High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - 162-0 is Still on the Table

Episode Date: April 2, 2021

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to a thrilling Phillies Opening Day victory over the Braves. The guys discuss Aaron Nola's great outing, a strong showing from the bullpen, how much the lineup grinds, and much more. 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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Hot Cloud Storage on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. This is the high hopes podcast. It's a bunch of baseball nerds talking about the Phillies on radio.com and sports radio, 94 W Y P. Yeah. Yo! It is another edition of the High Oaks podcast and opening day walk it the bleep off edition of the High Oaks podcast. Jack Fritz, I have one question for you to start this podcast off.

Are the Phillies going 162-0 because i am convinced in my gut that it's happening they're getting close they you can't go 162 and 0 unless you win the first one james everyone knows that and let me just say this always love the extra inning rule never doubted it always thought it was a genius idea from the moment i said it was gonna add excitement it was gonna make the game just riveting and extra innings i never doubted it i never said mickey mouse clown show any of that stuff i i had no doubt jack this was a great idea what a win buddy what a way like all right you know obviously it's one game we're gonna dive into the whole game not one game it's not one game it means so much more than one game all that matters all that matters is opening day

everyone knows that and look all i'm gonna say and we all overreacted in 2019 and all that but like you know pretty special way to start the season that's all i'm gonna say dude like in all seriousness what a ball game like it was just a it was there was it was well it was well pitched it was well like obviously the reese hoskins defensive play happened but there was like awesome defensive plays uh there was a back-breaking home run that was like good to be back um and then for for a moment pablo sandoval entered juan soto's body i mean yeah seriously it was insane so uh and then a nice little Gene Segura walk-off in the 10th. I mean, what a freaking ballgame.

And James, before we kick this off, let me just say, it's good to be back, pal. It's so good to be back, man. Like, honestly, I felt it all day, but like once the game started, and let's be real, once the fans were in the stands and there was the sound, the real sound of baseball and the excitement and the energy, it was my whole thought throughout the whole game, especially when I thought we were cruising to an easy 2-0 victory.

I was sitting there like, this is just joyous to have this. Hold on. You thought what? I know. Wait, seriously? I know. I know. I know. just joyous i'm sorry i have this hold on did you you thought what i know wait seriously i know i know i know i was sitting there i was like no one's going nine this is it let's roll but uh man i just what a way what a way to start the season and and is there any better trope in baseball and obviously we you're the manny ramirez with ortiz we talked to all the time. Is there anything better than the intentional walk leading to the guy just smoking you for doing it to end the game? Like, it is the best thing in baseball, the revenge after the –

and Gene was like – I know they talked on the broadcast. Everyone was like – he was like walking to the plate. Like, the moment they say no for the intentional walk. Like, I just love that. As a thing in baseball, there are few things better than the intentional walk like i just love that as a thing in baseball there are few things better than the immediate revenge like that are plays at the plate late in games the most underrated best part of baseball like a great call dude like a great call an underrated great fun baseball play is is a late game play at the plate. I mean, Roman Quinn through that 96 miles an hour,

it was a two hopper. Um, it felt like it was 56 miles an hour in the moment. It was like, get there, man. I know, I know,

but just like, yeah. And Jean and Jean better walk it off. Like that's, that's baseball. That is, that is like, I honestly,

and I was thinking there, I was sitting there thinking this James, while I was watching the game That is, like, I honestly, and I was thinking there, I was sitting there thinking this, James, while I was watching the game. It was like, how do people call this boring? Like, how do people, like, not get this? I mean, this is the first game of the year, and I'm hanging on the edge of my seat. It was a riveting baseball game. I'm glad the Phils came out on top.

There would be a little different mood if they didn't. But, like, how do you find baseball boring? Like, that was exhilarating in game one of 162. It was thrilling. Like, it really was. I'm so with you, man. And you're right. Like, look, if it's a different outcome and the bullpen lets us down or whatever,

I'm sure we're slightly less, you know, positive about it. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Did the bullpen not allow a run today, James? Did they not, buddy? Yo, yo, I can't tell you what it felt like to watch. And let's be real. We'll dive into it.

But the Jose Alvarado experience is an experience. That is a ride, my friend. It's getting on a roller coaster and doing the loops and everything but to just see a bullpen shut it down three and a third when you needed it tie game was like if it really it really reminded you how how i wanted to curse there how bleepy last year was yes it did yes it did james but but but as always never a doubt high hopes baby hopes are high hopes are high oh it's awesome all right let's get into some of the game stuff uh serenola uh i thought you know obviously a bit of a damper on the outing because you know the last pitch ends up being you know a pablo freaking sandoval just bomb but yeah but it really felt like and gerardi said this after the game and it really did feel like nola made one mistake and it was a mistake like he

could not have been more off the spot like it was jt set up outside it was nowhere close to him but like he did make basically for all intents and purposes one mistake and otherwise in the cold in the wind not aaron nola conditions i thought he pitched really well today yeah it just feels like he always has that backbreaker like it's no i know like i don't i don't know why but i did it felt very normal when it happened it was like uh-huh, I should have exacted it. That's on me. Yeah, I mean, like, I could, I honestly, I could have seen that Pablo Zanvall homer coming a mile away.

I was sitting there and I was like, this, this feels like the moment. This feels like the time. Because honestly, that was the, for me, that was the best Nola's look since 2018. Like that was, that was close to being back to what we had seen during that time. And you know how it was 2019 after the opener and we did this podcast similar vibes like the you know harper's first game hoskins is the grand slam nola went like seven and allowed to i want to say

and touching lead off homer it was a great game it's a great game it was a great game and i sat here and i said to you i was like listen there's a part i got i'm a little bit worried about nola and it was like a first start after his he came in third in the cy young voting voting and i was saying like it just it wasn't right it wasn't how he was last year like he was he was dominant today like i know that the sandoval home run happened but it was he just missed a spot like that's that happens that's baseball he missed a spot by i don't know two feet um maybe three feet it was unbelievable yeah i mean credit to pablo sandoval for uh you know going turning back the clock to 2012 and hitting a ball like 700 feet um but it really felt one soda ask dude i know it's a tank shot I know it's not,

but I feel like that was the hardest hit ball I've ever seen in my life. Like that ball was absolutely torch. That ball was absolutely torch. I didn't see the exit velocity on it, but I'm sure it's like 120, but like he was great. I mean, the fastball on the outside corner was disgusting.

He was, he was getting a righties out with his fastball up that they weren't. You can't do anything with that pitch. Especially with a guy like Nola that relies on control, you can't do anything with a fastball away that moves like his. You can't square it

up consistently. I thought Nola was brilliant. It was a really good start. A positive step in the right direction. This is not a he's not really an ace. It's like, oh, my God. Are we going to do this after every start?

Like determining whether or not Aaron Nola is actually an ace. Like really, I mean, relax. Everyone relax. I mean, I thought it was a really, really good outing from Aaron Nola. He made one massive mistake. Pitched in and out of jams. The K in the six was awesome. I thought Girardi.

The K in the six was awesome. Girardi. As was obviously the DD play was just special. Like, what a special. That's such a hard play to make. But Nola, fine. Good start. Step in the right direction.

We're on to New York. I don't know, Jack. Aces, don't make that mistake in that spot, Jack. Didn't Garrett Cole go five and a third, allowing two-plus runs today? I had a Kershaw, dude. I mean, like, come on, stop. Relax. We're not – listen.

Relax. Here's what we're not going to do for 162. We're not going to do, is Aaron Nolan ace're not gonna do is aaron nolan ace reese hoskins is useless like i can't again like it was it was freezing cold there like i spoke to people in the ballpark like with the wind like it was freezing there and we all know like for for better or worse aaron nola is not quite the same guy when it's freezing cold out and i thought a really encouraging start considering the the conditions especially the first game of the year and especially against a really good braves lineup like the braves are good like they are stacked i mean they just bring up dudes and

you're like oh acuna yeah oh freeman yeah albies yeah just like dude after dude after dude so um yeah i thought i I thought Noel was awesome. Speaking of awesome, Jack, we mentioned it before, but just let's go through each guy. We'll get to Alvarado. We're doing worry meters? First and foremost, first and foremost, how did it feel to root for Archie Bradley

knowing that he still has not come on this podcast conflicting refine with it where'd you come down on it well honestly it was like i've just i've reserved myself to saying he's never coming on the podcast which is very disappointing um so so i've kind of yeah like i've just kind of separated myself from Archie. The dreams of him coming on the podcast they feel over. It's disappointing.

I thought Archie and I were going to be great friends and it just doesn't seem like he's going to be a friend of the podcast. So listen, we can separate the podcast feelings from the Phillies feelings. It was great seeing Archie out there. It was nice that in the seventh inning we could just throw Archie Bradley and everything's fine. I don't know.

It was a very rewarding experience to see actually good bullpen options in the middle innings of a game when you need to keep it close. Yeah, you can say that. What a thought. What do you think of Girardi's and let it worked out, but in the moment in a tie game, only using Archie for essentially one out two batters, but, but only one out there. And I know, you know, look, you're big on the, you know, if a guy comes into a high leverage spot pitches an inning, sometimes there are certain guys you don't want to bring back out for that next inning,

but Archie's that guy, right? He's the guy who comes in and gives you a couple innings when you need it whenever and in a tie game there and it's and I know it's opening day and I give it day off tomorrow I know you kind of can be loose with the pennant again it worked out I'm not ripping Girardi but in the moment I thought it was a little curious to essentially bring Archie in in that spot for so few pitches well I just don't think Girardi wants to overuse guys especially in that weather coming up from Florida. It's not the time for it. Also,

I might be getting the times mixed up. Full disclosure, I was producing the game here. I'm locked in, but I'm also doing a lot of other things. You're actually working during the game? For those who don't know, super inside baseball but we love die-ups listeners and i think they you know like us enough to listen to us so so i have at least some interest in this but like when you're

producing a game like there is a big difference between like a national game like producing like a uh ncaa tournament game or something like that's like oh you're just kind of firing commercials and hitting buttons when you're producing the game, when you're the flagship station, like when Phillies or Eagles essentially for Jack and I, like it is such an incredibly involved job where you are, you know, really doing a lot to produce a Phillies game. So I get for Jack, like I'm actually surprised you could even pay attention to the game at all, really, considering how much you have to do. Yeah, well, because it's like

all the Affiliates are all coming through us. It's a lot. It's a decent amount of stuff. But this is year four so I think I've got it down a little bit. And yet you still get nervous every time. Still get nervous every time. Can't sleep. seriously. down a little bit but and yet you still get nervous still get nervous every time every time can't sleep but um seriously seriously um i know that's why i said it this is this is something that jack is like a true thing he's there every time he's produced like a thousand games literally

almost now not literally but 500 games at this point whatever whatever. And every time, I get nervous. Yep. But that was not the time. That wasn't when Brad Miller's spot was due in the lineup, right? No. Was that an inning later? Because I know Brad Miller's spot came up, and I didn't know if it felt like the right time to use him, and he smoked the ball. He did.

He smoked it. Right at Ozzie Albies. But, yeah, honestly, like, Girardi actually has options this year. He actually has options late in games that he can go to, and I am all for not trying to blow out guys' arms in April. Yeah, it was not. It was Harper-Romito-Bohm the next inning. Oh, right.

And then was that when Will Smith struck out the side? No, no, no, it was not. No, no, Harper Romito bone the next inning. Oh, right. And then was that one? Well, Smith struck on the side. No, no, no, it was not. I was. No, no, no. That was AJ mentor. Right. But it was like the quickest half inning ever.

It's like, oh, yeah, it was like, boom, done. We got Harper. Harper Romito bone. Let's go to work. And then it was like, no, no. Freeman's leading off the top of the next inning. So, you know, you the Alvarado thing there and all that. But I don't know.

It just felt like whatever. In a tie game i'm just thinking about the game going well but regardless i will say i will say my manager uh prioritizing getting freddie freeman out is a nice change of pace yeah what a crazy thought all right speaking of the jose alvarado experience I felt like we got the whole gamut. We got the 100 miles an hour. We got the just off-the-table, 97-mile-per-hour ball that just disappears. And we got the balls to the backstop type stuff.

Not quite, but we got that Alvarado as well. The hit batter, all that stuff. What did you think of the experience? batter all that stuff um what do you think of the experience well um my only my only takeaway is that my prediction of him not allowing a run this year is still intact um buddy still intact i just like to that is gonna be like life on a ledge times 10 dude no it's not it's lit and i you live this i did not live this but it's mitch williams it it seems like mitch williams it's not. And you live this. I did not live this. But it's Mitch Williams. It seems like Mitch Williams. It's the most.

I mean, Alvarado, no offense to Mitch, has nastier stuff than Mitch did. But it's that feeling. Yeah. It's the fact that any ball could come up there at any speed and go anywhere. Yeah. Must be fun to catch. What a crazy. Yeah.

It must be fun to catch and also fun to hit against. Like, what what are you doing like like i think one of the things is a hitter in baseball is you go up with the assumption like all right like these guys like for the most part you know they hit on you get hit on purpose but like you sometimes want to slip out of their hand but for the most part these guys can control what they're doing they're gonna throw strikes or they're gonna throw it inside to mess with me or whatever. But like, it's not just going to be a hundred miles an hour and it could, could flat out hit me at any time is intense. It is, it is.

So, um, it's going to be, listen, it's going to be a rollercoaster. It seems like something's off a little bit mechanically. I mean, we didn't see this kind of control problems,

uh, early in mid to spring. It really just kind of started the last, I don't know, two or three outings down in, in spring training. So, you know, Cotham went out there and it seemed like kind of calmed him down and got him on the right plane. I don't know mechanically.

I mean, his mechanics are kind of crazy. But, yeah, it just seems like maybe something a little bit off mechanically. But also, like, I mean, again, it was cold. He throws 99 with a 94 mile an hour slider. Like, I'm sure that's kind of hard to control when you're when it's like 40 degrees and you can barely feel your hand. And yes. So listen, it's probably going to be a roller coaster. He's still in most houses.

It's fun. Oh, well, listen, it's fun until he walks for guys in an inning. I know. I know. Trust me, there will be times, it's fun until he walks four guys in an inning. I know. I know. Trust me, there will be times where it's not fun. But man, just it's I think it's just refreshing, you know, to see someone with this kind of stuff. You know, Matt Klintak was probably in the bathroom throwing up.

He was so nauseous as he watched Alvarado pitch. You know, it's just like too much stuff. Like, what are we doing here? That guy throws 100. What is this? As he was getting hot dogs for people in his new role, he was probably watching it, hoping that Alvarado blew it. Right.

You're bad, man. You're bad. All right. Serious, like an important question for you. Yeah. Serious question for you because you you make bold problematians like things will say these things that are sometimes seen as crazy, and sometimes they are crazy,

and sometimes they're Prussian, and they're a genius. So here's my question. Do you feel that you have undersold Conor Brogdon by only calling him the next Ryan Madsen? I mean, listen. I mean, are you not? I mean, it kind of feels unfair to what kind of Rodman could be. You're not wrong.

You're not wrong. I mean, we might be. I mean, listen, I thought Madsen was a good comp, but, you know, I guess I guess if I said 08, 09, 10 Madsen, yeah, like for an entire career, not the bad Madsen that we saw in the later stages. I think that's a better cop. I think he needs a specific like 08 Madsen right now. That's what you need to say.

All I'm saying is this. There's a possibility he doesn't allow a run this year. You know what? Can I just say something? Let me ask you a question because I can pretty much guarantee that Ryan Madsen has never in his life faced two batters and gotten three outs. Well, that's not necessarily true. I guess theoretically you could come in and do that,

but it's unlikely, damn it, Jack. How about that? I just started an inning. How about this? I can say for a fact Ryan Madsen has never started an inning, faced two batters, and gotten three outs. There you go, Jack. There you go.

I had to phrase it better. The change-ups to Freeman, it's like, oh, my God. Do you actually have guys that can get Freddie Freeman out? I mean, Freeman just hit a weak ground ball to Seagore. It's like, wow, this is— I'm not opening with the change-up. An 84-mile-an-hour change- like to start the bat off and it's even just swept the mist and i was just like whoa dude yo some chutzpah it was it was diving he didn't

even he didn't even flash the 97 like he could he could have gone to it whenever he wanted he didn't flash it he just threw the change up like six times in a row. And I was like, wow, this is, this is what heaven on earth is. And that is watching Connor Brockton. But, but it's like, like, what, weren't you just,

weren't you just watching the whole time? Like, all right, which brave is going to kill us? Did I think it was like, I didn't think it was Pablo Sandoval, but like, I was just waiting.

I was waiting for Acuna to hit one like 400 feet. I was waiting for- Yeah, and Acuna came close, and Freeman came close. I mean, real quickly, this is a disservice. We're almost 20 minutes into the podcast. We have not taken a moment to say thank you to the wind. Like, really, a brilliant job today. It seemed to come out just when we needed it. The Swanson one obviously was like a clear job today. It seemed to come out just when we needed it.

That the Swanson one obviously was like a clear home run. I thought on TV, I was like, that's just gone. And then somehow McCutcheon ends up with on the warning track. And the Freeman one off the bat looked like just a tank shot. And it was like, somehow like maybe not even warning track.

Thank you to the wind. Now, now you say all of that. And yes, I will say, I agree with you. Um, the Braves have no home runs on the day,

but no home runs from those two guys. But I am writing this down and I would like for baseball reference to update tomorrow. Bryce Harper has one home run in the year. No, because that was clearly on. That's a, that's a home run.

James, you and I have watched, I want to say, maybe 5,000 games at Citizens Bank Park by now, right? Sure. That's a home run. 100%. I've seen 1,000 home runs at Citizens Bank Park. That's a home run. 100%.

Didn't the Swanson home run remind you a lot of the Longoria fly ball to left in game three of 2008? Great come. Yeah. I mean, it was like the same thing. It was like, Oh,

that ball's gone. It's like off the bat. You're like, well, I literally said, and then I was like, Oh, well,

that was pretty cool. That works out. Listen, always been a big fan of the wind. I will say this. The wind always blew out when i pitched bad and it was always blowing in when i pitched well there you go i believe it jack i think that's not in your head at all nope no no uh all right speaking of bryce uh we could say look they

only scored three runs today this line of grinds man like a lot of really really good at bats max freed is good and maybe wasn't his best today but that dude's nasty and the way he just kind of the first of all the hesitation stuff he does is must be so hard dating ends and it seemed like it was really hard for guys like reese who have that you know the the the step before they they swing the the um it seemed it was really hard to get the timing down and stuff like that. And then he can do the hesitation and still just ratchet it up to 97. Like just this like flick of his arm. It's crazy. Like the Braves are good and the Phillies should have scored more runs today.

You know, they, they could have come through in some other spots, but a lot of base runners, just tough at bats again, like Bryce, a perfect example of multiple bats like that obviously the first about the season working that walk oh two and somehow gets a walk jt via bat and extras uh you know just it felt like inning after inning the phillies were getting on base were threatening were felt like they're going to be a difficult team for pitching staffs to face. Yeah, I mean, like, freed through, I think, what, like 65 pitches in the first, like, four innings? I mean, just an absolute grind.

And, yeah, like, they didn't even get the back-breaking hit today. You know, I feel like Boehm had a couple chances. Yeah, he had a couple shots. Obviously had the sack fly that was good got a job done um but yeah i had to catch catch that was a first of all look the giddy up look there and a great slide yes yes no i mean coach the coach look like he's moving really well um you know slapping the first hit of the year um right down the line or right field just the bat looks quick he looks healthy so i think we can expect a pretty good chance

that we're getting an Andrew McCutcheon bounce back here. But yeah, it's just like you have McCutcheon. Reese obviously didn't have a great day. It looked like he just couldn't see the ball out of his hands. I mean, was whiffing on a lot of breaking pitches. That's something he's going to have to fix because the league is going to definitely catch up on that. Bryce, JT, Bomer, DD, obviously, and then

Segura at the bottom of the lineup. But yeah, it's a grind for pitchers to get through. I wonder, like, Haseley smoked two balls today off lefties, so I wonder, I hope the hamstring injury is not real. It's not great getting pulled from the first game of the year, but even he grinded out some at-bats, and

listen, Aaron Nola put down two great buns. It was, listen, you can say whatever you want about the DH and all of that. But I genuinely, and this is genuine, I was like pumped to see those buns get put down. I know you were. I know you were. But you're the only one. You're the only one.

Dude, I'm telling you. Everyone else is watching Max Freed stand there with the bat on his shoulder and being like yeah this is fun I was turning to Kyle Quinn who was training with me today and I was like see that's baseball getting the

bunt down get him over get him in that's my motto of the year shout out to Freddie Freeman. That was a horrible decision on that one, Bon, to throw down a second. Really just overthinking it. Not as bad a defensive play as Reece. No, we don't talk about it.

The Phil's won. We don't talk about the defensive play. No, you're right. Well, we could talk about the Alec Boehm jumping into the air, using all of his 6'5 to jump up and get that. I mean, that's game right there if he doesn't make that play. Like, that's huge. Best defensive player of the game, that, Didi, or the Quinn throw?

So I think you have to put the JT play, too. You know, the Quinn throw was perfectly online. It was not quick, but it was perfectly online. But JT, to be able to not just block the plate the way he did but bring the ball in the way he did and and like basically making it okay to block the plate in that situation like i thought the jt might have been the best play but i think in all honesty like forgetting the moment of the game and just just pure baseball play the dd play was the best play. I mean, what a catch, dude.

Are you serious? Like, you've played baseball. Like, that's so hard to do. Like, it is so hard to track the ball over your head, like, directly backwards like that and look it in and catch it and then have the body control to, like, slide to the ground like that. That was a super impressive defensive play. Yeah, an Eagles cornerback could never.

An Eagles wide receiver could never. An Eagles wide receiver could never. That's actually true. It's like the Nelson Aguilar play against the Patriots a couple years ago where he couldn't track the ball in the end zone. Didi did that today. What made it even more impressive

was how windy it was. The ball is definitely changing flight in the middle of the air so but yeah just a ridiculous defensive showing for a team that you know people said can't defend great is it good it wasn't expected to be great no i'm with you honestly other than the hoskins play like a really good defensive game from this team and and like we just talked about you could point to three separate plays that were massively important and really impressive defensive plays you know like all three of those plays on

their own were awesome plays and and i mean really the quinn jt considering moment and all that i mean that's the biggest play of the game you know that was the biggest play of the game getting me out there home so speaking of defense where you are you at on Bomer's defense? What a—dude! So obviously I had the mess up early, but calling off JT there, that was really—they talked to him on the broadcast, and it was just—it was impressive to see him come in and take command there. I mean, the third baseman, if he can get there, if he reads it as well as he did like that,

he should take that. The catcher's backwards. It's a much tougher play for JT. And I thought coming in, you know, commanding the situation was a really nice play. And that, you know, two runners on there. Like, I mean, that's two runs. Alec Boehm saved two runs by leaping

and using all of his 6'5 frame to catch that smoked ball. Like, yeah, I was really psyched about what we saw from Boone today. Well, and the thing about Boone's defense is that he looks confident. Like, when he came up last year, you could just tell he didn't really know what he was going to do. Like, he just didn't know how to play the position yet. But just given the work that he put in this offseason, I thought it was a really impressive show.

And even the ball that Reese dug out, it was a good play by Alec Boone. It was a good play. Ic bone it was a it was a good play i know the throw is low but it was like he probably doesn't make that play a year ago um but yeah listen man if he can if he can stick at third base i mean it just makes this whole team so much better so like i was worried about spring training results when it came to alec boehm's defense i think it translated over to game one. Yeah, again, I got no complaints. I was really impressed. And I think the confidence is a good point. He looked confident out there. You could kind of see it after he made that JT play. I mean, just making that play, just calling off JT in that spot alone shows a level of confidence,

but you can see it on his face after making that play. The dude's confident out there. I'm with you. That could be a really a really big development i mean if he can be even average at third base that's a that's a big deal i mean it basically he's been written off as someone who will never be a third baseman or at least a competent third baseman so um that'd be huge huge um shout out to hector by the way We didn't mention Hector when we talked about the pitchers, but, you know. Nice job, Hector. It was a good job, but the velocity stuff is – The DD catch saved him, obviously. Well, no, the velocity I'm worried about.

I mean, he was 91. I mean, he's 91 today. He was 91 his last spring training start – or not last spring training appearance. I mean, Hector, he's a guy that I need in the mid-90s. I mean, I think his three-pitch mix, if he can get back up to the 90s or mid-90s, is really devastating. Now, it worked today.

You know, he didn't really flash a slider much, but the split was moving, and he obviously struck out Acuna on a fastball away. But something to monitor. I'll put it that way. Something to monitor is Hector's Velo. Keep our eye on it. Keep our eye. What was I about to say?

Oh, yes. Important question raised by listener of the podcast, good friend of ours, Brandon Lee Goughton, in a text message to me. Are you really okay with the win? Because they won on April Fool's Day. I hadn't thought about the fact that you wanted them to lose this game. Yep. Where do you stand on this?

Like, have you changed your tune? Is it okay now? So here's. Or is it a bad omen for the season? I got to know. So here's what happened, James, is I was fully prepared with that take of good thing they lost this game. It's April Fool's.

Don't want to get sucked back in. Look at you. But then the game started, and it was like, I need to win a ballgame. I mean, I literally felt like, let's go win a ballgame, boys, after the DD play. So I forgot about that take. up all game boys after the DD play so I forgot about that take I am

boy I love being reminded of things that I say on this podcast but yes don't ever let him forget no listen I'm just I'm glad that everyone's holding everyone accountable around here so yeah listen very happy they won

like am I is the April Fool's Day joke that the bullpen didn't allow a run? I mean, is that like the, is that the joke? Yeah, yeah. Feels like it. Might not be real. I don't know. Yeah, yeah.

So, listen, it's a fine omen. First off, jinxes don't exist anyway. Thank you. I totally believe jinxes exist. I am subtwe i totally believe at all at i am sub tweeting everyone on twitter when i say that yeah i totally believe jinxes exist and i had no issues april fool's day so i'm incredibly happy when i just think it was you setting yourself up in case they lost a way to feel better about it oh well listen i mean if you and anyone listens podcast knows no one's better at spinning trust me that's why i said i have two two more things for you and then we'll

see what's in the take back thank you um i was really impressed with jt today in the sense that we talked about it heading into the season but i was really concerned like usually those type of hand injuries in spring training, or even in the season, when you come back from it, usually takes guys a couple of weeks, a few weeks to really kind of get their groove back just from a, a strength perspective, much less missing a, a bulk of spring training. I know he looked good at the end of spring training,

but you know me in spring training stats and I felt it. I thought jt looked really good offensively looked healthy confident ray roll it's exciting yeah and um got the job done in the in the 10th got the guy over you know just did a job there i had and at the rbi i just did a job like kind of muscled that ball a soft little dribbler the right side just enough softness to to be an infield single well he smoked the ball down the right field line too which is that too yes it's a good day at the play good jt day now i mean if you could mix in one clutch hit that'd be great but we'll listen

we'll we'll we'll take what we can get right i mean we'll take what we can get i not like i've already found my new favorite bit of the 2021 season is yeah yeah anytime jt does anything i'm tweeting at the philly is signed jt just to see just to see if my friends over the philly the philly social media department blocked me like i wonder if i wonder if i could get them to block me but ask them to sign jt they won't and i but if they do shout out no for doing that because that would be hilarious in its pettiness to block him for this i would just fully condone it we all know philly social media the best in the business like they do such an amazing job running that account and and shout out to their pettiness as we talked about when jt was signed and everything they did then like just the best top social media in the

country like it could not be better um so if they block you for this like i will i i don't know if i could have a higher opinion of them but but if there's anything that could give me a higher opinion of them it would be them blocking you for this. So I'm just putting that out there. I think it's fair. It would be, I would respect the block. I would. Now I will say I would ask for the unblock and I,

you know, I, I would need to be unblocked by the Phillies. I can't lose your mind. I mean, you like, you actually could, you would have to create a burner account just to follow the Phillies that

you could switch to just to check it out. Like you couldn't not, you couldn't survive't survive and in fact that wouldn't even count that wouldn't be even enough for you because you need to be able to retweet and co-tweet and like and do all your your stuff you do right right so um listen at phillies giving you a warning i'm gonna tweet you well okay big time i'm gonna look out, at Phillies, I'm warning you. Every time JT does something, I'm going to say sign JT. It's just a bit. Let me just put that out there.

Just a bit. Please block him. Feel free to block. I think it'd be funny if you blocked me. But unblock me later, please. What's the point of the block then? I think you block him. Well, because they can get likes.

Long enough to make Jack think you're never going to unblock him and then maybe unblock him and think about it. Yeah, make me sweat. Yeah, you got to make me sweat. All right, last thing, and this is such a question, but just something to put out there. It really felt like it was the win today, but just watching the baseball outside of the Phillies

that I've watched on the second TV and have had on, so I haven't seen a ton of homers wondering about the dev ball. Just early in the season. I just think it's one of those interesting things that we didn't talk about heading into the season a ton, but something to track. Like I think today was mostly the wind. I don't know how much less juice the ball has, but it didn't feel like the ball was jumping a ton in the stuff I was watching today comparatively. So something to watch. Yeah. Yeah.

I mean, I feel, I didn't watch any other baseball sides of Phillies today, so I'm not sure, but it makes sense. I mean, they, they,

they're trying to, to, to deaden the baseball a little bit. So it makes sense. I mean, I saw something today that, you know, in spring training, the distances were just as far. But, yeah, I also, you know, you factor in the weather, too.

I mean, it was literally snowing in Detroit. Again, totally, totally. And it was cold here, and it was windy, but just something to watch. Yeah, although Bryce does have one home run of the year. That's a fact. Yeah, that's true. All right, take back. All right, here's what I have.

Today, you just filed away something for later, and right now I'm going to file away something for later too to come back to at the end of the year. Today reminded me of 2011. Same kind of opening day. Same kind of weather. It was. Walk-off, right? Astros. It was the John Mayberry walk-off. Of course. Of course.

Good, good. I'm just saying. File that away. When this team wins. We can say the last time the Phillies won on a walk-off on opening day, they went to the playoffs. That is a fact. Right. File that one away for you. Has 8,800 fans ever sounded so loud no it sounded like 30 000 it was unbelievable it was awesome it was my favorite

even even including the walk-off win my favorite thing about today was watching fans in the stands it really was well i'm hearing the first boos i mean like legitimately loud boos so good oh it was like good it was like we're back man like we're yeah it really felt back it felt back like to to be honest like i didn't i don't know like i wasn't like oh can't wait to have fans in the stands guy like that wasn't my thing you know i you know i just you know if fans in the stands cool if not i didn't think 8800 fans is really gonna make a difference and then i heard him for the first time and i was like wow that's awesome like legitimately loud into it um loud boos cheers like not the stupid mlb the show like pumped in crowd noise real genuine excitement um just a good all-around day glad the fans are back and uh yeah yeah yeah it

was it was a special feeling and i didn't think that 8 800 people could sound so loud yeah i i couldn't agree more it was it it it hit me harder than i expected it to like i had chills watching when the game started and people in the stands and all that stuff like and throughout the game when things would happen where there was fan interaction or whatever, it felt special. It did. You know what else felt special?

What? The first fist bump. I mean, did you let out a fist bump watching the game today? Yeah, dude. I let out multiple fist bumps watching the game today. I mean, the Nola K in the sixth, it was like, God. Oh, big time.

I missed a good fist bump. Well, it was after the bone play, too. It was like back-to-backers. Oh, man. It's good to be back. Okay. It really is. I might have preempted fist bumps when Bryce hit that ball,

but luckily it turns out it was a homer. So in hindsight, right. Good to go. Yes. Your fist bump fist bump still counts. Brian Snedeker stinks, man.

Like I understand he's won, you know, three divisions. Like I'm just telling you. What did Pablo Sandoval and Pablo Sandoval had a two round homer. Like what are you doing? You can't rip this guy. This guy was good today.

He stinks. You're such a snitch. What has he done? Except go to rip this guy. This guy was good today. He stinks. You're such a snitch. What has he done except win the division every year? Dude, Brian Snitaker is a terrible manager. He is lucked into this BS that he has down there.

He's a great manager. All that guy does is win baseball games. Pitching to Alec Boehm, I understand it worked, was stupid. Just whatever. He is... Listen. file that one away. Again, again, only game one. File this one away for later in the season. Brian Snedeker stinks.

Anyway, here's my other takeaway. Snedeker. Whatever. Snedeker. Whatever. What do you mean whatever? Every time I even get, like, the tiniest thing wrong pronunciation-wise, you, like, jump on me like a rabid dog

yeah well and we know how you do around dogs but um oh buddy roasted roasted roasted roasted anyway anyway that shows how that shows how little respect I have for

Brian Snitker that I call him Snitker um let me say this another another minor takeaway from today's today's game this Braves bullpen is not great like I know like they had good numbers last year but the guys they brought in today they they're not keeping me up at night they're they're not last year's Braves bullpen this is not like they have four closers they can throw out there this is this is not the same Braves bullpen. That's my take after game one. What did you do last night to get

ready for the season? Did you watch anything special? Did you, you know, was there anything to get you? What did you watch? What did you watch? I hung out with you. I was on the radio, and that was it. Oh, okay. Right. And then you probably went home and went to bed like an old guy.

I'm an old man, Jack. So, I watched, of course, the documentary of the 2008 Phils that was produced by MLB. And have you seen the one where they read the Philadelphia Inquirer at the beginning of it?

And they read the Philadelphia Inquirer at the beginning of it and they read the article going through the article after they won the World Series? Have you watched that video? It sounds familiar. I'm not great at remembering which ones I have and I haven't watched over the years,

but it sounds vaguely familiar. All right. Well, all I'm saying is that I might have welled up. I might have welled up. Yeah, I believe it. And the final thing in my take bag is I felt like the Phillies played just smart baseball today.

It felt like I was watching a smart baseball team. Segura stealing the bag late, I know it didn't amount to anything, but it was late in the game. It was one out. He stole second. And it just put them in a position to win a ball game. Nola getting bunts down. You know, Segura coming through, picking up teammates.

Hoskins' error. Not letting that snowball. You have a great defensive play by Alec Baum. Nola strikes the guy out. Didn't come back to bite him. I felt watching today like it was a good smart fundamentally sound baseball team and if you're going and and and i've been on this for a long time and something i believe is that you have to play small ball to end up winning big like home runs are great all this stuff and i'm

all with it but that is regular season baseball. That is using the numbers and getting through regular season baseball, using all that stuff. But when it comes down to winning baseball games, you have to be a smart baseball team. And what I saw today was a smart baseball team, and it was refreshing. Yeah, I think it's a great point. And, you know, they manufactured runs.

Again, they had chances at more runs. And, again, it was a well-played baseball game. Really, both sides. Like you said, there was the first thing you said, it was like a baseball game. It was a fun, well-played, riveting baseball game. And also, look, I think that this team, to your point about the group of guys,

like, I think they know. We had Reece Hoskins on the station this week and last week, and he talked about, he said, it's time. It's time. And this is a playoff team. We're talented enough. And I think that's something that is felt in that locker room. There are guys who have been here for a few years now.

They know each other. There's a camaraderie there, all that stuff. And they know that it's time to make the playoffs it's time to make a push and and obviously i don't know if they will or won't i'm feeling like today they're definitely going to jack but um i think they know and it's fueling them and it's driving them and i think it's gonna be it's gonna be really fun season, man. I'm really excited. I'm really excited. To your point, which you said earlier, I think this is the most excited we should be about a team in a while.

Well, they're definitely the most complete. I mean, 2019, we were obviously excited because Bryce was here, JT was here, McCutcheon was here, Segura was here. And it was like, all right, cool. They got some real players now. But they had flaws. Last year's team obviously had a massive flaw. This team, while it might not be the upside of the other teams in the division,

they don't really have a massive hole. I mean, center field's a hole. You know, fourth, fifth starter, we'll see. Bullpen, you know, a little shaky today, but they're going to allow a run. Like, they don't really have, like, a massive, massive hole. And you could just see it today. You could see it today. It was a step in the right direction.

And I hate that there's an off day tomorrow. Me too. It's so annoying. But I can't wait for Saturday. Yeah, and it gets real. Look, they mentioned it on the broadcast. But look, Braves-Mets, Braves-Mets to start the season. So this is big like you know you can't I

think you're not going to win anything in April and hopefully not lose anything in April but this is an important stretch to start the season for the Phillies the two teams that Jack and I think they're primarily competing with we don't take the Nationals nearly as seriously so

you know this is big. It's big, Jack. All right, final thoughts. My final thought is talk to you Sunday night. Yeah, buddy. Yeah. Two times. Two pods a week.

Two pods a week. We're back. The Harry videos are back. The Bills are 1-0. Connor Brogdon's not allowing a run all year. Aaron Nola's still the ace. Stop freaking out about Reese Hoskins. Everything's going to be okay.

162-0 is still on the plate. Yeah, and my final thought is actually, Jack, surprisingly some breaking news here on the pod. Jim Nance is not retiring or not resigning from i just i wanted to make sure we made that clear yep that for people who might not know no if they just listen to this podcast don't get their news anywhere else then jim nance is still at cbs although re-signed although re-signed not resigned re-signed just saying it's the dumbest thing in the english language between it might be my favorite thing that-signed. I'm just saying it's the dumbest thing in the English language. It might be my favorite thing that's ever happened.

It's up there. It's really high on the list. It's ahead of Bryce Harper emergency podcast? Maybe. Maybe. No, it's fair. Listen. Hey, Donovan Chesspat. Donovan Chesspat. It was on me. It was on me. 162-0, Jack.

He spreads himself.