High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Aidan In The Outfield: The Spring Training Mailbag Pod

Episode Date: February 11, 2026

The Philadelphia Phillies' 2026 spring training kicks off today and the High Hopes podcast answers all your questions about the team, including the rotations future, top prospects and more. Presented by Miller Lite. To purchase Ring The Bell by Jack Fritz and Kevin Reavy go to RingTheBellBook.com 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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Medcan. Live well for life. Visit medcan.com slash moments to get started. What's good, y'all? It's Vaughn Miller, Super Bowl MVP, Sagmaster, and now your host of Free Rain. This is where NFL meets Real Talk. Every week, I'm bringing you inside the game from live. locker room stories to league-wide headlines.

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It is another edition of the iOS podcast, sponsored by Miller-Line official partner of the Philadelphia. Phillies tastes like Miller Time, Philadelphia, celebrate responsibly. The boys are back, Ritzy. The boys are back and the yo's back. Great, yo.

Great, yo. I mean, they're back. I mean, I'm, you know, disappointed with you all.

See, all the baseball's back. Like, come on. You know, baseball's back. Who cares? Who cares?

It doesn't it. It's over. The off season's over now. Well, it better not be. I need a starter bitch right here. A-sap. I need to start a picture here here. I can't see her and get mad.

They decide to start her and not an outfielder or a hitter? What the hell, man? Wait till it's all that. Wait till all this ends up just being Tony Gonsolin. That's who it's going to end up being. Is Tony G. Who is disgusting. Big Tony G guy.

Dude, 2022 Gonsolin was a problem. Now, 2026, after Tommy John might be less of a good thing. But I'm just glad that after being scolded within 30 seconds of starting this podcast, we have moved on and we are ready to to have a great, a great 45 minutes. Well, you were scolded prior to the pod starting, if you're being honest. Yes, yes, yes. For not deciding to show up here, you know, Tucker and I in studio together. Hey, talk, how you doing?

It's really hot in here. It is. It is. We're powering through. Jack just hanging out at home. I don't feel like it. It's cool, though. No, I got stuff to do.

So, but I tell you what, see, the boys walking through the click clack of the metal the metal cleats on the concrete oh man that makes tear up a little bit that makes you tear up a little bit the boys are back baby the boys are back we got a mailbag we're going to get to it a little bit quickly a couple things with them back how excited were you when you heard about aiden miller's locker placement was that just as much as you could handle well i i do wonder if tim kelly put that out because of me he had to know that I was like that within milliseconds of it being on Twitter. It's a big deal.

I mean, that is a big deal. In sandwich between Schwerber and Harper. And tries there the whole thing. He's got like the crew. That's perfect. That's perfect. It says something.

Like it is not, it's not an accident. Like they're not, they'll just take any locker. Like they put his locker there for a reason. 100%. 100%. And it really,

that is probably the production is the production with Schwerber. But this is the stuff that matters the most with Schwerber. Having those kids come up and feel like that they are a part of the team and and a guy that he can put his arm around their shoulder and be like, you're going to go through tough times. I got you. That is the value of Kyle Schwerver. And I,

you know, Justin Crawford right next to Trey as well. I think they're all in that little area. I saw the tweet. I was like, well, I know what the first thing I'm bringing up in the pot is today. I know excited you'd make.

This is what we do. training. This is my doing, I assume that Andrew Panthers, like, right next to Zach Wheeler and old Nalzy, you know? Well, wheels have a locker? I guess so. He's there. He's there. He's down there. So, uh, so yeah, no, that was,

I was pretty geeked when I saw that. And I just, I was, I've been thinking a lot about Adam Miller's, uh, debut. They might get a little weird. You got a date? You got a date in mind? No. I, I, I, I, I really don't. Because like I said, I don't know where he's going to play.

I know. Like, are they just going to trade Alec Bohem in the middle of the season? Probably not, guys. Probably not. It seems unlikely. Unless they fall out of it. Yeah. I mean, that's where they could.

I still, now they did put out a little teaser video yesterday, which I watched a good 10 times, trying to Zepruder film it and see what's going on. It did look like a bigger glove for Aidan Miller. Oh, you think it's some outfield action? No, he was fielding the grounder with it. Maybe the third base glove versus the shortstop glove. Sure, sure, sure. The second that I see, because it better happen.

It better happen. Outfield glove. I need an outfield glove. I need him. Hey, Aidan Miller taking reps in center field today. I saw something yesterday about Keaton Anthony taking right field reps. Keaton Anthony is who I. He's the first base man.

Who's doing here? If Keaton Anthony is in the outfield, it's worse than Reese. I mean, the guy's a donkey. He runs like a donkey. And I love Keaton Anthony. But he's about as slow as they come. So please give me Aiden in the Outfield. That kind of sounds like a, I mean, hold on.

Aiden in the Outfield. Oh, a little title. Little title. Angels in the Outfield play off. That's pretty good. It's pretty good. Not bad. Not bad.

So, no, but that stuff matters. And I just. In the Outfield. I really, that's damn good. Thank you. Tucker, write it down. Aiden in the Outfield. So I can't, I can't, I can't,

wait for, I can't wait for honestly, the world baseball classic guys to live. I know you can't. And we can't. I can wait for it. I'm excited. Look, competitive baseball will be cool. I, you know my thing on the world baseball classic. I'm just going to cringe every time of Phillies out there. Every time they're pitching, every time they're bad, I'm just going to be like holding on for dear life. Nothing happened to you. Edwin Diaz and that Puerto Rico is just like, in my head, I see him crumbling to the ground. And it just being like, great. And that was fluky. I know. But still, I'm like, I just want to get. through the World Baseball Classic personally.

As long as we win, as long as we win. Honestly, health is more important than country pride, I think, in this case for me. Well, I do agree. I do agree. But I am very excited. Listen, it's the best starting five since the 92 dream team. No doubt. It's the best starting five since the night.

They are a problem. So, and like, dude, skiing and scoble are better than anyone on that 92 team. Oh, stop it. 100% 100% no but I I do I like when you realize you probably went too far

and you're like I'm just gonna well at least I don't do what Elliot does I'm really trying to argue no Elliot would argue it Elliot would be like well let me tell you why I'm right about something that a hundred percent of people know is not right yes speaking of uh I don't know how I'm gonna

this is a really dumb transit or a transition here but Paul Skeens was pitching yesterday to Connor Griffin and I guess Connor Griffin struck out on three fastballs in his first at bat and then roped the single to left field in his next one. That was a weird non-sequitur. You're right. I mean, I guess Keynes was involved. So there's some sequitur.

But, yeah. I'm pretty pirated up. I'm not going to lie. Pirate Pyrot Pilt. Yeah, pretty intrigued by the old Pittsburgh Pirates. But it's not a Pirates podcast. This is an exciting Phillies podcast. So, yeah, the boys are back.

The cleats are clacking. The cleats are clacking. The mitts are popping. And you got any more? No, I think that's about it. The grass is something? Well, listen, the smell of the smell of grass, the spring training grass, just baseball grass in general, different, different.

So, no, it's the first full squads in a couple of days, which is cool. I don't think Nick's going to be there. Do you think? Real quick, real quick. How crazy is it that it, pitchers and catchers report today? And was it yesterday? Is it today yesterday? It's today, right?

Yes, today. That's what I thought. Freaking Nick Castiano's still on the Phillies, man. He's on the Phillies. They're going to make, Nick, don't show. They have to say don't show up. Here's my question. Here's my question.

Does he have a locker currently? No, right? I know. So what I wonder is with the MLBPA and all that type of stuff, because I'm sure there are all kinds of rules with this and whatnot. Like, if he wants to show up, can he just show up? Like, can he just be like, screw you? I'm showing up.

Is that allowed? Because the Phillies are definitely going to tell him not to show up. I mean, him's showing up. up in the clubhouse is an all-time disaster. I mean, there's no worse look for the franchise than Nkastiano's showing up after them talking about all this all season. Like, can they force him from not coming? Is that allowed?

It seems like that would be a mutual decision of like, I agree, but what if he wants to be I mean, this is Nick Castiano's, would it shock you at all if they were like, don't come. And he's like, hey, guys, I'm here. No, right? The only one that I can even think of that's comparable to it would be, remember when Ben Simmons showed up to the preseason game? Yes, yeah, of course.

He was locked out of the Will Spargo Center, you know? So that's the only thing that can kind of come to mind. But I do, he probably doesn't have a locker. I think it is a mutual stay away. We'll take care of it. And we'll go from there. There's been a lot of, you know, sympathizing with Gasty, you know, over the last couple of days.

Who? Well, it's like, oh, they're really, dude, the guy's stolen $100 million from this franchise. Yeah, get off my team. That's what I'm that. They're just trying to find whatever they can. someone to say a couple million they'll they'll trade him this week or they'll release him

I think they're going to release him I think at the end of the day they're going to just eat it and it'll be he'll be somewhere next week and everything's going to be fine it's it is what it is it's the business of the sport and whatever so yeah

I would love to see though the image of Castianos walking into the clubhouse oh my God I can't even imagine it it's too awkward to think about it it's awkward to even think about it much less it actually happening. Hey, this is Richard Deich, the host of the sports media podcast.

If you're interested in what's happening with all the places where you consume sports, the sports media podcast has you covered. I've been turning down interviews all week. Hoda Copy, reached out, Oprah, George Stephanopoulos. So I said, no, I was booked on the Deich podcast before the Taylor Swift phenomenon. I must live up to my responsibility. Listen, wherever you get your podcasts. All right, you got anything else before we get to the mailback?

No, no, no, no. Let's do it. All right. For big bag podcast, so. Of course. Mailbag, then the take bag. Or Tucker Bagley. Tucker Bagley.

Three bags. All kinds of bags. The bag, man. Has a nickname ever been less appropriate? By the way, I know this is a baseball pod, but the schedule for Drake May might be the best nickname anyone's come up with in a long time. It is tough. Yeah.

Yeah. Drake, maybe. Drake maybe is a classic shout to Cousin South. Drake maybe. So is Tucker reading these or are you reading this? I think Tucker's going to read him. I'll read it. All right.

All right. All right. All right. All right. Look at this. He did. Look at this. I did some prep work.

Tucker produced the podcast today. Wow. Good job, buddy. Thank you. Train showed up late still did prep work. No, again. Wow. This is from Jason.

At what point do we start to clown ourselves into a potential scoo ball on the bump in red pinstripes in 2027? Seems safe. he's going to hit the open market. Free agent hitters aren't great. Casting Taiwan money off the books. Dave loves his pitching. Dude,

until, until right now, I was not going to clown myself. But hey, Scoobel, Jack. Scoobel. Come on down.

Come on down. I would say, I would say that there is a very, very, very, very, very, very, very small chance. Well, especially,

uh, yeah. I mean, 400 million, something like that? Yeah. He'll be the first picture to get a 400 million. I think so too.

100% and I mean yeah I would love it but I'm always at the point where if he's not a met or or a Dodger the Phillies are not going to give him 400 million like I'm sorry I wish I wish they could they're not going to yeah and we got to start prioritizing the Lazardo extension yeah I guess the answer is never that I would say I would say no Jason but appreciate the question I like the thought I like where your head's at although it would be only one more year of Wheeler at 42 million dollars a year that's interesting oh man scoble and painter leading the way in the future and Skoble Pannert. Sanchez Lazzardo.

Has there ever been three left-handers in a rotation that good? I mean, the Phillies had that two of them, but. I'm saying three. I know. Sanchez, Lazzardo and Scoobel, can you imagine? I'm sure. I'm sure Donbo would love it. Oh, we're doing.

Yeah. But, uh, long shot. Yeah. By the way, is this the moment where we, uh, say, I'm so sorry, Jack, that Justin Verlander went back to the Tigers. Well, I'll tell you what, I'm losing my, my, my, my, my, my crap over them not. That was a nice, that was a nice pause right there. Well, it's just, it's just like, you got to get us, get us the, all these, like, Guantanas off the board, Verlanders off the board. Nick Martinez, who I was ready to get a jersey for it.

Perfect. Perfect. One year, 13 million. I mean, unless his ends with Chris Batson's a Philly, which I'd be thrilled with. Unbelievable. Get someone. Maybe it's a trade. It's going to be Tony Gonson.

It's going to be Tony Gonson. But yes, they need a starter somewhere. And Nebraska did say that the other day. What's the next step? This is from Dylan. He said, I've been searching a bunch of Justin Cortoff for projections recently. I understand that rookies, especially 22-year-olds, need room to struggle and expectations shouldn't be too high.

But is there a chance that this kid can come up and continue to dominate contact-wise and hit 280 to 300 this season? I know it's a stretch, but I see a world where he competes for rookie of the year as opposed to hitting for 240 to 260. Yeah, I don't think 240, 260 on the table. I would say 270 to 280. Like, I think that's, I'll take that. 300 is putting a lot.

It's putting a lot on it. But I think, I think 270, 280 is right around there with like a 310, 320 OBP. Yet, you die for 25 stolen bases and maybe five home runs. Yeah. I'm with Jack. I think he's going to have 270. I agree with you. Look, could he at 300, maybe?

You know, I really would not expect it at this age, moving up to the majors. I think 270, 280 potentially is much more on the table. But that could be for rookie year the year. The rookies year have not been that impressive the last few years outside, like a Nick Kurtz or whatever. Yeah, I'm trying to think who the, like, Connor. Who even won the National League rookie year last year? I can't even think of it right now.

National League rookie. I, that's what I mean. That's exactly what I'm saying. I think it was the Braves catcher guy or whatever. Oh, that's right. Yeah, that's what I thought. Him. That's my point, though.

Like that, I mean, Justin Crawford, yeah, he could win rookie year. Of course he could win rookie the year. I'm just trying to think real quick. I want to look up future stuff because I do want to see who the favorite is for a rookie of the year. Would it be Griffin? Is Griffin going to start the year in the majors? I don't think so. I don't think so.

Why is this being so rookie of the year? And of course, I misspelled it. So that's good. Every Rowengartner? Nothing came up. That's good. All right. Okay.

All right. So Nolan McLean at plus 350 with a full year. Which makes sense. J.J. Weatherholt makes sense. The Cardinals prospect. Connor Griffin is plus... So he's third, yeah.

His plus 700. But after that, I mean, like South... Crawford is plus 1,500 for what it's worth. It's plus 1,500. I'm just saying. It's 7th and odds. I'm just saying, Painted being plus 2,500 is crazy.

That's, that's actually a good bet. Yeah, I'm with you. Yeah. Plus 2500 is really good out there. Yeah. So I would probably bet on Weatherhold if I had to because I think, I think Weatherholt's going to be sick. And McLean's sick, too, for what it's worth.

McLean is, is awesome. It's annoying. It's been a lot of like, oh, I've got to see it again for like, Philly's fans with Matt. You know, dude, I didn't know him. It's going to be disgusting. Yeah, I do too. All right, what's next?

This is from Zach. What do you think the rotation looks like in 2027 and beyond post-wheeler slash Taiwan? Well, we're getting scoble. So that's what's happening. Good call back there. 100%. 100%.

So post-27, so I've been thinking about this most of the morning. I'm shocked that you've been thinking about this a lot. That blows my mind. No, well, I've been thinking more about like a Lizardo extension. They're obviously going to let them just going to the, I'd be surprised at this time to one before opening day. But there could be a nice compromise here where they do give them a decent money. Just in the, like, let's say Wheeler is not Wheeler.

All of a sudden, the pressure to re-sign Lozardo is massive. Is huge. Now, if you're the Phillies, you're looking at it. And it's like, the last time you had 32 starts, you really fell off the next year and was hurt all the time. and then we ended up trading for you and only getting, you know, only cost him Starlink Caba, Starlink Caba and Amerian Boyd.

So maybe the Phillies are saying you got to go prove it again, you got to stay healthy again, which is a fine strategy. I just wonder if there is a- It could cost the money though, especially, I mean, look, we just saw a season

where them walking into season saying, all right, I'll go do it, cost the money. Like, if he doesn't have the year he had less, he's not getting $5.150. I know. And then Wheeler cost the money too. Yeah, yeah, right.

We'll have been like now, Nola ended up costing the money because they said, oh, you were great in September. Yeah, you're right. He made the little mechanical adjustment. They've done this with guys before. But I do wonder if there's some kind of compromise where they find a fair number before the year and they can kind of knock it out. So I think Lazzardo is going to be here just because I think that he likes pitching in the environment. And I think Cawtham really helped kind of turn his career around. so it's Sanchez, Lazzardo, painter,

you know, probably, I mean, you would hope it's Gage Wood. And it's why, you know, I've been thinking about the deadline, it's why it's really tough to trade a Gagewood at the deadline, because you are going to need starting pitching. Now, obviously there's other guys in the system, there's Fisher, there's whatever, but they're not as far along. Not for 2020.

No, no, no, no, I'm saying for the future. Yeah, not for 27. saying for the future. And I'll, I'll throw Sean Youngerman. I think Sean Youngerman will be in the rotation by that point. That'll be by my wild card.

I got to look at the free agent classes, but. I know next year's other than Scoobel is rough. I haven't looked at the year after. Yeah, but you feel, you should feel pretty good heading into a season

with Sanchez, Lazzardo, and, and, Painer if he turned into what we hope he could be. Oh, and Nola will still be under contract. Oh, I forgot. Yes. So he'll have two years left

on his deal after that. Is that right? He's got five left now, so I have four left after that. For having into 27, yeah, including 27, then I'll have three after.

Sure, sure. So, Knowles will still be in there. Take it down high quality innings. Thank goodness. I'm pretty in on, I'm pretty in on those.

Okay, okay, good, good. Explain why because, like, I get, okay,

hold on, real quick. I get four, five ERA, or whatever. I don't think he's going to be a six year. Like, Nolan will not be as bad as he was last year,

healthy innings, all that. but why should I believe he'll get back to like three and a half? So I'm not a three and a half. Okay. So you're not that bullish on him. You just think it'll be bad. I got it.

I'm at three nine. I could see that. I could see three nine to four, four point one. Yeah, I could totally. I think that's fair. I would guess more four or five,

but I could see that for sure. I think the thing that I am buying with null this year is took down a lot. I mean, we all know. He took down a lot of innings for what, eight years there. A year off action last year. Yeah,

a little pause year for null. make sure the arms healthy. His fastball velocity did tick up his last couple starts. I love that. Got back to like 92.6 on average. He's probably so fired up pitching for his home country. I mean, he is coming off a brilliant two-inning showing in the playoffs as well. Let's not forget.

Brilliant. Brilliant. And he shoved against the worst team in baseball his last start of the season. And the twin. And like I just said, shoved against the best team in baseball. Yeah. for two innings. So,

so yeah, I, I don't think he's going to be a disaster. I don't think he's made a disaster. That would be, that would be really helpful. I think he is motivated after last year to not let that happen again.

Look, and, you know, it comes down to painter and if painter can be, you know, show flashes, especially this year,

I mean, if Noel is your fifth starter, you know, in terms of production, I mean, that, that's fine. That's okay.

But, you know, they need painter to give something. All right, what's next time? From Mason. It feels like by the deadline they could be buyers or sellers. In the long run, maybe it could be best for them to sell,

buy into the reset, and let the kids play. Who would be the best trade chips to sell at the deadline? What an optimistic question this is. Ah, but hold on. Listen, for as much, for as much, you would, like, let's be honest, as much as you'd be bummed about the Phillies being out of it,

like a trade deadline where you could sell and get picks, I mean, like, young players and all, like, that's like your Super Bowl. Yeah, so first, I'll love the Phillies to win the World Series. A nice sell-off at the deadline. And that is, that is exciting. I mean, dude, all right.

How many hours of footage will Jack watch if they trade for you? Like, and they get, like, in top of the time. Well, dude, I, I remember the stress, the stress of the Hamill's deadlines. In 2014 and 2015, I still want to ask Ruben tomorrow if he could have gotten just Mooky Bell. in 2014 for for Cole Hamels because I think he could have because I think he could have got just moogie bets but their whole thing back in the day was like let's get a million prospects that could possibly hit rather than just one really good one uh Blake Swihart remember him um who could forget Blake Swahard so all right this so I want everyone listening saying to understand

I'm not rooting for this I'm not rooting for them my enthusiasm is not about them losing I don't want this being misconstrued and say that I'm rooting for this. But, Tehran deadline deal, Lazzardo deadline deal, bone deadline deal, maybe a Stodder deadline deal, Adolese Garcia, if he goes off in the first half, some some right-handed pop. Would that be something if they're out of it at the deadline, but Adolus is awesome? No. Oh. People saw coming.

It'd be so fillies. You could trade Marshie if you wanted. You could get, you could probably move Alvarado by that point. Brad Keller maybe. You would get a lot back. You would get a lot back. You would get a lot back. So I obviously don't want that to happen.

But the upside of what you get back for some of the key pieces would be pretty tantalizing. Well, to, what was it, Mason? Mason's point, it is on the table where the season plays out that way. And I don't, I think there'll be buyers that. line, I think they'll be good enough and all that. But there is absolutely a world where Wheeler doesn't come back and look like himself. Nola still stinks. The lineup regresses, you know, 32, 23, 33, 23, 23, turn 34.

JT's worse. Harper doesn't, you know, bounce back in the same way. And they could be, like, it is, I don't expect it, but there is a world. Like, we had a caller call up and he went through this list of basically being like, you know, aging pitcher who's injured, and went through like all the question marks about the Phillies. And he was like, who do you think I'm talking about? And he was talking about the 2012 Phillies. And it was like a really good job of, you know, he obviously made it work.

But it was an interesting comparison. Like, you know, at a certain point when you have older players, like it does fall off. So. Well, I, I appreciate the caller listening to Fritz at 6 and this podcast for mentioning the 2012, the 2012 Phillies. And you brought that up. Yeah, it's true. Yeah. Yeah.

It's a possible outcome. My fear is they're the 2012 Phillies. Yeah. Like, that's the fear. I don't, the closer we get to spring. to opening day. I don't feel that way. I don't either.

I don't either. I think there are Stone 91Ball Club and, and you hope that things go their way in October. Like, I think that that's my mindset. And I am down right now giddy to start watching some of the prospects play. I don't want to wait. It's the thing I'm most excited about. Like, I can't wait for those guys. Just every night seeing it's like the game, the game development, the times that they're down and everyone's like, oh, here we go.

and at times that they get hot. It's, it's, it's, it's, if that doesn't get you on the edge of your seat, I, I don't know what will. I'm already, I'm already stressing out about Andrew Painter. Well, I mean, think when was the last time we had 21 and 22 year olds coming up to play baseball for the Phillies? I mean, honestly, uh, Rojas. Rojas is the one.

Wasn't he like 23 when he came up, Rojas? Yeah, I think maybe 24 almost. Like he was 23, almost 24, I think. Yeah. And certainly high end ones. It's been a long time. Yeah. you're going back to J-roll, you know, you're going back to J-roll.

Yeah, I mean, I forget, how old was Don Brown when he started, you know, I think like 24, maybe 23 somewhere in there. Well, that was back when prospects really had to stay down until they earned. Until they earned there, like Ryan Howard. Yeah, I mean, he was. He was blocked. In 2010, he was 22. He was 22 and he came up.

Oh, Brom was 22 when he came out. All right. So there you go. There's one. Okay. That's a good one. 2013 down brown 3.2 war it's a point it's been a long time we don't get that very often

all right talk what's next uh this is from daniel what philly most surprises positively for fantasy baseball purposes this year oh i can't wait for fans speaking our language right now i know my commissioner just sent out like the draft board and the potential keeper options it's it's time buddy i can't wait i know i know So, Lozardo probably feels like he gets over, like a higher drafted than, he probably gets drafted earlier because I think people think he could be an ace this year. I mean, honestly, it could be Nolz.

Oh, I was thinking Bryce. I mean, Bryce, like, if I would bet on on the Bryce being pissed off and the shirt and all that. And I think Bryce is going to be drafted relatively late, you know, comparative to what he is and all that. Not like late, you know, third round, fourth round. Sure. you know, drafts. But I think there's a chance Bryce could have a big year.

Yeah, I think, I think, I think, I think Stott. Yeah, you're buying the second half, 294. 294, 855 OPS. I, and second base isn't the strongest, the strongest fantasy baseball position. So,

uh, I think Stodder, you're banking on a high average. They're just not a great team for fantasy sleepers. They either have the high in guys like Schwerber or Duran as a closer or whatever. But it's like, you know,

it's Painter and Crawford, if you want to, but they'll probably be drafted. Or Painter certainly someone will take a shot on, you know, in the right range for him. Crawford,

if he runs at the bottom of life, he could have value if he gets you 40 steals or something, there's some fantasy value in that. But yeah, I, but if it's a hollow,

if you bet to 270 with three homers and 40 steals, that's not worth owning. So. You're not drafting, Joseph Crawford. I honestly don't think the Phillies

have surprises and fantasy. Like, I think they're guys who could be better and we think Otto Kemp could be better, whatever. But I don't think it's going to be, not to fantasy. My point is not to the level of fantasy. Adolis, I mean, you would have to.

Sure, but I mean, he's not going to go drafted, right? Like, who's drafting Adolz Garcia in a draft? Yeah, he drafted in the last round. If that, you might, you know, you kind of wait until he hits a couple homers early and be like, all right, let me take it shy, you know? Yeah. But I would say start. I would monitor the Knowles, the null situation.

Knowles is a good, a good fantasy value for a long time. I think neither of those guys will get drafted, is my guess. No, Nolan maybe will get drafted late. but I don't think those guys will be part of like a normal 12 team league like I don't think those guys are good draft oh well I'm sure I'm thinking about my you're you're yeah we're not talking about like deep cut you know minor league spots and all that type of stuff my 25 normal fantasy league 25 round uh I miss you know nine keepers I miss those leagues I'm in a 16 team dynasty league that's pretty aggressive that's tough yeah it's too much it's too much that's a lot

can't wait though can't wait I know I mean I'm I'm legit excited all right what's next uh from Mike and Westchester rank the following outcomes from most likely to least likely to happen for 2026. Boom hits 25 home runs. Stott's finishes with a 290 batting average. Nola finishes with the sub four ERA. I think this is really easy. I think it's Stott 290 plus first, Nola sub four second and boom 25 homers third.

But I think Nolan's dot are super close. And then I think there's a gap. Ali Boom is not hitting 25 home non-mastro no matter what. Like it will not happen. Shout to Mike and Westchester. he helped catch me to get ready for the pitching competition last time. Oh, that was, that was this, oh, shout out to Mike. Mike and Westchester.

And who was your tennis buddy, like, moose? Oh, Goose. That was pretty good. Moose was pretty good guess, right? I thought it was something like that. I mean, please put respect on the 2012. I'm sorry for Goose. Moose is a pretty good memory there, I think, you know.

2012, 2012 chess, 2012 chess, I was not player of the year. Goose. I was not player the year. I was first team like that. I want that. I want that on the record. I was first small chess. I was not player of the year.

That's only because I wasn't a header. I was a P.O. There was a header bias. Of course. Of course. Not he had a great year. So I would actually go, I'll go Nola Stott, Bohm. Which is fair.

Again, I think those two are really close. And I think Boehm is so clearly the third of this. If Mike put Bohm 20 home runs. You're probably right. Honestly, you're probably right. If it were 280 plus, that might be the better answer. But I think you're probably right. Nola's sub four.

Isn't the, like, it's not crazy. Dude, I would, I would die for a stod or two nine. Oh, how much fun with that? He's some fun when he's hitting. I love. He's a fun year. Just want Price and Stott to be. Instead of being, he's, if he's not this, but it reminds me a little of this,

because I also love this guy. It's a little Herberty where it's like the hypothetical king. Like that's, that's kind of stodder. He's hypothetically, he's a perfectly off-hitter. Yeah. That's what, so I need the hypotheticals to, to start working out. and and I need because I just,

I think he's a good baseball player. I do. I think he's a valuable baseball player. I do too. But the numbers don't suggest it, no, I know.

I know. And I need the numbers to start suggesting it. I test is doing us wrong guy here. I know. Although the eye test isn't always great

because he gets a little loopy and they swing a pool noodle and the popping balls the left. I thought you were ripping the eye test there for a second. I thought you're saying the eye test isn't always great.

You know, not for, I was like, wait a minute. The eye test. The eye test. The eye test. That's where I was going. All right. What are we got next time?

Well, first you got some world baseball classic breaking news. Oh, Jack, get ready. News that I could care less about that you care a lot about. Corbyn Carroll just broke his hand. I know. That's a big deal. Couldn't miss opening. Talk about fantasy news.

Well, yeah, we should bring up the Linder and Shwellenbach injuries as well because those, those effectiveness. So apparently there was a million injuries yesterday. Yeah. The Shwell and Bach one's a big one. Like that 60 day. like I L, that's a big injury

that the bone chips in the arm and all right. Rees Olson. Rees Olson's done for the year too. I'm talking for the Phillies. Yes, Reese Olson's a big loss for the Tigers. I'm talking for the Phillies. I'm talking for the Phillies.

But sure, yeah, I love Reesolson. I love how he goes straight from the brain pitcher to the tiger's victory. It's good. Well,

I just get every, every second I was uploading Twitter yesterday. Another guy's done for the year. It is crazy. So then Linderor, it's a hamate bone, not the year out of the WBC. We'll see how that last.

Well, but Tucker, I thought, so I saw handmade phone for Corbyn Carroll. So two handmade bones? That's weird. Lindner's not broken, I don't think. And Jackson Holiday has a broken handmade bone. Whoa.

And what's up with the handmade bone? Now, it is the only reason we got Ada Miller on the draft, so I'm very pro-hand-made bones. That's true. Love when they break. But it's crazy. That's three. It's three big ones in the- It was handmade bone. Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, pass and just we did it. Yeah. Yeah, so, yeah, but I mean, they can find another outfielder. I'm not too worried about it. We'll be all right. We'll be all right.

It was so funny when he said they can find another outfielder, we'll be all right. I'm like the diamond max. What are you talking about? I'm so confused. I get it. USA. U S.S.A. WPC.

I have you. S.A. All right. Next question. Love how Tucker just decided next question that time. That was an accident. I was hovering over and accidentally hit the button. That's fine.

We'll keep it moving. Yeah, we'll roll. Two part of it from Tom. First, favorite Philly Pizza Shop and favorite cheese steak shop. And then because we have to have a change movie question. My freaking hero, Tom. Favorite movie nominated for Best Fiction. Thank you, Tom.

Let's do the pizza cheese steak shop. Have you got any answers to that, Chuck? That's more of a you. Yeah. So there's many different places. I'll give you, and you know our buddy, BLG, big on this. Woodroos for cheese steaks. It's a little different.

They put a little truffle oil in the cheese. Yeah. It's freaking amazing. Like I, people might hate me on this, and I get it. I like ketchup on my steaks. I'm sorry, it's a flaw of me. It's the only, everyone likes it. I mean, well, I like mustard on my cheese sticks and everyone gets mad at me with it.

That's weird. That's weird. But I'm a ketchup on the cheese steak. The Woodrow's is so good with the trouble. I don't put ketchup on it. It's the only cheesecake I even know ketchup. So Woodrow's is phenomenal. And look, you can't go John's roast pork, like all the classics.

They are pretty good. Like most of them are pretty good. Man, I miss Johns Rose pork. So good. I haven't, phenomenal. I haven't had a sandwich. in a long time. I don't really eat sandwiches.

That sounds like not a good way to live life. Geez, Louise. I know. Well, they sit in my stomach. They just kind of sit there and don't move. So that's why I've moved away from the old Sammies. But it's all good. And then I have no idea what movies are going on.

Favorite pizza shop, real quick, favorite pizza shop. This I really should have Brandon League out and come here and speak. Inside Out Pizza is a new place that I try. It's really good. So I would shout that one. out. There's a few. That's the one I just tried recently. A circle, there's like, I can't remember.

Anyway, there's some good pizza place. BLG would have like six different answers for you right now. Yeah. Is there a good vote? So thank you for asking, Tom. This really means a lot to me. One battle after another is my favorite movie nominated for Best Picture. That's Leonardo Caprio, Paul Thomas Anderson movie.

It's phenomenal. Are they fighting with swords or no? No, no, no. It's like a takes place. in like a slight it's like now but if it were a little bit more of a it's about revolutionaries but it's it's an action comedy more than anything. It's great. Awesome.

It's going to win best picture. Sinners was phenomenal too. I love sinners. That's a great one. Those are probably the two most popular. Marty Supreme was a lot of fun and I know Tuck loved Marty Supreme. That's a really entertaining movie about ping pong. So those would be the train dreams.

So train dreams. Okay. Tucker and I were talking about train dreams. Jack. It's a beautiful movie. It really is. It's very beautiful. Yeah, it is among the most devastatingly sad 100 minutes I have spent.

Like, maybe I guess the first 10 minutes are not that sad. But then the rest of it's just a sad, especially as someone, and I won't go too much, but as someone who has a wife and a daughter, man, train dreams was a tough watch, but it is a beautiful move. So very good. But I would say, one about another is my clear with a bullet number one.

Nice. Yeah. Moving on. Tom, thank you. You made this podcast for me. Let's move on. From Charles. If every player who has ever played for the Phillies were dropped into arena and they all fought battle royale style, who's the last man standing?

Keep in mind, flat terrain, all grass, no weapons, fists only. Charles, I love you for this question as well. We are on fire right now. This is an all-timer. All right. Do you have an answer? I think I have a couple answers. So I didn't see this before.

So you start, I'm thinking around. Greg Luzins, he was the first name that popped in my head. But like, let me think for a second. Okay. So Dave Hollins pops into my brain. Good one. Real good. I think of the modern day guys.

I think J.T. would be a problem. It's in touch. You'd have to put Dutch in there along the catch. You know. J.T. would be a problem, I think. Worth would have the look down for sure.

Worth also, I feel like if we're, because at the end of the day, when these questions gets asked, you have to ask yourself, like, who will die to win the fight, right? Like, who's going to fight to the death? And I think Jason Worth would die to win the fight. Sure, sure. And then I, it's just because, I mean, I think, I think Marcia would be great.

I think, I think, I think Marcia would be phenomenal. I could see, I could see him with spear, you know. Like, I could see Marsh on cast, like with the island that gas away was shot on. Like, the Marsh. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Talking to a volleyball.

Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. So that's what. Fires and stuff. I think J.T. would be great. I think Marsh would be great.

Worth and Dave Hollins. Those are, those are, I feel like there's got to be someone who's like got an edge that we're not thinking of. Like I need someone with an edge to win this thing. Someone who's like a little bit like, are they okay? Oh, oh, oh, Papal Bond.

Thank you. Thank you. That's what I'm talking about. Someone like Papel Bon coming in. Would you mess with Papammon? I wouldn't. I wouldn't want to. I feel like I, I,

I'm going to keep percolating on this because I love this question so much. So our official answer, I mean, Luzinski would be good. I mean, the bull. He was beast, you know? Sure. I think Bo would be feisty. Bo would be feisty. I feel like we're missing.

Like, you know, the David Acres thing with like the judo master? Have we, is there any Phillies who have that? Because I feel like there's got to have been someone along the line who's like, oh, he's a expert martial artist. And then that person would be really good in that type of situation too. Yeah. I don't know. I mean, if you,

if you're looking for tough to, find, Cliff Lee would be tough to find. Cliff Lee would just disappear within the arena. And at the end of the day, have everyone be gone. I'm like, hey, I'm here, guys. I won't. Where is, hashtag, where is Cliffly? Where is Cliffley?

He's nowhere to be found. No, I really like that one. That was good work. All right. What's next? From Mike, we'll love to hear you guys thoughts on Ben-Rever's time with the Phil's my all-time favorite film. So I'm glad you put this,

I'm glad you put your question in there, Tucker. So I actually have a very, I have a very funny connection with Ben Revere. So I used to like defend Ben Revere to the, I was a Ben Revere head. I love Ben Revere too. I like a minute, yeah, I'm with you. Hit 300, whatever. So Ben Revere was the, the impetus of my first ever call to sports radio.

No way. Really? Yeah. I wanted to argue about Ben Revere, because I thought they were being me. I mean, are you called? Yes, but I don't feel like saying. Okay. I can say mine.

I called Rob Cherry when I was in high school. Was the only time. Did you really? Yeah. I called and he made fun of me and you'll love this, Jack. The thing was what's the sports time of year that you get most excited about? Like what's the thing that gets you most excited? And I called it and said the baseball trade deadline and he made fun of me.

Wow. Yeah, I called the camera. I remember I called the camera when he was at nights. When he was at nights, right. I call it because I was so excited the night they drafted Okiefer that I think a lightning bolt hit the William Penn statue. And I was like, this is a sign, right Joe? This is a sign. And then and then I remember, I remember, I know this is like a tangent down our calls to sports radio before I worked there.

But I think I think it was Glenn Show used to play a game where he had three guesses about a player. or they'd ask you a question or whatever. And my buddy was playing when I got in the car with them. And the last question was, where did Brad Lidge go to college? And these were for Philly's tickets behind the dugout. And I whispered to them. I was like, Notre Dame. And they're like, how'd you know that?

Did you Google it? And I was like, no, we just nailed it. So. And I called Glenn, because I used to drive. like once or twice a month, the Penn State from Bloomsburg to visit Jill. And I remember I called Glenn because he was talking about who do we overrate in this town. And I always say Pat Burrell. Like out of, because Burrell forever was jumped out of the way of an inside fastball.

My first experience at a Phillies game in like the 400 level when they kind of sucked. But was Burl struck out and he's like, how much stop spending $30 million on Burrell gets a bleep? been pitching. And I was like, this is Philadelphia. Yeah. This is Philadelphia. So, yeah, back in the day when we called sports radio. So this is good that we talk very little about Ben Revere. Here's my real question. Who was this? Do you ask

the question, Charlie or something? No, Mike. Mike. Just said Mike. How is Ben Revere your all-time favorite, Phil? I mean, I assume that was tongue-in-cheek. I don't know if it was. If it is, it's super weird. Well, Nick Pivetta's my favorite all-time, Philly. Well, that's a bit related thing. you know.

Yeah, well, Ben Revere drove me crazy by the end because he had maybe the weakest arm I've ever seen. All time. All time. Honestly, it was, it was like hard. I feel like, you know, Walker could have got out there and throw the ball as far as Ben Revere could throw it. Yeah, it was horrible.

A sick catch in Cincinnati. We'll never forget that. All time. Yeah. Do you remember the main piece of the trade back to Minnesota? As soon as you say it on that, what is it? Trevor May. Trevor May.

Trevor May. Trevor May. Yeah, baby the baby. the baby. aces. Jared Cozart, Trevor May. I think

Vince Rose in the deal too. Was he? Yeah, I mean, he's right around that time. When he's the star been off of him after 2011. But, yeah. A good little throwback,

Ben Revere. Love it. What's next? From Rot Kod. You can tell this one from Twitter. Oh, shit. It's our guy, Rock. We love Rock.

Yeah. Any chance of James going back to doing a big yo, every episode. I just did it. High hopes is optimistic by definition. I know you too, like I do, love the Phillies no matter what. Back at the start of the podcast, I used to always tell my wife, I love these guys because they're just so positive. And now we're jaded. And for what it's worth, I still think we are on the high end of positivity with the Phillies in general. Like, people are really upset with the Phillies right now. Our brother. Like, I get it. Like, people are mad. It is what it is. It's the situation they're in. But I do think that

we will try and find the fun and the positives. Like always, we're always going to be on the more optimistic end. But like, I mean, what are he supposed to do? Ryan Kirkring throws the ball into the freaking stands when he could have just thrown to first base.

Like, I can't just sit there and be like, well, great here. Well, I think, listen, uh,

we're, we're honest. Like, honest, honest, lean positively, uh, positively and,

uh, hoping for the best. So, and we are one podcast removed from me saying, Kate Obermuller is a little less explosive Josh Dater and a shorter Andrew Miller. What do we want? Ironically, a pod where I did give a big yoves.

I don't. Listen, we're getting there. We're doing our best. Now, I appreciate it. I think at the end of the day, Jack is right. I think the vast majority of listeners want us to be honest and say how we feel. And I think that it wouldn't come across as genuine otherwise.

so I have just been less optimistic about the team lately, but we try. We love the Phillies. Yeah, and I think by this point, you know where our hearts are. We're not like trying to play gotcha. Exactly. We're not trying to. We love the team. We want the best for them.

Call like we see it. Yeah, as simple as that. But I do appreciate you and I appreciate people who have listened the whole time. And, you know, we want to be happy. I'll say that. That's for damn sure. We will be. Yeah.

All right. Last one from Dan. How would you rank Justin Crawford, Aidan Miller, and Andrew Painter for likelihood of winning rookie of the year? So I go. Yeah, I think Miller's last.

He's last. Yeah. I would actually go, I would go Painter Crawford. I would do. I think those odds are wrong. I would go Painter, Crawford,

Miller. I think Painter is a higher prospect, higher upside. And I just think that he's more ready to succeed immediately. I will be placing money on plus $25. I do me too. As soon as I saw, I was like, you kid me?

I have a hundred percent betting on that. I think about four bucks. Wouldn't you like a hundred bucks or whatever, right? Plus, right? My one is that my doing math, right? I just bet $10. So 10 to win $250. There you go.

This is where I'm right. I know, I have $10 on a bet. That's crazy. I know. $5. $4, $100. All right. Gambler extraordinaire over here.

It's not like a math guy to me. You're right. It was a little too math. All right. Tucker, great job. Thank you, Tucker. Let's go from one bag to another bag. Yeah, yeah.

So I'm glad that he brought up Andrew Painter because I do want to permission and nerd out for about a minute or two. Do you need permission? Isn't this whole podcast based on you nerding out? Like, isn't that just the ethos of this thing? Yeah. So, David Broussey talked the other day,

and he, you know, most people were caught up and some other things said about Painter. The most important thing he said about Painter. Most important thing he said about Painter Was that his arm slot is up a tick from where it was last year Why is that so important? Well, because it dropped last year Because he was getting fatigued in starts and by the end of the year

Naturally, your arm slot drops on your fastball Because you're trying to overcompancy to still try to the throw hard So what happened was his fastball really flattened out When he dropped his arm slot and it got smoked. The numbers against his four seamer stunk. OPS over 1,000, 17% width rate. That is on his four seamer.

With it back to where it was in 2022. And we have to see it, of course. 2022, his fastball was a unicorn level pitch. 30% whiff rate, 6.45 OPS against it. Like a really, really, really high level pitch. and it's the difference between Andrew Painter being an ace level pitcher and being a three-starter. Like if he can get his fastball back to being a dominant pitch, then it sets up everything else. But if it's not, then he has to have a fastball that tricks people.

So what doesn't matter anymore in baseball is how hard you throw. Painter was throwing 97 last year. It was still getting smoked. So it's a really encouraging development. that they diagnosed that and they got it back hopefully to to where it was in 2020 because it got super flat last year and him being a guy that has to trick people with fastball and use the other pitches to set up his fastball that's it's a hard way to live but if he can get back to the fastball being a really really good pitch and let it over power hitters and then have everything

come like have the the pitches come off of that that is that is Andrew Painter with the number one ceiling type of guy so it was an exciting quote from Dave Nebraska and one that really mattered and hopefully that he is back to that level. It is always so wild to me that something like, you know, a degree of difference on a slot and where your arm is moving that like lifting it like that or whatever can have such a profound effect on pitch. The science of pitching and how much we've learned about over the last decade plus, whatever, I'm just, I'm blown away by it. It really, it amazes me how how precise you have to be. Yeah. Well, and like,

The way they can add pitches now is so crazy, how fast they can do with the cameras, slow motion cameras. I mean, I guess they crochet out of a splitter this off season. Oh, sure. Why not? Instead of a change up, he's going to a split change, which is a problem for everyone in the ALE East. But yeah, so that's an exciting one. That's an exciting one.

Other things that DeBrowski said, you know, he talked about Cassionis won't be here. he did the the we don't just change for change sake we like this core we it was probably the most honest he's been finally with the the truth is

they like these guys won a lot of games with these guys my criticism would be that obviously they haven't got they haven't done the ultimate thing which is one in the world series

and it still feels like they're afraid like they're just afraid of change and these guys have won a lot of games games. They don't want to screw up a good thing. I think that's their main thing is they don't want to screw up a good thing. Well, yeah, I agree. I agree 100% with you. I think the other thing, though, just from a messaging standpoint is I think they need to stop like going back at the fans. Like Rob Thompson did it. Dave Dombrowski did it. Like, you are running it back. Like that's okay. I mean, fans aren't excited about it. But like, except it like, stopping like, we're not running it

back. We're changing over this. And that like you're just annoying people. Like, it is annoying. When Rob Thompson said, well, I push back on the, we're running it back. We're changing over 25% of our roster, whatever. Like, it's annoying. It's annoying. And I think they need to, like, to the point we made before where, again, to our buddy rock cod, like, we are on the high end of optimism with the Phillies. The vast majority of people are annoyed slash angry at the Phillies right now.

And I think the Phillies need to think about their fan base in the way they message things, not building a team. Like, I'm not saying that. but in the way they sell that team and sell their moves to the fan base, I think they've had a really bad offseason with that. And I just think it's something they need to, like, don't be defensive. Like stop like, like, just be real with us in these type of situations. I think it would go so much further way.

Well, and it would show more confidence too. Well, that too. Yeah, exactly. It's, it's, we've won a lot of games with these guys. And we believe in them and, and hopefully this is the year that we break through. And we're bringing up some young kids. We're excited for. them but yeah the core of this team's won a lot of games and and we believe in it seems

pretty seems seems pretty simple uh he talked about gauge wood which was nice you know he's a they did him as a fast riser to keep him as a starter uh they're not going to try to transition him into the bullpen it's better long term for him and for them uh you might as well exhaust that option until it becomes it doesn't work yeah yeah uh he does have to add more pitches he's got really just two pitches at this point so uh that is that is that is that the new MLB TV thing is infuriating. So what is it? I haven't seen it. What's the new thing? Well, so you have to have an ESPN subscription plus subscription and MLB TV on on top of it.

What? Yeah. Yeah. So it's no longer just you can get MLB.tv. Like you have to, it has to be through ESPN plus as well. So you're paying the 150 for MLB.tv plus a monthly payment for ESPN plus, which is infuriating. that's that isn't perioding like make it make it harder for your fans to watch games that's cool thanks

I can tell you didn't know about that no no I do you ruined my day I can tell a real bummer for me I can tell nuts like no no it's it's gonna cost a lot of money to watch other baseball this year

which is awesome which is great which is great so that's pretty much. Thank you. What I went out in the,

how am I supposed to be optimistic with that kind of stuff happens, all right? I thought you knew. I thought you knew. Protect your handmade bones. Everyone in Philly. Yeah,

seriously. There's a, there's a rash of it going around right now. Everyone's coming for the handmade bone. Must be the launch angle. It's another thing. It's another thing. It's a launch angle.

It's but they're trying to lift the baseball and break a handmate bone. Yeah. Such a good point. you know. Must be that. Must be that. This was fun. Always.

Always. Maybe I'll come in for one of these podcasts. It would be nice to see you. Just to see you in person would be a thrill for all of us, I think. Sure. Many people say that. Until then, these were some results.