Too many little mistakes cost Phillies a HUGE chance to gain ground in NL East

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1:03video producer here at NBC Sports Philadelphia. Once again, joined by my co-host Sean Kane, the producer of Philly's pre and post game live, Sean Kane. Hello, Spent. Ah, yeah, it's awful. Another one of those series where a few things go right. Yeah, and we're talking about maybe a sweet. Yeah. But nonetheless, they wrap up the second to last homestand of the season with a dropping two or three to the Houston Astros who are good, but not great in my opinion. But I think the main talking point when it's all said and done looking back at this series, it's the little things. No doubt. Fundamentals. Yeah. Your main takeaways after losing two or three to the Astros. Yeah, you're not wrong. The fundamentals you saw it again on Thursday afternoon, pardon me, with the bone base running play. There was obviously the series open or a marsh and so-so both had some base running blunders late in the game that cost them.

2:03There's some other things on Thursday like Marcia and I'm getting a blunt down, like literally three tries or two tries getting a blunt down. They almost hit themselves in the face. So that's simple stuff like that. Turner had another error that luckily didn't cost them. But the fundamentals, you're right. They've been spotty all year. And it's September now and there's still spotty. So I guess it's kind of just what it is at this point. I hope it doesn't hurt them in October, but chances are probably will. But yeah, it might take a way, like generally is that, you know, it feel like every time we sit down, it's like, okay, we're back to four games behind the brace. Like, you know, we got within three of the Phillies did after Wednesday night. The Braves come out earlier than the Phillies even on Thursday and then they beat the race in a pretty quick game. So you knew it was at three and a half and you needed to kind of keep pace and keep it at three, but no such luck. Obviously Doron goes up the home run to camp Smith, who had a nice series. And they're four back now with 15 to play. And it's really five back because the Braves had the head to head tie break or so. You can do the math. I think, you know, me and Michael Barcan were just talking over those final 15 games. Say the Braves go eight and seven over their last 15, which is a game over 500 so they

3:05could very well be better than that. The Phillies have to go 13 and two to pass them, which means to win the division. So. And now there are three of those 15 or head to head. So those are doubles. That every win for the Phillies knows three is a loss for the Braves. So it's not quite as insurmountable, but it's still an uphill climb. And I think the wild card is looking more and more like the path the Phillies are end up going. I think that's exactly where we are at this point in the season. I, and that's the thing. Like I've talked to fans. I've talked to people here. Like that might be the best plan of action. Truthfully, is to get that top wild card spot. And I think that needs to be the priority now going forward. I know they're, they really, the team has a whole really wants to win their third straight naturally in East title. Of course. But with the Braves winning again on Thursday here, it is. It's going to be a tough uphill climb. And I think like you said, going 13 and two. Yeah. With a very pretty tough schedule. You got what Atlanta, Washington, New York, Milwaukee Tampa Bay, then the season here is the five series. I don't, I don't know if they can go 13 and two in those things.

4:06But yeah, man, I like, I think looking back on Tuesday alone, I mean, you got So Sun Boom, making the mistakes. Then you have Marsh also making a crucial mistake. And obviously he was very apologetic after the game on Tuesday. Yeah. But those are the type of things that it just can't happen. It just can't happen, especially in September. And I hope it doesn't kind of linger into October. Yeah. You said it. I mean, there's just so many different things that you're worried about biting them in October, whether it's the base running, whether it's the defense, because frankly, they've been a pretty poor defensive team. The short top specifically had another error on Thursday. You know, the base running is one thing. It's a small ball getting bunched down and just kind of making winning plays. It's been a struggle. So yeah, and that's what October's all about. We've talked about that a couple times. So yeah, it's just frustrating. And not to be all doom and gloom, which I kind of am right now. But you know, we mentioned their four back of the braze. We were looking at the wild car standings right now as we sit here. The clubs we mentioned, the Phillies got a game on them. But the Diamondbacks and the Podgers are both playing some pretty good ball.

5:07So it's kind of shrunk a little bit. It was kind of the Phillies and the clubs out ahead. Now it's kind of getting a little closer to the point where really the Phillies are only four games ahead of the Diamondbacks who are right now the last team out. Right. So, you know, the Phillies are in good shape. But you know, you mentioned that schedule. If things go south here and God forbid they get swept in Atlanta and Arizona wins a few games, we could be looking at next Monday like, oh boy, we're only like two games ahead of not just the last wild car, but the team that's fighting to get in, which means you can be in danger of falling out. Because that schedule is legit. You said at that road trip, Atlanta, Washington doesn't have a whole lot to play for. You got two down there. But I'm sure Division Rival, they love to spoil it. And that's a plan. Well, the mats are playing well and they would love nothing more than to take three out of four from the Phillies and hurt their playoff chances. So, yeah. And the Brewers and the Razor probably right now two of the best teams in baseball, two, maybe the two best teams in baseball. So it's not going to be a last easy last week either. So they got to take a game by game. They can't get caught up in all this. But you like to win the series against Houston. You know, they're a winning team. They're a division leader, but they came into town two games over 500.

6:08You split with the braves, whatever. You got to take two out of three from the Astros. Have a winning home stand going into this road trips. That's why I'm kind of disappointed sitting here right now having dropped two or three to the braves and just, you know, disappointing no show from the offense really again on Thursday. Yeah, 227 as a team in this three game series against the Astros. And if you go back, Sean came including this entire home stand against that four game series with the braves. They were 11 for 55 with Ryder's and scoring position. And they came into the home stand last Friday as having the best OPS and best team batting average with runners and scoring position across all major league baseball. And you just, yeah, you can't have this offense just go quiet. And I know it's been like the talking point now kind of on the radio and everywhere else of like is this what we should expect of this team come October. And I would like to say no, I think they do get back to their ways of August of, hey, we're producing runs. We're getting on base. We don't need to do with the long ball. I just hope I'm right because I'm worried that it's going to be the same old, same old

7:11story of the last few years in the playoffs. So we'll see what happens. But is your main concern? I mean, painter doesn't pitch great on Tuesday. Sanchez did not pitch well on Wednesday. Me and you talked about it on the pod. Right now he's not my game one starter and the lack of card. No, he just, he just hasn't proved that. But at least Zach looked very back today on Thursday. And against his last two start, Zach, you know, the Astros good lineup and the Braves before that good lineup, you know, he had the good start against Anaheim. We're kind of like it's Anaheim. We'll see how he does in his next couple and he's been really good. Like he's been really good. Nine strikeouts. He to last two games. Seven innings today. One earned. So really strong Zach. So yeah, right now I'm kind of deciding if you want to go Zach Willor or his Usles Ardo in game one. If you had to start a playoff series today, you know, Sanchez has been very good all year. But he has not been great the last couple of weeks. I think he's got a four five six in his last four and he got hit around pretty good on Wednesday. Ten hits. A lot of games were giving up double digit hits this year. A lot. Which is just crazy giving his stuff. But um, but yeah, so we'll see, we'll see how it plays out.

8:12You know, there's that school of thought that you don't start Lazaro in game one because you want him in the bullpen. So if you start Wheeler in game one, then you have Lazaro ready to bridge the gap from Wheeler to Durran. You go with Sanchez in game two and Lazaro if game three is necessary and if it's not necessary, Lazaro is ready to start game one of the DS. That's, you know, getting ahead of ourselves obviously. But um, but the offense concerns me getting back to what you were just talking about. Like, it's been Feaster Fam and all year in the last two games. Look at it. 11 to seven. They get a big six run six on Wednesday, explode for 11 runs and then against Christian Javier, who was pushing the 60 array. Of course, he was great against them in the World Series four years ago. Ten scoreless innings for Javier. Yeah. Going back to 2022 World Series. Yeah, he loves pitching here. But he, you know, this season has not been that seen guy that we saw in the World Series. And he came out and, you know, shut the Phillies down. They had one run, you know, off of Javier in six innings. They didn't manage anything against the bullpen. And I believe we talked about this in post game as well with Michael and Ricky that now this is 12 games out of 50 since the break, one runner less. 12 games out of 50.

9:12You don't have to be a math wizard that pretty much about a quarter of the time. Yeah. And that stack goes back further than that. So yeah. And that's how it wasn't a playoffs last year for remember that all are nothing offense. Like the one game they won against the Dodgers, what they scored eight nine runs. Yeah. They don't know how to forget how many home runs, but they blew them out. There was the Yamamoto game that they got the best Yamamoto. But then the other games that they lost, they just couldn't, you know, work scratch across any runs. So that concerns me as well. So we'll see. But it doesn't get easier for the offense. I know we're going to get into it. But here comes Chris sale for what seems like the 72nd time this year. Wait a minute. And in reality, it's the fourth and he's got a one four two year A against the Phillies in three previous starts. And he just saw them last Friday. So Chris sales coming out of him again. Not going to be easy. But yeah, the offense, I don't think exactly inspires a whole lot of confidence right now, at least from the consistency department. It doesn't. And like Bryce has gotten cold. We haven't really seen Luis arise. Do anything as of late. He gets the first hit of the game in the fourth inning. Yeah, fourth inning, right?

10:12Fifth inning on David. He's the first game. Yeah. And like Kyle's doing Kyle thinks he's eating up. How does it has a home run for his last five games? But when it comes down to it, like, boom has gotten kind of cold. Starts gotten cold. He's gotten real cold. Trays gotten hot a little bit. But then you and I talked about it. And I think it's really weighing on them because we've seen what happened on Tuesday with the base running blender. But when we look back at the season and five to 10 years from now, I really truthfully think that we're going to be like, wow, Brandon Marsh was an all-star. Yeah. Yeah, it's just been a complete struggle and I think he is and it's head right now about it. Yeah. And he gets hurt at the end of a Thursday's game against X-rays were negative. He found the ball on his foot. So it sounds like he's okay, but yeah, I mean, there's no other way to put it. I mean, it's been a struggle since the break. It really even up leading up to the break with him. And he was as high as average as like 338. He was leading all the baseball. What a story. This is unbelievable. And of course, we weren't expecting him to maintain that. But we certainly weren't expecting to be around what? 265 right now. 267. I mean, that's crazy.

11:13That's a span. I mean, like I just said, there's only been 50 games since the break. You know, at this rate, he'll be lucky to finish above 250. So yeah, to your point, it'll be wild if we look back. He just had a great first half and the second half has been the exact opposite. It's really struggling to find any middle ground, but you know, it's a guy they're going to need. Obviously going to face plenty of righties down the stretch here and into October if they get there and into October. So yeah, but disappointing. And you're right. It is crazy to think how he was flying so high. All started. Started in the old circle. Yeah, here and now he just seems like he just can't buy one. Yeah. Is there what is there another thing in this offense that really, really concerns you? I mean, besides the base running, I mean, the base running has just been horrendous. Yeah, I talked. And I think real quick too, sorry, I think, I think it's like one of those things where, even with all the base running blunders that they've had, wouldn't you think like, I'm sure Don has got on there and be like, Hey, let's clean this up. But I think even when so happens and he talks on Wednesday and comes out and apologizes

12:16and said, you know, he messed up big time. Yeah. And then he said, is it one of those things where this is like a Bryce or Kyle thing? Like, Hey, we're not going to do this anymore. Like step up. I think this is where the leadership needs to kind of show a little bit for me. Yeah. The irony of Bryce talking about responsible base running to the guys. But no, I mean, they had, they were having awful at bats for what, three, four months. They're on base percentage. It was dead last and baseball. And then I guess somebody decided we need to have a meeting about this. Had a hitters meeting. And after that August took off, you know, had a great August. So yeah, maybe it's time to talk about the base running too. Because you know, there's only so much that I'm mad and we can do. He's now we've seen this with both managers now this year that the sloppy base running. And it's September. So yeah, these guys know they're professionals, but I don't know. It's just if it's a combination of reckless and careless and just kind of not smart. Like boom today, it maddenly said afterward, like that's usually a ball you go on because you're on second. The balls hit, you know, two year left. But you got to go. Like he can kind of hesitate to look back. He's not the fastest guy anyway.

13:17And he's out by, you know, 10 feet of third base. So and so say you talked about on Tuesday, that was just him thinking he got a home run. And he's done that a lot this year. And you just got to go because he should have been on third base there. And then maybe you score on one of those fly balls and it's a tie game. So that was bad. You right. He owned it, marty owned his mistake where he got doubled off on on Tuesday as well. So to create their own it, it's great there. They're taking it, you know, standing up and taking responsibility. You know, we're talking on 145, 150 games into the season here. And you're just seeing the same stuff. So yeah, that concerns me. The lack of consistency concerns me. Trade turner in the two hole like to again, I don't want to pile on tray because you're right. And then prior to Thursday, he had, I believe, let's seven extra base hits in eight games in September. Yeah, homer than his last two. So okay, here we go. Like, well, here we just been waiting. Come on, turn. And if you can salvage this whole thing by having a nice September and having a big October, that would be great. And maybe that would kind of make up for just this lackluster last five months. But there was a spot today where, you know, with Schwarber with one out strikes out, here

14:20comes Turner up with the tying run or with the go ahead run at the time. It was one one game at second base. I was the seventh inning maybe. And I just, for better for worse, I just don't have much confidence in him coming up in those spots and delivering. And he punched out again. And, you know, he's just going to see because he's between Harper and Schwarber, he's going to get some favorable matchups because teams and latent games are going to bring in lefties to deal with those two guys, Schwarber and Harper. And Turner's got to make teams pay. And he really hasn't done it all year. So that concerns me a little bit. And you said Stott, who was awesome in August, like he's really kind of falling on some hard times. So yeah, there's just not a lot of something that feel good about Bryce's Bryce. I think he'll be okay. But, but yeah, the offense concerns me. And certainly concerns me going up against good pitching in October and, you know, the Wildcard series in the end of September. We'll see what happens. Yeah, trade. Trade came in. How does a force fire? In the Thursday's game and he finishes over four. And it's like, again, it's just up and down, up and down. And I really want to see him kind of come through in multiple situations. We haven't really seen him come through in big situations all season.

15:21But when he goes the opposite field for Homer the other night, then he's finding the gaps like, I'm like, okay, that's the trade Turner that I've been used to. And even, again, loyal listeners know, like, what happened to the trade Turner that was so feared when he was on the Dodgers and even on the National's? Like that guy in the batter's box, it's like, man, here we go. Here comes a double in the gap. Maybe a triple because he's got the speed. We haven't seen that from him. No. In the last, I mean, yes, he won the batting title last year, but we haven't seen it this year at all. No. And I really think that he needs to step things up, especially for this team if they want to succeed in October. But yeah, Bryce, I'm looking at his numbers real quick. I mean, one 60 of his last seven. So basically this entire homestand was 160. That can't happen. I want the former MVP to be a former MVP in a big spot in September. And he was kind of dormant all this homestand as well. So yeah. And separately, not that this is going to be a big factor in October, but like the whole like, Mart, Mart Sean today, I was shocked to see him in the lineup. Same because, you know, Wheeler and JT are like JT's Wheeler's guy.

16:22So I was surprised to see him start bat 9, you know, his first game overall since July 22nd, first time Kesson Zachson's May 1st when JT was on the IL. Right. And you know, I criticized your guy Garrett Stubbs offense. Like, hey, it just seems like he's like, Mart Sean's even worse. Like, Mart Sean's even worse offensively and just bad at bats today. And then that's 16. He's got a chance to get a bump down, move around or put a runner in scoring position. And he just can't get a bump down like it was just a futile attempt at that. So what are you bringing to the table? A offensive, you're not hitting. You can't even get a bump down. I don't know. It's, and then it'll be interesting. I imagine something to do with they wanted to give JT today because they want him to line up all three games in Atlanta. Sure. But, you know, Noah starts tomorrow and Stubbs and Noah have been, but I guess I'm assuming JT's going to start. No, they're not going to sit JT two days in a row. But that's what makes it interesting because I think Stubbs starts tomorrow. Yeah. Somebody on Twitter, I got, I forget the guy's name on Twitter brought it up to me, which is a good point. Like, I doubt Stubbs is in there against sale. Like, obviously, right. He's against sale. That's a bad matchup. So that makes sense in that regard. So maybe JT catches Aaron. He did catch him in the field of dreams game.

17:23But you're right. I mean, he's been always been really good with Stubbs, but I'd be surprised if Stubbs is in there tomorrow. Yeah. We'll see. I mean, I just, that's the kind of where you want to go. All right. Do you ride the hot hand of Nola who's been great when Stubbs, you're on the plate? Or do you want this offense that it's succeed because it's Chris sale and it's a must-win game on Friday afternoon? I don't know what they're going to do. That's why you're right. Like, Marcian starting on Thursday is a head scratcher. Yeah. And apparently Wheeler was consulted about it. And that makes you think that they're like, all right, look, we got to get JT a day because we want them in the lineup against the Braves all three days. Who do you want? And again, I'm assuming he preferred to pitch to Marcian as opposed to Stubbs, which I've heard before that Wheeler is in crazy pitching to Stubbs through no fault of Garrett's other than he's a small target. Correct. Which I've heard, which obviously that suit Nola just fine, but I don't think Zach, he Zach likes a bigger target like a JT is ideal, obviously, in Marcian's, at least a thicker, more solid guy than Stubbs, so maybe that plays into it. We'll see. Yeah. It's going to happen. But it's just a very important series. And again, we'll get into that. When we look into the future, Zach too, though, as a whole.

18:26Oh, yeah. Like, I think confirmed back. I mean, getting out of the jam in the seventh, where he's running out of gas. You can tell he's out of gas. Base is loaded in a one-one game and hands up striking out and in. Like, that's the Zach that I've been used to over the last multiple years. We haven't seen that really from him over the last few starts, but I can, I feel confident saying that he's back. I think so too. Yeah. And we talk with Jim Salisbury in the pregame show and we asked him that same question. And Jim basically said, I want to see one more against this Astro team. And we saw it and I tend to agree. Now we're talking, I think Zach's got a one four tune as last three starts, angels, braves, Astros today. So that's a decent sample size. I think 19 total innings three earned over that span. And yeah, and he did get tired. And that's happened to him a few times this year where he's gotten tired and he's running out of gas and he hasn't been able to get out of that last inning. Finish up strong like he did. And he walks a couple guys in the seventh. You could tell it was getting to him. It was probably his last hit or he's up towards 110 pitches, but he bears down and gets the pinch hit or Diaz there. That's a big out.

19:26He's going to preserve that one one tie. You're feeling good about it. Alvarado, high wire act in the eighth. It's out of it. And then you know, Doran just to get that's that's Doran's second loss in his last three appearances. He took a loss on Sunday. I'm going to give up the the RBI triple to Austin Riley against the braves on Sunday. They lose that game and then he gets up the home run to Camp Smith, which was a no doubt or again today. So Doran, obviously great year, but certainly not firing all cylinders right now, at least to the level we expect of him. Only the second home running is allowed this season. But that was going to be my next question before that. Let's do anything to trade for Camp Smith next year. I know. He got a great series. My goodness. He's looking at our three straight games with the home run. That's 20 of them were tanks. Yeah. No doubters. Yeah, he's on fire. But that was going to be my next question to you though about to run. Like, he hasn't been great over the last few. And it hasn't been this like, okay, guaranteed shutdown kind of guy. Right. Are you worried about that? I think I talked to him or yeah. I mean, not worried, but like, yeah, you're right. Like at this point, I'm not when Doran comes in like, all right, you know, ball game.

20:29Like we were used to. He has leaked a little oil here and not at a great time with October looming. It's just maybe I think they get a figure out a way just to get Hazel's Ardo to pitch every anything. That's the only guy right now. Wheel is getting back there again, but yeah. I mean, McFarlane obviously had his hiccup against the brace, but you got it. I mean, to me, Doran and McFarlane, the guys I feel good about Alvarado is starting to get back to the race again. He always kind of scares me, frankly, but you know, he's gotten the results at least. He buried down on Thursday, which again, too much to my surprise, he buried down. He got out of it, but agree. But no, there's a lot more question marks right now and that staff, both in the pen and in the starting rotation. But I know what I should include Nola has got it in a short thing. I think it's a huge spot for him. He was really good against the brace in his last start. Now he's got him again. But yeah, to getting back to Doran, yeah, I'm not super confident right now, but he's their guy. And the thing is, I come October, I think they're more apt to give him the ball for maybe five or six outs, as opposed to the regular season when they've kind of tended just to go

21:30to him in the ninth. Like, if they're in a big spot in a playoff game, everything shortens as you know, the starter starters, they're short in terms of their outings. They tend to shorten October for sign of trouble. You got starters in the bullpen. You're just trying to get those outs anyway. You can get them. And if they think I'm adding only things in Caleb Kauf and that are best way to get the last five outs or to go to Doran and the eighth and sit them down and go back in the ninth, then they're going to do that. And right now, I think that's asking a lot of them, but they're going to try it, I think. We'll see. We'll see what happens. I do see that happening. Yeah. Yeah, because I think we trust big John, like Farland, I don't know. Big John has issues on the second day, right? When he tried to pitch him two days in a row, it's been a disaster. Yeah, which is an ideal. It's not ideal because that's he you're going to need it when these games are back to back to back to back. Right. And the wildcard series is three in a row if they get to that direction, which looks like they're going bingo. So we'll see what happens with the bullpen. He got anything else in the series. It was just as a whole just to be honest, like it was great. Kyle's Grand Slam, incredible moment. He kind of felt it was going to happen. Right. DJ Blueball. Blueball. Our guy, AJ Blueball. He had a rough series.

22:30He did. He looked like a scaredy cat out there and every single outing that he came in. But like, I'm okay with the resilience, right? Like down five nothing on Tuesday, down four nothing on Wednesday, come back, fight back, claw back. You get the job done on Wednesday. But again, it just you look back and you're like, okay, yeah, that's the offense that we're kind of used to seeing. It's great. Like, it's too many little mistakes. Yeah. And up costing them taking this series with the win on Tuesday. Yeah. And they could have won on Thursday. No, no doubt. They come out ready to play like the early offense has been not existing. They've been getting behind. And how about the day games too? I think now 24 and 24 in day games and their offense in day games is horrendous. horrendous. And post game they had a across the board like runs per game, slugging percentage, team OPS. It's all like bottom five in baseball and day games this year. And there's some playoff games as we know in the daytime. So they and Doddman was asked about it afterwards. Like, I know you probably haven't thought much about this, but like what's the deal? Day games with the offense and he's like, you know, anything I say there are you kind

23:32of just be guessing the guys come ready to play. Yeah, they're ready to go, but we really didn't have an answer for it. But weird. I'd yeah. I don't know. I don't have an answer for it. And if Don does it, I don't know if anybody does, it's weird. Like it's just sluggish. The offense is never look good in day games. They had a little stretch there. They were playing well during the day games, but it has not been since a while. Yeah. Just do it happens. But all right, quick outbreak on the other side. We preview another very important series with the Atlanta Braves down at Truis Park in Atlanta. But first a quick word from her friends at Team Toyota. This summer, Team Toyota is stepping up to the plate with the all-star sales event. Look what great Lee suffers on new Toyota models like the RAV4, Camry, Corolla, Tacoma, Tundra, and more. Looking for value? We have a huge selection of Toyota certified used vehicles backed by the confidence and quality you expect. And before you hit the road this summer, visit our award-winning service centers to get everything you need before those long road trips.

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25:37Cards issued by JP Morgan Chase Bank and a member FDIC, subject to credit approval, terms apply. Welcome back to Philly's Talk, presented by team Toyota, Sean Kane over there, so I'm some recruiter right here. Got any plans this weekend, Sean Kane. Other than some Braves Philly's action college football back on and a fell on the TV. Yeah, some kids have some games. We got football games and fall baseball games and some soccer games for our little guys. So we'll be going to all those. But yeah, no, it's football's picking up, man. That's exciting to, you know, obviously locked into baseball, but when you go home, you have some free time. It's always nice to throw in a football game. Birds start on Sunday. Come on. Are you excited at times? They got to win against the command. I don't know. Yeah, the trouble for those of them at home to start the season. I mean, the alarm bells start sounding early. Not going to be a lot of patience if Coach Nick gets off to a slow start this year. And no, no, sir, no, sir. But as you mentioned, we're focused about basing on here. Phil's, I mean, we said it before the outbreak. It's, you could say it's the most important series either of the year for now. That Milwaukee series and on Tampa Bay series could become very, very crucial for this

26:39team down the stretch, especially if they're battling for a wild card spot. Yeah. Goodness. But either way, we're looking to the future and spell the pH. Head into Atlanta should be a fun series. Last time we were there, Rob Thompson was the manager of this team. Yep. Obviously, a lot has changed since then, but Andrew painter or excuse me, Aaron Nola gets to start to kick things off on Friday against Chris sale. As we've mentioned, another tough battle with sale. He's unbelievable. I think he's going to maybe finish on the top three. I saw a young boating when it's all said and done. No, no. Then on Saturday, we have a just completely lost track. Mally, right? Yeah, Tyler Mally against big game Zeus. Yep. This first complete game shut out. I have expectation for him. It could be this stopper. Once again, if Nola struggles on Friday and end up losing, as sort of could be that stopper. Again, I expect big things from him. And then Andrew painter on Sunday closing it out against Grand Holmes, who was great in that Lasardo game on this past Monday, but your expectations for another big series.

27:39I mean, they have to win the series. And frankly, if they want to win the division, they probably have to sweep it. So even if they go down there and take two out of three, they make up one game. And then they're like three back with 12 to play. But again, it's really four back because the brace at the tie breakers. So then you're getting to, but to go down there and then take all three, then it's all the sudden. It's like, whoa, we're a game back with 12 to play. Here we go. I'm not expecting to take all three. Like I'm just saying that if they really want to win the division, that's kind of probably what it comes down to. But they guys kind of figure out a way to at least muster a little more off a sale than they've done to this point in the season. Like I said, he's got a one four two against him. And his three starts. Again, I get it. He's good against everybody. He's got a lot of his fillies and for lefties, especially that's a tough guy to deal with. But I expect an old a pitch well. Now he is facing the braves who he's faced a ton in his career, obviously. But he is facing again for a second straight time. So there will be some adjustments that need to be made expecting a pitch well. I certainly expect those are to pitch well on Saturday. And painter is a little questionable after his last out and against the Astros against the brave.

28:40So, you know, we'll see. But the braves are good. You know, they're obviously they've had the fillies number this year. They've already secured that tie breakers. So tough series. And again, tricky road trip after that with Washington and New York, a couple of division rivals on the road, even after Atlanta. So tough. But also shout out. We have a lot of brave fans that have been interested in our podcast, follow our work. I saw a lot of braves fans waiting on social media. We were talking about Ron Akugya. So hopefully the braves fans are watching excited for this series just like we are. I can't wait. Shout out to those braves fans. Someone he picked it up on social media. Sure did. Some of the words that were being said, you and I, Sean Kane. Nice. Man, you brought up. You asked me the question about Akugya's home run. Sure. And I prefaced my opinion with I'm the old guy. It's baseball now. Right. And I gave my two cents on it. Called him a great player, which he is, but wowsers. They don't appreciate you. You have an issue with the way Akugya circles the bases. It's unbelievable. And I called him a no show in those two playoff series, which he was. Which he was. Didn't appreciate that either. Didn't the braves fans.

29:40Which you and I talked about. You were like, it was what, 40 to five in that game. It was actually like 30 to like, I forget now 10 maybe 30. Yeah, but regardless of those four games, they he was all crushed them. And he didn't do anything in those series. So braves fans, thanks for tuning in to the stock podcast. Can't wait for you to tune in all weekend. That's right. Don't know if they'll be tuning in. If it's a sweep for the fills. Yeah. But if it's the other way, we'll probably hear from him. Welcome in on Sunday. We'll talk later. But yeah, that was very interesting. And we'll see. See what happens. Just like the Dodgers fans that kind of came crashing our party during the NOTS last year. We welcome that anybody in every baby. Yeah, come on in. We're for everyone. Yeah. So they do need to figure out a way to keep a cuny a little hard and they kept them up here last week. And that's true. That's a frustrating series for the braves. Obviously they dropped two or three to the Tampa Bay Rae. So Ricky said it last night on Wednesday. Like that team in that might be the best like overall team. When it's like going into October when it's all said and done. Yeah. They raise and we'll see them here in a few weeks.

30:40Yeah. And it's crazy. Imagine if it's the raise and the brewers in the World Series. Those two payrolls are what? Bottom third, bottom. I mean, it can be bottom five. It combines still not even close to like the top three. Which wouldn't be a great look for the owners who are screaming like we want parity. We need a salary cap. Well, the players could just point to like the raise and the brewers are in the World Series. They're probably living the two best teams in respective leagues all season. So it doesn't exactly a boat well for the owners trying to demand a salary cap because it's not fair. All these big market teams and high payroll teams are dominating. Right. We'll see what happens. But that would be especially going into the lockout here. Yeah. But another raise or impressive. The whole organization is impressive. Like a year after year with the resources they have and the lack of spending. They just develop these guys, particularly the pitching side. And you know what I think about the brewers and the way they do things. It's impressive to see those two teams just keep winning games. Sure. A year after year. You're a guy. It's my guy Pat Murphy. Kevin, Pat Murphy, baby. And it was cool. When was that Tuesday when they're like rookie? The brewers rookie comes up.

31:42Bottom 10 basis loaded tie game and Pat Murphy. It's just like giving them a pep talk as the Cubs are now their their mound visit there. And I'm like, yeah, that's your guy right there. Yeah. That's Pat Murphy. I mean, Pat Murphy, things still think that top are deserved. One of those nationally managed at the air, but that's here nor there. Quick standings update. Obviously the Cubs idle here on Thursday. So it is a one game lead over that top spot in the wall card for the fills. Just three and a half up on San Diego Padres, who are half game above those Arizona dimebacks. Pirates are still there. Five games back. They could get hot sneak in. That'd be kind of wild. You do see that every September like some team just goes red hot and like, oh my god, they've won 12 of our last 13 hours on their battle and for yeah, exactly. So, you know, let's hope the fillers are on the opposite end of that. I do want to mention too. I did a last podcast. I mentioned, oh, they've won 81 games. Not kind of a losing season. We joke about that. But they've now won 82 games. Thank God. It secures that winning season. Now, hopefully there's more wins to come. They have bigger goals in mind.

32:43But 82 wins is a winning season and now that's six straight winning seasons, dating back to 2021. So, I do think that's worth mentioning. 100%. Obviously they have a big payroll. They spend a lot. But a lot of things can happen. A lot of things can go wrong over the course of a baseball season and them for them to have six straight winning seasons on the doorstep of a fifth straight postseason appearance. I think it speaks highly not of just the guys in the clubhouse, the coaches, but the whole organization, the way they run things and that's to be commended. I think that's sustained success for six years now. It was impressive. 100%. Because when I first started, it was the cap years. And they were happy to get to 500. Yeah. And I do. I think this sustained success here that the Phillies have had is important to mention. And it'd be great to get the 90 wins. Yeah. Eight wins away. Find eight wins in there. Get the 90. And hopefully, head into October with a little bit of you finding eight wins in the last 15. That's a tough schedule. I am. I am. I think. I mean, what?

33:43So what would you say, Robbie? I said 11 and 7. You said 13 and 5. I said 13 and 5. Okay. So now, now you need 12 and 12 and 3. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Not going to happen. I don't think so. I don't know. But I do think eight wins here. Eight and 7. I like eight and 7. Okay. I mean, what? So just take two from Atlanta. There's two. That's easy. Yeah. And then I take three from them. Okay. Good luck in the cancel walk in Tampa Bay. Yeah. Exactly. Hopefully maybe Tampa Bay is got the top seat nail wrapped up in their kind of chilling but maybe nice. Still going to be tough to deal with. Definitely. Anything else? No. Just trying to talk myself in the positive. Absolutely. Positive here. Positive. Yeah. Can you imagine? Well, we'll be here to talk about it on the Phillies talk podcast presented by Team Toyota. No matter what. So thanks for listening. Thanks for your time. showcase podcast presented by Team Toyota, no matter what. So thanks for listening. We're going to land the plane for Sean Kane, I'm son of some repair. Sure, we'll talk to you hopefully happy and hopefully not sworn with braze fans on Sunday.

34:43Hopefully after Phil's win. I'm Galen co-founder of Brooklyn Solar Works. With my chase sink business premiere card, I get unlimited 2.5% cash back on purchases of $5,000 or more, which helps us donate solar panels to community gardens. Real business owner compensated for their participation. Cards issued by JP Morgan Chase Bank, and a member of DIC, subject to credit approval, terms applied.