High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Baseball Broke Jack

Episode Date: March 10, 2022

James and Jack are back talking about baseball and the Phillies, otherwise known as things that make them sad. The guys react to the latest batch of annoying updates from the labor strife front, they dive deep into the broken man Jack has become without baseball, and eventually discuss potential rule changes to the game (yes, actual baseball talk). Plus, much more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Hot Cloud Storage on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. This is the high hopes podcast. It's a bunch of baseball nerds talking about the Phillies on radio.com and sports radio, 94 WIP. Yo, it is another edition of the It Sucks to Be a Baseball Fan podcast. Now, the first time I said that, I said I didn't run this name change by Jack Fritz, but since it's the second time we've recorded this open because Mr. Professional on the other end,

well, I won't get too deep into it, but at least we didn't go deep into the podcast. It was a quick record. And I wonder what's worse, Jack, the 10 minutes we just spent totally screwing up the thing that we do all the time or being a baseball fan? Because the answer is being a baseball fan. Actually a third option it is being emily in the laundry room next to me listening to me rant like this and listening to you and me like cursing each other as we try to get this pod going how you doing buddy doing fine i don't know like i don't know like i need if terry Rozier could hit one more three, I'd be much happier. By the way, before we get too deep into this podcast, I want to let you know that there's a deadline.

If we're not done by 10 o'clock, I'm canceling the first two weeks of April podcast. I got to set the deadline because that's an important thing that we have to do. Okay, go ahead. Gambling. Terry Rozier. to set the deadline because that's an important thing that we have to do okay go ahead gambling terry rogier which um which i would say thing is more real the major league baseball deadline or the all-time philly's draft podcast that we promised yes yes uh both equally not real i think we will do the philly's draft it'll happen you know why jack because we might not have a freaking baseball season yeah and and you know here's my thing

they have killed me but i know i could hear it in your voice you were like i thought coming into this podcast that I, I like, I was like, I'm really tired and we're doing it later than we normally do and all that. And I was like, I don't know how much I have to give. And you, you actually sound dead. You're right. Well, I, I gotta, I'm just being honest. Like, even I don't, even I don't care anymore. Like I, I don't even get, I don't even get sad about baseball. Literally, I do not get sad about baseball anymore. And that's shocking.

But it's just... And to put it this way, if I don't care about baseball, you know who doesn't care about baseball? Anyone. Seriously, I'm watching college games. That's been a lot of fun. I've been enjoying watching them because they actually play a good, fun style of branded baseball.

I'm like, but I just, and it's not even, this isn't a players or owners thing. I mean, it's strictly owners. But, like, I just don't care. Like, I just, I have other stuff going on now. Like, sorry. I got money to lose on NBA games. I have NCAA tournament right around the corner. I have the NFL draft.

Like, okay, wake – again, wake me up when it's over. But, like, I can't do it anymore. I can't do the waking up today's the day and the stupid, naive, Bambi-like way I go through life. That's such a perfect description. Oh, my God. That is like – It's like, oh my god that is like it's like oh today oh today yeah baseball oh oh let me let me tweet freaking schwarber highlights one more time or let me tell all my friends that today's the day that baseball is going to come back like

oh let me just let me just be in group chats talking about baseball all day i don't freaking care anymore i don't like i don't care i don't care i just just like the freaking stupid deadlines that don't even mean anything just shut up just shut up that you so they're so stupid like they're just so stupid from the standpoint of like if real baseball fans don't care anymore then who the hell is going to care no one's going to care. And there's just going to be this opening day that's going to be put together out of nowhere. And it's just going to be haphazard. No one's going to give a crap. And there's going to be no juice in the ballpark because they've made everyone miserable.

And you know what? They don't care. They do not care because all they care about is winning the negotiations. The owners don't care about about about getting a deal done the owners care about winning the freaking negotiations that's all that matters it doesn't matter about the fans of the sport they don't care about that anymore because they still think it's 1883 where it's america's pastime and that everyone will come back and sure i think people will come back too but this, stupid, leaking stuff to all the freaking beat writers that just take whatever they say and then put it out on Twitter like it's fact, letting people buy into these owners actually care about getting the sport right.

Like it's just such a waste of my freaking time every day. Every day it's a waste of my time. I don't care anymore. I don't. I don't care anymore. I don't. I don't. Just figure it out and just get baseball back on the field so people can enjoy their lives again. And that's the end of our baseball podcast for the evening. Thank you.

He's burnt some seltzer. We'll see you later. He's just like, dude, I can't take it anymore. I can't take it anymore. They've broken you. I mean, it's devastating. I guarantee you. It's every day, dude. i guarantee every day dude it's

every day i gotta see the i don't even know what it even means i don't know what any of this crap means and i don't want to research it's a new thing don't you love how like the international draft hasn't been said by anybody this entire time and then all of a sudden it's the reason we don't have baseball today apparently a deal today it's like yeah i don't know i don't like and i and i don't know like i don't want to hear i don't want to hear uh this is the player's fault i don't hear this owner's fault i don't know whose fault it is i i think it's the owner's fault i'm sure like if the owners are pushing for something it's probably a bad idea for everyone involved like that's my general that's like my general it's definitely of course it's the fault of course it's just like it's just like

i don't know what i hate having that i hate i hate people at like asking me about it because I don't know what, I hate having that, I hate, I hate people like asking me about it, because I don't freaking know, I don't know, I'm not a labor lawyer, I don't know what the percentage of like the cut they deserve, I don't know, I don't know what's right, I don't know what's wrong, you know what I can do, James, I can break down pitching, I can break down sequencing, I can get excited about home runs, I can get excited about home runs i can get excited about doubles i can tell you about baseball i don't know anything when it comes to this labor stuff i just don't know anything about it and like i don't feel like doing research about it because i got a million other things going on i don't like i just wanted to be over i just need to be over i need to be over but they don't care so whatever we'll keep doing this yeah look i i

know more about it than i want to um First and foremost, to everyone listening, I'm right there with you just being completely devastated hearing what our sport has done to Jack. believes that baseball is coming back every day but believes in the phillies year after year when none of us do i mean you know it's tough it's tough here and you're like broken down like this but you're it's all facts and you look you said uh people will come back but like i think like look we'll come back i mean we're you know assholes yeah idiots we're dumb asses that was a dumb ass that was what i was looking for we're dumb asses and we're clums for punishment but i do think this sport is underestimating like that it's always gonna be that way i mean let's be honest i look i have a kid man let me tell you they don't have long attention spans they don't they really don't and it seems like

kids are growing up more and more that way and baseball is a sport where i mean look at every year the games are longer and longer and i know it's an old man thing to say but but it's more that we know there's a better version of the sport a quicker version where balls are put in play and there's action and all the things we always talk about and if it doesn't do that like not only is it not a a product that is going to appeal to younger people or a next generation of fans in any way shape or form but now they're acting like a bunch of a-holes on a national stage and making everyone like them even less to your point like that's the thing is i am a hundred percent pro player like there is no part of me that

that is on the owner's side in any way shape or form and i think the owners themselves are the worst thing that has happened to the sport, them and Manfred, the worst thing that's happened to the sport potentially in our lifetime. This group right now, what they're doing and what they're doing to the game that we love. And the fact that, you know, I think Manfred certainly and a lot of the owners, I don't know if they even love this game. Like, I don't know if they care about the game. They certainly don't love it like we do. But I do think that they are vastly under or overestimating, I should say,

the fact that people will keep coming back to this and that they will be able to continue to get new fans. Like, Jack, you always make the joke, all the sport's dying. Like, it's not. Like, they have big TV deals and all that type of stuff. The Apple deal just getting announced which is you know objectively hilarious that the apple deal is getting announced during these negotiations and all that like oh my god who could possibly be on the other side

but like the idea that people are just going to come back in droves to this sport that has treated them like crap that is a sport that kids don't enjoy, that kids aren't flocking to. Like baseball isn't dying yet, but I do think that baseball is in a real precarious spot in its history where with the way the world is going, with the proliferation of anything you want at any time and any possible niche show or TikTok or this or that or whatever you want to talk about, like there's so many outlets for people to get their entertainment, for people to get what they want that I do think that this group of owners and the attitude that they have about their sport right now and the idea that they are not really hurting the future of their sport right now, I think they're wrong.

I think there is a real chance that this is a big moment in the future of baseball where we could see the sport not die or anything, but become not close to as big. It's already not as big a deal as it used to be. Football has lapped it. We can all be honest. So I think the whole people will come back. Yeah, but you're in a really precarious spot. They are. And obviously, I don't know. It is funny to me that the whole baseball is dying thing and then people are like talking about the lockout every day.

So I think I think baseball is always going to be that thing that's there. And it's always going to be old. In most cases, old reliable. Again, I just sound like an idiot every time I open up this microphone, every single time I do this podcast. That's an all-time job right there. I just sound like a freaking idiot every single time. And frankly, the only thing that can make me feel better tonight is True Holiday having three second half threes.

In all seriousness, if he hits three second after he's i don't baseball can never come back but like for a like here so good job such a symbol of how you're coping with not having baseball you like are watching and gambling on basketball on a legitimate nightly basis among in the middle in the middle of this podcast i have i have it on my phone of course you do and they just pulled it from the game like it's it's 7 45 left in the third quarter do we really need to pull it's just like it's just ridiculous i mean your holidays are arguably the best point guard in sixers history and it's just like if you could please help me out that'd be great so but yes it's man you're so broken dude i i swear to god like i've

been waiting to do that i've been waiting to do that like rant for i don't know how long just like it's not even it's not even it's not pro anything it's pro my life is a waste of time at this point and it's just like baseball is the, I, I love baseball. I really do. I mean, everyone that listens to this podcast knows this. Yeah, it's, I think I love baseball might be an understatement from you. You love baseball. You're like the 0.01% of people who love baseball.

I know. And it's just like, I think to myself, why me? Right. I mean, why, why me in this sport? And why do they always have to be the worst? And I guess I just don't understand what they think this is going to do to the perception of the game. That it's just a bunch of rich dudes that can't come to an agreement on something? And do they still think they have the same standing that they used to have in society?

They obviously don't. I mean, people don't really walk around like, oh, Mickey Mantle. And, you know, I remember like Barry Bonds or whatever. And like, obviously, we feel that way about the 08 guys and they will always be revered here. And it's special. But I don't know. I just think that they have this inflated sense of their place, and they're not really focusing on what baseball fans care about.

And not that they should. I mean, I know they have to come to a CBA, but baseball fans in their core things, they want more balls in play. They want the game to move along a little quicker. They don't want it to be a slog. And like they're not even discussing any of that stuff. They're just down there talking about whatever. They're trying to figure it out.

So I just wish they were smarter. And I said this last podcast, like it bothers me that there's not someone above Manfred, and it bothers me that – because he's not really the commissioner of baseball. He's the guy. Show for the ownership. Yeah, that's exactly what he, like he's not even, he's not the commissioner.

He doesn't even hide it. Like it's not even like, and I know that's like his job, and we all know it's his job, but it's like, you know, I'm with you. And again, to the point we've made many times, like this is a guy who's like openly talked and openly knows that like, this guy doesn't love made many times, this is a guy who's openly talked and openly knows.

This guy doesn't love baseball. He called the trophy a hunk of metal. He's just, he's not the guy, very clearly. Yeah, I mean, he's not. So it feels like, again, there's no compromise. And there's no leaving thinking thinking okay you know we're gonna lose a little bit here and the thing that's so annoying right now is like people are like well look the owners are really giving it's like they haven't made real offers until this week like

like oh they're really they're they're moving in the player's direction it's like they were starting at a negative they were starting at zero they're starting at like player's direction. It's like they were starting at a negative. They were starting at zero. They're starting at like no increase in anything. Yeah. Like they were, yeah. With inflation, they were like,

it's like they don't understand the concept of inflation. Like there's no such thing as inflation. Like, so, so now there's this public perception that like, oh, well look at the owners. They're,

they're really just starting to, they're really starting to give more. It's like, no's like no they're not every every time the union's like all right we agree to that they're like oh no we're actually going to do this like like owner uh man for k mountains there's gonna be no qualification offer or qualifying offers for free agents and then like that's now back on the table so so like you can't even take them for their word and and i just again i think that they have this inflated sense of their standing in American sports. And they, I mean, they know that they're a regional sport at this point, obviously. We know that.

But when it comes to actual baseball fans and people that care about the sport, it just makes us feel worthless in a way. It makes us feel like we don't matter. We are to them. I genuinely feel like we don't matter. We are to them. I feel, I genuinely feel like they don't care about me. And that sucks. And I know they probably shouldn't, but. No, Jack, Jack, Jack.

And this is like, I know I've said this on the pod before. I'm sure I've said it a million times, but it's like one of the core things I believe in as a sports fan, as a person who talks about sports, whatever you want to say, that owning a sports team is a public trust. Like, yes, you are the billionaire who was rich enough to own a sports team. Like, congrats. Like, good for you. Like, that's awesome. That's super impressive. But you are owning something that is something that is loved, supported financially, that is something that is loved, supported financially,

and just takes over the lives, in some cases, of millions of people. This is not just some company that you own. This is a way of life. It is a generational thing among families. The idea that my father is a Phillies fan, that my father is a Phillies fan and my grandfather is a Phillies fan. And Zoe's going to be a Phillies fan and her kids are going to be Phillies fans long before and long after you came to own this team or you came to own this team or whatever. Like, yes, it's your team. You bought it. But at the same time, like it is a public trust that you are running this thing for a lot of people who care

about it in a really true and meaningful way where our careers are based on our love of it like we literally like our lives are so wrapped up with this team with the teams we care about in both the financial and a personal way like like there are so many people who care about this team in that way that it's not just like, oh, you can own your team and do whatever the hell you want with it. Like, that's not okay. Especially in baseball more than any other sport because they have an antitrust exemption from the freaking government. Like, so that's a whole other like layer of it, which is not talked about enough, but

like, it's not just like your team do whatever the hell you want with it. Like you own it for us. You own it for millions of people and a city that care about it, take pride in it and spend their money on. So like, I just, I hate when people give this concept of, well, it's their team. Like, no, it's our team. It's their team like no it's our team it's our team and your team you know what i never thought i'd ever say this sentence james but you know what baseball needs more of they need more steve cohen's who are willing to spend whatever you're right dude i mean you're right about that look at the look at the the this luxury tax surcharge thing or whatever. Like, that's literally the, it's basically the Steve Cohen tax.

But obviously, he's rich enough to where it doesn't matter. But also, like, he's a fan. Real quick, Jack, all these guys are rich enough to where it doesn't matter. Like, Steve Cohen is super rich enough where it doesn't matter. And he doesn't care because he's that rich. But all these guys are rich enough where it doesn't matter and he doesn't care because he's that rich but all these guys are rich enough where it doesn't matter yeah so but he he obviously is a mets fan and like he's like lifelong yeah i mean isn't it a crazy concept that uh your owner that's a fan of the team just spends whatever to try to win and doesn't care because he cares about yeah um so it's just and and, you know, this whole there is no more fake sympathy than the small market teams that are like, oh, well, they're going to all these teams are going to blow past the luxury tax.

It's like, dude, the first off, that's a lie. There's like two teams that go past the luxury tax every year. And like the Dodgers are one of them. And that's only because they're in a world series window. I mean, they might keep it open forever for how good of an organization they are. And the Mets who literally just did it for the first time last year. So like this whole idea of like,

Oh, well it's going to create this, you know, uncompetitive. It's like, just stop, like stop lying to our faces about, about being uncompetitive.

And also little marketing. Especially when they're taking all this money from revenue sharing that these big market teams are making. What are you talking about? God, they're just so annoying. And it's like the whole woe is me. Like, listen, man, they've made like $11 billion in the last year, like five years or whatever. I don't know what the number is.

Record profit 17 straight years until the pandemic happened. Record every year. If you can't afford it. There's no better investment right now than the professional sports team. So if you can't afford it, then sell it. But getting more competitive owners that care more about the sport and not their bottom line and maybe the teams they rooted for, that's what's going to help. Steve Cohen basically set off the record or maybe tweeted, I think he said, if this is what it takes to get baseball back in the field, you can tax me all you want.

Imagine every owner having the mentality and then we'd probably have baseball back in the field right now. every owner having the mentality and then we'd probably have baseball back on the field right now but no any everything has to be one negotiations the players that take their offer because we need to be the big bad owners we need to know that we we own them and it's like oh my god just shut up just shut up and and please i just beg of everyone out there stop falling for the owners. Like, like, Oh, they're giving, they're not,

they're not, they're, they'll be fine no matter what happens in the, in this, in this, in this negotiation, quote unquote, like just stop.

It's, it's a joke. So, um, I don't know. That's, that's pretty much where I can't. I can,

this is one of those topics that I could talk about all night but say the same thing over and over and just get angry each time I say it. So it doesn't sound like a fun podcast. I don't think anyone wants to listen to that. I'm surprised people made it this far, 20-plus minutes of us. I promise you everything from this point on will be great as long as Drew Holiday gets three more people. Yeah, we'll see.

We'll see. I don't know if I can make the same promise. right why don't we actually talk about the like couple of baseball things that actually you know could change if they need to negotiate in the midst of all these you know stupid tax thresholds and you know draft pool compensations and all this bs that that as you point out like none of us care about in any way, shape, or form other than make the tax high. And other than it, screw it, not wanting it to screw over the players. We don't care at all. There were a couple of baseball things that were leaked out.

Obviously, hey, we're talking about baseball. Let's start with at least what I think is the biggest of them. They're talking they're going to ban the shift. Obviously, we talked expanded playoffs last time that is you know huge but but but since we last talked banning the shift jack what do you think so um it's funny i think two things one i i'm fine with it like i i've been i've been long that i would get rid of the shift just Just believe me, this might be my most, like, this might be my dumbest take. You could rank it if you want.

It's a bold statement. Not, I guess it's my most anti-intellectual take. How's that? Okay. But I just wanted to play baseball. Good one. My whole life. Good take, buddy.

Like, it's just been, like, I know where defenses are supposed to be set. And, like, I don't like my third baseman being in short right field. Yeah, it's annoying. I'm with you, man. It's annoying. I know. Believe me, I know that sounds anti-intellectual. But, like, that's how I feel.

I want my third baseman to play third base and all that. Just play it like we did in the middle. Just play the game the way that I grew up playing. How's that? Back in my day, back in my day, the shortstop would play shortstop. Well, look, Jack, I think the bigger – like what you're saying is – I think the more important thing is, to the point you made before about losing fans and all that type of stuff,

I think this is one of those issues where – look, I've always been a hit-it-where-they-ain't guy, you know, learn to hit it, uh, you know, to opposite fields or this or that to try and combat the shift and all that. But I also understand that, you know, where we're at in the game, we've talked about the dominance of pitchers and the speed, and it's not, it's not as easy anymore to say, I'm going to, you know, just poke one into the left field and all that type of stuff. And then always, you know, obviously the, you know, three true outcomes, baseball and how much that is, you know, played into the shift and all that type of stuff. And then always, you know, obviously the, you know, three true outcomes baseball and how much that is, you know, played into the shift and all that type of stuff. Where I'm at is, you know what?

It seems like the vast majority of baseball fans hate the shift. So you know what? Let's get rid of it. Pretty simple in this case. You know, like, again, I am not like anti-shift in general and i've never been one i think it's more of a symptom of a problem than the actual problem you know but i think it's you know the the like we just talked i think the the pitcher's dominance and the you know three trying to hit home runs and those type of things are bigger issues than the shift is i

think the shift is a symptom of those issues, but, but like whatever, you know, it's not fun. No one likes it. Get rid of the shift. It'll put more balls in play. If nothing else like that, that outcome will happen. Like that will be a result of shift. I think teams, look, teams are smart. They'll figure out ways to align defensively within the rules of the shift that will still, you know, limit their their their margins for that stuff it won't like you know be this total change of the game i don't think but you know whatever man most people want the shift gone just get rid of it it's not like this fundamental part of the game that to your point jack it's almost an anti-fundamental part of the game it will actually look more like baseball

if they get rid of it yeah so my i guess my second point is like i think people have a way too inflated sense of how dramatic the shift is going to like affect all i totally agree that was kind of what i was saying like people are like oh they think this is going to be like hand checking in basketball or like like yeah the past interference rules in football and stuff. I mean, for every ball in play that the shift is going to take away, one would be poked the opposite way, but the shortstop usually is. So it was the ultimate give and take. So I'm glad it's fine. I just don't think it does anything.

I think it's pointless. We're not going to start seeing guys all of a sudden get their batting averages up 20 points or whatever. People would love to bring up Ryan Howard. Like, stop. I mean, Ryan Howard is not going from a 220 hitter to a 300 hitter because of the shift. Grow up. I love when you just throw grow up in. Well, it's just so annoying

It's like I tweeted That banning the shift is pointless And Ryan Howard I love Ryan Howard but like He was not the same player post Achilles I'm sorry It is what it is

So I don't think it's going to have this Massive influx of offense into the sport. I'm glad it's gone just because I want people to play baseball. But that's my scorching hot take on the shift. Fire take. One for one. I'm surprised my headphones are still in my ears and they didn't blow out from all the fiery intenseness. I did see a stat that someone tweeted out that the four players most likely to benefit from banning the shift based on spray charts.

You know, number four was. Didi? Bryce freaking Harper as if he needs to benefit more. He was doing just fine. You know, he won the MVP with the shift. Can you imagine like let's make the game better for Bryce? Just saying something to be excited about if they ever play baseball again. You know, we won the MVP with the shift. Can you imagine like, let's make the game better for Bryce. Just saying something to be excited about. If they ever play baseball again, you know,

what's funny is that I keep forgetting that Bryce won the MVP and because we haven't gotten a chance to celebrate it with freaking Bryce. It's another just underrated, you know, bleep us thing that happened here. You know, it should be our Bryce victory, this spring training and stuff. Do you keep forgetting that Scherzer's a Met? Like, I just. Totally.

100%. I even just saw him tweet about, like, basically saying, like, don't listen to the owners. They're trying to rope-a-dote you type tweet. And I read the tweet, and I was like, hey, am I a Scherzer? And I went back to thinking, and I had forgotten he was a Met, too. He just said that.

I was like, ah, yeah, he's a Met. thinking and I had forgotten he was a Met too you just said that I was like ah yeah he's a Met yeah that's not that fun maybe baseball Scherzer's not that yeah we're good alright let's get to the next thing which is I don't think it's big a deal as being the shift to the most fans but could I think it's also a big deal in terms of

you know pace of play and all that but I think the most interested I am to hear your perspective on any of these as you know, pace of play and all that. But I think the most interested, uh, I'm, I am to hear your perspective on any of these as, you know, our resident pitcher guy, expert, um, pitch clock, you know, something that's been clamored for, you know, I think a lot of people have been 14 seconds and 19 seconds are the two times that somewhat seemingly arbitrary times that they've come up with um classic yeah uh what do you think so all right all right i have long hated the pitch clock um just because i felt like you got a pitch to know this but but like you'll, you'll go to like a three Oh count on like two straight hitters. And after like walking a guy and if there's a pitch clock, I always wondered

like, okay, well, what if I just want to step off and like take a deep breath and like recon, like recompose myself. If I got to like sprint back up on the mound and like, and not be able to be fully back in the moment or whatever. So I'm good with it. I'm good with it from a standpoint of, I hope there's like timeouts or something. Like I do think that there needs to be something like timeout where you can pick our, every other sport has timeouts.

Why can't we just do that for one second? If a pitcher needs to compose itself. But I like it from the standpoint of they've tried in the minor leagues and it has, it had an effect. Yeah. Like 30 minutes 30 minutes yeah i saw like either 25 or 30 either of which would be like super significant yeah and and i do think that you know i i've long been baseball players are creatures of habit and they are but you know what else can happen with habits is that you can change your habits yeah damn right so if it needs to be sped up a little bit and i just think i think pitchers

will be able to adjust so um it's one of those ones where you hope that it gets put in and then it just gets it just becomes natural over time um you know i think that's something that would be good so i've long hated it but i'm willing to try anything now to get the game moving on, uh, or moving along. So I'm not staunch. I'm not against it. I actually like it.

If it's going to shave that much time off a clock, which it might. Um, so, uh, it's good. And, and I just hope that they do have like something like a timeout.

We're going to say, I know we're trying to move the game along, but I also need to catch my breath here for a second. So pitchers will adjust. Everyone will adjust. It'll be good for the sport. Keep it moving along in on the pitch clocks. Yeah, I think they'd have to have some sort of timeout thing.

Maybe there's an amount that you get or whatever. I don't know. But I think it's a must at this point. You know, I never had know. But I think it's a must at this point. You know, I was I never had a super strong feel on it. Like I wasn't like I was usually generally for the idea of speeding up the game, obviously, but but wasn't sure if they and again, look, they have to be enforced. Right. If the pitch clock is going to be a real thing, then like the pitchers really have to get if, you know, um, buyers need to ding pitchers if they don't get the pitch off in time. It needs

to be enforced. We'll see if that's,'s you know something that would happen as well i assume they would be pretty tight with it to begin um what was the camera's idea was it a you're out it was something ridiculous like a yeah i mean if you step out of the box if you step out of the box and readjust your gloves you're out yeah there is no like you know the camera's obsession with people adjusting their gloves is one of the weirder takes on my show i've never even like outside of nomar i've never noticed it was just nomar no one's ever did it like no one it's just it's such a like when people talk about the problems of baseball if you if i hear one more person says the guy's stepping out of the box and readjusting their gloves, I might put them in a little gasket.

It just doesn't happen. It's a fallacy. It's not a real thing. It's not something that happens all the time that slows the game. Like Oduble, I guess, would do it a lot. Look, sometimes a guy will look down at third for a sign and kind of step out and grab his junk or whatever. But, yeah, I'm with you.

It's not like – It's not a epidemic in the game. But I think his take was like... He's very angry about it. It's one of his prime things that he brings up every time. Speed pays a blank up top. It's one of his go-tos. It's very strange.

And every time I listen to it, I'm like, this is not the issue, man. I'm sorry. It's just not. Can we focus on important things uh like like the pitch clock which again i i really i think it's a must at this point in the game like i i've gone from being somewhat laissez-faire about it to thinking it is it is absolutely necessary they should absolutely try it look it might not work there might be issues all that stuff but i mean

try it do it especially after the results in the minor leagues i would have done either way even if i didn't have the minor league data i'd be like why the hell not like again to the point we're making for like these games need to go faster they have to go faster like it is what it is it's just for the health of the sport and i don't look i'm not one of the people who minds long baseball games as much as others you know other than you know the waking up early part of it which sucks um but you know it's it's you know some of these games do go really late and they're long and it's tough for kids to watch and all that type of stuff and if we want a next generation of kids as fans like you need to keep them invested you know also start the games at six big time dude uh you know i'm all i'm so a million percent

in on that well and especially with baseball like mean, we we mostly watch every game start to finish. Yeah, but a lot of people come in late. The most exciting parts of baseball games are seven, eight, nine. It's a great point, Jack. Jack, it is such a great point. It's like, why wouldn't you want the most people to be watching it? The funnest, most interesting times of the games, right? Like it's it's a fantastic point.

I'm so sorry that you're gonna miss out on the the six o'clock prime time crowd like how about we just move it up and then you know maximize the time that people could maybe be attached to crazy concept that's why yeah can you imagine if baseball ever did anything that was logical and sensical made sense it would just be i don't think we would believe it. We'd be like, wait, what? All right, the other. Hold on. Yeah, the other last one of the proposed changes to the game

that we need to talk about, the one that kind of I think a lot of people were like, huh? Bigger bases. Thoughts? This is so funny. The reaction to the bigger bases thing. It's so great. People are like, what?

Why do they even need bigger bases? So here's my thing. Here's why I like the bigger bases. I mean, why not? I like the bigger bases. I can't think of a possible argument against it, but go ahead. But here's, I guess this is the way, if you want to take this to your friends

and explain it to them this way, this is the simplest way I can put it. Theo wants it, and if Theo thinks it's a good idea, then I think it's a good idea. Great point. Yeah, you forgot to say hopefully future commissioner Theo is his title.

Well, hopefully, listen, if we can keep his job, just put Theo in the job above him. Yeah, sure. Make a new job. Make Rob his, yeah. He can be the owner's guy. I'll be Theo, the guy that overlooks all baseball. I like this.

Czar of baseball. Yes, just do that. Anyway, so Theo basically a couple years ago had said in an article that part of the reason why the cubs stopped stealing bases is because he felt the bases were too small and there wasn't a point of attack to where you could get your hand in there and analytically it didn't make sense so in his quest to um destroy the monster that he helped create in a way yeah he he said that if they made the bases bigger, then it would increase teams' likelihood to try to steal them. And Theo is now working in the commissioner's office. If so facto, Theo is pushing the bigger

basis things. If Theo thinks it's a way to help get more action in the game, I think it's a good idea. It's a great point, man. Especially just on a basic level, if Theo is making that specific argument, then who is anyone to question it? Seriously. You don't think Theo knows that the potential for more stolen bases could be increased in the game by widening the bases? You know better than him?

Do you? Because I don't. I think Theo knows more than I do about baseball. I'm just saying. You don't think Dick Manford or whatever his name is, the Rockies owner, knows more about how the game should be played? Mumford, I think it is, right? you don't think dick manford or whatever his name is the the rockies owner is knows more about mumford i think it is right yeah i don't know bob nuttig bob nuttig's breaking that down look i think i i think it's a no-brainer like why wouldn't you like what's the pushback on bigger bases and it should help prevent some injuries theoretically

you know the annoying thing when your guy slides into second base and slides over the bag and is out, and it's like, oh, that sucked. That won't happen anymore. Like, or at least for the most part. You know, so, yeah, I just don't understand why anyone would be against it. Like, it makes no sense to me. Yeah, I used to fight a lot of this. I mean, it's not a massive change.

I don't think it's going to, like, change the game completely, but it just seems like, sure, why not? Yeah, again, I used to fight all this stuff, but I am now in the camp of, like, listen, if this is going to help get more pace of play, if this is going to get more balls in play, if this is going to – I'm just willing to try stuff. I mean –

Well, look, every other sport does. I mean, like, think about the changes, like, in basketball, like the hand checking you've talked about, but also, like, having to get the ball past half court quicker. What if they had never put a shot clock in basketball? You know, they used to play without a freaking shot clock. Like there are changes to the game as the game evolves, as the sport evolves, like it's okay to adjust and make changes. Yeah, totally agree.

So it's yeah, it'll be. And I'm curious to see how they work out. See what I like. See what I don't like. And hopefully it helps and hopefully it'll be and i'm curious to see how they work out see what i like see what i don't like and and hopefully it helps and hopefully it gets more balls in play and um you know the one thing i was wondering you know with with all the velocity now in the game and all the crazy spin i i do wonder if lowering the mound would be a welcome aboard sir to the lower the mound crew thank you for joining us i'm really proud to have you i i never thought we'd get you on board with our cause thank you yeah i feel like you've called me an idiot in the past for saying this to you but i don't i i don't remember you once being a

lower the mound guy i've said this many times. I said lower it or move it back. Like either or. Well, to be fair, if it's not my idea, I don't really care. You literally have called me an idiot for this before. Well, the moving the mounds back thing I'm still pretty against. But I see why people like the idea of it because it would decrease velocity but also would increase everything else that's bad that baseball,

which is like walks and curveballs and whatever. But lowering the mound is an interesting idea from the standpoint of I think it would decrease spin and i think it would lower velocities a little bit without having to risk injury with moving the arm with moving the mound back and risk um uh risk wildness and all that stuff so i don't know it's just something to consider and as always move the fences back because that'd be fun super in on that all right it will never happen welcome aboard even though you didn't know you were coming to work didn't know you did that yeah well you

know your holiday still doesn't have a three yet and we're in the fourth quarter and it's really it's really disheartening and i just like why tonight do you not shoot well and that's what annoys me the most is like i like, I have all these trends. I see how you are doing. I know how you've been doing in recent days. I know how you've done against the Hawks. And it's like, why tonight is the night that you go 0 for 3 from 3? Like, just hit some 3s, man.

I love that you just took us through all the effort that you are putting in. Like, recent stats, stats stats in particular categories stats against the team they're playing it's just like oh man you really are putting all your energy in baseball into this um all right it's the first thing i do when i wake up i know i know that's that's see that's what baseball's done that should be baseball yeah um That should be baseball. Yeah. That should be. Every owner should listen to this podcast. Yeah. Seriously. I mean, baseball broke Jack. I mean, that's the headline.

That's the devastating takeaway. The title of this podcast. I think it is. Yeah, I think it is. All right. Take back, buddy. No, I think I'm going to keep you for another half hour. Oh, really, pal? I told you.

I told you. 10 p.m. That's actually four minutes. If we don't finish the podcast. I really, pal? I told you. I told you. 10 p.m. That's actually four minutes. If we don't finish the podcast in four minutes, I'm canceling two weeks of pods in April. Maybe we'll get back for the 75th anniversary of Jackie Robinson Day, but we're not going to. Let's be honest.

Oh, yeah, that seems like a smart deadline to miss as a sport. Morons. We'll come back and have our free agency during the NFL draft. Don't worry. Yes, end of April, it'll be a sweet free agency period right while the NFL draft is happening, and then we'll play our game that no one cares about anymore.

It'll be great. Yes. All right, take back. Even though there's no baseball, I got just as excited about this as I have in any Phillies moment in the last, like, I don't know, 10 years. Why not? But Johan Rojas having a single against the Tigers in an exhibition game and then stealing first or stealing second and third. And then Logan Ohapi hitting a home run 108 miles per hour. It was like it was like you know what

this is what we're missing by not having spring training baseball um james i don't feel much right now towards baseball like i don't i don't feel the emotional connection i think i left a lot of my emotional connection on that baseball field how i that i talked about last podcast it was really tough yeah it's a really really really deep moment for me. Anyway, but I do still feel a deep, deep emotional thought of Johan Rojas' first game at Citizens Bank Park and just how emotional that's going to be. Man, like we say, our podcast motto from now forward, the 2026 Philz, It's going to be hot.

It also might be the next time they're on a baseball team. That's the table. Everything's great. Johan Rojas hitting the ball hard, finally lifting it off the ground. It's so cute to see these national writers finally coming around to the greatness that is Johan Ross. Like, oh, we're not going to have him top 100, even though he's like the best defensive center fielder in the minor leagues. But whatever.

I rest my case. So he's back to being our Acuna. Yes. He's officially back. He's officially back. Good news. I don't listen to these clowns that try to talk about our system. Listen to me and a few other people.

So I met Jason Kelsey today by myself, and I went up straight to him, and I said, Jason, good to meet you. My name is Jack Fritz. And that's exactly what happened, correct, James? Sure. Yep. Totally what happened. That's exactly what happened.

Correct, James? Sure. Yep. Totally what happened. I stink at introducing myself to people who like I like look up to and respect. And I just I can't because I don't want a fanboy. Right. Like I'm not I don't want to be like I don't want him like going back to his friends and being like, oh, this happened. These fans.

I don't want to be that guy. I want to be like discreet and like, hey, good to see you. And but you also like really wanted to meet Jason Kelsey. I really want to. I really did. We got it done, buddy. We got it done. I thought we could get along great. I really wanted to eat Jason Gelsie. I really did. We got it done, buddy. We got it done.

I thought we could get along great. And it was good. I need to ask you, though. I feel like the thumbs up is kind of my thing. And even my own mom's like, you got to ditch it. Jill's like, you got to ditch it. And it makes me want to dig in more and stick with the thumbs up. Do you agree? No.

You got to ditch his thumbs up. So I used to be a point at the guy guy. You know what I mean? Really? Yeah. I used to. I used to. And Emily was like, bro, you got to stop.

It's really bad. And I did, and she was right. And I think the general rule of thumb in this specific area of life is you should probably trust your wife on this one. I think that's probably the right way to go. Jill doesn't know anything, okay? I'm just kidding. Emily's right about everything.

Is she still listening? No, she's upstairs now. Is she still listening? No, she's upstairs now. Is she right next to you? She's upstairs in bed like a normal human. Well, what are you doing? I'm sure it's just as rewarding. No, it's great, buddy. I'm feeling good.

Okay, but hold on. If I don't do the thumbs up, then what do I do with my hand? You just be normal. Keep your hands to your side. Put them in front of you. Put them behind you. Out of the frame. Put an arm over someone.

You know, like, you know, around their shoulders. I mean, obviously. Like, you know, just be normal. Are you a 30 Rock guy? I, not every episode, but seen a good amount. Okay. So, yeah, I'm like, I've seen every episode, but I've only seen it a couple times. I'm not like I am with Officer Parks.

But it's really funny. There's a scene, I think it's the first season, maybe the second, but I think it's the first, where Jack, Jack Donaghy, funny enough, Alec Baldwin has to do this commercial scene, and he's like, the whole bit is like, what do I do with my hands? And it's like this edited together thing of

all the things and it's like it's all i could think of right now with you but it is one of the funniest like one and a half two minute montages in television history like it is even now i'm like trying not to crack up just thinking about it like at one point he's holding two coffee cups it's it's hilarious that's what i'm thinking of with you now just be normal with your hands that's the point of it be normal yeah but i you know i feel like thumbs up sets me apart like there's the thumbs up guy yeah it makes you look like a goober like just i know you are but you you're in a picture with jason kelsey you want to look like a goober i mean can we be honest and talk about the real thing here? What's the real thing? You probably don't take the picture with Jason Kelsey.

You know, I didn't take a picture with Jason Kelsey. I just said, hey, Jason. Good to see you, man. Yeah, but you're 40. You're not supposed to say. It's an age thing now. Yes, that makes sense. That makes sense.

I should have put that together. I should have put that together. You're supposed to be an adult. You have kids now. They don't do the fanboy photo. Come on. I mean, we're not talking about grow up. Am I supposed to give you a cookie for not wanting to get a picture with another guy?

Like with another grown man, Jason Kelsey? How did you spin this on me? How am I the one taking the brunt of this? Well, it's like if you want a cookie because you don't want a photo with a professional athlete. After I help you meet Jason Kelsey,sey i help you me and ava guide you to jason i like you know sorry for helping you out and getting you that sweet photo that you love listen when i turn 40 i won't ask for a photo ever again so that's a good deal i'm gonna hold you to that that's that's the precedent that you have sets and you deserve that so it was have a very

bond takeaway real quick is that jason kelsey is a freaking awesome guy yes he is yes yes okay i don't want you to bring up this next thing you don't want to bring up the bonds thing barry bonds you were gonna say barry bonds a great player and we loved watching him play it's still a shame he's not in the hall of fame uh that was it right nothing else to say Barry Bonds, a great player. And we loved watching him play. It's still a shame. He's not in the hall of fame. That was it. Right. Nothing else to say about Barry Bonds. Nope.

And Bill Giles definitely didn't say, yeah, we turned him down. Why? Why do you have to inflict this pain on like whatever portion of our audience is not on Twitter and didn't see this or didn't have you to text it to them. Thanks for that. Like they could have lived in ignorance.

And in this specific case, Jack, ignorance definitively bliss. Just think about how many home runs he would have hit as his bank part. Just it could have been Harry Callas calling his home runs instead of John Miller. John Miller was great. Without Balco in his backyard, though, does he still end up being as good a player? Spin zone. Maybe he would have been in the Hall of Fame then. Oh, what a good take that is.

Yeah. Barry Bonds not being a Philly cuts him out in the Hall of Fame then. Oh, what a good take that is. Yeah, yeah. Barry Bonds. Barry Bonds not being a Philly cuts him out of the Hall of Fame. I mean, look, you know, Balco was in the Bay Area. I'm just saying, you know. I don't know. What a good take. I like that we got there.

I'm actually now I'm happy you brought it up. Do you think? The take is not that the Phillies missed out on Barry Bonds. The take is that Barry Bonds missed out on the Phillies. That's the take, Jack. That's the spin. Yep. You're very welcome.

Do you think Washington is more excited about getting Carson Wentz or Kevin Franzen? Oh, man. Franzen by a mile. Oh, my God. What a loser Carson Wentz or Kevin Franzen. Oh man, Franzen by a mile. Oh my God. What a loser Carson Wentz is. Just the all-time loser. It's just heaven that he's going to Washington. I mean, never before as a quarterback in a franchise just been so perfect for each other. Loser, welcome. Meet loser. Congratulations. what a match made in heaven yeah speaking of losers true holiday is not going to hit just kidding i love your holiday but like oh three from three tonight is not exactly what i was expecting um and yeah i mean carson is a loser

but i mean jalen hurts is now the, what, third best quarterback in this division? You just can't quit Carson Wentz. You just, it's like, this is like your white whale that you just can't let go of. Let it go, man. He's such a loser. 27-7, and I think you are

last year. Anyway, moving on, are you excited that... I'd rather have Jake arietta pitcher my team than have that's carson wentz be the quarterback of my team no you don't mean that you don't mean that you don't i'm wondering andy mcphail running my team then of course the ones the quarterback no really i just take it back i take it back that's the line we found the line you should be banned from the podcast i took it back i took it back i took it back. That's the line. We found the line. You should be banned from the podcast. I took it back.

I took it back. I took it back. Really, that last sentence there was for one specific person. I truly hope he's listening right now. A little secret message. You, Elliot, you are the only two that know who i'm talking about um are you excited that sean rodriguez is back in the field system as a minor league instructor who isn't buddy i mean anytime a guy just you know craps all over us as fans who doesn't want him back who isn't like yeah bring that guy back the guy who said we

suck yeah i mean it obviously doesn't matter at all uh we will never see him or hear from him but yeah it is the most phillies thing it's it's hilarious i mean it really is hilarious oh drew holiday hit a three can he can he hit two in the last 345 of this game? Please. Don't get your hopes up, pal. Listen, between baseball and this, I'm dead inside. It's not good, man. It's not good.

I'm worried about you. I'm actually worried. It's all good. We're doing well. We're doing well. Everything's fine. Did you see that Mitch Walding's a catcher now? Is he really? Yeah the padres dude dude i

mitch walding attempting to get a hit for the phillies was one of the most exciting like things that's happened to this franchise like he was what over like 13 and they kept bringing him up and it was so sad like he was so clearly overmatched and then oh buddy do you want it was so sad it was like actually sad. Do you know what his like one hit is affiliate? Is it a home run? Dude, it's a home run off a pitcher. Yeah, I remember.

It's unbelievable. Off of a pitcher. Unbelievable. It's terrific. I'm really excited about the radio booth additions. Like I know like Fran's going to hurt, but I think Durbin, Kratz, Born, and Stocker. I think they're all good.

They all have the potential to be good. For real. Yeah. So I just like the Kratz turkey bacon thing from back in the day. He seems to be a fun, energetic guy. Born, same kind of thing. Born can't be as fast as he is and like his like 100 speed back in the day uh on like like video games and not have a lot of energy so i'm

excited for that and then uh listen i i all right let's go into the future here james because i feel like you and i are going to meet these people at some point. Sure. I mean, look, you and Kevin friends and, you know, lifelong close friends. I've already moved on from Kevin to Chad Durbin. So the first time I meet Chad Durbin, hopefully, do I give him my mechanics of him? Like I could do Chad Durbin's mechanics. Like I have him down pat well i think i think you've already answered your question like i need to do it for him right like of course you chad chad how close is this to what you yes i think i think it is a absolute must are you kidding me

are you kidding me i think this guy's gonna be it it's it's a must it's just a must you've never had to do anything more in your life buddy i'm sorry poor chad yeah yeah poor chad he's gonna be good though he's a good talker wait hold on was chad there chad durbin and jd durbin were not brothers right no jd durbin though love that you bring up jd durbin of course i saw jd durbin throw a complete game shutout in san diego out dueling jake peavy how about that talk about peak baseball yo me and my buddy donnie were literally behind home plate it was like five nothing as just like seventh inning, eighth inning, J.D. Durbin. J.D. Durbin. Like we were so loud and obnoxious.

You were the only two that were doing that. Yeah, probably the only two. It was awesome. I saw J.D. Durbin throw a complete game shutout at Petco. I mean, come on. Was that the same weekend that Bastardo made his debut for the Phils? I don't remember, to be honest. It would have been in 2007. Yeah, that makes sense.

Yeah. Yeah. You know what? That moment sounds like it's fun. If only we could recreate that with the baseball season. Oh, yeah. Wouldn't it be fun? Wouldn't that be fun?

Wouldn't it be fun? And the final thing I'm going to leave you on here, pal. Finally. I mean, we're 11 minutes to leave you on here, pal. Finally. I mean, we're 11 minutes past our deadline, so no April Fools. Oh, so this last 10 minutes is just taken out. Don't even bother putting this in the podcast. Good idea. So I thought of off of Sean Rodriguez being back, my top five favorite most random.

Oh, did you just slide a top five in at the end of the pod? You are something else, buddy. Addicted. Yes. All right. What is it? Top five what? My top five favorite random Phillies from the Gabe Kapler era is Phil's.

Love this. Love it. Go ahead. Number five is Cliff Lee 2.0 himself true smiley oh i love drew love after one exactly one good start gabe said i saw a lot of cliff like what are we come on yeah come on man it's phenomenal come on man uh number four is i was like you want to again down bad we were as a franchise at that point. I was really excited for Wilson Ramos.

Oh, buddy. We all were. He's going to hit forever. The Buffalo. Not to mention that he comes up to the plate sometimes to fish his song, Wilson. So, I mean, talk about a win for me. The biggest Wilson ever traded is Wilson

I can't think of it but he was just dreadful behind the plate like just absolutely a miserable experience three is I didn't think that our baseball team could stoop any lower when it came to like velocity just not

mattering at all but jason vargas sure body i mean and no one has ever looked less like a baseball player on a baseball field than jason vargas just he was so not interested in being there oh just dreadful uh number two do you remember do you remember 29 games of Logan Morrison? Oh, vaguely. Lomo. I vaguely, vaguely, Jack, vaguely remember Logan Morrison being on the Phillies. Vaguely. And that was recent.

That's shocking. Well, I remember. I remember being excited. It was Lomo. Come on. I was looking at his AAA numbers. I was like, oh, he just needs another chance. Lomo.

We got a steal. And my number one favorite random fill from the Gabe era, I don't think there's another answer here, but that would be the Jose Bautista. I mean, Jose Bautista playing for the phillies when he's like absolutely done will will for i will bring that up to my grandchildren as cook yeah like like hey grand grandchild let's sit down and you see that awesome home run that jose bautista hit in a playoff game yeah guess who was i guess it was on the Phillies four years later when he

was 38 years old and considering being a pitcher yeah Jose Bautista honorable mention for uh if for no other reason than for what Gabe called him Justin Boer has to be on the list for being an emotional warrior I mean anytime a player gets called our emotional warrior i mean and he's a guy you know it's just a boy another guy where it's not like you're not like he's a superstar but it's like all right that guy can hit they'll take some justin boer home runs um you know didn't get that many um but he was he was an emotional warrior jack well and i got the johnny Heller tweets it out all the time, but the all-first-baseman lineup

is still one of the funniest things I've ever seen in a National League lineup with Santana at first, no, Santana at third, Bore at first, Hoskins still in left. I mean, just an atrocity. All-timer. All-timer. That was a good list. I enjoyed that. Thank you. That was a good one, enjoyed that that was a good one jack that's well done yeah yeah again good to remember that jose bautista was a philly toads forgot yeah

totally forgot that that's good um all right you got anything else doesn't look like doesn't look like drew holiday is going to help me out i I'm sorry, buddy. We're all there for you mentally and emotionally. We are there to support you, buddy. It's tough. It's tough. Maybe you'll have baseball coming to a deal for you. Yeah. Yeah, same.

Oh, buddy. All right. Any final thoughts? I got no final thoughts. I'll let you go to bed. Yeah. Same. Bed is my final thought, but that was fun. I enjoy talking to you a lot.

I don't enjoy the sport we talk about, but somehow it ends up being fun. So I think it's a credit to you, not to the sport. That's the goal. You're welcome, buddy. All right. We'll be back. I'm going to learn not to promise like all right um we'll be back i i'm gonna learn not to promise like oh we'll be back next week we probably will we'll be back soon our sport sucks all right hey hey next week we'll do the all-time pills draft yes yes duh next week the all-time pills draft he's fred some seltzer we'll see you later.