High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Are You Living In The Moment?

Episode Date: May 20, 2024

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz discuss the Phillies sweep of the Nationals, the continued dominance of the rotation and nicknames. Presented by Miller Lite. New intro is courtesy of our friend, Tim Hause! The song, “High Hopes,” (search High Hopes by Tim Hause wherever you get your music) is meant to encapsulate what it means to be a Philly sports fan. We hope you enjoy the song and welcome to the show, Tim! 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

Make your nights unforgettable with American Express. Unmissable show coming up? Good news. We've got access to pre-sale tickets so you don't miss it. Meeting with friends before the show? We can book your reservation. And when you get to the main event, skip to the good bit using the card member entrance.

Let's go seize the night. That's the powerful backing of American Express. Visit amex.ca slash yamex. Benefits vary by car and other conditions apply. All-star closer, Kenley Jansen, we have a question. What's the best podcast of all time? Baseball isn't boring, baby. I'm Rob Bradford, and every single day I'm sitting down with the biggest names

to show you this great game is the greatest game. 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. This is the High Hopes Podcast. High Hopes! On the Odyssey app and Sports Radio 94 WIP. The crowd was singing High Hopes. Smiling through a broken nose. Oh, High Hopes. High Hopes. I feel a little less alone.

Yo. It is another edition of the Hi-O's podcast, sponsored by Miller Lite, official sponsor of the Philadelphia Phillies. Tastes like Miller time, philadelphia celebrate responsibly 34 and 14 man and by the way how about that sweet new intro song shout out to tim hawes uh local artist musical artist part of a listener of the pod listener of the pod so now that's awesome like how cool is that so uh i've been i'm listen i've been wanting a high hopes intro for a while you've been jealous of the pod so now that's awesome like how cool is that so uh i've been i'm listen i've

been wanting a high hopes intro for a while you've been jealous of the go birds one let's be honest i haven't just you have it's okay it slaps and now we got our own it slaps i've been jealous of a lot of the the rights ricky sanchez ones over here oh yeah they mislead the whole thing so so thankfully tim came through for us he's a big big pod listener. He already apologized. He meant he was going to be at O'Neill's on last Thursday, but he had to fly to Nashville to record an album or something. Oh, yeah. Okay. That's more important.

I get it. I get it. No big deal. Already questioning his dedication to the pod. Yeah, we're excited to have Tim aboard. Shout out to Tim. And shout out to O'Neill. Shout out to Spoonie.

The owner had a great time chatting up with Spoonie. He's a character. Awesome guy. He had a great time. A lot of characters at O'Neill. A lot of characters at O'Neal. Shout out to Spoonie. The owner had a great time chatting up with Spoonie. He's a character. Awesome guy. He had a great time. A lot of characters at O'Neal. A lot of characters at O'Neal. Some people didn't understand the rules. Yes.

It was a whole like, don't yell the answer out for trivia. And then same guy yelled it out multiple times. And I'm not going to accuse anyone of maybe having one or two beers. Oh, I will. Try 200. We met one dude who yeah it was hard to understand it was unintelligible it was it was like the impression was like it's kind of was now and i don't think there's i mean i think there's one thing that

we've learned about you over the years is uh can't handle much you know like when it comes to things not going in a certain way. Oh, is that true? Yeah. I didn't know we learned that about me. And this guy repeatedly interrupting the questions. I could just, because Seltzer's obviously a very nice guy. If you've met James Seltzer, you're like, oh, my God, he's so nice. But there's also that fire in the eyes. Yeah, I can turn on you like that. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Don't make him go from Charlie. I was ready to turn on that guy in the bar. I was about to jump across the bar. Don't make him go from Charlie Day to Chuck Day. That's all I'm saying. That's all I'm saying. But, but, but, but, but. The Phils.

Look at this Phils baseball. The Phils. So how do we even talk about it? I mean, one like every game since we did the last pod. They even went like that game on Saturday. That wasn't even like, oh, the Phillies always lose that game. That was everybody loses that game. Like you just lose certain types of baseball games.

Like that was just a game that you lose. And that's kept going up. It was just all right this is it's we're not winning today and and cody clemens and then they find it like it's like it does feel like they they take it personally when they are losing and they're like we're not gonna have this and and the most evident of that was what was it like two weeks ago they lost to the marlins, I believe. And Schwarber, after the game, was like, there's no one happy in here. We don't care that we just got done winning. Now, I was thrilled because I didn't want to run

eight miles in the morning. But they'd won seven straight and they lost. And he's like, there's no one happy in here. And it just shows the different level of locked in-ness that this team kind of has. And, you know, I think they took them the last two years personally

when it comes to the regular seasons because they haven't been viewed as one of the best teams in baseball, regardless of what has happened in 22 postseason and 23 postseason. They're a playoff team, a team that got hot, a team that played well in the playoffs. You could say fluky. You could say, like, how can you really bang on them? I mean, the fact that their number was 89-and-a-half

again this year coming in, like, it showed that it was, like, everyone was like that. Like, that's what people expected from this team. Been saying it for years. I mean, Vegas, bunch of morons. I mean, you know, but Barry Vegas. We've been saying this for years. Shocking they're even still in business, frankly.

Yeah, shocking they're still in business. So he's going to go to college. Thank you, Vegas. For that $10 over you took. That's right. Yeah, that's good. business, frankly. Yeah, shocking they're still in business. Zoe's going to go to college. Thank you, Vegas. For that $10 over you took. That's right. Yeah, it's good. Oh, buddy. It's good.

But dude. Over and yeah, I did bet on him to win the division. Just saying. You know what would have helped Zoe actually go to college? What's that? If you took Ranger Suarez's Cy Young odds before the year. I know. I should have.

Plus 13,000. Wow. 100 would have won 13 wow can you imagine my buddy has it I don't think he has 100 on it but he's got enough to win 10 to win 1300 one of those crazy ones

seems pretty nice to have but yeah they just they figured out different ways to win and sure the schedule and I understand the schedule and I'm sure we'll get into oh my god have they beaten anyone me while my least favorite thing going if we could talk about all the discussions that are being had it's my number one least it is quite annoying baseball like come on man what are we doing here it's baseball and there's just there's just not that many good teams there's five teams the national league above 500 sorry what do you

want them to do like and they're throttling i know that's the key that's the key is they're they're they are they are winning almost all the games yeah almost all the games so yeah they're winning almost all the games especially when you think about they would they start like five and five or whatever it was you know since then they're what would that be so they started five and five so that means they're 29-9 since then? Well, they are. A juggernaut. I think they're like 27-6 or 28-6 since Howard and Thompson got into it

about if this team's going to slug or not. Oh, yeah. They'll slug. Slug life. Yeah, and they certainly are. And we talked about this last podcast. This is the exact start that you were hoping for when it was like, well, what upgrades did they make in the offseason?

And you're banking on the internal fortitude of those guys pulling together and being mad about what happened at the end of last year. But it's just so funny. It's like, you know, yesterday, Winker hit that home run to give the Nationals the lead. And I was just, I was just emotionless. I was like, they're going to come back and win. And they made it not even a question.

It was like, it was our down 3-2, and was it the 6? It's like, oh, they're going to win. And they went 11-3. Like, it wasn't just like they won. 11-5. Oh, I forgot. Spencer Turnbull did affect the run. You're right.

Checked out on that. Yep. Yeah, you're right. I mean, like, it's just, it's it's wild to watch man it really is and not just that to your point you know what it is that's such a good point by you it's wild to feel it's why it's one thing to watch it it's another thing to actually feel in the moment like they're gonna score they're gonna win they got this because it feels so different from what we normally feel and i i believe we've also also talked about this but like i just i felt it yesterday i felt it for a

little while now like i just need them to get it done this year like i just oh i know like i i am i am trying my best to live in the moment and i i'm not good at it. But it's just every time I watch them, I'm like, this is great. This is great. This is great. But, like, I know how it goes if things don't turn out the way they should in the postseason. Like, you could win 140 games. It doesn't matter if you don't get it done in the postseason.

And, like, I'm just – that's currently where I'm at. You are such a bummer right now. I know. I know. They're so good. I'm actually really enjoying – I'm in the moment with this. I'm enjoying it. I know. I know. They're so good. I'm actually really enjoying it. I'm in the moment with this. I'm enjoying it.

It's like I've never seen this. Like, what is this team? Well, the last time I saw them. 93. I was a kid. And I remember that. I mean, I was 12. Like, I'm not like, you know.

My perspective on the world has changed a lot. Like, this is a really, I'm really enjoying it for what it is. Now, you're right. It all, the memories of it, the whole thing, it all hinges on winning it all. Like, it just does. It's a fact for what it is. Now, you're right. The memories of it, the whole thing, it all hinges on winning it all. It just does. It's a fact of what it is. But I am surprised how in it I am. I know.

Because I'm with you. Because I thought I was going to be that guy. It doesn't matter. Just get the playoffs. It feels special in the moment. It feels like I'm watching something I've never seen before. It's really cool. I know.

I think I'm just so born out of the fear of this not going. I know. Because think I'm just so born out of the fear of this not going. I know. Because it ruins everything. They go in 110 games and have the best Phillies season we've ever seen, and they lose in the playoffs, and it's, like, meaningless. It's, like, ruined. Like, think about the 11 team, right? Like, the 11 team wins 102 games,

but they lose the last eight games of the season. Yeah, yeah. They lose in the first round, and all everyone brings up is Cliff Lee blowing a 4-0 lead. Yeah, and Chris Carpenter. And Chris Carpenter. That's all you talk about, yeah. So it just it like completely erased away what was it what was a magical season and i and i cannot let that happen to this team i can't let it happen it's such a good point i can't

let it happen so like i i i am thrilled every single game is like so instead you're not going to enjoy the because i live through 11 i I live through 11. I live through 11. And it's just like. There's something antithetical in here. There's something missing. I'm with you. Again, I was built for the 2018 film. Yes.

2017 film. Yes, you were. 2018 is too good. 2017. Yeah, exactly right. Exactly right. So, yeah, they're just a wagon. All right.

They are a wagon. They are like a wagon. Do you know they weren't 20 games over 500 ever last season? At no point? I thought they got there in September. Pretty sure they did. Now they might have. I stopped looking, actually.

No, they got there in September. They stayed after the game. This is the first time I think in 13 years it's been this early. Yeah. Well, yeah. I mean, there are five games on the Braves, which I think is the first time that's happened in 13 years it's been this early yeah oh yeah I mean it I mean there's five games on the Braves which I think is the first time that's happened in 13 years or something like that I mean like the whole thing is is just nuts but let's talk about the single most important

thing going on with the team right now what are they going to do when Trey comes back Cody Clemens is a major league player buddy like seriously that is such a sign of where we're at like that is the biggest question right now at the Phillies is what are they going to do with too many guys who are major league players on their roster? You know, like, that's where we're at. That's how good this team is. And it seems like Trey's going to be back pretty fast.

That's my point. But this is going to be an issue quicker than we think. And, like, it's like Clemens or Pache probably, right? But Pache has no options. Cody Clemens, like like does the city riot if they send that guy down right now what do we do like he's been awesome and not just that like I didn't even know

the guy could pick it like he's freaking making plays at second base like this Cody Clemens thing I thought he was a nice player he has been phenomenal yeah well he also I mean he did do this last year he did not the you know two outs in the ninth, tie it up, let's go. He kind of seems.

He's got a little clutching. Yeah, he does. Did you see my nickname for him? Oh, yeah, I did. Very clever. The Rocket? Yeah, it's original. There was a, the broadcast did do the missile, which isn't terrible.

Well, yeah, but here, it's a copycat thing. Like, that's the only issue is that when Rocket Ishmael, then they called Kadrius the missile, which isn't terrible. Well, yeah, but here, it's a copycat thing. That's the only issue, is that when Rocket Ishmael, then they called Kadrius now the missile, and it's like, we're just redoing that whole thing. So, Cody Clemens feels like a Brewer or a Ray. Oh, you think they're going to trade him? He needs to DFA trade to Jordan? I just don't know.

Where is he going to play? So, you would not get rid of Pashy to keep Clemens on the roster? Well, why not send down Rojas? Well, that's the other option, but I just don't think they play Rojas so much. I don't think they would. I think from my roster management perspective, that probably is the smartest move. I think your best situation, but Rojas is their center fielder.

Yeah, I have no idea. It's probably going to end in them just sending him down. I know. It's probably going to be Clemens going down. Thank you for what you've done. Awesome for us, but, you for what you've done. Thank you for being awesome for us. But, you know, bye-bye. And I don't think they're at the point yet where they would DFA Witt.

No, there's no chance. Not yet. I would be very surprised. I mean, that is the meritocracy-wise, those other guys have earned it more than Witt so far. But, I mean, it's not like Pat's just been great. But they've earned it more. Well.

But that will never happen. Never a 0% chance. And the truth of the matter is, again, there are 20 games over 500. Exactly. That's why I said the biggest issue with the team is the 26th man. Yeah, I know. They have plenty of time to where if it gets to a DD situation like in 22 or a doable situation like in 22 where it's like, okay,

Whit Merrifield, we're more than halfway through the year. He't gotten it going we'll dfm for cody clemens like i don't think cody clemens i think he understands where he's at in in terms of the organization but yeah it's just so funny they're 20 games over and like what have they gotten out of their outfield i mean like two of the spots are just holes yeah i mean marsh had I mean, Marsh had a really good start to the year. He's starting to pick back up. He'll be fine. Yeah, but you're right, though. If you want to say, for the last three weeks, they might have the worst hitting outfield of baseball. Seriously. It just

doesn't matter. Such a great point there. I didn't think about it in that framing. You're absolutely right. Two-thirds of the outfield largely has been almost non-existent. And the other one's Brandon Marge. The other one can't face lefties. Yeah.

So I just, and I'm sure you've gotten to this too, in DMs or tweets or whatever. What are those? I know. But it's like, what can they do about Castellanos? And it's like, there are 20 games over 500. Like, any move with Castellanos, even with the deadline, I think they are in such a groove as a team,

and the vibe around the team is so good. It's not even worth moving on from Castellanos at the deadline, even if he's batting 190. Because of what this whole kind of clubhouse kind of feel is. It's what we always talk about, right? Don't look at the numbers. Look at the vibes, man. It's what we always talk about, right? You know, don't look at the numbers. Look at the vibes, man. That's what Dabrowski brought to this organization.

That's what he brought to this team. All these other teams, the binders and the analytics. Vibes, buddy. Yeah. Vibes. X vibes. That's what we expected vibes is what this team. Yeah, expected vibes. But it's true. It's like. Yeah, expected vibes. I just, but it's true.

It's like, sure, they can find marginal upgrades, I'm sure, elsewhere, but you can't screw up. You can't screw up what this team has right now. It matters too much. And Castellanos, I think, is a real important piece here for building this clubhouse culture. Clearly, these guys love him they all love the guy like there's no arguing that he is there's something about him where he's like this

figure in that locker room where he just matters there's no way no way around it you know but all right let me spin it on you and doing what you just talked about before because like yeah they're 20 games above 500 it's great they keep winning they'll probably keep winning no matter what they do at cassianos nick cassianos is up in a big spot in the playoffs no that's where i know dude i dude i'm with you man like i'm totally with you but they're like i, would you take a 10-game losing streak? No, it's a good point, though. You're right.

I just, you can't. Like, you can't do it. I know. So, Ivan, obviously, thinking a lot about the trade deadline. And it's like, which would I rather this team go get? Another bat in the outfield or a right-handed bullpen option i mean the reality is it could be both but like what's your push your chips and move it kind of still feels like they're in the right-handed bullpen mode yeah even though like again they're not getting that

much out of the outfield yeah and everyone in the bullpen has been good it's like even sir anthony is is starting to look pretty solid in low leverage spots. One member of the spot. Yeah. I'm not there yet. I came into the safe space. I said, if I tweet this out, I'm going to get crushed. If I say it on WIP, I'm going to be labeled as a blind homer.

And while it has not been as locked down, as no-earned runs would suggest, it's been pretty good. He's been better. He's been pretty good. Kirkering's the one for me where, like, he's been pretty good he's been better he's been pretty good kirkering's the one for me where like he's he's good like it's there there's just it's just there's times where i can feel teams just sitting on the sweeper to where i think about like is this something that's going to work in the postseason yeah like like there was a lindor there's lindor at bat in the med series where i

think he hit it like 110 miles an hour. But it was just right at the second baseman. It's just like that's my biggest fear with Kirkering is that he leaves that sweeper up just a little bit because that fastball is just – I think there's no better example of the difference between a heavy fastball in 98 and like a two-seamer at 98 than like Kirkering versus Wheeler. Oh, my God.

Whereas Wheeler is like heavy, and Kirkering is like almost a, I don't know, it's not a very heavy 97. There's a difference in their fastballs. It's just interesting. But, yeah, it's just every one of the bullpens kind of figured it out. And I know it was like a month ago they had the worst bullpen of the year in baseball, and now I believe it's like 1-8 since. So just don't worry too much.

Yeah, I know. I know. Again, to your point, and, again, I have really been in the moment, but those are the things you look at for the playoffs. You're like, all right, do I trust if Gregory Soto has to come to a playoff game? Do I trust if Soto has to come to a playoff game? Do I trust if Sir Anthony has to come to a playoff game? Do I trust with Merrifield to get a bigger bat in a playoff game?

Like these are the things that we got to talk about. You know what I mean? That's, that's, that's to the point of the trade deadline. You're the one thinking about the trade deadline. Those are the, those are the questions that Dave Dombrowski has to answer is he has to say,

all right, if it's a big playoff game and Nick Castellanos is up, like, do I trust him to come through? That's what's going to matter. Well, if Dave could, I would call Steve Pierce out of retirement. Out of retirement. Bring Pierce back.

Bring back Steve Pierce. World Series MVP, Steve Pierce. Bigger shock as an MVP of a Super Bowl slash World Series, Deion Branch or Steve Pierce? That's a great one. Yeah. Probably Steve Pierce, actually. Well, at least you'll know who Deion Branch is.

Yeah, Deion Branch is like an NFL player. I mean, Steve Pierce is out of nowhere. It's an unbelievable trade. Yeah. Unbelievable trade. But, yeah, I mean, that kind of stuff all matters. And I still, I mean, he's obviously not been what we thought. Like he had a moment there for like a week and a half where it's like, oh, there he is with Merrifield.

I still, I still believe in him. I'm not out on Merrifield at all. I'm with you. I mean, it's too big of a history of solid production for me to just be out. But look, I will say changing roles. And now he's played a lot, so it's kind of a, but like it is tough to go from being an everyday guy to someone who's filling in here and taking this spot

and not getting everyday bets and all that. Maybe it's just an adjustment period for him. I mean, you're a ball player. You'd be able to speak to that. Yeah, let me tell you about all that kind of stuff. You know what it's like to sit on the bench and then have to get called in the action, minus the action part.

I mean, you know what that takes. Far too well. I was actually going to bring it up about the turnball. It is hard going from a starter to be the mop-up guy. Go pitch the ninth inning at an 11-3 game. It sucks.

Since the turnball was pitching to a 1-6 for like eight starts to start the year, and now it's like, hey, it's 11-3 against the Nationals. Don't give up A-Rums. Go get your work in. Go get your work in. Wow, this stinks. Especially because it's not a one-year, $2 million deal.

I'm sure someone will give him a chance. Oh yeah, but still, you're right. He's got a lot more to pitch for than Tyvon Walker. He's already got his money in the bank just chilling. That toe injury. Oh, poor little guy. He hurt his foot. He'll be back out.

No, sadly, yes. Look, he's not been horrible. He's been fine. Fine. But Turnbull's better. It did seem like he was trending towards a possible blow. I think if he had not gotten hit in the foot, that game was spiraling. No doubt.

No doubt. Without a doubt. Yeah. What are you going to do? Hey, fantasy football owners. The road to winning your fantasy football championship starts now. I'm Matt Harmon from Reception Perception. Join me and James Coe as we take a deep dive into the position that's going to make or break your fantasy roster.

Wide receivers. We analyze route running, target share, and all the metrics that matter, giving you the insights you need to draft the best wide receivers. As you prep for your draft, let us give you the coverage you need. Follow and listen to Reception Perception on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts.

They're too good. I don't even know what to say. They did lose on high hopes night, which is so unreal. It's like the only loss of the week. Of course they did lose on high hopes night which is so unreal it's like the only loss of the week they of course they would lose on high hopes night why wouldn't they

and like and had they lost that way a year ago or two years ago I mean you're not sleeping you know that night they lost

it was like it was fine you didn't even make it to the end let's be honest someone else did Mr. Wakes Up at 3 in the morning yeah there to the end yeah toughed it out.

Such a warrior. I know. Such a warrior. I had to rip you for it though. I know. It was a Walker thing. He's fine. He's fine.

The Pedialyte worked out. Well, I was sprinting through the city. Stores were closing at 10 and I left at 9.52. Go get Pedialyte. So I was sprinting through the city and I even got the wrong Pedialyte. Oh no. I get Pedialyte. So I was sprinting through the city and I even got the wrong Pedialyte. Oh, no. I got Pedialyte Sport.

No. For your sport. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You ever call them sport? You're like, what up there, sport? I don't think sports in the woods.

No. You don't think so? No, I think sports, Don. Okay, Tiger. Killer. You go killer? No, I don't think so. What up there, killer?

Well, in baseball terms. Do you have any little you or boss or hoss or any of that stuff you throw at him? I'll call Zoe buddy every once in a while and she'll go, I'm not a buddy. I'm like, that's okay. Well, I call him buddy. I call him Bubba. Bubba's good. Emily likes to call me Bubba.

Yeah, yeah. So I call him Bubba. But I'm a nicknamesman. I know. That's why I asked you. I was wondering where you went. I'm actually a little dismayed in the answer. Well, it's always Buddy.

You know, he's my little buddy. And then it's, you know, I would say Bubba. I would say there's one other one. Bubba's good. Yeah. I never say Bubba. Plus, he's a big kid. I get called Bubba.

I just don't say it. It's good. Bubba's good. You don't give off a Bubba vibe. You wouldn't think. I don't think so. I get called Bubba, and then it's like, yeah, you're damn right I'm Bubba. Bubbs. Bubbs. My buddy's grandmother used to be Bubbs. We call her Bubbs. I don't think so. Then I would call Bubba, and then it's like, yeah, you're damn right. Did she go Bubbs with you?

Bubbs. Bubbs? My buddy's grandmother used to be Bubbs. We'd call her Bubbs. Not a bad grandma name. Yeah, it's pretty good. By the way, no one's named Grandmom anymore. Oh, I know.

I know. Or Grandmother. Well, since it's funny, is my Emily's dad wanted to go by Granddad, and I was like, does he really want to go by Granddad? What a loser. So yeah, so he has Granddad. It's like, wow. That's what I called my grandparents. Yeah.

I called my grandfather Pop. Yeah. Well, Pop's a classic. Pop's a classic. Pop's a classic. But yeah. Pop and Nana. May May on the other side.

Bang. And May other. I think Mimi is number one now. Mimi's great. Well, my mom goes by Mimi. Oh. Mimi's great. Yeah.

Mimi's go to. Because these grandmothers today, they don't want to think they're old. That's definitely true. That's the number one reason why they don't go by grandmother. That's a great point. You these grandmothers today, they don't want to think they're old. That's definitely true. That's the number one reason why they don't go by grandmother. That's a great point. You're right. You're like, I'm not a grandmother. Yeah, you're a grandmother.

You're a grandmother. Factually speaking. Start acting like it. But while my brother-in-law's dad goes by grand dude, which is, yeah. Not a fan of that. Big old swing big old swing yeah that's that's like a giant trying too hard way too hard i mean that honestly like or you could take my someone needs to get to him and say bro you can't do you can take my dad's approach my dad's approach is call me ross no he says like whatever he ends up calling me i know i i was i knew it was gonna

be something like that like what does that mean? Just call me Ross or something. I was expecting something. So I'm like bullying him into going by Pop-Pop. Pop-Pop's great. Yeah, you're going by Pop-Pop. What's Pop? Okay, Pop. Oh, so you're going to go Pop and Pop-Pop?

That's an aggressive move. I'm not letting him take Pop. Oh, I like this. Little friction there with the father-in-law. No friction. No friction. Little friction. But Pop's too good. And I think Pop, I'm just going to go by Pop-Pop. I like that no friction no friction a little friction but pop's too good and i think pop up i'm just gonna go by papa i like that that would be a little confusing for

your kid you know don't care so pop or pop up pop pop wait which one pop or pop up you'll figure it out i know steam's too good i know we're sitting here talking about walker i don't even know what to say what do you got here's i'll tell you something that I've noticed. I really enjoy just watching Edmundo Sosa. I feel like he brings such joy to a baseball field. We always talk about like the, you know, they're playing a game and can't they look like they're having fun? And how many years do we sit here and say like how horrible is it to watch them look like they're in a morgue every night?

Like how they don't. Now we get to watch it. They're having fun. They're having fun the whole time. And Mundo Sosa, like, is that guy ever not smile? Is he ever not happy? I love the joy that that guy brings to a baseball game. Yeah.

And he's done. I mean, it also helps. He has like an 1100 OBS. Phenomenal. Yeah. Don't get me wrong. But yeah, I just I love the way he goes about his business. Think about this.

And Mundo Sosa has been so good that people are. No, sorry. Other way around. Cody Clemens has been so good that people are or no sorry other way around cody clemens has been so good that people are like i noticed that a lineup even though he's bad in like three that makes sense yeah it's also statsman on heater yeah you know what's so interesting about the lineup is is they've been producing at it i think they're the most runs in baseball as of right now i believe that's correct yeah So they're the most runs in baseball. And it really doesn't feel like we've had at all. At all what?

I know where you're going. Go ahead. Where am I going? It doesn't feel like we've had a lot of offensive explosion. It doesn't feel like it's a super juggernaut offensive line. It's not where I was going. Yes. It's so close.

It may have been where I was going. But now I'm changing it up. Because you thought you knew me better than I know me. No, they didn't. No, I'm just kidding. But they've done all this offensive stuff without that two-week Harper stretch. And Schwarber's been good. Yeah, Schwarber has not gotten going at all, really.

And it's not even the power department. I mean, he's got like nine. Nine. Grow up, kid. Too many singles. But they're the ultimate example of like, one guy just going, like Harper's had games, right? Like he had three hits yesterday.

He's had the Grand Slam. Like he's had these games, but it hasn't been, okay, there's the two week Harper, like five home run stretch. No. Schwarber's been just pretty good. That's been the Stott stretch. It's been Stott. It's been Boehm.

JT's been really good in the two off. It's been guys like sosa and clemens coming in yeah clemens like it's it's all and sometimes castellanos but it's really just been the the collection of the team versus and this is my big fear at the beginning of the year it was like they feel top heavy like they feel like if schwarber turner harper aren't hitting then the offense just isn't that great. It's completely flipped on its head now where it's like everyone's doing their part every single day to where it's like it's not just those top guys at the top of the lineup.

Boom. Looked like he tweaked his hip about a week and a half ago. Right back into doubles. He's leading the league in doubles. Leading the league in RBI. That home run yesterday i mean it was great if i could just get that once a week i mean that that was that was really pretty like that was like wow look at that

that is majestic i've become like the swing the whole thing it's not that i become numb to home runs but i don't like watch them over and over and again that much unless it's Aiden um naturally but I watched that bone home run like 30 times because you know what it reminded me of and I don't know if you know this highlight you probably do because you're like a 90s baseball fan do you remember that home run that Galarraga hit down in like Marlin Stadium like old Marlin Stadium it went like 500 feet the big cat the big cat it was similar to that. The similar backdrop. Yeah. So I'll show you. The Big Cat could hit. He could.

Like 371 here. Yeah, dude. Some of the numbers. Oh, it's so silly. Just look at the Rockies lineup. Some of those numbers are... Trying to comprehend Ryan Howard in like 06 hours. I lived it. I watched it. 306.58. It's like, what?

Boehm is on pace for 140 RBI. Which is nuts. It'd be cool to see one of those years. Yeah, one of those years. Crazy thing that Hack Wilson had 191. What a hack. What a hack. What a hack.

Yeah, I'm with you though. And you know what else this team does? And again, I don't have numbers to back it up, so purely going with feel here. Yeah, well, we don't have numbers to back it up, so purely going with feel here. Yeah, well, we don't do numbers. We're at eye test, bud. It feels like they're, like, runner on third less than two outs. I feel like that guy's going to score.

Like, I feel like they're finding ways to get runs home to whether it's move runners over, whatever it is. They're not making the stupid mistakes they made the first week and a half of the season on the bases. Like, we'll still see some throw out except when they had the two in the Mets game you have JT and that was you know explainable maybe have some symbols if you got someone

when you know Schwarber's on your team maybe have a like follow my left hand for the guy behind follow my right hand and the guy in front whatever maybe figure that out Dusty and a total vet move by Thompson postgame saying well we don't want JT stopping suddenly.

You can't have that happen. It's just a pro. At that point, you just let him go. What if Rob was like, have you seen our record? Come on. What if Rob Thompson postgame is just like, we didn't need the run.

Does it matter? We're just like, we didn't need the run. Does it matter? Yeah. We just said we didn't need the run. We were up 5-2. You think we need another run? Yeah. We're not going to give them more runs. They lose a game.

They lose a game. And he's like, eh. It's all right. He's like, what about this? He's like, listen, guys. Felt like we needed a loss. So kind of managed that way today. I wonder what...

It was a little too many wins here. I need to knock him down a little bit. So he took a loss. I wonder if we're ever going to get the point of peaking too early. Oh, I'm shocked. It hasn't been. So I,

the two things that I'm like, and, and the, the schedule thing is starting to happen now. It's like yesterday is I'm starting to see the other only three games against two teams with winning. I think the Padres, now we get the winning record.

I think they're at 500 now. Yeah. At 500. Don't say we haven't played anyone. That's right. But now people are starting to talk about, I am shocked that the schedule, the lack of winning teams,

and that the peaking too early has not been the predominant conversation that's being had. No. But there are things that I've felt. They're really good. they're really good. They're really good. But it's just.

It's early. It's early. I can't keep coming back. It's early. It's like, well, what do you want me to do? You want me to sit everyone and go on like a five-game losing streak and get the balance back in the world? They probably won't even lose five straight.

I just, I need them to get it done. With this pitching staff, it feels like losing streak proof. You know, it's like, are you really going to have? We are setting ourselves up. Think about it. Knock on wood. Like, how many bad starts in a row is Wheeler going to have?

How many bad starts in a row is Ranger going to have? How many bad starts in a row is Nolan going to have? I mean, Nola, that's the thing. We're talking about Wheeler and Ranger as Cy Young and all that we should. If you take out, first of all, Nola with the first start of the season six and two with the 305 era so like great year take out that first story he's got a 237 era like aaron nola's pitching at a cy young

level essentially or like close to no one's ranger but he's like without that first star aaron knows six and one with the 237 era pretty freaking good well he's probably not gonna be pretty good he's probably not gonna make the. Pretty good. He's probably not going to be. He's going to make the all-star team because they got the other guys. Like, who knows what's going to happen? Well, he's not going to make our top 11 Philly athlete list that we have going right now. Probably not. Probably not.

Which is, like, Ranger's going to make it. And I love Ranger. Is that fair? Is that right? Look at the body of work. Yeah. Like, it feels like a Jimmy Nola over Ranger. Yeah, it feels a bit living in the moment.

Yeah, yeah. But, like, Ranger's ridiculous, so whatever. And maybe, I guess, it's, like, feel going like Rangers ridiculous. So whatever. Um, and maybe I guess it's like feel going forward too, which is, yeah, no, it's been really good.

And he's really good yesterday. Like he's done a better job this year of keeping everything down. Unbelievably better. And also what that has resulted in that. And also obviously the pitch clock and the whole thing that he started with last year, he's clearly figured out a way to not let it spiral on. And just in general,

like the homers, which I get, first of all, it's a lot more solo and two run shots than three and more and also he's not like giving up that other one he would give up a homer and then he would spiral and give up more runs and it would fall apart like he's like if he does give up a homer if he makes a mistake he just bears down and gets more outs that's been the most impressive thing yeah and there's a couple things about nola that i, is that he talked after the complete game shutout about how we as a starting staff are putting it on our shoulders that we want to go as deep into games as possible so we can save our bullpen for October when we know it matters.

Awesome. I just love that mentality. Love it. And everyone in the starting staff is just doing their job from that standpoint. Also, he's brought back the slide step which i appreciate it's because it's hard to like maintain your velocity well you talked about when he was on with us on friday he's like i hadn't had a slide step since like 2018 or 2017 or whatever but it makes it look he looks

pretty free flowy out there with the slide step but and it's helped with keeping runners on first base and stuff like that but yeah i just think he's kept everything down the zone, which is good. Like, whenever he gets lifted up a little bit, it does get ripped into the seat sometimes. But he's just been a monster from that standpoint. Well, even though Homer gave up yesterday, I mean, that was like a barely over the – I mean, it was like a really high fly ball that just had enough.

Well, freaking Jesse Winker acts like every ball he hits in the air. I know. It's 700 feet. So, but, yeah, Noel's been good from that standpoint. Wheeler on Saturday, he – like, it was good to see an uptick in the air you know 700 feet so but yeah no one's been good from that standpoint wheeler on saturday he like it was good to see an uptick in the velo was that friday or saturday it was uh keep mixing those two up so we had our event thursday with taiwan so it would have been saturday right right because then sanchez was friday because i want or was sanchez no i'm right

yeah sanchez was wait no maybe sanchez was Saturday and Wheeler was Friday. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I do want to wax poetic about Chris Sanchez. He was good, man. Yeah. He has his, like, it's usually early in the game. Yes. Like, first through third innings, it's like, oh, he's not going to go five.

Yeah. Totally did not think he was going to. He has danced around so many, like. Yeah, but against the Mets, the immaculate inning that wasn't. Like, he, like, loads of bases. He's like, all right, nine pitches. Bang. But when he gets on, when he finds it.

Yeah. He's nasty. It's just so fast. Yeah. The fourth through seventh inning the other day, that was the fastest three in my life. It's like Ranger. It's Ranger-ish.

Yeah. He's not as consistent yet. No, no, no. But when he has it, when he's on that roll, it's like bang, bang, bang, bang. The change-ups are just sick. And the most interesting part about Sanchez for me is that he's back up to like 97. Yeah, it makes such a difference.

I mean, there wasn't a bat. I forget which scrub little righty hitter for the net. By the way, what, they have one guy batting over 200? Yeah. And yet they were like around 500. Well, their pitching staff's good. I like their staff. Yeah, Mackenzie Gore is good.

He is pretty good. He's talented. But Sanchez, this one righty, he went like 97. It might have been Manassas. I think it was Manassas. He went 97 on the black. And then it had a 10-mile-an-hour difference with the same arm speed, 97 to 87.

That's unhittable. For a hitter, seeing those two back-to-back, it's it that's unhittable like for a hitter going seeing those two back to back it's impossible yeah it's impossible to hit it's impossible so i i'm glad that you know because everyone oh yeah like maybe maybe take sanchez out of the rotation for turnbull so he's pitching through a three two like he's pitching to like they're all just they're all too good they're all too good as starters to be taken out of games what a wild thing this is we just ah we deserve this we really do we deserve this think about all the horrendous starters that we have watched over the years i mean we went through pettibone

we went through pettibone ethan martin like just scrub after scrub and now it's just again they're must see tv you want to tune in and see what starter's going to go next. It's phenomenal. Obviously, they're winning every game, but even outside of that, just watching them on a night-to-night basis as a baseball fan, it is the most fun

team to watch we've had in a really long time. It's not just home runs. That's what I'm talking about. Across the board, they play good defense. They're fun. They like each other there's you know everything the pitching's great like there's characters there's personality like there are people who uh like brace the moment and like you know what i mean like it does it feels like a really fun baseball good fun baseball team what a thrill man they gotta get it done they just have to get it done.

Imagine the release we'll feel. Oh, it'll be the greatest thing ever. Because I know it's so bad, dude. I just watch games. I can't help it. I can tell. You're right here. Every time I bring it up, you just keep going right back there. Because I can't.

We've seen them win a lot of games before. I know. And I'm glad that another generation has been able to experience what a great baseball team. Think about the kids, okay? I am thinking about the kids. Think about the kids watching this team being like, wow. What is this, Dad? We win every night.

This is so cool. Waking up in the morning being like, did we win last night? And Dad being like, yeah, of course we did. I hope that, you know. That's what we do. I hope parents with kids under 10 experience this for the first time once a week. Once a week. Once a week. No, well a week. Once a week. Love sap.

No, well, no. Once a week. I need them just to show them September of 2018. Don't do that to your parents. Put some hair on their chest. Horrible. Yeah. Don't make them live it. I wish I hadn't lived it.

Show them 19 to 11. Yeah. Show them Vince Velasquez up in Toronto or up in Buffalo. Colorado. Just show them the Colorado series in 2018. 19 to 11 should be deployment television for every kid. Yeah, it should. You need to really learn what you're in for and why we do this.

All right, take back in a sec. Shout out to our account of the week. Today's show is sponsored by Miller Lite and the State Street Pub and Media. Great spot, Media. Check out the State Street Pub for every Phillies game and enjoy $4 Miller Lite bottles and pints along with State Street's volcano fries and jalapeno

peppers, bacon, and more. You seem like a volcano fries kind of guy. That seems a little hot for me. Yeah. I see what you did there. Volcano, hot. That was good work. Miller Lite's your Phil's win. Celebrate responsibly. All right. What do I see what you did there. Volcano hot. That was good work. No lights or fills wouldn't celebrate responsibly. All right. What do we got in the take back? Better assistant coach.

Ooh. Ooh. Caleb. Caleb Cotham or Jeff Stoutland. One's got to go. You are going for it. One's got to go. One's got to go.

People aren't going to like the answer, are they? I mean, it's Caleb, right? I mean, I don't know. I mean, it's hard. right no you know i i mean i don't know it's hard you're you're putting up too tight no i know i mean jeff sattlin they don't like talk about position coaches the nfl like adam schaefter is tweeting out like stoutland really likes this guy it's like what is happening here because everything with the eagles is just so dramatic i know i just meant more that no position coach has mattered like jeff stoutland no i know i know but yeah caleb gotham, again, Matt Strom talking.

You wouldn't have said that about Vic Fangio because he's a Phillies fan. You went in on Stoutland, but you wouldn't even mess with him. Are we sure Vic Fangio's good? Wow. That was not. I thought you would have Vic's back. Oh, right. I thought you were going to.

He's a huge Phillies. I thought you were going to, like, be Mr. Vic Fangio. Like, wow, thank God we got him here. The problem is WIP brands look good. I know, I know. I was like, well, when was the last time we did a top 10 defense? Yeah, yes.

But I forgot. No, I forgot. Vic's our guy. I'm in on Vic. We love you, Vic. Vic, come on the pod. I'm in on Vic. Yeah, come talk Phillies.

We will not ask you one question about football. Don't even care. Yeah. None. Zero. We won't even pretend you're like Vic from the Northeast or Vic from South Philly or whatever. We know that's why the ball doesn't have enough talent right now. I'm going to give him a bunch. You're right. I'm going to give

Vic Fangio about as much leeway as possible. That's what I expected here. That was a moment of disappointment. I'm happy we're back. We're right back. Yeah, sorry. Sorry. But yeah, Caleb Gotham, I mean,

Strom was talking yesterday about how, like, they make sure they add a depth to his slider. It's like this. If there was, I mean, again, we deserve a lot, but having a difference-making pitching coach after years and years of, like, of frickin' Brian Price and, oh, remember that dork Chris Young. Oh my God.

His whole not stand at Chris Young. His only claim to fame was just throw up in the zone. He was the John Manley of pitching coaches. Dude, they were horrible. But Zach Eflin, like Zach Eflin, the nicest guy in the world.

Yeah. I was like the nicest man. Yeah. Pretty much boycotting anything that Chris Strachan told him. It was nuts. It's just brutal. But yeah, I mean, that Strom could be an all-star. Yeah.

I mean, literally. Yeah, I mean, it's really hard for middle relievers to be all-stars. It's really hard. I came up on this show today. Joe was like, how is Strom not an all-star? I'm like, he's a middle reliever. That's how. Like, closers usually get in. But him and Hoffman, I'm like, he's a middle reliever. That's how. Closers usually get in.

But him and Hoffman, I believe, are both.9 and.9. No big deal. And if you take out the first weekend of the year, Strom has a lot of runs. How insane is that? I know. If you just take out those first two Braves games, as ridiculous as Philly's numbers look,

they'll look that much better. It's insane. Yep. But yeah, I think Strom is a monster. Hoffman's a monster. But I can't stop thinking about Caleb Gotham and what he's done for, like the Phillies, you know, we looked at those organizations a couple years ago. It's like, man, look at the Rays.

Totally. And now the Phillies are one of those. I know. It's all we ever wanted. Honestly, it's hard to, like, I'm, I still can't really, that part of it, I can believe they're winning games on it. This doing things things smart things and taking guys and developing it's all surreal to me i i it's wonderful now quick question uh-huh

why don't pitching coaches become managers why is it like when i'm thinking about kate mccarthy how great is how young he is you know to be as good as he is and like being like what like what's next for that guy like where do you like is it you know front office whatever but i i just don't know or can he be our pitching coach for the next 30 years you know i mean like i thought about that it's because they don't it's so rare that pitching coach become managers like the only one i remember recently is mickey calloway became when it didn't work out bud black's been bud black you're right bud black has been fraud but it's rare the point is you would think it's like you would think you see more pitching coaches move up the chain so yeah i guess it's probably viewed as like they don't know the ins and outs of,

you know, like a catcher would. It seems like catchers are most of that. But, yeah, I've been thinking about that a lot. Like what's his – Yeah, what's next? He's probably coordinator. Like if he wanted to make him run a whole organization. Yeah, like pitching.

Yeah, that would be my thought. But still, it's like, you know. Let's put it this way pay whatever it takes to make sure he's not allowed to ever leave I mean him and Brian Kaplan

are monsters and especially with what they've done with pitcher health yeah I mean look the rest of baseball guys are dropping like flies

and they're like hey maybe just throw a little bit softer yeah and especially with like oh yeah it's like not just that but they're also like

leading starters in innings across baseball. Like they're pitching more innings and staying healthier. You know what the Phillies are doing? They're pitching. It's like old school baseball. What do you got? They're going deep into games.

Oh my God. There's nothing that drives me more crazy than the analytics community figuring out something that people who have played baseball like their entire lives have. Wow, maybe if you pitch, it's good for you. What does that mean? analytics community, figuring out something that people who have played baseball their entire lives have... Wow, maybe if you pitch, it's good for you. What does that mean? By the way, speaking of analytics and new pitches, I need someone on the Phillies to

learn the Splinker. Is that what it's called? I don't know what it is. Okay, so the Splinker, which is a splitter sinker. It's sick. So, Duran with the twins is the first one who came up with it oh he did

yeah yeah I mean he's nasty that dude of course but then Skeens now has developed it my guy yeah

and Paul Skeens is pretty good owning Paul Skeens in fantasy it's pretty good it's a thrill it's a thrill but the Splinker

is next so you can have your little sweeper here's my only question what are we at 150 years of baseball or whatever and like let's say you? 150 years of baseball or whatever.

And like, let's say, you know, 30 years of like high level technology in 20 years. How is no one ever like, I don't get like, what do you mean a splinker? Like no one ever thought, oh, I'll put these two together because we put everything together and figure out like, how is this new? That's what I don't get. Like how, how can

anyone come up with a pitch that has not been figured out? Well, that's what I don't get. there's a lot of years without the Rapsodo cameras. And everyone's just a nerd in baseball. The simple is that. Boy, someone could have thrown a splinker. They just might not have called it that. And then now it's got a name. You also have to have sick arm speed to do it.

Paul Skeen is throwing at 96 miles an hour off of 100. And it goes like this. It just dies on you so I don't know I mean Wheeler feels like the one this offseason that's gonna work

on the little splinker why not just add another add it to 100 yeah that and the Imanaga splitter

ah dude's got a.8 I know I know I don't think we've talked enough about we've talked about the last line

I was like I would watch it fair amount because there was no other baseball it was like that in the Yan yankees game the yankees were you know winning by like six or whatever five so i watched a lot of that game and like dude's really good i mean he was seven shot out either he's got a point four area and like

close to 60 innings or something like he's like pretty wild what that guy's doing yeah and i'm talking about ranger cy young like that guy probably should be throwing in those Cy Young things too. He might. I mean, he's probably going to start the All-Star game. If you had to have someone start it. 0.84 ERA. It's like his whip is...

A Ranger might be the only one with a better whip than he has in ERA. Yeah, it's insane. All right. Just some things to close out the take back. Love it. And this actually goes back to them. I have some thoughts on the Mets series.

Oh, good. Let's take back. Love it. And this actually goes back to them. I have some thoughts on the Mets series. Oh, good. Let's go back. Yeah. I've long had a very. There's a weird spot to stop after saying that. You're like, I've long. I was like, is that a name? Is that a thing?

Got it. I've long had a very anti Pete Alonzo. We know. You know how much I dislike Pete Alonzo. Biggest dork on the planet. Not even close. But. Oh, God. But. Just saying. Sometimes on the planet. Not even close. But. Ah.

But. Just saying. Sometimes you just try too hard with this. His walkout song is Revival by Zach Bryan. So I might be in. You are such a sucker. Like all you got to do is be like, hey, man, I listen to Zach Bryan. I love you now. I might have hated you before, but you like Zach Bryan.

So we're friends now. It's why I was in on Lorenzen, because he came out to Childers. So... Listen to country music and you're in on the person, that's it? Yeah, but don't listen to the nonsense. Listen to real country. So, might be an on-the-peat Alonso trade. Oh, this is a horrible job by you.

We have a first baseman. Our best player plays first base. What are we doing here? Look at the age. What about Trevor? What's he going to do? Go back to left field? Okay, good.

Good, good, good. Wouldn't Alonzo DH? I mean, Harper's already a better defender than Alonzo. Put Alonzo up first, and then Harper back and right. Oh! Just kidding. Let's ruin that arm again. Just kidding.

Great. But he does walk up to Zach Ryan. So what? The Whitmerryville just- Walk up to Fish, and then we'll start talking. Like he does walk up to Zach Ryan. So what? The Whitmerryville check. Walk up to Fish and then we'll start talking. Like Wilson Ramos used to. The Whitmerryville check swing was one of the funniest things I've ever seen. Oh, it was unbelievable.

That was about as clear a swing as you'll see be called a check. That happens a couple times a year. There'll be one where it's clearly over. That was about as far like so clearly a swing called the other way as you can possibly that was that was i i did not blame the batsman being curious well and all the different announcers being like and that's all three calls it was great swinging a miss oh my goodness that's exactly right it was like and he got him there wait what yeah yeah unbelievable I could really appreciate it.

I need Bum's not getting hit by 98 on the knuckles. If we could. How about the, yeah, that was one of those like, yes, the run's good. Oh, no. Wait, hold on. Oh, he's okay. We're good. Did you see that stat?

Ryan Spader, our buddy, tweeted out the stat that Ali Bum already with three hit by pitch for RBIs most in the history of the Phillies in a season he is already the leader in a season for hit bats RBI and he has to be the leader for bases loaded getting hit by pitch well yeah that's the same thing

how good do you get an RBI otherwise for the hit by pitch don't worry about it do not worry about it how about Schwar worry about it. How about Schwarber's seven walks in the last two games? First time since 1968. Schwarber has had a real strange season. Well, every Schwarber season. I know.

It's actually a better start than most. June's around the corner. I'm just saying. This is what he usually does right before June. He starts walking all the time. People get mad when I say walks as good as a hit. As a single. And he did score three runs yesterday, which is good.

But, yeah, I think the Schwarber run's coming. When he starts walking like this, I think he raises on base percentage from like 313 heading into the series to 340 by the end of it. Wow. At this point in May, that's a big jump in a series. Stotter's flirting with 400. All of a sudden, Stotter's like, you know, he's going to have a 900 OPS next week by

the time we look up. I want every ready reliever out there that's pretty good. Obviously, Mason Miller is out there. Yeah. I mean, they'd have to give up Painter to get Mason Miller. Yeah. So here's my thing about Mason Miller. Mason Miller is more like, that'd be really fun.

If they got him, I wouldn't be super upset. They don't need him. I mean, they don't need... They can get Ryan Helsley for less. They can get Hunter Harvey for less. Mason Miller's not getting traded. Probably not. It's the ace.

Yeah, it's the ace. It's the ace. But you don't need to give up that much for what the Phillies need. You know what I mean? They can give up less for Helsley. They can give up less for Hunter Harvey. But man, Hunter Harvey is pretty sick. I would like Hunter Harvey on the Philz.

Is that where you're at now? All these failed starters. Look at Hoffman. I know. They all are. I know. Go back to the next Hoffman. Yeah. If he's here. If he's here. Dude, how was yesterday?

I was shocked. It's in 2019. I couldn't believe it. I was like, hold on. So for those who didn't see it, yesterday's game was the biggest crowd, regular season crowd, since 2019. I was shocked by that. That had to be the, oh, I guess it was June of 2019. They said June 20, yeah, June 22nd or something like that.

What even was that? I don't know. The Wheeler started in 19. Was it May? No, that was 21. But it was may either way holiday one are you talking about yeah on holiday it would have been may how they just happened that's i really don't know it's a great question i i saw that too

and i was like and also the yankees can we also like hold on another thing isn't it marlins oh i don't know that's really weird isn't a sellout a sellout at what point did we start saying like okay like like shouldn't like they sold out so it's this many people i mean every time you know it's like is that is it like that many people like actually go through the door is that the idea that like this many people actually showed up for the game and it's the most but like isn't there a cap like shouldn't you always, if you're sold out, like, all right, we had 44,800 people in this building today because that's how much we can have.

You know what I mean? Well, I just don't get it. I thought Saturday and Friday were bigger crowds. Well, it felt like it, watching, yeah. Sunday's always going to be, though. The Sunday day games, yeah. Yeah, but man, the crowds this last week, I was at the Mets game on Tuesday.

Oh, you were at the Mets game on Tuesday, hanging out, having fun? Yeah, but man, the crowds this last week, I was at the Mets game on Tuesday, and... Oh, you were at the Mets game on Tuesday, hanging out, having fun? Yeah, I was. It was the rainy one, though. Yeah, it was the rainy one. Yeah, I just, yeah. So, and it didn't, it wasn't like there was that many people there,

it didn't seem like, but the second start getting hits, it was like, it was loud. Like, loud, loud, loud. So special. And then, final thing. I know, like, loud. So special. And then final thing. I know. I know that they already

gave out the 08 ring for Rollins' retirement night. But could they choose anything else besides the 09 ring for Hamill's retirement night? What are we doing here? It's a really weird move.

Like why? He's arguing the reason we don we doing here? Yeah, it's a really weird move. Like why? He's arguing the reason we don't have packs. Yeah, exactly. Why are you giving out an 09 ring? It's such a weird, you're right. I was just thinking about how weird it is to give out an 09 ring. Could we not give out a losing ring? That's just a weird thing to begin with.

But of all people, give it to Chase, I guess. I don't know. Someone who had a good series or someone who did something or choose something else from away well that's the point do anything else yes give anything else away i agree give a patch wait it shouldn't be 09 period but of all people to choose 09 it's like what is it almost like a joke is he like funny right it's just so weird that is so weird and it's like who i i'm flummoxed by this like that is such a strange whoever decided that and then levels of decisions like no one was like hey guys can i just bring something up about cole in 09 can we just have a quick combo here just a moment on on what happened

in 2000 we remember i mean cole literally said i can't wait for the season to be over it was like that it was the worst year of his career like what are we doing I'm sure even Cole's like he's talked about it since he knows that yeah I'm sure he's just like wait really

we can win the 0-9 ring why not did someone get the number wrong was it supposed to be 0-8 did we screw this up just give out 0-8 rings again like I don't care do it a second time

exactly yeah it was like the 0-9 pennant this is why you're you this is a great job I can't believe that it's insane yeah give out more 0-9 pennant ring. This is why you're you. This is a great job. I can't believe that. It's insane.

Yeah. Give out more 0-8 rings. It really is insane. Who got an 0-8 pennant ring? Whatever. Anything. Yeah. Just give out a picture of Cole Mills' face.

I mean, that'd be better. Yeah. With you. Good work. And final thing, stop putting Aiden Miller in any fake trades. Oh, yeah. So that's the thing that we're going to, as the gen, we're still a little ways away from the trade deadline, but as it approaches,

that's going to be a real moment. We're going to have to really police these things, be aware of these things. And honestly, just look out for your mental health. Yeah. No Aiden trade deadline. Who do you think if they,

you know, I was going to say, pick up the newspaper. If they go online and check out, you know, MLB trade rumors dot com or one of these things and sees, you know, Aiden Miller mentioned in the package. Who is more bothered by that? You or Aiden Miller? Me. I think it's you, too.

I really do think it's you, too. I think I'll go play somewhere else. You're like, no, no, no. No, because I've already said behind the scenes. He's going to be the next Gunner. He's going to be the next Gunner Henderson. You've attached multiple things. There's a lot of pressure on Aiden Miller.

He's going to be so good. He's already gotten 1,000 OPS. He's batting like 337. In Clearwater. Jackson Holiday had a good moment, but there's a, there's a new sheriff in town and he better start learning how to play left field.

There you go. There you go. Cause like, I don't know, like you're not moving track. You're not moving side. Bones obviously taken off. Like learn left field.

Thank you. Okay. Aiden, get on it. Yeah. Get on it. All right. Yeah. Is that it?. Yeah, get on it. All right. Yeah.

Is that it? We done? That's it. All right. We'll be back later in the week. I'm sure the Phillies will win a bunch of games. Yawn. Yawn.

How do we even talk about it? Yawn. All right. We'll talk to you guys later in the week. He's for himself.