that but i've done it ever since um yeah and you didn't they lose the first two games you know i have to do if they lose it's more life for phil's wins i know relax relax yeah i don't think i missed any i feel like you're you're painting me with an unfair brush here. But here's the thing. Here's the thing about High Hopes Night is that we got a baseball team again.

And it's the Rob Thompson era. And honestly, I think it's going to be way better vibes than if we were going into it in the Joe Girardi era. So it's going to be a lot of fun. I mean, our baseball team is back. And, you know, hopefully we get some special little moments. Honestly, so they go to Milwaukee, and then it's like. I know, buddy. And also the second half after the All-Star break, it is.

The schedule's easy. Like I was saying, I've said it to you. I've definitely said it at the pop points, but if you want the single biggest reason for optimism for this team, it's the schedule. I mean, it's super easy. I mean, they haven't played the Nationals yet. The Nationals are by far the worst team in the division,

one of the worst teams in the National League, and they got 19 games against them. They haven't played them yet. So I'm with you, Jack. I think the schedule is a reason to actually feel some optimism. I think the next four series are Marlins, D-backs,

Nationals, Rangers. That's the next four. Which is... I mean, come on. If there's ever any time to go on a run, it's now. Go on a run. Yes.

Please. Hey, only four games under 500. By the time that we get to High Hopes Night on Saturday night, are they at 500 or over 500? Only two options, sorry. I'll go at 500 if those are my two choices. Wow. You hate the Phillillies that's crazy

wow okay all right here's my hypothetical uh buddy casey sent it to me um okay so and we have to divorce ourselves from our fandom for this this is not a phillies exercise this is a in a vacuum we are starting a baseball league over with all the players in the league right now and we're starting teams and you have we're back to back in the draft and the top two players in the board are bryce harper and mike trout today in their career you know harper about you know a year and a couple months younger obviously trout more successful but it's had some injuries lately harper the elbow thing now who you taking to start your team taking out the phillip we love bryce but like if we're you you you know you always pride yourself on being a baseballman outside of just a phillies fan and you are as a baseballman, honest answer, Trotter Harper. So I don't take this, obviously, I don't take this lightly at all.

I know you don't. I know you don't. I wouldn't ask it if I thought you would. Serious question. But I do know this, is that, especially if I'm playing the games in Citizens Bank Park and my truck cannot hit because he can't handle, he can't handle the pressure of playing in Philadelphia. Correct.

I am taking Bryce Harper. I think Bryce is legitimately the best hitter on the planet, which is a wild, wild place to be at. And Juan Soto, I think is the only guy I would put at with juan soto juan soto is obviously washed pay attention um no but uh real quick before we get out of here it's just man like i i've mentioned this before but bryce's is our guy now you know know, like he's doing things that Howard, Utley, Rollins,

like those guys that we love dearly. He's got moments. He's got hardware. He's got moments. Jack, what's left? What do we need now for Bryce Harper? Maybe a playoff appearance. Playoff moments, man.

Like that's the next step. He's got the other stuff. And as you've said many times, he's got the other stuff and as you said many times he's gonna go into the hall of fame someday wearing a philly's cap like like let's freaking get this dude to the playoffs okay can we see bryce harper play in a philly's uniform in the playoffs i feel like this is like long overdue obviously the phillies in the playoffs is long, long overdue. But come on, guys. Let's go. Yep. But, man, what a start to it. And I just – it's almost praying at this point.

I feel like I'm the kid before the Stodd home run. But I'm just praying that this is the sustained run that we've borderline begged for. And today, again, was one of those those like it was one of the best sports days of my life i know it's a regular season game against the angels and i and i get it but the the harper home run was was out of nowhere the stat walk off like it's a special day and i'm glad we did this tonight i'm glad that um we're able to kind of revel in the glory that is our current state of philly's fandom and uh man i just i i really hope that this is something that can they can truly jump start this team and

and shout out the topper hit the only nickname of rob thompson and uh just if maybe he'll be undefeated for his entire career as philly's manager i don't know but uh what a what a magical day. Let's go to Milwaukee and take two or three. I love it. Love everything you said except it's topper, not topper. Final thoughts, Ferentzi? My final thought is that

I don't know. I feel like I just gave four final thoughts. It was good because I actually have a final thought. I'll just go with mine. This is perfect. You did. You gave like, it was like a Lord of rings return to the King where it was like 10 endings at the end of the movie. Okay.

Um, my final thought. And I am a hundred percent positive. I am speaking not just for me, but also for all of high hopes nation. Everyone listening to this podcast, everyone listening to this podcast, everyone who cares this podcast. It's nice to hear you happy about the Phillies, buddy.

Felt like we were in a dark place there for a bit. And I think we count on you to bring the happiness and the joy out of this team. And feels like you're back, buddy. I'm pretty excited. Oh, listen, I am so back that i can't wait to be heartbroken when they inevitably let me down um but yeah no it's like now i'm back to the point where like get me to 705 get me to four like i just i love i i love them and and actually real final thought how i mean just seeing the ballpark ball this weekend

was almost brought tears to my eyes. And shout out to Dave, our guy, UK Phillies. Good seeing him over the weekend. Yeah, what luck he had, huh? Seriously. Seriously. So I met so many people. It'd be nice if he ever invited me on his podcast.

He's had you on like 15 times, but no biggie. Yeah, no, he should. This sounds like a public call out i would i would be honored i love it i love british people i'm in general a big fan of the brits i'm an anglophile jack wow that's that's a shocking revelation yeah you like that um but uh what was i gonna say oh no you were saying it no it was a weekend. A lot of people in the ballpark, which is good to see. And shout out to everyone that came up and said hi. That was cool.

Aw, you said it so light. That was adorable. You're like, it was cool. Thanks, guys. I'm trying to decide if I want to tell you. Loved it. I'm trying to decide if I want to say the line that I texted you. I don't know. I don texted you probably i don't know i don't know it was good to feel

like the beatles for one all right we're definitely done now yep yep jackie mccartney all right we'll be back later in the week ring Ring the bell pod. Check it out. WI or ring the bell game. Check it out. Tickets on WIP Miller light. Celebrate responsibly. It's Miller time. And. Topper, baby.

Topper Jack. He's friends himself. So we'll see you next time.