High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Trying To Explain How We're Confident In The Phillies & Nervous At The Same Time

Episode Date: October 2, 2025

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz preview the Phillies' upcoming series against the Dodgers and try to balance between being confident in the team and being nervous about going up against the defending world champions in the NLDS. Presented by Miller Lite To purchase Ring The Bell by Jack Fritz and Kevin Reavy go to RingTheBellBook.com 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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We're heading towards the home stretch of the WMBA season, and there is so much to get into every episode. Twice a week, I'm joined by one of my amazing co-host as we dissect the biggest games, performance, and even some off-court drama. The playoffs are quickly approaching and now is the best time to tune in. Who will come away is this year's champion? The competition is heating up and so are we.

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Yo, it is another edition of the I Ops podcast, sponsored by Miller Light, official partner of the Philadelphia Phillies. Tastes like Miller Time, Philadelphia, you celebrate responsibly. I am sitting here with an anxious, nervous, tense, Jack Fritz. How you doing? You are like, I expected you to, you know, be nervous and you were like wound tight this

week. Uh-huh. But when you, when I saw you, it was just like so written on your face. Like I'm someone, Emily always knows what I'm thinking. I can't hide my emotions. I'm not going to poker and all that. Like, you are. Like, you're pretty good about hiding what you're thinking.

usually I feel like to a point to a point you're much better than me to it is oh well I would argue I would argue anyone over 10 I don't disagree don't disagree you always know what I'm thinking I knew exactly what you were thinking when I saw you was just like oh my God it's the week it's here let's go ah yeah yeah I got so I simply have no time for jokes I know I'm usually a like you're a bit bit's not a bit this way life's not a bit life's too serious especially when you're facing the Dodgers in the first round of the NLDS one supposed to be the year so I already told Spike I was like don't mess around with me well it's that and so sometimes I get quiet oh everyone assumes I'm mad oh buddy I've been there yeah yeah I'm not mad I just am only thinking about the Dodgers

like I have I'm shutting down at home you know walkers looking at me in the eyes and just I'm looking through where did you go daddy yeah yeah like he's watching the soul exit my body as we head into the series. Like, I just, I'm, I'm, I'm incredibly nervous. I'm incredibly nervous. I was nervous. During the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, game last night.

It was, it was, it was, it was so much fun. It was, we're back in October. It was a really cool experience. It was a joyous atmosphere the second I walked out of the building. It was like, oh, it gets real in three days. It gets three days of, and I think why I'm, I think why I feel this way is, obviously, Dodgers are a part of it, right? but this so feels like the year for this team

and to be able to reach that expectation because I think they can and then having to also look across the field and look at a team that can match you in just about everything. I mean, that's the scary bar about playing the Dodgers is that they're equal. Or better.

Every single thing you give advantage in. Even starting pitching. Now, starting pitching, I think, is pretty even, but it's not like the Phillies have some huge advantage. I mean, you could argue the Dodgers are better. 100%. It's close, but yeah. I mean, I would probably argue that the Dodgers,

like their top three versus our top three, like without Wheeler. If Wheeler were here, I would take the Phillies. But, I mean, I think you almost have to give it to the Dodgers, right? Yeah. 100%. And I think the Phillies have an advantage in the bullpen. But at the same time, you know,

they can roll out Sheehan now out of the bullpen. Now, he didn't pitch very well last night. No, but he did throw five and two thirds, no hit ball against us when we saw him in LA. Yeah. And then we'll see if Sasaki can handle the moment in Philadelphia, but he was like the number one prospect in baseball and was viewed as one of the best pitchers in the world and may have found it throwing a hundred and a 90 mile an hour splitter off of that.

So and then you go to the lineups and they're very, very similar. You know, you have three Hall of Famers to start. Freeman at first versus Harvard first. Turner versus Mookie at shortstop. D.Hs are, they don't have really the advantage of the H. It's Swarber versus Othani. So there's, there's, it's, it's going to be, it's going to be a freaking bloodbath. I know it's going to be a bloodbath.

It's going to be a war. And if I'd be surprised if it doesn't go five games. And every game, I just feel like it's going to be four, two, three one, these just tight feelings of, of, this series is going to take years off of our lives. That's my prediction. Like, that's what the series is going to be agonizing. I agree with you.

And it's funny. I saw a spike tweet. Is it possible to, uh, like some paraphrasing, but like, is it possible to feel confident in the Phillies and also be completely terrified?

Exactly how I feel. That's how I feel like I'm with him. Like that's how I feel. I believe in this team. I believe in this group. I've said more than any other group heading in the playoffs. We've had some fun runs with this group. Like I believe in this group so much more.

I believe that they believe it's the year. Like I think, everything is lined up for them. They're just facing potentially an all-time great team, a team that just won the World Series last year, a team that when they finally decided to kind of put it together is won 17 to 22, including just boat racing, the Reds. I know that the bullpen almost gave it up and all that.

But you know what that was? That was when a college football team plays the scrub at the beginning of the season before the real match. I mean, the Reds, who wins a series? 25 Reds or the 23 Marlins? It's close. I mean, Tito, maybe I'll go. if they had to Tito find some,

some edges to win the series for the Reds? Skip Schumacher. Yeah, you know. Because looking at those two lines, it's very simple. Very similar, yeah. But that's what it was. I mean, they, they toyed with the Reds. The Reds had a little moment last night where the bases loaded no outs and couldn't

do anything with it. Yeah. And I need the Phillies to not do that. Yeah. This series. Yeah, they, there's, there's no shame in losing the Dodgers, but also go beat the Dodgers. Yeah.

Which is the, that's, I think everyone's in the same predicament, heading into the series, which is, I believe in them, but it's real. Like, those guys are real on the opposite side of the field. And that's the Dodgers team, essentially the same team, even though maybe a little bit better with Snell. Yeah, I think better. And, you know, and that's a team last year. They went in the city field and stopped the magic with the Mets last year. And that felt like they had the team of destiny.

Yeah, we felt it. And they stopped that. They went into Yankee Stadium. I don't think, while I think that CBP is going to be electric, I don't think, I think the Dodgers are like scared of CBCP of anywhere. I agree with you. We're not going to get to the Dodgers. The Phillies are going to have to beat the Dodgers.

And look, the Dodgers have proven, obviously with the World Series last year, and they got some heartbeat slower type guys. I mean, Joey Otani is a big moment guy so far. You know, Freddie Freeman has proven.

He is a big moment guy. Like, they have dudes who've come through in big spots before, big moments. And I'm already. I was thinking about this last night. And I'm glad you brought up the big moment guys, because I forgot to put this in my notes.

Mm-hmm. I'm already sick of Ki-Ki Hernandez. Oh, I know. I mean, for years we've talked about. He's not good. Nope. He's 100% not good. And he is going to do something infuriating.

Yeah. Infuriatingly well this series. No doubt. No doubt. He's in 35. You can bet on it. Like, bet on it. He's not,

it's just not good anymore. I know. It doesn't matter. Yeah. He's going to do something. And it's going to talk about soul leaving the body. Oh, I know. Well, that's the thing is like they'll get through show A and Freddie and Mooki or whatever.

And then Kike. Yeah. Max Moncy are going to kill him. You know, I mean. Yeah. Moncy's a tough one because you respect the power. But he just doesn't really. He just hasn't been great.

Yeah. He hasn't really. And Tay Oscar, like had such a bad season, but then, you know, gets the playoffs. And like you said, lefties just like see ya, like monster. Yeah. I think outside of those three and then obviously I'm worried about Kike, the guy who I'm worried about is Andy Pottas. I think Andy Baez is the big dog, as they call him out there.

Yes, of course. Always. He is, I said last night on the show. I like it's called me. Pages personally. I know. On the show last night, but I think he's one of the most underrated really good players in baseball.

I owned him in fantasy as here. He's really good. And he really just lengthens a lineup that you look on paper and it feels a little top-heavy. And Will Smith will be back, which is great, of course. It's not like he hasn't had big moments before. It's great. He's another big moment guy. You got to get him back.

But, man. World Series. I mean, P in 2020, wasn't he? Or no, Seeger was. Seeger was. Seager was. Seager's a two-time World Series. Yeah, I know.

yeah so but again the Phillies are also really good and I and I thought it was interesting that nightingale uh nightingale I guess in talking to people the Dodgers I saw this this is fascinating they feel like this is their world series so I think the Dodgers also have a healthy amount of respect for this Phillies team and the Phillies have played well well well we remember day Roberts early in the scene was that the first series or whatever they asked him about like is it weird do you guys have a match up in the playoffs and he's like I don't want to speak in existence like he was like I don't want to talk about it like you know I do think that the Dodgers are going to come in respecting the Phillies.

But to that point, I don't think they're going to take the Phillies lightly. I don't think they're going to, you know, so I think that's, you know, you're going to get their best average. 100%. Like they are very aware of how, I think they have a healthy amount of respect for this Phillies team. And they're very, very aware of how good they are. And they're not going to be, they're not going to overlook this team. It's actually funny.

I was already thinking about, well, they could win this series and that have like a letdown. Yeah. Of course. Because it's such a, it's going to take, it's going to take a lot to win this. Especially because, like, the brewers are good. Like, I know you're not, you know, like, the Padres. Like, they've got all the talent in the world if they could put it together. You know, like, did you see the 100, four mile an hour Mason?

Oh, my God. Did you, have you seen Mason Miller's numbers for like the last month? No. Dude. Like, he hasn't given up a run in like two months. He has 42 strike. Yeah, dude. He has been, Mason Miller has been, well, I think it's like four hits in 21 nings.

He has been absolutely dominant for like the last month and a half for the Padres. Yeah. Great. It's what you want to see. Well, the Brewers. them out yeah i feel i feel pretty i do i think the brewers are winning their series i agree this is why i know i know getting the freaking one scene is actually important this year i know um but look i will say and we said it last night and again they need to win the series if if if they

lose the series i will absolutely not not feel that this was worth it but it's fun this is so on Philly Dodgers. Showy Otani is going to pitch in Citizens Bank Park in game one of a playoff series. And it's Christopher Sanchez. Like that's big, man. That's theater. That's like that's as a baseball fan when you step back from that, that

agita and the anxiety being in a Philly fan, which we really can't do, especially in the moment. But just as a baseball fan to step back, I mean, think about how many Hall of Famers are playing in this. I mean, you got Showe, Mookie and Freeman are Locke Hall of Famers. Bryce Harper, Lock Hall of Famer. I mean, Trey Turner theoretically could get there.

I don't think Schwerber, but if he gets to 500, you never know. J.T. has a chance. Sanchez, obviously young, but like,

you know, has been amazing so far. Like, Tucker farting in the background. Who saw that guy? What a cute sneeze. I just thought it'd be funny to say, I'm trying to hold a net.

Yeah, it was good. Good bless you. Duron. I mean, who knows? Who knows? The point is like,

there is like, there is a high level, historically speaking of talent of names of, of, of, you know, matchups in this game in a series. Yeah. Blake sells a two young two times a young winner.

Sure. Sure. I mean, Yonamoto, I think is going to work his way in there. He's amazing. I love him. I really do.

Amazing. I love watching. And he's been their best picture last month and I'm. He's been light out. It's been great too, but I want glass now here, by the way. Anyway,

I do too. Like, are they even going to pitch him though? Yeah. So, so, yeah, on the.

By the way, just probably not going to pitch glass now because they, like what? Don't need them. So the, the theater is one thing that I, this, this ballpark on Saturday with Shohay on the mound is going to be such an insane environment.

And I know I know that Shohay closed out the WBC and struck out Trout. And that was a big moment. And it's not that he's not going to melt on Saturday. He hasn't pitched him big moment. He's hit. Yes. He did not pitch it all last year. He's never pitched in the major league baseball playoff before.

This was his first time pitching the playoff. And I just. It's a good point, Jack. I think that this. It's different when you're on the mountain. I mean, look, the loneliest place in the world, you know? And this crowd, if I know this crowd, like I think I know this crowd, they're going to be ready with, you know, like, where's your bookie?

Oh, like all these things are going to be, they're going to be, they're going to be on showhead. They're going to do their best to rattle show hey. And in my early official prediction, either Swarber or Harper going yard in the first. And it's going to create. Well, I mean, that's what Chwerper does, right? Sure. Now, hopefully it doesn't go over for the series after that. like last year.

But it does feel like they get to them early, just from the theater of baseball and how this whole thing's setting up. And if you're just a common baseball fan or like, you cannot wait to see if Othani can handle Citizens Bank Park. Totally.

Citizens Bank Park is, I mean, it's talked about all around baseball is like an insanely tough place to win. Now, unfortunately, game six and seven happened in 23. Well,

yeah, that's a lot. Yeah. And last year happened. So, you know, but. Mystique is.

got taking a little hit yeah which it always usually does once once there's more data points but i do think that people are like how is he going to handle that place how is he going to handle that crowd and if i know this crowd like i think i know this crowd they're going to be ready for to try to get and show it's going to be you know show hey i can't wait show hey i just i mean we remember the azuna chance like there's the azuna chance great they're they're they're they're They're going to be ready for Otani. And seeing how he handles it and seeing how, you know, what it goes like is incredibly, incredibly interesting. Does he rise up and meet the moment and go sick, shuddy and, you know, tell us to shove it?

I can see it. Sure. But also does, does it affect him? Does his team come out playing with their hair on fire? And do they get to him? It's fascinating. It's so exciting. And there's no way that, I'm not, I'm not calling it, whatever it is, American Values Field or whatever.

Is that what it's called? It's Miller Park, okay? American Values Field is what it's called now? American Family Values Field or something. Is it really? It's something along those lines. But there's no way. It's Miller Park.

It's always Miller. Yeah. What are we doing here? American Family Field. Yes, American Family Field. That might be the worst name for, I know it's a company name, I'm sure, but that might be the worst one yet. The White Sox one now is bad, too.

Oh, yeah. And whatever, like, D. It's just rate field. It's not guaranteed rate field anymore. I kind of like right now. No guarantees down there on the side side. Rate field.

Well, and then what is, the Miami one was bad, the Lone Depot and then that, you know, whatever. Minutemate is bad now too. Is it? Yeah.

It's such a shame. Yeah. Like, can we just go back to like Jacobs. Stake and Park. Deakin Park. Yeah. Can we just like Jacobs Field.

Like that was what it was called, you know, like the, Ham and Yards. Ham and Yards. Exactly. Yes. Yeah. Citizens Bank Park. CDP works.

CDP works. I don't know why. It just works. The bank, the bank just works. And if the, if C. if CISN's bank

is ever going through financial trouble, we have to prop them up. Oh yeah, no, no, no, yeah, yeah. Well,

same thing like, like Joe was saying it's in there. It's like, if they change link in financial field. It's like, would you call it anything other than link? Like, it'd be weird.

It'd be weird. It'd be weird. Well, just tear down the stadium. Well, they should tear that one down. And rebuild. It was as I was walking up yesterday, just thinking about how,

how great a stadium CBP says. Well, I didn't really thought of that, but it was like, as I was walking up yesterday, I was having the thought where it's like, oh my God, like I didn't think about it,

but like I've been here now more than I went to the vet. Like I have, I know, but I went to the bed a lot as a kid for two teams and stuff like that, but like I've laughed it now. I mean,

we've been to so many playoff games and just games at the year and all, but it is wild to think like that. That's the ballpark that I've been in the most times in my life. Like that's home. I can't believe it's been around since 2004, which is wild.

I mean, There's a whole generation of people that have no idea what the vet, two generations at this point, you could argue. Yeah. I have no idea what the vet or what it was like. And I barely, like, I went to one game at the vet. It was a, it was a Marlins, Phillies game. I grew up at the vet. Oh, hey, raised the 700 level, were you?

I went to one game at the vet. It was the Marlins, Phillies, like, day game in the middle of the week. And because my grandparents used to watch me during the week. And I just remember, I hit, like, 46 miles an hour on the fast fish. And you were jacked up. I was like, I got it. Oh, jacked up. I didn't even think about that.

Pun intended. Maybe they could change a take bag to jacked up. Just throwing out ideas. It's not bad. Throwing out ideas. Although my current status status, whatever is definitely not jacked up. No, I know. It's jacked down.

Way down. Way down. Way down. But the problem is, I usually am someone who is looking to lower expectations. Oh, I know. That is like your ethos. There is no lowering of expectation.

It is just a massive series. It's like there's no toning it down. There's no. And also there's no turning down the fact that it really is like a 50-50 matchup. But I, again, I feel confident in this group of Phillies. But like, I think there's. Anyone are so even. Anyone getting super chesty about.

It's out of their mind. Just slow your role. Rain it to hell in. And it's not, oh, God, I did it again. Comparing this to last year's chiefs. You were the king of this. This is not last year's chiefs where, like, the Eagles. versus that chiefs team.

Where you, once you wanted to look at it, they had advantages almost everywhere. We knew the Eagles were better. They were just better. And you could make, there's a lot of people saying, we're going to blow out the chiefs,

we're going to blow out the chiefs, we're going to blow out the chiefs. And you know, you poop poo it because you give respect to that team. Yeah, yeah, totally. They'd earned it. But you could at least see that. I don't think you could do it.

Of the toughest teams I've seen a Philly team play, I would say 22 chiefs, 04 Patriots. O-4 Patriots are the first one that popped my head. And look, honestly, 22 Astro. That's, dude, people don't think. That was 106 win baseball team that Astros team. Like, they were awesome.

They were probably the best Astros team of that run. Like, 17 was good, too. They were probably the best Astros team in that run. Like, that was an awesome baseball team. The Phillies lost it. Totally. Totally. 23Dbacks.

I'm just kidding. But of the teams in my, in my life, like, this is better than the 08 Cardinals. Yep. You mean the 11 Cardinals? No, oh, eight, cars from the Eagles.

Oh, oh, got you. And then... It's better than any of those. It's better than the Giants, better than those Cardinals teams. The Yankees and 09 were pretty good.

Yeah. I forgot about the Yankees and O'N. Pretty stacked team when you go down that one. That's actually a pretty good comp. Yeah. Like they had talent everywhere. Yeah. For the,

yeah. And they were also a super team. Yeah. That was the year they bought Tashara and Zizi. And they had all those guys. Yeah. So, that's actually probably the best

comp for this, for this. Yeah, the 09 Yankees are pretty good. And I don't love that it's a comp where we've you know, lost a series. So, so it's a, it's a real thought to ask. Yeah. Yeah. It's a real thought to ask. But not impossible. Now, and look, again, I mean, if you look at the odds for the series, like even Vegas is saying it is even, but the Dodgers are

minus 130. So donors are minus 112 and the Phillies are minus 104. Okay. So it's like the slightest of favorites. Like there is not even a plus favorite or plus underdog in this. Like they're both minus. So like Vegas is even saying, I don't know. Seriously, right? I don't know.

Someone's going to win. Yeah. You know, it really is. And it's like, and it's rare. You know, you don't.

And I feel like baseball happens the most because of the, the not receding and stuff like that and the way the new format is. But it's really rare that you see who you believe are the two best teams in the league squaring off in the second round of playoffs. Like, that doesn't happen that often. No, no, no. But we're here. We're here.

We're here. We're here. All right. So paint the picture of what the Phillies need to do to win. Like, obviously, we all have heard that, like, you got to get to the bullpen and that, you know, obviously. But like, paint the picture for me. Well, they got to hit the ball. And I'm just kidding.

Don't swing and miss all the time, guys. Well, one of the things in watching the Dodgers the last couple nights is they do a really good job at time of the year of locking in and not chasing big time so that's going to be big for the fillies pitchers to like you know be in obviously you can't just be throwing strikes all the time yeah yeah but don't you'll hit it and don't work out your don't don't don't try to nibble so much it takes you out of the game you know still still attack these guys because they they will bring you they will bring you in the strike zone um you know the i think the main key the main key is it doesn't matter, for me, it doesn't totally matter

what they do against the starters. What matters the most with the starters is getting them out of the game as fast as possible. Now, it was interesting. They let grind, get walks, take pitches, foul it off. A bunch of Bryson's thoughts with the fouling off and stuff. Yes. So that is a key. Now, I thought it was

interesting, you know, even the last two nights, and it shows you the confidence or lack thereof in their bullpen, they let Yamamoto throw 117 pitch. I was shocked to they let him go that long. Snell was getting hit around the seventh,

and then he was over 100 pitches, but Snell has always been a five, six. Yeah, that's his whole thing. Of course. Yeah, of course.

So they are letting their starters go a little bit deeper in games, which is totally different from what they've done in years past, where they can't wait to yank starters at a L. Dave Roberts is the king. I mean, he's like when you think of taking starters out of, of no hitters program, like Dave Roberts is the go-to guy,

you know, Kevin Cash. Yeah. I mean, Kevin Cash. Exactly right. Yeah. I mean, Clayton Kershaw, perfect through seven pulling him.

That was the one where I was like, you're ready for Penn Kershaw? Can't do that, by the, what? You ready for? I'm intrigued. Look, they might not put him on the roster. I would love, I don't know that they will. They, like, come on.

I would love to end Clayton Kershaw's career. I'll tell you that much. I would. I would love to end that guy's career. It's crazy. He pitched against them in 08 and 0.9. Oh, 9, he started a game against them. Yeah.

And then in 08. I think he pitched out of the ball time. Well, you know, the playoff history with great. Oh, yeah. Well, I don't want to speak that into existence because he'll come and throw like three shut out. I will say, though, like Joe pointed out, they did, they did end Albert Poles's career. They ended Adam Waywright's career. Maybe we can end Clayton Gershaw's.

Philly's that. Yeah, in the 22 series. That was the last series. Albert Pools ever played. That was the last series, Adam Wainer ever played, you know? They brought back Poolels. Yeah, Pools was on that team. It was actually good for them that year.

It was solid. Remember? Like hitting the playoffs were a little scared to Albert. Yeah, yeah. yeah no yeah i forgot and now he might be the angel's manager really yeah that was the story yesterday just when they couldn't give him how just when they got done paying him yeah they're gonna pay him contracts in the history of baseball that is rare though like it's rare that you see like the greatest of all time manage you know like that doesn't happen that often well they they're usually bad at it

they're usually bad at it and also they usually have a bunch of money and they don't need to like it's like a grind to do every and you love the sport at all but it's just rare that you see the best of the best of the best manage by the way we have forgotten how good peak bullholes was. Oh, dude, so I was just looking at, uh, because I was thinking about OPSs and like how, like Brandon Marsh's, what is it, 785 OPS this year is like pretty good now, you know, and I was thinking about, and I was like, I'm just going to pick a year. And I was like, I'm going to go to 2003 and just see what the OPS leaders were.

Albert Pulse was second with like an 1130 something OPS. Like obviously bonds was over 1,200. All of the top 10 guys were over 1,000. We had like two guys in baseball over 1,000 this year. Yeah. Trot Nixon had a 975 OPS that year. Jim Edmonds was over a thousand. Jim Edmonds was sick.

I think a borderline Hall of Fame or maybe all of fame. Like Jim Edmund is a great player. But the point is, like, it's just wild to think about how different it was. Yeah. Well, again, I think if those guys are facing a hundred with sweep and six pitches with every starter, those guys not to say they're playing against plumbers. Maybe some other factors. Well, 2003.

I don't know, man. Right in the middle of a particular era, as they like to say. They were also facing Jeff Soup on. And they were aided in some ways, too. Now, Eric Gagne was sick around the time. You, Oregonia was amazing at that time. But Eric Gagne at this point, even like O3 Gagne, just a guy. Well, now, yeah, I know.

It's ridiculous. So, so. It's like the Padre's fourth reliever throws like five miles per faster. It's like, okay. Sure, sure. So I don't know how to get back on track, but oh, how to get back on track. When do we? How to beat the Dodgers.

So getting the starters out is obviously a huge. It's a key, all that good stuff. You know, not to go all like cliche baseball terms, but you got to be able to do the little things as well. Like you get them over, get them in.

I think that stuff just matters so much in the postseason. You know, the Reds really crap down their legs in some in some. The top spot you just mentioned, I mean, bases loaded like, what was it, Hunter,

uh, something on swinging like five balls. Like should have, they should have walked a run and they should have the winning run coming to plate the first night. night one like they had opportunities that they just couldn't take advantage of yeah they're bad team and also there had some bad like bun defense plays and and things like that so you really got to be up on on they're not going to be perfect from that standpoint but like you got

to be better than the dodgers at at those kind of kind of little things you can't be giving up out so you can't be making mistakes like you can't make mistakes on the base paths you can't botch a rundown like all these things that we've seen examples of throughout the year here and there but the Phillies are usually pretty good at like they can't be making those type of mistakes. There's such a low margin for error in these games. We're seeing most of these games are one-round games. Like super good playoffs are back, baby.

Both season baseball. I mean, that game last night, that was thrilling to watch. You know, the, I mean, I wanted the socks to win,

but, you know, Chisham coming around, like, you know, the, the, the Jaron Droping the ball.

Like, those things mattered. Like, that was the game. Like, they could have won the game if Sharon Duran doesn't, and he's a good fielder.

He doesn't drop the ball in left field. Like, so that stuff, it just really, it matters and it sticks. It socks will win the night. I hope so. The socks will win the night.

For no other reason than 608 rather than 6.38, am I right? Sure. Real quick, what a slap in the face to the right? Like, if I'm Alex Cora, I'm like posters of it. Just so you know, if the Yankees win, they are the prime time game. If we win, we're at one o'clock, that's what they think of you. Like, I would just take all this stuff that I could. Like, why wouldn't you?

Sure. He's the best mayor of the sport, by the way. uh i do like i like i like i think he's amazing yeah you see his quote about demurowski i saw i call him an old man yeah it was really funny but it was a cool thing you talked about dembrowski really helped them in 2018 like learn how to manage the playoffs and learn to not think about the next game and really focus on like all the matters is winning this game and we'll figure out the rest tomorrow and all that and he's like i learned that from dave and it's it's changed like it's like how i do it and it's how we do it you know it's interesting well that seems

like they're going to do that with thompson now i mean they've got enough starters going into the bullpen to where they can be super aggressive if they need to get a guy out early so you know i think thompson wise this series don't be afraid to break up the lefties i mean with with forburn harper i he's been one that has gone down with the ship and just being like these this is what got me here i with with vizia out of the pen and like the amount of lefties that they can the actual good lefties they can throw at you like i'm i want thompson to be it feels like if it first two games maybe he doesn't go well at those too late in a game so don't be don't be afraid to put something in the middle there to where they can't just bring in lefty

and and and and thwart any kind of threat that you have so um it's got to be an aggressive thompson series got to be yeah yeah now when i say that also i i'm curious does he let sanchise just eat or it's fascinating i don't know that he does with anyone else i think sanchez is the guy i think he's your ace i think especially you know i think lizardo if he's struggling he could be aggressive. Nola, obviously, Ranger. They will be, they will be aggressive. I think, I think Sanchi's the one guy. And look, I think he's going to be aggressive over. I agree. But I think, I think, I think he's going to let Sanche cook. Yeah. I think he's going to crochet, like, Crochet saying, you're only going to need one. Dude, what, that was one of your, I mean,

you've had many wins. That was a big win for you. You were like, hey guys, Garrett Crochet is the freaking man. And we were like, okay, sure. Jerich is a freaking man. Yeah. And now, Aiden would not be a Philly. True. True. But if the white socks would have just said yes, and we would have Crochet, Wheeler, Sanchez, Ranger, Nola. I mean, Crochet and Wheeler started rotation with Sanji. Are you kidding me? Yeah, Sanji's right there too. It's absolutely absurd. It's crazy. All right. I got like 10 minutes. Let's see the take bag. All right. What else do I have? What else do I have? I'm taking Zoe to see Gabby's playhouse movie today. Who's excited? I never heard of it. No, not. I'm not at that.

point yeah good luck yeah so one of the advantages i think the phillies definitely have in this series is the manager advantage i am not a david rober i think he is among the like the like he's not the worst manager in the game but like if someone who is like a certain level a multiple time world series i think he is average at best do you see what he did last night no i was sleeping okay i figured you were he pulled am a she and in a one two oh i saw about that I saw, yeah, and yeah, so strange. He, he, he, no one panics more in October than Dave Robert. Who's, it's mid count.

I simply don't care that he won a world series last year. In 2020, no one cares about. The Phillies have a, a, a manager advantage in this. I totally agree with this. I think it's a great point. In this series. Fully, fully co-signed that. That is a big one.

One thing that is going to be really, really important for them because it's been a problem for them this year, being exposed by the Blue Jays and some other teams, but the Dodgers, I believe had the Reds pitchers. So this is a thing that's been going around. If people haven't seen this, like people believe that the Dodgers, not just like Hunter Green, had tells on the Reds pitching staff.

Like essentially that the Reds were tipping pitches on that. Correct. And it's very rare to see Hunter Green get lit up the way to get lit up. I mean, it makes sense. Now, it was an absolute hanging slider to Tioska. Yeah, that one was hit out. But as someone that had Hunter Green 10 plus strikeouts,

that was an annoying an annoying watch having them square up everything that he was throwing. So we know Lazzardo has had his issues with it. Nola's had his issues with it. Really good point. So Duran maybe with the Mets series.

There are teams that are really good at it. Seems like the Phillies don't even try. You're right. When was it? Other than Lance McCullors, I don't think I've ever seen the Phillies have a beat on a pitcher like that. Like, it never happens. Just try it. Just try it. So that's going to be really really important is making sure that you're on your

P's and Q's when it comes to not giving up any tells. It's a really good point. You see the one video where the one hitting coach has the iPad out with the Oscar and is like and then Dioch started laughing? Oh my God. If they start laughing before I'm going to lose it. Put me in the ground.

Put me in the ground. I'm going to lose it. Bader's going through a cold trick, 100%. I still trust him in October, but it's one to definitely monitor. you know just some of the things from last night just the overall takeaways you know i thought was amazing me too nola i think for the most part looked good i thought it was a good solid nola outing harper looks amazing awesome very happy about that that's schwarbert took some really ugly hacks just really really ugly hacks and like we chased on some bad pitches which was annoying

i thought trade looked mostly like tray but it was a little shy about running it was hard it was hard to tell yeah he wasn't pushing him but i thought defensively like he looked like he could move pretty well, like, I thought it was okay. Yeah, Stott looked fine. Marsh looked fine. It was good to see all the- Mars got to hit off a lefty. Yeah, yeah.

It was good to see all the extra guys that you need to step up in the series look pretty good last night. I agree with you. Yeah, Auto Camp look good, all that stuff. Again, I don't know what the- I don't know what his role is, but the point is like, that's a point. We made this point last night, though, but like,

the lineup just feels deeper and not just that, the bench feels deeper. Like, I feel more confident if they have to go to AutoCemp, or if it's Kepler or Cassiano's coming off the bench, or if it's, you know, Edmundo Osso's coming off the bench. Like, I just feel better about the depth

and offensive ability overall of this group. Yeah. Now, speaking of old Casti, do you know what his numbers are in the NLDS? I mean, they're probably insane. He had the Brave series.

I mean, that was in NLDS. He had four homers in that series. I think he's, I think he's something like, he's sitting 396 in the, in the NLS. I'm not surprised.

Oh, he was awesome to the else last year, too. He has been, I don't remember 22 if he was great in the D.S. But like 23 and 24, he has been one of their best players in the D. He got a hit in game one. I remember that. 22 was more about his catches. Yeah.

Oh, yeah. It was a catch. Yeah, you're right. You're right. Yeah, it was. Because I don't remember having real big. I mean, he was. He was a absolute liability.

Yeah, he was. Yeah, he was. Yeah, I remember. So I'm so tempted to say stick nasty out there. And just let me. Well, Kepler is just falling off a cliff again. Did hit a home. run over the weekend to tie the game up, which is, which is good to say, which is good to say.

Need people to stop doing this one thing. Because it's going to, it's going to backfire. It's going to backfire. Stop saying show hey has never hit a home run here. Are people saying that? Well, I just like, just a reminder. Oh, the Phillies own show air or whatever. Rain it to hell.

Rain it to hell. Just show, just don't, I guess just don't speak into existence. Don't poke the bear. Yeah, that show has never hit a home run here. Don't poke the bear. Because I can just feel like an eighth inning tank shot. You know the announcers, Brian Anderson can't wait to bring it up. All these guys can't wait to bring up, but he's never hit home run in CBP.

And then he's going to hit one 800 feet. It's going to be the most annoying thing that never happened. It's going to happen. Now, like they're not going to shut Show Hay down. Like, I keep saying, oh, they pitch Showay so well. Strom does a good job against Showing. He does. And look, Sanchez has really good numbers against Shohei.

Like, I get it. Rain it dealt. And Saturday. It's the best player we've ever seen our lives, okay? Yeah, I mean, Bonds, but... Bonn's best hitter. You have to, I mean, the guy, the guy's the, I mean, the guy's the top five talent pitcher

and he's the best hitter in the sport. Like, he's the best player we've ever seen. I agree with you, Bonn's the best hitter ever. Yeah. So Saturday, I don't, I don't know if they're going to do it, but you want to, you want to see a crowd that's already going to be on fire and, and juiced up.

Just saying. Play the Jimmy, walk off on the, big screen no but that's a good idea too or into the night or one of those no no you just shot that down real quick huh he was like not a bad idea it wasn't a good idea right because it's a fun idea wouldn't the crow go crazy if they play into the night and the scoreboard anyway it's not a bad idea thank you okay thank you for that's not where i was going that's fine i'm good i just wanted i just wanted the acknowledgment not the worst idea you ever heard okay are the dodgers gonna play you idiot okay good yeah are the dodgers gonna play the larry bow and davy lobes

but do it if they do Philly might fly the entirety of Philadelphia might fly now. I do still love that Loebts is like a legend for us with the face running. I know and that it's also crazy too that that that's also the Burt Houghton game that that game has the two sides of like we call it the Burt Houton game but then it ended up they lost the bird that it went the other way around. It's just crazy that they have there's two separate things that we talk about but independent of each other. All right.

So here's my vision for Saturday. I'm in. crowds are already juiced up. Maybe the lights get turned off a little bit. And all you hear in the background is, here comes the rooster. You're going right to it. You're not messing around at all.

Okay. So I'm thinking like you, you're not saving it. Uh-uh. Because it feels like you got like, I mean, they have to do it. You got to do it.

You can't waste it. You can't waste the wheeler pop. You can't waste the wheeler pop. It's crap. Because this feels like world series type stuff. Like you almost have to make it to earn it. You got to make the world series. You got to make the world series.

It's a, You burn him right away? I don't know what you want him to do. Look, I'm fully, I think, I think there's no better first piss person this whole run. Like, Zach Wheeler is the top guy. But I get it.

You're right. Like, there's a big series, but also like, I want the pop in the world series. Like, if Zach Wheeler comes out, game one of the world series,

like, I got no words. I'm speak, I just was speechless. Two and five. Speechless. It sounds like a debate. Do you wait?

It's a great. Do you save Wheeler? Do you use in game one? All right, let's get to the most important discussion topic. for the series do you use wheeler in game one uh wheeler's not playing we're talking about first pitch guys i're so underhand toss or maybe left-handed i don't know doesn't matter doesn't matter if if they do it and the the lights turn off and you hear rooster start it'll be the coolest

it'll be the coolest thing they could ever do get a little weepy thinking about my honestly i i honestly think it's the coolest thing they could ever do in that situation like it's with the injury you had the win it for wheels like there's no better thing that's the thing yeah good luck to the Dodgers if that happens. Okay, I like this. I would say for the World Series, but if they do it, I'm in. Yeah, of course it'll be in. So, yeah, so, yeah, um, it's pretty much, pretty much all I got.

It's the, it's, it's, it's this team's moment. It's, it's go time. It's this team's moment. You've been building them for this for four years. You've been through heartbreak. You lost the World Series. You lost in six and seven in the, in the, in the, in the, in the, in the, in the, in the, you got embarrassed last year and you've risen above it.

You came through what happened last year in flying colors. you're the first team, you're the only team in baseball in 95 plus games, last two seasons, it's impressive. Now it's time to finish it. Finish the job and get remembered here as legends forever. That is what is on the line this postseason is these guys not being, you know, we'll always treasure these guys,

we'll always look back. It's not the end of like the run thing. But with all these guys in their prime at the same time, it's their moment. And I just want these guys to be remembered as legends because they deserve to be. And it all starts on Saturday. What I hope is the longest October of our lives.

Your damn last. Yeah, yeah, I was about to say, let's get all the way through October. I'm with you. I, you know, and look, it's a cliche, but it's cliche for a reason. And you don't always have to look, in 08, they didn't end up having to play the best necessarily.

But in this case, to be the best, you got to beat the best. And that's just what it is. You're going up against the World Series champs. You're going up against the other best team in the league. Go get it, man. Go win. Like, go win. That's it.

And I, look, I'm confident. I'm terrified, but I'm confident. That sounds like a podcast. All the time. Yeah, that's it. All right. So if you want to hear more of us, I don't know why,

but you can get more of us. 11 to 12 tomorrow on WIP will be on with, with the midday show with Jillian Hugh. We'll put that in the feed. And then pre and post Saturday. Check us out at Monday, basically every game of the playoffs. I guess Monday.

I guess we won't do pre for everyone. We're doing post. for every single game, pre for the weekend games, I think is what it will be, right? Yep. Okay, so pre-imposed tomorrow. Check us out on WIP, call him. We'll be taking calls before and after the game. Man, we're going to see Showy Otany and Christopher Sanchez battle a game one of the NLDS.

Let's go. All right. We'll be back tomorrow on the radio, Saturday on the radio. Check us out. And obviously, we'll pause in the feed as we embark on hopefully the longest October and short November of our lives. Until then, news for some thoughts.