High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - 15 Days to Baseball

Episode Date: July 10, 2020

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz are back as we are 15 (!) days to baseball. The guys go over all the camp story-lines and a whole lot more. See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Some wine? Yes. Get almost, almost anything delivered with Uber Eats. Order now. Alcohol in select markets. See app for details. This is the High Hopes Podcast. High Hopes. It's a bunch of baseball nerds talking about the Philadelphia Phillies

on Radio.com and Sports Radio 94 WIP. Yo! It is another edition of the IOPs Podcast. Jack, we have baseball players down at Citizens Bank Park playing baseball, doing baseball things. I'm so fired up, man.

That was a regular season, yo. That was a work lost to baseball, yo, for sure. We've had a lot of lame yo times. I'm just getting them in now. You know, it's pent up yo's. I love it. And you know what? Honestly, for as excited and happy as I am that there's physical baseball being played

on the grounds of Citizens Bank Park, you know what made me the most happy this week, James, was, you know, the kids that were climbing over the center field fence to get a glimpse of the ballplayers playing on the fields of Citizens Bank Park. Because you know what? Like, you know, I hear all... Because you're one of those kids. Exactly. Yep.

And I hear all the old heads that are always like oh you know i used to sneak into shy park for a 50 cents and uh i just i would love to watch the ball club well you know what those kids are just trying to tell do what their their grandfathers and grandparents had done back at shy park or the or veteran stadium and it was like you know what honestly at that moment i was like baseball is gonna be okay you know we're gonna we're gonna make it i love it this is great this is wholesome content right here oh i don't think i don't think there's a more wholesome podcast than the high hopes podcast we are that's what we do we're both diseased and we are wholesome at the same time um i feel a little bit fraudulent right now james uh i know oh i know i know this is not

this is this must be big right if we're going with this yeah if we're throwing out the fraud word um i'm drinking a boston beer right now i'm having trillium from boston uh now i would i would like to say that i'm drinking it because i'm thinking about aaron nola and his seven shutout innings in boston in 2018 man it's a good spin which i think is my favorite philly's baseball game since like 2012 um and dude i think And, dude, I think about the NOLA start in Boston at least once a week. I mean, I love the NOLA start in Boston. I feel like we spent too much time on the 2018 Phillies already in this podcast, so I'm very sorry for getting us derailed. Five seconds is too much time, so yes.

If you could please reel us back in. But, yes, baseball. I can please reel us back in, but yes, uh, baseball, I can never really back in. I try. Yeah. Yeah.

Well, you know, um, you gotta be you, Jack. Sometimes, sometimes it's just gotta be you, but baseball's back.

And like, man, shout out to the Phillies, uh, social media department. Like I was already excited for the Phillies, but they're putting out these daily videos and i i'm sure they're just capturing capturing the good moments but i i think i already

genuinely genuinely love this team like i love this team you're such an easy sell i agree with you but you're such an easy sell yeah but they seem so happy and that's kind of like that's what kind of sucks about not having a full season and not really having fans that these guys can play up to. Because, you know, imagine a whole season of DD and Andrew McCutcheon and Stashed Reese and Bryce and JT Ripped, like Ripped JT. It's just they seem like they're having a lot of fun. And I think that in a season with fans and a season full of a full Citizens Bank Park,

I felt like we would have seen, you know, a real joy of a Phillies baseball team that we hadn't really felt since 2011. And it felt like my general feels that it would have been a really, really, really easy team to get behind. And I know it's only social media, and I know we won't know until the games are played, and I am furious I can't go down there during the day

because I just want to see how they're looking. But they seem like a very, very fun team. And, I mean, what is it, 17, 16 days? Dude, it's two weeks from now. It's 15 days. Tomorrow, Friday, we're recording this Thursday night. Friday, it's two weeks from tomorrow It's 15 days Tomorrow, Friday We're recording this Thursday night Friday, it's two weeks from Friday Like when most people hear this podcast

It'll be two weeks from today That the Philadelphia Phillies will be taking the field To play the Miami Marlins At Citizens Bank Park For baseball that matters Look, I'm with you You know, like Before you got hurt last year

I made the declaration on this podcast that Andrew McCutcheon was my favorite Philly. And it's unbelievable how much more I love him now than I did then. He was already my favorite. And now it's like, how could anyone not love this guy? I mean, how could you not love everything about the way Andrew McCutcheon goes about his business? Not only does he play the game perfectly, we talked about that last year, the way he runs the bases, the way Andrew McCutcheon goes about his business. Not only does he play the

game perfectly, we talked about that last year, the way he runs the bases, the way he plays defense, the way he bats, like it's all picture perfect, but he just seems like the best dude. I mean, even like the uncle Larry thing, he takes that, you know, Howard making this, this Twitter mistake, which he does all the time. And, and he takes that and turns it into a persona and into a gag. I just like, I don't know how you couldn't love Andrew McCutcheon. So I I'm with you, Jack. I think this team has a lot of personality. I'll also say that to your point about, um, the importance of those videos on their Twitter timeline and all that stuff. Also just having reporters down there has been awesome. I wasn't expecting it with you know

all that's going on i was expecting it to be uh you know the type of thing where they didn't allow reporters in there to watch this stuff and getting these videos getting these reports from these these reporters has been awesome totally and uh i would just like to say i would like to say that i think that andrew mccutcheon uh does like should start sending some money to Howard Eskin. We are a we are a pro Howard podcast. And I just think I think our dude, I think. Yeah, I think he should be getting some royalties for us. Uncle Larry stuff. So, yeah, I totally agree.

And there's a lot of people down there, which is good. It's good that they're getting a bunch of access. of people down there um which is good uh it's good that they're getting a bunch of access and like you know i i'm i'm obviously a major sucker for uh any kind of philly's content i could get like oh yeah we know we know i mean i i i'm deciphering every single video that i see from down there like oh what is this guy doing you know how's he looking against this you know, did I get nervous when I saw a video of Reese Hoskins hitting one against Nick Pavetta that was, I don't know, like two rows deep in left field? Yeah, I did.

But then I looked and I said, that ball's foul. So there's nothing to worry about here. I love that. That is as on brand as it gets. And we'll get back to some of the stuff that we've actually seen from down there. But look, somehow we've actually had two schedules released since the last time we talked about it uh we don't have to get into the 2021 one as much um but the 60 game schedule like this is the first time jack you and i are talking since knowing what games the phillies will be playing

this season how it shakes out the 60 60-game sprint to the finish. What was your overall takeaways from the schedule? It seems pretty easy early. They're going to have to win those games early to really make a dent in this season. Yeah, nine out of their first 13 against Miami and Toronto.

You have to take advantage of that. 100%. Especially in a year where you and i have talked about this but i mean it really is a year where a hot or cold start could literally make or break your season and you know it's that it's that you know the gravity of it is is that high so yeah yeah and like i'm already i mean i'm already terrified of the uh of the freaking marlin series open the season like i can already see them going one for two and everyone's like oh what did i even get my hopes up for anyway because here the classic uh

phillies are back um it's so weird it's so weird seeing all the yankees games on the schedule like i'm just i'm just so not ready to see what the yankees are gonna do the to the bottom half of this phillies pitching staff i do like that're early though. Like they're early in the season. I mean, they're done with the Yankees before August, August, once August first starts, they don't play the Yankees again. So I don't, I do like the idea of just getting those out of the way. Maybe you get a Yankees team that's still got to iron out a few kinks. I know the Phillies will too, but I don't know. I feel like I'd rather get the end. And look, who knows, maybe, you know, the Yankees end up losing like seven major players over the course of the

season and be better to play them at the end of August than, than the beginning of July or the end of July. But I think just on a, you know, a macro scale, I think I'd rather have the Yankees early that early. And, and, you know, I think it takes away at least a tiny bit of their advantage rather than being a more of a well-oiled machine. Yeah. I mean, the Yankees won't be prepared for fifth starter Pavetta.

And, you know, you mean you mean dual fifth starter Pavetta and Velasquez when they each get three innings? Yeah. Taking down taking down all nine innings there. Now, so you mentioned the Yankees how you get them out of the way early and then you replace them with the the nationals the defending world series champions and it's uh that was an interesting sound but honestly honestly i just look at the schedule and i'm like oh my god yeah well it's one thing for us to talk about it going into being like oh this schedule is going to be brutal. Like we know it. They've got the toughest two divisions in baseball playing each other.

They have to play four teams. And there are three other teams in their own division. We're all, you know, either really good or at least solid. We knew it was going to be tough. But when you actually go through it game by game and see it laid out, it's just like, oh, praise again. Jesus. Oh, that's – oh, well, now well now they're you know going to balls like

it just is it's it's it's daunting dude so i'm looking right now right and it goes in uh in august it goes uh braves orioles it's like oh cool all right nice little three game set against the orioles mets red socks braves nationals braves uh nationals the finger mets again then boston and then you end up with Miami. Well, I think that stretch of baseball, like assuming, and again, this is a season where hot and cold starts will make or break teams. Like we will see a team, you know, you and I have talked about this. There'll be a team that people don't expect to make the playoffs

who starts out, you know, 9-1, and they're going to make the playoffs. And there'll be a team that everybody expects to make the playoffs who starts out 3-7 or something, and they're not able to recover. Like that kind of stuff's going to make the playoffs and there'll be a team that everybody expects to make the playoffs it starts out three and seven or something and and they're not able to recover like that kind of stuff's going to happen but assuming the phillies can at least hold water and like we said maybe even get out to a bit of a hot start with those early games i think you're really looking at that august 25th through september 13th stretch of baseball as being their biggest most important stretch it's longest. Obviously they're playing 20 straight games those days, 20 straight games. And it's on the road, then home, then back on the road. Then, you know what I mean? It's, it's, they're

moving around. Like you said, in that stretch of baseball, they play six games against Washington. They got three, excuse me, seven against Washington, three against Atlanta in there. They have four against the Mets in there. I mean, that's not only all good baseball teams, but the teams you're in theory, you know, where we always talk about the wildcard, but in theory fighting for the division with that is, I think, you know, provided they don't get out to a really cold start and their season's over before it really begins.

I think that stretch of baseball is going to make or break it. Can I just say something? I'm already, like, I just assume J.D. Martinez is going to hit, like, 400 against us. Totally. Totally. There's no way. There is a 0% chance that J.D. Martinez just does not take us to school every single time. There's just no way Pavetta ever gets him out. I will put it at a 0% chance that Nick Pavetta ever gets out J.D. Martinez.

That guy's going to hit no less than 400 against the Phillies. If I could take a prop bet on who is going to be the Phillies killer this year, it's him, it's DJ LeMayu. Who else am I thinking of here? Rendon's gone, which is big. De Devers scares me always Devers does always scare me Soto I mean obviously I guess you gotta put Victor Robles on the list right

I think I got in Victor Robles head Honestly last year down in Washington Like Bogarts Bogarts is gonna torture us us. You broke him down. Yep, and then they won the World Series. So nailed it once again. The power of friends. Yeah, you know me.

You know me. I'm sorry, Bryce. But honestly, I think my first take is I don't think the Red Sox are going to be that good this year, and I don't think they really want to be that good this year. I could totally see Haim just being okay with getting a top-ten pick and moving on to the next year after losing Mookie. I think the Mets are going to be a lot better than expected. I look at the Mets roster, and I'm pretty good.

I think they have a good roster. Yeah, you look at the lineup, and you're like, oh, this sneakily could be a really nice lineup. And the thing that they have that the Phillies don't have is they've got a bullpen that I think you could probably count on. You know, Diaz is up and down so far as a map, but there's a lot of talent in that bullpen. Yeah, well, Seth Lugo is my guy.

I mean, Sethy Spin, right? Spinmaster. Sethy Spin guy. Well, there's that that and then all the reports out of new york is that yonas s perez is like back back i know and i might i might try to steal i just realized i'm in a fancy draft this started tonight which i had no idea about um what time what time you got it is it coming no no no no it's like it's like a slow draft okay okay yeah uh and i think i think the nationals aren't going to be that good this year.

You know, I've said it a couple times, and every time I say it out loud, I'm like, that sounds stupid, you know? But I say it out loud, like, defending World Series champions, and it's like, dude, Rendon's not there. You know, obviously Soto's still there. Robles is still there. Zimmerman opted out. And the pitching staff's still ridiculous. But, like, Rendon was such a machine for that team that they're just not going to have the same bite, I don't think, as they've had in the last couple years.

Every time I say that the Nationals won the World Series last year, it's like, they did. But, I mean, who on that team really scares me offensively anymore outside of Soto? I mean, Trey Turner a little bit. I think he's an okay player uh howie kendrick hit like 900 in the in the postseason like adam meeton's a nice player but you're not scared of him same thing with nice player nice player but but there's not the pitching staff is going to be what you know would carry that team in a short season but offensively with friend zone, they just don't have the same – I'm not as scared of that team offensively as I was.

I mean, they have a horrendous bullpen. I don't know how they won the World Series with it. But Will Harris was a nice signing, but it's not a good bullpen. Every year is a horrendous bullpen, except last year they figured it out because Daniel Hudson remembered it was like 2009 and said, I'm going to figure it out real quick back here. I definitely owned Daniel Hudson in fantasy back then. Not that far because I don't think it was like 2009 and said, I'm going to figure it out real quick back here. I definitely owned Daniel Hudson in fantasy back then. Not that far because I don't think it was that far ago.

But when he was a Diamondback prospect, that was all over Daniel Hudson. All right. So can I get my first prediction out there? Yes, please. What took you so long? Yeah, I never give predictions on this podcast. And I've never said the term breakout Pavetta. Here's what's going to happen, okay?

Yeah. The Phils are going to be like around 500, maybe two games above 500. And, you know, they're going to come off a series at home against the Mets. And they're going to be starting to gain some momentum here in September. And then the Blue Jays are going to come to town. And we're going to be all like, oh, one of the worst teams in baseball is coming into the bank. And then I don't know how to see them.

Boba Shad and Kevin Biggio and Vlad Jr. are going to tear us apart. Vlad Jr. hits no less than 900 that series with like six homers. They do a lot of young talent, to be fair. That Toronto team, Nate Pearson's going to come up at some point. That team is a monster. I can't wait. If I could just ask one thing of the baseball gods, it would be Spencer Howard versus Nate Pearson in September.

Give it to me. You're right. It is one of those things where, look, and I think, you know, despite our probably irrational fears of the Toronto Blue Jays, getting Toronto six times, you wanted the Orioles the most. They only play them three.

That's a bummer. But I'd rather have Toronto six than the other teams in that division. But you're right. It's setting up for Toronto to be last year's Marlins this year, like where it's like those are the games gonna win those games they gotta win those games and then some of they go like one in five against them yeah a hundred thousand percent and like

i've i'm already uh not sleeping well at night thinking about the marlins rotation you know of of guys that like i swear only you and i have heard of i love i love him man i'll watch sandy alcantara pitch any day give him a minute give me caitlin smith like i you know if dude it would be the boldest move ever to put max meyer on the on like the opening day roster that would be like incredible he's a college guy though so you know that'd be bold though yeah but he's already i mean he's already pretty much there um but honestly like he looks six though like six though is not that far away like i don't know if we see him this year but certainly next year at the latest oh that'll be some nice poetic justice great it was super fun as jt's walking out the door uh but but honestly like for for as like much of a gauntlet as as

the philly's schedule is and it's a gauntlet like the the orioles are terrible and they might win why would the orioles win 10 games this year i don't like it's just they might not i mean like there's no point to it yeah i mean tennis is low but i know i know yeah but that's basically winning in the teens for sure like they'll be terrible but other than that like i think the marlins have talent i think the blue jays have talent the rays always find a way now they lost high on but you never know um and like for for for as nerve-wracking and as it is like i'm gonna be excited to see how the phillies stack up against these teams like i'm excited to see them go against yankees i don't

think the red sox are gonna be good this year i'm excited to see that uh i'm excited to see who they're going to be going against and how they match up and it for as much as you can't take too much away from this season from a roster evaluation standpoint they're going to be going up against some of the best in the entire sport um and i think that could be a big going into 2021. So I'm both nervous and excited for what – For the schedule and all that. For the schedule, yeah. Yeah, and look, to your Nationals point really quickly,

I thought they're one of the teams that was helped by the layoff. I think playing deep into October for the first time like that and wearing out those arms like they did, I think would have had repercussions on them if the season had started three months ago, like it was supposed to. I don't know if it'll still linger. I was down on the Nats going into the season. Now I'm a little less down on them. You know, they're still a good team. Losing Rendon obviously matters, but I think also to your point in,

I think this is, look, we all know, we all know, we all know it's a unique, the most unique year that we've ever seen, that any of us have ever seen. But I also think that, I think that as a result of that, like, it's not just talent that's that have success this year in terms of mental fortitude in terms of um being able to play under these conditions while there are so many other factors obviously covid factors but the uh short schedule to this to that like there are so many things that are unique and different this season that i think maybe you see a group of guys that just react to this particular situation better than others. And I think it could, my point being that we could, it could be a funky year in terms of teams you expect to be great versus teams you don't expect to be great.

Look, the Orioles, the Tigers, the Mariners, those teams aren't competing no matter what. But I do think that once you get to a certain threshold, and I would say the Phillies, the Mets, those types of teams are like that level of team. I think that some weird stuff could happen this year, for lack of a better phrase. You know what I mean? Are we talking wonky? We're talking wonky, baby. It's a wonky year. We need it. I mean, look, let's be real. If this were a 162 normal season, the Phillies, as currently comprised, we're not going to win the World Series this year. I not betting on it i don't expect it but it's going to be weird this year weird things are going to happen this year yeah uh like playing your way into getting a top 10 pick and getting

some stud in the draft um yeah listen if you start slow don't be afraid to tank well it is crazy i mean think about that jack think about two weeks into a baseball season we will be a quarter of the way through the year and there will be teams that two weeks into the season know that their season is over like it's crazy man this is gonna be it's gonna be so wild it's gonna be such a unique weird year like even for us like is it you know what we what we always say we're diseased phillies fans diseased baseball fans like it's gonna be so unique for all of us obviously just the the what the game looks like you know the air high fives and no fans that's gonna be weird enough as it is but also like following the standings like under say like you you know like we know like you know like all right if i'm four games back on august 15th

what's that mean for my chance you know you know these types of things you know how hard it is to come back from that this year it's it's all new we have no idea like how quickly or how you know how quickly your season could fall away from you. Definitely. What was that? That was Siri, and she did not like my point, Jack. I thought it was a good point. She said, I'm not sure I understand. Well, screw you. Well, I don't get what Siri doesn't understand.

The season's going to be over very quickly. I thought it was a pretty clear point, Siri. Yeah, I think you need to get a new iPhone. I need to get a new computer. Oh, Jack Das really needs a new computer. For those who don't know, maybe people will be able to hear it. If you've got a very keen ear,

at a certain point earlier in this podcast, Jack's computer yet again died on us or overloaded or whatever, and we had to stop and then restart so just when i just when i thought we were figuring out this whole home podcasting thing like last last one was our best one i i'm like jack it was perfect no issues and you know yeah yeah we're back we're back but now i'm on joel's computer and everything's fine. It's a beautiful thing. Of course, Jill would have a working computer and you would not.

That sounds pretty on point for the two of you. I would agree. Andrew Knapp days from opening day. Oh, thank goodness. Did you like the video of Andrew Knapp throwing out Bryce Harper today? Knapp, he's a, Knapp, he's a character down there. These guys love him. Yeah. Yeah. He's a great, a great team guy. Love, love that guy. What a team guy. It calls, not new, not a great baseball guy. Maybe not a great umpire according to his teammates and, uh, works a great count. All right. Well, let's, uh, you have anything else on the schedule before schedule before we uh kind of pivot over to talk about what's been happening down at citizens bank

no let's let's get yeah let's get into it all right well you were alluding to the nappy thing let's let's backtrack real quick and talk about the i personally what i think and obviously we'll talk about the actual baseball we've seen alec boom ripping doubles all kinds of good stuff but from a a news standpoint i think the number one thing that's happened there, outside of everyone finally showing up, the Aaron Nola of it all, and that whole situation, and the Adam Haseley situation with the false test. Yeah, the wrong lab test. But I'll just say this very quickly.

Major League Baseball, get your crap together. Button this up because the quickest thing that could hurt this season is not being able to have tests and testing done diligently and and on time but that's not what we're talking about tonight um outside of all that stuff i think the biggest news uh on day one the first intra squad game they have jt romuto a bomb of a home run and bryce harper at the top of his lungs yells, sign him. And everyone heard it. Everyone tweets about it. We've already seen Harper do the Romito-Sherzi thing. We talked about that last time.

We thought it was fun. Support your guy. Cool. Does the Zoom interview where he says it would be terrible if they don't sign him. And now kind of openly yelling these things knowing they're reporters they're knowing this is going to be um out there and even jay tiramido commenting about it today because he was asked about it and said you know i don't want to talk about me but loves bryson appreciates it but what is your take on this because it's fun to see him stand up for

his guy but it's also i mean to be frank an awkward situation a bit for the team he's playing for, you know? Yeah, so this might come as a surprise, but I actually hate it, and I wish he would stop doing it. It is a surprise, Jack. I know, and it's not because I don't want them to sign JT Romito. We all want them to sign JT Romito. We don't need to clarify it anymore. We want them to sign him. Yeah, totally agree. Now, the reason I don't like it is because anymore. We want them to sign him. Yeah, totally agree.

Now, the reason I don't like it is because I think it sets a bad precedent. You know, obviously we want to sign JT Romito, and I think the Phillies want to sign JT Romito. But what happens when Hoskins' contract comes up? Is Bryce going to be screaming at the Phillies to re-sign Reese Hoskins? You know, I just think that it creates an awkward kind of divide in the locker room. And a couple years from now, if these guys start coming up for contracts and Bryce isn't yelling at the front office to sign them,

they're going to be like, hey, dude, I want to get paid too. And I understand that JT is more important than some of the guys on the team, and I get it. But I just think it's going to be awkward. You know, I mean, Donovan stuck up for Westbrook and wanted Westbrook to get paid, and he didn't stick up for T.O., and that's what kind of caused that whole thing. So, sure, it's cool, and he definitely did it loud enough so he made sure that the writers heard it so that they would write about it

and it would put even more pressure on the Phillies. But I just don't like the precedent that it sets because I think that eventually guys in the locker room are going to be like, yo dude, you know, I mean, he did it for him. Why can't you, you know, I want to get paid too. And I understand that, you know, like if I'm a player's perspective, I'm saying what makes JT so much more special than me? You know, why aren't you, why aren't you sticking up for me? So if you're going to do it for him, you're going to have to do it for everyone, and the Phillies can't pay everyone. So I just think there could be an awkward, you know, kind of repercussion to it.

Jack, I think that's an incredible point, and I 100% agree with you. And I honestly think that, you know, Harper could convey the very same message by going and talking to John Middleton, which I'm sure he could do whenever he wants to call up John Middleton. And I'm, and maybe he has, but like doing this publicly, isn't going to make it any better. Like, it's not going to make this, it's not going to be like, Oh crap. He's calling us out publicly. Now we have to sign him. Like that's not the way it works. And all you're doing is like you said, you're creating a potential situation down the road. And you're also, look, you're a Philadelphia affiliate. You committed here. You're here for the next 13 years. Like you are openly undermining your team's ability to negotiate with a free agent. You're taking

their leverage away. You're literally taking it away from the team you are a part of. Like you want this team to be great for a long period of time. Like don't take their leverage away. Like you're, you're creating a situation that is bad for the team. And I, again, I respect him standing up for his guy. I think it's important all that, but he could do it without hurting the team publicly. Like he could do, he could convey the same message by going and talking to them and look, yes, does this put more pressure on them doing it publicly? Yes, it does. But it also hurts the team you play for. Like, ultimately, they know you want them to re-sign. We all want to re-sign.

I'm sure they want to re-sign him. But like, you don't want them to do it at the, like, to their detriment, right? Like, you don't want to hurt the team, right? I just don't think that Bryce is really thinking about this outside of saying, I'm supporting my friend in the moment. And I don't think he's thinking about the many different repercussions of it. Yeah, I just think he wants them to sign JT. And he wants to make sure that they don't lose him in free agency, which is great.

Neither do I. I don't want the Phillies to lose him in free agency either i would i would like for them to resign them um but it just it kind of kills all their leverage and you know obviously you know you don't like you don't like talking about leverage and free agency and all that we talk about baseball players but you know that's just the nature of the business and um you know they, they're the way it's trending. They're probably going to overpay for them. You know, I don't,

I don't know what I think is going to happen to him. I don't, and obviously we're, we're pro players getting their money and, and all that good stuff. Um, but I, I think it's,

I think it's a very tall ask to think that, that JT would get, you know, five, one 20 on the market or even 5-100 on the market. So it feels like it's going to be an overpay. And listen, ultimately, it's nice that Bryce is sticking up for his guy. Yes.

And it's nice that he – it seems like he realizes that it would be very tough to win without JT Real and Muto. You know, there's not too much high-level talent on this Phillies team. There's a bunch of good players, but JT and Bryce are the elite players on this team. And there's not really another path to get it. Like, hopefully, Boehm can turn into that. But for them to win a World Series in the next five years, it's going to be on the backs of Bryce Harper and JT Real Amido and hopefully Alec Bohm getting the job done there.

And if they don't re-sign JT Real Amido, what's the plan? What's the plan there? So I understand how important it is to re-sign JT Real Amido. I fully get it. But I just, for the sake of the locker room, I'm sure they probably don't care, but you don't know how those guys are going to be thinking when free agency is here

and if Bryce isn't doing the same thing for them, what they're going to think. So, yeah, that's all I got to say about that. Yeah, and again, I think that's a really important point. And again, I just think it's creating a situation that is difficult to deal with for the team you play for. But I agree with your point. And I do want to reiterate that I love that Bryce Harper

loves his teammate this much. And I love that he's willing to put his mouth out there and say, I'm going to stick up for my guy publicly and all that. I appreciate that. That's the type of, look, I would want to be Bryce Harper's teammate. That's the type of feeling it gives me I would want to be Bryce Harper's teammate. Like, that's the type of feeling it gives me. Like, I want to be that dude's teammate, and I'm sure JT feels that way. And until those other guys have to get paid, maybe they feel that.

Maybe they hope that Bryce will stand up for them too. But, yeah, I just think, look, ultimately what it comes down to is this team has to be willing to spend money. And that's the question mark that we still don't really know. is this team has to be willing to spend money. And that's the question mark that we still don't really know. You know, we don't know that they're really willing to spend deep into the luxury tax, or at least into the luxury tax, to really put together a team that is not just capable, but has a real chance, a true chance,

to win a championship in the next few years during Bryce's prime, which is the whole point of bringing that guy in here. And it's the whole reason of bringing that guy in here. And it's the whole reason you sold him on coming here. Um, I just think like ultimately, yes, they're, they're going to have to spend money. JT Romito is going to have to be here and they're going to have to spend, they're going to have to be willing to go over the luxury tax. So ultimately I hope that that's something Middleton, um, is willing to do. All right. What else has stood out to you from the, um, the videos that, the, you know, what's come out of there, any of the press conferences, what else has kind of stood

out to you? I think DD swing looks faster. Um, it looks like he's starting to lift some baseballs. Uh, you know, I, I thought he looked a little bit slow, uh, down in spring training. It looked like he wasn't fully backed being a hundred percent, but I think he's what, uh, he's, he's more than a year removed from the Tommy John now. Tommy John, which we have not talked about enough. We just talked about Didi coming back, but, I mean, he came back last season, so he's well more than a year, I think, removed. But that's a big deal.

Like, we don't talk about that extra time for him. We've talked about it so much more for McCutcheon because McCutcheon, it actually needed it to start the season on time. But I do think extra time for dd and that that you know oh boy i think that matters yeah i would honestly i would i would look to resign dd right now for another year or two if i could you know i i he wouldn't sign a one-year deal right now but i would i'd try to extend him for a couple years right now because i think they'd be getting at a better deal than they would in a couple months here.

So I would just try to – because the Phillies don't really have a path at shortstop. If DeeDee leaves this offseason, then it's going to be Bryce and Stott back there at shortstop. Or not Bryce and Stott, Gene Segura back at shortstop next year. And they just brought in a shortstop to replace him at the position, to move him off of short of shortstop which seems weird so if i wonder i wonder if they could get like a two a two year or three year three seems a little long i wonder if they can get a two-year deal done with with with dd right now i that's something i would be exploring if i was the phillies um just because they don't really have anyone else there ready just yet. I think Stott's two years away.

So I don't know. But the fact that he's starting to drive some baseballs I think is big. So, yeah, I mean, I can't wait to see what Didi's going to look like playing out there. The way he plays shortstop is so much like how J-Roll used to play shortstop. Every ball is right on the money. It just looks smooth out there. And then the smooth left-handed pop, you know, I can't wait for it. And I think if this was a regular 162, you know,

I feel like we would be getting 20 to 25 home runs from Didi. But I think he's going to add some nice thump to the middle of that lineup. And really just the lineup as a whole, I can't wait to see. You know, there's not really a hole in that Phillies lineup. And really just the lineup as a whole, I can't wait to see, you know, there's not really a hole in that Phillies lineup. The Phillies problems are going to be, are going to be back in the bullpen and getting the ball to Hector Neres and, and, and the bottom of the rotation, seeing if they can take a step forward. But the offense, like I'm excited to see what the offense can do. And I think in a shortened season,

with starters that aren't really going to be going deep into the games, having an offense like the Phillies offense could be a difference maker. The Phillies have one of the best offenses in the National League. And in a time where starters are probably going to go four or five innings for at least the first two weeks of the season at the most, they can feast on some some middle relief pitching so i really think they have a leg up um on most uh national league teams with uh not only the regular lineup but also some of their dh options are like how many teams have a jay bruce ready to go how many teams have an Alec Boehm ready to go there they have a lot of options um that that that can hurt you so Didi looks like he's fully fully back um and I think that's a real positive sign yeah no I think it's going to be

exciting to watch him play I think he's kind of been a little bit forgotten in the excitement of the season with you know so many other storylines and all that type of stuff. I'm, I'm pumped to have DD here too. And look, I think your points about the offense are important because look, you know, we know it it's, it's just obvious that this team is either going to sink or swim in terms of being a true playoff contender by the offense carrying them. But like you said, and I think it's one of the reasons I would say, Reese Hoskins is one of the reasons I would say Reese Hoskins is

one of the most important swing factor players on this team is that, um, I mean, if, if like, I feel like you can count on pretty much everyone in this lineup. If Hoskins can be the old Reese Hoskins and not the guy for the second half of last season, or even something close to the old Reese Hoskins, it can take that lineup from, from good or very good to great, to potentially top two or three in the National League. And that is massive. That is the kind of thing that could carry them to the playoffs.

So I'm 100% with you. I think it's, I'm excited about the offense. I'm excited about how these guys look. McCutcheon looking healthy. Kingery back. Obviously, if people haven't read the Jim Salisbury story on NBC sports, Philly about Kingery's battle with COVID-19, it's certainly, it's worth your time. It's certainly a reminder that, um, you know, even young, healthy people can get hit

pretty hard by this. Um, and, um, I appreciate him also talking out about it and kind of, you know, raising awareness just like Freddie Freeman did and all that. But I think Kingery and Hoskins, the two guys who – Hoskins getting back to who he was, and Kingery – and you've talked about this. I mean, you are in on it. But I think Kingery, in year three, after taking a step forward, a significant step forward, after looking lost in year one, a significant step forward in year two.

I think in year three, I i mean this is a guy you know we it's easy to forget but was a top 30 40 prospect in baseball as a pedigree guy is someone who was so highly thought of in the organization that they gave him a record contract by handing him 42 million dollars or whatever it was before he ever stepped on the field or 24 plus the option to make it 42 whatever it was before he stepped on a major league field scott kingery has a lot of talent and if that dude can take another step forward, a significant step forward, this offense could be, like, really, really, really good, Jack. Well, he's Dustin Pedroia with more talent.

Everyone knows that. MVP winner, Dustin Pedroia. Reese Hoskins' first 60 games last year. 278 batting average, 402 OBP, 538 slugging 939 ops uh 13 homers 42 rbi like i mean give me that dude if i yeah if the phillies get that dude we might be in serious yeah they're bringing the playoffs if they get a guy like that like that's a real possibility i mean especially especially if you go like bry Bryce, JT, Hoskins, Didi, or something along those lines.

Or if you want to break up lefty-righty, lefty-righty, you go Harper, Real, Muto, Didi, Hoskins. You could do that. I know the analytics are whatever against it, but I still like Segura as a two-hole hitter. I do, too. I don't know why i just do i like mccutchen segura one two that's what i would do oh because because you because you've watched

baseball for a long time and you know that gene segura is a good two-hole hitter and you know that's where you would be thriving uh in the two holes so um yeah if you go if you go mccutchen segura harper real muto dd hoskins bruce you could probably go bruce there if you want kingery and then kingery in the nine spot i mean dude that's a serious lineup man that's runs man it smells like it's a serious lineup i mean like you think just off the top of my head thinking about the national league in terms of the high-end talent as well as the the you know throughout you know the dodgers obviously have a better lineup um but after that i i really think you could make an argument at least for you know i think that you'd talk about the braves with with you know some of the high-end talent they have there um uh you know there are a few teams in

the central i don't i don't think i i know people are really excited about the Reds lineup, but I don't think that's as good as the Phillies. Honestly, I think after the Dodgers, like, you could – if the lineup like we're talking about, if it's Hoskins being Hoskins, if Kingery's taking a step forward, I mean, you could argue it could – has the potential to be the second-best lineup in the National League, theoretically. We fully talked ourselves in.

I love it. I love it. i love it i love it i love it and the other like i was just thinking about it like honestly it feels like bryce doesn't doesn't it feel like bryce and jt's team like fully like oh yeah just the videos it feels like the three of them yeah and it just feels like you know bryce is just taking another level of leadership jt is just a guy that you watch play and you're like i want to be like that and then there's mccutcheon who is mccutcheon you know mccutcheon's the the happy-go-lucky everyone's loose around them uh on base machine they can they can hit a ball out of the ballpark every once in a while like

uh just just running down the lineup just it puts the butterflies in my stomach i'm ready to go it's gonna be the longest 15 days of my life yeah dude i'm like i'm so ready because again it's not just 15 days it's four and a half months in 15 days or whatever it's been i mean you know since sports have shut down it is um i um, I like, I feel like it's so important. It's like, I feel like it's too important to me right now to come back. Like it is, it is everything. I feel like I need it so desperately. Um, all right. Any other things that, that stood out to you from the past couple of days down at citizens bank? Uh, so I haven't, obviously neither one of us have been down there, but you know, if you read the writers um and and the people have covered it seems like roman quinn's

off to a really really strong start now he's obviously i mean i don't have to tell anyone that listens this podcast but we'll see how long this lasts yeah yeah but hey you know i mean uh you know uh gerardi gerardi talked today about how roman quinn's a difference maker, you know, I mean, you know, Girardi talked today about how Roman Quinn's a difference maker. And, you know, he is. If Roman Quinn can stay on the field, he is a legitimate, legitimate difference maker. I mean, that speed is just, you don't see that anywhere. And he did show a little bit of pop last year. Hit some balls into the upper deck, which showed how just juiced those baseballs were last year from when quinn's going upper deck off of major league baseball pitching um but you know

hey honestly whoever is the better player in center field should just have the job like hazley's not so overwhelmingly better than roman quinn that it should automatically be adam hazley's job so let the best man win. And it seems like Roman Quinn, listen, if he comes into camp and takes the job, let him take the job. That sounds perfect to me. So it seems like there's something there. Velasquez, I guess, had a good day today.

Yeah, everyone was raving. Oh, Vinny. Vinny! Was it Vince Velasquez's best start since the Padres started in 2016 today? Oh, man. That's the way it was talked about. So there's that. And then there's Zach Wheeler.

Imagine if we could just get the usual second half Zach Wheeler, how massive that would be. This season could come down to whether or not we get first half Zach Wheeler or second half Zach Wheeler. No, legitimately. First half Zach Wheeler, 40-RA guy. Second half Zach Wheeler, Cy Young contender. So we'll see which guy comes out of the gate, but just in everything,

I guess today was the first time he's been um pitching in a simulated game since his last start down in clearwater which i was at and it was electric and it seems like he kind of translated over to that today so i can't wait to see zach wheeler and i and i and he's gonna be gone for a little bit i i don't think he's gonna opt out you know i i really don't i think he'll be i think he'll leave the team for uh you know a week or two i just i don't think he's gonna opt out um and the season could come down to to whether or not he opts out or not because if wheeler's gone the rotation is just it's just oh it's a whole different season yeah it's it's a dreadful rotation if zach wheeler opts out yeah and and it's look it's if nothing else middle of the pack if wheeler's there and

and with howard you know maybe even slightly better than that if if and when they bring howard up and he is who we think he is i mean that you know you could do a lot worse than a nola wheeler howard top three you know if it again if if howard is what we think he is and can do that from the jump. Certainly with the offense they have, I think we both agree the bullpen, the biggest question mark, no matter what. That's going to be smoke and mirrors and hope and all that stuff. Let's be honest. That bullpen is going to be a freaking

disaster. It's a disaster. It's an epic disaster. Your key guys for the sixth, seventh, eighth inning work, as of right now, is Tommy Hunter, Jose Alvarez, and Adam Morgan. Now, those are three guys that we like to varying degrees, considering who they are and what they are. But those are your, to quote Gabe Kapler, elite relievers, Jack.

That's your go-to guys? That's not good. Well, I'm sure Girardi's going to handle going from Batances, Chapman. And Britton, all these guys. Yeah. Well, Britton wasn't there when he was there. Well, he was there the first year he was there.

The first year of Britton he was there, the second year he wasn't. I believe. Either way. Either way. At one point he had a bullpen. Tommy Conley. He's got all these guys. leave either way either way at one point he had a bullpen he's got all these guys at one point at a bullpen of uh andrew miller uh uh andrew miller potensis chapman and chad green like

just be able to roll out of bed knowing that you have one of those four guys at the at the back half of the game and going from that to uh victor arano tomm Tommy Hunter, Jose Alvarez. Like, I tweeted earlier this week, but it's legit. The Phillies might have more lefty options in that bullpen than righty options. Like, when is that ever a good thing? It's unbelievable, actually. You know, yeah, especially if Liriano doesn't opt out. I mean, they're significantly better from the left side than the right side in the bullpen.

Yeah, 100%. doesn't opt out i mean they're significantly better from the left side than the right side in the bullpen yeah a hundred percent i mean honestly i the bullpen's gonna keep us all up at night i mean they're gonna blow some games and the fact that this year blowing games is gonna matter so much more than any other year too oh it's gonna be awful it's gonna be completely awful um but you know i mean that's that's kind of where they're at as a team and you just like there's gonna be a lot of seven to six games this year you know there's gonna be a lot of nine to seven barely holding on let's see if they can squeak out some late inning runs and like the fact that the fact that we have to rely 100 on hector narris i think is insane you know i i like hector narris he good last year. Like if you look at his stats, shockingly good,

but I mean, he's got, he's my most locked down reliever is my closer. Oh yeah. How crazy is that? I know it's, it's, it's insane.

And I like him. I like Hector Neris. I feel, I feel confident with Hector. I really do. But again, like that's your, he's your,

not just your best reliever., not just your best reliever. He's easily your best reliever. It's not even, it's not even close. It's not great, Jack. It's not even close. I mean, literally, literally not close. Although I will say that, you know, Garrett Clevenger and Damon Jones are not far away.

And I can't wait for them. Yeah, we need it. They do. We need it. They really do. They need a Sir Anthony-esque type of run from somebody. Yeah, but honestly, you know, the first day the reporters were down there live tweeting, it was like, you know, everyone that was a possible candidate for the Phillies bullpen

was just getting lit up by the phillies hitters and i was like well you know this is this is about what i expected this is on on par for kind of what i was exactly let's get used to that one yeah it's exactly it's a preview of what we're gonna say um all right what else you got you got anything else from uh from down at citizens bank no i uh well i did go down to fdr over the weekend um which honestly i felt like i was back at lehigh you know watching some watch some eagles practices i got a foul ball and i felt like that's pretty cool that's pretty neat dude i felt like the biggest nerd ever but i did i think i'll sign that it yeah good foul ball um it was just crazy being down there you know fdr fdr park obviously right across the street from from cbp yeah and

seeing like major league baseball players out there tossing balls around must have been like really weird it was so weird because i i mean that's where bloomsburg fell in love with a 6'1", slightly overweight righty is on the field of FDR Park. They saw a guy who battled and grinded his way through. The memories. Was it just one of those things where you go back and just all the feels, just feeling the feels? Yeah, and the weirdest part was I was watching Trevor Kelly pitch, and I'm pretty sure

i'm pretty sure trevor kelly throws like 89 miles an hour and when i was watching him i was like this guy throws 97 like this this is the hardest ball i've ever seen thrown in my life you know these guys are it was so weird being so close seeing major leaguers and then like gerardi comes jockeying out and i'm like dude that guy could just kick my ass like he is in such good shape for for an older dude um but it was cool to be announced like it's just there's a cool vibe around everything you know the fact that they're working at fdr park i think it's cool like it's fdr park. I, I, I've been drunk at FDR park. You know, I've thrown a baseball at FDR park, you know?

Yeah. I've, I've secured a college scholarship at FDR park. Um, I've literally like one of the best Eagles tailgates of my life was at FDR park. And like, there's Joe Girardi and the Phillies just practicing right here.

Super weird. Yeah. But it's cool, man. Like,ies just practicing right here. Super weird. Yeah, but it's cool, man. I think that's cool. I think it's awesome. It's like you said before. It does give off the feel of yesteryear, of back when you could go down to Scheib Park and get autographs. It feels like a relic from a different time.

Come on, man. You've got to do a better old man voice than that. Come on. I wasn't even trying. for this it does it feels like it's it feels like a relic from a different time come on man you gotta do a better old man voice than that come on i was like i wasn't even trying i went down to shy park back in my day ah back in my day i hope we don't have any old people just about to say i i wholeheartedly apologize to any older listeners listening right now it was very ageist of us there well i mean listen i think that the older generation guarantee you that any old dudes who are listening to this or any old gals listening to this are cooler than jack and i so yeah yeah the fact that they they can figure out a podcast i think it's true i can barely figure it out and you know they're thinking to themselves like ah well it was five cents yeah yeah well and

you're such a jerk i mean jack is 26 and uh has already like two out of the last four times we've recorded this he hasn't been able to get his computer to work so you know no that's a low blow that's a low blow no it's a shot it's a shot you're lucky we're ever doing this podcast again after that shot all right what you got in your note bag final thought bag ah boy first thing I want to get out there is that

baseball season is 15 days away you're damn right it is buddy and I would like everyone in the High Hopes podcast nation to pass along the word of High Hopes. If you have a Phillies fan friend out there that is looking to make this season more enjoyable, may I highly recommend the High Hopes Podcast.

And join along with us. That's what I miss the most out of this whole entire thing is not being able to kind of do the grind of a philly season with the high hopes listeners i mean i hopes night last night last year was like so far and away the highlight of last season for me there is nothing else that is even well the harper grand slam was pretty great but like what that- What about opening day? Opening day was great too, but that High Hopes night was,

like it was special. It mattered. Like it was a beautiful thing to get to meet all these people who listened and cared and everyone was awesome. Like it was, turns out, like we just said, all our listeners are a lot cooler than we are. It was just, it was a really cool

special night and i i was really looking forward to doing it again and um you know we will high hopes night will return obviously not this season but next season hopefully um but i'm with you jack i'm excited to get back into the flow of like talking about our team with people who love our team as much as we do. And that's Tyopes Nestlish. Yeah, exactly. So, yeah, if you have a friend out there, family member, girlfriend, boyfriend that is into the Phillies, pass it along and help us, you know,

grow this thing and join in our journey as hopefully we got to – listen, there's only two outcomes i want for this season a playoff team or a top 10 team top 10 pick a top 10 pick a top 10 pick that's all i care about so um yeah there is high hops uh there's more fresh high hops on tap at four fingers brewing company uh head over there and try to talk phillies with my dad it is always hilarious um he knows nothing about the philly literally i was shocked at how little he knew it was pretty wild doesn't know anything about the phillies but he's a good dude and it's good beer and i think everyone will enjoy it um i want to give some thoughts on the 2021 season

um because if there's one thing this podcast is better at than talking about the regular Phillies, it's talking about the future. Yeah, we know. We've made a cottage industry of that. I don't really have anything to say about 2021. I have one thing. I mean, I'm assuming you agree with me.

Having the day off after opening day is the most annoying, dumb thing on the planet. I know it's for rain outs. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it with all of my soul. I have no other strong feelings. Whoever thinks of that every year needs to just go away. I hate it so much.

Like every fiber of my being hates it. So, but, but James, calm down for one second. I'm trying, Jack. I'm getting worked up. The Yankees come here next year. The Red Sox come here next year, which is going to be freaking awesome. But, listen to this. July 5th through the 11th, the Phillies are at the Cubs and then at the Red Sox.

Oh, Wrigley and family. And then they go to the Yankees the 20th and 21st. Like, I might take off of work all of july next night just follow the phillies around go on philly's tour yeah i mean jack i've been on fish tour i've never been on philly's tour why would you ever follow a band oh so great so great uh and then i already i already can't wait for the West Coast trip next year to L.A. and then to San Fran. And the first time that Phillies fans can boo Gabe Gabler is April 19th.

And boo they will, Jack. Yeah, I think if he got booed on opening day of his first game, he's going to get booed. Yes. Yeah, yeah. So I don't want to make any promises, but there needs to be a high hopes trip up to Boston. Even if it's not through fans of Philly or whatever,

like before I have kids, I need to go to Boston and watch the Phillies play. Like it's just what I need to do. So I already can't. of boston and watch the phillies play like it's just it's just what i need to do um so i already can't i i don't want to say if i could fast forward but if i could fast forward to july 9th of next year i i would i swear i would ready i would i'm already ready it's it's gonna this this next year it's actually on this date next year it is july 9th right now whoa dude how did we not realize that till just now this time next year that's pretty crazy all right well now we have to now we have a choice

it's like yeah uh man just think about the phillies playing in fenway and nola going seven innings and just proving once again that he owns the yankees it's gonna be a beautiful thing it's great also i have some thoughts on the sopranos and uh in the absence of the phillies i've been really really into the sopranos oh yeah we know anyone on twitter i freaking hate aj soprano like i just welcome welcome to the club pal just a pointless television character welcome at the horrible performance of a pointless television character it's bad on all levels like imagine telling everyone that your big breakthrough is playing aj freaking soprano like who is proud of playing aj soprano i mean it's seriously no one

cares about it it's such a pointless character um uh just when the well i don't want to ruin it for everyone anyone that's never seen it, but I really love it. I really love The Sopranos. I'm so happy for you, buddy. Yeah. I know it's like 20 years too late, but I thoroughly enjoy The Sopranos. So I'm on season three, episode eight, and I got 15 days to finish it. I mean, it's only three more seasons.

You should be able to six total all right so you so you believe in me oh i a wholeheartedly but i i would i would bet on it how about that that sounds like i can't wait to hear the update next week you're gonna be on like season five it's gonna be great all right well that's till next week so let's see if i can figure out my computer by next that would be nice that'd be That would be nice. I'll give a final watch it if you haven't thing too. For those who have Disney Plus, Hamilton is now on Disney Plus. No, we're not doing this.

I would go. I freaking hate Hamilton. I've never seen Hamilton, but I hate the way people talk about Hamilton. Jack, ready? I would go so far as to say it is one of the three or four greatest things i have ever seen in my lifetime it is one of the few works of true unequivocal genius that i've ever seen in my life

it is as good as anything you will ever see like i feel that strongly about it it is one of the great things i have ever seen in my lifetime it's that good why don't you have an interesting take on something for once in your life you know why don't you go interesting i just said it's one of the great things ever created in my lifetime that's not take i just want you i i just want to know if one day you'll go against the grain just one day you know today i had to hear you talk about daniel day lewis who sucks and tell me how great of an actor living actor on this plane how's that not against the grain like come on it's like anyone knows who daniel day lewis is it's not like you know you're like oh i love yeah well honestly i saw lincoln i and i hated it yeah lincoln wasn't a great movie but he's very good in it regardless but there's a

reason that everyone loves Hamilton, because it's that good. That's why. Just busting your balls. Is that a good Tony Soprano? It was okay. Not great. I'm not going to lie to you.

Just busting your balls. Not so good. I'm not going to lie to you, Jack. We never lie on the High Elm Spot, guys. Yeah. Well, if there's one thing that we do stand for, it is that. Exactly. All right.

So if you're like Jack and you're 20 years behind, watch Sopranos. It, too, is absolutely fantastic. And check out Hamilton because it's freaking amazing. All right. Fritzy. Two weeks till baseball. Officially. He's Fritz himself.

See you later. Officially. He spread some seltzer or something. It's my podcast. It's my passion. It's a cause I started more than two years ago. It is now the most prolific national daily baseball pod there is. Another fact. So jump aboard the B.I.B. Express. Follow and listen to Baseball Isn't Boring, presented by Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts.