Please Just Win Like 2 Games This Week

0:00Miller Light, the official gear partner of your Philadelphia Philly's is proud to serve as presenting sponsor of WIP's High Hope Spot to whether you're listening to the game catching up on the latest High Hope Spot or at the ballpark. Remember, it tastes like Miller time Philly's fans celebrate responsibly. This is the High Hope Spot guest. Hi, ho! On the Odyssey app in Sports Radio 94, WIP. I'm the one who's smiling through the right. Oh, I feel a little less alone. Yo! It is! Another addition of the High Hope Spot's by Miller Light official partner of the Philadelphia Philly's taste like Miller time. Don't be so afraid responsibly. Obviously, I could use similar lights. My voice is shot. It's so shot.

1:00I left my voice in Nashville, Jack. I apologize. Now, I know you appreciate that I left it watching a lot of country music and trying to talk over to people who have a great time with me. Do you want to show them? This is, I told you. And you're like, I was like, I'm ready to record. We're going to do the pod. I was like, I just want you to know. I didn't get to watch much baseball this weekend. And I have no voice. And I think you thought I was kind of kidding about the voice. Wasn't kidding, buddy. How you doing? How good is he? To be honest, I didn't read that part of the text. So that's on me. But you kind of sound, you kind of sound like an old car revving up a little bit. You know, that's kind of. That's kind of maybe, hey, hey, maybe that's a good metaphor heading into the postseason. Is this this old car revving up one last time for one last time? Well done. I mean, think about this right. People hate my voice anyway. So, you know, it's not like I can go much worse. It's a different now. You can hate it for a different reason this time.

2:01Yeah. Well, it is shocking that you smoke cigarettes because it didn't help, you know. What you mean back in the day? I think it's okay. Yes. Yeah. So it was early in life. I was a smoker. Yeah. Yeah. Certainly, certainly probably nothing help. There's a reason I sound like I sound. It is what it is. Yeah, it's all right. So, yeah, no, I did not anticipate you watching much baseball this weekend. You are perusing all throughout Nashville. You really saw the one good game. I mean, yesterday was good. We'll get to it. But the good game on Thursday. You missed a nice little, a nice little bullpen effort on, on Friday. Actually, a hose of your kitty, they're pretty good. Like, I think there's four scoreless or something, right? Four plus scoreless or something like that? He's not going to, he's not going to make the postseason roster, but he's going to get a ring when the team goes on around against makes the world serious. He's going to get a pen at ring. He's going to be super super important. I love when they get random dudes who have a hundred fantasy before multiple times over like, Jose or Katie has been on multiple different fantasy teams for me over the years at different times for spots, starts and whatnot.

3:05It's always fun to see those guys roll through it's like, oh, yeah, Jose or Katie. Remember you. Sure. Well, good to squad out here's number 70. His whole thing was crazy. He was on the white socks on Thursday. He's on waivers on Thursday. And then it gets on a plane and it has to pitch in a game. I guess, uh, uh, stocker was saying that he walked onto the bus and he's introducing himself to people. That is wild. Introducing himself to his teammates. So let's play some playoff teams though. White socks, Phillies, you know what I'm saying? Sure. Well, he's in the pirates this year as well. I think he's been on five teams. I guess if the pirates were in the American League, they'd be a playoff team. How about that? Oh, they really? Yeah, actually, nice. Look how crazy is that? Yeah, they make something. Dude, the pirates are 79 and 77. They would win the A.O. West. Nice. Nice. Nice. But, uh, yeah, listen, they went up to New York. They did all we asked, which was go up there and work a good split. And they, they worked a split.

4:06Magic numbers three Yankees really helped us out too much. So the magic number is still three heading into heading this week where you face Brewers and raise. Brewers and raise. Oh, the brewers. They're pretty good. So it's the actual idea is the two best. Yeah, okay. So the Dodgers have one more win than the race. You have two of the three best records in baseball to finish out. That's fun. Yeah. Look, we got to hope for it. The brewers are obviously locked into the one or the two seed. You have to hope that so there are two games up on the Dodgers. I don't know if that, do you know who owns the tiebreaker? Between those teams because we could. Uh, I think it's the Brewers. I think they played well against the Dodgers this year, but I don't have a definitive. Yes or no on that. So because that could make a difference with that being the, uh, actually not as much. Because I guess they played the Brewers first. So you really want to are the raised set. I think the brewers are going to be playing for the one seed. The raise, I think are locked into the one seed.

5:07Correct. Yeah. So the raise are at least locked into the ones or I guess they have six games left and they're six up on the one seed. So yeah, but the thing with that is it's just it's not like the other. I know teams don't just I know I know I know I know you're and they have time off. They don't have to play a first round. So you're right. You're right. Now that they'll probably manage innings, but it's not like the raise and brewers have these stars that are going deep in the games. It's not. They're mostly five in and guys anyway. So I don't think that I don't think that that's really going to help them at all. This is great. Great, great. The key is that like they really just need to like win. She's either win two games. Right. She is what it is. Right. One in five and and five and one and you're in trouble, right? That's kind of pretty much. And like the the debacks almost have to win out and go five and one. Now what is nice is the debacks do face the Padres this weekend. So the Padres will will have stuff to play for, of course. And they put the Rockies this week. The debacks do to start it off. Rockies still have a little frisky nest to them. They still have a little frisky nest.

6:07There's some players in that team I like. I mean, besides obviously Mick, but they call carry. I like a little bit. Of course he do. And and Jake McCarthy, of course. But Hunter Goodman is crazy. He is crazy. He's one away from 40. I know. I know. Yeah. So yeah, it's it's not really a stress free week. Not really a stress full week. They think they they are in a good spot. And as you can tell, well, not you because you didn't watch much, but they they are really, really limiting the starters and how much on how many pitches they're throwing. I mean, I think they pulled pain or after 85 pitches. Finally, oh, say finally decided to do it in the last week and have the season good. Well, I mean, listen. I'm kidding. They had their fighting. I'm choking. I'm choking. I just, you know, with the way this has played out, you know, I'm still smart and from the Lazardo complete game. Sorry. Oh, yes. Yes, you had to do that.

7:07You had to push it into the ninth. But then again, the bullpen sucks anyway. So you need that. You need as many wins as you can get, I guess. Let their arms fall off as far as in the playoffs as far as we're concerned. Yeah. Yeah. Well, I mean, it is really interesting because I think you're starting to see their plan heading into the into the playoffs, sorry, to take shape here. And I think there is certain reasons as to why it's happening. You know, one is obviously the Lazardo injury is forcing their hand a little bit here. It seems like he's going to come back and only be available in relief. Not ready to start a game and give them, you know, two or three innings, at least in the wild car. So that I was the way that's what Gelb said, right? It seemed like Gelb made it pretty clear that from his reporting, he, like the starter thing is like probably off the table. Is that right? Yeah. That's the way that it seems. And I think he, he threw it out there one month ago or earlier this month about bringing the brain out of the bullpen, so that felt like a soft launch into what they were thinking.

8:08But then he started pitching so well, it was like, well, he might not have to start game one. If we learn Sanchez, they're going to pitch like this. Now Wheeler is bounce back. Sanchez will get into it. But he, he looked closer to the Chris Sanchez than we are used to seeing. So now it is open up the door and obviously Nola pitching as well as he is pitching opens of the door as well to use Lazardo in, in this kind of spot. But I think you're starting to see their, their idea and their blueprint for how they want to get through at least wild car around and, and maybe even further. And it's, it's Dodgers, ask, but I don't think they don't have the depth of starters that the Dodgers have. But I mean, Don said that he wants to get pain or bullpen endings this week, which is, which is really interesting. And I think if they have it their way, and listen, Mike Tyson said that everyone has a plan until you're punching the face. But if they have it their way, they'll have Wheeler in game one. Hopefully he can give him six. Lazardo gets you through the seventh, maybe even, maybe even the eighth.

9:10I don't know if he want to go to the eighth, but he gets you seventh eighth. Let's say we're going to only go five. And then Lazardo gets you six seven. And then, you know, you got to figure out who want to go to MacFarland or Alvarado for that eighth inning. Nice. And then in game two, it's going to be Sanchez. And then I think that's where they go painter. So then you have painter off of Sanchez, the lefty. You have Lazardo off of Wheeler, the righty. And then you could possibly maybe, maybe bring back Lazardo on game, game three. Oh, hey, maybe I thought you were going to say game two. No, you're not doing that. Game three out of the bullpen. And that's how you could. And to bet how many pitches he throws in game one depends because one or two. And I think you'd have to like, you hope it's on the table, right? Of course. So it seems like that that is the, that is the blueprint. That's their idea to raise up a bullpen that currently has an elite closer and no real plan to get in the ball is using these guys. Yeah. And look, that's like you said, with the Dodgers today, more dudes do it with.

10:12And whatnot, but like that's the only plan that makes any sense. I mean, we can't have some of these. I mean, outside of McFarlane and I mean, Alvarado is going to pitch and you know, bowling, who knows if he's even going to be back, probably not like, I don't know. But at Bowen's, he's like, well, he's bad. It'll be bad. We don't know what level. But the boys like, other than those guys like, I don't know that you can put anyone else in a playoff game. Like, I don't know that you can hand the ball to some. I mean, chase sugar. It's getting high leverage innings this way. And look, you know, I like chase sugar more than the average Joe. Like chase sugar is not pitching into playoff game for me. Like it would be possible that I could do to make sure that chase sugar is not putting a playoff game for me. Like, so yeah, I don't think they have much choice. I just don't. I hope the guys can hold up and that you know, the guys like. A spinoff painter is interesting because if they use him as early as first of all, you know, if they do it this way, maybe the first time his life he's ever doing it. It's part right. We know like he piggybacked before and that game where he had the. Migring or whatever it was and then came in a pitch well. But like he's coming after an opener before, but he hasn't really done like bullpen work.

11:14You know, so. And then you see your game forestarter. If you pass the first round, I mean, so there's just a lot of. They do what it really comes out of what you're pointing out. It's like the Dodgers were able to do the size here. It's just so much depth. I mean, look, the Dodgers in the playoff. Like, through a guy pitch well, it was it will climb through at six shout outings. It wasn't even like in the majors a few weeks before, whatever the hell it was. Like they just find ways to get this done. Like the Phillies are going to need dude stepping up and getting big outs and stuff. And it's just. It. I think to your point, I think the plan could definitely work early on. It's just as the playoffs go on and you need that. Like, can was our pitch three times in a seven game series out of the bullpen four times in a seven game series out of the bullpen? Like, I mean, I've no believe in idea. Like, I have no idea. So like, it's. I do think that, you know, I think it's a smart way to go. I think it's the. I think it's the only way to go with how this is all shaken out. But it's definitely, you know, it's risky. 100%. But it's also. It's there all it's there only. It's there only option. And it's it's something that.

12:14Could I mean, it could work. If they now, Lasardo, I would hope that. I know what Gellips said. I just would hope that he is. Okay, to like get back into the rotation after I'm fine with it for the wild card round. Like, maybe the NLDS, but like the value of Lasardo is also how. How dumb. I'm not the starting picture. But also, I guess it might be the only way that he can get through it is. Two winnings at a time or for an inning at a time rather than the stress of having to start a baseball game. But they are actually seemingly going to be using a lot of the step. And it was good that. It was good that painter. The stuff ticked back up clearly. They clearly they got back in the lab. He probably was getting a little bit over rotational when he gets over rotational. That's when his fastball. Doesn't really pop. And. And it looked like back on on Saturday. It sucked. Francisco Alvarez at that home run because he was he was cooking. I think he retired his last. I think sure guys last four batters actually after that.

13:16But yeah, Lasardo or Alvarez got him on just one like one bad pitch. And but besides that like the stuff was he had the most whiffs and baseball on Saturday. 19, which is huge. So. Oh yeah, he's back. He's back. So. So it was good to see him kind of rebound a little bit. And it did get me excited about the possibility of him coming out of the pen. Just letting it air out for for a little bit. It's fun to see right. I mean, we've never seen him do that. Just give it all for an inning. Let's get to Sancti because to the point you're making in the. The hopefulness that I hear in the plan like and again, you know, we know their situation, but but I get it. Like this is the smartest thing they could possibly do in this situation given the lack of peace they are. But for this plan to work. Christopher Sanchez absolutely has to be Christopher Sancti. Like they need good outings from him and they need innings from like he. He has to be better than he's been the last two months month and half whatever the hell it's been, you know. How do you feel about Sanchez this week? And how much do you feel a guy like Sanchez can struggle into the playoffs and potentially flip a switch?

14:20Like he is that good a picture and that's why that's something we haven't really talked a lot about. But like it wouldn't be the most shocking thing in the world. It's kind of like this into the playoffs. And he's like, all right, time to lock that in. And he just and he becomes Christopher Sanchez again. Where are you at in that whole like papis tree of Sancti? Yeah, I 100% believe and think he can do that 100%. I think yesterday it was like the Wheeler start maybe three ago where I said it was 85% of Zach Wheeler. Because it was it was about 85% of of Chris Sanchez being Chris Sanchez. I thought it was a step in the right direction. I thought he was much quicker down the mound. I thought it was I thought his arm looked quicker. I thought I think he got more semi same thing. I think he was a little bit I think he was rotating too much. And I think they got him more in line yesterday. I thought he was much more direct and to the plate early in the game.

15:24I thought he looked really solid from the standpoint of his his fastball is getting in on righty's again. The real equalizer for him yesterday was that slider. He threw it a lot. He didn't throw that many changeups for Chris Sanchez to say who usually throws a ton of changeups. And maybe the maybe the slider something he's going to use more down the stretch here. Because I think teens are starting to jump him a lot with just trying to jump on that fastball early and drive it. So I thought at least early in the game first four or five innings. He kept the ball down and a lot of soft contact. Not much of anything. The slider was an equalizer. Change up wasn't a great one yesterday. He threw a really good one to the shed. And then the reason why I think it was like 85% of them is that in like the sixth and the seventh. The sinker was just up and it was starting to get smoked. And that brought back some of the bad memories I have of the recent stretch here with Chris Sanchez. And there is also maybe four pitches that he just ended up right down the middle that they were not able to take advantage of.

16:29And that's that I just had worries about in October like that going wrong. So like he started missing his spots. His sinker was up a little bit. Vientos just missed a three round home run that would have changed. What a change the game. It is crazy. Just a couple years ago doesn't miss that doesn't know that the Vientos fall off is crazy insane. He's a bench player for them now practically like it is he was like their rising star in that plan. He was great in that run for the great. He's not just a season but he is he's on playable. And he looked at the record like with them without him and it was not like the end all be off or one player. But there's so much better without him versus him just being there. So yeah, I thought it was like again, I thought it was 85% of the the greatness of Chris Sanchez. But not a step in the right direction for sure, which I feel good about. But it was not like peak Chris Sanchez. Jason is an avid hiker who loves the outdoors during what should have been the peaceful hike. That calm was suddenly broken a mountain lion appeared on the trail just yards away.

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18:31That's n-o-o-m dot com. Noom. Lose for keeps. Initial one month subscription from $39 plus tax and $99 plus tax per month thereafter. Cost of medication not included. Final pricing depends upon program selection. All right. And I want to in a minute I want to get that to the situation and kind of where they're actually as if this moment they're a game behind the Padres and the Cubs in the wild card race as we talk about the dime max thing it's its own thing. Hold the type of record of the Padres not against the Cubs. Really interesting potential matchups and how that plays out and we've talked about potentially one of the road and obviously the Braves as well. I want to get in all that a minute. But quickly again, because I didn't see a time you'll follow the games and I saw a little bit bars when we were moving around Nashville, but we're out of the bats right now as we get close to the past because I know I know I know I know I feel like when you're talking about I like bone being potentially when you're most trustworthy bats heading into the playoffs not once we have started some sure people not feel that way, but like he's been one of the best hitters. It's it's concerning the way the bats have kind of it. It feels like we have like two weeks of like a well, look at this, what they're doing and then it's just it always goes back to where where like they're home you stasis or whatever.

19:43Yeah, it's funny. I think bone Martian stodder all going to end up right around the same OPS. I believe by the way, it's not to do see you. I mean, Marsh is that that graphic goes going around in Australia. His OPS since like y'all started break is like 290 or something like that or somewhere around us. 290. Yes. I believe his weighted runs create losses like 27 like the so league average is 100 and he is. That's true. 27. But yeah, again, it's just it's the same all story with the offense. I want I want to see them walk more. I want to see them get traffic on the basis. They did a good job of that in the seventh yesterday where they I think walked three times in the inning and then Crawford blew the game wide open. He's he's interesting. He's easy. He has a clutch factor to him like in the in the late game. He's he sparked the mountain rallies for this team in in late situations. I feel pretty good about having just some Crawford to play regardless. I mean, he's the 9-Holider. So it's not like the you know, it's not like he's the 3-Holider.

20:43But yeah, I mean, I want to see them recommit a bit to getting on base. It was not I mean yesterday was good. Saturday the dish. They shut it down. I mean, they're they're really an offense that you're going to just have to hook and get three or four runs on the pitching staffs going to do their part. I mean, that's really just it. I don't know what else to tell you. I mean, look, that's mostly playoff baseball. I mean, a lot of these games will be close, but like, you know, it just is like it's been a lot of like games. It's going to be a side plus. It'd be one thing if we had a good both and I'd be like, all right, like let's go into the playoffs and let's let's take our chances and play some close games. And I trust this pen. It's just it feels like one run into run games. It's like there. This is going to be like the most stressful playoffs we've ever watched if they go far just because it's like at no point or we felt any confidence that they're going to hold any lead they have. Like almost rather they be down latent games. At least I feel like this team comes back every once a while. Not literally, but you know I'm sad. Yeah. Yeah. Well, I mean, so Schwarber is Schwarber said a weird year. I mean, he's going to set the strikeout record.

21:45He's also 45. He's also had some clutch moments. He's hitting. I did not real quick. Just as an old school us fantasy players all that like I it does not surprise me. I did not realize it was Mark Reynolds. Like that totally jives. Totally next on. Yeah, totally makes sense. I just didn't realize it was Reynolds's record. Congrats to Mark Reynolds on a nice. That whatever. Yeah, I think it was 10 year run 15. Yeah, good. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Good. So Schwarber has been like weird. Turner actually had a good weekend. It gave me some hope. I thought yesterday. Like again, we talked about like he could change all narrative on a season if he just turned into frickin triturner. He's career. If he can like be one of their best hitters on the way to a championship like all from before is gone. Like it's that simple for and I know that seems like too easy. But it's true. Like if triturner is awesome and leads them or helps lead them to a world series like we will all feel completely different about that guy forever. 100% and I thought harbor looked pretty locked in. It's not he had a dominant weekend up there, but I thought he was engaged in locked in and sometimes pictures just get you.

22:52But I feel like they were. I feel like he was used fine arise. It's so funny how teens are just playing him now and I don't know what took them so long. But basically wants to was playing deep shortstop when he was up. It was he was he was so shallow and it cost him a couple of but I think the end of scoring anyway, but it cost them a run in the moment. That out bone thankfully was able to drive home and in the game on Saturday. But I think teams just start doing that more and more. There's just play shallow as you want and left field keep the ball in front of you. And if he beats you over the top, I mean, God bless them, but there'd be very. Haven't seen him do it yet. I can't think of a opposite field fly ball in the warning track or anything this guy. Yeah, I can't like it never happens. Well, he is running a career high and fly ball percentage since he's gotten here. So that's solid. Bones been money. I mean, boom has been shockingly great for for about a month and a half now and with run scoring position, he's on such a heater right now.

23:54It's just like it was in the first half of 24 where he was on days like 150 RBI's. So I mean, he's probably the guy that I trust the most right now heading into the post season, which is a good spot to be in. Make you feel how to make you feel everyone at home. Come on our guy, boom. Stop no real confidence in currently, but I do think he's been all right in the post season. Marsh, no zero confidence, JT, no real confidence, but you know, he's had some big moments this year. So again, he's a moment guy for me. I'm not someone I'm going to rely on, but just get a big hit every once in a while and then Crawford. Just fine, you know, get a big hit like I just I don't have I would like to see some Brian De La Cruz this week, just see if maybe we can cut into the marshy's playing time a bit. Derrick go. I think we trust in moments, but you can't hand the keys to Derrick Hill. So I mean over marsh. Maybe maybe that's what I mean, like I you know, at this exact moment, righty or lefty like obviously lefty on the mound.

24:57I might rather have Derrick Hill to plate the marsh in a big bad like certainly in a big bad, but just pure yet I might. Yeah, I told you to beat a bad spring training. I told you, I told you it's marsh. And you did your little victory lap early. You did your little victory lap. See this thing you do with the great great spring trains be like they're going to be awesome at the end of the year. Just get ready. Okay, that's just going to happen. That's what they always say you have a bad spring training a great start of the season that you really peed her out at the end. That's what always happens always. Yeah, you know, so yeah, I just the offense. I am so just of the mindset of have a moment. I do not I do not have confidence that they are going to be able to hang six. I don't have any confidence in that. I am banking on three or four three or four. That's a tall task for them and a great pitching staff stepping up and taking control of whatever series there in that is my official statement on on where we're at heading into October.

25:57I think that's fair. All right, let's get before we get to the bag in the my league minute and all that stuff. Let's get to the actual playoffs situation because I actually I think you and I are on the same page. I actually want them to start on the road like I'm fully there with you. I obviously love to go to Chicago. I think we fun to play in Rigley and all that. Just in general. I don't necessarily want them to travel across country, but I feel comfortable going to San Diego. If that's how it plays out. I feel comfortable going to Atlanta. I'm not scared of that team. I don't think this team is scared of that team. And like we've talked about they've won the last couple of playoffs here is they play against them when they go in and see those guys will be like I've beaten you in the playoffs recently. I know what that feels like I think there's something to that. But I also think they could lose any of these three teams in any of that home or on the road. I think the Padres obviously the team you'd like to play the most you feel the most confidence. And not me. You want to be rich. No, I want you. I want you. Okay. They would they would kill that cup. They're going to kill that cup. See that they play. It comes.

26:57They put up 40 runs against the games. We got to do it against this pitching staff. Come on. Yes. They're not good. Kirk Kirkery is not here anymore. It's okay. By the way, thank goodness. By the thank goodness. All right. So lay it out. Lay it out. Tell me. So comes what. Tell me the order you want to play him and tell me. Road home and kind of how you see this. So I want I want. Cubs the most in regularly 100% start on the road. I think that would be good for this team. Shorter returning to home and and killing them would be fun. I would go. I guess Padres second, but I think the Padres have some juice. I think the Padres have some juice. Man, I it's a different team than when they beat them. You know, another 60. Why don't like how people bring up their six and all against them. I understand it. But also they were going through a historic offensive. But at that point and tie France now being there and being a real piece has helped them. Fernandes. These turn back into Fernandes. He's been unbelievable just in time for me to not be in the postseason anymore and fancy baseball. But after attacking my first two months of the season, but who cares.

28:03Who's keeping track of that stuff? No one. No one. And the thing that scares me about the Padres more than anything is they could turn it into a five inning game. I mean, it's the best boat better league by far. I mean, that's tennis lights out. Maybe they can sign Kepler for the postseason and he could take Mason Miller. Did you see that home run the Griffin Kona. I hit all of them. I didn't know. Griffin Kona. If the if the Marlins weren't dumb anymore because I think they're smart. I would be trying like all hell for Griffin Kona in this all season. I think that guy is awesome. Anyway, it's amazing. It's crazy. And he kills the killer. He's twice a year. Did he hit a ball? Mason Miller threw 102 miles an hour and Griffin Kona. It was it was a it was Matt Stairs asked you to 100 miles an hour. You should look it up. It was one of the most it was one of the most perfectly squared up baseballs I've ever seen in my life. It was it was perfection. It was Schwarber off of Darvish and it was Stairs. Wow. Awesome. You should look it up. It was cool.

29:05The so like they could just hand the ball to that that ball pen. I have zero faith that the Phillies would be all score in the sixth seventh eighth or even the ninth. Obviously with Mason Miller. So the Padres worry me. I think the Padres might be ahead of the bar behind the braves. Like I might they might be on a nice delise. Oh my god. Oh my. Like a perfect perfect barrel on that. Look at that. Yeah. Wow. Put a barrel on a bullet. I dude. That's a fun one. Yeah. It's going. Tied it up to and then I. Yeah. It was a big one. So I actually might have the Padres last. Like of the theme. I want to play the least just because just because of the thought to you. He's on and and that bullpen. I have such little faith in this Phillies team. They're able to do anything that against that bullpen. And then the braves. I the problem with playing the braves in the wild card round is.

30:06And I think why I would so probably have them the team that want to face the least is. I just feel like game ones. I feel like game was lost because of sale. Like I just I know that sounds like a defeatist attitude. But I mean that dude is money. He's nails. He's prime curse sale again. I know that they scored three against him. But also they did squat after the. It was on one hit. Like that one inning. They got they got to him and Darga had a big hit. And I was pretty much it. Right. And when they beat them in the postseason. Was he healthy? I'm trying to remember. If he started any one of the two certainly not the first one. Was he there in 23? He was that's what I don't think he was there in 23. Because he won the side to for sure. He won the side young in 24. Right. Yeah. So I don't remember them facing a playout game to you. He might have started that game to where Wheeler started it. And they lost in the Harper add-up boy game.

31:06But I don't think so. I don't think. Yeah. Tucker put it. Okay. He was in Boston 23. Okay. So. Yeah. It makes sense. I got our face. I got our face. So. But yeah. I just. So we were right at the point. What? He didn't face the Phillies in 22 or 23. That's where we were. Yeah. We were. I just. Yeah. But so this the sale factor in a three game series where I feel like we're going to lose game one. I don't love that. At least against the the Padre starting staff. I mean you're facing Paveira or Mise or Robbie Ray. So I guess Michael King is in there as well. Michael King's pretty great. Wow. Wait. Hold on. Chris sale does as a six three five postseason. Are is that correct? Tucker. Wow. Guess what? I don't buy it. I would give you the praise. Sales sales. He's he's curshall in the postseason. I mean he did 24 runs in 34 innings. Wow. Wow. So he's a huge fraud. Is that what I'm hearing about Chris sale? Well, actually feed me the braids.

32:09We're going to. We're going to dominate Chris sale in game one. I know that on the great start step after that. It's just it just game one. I'd be worried about. So. I don't know, man. I mean they all present their own challenges. The the nice part about the I mean the cups. By the way, I mean, I will. Belting in. Bergman will be back. But I don't know how much injury. It looked awful. I mean. The picture. Tweeter out or was I bananas? He got messed up, man. He did. I know PCAs been unbelievable, but we've also never been in the playoffs before. Azee. Yeah. If he has not in Passover three game series, well and? watch the Phillies dominate Shohei Otoni in the postseason last year. Like, it's, it's, it's great pitching, hopefully, beating good hitting. And he's obviously been great. And I love BCA. And this is one of the best individual seasons I can remember. Um, you know, but like Shohei, that was the year that, I mean, he was, he was, he was showing. And the, and the, well, now, last year didn't go 50, 50, those years ago. Regardless, regardless. I saw

33:11what they were able to do against him. And I have not all the confidence in the world, it's really just for them. It's, it's him. And then it's like, say it's had a bit of a down second half, like Michael Bush. I'm not going to be up it. And I think about Michael Bush, uh, braven in a big spot, 100%, but who knows how he is right now. And everyone else after that is, is gettable. I mean, they have some aura, uh, with Riggley's Riggley, but they're not this juggernaut. Yeah, look, I, it's funny because I, it's not like I have a ton of confidence in the Phillies, but I also am not really super scared of any of these three teams. You know, when you get to the Dodgers and Brewers, we can have a different discussion. But look, I think they could lose or beat any of these teams. I, I think that for me, I get your point. I'm not as scared of the Padres, but I, I think that's probably influenced just by the fact that I feel like it, and, and it's not right that it's always something into the, the Toronto Raptors and never wanted to, till they won, you know, and, but it just doesn't, it doesn't feel like the Padres have that juice. What a matter. It's like, it feels like every year,

34:13they did it. They're the, I feel like every single year, the Padres of the team are like, oh, don't want to be a Padres going in the past. Oh, that's a scary Padres team in every year, they fail every year. So like, I need to see the Padres break through to believe that I'm, I'm going to be scared of the Padres. So like, I would take the Padres first. I'd take him here of post, obviously, but I would be, go to San Diego. I wouldn't be too worried about that. The Phillies have played really well in that building last year. It's like this group of Phillies has played pretty well out there. So I would probably go Padres one and Cubs two, Braves three, but I agree with you in the sense that I think you can make an argument one way or another for any of these teams. And the thing with the Phillies is that whether it's the Bats, the Penn, whatever you want to point to or just the injuries or like that, they could be got on any level. So any of these teams that match up in a certain way, you could, you could paint a picture where it's like, well, the, the Cubs hitting is going to get them. It's going to get that those relievers. There's no chances. Penn can shut those Cubs up. No way they're going to get hits against this Padres Penn games over after five minutes. Like you can kind of paint a picture of Sailwinds game one. Then they just got to take one of two. It's over like, like, Kukuni is going to go nuts. You can find a,

35:15a storyline to believe with any of these. I think it is pretty similar. I'm very with you though. And I know it is counterintuitive. Like, and I, and I understand that I am sacrificing the chance to go to says in this bank park in October for at least a couple of moments, which is like, I wouldn't do for anything, but I think it's better for this team to be on the road. I really do. I, we are fully aligned on that. I think this team needs a little bit of a kick in the ass. And, and going on the road and being an enemy territory and being the underdog and wanting to get home, rather than hit the home run in the moment at home, I think it could be a real motivator that can, I think this team needs some, some confidence and juice, some role. I mean, like we know again, they were losing until the ninth inning in St. Louis in 2022. And again, there's a different team. I'm not saying they're going to be like that. But they were losing until the ninth inning in Team Tigger got that hit and Windows comes in later and slides in and like it was, it was a different thing. Like it was different. Harbrets in the home are the next night. Like it's like, this team feels different in two games than they did for almost the entirety of the season outside of that. You're

36:18run they had in the middle. Like, so I do think things can change on a dime, confidence-wise, belief-wise. And I just, I think that's so much more likely to happen with them going on the road. I have, I have very, very little faith, which is crazy. I just have such little faith in them just showing up and going, you know, balls out at home. I just, I, I don't feel it. I don't feel it. There's been too many tight ballpark moments. Maybe they take their cues from me, you know? Like when I, they can tell when I start pacing around the stadium by myself. Don't do that. Again, not the motto, not the, not the face of strength. I am not that kind of guy. There fully locked in, but never the, the rally, the troopsman. You're not the rock to lean on and lift on and build around. You weren't a different way. Just not in that moment, you know? No, no, no. Don't want to be there. Don't want to be there. I don't want to be there until they went on the road.

37:19I don't want to be there until they win the rock right around and then they split and whatever I don't DS game they are and then game three of the NLDS. I can't wait to be at says the bank bar. I think that will be, that's my, my blueprint to October is, is that go into on the road. And then I'll see you at the bank. That's where we're fully aligned. We're actually fully aligned on this. I, it's counterintuitive. And I think most people disagree with us. I, I feel super strong about it. So, all right. Let's get to the bag in a second, but Jack, oh, did, did I know this? Say it, say it. Do you remember the number that one in three people suffer from nausea? That's right. Regularly suffer from nausea. And as you know, my wife, Emily is one of those people and it's, she is horrible in our lives. I mean, driving anywhere has been an adventuring pain tolerance. Sick to her stomach. She'll turn green. Zoe and I are, are trying to talk quietly. So it's not to upset her. There's no fun. There's no hanging out. An idea of a cruise or a train trip, anything like that. Out of the question. We've never even considered it. It's been a real impediment in our lives. That's a tell relief band came into our lives.

38:23For us, it's been an absolute miracle. It has literally changed our lives. We can go anywhere and Emily is completely fine. She puts an on. It's like, bang, I'm good. Let's talk. Let's listen to music. Let's hang out. And we've talked about taking a cruise. It has been an unbelievable change in our lives. I know the cruise was on. A cruise! A car ride was off the table, Jack. It is, it is completely and totally opened up our lives. Relief in is 100% natural. No pills, no side effects. It works in just minutes. Relief in, stops, nausea, things like motion sickness, morning sickness. And from hell's like, gel pee ones and Jack get this, I can verify myself now. It even works for nausea from hangovers because this voice isn't the only thing I had in, in Nashville. I got to hangover from going out on Friday night and drinking way more than I meant to. And I felt it. You're damn right, buddy. And I felt it. But you know what I did on Saturday morning, I had to do a show. I get up. I put relief in on, bang, I felt better. It was like magic. It was

39:24unbelievable. Put relief in on your wrist and turn nausea off. Go to reliefband.com. These promo code James Edge, JAMES for 20% off. Relief in.com. Go to James. And we're beta testing if it's going to work in October. When we're. Yes, yes, that's a real stuff. We could say we're exact over it. Then we got a real thing here. If it helps from that perspective of staying calm in the ballpark. Yamaha Resort and Casino at Sandman Well brings exciting nights of music and comedy to the stage. Seek country music superstar Miranda Lambert, November 12th. Don't miss inspirational singer, songwriter Lauren Degel, November 21st. And experience the quick wit of Matt Reif, December 5th and 6th. Tickets on sale now at Yamaha theater.com. Only at Yamaha Resort and Casino, California's number one entertainment destination. You in must be 21 to enter. Drink up, baby. Fantasy football happy hour is here to get you wins and have some laughs.

40:24Matthew Barry here and my podcast, Fantasy Football Happy Hour, has the sleepers bus and start sit advice you need to win your league. We're diving into the tape, we're crunching the numbers to bring you sleepers. Bus weekly start 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 Barry wherever you get your podcasts. We touch on it, but uh. Kirk ring. I mean, just you see it on the mound. He's got no confidence. He is that they sent him down on the Iron pigs game. It was the last game. It's over. Yeah, they sent him down to nothing. They sent him down to just go away. Is what he said. Yeah, an absolute miscalculation by them in the Aussies and I understand rebuilding his image and things like that. But who could have seen this coming? They should have seen it. Like here's what's going to happen. He's going to they're going to trade in the sauce season for nothing. He's going to go to one of the random A L teams. He's going to have a good run. And then he's going to get traded

41:30probably somewhere else. And then he's going to turn right back into a Ryan Kirk ring. I agree. There I don't think he has in big moments. I just don't think he has it. Like Alex McFarlane has the stones that you wish that that a Ryan Kirk ring has. I know that's early to project on Alex McFarlane. But you see him. You see how he acts in moments. You you they Kirk ring would have a scared face. Like Farlon doesn't. And maybe it's all those reps closing out games for redding for then don't mid mid July. But you were criticizing them. That was the whole point the whole way, Jack. They they they had a plan. High leverage spots. Yeah. I mean the the the sequence to so do yesterday where second and third two outs won so do I've amazed first and second two outs and there's already a run home. And he's in first Sanchez Sanchez stays in the mound clearly pissed that Don Maddenley for taking him out of the game clearly mad the death stare in the dugout. And you know, I know it's a Sunday. You know, no one's watching because the Eagles have the win

42:35of the century against a the hapless Titans team. But the quarterback magic is magic was the one. Oh, he's just so magical. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yeah. Who could who could have executed that. But the it's a Sunday. It's raining a team up in the playoffs. That still wants Odo and two weeks prior Alex McFarlane's facing Akunia and throws seven straight fastball in Akunia. Last one. And yesterday McFarlane three straight fastballs 102 on the last one blows it right past Odo wants Odo. So like he has something. And I like done after the game talking about like he's like the kid and I understand it. But I think they still kind of treat him that way. And they're going to go on to this postseason. They're going to put Alvarado into the eighth. He's going to blow it. And and it's going to be infuriating because this kid has something. He has something. And he's your future set of guy for as long as Toronto's here. And then maybe

43:37he takes over who knows that's down the road. But like he can be a bad guy. I mean, Madison. Yeah, he could be like, you know, he could be that kind of like he could be an eighth inning guy. Again, he could be closer. But he could be your he could be your full stop eighth inning guy. He could be what Brad Keller was supposed to be. He could be a mad someone's bag of that like he could be that kind of guy. Yeah. If they would give him a little bit of rope. So that's one of the situations that I'm answering is is the Alvarado McFarland deployment in October and even the rest of this week in big spots. But I was impressed with him yesterday. And that was a big spot. You know, maybe he's going to be a seventh guy and then you get to go out the ball to Alvarado for the eighth. But I just man, it's I don't love it. I don't love it. Yeah, I hate it. Can I ask you a question? And again, I know because you don't get it either. And I'm not saying like that you can give an answer to something that that makes sense. And look, I get that over the last month, OZ Alvarado's numbers have been better. They have. You know, like it doesn't always look great and stuff like that. But you know, I just looked it up and it's more surprising that it's got a .79 year

44:41of his last 28 days. Like that's shocking. That is absolutely shocking. I'm floored by it. But how can they trust him as much as they do, Jack? Like what I don't understand is when like, and I know Mattingley has been the man to hear the old time. Like, these are all organizations. Like Mattingley is not by himself choosing those. Like this. Like, often, often clearly love some. There, and what I want to say is I didn't go through what we've gone through with OZ Alvarado. And still love him. No, you do like, I'm not even talking. I can't even go through my voice. But like, I can't, like, I'm even talking about the steroids or any of that top. I'm just talking about the inconsistency, the fact that we know that this guy, even when he's pitching well, can come out and throw the ball to the backstop in a big spot or whatever. Like, it's just he is so impossible to trust, especially with even with the 0.79 Euro or whatever it is over the last, you know, 28 days. He's still been year over five on the season. Like, it's not like this guy has been, has been good at all. Almost any point the season until a little bit now. And is it just that he's been here? Like, I need to understand how they can possibly feel okay putting these

45:47guys in the spots they put him in, especially like I just, I'm so mystified by it. Well, especially because he's been bad against lefties this year. It's not like he's been lefty. He's a better against righties and lefties. I think it's more than willing into existence than it actually being the, the existence. I think that they want to believe that he is some weapon out there. I, there is no bigger fear I have having with the postseason than them having like a 3-1 lead in the eighth and they're giving the ball to him. Like, that's my, and by the way, like, they need to grow up when it comes to using Duran just in the ninth. Like, if you're telling me, if you're telling me eighth inning, they're facing Akunya, Harris, Olsen or whoever they did the breaks. What are we doing here? Then you're giving the ball to Duran. I'm sorry. And if he has to go two innings, so what? I don't care. I really don't, I really don't care. They got to grow up with like the only ninth inning thing for Duran. And I probably, like, it's something they should test out this week, by the way. This is what they do. I know I said this a month and a half ago or whatever would talk her. I was like, when I was a month ago, I was like, what are we doing? And then they did the one

46:47up down because they had to in Los Angeles, they put another sense, like, what the hell are you doing? Are you not like, it's so great you have? I can't do it. Well, and it's, they made the mistake with Robertson last year. Robertson didn't do it at all until game one or asked him to go back out there. It's crazy. It's crazy. Duran could not be relegated only to the eighth to the ninth. If they're going to win, if they're going to win, it's all hands on deck, all hands on deck. And then find someone you want to bring, like, Lazarda the close game. Like, if you have to, you have to, it's a ranger ranger closed out the game. They're at the bank game ranger closed it out. Yeah. So they got a they got a girl with that. But Kirkering seems like he's never going to throw pitch with feelings again. And man, what a, what a fall from grace, man. I mean, he was he was really, really something when he came up and and the stuff. Remember his first moment with the video with his dad and all that like, that was like, you know me. I mean, that's like my god. I'm talking about Luke. I still talk about Luke Williams. I mean, that's how much I love that god. It's stuff like that stuff gets me.

47:49And like, that was an awesome moment. I felt so cool. And also, we have a fond like Kirkering thing where it was like, that was you had such a great call Kirkering. Like, that I was in single A and you're like, yo, guys, hey, everybody, look at this guy. He's good. He can make it to the majors. He needs to be just that year. Like it was nonsense. So he was such a, like, it felt like, wow, we've got something. We got something so cool and unexpected and fun. And it's a shame because he does have stuff. He just he to your point, the stones that, however you want to phrase it, like, he just, I said before, it's heart beats faster in the biggest moments. Whatever you want to say, like, he just, he just doesn't have it. It big like doesn't have. And maybe it can change, but right now, like, I wouldn't trust him in the fifth inning of a 10 run playoff game. Like, he's that untrustable in a big spot. Yeah, I scare the moment. I mean, he's just, he's terrified the moment. And he shrinks in the, you can see it shrinking. Yeah. When he's out there, like him, him just melting on the mountain. So, uh, we'll not miss the, the experience in October this year

48:50with him for sure. And then that's pretty much I have on, on that, oh, you messed it on Saturday, but that can't go blown open by Brooks Rayleigh, who I just, I can't believe he sucks. I, I, the mess are mystified that he sucks apparently. Like, Fransky's, Fransky said that they don't know why he's bad, but he's just horrendous. And I mean, look, he's 38. Maybe you just finally valve a clip. It is possible. But he had a quick eight before he got straight in here. I know, I don't know, I don't know. I don't know what was talking about. Fricking figure it out, Brooks. My goodness, although in that inning Crawford took the worst route to a baseball I've ever seen in my life. And I saw you, I saw your tweet about it. It was the worst route I've ever seen. Like, how that was the read off the bat was, was, was crazy. So we're going to lock that in now Crawford made up for it with the, the base clearing double yesterday. So appreciate that. But I do have a minor, minor, minor fear of his defense in the postseason, even though it's a minor, minor, minor, minor, fear. And then running to game one of the Eastern Eastern League finals last night, a thrilling one

49:56nothing, one nothing win for the boys against, against Erie caught a little bit of the game at the end. So it was, now gauge is on the developmental list. I don't believe he's going to pitch. So it seems like his season might be over if I know that correctly. But yeah, so we'll see if we're adding can take on the take on the Eastern League title. Everyone, everyone's, you know, on pins and needles, hoping that the the fighting fellows can get it done. Biggest thing in Philadelphia sports right now, I think probably. I'm total eager. We all got to have our wins. You know, we all got to have our wins. All right. All right. All right. So we're a week away from one, one way or the other next Monday's pod is going to be freaking awesome. Like next Monday's pod, like whatever, however they get there, whatever, we're going to at least be able to get excited for a for a series and see what happens from there. But as long as they win two games this week. Well, yeah, yeah, you're right. Lay, lay, lay, lay, yeah, hopefully. Oh, next Monday's pod could be the worst pod we've ever done. Also, it's either going to one of the two. So get

50:57it right. Yeah. I mean, either way. It's super fun one or the least fun pop we've ever got. One of the, well, I was talking to people out of the borough. Great time out of the borough last Thursday. The borough was awesome. Shout out to the borough shout out to, um, uh, uh, J, J, J, yeah, he was awesome. Super nice guy. They were great spot. Yeah. Uh, I know. I saw those people out there and they were like, you know, when you have your meltdowns, yeah, they're, they're few and far between, but they, they, they, we were, we like those. And so, well, they, they usually coincide with just horrendous performances from the baseball team. So, we're, we're not rooting for that, but just win two games this week and we don't have to worry about it. Yeah. I'm going to be back later in the week to react to it all and all that. All right. Anything else for me to add here, Fritzy? Nope. I'm going to soak my throat and salt water and whatnot and hope that you better. I'm not actually going to do that. I'm just going to hope it gets better. All right. Okay. Uh, one week in the week. I take two and three from the boroughs and just end this whole thing and we can just be good and, and look at it. But at least one would be nice. Nice one. All right. Oh, well, we'll talk to you guys later. You can tell that.

52:00Thanks for it.