High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - A Winning Road Trip Has Never Felt More Meh

Episode Date: April 11, 2024

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz discuss the Phillies' 4-2 road trip and what they saw from the team in their series against the Cardinals. Presented by Miller Lite. 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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I thought that was like a workman like yo you know a workman like road trip exactly you know four and two sure nice job i'll take it you know they started five and ten last year they're six and six improvement jack improve this is the phillies uh uh example of a hot start it really is well they're so bad at starting hot like even it's not even it's not even this team it's like every iteration of them like no it was their first winning road trip to start a year since 2011 2011 think about that i was doing some uh i was looking up the 07 fills oh buddy they started the year three and ten could you imagine like today with rollins doing the whole like team to beat thing and then they come out and they start 3-10.

Oh, what a good point. It was busting. The city would not be able to handle it. I don't know. But yes, it's like they're so talkable and annoying, but it's also like, are we being too nitpicky? Well, we're doing the exact same thing every year. It's like we don't learn.

I think part of it is that a lot of the issues we're seeing early on again they're six and six it's not like the marlins or 111 or whatever they are like don't worry though they're gonna have a losing record against the marlins of course they will the marlins no doubt about all the marlins need to get right is to play the billy uh i think the issue is like it's it's a lot of similar things on the offensive side. It's seeing Castellanos swinging at, you know, outside sliders over and over again. It's seeing, you know,

kind of the same issues that we saw in six and seven come back. And it's like, guys. And then on top, I think it's the combination of that combined with all the rhetoric out of spring training being like, we're starting hot, guys. It matters. We know how important it is. We're going to get on it.

Well, they have. Oh, my. They have. What are you talking about? Right. It's a winning road trip. It's a winning road trip. Everything's just deep right now.

It's annoying. It's annoying. I'm not like – it's not large sweeping conclusions about the team, but it's freaking annoying. It's annoying. I'm not, like, it's not large sweeping conclusions about the team, but it's freaking annoying. Yeah. Yeah, well, and the shame of it is is that I think that through two weeks, you feel like this is a World Series caliber staff.

They've been great. Other than the first two games, really Nola, other than Nola in his first start. And like Strom and Alvarado in game one. Yeah, and the bullpen in the first two games. And Connor Brogdon's existence. He's not part of this staff, Jack. By the way,

got shelled. Two home runs and I'm shocked the Dodgers is through. I know, it's like, didn't you get him to like fix him? You're just going to throw him right in there? Yeah. Dumb team Dodgers? Pitching's been great. Falling apart? Pitching's been great. Like the pitching has been as good as you could ask

I mean Spencer Turnbull hasn't given him a run yet listen someone try to tell the whole entire fan base about Spencer Turnbull people made fun of me oh you're so excited

about Spencer Turnbull you're watching him over like some stupid like big game for one of these teams yeah I am oh Super Bowl

they signed him on Super Bowl Sunday that's what it was yeah yeah yeah yeah dude Turnbull's far more interesting it's like the chiefs are driving to win in overtime and jack's like but these turnbulls 97 with sink it matters it matters but yeah they because the pitching gives you so much hope they really do it does hoffman didn't have a great first closing experience even though well got a little squeezed he did

and people are like freaking out about Sir Anthony it hasn't been great I think of all the guys we count on and Pinto is nice but Kirk Green will take his spot he's perfect but of all the guys in the bullpen

we feel really good about everyone I think Sir Anthony is really the only one where you're a little concerned. Yeah. Well, I think it comes down to Sir Anthony. You just don't really know what you're going to get. It comes down to, do you trust him? And I think we are not in a period where we trust Sir Anthony. I think we trust Hoffman.

I think we trust Alvarado. I think we trust Strom. We trust Soto. Strom, once again, just continues to be the most underrated player. He just goes out and gets out. He's just good. I know. I know.

He's just good. And that's how I feel about a lot of these guys in the bowl. Soto, too. Soto's good. Soto's been really good. Yeah. I'm really impressed with Soto. He looks good.

And I was worried in spring because the freaking fastball was getting lit up again. And it's like, dude, you throw 100. Yeah. Like, how is this? With a funky, weird lefty delivery, like, it should be really hard to hit. And the whole thing is, and I was worried because you look at the, which is more funny slash concerning of two former Tigers, is that Spencer Turnbull having a 17 loss season, which feels impossible.

Like, especially these days. Especially these days. How do you lose 17? People don't even win 17. It's really hard to get 17 full decisions on one side or the other. Or the closer of the Tigers, Gregory Soto having 14 losses, I believe. Absolutely, it's that one. Really? 14 losses for a closer?

Are you crazy? Dude, 17 losses? It's almost 17. He's three short and he's that one. Really? 14 losses for a closer? Are you crazy? 17 losses? It's almost 17. He's 3 short and he's the closer. That's wild. He hits 14 losses? Yeah. Oh my god. Yeah. It was awesome. That is

unbelievable. Yeah. I just want to double check. He hit 11. 11? Still. Still. That's a lot of losses. I think it's still the 11 losses. I mean. 3.2 ERA? Yeah. And 30 saves.

And 30 saves. I knew he had 30 saves. And an All-Star. Like, I would love. If someone could go back and study Gregory Soto's 2021 season, I would appreciate it. That's a roller coaster ride. 2022. 2-11.

3-2 ERA. 30 saves. All-Star. That doesn't make any sense. How does that happen in 64 games? That's impressive, man.

Yeah, that's a lot. That's good. And 60 strikeouts in 16 innings. That is a, I was about to say a bad word.

I was about to say bat something. That is a bat something line. Yeah, do we have to look up Spencer Turnbull's 17 loss season? Yeah, what else we got to look up Spencer Turnbull's? Might as well. 17 loss season.

What else we got to do? There's a lot to get to, man. There's a lot to get to. Yeah, so in 2019, he went 3-17. That's taking down some innings, though, man. That's 30 starts, 150 innings. Not bad. What was the ERA? The ERA was. That's 30 starts, 150 innings. Yeah. Not bad.

What was the RA? The RA was 4-6. Wow. 4-6. That's not good. 3-17 and is not allowed to run for the 2024 Fills. It's been the Cy Young winners. Hashtag.

You know how we're a big hashtag podcast? Oh, we always have been. And a big movement podcast. Yes. Now that's true. Hashtag it. You're in there. Hashtag taiwan pretty good hashtag take your time very good take as long as like hey it's like when a caller calls in like love the show you know i appreciate everything

you do you're the greatest take as much yeah keep doing it you know you have more to say yeah elaborate take as much time as you need i guess he's rehabbing in clear water tonight I appreciate everything you do. You're the greatest. Keep doing it. Do you have more to say? Elaborate. Take as much time as you need. I guess he's rehabbing in Clearwater tonight. Even in the simulated game he threw against the Phillies in Washington, he's hit 90 on the gun. And Rob Thompson's like, yeah, well, hopefully adrenaline will kick in.

It's like, whoa, we're banking on adrenaline? Oh, good. He's got 90 yeah like it's it it sucks for him and we're all people are mad at tyler and i get it his arm just might be cooked and and it just might be cooked for what it's worth i mean he is someone who had one really good year before he signed like he's never been someone who's good half a good half a season like and also someone who the someone who the large portion of his early career was marred by all kinds of injuries and issues and stuff like that.

So if you had picked someone who was going to age well, I mean, you wouldn't bet on Tyrone Walker. Hence the contract itself. Maybe not the best one. I'm just letting you know, though. You don't like it. When he signed it, back to the moment, you were not psyched about the contract. No. It was one of those, I guess I'll talk myself you know though. You don't like it. When he signed it back to the moment, you were not psyched about the contract.

No, it was one of those, like, I guess I'll talk myself into it. Yeah. Don't love. I don't love how to do the talk myself. No,

no. And this one felt like in the moment, one of those, like you could have to work really hard. Well, because it was like, it felt such an overpay. Yeah.

For a guy who, again, it was coming off like a half a season. That was good. Right. And, but I'm just letting everyone know that he's probably gonna come back and be good like well because like everyone's just dumping on him and like we're doing like take take your time taiwan like spencer turnbull's the goat and i'm

just he's probably gonna come back and be fine and fine i think he'll come back and be fine yeah hopefully is there is there he's gonna be in the three let me ask you a question though yeah all right because there's a lot of money in there and all that. Let's say Sanchez pitches well. Okay. Let's say Turnbull. I mean, he's not going to not give up any runs, but let's say Turnbull keeps dealing.

Like let's say he's got a two five ERA or something like whatever it is in a month, whatever Taiwan's ready. Let's say he's ready in a month and Turnbull's got a two five ERA closer to strikeout per inning. No walks. Like it's been, it's been really good.

What do they do? That's a tough question. Cause I don't think they want to do six man because inning, no walks. It's been really good. What do they do? That's a tough question because I don't think they want to do six man because Wheeler hates it. Yeah. So we were pro six man. We were big on it. And then you watch it. It didn't work.

It didn't work. We've talked about habit. Every five days matters for some of these guys. It's not even that, though. It killed the bullpen. I mean, the bullpen got just depleted during that time. Now, they have enough arms to where they could do it, but like... As long as your starters pitch well, no matter how many you have,

it should save the bullpen. It all comes down to guys giving you innings. In practicality, it worked fine. But in watching it, it was jarring how much it felt like it was just draining the bullpen. And it took them a little bit to kind of, once they went back to five men to get back to like bang here's this bullpen that was really good for a good stretch so i don't think they want to go six man i just i don't know it would

be so unprecedented with three years 54 million dollars left to like just cut ties yeah and i just don't see him doing i don't think they're gonna do it anyway i mean it's such an admission of failure for the for dave for john for the whole thing it's like wow we failed on this one now the only counter is they did this in 22 with dd oduble and those guys was not owed money i know yeah they were they were gone at the end of the year yeah so i i don't know i don't think like it it's parables back to like three five yeah no that's why i went like he's got to be elite like yeah he's gonna be really really really good for this to be a discussion if he's just good they'll go back to taiwan like taiwan they are going to go back to taiwan they want to go back to taiwan the interesting part which kind

of it's it's good but it would be like if they didn't need, if they needed a lefty in the bullpen, they could just put Ranger back in the bullpen, but you're obviously not doing that because they have like three pretty locked down lefties. And also Ranger's been great. I know Ranger's been great. I don't want to take him out of the rotation. Consider that anyway, yes. And he's past that threshold

in his career. I agree. I mean, I just, I don't know what they're going to do. I guess it's a good problem to have. can absolutely it's a good problem now i mean look we need these guys to say all the i mean you know what pitching is i mean guys fall like guys get hurt and and look and who knows maybe sanchez i think sanchez is gonna be fine but like you never know there's so many different little things that could happen but it's a turnbill pitch as well it sets up for for an interesting situation especially for the players on the team too. I mean, it's one of those things where I get it.

Like you owe this guy money, and organizationally speaking, you don't want to just punt on that. But if the guys on the team are out there, and they're going out with Spence, and Spence is crushing for him, and you're winning games, and you've got Taiwan, Mr. Complainer guy who came back not ready to roll, like all this stuff. I don't know.

We talked a lot it what it kind of reminds me of is remember in 2021 when we would talk about you know the 2020 or 2021 the worst bullpen ever 2021 right 2020 2020 okay and either way leading in 2020 we talked so much about and you would mention with bryce a lot like how like these guys would run on the bullpen you'd have a lead and you could like it deflates the rest of the team remember that i mean i think that's where it feels like a loss. I thought it was such a great point. Yes, I thought it was such a great point that it's like, yeah, if you're those guys, you're like, crap, we're going to lose now.

It's deflating. Well, they have to work extra hard on Taiwan days. That's my point, though, is there something with that, especially if Spencer Turnbull's winning new games, like when you're on the team, you're like, that guy shouldn't go down for the other guy. Yeah, and I don't think they will. I think they're very in line with what the clubhouse feels.

Yeah, and with guys that have earned spots. I think they're very earned spots, except for kind of the center fielder. I mean, to their credit, they did it. Yeah. To your credit, though, they did it last year in the playoffs. They gave Chris Sanchez a start in the playoffs. They did not give Tyrone Walker. They should have let him go a little bit longer.

They should have. And they went to Kirk ring. Exactly. So point being that they have shown like, hey, you know what? We will, for the betterment of the team, shirk the money thing. Well, dude, they cut Didi.

Yes, I know. For Bryson Stoddard rookie in a playoff run. Yeah. So they will do that stuff, but none of these situations have come up with, like you said, three years, 54 million left because that's serious stuff now the one caveat is and it's going to be a really tough decision for them because like how much are they going to buy in because he could be i mean

tyron could be back in three starts so he's going to do three rehab starts yeah yeah and then it could be a couple weeks like they have to they have to like know a spent returnable is is something i think it's easy it would be easier around the deadline because that way you could theoretically like package a prospect with taiwan sure to get off it i just you throw taiwan into a deal where you're trading a high level prospect or something you're like here you gotta take time you want an indian theater yeah you gotta take time it won't be great well look at that point like you know a bad team might consider i mean to get a better prospect to get that's the point but it has to almost be a big market team like the net forward to carry him yeah because because it's not at the it's not like you're just like

a expiring contract to use nba terms the a's won't take them the sacramento a's he would be more than the what he has left on his contract is more than they're paying their entire team this year. So, yeah. He would if Taiwan, their operating budget this year is $35 million. Oh, nice. So if they added Taiwan, he would cost for half their budget. Everything's fine. 50% more as your budget for this time.

You know, it is interesting, interesting though because I was thinking about this as the season was opening. There's really only like four teams not quote unquote competitive, which is... In the NL, you're talking about. No, in all baseball.

Okay, hold on. Dude, the Rockies, White Sox, A's, and there's like one more. Well, so the Royals were expected to not be competitive. They're starting to have some 1-8

and they spent money. They spent on Lugo. I mean, the Cardinals, I don't think, will end up doing that. But they tried. No, but they're 5-8 or 6-8 or something. They're not horrible. Or 6-7, whatever they are. Yeah, I mean, the Pirates have been really good so far.

The Pirates are putting together a little something. Yeah. Like, there's a Washington. Washington. Right. There we go. And I mean, the marlins the marlins actually i think you could put in there too because they did not try i mean they kimming

stepped down because she was like i'm not i'm not i'm not dealing with what you guys are doing you know okay so fine if you want to if you want to put them in there that's fine but still like the fact that that's a really good point by you it's pretty good for the sport that there's only five five teams not really trying meanwhile the nba feels like a lot of teams aren't really trying. Totally. NFL feels like it's increasing by the year with teams not really trying. It's a great point. It's not bad.

It's not bad for the sport that at least it feels like. Now, there's still cheap teams. Now, there's not cheap teams like Cleveland. But, like, they'll at least be in it. And, like, the bell players. I mean, it's just smartly run. And they're always going to kind of be close or be in it it's more like the Pirates where you know super cheaply run players but that's the point but that's the point is that you know they and they've made the playoffs in the

last you know was it 2013 2014 whatever it was back then like that's the point is they will try when they get the players when they get that they just won't spend a lot of money but you're right yeah I mean it's it's one of those things where it could make for a really interesting season, you know, especially with the... Extra playoff team. And also the way the schedule is now where everyone faces everyone. Like, you don't really get the advantage of pounding down on the bad teams. Like, it could make a more even playing field across.

Totally. It's good for the sport. Good for the sport. Good for the sport. Hey, fantasy football owners. The road to winning your fantasy football championship starts now. I'm Matt Harmon from Reception Perception. Join me and James Coe as we take a deep dive into the position

that's going to make or break your fantasy roster. Wide receivers. We analyze route running, target share, and all the metrics that matter, giving you the insights you need to draft the best wide receivers. As you prep for your draft, let us give you the coverage you need. Follow and listen wide receivers as you prep for your draft let us give you the coverage you need follow and listen to perception perception on the free odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts all right let's dive into some specifics from the uh from the trip let's start with the bats because we just talked a lot about turmoil and and taiwan and a lot but i think you know all the consternation that we've heard all the calls we've taken on wip are all

related to the bats right now. The struggles offensively. Where are you at offensively? Obviously, I think Castellanos and Rojas have kind of been the most on that. But even then... Scott should be in there too. Scott should be too.

And look, he got dropped in the batting line yesterday and I think it was rightfully so. He smoked that one ball deep to center field. The guy actually caught that one. I want to talk about tough days. I mean... Come on, Vic. Jack, do you ever remember someone going,

like, I feel like I've never seen it. I was watching with Emily, and I'm like, I don't think I've ever seen that. I made her watch the replay. I'm like, what did he do? I don't think I've ever seen that in my life. No, it's crazy. It's something you're taught at, like, nine.

In the moment you start playing. It's like one of the first things. You can't turn right. Turn to the right. Turn left. Yeah, turn to the right, not the left. Yeah, exactly. But the offense, the stock, Castellanos, Roanos rojas where you at with all of it right well i think i don't know it's interesting because galbro the whole article yesterday about

how they're stuck in between fix trying to fix their chase and not getting their ace wings off which i think is interesting and it does kind of make sense yeah yeah yeah because they have been they have been they have reduced their chase rate which i think we all want so this could be some of the reason we're seeing you know ton of singles and not as much power boring boring where's all the small mall people at now well it's just whatever but um yeah i just it i my my optimistic viewpoint if I'm looking at where the offense is, is it's actually twofold. One, the pitching staff has been so good that I trust that going forward, and I can't believe the offense is going to be this hit or miss the entire year.

It's a question of whether they're going to go through stretches like this often. But they're also, I know it's not the same as football, but they're implementing a new system. Oh, this is good. I like it. They are. Takes time to learn it. Takes time to learn the system. You're going to get the ins and outs.

You're trying to like. Feel comfortable with it. They're trying to rewire. They're human beings, Jack. They're not robots. They're trying to rewire some of these guys' brains into not chasing as much. Which is honestly, I know, like joking around a lot, but like that is hard to do, man.

I mean, you're playing baseball. Yeah, Casano he's exactly since he was five and and and these guys are throwing so hard and the ball is breaking exactly so far like yeah like it's it's hard to hit a baseball man it's really hard to change that's why the jt thing impressed me so much you know that like if you leg kick like that your whole life that's how you do it to be able to kind of change your mechanics and have so much success so quickly which i thought was important for him obviously i i just it's hard i get it i do agree with that i'm joking around but it i do get what you're saying it's not easy to change what you do and i'm i'm not trying to make excuses for it because it has been infuriating and like 13 strikeouts yesterday

and Lance Lynn, the only getting one hit off him is like... I think it's like 16 straight singles. 16 straight singles. Come on. I'm going to take this pen and jam it in my eye. 16 straight singles.

It's awesome. I hate singles. I know. I like walks more than singles. I enjoy watching Kyle Schwarber at singles. No one else. Yeah. Anti-singles.

What about a Trey Turner infield hit? How do you feel about those? It's okay. They're fine. It's fine. Yo-on, that's the only way he's going to get it. We'll take that. We take that.

We take that. Bunts and infield hits for Yo-on. If he could learn to bunt, that'd be pretty cool. He looks a little bunter-ish. A little better. A little bunter-ish at the plate. He should be an expert bunter. I would think that would be a good idea. He's like the mostie mays hayes player we've had it's but he's so good it's

unbelievable especially when you watch a game like in it granted that was a particularly bad performance by scott or whatever victor scott but like when you watch stuff like that even when you watch marsh like that the like tracking, and so who's a good – and Franski was talking about this yesterday where it's like Marsh is a really good center fielder. He's a solid, good center fielder. It's just different when you're watching Rojas and the way he just gets to things and the ease with which he gets to things.

It's even – even Pache is kind of – the way he plays center field – He's like herky-jerky. He's kind of like Bambi. Yeah. He just runs. Running out there. Yeah, whereas plays center field he's like herky jerky he's kind of like Bambi yeah he just runs yeah whereas Johan it's like calculated

glides yeah he glides and it's also like he just he knows where the ball's going to be like he has an unbelievable feel

off the bat the step the first step they were talking about like his first step is like perfect please just hit no dude

he was you're freaking 20. He was good in the Cardinals series. It was his bet. Look, they had a three-hit game, got the little squibber yesterday, the infield thing, too. Hit a ball the opposite way. Hit a ball the opposite way. He had an RBI.

Yeah. He was there. So yeah, no. I think, granted, I had a hit yesterday, but I am much more concerned, not much more concerned, but I'm more concerned about the Castellanos offensive thing than I am about the road. Well, it just matters more. Yeah, he's just way more important offensively.

You're paying Castellanos serious money to be an impact bat, and he's probably the one that's most affected by the chase thing that they're implementing. Because he's the biggest chaser. Because he's a huge chaser. He's a huge chaser, and I feel like he's such a field guy.

I do appreciate, you know, they said yesterday on the broadcast, he's on the field 45 to 50 minutes. He's trying to work his way and I feel like he's such a field guy. I do appreciate, you know, they said yesterday on the broadcast, he's on the field 45 to 50 minutes. He's trying to work his way through it, which is good. We appreciate that kind of stuff. And I just hope that – I think it'll all start clicking. I do think the hit yesterday helps. Getting some confidence, getting that type of – it matters.

Yeah. As the excuse tour here continues to get intense. Let me get this one out there. Let me get this one right out there. It's awful weather. To be fair, who wants to hit it? Every single game. I feel like every single game they've played has been trash.

Yesterday might as well have been 75 on Sunday. Horrible, I know. It's good weather yesterday. The game I went to where we waited until 8 o'clock at night to play a baseball game and it was scheduled at 1 o'clock. It was still horrible. I do feel, to your point, and granted, I feel like it happens more and more

in the recent years, but I feel like it's been bad weather in the Northeast to start the season. It has been. And in St. Louis. To the point where people even want to, you know, they want to move games to only Florida, Texas, California.

I've said that. Honestly, I don't think it's the worst idea. I hate the idea of it. I don't know. No Elliot Shur Park's dome talk going on here. Look, I'm't think it's the worst idea. I hate the idea of it. I don't know. No Elliot Shore Park's dome talk going on here. Look, I'm fine with that. I mean, it's annoying when you lose regular season game. I mean, early season games.

It's annoying. Essentially, baseball's back. I want it every day. I want my team to play every day. I want to watch them. And it's like, oh, guess what? I had my whole plan for tonight. It's done because it's raining.

It sucks. It does suck. So a couple things with the offense. Horrible weather, which is not whole plan for tonight. It's done because it's raining. It sucks. It does suck. So a couple things with the offense. Horrible weather, which is not fun to hit in. Good excuse. Hands hurt when you get jammed. We're going to get Darren Nolan on the weather and how much of a factor that was as well.

He was fine. He was. No, he battled, but, you know, the ball wasn't moving too quick for him. It wasn't. It wasn't. And I just think that, I hope that a month from now we look up and these

guys are just doing to do it they're not chasing as much and they're looking to do damage within the strike zone so i am willing to give them a little bit of a time spring training now i know and then spring training doesn't matter they weren't hitting in spring training they were bad yes uh and they won a series that bryce didn't get a hit it's true yeah and schwerber only got one right that one at the end yeah a little single he also just missed the cut like he did yeah the one yeah and a couple he's just underneath yeah you could see you could see yet yeah i'm with you i felt like he had a real shot at a couple ones and the one the one went pretty deep not yet no it is funny how fast he's back under i know it's gonna be a start season oh look at kyle yeah 285 how quick uh trade turner is right around 300 i know 294 a lot a lot

of like that with two extra bases yeah i was just about to say he's got a three he's got a 319 slugging percentage so i'm gonna say that's probably not good enough but he's got a 358 ovp 319 slugging you don't see that through I felt like in looking at the both lineups yesterday it was I had never seen more lower slugging percentages than OBP right than yesterday's both teams yeah so maybe it could be a whole

sport wide epidemic right now it could be yeah who to thunk when we heard like a month before the season oh Brandon Marsh is getting knee surgery or a scope or whatever no big deal he'll be fine I'm sitting there I'm like this guy's not before the season, oh, Brandon Marsh is getting knee surgery or a scope or whatever. No big deal. He'll be fine. I'm sitting there.

I'm like, this guy's not starting the season. He's definitely going to miss the first three weeks. He's not going to be the same. Who'd have thunk? By far their best player through the first 12 games. Like not even close. Where would they be without Marsh? He's been awesome.

He's been great. And it was nice to see him move up in the lineup yesterday. As he should. I wondered how long he was going to keep him down there because at the same time, it's like, well, he's giving you good value out of the eighth spot in the lineup. Do you really want to move him up?

But with the way that Stott and Cassianos are hitting right now and Boehm just, I don't know, Boehm's still hit or miss sometimes. Yeah, but Boehm's still the slap hitter guy. He's fine, whatever. Yeah, he's fine. Nice little single up the middle. Cool.

Way to go, Alec. That's awesome. Gold glove Yeah, he's fine. Like, you know, nice little single up the middle. Cool. Sure. Way to go, Alec. That's awesome. You had it. Gold glove defender. It's pretty good. Yeah, it's good. Very good out there. He's good.

So, yeah, I just think that they had to try something. He's been so good. He's been rewarded for it. And they're letting him face a lot of lefties. He got a hit against a lefty this series, which is good. And I just, he's. He's got two homers off lefties this year. He just never...

He feels so under... He's the most underappreciated player we have. By the team. He should be in the lineup every day. No matter what. You look at the raw stats, it's like 850-ish plus OPS. The raw stats are insane. They're very good.

We'd die for a young player to have the kind of numbers. I know. He pointed up like, this guy's the next superstar. And he's clutch. I mean, he's had some clutch moments. So it's been great with Marsh. He looks obviously great in left field. It's just, I need everyone else to get going. I know. It's

good. Yeah. And that's the thing with like the Rojas thing where it's like, you know, the comment about you know, we talked about this, but like the eight, like where they're like, well, you shouldn't have to worry about the Phillies saying, you shouldn't have to worry about Rojas if the other guy's hitting. Well, it's like, yeah, guess what? They're not.

I'm sorry. So when they aren't hitting, Rojas not hitting makes it that much worse. You know, so it's frustrating. It's frustrating, but I think they'll get it. Signs of life from the Rojas. I'm not worried. We're 12 games in. It's cold, all right? Yeah, there it is. The hitting season hasn't come yet. It's going to But I think they'll get signs of life. I'm not worried. We're 12 games in. It's cold.

All right. Yeah, there it is. A hit in season hasn't come yet. It's going to get warm. How many more excuses? Yes. How many more? Yes.

How many more? It's fine. Yes. Pitchers are nasty these days. Yes. Their pitchers are really good. I was about to say they're facing good ones, but not so much. Lance Lynn, one hit in six innings was Sonny Gray's first start of the year.

Turn back the clock. Lance Lynn looks like he's been around the block now. Dude, Lance Lynn's been around forever. Lance Lynn is perfect. Six teams. If there was ever a pitcher I wanted to be like, it was Lance Lynn. Tons of fastballs, baggy pants, cocky, you know,

innings eater. He's the David Wells of the 20... I like that. Not quite as good as David Wells was, but I like that. Lance Lynn had a moment there. I know as David Wells was, but I like that. Lanslyn had a moment there. David Wells threw a perfect game, Jack. Well aware. I'm well aware of David Wells. Has Lanslyn ever thrown a perfect game? No.

I think David Wells was an all-star once. Dude, Lanslyn's a three-time all-star. No, he's not. Yes, he is. Is he really? Dude, 19, 20, and 21. Wow. All right, good comment. And he won 16 games for the 19 range. Wow. Because Wells had some really good years in there. Yeah, 20, and 21. Wow. All right. Good comment. And he won 16 games for the 19 range. Wow. Because Wells had some really good years in there.

Yeah. David Wells was fine. Wells was a three-time All-Star as well. Okay, dude. Here we go. An ALCS MVP. Ooh. Out of the land.

Two-time World Series champ. How about that? Yeah. Lance Lynn does not have that. David Wells went 20 and 8 one year. Wow. 18 and 4 another year. That's good. David Wells had some-8 one year. Wow. 18-4 another year. That's good.

David Wells had some years. Yeah, good player. Yeah, solid. I was watching that. Actually, Lance, I'm looking at his ERA. It's anywhere from the mid-3s to the low-4s. He's Lance Lynn. I'm sorry.

I am very sorry I gave you any crap for this. He's Lance Lynn. That's a phenomenal guy. He's perfect. Really good job. He's everything I wanted to picture, Lance Lynn. That's really good. You can have your little Verlanders and Scherzers did you know that wells was that no no and the only reason

the only reason david wells i'm looking at lance lynn the only reason david wells is even on my radar is that yesterday i watched a random video i didn't know he's a red sock by the way i don't i don't remember david wells is a red sock i don't either hold on so that's because he was there for one year yeah yeah oh like a year and a half it looks like either way i don't remember David Wells as a Red Sox. I don't either. Hold on. So that's because he was there for one year. Yeah. Oh, like a year and a half, it looks like. Either way, I don't remember it either. 05, 06.

I do not remember that. There's a video of him facing Sal Fasano. And it was like, wow, this is baseball. This is the baseball I miss. All these guys are sculpted today. Dude, I'm so with you. Who was I talking about? Oh, it was about basketball.

But I said it related to baseball too. Like DJ Burns, watching that guy play. I'm like, this guy's awesome. Like, he'm so with you. Who was I talking about? Oh, it was about basketball, but I said it related to baseball too. Like DJ Burns, watching that guy play. I'm like, this guy's awesome. He is fun to watch. Knows how to play the game. Yes, and he's fun to watch play the game. And he's a lefty. Shout out to the lefties.

It's super fun. I love Rowdy Tellez. Sure. Love watching that guy run around the base. Tell you what, Rowdy Tellez is lucky he's not a Philly. I know. If he did the David Bednar thing here, all we would be crushing. Especially when he's been here for six games.

But you know what, though? I appreciate it. If I'm David Bednar, I'm like, thank you, Rowdy. My man. Sure, I agree. We're looking out, pal. I agree.

What a good teammate. I know how they're reacting. I know. Teammates, like, dude, we killed Sean Rodriguez, and Sean Rodriguez was probably right. I was thinking of him for game or whatever. No, he was thinking of him for Reese. For Reese, that's what it was. Yeah. We killed Sean Rodriguez, and Sean Rodriguez was probably right. He was sticking up for Gabe or whatever. No, he was sticking up for Reese.

For Reese, that's what it was. Yeah. We killed Sean Rodriguez. We killed Sean Rodriguez. But back in the organization. Yeah, that's right. Yeah. All right.

Nola. It starts in general. Let's start with Nola. Because, look, battled. You know, it wasn't the best. You know, six innings, two runs, one whip, three strikeouts. The velocity. How much of that do you relate to the weather? Each start, the average fastball, I believe it was like 91 down to 90 down to 89.

He's not someone, you know, who needs the velocity the same way others do. But, you know, 89.5 for an average fastball velocity from a game is like, I notice it. I'm like, that's slow. How much do you think was the weather? How concerned are you about the velocity? So I wouldn't be concerned about it at all if every single pitcher that I like is getting hurt. I know.

You know what I mean? Like, now I have to watch every game. I know. I watch every game being like, there it is. What's going on? Like, Wheeler was dropping his elbow the other day. He was down to 92. He was throwing these, like, you know know splitters a lot i'm like there

it is we're gonna lose them but i think it's hard listen there's there is no podcast that will make more excuses than this podcast yeah no one better there's no one better we are an excuse podcast we're elitist but i'm just letting you know it is hard to to to a get footing on a on a sloppy mound i i've always and when you land like you're just so focused on landing and not slipping that you do lose velocity i love it so i am not i totally believe it that concerned about it good i think you'll be fine actually i don't and i've been impressed look i think after that first start, which was left to die out there as he should have been, uh,

I've been really impressed. Like he hasn't, he, it hasn't felt like he's had his best stuff yet, but last year it felt like he didn't have his best stuff and he'd give up seven runs or six runs or whatever. I've like battling through the last two starts without his best stuff. I,

I've been impressed. This is my Aaron Nola solo shots. Yeah. Yeah. Six in This is my Aaron Nola. Solo shots. Yeah. Yeah. Six innings, two runs. Yep. Solo shots. That's our guy right there.

Because last year, it was a lot of snowballs. Yeah. Where he just could not get out of these innings. Men on base. Bang. Yep. So I think that from that standpoint, it's been good. Great point, Jack.

I mean, last year was all about snowballs. And this year, at least he's getting his way so far through these innings. So that was good. The velocity, if it continues next start. I also, you know, Stocker said he pretty much ditched his four-seamer yesterday because he didn't have a feel for it. So maybe his sinker was just 89. And, like, at this point with Aaron Nola,

I would much rather have him be more of a command guy than – Without it. I don't need 94 from Noles. Nope. Like, that's 2018, the best pitcher I've ever seen in my life, Knowles. That's probably not coming back. If he's going to be that, have the snaker back, that's fine. What did you think about, speaking of letting a guy just go out there,

did you like Thompson pitching Wheeler seven innings, 102 pitches? No, no. I didn't hate it. It's fine. It reset the bullpen, which is very valuable. Yeah, they needed it. They needed that extra inning there. And look, I didn't hate it.

I mean, now maybe JT doesn't get hurt if he doesn't make it to the last inning. You know, no big deal. And look, JT's fine. Thank God. What a warrior. Like, baseball players sometimes can get grief for not being as tough as other sports. Sometimes they are whatever. JT Romero is about as tough as any athlete in this city.

Like the guy just goes out every single day and plays the most grueling position in sports probably in terms of that ball coming at you, all this stuff. And he just always is back. He's always fine. Like it hit him in the neck, Jack. He took a baseball to the neck and he's in the lineup the next day. And he looked any worse for wear. He looked fine. I was like,

look at him. Like what happened? There's no Mark. There's no nothing. He looked awesome. And I, and I'm, I am pounding.

Yeah. Like I'm knocking on all the wood that I can, that I can find. They've gotten so lucky with these injuries. They just haven't been killed by them. The Braves are dealing with a Strider thing right now.

We haven't had to deal with that. We missed Bryce for a month, month and a half, or Tommy John and stuff. But outside of Bryce, it's not like they've met, like Segura was hurt, I believe, in 22.

Yeah, for like two months, but he came back, obviously. They put Wheeler on that, what felt like a phantom IELTS thing. Yeah, you're right. They've not really had, I mean, Taiwan. Doesn't count. Doesn't count.

Hashtag take your time, Taiwan. But JT could have got that directly in the throat. Yes. And that's life dangerous. I mean, you get hit right in the head. Well, I thought he had a concussion. I did too, yeah. He started wobbling immediately.

Yeah, he looked like very shaken. He is is you know we talk about utley we talk about like yeah exactly that's what i mean we don't talk about him enough as as like an all-time warrior because he's athletes they get a they get ripped by the older athletes how soft they are you know it's a bunch of baloney i know we'll talk about how about poor caitlyn clark at the wmba's reception room do you see some of those quotes from like diana tarassi yeah they are like just wait till she gets up here it's like ladies do you know how much more money you're gonna make because this girl is coming up and bringing eyes to your sport you

should be freaking grateful that this girl is coming up and bringing people to your sport appreciate haters and it's good that's that's good you gotta have haters you gotta have haters all right so back to wheels uh anything like we saw this a lot with cole the whole uh dude it's so freaking so do you think here's what i wonder because like it is what it is whatever but like i've always wondered with cole and i think we saw with nola at times like do you think there's anything too psychologically the guys going out i mean like wills has got us today and like maybe just not as locked in or because i i feel like we've seen this over the years whatever the aces at the time it's just like for some reason they don't they don't

back them up it's crazy yeah well yeah and this used to make me so mad this is one of my mom's baseball takes oh good she would be like cohamill's teammates must hate him that's why they can't that's not what it is like take a deep breath that is that we know where you came from yeah like what are you talking about they hate him yeah they're not scoring for him no no it's just you what you like i know carlton in 72 the players would show up and they're like it's win day steve's here that's because the team won 57 games i know exactly of course they're gonna show up and play it was all they had it's like the one day a week they're like oh we might win a baseball game today i just it's the same it's the the is the right term here the adverse effect of the taiwan thing

that's good because taiwan it's like all right taiwan's on the mountain tonight here the adverse effect of the Taiwan thing? That's good. Because Taiwan, it's like, all right, Taiwan's on the mountain tonight. Here's four in the first. We got to really – You got to pick it up. You got to show up today. You got to go. You got to win this game. So, yeah, I think there's 100% something to it.

Like, Wheeler has a 1.89 ERA. He's 0-3. He's 0-3 and they scored four. 0-3. They scored four runs. Yes, they scored four runs. 0-3. Yeah, it's bad.

So, he's fine. Stuff looks3. Yeah, it's bad. He's fine. Stuff looks good. It's so fascinating. And this is like strictly pitching nerd stuff. It is so fascinating watching him learn how to go from 99 to 94 and not have a drop-off in numbers. Honestly, it's unbelievable. And it says something about how much just natural life his fastball has on it but it's a great point imagine if this is not to be negative but imagine

if he had the splitter two years ago or like found this like young the all-time great i feel like i've watched wheeler the last couple years and yet in the postseason he turns into like a star but i feel he never has been able to locate his secondary stuff it's all fastball and it's hard to square up it's great fastball imagine if you had this stuff two years ago i don't know talking about it you know hall of famer well it's just a shame because like if it weren't for the early career injuries and stuff we probably would be talking about hall of famer anyway you know like what he's done since he's come to philly has been hall of Fame worth. Well, yeah. We need like seven more years.

That's the point. He's not going to get there. But if he had not had all those injuries earlier in his career with the Mets... He also might not be a Philly. He absolutely wouldn't be a Philly. No, without a doubt. But he's the kind of guy who's a Hall of Fame talent, is the point. Yeah. Alright. What else from

St. Louis? Anything else? TakeBag coming up here. Let's do takeback. Let's get to the takeback. Let's takeback it. The Victor Scott play is still so funny. Oh, my God. I felt so bad for it.

I mean, I was happy about it, but it was just like. And by the way, if he gets on there, they probably lose because they scored one run. They might lose. Yeah. And look, if he catches that JT fly in the first inning, who knows what happens? I mean, I feel like the Phillies really needed that. Mr. Scott saved the season. Yeah.

And that path he took to that ball to somehow end up under it like that was, I mean, it wasn't an easy catch that first one. The second one was an easier catch. That first catch was a tough catch to make, but like, it was just like, how do you, it was so awkward looking. He's fast, but that was. Dude, I think It was so awkward looking. He's fast. Dude, I think he's the fastest player. He's so fast.

He got first and second. The guy flies. He just doesn't know what he's doing out there. It's Billy Hamilton all over again. Yeah, it's a great comp. That's a great comp. It's the same player. Great comp.

And he's such a Cardinal too. Wait until he's bunting. The Cardinals will make the playoff. Again, they're kind of a cooked franchise. The Cardinals feel almost Patriots-like, where they were so ahead for a while, and now they're so behind. I actually kind of feel like the Phillies.

Yeah, well, you know what? Like the post-run Phillies. I'm happy you brought this up, though, because I just want to say something. I know it was rainy and stuff, but a lot of empty seats in baseball heaven.'m just i thought they were oh we're cardinals in the winter one but front runner oh never that we're the baseball heaven a lot of empty seats in heaven is what i saw i'm just saying i'm just saying it's fair that's very old rotation

very old um got lance lynn out there and sonny gray and sonny gray and miles michaelis sonny gray was dealing he was no sonny gray is good and i would have i would have taken sonny gray yeah but like i told you qualifying offer you're not giving up a second and fifth round pick for sonny gray but but um yeah just the cardinals like they're like aaron like aaron auto looks cooked yeah goldie looks cooked yeah They really don't have anything. And the guys who are supposed, like, Jordan Walker is not. I know, which is a shame. I love Jordan Walker.

It is a shame, yeah. Like, those guys are not. Mason Wynn is a sick defensive shortstop. Yeah, he's very good. Very. He is sick. And, yeah, but they're just, they feel so, like, they need to almost tear it to the skid. I agree.

And then, like, figure out how to be a great organization again. Yeah, well, they missed out. Walker might not be a miss, but Liberatore, these guys that were supposed to be their dudes, their next generation, kind of weren't as good as they expected. Yeah, totally. Just in listening to, obviously, WIP and talking to fans, it's been so interesting to watch the standard being risen day by day.

Because think about how we've talked about the team, right? Everything is like four and two cares, they stink. Oh, I know. It's like they went and won a road trip. But it's so hard. And it's 100% change for me too. Because when this podcast started, it was like, gee willikers, we love baseball.

It was basically the first six years. Gee willikikers we love baseball like it was basically that's exactly what the first six years and then they would like collapse and we'd be furious we'd have rants and this that and whatever but even now for me like it's so i'm so in the mindset of watching every game wondering is this good enough yeah and it's such a difference from where we've been like even even last year like yeah i was mad yeah during the regular season i felt that way too but like this year specifically coming off the collapse in six and seven like it is so different watching the phillies now and it's where the sixers have been for the last couple years the eagles feel like they're always in this. But the standard of the Phillies has been risen

right in front of our eyes. And it's just, this feels like 11. Like 11, and they're not going to win 103 games. I know they won 102.

But they're not going to beat the wins record. Maybe. Turnbull's here. Turnbull's better than Bland. If Turnbull's on the 11 staff, they're World Series champs.

I just... It's like those regular seasons were fun, but all that mattered was the postseason. The journey was almost just there, and you watched it, but man, I'm almost mad at myself for how much I just... Well, you said you weren't going to do it.

I said I wasn't going to do it, but it's so hard not to. Well, to your point about WIP, you're dead right. I mean, it's just the way it's talked about even is like, like we're talking about Nick Cassiano's struggles right now, not about right now, but about what's he going to do for us in the playoffs. Like, it's like these problems, we're looking at these. 12 games into a season. Exactly, we're looking at these problems and being like,

well, that could kill us in the playoffs because it did. But at the same time, it's like, you're so like, well, that could kill us in the playoffs. Because it did. But at the same time, it's like, you're so right, dude. We're jumping way out in front. That's what Joe talked to Cameron on the morning show. He talks about it. He's like, I'm not looking at it now. He's like, all I care about is what's going to be the issues. Is Yon-Raw going to be good enough in the playoffs?

I don't know. We've got to find out. We've got months to find out if he's going to be good enough in the playoffs. Right now, yeah, probably not. The season isn't over. So, yeah, I'm with you. It is. It's tough.

It's so hard not to. It's tough. It's so hard not to. It's tough to do the happy-go-lucky stuff. If they could just go on a 10-game win streak and just be good all year. Be like, all right, let's go. Let's get ready for the playoffs. June's coming.

June's coming. There's no worse situation. There's no situation with this team that I dread more than Basis Loaded. I know it's kind of bad. Ever since the Harper Grand Slam.

It's Basis Loaded won out. Yesterday, six pitches. Bang. Schwarber and Turner. The night before, and Whitmerryfield has been a disappointment early. Do you know that Whitmerryfield, lower OPS than Johan Roas? Well, I mean, Johan Roas' OPS is one point behind Nick Castellanos. Yeah.

So, I mean, but the point being that Whitmerryfield has been bad. And he's here for that spot.. And he's here for that spot. Yeah. He's here for that spot. And he's here to swing the freaking bat. Yeah. So I need Whit to pick it up a little bit. Be better.

So, but yeah, it's just, and then I think against the, that Friday night against the Nationals, I swear it's back-to-back innings, one out, and then ground ball double play. Oh yeah. It's like, it is, it's their kryptonite it's truly their kryptonite bases loaded scoring runners in scoring position it's bad it's awful there's nothing worse than watching a team that can't capitalize i know on runners and scoring i know it is maddening there's more stuff more there's more stuff that is maddening about a baseball team than any other sport by miles like i don't think it's comparable because it's such a sport of failure that's why people are so mad all the

time it's such a good point like yeah people get mad around runners scoring position bullpen base running everything yeah everything by the way like the fundamentals are just mind-numbing like brandon marsh that night throwing to home oh i know when you just hit the cut and this is what i'm talking. When you just hit the cutoff. And this is what I'm talking about. When you talk about the standard being risen, it's just so hard not to complain about some of this stuff. But the good part is this has been the last four years.

And they'll be fine. By June, July, whatever. But it is frustrating. Because not to, you know, and look, the strider injury helps, but not to, you know compared to the braves but like the braves aren't doing that you know what the braves team ops is it's 880 jack you know what they're doing again they're just coming out and raking and they're coming out they're not making mistakes and they're winning baseball games and they're playing good baseball

like and it's not sacrifice bunting like could we just not make mistakes consistently? Honestly, that's all I'm asking for. Throw the ball to the right guy. Don't get doubled up on a fly ball to center field. It's just simple stuff. Victor Scott, don't make the left turn instead of the right turn. I'd appreciate it. Yeah.

I'd appreciate it. But yeah, that will... Well, yeah, do it for us. But I'm saying it's kind of like the simple stuff that I feel like you're not doing. If you're not going to hit, you have to execute on the stuff that you can control. Like, the stuff where you just don't make mistakes. The little stuff has been infuriating.

Kirk Rank seems like he's on his way back. This weekend. Seven strikeouts and three and a third so far. He's been very good. Which is good. Needed. Especially like we were talking about. Especially if they want to use Hoffman closing here and there,

which I don't know if they're – he's gotten two chances in a week. So it's something that – you need another right-hander you can trust. Unfortunately, because Sir Anthony, I don't right now. Marta? No, I do. You know I love Junior. But again, he needs more opportunities in big spots and big spots. But yeah, they need Kirkering.

It's an important addition. And we add him in and you can go Hoffman, Kirkering, Sir Anthony. They're all good. They're all good. And then you go left-handed options. Strom, Alvaro, Soto. I mean, it's all good. Yes.

Yeah. It's fun times. It's fun having a good bullpen, for sure. Every single one of those guys is better than every single guy on the 2020 team. there's not one guy who wouldn't be the best reliever on that team yep uh i just i i had turnbull written down i'm so excited he's so exciting i like that we did a whole like i know like 15 minutes on turn movie yeah i love that you had to bring him back out like that it's it's five pitches. I really appreciate it. He has five pitches.

Like we led the pod with Turnbull somehow. It wasn't even the plan, but we ended up leading the pod with Turnbull for a long extended discussion. He's so good, dude. He's so good. He's so good. I enjoy watching him pitch.

I'll tell you that. He is fun to watch. The ball moves, man. He's got some real life. His sweeper is sick. It's sick. It's a to watch. Like, he's, like, you know, the ball moves, man. He's got some real life. His sweeper is sick. It's sick. It's a sick pitch. Him and Kirkring are going to be the sweeper, the sweeper twins.

I want to address the most. It could go in any direction. The most befuddling reaction to a tweet I've ever gotten in my life. Listen, if Johan Rojas can't hit. Oh, okay, good. I wanted to address this. Because it seems like you were, I know that you're befuddled by a reaction to a tweet

when you'll just text me randomly something, and they'll be like, wait, what's this related to? And I'll have to figure out, oh, you tweeted about this, and then people are reacting a certain way. So yes, you tweeted about Trey Turner. like first of all i didn't say do it i said i wanted to think about but he's played 400 innings in center field if you don't want to play in center field play and left i'm just saying that if he continues to struggle defensively he had a good week in in in san luis which is good to see so he he made some good plays yesterday but he's made

three errors so far he could have four if he uh tug out the runner but he didn't and he almost got eaten up by that ball uh late was the eighth inning yesterday like a shot up to end the inning he got it he made a nice play on it but like you could tell when he kind of caught it and was kind of turned to make the throw it looked like he kind of almost got eaten up by it maybe that's me reading into it because i expect him to watch every yeah yeah so it's just like if he just like if he struggles defensively at shortstop and Johan Roas can't hit, it's something that I think they have to consider is putting him in the outfield.

I just don't think – I think the point – I think what you texted me was, do people not know that Trey Turner played center field? He actually in high school didn't play shortstop until late in the career. He's probably more of a natural outfielder than he is a shortstop and some of his actions would suggest that but like deep like deep breaths you know first off you're not moving they want to pen it with stoddard shortstop they whitmerryfield is a second baseman y'all or

edmundo sosa is a second baseman and in turn like i was i could not believe i could not believe it sometimes i expect it like i know yeah i know how to word things to where i know how to react i was blown away blown away so wanted to get that i was like are you i was actually i meant to give you the opportunity I should have known you would get there. Oh, what's next? Schwarber at catcher? There were some shots taken. I'll say some, there was some. It's like, what are you?

Some Phillies voices out there who are not happy with your tweet. I was like, oh my God. Whatever. Whatever. There's this thing going around on, I don't do TikTok. I don't either. I can handle another social media.

Yeah, I'm good. But I saw it on Reels on Instagram. How, of just, these two people go back and forth just going as long as they can. Thank you for explaining that to me, because you knew that I didn't know what Reels was. Reels are just videos.

They're basically TikToks, but for Instagram. Got it. That I think originated on TikTok, but whatever. Got it. So two people just go back and forth and and go as long as they can just naming random fillies oh i love that do you think we could go how long do you think it's a great question i mean it's too far into the podcast oh we can't do it now should we just do a pod of it and just go i feel like you could go forever i mean i don't know how long a long time i mean i wonder how long we could go forever. I mean, I don't know how long. A long time.

I wonder how long we could go. Do you think we would get... Do they count them? Do they get like... So it's like we went 100 names or is it just a time... It's usually as long as you can go. Right, so they don't track it. Be like, oh, we each said 145 names.

Well, I think it was like you get the... You keep going up money-wise. So if you get to 50, you get $10. I mean, I think we could go a really really really really long time doing that like hundreds of names would be thrown out yeah yeah well maybe maybe next off i love it i think it's a hilarious podcast yeah and just back ricky jordan steve gel and just like go back yeah i love it robert person that would be the worst pod you know it could be it could be though it could be like the remember the fly episode from breaking bad oh yeah sure awful

episode so i didn't hate as much as everyone else did but i get it but i get i get why people hated it's the tv snobs they're like oh actually it's a deeper meaning of which i don't care about i'm i miss i miss every meaning like they're like people, oh, you didn't get that. It was an allegory for Jesus or whatever. I'm like, nope. They can be on the cross in the movie. On the cross, I'm like, oh, I didn't pick that up. My bad.

I'm there to be entertained. I want an entertaining movie, entertaining plot. That's what I'm there for. I'm very with you. I miss these things quite a lot. It could also be so genius. That's what this podcast could be. I like that. It could be so genius. Like, that's what this podcast could be. I'm just going, it could be so genius.

It's so dumb, it's smart. Maybe some people are like, wow. I wonder how long they would, yeah, whatever. I wonder how long people would last. I'm intrigued. Let's say, let's put this on the off season note. When they're not making any moves. Yeah, they don't do that anymore.

They're locked in for the next few years. There's going to be a lot of this is boring. I know. Talk this offseason. Yeah. Six games, 12 games in.

Yeah. We're talking offseason. Hold on. I love this idea though. By the way, I'm starting to think like what things I could go forever on.

You know, like movies or whatever. Like I could just forever. Do you want like movies or whatever. Like I could just forever. Do you want to... So we both had pretty good weeks picking the player that's going to kill us. Yeah, I know.

I got a couple. Nolan Gorman. Nolan Gorman. Brennan Donovan had a home run. Oh, we're doing it again? Are we... Because it's working, we want to keep doing it?

This is the kind of thing people actually get mad at us for. I'm just letting everyone know. Yeah. Michael A. Taylor is a Pittsburgh Pirate. Is he really? And he is a Phillies. He's still in baseball, Michael A. Taylor. He is a Phillies killer.

Still in baseball, Michael A. Taylor. I'll go. All right. I'll just go with the family connection. Assuming he's not hurt. Is Brian Hayes? Oh, yeah. Yeah.

I'll go go Brian Hayes will kill us. His dad played here. Yeah. You know. He probably can't hit, but. I mean, the real answer. I'll go go Brian Hayes will kill us. His dad played here. Yeah. You know. He probably can't hit, but. I mean, the real answer. I don't think he can hit.

No, the real answer is O'Neal Cruz. The real answer is O'Neal Cruz. Yeah. O'Neal Cruz is going to come in and annoy the hell out. Yeah.

It is fun. I will say, him and Allie, I, there is something thrilling about watching a 6'7 person play shortstop. Like, for me,

as a, you know, my whole life, we are obsessed with baseball. Like, it feels so unique to me to see that guy out there playing shortstop. It's so cool. Yeah. And LA's heating up. Yeah.

LA's good. He was bad in the Red Series here. Yeah, which is fine. He's good. He knows what to do. All right. Bad against us. Good against us.

That's all. I take that. All we want. All right. Is that it? You got anything else on the bag? That's all. I take that. All we want. All right. Is that it? You got anything else on the bag? That's it. That's good.

Wow. We went long today. Yeah. Yeah. Tucker just goes. Tucker's furious at the idea. Yeah. Elliot.

Poor Elliot waiting outside. Good. 15 minutes behind. Good. All right. We'll be back Sunday or Monday, depending on how it plays out, whatever, to react to the series. Probably Sunday.

Just destroy Belly Falter. Can we sweep a series? I know it's a Belly Falter. Can we sweep a series? I know it's a four-game series. Can we sweep a series? All right, three or four. I'll take a split. Oh, great. I'm going to say I want three or four.

You're nine and three. I was about to say, Pirates have been really good. Three or four, boys. All right, we're at home, three or four. Live with a split. There we go. All right right we'll be back after the weekend until that he's rid himself We'll see you next time.