High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - A Mature And Reasonable Look At Phillies Baseball

Episode Date: May 25, 2026

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz are reassessing the Phillies on Memorial Day, breaking down this weekend's loss to Cleveland and previewing the upcoming west coast trip to San Diego and Los Angeles.

Miller Light, the official beer partner of your Philadelphia Phillies, is proud to serve as presenting sponsor of WIP's High Hopes Pod. So whether you're listening to the game, catching off on the latest High Hopes pod or at the ballpark. Remember, it tastes like Miller time, Phillies fans. Celebrate responsibly. This is the High Hopes podcast. High Hope! On the Odyssey app and Sports Radio 94, WIP. The crowd is singing high hope.

I feel a little less alone. is another edition of the high hopes podcast sponsored by miller light official partner of the philadelphia tastes like miller time philadelphia celebrate responsibly fritzy you know not a not a terrific weekend the pitching's good you got good starting pitching going you know that's about it yeah what you doing it was a real like uh you know a low score of a real low scoring weekend jack the fields are kind of They're not built like a small market team, but the way they play, it's like a small market team. It really felt like two similar teams squaring off. Yeah, yeah.

One has a $300 million payroll. One does it every single year. Well, dude, I was like, I obviously didn't forget, but it's pretty wild to think that the guardians are so bad that they got Bzana, number one overall. It's like the guardians are never bad. Just one year. It was just one year. And then they go back to being good. It's like, of course.

Listen, one member of this podcast. may have been rooting for a year like that. But would never, would never. We're not about the draft on this show. Yeah, you know what? So it's interesting because obviously where I'm at. And this is a mature, I think, standpoint. People say when they think of you, mature.

Always. Mature a viewpoint that could definitely change if things continue. but I'm kind of just this is a lull. I mean, this was going to happen. They were stupid hot. I mean, look what happened to the Cubs. The Cubs were the most unbeatle team in baseball, and now they've fallen on hard times in Chicago.

This is just... It's baseball, man. It's baseball. It's the natural ebb and flow of a baseball season. That's right. I mean, what are you supposed to do when you face Parker Mezick? I mean, all of the baby boys, Gavin.

Gavin carving them, which was, I know, it was a little like pavittas. Bitter's sweet, you know, dominating elsewhere. There he is. I had no shares of Gavin in any of my fantasy leagues which just kill me. Now, I do have shares of Chase Burns and Parker Mezzarck in a ton of leagues, and both of them have successfully carved the Phillies week. And I'm glad they hit around Chaconia a little bit. But I don't know.

I just, I don't feel the overwhelming sense of dread with this team. Maybe because what Sanchez and Wheeler are doing is historic. Unbelievable. Particularly Sanchez. I mean, you know, he's,

if he goes, like he said, I think he's five or six innings away from breaking the Phillies consecutive squirrels inning streak. I mean, he is on a frigid heater, man. It's,

it's been unbelievable. And it's like, I test too. I mean, the strikeouts are there and all that. Especially I thought so impressive with Sanchez, it feels like every time we, not just the Phillies, just in general, when a pitcher goes nine and gets 13 strike, that's like that type of game, that type of effort, I feel like it's really rare that they come out the next start and look incredibly sharp.

I know. It's really, he is on one right now. It's pretty amazing. Obviously, Wheeler 2 Wheeler was lights out on Saturday. Just looked awesome. Finally got him some runs as that game went on, which was nice. But yeah, no, the pitching. pitching makes you feel, you know, bullish.

And obviously, Painter look great, too. Now, would you say it's also rare to lose a baseball game when you're starting to give you eight shutout? Is that also a rare feat by only this team ever? You know what that game kind of felt like? Obviously, no one in the game is throwing a no hitter. But do you remember that, do you remember that Halliday versus Travis would start in like 2010 against their reds?

So I don't remember it specifically, but I, I remember like it's been reference. Like I remember vaguely, but I don't remember. Like I can't see it in my head. So both pitchers had a shut out. I think, I think Travis Wood, what a throwback name, by the way. One of the pictures that could rake a little bit.

I think he had a no hitter heading into the ninth. So it was Halliday and Travis Wood lost forms. That's what it kind of felt like on Friday, watching those two go back and forth. And yeah, I mean, the stats meant out there all weekend, but they have officially surpassed. those two. They surpassed Halliday and Lee, you know, for the best month of pitching in franchise history, which is crazy, given how... And it's crazy that we even talk about them as like,

who's better, you know? That's insane. I mean, those are, I mean, that was it, you know, three, four Scy Youngs between them for Lee and three, I think, you know, just like those guys are awesome. Mm-hmm. Yeah, I mean, they were the best. And then you have these two. And what I love too is after Wheeler shoved and then it was so funny he talked about i think destiny tweeted out about how he's like man you know sometimes you just don't have your good stuff and then at the end it was like well you did throw six shut out yeah okay pal yeah sometimes you don't he's like he's like he's like he's like a little wacky out i'm like man could you imagine feeling wacky and just dominating the way to stick shut out eight strikeouts like two or three hits or something yeah

no that'll that'll play well and he sounded legit uh exasperating when talking about Sanchez, and he was like, of course, we're competing against each other in a healthy way. And he said, he's tough to keep up with it right now. It's like, yeah, he's insane. And obviously, I hope he sets the record. That'd be so cool. And listen, you're on watch, Oral Hirschizer. We're coming for.

Oh, yeah, about 59 and a third, I think it is, or 592 thirds, something like that. Yeah. Who was better, Hersheiser or David Cohn? So I think Cohn was better career. wise and had more big game moments and all that. But like Hersheyzer that year might be like, you know, that's right up there with Pedro and in 99 and like I didn't see Bob Gibson. But Herschizer in 88 was like that. I mean, that was the first baseball year. I really remember well. I remember the Gibson Homer. I remember the playoffs. I remember the whole thing.

And I could imagine remembering 1980. Uh-huh. Yeah. Herschizer was like a, like a unicorn that year. It was unbelievable that guy that year. In the playoffs, too, the whole thing, he was just amazing. But I think Cohn was better overall. Like, Cohn's the guy, you know, he's not a Hall Famer because he can pitch quite like, you know, but like he's like a borderline, especially when you take into account all that huge playoffs starts that guy had. Yeah, I guess I always kind of thought of those two in similar tiers. Yeah, sure. I think they're similar. I think Urchiser's best was better than Cone, but they were both, I mean, Cone threw a perfect game. So, you know, people forget that.

People forget that. Not as impressive, not as impressive as David. well as this perfect game nothing nothing is it's impressive maybe it maybe other than doc alice even though it wasn't a perfect game that might be the only thing yeah yeah so i don't know i the offense this is kind of who they are if harper and schwarber aren't harper and schwerver which they're in trouble that's it i mean chwerber is on and that well he got yeah he hasn't homered him what like uh you know a week or something yeah get rid of him but i think he's not gonna hit 70 damn it well I think Bond slipped something in his food, and that's why. Yeah, that's what it is.

That's my official theory on that. But I think he does have another eight straight strikeout performance. So only him would have two of those in the same month. It's amazing. And also, yeah. And what do you have seven home runs in six games during the same month? It's been a Venfal Schwartz month, for sure. So, yeah.

So if those two aren't doing their thing, the offense is just, just going to struggle. They don't have enough. I mean, we can come here and yell until we're blue in the face about how go get a real right-handed bat. We've been yelling the same thing for for three years. They're paying $39 million for right field right now. One of them's not here. And the other one's, it took me a second to get there. I was like, I thought when you said $39 million that they're going to like add up a dolas and someone else and someone else. I was like, oh yeah, of course. They're still fantastic. They're still fantastic. It's good. It's good. As a dole, it's been a $39?

million dollar right fielder this year what do you think no no now now defensive wise yeah defensive wise yeah no dude it it it hurts my soul me watching him struggle because i love i love him so much in right you know it's it's like i want him to do so good and and we know what we know how funny is when he's rolling like that that run you know 2023 he was like as fun a player to watch as you're going to see with the home run, the excitement, the flexing, the bat flips. Like, he is like pure energy. And when he's rolling and it's like the confidence is, it's a really exciting thing to watch.

And it's a shame that we're not getting to see that, you know? Much like Stott, his base level to be a valuable MLB player is not, like, if he could just hit a little bit, he's a valuable player because of what he brings, defensively. It's just like, man, the pop isn't, nothing's there. Actually, the walks are up. The walks are, yeah, the walks are okay. But nothing's, it is crazy, too. And it's especially crazy when you'll see him, like, get extension on a ball.

Like, there be a pitch where it looks like, oh, like you've seen this guy when his arms get out and he gets like right on one. It's like, I've seen this guy destroy baseballs. And even that, it feels like even when he's getting extension and turning on one, it's like a flyout, you know? And he's missed so many meatballs. It feels like he misses with 95-mile-hour fastball down in the middle, every single of bat. And it's either foul straight back or he swings right there. And it does feel like he's trying to swing harder and harder. Because I would take a 210 average if it came with.

If he had 30 homers or 25 homers or something, sure. But you're not getting either. You're getting strikeouts. You're not getting base hits. I mean, I think what is he? Like three for his last. I mean, I think maybe four. I don't know the numbers, but I can't remember the last time you got a hit.

Well, I got a double yesterday. Yes, you're right. He did have that though. I'm sorry. Yes, prior to that. Yeah. So the breakout's coming. There was a huge double in a big spot.

Everyone needed that. Every single person needed that. I was so happy. I was like, yes, come on. Come on. Come on.

Come on at the only list. Like, I just, I, it's more me hoping he's good rather than thinking he's actually good. Of course. Yeah.

I mean, the evidence is, you know, the last, when you take 2024, 2025 and what we've seen this year, I mean, it's not a small sample size anymore.

No, no, it's not. So, yeah. Um, you know, so if like they need another bat. There's no one coming until the trade deadline. And even in the trade deadline who really who really is out.

And like what position is this team going to be in? And also look, I mean, Nebraska's hit on like one hitter. I mean, March is turning to a fine player. But like in terms of like helping the team in the moment go on a run, Bader is the only offensive hit he's really had, you know? By the way, two grand slams this week for, for old Bader. Did he really? Wow.

Yeah. Yeah. So maybe he's just in time for the trade deadline. Yeah. Bring him back. Come on on, buddy. No, well, probably not. I mean, he does have another year after this year. But look, Crawford, Crawford struggling. I mean, Crawford has not been, you know, good for a couple weeks at least now, you know. And the average, I think is down to like 240-ish or something like that. He's setting 240. I think it's 118 in his last seven. Yeah, that jobs. Ish type games.

And look, he's not a great. center fielder like he's just not like he's not you know it's one of those things where it's like you might as well agree agree i'm just saying it is it is more of a discussion in terms of like you just keep in serve every day you know all year depending on how this plays out than it used to be i think yeah well i mean spike brought up would you play martian center and him and left and just like march is better but it's not like my point is like i would rather long term yeah and i think it's a negligible difference i don't think It's like March is way better in center.

I just think he's better. Sure. So, yeah, I mean, they're kind of going through one of their ruts. These ruts with this offense was always going to happen. The real thing for me that I, that I'm going to start finding interesting and like, are they going to do anything about it? Are they just going to ride it out is what to do with Trey at the top of the lineup? He's got a 619 OPS.

He's hitting 225 and he's got an OBP of 280. I mean, bats are bad. You know, like, it's every first pitch, and it's just like, it feels like he's flailing. Like, it just doesn't, he looks, he does not look confident at the plate. Well, and they're 29th, like, and just production-wise, they're 29th and on-base percentage out of lead-off spot,

which is outrageous. That is bad news right there. They're hitting 2-14 as a team lead-off, you know, batting first in the game. So, you know, there's not, the easiest fix, actually, is just putting Schwerber there. It's just, what do you do at? moving. I mean, like, if you don't want to crush Turner. I mean, like, you could go Schwerber, Turner Harper. Like, it's not the worst start. I mean, if you're going to keep Turner towards the top, I don't want to, you know, move him down or whatever. I mean, that is viable, at least. It's viable. I guess I'd put him four for right now. And I would, this is, I'm not happy with myself, but I'd put Bome too. Yeah. Bones up to 213, man. Let's go. Yeah. Yeah. Ride this hot streak for a little bit. He's always been a class tool. He knows that it would go the opposite way.

I mean, that's what you always want to. I mean, Schwerber and Bowman. Schwerber and Bone would probably set a record for the slowest one-two combo. Oh, my God. It's unbelievable. Can you imagine? Who would have won a foot race? Schwerber or bone?

Schwerber. I think so, too. Yeah, I think those little steps beat the slow, long shrines. Not always, but in this case. Yeah, I mean, just egregiously slow. I mean, both. Yeah. If nothing else, Schwerber looks faster because his feet are moving so quick.

I think it's just like he feels. a little bit faster when he's going. He's trying so hard, whereas Bome is just like, move, but yeah. You can't do it. He can't do it. It's so bad. Now, Schwerver isn't ground in a double place

because he usually doesn't need to grab balls. Very hard. It's tough to say the old who gets doubled up more. But I think that's pretty obvious. It's old Bomer. So like if you put Bome two, you let him just do his little hit the ball around the whole ballpark kind of thing until he struggles again and you gotta get him out of there.

And God forbid, we can hit Harper there, but we got to hit him three. Only a couple days. You could do it for a day or two. Don't ask him to do it for a series when his teammates sick. I mean, that's a little too much to ask. But yeah, and then Turner for March 5, I guess. I would just give it a shit. It's really, it's really.

I do think you need to, I do think you should try something. You know what I mean? Like clearly right now, that lineups in a riot. And it's not like, it's not like this lineup as it's constituted as, has raked all season or anything like that, you know? No, no. They, I mean, what happened to the, to the team that a week ago, we took down schemes, you know, and was great abats.

Oh, well, like they figured out the abats. They swept the pirates who are all of a sudden are red hot. The pirates are part of the group of, they're part of the teams, the Phillies that play that I know sucks, you know. And they're better in front of the Phillies. like all these teams like the cardinals are not good they keep winning and they're in front and like the reds and all the you know i don't think i don't if the reds are still right but like all there's like just that group of teams that i am not super scared of but are in front you know when the stakes

rise and the lights get bright that's when you find out who can really swim deep waters is a new ufc podcast from cbs sports every monday myself dean thomas alongside with legends of the sport Chris Widman, Jorge Mazvedo, and Dustin Porriere, bring you inside the Octagon like no one else can. Deep Waters, new episodes every Monday, watch on YouTube or listen on Apple, Spotify, and everywhere else you get podcasts. Now, here's an official comment on the Cardinals as well.

And this is actually a credit to Cardinals fans because they were the ones that I think brought the tarps off movement to baseball. And let me put it out there. I'm very pro tarps off. If you can get a you can get a whole section to do it. Yeah, not by yourself. You got to be part of a crew. The tarps up by yourself is sad.

Well, there's also been a couple of like six guys in it. Yeah, and that's sad. No, that's the point. By yourself is the same as by yourself. You need a section. You need a section. If you're going to do it, get a whole ball club down there. You get your team down there.

Buy out a whole section. We're not doing the six guys just begging everyone to take their shirts off around the stadium. That's not the darts off movement. So if everyone could lock in and, and look at what the Cardinals do. I've seen, because now I watch, of course, in the beginning. And of course, because, you know, the local broadcasters are aware of the, the tarps off movement.

There's a tops off movement. So, you know, they got to make it kind of. They're so excited. Look, I know what it is. Look at me. I got it. I got it. Topsoff movement.

I like that voice. It's the tops off movement. Yes. So everyone noticed it from the 1920s or something. Exactly right. Exactly right. So, but there's been too many of it because they find it every broadcast where it's panning over and there's just like six dudes. Uh-uh.

Uh-uh. What made it cool with the whole section. That's it. Okay. So it's lock in people and then keep a good thing going. It could save baseball and get the young people into the game. Love it. Good take.

Thank you. When they write the encyclopedia of baseball in 100 years, it'll be like, and the Tarpsoft movement was the thing that truly saved the game. and brought it into its glory. Listen, the 90s had home runs. We hit the tarps off movement. That's true. Yeah. And the pitch clock.

Yeah. That's right. And ABS, baby. Let's go. Yeah. Yeah. I guess I've just got to, I was thinking about the other day.

Yeah, you'll have to deal with it. I know what I was earlier. But now I guess I've just gotten so used to it. And I'm like, because it's quick and it's easy. It integrates quickly. By the way, Schwerber is amazing at it.

I think of all the people, I feel like he is so consistently the most right. I feel like. Uh, yeah, of hitters of hitters. I would agree. Crawford should never be able to do it. Ever. It's always a strike.

No. It's always a strike. And you can tell him, good. You can tell he's like thinking about it to his guy, I shouldn't do this. Hold on. I think your point.

I've noticed it since you talked about it where it's like, I think the stars can do it and the guys at the bottom like, it's like you better be freaking right. Like I have like, you could see guys really wanting to do it, whether it's Stod or even Marsh or whatever. You can see like and they'll be like, like, like they'll be like, like, Like they want to, but they, I don't like, you know what I mean?

I think they're like, I can't, however. But it's funny because I think you're dead right about that. Like, I could see them like twitching. Like they want to go for it. It's like, I think Schwabber did one where he hit like the side of his face. He's like, he was like, no, he's like, no. No, no. Sometimes it feels like they're just like going to adjust their helmets.

Like, wait, are you doing it or not, you know? So I was thinking of that too. I was thinking about how, like, how they can they tell the difference? adjusting up. I think you have to say it too. I think you have to say it too, yeah. Or the um can be like, are you going for it and they can, you know,

whatever, but yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So it's fine. We're used to it. We're getting there. Now, are you ready for the check swing challenges

that are in, that are in low way? So there's, there's, oh, they've got like a camera for it, you mean? They have a system.

I don't want that. I don't want that. I love, I know it's often wrong. I love the check to the third or first base empire. Oh, I just love it. About getting every call right.

It's about getting most calls right, Jack. Okay. What are we trying to? Well, also, check swings are such a guy. It's so hard to, like, judge in the moment. It's fine. I would be okay with it, but I prefer they go to the first and third base guy. Well, they do have the technology down there to where if you,

that it can track how far past the line you go and then you are wrong up if you go past. Not bad. It's all right. It's all right. It's all right. So what else you got? Painer. Oh, yes.

Oh, yes, Andrew. He looked good yesterday. I know, like, again, to the point made before, the guardians are not the most dynamic offense. They're going to face this year. They went with pitching a bull bit more than anything. But yeah, I thought the painter looked really good. And what,

Painter, talking about beer, and then also, why does it, I know they don't score a lot of runs. It feels like they never score for Painter. Is like, are they averse to scoring for the kid? Anyway, go ahead. They don't like them. No, I'm just kidding. Maybe.

Yeah. I mean, the guardians are weird because they do hit some home runs, you know, Bazana hit some and DeLotter hit some. And, yeah, I mean, they're not exactly. Yeah, they're not murder as real. But I don't think they're as dreadful. I mean, Reese is there. He would have the fourth highest OPS on this.

Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. So, yeah, I mean, the thing with Painter is if you keep expecting him to be false skeins, who, by the way, is falling apart after the Phillies got to. Another bad outing. Yeah, I know. Uh-oh. Uh-oh.

Philly's broke, Paul Skeen. If you keep the Livvy Dunn video goes ironic. It was great. It was great. If you keep expecting him to be Paul Skeins, Chase Burns, Miserowski, like, you're going to be miserable because he's... Miseroskiable. He's just, he's not that yet.

And again, to part of the point, I mean, to act like those guys have never struggled at the big league level, now Skeens mostly hasn't, but he's going through maybe a little rut right now. Miserosky had a 60RA's last eight starts. Burns got to put. the bullpen last year after his first six starts. And they've come back and they've been great. So,

so now Schlitler and any Savage have never struggled and they never struggle. But I just probably well at some point. You know, they probably, and look, there are a few who don't, but it's, it's pretty rare,

you know. And there are, there are legit things. I mean, he's not striking out a lot of guys. Only three yesterday. And, and it's not like he's generating a ton of whips.

I think he did generate one whip on his fastball yesterday, which is a big development. But he's also pitching well. And you could kind of argue, okay, well, how sustainable is this? And it's like, I don't know. I mean, Yamamoto went seven innings the other day, yesterday, and struck out three. He's not to say that Painter and Yamamoto are close. But the way they pitch is kind of, like Yamamoto does not have a good fastball, and he has to hide it as well.

I mean, Painter has to hide his fastball. We talked about this at nauseam on this podcast, is that. it's not a good fastball every single time he throws it it's kind of getting smoked when it's in the strike zone i think he's actually doing a pretty good job of keeping it out of the middle of the zone recently it's either up out or off the plate that he's not he's not missing middle with it besides like the first pitch to bazanna yesterday so you know i also think that he's found a bit of a rhythm that works for him you know it's a lot of sliders and sweepers to righties which we've talked about he's also throwing him harder i mean like the the he threw a 90 mile hour slider a couple times yesterday, which was sick. He struck out Reese on one of them. I do think JT. being back there has helped him as well, just in the standpoint of having confidence and what the guy is putting down and following that. But the real thing that I think has been an equalizer for him is the single pitch that he threw more than any of his others yesterday was that splitter. He threw 28% splitters yesterday. And it did really well. He only got two hits on it. And to lefties,

it's a really, really tough pitch. I think the one thing that I think people need to I guess appreciate more with Painter rather than being so obsessed with the strikeouts and the whiffs and stuff like that is you know it's not very often you see a 22 23 year old high school kid that has a legit feel for three off speed pitches like a split like a sweep like a slider and he has that and watching these last three starts it was also good I thought that that Madeline kind of let him cook yesterday

rather than pulling him out of the game early I agree I mean the runs he allowed for nonsense you know Stephen Qua totally agree totally agree at that one second one one was BS as well. That can also happen when you're not missing bats. So like that's- Exactly. Yeah, that's part of the thing. Yeah, put it and play into what happens.

Yeah. So, I mean, I've been- Especially with A not like elite defense behind you, you know. Sure. So I guess I've been impressed that really since the, since the A start, he's bounced back and been very good. I think that's a good sign for his mental toughness, which I think is impressive.

And, you know, he's staying off barrels right now. which is good. If he's going to be a soft contact guy, be a soft contact guy. It can't be hard contact right at people. I think that's much tougher to sustain going forward. So he's doing a good job mixing all his pitches in. He's hiding his fastball well. I think the sinker in the right, he's a good little bitch.

And there's going to be starts. They're not going to go his way. But I think he might have found at least a bit of a rhythm to where he's not going out there and allowing five and four innings. Yeah. Look, and they're going to need him. You know, it's a shame that there's, so much pressure on him, you know, at the age and the situation, you know, you've mentioned

other guys who can come up and kind of, in schemes, pitch and games that don't really matter until this season for the most part. But, you know, with Nola, you know, they need Painter to at least be, he's got to be the four somehow, you know, and they have a great three, you know, and Lazzardo, you know, you assume can be, can be good. But, yeah, they're going to need him. All right. Take back in a sec, but quick, first of all, we will. have some news coming up at next pod for June because we got some some events coming up in June. So we'll tell you about that June 10, June 14, June 20th, June 24th. I think those are the dates off top of man, something like that.

Just keep them. But we'll get you that information next pod. But shout out to the Miller Light account of the week. The Harley'sville Hotel. Today's show is sponsored by Miller Light and the Harley'sville Hotel. Check out the Harley's Philo Hotel for every Phillies game. Enjoy $3.50. Miller Light Pines.

It's a great deal in their extensive menu, featuring their famous loaded fries with cheddar, mozzarella, bacon, bites, and ranch dressing. I know, like, Phil's wouldn't celebrate responsibly. All right, Fritzy, take back. All right. So I actually thought they played some heads up,

like, smart baseball over the weekend. I felt the same way. You know, picking guys off and, you know, stuff like that. They were doing some stuff. Yeah. So there were some pickoffs. There was a throw to second base that Bailey made

at Harper at just went to third base, which was interesting. They got stuck in a, JT tried to get stuck in a rundown and ended up with second and third with two outs, which was interesting. There was a play where they cut it early. How about throwing where Trey took third on the ball? It took the steel.

A ball was in the center, like wasn't going to go and then notices how slow its rolling was able to take third. There was a lot of that stuff. Yeah. Stock goes to second base on a throw to third and Turner cuts it and throws it to the second to get a guy there. They get Reese at third base,

trying to extend it out. So I actually thought like baseball heads up, Donny baseball style of play. I thought they played a mostly crisp brand of baseball besides. Well, after the couple games where they, you know, kind of get off it, they had played that for the majority of the Donny baseball era. Yeah, I probably got on their ass a bit.

I hope so. Now, listen, I love it, Munozosa. We don't have to play them in left field. We really know. We don't have to play them in left field. And look, he's struggling offensively, too. Like, Imundo is in a rut. Amundo, I really only trust in the sixth inning on in the big spot,

which is a good place to trust the guy. Yeah, it's not a bad spot. Yeah, you're right. Yeah. Because I love them. But, man, the left field play subpar. It's bad. It's bad. It's bad.

It's bad. So, but other than that, I thought they played pretty crisp baseball. And then, dude, Tarkering is really starting to eat with that splitter. The splitter is. He's been good. Him and Painter. I think both taking significant strides forward with their split and the movement on it. And it being a legitimate weapon for them.

So, you know, the bullpen right now, like, it's so funny, man, because you watch Bowling and you're like, I swear he's good. But he always allows it wrong. He feels good, though. I watch him pitch. It's like he looks like you should be hard to hit. And yeah, you're right. I don't get it. I mean, Bizzana did not miss that ball.

It ball is absolutely. No, he got hold of that. Do you find, I find the discussion, there's two discussions, there's three discussions, but we had talked to a painter. There's like two discussions that are, that bother me currently, is the way we talk about Duran and the way that we talk about real muto. Like, you got to get it through your head that JT's not here to hit it anymore. No.

No, yeah, he's great defensively still. Like, terrific. And I guess you wouldn't notice him as much if the rest of the lineup was better. He got a couple hits. He got a couple hits over the weekend. He's an eight-nine hitter now. Like, that's what he is. Like, guess what?

Like the vast majority of catchers in baseball. He still, now listen, I know they're paying him like the high second or third high. Well, that's a problem. He is not worth what he's getting paid, but like he is still a valuable baseball player. The pitching staff is on fire again. He still has one of the highest pop times in baseball. He's still throwing out runners. I just, I don't get.

I mean, I get it because of the bat and I get it because of the money. If he put the money aside, which, again, it's not our money. Like, I'm glad JT's here. I'm just. Yeah, look, I think I'd rather have them than not have them. I think the thing is, is people still hold the Bichet and the situation and the money and all that. and the fact that it is, you know, year one of a three-year deal.

And if, you know, I would assume the bad is not going to get much better over these years. But look, I'm with you. I think that ultimately to your point, he is a valuable player. He is a great defensive catcher. They need that.

He's a warrior, like all that stuff. I'm with you. Look, I just don't expect anything from offensively. He's not worth the money, but the money's paid. You got to kind of just move forward and take him 40s worth.

DeRon, I think, is interesting. Because I'm with you. you. But like it's interesting because like he has he's not locked down. You know, he has he is hitable. Like he is not someone who, like we've talked about is someone who gets a ton of strikeouts. But he still had really great closer. He's like got top five to seven closer in the sport.

He's great. But he's just not, you know, I think people thought he was the best closer in the sport when they got him. You know what I mean? Yeah. At the same time, he's got like a 1.45. ERA. Great. Yeah.

He hasn't blown a save yet. I know Friday happening allowed the home. Zero, it wasn't a save. Yeah. I was surprised that ball got out. I didn't think that was going out.

But I guess Manzardo got it enough. But the way he's talked about is if he's some scrub. I mean, I think it's one of those things. I think the playoffs, the walking in the run, I think that was another thing that sticks in people's minds too. Like,

that was a big spy, you know? Well, You know, and I also have this thing, and I mean, I've said it on here. I think no one trusts their bullpen until they win in October. Like everyone has your bullpen talks. No fan base is like, I trust my bullpen. And it's one of these things where closing, the nature of being a closer is walking a tightrope.

It's kind of very rarely is it just easy, breezy one, two, three. You know, it's getting the last three outs of a game where the, the opposition is extra locked in and wants to come back and steal a game. So you're only coming in if it's a close game in those situations, you know? I don't know. You've got a tight lead to protect as the point. So do I wish there was more strikeout? Sure, but also like he's got a crazy strikeout right right now. It feels like he doesn't strike guys out.

But I think before Friday, he had six consecutive outings with two plus strikeouts in it. So he does have good strikeout numbers this year. It's probably just because the contact when there's contact is hard contact. Hard, yeah, which makes sense. He's throwing 100, 1001. It's going to go back the other way. pretty hard. But I just find the whole discussion of around Iran being like he's been a waste, can't believe they traded for him.

Are people saying that? Because I have not, I didn't know that. Yeah. I get it in my mentions every once in a while. Like wouldn't trust this guy at all. Like, what are you talking about? I mean, he's got the fourth highest, he's at the fourth highest save percentage in the history of baseball. Yeah, it's really. When he's in there, he usually converts. Mason Miller's Mason Miller. I don't, I don't know what to tell you. Mason Miller's on a different planet.

There's some really good clothes at it right now. Yeah, we just saw one. We just saw one. Cade's awesome. Cade's great. Cade's great. So yeah, I just, a lot of the talking points right now,

I just don't really see eye to eye on. I think there's a lot of. Ah, yeah, I'm doing, if that's a talking point, I fully agree with you. I didn't realize that was a talking point, but I think that is, I think that's silly.

Are you excited for Fernana, Dothius to 100% and his homilessry against the Phillies this week in a big spot? Of course. of course it's going to happen. Of course, I was watching, was it yesterday they were on, late, was I watching yesterday or two days ago?

Either I was watching over the weekend and the flag when they were playing the A's. I think it was yesterday. And it flashed up and it was like his stats and it was zero homers again. I was like, I just, it looked wrong. It looked crazy. It's insane.

Nola will give it up, I'm sure. Oh, yeah. He's facing Null. Oh, of course. Of course. Lock it in. It's a lot. Yeah. Oh, it's for sure. Congratulations. Very happy for your, Fernando. And for my fantasy teams.

Well, that too, yes. What a carcass to carry for the first two months of the season. Between him and Jackson Meryl. I mean, I can only imagine. Geez. How they're like, I think they're 31 and 20. Yeah, they're winning. Jackson Meryl. It's because they got Cassiannas, obviously, you know.

Yeah. Jackson Meryl. Horrible. They just blow right past. I can't say it. It's going to be an annoying week if he does anything. I know. So Dati's horrible, Merrill horrible, Machado.

Machado's been bad. Yeah, Machado's about like 200 or whatever. Yeah. Unbelievable. Unbelievable. That's crazy. It's not going to happen. You're the conversation we just had that.

I bet you they trust their bullpen. I yeah. They got enough. He's always, probably is obsessed with joining us. Dudes. Dudes. All right, got it. It would never work.

But I think the guy that fits. their need the best at the deadline that could be available is Wilson Contreras. I would die to get Wilson Contreras on this theme. I mean, what a hitter. Right in a bat. He's like swinging harder than ever. He's crushing the baseball. But he's another year after this year.

So I don't think it's something that's going to work. I think if he told harp and whatever, like go the opt for a year. Two months, three months at the end. Like, of an expiring deal, he'd do it. I just, man, he would fit so perfectly in the middle of this lineup. I don't know how they would make it work. Honestly, they're more likely they move Schwerber to left field and put in the DA, yeah.

Do it. Do it. I would take it a second, dude. He's a stud. I mean, you were talking about like a perfect bat to throw in the middle of the lineup. I mean, come on. Can he play the out of the ball's contraris? Well, I try I was thinking he's taking the left.

I doubt it, but no. Can he still catch? No. I was joking. I was kidding. You're not taking J.D. behind the play for him. I'm just, you know.

No. No, sad. Sad. All right. Minor league, man. Now, it was a bit of waiting for it. There's a tough minor league week because, like, some games got canceled with the rain.

He couldn't get into a rhythm. John Pikerman's hurt. So, you know, some of that Brian Rincon doesn't play the last two nights. So he's, you know, no way. He's struggling a little bit. He's, he's gone through a rut at double A. So he's got to heat back up. So I'd say a Phillies organizational rut across the board right now.

A little bit, a little bit. But a couple things, a couple things. So my guy, Steve Potter, if you're looking for good Phillies minor league coverage, go to Philly's baseball fan.com. I am so happy. I was like, I've never, Steve Potter is a player for us. I never heard of him. Oh, no. For a second I got worried.

Are good. No. Francisco Renteria this week in the, in the DSL. Oh, buddy. Five for 11 with a homer, double and triple. Come on, man. Let's go. Come on, me.

17, 17? 17. 17. Yeah. 17, special. So Gage's double-a debut Very solid. It was very solid.

I was actually impressed. So the first bat of the game was Franklin Arias, who was like the next Red Sox great prospect. Is it Louise's brother? No, it's, it's Arias. It's like A-R-I-A-O-K. Oh, okay. Is it, I mean, there have been a bunch of players.

Yeah, there is. So he, so that kid's like the next one. He's sick. But, so Gage led up a first, pitch homer on the hand and then like two nonsense hits and then after that was pretty much lockdown he had six strikeouts and three innings at double a which i think is impressive that'll play that'll play the fastball didn't skip a beat like no one at double a looked as prepared for it as they did in in low a so i think that that is impressive i thought that the fastball is still swing

and miss um i thought i threw a couple good splitters that were good as well that's a pitch that he's going to need you feel good where the sliders that i just I continue to, we'll see what happens. I know the ending's limit. I just think they're going to have a tough time keeping him out of the big leagues this year. I think that he could come up and get big league outs. And there's nothing that I've watched that that kind of takes me away from that opinion. So we will see.

I know the inning's limits and stuff like that. But I think he could be, I still think he would be in play this year for sure. Good debut for Gage. His home debut is Thursday. So we'll be monitoring that situation. And Burke Holder had another good week. He had a tough day yesterday. He's like over three with a hit by pitch and scored a run.

And that ended his six game hitting streak. But he still hit 357 this week with the home run. And he's just smoking the ball. I love him. I love you quoting weekly stats and six game hitting streaks inside. You are crushing this. Yeah, we're into it. We're into it, too.

Really, I'm into it, too. He does have a little bit of a whiff problem against breaking pitches. so he's a chival. I think he's running like a 50% whiff rate on on, on, uh, breaking balls right now. So that's something he's going to have to work out.

But he's smoking fastballs. He's like, every game feels like he hits a ball 110 miles an hour. So he is, uh, he's doing well. Under the rated, under the radar,

bullpen arm that I think could move fast if they want him to is Teagan Kane, who was a 14th or 13th rounder out of Kansas. 95 to 97. funky little arm angle like comes from the like it's like a side like a little bit of a side armor a little bit so it's got some natural run to it and then he's got a breaking ball off of it I mean it's it's pretty much what I tried to become at Bloomsburg my my sophomore year when I thought maybe dropping down with lead to my breakout and just get some sick around on the fastball sure sure

didn't work out I'm still sitting here yeah you're here right now but the fastballs the fastball's stupid so we'll see but he is someone who is in clear water rehabbing from county John maybe starts working his way up the ladder. And then the baby boy, K. O. Mueller did make his debut this week for the Thresher's. I missed the first couple months or first like month, month and a half of the season, working his way up. And he struck out of the side, but he doesn't allow it to it.

And a couple walks and two runs. Uh-huh. But he struck out the side. It's the most important part. Exactly. Once he finds his command, he's going to be a huge, huge problem. but Cade Oprah Mueller made his debut for the Thresher. Love it. Love it.

It's great. As always, the minor league men in crashes. All right. So Padres, two or three, one of three. What are we looking for here? You take one of three. I feel like, I feel like it's always thinking San Francisco. I feel like anecdotally.

I don't know the record, but I feel like they play well in San Diego. We take two or three. We take one of three. We accept. Except one and three, we want two and three. We die with two or three. That's right. We have a Nola starting there, so that doesn't help.

All right. Either way, we'll react to it after and set up the big series against the Dodgers this weekend is the rematch of the faded, you know, could have won the World Series. If we had won that series, would have, according to David Brouske. All right. Last thing, one more shout to Harley's Ville, which Tucker Baggler, phenomenal producer let me know has the best wings around and I love wings.

So shout to the Harrah's vote. Shout out to Miller, like. Shout to Jack Fritz for just the awesome Meyer League minute. That was great stuff. All right. We will be back later in the week. Until then,

let's spread some shelter.