High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Are there High Hopes?

Episode Date: June 24, 2019

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz are back as the Phils get swept out at home by the Marlins. The guys just try to piece this together and Jack wonders why the players aren't getting more heat.  See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information. 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

Who's Beetlejuice? Don't ever say that name. Beetlejuice. I'm serious! If you say that name three times, really bad stuff is gonna happen! What? Beetlejuice! Beetlejuice! Beetlejuice!

The juice is loose. On September 6th... We doing this? The wait... Let's go, honey. ...is over. Thank you all for coming to this very special occasion. I felt a little tingle.

Ew. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, September 6th. You know what's great about ambition? You can't see it. Some things look ambitious, but looks can be deceiving. For example, a runner could be training for a marathon

or they could be late for the bus. You never know. Ambition is on the inside. So that goal to beat your personal best? Keep chasing it. Drive your ambition. Mitsubishi Motors. This is the High Hopes Podcast.

High Hopes. It's a bunch of baseball nerds talking about the Philadelphia Phillies on Radio.com and Sports Radio 94 WIP. Yo, it is. It's another one of those? Another edition of the Not So High Hopes podcast. We hoped last time the negative five we did would be enough. Jack, it's gotten worse.

How is it worse? How is it worse? How is it worse, man? We talked about... Oh, we know how it gotten worse. How is it worse? How is it worse? How is it worse, man? We talked about... Well, we know how it's worse. You said the phrase, and I really liked it, when going into this Marlin series, that this was a show us what you're made of type of series. They did.

What are they made of, Jack? Not great. Not great. I think that describes everyone's listening feelings right now i'm surprised people thank you for listening if you're listening to us right now you are a diehard philly fan you're a diehard high hopes or we love you more than anything in the world but i wouldn't blame you if you didn't want to listen it's really depressing right now yeah i'm just over here trying to hold everyone accountable um at least someone is, Jack.

At least someone is holding everyone accountable. I just want to know, when are people going to realize that it's the players and not the manager? Like, the players are sucking. It is not game. Like, what? Do they think this is football? Like, that he's got to break down the X's and O's of how to manage a baseball game? Do I think he should have benched Segura last week?

Yes. Do I think he needs a better example in the clubhouse? Yes. But for the love of God, they can't hit fastballs. I agree with you. I think the lion's share of the blame goes on the players. But they're not getting any of it. Okay, fair.

They should get it. But you can't absolve Gabe Kapler of this. It's not like Gabe's doing a great job. I'm sorry. But what is he supposed to do? I don't know. If they don't show up lifeless every night, then throw your body on the freaking clubhouse floor.

He tried that. Well, nothing's working. Okay, then the players should do something. Then the message isn't getting through. But what's the message supposed to be? Hit the baseball, go hit the baseball. Play with some fire. Show the hell up.

You've got an entire city talking about me getting fired, and you come and get swept by the Marlins at home for the first time since 2009? You score one run on Chase Utley night? The night we were honoring the guy, the man, you are the man, Chase Utley? You put up that stinker on that night? But speaking of Chase Utley, what did all those

videos say? Rollins, Howard, all the videos said the same thing. When something needed to be said, it was Chase that said something. It is on the players to say something and get it out of them. I think Gabe needs to go to Romulo, go to Harper and say, guys, you gotta do something.

At some point. At what point is Gabe culpable? Like at some point you have to. It goes all around. I agree. You're not firing the whole team, right? Players aren't going anywhere. At a certain point, however he has to do it,

Gabe Kepler has to find a way to get them to respond to him or else he's not the right manager for the job. Maybe not. I mean, maybe not. Maybe not. I just think that the way we're talking about gabe is like this guy is not it's like it's like he's he's devising a game plan that's like not working like it's football i don't think that that's not how it works i agree with you so so listen do i like here's he there's a lot of

parallels i think we learn a lot from from doug and gabe and what doug did is he created a leadership council right i mean that's the first thing he did like i just i just i i want i don't think gabe totally knows how to manage a clubhouse like i agree with that i think segura should have been benched last week and i think i think it creates a precedent of hey like we're not going to stand for that like you're playing times you cut your playing time is gonna be cut or whatever and then for cesar to do it again, he couldn't bench him if he wanted to because he created the precedent with Segura.

That's the problem. Agreed. That is an issue. He had the chance to set a precedent with the Segura thing. To create some accountability in the clubhouse. Right. And this is the problem with, I think he's so,

he really didn't have a a a rise up outside of being a player like he was a player and then he went to like player development player development yeah he was never a manager

and like he was like Alex Cora was physically in the Astros locker room clubhouse and saw how AJ had handled himself he was a bench coach like he did things that

that in game type stuff you see how the manager does things you get that real life experience and I think I think Gabe just thinks a lot like a player. Like Doug Peterson, he was also a player, and I think he understands the player's side.

But what makes Doug so special is that he can see the player's side, but also know that this is what you have to do if you want to have a successful clubhouse. So I get it from that standpoint. And I think he made some mistakes in the last couple weeks that are going to end up costing him his job. But ultimately, I think it's the players that are the reason

he's going to lose his job. I agree with that. I think ultimately, if there's a pie chart of blame, the players portion is easily the largest portion of blame on that pie chart for me. And look, I think Matt Klintak deserves some blame. We've talked about it. I mean, if he had listened to this podcast,

he wouldn't have gone into the season with Mike Alfranco as a starting third baseman. Or Charlie Morton not in the rotation. Or Charlie Morton not in the rotation. We talk about the Dodgers all the time. The thing that makes the Dodgers so special is, yes, they have elite talent and all that, but they have a thousand guys.

If someone gets hurt, they just throw someone else in and it works. This team lacks depth. I think you can blame Klintak for that. Well, I think you can blame Amaro for that. Sure, sure.

The infrastructure, it goes all the way back. It literally goes, that's how hard it is to build up a baseball team. It's a very fair point. Takes years and years. It takes so long

to build up. The Astros lost 100 games or more three years in a row. Right, and all they did was develop players. The Dodgers, they obviously never went into the full tank, but they invest

everything into player development. The Twins are starting to do this as well. You have to invest. You have to start from the ground up. And that's where they kind of are. They just don't have enough guys. Like, Ranger Suarez is having... Ranger Suarez, Cole Irvin, all these guys are not guys.

They're not major league pitchers. The breaking point for me is Ranger Suarez. That's the... That's the levy breaking for me. It's like, I cannot believe that Ranger Suarez is on a major league roster. There are like six guys in the bullpen that I could say that about them. But this is the problem. This is the problem

when you... We say they need to make all these moves, right? But they already made so many moves. I know. I know. That's why the people who are wholly blaming Klentak, I think is ridiculous too. You can't change everything in one off season.

This, this was too big an effort. And I think he did make some really nice moves this off season. If Bryce Harper plays well, if JT Romito plays well, we're still lauding the moves that Klentak made. A hundred percent agree. The players deserve the lion's share of this, but

again, at a certain point, like, Kapler's message isn't getting through to them. The fact that he went out and got ejected on Saturday and it did nothing? It did nothing to fire this team up. I mean, that was a clearly purposeful thing by Kapler. Never been ejected before. It's not his style.

It was scripted. Even did the Earl Weaver dirt kick. Never been ejected before. It's not his style. It was very scripted. It was scripted. Even did the Earl Weaver dirt kick. He said, you suck. You suck. And I was like, I mean.

Kick me out. Can you kick me out? Hey, kick me out, okay? Kick me out. Clearly orchestrated, but it did nothing.

It did nothing. It did nothing the rest of that game, and it certainly did nothing on Sunday when they came out lifeless yet again. My issue with Kapler is at a certain point,

this team has to fight. They have to show some energy. They have to show some life. And again, look, I'm not saying Larry Bowe has to be in there flipping over tables or something, but maybe one outburst, maybe something that fires someone up. I just, again, I can't fire the 26 guys on the team.

So at a certain point, if this keeps going, and I'm not at fire Kapler now, where I am at is fire John Maley right now. Yesterday, a week ago, what are we doing here? What more do we need to see from John Maley? You've been saying it forever. This guy's fired from four organizations. Or let go.

Three. Whatever. The Cubs fired him a year after winning the World Series. Yes, Jim. Chili Davis, come on in. Get the hell out. I mean, at what point, my point is at what point does something happen? Because to just allow this, and for Kapler with the hustling stuff, it's the same type

of thing where he allowed it to go on and thus it keeps happening. And there's no real line set. Organizationally, something has to happen because what we've seen the last three weeks is unacceptable yeah and like i don't want to my problem i don't want anyone like whatever like i don't want anyone theoretically my job in a problem but it is what it is this is the way baseball works also like you're gonna be fine okay yes yeah look you're way better off than i am okay yeah you got lots more money than me so you you'll figure it out. Listen, I'm perfectly fine firing people. I got a quick trigger.

But my problem with Mailey is, like, obviously I'm saying that it's the player's fault for Kaeper, right? Yeah. So it seems contradictory to want Mailey fired. My problem with Mailey is that he preaches selectively aggressive and slug, right? But when you watch the Phillies, it's more just selective. It's just selective. It's just selective. There's no aggressive. Other than Scott Kingery, who's the one doing not what he was told to do originally by John

Mailey. But it's crazy. They preach selectively aggressive and try to slug. They are 20th in every offensive category at this point. They're anywhere from 17th to 24th in every offense. It's embarrassing. They are definitely selective. They see a lot of pitches.

And it's a good game plan if you know how to implement it. But the problem is, they're always guessing. When I watch the Phillies on offense, they're always, always guessing. And then at some point, that has to come back to the hitting coach, right? Or a coach. Or the hitting development plan. Right, whatever. Yes, organization.

You can blame it on organizational as well. But at a certain point and look, even if what's happening is not John Maley's fault, at a certain point, something has to happen. Whether, again, and I don't think they should fire Gabe Kapler right now. I'm not calling for his job now. I would, in a perfect world,

like to see Gabe get the rest of this season to see if he can turn this around. But if they decide not to fire John Mailey now, and this keeps happening, it will be Kapler who gets fired. And then it'll be Mailey because of that, and so on and so forth. Whoever they bring in next is going to have a whole new staff. A whole new staff. So, everyone's job

is on the line. And Rob Thompson's already in place, which means Joe Girardi. Interesting. Wouldn't that be interesting? I almost think they might need a veteran manager. These guys aren't responding to Gabe, no matter what we want to say. Again, I'm very with you that I think that the general Phillies public is putting too much of this on Gabe.

Yeah. But ultimately, if your team doesn't respond to you, why the hell are you there? Right. And I do think that not benching Segura, trying to set that little precedent, I think that's going to be the move that's ultimately going to be the nail in the coffin. We called it here. I love the way you phrased it.

One game in, and this is exactly what I was thinking, one game in June is not as important as the whole season. It's just not. You have to do that. You have to think. And that's the problem. I'm obviously pro analytics, but like that's thinking too much about the numbers and not about the human

side of it. Like that's too much thinking about, that's too much thinking about, Oh, well like, well, if we might lose this game, if one of our eight best players isn't playing right now,

I understand that. But like, you need to also have a creative culture of, of how you want to play the game and accountability and discipline and all that type of stuff. It matters. And accountability and discipline and all that type of stuff. It matters. And I mean, I think that's been an issue with Gabe a fair amount this season. The idea of not thinking forward with some of these decisions.

Just thinking about that game and the impact of trying to win that game isn't as important as about thinking about the rest of the season and trying to create something that's going to last throughout the rest of the season. And that's where the inexperience comes in. I think right now, we're starting to see the inexperience, but if you're telling me that the reason they're losing seven games in a row is because Gabe's not

making them correct tactical decisions, that's just not true. Totally agree with you. They need to hit the baseball. I think they have a... And look, with the bullpen and pitching, I mean, nobody could get this right. We're talking about, again, putting non-major league pitchers into games.

That's what I'm talking about. What do you want them to do? Very fair. They had to rush up J.D. Hammer, who is definitely not ready. Not ready. Edgar Garcia's not ready. No, they had to rush up...

Adam Haisley was in the big leagues. I know. Adam Haisley was not ready for the big leagues. I know. There's talk of Alec Boehm being the... Already, I know. Like the September savior.

Like, it's crazy. That's where we're at with the level of non-depth that's on this roster. You're bringing up guys that are just not big leaguers. Like, Edebrey Ramos, this team trusts... Wait, he's coming in in high leverage situations. It's ridiculous. I mean, what are we talking about here? They're starting Daniel De Los Santos.

I mean, the one thing the Phillies have gotten correct this year is that Daniel De Los Santos is a reliever. I mean, that guy is not a starter. He's not a starter. And he should learn a splitter like tomorrow. But, like, this roster is just not, like, it's a mixture of a bunch of things, right? Like, maybe Kaepernick's message isn't getting through, which it looks that way. Evidence says it isn't. The roster is completely flawed.

They have a black hole at third base. Scott Kingery has developed the yips from third base to first base, which isn't great. No. Their center fielder, the starting center fielder, had the legal problems, and he's out for the year. Andrew McCutcheon out for the year. Then you have the starting rotation.

You don't have a fifth starter, and every guy you try to bring up is bad and hasn't pitched well at all. At times, there was eight bullpen pieces on the IL. That's a major factor. Sure, maybe the cap and the offense. The offense might be the biggest thing. We talk so much about the pitching,

but the way this team was built, we never expected the pitching to be the best in baseball. We expected this lineup to be one of the best in the National League. They've been horrendous. The 2017 Phillies had a higher WOBA than this offense right now.

That is a real kick in the junk. That is a kick in the junk, Jack. The 2017 Phillies had a higher WOBA against 94 miles an hour in the zone than this Phillies team. Good thing they got the curveball machine coming out.

That's... Okay, you were a baseball player. What the hell, man? What was that? What is he talking about? Bringing the curveball machine out? Oh, well, no. I mean, there's different pitching machines where you can make it throw curveballs. I know. I know, man, but like... It would have been funny if he said box of curveballs, which

is like a classic. So my freshman year i was at baseball practice and like freshman year you're never trying to mess up anything like you're trying to not get yelled at basically and my coach like uh my coach says hey can you get the left handed fungos out of the uh out of the out of the shed and i'm in there for like 20 minutes and i'm like where like where are the left handed fun goes I can see you just freak it out and then I come out and everyone's laughing so

that's awesome so like I thought I thought it could but but but listen if you want to really analyze that clip

like buddy your problems aren't with the curveballs yes it's with the fastball like what's happening you guys can't hit fastballs that's that's the main the main microcosm

of the situation so the offense is a disaster they have too much talent to be this badm of the situation. So the offense is a disaster. They have too much talent to be this bad. I think the major league offensive philosophy is flawed. I think the minor league philosophy is working much better. But those guys are actually performing. We're seeing more power out of Boehm.

Moniak's been on a tear. You're just seeing guys who were haz... Haseley before he came up. Debbie Gruion. You're just seeing guys that you weren't totally sure about their hit tool and they're now starting to fulfill it a little bit. So hopefully as those guys get pushed up further and further, they can

just take over the Major League roster and not worry about the hitting coach so much. Yeah. Sure. Look, I... All right, so let's play this forward a little bit. We'll get into the Mets series. It's funny.

Who could have thunk that the Phillies are playing the one team in baseball who's a bigger disaster than they are right now, as Mickey Calloway is still yelling at reporters right now. But... This is going to be a battle of who hates their team more. It's going to be pretty impressive, their team more it's gonna be pretty impressive man it's gonna be pretty impressive this is like the which coach is gonna last through the series

i don't know um but all right let's play it forward what what do you first of all do you expect this team to turn it around i mean is the nl east over they're six and a half back right now the braves are playing really good baseball. Essentially, logically thinking about it, the Braves right now I think are on pace for 94 wins. They are on pace for 94 wins. They're playing better baseball as of late too. The Phillies would have to play what, like over 600 baseball to get to that range? Well, the Phillies have to go 50 and 35 to reach 90 wins. So it's almost 600 baseball.

They have to have a 588. And that's 90. Yeah. So they have to play 600 baseball in order to compete. If the Braves just stay on course, just do what they're doing. Which they won't. I mean, it's baseball. Maybe not, right?

But the Braves are a good baseball team. They are. No, that's not. They're just a good baseball team. That's not what I'm saying. But like. 94 wins is a very realistic prediction. But they also started off slow.

I'm just saying that like. That's my point, though. They're playing even better. You could even predict a higher win total for them. But baseball's not perfect. I agree with that. But my point is the Braves are a good team. They feel like a 90-plus win club.

They do? Right. So the Phillies need to play 600 baseball. Can the Phillies play 600 baseball, of course, the rest of the season? I mean, this is the wrong time to ask that question. But that's what we've got to do. We've got to think, like, where is this team at? Ultimately, where is this team at?

Obviously, they're only a game out of the wild card, second wild card. So, like, the season isn't over. I just don't want to – I just can't believe we're about to have another meaningless summer of baseball. That's what I'm worried about. That's where I'm going. That's what I'm asking you. We're about two weeks from no one caring anymore. I know.

Like, the Phillies need to go now. Now. Like, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Like, tonight. Against the Mets. Against Mets. Hey, the dude did two times go against the Mets. Mets Hey Dude did Two times Wouldn't that be something

Yeah The next time He pitched against them It wasn't as good But Look And thank God They have Cy Eflin

On the hill tonight Who'd have thunk it But Look I'm just Again I would bet Large sums of money

That the Braves Win the NL East Yeah There's no doubt Right Unless injuries Start to catch They haven't had

Really any injuries You never know Baseball's weird Like you said Baseball's weird But That's where I'm at And here's the thing There's no doubt in my mind. Right. Unless injuries start to catch. They haven't had really any injuries. You never know. Baseball's weird, like you said. Baseball's weird. But that's where I'm at. And here's the thing. If the Phillies, if this continues for two more weeks, Kepler will get fired.

Yep. Yeah. Yep. But that's crazy to think about. When we were talking two weeks ago, they've lost 10 games in 26 days, Jay. Uh-huh. Think about that.

Yeah. They were three games. I'm smiling through the pain right now. Should we just talk minor league baseball or something. Yeah. They were three games. I'm smiling through the pain right now. Did we just talk minor league baseball or something? Yeah. I don't even know what to say anymore. No, it's just, we're not even going to get. It's not July yet.

We're not even going to get playoff NOLA. Oh, God. Which is a less exciting proposition in and of itself right now. Maybe. Good thing NOLA went out and freaking grinded for them on Friday night. That worked out. Yeah, it's just, I'm not, they're a game out in the wild card. I know.

But I don't understand how you can watch this team right now and be like, they're going to turn around. Playoffs, they'll be great. Yeah, because when you factor in anything, it just feels like it's just not their year. With the injuries, with the staff taking a step back outside of Eflin, Pavetta not fully stepping up, Nola stepping back, the offense being as bad as it is, it feels like there's so much going against this team right now.

The whole fan base is just angry all the time about this team. And rightfully so. I'm okay with them being angry. The most frustrating part about it... The Phillies set expectations for this team. And rightfully so. I'm okay with them being angry. The most frustrating part about it... The Phillies set expectations for this year. Wow. Objectively excellent offseason. Yes, they set expectations.

They made it feel big. Guess what? When you set expectations, you have to be ready to deal with the repercussions when you don't reach them. This is what they've done two years in a row. They do this BS where they win like three games in a row

and they're like, we're really good. You guys gotta really start taking us seriously. But it seemed like we should. Because they're frontrunners. They've been frontrunners for two years.

And they have talent though. I mean, offensively, McCutcheon, look, we said it here and people gave me crap. There's a certain WIP host

who when I said to him, I don't think this team is good enough to recover from the Andrew McCutcheon injury, said I was crazy. Losing one player, you're out of your mind. No, sorry. Losing Andrew McCutcheon was that big a deal for this team. Apparently. I mean, usually one baseball player doesn't make a huge difference,

but just from the energy, the accountability, the defense, the leading off, setting a tone. They're just going about their business, man. Yeah, I mean, Andrew McCutcheon was everything. I mean, he was leading off, setting a tone. Yeah, I mean, Andrew Kutchman is everything. God, I love him. I miss him so much. Yeah, we'll see. I don't know what he's going to be next year. Of course, he just tore his ACL. I know, but are you going to stick him in

center field? You can't. He'll be a left fielder next year. And Bruce will be on the bench? Speaking of which, Jay Bruce is getting melee'd right now. Yeah, of course he is. How about, think about this, Jack. Another two weeks of this, Jay Bruce will be on the bench. Speaking of which, Jay Bruce is getting melee'd right now. Yeah, of course he is. How about, think about this, Jack.

Another two weeks of this, Jay Bruce might be getting flipped to a contender. Alright? You think about that? So let's talk about this. Any chance they sell? Yeah, of course there is.

No, dude. Middleton's not going to let them sell. I don't think, but if you're telling me that they're six games out of the wildcard but July 31st,

seven games out of the wildcard but July 31st, they shouldn't sell. I would hope it doesn't get to that point. I would too. But there is a situation. There is a scenario where... No, there's not. No, there's not. Don't say that.

If they're at all in shouting distance of the wildcard, no. I don't think they will sell. But they've lost 11 of 13. Like, they've lost seven straight. If this keeps happening, of they will sell. But they've lost 11 of 13. Like, they've lost seven straight. If this keeps happening, of course you sell. I just, if it gets to that point, I hope it doesn't. And I think they're too good to be this bad. They're not this bad.

But who do they sell? Jay Bruce. Okay, sweet. I know, but I mean, like, you sell Jay Bruce. You give Jake Arrieta away for the Kerry Leitenberg bag of balls. Oh, well, if they can flip Arrieta, I would flip Arrieta regardless. Right now, regardless. Just take next year's salary. You're right.

That's an issue, though, right? They don't have anyone to sell. You can't pull the Yankees thing if you don't have a... Sell Segura. How about that? I wouldn't hate it. Although, who the hell's a shortstop? Luis Garcia. Let's go. No, he's terrible this year. I'm kidding. Anyway, come on.

Adam Morgan would be probably the most valuable commodity, but I would rather have Adam Morgan on the team next year. Yeah. I mean, if you want to get serious, it's Real Muto. Sure. If you don't want to extend him. Yeah, of course. A year and a half of-

He's not playing great, though. It wouldn't be the best time to flip him. Yeah, but if you bet on track records and stuff. No, look, I think- And get him around a real heading coach. Yeah. Oh, though. It wouldn't be the best time to flip him. Yeah, but if you bet on track records and stuff. No, look, I think again. And get him around a real heading coach. Yeah. Oh, man. Fire Mailey.

Let's just say it. Fire John Mailey. I'm okay saying that. Are you okay saying that? I've been wanting to fire him for two weeks. Thank you. So, all right. So the official High Hopes podcast position, fire John Mailey.

Fire John Mailey. Okay. Now, here's the thing that could come back to bite us. What if they don't hit after that? And I will say to

that, that it is not just because they fired John Mailey they're going to start hitting well. That's not going to fix everything. They need to bring

in, like, I want them to bring in the Mariners hitting coach. Like a guy that knows how to unlock power and unlock slug. Who's the Dodgers guy or whoever?

Well, you're not going to sign him away from the Dodgers. No, of course not. But like, they need a whole organizational overhaul of the major league hitting program.

Yeah. Minor league's in good hands with our boy O-Chart. Just make O-Chart the hitting coach. But we talked about that. Do you want to take him away from the minor league development?

Well, because the infrastructure is there, right? You would hope so. I mean, all his guys are there. Just have the driveline guys handle the minors bring o chart up handle the majors get driveline through the whole organization i'm in for that me too it sounds great i'm very in for it um but it's not but like firing john maylee this year like i just don't think that's gonna change anything for the rest of the season but i think overall it's like there's no even if they make

playoffs this year i don't want to see him back next year. No, I'm so done with John Mayley. And even still, look, even if it's not something that's going to change it immediately or whatever, you have to do something. You can't just let this continue to happen and just have the this is fine gif or meme there all the time. That can't be it. Well, that's the thing that's so frustrating. It's like, you know, they'll lose these games and I feel like they're always just like, well, we'll figure it out. We're too talented. It's like, you know, they'll lose these games, and I feel like they're always just like, well, we'll figure it out. Yes.

We're too talented. I mean, Gabe, I was so annoyed with him after that game yesterday, and he does the whole, like, we win as a team, we lose it. It's like, come on, man. You've been in baseball way too long to think that anyone believes this BS you're spewing. And I get it. Gabe doesn't want to rip his coaches. He doesn't want to rip his guys, all that.

I get it. But guess what? At a certain point, Gabe, people are get it. Gabe doesn't want to rip his coach. He doesn't want to rip his guys. All that. I get it. But guess what? At a certain point, Gabe, people are getting fired. It's just going to happen. And if you're not going to fire him, then you're going to get fired. Exactly.

That's what happened with the Flyers and Hextall. Yes. Hextall refused to fire the coach and they fired him instead. Yes. And that's what's going to happen. A hundred percent.

A hundred percent that's what's going to happen. That's part of the inexperience. Yeah. It's part of the inexperience. It's not knowing any better. Right. So, I know. It's just to happen. That's part of the inexperience. Yeah. It's part of the inexperience. It's not knowing any better. Right. So, I know.

It's just been fun. Ah, man. Well, at least we got the Mets. I guess that's a good thing, right? Two tire fires matching up. So, the Mets coming to town. Mickey Calloway told Tim Healy, the reporter, called him a mother effer. Mm-hmm.

Then Jason Vargas jumps in protecting his coach. High school science teacher Jason Vargas jumps into the fray. Get the F out of here. Yeah. All that stuff. Things aren't going

very well. Speaking of managers, I can't believe they're still in place. The fact that he has a job is extraordinary. It is stunning. Yeah.

That he still has a job. It's mind blowing. I mean, we were calling for him to get fired last year. Do you remember what, I mean, like, remember when his team batted out of order? You know what I'm not excited for, though? He did the Kapler thing, too.

The reliever ready, that happened to him. He said that everything you could think of a bad manager has happened with him. Dude, they just hired an 82-year-old pitching coach. I know. Like, what are we doing? They're a total disaster. It's great. I mean, the only thing, they have Pete Al are we doing? They're a total, they're a disaster. It's great. I mean, the only thing,

they have Pete Alonso who's amazing. Oh, they're so lucky. Well, Jeff McNeil's going to hit what? I mean, he's fourth in the NL in batting average. He's going to bat 400.

He's going to torch us this week, right? Yeah. I mean, there's no doubt in my mind. Of course he is. Like, Jeff McNeil is the next Philly's

torturer. Kurt Suzuki. Yeah, but like, way better and plays all the time. Yeah, screw Kurt Suzuki. Jeff McNeil's amazing. He's going to torch us. That's what's going to happen.

This is going to be... Blame Jordan Spieth! Blame Jordan Spieth! I listen when you talk. It's going to be an annoying week. Yeah. At least we avoid DeGrom. Yes, that is true. That is huge. And Syndergaard obviously not pitching

as well. So that's good. Something. Yeah, something. Should we talk about something better? You have something better to talk about? I got nothing. Yeah, we're going to talk about this now. Because I don't want to save it for later.

Because I feel like people are going to turn it off. They're still here. Shout out to the people still here. I love you. High hopes night? Yes! We should have led with high hopes. What's the one good thing going on?

I know. We need to start leading with that. We should. We're bad at this. We always are like, oh, we're going to lead. We should have led with high hopes. What's the one good thing going on? I know. We need to start leading with that. We should. We're bad at this. We always are like, oh, we're going to lead with like- We'll save it for the end. Rate and review the podcast or like the stuff that we would love if people would help us out with and all that.

And we always do it at the end. Yeah. Always a bad idea. So we'll do it now. It's a really bad idea. You're not good at this. High hopes night at the ballpark is green lighted. We're all good to go.

It is happening. So all you got to do is go to either James or I's Twitter page and the link. Pin tweet, man. I pinned a tweet. I never pin tweets.

I did it for this. It's a very important pin tweet. Come hang out, James and I. And there's gonna be a bunch of WIP people are coming too.

Yes. So it's not gonna be just us. We meet all those guys. We're gonna set up a tailgate somewhere. I feel like Jetro's a place. It just feels like the right big jetro guy yeah i'm oh it's my spot yeah i mean it's five save five dollars in parking um it will obviously i don't

know if we're not gonna bring beer for everyone but there will be beer yeah um i'll bring some beer of course we're gonna bring beer no no 15 percenters no blueberry ales oh that was such a bad decision man i'm still reeling from that decision. So it's going to be fun. Listen, our seats are in the 140s, which is right in the left center field gap. It's pretty cool, actually, where the seats are. It's a good spot. Yeah, it is a good spot.

Tickets are $33. There's a discount on the tickets. They're usually, I think, like five bucks more than that or something like that. Yeah. So just coming out with us. We'll have fun. Hopefully our team's still contending. Will Gabe Kavler still be the manager on High Hopes Night? Yes or no? So just coming out with us. We'll have fun. Hopefully our team's still contending.

Will Gabe Kavler still be the manager on High Hopes Night? Yes or no? If John Maley's not fired by then, is it officially the fired John Maley night? I think that's fair. I think it's perfect. You kidding me? I think that's perfectly fair. So go get tickets coming out with us.

Again, if you're listening to this podcast right now, we really want you to come because you're the people we want to meet because you're the people who really care so please coming out listen the high hopes family is the high hopes family and we want everyone to hang out and family needs to hang out it's important and talk through problems with their baseball team that's true there's a potential that's always there probably not maybe thinking about it maybe we'll think about it will that be her first game well i'll probably have to do the first game before because uh cindy is very excited cindy webster the great cindy webster i should say yes very excited about zoe's first philly's game and making it a thing that's a big moment yes i'm excited

about too my wife less excited but it'll be good my wife's not a make a thing of things type of person okay she's more of uh no one pay attention to me type of person. That's like me. Yeah. That's good. That was good. All right. So you want to talk some minor league

stuff to get you excited? I'll finish with that. I'll empty the mail back. What time is it? We're only 30 minutes in? We've actually run out of things to talk about on this podcast.

But this is good because I think right now people don't need a super long Phillies podcast right now. This is not like fun. What else can we talk about? this podcast. But this is good because I think right now people don't need a super long Phillies podcast right now. This is not like fun. What else can we talk about? It's just us bitching. Okay, but I got many things to talk about. You always do, Jack.

You always do. NOLA on Friday. There's finally a NOLA game plan that came to our eyes that is so obvious and it blows my mind that they don't do this every time. It is fastballs early, curveballs early, changeups worked in the fifth inning, and everything sails home easy breezy Aaron Nola that's all you have to do when you can locate your fastball did you notice that yeah you noticed it on Friday like his first four innings he was

fastball curveball and he threw like five change-ups before the fifth inning and then like the fifth inning on was like change up you mix it all in I love it I just want to see if it'll work against a non-AAA offense. Well, the thing is that AAA offense just swept us at home for the first time since 2009. Oh, I remember, Jack. Thanks. It's a fact, though. But that team went to the World Series, so who knows?

Oh, man. Oh, yeah. Good point. I mean, think about that. That's good stuff right there. Yay! Philly's are going to the World Series! Can you read his lead off? Please Kingery needs to be at leadoff.

Please. He certainly should be batting sixth. What is up with Kingery? He's been the best hitter on the team by far, and he's batting in the sixth hole. Yeah, it's crazy. What was the thought process? Well, because I guess you want to lengthen the lineup

and have someone actually good at the bottom so you can turn it, I don't know, maybe. That was my only thought process was he wants someone who's good down there to, if there's guys on in front of him, he can actually drive them home. bottom so you can turn it i don't know like maybe yeah that's that was my only thought process was he wants someone who's good down there to to like if there's guys on in front of him you can actually drive him home rather than sean Rodriguez good guy in the lineup bat him in the top three that's why i like it but the reason i want kingery at leadoff so bad is because i think this team needs a spark and sure bryce harper could pop a home run or whatever but mostly it's usually just a

walk or a home run at this point um and obviously a home run will get the team going, I just think they need a table setter. And Kingery has been a table setter. I thought yesterday in that Marlins game, he took a lot of good at-bats, like working deep counts, a couple 3-2 counts. He worked a walk in the first inning. And I just think that if you put him in the leadoff spot,

there's a chance that he rips a double to open up a game, and he's speeding around and like when a team sees that and they see like the the leadoff hitter i know where it's turned into it's turned into obp slow guy whatever but like the traditional leadoff hitter it's coming often it is a really exciting it's an exciting thing when that guy gets ongoing and you see him just try to steal second or whatever i thought the most underrated thing about those great Indian teams in the 90s that everyone talked about how great that

offense was was how important Lofton was at the top and what that guy did from just getting on base used to throw pitchers off used to like it was just it mattered to have that type of guy at the top. Yeah and I think Kingery fits he fits the modern day leadoff hitter guy because he has a high hard hit percentage and he's barreling everything

so he has a chance to do some damage at the top of the lineup but also i think he's the kind of guy that is a table setter and he's a guy that can kind of get the spark going because they need to create their own energy if gabe cabell came in and flipped over a table they don't really give a crap they'd be like well that's weird why would gabe do that if if kingery goes out there sets a tone like i think that i think that would do more wonders than flipping over a table i'll take either but i'm with you but i just i want to see kingery the leadoff because i think he would do more wonders than flipping over a table. I'll take either, but I'm with you. But I want to see Kingery the leadoff because I think he would add a decent spark to this lineup. And I'm wondering, I thought about this on the way in,

I'm wondering if this team lacks emotion because their main core is free agents. So remember those Padres teams, like the 2015 Padres, 14 Padres, the Blue Jays teams, those Marlins teams where they tried to buy their way in free agency, and it never worked out. I'm worried that might be happening here. Now, I think that Bryce is different because I think Bryce wanted to come here and change the culture and be a member of this core.

But when you bring in a Segura, Real Muto in a way, but I think Real Muto is also a member of this core. It's a bunch of players. The reason why I think teams win and lose in baseball today is that their main core came up together and figured out how to win together. Unfortunately, the players the Phillies brought up through their minor league system are just eh. Not good.

Like Kingery and Hoskins and Nola. That's it. Afflin. Stop. Thislin. Stop. This year. Yeah. But when you see teams like the Braves, you see these teams that have all this camaraderie,

and you see them having fun. Like this team has no fun right now. I know, which is crazy considering the first couple weeks of the season. Like that was the thing we were all jacked up about. Celebrate. This is great. Hand shakes for everyone on the team. But here's the thing.

They never figured out how to win together, they never lost together right now they're losing together but they're a bunch of old players who've been on different teams area another example like they've been on other teams that figure out how to win together very rarely you see a team come together in one offseason and it's like oh we're all best friends and we know how to win we know how to lose like That just never happens. And what we have to learn is that, or Clint's actually learned, really, is you can't just do this all in one offseason.

You have to, they're doing it with the infrastructure they've built, slowly starting to churn out some actual prospects. But I think that's the most important thing. I mean, those Phillies teams, obviously, from 06 to 11. Sure, yeah, like Houston, the Cubs, all these teams, when they won, they did it that way. You have to win with homegrown players. Because when things go south, you get what's happening right now at Citizens Bank Park.

You have a team of players who never won or lost together that don't know how to fight through it. Sure. I think it's a great point. Thank you. I think it's a great point. Thank you. I think that's all I have. That's all you got?

Yeah. All right. Well, I mean, unless you want me to do props. Well, Philly's Mets. Just general thoughts on this series. I think it's pretty clear most people would say, look, at this point we'll take a split, but they need to win a series. Yeah, three or four.

They need to win a series, Jack. Yeah, but asking this team to take three or four right now is a daunting task. Asking them to take one of four seems like a daunting task, Jack. Even against a team that's as messed up as they are. I know. Man. They avoid DeGrom. Yay.

Which is good. Sure, it's great. I got nothing. I know. Take 3-4. And they're at home. That's the problem. This weekend there was 45,000 people there every game.

Well, that's what, and especially the Friday night one pisses me off the most. It just does. I keep coming back to it. It's Chase freaking Utley night. Like, show the hell up. The crowd is ready. It's just against the Marlins. And not just that.

It's the whole thing. I mean, you just got swept. You just lost two or three in Atlanta, including a 15-1 debacle and the gut-punch loss of all gut-punch losses. And you got the Marlins at home after that road trip. You put up one run. And you're telling the media that's okay because you're going home and facing the Marlins?

Yeah, true. Yeah, and then you get swept. Swept. You get swept at home, especially on Brett Eldridge night. Oh, God. That was the most disheartening one. You have got that home. Especially on Brett Eldridge night. Oh God. Impressive. That was the most exciting one. You have an absolute legend. It's a great point.

You have a legend ready. How are people supposed to be fired up for the concert if, you know? God. It's a great point. I wish I was there for Brett Eldridge night. I bet you do. Love him. You like bad music.

No. I like music that makes me feel good. All right. What's your final thoughts, Fritzy? I think we've had enough of this. Boy, my final thoughts fritz yeah i think we've had enough of this boy my final thoughts are just absolutely loaded today um first off uh a thousand ratings and reviews and we'll release the price hopper episode we waited to the end if you think this is depressing

wait for that episode uh yeah well it's even more depressing thinking that they signed him after just kidding just kidding uh So here's the thing. Is that Alec Boehm is amazing. Oh, buddy. It's go time. He gives me a Boehm-er. You love to text me. I got a Boehm-er.

I get way too many Boehm-er texts from you. Way too many. And I don't care about the service time thing if they think he can help this year because service time is going out anyway. Service time thing is done. It's getting changed. Look, Pete Alonzo. We've seen it. Pete Alonzo, Tatis.

We saw it so many more times coming into this season where teams were like, screw that. It's going to change. Come on up. Just bring up. Yeah, right.

So if they think he can help this team and do I think he's better than Mikel Franco right now? You're darn right. I think he's better than Mikel Franco. Everybody thinks he is. Who isn't better than Mikel Franco? It's crazy how what a fall from better than Mikel Franco. Everybody thinks he is. Who isn't better than Mikel Franco? It's crazy how...

What a fall from grace for Mikel. Yeah, grace being used loosely there. Is Mikel Island even there? I think it's sunk, man. It's underwater. It's sunk. It's like Atlantis now. It's like the lost city of Mikel Island.

I think the Phillies helped sink it. They made sure he's never playing. It's crazy how they need... Brad Miller. And again, I know you're very hyped up about the Brad Miller move just as a general move, but the fact that a guy who was in AAA a week and a half or two weeks ago or whatever it is, is starting over Franco, says something. Yeah, Sean Rodriguez too.

Says something, man. Scott Kingery can't throw from third base, so he's at third base. So if Bone can come up and help great um i mean they seem like the way the writers are talking about it there's real consideration for it it does seem like there's a lot of excitement around that well and he's just crushing the ball like he's just everywhere he's gone he's just hit which is thank god i mean thank god thank god one of our top prospects someone they drafted high in the draft can actually hit. What a frigging miracle. Speaking of which, Mickey Mouniak. Mickey Mouniak.

Oh, the guy's getting hot. The guy's betting like 309 with a 380 OBP. I love your ability to still find joy when everyone else is just dying with this team. You're like, wait a minute, Mickey. I'm only looking at prospects now. I know you are. I really am. You're like perfectly put together to deal with these types of things.

You could just transfer right over. Yeah, and don't, listen, don't even get me started on Jalen Ortiz now with the 12 home runs in the year who I thought could never hit a baseball, but he got laser eye surgery this offseason, so maybe he's back. I love those. You know I'm a big believer in when it's like the LASIK or they had some sort of weird physical issue that they fixed. I love those types of things.

I honestly think Bryce needs that. Bryce has astigmatism. Does he really? Fix that. Yeah, definitely fix that. Some of those contact lines. I was trying to hit yesterday and something in my eye,

I couldn't see the ball. Wow. I was trying to swing with one eye. How am I supposed to do that? That's a great question. It's a phenomenal question. I love you coming in and being like,

everything hurts. I'm like, you're 25. Yeah, but this is a 25-year-old four-year's move from ever throwing 100 pitches. Everything hurts. Jack does it. My shoulder hurts. For, but this is a 25 year old four years move from ever throwing a hundred bitches. Everything hurts.

Jack does it. My shoulder hurts. For all the listeners out there who are my age or older, you know what I'm talking about. Jack, the 25 year old saying everything hurts is like a slap in my face. Yeah, but you've never done what I did yesterday.

Is that so? Yeah. It's a fact. You got any other final thoughts? One more minor league thing. Damon Jones is on... I saw you tweeting about it. Gross.

I'm very excited about David James. The fact that Ranger Suarez is in this ballpen and Damon Jones is not pisses me off. Damon Jones can actually do some things. He's nasty. I'm with you. I think he's nasty. Good.

I'll take a guy from single A over Ranger Suarez right now. If you could throw hard, you got me. Kyle Golosginski? Yes, that guy. The first part of the triple F. Exactly the guy I was talking about. I'll take anybody.

Jack, I'll take anybody. My final thought is don't make us do this anymore, Phillies. Yeah, this is sad. Seriously, we like to have fun. We're trying to find ways to have fun. You're making it so hard. All right? It's really not gold.

So Phillies, help us out. And don't ruin another summer. Yes. August 17, Diop's night. Don't ruin it. Or else. It won't be ruined. It'll be awesome to marry one.

And if you don't fire John Maley, that's what it's going to turn into. Fire John Maley night. Get ready. All right. We'll be back on thursday or friday hopefully to talk about better thing we love you all seriously thank you for listening to this sad sad thing all right until next until next time i was gonna say next week i'm already trying to get ahead until we're not doing one podcast a week. Yes, until next time. It's my podcast. It's my passion. It's a cause I started more than two years ago. It is now the most prolific national daily baseball pod there is.

Another fact. So jump aboard the B.I.B. Express. Follow and listen to Baseball Isn't Boring, presented by Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts.