High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Are We Watching the Greatest Phillie of All Time?

Episode Date: May 15, 2023

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to the Phillies taking two of three from the Rockies and more. Presented by Miller Lite. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the High Hopes Podcast. High Hopes! It's a bunch of baseball nerds talking about the Phillies. On Odyssey and Sports Radio 94 WIP. Yoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo It is another edition of the High Hopes Podcast, a somewhat normal edition. The Phillies win a series. They won five straight before losing yesterday. Showed a little fight.

Who would have thunk it, Jack, that in a 4-0 game in Colorado, losing 4-0 at the time, that the Philadelphia Phillies would show more fight in that game in that moment than the Philadelphia 76ers in a game seven of the playoffs. Go Phillies, man. All you loser Sixers people, like not that I'm a Sixers person, I'm saying like the Sixers are losers. The people are not. Come aboard, baby. Come aboard to a real team that has actually won games in the playoffs,

that actually shows a little fight, that actually has a real MVP on their team. How you doing, pal? Good morning. Well, yeah, the Phillies definitely have never, ever let us down. Never! That seems like a good way to kind of lay this one out. The Phillies, if you've never followed the Phillies

before, just know that they are definitely not the losing est team in the history of baseball. They're winners. I mean, it is funny, though, you know, when the Phillies, again, they had a decade plus of sadness that we were, you know, living through and talking about and all that. But they did. Last year, they had a freaking run, and they didn't win the World Series. But at least they freaking got there, man. Like, people talk about this Sixers team like they're anything close to that Phillies team

last year. It's the second round of the playoffs again anyway how you handling it um honestly the the damper of it is that like I'm I'm honestly surprised at myself I've I very rarely I usually know how I'm gonna react oh I like this yes I'm very surprised at how down I am about this. Really? And it's actually like the Phil stuck two or three. I thought they played great baseball on Friday and Saturday. Yeah, Sunday was sloppy. Didn't watch.

Okay, so two TVs perfectly came in. You might not know that. I have two TVs. They were sloppy yesterday. It was just like they didn't really show up. Kyle Freeland just kind of shut them down, and it wasn't great. But you know what? They had won five straight.

You know, it happens. In my opinion, Sunday didn't happen. It's good. Other than Bryce showing fire and wanting to knock Jake Bird out. Well, Jake Bird's a loser. Totally. I mean, that is one of the most loser things. Oh, it's such a loser move.

Bryce was like, are you serious? Anyway. Also, I love that you're a loser organization just great yeah he was like great well and the thing that kind of the the under uh whatever the underlying thing about that is that like chris bryant's one of his best friends i was i was thrown blown away by i was like isn't it like that dude's like your best friend right like and he's on the other team Well he brought his best friend I don't know He's got a lot of best friends He does Bryce makes friends

JT was his best friend Yes Trey's his best friend Yeah You know So anyway But yeah like And I got screwed yesterday

With the Sixers Cause like I Had to go to my parents house And then I had to go to My in-laws house And like usually Obviously if I was at home, I'd have my computer. We would watch both.

That's tough. It was annoying. It was a bad day for all that to go down. Yeah, it was. There's a lot of stuff going on that I missed. Hey, shout out to Jill First, Mother's Day. Yep. That's pretty fun.

It was great. It was good. And the Sixers ruined it. They did. They really, really did. You know, I'll get there. I'm just saying, like, I'm shocked at how down I am about the Sixers. It is dampering my view on the Phillies.

So I don't want to make this about the Sixers. The Phillies played a good, solid weekend of baseball, and they've played solid baseball ever since they took a pretty big step back with the Dodgers series and whatever. And I just, I think the fight, quote-unquote, yesterday with Bryce Harper, we are seeing the evolution of Bryce Harper of great young player, face of the league, to kind of forgotten about in a way, to now being like leader guy.

And while becoming face of the league again too, let's not forget. One of the face of the league. Yeah, he came back and there was a whole thing on the network about him. And there's a part of me that is like, hey man, that's really dumb. You are coming off...

You could get suspended for a game or two or something. No, no, no. He could have torn it. No, he could have torn the elbow again. He's pushing and punching. Yeah, you're right, you're right, you're right. What are you doing? Yeah, very dumb, very dumb.

You have been back for a week, man. Yes. It's Jake Bird. He's a loser. What are we doing? That was my first reaction. But then I saw he was the first one there. Yep.

And he was the first one to say, hey, no, you don't do that to us. To us. And it was a team thing. And he said it after. He's like, you don't come at us. It's a team. He's never really done that. He's never done that.

I loved it. And I think that is a really, and especially because Reese is not here. Yeah. We talked a lot about the kind of void of leadership with Reese going down Reese is usually the guy that's on the first step looking to always get into it and I think that Bryce now is just fully embracing

being like I'm a Philly and these are my guys and Schwarber is right behind them JT ran right out, Tywon Walker stops running over. Walker was the second guy. I think he's the third one out. Yeah, it was Harper, Romulo, Tywon.

Stotts at first base runs over. I'm with you, dude. I think it was really important because especially how many times we talked about that naturally if you could choose, if we could say, all right, who would we like to be the leader of this team? Bryce is the guy. He's Bryce freaking Harper. Like, they're going to look to him anyway.

If he can take on that leadership type stuff, it changes everything from that perspective. It was a very important fight. I agree with you. And it feels like a turning point. Not a turning point. It feels like a part of the evolution of Bryce Harper as a Philly. of Philly. Yeah. And like the fact that he's like gets that worked up about a nondescript loser relief pitcher for the Rockies of all organizations. And he's like, I'm going to get in your face and we're going to do this right now. It was like it was it was he's been our guy,

but it was like, that's our guy. Totally. Totally. And look, I know I joked about at the beginning, but it was happening at the same time, like as someone who does have the two tvs like in that moment i'm watching in a four nothing game bryce harper losing his mind to your point on a guy who'll be bagging groceries in a month to quote major league you know nobody and harper's losing it and on the other tv i see it hardening and be just like not even caring about a game seven like not showing up. And it was a dichotomy to me where I was like that guy, like that's the guy who's going to win in this city.

That's the guy who's going to lead people somewhere. Like, and it was, it was awesome to watch, not to mention, by the way, the fact that, oh, just don't need spring training. Come back from Tommy John surgery in record time. He's about like three 50 or whatever, like no big deal. Well, and I think it's going to be important and i think that's part of the reason why they've turned this around is is bryce being back and and remember the first game they lost he said unacceptable yep and like it wasn't like

you know i'm back we'll see like he is he man i'm getting over it took me five minutes but i'm getting over it i'm over it because care about real took me five minutes, but I'm getting over it. You should. I'm over it. Care about real winners. Because Bryce Harper, he is a winner. And I think that him setting the tone from Jump Street of like, I'm exactly going to start winning now. Yeah, no doubt.

And that kind of stuff obviously resonates in the clubhouse and really resonates with the fans here. And that's all we can ask for. Instead of being like, and be last night saying, I need more help, you know, rather than be like, hey, I was horrible tonight. And, like, laughing when he's quoting it, like, making fun of the Giannis quotes. Like, bro, you lost. Like, you loser. Like, you're such a loser.

You know what that guy has? A freaking title. And 50 in a closeout. Like, and 50 in a closeout game. And multiple MVPs. And all that. Like, it's just, like, it drives me crazy game and multiple MVPs and all that. It's just like, it drives me crazy.

We're not taking a step back. Bryce has never once done that. Never once. From the moment this guy got here and yes,

if you want to say he's well coached, sure, whatever. Good job by him, man. Good job by Scott Boris. Whatever you want to say, never once since he's been here

has Bryce said one thing that we didn't want him to say. Has he not hit the moment or the thing to say or whatever one time? One time? And Embiid can't get it right one time! He can't get it right one time! Like, did Embiid show

the fire that Harper had in game whatever it is, game 40 of the season or whatever it is, in Colorado down 4-0, did Embiid show that fire once during that whole playoff series against the Boston Celtics? One time where he was as fired up as Harper was in a freaking nothing game in Colorado?

It's just so clear. One guy's this and one guy's that. The funny part is that I don't think that's how Bryce always was. I think almost in a way Philadelphia has gotten this out of Bryce. We all remember that's a clown

question bro and like yeah his his cockiness in a way yeah and like the hunter strickland fight of course you know i i just it makes it makes me so happy that it feels like like i don't remember the time well i do i think iverson had a special relationship with the city. I think Dawkins did. I think, obviously, the 08 guys, like, beloved. But, like, Harper didn't, he wasn't drafted here. He had to come in from the outside. And as an enemy. As an enemy.

Right? And let's be honest. Those players seemed terrible. They were, but he came in as someone we didn't like. And now he's coming here. Yes, and it's just him getting so comfortable here, him being a part of the city, engulfed in the city, it's gotten the best version out of Bryce Harper.

Like, you know, there was a time down in Washington where it's like, does he ever get a big hit? You know, that was a narrative. Now it's like all the guy does is, like Saturday night. That was huge. It was like bang. Friday night. And even back here, the ninth inning hit.

Down 1-0 gets that hit against Toronto. Like that was massive. Started that rally. Or that tie game, you know. And it's one of the offshoot important things of the home run in game six. Yep. of the offshoot important things of the the home run in game six yep is that is that it gives him this confidence to be like i i am made for this moment game five whatever it's been a lot of yeah it was game five right a lot of beat the podgers and it's game okay good i said game six and i was

like that's wrong it's wrong yeah there's been a lot of a lot of game six yeah you're right we just had a disastrous Game 6. Yeah, we did. I think that's why it's so bad. But I think that's why the home run and the bedlam at the bank, it's solidified as it's not lip service to say I'm built for this moment. You know what I mean? The first couple years with him, he would say I'm built for the moment.

I'm built for the moment. And no, the freaking Cubs walk-off doesn't count. No, I was kidding. Stop. That's what's so sad. The Cubs walk-off was remembered. It's like I was kidding. Stop. That's what's so sad. The Cubs walk-off was remembered. It's like, no, it's not. No, it's not.

That can't be the moment of the Harper tenure. Nope, nope, nope. But him getting that hit in that moment and solidifying, yes, I actually am built for this, and I am a guy that rises to the moment, it is now carried over. It carried over to World Series game 3 here where the first inning, bang.

And it's carried over to coming back from Tommy John surgery in 150 days and automatically inserting himself right into the MVP discussion. It's like he's been here for I mean, he's plus 2,500 by the way. He's played 10 games. And he already has three home runs or three, yeah. And he's batting

350. So it's just like he is— With no spring training. Like, I can't—and the pitch clock, too. Like, there's a guy, everyone's like, oh, look out for Harper, all the stuff he does before the bat, the batting gloves, the whole thing. Like, it's really going to take him time to get used to the pitch clock. Guess not. Nope.

Guess not. He's just adjusted to everything, and it's— adjusted to everything. It's remarkable. It's remarkable watching this guy. He was rounding the bases. He was rounding the bases. Let me just do a little backstory here. I did a video. Obviously, I'm sure you saw it. Of course.

Of holding myself accountable. Never miss it. Well, it's like 6.30 in the morning. No one missed it, apparently. it's like 6.30 in the morning. It's already in my wheelhouse. No one missed it, apparently. It's like deep into my day. But yeah, so obviously I fell asleep, which I'm disappointed in myself.

I pride myself on being a man that'll stay up and watch Phillies games. And I did not do that on Saturday. It was tough. It was out. And anyway, when I woke up Sunday morning, pre-walk with walk, I rewatched the last inning. And he was like rounding the bases.

And it's hit me before, but it hit me again of like, we're watching maybe the second best Philly of all time. Like Schmidt will be the best. So it's really funny that, yeah, Schmidt. But I think we might be watching the best Philly ever. So I had a really similar realization phrased differently in my mind as I was watching Harper, and then it kind of crystallized again. In that moment where I'm watching Harper freak out and then Bede stinks on it, I that moment where I'm watching Harper freak out and then beat stinks on it.

I think there's a chance that Bryce Harper, by the end of this, will be the best player I've watched on a consistent basis in my lifetime. In terms of as a fan of a team, the player that I watched every week, every game, whatever it is, depending on the sport, I think he might be the best I've ever seen. That's where this could end. That's what I was thinking about watching this. That's where I'm at, man.

That's how good this guy is and can be. I mean, that is a crazy thing to say, man. Can I just say something? Sure. Well, I'm going to say it. I don't know why I qualified with that. Yeah, it's good. I just think it's funny that we're talking about this on May 15th after a fight against the Rockies rather than when he hit the home run in Bedlam at the Bank.

Especially, he shouldn't even be playing on May 15th. I know. We thought we were like June 10th. We're like, that's early. Yeah. Yeah. I'm right there with you. It is funny.

But it is funny that this is the time that we're having this conversation. I know. I know. But I think it's the point you made. Obviously, at the moment, this guy's great in the biggest moments. But I think coming back this year and then getting back and hitting right away. And to your point, like, feeling like the most leader version of Bryce Harper we've seen. I think that really matters in the way we look at him.

Yeah. And I'm just thinking, like, the 2020s, you know like harper's gonna be the face of it absolutely him and jaylen yeah and jaylen and we'll see we'll see about joel yeah well i i mean like look those two are out of him it is what it is i mean they've made it to the championship round of their sport man well it is crazy what an mvp which is the same thing as winning a championship according to one person yeah so like let's just call it out. Our buddy Elliot Shur-Parks just, like, that may be the worst day he's had. When he won the MVP, it was, like, basically the same. No, it's not worse than the Jokic is the same thing as Ben Simmons.

Well, that was a bad one, too. Jokic is better than Embiid, so, sorry. Hate to break it to you, buddy. Jokic, he won. He's better. It is what it is. We can accept it. But, yeah, I mean, like, that MVP, and like,

can you think of something you care less about in terms of an award? Like, all we're going to think about is the end of the season. Like, no one cares, buddy. No one cares that you win the MVP. Sorry. No, no one cares. And I'm not even an MVP guy. Like, when Bryce won it, I was like, oh, that's cool. I liked it because I bet on it, and that was pretty neat. Nice.

I did take him plus $2,500 on Sunday morning. Did you? Good work. Look, hey. I mean, Acuna is just out of. Nice. Yeah. I did. I did take him plus 2,500 on Sunday morning. Did you? Yeah. Good work. Yeah. Look, hey. I mean, Acuna is just out of his mind right now. Yeah. Well, that's why I wouldn't bet on it.

I think Acuna is, what would you guess Acuna's MVP odds are right now? Oh, I have no idea. I guess like, I don't know, plus 700 or something like that. No, no, no. Plus 175. What? Yes. In May?

Yes. It sounds like a bad bet. It's a bad bet. It's a bad bet. Kunyu's been amazing. He's incredible. Yeah. But you know what, Philly's only five back of the Braves.

Which is embarrassing, by the way. Again, I mentioned this last podcast. It's embarrassing of the Braves for this amazing start you've got off to that you just haven't buried the film. It's unbelievable. Hold on. Hold on. Speaking of takes that have aged well.

Ooh. Did you, I mean, last podcast, you know, you smelled it. I mean, are you smelling it? Are you smelling it? Yeah, you are. A little bit. Yeah, a little bit. A little smell.

Yeah, a little smell. A little bit. Well, listen, we avenged one demon with going out to Colorado and winning for the first time since 2012. Unbelievable. How about that? Which is, whatever. Like, just awful. It's just awful Which is, whatever. It's just awful.

It's just awful. It's embarrassing. It's the worst. It's unbelievable. And it jives with it. It passes the eye test. If you said when was the last time they won in Colorado, I'd be like, I don't know, a decade. Well, there was moments in Friday and Saturday when I was like, oh.

They were down. They were down in both games. They came back. I mean, they were down late. You know? So, yeah. And then what happened? And then Bryce Harper.

Anyway. So they avenged that with winning the series for the first time in 2012. Now they've got to go to the Giants, which I feel like they don't play well either. And they've got to be there without Reese, who hits, I don't know, like 17 home runs a series against the Giants. Yeah, it's the only team. It's guaranteed logging. West Coast Reese was great.

That's probably the biggest loss of the Reese Hoskins injury. Not even for the West Coast trip. Correct. That's the biggest deal. That's 100%. But, yeah, it's just. Miss Logan Webb, though, pitched last night. Thank God.

That's huge. I mean, it matters. It is. Dude, they're facing Alex Wood and, well, Alex Cob it's just. Miss Logan Webb, though, pitched last night. Thank God. That's huge. I mean, that matters. It is. Dude, they're facing Alex Wood and, well, Alex Cobb's good. Alex Cobb's good. Alex Cobb's definitely good. And then it's TB. A lot of Alex's out there, huh?

Yeah. And the Anthony's they got, too. It's Anthony DiScafani. DiScafani, yeah. A lot of A's. A lot of A's. But, yeah. Play like the A's, hopefully.

Yeah, hopefully. Although, Casey Schmidt's pretty good I So is my I've told you Brent Rooker dude That's my guy Well I know

Love Brent Rooker He's an A not a giant Right but I was talking about The A's a second ago I liked I liked Casey Schmidt In the draft a couple years ago Did you?

It's good to see him Good to see him Really happy for you Yeah Really happy for you JD Davis though He's gonna He's gonna torch him

Anyway But The Phillies have obviously Like, I think they weathered the storm. Yeah. We're not going to say something. No, no, no, no. But if you say it, bleep it out. Yeah, I know. Yeah, well, I'm not going to say it.

Should I say it and then bleep it out? No. Okay, I won't say it. Don't want to jinx it. But, you know, they might be. Just saying. Well, they're playing baseball. Well, besides the defense yesterday.

But, like. Yeah, there's some issues. Trey Turner. There's going to be. I know. Let's talk Trey Turner. Why don't we go right there? Okay.

And then, well, we haven't talked any pitch. I'm getting a pitch. Not too much to say. I want to get your thoughts on how Ranger looked. But Turner still, you know, look, the Phillies have played better baseball. They're five under right now. They're actually, as of today, a playoff team. Nice.

The season ended today. The third wild card, six-seed Phillies as of today. Good. That's where we like to be. That's our spot right there, man. That's our comfy spot. But Trey Turner has still struggled. Not been great.

Not been a big part of the winning so far. What's going on with Trey? What's not going on i don't know is it just like like whenever we sign a big free agent they're just gonna suck for a year and then is that just what it is is that the new thing i i i just do other free agents sign places and go and play well right away i mean kyle schwarber was good right away, right? Yeah, he led the league in home runs. Yeah, let's do that. I just, it's just, there's so many times where it just looks so feeble. Yeah, it looks feeble.

And it's like, now he had the, he broke the ball on what, Saturday? No, it was Friday night where he ripped a double into the right field, you know, whatever. It's just, it's so much, swing in this like i can a lot of swing like shot again his strikeout rate is is way higher than and i think it was friday i think it was friday i was driving in the car and like he swung through it swung through it and i think chad durbin was like and he looked at his bat like there's like a hole in it yeah because because and he's starting to well it is funny because some of the ones you watch like it and he looked at his bat. There's like a hole in it. Yeah, and he's starting to...

Well, it is funny because some of the ones you watch, like he'll swing and miss it, but it doesn't look like he missed. I'll be like, wait a minute. Dude, that isn't the catcher's glove. Is it a foul ball? Like what just happened there? I know.

So it's baffling. I do think that a month from now, like I think a month from now, as Bryce gets more acclimated, I think Turner's going to turn it on. Like I just... There's something about the fastballs though. now like i think a month from now as bryce gets more acclimated i think that i think turner's gonna turn it on like i just it there's something about the fastballs though like i mean like his numbers against fastballs are are like he's been traditionally a really good fastball hitter fastball yeah and like this year he's in the in the blue on baseball savannah against fastballs

where oh god that's not good the whole career he's been in the red um again against fastballs. Oh, God, that's not good. The whole career he's been in the red against fastballs, so that's unsurprising. But at the same time, and I have no idea why this happens, but Bryce got here and couldn't hit fastballs. Cassie last year. It's weird. Like, these guys, I have no idea. I can't make it make sense.

Because it doesn't. These guys struggle against fastballs for no reason. These guys have smoked fastballs for their entire career, and then their first season as a Philly, it's like, nah, I'm not going to do it. So I don't know. You know what the thing with Turner is? It's like, yeah, I could freak out, but what is that going to get me? He's here, and he's not going anywhere.

So you have to just pray that he turns it around, and I think he will. I refuse to believe that a guy as good as Trey Turner is just going to be bad. So I don't know. It's annoying. It is annoying. It's very annoying. It's like enough already, right? Can we sign one of these guys?

And I know Schwarber was good, but even Schwarber, it took him until June to get going like it always does. That's just who Kyle Schwarber is. But can we sign a guy and have him come in here and just break from the jump like is that so crazy to think that some guy you have 300 million dollars to could come in and be good right away yeah and I mean come on and it's even like again big spots like this strikeout coming like I might I, I'm just betting strikeouts. And then it's like first and second one out or whatever. And it's just he hits like a dribble and he can't beat it out. At least you're going to be a little dribbler.

Like, yeah, he could beat it out. Well, that's what like the errors are driving me crazy. Like, you know, if you're not going to hit, like the least you can do is do the other stuff well. And it's, I mean, like that throw mean, that throw yesterday, what was that? He's never been a great defender. He's not great, but he's good. He's solid. He's been a solid defender.

Is that when he made two errors this week? Yeah. I mean, just threw the ball away on the one. I was like, what happened there? It's just the simple stuff. Yeah. Honestly, I have no idea what to say. Like, I just, I really, I have no idea what to say about Dre Turner.

That's why people come here for that kind of insight and analysis. Because it's like Turner, Schwarber, sorry, Turner, Harper, Castellanos is on paper and Schwarber, JT after that, whatever. It's like a stupid good. Yes. Like, stupid good. Yes. And I need them to figure it out so that he can join the party there.

Yeah. Because, like. I mean, Castellanos raking. I mean, Bryce and Castellanos. He's like Nick. Bryce and Castellanos. Wanna be like Nick. Yes.

Like we always said. Be more like Castellanos. Yeah, that's right. It just. It's so. Again, it's like how I felt with Castellanos last year. Where it's like, I just feel like I'm taking crazy pills. Like, I just feel like I'm taking crazy pills watching Trey Turner right now.

I don't think dropping him down will help. No, no, no. I don't think anything like just you have to just hope he figures it out.

Do what you've done your entire life. Yeah, that's it. So hopefully June comes around. That's when he starts really heating up if you look at his splits.

I don't know. I don't know what to tell you. Hit a freaking fastball, man. And stop striking out all the time. Stop striking out. He did walk a couple times this weekend and got a couple 3-2 counts, which I thought was actually important. Important.

It was like maybe the third most important thing that happened this weekend after the fight and Tywin Walker's start was that, actually fourth, because Ranger started. Because Ranger, yeah. But him having some 3-2 counts, I was like, wow. Wow. We finally are. What a beautiful thing.

The little things. The little things. Yeah. Good thing he's not leading off, right? No. And Stoddy's heating back up. Stoddy's heating back up. Thank God.

Stoddy, good weekend. All right, let's get to the pitching. Yes. Let's start with Ranger, and we'll get to Tywin in a sec. But Ranger back, you know, four innings, three runs. I thought he battled. You know, the one inning really got away from him a little bit, but I thought it wasn't perfect, but I thought for a start back,

I was pretty encouraged. Yeah. Clearly had no feel for his guard ball, which is something that's going to take a little bit of time here, I assume. I thought his fastball command was really, really good. Like, you are right over there. Yeah. I'm tired all the time. I assume. I thought Fastball Command was really, really good. You are right over there. I'm tired all the time. I know.

I was going to say it. You're the one who pointed out that. Well, I know, but it's like, you know, I'm trying to make a salient point about Tyler Walker or Ranger, and you're just yawning over there. It's like when I do public speaking and the kids are falling asleep in the first row. It's the worst thing that's ever happened to me. It's great. I was like, oh, God. oh god oh no and he was like the biggest kid so i could sit right out of yeah it's like oh my gosh it's great good job by that kid anyway

uh well i was making a great career i was like i thought a career anyway anyway um so i thought i thought ranger was fine and he's clearly you you know, a couple starts from now, he'll get back rolling and being Ranger again. Curveball command wasn't there. Curveball anything wasn't there. And I think as he gets a better feel for that, it'll make all his pitches just that much better. But I was surprised at how well he's commanding his fastball. You know, both sides of the plate, in, out, whatever.

He's just Ranger, man. Like, he's going to be, even with the pitch clock, going to only help him. I think he's perfect for it. Yeah. He wants to get the ball and just go anyway. Yeah. He always has. He's a little like Cliff Lee.

Vibe-wise, you're right. Vibe, like from the moment he gets the ball to delivers it, and then obviously the cool under pressure stuff we've talked about. I like that. He's just like Cliff. Yeah, he's got a lot of Cliff. He's like a sweeter fellow than Cliff. Yeah, well, Ranger's the best.

That's what I mean. He seems like a joy. Cliff never seemed like a joy. No, he didn't seem like pumped to be there. He didn't seem like a super friendly fellow, but you know. Ranger's definitely that. And slow heartbeat, all that good stuff. And yeah, it was fine for a first start back.

Yeah. Perfectly fine. Yeah, it was fine. And they ended up winning the game. Taiwan. Yeah. Two in a row, buddy. I know.

Two in a row. I know. Maybe they found something here with that little splitter. What were your thoughts? I thought he was good. Like, I thought it was, he got really unlucky in the seventh. I mean, what was it? He struck the guy out, got to the backstop, and then a little bleeder, you know, that

got, you know, it was the infield hit or whatever. So I thought he got really unlucky that inning, and they pulled him, which, you know that got you know it was uh the infield hit or whatever so i thought he got really unlucky that inning and they pulled on which you know i was fine with you know i thompson clearly wanted to go for the strike out there uh strom you know it wasn't again it wasn't totally his fault he's coming into a tough situation so uh but yeah i thought i thought tyler walker was really good i thought he had good command. And just really emphasizing throwing that splitter more and more is clearly a plan that I think is going to win. It's a really good pitch.

I mean, it's a really good pitch. And it's something that is hard to consistently square up if you're keeping it down. So you just have to, again, first beginning of the season was like, ah, Tom Walker disaster signing. Just go be a solid three-ish. Yeah, a three-ish. That's all we ask for.

Just a three-ish. Pitch to a three-five. Yeah. How about that? Yeah, pitch to a three-five. Look, I think it's very doable. I think it's very possible. But, yeah, two steps in the right direction with him and Ranger.

And I don't know. What about Noah? Who knows? Who knows? I don't know. It was the same thing. It was vintage. and Ranger. Nola? What about Nola? Who knows? I don't know. It was the same thing. It was vintage. Yeah.

Losing 4-0 in Colorado with Aaron Nola just feels like right on every level. On Mother's Day when no one's paying attention. Yeah. It's like the most Aaron Nola day you could have. Yeah. And that's why I said that last pod. I think I said that. I said that on Friday. I was like, just don't have this be a split series heading into Sunday.

Yeah, because you know what's going to happen here. It has all the feelings of a disappointing NOLA start. Yeah, it did. I didn't watch much of it. And look, the offense didn't show up either. You could say that. They're ready to get out of there. They were so ready to get out.

And that's baseball, man. That's just going to happen. I hate it, but it is what it is. You take the first two, and then you're like, eh. You're like, you know what? We get out. And that's baseball, man. That's just gonna happen. I hate it, but it is what it is. You take the first two and then you're like, eh. You're like, you know, we got this. We're good. Get away. Well, especially, look, they are playing on Monday, Tuesday. They gotta get out of there. They gotta fly to San Francisco.

They gotta do that. Like, it's, you know. Oh, what are you gonna say? Human nature, buddy. Human nature and athletes are human. They are humans. They're not, yeah. Yeah, so, whatever. I just, I have no, like, Noel is another one this year where it's like I don't know I hope he turns it around

I never fully expect him to turn around You guys, score runs, please It's gonna be a score run Pen, you know, solid Soto getting the save You know, it was Kimbrough down, I thought that was nice to see Saturday was very impressive From a lot of aspects Yeah, I thought that was nice to see. Saturday was very impressive from a lot of aspects.

Yeah, I thought Brogdon, huge. Bilotti was back, got out. It's like, yeah, it was good to see. Bilotti looked like Bilotti. Yeah, he looked like Bilotti again. You know, after getting his arm torn apart, you know, pitching every game. Yeah.

Looked like he was, you know, rested and relaxed and looked like Bilotti. You know, it was a nice job. Exactly. So I thought Bilotti looked good. The fact that Brogdon was able to go two innings. Especially in that spot. It was a close game. We've talked so many times about that. How many times have we talked about finding guys that are going to keep you in games or keep

games tight or whatever where it's not necessarily a lead or this or that. Brogdon was great in that spot. I agree. And I will not trust him because he has a bad track record. But Jeff Faw Hoffman was interesting. Hey, Jeff Hoffman, former top prospect, Jeff Hoffman. I know.

Former Rocky going home there. I know. I know. Velocity's up for him. Oh, that was 98. Yeah. No, I just thought. Jeff Hoffman.

And so weird because the minor league numbers, which suggests that he's all over the place. But I guess with the Phillies on a big league mound, he's been really good command-wise. Rob Thompson talks about like, yeah, I don't know, he's just throwing strikes. And then he'd go down to AAA. That's what you see all the time, guys. Not be

able to find the strike zone. The Miners come up and find the strike zone. That is a classic baseball story. Traditionally how it works. Yes, exactly. So, yeah. I mean, he's someone to definitely keep your eye on. I mean, it's a legit 98 with a wipeout slider. So, yeah, why not? Maybe they unearthed something here.

Can you imagine a team that just finds dudes? What a thought. Andrew Belotti, you know, like, just find dudes. Be a part of your roster. I was sad they sent down Luis Ortiz. He was good for us. I mean, like, what did he do to deserve it? When we're doing the World Series recap and the Phillies win it this year,

I want us to mention Luis Ortiz. I like this. I like this. Contribution. Yes. Okay. I'm going to file that one away. The two weeks of Luis Ortiz.

Hey, let's not forget. Luis Ortiz. Yep. That dude mattered for us. Much like Bailey Falter saved the season last year. Hey, you know what? If they win, he gets a ring. Apparently, everyone gets a ring. That's the point. You play one second? If they win, he gets a ring. Apparently everyone gets a ring.

That's the point. Play one second for the Phillies and you get a ring. Yep. I'm curious to see if we can find a way to get Will Toffey a ring this year. I love Mick, by the way. You see Mick freaking leading off of the over. Well, I can't believe he's leading off already. What does that sense of that mean?

Let's bring him up and lead him off. Whatever. Yeah, they're such a bad team. They are so weird. But he's been good. He has been good. All right. Take back.

Well, I don't know. Tonight's a big start for Bailey Falter. Yeah, like could be a stay in the rotation start for Bailey Falter. Just figure it out, man. I don't know what else to tell you. Like, you know, you're in a pitcher's ballpark. You're facing a pretty feeble lineup pretty feeble lineup like now what if there are any uh analytical advantages to facing

bailey falzer that team will be ready for them but oh yeah okay um so like focus on this zone right here yes yeah it's not that hard it's a fastball and. And it's 91. Get on top of it. So just like everything's kind of rounding into form. The rotation is still a question mark. We can joke about no start yesterday, but yet again. You can't count on Aaron Nolan. Ranger's back, which is great. It feels like a lot of the pieces are falling into place.

The lineup's going to be good. Bryce is back. Bullpen, they actually have a bunch of weapons out there they can use, even with Alvarado being out. Kimbrel struck out three on Saturday. Or was that Friday? Anyway. It was Friday.

Soto got the save. Soto got the save Saturday. But the one thing is the starting rotation. And they gave Falter a couple extra days here because they thought maybe it would lead to an uptick on his fastball. I don't even know what that means. It goes to 93, 94 instead of 91 because whatever. Maybe.

Sure. Probably not. Whatever works. Wouldn't bet on it. Whatever works. But come on, man. The starters have to start pulling their weight around here. I agree.

They've got to start pulling their weight. Because it's frustrating because you look at every aspect of this team, and it's like they could be really freaking good. Like, it's not even just, like, third wild card good. Like, that lineup, if they ever get on the same page and, like, you know. By the way, Friday night, the first five innings being played in, what, 45 minutes? Unbelievable. Absurd.

The game was flying by. It was unbelievable. But you see the makings of what this team could be. And the only way to me that they don't reach it is if the lineup doesn't or the starting staff doesn't do their job. So they need Billy Falter to come out and just do something. Just don't give us four innings, five runs. I'm with you, dude. It's time.

Wheeler versus Cobb is going to be a fun pitching matchup. You're going to nerd out? I love watching Alex Cobb. He's been good. He's been very good, Cobb. Zach Wheeler, I thought his last start against Blue Jays was the best of the year. Easily, yeah.

I think it was better than the Houston one. It's time to... Make that a thing. Get on a roll. Should be like six of those in a row. Right. And that's traditionally what he's been here. Yeah, no, no. He's just like, bang, there's seven innings, two runs from Zach Wheeler.

And they desperately need it from him. Yes. And it's a pitcher's ballpark. It's a tee that traded him away. Dude, I can't. Oh, I forgot about that. Oh, my God. I forgot.

Was that Beltran? Beltran. Wow. I totally forgot about that. It is unbelievable how young Zach Wheeler still is-ish. Considering how long we've been talking about him. Considering that Beltran trade was like 2011. Yeah, that's wild, actually.

You're right. That's a great call by you. The Beltran trade was so long ago. Yeah. Wow. That's good work by you. Yeah. I totally forgot about that.

Well, yeah. Beltran. Good player. He's a really good player. He's a borderline Hall of Famer. I know. I know. And then, yeah, Tom Walker in the closeout game.

So not bad. But, yeah, this is like kind of, you know, we talked about the last stretch. Astros, Dodgers, Blue Jays, Red Sox is like tough stretch. Yeah, this is a better stretch. Get rightable. Yeah, so Rockies, Giants. Yeah, this is a better stretch. Get rightable. Rockies, Giants. D-backs.

D-backs. No, it's Cubs D-backs. Someone else can do that. It's Cubs D-backs, and then it gets tougher again. But this stretch right now is good. Go time. Yeah, the Cubs are bad. The Giants are bad. The Diamondbacks have played well, but they're not a great team.

You can certainly handle them, and it's at home. If it was at Arizona. If it was at Arizona, I'd just chalk it up as a loss. Now, to be fair, we would have chalked Colorado up as a loss. Two or three. This team's different, Jack. Oh, don't use that word. That's what Elliot kept telling us about the Sixers.

This team's different. Guess what, pal? Wasn't different. Are you over it? I'm over it. I don't think Elliot is, though. And when they play the D-backs, we can just make sure Christian Walker stays. You know, like.

Oh, yeah. Keep him here. Don't let him go. Don't let him. Yes. Come on home. Good play. He's been raking, too.

Unbelievable. Anyway, so, yeah, this is like a stretch where it's one of those pockets of the season where, okay, now get like five games over 500. Like, you did your thing. You got back to 500. You got over 500. Yeah, let's get there and just stay and, like, be one of the big boys. Yeah did your thing. You got back to 500. You got over 500. Let's get there and just stay and be one of the big boys. Be the

team that we expected to see from the start of the season. Do it now. Yes. Look, it's way ahead of schedule from last season. You waited until June 1st to get Roland Lazar. June 2nd or whatever to get Roland last year. That sucked, by the way. It sucked. It sucked. The Mets series with the walk-off

was one of the many breaking points for me of last year. I've only had a couple breaking points this year. I'm proud of myself. You've been great, buddy. Yeah, thank you. I usually break down more quicker. Well, the thing is, they've been bad, but it hasn't felt rock bottom-y like it did when Girardi got fired or whatever. We've been annoyed and

we've been concerned, especially because of injuries early and stuff, and the 1-5 start sucked. Sucked! But at no point have I actually been truly concerned about this team yet. No. Which is nice. Good. Proud of you. It's different. Proud of you. Different. It's get-right

time. It's get-right time. I like that. It's get-right time. That's good. time. I like that. It's get right time. That's good. All right. You got anything else? Well, West Coast Bills are back. Oh, buddy, tell me about it. Your boy is not looking forward to West Coast. West Coast Bills are back.

Oh, my God. I'm going to go nap. I'm going to go have a nap now. You should nap. You should nap. I have to. Are you kidding me? I can't watch a West Coast game and not have napped before.

Sadly, that's my life now, Jack. I know. I know. You should now. I have to. I can't watch a West Coast game and not have napped before. Sadly, that's my life now, Jack. I know. I know. You sound really old. I am old. I know you are. I feel old. But extra old.

Thanks, buddy. So, West Coast Bills, just don't embarrass us. Don't embarrass us. Are you going to keep walking up to watch games with you? Yeah. Late night we walk? Yeah, yeah, yeah. For sure.

For sure. Got you. First West Coast trip. Second. Yeah, first one didn't go well, actually. No, I know. Yeah, yeah, yeah. For sure. For sure. Got to. First West Coast trip. Second. Yeah, first one didn't go well, actually. No, I know. No, I know.

The worst part about staying up for West Coast games is obviously like, it's like 1230. Well, thank God for the pitch clock. Yes. But it's like 1230 at night and they lose. Oh, it's the worst feeling. It's like, I'll stay up for a win. Obviously. All day. Of course.

Loss? It's the worst. Tough. It is the worst feeling. And then you're like, oh, man, and I stayed up, and now I got to go to freaking work in a few hours. Well, you don't. I do.

Do you know what? There's nothing worse than staying up for a loss and then saying, oh, I got to be at work in a few hours. It sounds awesome. Yep. Buddy. All right. I thought I had something else, but I don't.

Nice. I just went to my notes. Let me look. Shout out to Miller Lite. Always. That's love Miller notes. Let me look. Shout out to Miller Lite. Always. That's love Miller Lite. Miller Lite's the best presented by Miller Lite. We will have some events coming up over the course of the season, obviously.

So keep an eye out for that. That's going to be awesome. That's all I got. Nice. I thought I had more. Well, shout out to the Sixers for ruining Mother's Day. Anyone who's a Sixers fan and you're not a Phillies fan for any reason, come watch a real team.

Sure. Come watch a team that does not let you down every year, at least as of the last year. Okay? Sure. Now, the Phillies was born out of incompetency, and they definitely did not choke in September multiple years.

You know? Listen, at least the Phillies avenged that. That's what I'm saying. Well, they did choke last September. It's all in the past. They choked last September. Yeah, they choked last October too, but whatever. They were up 3-2 in the World Series. No, no, no.

That was November. November, you're right, technically. October was great. October was great. October was a beautiful time. This year, though. Oh, bleep that. No, you got to ble This year, though. Oh, I bleeped that. No, you gotta bleep it.

You gotta bleep it. I'll bleep it. Alright. Until next time.