High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Am I An Idiot?

Episode Date: July 8, 2021

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to some recent good play from the Phillies. The guys discuss the offense getting hot, the upcoming MLB draft, each of their respective vacations, and much more. Come hang out with the guys this Saturday, July 10th at Four Fingers Brewing is Aston for the Phillies-Red Sox game (4:05 start time). To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Hot Cloud Storage on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. This is the high hopes podcast. It's a bunch of baseball nerds talking about the Phillies on radio.com and sports radio, 94 W Y P. Yeah. it is another edition of the high hopes podcast jack i felt like the people deserved a pretty good yo because we've been gone for a little while yeah now full disclosure because you don't lie to the high hopes listeners that was your third try um and it was my third try not my fault

no technology's fault i know which you know what I might do? I might cut your first yo and then put it in there. That'd be pretty funny. Yeah. I'll cut your first yo and then I'll put that in there. So everyone's going to be so confused when they hear the good yo versus that yo, which was not bad. It was just very raspy. It was like it was a raspy yo. Yeah.

Well, you know, you only got so many yo's in you in a given sitting if you're really going to go for it. Right. And I will give you credit. You always go for it. So it's what I do, buddy. It's who I am. Yes. That's what we do.

Real quick to all the tweets and all the people. Thank you for caring that we were gone so much. We just our vacation seemed to coincide where Jack was away one week and I was away the exact next week. Yeah, dynamite timing. Dynamite timing per usual. We apologize. Yes, it was good to get away.

You know, I went out to the West Coast. I was actually mad because I wanted to possibly see a Mariners game and they were on a road trip, so I didn't get to see that. But it's funny because you know I guess you just like when you're here every day and you're you're doing the daily uh you know thinking about what we're gonna talk about and trying to find something to talk about

like you never yeah when you disconnect and get away from it like you kind of just you get stuck in your own thoughts and I was saying to myself like halfway because we were hiking a lot we're hiking all over the west um so like obviously me and jill aren't gonna talk the whole time i mean you know come on yeah i mean we've been together forever like what else can we really add especially you too because you know like halfway through the hike you're probably like wheezing and well that's not totally true i'm getting i'm getting in better shape i'm getting in better shape i didn't even complain once on a really hard hike it was like four and a half it was like four and a half miles basically uphill um and uh i didn't

complain once but when we were out there hiking you know you start thinking about things you know it's kind of disturbing how much i think about the phillies like oh yeah buddy you're just really just coming to this it took a hike in the middle of nowhere in the great Northwest for you to come to this conclusion that every single person who listens to this podcast came to forever ago. Dude, I think about the Phillies a lot. Like, it's, it's, it's, I often ask Jill, like, when we go on, like, hikes and like, well, what are you thinking about? And she'll say like like trees or whatever and i'm just sitting there like am i an idiot like all i'm doing is just walking and just thinking about like trade scenarios draft scenarios like this team getting hot again

we might have to name this podcast am i an idiot well i mean it would be it would be fair but i was just sitting there like really yeah is this all you think about here's what i'll tell you when my concurrent vacation or you know right after your vacation right what i realized is that when you have to take the hassle of taking a child to the beach, you don't think about stuff much. You think about the kid and that's it. So I was,

I was saved from that, Jack. I didn't have to think about it as much. Yeah. And, and I think we picked a pretty good week where I picked a good week to go away. Cause I think that was the week of the,

uh, high leverage Neftali, which didn't go well. Oh, but we have so much to say about Joe Jordy. I picked a bad week. They were like four and two when I was gone. So with some like run barrages, it's like, oh, now the offense shows up and decides to just crush baseballs while I'm away.

I feel like I should say on vacation. I would love to. Can I can I do that? Oh, that'd be a real shame. I will say, Jack, we never lie to the hopes yes it is it is the court edict of what we do here not gonna lie i probably watched as much phillies on my vacation as jim nance was watching at the same time so to say probably very little i'm guessing jim is not tuning into many Phillies games. Well, it was probably a good time to disconnect. When I was at West, I was trying to watch the Phillies.

But, you know, I don't know if you know this, but there's a time difference. Is there really? No. I wasn't sure if you were aware. I'm just happy you let everyone listening know because that's the kind of thing that could really mess with people if they didn't know that. Yeah, so if you ever plan on making a trip out west just make sure you know that there is a time change and when it's seven o'clock here it's four o'clock out there so it's harder to keep up with stuff so you know i was like getting off off hikes

or driving and be like four o'clock and i didn't want to waste all my uh uh all my data you know using the the odyssey, um, listen to games. So, um, yeah, I tried to watch when I could, I saw the Nola start against the Marlins, which was not,

was not a big fan of, but, um, yeah, I was, it was, it was a good time to disconnect, but I gotta be honest,

like no matter how much I hate them and boy, if I hated the Phillies, I know where you're going and it's, it's unbelievable. Like, how many times, Jack? Yeah, but it's not even – I know because you think I'm going to talk myself back into the Phillies, which of course I have. I think you're already doing it.

No, yes. You're in the process of it. Yeah, no, I'm all the way back in. Yeah, I figured. I am ready to be hurt again. But I got back on Friday. I know they just played brutal against the Marlins. And I was like, I can't wait to go home and watch this Phillies.

So, um, you know, it's just, it was good to be back. And I barely missed a pitch since I hate missing Phillies games. Oh, I know.

I tried to tune in at my luck. So on a family vacation, turns out a lot harder to do stuff you want to do by yourself. Cause there's kids everywhere and all that stuff. Sounds miserable. By the way. Well, the only game I got to tune into a little bit of was the freaking rain delay

game which was an awesome game but i kept tuning in and it kept going to rain delays and i'm like i don't have time right now for a rain delay so i didn't get to see the end and you know at least they want it jack at least they want it yes they did they did they did and listen they did they did. They did. They did. And listen, they did. They did. And got to be honest, starting to play good ball. I know. All right, let's get into it. Shocking. We're eight minutes into this and have not talked about the draft yet, but we'll get there. Honestly, Jack, I had to tell Jack that we couldn't only talk draft and lead draft. I know. We'll get to the draft. We'll get the draft quickly. Let's talk a little Phillies baseball. Actually, before we do, the most important reason we're here right now, talking before a Phillies game tonight.

By the way, Joe Girardi's lineup, we'll get to that too. But the main reason we're talking is because we want you to come hang out with us. We're hanging out this Saturday at Four Fingers Brewing in Aston, PA. We are going to be there for the Phillies game, a 4-0-5 start. I'm finishing my radio show in Boston right over there. Jack's going to be there earlier. Hang out with us. Phillies Red Sox, it's an awesome game.

Let's go. Come hang out with us. Right, Jack? Listen, I called my dad this morning because I didn't want to get there and there not be any high hops, but there is plenty of high hops. The only disappointment... Don't forget, this is going to be

the record of your dad being asked about the Phillies. I know. I can already see his face. He's just going to be like, yeah, I got no idea. I'm sorry. The only disappointing part is that we got Pavetta Nola on Sunday and not Saturday. Yeah, that would have been like too perfect. I know.

Why would the Phillies make it perfect for us, right? Right. I mean. But I'm excited. Especially Nola back at the scene of the crime in Boston. I know. I mean, death taxes and Aaron Nola in Boston. Am I right?

You better be good because that's a myth that we can't have that. I can't emotionally handle Fenway Nola not being a thing. I just can't. I can't. It's so mythic to me, Jack. Yeah, me too. Me too. And I'm thoroughly looking.

It is pretty awesome. It is pretty awesome going from Wrigley to Fenway in one week. For us and our listeners, just to be able to nerd out at these two ballparks is going to be an absolute treat. The two ballparks. I mean, literally the two. The only two. If you could only go to two ballparks in the sport, every true baseball fan would pick this. Yeah.

By the way, real quick, on Saturday, we don't have a food truck or anything, but there is a pizza place right next door if you want to grab pizza from there. You can bring your own food or whatever you want to do. It's going to be probably inside because I think it might rain, but we have a big enough TV where we can all watch. Come hang out. There will be high hops there for you to drink.

There will be high hops there for you to take home and other beers as well. Yeah, and we'll be there. The most important part is that we'll be there. And hopefully, if I know the Phillies, I think I know the Phillies, James, they're going to mix in a heartbreaker, right? Oh, buddy.

It's going to be a 6-0 lead in the third, 6-3 in the fifth, 6-5 in the seventh, and then soul-crushing walk-off in the ninth. Matthew Devers is going to break my heart because I love him so much. I wouldn't want to watch a heartbreaking Phillies loss with anyone else. Oh, buddy, I can't wait.

Please come out and hang with us. We did High Hopes Night. It was the best thing that we've done, just getting a chance to meet all the diseased Phillies fans like us and the people who listen. As we always say say we feel like it's a community here and and so please come hang if you can it'll be fun all right let's actually talk some phillies for a little bit before we get out of here um the bats jack let's start with the positives before i bring up joe freaking gerardi's name that's coming alive a little bit. Harper, you love to see the game where we're in

July, Jack, and he's missed time and that's why, but a guy's OPS jumps 50 points in one night or whatever it was. That's always fun to see. What do you think about the bats coming alive a little bit? McCutcheon has been really nails for the last month and a half, two months, really, you know, a productive offensive player for them. Hoskins seems to be getting back into one of his hotter streaks DD back you know the defense you know not no not great you know the bat back in the lineup starting to see look if you are going to be positive you're going to I would think as not the one on this podcast who easily talks themselves back in I think the best way to talk yourself into this team is to say this offense is back together it has not come close to its potential it could carry this yeah and

that's the way they were built i mean they weren't that was the point right yeah they weren't built to to be the stalwart defensive team or this team with a couple aces that could get the job done not right because if they were built to be a defensive stalwart, then these people really have no idea what they're doing. Exactly. And at some point, you've got to trust the back of the baseball card. I mean, that's one of the staples of baseball is trusting the back of the baseball card

until, I guess, you get to a certain age where I guess it doesn't matter anymore. But because it is just frustrating because you know but it's not frustrating from the standpoint of like the season but you know going forward you you project them to be better but like one through eight if these guys are kind of going it's a really tough lineup i mean uh oduble's and he's scuffling obviously um and whatever, but him, Segura, Real Muto, Harper, he's been batting McCutcheon, Hoskins, Dede Boehm. That's a really deep lineup if these guys start producing the way we know they can.

And just the fact that McCutcheon's doing what he's doing, I mean, I think he has like a 990-ish OPS since June 1st, which is insane. And it's great because, because McCutcheon's hot and he's playing well. Like he's a really fun guy to, to watch. Although,

I mean, he is down like 10, two to dusty Wathen. Like, I think he needs to figure it out on the, uh, yeah, buddy.

It's one of the, the under talked about big stories. Yeah. It's kind of unbelievable. Like even like mathematically you would think, yeah, I mean, figure it out,

but, but much like, um, you know, his batting this year, he's a slow starter. So I expect him to kind of figure it out in the in the in the Rockville Residues games. But, you know, Bryce is just smoking the ball. I mean, he's in one of those streaks where it feels like anything that's close to the plate, he's hitting hard and it's glorious to see. And honestly, it's just me think, like, man,

what kind of Bryce season were we in for if he didn't get hit in the face? Dude, Jack, Jack, it's the single biggest Phillies thought in my head right now. He was one of the best players in baseball for the first three weeks of the season. I'm so with you, buddy. Because the guy we're seeing right now is the guy that we saw before he got hit in the face. And that was a guy that was on track to be an MVP candidate on track to definitely be an all-star. And it is mildly frustrating that he's not going to be an all-star yet as a

Philly. And also like price, you're going to go to the all-star game. I mean, let's call it for what it is. You're going to go to the all-star. So lame dude, Bryce,

we get your back with all this stuff, but this one's pretty lame. Like just say, it's a bummer. Just say, yeah, I would have liked to be an all-star but i'm gonna i'm gonna i'll use it as fuel how about that make it a chip on your shoulder big dog yeah i didn't i didn't want to go to the party anyway um so yeah i'm happy i wasn't invited i know everyone else in my grade is going but i didn't want to go by the way real quick what do you think middleton's reaction would have been if bryce said he didn't want to go like maybe he's supposed to be marketing the phillies but um yeah but either way like if you get this price for the rest of

the year i don't care if he goes the all-star game or not um like if we're getting a bryce that's you know hitting around 280 to 300 um you know hitting balls out of the ballpark finally mixing in a non-solo What a miracle! Also, don't believe him that he didn't know about that stat either. Such a lot. It's all everyone talked about. Come on, dude.

And for as bad as DeeDee's looked defensively he's still hitting the ball out of the ballpark a little bit. Boy, this can be an official high hopes position defensively the he's still hitting the ball in the ballpark a little bit um boy do i like this can be a official high hopes position but i don't think that alec boehm's fifth homer should count i mean like it was off eric so guard you know i need him to actually drive the ball out of the ballpark yeah i think it's a fair point yeah i mean come on that that doesn't count like

reese's counts because it goes 450 and all that stuff but but and he's been hitting home it was like barely over. Yeah, it's like, come on, come on. Can we drive the ball out of the ballpark? You know, can we do some damage? Enough with the, like, you know what hurts the most about Boehm is that, you know, I have long been anti-Derek Jeter. And, like, we're trending towards Boehm's best outcome

being a slap-hitting third baseman Derek Jeter. Like, that's what we're looking towards here. Are you kidding me? A Derek Jeter light would be a dream right now. Come on. Get the ball in the air and drive it out of the ballpark. I'm starting to get sick and tired of it.

Especially if you're going to be a first baseman in the future. Yeah. Give me a little more. I still believe very strongly that he's going to figure it out. I don't know if it's going to. I still believe very strongly that he's going to figure it out. I don't know if it's going to be this year, but I think he's going to figure it out. He's going to be dominant for a long time. But, yeah, the offense is good.

I mean, Segura, speaking of a guy that should be at the All-Star game, I mean, he's up to 330 now. Yeah, it just meant too much time. If he hadn't, he's definitely playing like an All-Star. Yeah, and they're healthy. I mean, they're probably the healthiest team in the NL East right now, which is a good place to be in. And it's why tonight is just so massive.

I mean, you're heading into the all-star break. Splitting against this Cubs team, who has been down in the dumps for the last 11 games, would not be a good outcome. I know we're not really previewing the game, but tonight is probably the biggest game of the season. Yeah, and as a lot have been to this point, but absolutely, taking three of four, it's just such a different thing.

Especially because, look, when you just look at it mathematically with this team, and look, maybe no team in the division gets 90 wins, maybe it's 88, 89, but if we're taking them right now, heading into tonight, they're 41 and 43. Like, to get to 90 wins, they have to go 49 and 29 over the rest of the season. There's a 41 and 43 team. Like, they have to find a way to start to string. Because as we know, like, it's unfair to think that this group of guys is going to win nine or 10 straight. Right. I mean,

it's not there. Five is the max. You have to find a way to, to, to consistently win series. You know, they have to find a way to consistently take three or four, two of three,

two of three. Cause otherwise they're never going to be able to get to the, the mid to high eighties number, which is going to be at least, at least the minimum you're going to need to win this division. Yeah, exactly. So, and it comes down to the offense. I mean, that's what they get paid to do.

This team was built on offense. They weren't built on defense. They were projected to have a good top three and they were projected to have a good, but not great bullpen. I mean, it comes down to this offense can figure it out. And I think they have done a good job recently. I think they're doing a good job at the plate there's you know

like last night I do wonder how that game turns out if Boehm save at second base and Joe brings in Alvarado instead of Brockton like and because I felt like doing yeah like it's like Peterson's numbers or I mean I don't even need to look at the numbers I've played enough fantasy baseball

in my life to know that Jock Peterson only gets right in at pitching. Like, it's just weird. Yeah, it was a strain, especially because, you know, you took him out of the closer's role for situations like that. So, yeah, it was. It wasn't like he was down for the night. No, I know. I know. Whatever.

Whatever. Hopefully the man. Let's get to it. Let's get to it. Let's get to it. Let's get to him. And then we'll get to the pitching after. Because, like, man. And tonight's lineup, as I saw you point out on Twitter, we are, you know, four games away from the All-Star break.

And he's sitting Hoskins and McCutcheon. Like, I just, I don't understand what this guy's doing, Jack. On a night-to-night basis, I honestly think right now with the lineup back and everyone healthy, Joe Girardi's my biggest concern with this team. This guy, we always say, oh, managers don't really win or lose games. It feels like this guy is actively playing a role in the Phillies losing games far more often than actively playing a role in winning

or even actively just not playing a role. Girardi's been bad. Yeah, and it's every decision he's made, it seems like, with the bullpen has just backfired. I mean, it seems like the same thing under Gabe. But you would think he would luck into one, like luck into one of these big moves working out. And it just hasn't.

It's absurd. And tonight is just an example of using too much numbers like it's just i understand numbers not like how does numbers not tell you what to do against jock peterson well it's it's that but even the lineup tonight like i know the guy has you know he he sucks against lefties and he's great against righties or whatnot but you're still taking out you're a guy who's hot there's two guys that are hot. Your number one RBI guy for Brad Miller, for Travis Jankowski? Well, especially against a guy like Albert Alzalea. It's not like we're talking about some stud who's way better against righties

and lefties. We're talking about no one to worry about. You don't shift your lineup and change your game playing completely against Albert Alzalea. Yeah, I know. I don't think right-handers can't possibly do damage against them.

You're taking out your two hottest hitters for Travis Jankowski and Brad Miller. At the simple breaking it down, that's what you're doing. Also, if you want to fully commit to it, Nappy's a lefty hitter. You might as well just put him out there as well instead of JT.

It's just like, stop overthinking it. Just stop overthinking it. Feels like everything with him is just an overthinking. You don't have to do all this crazy stuff. He has calmed down with double switching, which has been nice to see. But like, dude, just you're four days from the all-star break like you need to win this game let's have our best players out there and not have to come down to travis jankowski

yeah i'm very with you it just doesn't make any sense jankowski's been a nice bench player like he's a nice guy to have on your team it it turns out. Like the worst first impression he could ever possibly make. Like he's fine. I like Travis Jankowski as a fourth, fifth outfielder who plays every once in a while. Like you don't not play McCutcheon in this spot for him. Like it doesn't make sense. And Alzelay is way better against righties and lefties. But I'm with you.

It just feels like – so you think it's an over-reliance on analytics? Because it just feels like whether it's – because, again, analytics doesn't explain why you don't put Alvarado in that spot. So I just – Well, I know. And I know Brogdon's been good against lefties this year, but, like, you've got to know the guy at the plate as well. I mean, you're talking about a guy who has no shot against lefties versus a guy who has a good shot against righties.

It's like 830 OPS career against righties and, like, a 530 no shot against lefties versus a guy who has a good shot against righties like it's like 830 ops career against righties and like a 530 ops against lefties it's like drastic yes yes so whatever yeah it's it's and i and i thought he was getting better with it like i i hope that with ranger back there as a closer that you know these guys can start filling in underneath that. But again, it's just, it seems like every night he makes the decision where I'm like, well, what are we doing? Like, this doesn't make any sense in this situation. So yeah, the biggest obstacle the Phillies might have towards getting hot, staying hot and making a legitimate playoff run is their manager.

Yeah. I can't believe it. What a time. I'm with you. What a time. What a time. I'm with you. What a time. What a time. All right. Any pitching thoughts?

I mean, we've missed so many starts and so many whatever since we last spoke. Just any general thoughts on the staff or the bullpen before we get to the, you know, most important stuff? Ah, which is the draft? Yeah, obviously. Obviously. I actually... You got one other thing before the draft.

I am in on on range of the closer um you know obviously obviously uh hector's protectors didn't go well for us which is you know classic um but i the moment we said it yes yes but i like i like what ranger brings the back end of the bullpen because i mean i don't think he's a long-term closer i don't know if he's a great closer or all of that. But at the moment, I like having a guy back there that I know will, A, throw strikes, and B, is not afraid to attack hitters. And that's what you need at the back end of the bullpen.

If you're trying to, you know, close out a game and not have teams start feeling momentum. And I like the idea of having Ranger back there. Now, it's good that Bailey Falter has emerged as a guy that can kind of do what Ranger was doing before he became a back-end option. Now, Bailey didn't pitch well the other night, but it was a 15-4 ballgame. He's just trying to get strikes and get out of there. It's just a weird spot that he put him in there.

Well, yeah, it's another thing. It's another thing. It didn't make any sense to me. You have Brandon Kintzler. You have these guys yeah it was like what were you doing 50 why are you like just wasting falter there when he's one like one of one on your staff now like with suarez in terms of what he can give you that made no sense to me i i know i mean i know he doesn't like he doesn't like uh letting relievers sit for for three days so maybe that was it like and he had he had sit for for three days before that but um so i mean it could just be that but

it's still it's like it sure was that but it's just you know all these bad decisions pile up and they lead to the next bad decision which causes like now falter can't go the next game or this or that like and it's just it all has this domino effect and it just feels like every decision's wrong yeah yeah every decision has pretty much been wrong so fun times uh matt moore back no no i know better than before better he's definitely better than he was but still probably probably bad. Yeah, not good. And Nola, again, it's just, you know, it's just, he's just not consistent enough. He's just not, like, he'll have a bad inning and then he'll settle down. But he lets the big inning happen and those come back to bite him.

He still gets nibbly, you know, around the strike zone zone he still really slows down his momentum I think he's better, I think he's getting better I don't expect to have the blowups like we had seen earlier in the year the part I do like is that he's striking out more guys so that should lead to success but

it is just it's not fun to watch right now he has not been enjoyable to watch from a pitching standpoint. So I need him to figure it out because this team has no shot at making a run if Aaron Nola isn't pitching to Aaron Nola's standards. So I think he's doing some good things. But, again, it's just he can just never take the jump. He can never just have the shutdown inning.

He can never, you know, prevent a big inning from happening and then just giving them seven innings of two runs and less. Like, he hasn't done that this year. So, again, the Cubs start was equally as frustrating as the rest of the season has been. All right, and I'm with you. One guy who has not been that and recognized for it, Zach Wheeler, all-star Zach Wheeler,

as well-deserved an all-star as you could possibly have, not a, you know, we need a guy. It figured he would be the only all-star, right, Jack? Zach Wheeler, clear all-star, deserves it. He said he'd never won any award in his professional career. He's never been a player of the week, month, any of that stuff. So psyched for him. He deserves it.

Look, it's nice that the Phillies have two All-Stars since 2013, the first time since 2013. But, I mean, does JT really deserve to be an All-Star this year, Jack? Yeah, I mean, I don't know. Probably not. I haven't watched JT this year and thought All-Star, especially because he's barely hit the ball last month heading into it. Yeah, but he's widely regarded as the best catcher in baseball, so whatever.

I mean, he's there. He's going to do it. It's all good. But, yeah, nothing from JT's game this year has screamed all-star. Also, I think he's up to 14 straight without catching a guy stealing in second base. Yeah, what's going on with that? Any thoughts? No. That's just out of nowhere.

I mean, that was, you know. Yeah. Of all the things you theoretically could criticize him for, that has not been one. No, it's not. I personally think it's more on the pitchers than anything and guys are kind of picking their spots make the most sense yeah yeah i don't think i don't think he's like not trying or his arms going down or any of that stuff i just you know he's also the one thing is that he hasn't been as accurate as he was his first two years like i mean his first two years every every ball is right at the the glove and

this year he's been a little low um so, you know, hopefully he can fix that. But, yeah, I think it's 14 or 15 straight against JT. So, yeah, and Bryce not being an all-star in year three is a little frustrating. But he did get hit in the face this year. Yeah, look, we know. The official high hopes position, because we're seeing it now and we saw it before, if Bryce Harper doesn't get hit in the face, he's starting in the all-star game. So, it's just what it is.

It's okay. Bleep happens, as they say, Jack. Well, and people forget, you know, 2008, Ryan Howard did not make the All-Star game. And then he almost won MVP. So I expect Bryce to do the same. Yeah, done. Bryce Harper, top three for MVP. You heard it here.

Wow. All right. All right. We're way too deep into this. The floor is yours real quick. The only thing I'll say in the draft is well done by the Phillies having Charlie Manuel be the representative for the draft. That's just strong, good vibes out there in Denver. Jack, I'm just going to be quiet. I'm turning my mic off, as they say. Not literally, but that's what they say. The floor is yours. Well, that'd be pretty boring. It'd be pretty boring if I'm just sitting here talking to myself. Yes, so full disclosure, the draft is here on Sunday, and we didn't bring Keith Law on this time

to tell me that they're not going to take a high school picture. So, it's just me this time to tell me that they're not going to take a high school picture. So it's just me this time. It's just me. Good. I think that's probably for the best. Yeah, and I kid you not. Saturday morning I woke up.

I snuck it downstairs while Jill was still sleeping. And I was on my computer just starting to look or not starting because i've been looking at a lot of draft stuff um it's probably the most invested i've been in a draft class just like wow well just because like i'm starting to get more and more into it like i've been reading these articles since like i don't know like october like i would read them during uh the pre Eagles stuff. So yeah, this is like going back to last August. I'm ready for this draft. So it's been a big

culmination. So Saturday I sneaked downstairs and doing some research and I found, first off, found on YouTube, have no fear, I found the Baseball Factory All-American Classic, all three hours over it. So I was able to watch some of that.

Thank goodness. I know. I was like really nervous about that, Jack. Yeah. Yeah. So you can all sleep well. I was able to find it, which is great. A collective sigh of relief just came from the entire High Hopes listener.

So I went in the living room and I sat down and I turned on the, and I go to see what MLB Network has, and then bang, they have their Top 100 Prospects thing going. Oh, business. So I'm just sitting there at 10 o'clock on a Saturday morning, sipping coffee, watching the Top 100 game. Can I just say, lucky Jill. Lucky Jill. Oh, no one's luckier to have a husband like me than Jill.

Yes, lucky Jill. She thanks her lucky stars every day she wakes up so um um also she slept till 11 that day like a teenager which is very disappointing um but either way either way either way um yeah so and i got up at a commercial break to go get more coffee and i i was walking back and I caught myself just smiling. And I just, dude, I kid you.

Look in the, look in the mirror as you're walking by. Do you just see the big bleep eating grin there? You're like, yeah, buddy. I am just my element. I'm just so,

so giddy. I'm so giddy. Like, and I, and what sucks is that like, I don't really have anyone to talk draft with. Um, like I've been, I've been texting with, uh, uh, Rob at, uh, giddy like and what sucks is that like i don't really have anyone to talk draft with um like i've been i've been texting with uh uh rob at uh the realest muto on on twitter and we're like the

biggest draft guys also pivetta hype and pivetta hype you know it's time to give your real name like i'm just sick of every time i catch myself dming i like, I'm just DMing with a guy named Pavetta Hype. You know? Like, what's your real name? Anyway, so I have no one to talk draft with other than those guys, and I've just been tweeting and texting their ear off. So it's been a big moment. It's been a big moment.

I can't wait for Sunday. I can't wait for next week. I can't wait for the podcast. I can't wait to see who they're going to draft. If I had to trust one guy in the entire Phillies organization, it is Brian Barber. There is no one. There is no one.

What a good thing to hear. Yeah. Honestly, that should be the guy that every Phillies fan should want to be the most trusted. Yeah. I trust him. I trust Brian. And this is no slight to O-Chart or Herg or Robles.

Like, I have a lot of faith in you PD guys. But Brian Barber is a guy that, like, gets it, loves tools, loves loud stuff, loves guys that throws hard, loves toolsy players. And the nice part now, James, and I've been thinking about this a lot, like the nice part now about where the Phillies are at, and some people won't believe this, but just trust your boy on this one. They actually have guys that can develop this talent. They're not taking Anthony Hewitt and just letting him go down there

and see what he can do. If they draft a toolsy guy in this year's draft, I fully believe that the guys down there can get the most out of him. If they take a guy with suspect velo, I anticipate that they can get the most out of that down there. They're not just taking guys. The most frustrating part about following the Phillies drafts from 2014 to 2017 was when they would take some crappy Cal State Fullerton pitcher

who would throw like 89 miles an hour. And then he would just stay there for four years, but he could, he could throw strikes, you know, cause that matters when everyone's throwing a hundred. So, um,

it's nice that we're turning towards a modern organization, but Brian Barber is a guy that I have the utmost faith in. He just likes to get big toolsy dudes. I can't wait to see what he does in the draft. Last year's draft was amazing. Mick Abel's already being talked about as one of the five best pitching prospects in baseball.

Called it. Casey Martins all tooled up. In the free agent period, they assigned all the guys their 100 miles an hour. Crazy concept. Crazy concept. So I just,

I can't wait to see what he's going to do. Like it's honestly better than, it's better than Christmas. It's better than Christmas. It really is. Like it's better than walking down stairs or whatever

and seeing the trees light up and all the presents under the tree because I believe that Brian Barber's going to get the job done. Honestly, you have gotten me excited, Jack. I can feel the energy coming through the microphone

through the headphones. This is awesome. If he drafts a couple players, then I'll get to it. That's where we're going. We need the official hashtag Fritz list and you have to do it. I know there are some guys you like, multiple guys, whatever.

Give us those guys, but save the best for last. I need the official. The draft is on Sunday, last pod before the draft. The official Fritz guy. Okay. So you want the guy first. You don't want the buildup to the guy. No, I want the buildup so you want the guy first. You don't want the build-up to the guy. No, I want the build-up. I want the build-up.

I want the other guys, and then best for last, the guy. Oh, so what I did is I wrote the guys I would be upset with, the guys I'd be okay with, and the guys that I would love. This is perfect. This is perfect. And then the top dog guys. Yes. Guys I'd be upset with.

Number one is Sal Freilich. He is probably going top 10, so he probably won't be there at 13. But, like, and I think he's a fine player. I just worry that he's a 5'9 center fielder that his best tool is, like, is hit, but it's not, like, power. You know, it's basically, it's like drafting another Haseley. But he's definitely better than Haseley. It's just like I don't need, it's a safe pick. I don't want

a safe pick. At 13, I need a shot at a superstar. I mean, Mick Abel falling to them last year was a shot at getting a frontline starter and he looks like he's developing into that. Taking a safe outfielder who is 5'9", it would not

sit well with me, James. Yeah, I believe that. I'm with you. Don't take that guy. Number two guy. Especially, look, after Scott Kingery, I've got a little bit of an aversion to short guys like that. I know it's not right.

There's some great short players. Right. I'm still a little gun shy. Pedroia with more talent with Scott Kingery. Yeah. That proved to be a really good call right there. Speaking of Scott Kingery, there's a guy named Matt McClain who is from UCLA. And so a couple years ago in the Boehm draft, do you remember Nick Madrigal?

Of course. I know Nick Madrigal, the major league player who was doing very good before he got hurt. I think his contact rate within the strike zone was 100%. I don't think he swung and missed once before he got hurt. Pretty amazing. Yeah. So that's like a... And he's not even that valuable because he doesn't drive the ball out of the ballpark,

but he'll hit 300 and whatever. But still, he went fourth in the draft, and he's like a unicorn when it comes to putting the bat on the ball. That's a special... You can see why they drafted him, right? Matt McClain is basically a worse version of worse version of nick magical who's also not that valuable you know so like why would i take him at 13 you know it doesn't sound great to me right right good player he'll be a good pro it's just like why that's not you need to swing for the fences

more than matt mclean you need a much higher ceiling. Yes. Ty Madden. Now, this might surprise people. But, like, so when you look at – so Ty Madden is this right-hander from Texas that can get up to 99 miles an hour and all that stuff. It's just, like, it's weird because his fastball is not that good for how hard he throws it. And we're getting to the point now with fastballs where they're so scrutinized and so well, you know, so well-versed in fastballs that even they're so scrutinized and so well um you know the the so well versed in

fastballs that even if you throw 98 it doesn't matter because if it's not if it doesn't have the right like horizontal movement or vertical movement then it's just not even a good fastball so we're at the point now with baseball where 98 is not even that special anymore because it doesn't have the correct spin on it so um yeah yeah, I'm not a big Ty Madden guy. I mean, he's probably going top 10, so he probably won't be there for the Phillies, but I'm not a Ty Madden guy. And finally, this guy, there's a chance the Phillies might take him, and I'll talk myself into him because I do that.

That's what you do. Right. That's what you do. I just personally am not a big fan, but his name is Andrew Painter. He's a high school kid. He's like 6'6". He's long been the number one high school pitching prospect, but he's been passed, I believe, by Jackson Jobe,

and I think Chase Petty's better. Again, he's like 96, 97, but it doesn't, it's just, it doesn't like jump off the table at you. You know, it doesn't look dynamic. It looks like it's just, he has good command for four pitches, but nothing jumps off the table at me with Andrew Painter. You have really dove into this. Oh, dude. You just gave me, you just gave me, I was expecting like one guy on each list.

You just gave me like four or five guys on your don't draft list. I know. Do we only have like four more minutes or are we good? It's all right. Well, you know. I'll go as fast as I can. A soft four minutes. Okay, I'll go as fast as I can.

All right, guys, I'd be okay with Colton Couser. I'd be okay with him. I'm not a huge fan. Another kind of safer pick, but I think there's some upside there. He's a center fielder, but I think he might be more of a left fielder, right fielder. Sam Bachman, he throws like 100, but again, not's some upside there. He's a center fielder, but I think he might be more of a left fielder, right fielder. Sam Bachman, he throws like a hundred,

but again, not great fastball numbers. Ryan Kusick, who has probably the best fastball in college baseball, but it's like his mechanics are really weird and they look off to me. Will Taylor is an outfielder who is a lot of buzz,

a lot of helium, could go top 10, maybe the Mets at 10, but he's super speedy. He's more of a speed over hit tool guy, and I just don't trust that at this point. Judd Fabian, who I was obsessed with and wanted, if they got in the top three, I was like, I need him, but he's struck out a ton this year. Still, I would take a chance on him at 13. I wouldn't be too super upset if they took him, but wouldn't be in love. Josh Baez, I think, is the next Ramos Ramirez. Just hits tanks.

And then this McGreevy kid from Santa Barbara, 92-94 command guy. So he's command over stuff, but has good field for pitches. And same school as Shane Bieber. So, I don't know. There's some good track records there with that kind of stuff. Alright. Now, guys that I would

love. Trace. This is good. Real quick. Did you say Ramos Ramirez? Yeah. Okay. Good. Good. Good. I thought you said Ramos Ramirez at first. No. I said Ramos Ramirez. Yeah. That's good. I love the Ramos. He's a good player. He's actually one of those underrated players that doesn't get. Totally. He was

a monster. I was making sure you mentioned him. He was a good baseball player.'s actually one of those underrated players that doesn't get... Totally. He was a monster. That's why I was making sure you mentioned him. He was a good baseball player. I thought you said Ramos Ramirez. No. I thought you were comparing him to another prospect. So I googled it real quick and there is no baseball player named Ramos Ramirez and then I put it together that you probably said Ramos. Carry on. Yeah, listen, there's a lot of pressure

getting this in four minutes. Alright, guys I love. Trey Sweeney, he's probably an underslot guy. And yes, the most confusing part about the Major League Baseball draft is that you can draft players for less than their slot so that you can spread the money out elsewhere. Famously, they did this with Moniak.

They signed him underslot so they could spread the money out. And actually, Kevin Gowdy is starting to look pretty good down in Clearwater. So that's good to see. So Trey Sweeney is this shortstop from eastern illinois but some of the best exit vilos in baseball um i think he he walks 42 times this year and struck out 20 um so i like that kind of player payton stewvall is an arkansas commit but, do I think this guy is just going to be like a 300 hitter for, I don't know, a decade.

I just, his hit tool is so strong. He's probably the second best. He's probably the second best pure hitting high school bat in the draft. But people have him kind of going 25 to 34 range. Although, I mean, if you take him there, then you hope he can sign away from Arkansas. But yeah, he seems like a guy that I would like a lot. Will Bednar, if you watch the College World Series at all, I mean, I think he's Lance Lynn.

I think if I had to project him to one guy, I think he's Lance Lynn. Elite fastball, slider is disgusting, needs to develop a third pitch. But, like, dude, against Vandy and in the College World Series, struck out like 12 and six innings. I mean, that's against the best competition in the sport. So I trust a guy like that. Jordan Wicks, basically he's John Lester. He's like a shorter John Lester.

He could be in the bullpen this year if the Phillies are in. So he's interesting. I wouldn't be like super in love with the pick, but I think he's got good stuff. He's a driveline guy, so he gets where the game is going and all that. My personal favorite pitcher in the draft, last one before I get to my pick and the guy that I love. My personal favorite pitcher in the draft is Gavin Williams.

I actually think he's better than Kumar Rocker. Buddy. Yeah, I do. Do you think Leiter is better than Rocker? Yes, yes, yes. Leiter is the best, and this guy is the next best. I think personally it goes Le jackson jobey gavin williams kumar rocker wow will bedman yeah all right so tell me why you like him so he's he i

think he's brandon woodruff i think he's i think he is a power fastball against vanderbilt in the in the yeah one of the early rounds of the NCAA tournament. He struck out, I think, 14. And he went head-to-head against Kumar Rocker and lost. But he was right there with him. Elite fastball was up to 99 in that game. Curveball looks like it has good dip to it. But it seems like a bulldog.

So I love Gavin Williams. And I think they could sign him under slot at 13 and then spread the money out elsewhere. And then finally, the guy who I want them to pick, and he's been linked to them a lot, and I think if you're looking for superstar, if you're looking for a game changer at 13, you're looking for a guy, if everything hits, we're talking about a George Springer type player. I think this guy's upside is Hunter Pence, George Springer,

and that is Benny Montgomery. He is huge power, huge exit VLOs, quick twitch, 98 from the outfield, is a true center fielder, which they need. And the big question is, is making contact, is he going to do that enough? But he's made progress with his swing changes. Also, he's from Redland High School, which is like an hour west of here. Wears number 26, named his brother Chase, is a diehard Phillies fan.

And from everything I've heard, he's like a relentless worker. So I kind of buy stock on that. It's crazy. 98 from the outfield. He won the two home run derbies this year on the prep circuit in the biggest stages. And he's got one of the fastest 40 times down to first base. So he's crazy fast big arm big power you hope that the contact comes and that is definitely worrisome but i'll kind of

trust the player and trust the upside there also i left out one name i'm sorry but lonnie white jr is this outfielder from malvern brett but i think he's the next aaron judge so listen there's a lot of guys there's a lot of guys i am fully endorsing benny montgomery he's the next Aaron judge. So listen, there's a lot of guys, there's a lot of guys. I am fully endorsing Benny Montgomery. He's the guy. If we hear that on Sunday night, we should be very, very ecstatic. I love it.

Benny underscore month on Twitter. You follow him. He doesn't follow you. Yeah. Well, listen, we'll get there. We'll get there.

We'll get there. I'm just, you know, that better change. Yes. Yes. And I know this will be 30 seconds but uh other guys in the draft that i love that are not first round picks gauge jump like gauge jump in three years is going to be like a top 10

pick in the draft gauge jump is an amazing dude amazing name his stuff is absurd but he's five foot nine but i don't care it's 95 95, it jumps on you, it's disgusting. Andrew Abbott, it's this little lefty from UVA, but has all four pitches. Really good pitchability, and the analytics kind of back up all that stuff. Ryan Bliss is a shortstop from Auburn

who is unbelievable defensively, and I just love the swing. Ryan Spikes, I think, could be Andrew McCutcheon. His hands are really really fast uh not sure where he's gonna play whatever mason blacks this kid from lehigh who has like a 3000 rpm slider which i need tanner allen i think is brett gardner um he's he was on the mississippi state team leader i need a guy with fire how many guys are the phillies drafting this is just this is not first round this is not first round this is just throughout the rest of the draft Tanner Tanner Allen's probably a

fourth or fifth round guy and um and Griff McGarry is this variety from UVA that has a disgusting slider so um that's it that's a draft preview I can't wait did I do my homework James geez Louise did you ever get Benny Montgomery Montgomery. That's my takeaway. You are lucky because I have to go take care of my daughter because my wife is going out and we are five minutes past the initial deadline for when my wife was leaving. But you're lucky that we can't get into your ridiculous Pepsi is better than Coke take, which is just, you should be drawn and quartered for it. We'll put up a poll from the High Ops account. What's better?

Coke, Pepsi. quartered for it. We'll put up a poll from the High Ops account. What's better? Coke, Pepsi. I'm going to slaughter you in this because Coke is so much better than Pepsi. All right. Wow. Before, you were really angry about that.

It's time to grow up a little bit. All right. I'm just kidding. Pepsi is delicious. I got to go. Coke is so much better. Draft. Bet. Go for it.