High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - We Are Monitoring The "Have A Plan At The Plate" Phils

Episode Date: August 20, 2026

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to the Phillies winning their sixth game in a row and wonder if this team has enough juice to catch the Braves in the NL East. Presented by Miller Lite.

Miller Light, the official beer partner of your Philadelphia Phillies, is proud to serve as presenting sponsor of WIP's High Hopes Pod. So whether you're listening to the game, catching off on the latest High Hopes pod or at the ballpark. Remember, it tastes like Miller time, Phillies fans. Celebrate responsibly. This is the High Hopes podcast. High Hope! On the Odyssey app and Sports Radio 94, WIP.

The crowd is singing high hope. I feel a little less alone. Oh, is another edition of the high Ops podcast, sponsored by Miller Light, official partner of the Philadelphia affiliates, tastes like military time Philadelphia, celebrate responsibly. Fritzy, season back on, buddy, six straight, 13 and 5 in August, highest OBP in the sport. All Bryce Harper does is get on base. All you had to do is put someone behind him.

What a crazy thought that was this whole time. Fritzie. It doesn't suck today. How about it? What a thought. A crazy thought. You know what's so funny. It's baseball.

It really is. What a sport. What a sport. It's so long. You feel like you're going through three different seasons and one. It feels longer than it used to. I feel like we used to be more chill about it. And now I feel like we have like eight blowups this season and we end up right kind of

where we started. And everyone. and everyone's so definitive one way or the other. Can't win the World Series, Jack. Did you know that? I've heard 10,000 times on WIP that they literally don't. It's a 0% chance. So that's good to know.

Zero percent chance, but also, you know, they can do it. Like it's no matter. What are we talking about here? Of course. It's just, it's the, obviously the old adage is and the meme on Twitter is the cocky distraught meter. And I just, I don't think that there is a team that, more resembles that nature and a fan base that resembles that nature than the modern day Phillies fan. And I would say that we are amplifiers of that, James.

I think that we are. Yeah, I would say that's fair. Yeah, we play into that. While we, I believe, talk about the team in a more positive and, and I believe smart way, we also can get wrapped up in the down times. And the down times suck. And it was one week ago, legitimately, one week ago where I said

they were cooked, they were done, they're not coming back from this, they're running out of gas, this era's over, and a week later it is, I don't know, to have a plan at the plate fills might be a problem. All it took, one meeting, who did thong it? Just tell the guys to have a plan and they're like, oh, wow, oh my goodness,

we're last in the league in OPP. You mean dead last? That's bad. We should probably do better at that. We're going to be better. Let's be the best in the league in it. Like, what, what, what is going on five years in this thing, Jack? So a couple thoughts. One, one, where is that meeting in May?

That's what I'm saying, dude. That's what I'm saying. This is February. Years ago, exactly. Yes, years ago. Also, also, maybe let's have a couple more meetings. Like, hey. It seems like the meetings work for these guys.

Groundballs to the shortstop or to the right of the shortstop. Don't go to third days. Don't do it. Don't go to third. Bryce, hey, ball in the outfield, uh-uh, stay put, stay put. So maybe a little bass running class. That'd be also a nice little thing to work into the mix a little bit. You know, L.A., our good friend Larry Anderson, has brought up this concept a lot.

Feels like this year more than most. But he thinks, and I am beginning to agree with him, that because me, you, I think, our listeners, very pro-analytics, very pro, you know, what they can bring to a team. And really, I like the acquisition nature of it, like looking at the under the radar things as to why they should go get this guy. I think that stuff's all good. I just don't understand why it can't be analytics good, but play the game the right way. Of course. And, and, and LA is not the idea that there needs to be a baseball 101 class all throughout the minor leagues and in the, in spring training,

just reteaching the game at a very basic level. I think that there needs, I think there can be a beautiful marriage of, of the things that matter now and the things that have mattered for 150 years with baseball, that you can have a nice little mix of it all. So, yes,

the have a plan to play fills are a problem. The meetings continue to work. And they've ripped off six straight end. And, I mean, they swept the twins. The twins just swept the break. So that makes me feel a little bit better about, you know, that series up there.

And that Marlins team, dude, I'm really impressed by them. I'm really impressed by that team. I think that they're going to be with, with Peter Bendix or whatever, is their president of baseball ops. They're frisky. They got the contact guys at the top and Edwards and Otto Lopez. And they got some, they got some hackers. Another conine there hacking for the Marlins. It's like, take me back.

Why don't you? I know. So I'm really impressed with that series or that sweep against the Marlins. I think they're a frisky team. I thought that they were going to come back and win every single night. And the Phillies took care of business. And that was good to say. Yeah, I totally agree.

And look, a lot of people bring up the numbers against better teams and that's all there and all true. I'm not going to say that because they swept the Marlins and twins. Everything's fine. But to your point, I think the Marlins and Twins are both competitive franchises, particularly the Marlins right now. We're a competitive team that are still fighting for a playoff spot, have something to play for, and the Phillies handle business.

So I do think it's a good thing to see. And, you know, obviously we need to see. They've got a tough stretch coming up. I mean, we know that we've talked about that series at the beginning of September in Arizona. But the real key, I mean, Jack, we wake up this morning. They're only four and a half games back in division somehow. They're two up on the Padres, three up on the Diamondbacks.

I believe it's something like that. I mean, they're starting to cement themselves as, again, not a lock in that wild guard spot, but they're looking much better as that, that mean, you know, after the Cubs, that next wildcard spot.

But they're in it in the division all of a sudden. I mean, they're only four and a half games back at the Braves. They've gained like four or five games this week with the way the Braves have played versus the way the Phillies have. And they have seven games left against the Braves, like technically in a way, the destiny's in their hands,

despite the deficit. How real do you think the division thing is? And again, up and down, the Braves are going down with the Phillies are growing up. And I'm sure it could level out. But where you're at on the, a division chase that we thought was fully of.

A quick side note, destiny cannot be in your hands because it's destiny. Anyway, control your own destiny. You can't control destiny. That's the point of destiny. True, yes,

but you know the phrasing, fritzy, you know, just like the semantics, you know. Just like the definition of insanity is not actually what people say. Technically, yes.

Not to steal buzzes bit, but that is a staple in the buzz bit. You control your own fate. How about, that you like that more because fate can be changed theoretically you do the best you can i think is what i would do so anyway anyway anyway anyway i wrote a book just kidding i barely did anyway but yeah no i i had 100 percent given up on the division um and if you go back to like mid-april i think it was i think i think i think april 25th or 26th the phillies have a better run differential and record

than the Braves. Wow. So that's like a pretty good stretch of baseball, where that they have, they have been the better team for all intents and purposes. Been the better team. And the Braves got up to that super, super hot start.

And obviously that has helped them here. But yeah, I mean, there are four and a half games out. They're four games back from the Cubs. I got to really grind some, some Cubs tape. You know,

I don't have a good sense of that team because when they played the Phillies, they were. Yeah, they were white hot. Yeah. And then they really went to the toilet after that. And then they've heated up a bit again. And yeah, they're a weird team, man.

I do hope the PCA wins MVP. I really hope he wins MVP. I don't need another. He's got a real, I mean, look, Otis, it's not pitching. I think he's got as good of a chance as anyone has to kind of sneak in and take it from Otani this year. And PCA certainly has had a worthy season. And the last month, he's been, you know, like the best player alive. Every time I turn around, he's hitting a home run.

It's crazy. And Shoha has five, right? Five MVP's. four or five. Yeah. Last year, I think was his fifth. Yeah,

I think so. So Bonds has seven. Bonds has seven. Him taking out Bonds would definitely be cool. I just... Well, again, it was crazy until Bonds.

That's like the 2000s, our whole lives. Three was the max. It was three for Schmidt and Beren, Campan Allen, all these guys, and that was it. No one of one more than three.

And then all of a sudden, it just pops off. I will give baseball credit, though, because people always complain about like, oh, why does Tom Brady only have four MVP? So LeBron only has four Mbapes or whatever. The bet, Michael Jordan,

And the best player should win in every year. Baseball is the only sport that actually does that. The only one that actually gives it to the best player every year. Well, and I think war has really simplified MVP arguments as well. And it has also people complain about war and the stats and stuff. And then you go back and look some of these horrible voting from like the 90s and 80s. And it's like, well, I would rather have it this way. Like Movonne over Mani that year, which was an absolute like atrocity of a vote.

Yes. Yes. Yes. I think some of your closer won it when, when one of these. Oh yeah, there have been a few. I mean, our guy, Bedrock, Steve Bidrogeon in 87. We won Sai Young. I mean, Mark Davis, I believe, one MEP in 89 or something like that, or Sye Young for sure. That's Siam. Yeah. Oh, there have been a few. Like, Mark Davis won a Sion, Bidrogeon, won a Sion, like just nonsense. Do you remember the Siong that broke people? Like, it was, it was. Oh, you talk about the Felix with the winds?

You talk about that whole thing? Felix versus Bartolo Colon. Oh, yeah, buddy. How could you forget? It was a real, that was a real turning point. It was a real turning point in baseball discourse. And then I think DeGrom officially broke it when he won Salyong with less than 10 wins. Was it eight wins or something. I think it was, yeah. I do, I know we're getting sidetracked here. I have, I have, Spike doesn't want DeGron to make the Hall of Fame and it makes me infuriated.

The Grom is a, DeGrom is a Hall of Famer. I don't care about his wins. He's a, he is for a period there, three years. He was the best pitcher of him. ever seen. In the discussion, you're too young for Pedro in 99. It's a shame. Well, I've watched enough tape from Pedro,

so I do fully appreciate Pedro. That's the best picture I ever saw in my life, Pedro. Really? Really? For just one year. If we're talking like just a moment a year, I think Pedro, 99, 2000, whatever you want to say? Like right there, like Pedro, that was the best I ever saw.

Like that when he came in against the Indian, at the time, the Indians and other guardians now, but they were the, when he came in and they were the Indians at the time, when he did Tucker give shake. his head at me. I'm sorry. That's what they were. When he came in through six and two-thirds, perfect relief in that game, that was watching that game.

The most I've ever felt like a team had no chance against a pitcher in my life. That's including perfect games I've watched, whatever. Like, Pedro was so dominant in that playoff game. Like, I've never seen anything like it. Yeah. Well, I mean,

the start of the 99 all-star game is still one of the coolest things of all time. Unbelievable. Yeah, agree. And the, man, we are just so sidetracked. but like Ted Williams coming out and doing the whole tour around. How cool is that? Yeah. And did you watch a Ted Williams thing?

I haven't gotten. I'm going to watch it. Like I've got it bookmarked for the moment. I get a nice opportunity to sit down with it. It looks super cool. Yeah, I haven't had the time either. But the two and a half minute clip he put out was awesome.

I watched that. Yeah. Yeah, that was really cool. And it's just so funny how he is basically talking about launch angle. Like he's someone in the launch angle in the 40s. Yeah. And it's like,

that kind of makes sense. All here, you want to meet it here, rather than here. Gee Willickers, what a crazy concept. Golly, gee. Yes. So, but yeah, no. Pedro, Pete Verlander, Kirschaw, obviously, Halliday and 10,

the random Cliff Lee runs that we would have, but obviously the most prolonged. Clemens had some moments back when I was a kid. You were, yeah. So, well, I was a, I was a Clemens over Pedro guy. And then eventually it ended up being a both guy. It is funny. Is Randy Johnson behind those guys?

Or is it, is it just those three? Like, those three, everyone just like, they were the best. So in the Maddox, I think you have to admit Maddox in that group, too. I know it's different. But I know, I know. But, dude, he was amazing. He was, he was so great. He went like four three at Young.

He was not to mention the best fielding pitcher of a generation on top of all that. Maddox was, Maddox was pretty great, man. I would include Maddox. I think those are the four of that time that I would say were that the four rose above. It is Mount Rushmore week on the afternoon. It sure is, buddy. What is your- Did people get mad that I put LeBron on my overall Mount Rushmore for the 50 years?

I thought that was a hilarious thing to do. You're a bad guy. Come on. He chose us. LeBron deserves to be on it. It's LeBron James. He's the most famous athlete never playing the city. Put him on the Mount Rushmore.

We could have a Mount Rushmore without LeBron on it when he's ours? I thought it was a great take by me. What is the mouth? So you guys might appreciate the takesman show. I didn't see. I didn't, I didn't know that you did that. I didn't know that you did that.

I don't handle the results. Who is on the 90s Mount Rushmore pitching? 90s Mount Rushmore pitching. Well, I mean, we kind of did some of it just now. I mean, Clemens, Pedro, Brandon Johnson. Yeah. Yeah.

And then Maddox. I think that's the Mount Rushmore. Because no one, no one Ryan was still pitching into the 90s, but like 1990 was like really the last great. you Ryan had. And like, Glaven and Smolts aren't on a level of Maddox.

They're just not Maddox. Yeah, exactly. Exactly. It's probably those four. I think it is. Yeah. It's probably those four. Yeah.

And now, yeah, it's good, look at it. That's a fun stuff. Shout out to Mount Rushmore. We get his fun. I love the Mount Rushmore's.

I really do. Thank you. Thank you. All right. So the Phil's are back. Yes. And, and the series is frisky.

They got 10 hits in each game, which was very encouraging. They didn't, they didn't reach the six. six run threshmark that they had been on. They'd been on a good run there. Thresher mark, you should say. Oh, listen, we'll get some Thresher stock later.

And I thought that, I thought that last night, I thought last night being able to put together eight hits against Alcantra, they did score only three runs. And, you know, whatever. Against Alcantra. They got four total. You're talking about, yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah.

But against Alcantra, they got three, eight hits. Like, that's, seeing them put up offensive numbers against kind of scrub pitchers or a bullpen game for the Marlins or whoever the twins threw out over the weekend. It's okay, but it doesn't make you feel that much different about the postseason or having them being fully bought into this thing. Like, they went out yesterday and Alcantra throws six, seven shutout or one run and they have three hits and one. I know. And one's a home run. I don't think that there would be this.

I think there would be a talk today of, yeah, they did it against scrub pitchers, but against one of the best. they went back to their old approach. I thought they did a pretty good job of staying within the approach and being okay collecting base hits and passing the baton and still work in their walks when they could. And I just, the more traffic you can have on the base paths, the better it's going to end up for you.

You know, that's how you put up crooked numbers. It's how you get to the point where you're not relying on home runs to score runs and you can just pop a base hit. Like October's going to come down to. It's not about the team getting hot. It's not about, well, it is in a sense about the team getting hot. It's not about the lineup all clicking at the same time.

I hear people say that all the time. It's a myth. A lineup is never clicking at the same time. It's not possible. Like, you can have got, but it's going to come down to guys having moments. Yep, exactly. At key times. And just the more traffic you can get on the base paths, the better, the more opportunities

you're going to have to score runs. And it's why the last. couple of years, they faltered in October. It's because it just felt like they were just waiting for Schwabber to hit a home run or Harper to have a moment. And that's just, it's not going to happen. Like, you have to be able to do other things besides hit home runs to win a world series. Home runs are important. I want that to be clear. Very pro home run. But it cannot be the entire offense. And I hope that this is something that they are going to say committed to and at least against a really good starter last night. O'Connor's been great since July 1.

at 1.80 or in that time frame. I thought they did a good job, even though I didn't score like 10 off of them. Yeah, I mean, that's going to be the key because pitching is going to be better in the playoffs. Like the Dodgers have better pitching than the twins. You know, the bullpins are going to be better. And not just that, the pitchers are going to be more locked in.

Every single pitch is going to be their best stuff, is going to be an intentional pitch. So the key is going to be that, I think to your point, Jack, it's important now that they continue to have success with this and continue to get this positive reinforcement. So when it gets tougher and when it's two or three or four runs a game as opposed to five or six or seven or whatever, that they're still saying this still works, even though it's not working to the same level in the regular season.

Like, this works. We have to continue to do this and not get in those spots where they're swinging away and swinging on their heels. And all of a sudden everyone wants that moment. Like they've talked about it. I mean, they've told us in as many words. Hey, we, you know, sometimes we just want to go up and we want to be the one to hit the home run in that place and see everyone go crazy. Like, they have to, they have to get all that out of their head and fully commit to this and not let the situation, the pressure, the better pitching make them revert back to what they've been, the majority of their time to get.

And when you say all that, the first thing that comes to my mind is that the single most important person that has to stay within himself is Bryce. And if he is going to be content taking his walks, he's going to be content passing the baton. and not expanded the strike zone, searching for a moment. I think that is something that can be infectious to an entire team. And they talked when the trade happened for a rise about how selfless price was going back to right field. And if he can move, we can move. Well, if he can walk, they can walk.

And if he is fine, taking his walks and letting others eat, letting Louisa Rice eat, letting Alec Boehm, yeah, stutter and trusting his teammates, I think that that is how you, that is how you ultimately win. That's how winning's done. That's how winning is done. You know, now the next step would be getting him in the lead off spot because if he's going to walk this much, I certainly would, like it feels like the first two makeouts

and Shorebur and Turner and then it's like the rally starts with a harper walk-out. To our rally, it's unbelievable, right? You're really right. That has been the formula. At least the last couple of series, that has been the formula. And it is wild. I mean, it is hard to separate that, because we've been dealing with all year, but like the it almost feels like Bryce every time he walks like wants to look up at

Dombrowski and just be like, I told you. Freaking told you man. The moment you get a guy behind me, look what can happen. Like it has been so just exactly what, what they've, you know,

we've all hoped to see the moment they get a guy behind. It's it. What a shock, man. What a crazy thing this is. Isn't that amazing? I know. I know.

I know. I would like him to bad lead off. I understand. Honestly, it would, it would, it's not going to happen. but it would make a lot of sense

with the way he's bidding right now. Well, and especially because, I mean, we might need to start monitoring the Schwabber being a Harper merchant because him batting leadoff and Harper batting third, Schwerber's OPS is 766 with seven home runs

and a 414 slugging percentage. No, home runs are to the point. The home run, they need home runs. He's the guy for the homrons, you know. When he's batting second, when he's batting second, he's got a 942 OPS. So the 576-selecting percentage.

Wow. That is a massive. And look, yeah, I know, not like a, you know, be all end all numbers wise. But that is, that is pretty, pretty dramatic there. So, yeah, look, they need to find the most, the way that they can maximize these guys the most, you know. And obviously having someone bind Harper has been a clear, a clear thing that has made a major difference. And to your point, you're right. I think as soon as Harper abandons it, it almost gives everyone else the okay to

abandoned it too. You know? He can't abandon ship. You got to, you got to stay with it. Drink up, baby. Fantasy Football Happy Hour is here to get you wins and have some laughs. Matthew Berry here and my podcast, Fantasy Football Happy Hour, has the sleepers bus and starts it advice you need to win your league. We're diving into the tape. We're crunching the numbers to bring you sleepers bus weekly starts sit advice, whether you're defending a title or desperately avoiding last place. I've got you covered every single weekday. The bar is open. It's Fantasy Football Happy Hour with Matthew Berry, wherever you get your podcast. Did you know that one in three people suffer from nausea?

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Go to reliefband.com and use promo code James. That's J-A-M-E-S for 20% off. promo code James. Reliefband.com, promo code James. All right, let's get to what I think was the point. player of the night yesterday and is really, you know, in the, in the midst of, we'll get to, you know, some struggles for Wheeler over the recent times. And, you know, Sanche has been good, but not lights out. Well, Zarano obviously has been great. But seven innings, one run,

eight strikeouts, no walks, five hits. I mean, Aaron Nolan in his last five starts, I believe, 33 strikeouts, two, six OERA, 33 strikeouts in 27 in 18s. I mean, I, I, I, I, am getting to the point where I'm not going to say I fully trust Aaron Nola, but I go into these starts now expecting like five or six innings, three runs or less and the potential for better, but I expect a home run to be popped at some point. It was last night. But I really, I can say for the last few starts, it's the first time all year. I don't go in expecting dread with Aaron Nola. I'm really getting at that point where I don't expect him to be a disaster anymore. And that's a major step forward. One game for the rest of your life.

Who are you giving the ball to right now? Nola or Wheeler. One game. Gun to your head. Today. The game is today, right? And they both rested. It's Wheeler, but I get it.

I'm going, NOLS. When the chips are down, I'm just going to trust that Zach will elevate. But look, it's, it's a question. Listen,

he's making a case to be the game two started behind, the Lizarro. Just like we predicted. Sanchi game three, Wheeler game four. Maybe Wheeler gets an extra start. We'll see.

Yeah, not a bad way to close out of rotation. So, so yeah, Noah's been like really impressed. Really good. Really impressed. You want to know what the most impressive thing to me was,

is that right about the fifth inning yesterday, oh, he started missing some spots. He did. He started missing the spots just a little bit. And you know it didn't happen. They didn't blast them into the third row. That's how you can always stop.

starting to have a little bit of an uptick. Like he, there was a, a, he hung a curveball and missed a spot by about a foot and the guy hit it. And his initial reaction was like, oh, God. And then it was like, hey, it just sort of died up there. We're fine. We're fine. So, yeah, I think the most impressive thing for him, like, people will say, you know,

he's cut the ball down, cut the ball down, cut the ball down. I actually don't think that's the case. I think that he is just commanding his stuff better, even when he goes up in the zone. and he's actually able to, especially against lefties, he can actually go glove side with that little two seamer in, which I feel he hasn't had that pitch in forever. So he's actually able to command that pitch. And then if he's able to get that,

then everything works just better off of it. I also really appreciate the way that Stubsy was setting up for NOLI yesterday. It was very little league in high school. I totally agree with you, dude. I totally agree with you. He was putting the glove on the ground to really emphasize, stay on top of the baseball. And I think that that little mental trick is something that I do believe works for pitchers.

Like, again, not comparing myself to a major leaguer in any way. You would never. Would never. But like when I used to throw my cutter before I lost it in college and everyone still talks about it. Oh, yeah. If you go up there, people just still talk about it. Remember when Fritz had the cutter? I don't know what happened.

It's the biggest, one of the biggest mysteries in Bloomsburg history is, is where my cutter go. I lost in the Keystone light. That's one Miller light guy. I'm a Miller light guy. If I was drinking Miller light, I wouldn't have lost my cutter. You're damn right, buddy.

So I used to just think started a guy's shoulder. And if I started at the guy's shoulder, even if I miss my spot, at least it's going to be in a good area. So if you can trick your brain into just thinking about areas rather than like hitting the glove, I think that's something that painters talked about as well. So yeah.

So, but, but he just has really, really good command right now. Against left, he's going a lot of change up in curveballs and then going fastballs when needed, but it's a lot of off speed first. But overall, I don't think he's doing anything like pitching backwards, as they say. I don't think he's doing anything like revolutionary. I think he just has found better command of all of his pitches and it's working for him. And, you know, velocity has ticked up a little bit. His stuff doesn't look like it's dying when it's getting to the plate.

It looks like he's getting through the zone rather than to the zone. And yeah, I mean, for as much as, you can trust the 2026 version of Aeronola, that's about where I'm at. Yeah, I trust him enough. Dude, again, I am going into these starts, like not expecting to lose the game because Aaron Nolan. That is a major step forward.

Let's get to the Wheeler thing because we were joking and all that. But I do, I, I, I, uh, Ritchie asked me about in the air days, like, are you all concerned about the Wheeler thing? And it's my gut instinct is absolutely not. Like we've seen Wheeler go through these dead arm periods and all that. And I still lean that way. But when you do take into account,

he didn't have his normal lead into the season. He didn't have the offseason he normally has. Didn't have the spring training he normally has because obviously the thoracic thing and all that. Are you at all concerned to see him like starting to sputter a bit? Or does this just feel like a classic? You know, we've gone through these. We've gotten him blows before and he's been okay in the playoffs and whatnot.

Where do you come down on concern level with the Wheeler, you know, lull? A smidge, a smidge. The good part was at least for four innings the other night. He looked like Zach Wheeler. And, you know, I mean, two months ago, it looked like Aaron Nolo's stuff was dying. And then all of a sudden there's been a little bit of an uptick recently. So, you know, I think there's a decent chance of that. But as it stands right here, right now, like if I was just doing today, yes, I would be concerned.

Because it feels like when he gets to that 80 pitchmark, the stuff just falls off cliff. I mean, it happened in the Cardinals game where he was really, really good. And we were like, okay, Wheeler's back. and then that fifth inning hit and it just blew up on him you know this start against the marlins it was like okay 97 good back but he so walked four guys and that fifth inning he allowed the run had Xavier edwards not got thrown out at second base who knows how long that inning goes on for like he got totally bailed out by that so uh i it could be dead arm i think dead arm is the better scenario here because fatigue there's nothing you can really do about it unless you can skip a turn in the rotation.

You can phantom I element. You can go to a six-man rotation. I don't know. But I think that's part of the reason why they signed Nestor Cortez yesterday. Yeah, that's what I was going to be my next thing. I think it's about, I think it's about Wheeler and Sanchez. Wheeler more than Sanchez, but, you know, Sanchez, the other night, it was, it was, what, eight hits and traffic in every base pat, and every inning.

and walks and the overall numbers at the end of the day looked fine. But in watching it, you certainly didn't feel fine. And you just keep waiting for, you know, let's say a guy puts one in play with the basis loader of runners on first and second. And just instead of it falling to the second basement, it just, you know, goes over his head, you know? Like a Luis Arias hit, which seems to, has anyone ever hit the ball just past a fielder's glove more often than Louise Rice? It's wild.

It's amazing. He's got the slowest bat in baseball. and it has to be the lowest acts of below. It's unbelievable. Even that homery issue. I know, dude. I feel the same way. I was like, well, you kind of thought you got that one.

I'm waiting for it to just be caught by the right fielder. But he was confident. He knew that was gone. So it was going to see. It barely got out. Even so. And you could tell he whipped his bat through the zone about as hard as he possibly could on that one. That was like a he whipped it, man.

And it just hung up there. He kind of just got out. Yeah. That's our guy, though. That's our guy. So, yeah, I mean, if the season ended today and he needed him to start a playoff game tomorrow, yeah, I would be concerned. But I'll just give him the benefit of the doubt up until the end of the season. And, I mean, we saw what his adrenaline was like when he first came back from the injury and he was back being Zach Wheeler.

So I'm sure when the adrenaline starts pumping again, he'll be fine. But definitely as of right now, he is, he is concerning. All right. The Nestor thing, because you brought it up. Look, you and I both love Nestor on the Yankees. Nestor guys. Super fun guy to watch too. You know, does the, remind me of a range. Yeah, does the hang in, like keep that leg in the air thing and all, he's got a lot of fun stuff. Also was obviously available on the street and is not

pitch much recently. What do you make at the Nestor thing? And, and not just that I think you kind mentioned that you make of it that, that it potentially to give Wheeler or Sanchez some extra time or a six start or whatever they're going to do. What do you also make of the potential for Nestor to actually compete it to major league levels though? Well, so I wonder. if last year a lot of his struggles were he was pitching through an injury. I mean, that could be a factor because he had shoulder surgery in October and he's just recovering now. I think that's the main, I think he would have gotten signed. I mean, dude, uh, freaking, what's his face? What's his face? The, uh, the guy who was on the pod of Chris Paddock. Oh, yeah, Chris. Yeah. He still gets

signed every year. It's unbelievable. So I think Nestor would have gotten signed and hey, I mean, the Brewers are a very smart pitching organization. And last year, they got him back in the Devin Williams trade as a part of that. So I like that. Jack, I like what you're doing here. I can talk myself. Yeah, I like that a lot. The Brewers wanted him.

I'm in. Great call. Brewers wanted him. Maybe he had a shoulder problem. And that's why he did not live up to the potential with him. Now, in 2024, he also allowed one of the biggest home runs in postseason history as Freddie Freeman hit a walk-off home run in a World Series against him. But he also should not be pitching in relief.

Whatever. Whatever. Whatever. So, yeah, he's available now only because of the shoulder injury. We'll see. I think it is all about, I think he's going to start in Clearwater and then he's going to work his way up. I mean, they signed to a major league deal. So it shows how serious they are.

Then they want him to be up here. Obviously, they went to the bullpens. Seems like they went pretty well. And worst case scenario is, hey, maybe you can be a long man, given that your starters are giving you five innings. most nights having someone that can, you know, give them some length out there. If things don't go well with one of the starters is also important because they don't really have that. They don't have someone.

They don't. Like it's Ben Lazar, but he's not out there. And sugar, I guess will do it. But like sugar is a one inning guy. They don't, they don't have it. You were right to say that, Jack. Like, they don't have a guy. I can give him three innings if they need it.

They just don't. Yeah. So maybe that's Nestor. But, yeah, it's, it's not earth shattering. but it's it's this year's version of Walker Bueller. All right. One more thing I want to get to before the bag and obviously can add anything else. And we've talked a lot about Bowman's side on the last pod and all that.

But I think one guy who we've not kind of given enough credit to and had another big hit, but is since really the last month plus has played much better baseball, we had on Justin Crawford and trusting him adding into a stretch run and a playoffs where, you know, we know Derek Hill can get in there and they'll be simply tuning and whatnot. but Justin Crawford, the numbers have been out there like 320 or something over the last month. He's hitting better. He's been better. I feel like we've talked a lot about everyone else in the lineup and the surges and whatnot.

We've not really talked much about Crawford. Well, that's because it never looks like the most ethical base hits, you know? I agree. I know it slides them through in infield in. He's going to put it past him somehow. Yeah. I mean, I'm almost always fine with Crawford. I've been fond of Crawford since, you know, many.

He went through that period where he really struggled, which was fine. Dude, he's at the bottom of the lineup. He's hitting pretty well right now. He has sparked some rallies, which is good. He, I think he is getting better out there in center field. It's definitely not crisp. But again, he's a rookie plan at the big league level for the first time. He had never played up here before.

And at this point in the season, he's hitting over 270. I believe we said before the year, we would take it. We did. We take 270 from Justin Crawford. 27280. Looks like we're going to end up right around 270, 280, which is really good. And you don't need to play a Hill every day. You know, Hill has his role.

He plays against lefties. That's fine. But yeah, I mean, I don't know if he's ever going to be a star. I don't know if he's ever going to be even an all-star, but Justin Crawford is going to be a solid big league player. The question is, can he stay in center field? because that bat, that profile on the corners is just not that valuable. It's just not.

Yeah, no, it's not. Unless you have a center field or it's a ton of run, essentially. Yeah, unless you're swapping them. And he's still one of the slowest fast guys I've seen. It's unbelievable. It is unbelievable. He's just too long levered. He's like, he has that, the plate, his swing is long.

So there's some recoil there. That's why he doesn't beat out ground balls. And then with stealing second base, like every millisecond counts. And he just takes a little. little while to get going. When he gets going, he's super, super fast. It's just the, I don't know if he is quick twitch. Yeah. Yeah. No, I think it's a really good point. And then hopefully he can get better at getting jumps and all that type of stuff with practice and opportunity and all that. But I agree with you. It is surprising that he has not had as much as much thrilling success running as, as we had

expected or hope for. Speaking of Ryan, though, how about our guy, Kyle? He knew he was safe. He had the moment yesterday. He's like, point in the dug out. He's like, I beat that wild. That was In the moment, I'm like, well, he's cugged. What a slide. Kyle, base running Kyle. Who to dunk it? Yeah, when he slides, it looks like it hurts. Dude, he looked like he just like threw his body forward. Yeah, it's like, man.

Baseball 101. Teach his guys out of slide. Used to be something we all knew how to do. All right. Take bag in a second. Shout out to Jack Stakes. Today show is sponsored by Miller Light. And Jack's Stakes with two X's on Wharton Street.

Love Wharton Street. Live very close. Check out Jack Steaks. for every Phillies game and enjoy $3 Miller-like drafts and bottles along with their premier ribby cheese steaks and gourmet cutlet sandwiches. Miller lights for Phil's win celebrate responsibly.

Let's bag it up. All righty. All right. Some things I do want to highlight. Trey's defense ever since July has been solid. I mean, he's trying to make some good plays out there. I'm using Stott's glove,

maybe something that kind of helps them out a little bit. but at least he gets at least he looks like he's back to last year tray out there he's never going to win a gold glove he's never going to be j-roll he's never going to have the strongest arm he's never going to have the quickest release but he just can't be a a huge issue out there and he was turning into a huge issue in july and he is he's figured it out seemingly so uh again they're not going to move him off shortstop but do they have to so this stretch finishing out the season. The way he is is probably going to lead to him playing shortstop again next year because there's seven years less on that deal. And I don't think that four years in they want to move him

off of that spot just yet. I think they know eventually they will, but I'm just preparing you for you're going to yell about it all the off season that, hey, he should be playing left field. I agree. He's not going to until they feel like it is like the last opportunity or like the last chance to do it. That's when they're going to do it. I fully agree. Fully agree. Yes. Don't like it. fully agree. Yeah. I mean, maybe when Spangler's up here or Aidan and it's a while away big dog for Spang's like like you know, I don't know. Oh, look at you. Three years. Three years. We do three years. Three years. I mean, even that's like, you know. That was 21 at the baners is super duber young man. Yeah. That'd be really young.

That'd be awesome. Anyway, so, so that was my trie thought. And just I'm so, I'm so happy. that Stott is doing this. I'm really, really happy that he is turning into a solid, high level big leagher. And some of the stats out there about this run that he's been on has been really, really funny.

It's a shame that his 10-game hitting streak came to an end yesterday. I know, and the on-base streak. He lost it all yesterday. It was a shame. 19 or 20 games in a row on base. Tragic. It's just so funny,

you know, watching him play third. And I think we've gotten to a point with Bohn where, yeah, he's beyond serviceable over there. to hey pretty good they know and then you watch stock play third it's oh oh wait so boom j i think what we what we were mistaken with with boom was that he made routine plays look much harder than they were and uh it was like wow look at it make that play it was like stop makes that play with

his eyes closed and goes like two feet to the side the bone can't get you know well and it was a play yesterday where he charged a little bit and just i don't know if the ball touched stott's glove it was out so quickly. It was just like a, it was perfect. Oh, it's, what a joy. What a joy. And again, Stats turn around real. Well, also it kind of around not. Yeah, but I think that's it. It also comes in and we've had so many things with like the jerking around the Scott Kingery thing or this, that like asking him to play too many positions. Bryson Stott's offensive streak has coordinated with him being moved to third base and playing a brand new position. They only played 12 times ever. So I think he's a lot more of the person than the situation in these cases.

Ah, the old kangery. The old kangery debates. What a time. What a time. What a time. And I continue to be impressed with Alex McFarland. Continue to can't believe that he was in Reading until mid-July. I know he allowed a run.

And I know he walked the first batter, but the stuff is the stuff. And I think that I think he's going to help this team down the stretch run. I really do. I really do. I don't know if he's going to be taking down the eighth inning in a one-run game in a postseason series. But, you know, it's kind of going to end up turning into him or Kirkering. And who can kind of step up this next month and a half and tell you what, I would love if he did. Would certainly love if he did.

I certainly would trust someone I've never seen in the playoffs over Gergering. So, you know, as sad as that is. Come on, Kirk. I mean, he had a pretty good outing the other day. Sure. He let her run. He let her run. Anyway.

Well, John then bowling, getting back in the 8th and getting it done, a little scary, but got the out to need to. He's scaring me a little bit. They, at the end of the day, and again, they can win the World Series. But my guess, this will be one of those years where at the end of the day, if they don't, I don't think the offense will be as bigger reason as the bullpen if I had to bet. I agree. I think the, the bullpen is the biggest thing that I feel very confident will falter in the post. Exactly.

And I am worried about the top two in the rotation being one of the other issues. Which is, and that, that would be a death now. I mean, dude, without those guys. If they, if they rake in October this year. Oh, and those guys say, can you imagine. I don't, I don't, I don't want to do that. I'd rather, I'd rather the hitting just think. Honestly, I don't, I don't think I can flip it around and do that.

That's just too soul crushing. I love pitching about the offense, you know, it's such a, if you feel so good, you know, complaining about the offense. If the starting pitching lets us down, oh, it would, it would throw, do the, the conversations off. Our whole identity would be, you know, yeah, I know. I know. The conversations this offseat is of, of why didn't.

Maddenly start Nola over Wheeler would be... Oh, my God. Oh, come on. Feed me it. Don't let that happen. Why didn't Zeus start game one? Did they watch him? I can just...

As of today. Maybe start Zeus game one. You can see it now, can't you? You can see it now. Okay, so not a full minor league minute, but two quick things. One, Will Gasparino is the baby boy. He is having an unbelievable start for the Threshers.

He hit a home run two days ago. He was two for four. for yesterday. He is, he's a treat. He's a treat. He's a tool. Exciting. Yeah. Home runs. Not a home run guy though, right? That was a little surprising. Or you think he's got the pop. Oh, no. He's got, he's got. No, he's the hard. He has the Yeah, it's a hard. Yes. Yes. Like, well, he had 20 home runs last year. Oh, did he? Okay. All right. All right. Good. Like our goat, Bogan pole hit six, you know. So all right. Look at this. Boganpool is off projection. Gasperino's real deal. Could be. I love it. I love it. I love it.

But the real reason why we got to call it. Hit her factory. Okay, go ahead. We got to call the emergency minor league minute is not Reese Moroni hitting 107 mile an hour ground ball right at someone because he hits the ball really hard. If we did emergency minor league minute because of a hundred and seven mile per hour ground ball, that would actually be pretty sad. That would be like we've missed the point here.

About our Rhode Island ninth round shortstop that could project it being Edmond Sosa. Yes. No, the reason. A great baseball name, though. Great baseball name. Great baseball name.

No, the reason why we have to call this emergency minor league minute is that old spangsy, old spangy, D-Hing yesterday for the Thresher's at three at bats. Oh, let me tell you something, James. Let me tell you something. That guy can work at that. That guy can work at that. All the takes off. Is this like grainy?

Is this like grainy footage that you'd find on like the dark web of these at bats? It's just MILB.com. Okay. Good. Yeah. But, but like there's nothing I love more in today's game than a good professional take. And that guy,

that guy takes some professional takes. Also, he's just got this sweet lefty swing where he has this little torral of the top when he, when he tries to hit it. I mean, it's, it looks like he's trying to be a gunner, which is which you take obviously um now he did smoke three balls just they're all on the ground

so we're going to have to to lift the baseball but you just the alec boom issue yes yeah but again he's 18 not 30 of course he's also not six five yes you just you just see it you just see it it's as simple as that you just see it and i yeah he better be in the lineup today they had a double header yesterday i wanted him playing both ends of it but there's just There's too much talent down there in Clearwater right now. What a thought. I mean, you got to get Brayden Bakes in there. He didn't play game one.

He's got to play game two. It's just the threshers are a delight. I love them so much. I'm so, I'm so happy you're happy. Yeah, yeah, dude, I know. So, uh, but Spanzy, you're going to continue to see more. You're going to continue to hear more.

He's, he's awesome. You can tell early. You can tell early. You can just tell early. So it's, uh, the farm system's coming along. And I want everyone to remember all the tape. that we've heard for the last, you know, trade deadline off season.

Ooh, trash, oh, Brian Barber, ooh, Preston. Yeah, you keep talking. You keep talking. We'll keep building. I love this. This is great. I like that look.

We'll keep building. I'm looking right at you right now. All of you out there, the Royal View, right at you. You keep talking. We'll keep talking. Talk at your own peril. Okay. Talk at your own peril.

That's all I will say, forgetting all the other. Just the fact that Spangler's playing already with the whole, like, the back thing and all. Like the people freaking out, like, That's a big deal. Huge. And it makes you feel like,

makes it feel like he did, that there was a little over, overplaying of the back for the drop. Yeah. And it was like a, you know, Boris is his agent. I'm sure that,

I'm sure that he was like, this is one of my top lines. Yeah. Absolutely. Yeah. We're going to sit you out and we're going to protect you and make sure that we're good to go for. Love that.

For what really, Scott. For what really matters. Yeah. Love you, buddy. I've always loved you. Big scound horse guy. Always had been.

Making up for JD Drew. Yeah, he's got a lot of making up to do for that one. Tyler Spangler's draft. Yeah. All right. We got anything else? No. Cardinals this weekend or no, is it Mariners Cardinals?

It's Cardinals, marriage, right? Yes, that's what I thought. Cardinals at home, then out to the West Coast, Mariner's, Angels, diamondbacks. West Coast trip, Ritzie. Oh, man, it's going to be some late nights. Always great times on the West Coast for the Phil's, right? Yeah.

We'll look forward to that. That's why this series. this weekend's pretty important they got to take to a three against the cardinals like always we go west always exactly all right uh we'll be back to react to it after the weekend uh for fritz for tucker shout tucker bagley always doing a great job producing the show you're the best buddy we love you couldn't do with that you all right look at that right yeah all right we'll be back then until that please read themselves