Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Speaker A: All right, so are you ready to dive into some serious playoff baseball?
[00:00:03] Speaker B: Absolutely. Let's do it.
[00:00:04] Speaker A: We're talking game two of the NLDs, and we've got two incredible matchups to break down. First up, the Phillies versus the Mets. This game was absolutely wild. A real nail biter.
[00:00:17] Speaker B: Yeah, it really embodies that never say die spirit of playoff baseball.
[00:00:21] Speaker A: Exactly. The Mets jumped out to a 30 lead early on, and it felt like they had the Phillies right where they wanted them.
[00:00:27] Speaker B: But then momentum shifted. And whats so fascinating about baseball is how quickly that can happen, especially in a game with this much intensity.
[00:00:35] Speaker A: Okay, so picture this. Its the bottom of the 8th, the Phillies are trailing six five, and its Bryson Stotts birthday.
[00:00:41] Speaker B: Talk about pressure, right?
[00:00:42] Speaker A: And what does Stott do? He steps up to the plate and smacks a go ahead two run triple. I mean, can you believe that? A go ahead triple on his birthday.
[00:00:50] Speaker B: Its like something out of a movie. The stadium went absolutely nuts. And remember how we talked about the power of momentum? You could practically feel it shifting in the Phillies favor after that hit.
[00:01:01] Speaker A: And Stott wasnt the only Philly who stepped up in a big way. Remember how we talked about Bryce Harpers leadership and his whole showman Persona? Well, he definitely lived up to that title. In the 6th inning, with the Phillies still trailing, Harper launches a game tying two run homer.
[00:01:16] Speaker B: It was a statement home run, not just for Harper, but for the entire Fillers team. It was like they were saying, we're not done yet. We're coming back, and you better believe it.
[00:01:26] Speaker A: But wait, there's more. As if a birthday triple in a game tying homer weren't enough, Nick Castellanos decided to join the party. This guy, he's ice in his veins. He ties the game with a solo shot in the 6th. Then in the bottom of the 9th, with the game on the line, he delivers the game winning single. That's his fifth career post season walk off hit.
[00:01:45] Speaker B: The man lives for these moments. He's got this incredible knack for staying composed under pressure and delivering when it matters most. Remember, he led the majors in walk off hits this season. He's not afraid of the big moment.
[00:01:57] Speaker A: Not at all. So we've got these incredible individual performances. But what really struck me was the Phillies overall team effort. They were down. They were being doubted, but they just kept fighting.
[00:02:07] Speaker B: It's a testament to their resilience and their belief in themselves. The game summaries really highlighted how the Phillies made adjustments at the plate as the game went on. They talked about shrinking the strike zone and focusing on making solid contact. And it worked. They started capitalizing on the Mets mistakes, especially when Diaz came in for the 8th. Remember how we talked about Diaz's struggles at Citizens Bank park?
[00:02:29] Speaker A: His era there is. Well, let's just say it's not great for a closer.
[00:02:33] Speaker B: Right? And you could see why the Phillies were targeting him in that ballpark. It'll be interesting to see if the Mets adjust their strategy now that this series is moving to New York.
[00:02:42] Speaker A: Absolutely. So before we move on to our next game, I wanna ask you, what's your biggest takeaway from this Philadelphia showdown? What should our listeners keep in mind as we head into game three?
[00:02:51] Speaker B: I think it's a powerful reminder that in baseball, you can never count a team out, especially a team with this much post season experience. They've been there, they've done that, and they know how to win. When the stakes are high, anything can.
[00:03:04] Speaker A: Happen, which is why we love this game, right? Right. All right, now let's shift gears and head west to Dodger Stadium. Buckle up, because this next game is a wild one, too, but for totally different reasons.
[00:03:15] Speaker B: So while the Phillies were mounting their incredible comeback, the Padres and Dodgers were having a completely different kind of dramatic game over on the west coast. We're talking offensive fireworks, a controversial moment, and a fascinating display of veteran leadership.
[00:03:30] Speaker A: Ok, set the scene for us. What went down at Dodger Stadium?
[00:03:33] Speaker B: The Padres absolutely lit up. The Dodgers, winning ten two. And they do it with a record tying offensive explosion. Six home runs.
[00:03:42] Speaker A: Six. Wow. That's a statement win.
[00:03:44] Speaker B: It definitely got everyone's attention. But before we dive into the offensive onslaught, we have to talk about a game changing play that happened in the very first inning.
[00:03:53] Speaker A: Okay, I'm intrigued.
[00:03:54] Speaker B: Top of the first, Jurrikson Profar, playing left field for the Padres, pulls off an absolutely insane home run robbery, robbing Mookie Betts of a sure homer.
[00:04:06] Speaker A: No way. Mookie Betts.
[00:04:08] Speaker B: It was one for the highlight reels for sure. Profar leaps at the wall, full extension, barely snags the ball, and tumbles back onto the field. The experts, even guys like Jeter, Ortiz, and Rodriguez, all agreed this catch was a total momentum shifter.
[00:04:21] Speaker A: You know how much those guys love their defense, so that says a lot. But six home runs? Let's talk about that offensive explosion.
[00:04:27] Speaker B: Well, it was like the Padres just decided to put on a home run derby. Fernando Tatis junior had himself a multi homer game, including a solo shot right after getting plunked by a pitch from Jack Flaherty in the 6th.
[00:04:38] Speaker A: Talk about adding fuel to the fire.
[00:04:40] Speaker B: Tatis even said that getting hit by the pitch just fired him up even more. You could see it in his reaction and how the Padres dugout responded. It became this whole us against the world mentality. Yeah, and that really seemed to ignite the team.
[00:04:53] Speaker A: It's amazing how those little moments can change the entire feel of a game. So who else contributed to this home run party?
[00:04:58] Speaker B: Oh, it was a team effort for sure. David Peralta and Jackson Merrill each launched two run bombs and even Xander Bogarts and Kyle Higashioka got in on the action.
[00:05:08] Speaker A: So it was a good night to be a Padres fan unless you were.
[00:05:10] Speaker B: Sitting in the left field bleachers in the 7th inning.
[00:05:12] Speaker A: Oh, right, this is where we get into the controversial part of the game. Right. What exactly happened?
[00:05:17] Speaker B: Two balls were thrown from the stands towards profar in left field. It looked like someone also threw trash onto the warning track. Security had to rush over and the game was delayed for about twelve minutes while they tried to get the situation under control.
[00:05:30] Speaker A: Wow, that's scary. You hate to see that happen in any game, but especially during the playoffs with the tension already so high.
[00:05:38] Speaker B: Absolutely. It was a really unfortunate situation and completely overshadowed what was otherwise an amazing game of baseball. It raises important questions about fan behavior, player safety, and the overall atmosphere of the playoffs. These are human beings out there on the field, not just names on a jersey.
[00:05:55] Speaker A: Right. And they deserve to be treated with respect just like anyone else. Did this incident have any lasting impact on the game itself?
[00:06:02] Speaker B: Well, both Tatis and Merrill said afterwards that it was unacceptable and shouldn't happen in a major league game. But you have to wonder how it might have impacted Hugh Darvish, who was pitching a gem for the padres at the time.
He had to regain his focus after that lengthy delayed.
[00:06:18] Speaker A: That's a really good point. It couldn't have been easy to block out that kind of distraction.
[00:06:23] Speaker B: To his credit, Darvish came back and finished the 7th inning strong. The commentators were incredibly impressed with his performance. They called it a masterclass and talked about how he's evolved as a pitcher.
[00:06:34] Speaker A: You've probably heard about Darvish's past as a strikeout pitcher, right? Well, this game was a perfect example of how he's adapted his strategy. He only had two strikeouts, but he was in complete control, relying more on strategy and command rather than just trying to overpower hitters. It's a valuable lesson for any aspiring pitcher out there.
[00:06:52] Speaker B: Absolutely. And it's a testament to his mental toughness that he could maintain that composure after such a chaotic event.
[00:06:59] Speaker A: Speaking of composure, there was another key player who really stood out for his leadership in the midst of all this drama.
[00:07:07] Speaker B: You're talking about Manny Machado, right? Yeah. He called a team meeting during that delay in the 7th, and it was a brilliant move.
[00:07:14] Speaker A: What made it so effective?
[00:07:15] Speaker B: The timing was crucial. Emotions were running high after the fan incident, and the Dodgers were in danger of completely unraveling. But Machado, who has been known to be a bit fiery himself earlier in his career, was the calm in the storm. He reminded his team to stay focused on the bigger picture, winning the series. It's a great example how a veteran player can step up and lead by example when it matters most of.
[00:07:37] Speaker A: Okay, so we've got these wild swings of emotion, incredible displays of athleticism, and a controversial moment that really makes you think as we head into game three, what's your biggest takeaway from this Padres Dodgers showdown?
[00:07:51] Speaker B: I think it's twofold. First, composure is everything in the playoffs. We saw it from Darvish after the delay and from Machado when he called that team meeting. The ability to stay calm and focused amidst the chaos is what separates the good from the great. And second, this game was a stark reminder that baseball is more than just stats and highlights. The human element, the emotions, the fan interactions, they all play a role in how the story unfolds on the field.
[00:08:16] Speaker A: It's true. It's easy to get caught up in those numbers, but it's those human moments that you really remember.
[00:08:21] Speaker B: Absolutely. And those are the stories you tell for years to come.
[00:08:23] Speaker A: Exactly. So we've got two incredible series tied at one. One. What are you most looking forward to as we head into game three?
[00:08:32] Speaker B: Well, for me, it all comes down to pitching.
[00:08:34] Speaker A: Okay. I like it.
[00:08:35] Speaker B: Can Aaron Nola step up for the Phillies against that tough Mets lineup in New York? And can the Padres figure out their pitching situation?
[00:08:44] Speaker A: Yeah. What about Michael King? He's had some incredible games, but the Dodgers have also gotten to him this season.
[00:08:50] Speaker B: Right. Which Michael King are we going to see? The one who dominates or the one who seems to struggle against the Dodgers lineup?
[00:08:56] Speaker A: And then you also have to factor in that home field advantage.
[00:08:59] Speaker B: It's huge in the playoffs.
[00:09:00] Speaker A: Absolutely.
[00:09:01] Speaker B: But on the other hand, how about the Phillies and all that momentum after that comeback win?
[00:09:05] Speaker A: Yeah, they're gonna be riding high going into game three, and they've got Zach.
[00:09:08] Speaker B: Wheeler on the mount, a guy with tons of experience. So it'll be really interesting to see how both of these series play out.
[00:09:14] Speaker A: It really is. Anyone's game at this point.
[00:09:16] Speaker B: That's the beauty of playoff baseball, right? The intensity, the pressure. Every pitch matters.
[00:09:20] Speaker A: Anything can happen.
[00:09:21] Speaker B: You definitely don't want to miss a single inning.
[00:09:24] Speaker A: Absolutely. Well, there you have it. Two unforgettable NLDS games, comebacks, controversy, much hitting, and some big leadership lessons along the way. Remember, folks, baseball is a game of inches, a game of momentum. And as we saw sometimes it's those human moments that can make all the difference. Keep those scorecards handy because we're just getting started.
