High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - 98.6...Our Body Temperature or the Amount of Wins for the Phils this Season?

Episode Date: March 31, 2022

James and Jack are back only a week away from the season! The guys talk Stott's meteoric rise, Bohm's precipitous fall, their excitement about the lineup, 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. It is another edition of the High Hopes Podcast. It is one week and one day from the Phillies. Like the most anticipated Phillies season in a freaking decade, Jack Fritz. We're there, buddy.

How you doing, pal? I know. And I've officially reached the point, James, happens every spring, where I can no longer watch. I need it to be over, and I need to get the season started because I'm just jonesing that much. Now, I will say that Mickey Moniak and Bryson Stott are keeping my interest very peaked, as I don't know about you, James, and this might seem like a bold take.

You've gotten yourself into trouble with such things in the past. Maybe jumping the gun too much here. But I legitimately think that Bryce and Stott is going to be the next player in baseball to hit 400 in the season. Oh, my God. Is that too much? Yeah, so sure though i mean that guy add it to the list buddy add it to the list when he does it you remember this moment oh yeah yeah if he hits 300 i'll remember this moment dude if he doesn't hit 300 i'm quitting the podcast okay i think we've been down this road before. There's been lots of threats to quit the pod in years past.

This one's dead serious, though. This one is. Yes, this is how I really mean it. A lot of pressure on a rookie. Bryson, a lot of pressure on you, buddy. Yeah, but he's. I mean, you're betting 550 in the spring, so you figure 300 should be no problem, right? I mean, yeah, it's called a downgrade.

You know, both Ranger and Bryson a downgrade you know both ranger and bryson stott you know they're gonna come down from their 155 era to a 25 era bryson stott's gonna come down from his 533 average to a clean 405 average mickey is gonna lead the team in home runs would you say if you were ranking the best left-handed hitters on the team right now would it go bryson mickey harper schwarber i mean i'd probably mickey bryce wow bryce anti-stop that's not anti-stop it's just pro mickey it's not an anti-stop take at all i mean it's you know you know there's one guy who's worn i hope shirt i think he's the best player in the history of the sport that's what i look at it you're damn right pal but uh no it's been uh dude just having baseball and now it's

the hashtag can never die that's a that's just a fact i a fact. I tried to lay off it because I – honestly, James, I felt bad when he came up last year because I felt like I put way too much expectations on him to take the center field job and run with it. And I think he was pressing a lot because of that pressure that I feel like I put on him. So my strategy this year was just like, hey, let the kid go play. But now he's going off, and i'm not going to let

someone else try to take the hashtag that's this this podcast is hashtag so it's agreed yes i will say what i don't know if there's anyone i'm gonna say in the history of time i'm gonna go that far has such a inflated influence of their ability to influence things. It's pretty amazing, Jack. It really is. Wow, you don't buy that? I feel that.

No, I think he was pressing because of you. No, I think he was pressing because of the expectations that were placed on him and the hashtag and everyone's... Because of you got it got it got it cool real roundabout way to suggest

that yes so my strategy already started as far as I'm concerned we are in peak regular season form right now we are just rolling yeah because they haven't played a game yet that's the main reason just wait for the first yeah it is season for them right now. We are just rolling. Yeah, because they haven't played a game yet. That's the main

reason. Just wait for the first. Yeah, it is. Hey, hey, hey, hey. Hey, that's not happening this year. None of those this year. That's the goal. I've already decided that the best part about this Philly season coming up is that nothing's going to go wrong.

It's going to be... There's going to be... There's going to be... Listen, there'll be losses. But I just have this feeling there's not going to be many feels like losses this year. Okay. Good. Good. Good. Good. Your hopes aren't

too high. The name of the podcast is appropriate right now. I will say this. This is the first time ever the name of the podcast is incredibly appropriate. I will say this. first time ever the name of the podcast incredibly appropriate i will say this this is probably the most i've set myself up to get disappointed i think that's very clear i was uh i was a guest on a podcast the other night and like they i know name name dropper big time dropper whatever you call it got it cool yeah because your dms aren't open thanks for inviting oh good. I was about to say,

thanks for inviting me up on your podcast. I got cornered. I might've gotten invited and just never saw it. I got cornered in Chipotle to go on this podcast. They, I was at Chipotle. Yeah. Like a in-person corner.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I'm being kind of sarcastic, but I really was. They really were like in Chipotle like you gotta come on the podcast like facetime to see facetime his friend to get me on the podcast so listen if you want to if you want to have me on your podcast find me at the local food place and i'll say yes

no but uh yeah they kept asking me like what do you think about the rotation bullpen uh uh lineup i i was like halfway through it and i like, I feel like I'm pegging this team to win no less than a hundred and five games. Like I am so I could not be more in on this team. James, I kid you not. Every time the lineup gets posted, like I have to double check if it's real. Like I just I just start getting all giddy inside. I mean, the first six is just stupid.

It is absurd. So, yeah, week and a day away. I'm pretty sure we'll be down there. So if you're heading down, we'll definitely tell. We'll do a podcast next week. Oh, yeah. We're not going to not do it. Yeah, we will do a pod.

We'll do a pod before the first game, and then obviously we'll do a Sunday wrap-up oh yeah we're not gonna not do yeah we will do a pod we'll do a pod before the first game and then obviously we'll do a sunday wrap up at the first series obviously um yes we will do a pod like probably thursday i guess because wednesday we're likely gonna be on with joe gillia we'll see how that goes but potentially look for the high hopes hour yeah on joe gillia show wednesday night but probably a thursday eve of the season pod. I mean, it sounds like a must, right? So yeah, we'll tell you where we'll be and when we'll be down there and all that. And when are we doing the all-time Phil's draft? Is that...

That's the pod after the Sunday one. The next one after that is the all-time Phil's draft. So just a couple pods away. I got my draft board. It's all ready to go. Yeah, we promise. Spoiler alert. Mike Schmidt's first on the draft board.

I'm just telling you. I'm just throwing that out there. It's the only thing I'll give away. Just letting you know. Number one on my draft board. But yeah, we'll see. We'll get there, though. Don't worry.

Don't worry. That's a tease right there. That was a tease. In more ways than one, Jack. For the next lockout. In five years when the next lockout happens. It's a tease and it's a tease for the next in more ways than one jack for the next lockout the next in five years when the next lockout cheese and it's a tease yes um all right let's get into it because jack i'm with you man like i see you among others tweet out the lineup on a consistent basis and it it really is like because i was thinking about this the other day how like how and you know a little

sad but i think about how excited we got in 2019 you know when harper came about the lineup and then last season about the lineup and boom and this and dd you know this is going to be one of the best lineups in baseball and oh yeah maybe the dodgers are better but but only the dodgers no one else nationally competing oh oh like i think about it i'm like what were we talking about man like what were we talking about because now we actually have a real one of the best in baseball right it's like now i say it i'm like what was i thinking before how could i possibly have thought that that lineup was one of the best in baseball when i see this lineup and see that it's possible jack

yeah and you know what i say when i excited james i have the same exact thoughts and in my head i say why did anyone listen to this podcast like what a bunch of idiots like that we we led this poor fan base so astray when you well real quick real quick we did but i would say one of us may be a bigger culprit in said thing oh so so now my influence matters but when we're talking about the center fielder that i started hashtag for that came on this podcast that was tasked with coming up and saving the center field job that's when my influence is not that overblown yeah okay i'll make sure we're on the same page there this is not it's real jack yeah i'm like i can't wait to watch this team match they're even mashing spring training like it's just like yep here we go it's gonna be great dude it's like it's so funny every game there's like, here's the three homers minimum.

You know? Like, oh, and I feel like they're almost doing, I feel like, the 90s Braves rotation thing where it's like, I'm going to hit this one further than yours. You know? Like, Harper hits his, I don't know, 470 feet today. Hoskins went 450 the other day. 470 feet today Hoskins went 450 the other day

Like they are hitting tanks On top of Just hitting like you know normal home runs So yeah it's just I feel like Every I feel like the first 10 minutes Of every podcast is like wow this team Mashes Even like it's not even

It's not even hyperbole at this point Like they are ridiculous and it's just like You know it's like and i think bryce is unbelievable but it's like castellanos is is is such a professional barrel finder type of hitter that's like i can't believe that's we added that to our lineup i can't believe that it's not only just schwarber who i think is going to take down the the leadoff role very well until Bryson Stott is is 100% ready for it but um like it's it's Castellanos and then Hoskins behind him who Hoskins I thought last year was a really really good uh runs runs batted in guy like I

thought he was good at getting guys in when needed to get guys in it wasn't like like poor harper had like 16 home runs and 16 rbis so um you know it's just it's it's an insane lineup jt looks great dd looks like he's poised for a bounce back season uh i mean imagine getting that and then stoddy and and i don't know it's just like I'm so, so in on them. And I can't see any of them having it down here. Yeah, they're all going to be great. They're all going to be great. We're good. Everyone's going to have a career year.

This team's going to have 500 homers this season. It's going to be special. They're going to score 850 runs. Yeah. Yeah. I think they might break 1,000. I know it's never happened. I think they're going to be the first.

Why not? Why not? Why not us? Why not? All right, let's get into some specifics. The Stott thing, I think it's pretty clear the way he's played this spring. You never know with the prospects and the young guys and the service time and all that, but it seems pretty likely that Price and Stott's going to be the opening day lineup.

Your thoughts on, obviously we know what you're saying, Stott, but your thoughts on what it means. The fact that Alec Boehm's not going to be in the opening day lineup. And Alec Boehm, a real threat to be sent down to AAA, I would say at this point. Where are you at with Boehm, Stott, the whole thing? Yeah, so where I'm at is this team has an 11-year playoff drought. They just spent $170 million in free agency or whatever. They need to end this thing.

And you can't have a guy up here playing third base that can't field the ball and is currently struggling to hit fastballs. And the most telling thing for me was openly talking about it the other day, about how his struggles with the fastball. And he said to himself, I know I can hit fastballs. And when he, I feel like when an athlete says that he's really,

really in his own head. Cause you know, all he's thinking about is fastballs, fastballs, fastballs, like hit a fastball, like do it. I've done it my whole life.

Why can't I do it now? So I thought that was actually a really telling quote. So, um, I just think that they are in a position now like sure is it gonna possibly hurt bones development uh would i like to have him up here working with kevin long who um you know seems like he's doing really good work with a lot of the players so far and i know gerardi talked today about how alec is is working his tail off to get this thing right you know i think

there is value in in having him up here and with Kevin Long. But also, if he's in AAA, then the pressure is obviously way off him and he can kind of get right without 45,000 eyeballs on him and whoever is watching at home. So I think Stott has to be here just from the standpoint of we've got to win from day one. You guys set that tone early.

And I know there's a concern like, well, they did the same thing with kingery and they gave him the contract and they brought him up here and and he you know was was playing out of position it's like i get that but he also had never played shortstop before they made him a shortstop he made him a third baseman they made him a center fielder which he never played before bryson's played every infield position on the field besides first base like he's played plenty of games at third short second base he can play them all uh so he'll feel comfortable there and you see the approach like kingery never had the approach stott has like kingery was an aggressive attack go doubles in the gap and got he got a little launch happy bryson works pitchers knows when to attack

and can spray to all fields obviously you would like a third baseman with a little bit more pop and i think that as he continues to mature and develop we'll see he's never going to be a 30 homer guy but you know a couple 20 homer seasons out of bryson stott so um i just they they are they've invested too much in this team to bring a guy north that has struggled so much as Boehm has both defensively and offensively. And frankly, like, I mean, Stottspat in 533, it's ridiculous. Plays good third base defense. It honestly just helped the team so much from that standpoint, having a shortstop range

at third base to cut off balls that DD can't get to to anymore in the hole that's a massive uh increase as well so uh i'm glad that bryson kind of went out and took the job and and made the decision easier uh it's unfortunate how boom has been hitting so far i thought he was starting to put together some good at bats he had a good hit today um but ultimately i would you know there's 28 men to start the roster like you can have 28 guys up so it's not like the end of the world if he's on the roster um but i i he can't start opening day it has to be bryson stop can you hear that uh i can hear you now okay i didn't know if you're gonna hear that so all of a sudden i didn't touch anything my itunes on my computer went on and started playing big pun hey so yeah they're not a player threw me off there for a second

i didn't know if you could hear it so you couldn't hear it it's just me here could not hear it no okay well i just heard big bun guys in case you're wondering at the very end of your point well i i have it marks i can take this out so i said so i said uh it's funny it's funny who cares i think it's funny okay well listen maybe i'll keep it yeah leave it in leave it in that's what i said that sounds like a demand it's more of a thought okay i think the listeners like it you know we're we're people jack not i mean he's gonna be perfect it's not just gonna be some edited magic we we do it real we do it live you know what i'm saying we're not literally i mean we're doing it live but people aren't here so um look

i'm psyched about bryson's side too i do think that defensing really does matter you know obviously we heard so many people freak out about how bad the defense is going to be and it's going to be really really bad but having a uh uh you know anyone at third other than bone who can play the position is gonna is gonna help like it really will help and any little bit helps defensively like where you at on bone himself like you know this is someone who two years ago went what bad what 338 or something as a rookie you know like we were all this guy was the third pick in the draft like we were all in on this guy as a hitter. You know, we were like, you know what, we get it.

Bad defensive player, probably ends up at first base or DH down the road or whatever. But, like, the dude's going to hit. He's going to hit. He's going to be a 300-type hitter in that range. Like, somebody's going to find a way, adjust, in and at bat. All that stuff we used to say. Like, what happened, man?

Like, what happened and what's the future where are you at with bone i i hate to say it i think it's a change of scenery and i know that oh i just feel like that's happened so much with our prospects and it's something that has to change and hopefully bryson is the first one hopefully mickey can kind of change the narrative on him. But it just looks like a change of scenery guy. You know, it seems like he's in his own head. He's struggling against fastballs. Defense is still not there. He looks like he's just, it looks like he's trying to win the job every single at bat. And every time he gets out, it just snowballs. And it seems like

he's, it seems like he's taking it all very very hard and it looks like to me a a change of scenery you know unfortunately i mean like they they were shopping out in hazley for weeks and they got a guy who had a worse era than me in college like you know that's probably not the best uh the best kind of trade package to get for a former number eight overall pick or whatever in the draft. So it's happened too much with these guys. Spencer Howard's another one.

Spencer Howard, Haseley, and Boehm all getting to the big league level and not progressing in their careers is not great. So, you know, there's obviously new people down in the minor leagues. There's Kevin Long at the big league level. There's Caleb Cotham and Cressy and stuff like that. So it seems like they are definitely working to correct that but it doesn't mean that the situation now is not the situation now and for me i i it looks like a change of scenery guy hopefully they can have a package

with him and the prospects and and get another starter in here because i do think that that's i i the rotation on paper i think is fine. It's just I don't trust it to... With the season and shortened spring training and not being fully stretched out, I just have a fear of pitcher injuries. Especially like they're starting their season with 13 straight games

without an off day. So that's a quick start. So I just think he looks like a change of scenery guy. It's unfortunate that we're here but that's think he looks like a change of scenery guy and you know it's unfortunate that we're here but that's what it looks like to me yeah it's a massive bummer uh good news though i did not just hear a big pun there so we're heading in the right direction from a potting perspective but massive massive bummer about uh about um that was someone who i think you know we really believe was going to be part of the future of Philly's baseball and I'm with you like I you know it does feel like it might not work here and

that's a real bummer you mentioned someone else when talking about the shortstop third base thing and you were like oh we can get a bounce back season from Didi looking good and he has looked better in spring training you know at least from a power perspective the average has not been there um but you know do you really like where do you stand on Didi? I mean, there's a guy who was a really solid to good baseball player for multiple years and then has the injury, comes back as a nice year at the Phillies, and becomes like one of the worst starting players in baseball last season.

I mean, an absolute disaster both defensively and particularly offensively. Look, I know he's only 31, so from that perspective, you know, it wouldn't be crazy to see him have a down year and come back and he's hurt and all that. But what makes you bullish on the hope, at least, that he could get back to looking like the guy we saw in 2020? So, I just, you know, the bat looks quicker to me. He looks like he's having fun again and even

the defense it's a ball bounced up on him it was hard hit the other day uh so he looks just he just looks healthier i don't think we'll have a high average dd here um he's just so he's just so pole dominant but i i just don't think he'll be one of the worst players in baseball i mean i know that's like uh what a bold day yeah i know i don't like dude'll be one of the worst players in baseball. I mean, I know that's like a... What a bold take. Yeah, I know. Dude, I'm not sitting here saying I think he's going to be back in all-star form, but I just don't think he's going to be a disaster this year. I think there's a lot of people.

And I guess I was in that camp of like, oh, I got to get Didi out of here no matter what. There's still a path to him being a useful player here. That's my thing. Dude, he's batting like seventh or whatever or or eighth like it's not it's not the end of the world and there's there's like well there's talk of moving dd off a shortstop you know possibly playing a third base i don't see him playing second base i just think that for this team you know let dd play short for one more year before stock gets back up and play shortstop i I would trust Stott playing third more just from the standpoint of,

you know, having shortstop range at third base would be nice. And honestly, you know, if you have Stott that's able to cover more of the 5-6 hole and you have Segura, who's also a shortstop playing second base, able to get stuff. Three shortstops in the infield, Jack! Right, right. So, I mean, it could make Didi's job easier. So, as long as he can just make the routine plays,

which he has pretty much so far this spring, I don't think that... I've kind of changed on the defense a little bit. I think Schwarber's a better defender than Kutch is. I think Vierling is actually... Oh, really? I don't think Schwarber's a better defender than Kutch is. I think Veerling is actually... No, really? I don't think Schwarber's better. No.

I think Schwarber's a much better defender than Kutch, actually. I don't think he's much better. They had to take Kutch off the field last year. Yeah, but they didn't take Schwarber off the field at times this year. I mean, Schwarber is... Talk about no range, man. Maybe he's better at always catching it

if it comes to him than McCutcheon was. And granted, look, McCutcheon last year Was gimpy And wasn't great either But look First of all, I shouldn't say saying he's better than McCutcheon Last year is not really saying anything But also

Don't try and sell us that Schwarber's a good defensive left fielder Or even an average, he's a bad defensive left fielder I think he's better than Kutch, which is not saying much, but whatever. Yeah, sure. It's not like good. I just, you know... I think he's a better left fielder than Reece Hoskins was.

I honestly believe that. There you go. I truly believe it. Bold take. And then I think Veerling, you know, he played it at Notre Dame. He seems to move pretty well out there. He won't be able to run down every ball because, you know, whatever. But I don't think he'll be that bad.

And then Stott at third base is just a massive, massive upgrade. And Reese at first is whatever. I hope he's good, but we'll see. So, I don't know. Maybe we'll turn the corner there. Well, I don't know. We haven't started the season yet, so we can't be turning a corner. Technically.

But, yeah, it's a – listen, we know a defense turning a corner. Technically. But yeah, it's a... Listen, we know a defense is a defense. It's just that Didi... I don't know. I think last year was just a really, really bad year. A season from hell for him. And I don't think he's going to be as bad as he was last year. Look, it's unlikely he's as bad.

I mean, that was as bad a season as a player. Ruben thinks he's going to be better. You can hear it. Yeah, Ruben's really excited for a as a player. Reuben thinks he's going to be better. You can hear it. Yeah, Reuben's really excited for a bounce back Didi. Reuben's fired up, buddy. Reuben's always been a big Didi guy. Well, because he's Sir Reuben. So he appreciates that Didi is also a Sir.

I think that's what it is. Yeah. How does Reuben become a Sir? Queen of England, man. Pretty crazy. Knighted him. Wow. Has she ever knighted a dog before or is it just Reuben? Sir Reuben Seltzer. No, he's the first dog ever knighted by the Queen of England, man. Pretty crazy. Knighted him. Wow. Has she ever knighted a dog before, or is it just Reuben?

Sir Reuben Seltzer. No, he's the first dog ever knighted by the Queen of England. Yeah, you should look it up. It's a pretty wild story. Did you go with Reuben? Yeah, yeah. I took him to England. We went to Buckingham Palace.

She had the whole sword on each side thing. Knight. And then we went to a pub, got a uh a draft wow saw big ben popped on a plane came home it's pretty great she was so moved by little rube that she nodded yeah yeah she called him a warrior it is a warrior yeah i know this says a lot good for you good for rube i'm proud of him way to go buddy we love you congrats pal don't mess with him man don't mess with him he's little but he thinks he's big so it's an important caveat there um look I don't think Didi could be possibly as bad as he was last year am I expecting big things no but

honestly honestly to your point the seven hitter eight hitter who knows where he's gonna be like all I want from Didi is make the plays your source like I know. Like, I know you're not going to be, like, great. I know you don't have a ton of range. You're not going to be making, you know, even plays that Ronald Torres might make on the days he's out there or whatever. But, like, just make the plays you're supposed to make. That's it. And I'm good. You know, maybe hit, like, 15 to 20 homers to make the plays you're supposed to make.

And I'll consider that a win. I really will. That's where we're at with Didi. How about this for lowering expectations? Can they get lower? That's what I just said. 230 average, 18 homers, 66 RBIs, and make the plays in front of you. How about that?

I'll take that. I would sign up for that right now. How sad is that? We are a pro DD podcast. He's our favorite player. That sounds like a ringing endorsement for the year that dd's about yeah i know yeah hey dd prove us wrong all right pal yeah maybe bad go ahead maybe bat 250 i love that usually one of us just jumps in i was like waiting i'm like i don't think he's going to talk to me. I'm just going to wait.

I keep waiting. Was it worth it? I don't think so. No. I don't think so. It really wasn't. And now I don't remember. Oh, I was going to make some sort of joke about you influencing him somehow.

Like, don't worry. Just because we're on your side now, Jack's not going to ruin your season with his influence. Yes, I won't. I won't mush DD any lower than his 230 average and 18 homers can he get mushed any lower is that possible by the way i do have uh we talked a lot bryson's out earlier i'm saving a uh scorching bryson stott take for you for the end of the pod i just want you to know that at times you're ready for it when it comes okay i don't know i'll try to out scorch you by the way no i hope it's not the same all right we'll get to the take back in a sec any

uh one other couple other things um news of the day people losing their minds jay roll be excited uh i am excited i guess i just want to know what it is you know um like a ceremonial i mean right yeah but i don't know like i would i i like him honestly this is something that dodgers do really well and i think i mentioned that when they uh hired howie kendrick was that like they always they always had ex-players around i feel like with the dodgers i mean x like actually decent players you know gabe was around uh at least there dave roberts obviously there's one other guy i'm forgetting that they had in the minor leagues it was an ex-player but it's just

having having smart baseball minds around having guys that have won you know maybe j roll no i mean listen if i was j roll i'd come out right now and say this team this is the team to beat um that would be my first uh role as special advisor to the president of baseball operations i guess for me like if dave dobrowski wants jimmy rollins to be closer to the front office i'll take it like that shows me something so um sure yeah i i'm excited to see what the real role is and hopefully it's hopefully it's you know using them in in capacities that make the the philly smarter hopefully it's not just ceremonial hopefully it's real and uh we can you know get some more legends back here maybe get maybe get chase back from the west coast i mean

it's starting to be a little too dodgery for me come on chase dodger it's enough it's enough already i hate it my take on the O'Reilly thing is very simple. Why not? Why not? Why not bring someone in who literally everyone in this city loves? And to your point, someone who is one at eye level, understands the dynamics, understands what a winning team looks like, understands what a good player looks like and all that. And is a smart guy.

We've heard Jimmy do games. We've heard him talk. He's a bright guy. And loves Philly he i mean yeah absolutely and he you know he knows how the city works knows how the city operates knows you know what the fans like you know he's very open and honest about um you know how the fans gonna operate here so i think it's i think it's good you know he's he's a good guy to have around the office He'll bring good vibes Again, I don't know what the role is

But I'm glad Jerry rolls with the organization Alright, one more thing I've got some other stuff but I'm guessing you're going to get to the take bag So I'll just ask one more and then we'll get to the take bag Our guy You're at all concerned about Brogdon Velocity's dipped, hasn't had a good spring at all Are we at all concerned about connor yeah i

mean i am uh now i don't think it's injury related i think it's he didn't pick up a baseball all winter and he's just kind of ramping up now which seems like a mistake so yeah a bit of a mistake connor yeah yeah um so i i'm definitely uh worried from the standpoint of like I guess he's not going to be a dominant a thing guy this year uh you know I I hope that as the season goes on the velocity ticks back up to you know 97 to 100 which is what I expected with the white bot change up so um I'm definitely concerned for the beginning of the season and if he's still throwing 93 in June? June 1st

then I'll be very very concerned but hopefully the velocity continues to pick up but if I'm expecting Connor Brogdon from day one to be a dominant reliever for this team I will say I am very concerned about that alright take back okay

let's let's do it um kyle gibson so oh i like this this is we're about to get pitching deep folks jack is art what he's about to say i got i got this exact speech in my studio during my show the other day jack the floor is yours let's nerd it up i am not a big fan i wish real quick i wish people could see the the hand signals that you did to me you know the angles and the you know curvatures and all that it really did help but anyway well i was trying to explain to you tunneling and how it looks to the batter and you know you kind of you kind of glazed you know you kind of look you kind of glossed over you almost you almost passed out i'm producing my show right now like what are we doing you

know well first off that's a lie that was the end of your show you're walking out of the studio don't peg me as that guy and that was it my suit was in my studio but i think it was during commercial break so there you go no so don't peg me as that guy the guy who comes in to tell me his top five like during my show every single day go good i might do it more just see if i can get the camera i can't wait yeah oh that's the best for the inside baseball like joe will always like jack will be in talking to me and like literally like as jack and i joke about my job is to be ready to go on air when i have to go on air and joe if he sees jack in there he always like bugs out for some reason that i'm like not paying attention to show no He's like,

be ready to go on air. Be ready to go on air. Jack and I look at each other. I'm like, bro, I'm always ready, man. I'm always ready. I got it. I got it, kiddo. My thing with Gibson is I don't like his curveball. I guess if he... He doesn't have to ditch it. It's not an out pitch.

It's an 0-0. His curveball is. I just, it's not an out pitch. It's a, it's an OO. His curve ball is an OO. Out of the park pitch. It's not a good pitch. I think, but here's the thing. Here's where I would use it. I would use it OO and I would use it 2-0 to get back into a, get back into a count. So it's like, he threw it a couple of times the other day as trying to get outs.

And it's just, so where where he's i think he's developed a split change up i think it's technically quantified as a change up on like savant and stuff but i think it's a split change up because it has splitter movement to it but just from a hitter's perspective he throws that two seamer we should throw his two seamers two seamers slash sinker that is coming into righties he's throwing a splitter that is falling off to righties so it's like the same it's the same pitch it's just one's falling more than the other and then he's developed a cutter which i freaking love that starts in the same plane comes out of his hand like a fastball but then goes the opposite direction like those three pitches

are hard to barrel up i think i think this is why i was excited well this is a little different never mind it's not it's not the same as hector last year but the curveball comes out of hand and it has a completely different look and hitters know where that pitch is going to end up they know that that's going away from you. So I just think that his plan for a good Kyle Gibson year, and man, given the injury concerns I have about this rotation and given the fact that Kyle Gibson has been known to take down a ton of innings, I need him to be good innings. I don't need him to be Vinny innings.

I need him to be good innings or Arrieta innings, which I don't think he will be, but his plan of attack to me needs to be two seam slant sinker, split change cutter, and then a get me over breaking ball. I don't want to see the breaking ball used, uh, trying to get out. It's a, it's a get me over. Oh, well get ahead in the count attack. It's a two Oh I'm behind the count. Let me get a curveball in there and get back into this at bat. So I just didn't like that. And I thought that split change up he threw in the first inning was disgusting.

So I needed more of that in my life. More sinkers, more cutters. No more curveballs. Sure. How was that was that right that was great I thought you did

a really good job thank you it made sense the hand signals you know made it even better it was really good I was doing them

in my studio I knew you were I could hear you like in my mind mentally doing it yeah that's great that's how my stuff used to move

it was great I thought it was I thought it was strong yes realistically realistically like Gibson was a 5 ERA pitcher until his last year whatever like what used to move. It was great. I thought it was strong. Realistically, Gibson was a five-year-old pitcher until his last year.

What's the best case for Kyle Gibson? I think the first few months with Texas last year was a real aberration as well compared to the rest of his career. What do you think is realistic? What can Kyle Gibson be for this team? I would say 3-5 to 4. I think it means 3-5.

Throwing a parade, literally and figuratively, yeah. Parading down Broad Street. I'm expecting a 4. I think that's a fair expectation. If you can give me 4 ERA and 6.5 innings per start, I'll take it. Yeah, 4 ERA and like 180

innings or something, that's great. That's awesome. Maybe more. Speaking of pitching, I want to just run through the rotation at this point. Zac Eflin, just... How about it? We didn't even know if he'd be pitching in spring training.

He looks unhittable. Dear baseball gods, I'm coming to you from a guy who hasn't watched, you know, playoff baseball in 11 years. Please let Zac Eflin stay healthy like let the knees go for a year give me a healthy Zach Eflin just to see what this guy can do don't let him get the heavy body or whatever it was a couple years ago give me a healthy Eflin year because his stuff it's just it's a combination of really good stuff, really good location, and getting better.

He was both sides of the plate today with his fastball. It was great. Change-up looks like it has more depth to it. And the pitch that is going to be the one that is going to take a massive step forward this year, started throwing it last year, to me, he has added more depth to it this year, is that curveball. Last year was more of a sweeper a couple of the ones he threw today like just had more 12-6 motion to it and that's just it's it's it was a disgusting pitch i was never a big efflin curveball guy but the

couple curves i saw today looked like they had more depth to them and it is a it is a tough at bat so dear baseball gods give me a healthy eflin year i need it because there is all-star potential from zach eflin also something you know hasn't been brought up much but contract season for zach eflin i mean this is a season for zach eflin has a real chance to you know just had a kid all that stuff like set up himself and his family for the future in a massive, massive way. If he has a really good year this year, it could be the difference between

a $60 million contract and a $40 million or an $80 and a $40 or whatever it ends up being depending on how great he is. It's a really big deal for Zach Eflin if he can come out and be dominant this year. Also, one of the nicest guys in the world so well maybe the nicest like in like just a sweetheart of a guy and we had this like where

we well i think mick said it we've had multiple people on the podcast and people on the radio said this too where it's like one of those like who's the best guy on the team i think we asked mick who would you let babysit your kids if you had kids and like the answer is always zach eflin like to a man so i'm with you yeah really really rooting for him um and just the stuff plays man and it's uh it's i think he could be really really good as long as the everything goes right this year so uh aaron nola i just i always get asked about him uh so it is not a great start You can already tell When you know Jack Fritz When he goes Aaron Nola

I already know Not good I just don't trust him I guess that's my main thing I see all these Freaking articles Oh my god I'm going to lose my mind With the whole

Peripherals Good strikeout numbers I see all these freaking articles. Oh, my God. I'm going to lose my mind with the whole, oh, well, it's peripherals, and he has good strikeout numbers. It's like, can you just close the spreadsheet, take the savant off or whatever, and watch an Aaron Nola start and tell me he's going to have a breakout year? Like, it's just so frustrating. And right now it is the same crap. Well, one of them is not the same thing. But it's the 0-2 putaways.

He can't put guys away right now. And it's the home runs. And those two things. Luckily for him so far, it's been a lot of solo home runs, which honestly, if it comes down to it, give me 37 solo home runs and don't give me the back break innings. I'll take that from Aaron Nola. But, you know, it's just, I just, I can't.

I would love to buy back in. I really would. I would love to be all in on Aaron Nola. Get me back to, not even 2018 form, like 2019 form. I just can't get there because it just feels like the same stuff. It keeps happening where it's like, oh my God, it looks great. And honestly, the fastball looks really good to me. He's hitting both sides of the plate. He's finally getting back to be able to hit the

outside corner, which he wasn't able to do last year. I think that's a really good sign for hopefully getting him back on track. But it's just whenever you start to buy back in, bang, there's a solo homer. And then there's another home run. It's just whenever you start to buy back in bang there's a solo homer and they you know then there's another home run it's just homer after homer after homer and it's like come on man like i need you to i need you to get it back so um i am i'm cautiously optimistic on on aranola but i am i'm just i can't trust him again i need to see it more than i'm buying into it yeah i'm cautiously pessimistic with aranola that's a i mean you know i just i don't have much faith and i know he's got nasty stuff and i know that on certain days he's gonna look awesome we're

gonna have 12 strikeout games and stuff like that and be like hey he's back but like ultimately i think it's gonna be up and down and i think that when the games matter most i'm gonna have zero faith that he's gonna go out and give me a good start and that's you know until i see it it's gonna be frustrating yeah so but now on the positive side i do think it's fast remember playoff nola i remember the dream what a dream that was. What an absurd, silly little dream that was. Anyway, go ahead. Well, Playoff NOLA has shifted to Playoff Ranger. Playoff Wheeler. No.

Playoff Ranger. Oh, I like that even better. Forgot you brought that up at the end of last week. Playoff Ranger is strong. Give me Playoff Ranger. Yeah, I mean, Ice and his name, literally. Like, that's a cliche but like ranger actually has ice so it's like a real thing yeah ranger season last year i just i like if you take his temperature

it's like negative 10 degrees celsius it's crazy yeah i can't wait i can't wait to see i think he's starting tomorrow so i'm excited to see um you know i think negative 10 degrees celsius is like really really really really cold let's go negative 10 degrees fahren is like really, really, really, really cold. Let's go negative 10 degrees Fahrenheit. How about that? All right. What do you think? What do you think? I want to make sure he's alive, but...

In either case, he would not be. Would not be alive. Well, what... Our body temperature is supposed to be... It is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. So we're talking about negative 10 Fahrenheit Celsius, lower than Fahrenheit in that case.

He probably wouldn't make it, right? No. Yeah, probably. Up in the air, but probably. You never know. I mean, modern science. Yeah, you're right, man. It's amazing what they can do. I feel like 98.6 is a pretty high temperature to consistently have.

Yeah, well, it seems like it's gotten lower lately. I feel like people are using 96, 97 range or whatever. What about when the fills are hot? Oh, buddy! I just feel like 98.6, when I walk around with 98 degree weather, I can feel it. And the fact that my body is always that, I don't know. I think personally, if I was deciding, I would choose the lower body temperature. Maybe in the cool 70s.

See, we're making a classic High Hopes podcast mistake right now and venturing into the world of science. This is always bad. It never yields good results. We should have a stop. Not because we believe in it. We think science is the best, but we should have a staunch. We're not allowed to give our opinions on science on that podcast policy. Also, also, we're just joking. Relax. Yes! Just joking, guys. Just joking. 98 points. Anyway, so

what else was I going to say? You're the one with the tape bag in front of you, buddy. I was in Clearwater this week. That was exciting. I know! I forgot to ask. How was it? Clearwater was great. It's always nice being down there.

I wouldn't know, but I'm sure it's great. Thanks, buddy. He's needling it in there. Got it. As a guy that goes every year now, it really is. Oh, my God. It really is. Just shoot me right now.

It is nice. Are we done? Is this the end of the video? We don't have to take back yet? I need to know. I mean, it's always 80. Oh, buddy. So much and and water around in boats you're a baseball fan you just have to get down the clear water yeah i know which is which is a worse look for the podcast this is being semi

facetious so don't get too offended okay good great which is a worse look for the podcast me never going to a playoff game during the entire run or you never going to Clearwater? Yeah, they're both horrendous. They are both horrendous, yeah. I don't know what's worse. I really don't. I really don't.

They're both in their own way. I think, honestly, like not to, you know, say the one that isn't me. I think you, because you're here. Like we live here and there are a bunch of playoff games during that run. So I think that's probably worse. But I don't want to

take away from how bad it is that I've never won. I mean, you are 40. You are 40 years old. Yeah, I'm 40. I should have gone to Clearwater. I know. I just think this is starting to show more and more how you were born in New York. Maybe... Oh my goodness. Are we done yet? I just think this is starting to show more and more how you were born in New York. Maybe. Oh, my goodness.

Are we done yet? Is this pod still happening? Are we just shutting this down? You got anything else? Do you want me to do my top five after your little stock take? Oh, fine. Yes, I do. You know, the floor is mine.

That's right. We talk about Bryce and Todd, the one who I've always been in on, and I said was going to be great. Here's my Bryson Sott take. Put your little trash tanks out the door. Ready? Bryson Sott's winning the Rookie of the Year. Let's go!

I love it. Nick's only plus 5,200 though. So maybe we'll have co-Rookie of the Year. Yes, I know the odds. That's a real thing? there are odds for mick to win rookie of the year still has rookie eligibility pal wow no i knew he sold rookie eligibility i just didn't i didn't think no offense mick i didn't think they made odds that deep like they were that deep with the odds wow wow you're not behind the why not mick it's because he's underrated. Not Mick's fault. It's because people underrate

him. It's not his fault. Exactly right. That's your stock take. Here's my stock take. I don't like that he wears number 73. I think they should let Bryson Stott wear number 11. Okay.

Hold on one second. Oh, man. First and foremost, okay hold on one second oh man first and foremost is like 73 his like in season number no no it won't if he makes the big I was like if he wears if he wears number 73 during the season

like he's an all time boss and we're screwed and it's never gonna work out no he is not gonna be wearing number... I think... I think five is what he wore in Reading. I just can't believe it. So you're saying now that Jimmy's a part of the organization,

go to Jimmy and say, Hey, pal. Right. Nice career. I know we might retire this someday, but, you know, for for now let's let him blame which is a better show which is the more outlandish which is the more outlandish take letting bryson sawyer number 11 or he's gonna bat 400 in the season what do you think

probably back to this season shockingly yes i was gonna say it's so funny because when you set that up i was uh so i thought you're gonna say that my rookie of your take and i was gonna say it's so funny because when you set that up i was uh so i thought you're gonna say that my rookie of the year take and i was gonna say wearing 11 is like way more ridiculous than him when he was in the year i i but i didn't know what it was gonna be but i was 100 ready to say that the number 11 take was more ridiculous and then you reminded me of the 400 yeah it's been it's been a long it's been a long bryson stop. But you know what? That's exciting. It is exciting. It's exciting to have a guy like him.

I'm pumped. I'm just kidding. You should definitely be allowed to wear number six. No, I'm just kidding. No, I think you weren't. 26? Give it a 25. Yeah, give 26, 34, 35, all that.

No, I'm just kidding. So I think, no, but thank you. Number 20 taken. I think third base 20. That sounds like you can be really good. Best number 20 in Phillies history, Bryson Stott. First pick in the all-time Phillies draft, I will take Bryson

Stott. Thank you very much. That is not buying into the hype. That is not at all. We never overhype guys. We're always very measured and very real with these things. As long as it's not 73, I'll be happy. How about that? Love it.

Agree. Yeah, don't wear 73. That's just indicting your whole career. He won't. He won't. Offensive lineman. I mean, come on. Right.

Left tackle. Left tackle. Bryson's high. He could be. That's a good name for it. Yeah. All right. You ready for a top five? I've been waiting the whole show. That's. It could be. It's a good name for it. Yeah. All right. You ready for a top five?

I've been waiting the whole show. That's why I'm here. I literally only show up here in the top five. Top five ways the High Hopes podcast has helped the Phillies. Oh, man. Okay. Can't wait. Number five is from day one. Dave Dombrowski was our guy oh great point like from

the moment he got hired well not even not even that james we told him all off season long go get dave dombrowski like yeah do whatever it takes the guy we want yeah do it yeah exactly there was no one else we wanted really it was like dombrowski or bust if I'm if I'm not mistaken I think that was the hashtag we used Dombrowski or bust I believe one of us on this podcast we'd rather have Dave Dombrowski than Eric Neander yeah that was you buddy it was really it was really impressive he said it I remember it vividly it was a surprising take but I thought a great one thank you uh the fourth way that we have the fourth way that we have the fourth way

that we have helped the phillies is i don't know james for three years we were screaming hey let's just get guys that throw hard and give them a chance well now that's all they do you know like i watched i was excited about dylan ables and i saw him throw today and it's like wow he has no idea where the ball is going but like his spin rate's 3 000 rpms on the slider and it's like yeah still fun uh and the norwood guy that picked off waivers from the padres was like 100 with sinking movement it's like yeah thank you get me more guys that throw hard and and and let it and and let them hopefully figure it out here like but seriously you know i look through the bullpen now and like even if these guys go down and and i know coonrod's hurt and possibly brogdon and

stuff like that you know i've liked what i've seen from nick nelson so far this offseason or so far in spring training i don't think he's unbelievable but the fact that we're finally having guys that come up and it's like 96 with a with a great change up and a good feel for a breaking ball or ryan sheriff which is a tough look from the left side. They actually have options they can bring up to put in that bullpen that aren't disasters. Now the rotation is a different story. I mean,

having to bring up Hans Krause or I actually like Christopher Sanchez a little bit. I like falter, but I just, there's not great rotation depth past those three. Um, so, but the bullpen,

even if guys go down, I just think there's more guys with stuff out there so that has me excited uh i do like that you went chris sanchez there that was good he's like you're like this well it's christopher i like it i've never called like any of your buddies well but i've never called any of my friends named christopher uh christopher because usually they go by ch, but when the telecast calls him Christopher, maybe he wants to go by Christopher.

We're hanging out in Clearwater. He's Christopher. Oh, I should have known. My bad. Your buddy. My bad. Number three is for years, again, we begged them to hire a Rays guy, and they did in Ani Colombo.

Once again, you're welcome, Phillies is what we do go hire a raised guy they did and he's gonna be a superstar uh the number two he's he already is a superstar people will know he's a superstar yes because of this podcast and number two we got bryce harper here like that's obviously i thought it was gonna be number one wow i'm now i'm genuinely excited for number one i thought that was a going to be number one. Wow, now I'm genuinely excited for number one. I thought that was a lot to be number one. It's usually at the top. Yeah, you're welcome. And Bryce knows about that too. Makes it very clear the only reason he came

was because of Lent. Correct. You're welcome. Anything else we can do for the Phillies, we'll do it. And obviously the number one thing that we have done for the phillies we'll do it and obviously the number one thing that we have done for the hot for the phillies is sell them on mickey moniac why not breakout season coming um it is officially go time i like that feeling a lot but let's go mick hashtag why not make all right real quick i'm going to have to because this is such a huge

I'm going to be hypothetical. You have only these two choices and that is it. Choice A, the Phillies make the playoffs this year. Mick doesn't have a great season. Choice B, Mick breaks out and is a legitimate

all-star type player but the Phillies don't make the playoffs? That's a really tough question. I know it is as soon as I thought of it. I meant to bring this up. He's so far and away my favorite player. Again, do we need to say it again?

The guy wore our shirt. He's easily my favorite. No one's even close. No one's in mixed hemisphere. I reluctantly say I will take them making the playoffs but i a breakout mickey season would be you could argue that a breakout mickey season is more important for the future of the franchise than just making the playoffs this year you could argue it you could but also johan rojas is like a year old love it so yes it's uh listen it's it's been a fun pod buddy it's good to be really really back this time i'm like i'm really excited like i feel like the history of this pod has been a lot of you being excited and me like reigning you in i'm excited that we could both be excited right now

like this is this is really cool man i'm like this is easily the most excited i've been about the phillies in a decade it's a it's a really awesome feeling like honestly to your point you made me in the pot like my number one thing i feel right now is let's go like i want this week to disappear like is it next friday yet? I just want the season to start. I want to be staying up late in the night watching 10-6 ballgames, watching balls fly out of Citizens Bank Park. I need it.

I want it so bad, Jack. I'm ready to roll more. I need the ballpark to be like the Wheeler Mets start all over again. I need that. I need that. This time next week, we'll be all diddied up for a Phil's home opener against the A's.

Buddy, the next pod we do are at the eve of the season. I know. And we'll let you know again where exactly we'll be. If you want to come by, hang out before going into the game. Seltzer and I will be there. Not sure and and also if you don't get a chance to listen to the pod which i mean who am i kidding if you don't listen to the pod

the night of or the morning what are we even doing here why are we even here but let's say you don't uh we will tweet out from the high hopes account on twitter where we'll be and stuff too yes and hopefully by we i mean jack hopefully we can have beers yeah that'd be good it's an important part of this i think Yes. And hopefully... And by we, I mean Jack. Hopefully we can have beers.

Yeah, that'd be good. It's an important part of this, I think. Beers are always important, yes. Yeah, they are, especially for us. All right, you got any final thoughts, Fritzy? Not really. I really don't. Just every day, waking up... You left it all in the field. I really did. I'm never prepared for the final thoughts.

I gotta be honest. It's not fair. Your take never prepared for the final thoughts. I got to be honest. We've done a talk. Well, it's because you got a take back. It's not fair. Your take back is like 15 final thoughts. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So I'm never fully prepared for the final thoughts. Sometimes I can put something together really quickly.

Today, I can't. So listen, that's on me. But my final thought is, why not Nick? That's a great final thought. My final thought, everyone, even though by the time you listen to this, it might be over, but if you're listening right away, then I will be doing my fantasy

baseball draft while you're listening. Sound like good vibes for me. I can go for a win this year. I've been dominant in this league. I need another victory. I need a title. I've got like four of them. I got to win more, Jack. I own this league. But last year, I had the second best record and I lost in the playoffs.

It's not gonna cut it. I'm in a league where I've won the regular season four out of five years. Have you really? Yeah, and I've lost in the freaking championship two out of the last three, I think. That's how fantasy baseball goes, baby. I don't want to talk about it. I think it's way more

impressive to win a regular season than it is to win a regular season so do i it's i mean it's i'm close it's infuriating so i'm officially the peyton manning of fantasy baseball and my only advice to anyone out there that plays is draft carlos rodon because he is going to win the site okay i might wait an hour to post this pod so no one in my league can hear that advice. Pete Seltzer. Pete Seltzer. You got my number. I'll give you all the advice to beat Seltzer or this Seltzer if that works. Seltzer on Seltzer crime.

That's what we do, pal. All right. We'll be back next week on the eve of the Philly scene. Let's put some Seltzer away.