High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - This is the Most Important Weekend of My Life

Episode Date: August 6, 2021

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to the Phillies winning 5 straight and their first 4-game road series sweep since 2017. The guys talk about how the Phillies fight, this weekend's massively important series vs. the Mets, and much more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Jack Fritz, I said I wasn't going to say it. I said I wasn't going to do it. Who let the Philz get hot, Jack Fritz? I don't know, but this is one of the happiest days of my life. I don't care how lame that sounds that they were beating up on triple a teams. I just, I don't care. I'm so happy. Is this what I was? This is what I was seven felt like, dude, I can't wait for citizens bank park this weekend. I can't wait to see it sold out. I can't wait for rally towels. I can't wait for it all. Give me the division. Give me the division, baby. Oh my God. I'm so happy. I'm so happy. I'm so happy. Yeah. You know, I, the thing about this team, it's that they're lovable and for the first

time all season, right. I mean, how much have we talked all season long about how annoying and unlikable this team is for like a thousand different reasons. And all of a sudden, like a few guys in a few moments and, and now it's like, this team is never out of it, Jack. Like this is the first Phillies team. And as long as I can remember where I'm, I'm less worried about a bullpen collapse than I am believing the Phillies will just get runs back. Like this team always comes back. They're never out of it. They freaking fight, man. The fight in Phil's has not meant something in a while. It means something with this team. It really does. And it's not even like the random guys. I mean, sure, obviously, Torres has been a 10-win player this year at least.

Like, his war has to be 10. There's no doubt in my mind that his war. He's got a 900 OPS with the runners in scoring position. But it's like, it's the stars. Like, for as much as we have kind of, you know, ripped JT for not coming through clutch, he has had clutch hit after clutch hit. Bryce, I feel like, never gets big hits.

He's been getting all big hits. And then there's Reese. Like, Reese is so – and this is what he was when he came up, was big hit after big hit after big hit. And again today, like, for as much as Jankowski and Torres are awesome, but they're winning games with the stars right now. Like, the stars are the guys that are coming through in big moments. They're saving this team.

And it's just, yeah, they say it a lot. And for a long time I mocked them. A long time I was like, ah, come on. I've watched this team enough to know that you guys don't really fight. But they really do believe that when they're down, that they feel like they can come back and win a ballgame. And that's what's so important. And that's what's so important when you're talking about winning

and coming back and fighting and creating a new culture is moments like this, when you get down, but you feel like you can keep coming back. And being able to win these kind of games and win games that they've won this series, I don't care about the bullpens because, honestly, if you believe that you can do it against anyone, you can, it has to start against someone, right? And, and being able to take care of business again against a Nationals bullpen that is

like AAA level, but having that belief and informing that belief against untalented pitchers, I'll take it. I'll take it. But there's just so much signs right now of just them turning the corner. And I just, it's, oh God, I'm so happy. I'm just so much signs right now of just them turning the corner and i just it's oh god i'm so happy i'm just so happy well honestly like it's not just this series right i mean we had the three walk offs in a row we had the brad miller grand slam like this team is a team that that certainly at least for like the last half of the season has battled in in a lot of situations and those wins

before even though they haven't led, there's a great point by you, Jack, because even though they haven't led to the, we thought we were going to be like, they're going on a run 10 in a row, this and that. I do think what those wins and the continued fight and never being out of a game has taught them that they can win those type of games.

It's a great point, man. That's what great teams have. They're not a great team, don't get me wrong, but, but great teams never feel like they're out of a game. They always feel like in any situation they can come back and win and, and, and they fight. And this Phillies team has that right now for sure. Like you just felt it for the first time in so long. I'm watching these games and I feel like they're going to win it. Like five, three, two outs JT at the plate. I I'm like he's going to get a hit here like I actually believed it Jack it wasn't hope it wasn't like some you know uh a prayer it was I was like he's going to get a hit I believed it to my core dare

I say were you saying they're gonna find a way to win this game I I was, man. I know. I was. And I will tell you, and I texted you this, and I was feeling it in that moment the most where I was like, the difference in the yo from one end to the other is just so massive. Like, if they lose that game, like, they're still, you know, we're not upset. They won three or four, whatever. But, like, that was just a big win. It was a big win, man. Well, and credit where credit's due. The Phillies that I've that I've watched since

2011 lose that game. They win three or four. There's a little bit momentum. People are feeling good. The Mets lose to a Marlins team that is just dog crap. I mean, they're batting Louis Brinson in the four-all in the year 2021. Louis Brinson. That's how badting Louis Brinson in the four-all. In the year 2021,

Louis Brinson. That's how bad the Marlins are in the Mets. Lost 3-4. It's a joke. It's a joke. And they came through. Nola tried his best to ruin it, but this team battled back, man. They battled

back. They're no back two. How about to your point there? How nice is it to see another team lose meaningful games to the Marlins? What a thrill that was to be rooting for the Marlins in a meaningful game. I don't know what you're talking about. I've never experienced heartbreak at the hands of the

Marlins. I don't really feel you on that one, but it is nice seeing bad things happen to the Mets, that's for sure. Javi Baez, like two games into his tenure trying to fight the Marlins. Everything's fine. 0-5 with like five strikeouts.

Sounds about right. Jorge Alfaro, sorry. He's a guy that I never doubted as a Philly. Was always a true Philly. Came up big today. Honestly, like you've been saying this a little bit longer than I have, but officially more worried about the Braves than I am the Mets.

Yeah. Yeah. I mean, how could you not be? Like, the Mets are a mess. And the Braves, if nothing else, like this group, and they are beat up and stuff, but it's a group that has won big September games before. I mean, there's a team that multiple years in a row has gone to the playoffs

and they have leaders and guys who know what it takes to get there. The Mets are a disaster. Like, it wouldn't be shocking if the Mets ended up like five out by the end of the season. Dude, if we're doing this podcast on a night slash Monday night and the Phillies just like took two or three or they swept. They could be in first place by the end of tomorrow night. Like, the end of tomorrow night, the Phillies could be in first place. I know. tomorrow night like the end of tomorrow night the Phillies can be in first place I know like what a long road to get back I know feels like it's been forever it's it's beautiful man honestly James honestly I mean this is what the Mets series

in 07 was like I mean this is it's this it's the same-ish scenario obviously not you know perfect but Mets coming into town in first place. Phils have a chance here. They're riding high. They're feeling good about themselves. The Mets have been a freaking dumpster fire. Now, you hope that they weren't doing a whole look-ahead series, but I guess you could have been in that sense.

But, like, dude, the Mets are coming to Citizens Bank Park on alumni weekend with the Phils winning five straight and the Mets are coming to Citizens Bank Park on alumni weekend with the Phil's winning five straight and the Mets collapsing. Like it's going to be the most electric that ballpark has felt like. I want to say since Bryce's first game, since Bryce's first game, that's what, that's what it's going to be like this weekend.

Like, I can't wait. Like I, I haven't been dying to get down to the ballpark this weekend or this year. I'm trying to find ways to get to the ballpark this weekend. Can I sneak it in here? Can I sneak it in there?

Am I upset that Jill's sister and my family is coming in for the first time for their one trip a year this weekend? Yeah, I am. I'm not happy about it at all. You couldn't have picked any other time. You know when I felt down in the dumps about the fills? Not when the fills are hot. The fills are literally the hottest they've been in forever.

And I might not be able to get that out of the ballpark. And I can't go to Doc Day. Well, I mean, I might go to Doc Day. I'm going to try to go to Doc Day. But whatever. Like, it's just not great timing. Either way, it's going to be a great weekend. I can't wait for it.

At least we'll be able to watch. If nothing else, you'll be able to watch. Plus, Jack, we got Gibby on the hill. Gibby! Gibby on the hill for first place. And here's the thing. If you're Kyle Gibson, like all these guys that have come here the last few years that have just seen this weak sauce version of Citizens Bank Park

compared to what it can be, and Gibby comes in, and he's like, oh, is it always like this? This is great. Meanwhile, his teams are glaring at him. I love it. Yeah, because Reese said after the game, he's like, oh, is it always like this? This is great. Meanwhile, his teams are glaring at him. I love it. Yeah, because Reese after the game, he's like, Reese was talking about how excited he is for the bank. I saw that.

He's like, I don't get this very often. Yeah, I know. I know. And for as frustrated as they've been, James, I'm sitting here and I'm just thinking to myself, it was all worth it. Like, I know we're talking about being a half game out of the division. games i i just i'm sitting here and i'm just thinking to myself it was all worth it like it was i know we're talking about being a half game out of the division i know we're acting like we

literally like seasons over that's what this podcast is like and they're like that yo might have been as loud as the we got bryce harper yo like it's just whatever i know and i we've been beaten down dude that's what i'm saying if If you think about, again, like we always joke about, but the best moment in the history of this podcast is signing Bryce Harper. We don't even have a baseball game moment that is that great. Well, what about the Bryce walk-off? The Bryce walk-off was the only one that popped in my head when I said that. But even then, as you said many times,

because this team is more talented and they've added now and all that and the division is so winnable and they're not just like fighting for a wild card or whatever it does seem more real this year even though it's funny because you know like they were in first place in august under gabe in 2018 they were certainly in it in 2019 they were certainly in it last year. But for some reason, even though from a wins-losses perspective, they really haven't given us that much of a reason outside of the first week of the season to truly believe. I do believe in this group more than I have the last few years.

Well, and because they've, like, it's not that they feel real, but they feel like they are figuring out how to win and you know any team can come out of spring training and they can open a season and then go on like a five and two start to the season and that's easy but when you have had the cards counted against you and the deck has been down and the city's just kind of, you know, not been a fan of you this entire season. And, like, it's so easy for a team to fold. But what they've done is they've, like, almost taken it all and they've punched back.

Like, the Phillies have specialized in punches to the gut for three years. However long this podcast has been going on for, like, the Phillies have figured out ways to ruin our days. Oh yeah. But going through all that and figuring out how to win and all these guys that have come in from the outside and have been

tasked with creating a new culture and building a new culture, we're starting to see it. And it was always going to take a while. If we're doing this podcast 20 years from now and we're looking at're looking at the next core of players we have to remember this moment and we have to say to ourselves it takes time to rebuild a culture and what i think we're seeing right now is a culture that is being rebuilt and you're starting to see the fruits of their labor in a sense like you're starting to see these guys that know each other and have figured

out how to win. Gene Segura has been unbelievable. He's doing all the little things that people have ripped him in the past for. He's not doing that. He's talked openly about wanting to make it to the playoffs. Reese Hoskins has been just crushed by this fan base

and he's risen above it and he's gotten big hit and he's been their most productive offensive player. Is he their best offensive player? No. But he's put the doubles, and he's gotten big hit, and he's been their most productive offensive player. Is he their best offensive player? No. But he's put the doubles, the homers, the big hits. Like Bryce Harper, we talked about it last podcast. We didn't feel like he was having this unbelievable season, even though his numbers were 300, 400, 500. Now it's like he should be in the NLMVP race.

That's how unbelievable his series was against the Nationals. I think he's batting in like 395 in his last 25 games. What is going on? These guys are developing in culture. They're figuring out a culture. They're figuring out a win together. Even the bullpen, it hasn't been

a disaster. They got four innings from Matt Moore last night. I can't believe we haven't even brought up the guy that saved the season, Matt Moore. But it's just such a – I'm so happy. Some of the things that are said on this podcast are pretty ridiculous. Matt Moore saved the season reminds me of do you ever dream about Matt Moore at night?

We've had some ridiculous Matt Moore things alone said on this podcast. Honestly, James, I don't care. This is – I haven't been this giddy about a Phillies team in – obviously, like, multiple times, whatever, at the beginning of the season. But, like, I just – I'm telling you it feels different. I'm just telling you it feels different. Maybe because we're coming off of a dramatic comeback right into doing a podcast.

Obviously, that's clearly aiding in this. But I'm just like, I can't help myself. I can't help myself. They're the best team in baseball. Bryce right now might be the best player in baseball the way he's playing for this specific moment. He's got a real shot at the MVP. I mean, numbers wise, like he doesn't have it depends on like, you know, we've seen the voters kind of shift towards a more sabermetric approach.

You know, you know, with like Cy Young's used to be about wins. It's clearly not anymore. You know, an opener has won it two years in a row. I mean, you know, how much could it be about wins if an opener is going to win it? Exactly. Yeah. But we've seen a shift. And if they're willing to look past the lack of home runs and lack of RBI,

and by the way, he could easily go on a run where the homers don't look that low. I mean, he could get to 30. It would be he needs to go on a run here, but he could. But the RBI would be low. When he was at 16, he was still on pace for 31. So he should get there. He gets to 30, but everything else is elite. I mean, he has the third highest OPS in the National League,

and it's Acuna and Datis out of him. And Acuna's done, and it looks like Datis might be done. I don't say that. I got a fancy championship to win. Just relax. No, relax back there. Bryce is Bryce. And, I mean

batting over 300 well over 300 at this point I mean 308 I would guess or something after they went into day 306 like man like if he hadn't got first of all as we said many times but but really feels real right now if he had not got it in the face I think we would be talking about him as the clear MVP frontrunner right now. And I honestly think if this season continues on the trajectory it's on and the Phillies win the NL East, I think Bryce Harper is going to win the MVP. Yeah, well, I mean, especially obviously if he keeps this up. But, like, he is so – Yeah, I'm saying if this continues, obviously.

He is so locked in right now. It's not even funny. Like, he's just driving everything up the middle the homer off joe ross today was right up the middle uh even the hit in the first inning and it wasn't hit but he got caught in center field but the ball is still smoked it was right it was it was again right up the middle um and and and honestly you know he's been chanted so much about being overrated that he's now been underrated i think in a sense like if if if whoever else is having this kind of season we'd be like oh he should be in the mvp run but it's price so

so people are like ah well he's overrated and whatnot and it's just it's just not true um so and also also what he's doing is and and it's what the team's been doing really the last you know month when they've been like really hot offensively i mean basically the best team in baseball in july so far um offensively um bryce is like taking it where it needs to go you know he's not trying to force the power he's not trying to to um you know put the ball like pull the ball or whatever like he's just i mean how many opposite field little poke hits how many opposite field little you know flares has he had it's it's whatever needs to happen and you're seeing it with this team we've seen this team and we've talked about it as it's been happening but it really it feels like i mean again we we talked

about it but they put up a 15 spot without a home run yeah we saw it again this game like just a bunch of hits they come back with doubles and singles and like like that's exciting man like that's the type of baseball you and i i remember us like and it's funny because of dombrowski obviously and i don't think it's that direct a correlation but but i remember us like fawning over that 2018 red sox team on the pod just about how they played baseball and this philly's team like right now is doing a lot of that yeah and it's unfortunate because they got away from it like that was so that was so frustrating like the first two games of the pirate series and really the week before that for the trade deadline when they were like crapping down their leg heading into the trade deadline um was that they weren't doing that they get hot

like a week and a half after the deadline like a week after that of course but like what they were like the red sox series before the All-Star break, they were doing this stuff. Like, this is how they were playing. This is why I was so gung-ho. This is why I was so in on them because that's the style of baseball they were playing. They were playing baseball.

And then they got away from it for two weeks or whatever, and they were playing frustrating baseball. But, you know, it started against Sunday against the Pirates, and I think JT came out and said they had a players-only meeting before the game, and they were saying, hey, we're pressing, and we gotta just relax, take a deep breath, we're good, and let our national talent take over.

And since that point, they look like a much more comfortable offense. They should not have lost 2-3 to that Pirates team. They're terrible. Shout out to them. They usually crumble against terrible teams, but they rose above it. Real quick on bryce like the the thing that i love the most obviously the hitting right now is great um and all that but for me the hustle he's shown on the bases is the most connected i've felt to bryce as a as a as a philly like i don't know what it is

obviously like we you and i both have the Philly DNA in us, and there's still that you like the try-hard guy. I love it. I can't get enough. And Bryce flying around the bases the last two nights. Obviously, last night, flew around the bases from first, was able to score. I was like, that's Bryce. And then tonight, did the same thing.

Like, same thing. And it was great. And that's the kind of stuff. Like, enough with the fanatic socks enough with that stuff like if you want to like that's the stuff that that really wins me over and i think wins you over and a lot of this fan base and that's the that's the kind of special qualities i think he can have and what we're seeing right now is we're seeing the guy that we paid that contract to and he's he's living up to it he's he's getting big hits he's getting clutch hits he's he's just he's doing what they need to do he's doing what stars do and god it's just it's so nice to see this all coming together at the right time oh it's dude especially like just seeing like you said seeing the Bryce we we were

promised you know we we and Bryceryce has done a lot of great things and i i think he's brought a lot of value to this team and look once the contract signed in all honesty like really who cares about the money it's more about how they play and what they do and all that but but this is the the superstar the the you know generational talent that was thrown around all that stuff. That's this guy. That's the guy we're watching now. And it was the guy who started the season as he gets hit in the phase, has a lull, and now he's back to being that guy again.

And I'm so with you, man. And when you combine that talent, that savant-like ability to hit a baseball with the hustle and the base running and the baseball smarts and all that stuff. I mean, it really is a total package for this city. I mean, you're right. Like, I have no problem. I think, look, I think it's smart what he does with the pandering and all that.

Good for you, Bryce. You get it. People love it. Like, go with it, whatever. But you're right, Jack, in terms of like really indelibly, you know, defining yourself as a Philly guy to philadelphia as someone we look at as like that's our dude it's the other stuff that he does that that's the stuff to lean into it's the the running your ass off every play it's the just like smart baseball

hustle all that stuff being invested that's the stuff that that again you know the ugly stuff is you know that's that's what we love we're suckers for it it's what we're built on and you can see and honestly for the first time um you know i don't know how long but the first time i really felt it was i could feel the nationals were like afraid of having to face bryce you know i never really got the sense other teams were totally terrified of seeing bryce in a big moment but i could just sense from finnegan it was like oh i don't really want to face bryce so that was good to see um all around yeah and i think that's part of the reason he went after jt so hard there and jt you know got

and obviously it was 3-2 but like like in a lot of cases 3-2 there he's not going to give him that pitch to hit but he didn't want to take his chances at the price if the base is loaded. Yeah, yeah. But being able to stack those kind of wins together, it's so tough because it's tough to separate the Nationals being definitely terrible. I mean, this is back to the Nationals I grew up with. I mean, they traded away their best players.

I mean, it's pretty clear. And they had to come back twice against a bad nationals team and yeah i i get it but i just think if you if you separate if you separate the competition and you're able to just look at the types of wins that they were able to get i just think that's more important than the opponent you know like being able to come back today after a or used to be ace um you know yeah below yeah that's another podcast title i wish we could have that yeah um but you know being after he blew it you know be able to come back and and still win that game like it doesn't matter the opponent like that can that can resonate through a clubhouse and that and those things those are those are wins that you can remember when when you're down late in the season

that you can kind of remember that and say hey we've done it before we can do it again because i mean i don't always want to bring it back to 08 but they let they let all of baseball and come back wins that year so like figuring out how to win tight games is is just it's just massive when you're talking about team growth and team building and and all that stuff and and again just to get that win today and and then sweep the nationals in washington which at the first time since 17 they they won a four game a four game series on the road have they won five straight in the entire history of this podcast you mean six they haven't five they have we're tied for our record i don't know if they've won six in the history of this

podcast honestly like i don't know if they've won six in a row in the history of this podcast yeah i i think i don't think they have i really don't it's unbelievable in the history of this podcast there's and there's no shot we were ever excited about if they did like it was probably the end of the season when they were getting – Yeah, exactly. That's why it might have been like when Reeves was hitting a bunch of home runs and that guy, when they were out of it already or something like that, that could have happened maybe.

But, yeah, even then, I honestly don't remember. If I had to guess, I would guess they've never won six in a row. And, Jack, it's so important. And also, like, just to your opponent's point, honestly, opponents don't matter in baseball the same way they do in a row. And, and Jack, that's, it's so important. And also like, just to your opponent's point, honestly, opponents don't matter in baseball the same way they do in other sports. It's not like football where you have 16 games and you look at the opponent and you're like, Oh, we got a tough schedule. Like baseball. We know it all the time. We watch a Phillies lose to the Marlins at big games every year. We just watched the Mets who are the first place team lose three or four to the Marlins. Like, baseball's weird. Baseball's a grind.

It's a day-to-day thing. And honestly, like, it doesn't matter who you're playing. Like, the Pirates won the series against the Mets and then a series against the Phillies. What does that mean? Nothing. It just means they won a couple series. Like, you got a good pitching performance one day or whatever.

Like, that's just baseball. It only matters when you get to the playoffs how you really match up. Like, again, we saw the Phillies not be able to win against the Nationals team that was done, was out of it last year to win one extra game to go to the playoffs. So opponent doesn't matter in that same way in baseball. It's really about the night to night grind. And to Jack's point, being able to fight on a night to night basis and to believe that you can win when you fight, that really is what can really form a group, a team. So who are we giving credit to for the fight?

Because I'm kind of feeling Girardi. Oh, so honestly, I know it's, you know, whatever, but my first thought was, like, the Torres-like guys, like the people who just kind of, you know, whatever. But my first thought was like the Tarras like guys, like the people who just kind of, you know, like we talked about before, bring the energy. And I don't know if you're watching the, it was the other night when they were showing that game where they throw the balls.

You know, it's not like pepper because there are no bats, but it's where each guy has two balls and you're basically like juggling with each other until people drop the ball. And like Tarras won and he's like jumping and throwing his legs around luke williams and you could just like kind of feel the energy and they were all having fun together like i do think there is something to what you were talking about with what freddie brings and what teres has brought to this team especially with the way he's played where there's like a like an energy and a life and a and and a, and a fun, you know,

feel to this that, that didn't feel like it was there before. So I think that's certainly part of it, but look, credit wouldn't do right. We've ripped the, the, the crap out of Girardi and I will get to something where I'm going to rip Girardi later,

but yeah, I think Girardi has to get some credit for it. Right. I think so. And I think the bullpen decisions, well, I mean, what do you think i was gonna rip him for well besides like what and yell i mean mystifying i mean how about bringing

ian kennedy into a 9-5 game to get one out like i after i mean you could just say ian kennedy and then okay yeah all mystifying we talked about it like yeah the thing Ian Kennedy, and I think this is a fair question to bring up, does Joe Girardi still think he's a starter? Does he think it's 2011? He's my closer? Unreal. Well, that and bringing NEL in a one-run game in the sixth. Oh, yeah.

I mean, NEL's a new David Hale. It's just terrible. But, I mean, this is kind of what we were hoping for from a Joe Girardi team, was a team that was going to fight and was going to scratch and was going to claw. And, you know, I think, honestly, the biggest credit where credit's due is Torres. I mean, I was mystified and furious that tereus made this roster because like oh there's gerardi picking his guys because he's a quote-unquote baseball

player those don't matter um well they do and and i just you know i i i think we're starting to see because i don't know what like segura i think is a fight player you know because his-bats, if I was a teammate, I would be inspired by just because it seems like if he gets down 1-2, he gets to the 3-2 most of the time. But it feels like maybe we're starting to see the Joe Girardi fingerprints on this team. This is why the 06 Marlins with a $22 million payroll were almost 500. Why these 2017 Yankees with absolutely no talent were one win from the World Series.

Maybe we're finally starting to see that. I hope so. Again, we want Joe Girardi to work because we're big Girardi guys. I kind of feel like it's time to give him some credit for this turnaround and getting these guys to buy in and fight on the road.

I mean, this is the best they've looked on the road, James, in the entirety of this podcast. Oh, without a doubt. Without a doubt. They swept a four-game road series. Going up to Boston, taking two or three from that team. Yeah. I know the Pirates series is whatever,

but being able to bounce back and take a game 15-2 on that Sunday and be mad that you lost the first game. 15-4, don't forget the Ian Kennedy home run. Oh, sorry. Yes, Ian Kennedy, he fit right in very quickly. But I just hope that we're starting to really, really see the real Girardi, and I kind of get the sense that we are. Yeah.

No, look, again, if we're going to kill him for the bullpen stuff, which, again, i do think he i look i get it the fact that he has to put eniel de los santos or matt moore or you know any of these guys like jd hammer like the fact that these are guys he has to go to in games because he just doesn't have enough guys that you can count on. And even Alvarado, even guys like he's supposed to be able to count on, like that we have no faith in whatsoever. I mean, I get it. I get that it's not the easiest ask and that there are going to be certain situations

where you're going to have to go to a guy who probably shouldn't be gone to in that high leverage spot or whatever you want to say. But I just, some of the decisions with guys being like not available for some reason or just a decision when someone is available to go to someone else. Or again, Ian Kennedy in a 15-2 game instead of a tie game the night before. And then Ian Kennedy again in a 9-5 game to throw one pitch or two pitches. I mean, I just, my biggest concern because I'm, look, I'm in. I honestly, Jack, this is the, get ready.

This is the first time we have recorded a podcast all season long, all season long, where I actually think they're going to win the division. I'm there. I think the Phillies are going to win the division. I think they're the best team in the division. I really do. And I think that the schedule, all that, like, I think they're going to win the division. I really do. And I think that the schedule, all that, like, I think they're going to win the division, but my biggest concern is the combination of the talent in the

bullpen and Girardi's managing of that talent. Like that's my, my number one worry. I think the offense, as we've talked about, it's like getting there, man. And really right now, hot. And, and again, feels like they can win any game and and the starting staff especially if even though we don't like the move like ranger you know if he can be a five inning guy for you and be as effective as he looked the other night which you know he probably won't be quite that effective but you know ranger i think is okay if you get efflin back like i feel pretty good about the rotation yeah you know minus nola which we'll get to. But my biggest concern would be that bullpen and Girardi's management of it. Yeah. And now I will say they they they've been running on fumes out there. And the Monday off day is going to be massive for this team because they need it.

I mean, these guys are. Yeah. Alvarado's being Alvarado to one. Then like 20 straight games. I think there might have been a rain out in there, but it was 20 straight scheduled games. Yeah. And I mean, he still hasn't figured out in Canada or something. I think there might have been a rain out in there, but it was 20 straight scheduled games. Yeah, and I mean, he still hasn't figured out he ain't Kennedy or whatever, but you know, I mean, Archie stepped up. He went three straight days, which I didn't know was allowed in modern baseball. Yeah, apparently

you saw that he forced Girardi to do it, right? He was like, ride me, dude. I'm ready. Pitch me three days in a row. Well, he said to him, at least I would have said to him, I threw one pitch, man. I can come back. It's also like I get early in the season,

coming off a short year last year or whatever, however you want to see that effect. I get not riding guys early in the season to get their feet wet, but we're there, Joe. Now's the point where you ride your guys. We got a division to win, Joe. It's go time. We got a division to win. It's time's go time. We got a division to win.

It's time, Joe. It's okay. It's okay. Their arms aren't going to fall off. Archie Bradley's been pitching the league for like 100 years. Ian Kennedy. Yeah, Ian Kennedy's still a starter, I think. Yeah, the bullpen's down.

But here's the thing. They've been doing a pretty good job. I think NEL's terrible. I know he got in a jam, but he hasn't given up a run yet he's been he's been not many high leverage spots but he's been all right no he's terrible but other than they're all terrible jack not more is terrible don't give me anything other than that can i talk about matt more yeah real quick honestly like a real percentage what like 98.5 percent5% of Phillies fans thought Juan Soto was tying the game with a home run in that spot. 99%.

Is it just 100%? Is there a single Phillies fan who actually thought Matt Moore was going to get Juan Soto out in that spot? I guess you can count me in that 1.5%. Liar. I never doubted him. Li we never lied i am well exactly that's why i'm saying what i'm saying right now i never doubted matt moore um but in all seriousness it wasn't serious okay matt moore 96.4 miles per hour on the gun first time since 2016 brandon kintzler credited with fixing Matt Moore's mechanics.

Paint in the corners. Brandon Kintzler, refitting coach. What? I mean, thank God, by the way. Bye, Brandon Kintzler. Oh, bye-bye. Bye-bye. Happy to have you as anything other than a pitcher.

All I'm saying is that if he's throwing, all I'm saying is this. If he's throwing 96 from the left side with the change-up cutter curveball combo off the 96, we might have a bullpen ace. I mean, we might have something there. Let's just get your tweet. Is he going to do it? Is he going to do it? I don't know.

But if he's doing that, I'm what matt moore's selling yet again yeah you tweeted quote unquote i believe one very smart podcast host slash future marathon runner did yes say this off season that matt moore could be pomerant out of the bed and who would that be james oh yeah you first of all you go smart very smart podcast host little generous there yeah be Pomerantz out of the pen. And who would that be, James? Yeah. First of all, you go smart, very smart podcast host, a little generous there. Yep. Future marathon runner.

That's right. Incredibly generous, Mr. One Mile. We'll get to that, too. A mile and a half. Yeah. You did say he could be Drew Pomerantz out of the pen. Maybe jumping a little quickly to Crow here. Maybe jumping on the celebration wagon a touch too soon, Jack.

Well, I'm never one to jump the gun when it comes to... No, not your style. No, not me. I'm very cool, calm, and collected. You know that. So, but, again, listen, I don't want to say I was right, but if he's 96 with the curve and changeup and the cutter, they have something there. They have something there.

Can he do it? Probably not. But if he's legitimately throwing that hard, again, he could be a game changer. He went four innings last night, four legit innings last night, and I didn't feel terrible about myself. That's a massive step forward.

Yeah, it was the best Matt Moore we've seen. It was great. It doesn't mean I'm going to feel comfortable when he comes into a game again. But what if the first pitch is 96 again? Would you feel comfortable then? I'll start to feel more. Look, here's the thing. All jokes aside, it's him and jose alvarado

in the bullpen like them moving as far as the rotation like that's it i mean bailey falter i guess if he ever pitches again like they're not they're light man they're light on left-handed relievers that is not what you would call a strong suit for this team so if matt moore can become i'm not gonna fritz here and if he can become even serviceable out of the pen that'd be massive it would really be big for this team yeah and last night was a good step in the right direction i just honestly i went into that outing feeling existential dread and i left it thinking we might have something here. Yeah, well, existential dread, especially when he's facing Soto as the tying run in a 6-3 game.

Yeah, and you doubted him. We all had existential dread. That was like the definition of existential dread. You had that dread. I never doubted him. Oh, I think you just sold yourself out there without even realizing it.

That's what I do best. Yeah, I know. All right. Since we just mentioned it real quick, this running thing's a thing now. I know. I know. I know.

I tweeted it like, oh, this could be funny. And three days later, I got to run freaking another mile and a half tomorrow without stopping. It's pretty great. I'm a big fan of you like i mean we've seen this before harper land i mean there are many examples of this where you you go down a road thinking it'll be one thing and then it becomes so much more than you ever

expected it to be it's great the bet and this is just yet another example of of things that i hate turning into something that i have to do like dude i hate i hated like you absolutely hated it um and i started doing it i started running honestly because um like i had like foggy brain or whatever and i think it was from inactivity like i just felt like i wasn't doing like i only started running because i want to do my job better and now it's like well now i gotta save the season like now i gotta will the do my job better. And now it's like, well, now I've got to save the season. Now I've got to will the Phillies in the playoffs. There's a lot of pressure on these runs.

Yeah, it's tough of them to put that on you, man. I mean, it's asking a lot of you. I know. After all you've given them. I know. And I was laying there this morning, and I was saying to myself, boy, I really don't want to run this morning at all. I didn't want to move.

I'm very tired. And then I thought to myself, but the fills are hot, and I just got to do it for them. My boys need me. I didn't even bring headphones. It was just me and my thoughts. What are you, a psychopath?

Well, listen. What maniac runs that headphone? headphone well when the weight of the weight of a franchise it's a great point fan base is on you it's too much yeah you may want to focus on whatever you're listening to exactly it's exactly you wouldn't even you wouldn't even be singing along with mayor if you were you know at devons and you just be i get it yeah i couldn't get distracted by angela i had to uh it's fair yeah i had to block it out and just think about keep moving forward. Too important. Honestly, the biggest dilemma I have, James, is two things.

One, if they win tomorrow, because I'm going to run tomorrow morning because I run during the week because that's when I work, but that means I might have to run on Saturday. I told myself I don't run on the weekends. Now I'm going to have to run on But that means I might have to run on Saturday. And I told myself I don't run on the weekends. Well, now I'm going to have to run on the weekends. I mean, I might have to. I mean, you have to. I mean, this is pot committed, buddy.

Sunk cost. I know. You just got to roll with this. And the other thing I'm worried about is next Wednesday is when I have to run the mile for the show, and I mapped it out today. Oh, so you'd have to do the double mile. That's a mile and a half, pal.

It's a mile and a half in the morning, pal. This isn't jokester time. Okay, so the good thing is if that happens, they will have swept the mats, have won by that point 10 in a row. Yeah, I mean, you're probably not not gonna have to worry about that one let's i'm not saying i hope the fells lose but not not saying i'm just kidding i i will run no matter what but it's just you committed i will say though um and you've got multiple things going here i don't know which whatever. There's this whole shirt thing going to, which that's fine.

I think the running thing is way better. The running thing is just way better, but you can't put hashtag the shirt. Why? No. Why? No. Sounds like a horror film.

It's just, I don't know. It's not cool. Hashtag the It's not cool. Hashtag the shirt's not cool? Hashtag the lucky shirt? Granted, the old man is saying what's cool here. So, you know, who knows? Well, James, like I always say, life's a bit.

Honestly, that is what he always says. Like, he really says that. Like, every day to me. In some form or another, that is, like, the most jack really says that like every day to me in some form or another that is like the most jack for a sentence i've ever in my life yeah my foot on a shirt um you should you should but dude i honestly if you were a tattoo guy you should get it tattooed but we're not tattoo guys i am not um honestly james can i explain to you all of my superstitions at the moment? Honestly, I'm a little nervous. Yeah.

Well, because, all right. So as I've previously stated many times about. Real quick, real quick. Yes. My Philly superstitions right now, zero. Go ahead. Yeah, that sucks. I'm sorry to be you.

It's a lot easier, buddy. I'm not waking up and running on a sunday oh i cursed wow drop in an f bomb over over some bits wow wow hate to see that um um believe it i got it i got it i know yeah but um too bad everyone's missing out yeah i got a lot of a lot of superstitions going on right now. Like as, as we've all talked about in the past, I had my seat in 08 that I sat in for every single playoff game.

I found it. And once I found it, I didn't leave it. I found that my spot in 09, obviously didn't end the way that I wanted it to. I made the mistake of going to a Halloween party the night that Cole Hamels got rocked. And that was a mistake because I left my spot. Everyone knows that. And then I found my spot

during the Eagle season in 2017, where I stood in the same spot the entire season and they won the Super Bowl. Well, what I have going on right now, James, is a lot. So I got there running in the morning. And then when I get home, what I found is that I sit outside, but rather than just sitting outside with my laptop watching, I have Franski and Franzen slash LA on Alexa, which I bring outside to watch it with. So they accompany me along the game. The Phillies are usually leading or in the process of coming back

after the seventh. I can't watch the eighth and ninth outside. I have to go watch that inside because the mojo doesn't work out there. It's too tight of a game. It gets too intense to be sitting outside. I need to be sitting in my TV room. So I'm now sitting on the right couch in my living room. The left couch is bad luck.

And by that point, the shirt is on. I would like to personally take a lot of responsibility for early in the season. I thought my Macho Ro shirt was lucky, but that shirt alone cost the Phillies at least 10 games. I wore it to games I produced here. My record producing is just dreadful. But I wore the shirt today i wear the shirt at at home and now i've found my routine and i feel pretty good about it

so much work buddy dude honestly if i oh and i reverse jinx everything on twitter if all we know everybody Everybody knows, buddy. Everybody knows. If I have to ruin my Twitter reputation to get the Phillies division title, I will do it. Oh, we know. Between having to run, reverse jinx this team, the shirt, the post-game videos, name someone else that's putting as much work in.

I mean, you ruined Jacob DeGrom's career. Oh, and I forgot. I forgot about the password. Acuna. Acuna. Before that. I mean, you're like the harbinger of doom for non-Phillies. Not good.

But I found it. That's the important part, James, is that I finally have gotten in my routine just in time for the stretch run. Yes. I would say there's a method to the madness but you're not sure there is i think it's just madness but i love it i'm i mean whatever works whatever works five in a row buddy whatever works yeah hashtag run for it's wrong hashtag i do love the running thing honestly very in on the running thing yeah great super it's good yeah the one you

hate the most i mean i do run regardless but i don't usually run my mile much easier to throw a shirt on than to run a mile and a half in the morning yeah exactly um and it's without stopping too because i had long been a stop and go guy but now i'm just powering through for the fills yeah that's part of the key right it's the it's the amount of not stopping that is like a part of the deal yes which adds pressure i mean you can't stop runs runs for the run how's that that means i don't think that means what you think it means there was something that occurred the other night that i can't bring up on this podcast but it involved oh no and when you thought of it because of that yes let's just say i did not watch the ninth inning in front of my tv i brought my laptop somewhere else oh no

had the camera ofhtag runs for runs. Let the Bills get out of here. Dude, some AAA teams did. Oh, buddy. All right. What else you got? That's all I got. Nolip.

There's no... What's the deal with Nolip? I don't know. Should we not even talk about Nolip? Let's not even talk about Nolip. Let me just say one thing about Nolip. You know what he needs? A shot in the arm. He could really use a shot in the arm.

By the way, in Pittsburgh at PNC, did I tell the pod that we were chanting, get the shot by Nola? Oh, yeah. At the bachelor party, we were all chanting. When Nola would come up to bat, because we were behind him playing, we'd chant, get the shot, get the shot.

Oh, nice. I'm sure that went over well uh with something it did with something it didn't go over as well right um yeah looks some look for yeah well honestly my only thing I gotta say about Nola is that I'm just I'm genuinely mad at him like I'm mad at him it's not even like I'm disappointed anymore I'm just straight up mad at him um and today was another example of that. I think Didi's playing much better. I thought the play he made today was unbelievable, the defensive play.

The one from the knees? That was terrific. I mean, granted, the play in the ninth was equally as awful. Well, but that was a messed up play, though. I mean, the play in the ninth was a messed up play. And I think Reece should have scooped it. Yeah, he shouldn't have thrown it. But regardless, I get it.

DeeDee has a habit of not throwing. Of making the wrong decision. You're right. The play at the plate, that was a pretty amazing play. Yeah, I mean it was the best throw to home by a middle infielder in Philly's history. But even the night before,

the night before, I thought he made a really good play late. So that was good to see. And to your point, not just on that throw, but in general, the arm has looked, you know,

like there's more zip on the ball lately, which is obviously huge. I think he's consistently barreling up the baseball a little bit better recently. It's almost like they traded for a shortstop, and he said, oh, crap. So it's good to see. It's good to see.

Ronnie Torres, I know we brought him up earlier, but, like, favorite role player of all, like, the great Phillies role players ever? I just love him, dude dude i love him so much i love everything about it i love when he wears the homer hat ah i me too i just love how like i love his stance i love his swing i love everything i love everything about him like he just seems like the kind of guy who's literally smiling 24 hours a day like he sleeps with a smile on i love him He's the guy that every winning team needs.

And that's a very big compliment. He's a winning player. James, next June 3rd, Mike Trout returns, and I for one cannot wait to let out

a nice hearty boo. When the Phillies are very far ahead in first place and the Angels are terrible again and he can just remember that he turned his back on our city. He's not a true Philly guy. Merciless boos. I want to go and I want to bring a crew of people who I want to vet people to find out

if they're willing to boo for nine innings at Mike Trout, because that's the type of experience that I want Mike Trout to have personally. Yes. Yes. Oh, Mikey. I can't believe the nationals are still doing baby shark.

Like, come on, really? It's the lamest thing ever. That franchise is a joke. I can't believe they won a freaking world series. It's embarrassing. The Philly is carter key boom into a player during week was annoying because carter key boom is terrible um like honestly the nationals winning a world series

is such a joke and the baby shark is just the ultimate embarrassing thing that i can't believe that franchise still does. So I thought it was cool in the moment, the first time they did it. When they were in the World Series, yeah. And the World Series and stuff. But I agree, you gotta stop now, it's over. It's a one season thing. Also, Para stinks anyway.

Well, that, yes, that too. And my final thing is that this is the most important weekend of my life and i can't wait for it luckily jill doesn't listen to this podcast especially not 51 minutes into it no all right one other thing for me and it's and it's a question for you okay uh speaking of this weekend like you kind of were yelling about it before we didn't really go i think we had so many people tweet about this like how's it coming out what's the dilemma like how are you solving the sunday holiday dilemma like what is the decision i'm assuming by now you've

made a decision what are you doing i haven't made a decision i was gonna go home what are you serious yeah i know i know i know i i I know. So what did Jill say? Did you talk to Jill? Yeah, she's not pumped. I thought she might be more pumped. But it turns out she wasn't pumped. Not as excited for you to go to the game as you hoped she would be excited.

She wasn't even a super big fan of the three innings and leave thing. Oh, really? So she just wants you like home all day yeah because there's like a light chance that it might like the festivities might start around one oh oh so that's even yeah it might yeah it might have gotten pumped it might have gotten bumped up so i mean wheeler's pitching you told her that right i don't really i honestly don't care who's pitching like i just want to go see Doc. I know.

I was talking, if that's clearly out, I'm talking about watching the baseball game, Jack. It's even worse. I know. Because every time I go over to their house, I find a way to sneak down into the basement and watch by myself. And they always figure it out when they haven't seen me in like a half hour.

And then my niece comes down and she like takes the remote and, you know, hides it. So, uh, and she's like, you know, she calls me funny Jack.

So she's like, uh, funny Jack, like, you know, I have to go upstairs. So it's a dreadful scenario, especially with the pills being hot.

This is not good, but I thought about it a lot. I don't want to think about it anymore. I'm a big fan of the the one ear bud in with scott and kevin or scott yeah but dude i can't watch okay if i have to i mean these games you have to watch i know figure it out i mean i know just pull the it's my job man do you know how many things that i have not done with emily because honestly like not to get out of it i literally was like i have to watch this it's my job it's your job it's my job i know but also

pull the trump card that it's my job like i don't have a choice like i have to talk about this on the radio tomorrow i have to talk about this on my podcast tomorrow like i gotta watch you know yeah i know but also uh it's just it's tough it's tough situation so i'll i'll i'll update people i'll update people as the weekend goes on but just just know dying to know just know i really want to be there i think yeah i don't find i don't think a single person is doubting that jack all right you got any final thoughts i don't i can't wait i'm so excited i like if there if there's not i'm gonna be so sad if there's not at least 35,000 people there. Yeah, and at least, like, I know there's going to be some,

but, like, no more than, like, a quarter Mets fans. Like, less if possible, but, like, we're not talking 50-50. Or, like, it cannot be 60-40. Like, show up. Show up. I mean, players are tweeting about it. Like, he must not be named because he didn't come on our podcast just tweeted can't wait to see what the cvp is like you know like

the players are are saying like they're talking and saying come watch us play please we're good like come watch them play yep and i just if if if any of them want to join in on the running i will gladly let them join it i'm sure that's what they're looking for. Yeah. Yeah. You know what it is? It's to help take the burden off just your back, right? Thank you.

Yes. You're carrying quite the burden right now. Help a brother out. Yeah, you're not lying. You're not lying. You know how much pressure there is on me? Ugh. Can I go home?

Yeah. Beat the Mets. Let's go. He's rid I go home? Yeah. Beat the Mets. Let's go. He's ridden himself so we'll see you later.