High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Annoying Phils Series and Is James Really A Millenial?

Episode Date: August 14, 2025

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz recap the Phillies losing two of three in Cincinnati and rank their concerns for some of the issues currently facing the team. 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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I hope, I feel a little less along. Yo, it is another edition of the IOBS podcast, sponsored by Miller Light, official partner of the Philadelphia, Philly, it tastes like Miller time, Philadelphia. Celebrate responsibly.

And I saw your co-hosts by Gaskin Jack, tweet something to this effect and he is dead right where it's this Philly's team is the all-time build-you-up, build you up. When everyone's like, World Series, they score in two out of 20s in Cincinnati.

So funny. I'm good. Just a series in Cincinnati. I'm not, you know, I'm more annoyed about Schwerver than I am about the losses. Oh, nice. But not at Schwerber at Cincinnati.

Yes. Regardless. A little bit at Schwery. You're just like, nah, smidge. It's hard to blame the guy, but, you know, we'll get in. Smidge of short. I'm not as annoyed as aforementioned co-st my guy's game, but, um, how you doing, pal? You all right?

Let's just say, annoying serious. It's the shift or such a fun first game down one nothing, the four-run inning, fight back, the brand, you know, we're like, I mean, a Kirkering getting in there. We haven't seen Juwanda Ryan in three days. I know. I know. It's Kirkland. It's unbelievable. I miss them so much.

How you doing? So, so I'm going to say something. That is truly disgusting. Kind of just a baseball season. I know, I know it's annoying, but like they've played well enough for a good stretch of time. It's like I can,

I don't know, and I feel it. I watch games, I feel the same way. Sometime, again, we do this podcast last night. I was ready to throw hands. Which, by the way, inside baseball, Jack did want to do it last night. I had to go to bed, so we didn't. This is probably a good thing for the bot.

It's a good thing for the bot. But at the same time, we do this whole thing where it's like, offense so hot and cold. They're so Jekyll and Hyde. If they look like, there it is, there it is.

That's the playoffs right there. That's Cincinnati series. That's what's going to happen in the playoffs. Lock it in. There's absolutely no scenario where there's good in the playoffs. It's only one of bad. That's the series. That's the series.

Yeah. So I, there are real concerns. And we'll get into it all. But overall, like, this is just baseball. I mean, the Dodgers are 12 and 21 in this stretch.

Great nugget. They're second in the NL. And the Mets, as we know, the Mets had a 6-0 lead yesterday. I was watching it because. So it was a rare occurrence in our household last night. Both the boys were asleep by like eight. Whoa.

So Walker didn't nap. So he would put him to bed. Wow. Suddy, you know, he's about, he's been an 8, 8.30 guy. It's good work by him. Not Tuckered out. Not Tucker bag lead out. Yes.

But so Jill, counting down the seconds to watch Taylor Swift on the, oh, on the Kelsey pod, yes. You know, so, so she was watching that. I was listening. I will say it was refreshing to hear how real she is. So I didn't listen. I know. But like, I don't blame, I like, it's 7 o'clock at night.

You had to go to bed. I understand that. She, dude, it seems like just a real person. Shocking. She's a real person. And it's always one of those things where it's like, that's the biggest star in the world. And she's just pretty normal. She just seems like, oh, she has, she's a megastars.

She's not like totally normal. But for that, she seems really normal. So believe it or not, and Tucker can attest this, our producer, Tucker. Because it was on the Go Birds Pod thread and when we plan pods or ever. And I know Elliot's all fired up. And I'm not trying to be. Elliot thinks it's the greatest podcast. It was not that.

Elliot, it was not that. Elliot said to me last night, I'm like, well, I'm probably not going to listen. He's like, it's a shame. He's like, there are some amazing lessons about life and love. And I'm like, Elliot. I was dating my wife when these kids weren't even in high school yet. I'm good. All right. Big dog. Thank you. I don't need Taylor Swift and Travis Kelsey to give me life lessons on love. But thank you. Thank you. People forget Taylor Swift also game three of the 2008

World Series. It's true. And I appreciate Jason Kelsey calling that out. I did hear the open that he did where it's like from Nashville. No, no, no, from Redding. Now that she's a cheese fan. I don't know really care, but I know. Again, that's the Taylor Swift push for the podcast. It was, it was mostly a fine podcast, but there was times where she was like, it was just like,

you know? Normal human being. Yeah, normal human being. I appreciate that. And she just was talking about how she was talking to Kelsey's daughters. And I was trying to imagine being Kelsey's daughters.

Oh, I'm doing. And just saying, hey, that's my good friend, Taylor. Yeah. No, it's great. It's like I, so my, Zoe is at an age where she's getting into Taylor Swift really likes a lot of her songs and all that.

Now, are you going old school first or are you letting her jump right in? You think I know what is old school and what is that? Oh, man, love story. I know no Taylor. I know like five Taylor Swift songs. Oh, this is part of your bag. I'm learning. I know.

I'm learning. I'm learning. I need to get into it. I need to do the Taylor thing, which I was going on. But it is funny because I'll say to her, I'm like, you know,

I know Taylor's boyfriend's brother, right? And she doesn't care. I thought it would have some sort of like impact. Not at all. She's like, don't care. Which is so funny. You're not cool.

I remember Jill, Jill and her sister saw Taylor Swift play. Westchester University, which is crazy. That's like seeing the Beatles in like some pub in, in, you know, London in 1960 or something, you know? So this is, this is a really bad poll because it's strictly tired dad brainjack. And that's why we're not firing all cylinders right now. That's fine.

But my dad saw the guy that sang Frankenstein. Oh, Edgar Winner's group. Edgar Winter. Yes, yes, yes, yes. it's like 20 people on Glenn Mills this random place really he did the guitar the whole thing that's awesome that's so cool so he looked awesome too

Edgar Winners at the again one of these bands it just gets forgotten as we get further and further away Frankenstein's an awesome awesome song so the Phil's lost two or three no but last night thank you thank you so last night you know I was watching the Taylor Swift podcast

but also had the big inning on my... The beginning is that where we're going at? Dude, the big inning is revolutionary for MLB.com. Oh, oh, you're watching. I got you. I'm sorry. I thought you were talking about the dating with the Grand Slam. They did allow nine and answered.

I thought it was the beginning there. No. That's why I was confused. Dude, and you know who... You were talking about the Mets game. I got it. You're getting back, getting back. Both teams let up some rough yesterday.

They did. So, by the beginning, I know people talk about Red Zone. You can talk about Scott Hanson all you want. My goats are Matt Yaloff and Greg Kassar. So not surprising. Those are my goats. Those are my goats. So I love the beginning.

I really, when I'm not watching minor league baseball. You're preaching to the choir. You know how much. Well, you're, I'm going to watch other games. Yeah.

See, I've been spoiled. I've been spoiled by the beginning. You're young. Yeah, it's this whole youth culture. You guys can't pay attention to something for a long time, you know.

I've got a lot. Trying to get my daughter to watch movies. You know, I'm working at it. I've got a lot of problems with my generation currently. You should. Honestly. It's pretty upsetting sometimes.

Yeah, it is. It is. It is. So watching the Mets lose that game. Plus, you should. Zoe is Generation Alpha. Like,

you should be Generation Alpha. Like, you should be a part of just Alpha. I mean, when you think of me? How disappointed are you that you're not Generation Alpha? Well, you would say that to me.

Be like, oh, yeah, I'm Generation Alpha. Yeah. You know what that means. Yeah, the alpha thing was probably five years ago. I'm over it.

Like, the biggest, the biggest change for me since having kids. I don't care. you welcome aboard it's a really beautiful life thing is it's it there's there's i've narrowed all the important things in my i dude i'm so with you man to just about a couple things yeah and i don't i'm really happy for you thank you it's a really important life it's it's unbelievable i think you life's better right life's better i know you have to do it no so it's funny and again we'll

eventually talk about the thing do we have to yes is there to say no there's not dFA jordan romano we did it not so fast oh damn right let's get that okay hold on we'll get to that thought in one second. People tuning out of the pod. Not so fast. Signs, anyway. So Walker.

I will say his reactions are pretty good. They're so funny. When he allows a bomb and he's just like, just the hands on the knees. He's like, he looks like he just got shot. The poor NBC sport, I mean,

not like the NBC sports filled out of a crew. It's like they're zoning in on them. He didn't need that shot yesterday. Right back to he's like hunched over. And it doesn't like 10 seconds. I know. Like there. I know, you're really feeling it, buddy.

When he allows a bomb, it's actually, it's one of my favorite bits of this current team. If it weren't so annoying. If it were so, yesterday was mostly painless. Yeah, the game was over. Yeah, they weren't. We knew they were not scoring four runs to tie it at four, so who cares if it's eight. You know who would have been nice of the deadline along with Harrison Bader? Miguel and too.

Dude, how, who I've actually, that's, he's a two-time member. Oh, yeah, long time, long time. So maybe one of these years, they gave me Bader as a little cop out. He said, here's, fine, fine, fine, there's Harrison Bader. Maybe, maybe I'm Duhar, one of these. So real quick, Walker, Generation Alpha. Nice. Yes, huge.

Suddy, Generation Beta. Oh, no. Or January 2nd. Is that the cutoff? I think January 1st, 20205. Walker's going to hold that over him forever. Generation Alpha. If I were Walker, I would just call him beta.

Yeah, well, it could breed some good competitiveness. That's true. I do believe better athletes, come from having brothers and being the little brother and fighting, you know, it's amazing. I made it this far. But, poor Zoe,

only child she's screwed to. There's nothing wrong with being only child. Siblings are weird. Best take of the bottom. Thank you. Thank you. Shout to Peter if you're listening. I love you,

bro. So it was an annoying series. They kind of just laid down the last two games. They did the kind of, but he's late. flat out laid down. At least, you know, the bat.

They definitely, yesterday it felt like they were like, let's get the hell out of Cincinnati. It was what it felt like to me. It did. And they had the weird. Because they have a game today. Like,

it was no day off. It just felt like they want to get the hell out. Weird 20 minute rain delay than I before. A rain delay. And then another one. Yes. It's like, what are this is like short rain delays just to like throw everything off.

I know. So yeah. I know what you do. You play through that. Like a man. Exactly right. You toughen up. Generation Alpha.

Generation alpha enough of these millennials. Am I right. Millennials are getting older, by the way. Yeah, I know, buddy, don't me. I'm the bottom end of a millennial. Yeah, I'm at the top end. I don't, so I don't, I'm like, I'm the one who gets totally screwed because I'm like right on the lines. Like, they say late 1981.

I'm September of 81. So I'm like, am I a millennial? I grew up, I grew up as generation Y at first. And then they were like, oh, doesn't exist anymore. We're just getting rid of it. Like Pluto. Like, in and out, what is the same thing. So I am, uh, I think I'm like a, uh,

older millennial or in between her. I don't really know. What's the one above you? Gen X is above me. I grew up with a bunch of Gen Z below me. Gen Z below you. Gen Z is the one below you.

They're the real problem with Gen Z. Yeah. Out. So the Gen Z stands for zero. Right. The, the,

the inability to score early in games is going to come back to my name. It just is. They are, thank you. That was really smooth. They were, I think, heading into the Stott hit in the fourth yesterday. Because I think that was the first hit of the game, of course, because they cannot hit.

They just get no hit for four innings there. Why not? I mean, they had to be, they had to be, oh, for their last, like, 32. I mean, think about it. They scored in two of 27 innings. They had the four-run inning, and they had the Harper Homer. That's it. Yeah.

That is tough. And even going back to the Rangers series, didn't score until late in that. Didn't score until late on Saturday. What is it? It's because it, like, and it does feel recent. And they have been fighting back. And we've talked about that. We talked about the last about like I love the lot of credit for love that.

Like they they don't seem out of games. They rarely roll over. They rarely roll over. Which I really besides yesterday. Yes. I appreciate that. But what do you think it is like because I don't think that's been like a hallmark of this. And we know the hallmarks with the chase and this and that and the stuff that we've seen in the past.

But it's not like it's been like a can't get it going early type of thing before. Yeah. Well, because in the last couple years, they've been very, very good in the first. Yeah. That's what I mean. I'm like this is this is weird. It's a weird change. So I think the top.

top three are struggling, mostly. I mean, Schorber's not really struggling. Sure, it's not struggling. Yeah, but Turner and Harper have been struggling. Turner and Harper. Certainly comparative to where Harper was. Yes, yes, yes, yes.

And, like, I say this, I say this about Bryce. And, like, there's no agenda because I love Bryce. But I was disappointed in some things that happened yesterday and some things recently. Like, Romano is getting crushed today.

Okay. If Bryce isn't overaggressive, he's out of that, anything. I know. And he's done that a couple of times where it's, I think it's lack of just thinking the game or like it's just kind of being checked out. And there's been times where I just feel like he's been more checked out recently. And as a, as the star player 300 million, we, we know all that stuff. Like, you're the, you're the guy.

You're the guy. You're the guy that everyone looks to, whether you like it or not. And, and it's one. And I feel like we have to do this three times a year at Bryce. And then he snaps out of it and he's fine. And I think, like, I'm not seeing a wrist. thing happening because I think we would know that because he can't help but let us know that he's like shaking out his wrist oh that didn't feel like he's so clear he wears it in his sleeve but it feels

like against it feels like there's times where he just checks out mostly against really really good pitchers where it feels he's not going up there with the plant and just swinging first pitch for no reason those like tough lefties tough lefties big time like it was like that at bat in the playoffs against the met's last year we've seen those type of bats where he almost goes up there and he's like well I'm not going to get a hit so I'm just going to take a hack and whether I hit it don't up down the plate just didn't swing because I didn't think I could get to it. You know, it's weird. And the other ones,

the other ones is, is in these kind of big moments where it felt like Bryce always came through. I mean, 2023, we're talking about him as like the most clutch athlete ever seen here. Because he was. I mean, he had the DeVal home run.

He's 300th home run. He still are. I mean, his playoff numbers are still all time great. Yeah. Did strike out in game three. He did. But which Elliot lets us know.

Yeah. All the time. It was. It was. And it's, I just feel like we're getting a little bit too much of checked out Bryce

and also picking his spots where he wants to be locked in. It could be locked in against who pitched the ninth of the, when he hit the home run. It's like some scrub. There was a six nothing at the time.

But against Hunter Green yesterday, I felt like it was a lot of... I thought they were horrible of bats against Hunter Green. I thought Hunter Green owned him yesterday. And I just, when Bryce said it's best, He's a tough, like a tough SOB at the plate.

And I just, it's been a lot more of flailing and the plate. Actually, then was it Monday? When he got thrown out of the plate, I didn't think that was dumb. No, no, no, no, that was just a great throw. It was taking a shot. It was a short fly ball. You got to take a shot. It was a one ring game and that's not I had no problem with him going for home.

It was just a perfect throw. Yeah. It's a perfect throw. There's other issues with the team. But that was one thing that I was sitting there yesterday when he just, I know they're down 8-0 in the 9th, but it was just a giveaway. It was a throwaway at bat.

And there's just been a little too much of that from my liking, where it's a little bit too much checked out in this from Bryce. Now, he did have the first hit in the game on Sunday. The double, which is good. Like, there's been a little. Yeah, like double down the line yesterday or two day, whatever it was yesterday. Yeah, the first hit on Monday.

Monday, yeah. And one of the first hits on Sunday with the double down the line. It's just that's been good moments. in a time where it's been a larger feeling of that for me with Bryce. So again, I feel like we do this three times a year where we're like, you're the star like lock in a little bit, but it currently feels like one of those times. Yeah, it does. And I look, when the playoffs come around, I will trust Bryce Harper when he's at the plate.

I just will. I just will. And she is pretty, except for one at bat, literally. He has not given us reason not to. I'm with you. The other thing with Bryce, and we've talked about a lot throughout the season on the pod and just in general. But it does feel like he's still just all year,

like more than ever been just so dower. And like it just seems like the guy never has fun playing baseball. Like have you noticed that? It feels like more than normal. And look, I think it's weighing on him. Like he's going to be 33 on October. He,

we've talked to this a million times. No one on the planet cares more about their legacy. They're placed in the history of the game. The history of the game itself. And he knows better than anyone. Without a World Series title, like it's just not there. His resume is.

legacy like he is missing the thing it's the cherry on top it's the thing that he has to have and i think it's weighing on him i really do like just from a demeanor standpoint from a way he's gone a bit about it like i have not and i know i'm sure the wrist is part of me talked about early in the season that's bother them all but i don't at any point if you watch price this year and really felt like he's having fun out there well so i can't so so i hear you and i do feel it my one theory on it though is also is also is this him trying to turn into leader guy I'm locked in like Jalen like he's Jalen out there

sure he's like Jalen out there you go I like that exactly what I was like thank you yes yes yes epitome of that yeah another tough practice yesterday but training camp yeah no who cares doesn't matter don't tell my other podcast partner no but couldn't care less about training game stats sorry about training camp sounds are great they're great and i love them and i think it's awesome what he's done me personally i don't put much stuff which do you care more about training camps that's

so i'm happy you ask me that training i think spring train train i think spring train stands are literally useless as you know i think training camp so the stats the jlin stuff doesn't do anything for me though like position back it's the same type of thing and very similar it's not i think training camp like it's honestly really neither they both mean nothing to me honestly they both Who likes, who likes, who likes the individual more, me with spring training or Elliott with training? Oh, it's, you know it's Elliot. It's probably Elliott.

I mean, Elliot, I do get tired of spring camp. And Elliot goes way overboard. Elliot literally says that he prefers training camp to the season, to the games. Like, that's, I almost cursed. That's bleeping stupid is what I was going to say. Like, I almost said that's effing stupid game, right? Like, that's what I naturally want. Like, that's so, you, like, you're covering the team and you think training camp is more fun than the reason they're doing.

training game so like crazy time now contrary not contrary now contradictory point sure contrarian definitely using the wrong terms but again we're battling the um battle it we're battling what if the prospects get in a game late in spring training and they do some things on on like a tv camera i would much more exciting than seeing like the third and four stringers play like who cares like Besides Dary's Cooper. Love Darius Cooper. He doesn't count as a third or foursner. He's a starter.

Better than Dotson. So, so yeah, I just, I, I can't tell with it. Is it Bryce trying to be like, I'm the lead? It's back in. You are no one better. Freaking fired. Thank you.

So I can't tell if it's like, I'm the leader guy or if he's just, and I've thrown this theory out there, he just loves being a dad. And I understand it. I understand it. I agree. You're saying he just never wants to be away from his kids. Like when he's playing, he's just like, I just want to get home to my guy. Hey, I get it.

Again, I get it. This is the team full of dad guys. We do. They got so many kids. The team has so many kids. I know, and they keep coming. And they got it. It's like, oh, Brian's on another kid.

Okay, cool. His daddy has two. Yeah, it's unbelievable. I know. It's crazy. So Cassie has three now. Anyway, we goly or us four. anyway.

Bryce has three now. With four coming. There's a fourth on the way. I believe so. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Dude, again,

this parade could be, just win the world. We should win the World Series. Then go be dads. That's right. And then it's all good. And then in 20 years, 10 years,

you bring your kids to the ceremonies on. It's going to be amazing. Oh, look how big Liam is. He's playing for the double A team now. Yeah. Hopefully it's better play discipline. Can I do my Nick thing? Yes, you can do your Cassiano's thing.

That's my, that's my Bryce thing. And again, I don't say with any agenda because I love Bryce. I'm just very, I'm a little annoyed currently with old MB3. Yeah, I get it. I get it. Speaking of annoyed, I'm annoyed with Nick Cassiano's. We have not, and it's a bit of a disservice by us and just in general, I do not think we have made a big enough deal about how bad he has been.

For a while now, we're talking about a month of disastrous play from Nick Cassiano's. numbers since the all-star break, Jack. And I know you heard me say on the morning show, and even you text me, you're like, why I didn't realize they were that bad. Since the all-star break, Nick Cassiano's is batty. Here is his slash line. You ready for his second-half slash line? 195 batting average, pretty good.

A 224 on-base percentage and a 317 slugging percentage. He has a 541 OPS since the all-star break. Even worse just in the month August, month-August, he's 179. 256, 436, uh, as an OPS, sorry, 179 OBP once in a man bag average, once I know, yes, he is not walked in August. Why would he? In his last 30 games, he's struck out 31 times and walked three times. I mean, he has been an absolute train wreck offensively. And we already know he is, however grading system you want to look at. There's no, there's one of the worst right fielder's a lot. Like he is one of the worst right fielders, one of the worst outfielders in

the sport right now. And he reached. negative one overall on the year and more dude he's one of the nine worst players in baseball according to war according to war of people who have played enough innings to qualify he is considered one of he's one of nine players a negative war he's one of the worst in the sport this year yeah dude he's been horrible man let's put it this way he's been so bad that that that sound you hear outside CBP Kepler dude that's what's about saying jack he's been so bad. I honestly, I honestly think it might be time to start Kepler and right field. We know he's a light year's better defensive player. I mean,

Kepler's a good right fielder defensively, like really solid. Although, man, make the freaking play in the Ranger. I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know. But he is a much better defensive fielder and Cassian. Like, honestly, he's been hit the ball better the last month. Like, I don't, like, they're not going to do it. I know Topper doesn't have the stones quite to say, all right, Nick, your bench. Dude, they seem so afraid of Cassie. They're terrified. Again, I know he sat him the other day, like he has since that whole thing in Miami where he is not taking him out of a game defensively late again. Are you kidding me? Are you to do that whole thing in Miami

to put it out there and defense replacement, which every fan on the planet knows that in a playoff game and a late playoff game that you want Nick Cassiano's off the field defensively in a late playoff game. Like, I don't think he's going to have the stones to do it. Do you? No. Now, again, maybe he's planning seats. and maybe the next month and a half we'll get a better feel of it heading into the postings by the bet right now I would say no I mean Monday was a perfect opportunity to do it

he just hit it was a three run lead or one game it was it was the right time also if you want to go back to that moment he's hitting 22 22s exactly with a 650 OPS he's been great he's been great so again

I want Cassiano's to help the scene in a world series I'm counting down the days until he's of Philly. I just, I, he, he's excruciating. He's absolutely excruciating. It's horrible of the plate, no plate discipline anymore, not doing jobs. Like, you can pop a home run once in a blue moon, but I don't care. Like I just, he's just a, he's just been a bad replacement level baseball player since he's gotten here. He's just, she's not a very good baseball player. It's pretty much as simple as that. And I, listen, Kepler, maybe, like, do, if they want to do platoons at every single position in the outfield you know i don't know i could crawford i mean

tomorrow's the day yeah august 15th where you can maintain a rookie status for the following year so like do they but they want to bring him up and play them i mean they could do it would be funny they actually i mean they don't have that they'd have to have one left in line but they could pretty much do all left first righties and almost all right for his lefties yeah if they wanted to get crazy they could they could put kepp yeah they could i guess they could put uh baiter and center and kemp so they could they could do an outfield of all left-hand inters versus righties and all right hand at hitters versus lefties if they wanted to they could do kemp baiter cassian's probably going to stay or wilson whatever the point is you could put one of those guys in left center right and then

the same thing with uh you know you put martian center and you got kepler and right that that's hilarious yeah or they could dFA kepler put martian right field with cassianas bring up cropper he plays left and Bader plays center field. Yeah. I don't know. I just, I, they're,

he is, and he's, he's still in the middle of the lineup. I just, we're going to go, we're, they're going to go on the postseason again with, with,

maybe in real Muto heading behind him. Just great. Rill Muto's been fine. Clean up behind Bryce. Oh, I think Rermito is the, I mean, him or bone.

I mean, you know, it's going to be him or bone. Yeah. We're back. And then, and then Cassie was getting fifth yesterday. We had a caller suggest this today.

The Rick and Easton. it might have been he's calling yesterday ranting about how they won't win a world series without schwarber behind bry that's what i was going to ask you and i don't think they have to but but do you think it's because bryce wants in three and he's just like i'm hitting three guys and that's it because i do think it looked good earlier in the year when they did the turner harper schwerber thing like i like i know i liked it a lot i'm well aware like i think it's a better lineup like i don't yeah i just wonder if there's a way they could i guess you do want schwar having more at bats in a game so that makes sense of course of course but if they

it's a Stott problem. I mean, if Stott was... With the nine they were getting on base, yeah. Well, no, I'm just talking about when Stott was leadoff, it was nice how lengthened the lineup was. I mean, maybe... I think you're saying Stott's a nine-hitter now.

That's how far he's gone. People forget that he was the lead-off editor for about a month and a half. And there was a lot of victory laps earlier on that. Yeah, there were, weren't there? Yeah, I remember that. But, man, could... And this is, I'm not even proud of myself for saying this, but they could real mial to her bone hit two and look we've always talked about bum as a two hitter right

like haven't we always said that because the guy just sadly has never developed any power despite being a giant you know what's the battle of the weakest six foot five hitter of all time but we've always started that because the type of hitter is i mean he means sense minus no speed like he's going to put the bat on the ball he's but schwarber's in bed too he can directionally hit like you can move guys over like he could do all those classic two hitter things other than run you know Now he, I mean, the amount of double plays he could hit it. Oh, it would be epic. After a lead off like Turner hit.

Ah, yes. That's the, that's the flaw in the ointment. It is. Because I really, if you're, if Bryce is not going to hit two, which I don't think he's going to hit two. I don't think he's going to. I would, I would, ding Bryce for that. Um, well, again, we don't know that.

Right. But it, let's just say in a, in a world where we knew that Bryce said, I want to hit three, put me three. I would be disappointed. I would be disappointed. I would too. All right. I just want to get that out. All right.

But the. getting a Schwabber behind Harper is still imperative to me. It's still imperative. I totally, I think it's the most. That's why when Rick probably was like, yeah, you're right. I'm assuming it was right. I'm bringing up on your show too.

But I think he's right. I said to him yesterday. I totally agree. Who's batting too? That's the problem. That's the issue with the lineup. Is that again, Bryce, if he would, you know,

but then you're still, look, the length of the line is going to be an issue. All right. One more thing I want to get to before we get to the take bag. And it's not DFA and Jordan Romano, which I'm sure you're going to get to in your tape. I'm going to start. I'm going to start calling him Romano again, by the way.

He's learned Romano. He's lost Romano privileges. He was pitching well before that. Right? I called him Jordan Romano the entire time I knew him. I didn't know his name was Romano, and you know what? He was nasty. All right.

Last thing, and then we get to take bag and you can get to your little Romano. If Harper just covers the bag normally, he's out of the inn. You're not wrong. You're not wrong. And we're calling Jordan Romano a hero. Grand Slam. Yeah, hero. Real quick.

Just, just for that. The, uh, Jeff Kerr tweeted out his, uh, his, uh, his, uh, ERA by month. Jordan Romano, March April, 12.48, May, he was apparently good in May, 2.5. 3, Jack, 727 in June, a robust 5.19 in July,

and so far in August, a 16.36 ERA. He might have two months with a double-digit ERA. You don't want that, Jeff. I don't know many teams. You don't want it. Do you know how many teams with World Series Aspirations? I don't think it's seven.

2, 4-year-a-a-on-the-season is going to be getting him much offers. Now, here's my... It might be the third. When Jack does that little, like, smirk-lap thing before he's like, you know where there's... Go ahead. This might be the second most disgusting thing I've said on this podcast, but I've got to make sure I get the number, right?

When we're talking about how could a World Series team, the aspirations of a team to win the World Series, how could they carry a guy with a seven ERA heading into the postseason? Do you want to know who in 2009 had a 7.21 E. for the Phillies? Is it Brad Lidge? It's Brad Lidge.

Yeah, I had a feeling, yep, yeah. He was horrible. It's hilarious, though. What are the odds of that? Would hate to compare. He did make some Lidge comparisons. Would hate to compare Jordan Mano to Brad Lidlid.

And that's actually, again, not that I would never, I don't want to disparage the greatness of Brad Litch. Like you for, wait, just letting everyone know. But O-9 Lidge. Just letting everyone know.

That kind of count. Philly's elitist Jack is bringing up 0-9 Lidge. All right. Last question before they take. bag and I feel like we've talked about a lot you know we keep bringing up though but I mean every start closer to the playoffs is another start I'm more concerned about ranger Suarez uh where we out with the ranger thing and and honestly as it gets closer and

I'm starting to think that like range is probably going to be in the bullpen for the playoffs yeah I think he's not I think he's not the bullpen yeah I think so too because there is the upside of Lazzardo starting sure so like he's your game four starter right and look as we've seen No, starting game three. I want you to just lock it in. Like Noel 11 strikeouts, by the way,

and Leah, I looked like, look very good. I will say, though, real quick, for those who haven't seen and it was on Twitter,

so you might have. But if the Phillies can't get a buy, they will not need a four-starter until the championship round, until the NLCS. So they could really do it without it. And they could try both. Yeah.

They could try both. They could do a, you know, one starts, other follows, whatever type thing. But I think with the Ranger thing, we've talked about all year,

the, he's the one who knows how to do it. He's the one who's done it before. He's shown that he can pitch multiple days, you know, two out of three days or whatever that stuff is. He's got that kind of rubber arm. The big moment's not going to be too much for him, you know? He's just always made the mode sense.

And since we're past the contract part of it by the time he gets to the playoffs, like, I think in some ways it could even be a good contract thing for him where it's like, oh, look, Ranger, what a team guy, you know. So I certainly don't think starting something is. Yeah, every start, I is costing himself. I remember people like, he's going to get a hundred million. Oh, yeah, you might not get 50. he reeks of getting the effluent

I know I think 40 to 50 million somewhere in that range is what it's and look he's about Boris so maybe it gets up to 60 because Boris does some amazing stuff but it's definitely not going to be 100 Ranger like are you concerned about Ranger or is it just kind of this I think we just know what Ranger is he's going to be awesome in the first half

and struggle in the second half and hopefully step up in the playoffs I mean he's like what 13 starts in the second half in the last two years and he's a 6 ERA yeah so 6 5-9 this year in the second last six starts or whatever it is Yeah, and the thing that's happening to him now is that he looks frustrated, which I'm not used to. Which was shocking, especially that last start.

He was getting into it with the arm, the whole thing. He walked down the mound and was laying out the mound to the empire. When do we see that? I know. It was like Mr. Coolcom collected. Now you get screwed and capuch to caught the ball. Yeah, agree. He was right, but still.

He was cruising, too, which was the shame. I just feels like the, the, the ranger breakdown of the second half. I don't know what the, like, I don't have some inventive. It's like the opposite of the Ryan Howard thing. Yeah. I don't have some inventive take on Ranger. I just, this is who he is.

I love Ranger. He's been a great Philly. I think he's, I mean, he's going to be gone at the end of the year. And there's been highs. There's been unbelievable highs. He's been great in the post season.

I would say the highs are higher than the lows. The thing is, do they keep running him out there or do they try to buy out? And do they, and the question too is, if you are going to move into the bullpen, at what point do you make that change? Like,

at what point do you start to, do you stretch him? You don't think it's as big a deal for him because he's done. I don't think they would do that until the end of the year. I don't think they would do that. How much time do you need for that? Because we know like stretching out is a different thing to be able to go longer and longer as a harder thing.

How hard is it to stretch down? We never really talk about that. Well, you have to get used to the biggest one is pitching back to back days. It's pitching back days and also the ramp up, right? Like the being ready to come out of the bullpen and that where it's pitchers normally have the whole day and they can do their routine and all that. Whereas like, hey, you've got, you know, 10 minutes to get ready or it's a different thing, right? Yeah. And Noel's coming back.

So they're in a good spot where if they did. didn't want a phantom i'll the problem is like i almost think they need a couple phantom miles wheeler wheeler could use a phantom i'll maybe uh ranger maybe strom maybe i would say definitely for strong i think it's no brander it's of all of those ones it's the one that makes the most i mean wheeler too but like strom it's like why wouldn't you he's put so many innings on his arms last few years and he's so important in the roster and you just made the point like they got a dude who can you could take that role till the playoffs like it's it's perfect yeah so that needs to have happen. Like, I think that has to happen. That needs to happen. And, and I mean, Taiwan's pitched well

enough to stay in. Bro, thank you. 2.9. We haven't talked since that. What, shout out to that guy, man. Seriously, like, we all couldn't stand him a year ago at this time. And, you know, he's really, he put his ego in check. He, you know, is asked, he's done what they've asked him. He's pitched out the pennies, come back to rotation, he's moved around. And like, to your point, he's got a 29-E-R-8, a 2-9-8 ERA and it starts as your back to rotation. He has been, in the times he has been the fifth starter for the teams, like, he has been one of the best fifth starters in baseball for this team when he's starting, like

literally by the numbers, like that is credit to that. And look, lots of money, you know, I'm not saying like as a whole, you know, disappointment and all that. I'm not saying like, yeah, Taiwan, you earned your money finally. But I do think for where he was a year ago to now, like, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, really psyched. Like that is, it's nice to see. And increasing that trade value for the off season. I can you say something honestly? I know where there was a couple moments. 18 million coming off the books. I went right past that. Thank you. I will say because I think that we

missed it because right after it happened, there were some struggles. But I really do think you can look back to Taiwanese as a turning point. Yeah. You know, one of, I'm just saying. One of us proudly one of us proudly drafted them in our fantasy draft. on this podcast before the year. Yeah, you're right. And thank God we didn't. No one drafted Johan Roas. Yeah, we nailed that.

And he got sent down. So we went. And no one, I, the only guy didn't want was Tanner Banks. Yeah. Remember how I said I got about your Andrew Painter chicanery? And it turns out I should just let you have to.

Should have me have them. Should have them. It's fine. So the city of Cincinnati should be ashamed. A proud city, you know, Such an embarrassment. Yeah.

And I know they have a great quarterback who truly plays a position at a high level. I know they have. I don't like what you're doing. They have OK, chili. It's really just things overrated, over spaghetti or something. Overrated talk show hosts from there. Just kidding. Ike are the best.

Never. Totally joke. Never. He's the face of Cincinnati. Ike is the freaking man is what he is. But the absolute Mickey Mouse, minor league operation that they have Bush League is what I called it all three of them all three of them with it and I do think Schwabers also not totally I would say like like 90% annoyance

at the Reds 10% on Schwartz so because like Spike asking was what like 95% at Schwabes like he was mad at Schwerber like I know he said some pretty hurtful things hurtful things yeah I was like that's our guy man it is our guy so I am uh well it's a what, the Reds put him in a tough situation of his dad. It's like how my, that's what like, so we inside baseball and our baseball guys, right, Elliott Church Park's ripping Schwerber 2 is with spike. And I'm like, bro, you have an opportunity to go on a major league baseball field and essentially have a catch with your dad.

I'm going to take that moment away from someone, that magical moment. Like, you're a dad. I'm a dad. Like I know, I just, I get it. And I understand that Schwerver could have been like, nah, that's. It's kind of inappropriate, guys. And he probably should have. I get it.

But like I, it's more like, it's more like 973 for me in terms of blame. Just like, man, what a cool thing for Kyle. I can't rip him for that. But his dad was so excited and all that. I know. But also I've never seen it before. No, I haven't either. And you made the point if the Phillies did it initially, we would be like, dude.

Like that is so lame guys. Now though, I think if the Phillies do it now, it's awesome because it's a petty like, oh, we see you since daddy. We got cows for his dad too. Maybe let's bring his mom. I have the whole family. Let's have a whole family of Schwerber's thrown out of like that's what I would do now.

I would take it to the next level with it. Sure. I just, yeah. It's really also the comments of like, I don't know. There's a way to talk about it where I'm just like, I'm focused on winning a world series and obviously I have a lot of love for Cincinnati. It's my home. But he basically is like, yeah, if it doesn't work out, I could come back here 100%.

But like you know the man is trying to make as much money as possible. And I understand that. I can't blame for that. Like, his agent was like, bro, do not commit one way or the other. Whatever you say, you have to be dead in the middle, man. And he did that. I can't, I can't blame when it comes to finances and these guys and you know I've talked out.

Like, I mean, think about having a 10 to 15 generally and from a lot of people even less window to do the thing that you're best at in life. You'll never be close to as good at anything, most likely, close to as good at anything else as you are at that thing. You are one of the point oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, 1% of people to do that thing. And you have like, you can only do it for a small portion of your lifetime. Like, I will never begrudge these guys for getting as much money as they can for maximizing that time in any way they can.

So like, I get it. And that's why the Reds should be embarrassed too. Like, the Phillies have played there for three straight years, you know, of the whole four-work contract. You could have done it another time. We get what you're doing. It looks so. It's so.

transparent like there's no yeah it's very like all right guys and just to clear the air they didn't really give them the keys to the city that was a joke that was a joke don't they get picked up as serious no way oh yeah a red's blog wrote about how they gave the keys of the city they don't know jack yeah that's the thing knowing as long as I saw that and immediately knew it was a joke yeah yeah yeah no I got picked up in Cincinnati and all that good stuff so he did not really get the gave the city. Wouldn't that be clear? They're going to do that tonight as he leaves on the

way to the plane. Yeah. I was surprised I didn't name the field after him yesterday. Great American Kyle Shorebord ballpark. Welcome. Mickey Mouse by the Reds organization. And other non-Filly things in the take back. The

Pete Alonzo writing on the ball. Oh, I'm sorry me brought this out. Down goes straw. What a loser? him i don't know if it was him i don't care it's probably him i doubt it was him honestly it was probably a PR person for the meds but even still like he should have looked at him and like are you kidding me like it's darrell strawberry here now like this is what we're doing i'm like crapping on darrell strawberry about hi p you straw for 254 yeah for an embarrassing number

to be a franchise leader it's i know they've only been around since 69 but it's an embarrassment that is the most like exactly you're right 681 and 69 thank you correct good point um no you're right you're right you're right I was thinking of the amazing mats. Come on, man, Richard Ashburn's on the 60s. You're right. Yeah,

and the 69, wasn't he? Was he still there? No, he didn't win. No. He quiffed about. Tug McGraw was there for that. Yes, he was. No one Ryan was there.

Yes, he was. Should we just name people? Tommy Agee. You remember Tommy Agee? Was Crane pool on the 69 mats? I don't think so. I think Rusty Staub was, though. Was the Grand d'Arange?

Was. I think he was. Was Casey Stangle, the manager? Well, Tom Siever. Casey Stengel, you know? Yep. good good good amazing matth tom seaver obviously yeah but but he's a dude the the alonzo thing yes just so embarrassing and the and really is writing down gross draws like honestly like a

beyond embarrassment like it what a loser move and the call is so bad the the polar bear alone on his iceberg or something was that the call yeah wow and he's i actually i think how he Gary Cohen. They're both good. The TV head. They're both great. They're doing really good job. Embarrassing. Embarrassed. Very corny. So, uh, it's, it's so on brand for that, that first basement.

So on. Total loser. Yeah, guess what, buddy? Mets fans will never love you as much as they love Daryl Strawberry. Sorry. Yeah, they were ready to let him go last year. Um, yeah, I mean, I don't really, uh, you know, Ranger. We talked about Ranger, talked about Wheeler. Lightbag. Yeah, talked about It's okay

Chris Sanchez is fine yesterday Fine, always Defense didn't help them out much Didn't help them out I mean that was a rough The Marte just play I mean whenever a guy Hits a single and scores

Yeah You don't love to see that It was a little league home run It was exactly In a little league Little League play So tomorrow I guess We'll see if if Crawford comes up

I don't know It'd be fascinating And look We've talked about it But they don't expand the roster is much in September, but it is two, but that is a way you could bring them up and not have to send someone down, not have to make any

roster moves, whatever, so who knows what they decide to do? But that is interesting. You mentioned before, so you think as of right now, Wes Wilson, the leading candidate for that last bench. Yeah, you can't keep you can't keep by it. Auto's been, I know, it's a shame, but I agree, and Wes has played in the playoffs before and stuff like that. And look,

Wes Wilson, he hits lefties. That's a big hits. Last couple games, we've been bringing it. Won the game Monday and Sunday. So, and then quickly some ring the bell things ring the bellbook.com look you can get it on amazon but it's way better way better just get it on ring the bellbook dot com that's why the website's there don't worry type in amazon no one likes amazon what he jep jep bezos money why why what does he need more money for right just because isn't 300 billion dollars enough for a man

whatever his number is just because it's six dollars cheaper and free shipping on amazon right now does not mean you should order it on that's the thing that's six dollars and free shipping whatever that is that goes to Bezos you're just you're just saving Bezos money we're a mom and pop organization that's right at bring the bell book that's supporting and you know and great customer service it's true great customer service that's true through the roof so uh Saturday at Barnes and Noble on Axton no we got a book sign it yeah we got a book sign it at Barnes and Noble just you or you got like me and Kevin you can no I met like just your book though soon you know sometimes like the books will get together and be like you know like you and I think me and the camera

Yeah, well, that has to. I mean, that's a must. Yeah. You know. So that's, and then, so we're doing, we're doing Barnes and Noble during the day. Okay. One o'clock. So Saturday, Exiton, what time, one o'clock? One o'clock. The Barnes & Noble and Exon. Right after that, we're going to Phoenixville. Look at you. Fitzwater Station. I'll see Tucker there, I'm sure. Yeah. Look at you. And so we'll be signing books and hanging out all while finishing our move, which Jill had to inform her that I got two books signings on Saturday. Oh, she was probably liked about that. Not around. Not around. Sorry, honey. As we're moving our entire. Going out to support the fan.

Just trying to sell some books. We're just pushing books all the time. So a lot of part. I will say. How Jack feed his family is what we're saying. And Kevin feed his family. Yeah. And shout to Kevin Reed.

Kevin great guy. He had a lot of fun of all of him. Kevin. Also has to feed his family. Yes. So we're feeding both of all of our kids water sandwiches. Yes. Water sandwiches.

Yes. And only my daughter would eat a water. A lot of good reviews in the book so far. I think people went into a very low expectation. I think that's what it was. People expecting the where it's pleasantly surprised. This isn't horrible. Story of Jack's life.

I know, right? That's what you do. Lower expectations so you can sometimes jump them. But also if you don't, what you expect? Like, who cares? No big deal. It's just the tennis match. I told you.

I love you. You are the best. All right. We'll be back after the weekend. That's four game series, three or four. Can we say? So I got to be honest,

it feels spletsy to me. Well, because they've been on the road for so long. They have. It definitely feels very much like a, you know, they're not going to get up for the Nads, too. And then Nats have been horrible. You're so right. No more Finnegan, though, which is going to be shocking. Yeah, it's going to be weird.

And I can't go on Brandon Finnegan or Kyle Finnegan. Still won't know. I'm still not sure. Kyle. Kyle. It's Kyle. It's Kyle. Yeah, it's Kyle.

All right. So we'll be back after the weekend. Three of four. Maybe Spitzville. I'm going three. I believe in this team, Jack. Well, if they do go three or four, they'll win the first three and lose on Sunday. Oh, lock city of all the locks.

So, you know, we can look forward to that. Either way, we'll be back with you on Sunday. Until then, he's fruit themselves.