BIG NL East Statement - TPS/Hammer Territory Crossover

00:00:21
Speaker 1: Welcome to the Hammer Territory Podcast. My name is Sean Coleman. Hope wherever you arm, wherever you are listening, you're having a great start to your week. But pretty excited about this edition of the Hammer Territory Podcast because it's a crossover episode with the Philly Show and of course both the Philly Show as well as Hammer Territory under the Foul Territory family of podcast and from the Philly Show, it's a pleasure to get to talk with Todd Zeleki, of course, the beat writer for the Phillies for MLB dot com. He is one of the trio of great hosts over at the Philly Show. But Todd, pleasure to talk with you. A lot of fun this weekend seeing two competitive teams play baseball.

00:00:58
Speaker 2: It's good to sit.

00:00:59
Speaker 1: Down and talk about out the series with you this morning.

00:01:01
Speaker 2: Yeah, Sean, thanks for having me. I'm looking forward to it. It was a it was a great atmosphere this weekend in Philadelphia, just like in Atlanta a couple of weeks ago. It was a great atmosphere in Atlanta. Of course, it's always a better atmosphere for the hometown crowd when your when your hometown team is winning. And the Braves stuck it to the Phillies about you know and a half ago or whatever that was. And and the Phillies had the upper hand this weekend up at Citizens Bank Park. But yeah, two two really good teams, rivals. Maybe we see them again in October. We would not would not surprise me at.

00:01:39
Speaker 1: Least absolutely, And and to your point, it was not surprising it all will jump right in to the series. It was not surprising at all to see a competitive series. I would say Game two the Braves, you know, definitely were the better team. That game Game three the Phillies were the better team. But I think that the defining moments of this series, Todd were games won in games four. Of course, the Phillies win three out of four this series, in a very good position to win the NL East. But the Braves and Brian Snicker said as much, They honestly felt they should have win three out of four this weekend, and I think that's a valid point. But two defining moments kind of shined what the big difference in the series was bottom of the sixth inning in Game one, bottom of the sixth inning in Game four. In both instances, the Braves lead their starter in just one bat or two long. Nick Castianos hits the excuse me, Brandon marshas the three run homer in Game one, Castianos hits the game winning homer eventually in the seventh to win that game for the Phillies. Then on Sunday, Castianos ties the game at the two run double gets the big hit to end the game. The Phillies making the most of their moments, making the Braves pay for mistakes when the Braves couldn't do the same. That was the defining moments and that's really what helped the Phillies win this series.

00:02:50
Speaker 2: Yeah, one hundred percent. You know, I would love to know if you could pull Brian Snickers aside and ask him, if you could go back and do it over again, would you have brought in bumbered face Brandon Marsh or at least get Brandon Marsh out of the game. You know, I don't know if Brandon Marsh would have faced faced a lefty if he had hit in that spot in the sixth thing on Thursday night's game, But yeah, he left Charlie Morton in and you know, it was interesting talking to Brandon marsh after after the game, he said, I was kind of sitting something soft there. I'd feeling he was gonna throw me a curball. I did, and then he he he whacked it out of the ballpark. And then same thing with Castianos. You know, Nick cast he was down two, and Schwellenbach just missed a spot with his slider, and and and Castianos has been doing a great job recently of hitting mistakes in the strike zones. So yeah, you could you could make the argument for sure, two pitches, two decisions, you know, two locations change everything about this series. And that's what's that's what makes baseball so fun is those two pitches. If they're in a different spot, they're flyouts. Maybe the Braves take three out of four, and everybody's going everybody in Philadelphia is in panic mode, going, oh my gosh. You know, the lead is down to three with twenty five to play. Now it's up to seven with twenty five to play, And if you do the math, the Phillies are definitely in the driver's seat. But that's what makes baseball great, right is those little tiny decisions in the regular season or in the course of a game that can really change the course of a winning the loss.

00:04:31
Speaker 1: And I think that you bring up a great point. You know, it's just the decisions that impact the game. And yes, we talked about it on the latest Hammer Territory podcast. Brian Snicker did not have a great series, though, before you know, the few weeks before this series, Snicker had made plenty of good decisions helping the Braves have their best stretch of play. But I think that this series was kind of a microcosm of the season as a whole. The Braves have had plenty of injuries. I think that that's worth mentioning the amount of injuries the Braves have had and the players that have been injured. But the other thing that stands out, I think if you match up the pitching between both teams, it's pretty equal. Starting staffs, bullpens two of the best in the game for both Phillies and the Braves. It's the offensive consistency that I feel is the difference, the reason why the Phillies are seven games ahead of the Braves right now, and even in the season series, the Braves had a seven to seventy five OPS in the thirteen games versus the Phillies. This year, the Phillies had a five ninety eight ops. But again the Phillies made the most of when the Braves made mistakes, they made them pay. That led to two big wins. That to me is what is set the Phillies in a good position all year long. It's the offensive consistency of making the most of the moments when they're there, and it shined once again this series.

00:05:40
Speaker 2: Yeah, the offensive firepower. The difference between the offensive firepower right now between the Phillies and Braves is stark. And I say that fully understanding that it would be a totally different story if Ronald Y Cuny Junior, Austin Riley Osi Albis were all healthy and playing in this series. Uh, the race would probably look a lot different. I don't know, you know, it might be neck and neck. Maybe the Phillies would be up a game or two. Maybe the Braves would be up a game or two. No question that losing. You know, the Braves are playing shorthanded. Uh they missed those guys. How could you not miss those guys? Uh? A kunya? Even even Bryce Harper said it, I think the other day, or maybe even on a postgame interview, saying, man Ronald d'acunya junior. I mean, you want to see a guy like that on the field. It might have been an end game interview actually right on the ESPN game last night, he was talking about how man, you want to see Ronald Kunya Junior on the field. You want to play against the best, and that said, uh, they're not on the field, and that and that that that that is the difference. The the ability for the talented players in the Phillies line up, even when they're struggling, to potentially come down and have a big hit in a big moment. I mean, like look at Bryce Harper's don't he hit that right before Neck Castiano's double that scored the game tying runs last night in the sixth inning, took a pitch blue, little blue double down the you know, the apposite way to kind of get things going. So you have yet the more more players they have like that in the lineup, the better. And uh yeah, I think that both of these rotations are pretty similar. I think I think both of the both of the pitching staffs really are are pretty equal. So it's the offense right now that's kind of made the difference.

00:07:29
Speaker 1: And todda I'll get your honest assessment, you know, from an opposing viewpoint when it comes to the Braves. You know, as you mentioned the Phillies right now, their offensive firepower idiots, I think at a higher level, at least in terms of consistency. You know, the Braves have gotten a bit of their power back since the All Star Game, but it's the abilities to convert in those run scoring opportunities where the Braves have struggled all season long. But this is a bit of a different Braves team due to the injuries, just due to the you know, makeup of the team right now. This is a bit of a different Braves team entering September, still with the playoff spot, but clinging to their lives. This is a team team right now led by pitching and some very good pitching. Chris Sale, you know, has not pitched in the last two series that the Phillies have faced the Braves. But your assessment of this Braves team if they were to make the playoffs. They're led by pitching, have several different pitchers who could go multiple innings, work through a lineup in the postseason, you know, with confidence, what is your assessment? I feel the Braves can certainly be competitive in any series. They're just going to have to have that offensive consistency. But for a team that's now led by pitching in Atlanta, what are your thoughts during the home stretch for Atlanta and hopefully as they enter the playoffs, I think they could make some noise, especially if their offense can support their pitching in short series.

00:08:36
Speaker 2: Oh, I agree one hundred percent. And we've talked about this in the press box in Atlanta and in Philadelphia over the past couple of weeks. Man, one team you're not you would not feel great about facing in a NL wild Card series or in an NL Division series would be the Braves because they're they're really you know, they're four deep in the rotation, right I mean you start with Chris Saye, who's the favorite right now to win the nl cy Young Award, which is just an incredible story. You know, you have Max Freed, you have Spencer Schwallenbach, you have Ronaldo Lopez, you have Charlie Morton, who's probably the five guy right now, you know, which is which speaks to their depth. But if you have good pitching, which the Braves do, you win you can win any series against anybody at any time if those guys are on. I mean, look at how the Braves dominated the Phillies in Atlanta a couple of weeks ago. Uh, you know, Lopez just shut them down. I think what he'd have like ten strikeouts in five innings in his first time backs from from the il Max Freed is always good. And then Schwellenbach has just caused these guys fits in three starts this season. And so for that reason, yeah, I think if there would be a Phillies Let's say, for instance, the Braves get in as the sixth seed and you know, whatever the matchups is, they faced the Phillies in the NLDS, I think there would be a lot of nervous Phillies fans going into that series. And I say that because what happened the last two postseasons. You know, the Braves were the better team by far on paper if you look at the regular season win totals, right, and the Phillies got hot, they came up with the big hits, they got the good pitching, and they knocked the Braves out each of the last two years. So I know the way Philadelphias think they've had a lot of heartbreak over the years that if the Braves and Phillies meet again in the postseason, there would be a little bit of uh oh. I hope the Braves don't turn the table on the Phillies this postseason like the Phillies did it to the Braves the past two postseasons. So I think it would be a great matchup. I think it would be a lot of fun. There would be a lot of booing towards Orlando Arcia, there would be a lot of booing toward Bryce Harper in Atlanta, and I think it would be make for great theater, great drama for a lot of reasons. I hope it does happen, and who knows it really In a lot of ways, it would just be a coin flip.

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00:12:12
Speaker 1: Looking now, of course, you know we could talk about the playoffs as much as we want. For the Phillies, they certainly should because obviously they're in a strong position. The Braves, on the other hand, now just a one game lead, you know, coming off this weekend. You know, the White Sox took care or excuse me, the Mets took care of the White Sox to make up three games this weekend. On the Braves and the standings, the Brave schedule does lighten up a bit, but they've got to make the most. They've really got to ride their pitching and hopefully the offense getting back going a little bit to be able to make the playoffs. But I want to turn my attention to the Phillies for just a second, Todd, and the fact that they now find themselves in a position that the Braves have been, that the Braves ran last year. I think you can make a case that the Phillies are the most complete team in baseball this year. But the thing is is that yet they had that big League in the NL least. But the Phillies also have one factor that benefits them that no team I think really can claim, and that's having Citizens Bank Park as a playoff atmosphere. I think that many both Phillies fans as well as non Phillies fans, they certainly would back an argument citizens Bank Park may be the most advantageous home park in playoff settings in baseball over the past few years. And the Phillies are still in a big fight, you know, for the best record not only in the National League, but in Major League Baseball as well. So Todd, you got this big league in the NA least. Don't necessarily want to say they may pull off the gas a little bit, but they have plenty still to play for. How do you think their mentality is, you know, for the rest of September, going into likely having that buy, but obviously wanting to secure as much of a home field advantage as they can in October.

00:13:40
Speaker 2: Yeah. I think this team is going to continue to play a focus and with an edge the rest of the regular season. And I say that because a they understand the value of home field advantage, so they would love to have home field advantage through the NLCS and and potentially through the World Series as far as they can go, right. I mean, Citizens Bank Park is a fantastic place to play. But I also think they're going to play focus and with an edge because they very much remember the pain they felt last year in the NLCS. They were up to nothing on the Diamondbacks. I mean, was there anybody in the world that watched those first two games Phillies, Diamondbacks and NLCS and said the Diamondbacks have a prayer to beat the Phillies. But the Diamondbacks roared back. They won four out of five, including the last two at Citizens Bank Park to go to the World Series. And that is a very painful feeling that these Phillies players have been carrying around all year. They are using that as motivation. They are using that as fuel to try to get to in the World Series. But yet I think that the Citizens Bank Park and I listen, I didn't grow up in Philadelphia. I grew up in Wisconsin. So I'm not saying this as a as a lifelong Phillies fan or anything. I can say objectively that Citizens Bank Park has an atmosphere or unlike any other parking baseball. And you know, every park gets loud, Truest Park gets loud, Dodger Stadium gets loud, American Family Field in Milwaukee gets loud. But when the Phillies are playing well in the postseason, it is it just does not let up. And you know, conversely, we had Jeff frank koron a couple of months ago and he said, eah, you know, but I will say in Game six, you could sense the nervous energy in that ballpark. And then when the Phillies got down manned, did it get quiet. So it can work the opposite way as well. So if you're a visiting team and you can put the Phillies in a spot of potential elimination, you can you can you know, silence that crowd. But when things are going well, it can really be a hardship on the opposing team. And and you know, I mean the Brave Braves saw it the last two years, right. I mean, you know, Bryce Harper hits a couple of home runs in Game three the NLTS. He stares down Arcia, and you know, the fans just went bunkers and they kind of rode that momentum. But hey, Diamondbacks got up early in game seven or you know, they took the league in Game seven, and everybody's like, oh my god, they're gonna blow this, aren't they And they ended up doing that. So you know, it's a fun place to play. And that's honestly, Sean. I would love to see. That's why I would love to see Phillis Braves again because I would love the drama of Ken the Braves flip the script. Uh is our our see again? To hit a home run? Is he gonna stare down Harper's? Is Harper going to react? How's he going to respond? All that great drama would be just so great for Major League Baseball. Two longtime analyst rivals going at it would be a lot of fun.

00:16:42
Speaker 1: And we talk about the I know that you know, we were talking about getting to the playoffs, but back again to the playoffs, because you know, I think that that's you know, certainly one what people want to, you know, hear about after what felt like a playoff series over the weekend, is that I talk about the fact that the Braves makeup is a bit different from the past two years and the depth of their quality pitching that they feel could go multiple innings or maybe one or two times through a lineup. That's the difference between them now and in the over the past two years. You talk about the fact that after the Phillies have eliminated the Braves, they have been in favorable positions to maybe make a World Series run and it just has not happened. Todd, what do you feel is the difference between this year for the Phillies. I'll be honest, from my perspective, it feels like the Phillies this is their best chance that they've had, you know, maybe even since they won their last World Series in two thousand and eight. But what is the difference between this team now? Is it just be being a more complete team, Is it just you know, the pitching maybe being at a different level. What is different about this team? Now versus the past two years. That makes you feel, hey, if they can get past that first initial series, they are back and familiar, you know, situations like they've in the past couple of years. What makes you more confident they could get the job done this year than over the past couple of seasons.

00:17:54
Speaker 2: I think it might be the pitching. I feel like the pitching is a little bit deeper. It's been a little bit better, you know, he talk, you know, Like I said, I think Chris Sale is the favorite right now to win nl Cy Young but I think with a great month from Zach Wheeler, he might be able to get the voters to think a little bit harder about that. So Wheelers had a great year, Noah's pitched well. Ranger Swres just came back from the injured list. They need him to get sharp. He was, he was better than Wheeler the first couple months of the season. Christopher Sanchez has been really good. He's has He's had some really good games against the Braves the past, you know, the past year, and I think that this bullpen is better than it has been the last two years.

00:18:37
Speaker 4: Uh.

00:18:38
Speaker 2: Carlos Sistebz, who they got from the Angels, to the trade deadline. You know, he saw what he did last night, I mean the automatic run around second base in the tenth and eleventh inning and didn't give up a didn't give up a hit, two scoreless sittings, setting up Castianos for his heroics. Matt Strom, Jeff Hoffman, Rank Kirkering have all pitched really well. Jose Alvarado has been a little bit up and down, but when he's on, he's on. So I think that the pitching depth and just the comfort that they that Rob Thompson has in his pitching, I think is is a little bit better. You know, last year in the postseason, of course, they pitched well against the Braves, but then in the NLCS, Craig Kimberl kind of you know, he he really struggled and did not pitch well. Ryan Kirkering struggled a little bit as a rookie. Gregorysoto is a non factor that you know, in fact, he was such a non factor they basically gave him away, and that gave him away, but they did a little addition by subtraction, sent him to the Orioles before the trade deadline. St Anthony Domingos was very inconsistent in the postseason, and so I think they feel a lot better about their pitching staff going into this postseason. Uh, you know, they then maybe they would have been they probably felt last year, uh you know, going into the postseason.

00:19:53
Speaker 1: And the other thing that I'll ask in terms of the setup for the National League before we get back into the Phillies and specifically, you know, coming into the All Star break, you know, I think that it was clear that the two best teams in the National League were the Phillies as well as the Dodgers. I don't think anybody was questioning that. But Todd, You've now seen several teams have big runs in August to put themselves in position. I think basically it's a seven team race right now. The Brewers, the Phillies, and the Dodgers fighting for the top two spots in the National League rankings, Arizona and in San Diego kind of fighting for who's going to have a home field advantage in their potential wildcard series, and then the Braves and the Mets for that final spot. Over the past month, the top part of the National League has really taken off to make it more competitive. From a Braves perspective, I feel okay, I'm just glad that we're in the mix with all that we've had to go with, and I do feel confident in our pitching in really any series. Again, it's going to be if the offense can put together the consistency it needs to be able to truly be able to win the series. But from a Phillies perspective, where do you feel about the National League? Does one team really stand out? But overall it has become much more competitive than I think people may have thought six weeks ago. People may have thought six weeks ago, hey, this is the Phillies and the Dodgers and no one else really is going to have a chance. But now you've got plenty of teams who are playing really good baseball. It's going to be fun to see how everything lines up in terms of positioning, but especially fun when it comes to October and you've got several matchups you can look forward to.

00:21:21
Speaker 2: When I look at the postseason, I agree with you. I think you know, on paper, of course you would say Phillies Dodgers one, two Brewers right there. But the way that the Braves are set up, the way that some of these other teams are set up. It also would not surprise me if the five and six seeds in the National League, you know, win their wildcard series. They beat up on the teams and the NLDS, and they find themselves facing each other in the NLCS. Like, you know, I could see a situation. I could definitely see a situation where the Braves get totally locked down pitching. I mean again, Chris Sale, come on, and Cy Young maybe, uh you know, Freed, Schwellenbach, Lopez. They get on a roll. They just steamroll through the first two rounds and you know they still have enough firepower in there. Uh you know, you get matt Olsen on a hot streak, you know, our ozuna who's been fantastic all season. Those guys pop a couple. I mean, just like just like this week, right, you know Nick Castianos, he only hit like, I think a couple O two pitches, a couple you know, big spots, pop a couple, right, matt Olsen NLDS sixth ending of a game. You can picture it, right, I mean, matt Olsen hits a three run bomb boom, they win three two, Okay, Now they advance to the NLCS or something so I think you could see the I could see the pod Rays and the Braves going deep. I can see the Diamondbacks going deep, you know. So it's I think there's a lot of parody again, you know, and I agree with I've talked to a couple of people recently. There was a scout I was talking to in the press box and Citizens Bank Park and he kind of said what you said, which is, I think from top to bottom, the Phillies have most complete roster in baseball on paper. On paper, they don't play the game on paper. So I think the Phillies have a great, great chance. But they're going to play well in the postseason. You know, they're gonna have to play well. They're gonna have to come up with the big hits, they're going to have to make the big pitches. But I do think there's a lot of parodies. So for like, maybe Braves fans out there who are going, oh man, they're not going to win the Division this year. There's no way they can do it without a Coon. Yeah, there's no way without Riley. How are they possibly going to do it? Ye? They got somehow. The Braves always find a way, and that's something that I think maybe Braves fans might find interesting is is And I mean it's probably not a surprise, I guess so much. But but Phillies fans are just always like, man, what is the deal with the Braves? Many? They are they always they always seem to pick up somebody that steps up and does the job. I mean, alex Anthopolis, what is the deal? They claim these guys off of waivers and they always seem to like, you know, do something to to uh to keep them going in the right direction, you know, Orchelle Uh. You know, Maryfield did not have a great week in Phillium. Other he did. He did get on base a couple of times and gave the Phillies a little bit some some heart palpitations caused some heart palpitations. Uh, but no doubt, you know, I think I think there's there's there's a lot of teams with a lot of paths to get to the NLCS and have some October fun.

00:24:41
Speaker 1: And speaking of fun, you know, we we we talk about you know, all these you know, superstars that play for the Braves and in the Phillies. Unfortunately, the Braves are are missing a few, but the Phillies, you know, have. You know, you could make a case they probably have three to five Hall of Famers right now playing for them. But one name that stood out this weekend that had stood out over the past couple of seasons for the Phillies versus the Braves. I know, when he typically hits a home run, it's usually connected with the lessonn ideal situation happening around the world. But Nick Castiano's hit big home run after big home run in the playoff series in twenty twenty three. He delivered the big hits in this series this year, I or this weekend. I know that he has not had the best of seasons, but it seems like he's lining up again. Todd to be an X factor for the Phillies, please confirm that in a moment, I feel that the Braves on their side of things. You know, we need Marcelo Zuna, We need Matt Olsen to be their MVP level capable sales. We obviously need our pitching.

00:25:37
Speaker 2: To me.

00:25:37
Speaker 1: Jorge Celaire and Michael Harris are a couple of guys who, if they at the top of the order, can set the table and also include some Powerge Celaire's especially like he did in twenty twenty one. Him being that type of X factor I think would be huge for the Braves. But is Nick Castianos that X factor that as good as the Phillies are, that extra level of having that one additional guy who can get that big power hit when you need it that could just separate cheap for the rest of the pack. Is he that X factor or does somebody else stand out to you that could unexpectedly be a huge, huge benefit to the Phillies run this postseason, during the home stretch in this postseason.

00:26:14
Speaker 2: Yeah, I think you could say say Nick is that X factor because like, look at look at this week. You know, Bryce Harper had a pretty good week this week, but Kyle Schwarber's really have been in a funk alec bom. You know, he basically killed what three innings the entire ses the entire series with a bad hand that he kind of heard on a swing in this series opener. Uh. You know, Trey Turner has been okay recently, But when those guys are struggling or down and then you still have Nick cast down, I was heading fourth or fifth in the lineup, sixth in the lineup, it can go a long way, and you know Nick Nick got off to a terrible, terrible start. But when he is locked in and he's feeling good at the place, he's you know, we talked but on our show, he's kind of he's such a field guy. If he feels good at the plate, you know, he tends to have a lot of success. So you know, this week there's in a bat against Justin Verlander earlier last week, earlier last week, where he was down oh one, Verlander threw him a fastball and he says, well, you know what, I had a feeling Nick was sitting curveball, and I don't know why I did it. I wish I could go back in time. I ended up throwing him a breaking ball, and sure enough and Nick Nick sat was sitting on it, hit it, hit it for three run home run. And Nick's had those moments. So when Nick is going well, it really lengthens this lineup, and it also provides you a nice insurance policy. Like I said, if those first few guys in the lineup are struggling like Schwarber has been, like with bowmout, with Bryce Harper's power not being there, with an elbow and wrist issue, that he's been battling with recently.

00:27:57
Speaker 1: Yeah, and another, you know, couple of names for the Braves. To your point, in terms of a play, in terms of a position in the lineup that could extend the order. You know, we've seen Travis Darnaut have big moments all season long. Sean Murphy has he had a big game in Game two against the Phillies in this weekend series. If he could deliver that catcher position for the Braves, if it could be among the best in the majors moving forward, that could be a big thing for Atlanta. But Todd, as we're wrapping up this a crossover edition of The Hammer Territory and The Phillies Show podcast under the Foul Territory family of podcasts, Todd a couple of quick, just you know, lightning round questions for you when it comes to the postseason. Is there a potential pitching matchup you're looking more forward to than Chris Sail versus Zach Wheeler. Oh?

00:28:47
Speaker 2: No, I would absolutely love that. I mean, that would be the story of baseball, I've got to think, right. I mean, not only because they're two great pictures, because they're two great big game pitchers, and because depending on how this this rest, how the month of September goes, you might literally be saying, who which one of these two guys is going to be named the nlcy Young in November? And like I said, I think Chris Sale is a favorite right now, but with a verally strong month, maybe Zach Wheeler can kind of make it more of a coin flip situation. But man, how much fun would that be? You know, especially like you know, I don't know about you, Sean, but like I when I think of like postseason baseball, I one of the things I love are those And I know fans and if it's during the middle of the week, they hate it, right if your team is playing like a three o'clock start or one o'clock start or four o'clock start. But man, do I love October baseball when the sun's out and the weather's a little bit cool? Can you? I managine? I mean, how much fun would it be the sun is out, the air is crisp, and Chris Sale is on the mound against Zach Wheeler for Game one of the NLDS or who knows, maybe it's Game one of the NL Wildcard Series. The Phillies don't you know, finish with the top two seeds. That would be uh blast.

00:30:07
Speaker 1: Absolutely who the two likely arms that are going to finish one and two in the cy Young Award. I believe both of them have previously finished second in the Cy Young Awarded sailback in you know, the middle of last second. I believe he may have finished that high we learned twenty twenty one. But either one of them are likely going to finish at or higher than they ever have before in the Cy Young Race. So a match up between them would be absolutely outstanding. The other factor in this is that you're going to see so many good starting pitchers in the National League set up, you know, for the playoffs, Todd, But let's talk about bullpens. I think that, you know, coming into this series, I feel that the Braves and Phillies both you know, had two of the better bullpens in baseball. You can certainly make the case that the bullpen for the Phillies did a bit better job than the Braves in this series. Going into the playoffs and then this home stretch, where do you feel that these two bullpens rank among the National League I could put them one too easily. I could understand if another bullpen may, you know, especially with what the Padres did at the trade deadline to add to theirs. But how much of a strength do you fill the bullpen is? And how important do you think it'll be to the success for both the Phillies and the Braves during this home stretch as well as the playoffs.

00:31:15
Speaker 2: Yeah, I think you could put the you know you would you would put the Braves and Phillies right near the top. Yeah, you mentioned the Pottery's everybody's been raving about the moves that they made before the trade deadline and to give them, you know, a couple extra weapons. But you know, Russell Iglesiast at the top there of course for the Braves, Carloso Steves at the top for the Phillies. Both really good closers, super accomplished closers. That would be a lot of fun. But yeah, I think that is so important going to the postseason. I mentioned, you know, the Braves getting into the postseason and have it being four starters to you know, and then with Charlie Morton, I guess I would put him as the number five. But in the postseason, teams are so much more aggressive with how they deploy their bullpens. You know, the first sign of trouble in the fifth inning, you're going to see somebody cruising along and and uh, you know, you know, for instance, the at bat the other night against when when when when Morton faced Brandon Marsh. I don't not that necessarily Morton would be pitching in the postseason, but you know what I'm saying, Brian Snicker, I think would be more likely to go to the bullpen at that moment and deploy one of his top relievers to get the best matchup possible. So if you have good starting pitching, and you have a good bullpen that you can use and deploy early, and you feel like you have some depths there where you can cover three four innings, man, that is such a huge advantage. So that would be another little kind of little wrinkle. And for the Braves and for the Phillies in the postseason is getting those getting those bullpens involved, because they can shut it down. They can shut it down and pitching more often than not, we'll win.

00:32:56
Speaker 1: Todd. Last question, Who's going to hit the longest home run at Citizens Part this postseason?

00:33:02
Speaker 2: Oh? Well, I would you know what I have to go This is a not a cop out, I guess. But Kyle Schwarber hit the longest home run I've ever seen hit in my entire life, and that was at Petco Park in the twenty twenty two n LCS. He went in the second deck and right field off of U Dar which was like four hundred and seventy feet as one of the longest home runs, I mean, the longest home run I've ever seen hit in person. So I think if Kyle Schwarber is on, he can crush the ball unlike anybody I've ever seen in my life. So I'm gonna go with Kyle Schwarber. But for fun purposes, it would be fun to see Orlando or Sea hit a home run in Philadelphia because I think that would be if these two teams meet, because that would make a gift. That would be a great, great reaction in a lot of ways. One, you don't know what our c is gonna do when you look at Bryce Harper again when you do something fun, but you know the boozer would come running down, so he would not hit the farthest, but I think he would make for a great story. So Schwarber longest Arcia great storyline, and that would be a lot of That would be a lot of fun.

00:34:11
Speaker 1: Todd, there's nothing to do with you, But I gotta admit it was a trick question. The answer to the question was going to be Jorge Cilaire hitting the game home run in the game that eliminated the Phillies from the playoffs and Citizens Bank Park. That's a hope. That's more of a spoil that's more of a hope that a spoiler alert. But all kidding aside, Todd, with all due respect, I do hope the Braves pay the Phillies back this year for the past couple of seasons. But I do feel that it was very fun to be able to talk with you about this series and just get some you know, perspective, you know, from my side to the Phillies, from your side to the Braves, and as we know, both organizations, Spiel there's nothing but respect and acknowledgment that these have been two of the best teams in baseball over the past few years. Again, I think both of them, if they're in the playoffs, nobody will want to face them, And if they do want to facing each other, it should be a lot of fun and it's also been a lot of fun getting to talk with you and your perspective, as will any of the thoughts as we close out this crossover edition of the Hamber Territory Podcast in the Philly Show.

00:35:10
Speaker 2: Well, I just yeah, it was a lot of fun. I'm glad that we're part of the foul Territory family. We're excited to be part of it, and I am really looking forward to to the postseason this year. I've been covering the Philly since two thousand and three. It's always fun to cover a winner. But I just I just really love how every moment in the postseason is so magnified, right, I mean every pitch. You know, this guy through him a one to two slider and he missed his spot, and that changed the course of a series, a season, and it changes people's lives in a lot of ways, right. I Mean, you know, if the Braves, you know, come in and they upset the Phillies, for instance, and maybe they carry that to the World Series, and you could you'll be able to look back ten years from now and go that one pitch that Aaronola threw to Jorge Celaire in that one moment changed everything, or or conversely, right, I mean Nick Castiano's hit a two to two slider from so and so to knock the Braves out, and that carried them to the World Series and a parade down Broad Street. So that to me is the most fun part. So I'm really looking forward to it.

00:36:24
Speaker 1: Absolutely, and Todd, if the situation presented itself, would love to definitely pair back up with you again and maybe talk a little postseason baseball. But for those on the Hammer Territory side listening to this show, make sure to follow Todd on social media at Todd Zeleki on x and Todd, I'll give you a chance to promote yourself as well. But Todd, as he mentioned, phillis beatbrider for now two decades. He also does the Phillies Beat newsletter, part of the great crew that hosts The Philly Show, and author of the book doc The Life of Roy Holiday. I know that many and the Braves fan base are just general fans of baseball, so certainly check that out. But Todd, anything else you'd like to add, as we in this edition of The Hammer Territory Philly Show Crossover.

00:37:06
Speaker 2: No, I appreciate it. It was great. Yeah, I had a lot of fun. You know. Uh, it's it's uh, we've had We've had a lot of fun on our show. I know, you guys are doing a great job on your show. I mean when when we started talking with the guys that fouled Territory, they they were raving about you and under understandably so so we're excited that, like I said, we're we're working with you guys indirectly. I guess, right, I mean, but this is this is great and hopefully yeah, we can hook up again in the postseason. Yeah, you know. And then like I said, if Phillies fans have been going, uh, here come the Braiks, here come the Braise, I'm telling you that will be a vibe in Philly. Uh. If these two teams.

00:37:48
Speaker 1: Meet, absolutely, and it'll be a lot of fun to see. That's that's a great thing about cheering for teams that right now are in the midst of some of the best stretch of baseball that they played. You know, in decades. You always get these fun matchups. But for Todd's a lucky My name Sewan Coleman. You can find me at Stat's Sac on x slash Stritter. You can find Hammer Territory across all forms of social media at the Philly Show across all forms of social media, and of course make sure you follow Foul Territory all the great team shows and the show itself Foul Territory all under the Foul Territory Feed. Make sure you check it out wherever you get your podcasts, that's where the content will be for free for Todd's a Lucky. My name is Sean Coleman. Thank you for enjoying this crossover edition of the Hammer Territory in Philly Show. I've got to say this, go Braves, but a no Todd, which say go Phillies as well. Until next time from both shows, We'll talk to you again soon