09-17-23 Baseball Brunch

Chris Sack in the studio and Gregg Murphy from St. Louis bring you the latest edition of Baseball Brunch. Can the #Phillies finish off the sweep of the #Cardinals in St. Louis, and also the season sweep of the Cards for the first time ever? A look at their upcoming series in Atlanta against the #Braves and hosting the #Mets next weekend.

Episode Transcript

(00:09):
Good morning, Philadelphia. Welcome EndUp Baseball Brune, brought to you by
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I'm Chris Sack of Green Legs andRadio, broadcasting to you live from

(00:31):
the iHeart Radio Studios in ballet Kinwood, while Murph joins us from Bush Stadium
in St. Louis. Murph,how are we doing this morning. It's
a beautiful day in the Delaware Valley. How's it looking out there in Saint
Louis? It is absolutely gorgeous herein St. Louis today. It's gonna
be a great day for baseball forsure. And well, you know,

(00:51):
the films have played well against thisCardinals team so far this season, and
hopefully they can complete the series sweepsixth straight over uh, the Saint Louis
Cardinals. But you know this isa beautiful ballpark. I don't know,
Zach, have you've been here before? I was here, yes, here
last year. I heear series.That's right, and and it was,
and it's it's it's a cool place. I'm looking out of the radio booth

(01:15):
right now. I'm looking at thearch and the and the buildings and the
Cardinals Nation rooftop bar across the street. Very cool place. And uh,
you know, despite the Cardinals beingdown this season, they've had great crowds
over the course of this week.A lot of Phillies fans here as you
would expect, but great crowds.So always a fun place to watch a
ball game. Yeah, listen,I would like to get back out there

(01:36):
at some point or another, becauseyou know, to go into a playoff
game out there. Uh. Andyou know, I'm drinking as much as
I did before the game and hadto do during the game. Like I
didn't really get to explore Bush Stadium, but it is. It's a beautiful
ballpark. It's absolutely breathtaking, youknow, the views that they have there.
And speaking of the arch, we'regoing to dive into that in just
a little bit as well, becauseyou know, we need I wonder why

(01:57):
we need to have a we needto have an update. I didn't know
that Stock was about to call thathome run too. He was I think
he was teetering on the line,but he didn't die full four sin,
he did not. And yeah,so both our analysts did not have faith
in mister Schwarber, and for theforty fourth time this season, Kyle proved

(02:20):
them wrong. So yeah, itwas a funny moment on television, actually
a funny moment over here on radioas well as Kyle turned on that thing,
and a big moment in the gamelast night. Obviously an important you
know, Kyle, you look athis numbers, and we talked so much
about the batting average, and butKyle Schwarber is just a winner, and

(02:40):
he seems to be the guy thatwhen this team needs just a little bit
of a pick me up or youknow, a shot in the arm,
Kyle Schwarber seems to be the guythat delivers it. I mean, Bryce
Harper obviously, Tray Turner the secondhalf of this season, but Kyle consistently
is just the guy that kind ofsaid, all right, I got it,
you know, boom, and it'sthe three run home run and gives

(03:04):
the Fils a little breathing rooms,absolutely, and forty four home runs on
the season, ninety seven RBI.Nothing to sneeze about at all. And
what that three home run did waswas pretty much saved the back end of
the bullpen. I know Alvarado waswarming up in the ninth ending last night,
you know, Dylan Covey made ita little bit interesting, but so
did Alvarado the night before. Butit allowed guys like Sir Anthony and Kimbroll

(03:25):
and and Alvarado to take the nightoff for the most part outside of warming
up for Alvarado and save those armsfor today and hopefull you know that we
can get a sweep there. Buthey, we're gonna dive further into that
as this segment goes on, andwe're gonna also talk about the Gateway Arts,
which was just phenomenal stuff last nighton both ends for the radio and
television. But hey, this firstsegment is brought to you by our friends

(03:46):
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I know this portion of the program. We normally give away a pair of

(04:30):
tickets, and we got a couplea couple of weeks left in the season,
so maybe we'll do another one nextweek. Uh, you know,
to save for that Pittsburgh Series,which is gonna be the last few games
of the year. But you know, some startling news came out yesterday afternoon
ahead of the Phillies Cardinals game,and uh, you know, Liz,
I would be remiss if we didn'tmention this on our show. Uh.
You know, two thousand and eightWorld Series manager Charlie Manuel yesterday suffered a

(04:54):
stroke at a hospital in Florida.Thankfully, he was at the hospital.
He was there for a procedure.The Phillies just saying that these next twenty
four hours are crucial in his recovery, and the whole Green Legion Radio family
would like to send out our thoughtsand prayers to Charlie, Missy, his
family and the Phillies family, uhyou know, today and moving forward.
Charlie Manuel is a great man.I know, you know him more on

(05:14):
a personal level than I do.I've had a privilege of meeting Charlie a
few times. You know. Onetime, me and my wife we were
in our first year of dating andwe were at Sisson's Magpark and we were
in the Phillies clubhouse as Charlie Manuelis returning with you know, like a
bunch of other people from the Therewas a cruise that they had done.
It was in January of twenty thirteen, and and they were doing they just

(05:39):
came back from a cruise and Charliewas amazing to everybody in that clubhouse.
Took pictures, signed autographs, justa just a wonderful man. And you
know, as much criticism as thePhillies had at the time when they fired
Larry Bow and everybody wanted Jim Lelandand you know, hey, listen,
you got this guy that just goeson and just has the greatest run in
Philadelphia Phillies history, you know.And I saw the interview that I think

(06:01):
it was Jamie Pody did with LarryBoa yesterday, and uh, you know
those two, I mean, Charliereplaced Larry and and those two are like,
you know, two pis of thepod. They're like best friends,
and uh, you know it's we'repulling for you, Charlie, and you
know, Murphy, I would likeyou, you know, give me some
of your words on the matter aswell. Yeah, you know, it's
funny Larry Bola and Charlie Manuel areat almost every home game and have been

(06:28):
over the last you know, acouple of years. They're both consultants to
the front office. And they sittogether, uh in a section of the
press box that's kind of uh separate, separate from the main press box,
and the two of them sit there, and very very often, Charlie's wife
Missy is there and Larry's wife Pattyis there, and the four of them
sit and it's kind of like theirown luxury box. And you know,

(06:51):
for those of us that are luckyenough to know Larry and Charlie. Well,
won't you know, walk in thereand get a chance to talk to
both of them, and it's youknow, when I heard the news yesterday,
it's uh and obviously it hits youhard, and I think, you
know, the best thing I cansay is that Charlie is a fighter,

(07:14):
and he's one of the strongest guysI know, both physically and mentally,
so you know, you just haveto hope that he's going to be able
to fight through this. You know, he's had some health issues over the
last couple of years that you know, really taken a toll on him,
but he continues to fight back andbattle back and get back into the press

(07:34):
box and get back to the ballparkwhere he just absolutely loves to be.
So you know, our thoughts,I'll I go, you're what you said.
Our thoughts and prayers are are withhim and with his wife, Missy
as he you know, faces thisnext challenge and uh. You know,
we're hoping to get some good newstoday that that maybe he's he's made a

(07:56):
good turn for the for the positive, but I haven't heard anything yet.
All right, sounds great. We'reall pulling for Charlie, that's for sure.
But let's say, let's turn ourattention here, and this is what
Charlie would probably want us to do, is to turn our attention to this
baseball team that we have on thisfield right now. You know, at
the beginning of the week not sogood. We're gonna dive a little bit
into that Brave series and what it'slooking forward to as we get into these

(08:18):
next two to three weeks towards thepostseason. But the Phillies have salvage the
week, especially these last couple ofdays here in Saint Louis, hasn't always
been easy, in particular Friday Fridaynight, they kind of gave us all
a little bit of our heart heartpalpitations for sure. But if you if
you look at the overall the generalconsensus here for this team, the Colorado

(08:39):
Rockies are helping out this Phillies teamfor sure. They're they're knocking down the
giants out of this this wild cardrace. And they handled their business with
the Chicago Cubs earlier in the weekwith take a two out of three,
and the man that I don't know, if you followed it, you're probably
doing what I'm doing too. You'refollowing these these out of town scores and
everything. That game last night betweenthe diamond Backs and the Cubs, it

(09:01):
was just incredible going thirteen innings andthe Diamondbacks coming back. But man,
h you know, the Phillies rightnow hold a three and a half game
lead over the Cubs for the topwildcard spot in the National League. The
magic number to clinch home field forthe Wildcard round at the Bank is now
down to ten. So any combinationof Cubs losses, Phillies losses, or
whoever winds up hurdling over the Cubs, if they do so in that wildcard

(09:24):
race that equals the number ten,We'll go ahead and the Bank will be,
you know, the place to become that first week of October.
It's pretty hard to see, youknow, this being the case, especially
after how that Brave Series went.Murph. You know, the Phillies have
played the Braves hard this season,and we've talked about this numerous times on

(09:46):
this program. If anybody plays thePhillies, it plays the Braves better than
Phillies. Since the end of twentyeighteen. I'd like to see them because
the Phillies were the only ones thatwere playing five hundred ball against them,
But man like to see what they'vedone these last two days and an opportunity
to sweep and really knock this numberdown down, take it down to the
single digits. It's pretty phenomenal stuffthat the Phillies are doing right now.

(10:07):
Yeah, it is. And beforeI get to the Braves part of the
conversation, someone on Twitter put thisup today explaining the Phillies is the account,
so I would give them credit explainingthe Phillies the Twitter handled. But
they say, if the Phillies endthe season seven and sevens the fourteen games
up to play, and the Phils, if they just go five hundred from

(10:28):
here on out, the Cubs andthe Marlins would have to go eleven and
two to catch them, the dBacks and the Reds would have to go
eleven and one to catch them,and the Giants would have to go thirteen
and oz. So you know,the chances of the Phillies getting that number
one wild card spot pretty darten goodat this point. It's just the way

(10:48):
the math is going to work out. The Phillies just have to play five
hundred ball, and I think they'llplay a little bit better than five hundred
ball throughout their final fourteen games.So you know, I have them at
you know, nine and five probablyin the in the final fourteen, they
should be fine. Yeah, andthat does it gets in the ninety wins,
which which is also a pretty coolthing. So to your point about

(11:11):
the Braves, Look, the Bravesare the best team in baseball, and
I don't think it's really close,to be quite honest. You can make
an argument perhaps for the Dodgers.They make an argument for an Americket League
team, but I think the Bravesare the best team in baseball. They've
they've got it all. They've gotpower, they've got hitting for average,
they've got speed, they've got defense, they've got pitching, and they're an

(11:33):
outstanding team. That said, they'realso beatable in the postseason. You know,
it only takes a really good outingfrom from a starting pitcher and uh,
you know, a guy who doesn'thave his best stuff on any given
day to win a baseball series.And and and that's what we saw last

(11:54):
year. The Phillies made their run, and hopefully that's what we see this
year. You know, certainly theBraves are the favorite, but all the
pressure is on them at this point, anything anything short of a World Series.
I'll say anything short of a WorldSeries appearing to the World Series,
yeah, the appearance is would bea disappointment. I really think winning the

(12:16):
World Series is really the only thingthat they can satisfy at this point after
the season they've had. But ifthey get to the World Series, that
might be enough. But anything shortof that, I think it's going to
be a disappointment for them. Soyou know, obviously it was a four
game series. It wasn't meant tobe a four game series. It was
a game that got rained out backin June. But it was a four
game series, and you know,everything else, all the chips fall down

(12:39):
the table at the beginning of thisweek here despite losing those three out of
four at home this week and nowwe're three and seven against the Braves,
they have three games left against onMonday, Tuesday, Wednesday this week.
What have we learned about this Philliesteam against the Braves? And I'm telling
you right now, Murph Braves No, and Brian Schnicker said this the other

(13:01):
day. I believe it was afterthe Tuesday game. This is the team
that they least would want to seecome October and within the next three weeks
there. I'm sure that they arehopeful that the Phillies get knocked off in
the wild card round because as thingsstand right now and the way that they
do the way that they do theBrackett in baseball, whoever comes out of

(13:22):
that top wild card spot and thesecond wildcard spot automatically goes to the top
seed. And you know, barringa complete collapse and you know, the
Dodgers, you know, taking overthat top seed, the Phillies and the
Braves are on a collision course forthat NLDS again this year, best of
five, you know, three ofthose games in Atlanta, two in Philadelphia.
I wouldn't want it any way.To be the man, you got

(13:46):
to beat the man. That's whatRick Flair always said. And to be
the best, you got to beatthe best. And right now I'm not
overlooking anybody that we're gonna face inthat wildcard series. It's the best of
three. Anything can happen. ButI want the Braves again, you know,
in the playoffs, so that thatto me would be the best thing.
Yeah, And I think to yourpoint, it's the most likely scenario.

(14:07):
The winner of that that Wildcard seriesis going to get the Braves,
so don't just have to take careof business in that first Wildcard series.
It'll be three games at home inPhiladelphia more than likely, which I love.
You know, no matter who comesin there, whether they'll get the
Cubs, where the Diamondbacks or maybeeven the Marlins a surprise teams. They

(14:28):
do it with the Reds, yeah, yeah, or and I guess you
can throw the Giants in there aswell, but all of those teams have
an opportunity. But coming to Philadelphiafor a three game Wildcard series no easy
task. And then, yeah,you know, I think what we learned
about the Phillies and the Braves inthat four game series is that the Phillies
need to play near I don't wantto see perfect baseball, but they have

(14:50):
to play flawless baseball. They can'tgive the Bravest any opportunities. You know,
you can't give them extra outs.You've got a limit the walk.
She can't get it because they're goingto hit their home runs. They're going
to get their base hits. Soyou have to limit what you offer them
because they're gonna get a lot ontheir own. If you're able to if

(15:11):
the Phillies had been able to dothat in that four game series, they
probably win three or four of thosegames, and and you know, it
kind of turns the tide and changesthe conversation. And that's what Brian Snicker
is seeing. He's seeing, youknow, if they just don't boot that
one ball at shortstop, this isa different game, and it's it's a
different game at that point. Youknow, the Phills have an opportunity to

(15:33):
win those games. So I thinkwhat we learned is as good as the
Braves are, the Phillies have anopportunity in the postseason to knock them off
and as long as they play theirbest baseball. We've talked a lot about
resiliency with this team, and intwo of those games, the Phillies had
a shot late in the game towin them. In particular, I believe

(15:54):
it was it was Tuesday Nights gamethat they had man to tie that game
the way Trey Turner did and tohave an opportunity to win it in the
ninth the way that they had theopportunity to win it in the ninth and
in the fall short I mean,the Phillies have had a bunch of these
games over the last three weeks,four weeks where they've come back late in
the game and then it just itjust you know, they wind up blowing

(16:15):
it. I'm gonna live a runneron third base, or they can't get
the runners over from first a secondwhen nobody out, you know, they
get that run in, or thebullpen comes in and it's just you know,
right now, two weeks left togo in the regular season, what
is your biggest worry with this teamas we head to the postseason. Well,
I guess, I mean, Idon't know if worries the right word,

(16:37):
but I guess if I had thelist, you know what needs to
happen in order for the Phillies tobe successful. The starting pitching needs to
be better than it has been overthe last couple of weeks. You know,
even even Zach Wheeler, who hasbeen as automatic as we have seen,
you know, he struggled in hislast outing. Rageous Warz was terrific

(16:59):
last night. That was great tosee. They need the guys that have
carried them to this point, andthe starting pitching has been really good for
most of the year. They needthose guys to find that final gear that
finals the third win the fourth wind, if you will, and kind of
pushed through the fatigue at this pointand lock back in because they're going to

(17:22):
need as every baseball team does,really good starting pitching in the postseason before
they can hand it off to theirbullpen. Get that bullpen set up the
way they want to get their bigarms on the back end. Take a
lead late. So that would bemy number one, and obviously the bullpen
two. Right. You know,we've seen, as you said, a
couple of instances where the bullpen hasbeen shaky giving up late leads, and

(17:45):
that's going to happen through the courseof the baseball season. You just hope
it doesn't happen in late September earlyOctober. And I have a lot of
confidence in the guys out there inthe bullpen. I have a lot of
confidence in Gregory Soto and Alvarado andJeff Hoffman and Kraig Himball. I really
do. These are guys that,with the exception maybe of Hoffman, guys

(18:07):
that have done it before, thathave been there and that means so much
in the postseason. So is ita concern, you know, I think
every team is a little concerned abouttheir arms at this point, But I
feel pretty good about where the Philliesare right now. I gotta ask your
opinion on this. When the Braveswon the National League East on our field

(18:29):
on Wednesday night, the Phillies wentahead and they put up their congratulations Atlanta
Braves twenty twenty three and a lastchampions. Did that annoy you because it
annoyed me, But a lot ofthings annoy me. Yes. I thought
it was a classy move by aclassy organization. And that's what the Phillies
are, and that's what they do. And I will tell you, and

(18:51):
I know you know this already,but I will tell you and I'll tell
the listeners. Every ballpark that wewent through last year, well it was
two, but we're where we clinchedhere in Saint Louis and in Houston when
they clinched the first time, putup on the board, congratulations to the
Phillies heading to the postseason. Congratulationsto the Phillies wildcard winners. It happens

(19:14):
in most places, because it's notbecause I've heard that it is. Man.
Somebody was trying to say the otherday it was Major League Baseball mandated
that they have to do that.I doubt that. I don't know for
sure. I doubt it. Ithink it's classy organizations showing sportsmanship and and
saying, hey, you know,nice series, you beat us, Congrats,

(19:38):
or hey, terrific season. We'llsee in the postseason, Atlanta,
but congrats. I have no problemwith that whatsoever. I think it's great.
I think Atlanta, for me,they wanted to win it on our
field because they we knocked them outof the playoffs exactly. And for me,
I hope, I hope the Philliestake that, compartmentalize it, put

(20:02):
it in there in the back oftheir brains and and say, listen,
if we get that opportunity again.And I don't know if the Phillies are
gonna win it in three or fourin the NLDS, if they get there
and they play the Braves again,and they're lucky to do it on their
own home field, but we're gonnado it on your home field this time.
And I really hope that that's whatthey that they're doing. You could

(20:22):
kind of see that with how theyplayed very choppy on Friday night, a
lot cleaner brand of baseball last night. But you know, maybe down the
stretch, this is something that's gonnalight them a little bit more internally.
I'm looking, do I want totry and save this? Yes, all
right, I'm gonna save my nextpart because I know some people are climbering
for it on the board here,So I'm gonna save this. This is
gonna be a tease when we comeback on the other side of Hey,

(20:45):
yes, before you go to breakthough, Zack. I did just get
an update just a minute agoing onCharlie Manuel can I yes please? So?
According to the Phillies this morning,he received a positive update on Charlie
Manual from his wife, Missy.He has made progress over the past twelve

(21:06):
hours and the doctors are encouraged.So that is great news for Charlie.
They said the next the first twentyfour hours was going to be the most
critical for him, and that seemslike a positive development. I just wanted
to pass that along. Incredible,Thank you partner for that, and that's
great news on Charlie Manual for sure. Hey, guys, make sure you
don't hang out a loan in theman came for baseball this season or football?

(21:27):
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(21:49):
On the other side, we're goingto try and get another update on
a former Philly or a Phillies broadcaster, because we want to know did he
get to the Gateway Arts this morning? On one of two point five Sports
The Gambler. This is Baseball Brunch. We'll be right back right after these
messages. The Gambler, Phillies homefor all things sports gambling. Welcome back.

(22:21):
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(23:03):
go to their website. We hatedirty windows dot com. That's we hate
dirty windows dot com. All right, partner, the masses want to know.
The masses want to know as weas we tease at the beginning of
the show, and we kind oftalked about with you know, your partner
on the radio. Uh, youknow, yesterday and today Kevin Stocker he
teetered along the wall saying that Schwarberwas getting hit home run. I think

(23:27):
he was over sixteen and that inthat moment in time, and uh,
and then he wanted you to givehim credit on it, which I don't
think he deserves. Credit. Thereis one man that does deserve credit,
though, and that is John Kruk. I mean, phenomenal. S up.
First of all, you're doing agreat job on radio. And we're
gonna touch based on this a littlebit later on towards the end of the

(23:48):
segment about how you're doing on theradio. Fransky putting him with La was
one of the greatest things that theyever did. Him and Kruk are just
like, it's incredible listening to thosetwo go at it because Fransky just feeds
the beast the whole entire time,and you know, choruses him into this

(24:10):
this bet here, and it couldn'thave happened he better. It wasn't like
it was a majestic shot. Itwas a line drive that just barely went
over the wall. So the masseswant to know, did John Kruk make
it to the Gateway Arch this morningin Saint Louis. Yeah. So I
can see the arch from my fromwhere I'm sitting right now, and I
see someone dangling from the very hotSo I'm not sure if that's John or

(24:33):
nothing. No, here's what Iknow. And and and obviously I was
on the air on the radio,so as it was happening. I didn't
hear it or but I've been caughtup on everything. I saw Scott Scott
this morning when I was thinking forthe ballpark, and he said that that
they actually he or somebody. Theproducer Jeff Hollisman tried to get a ticket

(24:56):
this morning for John to get overthere, despite John saying I don't really
want to do this, but theywere sold out this morning, so he
was not able to get over there. Whether or not he would have gone,
I don't know. John is scaredof heights and and he did not
want to do it. I alsowould absolutely refuse to go up in the

(25:21):
arch. I'm closed to Pulvin.I'm not afraid. I was gonna say,
it's not so much the heights,it's it's how you get up there.
I think I think it's a fourminute while. Yeah, me and
me and Rachel were out there lastyear for the wild Card Series. Listen.
I have no desire pretty much Iever go back to Saint Louis again
in my life. I did whatI need to do. I did the
Arch, I went there, Isaw, I saw Bush Stadium. I

(25:41):
retired pool holes on Molina. Iwas happy with myself when I left Saint
Louis. If I never go back, I'm okay with that. But you're
right, it's not so much theheight, because like when you're up there,
like you can lean like over thewall and kind of look looked down
through the window and you know,you can see the ground. It's it's
beautiful views up there. I thinkyou're only up there for about twelve to
fifteen minutes in total, but it'slike a four and a half minute ride

(26:03):
up and it's three minutes down,and it's and what it does is it's
like you've seen Willy Wonka. It'sit's the Wonka Vader. I mean,
you could fit like five people onthis pod and it kind of contorts itself
on its way up both the northand the south side of the tower.
So if you're claustrophobic, I understandheights. Come on, you're not up
there that long. You don't haveto go near the window of the wall.

(26:25):
Just kind of stand there and takea couple of pictures and just but
listen, he can't go back onthis now. He's gonna have to do
it at some point along the line. If you're gonna be respected, you
know as a broadcaster and as aformer player, you got to live up
to this. And you know KyleSharper is gonna hold him acountable for that.
That's the key, That is thegreat. I think that Kyle is

(26:48):
going to make sure if this happens. I apparently they told him about it
on the buzz it was it wasawesome. If if any anything, if
this is going to happen, it'sgoing to be because Kyle Schwarber won't let
it go. And and John saidhe would do it the next time he
came to Saint Louis. But knowingJohn, he'll make sure he never comes.

(27:12):
Something tells me that maybe Kyle willmake it happen. I don't know.
I don't know. Maybe maybe itwon't happen, but I agree with
it. You say something like thaton the air. You know who's the
broadcaster, yea from Pittsburgh. Whenwhen he said that if they come back
in this game, I'll walk allthe way home, and he did,

(27:34):
you know, yeah, you haveto stick to your word. John's a
man of his work. He knowsJohn understands the predicament that he is in.
He said it, it happened,And now he's trying to figure out,
Oh God, do I really haveto do this? So we'll see.
I don't know. John did saythat Sat Louis. We're back in
Saint Louis at the beginning of nextseason. I think it's the eighth and

(27:56):
the ninth and the tenth of April. So he said that he'll go to
WrestleMania in Philadelphia, which I'll beup both nights as well. And you
know, so John can go toWrestlemanian Philadelphia and then he can go out
to Saint Louis. So we'll see. But fantastic radio and before we dive
into other things around the league,and we look at the playoff picture here.
So I had a response last nightfrom your radio partner Kevin Stocker,

(28:18):
because I had to defend your honor. I mean, he he posted a
picture of you last night talking aboutwhat kind of professional you are, you
know, doing the pre the postand the play by play and how you're
just you're carrying the torch right nowfor the Phillies Radio Network. Uh.
The photo that he took with you, though, this selfie was not very
endearing, and I did let Stockknow that last night is their revenge in

(28:42):
the future as far as things aregonna go, because I know earlier in
the season we talked about uh youFransky and Stock pretty much calling you cheap,
about you know, where's your walletand whatnot, and that now they're
taking pictures of you like this.I mean, partner, I mean,
you got to be doing something behindthe scenes to get back at these guys.
Can't be watching. Okay, Sohere's what I'll say. I think

(29:02):
Stoker had nothing but the best intentionswith that picture. Hey, I happen
to not be very photogenptive, andI was in the middle of doing the
pregame show and my eyes are closed, my mouth was open, which is
often how it is. My eyesare closed and my mouth is open.
So you know, I don't thinkit was Stock's intention to not put up

(29:26):
Sorry, he was praising you,Yeah he was. He was. He
was trying to give me a copSo so I don't think there's any reason.
You know, maybe he's just nota good photographer and I'm just not
a good looking fella, and thatand the two together made for a really
bad picture. It was, likeI said, I think he had nothing
but good intentions. So now Ino need to get back to him,

(29:48):
back at him. And you know, as far as the chief part of
it, the reason they call meis because I'm the guy that's always putting
the putting the credit card up.And so that's what you do. You
come after the guy that is alwaysdoing that, right, and then you
put it out there. So absolutelynone of us are cheat. That's that's
the cool thing where we all weall take care of one another, which

(30:14):
effects and uh, that's true.It's trying across the board for the broadcasters
game. Yeah, it's all good. So if they're not, if they're
not breaking your stones, and thenyou've got a problem, right, no
doubt about it. So all right, so let's dive into this postseason race
here, okay, because right nowwe've got two weeks left in the season.
Out of these races right now andthen some of them are already wrapped

(30:36):
up. I mean, Twins aregonna win Nail Central, you have you
know, the analyst has already clinched. The analyst has clinched. You know,
I'm pretty sure we think at thispoint in time that the Brewers are
gonna win the National League Central.But man, the other races are phenomenal.
I mean, Baltimore one yesterday wentback up one game over the raising
the American leaguese there's a three teamrace in the American League West right now,
there's an opportunity, there's a shotthat the defending World Series champions might

(31:00):
not make the playoffs because the Astros, the Rangers, and the Mariners are
separated by a game and a half. And then right in that mix,
who's taken the third wildcard spot?Because the Mariners wouldn't even make the playoffs
if the season ended today with ahalf game behind the Blue Jays. And
then you have five teams vying fortwo wildcard spots in the National League wildcard
race that are separated by three games. I mean, Murph, this is

(31:22):
one of the best playoff races inrecent memory. And if I can,
like you're just looking back, Imean obviously pre COVID for sure, you
know, but since since COVID Tone twenty twenty two, I don't remember
the races being this great. It'sjust so many teams are involved. And
this is why the trade deadline isn'texactly what it used to be, because
so many teams have a shot toget in. Yeah, and for those

(31:45):
people, and there are folks outthere that still are not on board with
the extra wildcards, you know,the way that the it expanded last year.
I don't know. I kind oflove it because of what you're saying.
There are so many teams on whatis its September fifteenth today or seventeenth.

(32:07):
Here we are two weeks left inthe season, two weeks and there
are teams all over the country thatare still having to win every game from
here on out to get into postseason. I think it's awesome. I think
it's so much fun. You know, the Braves they ran away with the
division, they clinched. Now they'resitting back and you know, watching everything
else happen. But there's something abouthaving to you know, you wake up

(32:31):
in the morning on September eighteenth andyou're like, does my team play tonight?
Who are they playing? They gottawin? And are they won last
night? We're back in it.You are half game out. There's so
much it's so fun as a sportsfan to have your team in a position
like that. So I think it'sgreat, And you're right. Some of

(32:52):
the division races, I mean,Baltimore and Tampa Bay separated well, the
Tampa has two more losses than thanBaltimore's or their percentage points a'vehead. But
Baltimore has been leaving that division formost of the season, right and now
here, Well, Tampa started earlyand then since tune. I think Baltimore
took over around the end of Juneand then but now here comes Tampa.

(33:15):
And then to your point, thethe Al West. It's just insane.
It's the Wild West, right,Uh. And I don't know, I
just I absolutely love it. Myrooting interest is obviously right here with the
Phillies, and I feel pretty confidentthat the films are going to be in
the postseason at this point. Sonow I'm looking at the scoreboards and watching
everybody else and trying to figure outwho else is going to get in,

(33:36):
whether it be in the American Leagueor the National League. It's it's great
and the nationally wildcard rates you know, the final spot that it's who knows
it could be one of five teams, the final two the final two spots.
Yeah, yeah, I mean Ithink the Cubs. The Cubs aren't
guaranteed anything. They're half game upin two the one game up on the
other. Uh, what three gamesup on the Giants. Yeah, and
I agree right here with that.Unhappy go more. No strows would be

(34:00):
terrible news. I really it wouldbe incredible for them they missed apply Yeah,
no doubt. I want to turnit back to yourself real quick.
So last night I'm texting with abuddy of mine, Mike Scott, and
he wanted me to ask you acouple of questions. And normally, over
the first couple of seasons that we'vedone this together, we've had segments where
you know, I ask you questions, you know, ask murf and you

(34:22):
know, I put it out thereto you and maybe like you know,
eight nine ten questions in a secondsegment when it's slow, like the beginning
of the season, or once oncewe dive in it's like right after the
All Star break and we don't haveas much to talk about at that point
in time. But would you doingplay by play these last you know,
a couple of weekends with Tom McCarthydoing NFL games and which sends Franskie over

(34:43):
to television. Is there another eventthat you would like to call or you
wish that you could call, likethe super Bowl, the Kentucky Derby?
Is there something that if you couldbe the play by play, the head
guy, what would you what wouldyou like to do? Well, you
know, wow, that's a that'sa great question. I mean, obviously,
you know my buddy Kevin Burkhart,who I've known forever. He was

(35:05):
a field reporter for the Mets whenI was the field reporter for the Phillies.
But before that, he and Iworked together at CN eight when he
was a part of a show thatI hosted a last year he called the
super Bowl, you know, andto watch him kind of to take that
rise through the Fox and get tothe pinnacle and call the super Bowl,
Yeah, you can't help but thankgod, that would be that would be

(35:28):
pretty cool. But for me,I mean, obviously I would love to
call a World Series because I'm abaseball guy and and so that would be
an amazing thrill. And you know, maybe someday I'll get a chance,
whether it be on radio or television, to call some of the World Series.
But if I'm going outside the box, I think I would like to
be you know, I could seemyself as the voice of the Masters or

(35:52):
the voice of the US you know, golf. You know, I'm a
huge golfan loves to watch. Yeah, you know, I love to watch
it, and I would would loveto be a part of a big tournament
like that as one of the voices. So so that, you know,
those kinds of things would be alot of fun. Now, I know
you said that, you you knowyou used to work with Kevin Burkhard.

(36:13):
Was it was he there at thesame time as Lou Tilly because you can't
you can't mention cnate without thinking aboutlou Tilly. Yeah, so so yeah,
lou and I worked together. Iwas at first lose producer and then
and then became, you know,an on air person next to him,
uh, for for many many years. And yes, Kevin Burkhard would come
on our show at that point,which was Sports Connection, and then later

(36:36):
when I took over as the host, uh the name of the show was
Out of Bounds, and Kevin wasa part of that show as well.
So yeah, it's been I've donekeV for a long time and he's a
terrific talent and one of the hardestworking guys in television. So to watch
him and to hear him last year, have that opportunity, it just it
just was awesome for me no doubt. And then real quick to Kevin Burkhard,

(37:00):
who are some of your favorite playby play guys in the business that
you like to listen to? Well, you know, I love the classic
voices. I mean Jim Nanson,Al Michael those guys have been doing it
forever and doing it at a highlevel for a long time. I know
this will a lot of people willdisagree with this one, but I think
Joe Buck is one of the best. I love Joe Buck and I think

(37:22):
he's terrific at what he does.But another one is Dan Schulman, who
is He does a lot of nationalstuff, but he's the voice of the
Blue Jays. I think Dan Schulman, he's Beaten's on the ESPND for for
years. He has an understated wayof calling the game and I've always appreciated
that, and when I listened tohim, I think to myself, Yeah,

(37:44):
that's that's the style that I wouldlike to mimic when when you think
about how you call a game.So those are a couple of the names.
There's there's so many. I mean, we have two here in Philadelphia
that are as good as anybody andgreat to listen to, and Scott tom
So we're lucky in that regard,but those are some of the other voices.

(38:04):
That sounds great, all right,So the Green Legion we're here to
tell you it's time to make yourreservations for another amazing Eagle season at a
green Legion dot com to get signedup for Tampa, LA, Kansas City,
Dallas and Seattle. Or get signedup for day trip games for the
Jets, the Giants and the Commodes. Make sure you check out the Cheerleaders
Gentlemen's Club bus for those day tripsas well. Go to green Legion dot
com or called two on five sixsix six five nine for zero. That's

(38:29):
two on five six six six fivenine four zero twenty one years and counting
for the best Eagles road trips around. All right. Coming up on the
other side in our final segment,did Sack make up any ground last week?
And our picks? No, I'mnot even gonna keep on teasing that
one. Here one to two pointfive Fox Sports at Gambler. This is
Baseball Brunch brought to you by Cheerlier'sGentleman's Club. We'll be right back after

(38:49):
this. Threats totals and all theprop that's in between, it's the Gambler.
Welcome back. The final segment hereSunday morning in the Delaware Valley and
it is beautiful. I can't saybeautiful fall day yet because it's still officially

(39:14):
summer. Next week's show will beofficially in the fall, and I cannot
wait because we got football music playingright now, and Phillies are taking us
to another red October and the Eaglesare two and oh, phenomenal stuff here.
If you are a Philadelphia sports fanright now, it is a great

(39:35):
time. Unless you're a Sixers fan. To be alive. This final segment
is brought to you by our goodfriends over at the Ludlam Hotel in Seattle
City. Yes, it is thefully renovated Ludlam Hotel at four thousand Landis
Avenue in Seattle City, and itis the old La Costa. Make sure
you guys go down there and checkthem out. Yes, summer is not
officially over, but you know it'sunofficially over, so but listen, they're

(39:58):
open year round. You guys wantto make sure you go down there and
check them out. The hotel isopen year round. All guests enjoy free
Wi Fi, one free parking spot, bur room and a compound or any
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them at six zero nine two sixtythree seven eight two nine that's six zero

(40:19):
nine two six three seven eight twonine for all your reservation, dining or
entertainment questions. The Ludlam Hotel yournew oasis in Seattle City, Murph.
You know, we got a coupleof minutes here because normally we're giving out
tickets at this point in time.But your excitement level so far at the
beginning of football season. I knowyou're you're an avid fantasy football player just
like I am. And uh,you know, the Eagles are two and
oh so right now, and thenthey don't play today, which just makes

(40:43):
my TV watching life so much easierbecause I could just you know, turn
on the Phillies at two o'clock andyou know, get to hang out with
Franski and Kruc, maybe turn onthe radio and hang out with you in
stock you know, at the sametime. But your thoughts so far and
early going here in football season andhow the Eagles are. First of all,
I'm gonna assume that you're gonna listento the radio, so hey,

(41:04):
I don't want to hear anything Itexted you. I texted you on Friday
night. I was listening to you, guys. I didn't stay up later
than Jose Alvarado almost giving me aheart attack with a five four W So
I didn't listen to the Friday Nightround Table. A little too late for
my liking in the Midwest. Butbut yeah, you know, I'm I
always text you about the Friday Nightround Table. I'm always I'm always there
with you guys, all right,all right, yeah, so you know

(41:28):
what. To be honest, Ihave not gotten the chance to watch a
whole I watched about a half ofthe Eagles game. I was at Thursday
night. I was out to dinnerwith Kevin Stoker and there was a TV
where we were, but I couldn'thear it, only can see it.
And then I came back and Icrashed in my room and didn't get to

(41:51):
see the second half. So youknow, I generally I am a huge
Eagles fan. I'm a huge Philadelphiasports fan, as most people know.
But until the baseball season's over,I really don't have an opportunity to to
sit and watch and and kind ofdigest what's happening with the Eagles. I
get most of my information from mytwo sons who texted me during the game.
They're like, Eagles are great.You know, if you know the

(42:15):
whole, the whole, we runof the you know, they're they're you
know, fans as as uh aswe all are. So I haven't had
a chance yet. My fantasy teamdid win their first first game, but
that had nothing to do with me. I have two partners that that set
the line up and did the draft. So I'm kind of an absentee guy
in football until baseball is over.Last year, I think the Eagles right

(42:38):
now before I watched the game,and uh and that's just the way it
was because of the way our seasonwin. But you know, hopefully I
don't get to see a game untilyou know, week nine again. That
would be just fine for for allof us. Keenan Harmon is saying we
need Murph at a Green Legion hometailgame. I agree that that can happen

(42:58):
easily. I mean, it wouldbe phenomen and all would love to have
you down there, But you couldhave you on the pregame show with us.
Well, uh, let's we willmake that happen. And uh,
I would love to do that.You know me. I have a history
of traveling with the Green Legs andbeen on a couple of trips and uh
and I always had a great time, well before I was ever associated with
the radio program. So yeah,sign me up. Once baseball is over,

(43:22):
I'm a free agent. I coulddo just about anything. You can
take D as a seat. Well, we'll put you in there because nobody
cares what DS has to say anyway. Uh, but real quick, U
is stock there with you in thebooth right now? He just walked in.
He just walked in, all right, So so I know he's a
Pacific Northwest kid, right? Sois he? Is he a Seahawks fan?

(43:45):
I don't think. Well, letme ask him. Are you a
Seahawks fan? Kevin st grow upa Seahawks fan? Right? Yeah?
Okay, right yeah yeah, backin the Jim Zorn era, he was
a fan. He and I arethe same age, so that, as
we like to say, but butnot that the Seahawks fan anymore. Okay,

(44:07):
all right, So he's adopting thePhiladelphia lifestyle and yeah, good on
stuck, I'm happy for him.Sounds great. So let's let's dive into
our picks real fast here. Youknow, I don't mean to say it
real fast because I know you're you'rethe leader in the clubhouse. I think
this is the first time in thethree years that we've been doing these picks
that you and I both hit theover under in the same week. Because

(44:30):
that might be true, yeah,because but we both went wanted to last
week. You hit the over underin Seattle and Tampa. I hit the
over under in Rangers A's. You'reat thirty and thirty on the season with
thirty eight and a half points.I'm at twenty nine and thirty one and
I have thirty six points on theseason, so I'm two and a half
behind. I gotta make up someground here over these these next three weeks
where I am done zo. UhSo, why don't you lead me off

(44:52):
with your favorite today, which I'malready a little peeved because I asked you
to take I don't. I hateit when you do this because I want
to make up ground and I butI don't want the Phillies to lose,
and you put me in this predicamenttoday, Hey, you know, it
sucks to be you at that point, because I am taking the Phillies as

(45:14):
my favorite this weekend. I don'tdo it very often. I think I've
done it once other time this year, maybe twice. But but but I
love the Phillies today. I lovethe way the Phillies are playing against this
Cardinals team. This Cardinals team isdone and and and you can you can
kind of see it with their bodylanguage. And you know, Dakota hunts

(45:34):
and he's six and two, buthe hasn't been all that great most of
the season. Taywan Walker, whoyou know, has fifteen wins, he
hasn't been you know, perfect either, But I think the Phillies are going
to score a lot of runs todayand that's why I like him. So
I'm taking the Phillies is my favorite. That Cardinal's line up is crap.
It's crap. They have guys,but they're just not they're just not putting

(45:57):
it together. So and I speakingof and did this guy's probably first ballot
Hall of Fame. I mean,he's one of the greatest third basements of
our generation. But Aronado last nightmakes that play ten out of ten times
I said that on the area.Yeah, I agree with it. I'm
not saying that he olate it,but for love of God, like if
they're in a playoff race, Ithink he makes that play and he and

(46:19):
he holds a runner at third baseinstead of letting you go down the line
and getting that run. So Itotally agree with all right. So my
favorite for today is the Yankees minusone forty eight on the road in Pittsburgh.
They're winners of three in a row. Carlos Rodan versus Colin Colin Selby,
who was two of them old whenat eight point two era. I'm
going with the Yankees today. Giveme your underdog, all right. So

(46:42):
my underdog, I'm tapping on anold friend, Nick Pavetta, and starting
for the Red Sox today. Theyare underdogs to the Blue Jays, and
I don't know, I kind oflike the Red Sox chances here. The
Blue Jays are minus one forties.You're not a huge favorite, but they
are still the favorite of this one. I'm thinking Nick is gonna you know,
he's ninety nine. He is exactlywhat we thought he was average,

(47:07):
right, yeah, he is.He can be terrific some days. And
he can be really not terrific others. I'm hoping for a terrific adding from
Nick Favetta this afternoon in hopes ofthe Red Sox being the Blue Jays.
That's my underdog, all right.My underdog is the Reds, not the
Red Sox. The the Reds thatplus one fourteen. They're at City Field
versus the Mets. They're going forthe sweet today and they need this game.

(47:30):
I mean, the Reds are rightthere. I think they're holding the
third wild card spot right now,and then you have three teams on your
heels and they have an opportunity todayto put themselves ahead of the Cubs in
that second wildcard spot. I'm takingthe run. That's that's me. And
you say this all the time.It's like that line is talking to you,
and it's I should probably be goingwith the Mets instead of the Reds,

(47:51):
but it's just too good of aline and the Mets have mailed it
in, So I'm going to takethe Reds. There. Give me your
over under for today, all right. My over under is Rangers Guardians,
Texas Rangers, Cleveland Guardians. Theover under is eight. I have absolutely
no reason or logic for doing this, but I'm just taking me over.
I think they're gonna score some runs. So there you go. That's that's

(48:12):
my scientific way of thinking my picks, all right. See, I have
a scientific way of why I'm pickingmy over. So I'm going over twelve
and Giants, Rockies, Sean andI is starting today, you know,
so it should be a Bullpenn gamefor the fighting game Kaplers who are fading
down the stretch and they're going upagainst Chris Flexen who is one and seven
with a seven point two to raI think there's gonna be a bunch of

(48:36):
runs score today in coors Field,which yeah, normally is a surprize.
So can you believe it? Topthousands of one, six to five?

(49:00):
And I'm a wild things IRV Ihad? Can you believe it? You
know? I always love it whenI catch my producers sleeping watching say I
don't have any headphones watching fancy footballnow here in studio. But hey,
it's it's all good. That's whythey don't call him the hardest working man

(49:20):
in show business for nothing. ThisJohn James a lot of tough lineup decisions
this morning. I'm sorry they don'tcall him the hardest working man in show
business business at all. Right,I mean I'm the only I'm the only
one that does that. I remembertwo things that we found interesting from this
past week in Major League Baseball.Give me your first, all right,
So this originally came from Sarah Lang'swe had it last night on the broadcast.

(49:44):
Kevin talked about it last night duringthe during the game. But the
shortest span of games in which aplayer has said four or more Grand slams,
Ralph Kiner did it in forty eightgames, Jim Northrop did it in
forty five, Travis Hafner did itin forty four, and Don Mattingly did
it in thirty nine, and nowRoyce Lewis I's done it in eighteen games.

(50:07):
Four Grand slams in eighteen games.I said to keV last night,
it's gonna be hard to just getup with bases loaded four times in eighteen
games, right, I mean,that is probably not something that happens all
the time. He had four Grandslams. He's got a career's worth of
statistics with the bases loaded in eighteengames, and most guys have in their
whole career. Yeah, you're right, Yeah, I had that one too,

(50:29):
but I have other ones that arealways in the back holsters. Here
Philly's Notes. Pus posted this outthe other day. Bryce Harper is only
the eighteenth player in Major League Baseballhistory to reach fifteen hundred career hits and
three hundred home runs before turning thirtyone years old. Full list in chronological
order, lou Gary, Jimmy Fox, Melt, Duke Schneider, Mickey Manel,
Willie Mays, Eddie Matthews, HankAaron, Frank Rominson, Johnny Bench,

(50:50):
Kankerfe Junior, Jan Gonzalez, AlexRodriguez, Laimer Guerrero, Andrew Jones,
Albert Pool Holes, Miguel Cabrera andBryce Harper. And most of those
guys are in the Hall of Fameor on their way to the Hall of
Fame. Bryce Harper's career is goingto end in Cooverstown when it's all said
and done. For sure, giveme your second one, all right?
This is from MLB Stats. OzzieAlbius hit number thirty, So the Braves

(51:14):
now have five players with thirty ormore home runs. That ties to twenty
nineteen Twins for the most thirty homerun players on the team in a season
in AL or National League AL ormL history, thirty home runs are more
five guys on the roster. Yeah, definitely they're cheating. I got I
got one from Sarah Langs here aswell. Otani is going to miss the

(51:37):
Angel's final twenty five games, butwill presumably still win the MVP, a
testament to an unreal season. Onlytwo players have missed the last ten plus
team games of a season and wonthe MVP or the Cy Young. Twenty
nineteen, Mike Trout missed the lastnineteen and won the MVP, and in
nineteen seventy six, Jim Palmer wonthe Cy Young Award missing the last eleven

(51:59):
games. All right, Murph,So the week that is ahead, we're
trying to break out the rooms todayin Saint Louis with you on the call
and the Phillies radio network, andthen we head to Atlanta for three which
hopefully ronalda Kunya maybe he wants tomiss another three games with that calf injury.
And then we come home and wehave a four game set against those
New York Mets. It's gonna begood to come back home, but you

(52:20):
know, handle business today, hopefully, we can take two or three out
of against Atlanta while we're down therein the at L Yeah, that would
be great, two out of three. You know, the Braids are quicks.
They don't have a whole lot ofplay to play for, so you
have to think that they're going tobe careful with Ronald Kunia Junior, and
if he's not able to play,that certainly helps the Thrones. But that
lineup is so darn deep that youknow, even without La Kunya, they

(52:43):
are a dangerous, dangerous club.So I'm sure they're gonna start to try
and get their pitching in order gettheir get their bullpen arms where they need
to be, you know. Forthe Brads have earned that opportunity to kind
of set their lineup and and getto where they want to go. So
it'll be interesting to see how theyplay against the Phillies. But look,
the Phillies have the Pirates and theMets went for six before this is all

(53:06):
said and done, so they needto go out and take care of business.
If they do, it'll be thenumber one wild park. All right,
sounds great, partner, Good luckon the call today. I'll be
done at the ballpark on Friday night, so I do have a check for
you, so I gotta make sureI get that to you. So we'll
meet up before the game, whichis Scott Rowland Knight down at the ballpark.
So and thank you Sam super SamBrady for setting up today's stream yard
for me because Slash is off againthis weekend. And on the board here

(53:30):
John Jansen and for Greg Murphy,I'm Chris Sack And like a three one
pitch to Ryan Howard, we areout of here. Let's break out the
brooms. Come on, Phillies,let's keep on going towards that top wildcard spot.