High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - To Believe or Not to Believe... That is the Question

Episode Date: August 23, 2019

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz are back after the Phils sweep the Red Sox up in Boston and prepare you for a nerve-wracking series against the Marlins.   See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information. 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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My plan starts with soil health. And part of mine includes biodiversity. Why care so much? Because Canadian dairy farmers hold themselves to higher standards. That's what's behind the blue cow logo. Dairy Farmers of Canada. Hi, this is Bryson Stott, first round draft pick of the Philadelphia Phillies, and you're listening to the High Hopes Podcast with James Seltzer and Jack Fritz.

This is the High Hopes Podcast. High Hopes. It's a bunch of baseball nerds talking about the Philadelphia Phillies on Radio.com and sports radio 94 WIP. Yo, it is a suck it Boston edition of the High Hopes podcast. Jack, I'm assuming you're all the way back in. Didn't take long. But I don't know, man.

I'm in. I'm also like don't want to be heartbroken again. But I'm also worried about they're going to lose two of three in Miami. Of course. Because every time I talk myself back into this team, they always let me down every single time. But I saw the bagel boss today. So it feels like things are turning around.

I don't know if that's a good or a bad thing to be completely honest. Can I start this podcast off with a question? Always, Jack. So is it a psychopath move to be walking around Old City, Philadelphia with a baseball in my hand? Yeah.

Yeah. I didn't realize... It's weird, man. I didn't realize... It's really a weird look, hand. Yeah. Yeah. I didn't realize. It's really a weird look, man. It's all right. Like, here's the thing. It's totally acceptable in an office, especially in our office, you know, where it's a sports place.

And even in like another office, if you're a sales guy or whatever, you can like make it seem like a thing that helps you think. Like Tom Cruise in A Few Good Men with the baseball bat he carries around out in public it's really weird man because people are probably looking at him being like that dude's not gonna peg me with that baseball is he like that's weird why does he have a baseball in his hand right so i didn't realize how much of a psychopath move it was

until i was outside with the baseball and i felt like i had a weapon in my right hand that i could have just started firing at people not like felt like you had a weapon in your hand that you could have started firing at people is that indicting how good i am at baseball are you saying that i throw so hard that i could physically be used as a weapon i'm saying are you finally saying that i was good at baseball all right oh man all right so the lesson is don't walk around really anywhere randomly with the baseball it's weird kind of terrifying look well oh well that's that's what i was just doing and i felt like i was in the wild west you know what's really funny is i was gonna remark at some point to you i remembered watching a few games in a row, I noticed it, and then I just never got around to it,

that whenever they show Nick Pavetta in the bullpen, he's the only guy who always has a baseball in his hand. 100% of the time, he's doing different grips. He's messing around with it. I should have figured, like, of course it is. Of course it is. We're always getting better. I'll bet you Nick Pavetta would carry a baseball

around Old City like that. Yeah. Well, also, he would also have a short temper and just start firing baseballs. He's way more likely to hurt somebody. Yeah. For many reasons. All right. Let's dive into it because, look, I'm with you, too.

I mean, it's awesome that they went to Boston and won two games. And we'll get into them. But two games that this team has generally lost this season those types of games especially that first game they I mean how many three two games like knuckle grabber type games have they won like that but um it's also tough because you know like you said Jack I think it'll be if they win two or three in Miami it might be the most surprising thing that'll have happened this season they just don't they've done this every time every time and especially it feels like the Marlins are the symbol of that because of that three game uh loss you had the sweep at at home that made it

the seven game losing streak and it was just like the lowest of the low and I think we've associated that with them but it's it's it's tough I want to be back in like we were the other night but now it's also like i think they have to go to miami and win this series and then i will consider being like at least somewhat back in on this team legitimately would you agree with that i just don't want to be hurt again like i like i i really i really was in. Like, I was in, in. Like, they were making a run. And then they went out, and they did the Padres series, and it was just so annoying. It was just so classic.

And, like, they're catching this Marlins team at a good time. Like, obviously they're not a good baseball team, so you can't really say they're not playing a good game. They're a very bad baseball team. They have the worst record in the national league by a lot yeah i mean what they have uh they have let's see three three wins in august it is gonna be august 23rd on friday um four wins four wins in august sorry i don't want to five and-80 on the season. Oh, they're horrible. They're 22 games out of a playoff spot right now in the National League

where it seems like everyone's in contention for a playoff spot. But the Phillies... This Phillies team loses this series. Of course. That's why... I know it's the Marlins, and I know it sounds ridiculous to say

they lose this series, but if you follow this Phillies team this to say they lose this series. But if you follow the Phillies teams this year, they lose this series. They have lost this series all year. They have lost every series in which they can start building some momentum and get back into a legitimate playoff run. Well, they're already in a legitimate playoff run. They're in a playoff run right now. But they lose this series, and they don't capitalize on an opportunity

they have to they have to win this series or i'd rather sweep the series sweep yeah but win the series come back home play against the pirates and then they have a really really tough september um and it it's it's a september that is going to be definitely make or break um but it's just i'm i'm nervous heading into this Miami Marlins series. I know that sounds crazy to talk about a team as bad as the Marlins, but I am legitimately nervous that this team is going to hurt us again. But here's hoping. Yeah, high hopes.

Well, medium hopes. Jack, I don't think there is a Phillies fan out there who would tell you they feel confident about this series. I don't know how you could. It's like you just said. This is exactly what this team has done all year long. They've given us shreds and nibbles of hope, and then they just lose a series to the Marlins. Or, you know, crap the bed against the White Sox.

I mean, it's just what they've done all year. The Padres. you know the white socks I mean it's just what they've done all year the Padres like it's it's I I totally agree with you that not only is it it's absurd to be worried about heading into a face of 45 and 80 team that is given up on the season like you said three wins in August they are just and on top of that ending a really bad team earlier in the season they had had some pretty good pitching that has really started to fade the Phillies. And we'll, we'll look at later who they're facing,

but the, the, they are not facing any, a murderer's row of pitching in Miami this weekend. Um, it's the kind of series where we are all nervous because of how, how it's played out all season long. But like,

if this is a playoff team at all, they have to win this series and they honestly should sweep this series, but they have to win this series to have any, not just a chance, a realistic chance in the standings, but more a realistic chance in the eyes of not just the fan base, but just baseball. Like, look at them. They're not a playoff team.

If they can't go into Miami with the stakes being what they are with what, 36 games left on the season I mean you have to win this series yeah and you know what's weird is that I was driving into work today and I was listening to the midday show uh and shout out to Joe to camera yeah um just like going through a super tough time right now and and he killed it his first show back he went dude he he was so impressive he just was so composed and handled it so well i couldn't believe it i was really impressed yeah and just listening to him talk about the phillies like it got to me it got me to a point where like he's right like we're we're legitimately a week away from us being i

feel we're gonna be dialed in on the phillies every single night because they're in it like you can't not be in on a phillies team when you're when you're in it single night because they're in it. You can't not be in on a Phillies team when you're in it. If they're going to be a game and a half out all of September, we're going to be locked in. I know a lot of people said, oh, well, we're going to be bitching about the team

until the end of the season. I feel like that's not going to happen. I feel like the tides are going to turn. I feel like Phillies fans are going to get behind this team. If they're a game out heading into September with a Bryce Harper hot streak, which is here, here. He's got a

1029 OPS in August. The Bryce Harper, the best August of Bryce Harper's career is happening right now for the Philadelphia Phillies. I just think that we're a good Marlins series, a good Pirates series away from the Phillies being

a relevant September talking point because they're going to be in it. They're going to be in it until the end because of how the National League is playing out right now and because they're just not going to go away. And that, honestly, honestly, it excites me. No matter how frustrating the team has been, no matter how incompetent they've looked at times, the team has been, no matter how incompetent they've looked at times, them

actually being in a chance to make the playoffs is going to make the city excited, and that's how important this weekend is against the Marlins. Dude, look, I'm watching Rocky's Cardinals right now on my second TV. Yes, I'm in already in terms

of that, that they are in this, and these teams are not very good. None of them are that good. Like from the Cubs on down, even the Nationals are more talented than the Phillies right now, but they're not an unbeatable team or anything like that. And to your point, like if there's one thing right now with the way this team is, you know, kind of playing out the way this season is playing out, if there's one thing that, obviously we've talked about

what Harper can do for this team in terms of winning games and on the field, but in terms of something that can, like you said, have the fan base invested in the last month of the season, they have a pennant race with a Bryce Harper hot streak and Bryce finally kind of throwing the team on his back and being that superstar you know, superstar player that we have seen him be many times in Major League Baseball before, but we've been waiting to see here in Philadelphia. It's happening right now, as you said, Jack. I mean, he's having a

mammoth August and a lot of big hits too. I mean, he has been the definition of clutch, again, to go along with continual outstanding defensive play where all the people who said he was a bad defensive right fielder i i feel like that was a a thing that was talked about but i i'm um i'm really with you and and people should be on board look it the phillies haven't made the playoffs since 2011 it's a long time They haven't been relevant since 2011. This will be the first September with real, because last season they weren't like super far out of it when September started, but we all knew the season was over. They weren't good. Well, they were done last year when I went on my honeymoon. They said, Fritz isn't watching. We're done. Yeah. I think that sounds fair.

That sounds about right. Yeah. I mean, it's coming from you. I think it's, yes, it's exactly right. So, you know, this could be the first September since 2011 where we have real, true, meaningful baseball games. And like you said, all these teams are bad. They have a real chance to get the wild card if they can get this going. Again, a Harper hot streak combined with Hoskins, potentially turning it around again. Well,

that's let's not get ahead of ourselves. No, no, no. I'm saying he's not doing it. I'm saying it hasn't happened yet. I'm saying like, if that can happen,

we talked about the importance of that on the last show, but look, Hey, on base six out of 10 times in Boston. All right. But look, I know there's a long way to go with Reese, but as we talked about,

he's also someone who can kind of flip things a little bit on a dime and turn things around. If he can get going a little bit, and Romuto and Segura, this still can be a really potent offense that can contend with these other also flawed teams that are fighting for that wildcard spot, so both

wildcard spots. So, I'm with you, but again, it has to happen now. I mean mean these are the marlins and the pirates they can't lose these series it's just yeah and and and this team has lost these series all season long yep um let me ask something so i would say before hmm i would say about two weeks ago two three weeks ago you probably would have said would have said that Bryce Harper's season was not a success, right? Yeah, I would say probably, yeah, about three weeks ago, I would say that for sure. And now it really, like, it feels like he's had a successful season.

I would say, like, Bryce Harper, I am very happy with where Bryce Harper's at. Now, I know it comes with his hot streak or whatever, but he's up to 27 home runs. He's on pace for 35 and 117, I think. And Bryce Harper is on the hot streak right now. He is basically doing what we've asked him to do from a standpoint of clutch hits, put the team on your back for a little bit,

and carry them into a playoff run. he may not carry them to the playoffs but what bright star is doing right now is he's keeping them in the hut hunt he's coming up with huge hits playing great defense and he's he is the clutchest hitter in baseball right now like he is he is the key has added the most wins um like him yellich andout have added the wins probability added at the plate this season, which is massive. And in clutch, high leverage situations, he is the best hitter in baseball. He is living up to what we asked for him to do in his first year in a new city with, at the time, the biggest contract in baseball history, with a kid on the

way, I think it's super impressive what he's done. He's gotten booed everywhere he's gone, but for him to be where he's at, I just think is really, really impressive for Bryce Harper. And once again, Harper Lent was worth it, and I'm so happy he's here. Well, obviously Harper Lent was worth it, but also you didn't even mention moving to a new city, finding a new house to live, a new clubhouse, a new stadium, a new this, a new that. It's all new. It's all different. It's all intense, and there's so much expectation.

In a city where we are super intense about our sports. And it's the first time he's really been asked to be a leader. Yeah, it's the first time it's his team. We talked about that a lot. it's his team right so i hope this is not uh uh sent him into a bad spell i need bryce harper to continue to be hot um and i feel like every time i talk positively about him it goes into the tank but i i just i just i'm super glad that dude's here and uh what he's doing right now is shades of what ryan how to do for Phillies teams in the second half. You really feel like you have magical powers.

It's an interesting case study. I feel like I have magical powers? Every time you talk about Harper, he goes bad. Well, no. Every time I talk about anyone positively on the Phillies, they go bad. That's the power that I do have. It's an annoying power. I just want to be cocky about this team, and will i just want to be cocky about this team and they haven't let me be cocky about

this team but um now we're going to the marlin series and we'll see what happens so well well let's quickly look back because if starting with if there's one person you know we we've all talked about harper and the importance he has but I think the other person you would absolutely say is the most important person to this team's winning down the stretch. And the person who you feel most confident in, as much as we love this Harper odd streak and how great he's been and, and all that Aaron Nola is back to being ace Nola back to being, you know,

the, the exact guy we saw last season, we got C family Nola again, Jack, and also going to pitch every fifth day. What do you think about, obviously, Fenway Nola, geek out, but also the plan to pitch Nola every fifth day for the rest of the season? Well, I mean, they have to pitch. It's a must. I can't believe this is even a thing.

You know, it's just like, again, unless there's some sort of health thing that they're worried about or whatever, you have to pitch him every fifth day, especially because it lines up for the last day of the season. But it's just like, I feel like no matter what, we're going to get that guy bringing it for the rest of the season. Yeah, I just feel like they have to win every single start that Narenola has from here on out, which is pressure. I just feel like they have to win every single start that Narenola has from here on out,

which is pressure. I mean, that's like, imagine going out there pitching, knowing that you have to win every single start you make. It's like a playoff start every time. It's like you're pitching a one-game wildcard game every single time. It's literally going to be 08CC. It's not going to be three days rest like what CC was doing, but it's going to be on pause CC. Like it's not going to be, it's not going to be three days rest. Like what CC was doing,

but it's going to be on Paul is that was nuts. Oh, it was insane. We'll never see that again. Um, but Aaron, he's still pitching when you think about it. Yeah. Well,

Aaron, Noel is going to have to do the same kind of thing, um, for this team. And, and see the thing that I, I, I was watching the start against the Red Sox,

and Fenway Nola is just a beautiful thing to watch. And I was just saying to myself, Aaron Nola is one of the best big game pitchers in the sport. And I think he could be the next guy that you want on the mound when you need a win in the game. And I want to see what it looks like in a playoff series. on the mound when you need a win in the game. And it just, I, I just, I want to see what it looks like in a playoff series. Like I was, I was already getting upset that this team was going to miss the playoffs.

And we got, we weren't going to be able to see playoff Nola because I, I think he could be, I think he could be one of the best big game pitchers in this sport. And when he pitches in Boston and he pitches like he does in Boston, it just, it just confirms my belief in that because when the lights are the brightest and the lights are shining the brightest and he's on the biggest stage in one of the most historic ballparks in the country and he goes out and continues to

show out and continues to just dominate a Red Sox team with, they had five guys in their lineup batting over 300. It's insane. Is that, is that possible for this Phillies team? Um, it's insane. They're batting over 300 it's insane is that is that possible for this phillies team um it's insane they're batting over 300 as a team in august like what the hell's that yeah and they're like not even close to the playoffs like no i know it's insane i mean they're under for instance what like plus 91 and the phillies is is like minus 30 um yeah buddy not great but I just the dude is an absolute

stud and the first couple months I feel like a lot of that was attributed to the 200 plus innings last year now he's finally calmed down he's starting to use fastballs fastball location is back and he's just he's getting he's back to what he was last year just every

single time out, a stud. And maybe he had to get used to the balls. Maybe the balls are a little bit different. I don't know. But he is very, very, very, very much back. Yeah, it's so awesome to see because we talked about it a lot, obviously, early on when he was struggling. But the fact that coming into the season, he was the one thing we felt like we could really count on.

And we were like, Nola will be and we were like no we'll be fine everything else we'll figure everything else out but no we'll be fine yeah and when he wasn't to start the season it was really unnerving it's just it's like a big sigh of relief seeing him just be this consistent this dominant exactly the guy we want and need him to be um smiley, uh, game two, obviously in Boston, not as great Jack. No, not as great. Yeah. His, his, look, his command is just gone. Like, um, the, the thing that was making him a serviceable pitcher when he came up with

the Phillies or came or started off with the Phillies was that he could throw three pitches wherever he wanted and, and guys, but, and guys weren't able to, to get a good read on him. But now it's just like like it's not there anymore. The location's gone. He's missing all over the place. And he's just, I mean, I don't know. I think he could get it back.

I think he can give them some solid starts down the stretch. But you just have no idea what you're getting out of anyone in that rotation anymore. I think Vince Velasquez is probably the number two right now. Or no, Jason Vargas. Well, Vargas is. I mean is it's crazy to think about but no question jason vargas is the number two if aaron dola has to pitch the last day of the season as lined up for the phillies to get into the playoffs to get into a one game wild card jason vargas yeah will be the Philly's starting pitcher in that game.

Think about that. How crazy is that? Potentially against Max Scherzer. Like, cool. That's fine. Cool. I'll take 81. 81 mile an hour fastball.

Oh, my God. But, like, hey, man, if they're in that scenario. No, it's all good. It's just crazy to think about the fact that this team that's competing for a playoffs with Jason Vargas is their clear number two. Yep, he 100% is. And I honestly feel confident

every time he goes out there. I do too. I do too. I feel like six innings, two runs. That's what I'll get and I'm good with that. And which leads me also to quickly, I mean, how are Mike Morin and Jared Hughes and Blake Parker, and how are these guys getting big outs? How is this happening?

I mean, for the most part, these guys, I mean, for the most part, these scrap heap waiver wire pickups are not only getting big outs, but pitching in high leverage situations and getting big outs along with stud Jose Alvarez. And I mean, it's just, I think that, that, that is the way this bullpen is pitching right now. And it's also something that I think we're probably almost afraid to talk about because it feels like it could fall apart any second.

Cause why shouldn't it fall apart any second? But it has been one of the most under talked about, about, but crucial things to this team even staying in it. They've pitched really well with a lot of these guys in big spots. Jose Alvarez has a 1.04 ERA since June 1st. That's my guy. That's my guy. I never doubted Jose Alvarez. I've long been doubting Jose.

Good boy. They officially have won the Luis Garcia-Jose alvarez so i've long been touting jose yeah boy um they officially have won the luis garcia oh my god yeah by a mile as we thought they did in the moment yeah that's true that's just we we we worried about a little bit early on but yeah you're right i i don't want to trash the bullpen because they they're their overall numbers are good. I think they have the third lowest bullpen ERA in the NL since the All-Star break. Unbelievable. Here's the thing. They're not good.

No. The pitchers in that bullpen are not good. They're not good. I think Jared Hughes is good. I think Josley Alvarez is pretty good. I think Hector Neres is good. I think Josley Alvarez is pretty good. I think Hector Neres is good. And that's pretty much it. They have Mike Morin, who is somehow getting out.

It feels like they've lost trust in Pavetta. They probably should have lost trust in Pavetta. If he's not going to... What a dark day right there. That was... All of the listeners were just like, ah. Eh, it's whatever.

We'll be okay. If you're not going to look at your fastball, you're never going to. What I took away from the bullpen in Boston was that they,

was that our second white set again? No. I just can't get an image of Nick Pavetta listening to this podcast, walking around Old City with a baseball in his hand and getting so mad that you just bailed on him.

It's not that I bailed on him. It's just that the Phillies have definitely lost faith in him because what they did in Boston was they – what Gabe Kaplan and Chris Young need is guys in the bullpen that will come in and they will throw strikes and they will they will have good fastball location and when you look

at Jared Hughes you look at Ranger Suarez you look at Mike Morin like Neres is a splitter guy but the first three guys I mentioned like those three guys will take the ball whenever Jose Alvarez included they'll take

the ball whenever and they will have good included, they'll take the ball whenever, and they will have good fastball location. If you saw how they pitched Mookie all weekend, or all week, it was fastballs in the hands, and he couldn't do anything with it. They neutered Mookie. They neutered Mookie.

They neutered Mookie. They neutered Mookie. Devers didn't really do anything. Guys came in. They made JBJ a star somehow. Ivers didn't really do anything. But guys came in. They made JBJ a star somehow. I don't know how, though. What is it saying? It's like only water covers two-thirds of the earth,

and JBJ covers the rest of it or something? Well, that's actually Gary Maddox, who was originally about Philadelphia Philly Gary Maddox. But now it's JBJ. Yeah, it's Gary Maddox. JBJ was so frustrating that whole series because he would turn like the ball was four rows deep, and then he'd just make a nice basket grab on every ball. I mean, he's outstanding out there, and he gets to balls that a lot of people can get to almost with ease at times.

He does, but I... But Gary Maddox, that is who that quote is about. Well, you watched him in high school, right? You damn millennial. High Hopes listeners will back me on this. Two-thirds of the earth is water, the other's covered by Gary Maddox. Yeah, I mean,

our old High Hopes listeners will get it. My generation, I don't know know i don't remember watching gary maddox i mean what like your high school graduation was the 1980 and i'll see yes wasn't it you are hilarious by the way yes let's roll with that i feel bad for uh was it michael silver or what the one guy from that came to high's Night and was older than you and he is mad every single time that I would make a joke about how old you are even though you're only 37? But I'm going to keep doing it. Yeah.

I co-sign it. I can handle it. But I happen to know that I'm only 37, so it doesn't bother me. That's why you're so pro pro josh mccown yeah and and again i think yeah right and i think the iops listeners will bag me on gary maddox i i feel confident well i'm sure they will i just didn't i'd never watch gary maddox play baseball i'm sorry although i was i was watching game five of the 1980 uh nlcs the other night at like oh that's good work by you. Like 1.30 in the morning.

Way to go, man. Way to do the history. I couldn't sleep. I couldn't sleep, so I was watching some, some say the greatest baseball game of all time. That's really good work by you, my friend. Yeah, and you were at the drive-thru movie

the night of that game. All right. You are, yeah, we're good. We're good. Drive-thru movie you don't even know what have you have you been to a drive a drive in movie drive through me a movie all right um anything else uh from anything else from boston uh that you wanted to get into that you uh any other notebag boston items uh i would say it's hard to look ahead pretty embarrassing the red

socks fans just letting their ballpark getting taken over by Phillies fans. I like this take. I agree with you. I mean, Fenway Park was flooded with Phillies fans. Dude, there was a bunch of let's go Eagles fans. They won the World Series last year. That's embarrassing. I was told that tickets for Red Sox games were borderline impossible to get,

and yet Phillies fans just overthrew their stadium. It was embarrassing. Red Sox fans have given up on that team. It's very sad. After a year after they won the World Series, meanwhile... After they won the World Series. They won 108 games and won the World Series last year, and they're like, eh, screw this crap.

I'm done. Yeah. Well, it's just a sad showing by the by the red sox fans but my main takeaway my main takeaway from the boston series was um like i i'm very glad that they they won but i i i felt more like the red sox gave us that series and the phillies took it um like the ninth inning on tuesday night was just some of the worst baseball I've ever seen in my entire life. Like,

I mean, the Bogarts, that is like unforgivable with no outs. I, I mean, a rookie shouldn't even make that mistake. That was horrible. Yeah,

it was, it was absolutely ridiculous. And I, I don't know. Like, I can't, I mean, it's so bad bad it's so epically bad it was like and i was sitting there watching and i was like am i wrong in thinking that that is like i was i was so blown away by how dumb of a baseball player that was that i was questioning if i was wrong. Yeah, wait, wait, wait. Maybe, what, what?

No, no. It's dumb. It was like, it was something. That team won a World Series last year. That team won a World Series. That guy was a big part of it. I mean, he's a great player. And this year, he's been the best shortstop in the AL.

He's been a beast. He's been awesome. That was a play that my Phillies make. That's not a play that He's been awesome. That was a play that my Phillies make. That's not a play that an Alex Cora genius man. Like, imagine if that happened in Philadelphia. It would be, it would have been Meltdown City the whole next day of like, cut Bogarts, Gabe Kaplers lost the team.

Cut Bogarts. Cut our shortstop that's batting like 310 with 25 homers or whatever can't win with that guy um god can't win with that guy after he won the year yep every every take is right at some point that's exactly what it would be actually yeah so nailed it like like that was a like the red i feel like hector narrows is primed to blow that game and then the uh the second night like when when when when jared hugh Hughes comes in and saves the season, where were you when Jared Hughes saves the season? Well, a caveat.

I think it was... I mean, I know Harper's Homer put them out, but I think Jared Hughes and Corey Dickerson for being the first Philly all year to get clutch two out hits to score runs deserves to be mentioned in saving the season as well. He does. Just for that padding. Who knows what Canaris

would have done if it was a one-run game again. Right. I just... I've seen the Phillies lose that game 16-0 a thousand times. Like, I was watching the first couple innings of the game last night and I was like, oh, this is going to be a blowout. This is

a prime blowout. Smiley's all over the place and the base is loaded, and it's just they won the games. It was great, but I just don't think they played so unbelievable that it's like riding super high heading into a Marlins series. I think the Red Sox kind of gave them the series, but whatever. I digress.

Well, I like when you digress. It's good. We should, let's look ahead to this Marlon series because again, as crazy as it is to say, we're talking about a series against, again, a 45 and 80 team in August with a Phillies team that is competing for a playoff spot that we feel incredibly nervous about

and is a huge series for how we view this team, which is, I don't know if that's ever happened before, but the Phillies kind of luck out with the pitching matchups here. You know, they get, they get Hector Noesi,

at least that's who's scheduled right now, who is horrendous to tomorrow night in the Friday night game. They get, they miss Caleb Smith. They get Jordan Yamamoto, who has been terrible, Tomorrow night in the Friday night game, they miss Caleb Smith. They get Jordan Yamamoto, who has been fine. Been terrible. But has been much worse than he was before. And then Alicia Hernandez, who's also been horrible.

I mean, it really is playing out in a situation. Again, a Marlins team that's even further out and is closer to looking at the end of the season and being done with this. I'm with you, man. They should be able to go in here and win. They should be able to sweep. Well, yeah.

I mean, God forbid. But here's the thing. We've seen Jordan Yamamoto shut down the Phillies team, and we've seen the guy who was pitching on Sunday shut down the Phillies team already this season. Well, that's the point. We've seen so many crappy pitchers shut down this team. So, yes, of course. Yeah, and

I will say the one nice thing is that, so the Marlins trade away Nick Anderson is his name. He's on the raise now. He's been like... He's been awesome. Super untouchable. He's been the best reliever

trade at the deadline. So they won't have to face him, which is good toable. He's been the best reliever trade at the deadline. So they won't have to face him, which is good to see. That's because the Phillies didn't trade for relievers. They just signed them off the scrap heap. Otherwise, that would be the best trade. Sign them off the scrap heap and they turned out to be stars. Nick Anderson

ain't got nothing on Mike Morin and his 69 mile per hour. It is actually... I hope the case is this. I hope that the Phillies analytics department is starting to get off the ground a little bit and they're starting to notice things in players that are on the scrap heap or available for very little.

I hope that is something that is happening. I mean, we've seen decent examples of this. Smiley for a little bit there. Worst comes to worst, Smiley can be hopefully decent for this Phillies team. Mike Morin has been unbelievable. Blake Parker has been good. Hughes has been good since he got here. Brad Miller, Logan Morrison.

For not making any major moves at the deadline, and for as much as I've crushed Glentak and whatever, good moves. Good, decent moves that have made this team... Jason Vargas, another move that... And Corey Dickerson. Corey Dickerson. Yeah, Corey Dickerson.

Corey Dickerson is just a professional hitter. He's just a good hitter. I love watching him hit. He's just a good hitter. I love him. I love watching Corey Dickerson hit. Nolan Arenado, three-run home run. Go Rockies. Go ahead. Sorry's just a good hitter. I love watching him hit. He's just a good hitter. I love him. I love watching Corey Dickerson hit. No one Aaron Otto three-run home run. Go Rockies. Go ahead. Sorry.

I'm sorry. But bringing guys off the scrap heap basically and getting stuff out of them is stuff that good well-run teams do. This is a good start. I want to see what they do this offseason. I hope that they're trending in the right direction,

but for in season moves to, to get this team where they are bringing in the guys that they have brought in. And I don't know about you, James, but I kind of have a little, it's going to sound very Bill Simmonsy, but,

uh, you know, I love that. I know, but is there a little bit of, uh, like, like no one believed in us bonding factor happening in that bullpen?

Ooh, a bunch of cast offs who no one believes in goes to show the world that they have what it takes to win it all. That was the, that was the sports movie. That's a lot of the Oh eight, the Oh eight bullpen. I mean,

Scott, I love it. Scott, I love it. JC Romero, Chad Durbin. Ryan Madsen had legit stuff, though. But yes.

Well, that's Pavetta. No, I'm with you. I love it. Look, it's the best explanation I've heard for why these guys went from being un-rosterable in bad bullpens for the most part to being superstars here.

Like, I don't... Relax. Okay. Superstars. Relax. They are not superstars. Rock stars. Okay, sure.

All-time Philadelphia Philly middle relievers. No, they've been really good, though. They've been super solid is what I meant to say and it came out superstars. But they've been super... they've been very good here. Yeah. Superstars.

They have been. It's the band of brothers, and no one believes in us. All right, quickly, I meant to get to it. Before we get to the notebag and final thoughts, just general thoughts. I joked about it before, but Reeves is a mess right now. We know that. But 6 of 10 in terms of getting on base in the Boston series. You know, hit that one ball pretty hard to left field the double.

I mean, that's something. I personally am happy with him in the leadoff spot. I don't know where else you put him. I think, you know, he sees enough pitches, gets on base, that there's merit there and there's no one else who really is a clear, obvious leadoff hitter. But where do you stand on the leadoff hitter spot and and hopes high medium low on him kind of turning it around before this well he's done i think i think leadoff's the only place that

you can put him at this point like you you don't want to take him out of the lineup because he does still get on base like even though uh well since he's been the leadoff spot, he's only batting 158, but he's getting on base at a 370 clip. And I think if you put him in the leadoff position, you allow him to get on base in front of Bryce, Real, Muto, Dickerson, Segura. And worst case scenario is that he's getting on base for those guys. And he can kind of work his way out of this. To say Reese Hoskins is a lost hope or he's never going to figure it out,

that's just not real. He has way too long a track record of success at every level he's been at, including the major league level. He's not just going to start sucking. That's not how it works. He's not Don Brown. That's what we said with Bryce Harper when people were freaking out. It's like, look, Bryce Harper has a long track record

of being great in Major League Baseball. He's not just all of a sudden at the age of 26 going to be bad. Right. He's not Don Brown. He's not Michael Franco. Like, Reece Hoskins is a legitimate, like, top 10 first baseman in Major League Baseball. He is going to figure this

out, but I think for right now, letting him kind of figure it out. You couldn't keep rolling him out there in the four hole and let him continue to kind of kill this team in a way because it was just pop-ups. It was not driving the ball. Too many runners on base and all that.

Right. And worst case scenario, the leadoff position, you can get on base, get guys on for Bryce and the guys in the middle of the lineup and kind of work your way out of it. And also, if the guys at the bottom of the lineup get on, then you can kind of drive them in, work it out that way. And then if he does start to break out a little bit,

then you can start moving them back down the lineup. Yeah, I mean, I think almost like if he's not first, he's like sixth or seventh. You know what I mean? Like he can't be in the middle of the lineup right now. No, but I'd rather have him first to get on base. I'm with you. I'm with you.

I agree. So I think it's a good move by Gabe Kapler. I don't understand the everyday freak out of, oh my God, Reese is in the leadoff spot again. What are they doing? Like it's really the only option they have. It's just the only option they have. It's where this team is at.

It's where he's at. And it's good work by Gabe Kapler. Yeah, look at that. Gabe doesn't do everything wrong. He doesn't really do anything wrong. He's done a nice job tactically and stuff. Yeah, but also, again, I still have questions about about the you know that we've discussed it but the sagura stuff we disagreed with i don't know if he's learned from that and again like i don't need him to rip his players but i need him to start to be a little bit more

just realistic with the way he talks to people and talks to media because ultimately no he's never going to be accepted. And even within that clubhouse, like we talk about all the time, like players see that stuff and I'm sure they appreciate him taking bullets for them and not throwing them onto the bus. But there are also players who are going to roll their eyes at some of that stuff.

And I just think that ultimately there are still question marks about him, but I do agree that he's a better manager than, than most people, the vast majority of people want to give him credit for. I just think that I want to believe and there's a part of me that believes that this team saw how he

acted on Sunday after they lost to the Padres and how much he defended Reese Hoskins. I know we've said that the inauthentic thing, but the authentic Gabe Kapler is a guy that loves his dudes and and believes in his guys and believes in Reese Hoskins and will fight for those guys and in my in my heart I want to believe this I'm not sure I believe it but there's there's at least a little part of me that the locker room saw how he handled the Reese Hoskins situation on Sunday and,

and was like, yo, caps our guy. And even though I don't think they played great in Boston and I think Boston handed them the series in, in, in some ways, there's a part of me that believes that like caps got our back.

And for the first time, like it looked like they kind of were really behind Gabe and they played for Gabe they they played inspired in Boston the bullpen five and a third and like last night there's a there's a there's a little glimmer of hope inside of me that believes that they saw how he acted after the Padres series and while everyone in this town was ripping Gabe Kapler he was steadfast and in his support of Reese Hoskins, and I hope that is starting to trickle down into the locker room. And watching this Boston series for the first time,

I really believe that they kind of felt it. Who knew the Jackfords was such a romantic? Look at that. I can get there. Don't let me get romantic about the Phillies. If there's one sports scene in this city. That was pretty, you know, you're feeling get there. Don't let me get romantic about the Phillies. If there's one sports scene in this city. That was pretty, you know, you're feeling it there. It's what I want to believe.

I have a hope of a chance. It is what I want to believe. I like it. You can create your own narrative. Why not? When I was watching the Boston series, I was like, maybe they're finally responding to Gabe Kapler defending them tooth and nail to the media and the insane reaction to the stuff that Gabe Kapler does. The funniest part

about this whole Boston series was like, there was people calling in and tweeting like, oh, Gabe Kapler had a good series in Boston. The only reason people are saying that is because the bullpen didn't suck. Okay? Like, the bullpen did their job and Gabe Kapler looks like a good manager. Like, maybe if we gave him some actual talent, we would think that Gabeler looks like a good manager like maybe if

we gave him some actual talent we would think that Gabe Kaffler is a good manager like he must look at what Aaron Boone does or what Dave Roberts does and just think that this is like he is in an insane

asylum given what he has to deal with in this place he has to make Mike Morin Jose Alvarez Blake Parker he's make all these guys work. Meanwhile, Booney is just throwing out Zach Britton. Booney! Adam Odovino.

His guys are savage, Jack. Chill out. Right. Just such an unbelievable manager. So I would just like to see what Gabe Cabot does with actual talent. I like that. That was quite a rant. All right.

Notebag or final thought if you don't have anything in noteback um um um i guess my only noteback thought was that uh like if you're gonna if you're gonna keep chris young as your as your pitching coach and you're gonna believe in chris young and you're gonna um expect him to be a core member of this coaching staff going forward. Like they have to start bringing in guys that feed into his philosophy in a way. And his, I think, I think his philosophy boils down to basketball location and not walking

guys. And I know that that should be everyone. But you've seen kind of Pav pitch his way out of being trusted in that spot because of the fastball location and they can't trust them um they need to start bringing in guys that can locate their fastball and and just dot it because everything else after a well located fastball just works so i don't know if it's a chris young thought um maybe just a roster construction thought as well and, it all comes down to how much they believe in Chris Young. Obviously

I think the fan base probably believes in Chris Young less than they do. It's a question of how much less. Alright, Jack, final thoughts. Yeah, my final thought is this, James, is that I just I need you you and I have never lied to High Hopes listeners and

if you've listened to the Midday Show, the people have heard you profess this fake Eagles love. Whenever there's a side question or a side topic or whatever, you always go to the Super Bowl. Who gives a crap i would just i i just want you to i want you to explain to the high hopes listeners like yes stop this is more of an it's it's an intervention it's not even a knitting stop with the eagles thing. You are on the highest rated Phillies podcast. I know you're on some Eagles podcast, but your heart is here. Stop being a fraud.

Your heart is with High Hopes. Your heart is with the Phillies, and you never even bring them up on the midday show. It's whenever you're expressing love. You don't even bring up the 08 team. You bring up the Super Bowl. Like, I get it. Like, you're worried about losing your memory

because you're entering into your 40s. But the World Series was just 10 years ago. Can you just throw a little bit of love towards the Phillies? Like, you're supposed to be a Phillies guy. This is a great, great final thought. Yes. First of all, it's not like I don't.

I'm like the guy on the Midday Show where Joe and John are like, oh, we're talking Phillies? Let's go to Seltzer because, yeah, I'm the Phillies guy. But also, I can love the Eagles too and love the fact that the Eagles won a freaking Super Bowl. I'm pretty sure, well. Just because you were worried about going to your deathbed in a few years without a Super Bowl doesn't mean. love the fact that the eagles won a freaking super bowl i'm pretty sure well just because you're worried just because you were worried about going to your deathbed in a few years

without a super bowl doesn't mean it's exactly right i and and i and i freaking love that super bowl with all of my heart but you're right i should i should honestly it's it's recency bias it's the first thing that pops man because it just just happened. And for what it's worth, in our day jobs, as you know, as much as we want to and granted, it's been different this year. The Phillies talk has really been hot. But our job, for the most part, we're not forces in the right word, but we have to talk Eagles more than we talk Phillies. So it's just more on the top of the mind in that situation.

But obviously, I mean, I hopes is my top dog. I don't think people believe that. I hopes is my top dog. You know that. It's my jam. What can I say? It's my fave. That sounded weird.

It's my fave. It sounded weird. It sounds like you're trying to be hip. I love it. No, you don't say that no it's my jammy jam jack oh no i sure don't my hopes is my jammy jam wow okay cool yeah look at you all right uh my final thought just rate and review the podcast and one last time thank you to everyone who came out for high hopes night um it was it was so cool and just the the feedback we've gotten like on twitter and social media has all been like really awesome and humbling and um i actually i did an event tonight at uh parks casino and i saw the camera guy john who came over to film us singing high hopes and he was like yo seltzer johnzer, it's John from the Phillies game,

and it was hilarious, and it's awesome. He's a High Hopes listener, so shout out to John. That was super cool to come over during that. So just the thought that almost a week later, I'm just still beaming from High Hopes, and I wanted to thank everyone again. All right, Fritzy, it's been a pleasure, kind of. Go do your job.

And we will be back next week after the Phillies. Please take two or three or sweep or whatever. Don't do this to us. Either way, you will hear us on Monday. So fingers crossed that it's good. Until then, he's Fritz. I'm Seltzer. We'll talk to you later.

Trust that it's good. Until then, he's Fritz. I'm Seltzer. We'll talk to you later. All-Star Closer, Kenley Jansen. We have a question. What's the best podcast of all time? Baseball isn't boring, baby.

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