High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - What A Gipht

Episode Date: September 15, 2025

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to the Phillies clinching a playoff spot and look ahead to potentially clinching the NL East this week as their magic number sits at 1. 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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high hope I feel a little less along It is another edition of the Ioms podcast Sponsored by Miller Light official partner of the Philadelphia Phillies tastes like Miller Time Philadelphia celebrate responsibly fritzy i was ready to do the division clinch yo a playoff clinch look they're in the playoffs we know what's going to happen it is very weird having a magic number of one on september 15 just like okay so it's gonna happen obviously big series coming up in laa with

the two seats on the table how you feel fritzie we should we knew i texted yesterday i'm like we were talking about like when are we going to record because maybe we could squeeze it in between the eagles and the game or after the eagles if they clinch because we got to do it I was like, it's a Sunday, chance for us to have a fun clinch pod. Like, they're not going to clinch. The Mets will win. Like, this is not going to happen. And of course, it played out that well, no, it was definitely what going to happen

was that they were going to clinch the division, win the game in like some dramatic fashion right as the Eagles game started. That was not just too. Yes. Yes. If there was anything that they were. It was until the Eagles started as it was. Yeah.

I know. I know. So there's a lot of things. I get a lot of, I would say, coping mechanisms. one I was like you've gotten good at those you know yeah well because I didn't I was I wanted them to win yesterday so that the the celebration would be subdued because they knew they had to get on a flight to LA so that was my first cope of like this would be great they're not going to celebrate too much they're not going to be you know swinging from the chandeliers at Xfinity live or stayed side live now and they're just going to be a business workman like baseball team And then I was like, okay, well, awesome. The Mets are going to lose, and then they can just be on the plane, and there's nowhere there, nowhere for them to go.

And then none of that happened. And now they're probably going to clinch out in L.A. I guess on the road, maybe not the worst thing in the world. I agree. My main message is, like, I want them to just win the division. You can pop, you know, have your little, have a celebration. That's great. I don't need stubby on shoulder tops.

Nope. I don't need, I don't need like shirts off and the DJ and like that like pop a bottle like do a little toast and say, all right, we got work to do because because and I am not someone like I am fine with them celebrating in the playoffs when they went around. You're a celebration guy. I love it. You're a part of it. And look, it's part of. I am.

You've seen me. It is part of this team's ethos. Like that part of the reason we all fell in love with this specific group of guys was the celebrations and and and seeing the excitement and all that stuff. So, like, I'm good with it, but it does, I need, particularly with this one, but even in the playoffs, like I want them to celebrate, but I want to feel when they're celebrating like they, and they do know, but I want to, I want to feel that they know that we know that this is not the ultimate celebration, you know what I mean?

Yeah, posting the celebrations are totally different. Like, and, and especially because they are heading into the series against L.A. with the ability to really lock down the two seats. Like that's a big thing here as well. If they win two, it's over. If they went two or three and they really just need to take one. But Jack, if they take two or three, they're the two seat. Yeah.

Yeah. So, and they're barring something unforeseen. They're probably going to be the two seed. Anyway, with a chance still to take down the brood for the one seat. So I just, I didn't want this series to be, I didn't want them to give away game tonight because they were so happy with celebrating winning the NLEs. Now, we have talked about this team, you know, kind of being subdued most of the season. I think that has really changed in the last two weeks.

I think a lot of them are having fun playing baseball again. I don't think they need this big NLEs celebration to feel like they, you know, that this is a let it all out kind of moment. I hope they treat it workmanlike. And I think they will. I think that there is a different feel around this team. You know, I know it's a little thing I brought up last podcast, but even like the little handshake ending in the right finger,

they're only focused on one thing. But I wanted this series in L.A. to be paramount because I think it's super, super important. I want to see how they play against the Dodgers who are figuring it out at the right time. It kind of seems like they're starting to play Dodgers baseball. Freeman's been hot. Mookie's been hot. Otani's still Otani so it's a big series and and it's kind of shan just starting at 10 10

I mean 12 hours from now you know who hates it more than anybody I I know yeah you'll see the replay in the morning I'm so devastated this series in L.A. I'm really with you though on on them going out there and and playing this series with more fire than they probably need to to to your point like they're four and a half up on the Dodgers now if they lose this series if they lose three straight, they would lose the tiebreaker to the Dodgers as of now they they won two or three in Philly. If they could take one, they're really set up well. But to your point, especially after last year and the way they, you know,

limped into the playoffs. And, you know, we talked about this a lot last pod, the idea that, you know, we tried to trick ourselves into believing in that team. But we all knew. We knew the Mets were a better team for multiple months heading into playoffs and that Philly's team was this year, like we've talked about, It just feels different. The team feels different.

Even that win on Friday night, like I thought that was such an impressive win after that Mets series to sweep the Mets four straight, have that huge series, basically lock up the NLEs with that. I so could have seen them on a Friday at home against the Royals being like, you know, and they go down for nothing.

And it's like, okay, you know what? You guys just left the Mets. You're 13 up right now. Like, or 12 up whatever was. Like, who cares?

Like, it's all good. And they fought back. And they fought back. And they, won that game six four and it's just a hallmark of this team like we talked about in the met series that I do think and you look you said it when it happened you said it prior to it happening and I think it's just been unequivocally true that the edge the joy with which he plays

all the stuff the baiters brought to this team I think is part of why we're seeing them you're having more fun and looking like they're having more fun and coming together but I also think that this team because of what happened last year because of the mentality they've had I do believe that they have their heads on straight right now in terms of like what we're talking about of not letting up towards the end of the season of still heading into the playoffs playing at a high level and ultimately of knowing what the the ultimate goal is and of not losing sight of that yeah totally and he brought up uh you brought up friday night and and how they just came out pretty much took it to him it was good to see you're going to see bryce go opposite way and like

I got to look it up. I was trying to look it up there really quick. But like their record at home at night has to, I feel like they never lose at night. Like there's just a different in the daytime. You could a game to get away from you like, you know, it's like yesterday. Yeah.

Yeah. But I feel like when the, when the lights is CBP and the crowd is into it. I mean, I think they're, they've lost 24 games at home this year. They have the best home record in baseball. Yeah, yeah.

we don't investigate the Phillies they're not cheating they are they're just playing good baseball they're just playing the game the right way yeah but so they've lost 24 games at home i would i would love to know how many of those are in the day like i just at night i feel like they they put their superman games on like the crowd is is illuminating that somehow the light seem even brighter at CBP so yeah i yesterday was a stinker it was an absolute stink especially because Schwerber and J.T. went yard. Oh, I know. Well, the 2-0. I texted you. I was like, the boys are ready to clinch today.

You know, I don't like it. The first, you know, I was like, all right. They are there on a mission to clinches at home, but. And they had the clincher on the mound, too. Yeah, on four, that was the problem. How, Jack, do we just have to go to every game that Aaron Nola pitches? Because he's had one great outing this year and it was the game we were at Monday night. It's like he looked like a completely different guy that night.

And then he hasn't really any other outing, you know? it just always gets into trouble and look it is funny because to the point we were just talking about it does feel like this philly's team can weather you know a four run first or a five run second because they've done it so many times but yeah that that just got away from yesterday well well that's a nice part about where they're currently at is you have that feeling of i i actually get a little excited when they go down for i did too dude i'm like oh okay oh let's go let's see how they whittle away let's work let's work our way back into this one like when they go down and they fight their way back that there's plenty of games this year that they could have rolled over and

last year I think they would have an early in season maybe they would have but there's just there's a different level of fight but yeah I love nola it's it feels like it's the same answer every year with him it's like gosh got to avoid the beginning well it's only been six years yeah it's only I just got to avoid I got to keep the ball down well you've been saying that since 2018 but like I don't know it's it's it kind of says what it is at this point you know like he's he's going to have his moments he's going to have plenty of stinkers and usually he's going to take the ball every fifth day but that obviously did not happen this year and hopefully you can he can he can he could step up when it matters the most but I think Nola starts this year and even yeah the last half of last year

yeah really just really just feel pretty horrible it's been bad it's been the the first two years of the NOLA contract have been less than we would have hoped they would be. And, you know, well, I mean, yeah, I just had to give him $170,000. It's just tough. And look, I think Aaron Nola will be better next year than he was this year. But I don't, look, it's hard to be as bad as he was this year, you know, but you're, it's possible. look, we might just be seeing the slow, sad, horrifying end of air.

We might, we might, but look, I don't think he was like, he was so bad this year. He has been so bad this year. So I do think it is, it does raise an interesting question, though, because I have felt pretty much all year long, obviously he was hurt for a while, but, you know, assuming he came back healthy and all that, that, you know, and obviously once the Wheeler injury happened, even more so, that, like, Aaron Nola would be starting a playoff game because he's Aaron Nola because he's got a five years, $125 million left on his contract, because the, you know, he's a veteran because all that stuff, Walker Bueller looked pretty good. we'll get to it you know solid five from him um and and and with the way because you know you think on on the monday game noel pitches and maybe starts around the shape it's like all right of course it's going to start a playoff game is erin nola going to start a playoff game yes aran nola's going to start a play so you think so okay let me give you another hypothetical then let's say that we see the version ernoll we saw yesterday more or less you know it doesn't have to be six

runs but let's say he gives up somewhere between you know three and six runs in five to six innings every outing the rest of the way or whatever it is. And Walker Bueller is some version of what we saw yesterday. Does Aaron know I get a playoff spot in that specific hypothetical? Yes. I think he does too. Oh, man. Mostly.

Now, well, because here's where I met with, here's where I met with Bueller is I thought, I thought he looked pretty good. Solid. I agree. Yeah. I agree. It wasn't great, but I thought he looked pretty good. The fast bods.

zip, you know, it was all right. Yeah, the fastball being in the 93, they might jack one up the 95. It's got some late, late life to it though. Well, that's always made him great. Exactly. That's always made him, you know, Peak Walker, Bueller. I'm always like the guys, so he's one of those guys that can, that's probably why he hurt his elbow, but he's one of those guys that can really twerk it up by. Oh, you see it, dude. It looks like it hurts his elbow when he throws. It's like he's whipping it almost, you know? Yeah. Yeah. So, you know, he's definitely. a watered down version of Walker Bueller and still against

lefties. I don't know totally what his plan can be. I would like to see him use that change it more. I think the most encouraging thing about the outing was that he was pretty much in the strike zone. You know, it kind of killed him with the Red Sox. He was all over the place. So, you know, maybe they unlocked something with being more in the strike zone. But I would

need to see it against a more competent off. I, not the rules are like a horrible offense. No, but they're just very average, like outside of Bobby Way. You know, there are, as a baseball team, it's like they're like average like the definition of i don't know what the record is but i'm guessing it's somewhere around 500 if i think they're 500 are they so that i mean that would make total sense like they feel like the definition of of 81 81 baseball yeah they're 75 and 75 there you go

i i'm not surprised there you go yeah they're 75 and 75 so that bore itself out you know they got some good dude bobby win it's just oh i mean holy go you want to talk about the total package i mean defensively he made one throw he made one throw in the series and on double play ball that should not have doubled up maybe stott that i i don't even if the ball touched his glow yeah it's insane it's insane dude well that's the thing is he's and he's only 24 or 23 24 like he is you know one of the best hitters in baseball and oh yeah the best defensive shortstop in the sport it's just and and one of the fastest yeah oh yeah that too that's like an also ran sure why not yeah Salvi, Salvi hit 300, which was kind of cool, kind of cool to see him.

Is he, he's a Hall of Famer, right? So I think he probably is, yeah, like when you look at where he's at historically with catchers and stuff, you give him the, you know, the World Series, how important he was to that, you know, I think he probably is. He's like a borderline guy, though, but I think he's probably a Hall of Famer. I think it's just like he's one of those guys who's never really felt like a Hall of Famer in the moment, but when you really look at the breadth of the career and the moments, like it probably is, yeah.

Well, I don't know if it was a fake quote or a real quote, but I saw something that the guy who caught his 300th home run ball didn't ask for anything. He just wanted to give it to him because he appreciated the sport so much. I love that. If that's actually true, like, shout out to you, sir, or ma'am or whoever it was. Like, that is, that is like. It's classy Philadelphia. As a couple of baseball nerds here, like, like, I feel that in my soul.

Like, that is a, like, that feels beautiful to me. Like, you are a beautiful person. Bring me back on CNN to break that. that down. Right. Exactly. Thank you. Dude, by the way, we can already tell. And just so people know in case they haven't looked at the playoff schedule like I have, game six of the World Series is Halloween, regardless of it being a World Series game or not, the amount of Philly Cairns that we are going to see, because they're in the stadiums now. Like every game, someone's dressed up as Philly Cairn, Halloween is going to be Phillies Cairns everywhere. You know it. Yeah. Well, that's

And that would be the first time, obviously, since what, game? Was that game three in 2009 that Hamill started? So. You're talking to a Halloween game? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, didn't we had the one, uh, the rain out in the World Series ended up being a Halloween game, right? No, that was it?

Oh, was it? I think so. Yeah, because I wasn't supposed to be, but then it got rained out and got pushed to Halloween, yeah. I got some faulty information that, no, I'll never forget. this. I'll never forget this. I was outside the ballpark, ready to go in for the game and they canceled the game. And

I was talking to, I think, I think a cop outside of the stadium. I don't know why I trust that he would know when the baseball was going to go to the schedule before. But he's like, yeah, I heard it's going to be a day game Thursday. I was like, oh, okay, that sounds right. They're going to definitely play a World Series game. They're definitely going to play

a World Series game during the day. Sure. I totally believe you. So I thought all my friends, I was like, heard from sources. They're playing. a day world series game terrific yeah so that didn't that didn't happen no i was thinking about that i remember that hamill's game was like one of the most slow death games of all time horrible horrible i think that was the yeah that was the a right off the camera i was at the game oh you've been to some painful games brother you've been to i might need a top five of selter pain games i've been some tough ones man

you're at that game you're at game five of 2011 yeah i was at that game four and five in 2022 I was at seven against the Diamondbacks. It's been a rough go. I know. Man, the gets all through out of the building. Get seltzer out of the building. At least you saw Bidlam.

I did. I saw Bidlum. I was there for that. So that was good. I was also at 15, 14 as a kid in 93. Oh, that's guy.

Ninety three I went to. I know. I know. Dude, your life of pain. I wouldn't wish that of my worst ending. You wonder why I am the way I am. You know,

that's why I am the way I am. You weren't at Ronde-barber, too, worry. No, no, I watched it on TV. Nice. So did I. I was eight years old. I remember I was storming.

I was storming around the hotel room with my parents. We were on a skiing trip. That's hilarious. And I think that was the first time they realized, boy, he really likes it. I was so mad. That's great. I love it. I was so mad.

But yeah, the Royals are about his 500. brought it back around brought it back around and i need to see i guess i need to see bueller it's it kind he's not pitching this series i no i doubt it ranks it was saturday so yeah yeah i wish he was pitching against the dot oh wait was he friday no it's still probably he'd probably be yeah because they're doing the six man so okay and let me tell you what bud i i i know that they haven't been great this year i'm glad that they're pretty much going to have the annalise wrapped up before that that oh me too me too me too i don't need to with it. I didn't need a painful

Diamondback series to close out. Like, just ruin every vibe heading into the, heading into the postseason. Which we knew. It's exactly where it was going to happen. You know, it's like, come on. I'm good on Arizona. Very, very good. So we have a West Coast series right now to begin with.

Like, we should be done with that already. Yeah, I'm sure the Phil's aren't thrilled. I'm sure. Yeah, good point. I'm sure they're not psyched at all. Oh, man. I thought for some reason, I thought it was here. The Dynback series, that's out there. Oh, it's out there, yeah, because L.A. and there. Yeah, even more annoying.

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So it's Ranger Sanchez-Lazardo is not a bad. That's who you want. Not a bad three to have going. That's who you want. Yeah. That's who you want. You just got to win one. Just take one, boys.

Win the NAL-Ease and go from there. Look, good news. it seems like tray's progressing well uh what they the top was like bad news for you tray's coming back sooner or something i was like i was so weird wasn't it was such a weird quite i think he's like bad news for the league or something but it did not really strange well maybe because maybe because we said to thompson like you've been so bad about talking about injuries that you know like i don't i don't want to get ahead of myself but he's progressing pretty well look if if trade can get back before the playoffs and get a week

week or a week and a half to get his timing right and, you know, test it out a little bit. I, my biggest fear for the playoffs, obviously him, the timing being off and all that, especially with the way, you know, his two strike approaches here, it's been all contact and really, you know, he's been willing to chase early in at bats and he's been saving himself later in at bats and that's all timing and, you know, being able to put the bat on the ball and all that. So I worry about that a bit, but I also really worry about him like opening it up. he like we saw this year and we knew it coming in we didn't see it you know much prior but but this

year we really saw the the terror that he could be at the top of the lineup as a as a base runner as just a threat like after the hamstring injury last year it felt like he never really got back to that like he never opened it up the same way walker you never really opened it up the same way uh he was doing so well he was he was he was sitting here well I noticed you looking over a few times and I was like, I know what's going on here. I've been there. And his Mimi just showed up. So he's got to yell out the window.

Like a little puppy. No, well, so the biggest thing is 100% tray running. Like the hitting, I think he got into a good spot this year. Yeah. Is going well. The thing that I, that I'm going to find really interesting is what's it? He's going to go back and be the lead off editor again. But what did they do with Bader?

I know. Is he a cleanup? I mean, right? We've been talking about all year, like the JT thing. I mean, JT's definitely been the best of those guys. Like, but at any point, have we felt good about JT being the cleanup header? Well, no, but I just, I still,

listen, I know the, the smart thing to do in baseball now is get your best players the most of bats in a game. I fully understand that. Now, Bader has been one of their best players. Oh, without doubt. He has been their best players. really you know and I just I just want I was still want Schwerber behind Harper so

if they go Turner Bader Harper Schwerber is that like insane I just I just don't think you do it like because I think he likes the the righty lefty lefty righty because of the three batter thing like you've always got one of them on the other side of it what but I guess you'd have to I mean but then you can bring in like just bring in the lefty to face Harper and Schwerber and then, you know, is it Castiano's on the back end or whoever it's going to be? J.T. I mean, JT. There. Yeah. Maybe. I don't know. Yeah. I mean, Schwabbers had left the relievers so well this year that, you know, it gives you a little leeway there. But I do think, but I do think that, uh, like, I, I want the energy that

Bader provides being at the top of the lineup as possible. Like, I think that's, I think that's a good thing as well. I agree with you. No, I'm with you. He definitely, again, across the board, he's really changed the dynamic from an energy, a getting the team fired up, changing the vibes of the whole thing. I'm right there with you. You're back? There you go.

Oh, that's quick. I need you to fill it for five seconds. It looked like you just threw him out of the room there from, from my angle. That was not. No, but Jill might have grabbed him, but. And he's, I think I'm in the one, I'm in the one room in the house that doesn't have a freaking lock on it. Oh, that's a turtle. I know, I know, but the lighting, the lighting really just adds.

It's where they, I mean, you look amazing. Yeah, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's what everyone's concerned about. But man, I just, I just cannot believe that we're at the point where it's, it's a non-insane discussion to, to, to keep Bader at the top of the line. Oh, I know. Yeah. Turner, but the, Trey Turner, Bryce Harper and Kyle Schorber and Kyle Schorber has a 50 home run season. And I, I still, I am still worried about, I'm still.

worried about Bryce's production in the postseason. I understand. Like, I just, I, I, I want him to have as much protection as possible so that he, now, again, at the same time, he's been protecting Schwerber all year and Schwerber's had 51 home runs, which makes the, which makes the Phillies better, I think is also the question there. And it might just be that Harper protecting Schwerper is more important. Yeah, look, and I do think that it's a fascinating situation. I think the big thing that we hope and why we,

we, I think part of the reason we believe in this team more than we have at this time heading into the playoffs last few years is that the thing that could change the whole equation is if the guys behind them hit, if J.D. hits this playoffs. If Brandon Marsh keeps hitting, if Bracenstock keeps hitting, like, that changes everything. Then we're not as concerned all the time. But the reason the Bryce thing is so important is because Bryce has been the only guy hitting in certain series. You know, like he has been like everything offensively. And if you can pitch around him, you can win. And like pitch around Bryce, if Marsha's hitting, if it starts hitting, like, it just changes everything. So like hopefully that continues and that just changes the whole lineup equation.

What did you think about Bryce's comments to Ken Rosenthal? Did you see that? I didn't. No, I thought you're going to do the, what do we think about the internet taking Ken Rosenzden down a couple of tags. I mean, I mean, I just, I do not like when sports media people take themselves way to brother preach from the highest of the mountains my friend and like i i don't know iverson didn't taunt that much when he stepped over tyron loo dude i come he honestly like if you could

kill something you know the if looks could kill like if they could i think that guy would be dead because of how ken rosendahl looked him in that moment it was like he wanted to like just like scrape him off his shoe in that moment he's so little that it's like i he's the tiniest i know he's very little guy. So that was a shocking video to wake up to him. It was. It really was. So no, he's basically Bryce said how I guess the question was essentially how do you feel being more of the not co-pilot, but you know, you get what I mean. Like sharing the chairing the mantle so does like he's more along for the ride rather than like the guy this year. And and Bryce and I guess some Phillies people were worried about it because they're like we're not used to Bryce

like he's usually just the guy and bryce was like i really don't care like as long as we win it's fine and he's and the quote that i liked was he said october's coming like i i i feel that too i like i do think that he we've talked about but i do think he's one of those guys who just can lock in more when it matters most and does lock in more when it matters most and i like i just think we're going to see the best version of him in october i just i really believe that i really do i i i think I'm more in the hope category with that. I really, I, he has given us no reason not to believe

in him in the postseason. I just think that this year's been different. Like, every single time, it's like, there's the bright streak, here's the, even the home run on Friday night. It was like, there, he's going opposite way. He's thinking opposite way. And then 0 for 3 and, oh, I think, I don't think you got to hit yesterday.

So it's just, maybe I'm just starting to uh, you know, readjust my, my, my Bryce expectations because again you're going to look at the numbers the end of the year and it's going to be like that's going to be like 30 homers an 80 and an 860 OPS which is an amazing for him but is like in today's baseball a damn good baseball player you know but I also think

that I wonder if this is just who we're going to who we're going to see well the question is that's a question is this player the player we're going to see but is it that guy and can he elevate like the question is to the Bryce common he just made October's coming it's okay if he's a 860, 850 OPS guy for the regular season, if he can still elevate it and become the 950, whatever guy in the, then it's fine. And who cares? You know, as long as it's, you know. Listen, we just went through a football season.

Yeah, you're right. Where, Jalen lifted it up when it mattered most. You're absolutely right. Yeah. As long as the team could do their parts for the first two rounds in the series. So like we've seen that maybe that maybe this is what we have to do. with Bryce now is just hey when we get to the post students and that's all that matters dude it would be very funny for my brand it would be the funniest thing ever is what it would

be it would be like all-time elite irony the whole like whatever you would call it would just be so perfect and let me tell you what I would have no problem you can care at all you kidding me not no not just that you not would you'd be ecstatic you'd be ecstatic about it you'd be like let's go you know like this is awesome it'd be so funny it just be so funny that's like what it turns into it's like he's pretty okay during the regular season like went around

some moments and then just goes nuts he's like the best world series we've ever seen did hey he did enough to win what are you talking about all he does is win right you know it's all matters in the day so board yeah so I think I'm

I think I'm definitely more in the hope Like, I lean more towards the, I believe than not, but I just, I just do think it's been a bit of an odd Bryce year where he just, you can't get it going. Like, he's, ever since the three hit game in San Fran, he's been good. Like, I think he's, last time I checked, he was hitting like 280, 285 since that three hit game in the Giants. So, like, if that was his numbers over the entire year, you look at it and you're like, oh, he's, he's been great. But I think if you watch him every single night, it hasn't exactly felt that way. Now, he's starting to have some bigger moments. Like, he had the big game against the Mets where he brought him back and made it 4.3.

And then I thought the home running against the Royals was a pretty, you know, not a super low leverage spot. So it hasn't all been garbage time. But I did like the, I did like the confidence, self-confidence that October's coming. I know that's my time of the year. and I'll be I'll be the guy then basically I dude I agree and it we know you know especially in this sport confidence is so important like it really just matters but also I love the first part of the quote too I love that and look who knows if it's true we can't get inside Bryce's head and like maybe he can say I'm okay with everyone else coming through as long as we win but inside he's like I really want to I want to do it like I don't know but if that's true and I believe I think Bryce just wants to win I really do believe at this point he knows how desperately he needs a world series title. on his resume he wants to win it the whole thing i love if bryce is is going into these things and saying it's not all on my shoulders i don't have to do this all myself like because i do think there have been times where we felt that from bryce where you know we felt like it feels like to him

like he's kind of carrying the weight of everything on his shoulders and i want him to go into the playoffs not feeling that i want him to be able to to just focus on himself do what he does to be great and let his teammates help carry him. They have to do it, obviously. But I like the, I hope and I like if he is, if it's true, that Bryce is feeling that way. Well, and it's a fine line because the fine line of, he's got to be the man too, yeah, you know.

But also, you know, there's been some time this year where Schwerber hits a home run. And it's like Bryce wants to come up next and go back to back and feels like he's pressing on that. And he'll expand the strike zone, you know, And I think I wonder if there's a little bit of a book out on on Bryce right now where he will chase the high fastball. I think that's one to kind of monitor towards the end of the season. It feels like he's been been really been getting beat up recently. And I just, it's a fine line of of wanting to still be the guy, but not trying too much to be the guy. So it's a tough balance.

Like I want Bryce to want all the pressure. Like that's great. um but also i don't want him to take himself out of the bats by trying to do too much and you know one of the things that they talked about after the met series i think they actually i thought they lost this thread in the middle of the summer and then they've regained it recently but the whole past the baton thing yeah and i thought that i think they've gotten that was spring training that was like their whole mantra you know yeah so i think they've got back to it i think they started the season with it i think in the middle of the summer they got away from

it you know that it's specifically like the beginning of august i thought they really got away from it and started chasing again um but i yeah it's the fine line of wanting the pressure but also not trying to do too much um but i mean brys has been here a million times so i hope he's going to be all right by the way uh so since the three homer or three double game or whatever against the giants he's hitting 280 with a 930 ops and 17 yeah see that'll freaking play dude yeah that'll play that don't play you take that um and yeah i think look, I think to your point, it is a really fine line. You're absolutely right to, you know, wanting to be the man, but also being willing to step back and all that type of stuff. I think at the

end of the day, you know, look, I trust Bryce to be ready in October, like I said before, it's going to come down to other guys lifting them up. Like I said it before. It's just a fact, like they need some of these guys that moments. You know, Max Kepler's going to have to moment. Price and Sott's going to have to have a moment. Brandon Marsh is going to have to have a moment. and like I am excited because for the first year heading in the playoffs I and with that it's more hope with Bryce I feel confidence that when the playoffs come around you know he will be locked in and able to produce I have more hope than I've had in recent years that Brandon Mars at Bryce and Stott that you know Max Kepler that that we're going to get moments out of these guys and obviously Bader a huge part of that um but that that jack I'm more I need to to see it have it in the playoffs to to truly believe it but i am i'm much more hopeful of that than i've than i've been in recent year well i think if if marsh marsh is close but if he gets over eight he might he's close to an 800 ops if not right above it they might have like five 800 ops

unbelievable it took a while to get there you know i know i know so yeah i i i do i do mostly agree with you. I think you feel pretty good right now about, you know, where a lot of the, you know, offensive pieces are. And they're all starting to kind of click at the same time. Even J.T. like, he's still hitting some tanks. Just keeps hitting, man. Like, J.T. been pretty damn consistent. After the first month or so of the season, he's just been good. He's just been, yeah, he's just been been really, really sad. I'm still surprised at OPS is only 724. It's crazy. Yeah, you would have thought it was higher because he's batting like 270 or something like that you know uh yeah 265 yeah so uh harper 854 tray 815 mars right under it at 792 and then uh and then short were at 940

i i can't believe i can't believe his ops is not going to be over a thousand with oh i know like not even close it's wild i know he might is get at 60 omers and have like a 930 obs or 940 it's crazy he's got no shot at 60 omers but i know i know he's not going to pass ryan but look i it's two over the weekend just saying i know starting to get it going a bit he can't go on those runs look at four in a game you know he gets four all of a sudden he might get 60 you know dude so i went from like kind of boned about the idea of of him taking down howard's record to like it would make this last couple weeks it'd be really thrilling to it like so like i'm with you i wanted to be Howard, it feels right.

But, like, if he's going to do it, that means he's going to go on a little run here. And it'd be really freaking fun to watch Kyle Schwerber go for it, you know? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Now, the key with the Phillies now is, uh, is, is, is don't take your foot up the gas like 2011 team. Yeah, big time. You know, yeah. Down shift.

Lost 10 straight games. I know. And that's why they had to play that last series against the Cardinals and ended up screwing themselves, you know? 10 straight games. I know. It's unbelievable. And they still 1002 games.

It's wild. It makes no sense. I know, I know, I know. But yeah, no, the offense is in a good spot. Offense is in a good spot. Finally. Reading, playing, learning. Stellist lenses do more than just correct your child's vision.

They slow down the progression of myopia. So your child can continue to discover all the world has to offer through their own eyes. Light the path to a brighter future with stellar lenses for myopia control. Learn more at SLOOR.com. and ask your family eye care professional for Esselor Stellis Lenses at your child's next visit. All right, let's take back it. So you brought up a lot of scenarios earlier in this podcast about Knowles, right? Is he going to start a playoff game and this happens?

Is he going to start a playoff game if that happens? Is there a scenario in which Otto starts at, it over a healthy bone um so auto's been hot you know auto i'm bringing it a bit dude when he and this is like as about as baseball like geeky as it can get when he pulled his hands in and squared up 95 on the hands and drove it into it's like that's hitting that's hitting and let me tell you what it is so refreshing watching again bone's going to finish with nine homers like he's going to finish nine home runs on the season. And I know he's been hurt here and there and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

You don't need to make excuses. Nine home runs for a six, five third baseman that's now like known for his defense. Well, I was going to say, who to thunk that when you're asking me this question and I would be weighing my answer, that I would be giving the clear defensive end, an edge to Alec Bohm is, I've never in a million years thought I would be in this situation. Otto's been a right recently at third base. He's not, he's not like, you know, picking it over there. but he hasn't been a sieve which is good so i think i think boom will get the first shot like i think

bone will be the guy but look i mean he benched boom in the playoffs last year in one series he played four games and he benched bone for one of them so it's like sure yeah i think it's certainly possible like i wouldn't count on it i think boom is the guy going in but like yes i think it's absolutely possible if so he's sitting whatever 400 since he's came back up If he goes out to L.A. and, like, has some moments against that pitching staff, maybe, just maybe. I just want an auto playoff moment. I feel it in my bones.

He's got a- I feel more likely he's got a playoff moment than bone does, and how sad is that? He just has that clutch field. There's a feeling on auto camp, and I really would like for him to start a playoff game because I think that would be, I think that would be thrilling. But I don't, I don't need Alec Boehm.

Like I'm good. We did this whole thing. Like I, look, he's fine. He's fine for what he is. But like, I'm not going to be crying.

If it's like, oh, Alc Boeum's not in the lamp tonight. I'm like, okay, sweet. When he goes off in the post season, I want that little clip cut.

Tucker, are you paying attention? Yes. Yes. Yes. When James said, when James said, I don't need Alec Bohn.

And he wins a world series MVP. There we got. That'd be, a beautiful landing of this. Speaking of like the infield. By the way, by the way, please,

please win World Series MVP, Alec phone, please! Sure. Oh my God, you can play that clip every day on every show for the rest of time

if he wins World Series MVP, please. Yes, yes. I can't believe how good Stott just looks at shortstop. It's like natural.

He's fine. He's just like perfectly fine going back to shortstop and, and like the arm's not great, but he looks better now than he does. did he's like his his arm at second i think is he is great oh it's great it's a great arm um but i just

yeah he he looks better there than he did in 22 now i know it's a couple years and um you know more work with bobby dickerson bobby dickerson we probably don't give enough credit to for the totally again the bone comment we just made like alec bohm was a disaster a disaster is at their basement and he's competent he's solid like stott and And I know that's just a really good defensive player and a baseball guy. Like, he's a gold glove second basement. That's not like easy. It's not like you just go over there and become, Bryce, the

stuff Harper's done at first base. Jack, I, we do not give close to it. What Turner's done this year defensively, not close to enough. I keep waiting for, for Brandon Marsh to cool off, but I guess he's just not going to cool off

this year. He's just, might just be a really good player. He's been, he's been, he's been, he's been, so... Logan O'Hoppy stinks, by the way. Yeah, come on. We never said the trade was mistake. But he, I do think that the Bader edition is bringing the best version of Marsh.

Like the, I loved, love the post-game interview the other night on TV where he's talking about Bader and he's like, that guy is electric. And we're so happy he's with us. I love it. I love it. He dropped the... he's a gift what a gift what a gift what a gift and i and i think that the energy that he because listen you know we know that boehm and marsh have been friends for a long time

but i envision that being around booms a little bit like being around eeyore you know where's perfect i was going to say a wet blanket ior is a wet that is it that is the perfect like character to use he's eore what a good call it's eore you get baiter here and march is probably like that's way better. You kidding me? I mean, he's just like so happy to be here. We're talking about what a gift it is. And those guys have something, you know?

And I think right field, you make it work with Kepler and Castiano's. What those guys cook in center and left field? What a thought. What a thought talking about the outfield. Just let them cook. We're set. We got to center field's not a problem at all. Center field's a freaking strength for this team.

Okay. they found one that could hit and and catch the ball what a concept what a concept so I am stuck in a bit of a predicament this week I'm in my fantasy baseball championship

and also I heard that you lost a spike in fantasy yeah I did my you know how fantasy baseball is a one week sample size I did everything I could I made all kinds of moves his team just freaking kicked ass it is what it is he's pretty good he

he just he survived all the injuries the beginning of the year and then now they're all peaking at the right time i just didn't have a chance like it's what it was i i made i used all seven of my moves i was like trying everything i could you know yeah it happens so so this week i am in the league that i care about uh in in that championship and he has he has bryce he has schwabber oh gosh he has ranger going on oh gosh oh man he he has marsh oh buddy yeah not what you want well i did to the point you just made i picked up harrison bader last week to play against spike thinking that could like give me the mojo and not even harrison bader could overcome it so and he was awesome so i hate through our hate to root against

the phillies you do you just to to the point i just made about spike's team like you just root for your team to be awesome like your your team is just better than his team and his team play and also obviously just root aggressively hard against every single person on his team who is not a Philly and just hope that his Phillies play well and everyone else stinks. You know what I'm going to have to do? You can't read against it. It's not like you can't do it. You know what I might have to do? I might have to like bet on Bryce home run.

Yeah, you do that. It's a good call. Actually, get a little emotional hedge in there. Oh, it's not a bad idea. No one's a better emotional head guy. Because then you could actually could really win like big in that because again, to the point it's made your team could play well.

Like those Phillies could be awesome and you still. win. Imagine those Phillies are awesome. Phillies win. You and bet you win fantasy because your team's awesome. Like that is the dream. Walker goes to college. That's right. We're everyone's happy. Everyone's some high stakes fantasy baseball apparently.

By the way, this is my fifth championship round in nine years. And only one hurdle. Oh, never one. And it was in like the first year. Oh, so this would mean a lot.

Yeah, it would. Yeah. I know what that's like. I know what that's like. It's sickening. It's sickening. All I do is win in this league.

And then, yeah, so it's a big week. It's a big week. It's a stressful week. It's going to be a week of no sleep. And that message also is for Walker. If he could please stay. Better than the performance during this pot, all right, buddy. Rang it in a little bit.

Yeah, we need to show up this week. It's a big week. When you just sleep to at least seven in the morning. But, yeah, it's going to be a good week as we look to clinch the National League. the national league east and at least give me the two seat at least lock in that yeah big time big time i want to just be able to you know chill yeah do you before before it gets crazy did you see the video of pat murphy uh reading a uh a note that bob yuker wrote the team before no i didn't i do like pat murphy though i'm in on pat murphy oh i think pat murphy's great i love you

i hope i really like him a lot i i hope that that is kind of a seal breaker to letting college coaches in? I'm so with you, dude. I'm so with you. And especially after the council thing and how he left and all that for it to work so well.

Yeah. Big fan. I think he's awesome. I just can't tell if Bob Euker actually wrote this letter because it was like, I'm so proud of you guys. Like, I knew you're going to have

the best record in baseball. Like he apparently. Voted before he died is the idea here? And he gave it to the owner. And the owner gave to Pat Murphy after they clinched or whatever. No. And I just.

I love it, And Bob Euker's like, you know, up here, they made me the third string catcher for you. Like very Bob Euker was awesome. Like I hope that you're, I just, I'm so, I can't decide if Bob Euker actually wrote this letter or if like they just made up what they thought Bob Euker would say. Yeah, which would be very messed up. I hope that Bob Yucer wrote the letter. That'd be scary. Because he kind of called a shot.

He said you guys. Yeah, unbelievable, you kidding me? Now, that's record baseball for now. Now, Bob, don't let the Phil's catch him. You were a Phillies grade at one point. Sure. Philis. Bob Eager was a Phillies great.

Yeah, Philly's player. Please, yeah. Yes, yes. I'll have this. Bob Eugger was a great as an announcer. I don't think you could say he was a great player anywhere he was, but yes. I'll send you the video after and you got to decide if that is real or not. I'm intrigued.

I'm intrigued. So we'll be back later in the week. Obviously, we'll figure it out with the clinching and the Dodgers series and all that. And can we just win the night? You know, like, don't like, you know, keep like this going and it just win the night. And then we can, you know, figure it out from there. And then we, you know, do see we're in good shape, you know. But I do really agree with your point.

I want to see them play hard throughout. Like, I don't want to see like they won. And then it's kind of like, let's kick our feet up. Keep, keep pushing, you know? No, don't play Don't know, don't play Don't know, Walton every single day for the last week of the season like from true Phillies fans who like watch the team mostly every night I got multiple who the hell is this guy text so yeah we're having that and you're you know about to win the division late the season yet yeah yeah

anywhere Eddie's wearing number 18 who I think is for Dalton Guthrie very similar what a what a pull bolton Guthrie talking about center fielders he reminds me of a he's a combination of Mitch Walding and Dalton Guthrie. Donovan. Donovan We're back. We're still back. Yep. All right. Speaking of back, we'll be back later in the week after the Dodgers

or Phillies hopefully handle the Dodgers. Fritz is going to go handle his son. And we'll be back later in the week. Until then, he's friends himself.