High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Baseball is BACK and Mick Abel's High School Coach, Colin Griffin, Joins Us

Episode Date: June 24, 2020

Baseball is FINALLY back and the guys are here to talk about it. They are also joined by Mick Abel's high school coach on the day that he officially signed with the Phillies (21:30 in). Enjoy!  See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Hot Cloud Storage on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. This is the High Hopes Podcast. High Hopes. It's a bunch of baseball nerds talking about the Philadelphia Phillies on Radio.com and Sports Radio 94 WIP. So it is another edition of the High Hopes Podcast. Jack, we back. Baseball is back.

Never doubted him. Never once doubted this major league player. It was clean, easy. It was a nice, smooth return to the field. I love to see that everyone's getting along and everything's great. So everyone is harmony. Really, if I had to describe the last three months with one word, it would be harmony. Yeah, I think it's weird, you know, between everyone involved. Right. And the thing that makes me so happy is that there's not going to be a work stoppage after 2021.

happy is that there's not going to be a work stoppage after 2021. Yeah. Well, yeah. Well, I was going to say what makes me happy is that I don't have to talk about labor negotiations anymore. Yeah. But you alluding to it's just a respite. I mean, I will again have to talk about labor negotiations. Oh, yeah. I'm going to take the break and enjoy it. Yeah. All right. Let's dive into this. First and foremost foremost jack i i know like at least for me you know i was really angry throughout this whole thing i got mad i was annoyed you know animosity all that stuff and then baseball's back and i'm not saying i'm not still annoyed at how it all happened and then i don't wish we had more games and stuff but i just find myself excited man like i excitement has taken over the anger and the frustration.

Is that where you're at, too? Totally agree with you. When, what was it, Monday happened? And the players did not accept the 60 game. Right. And I was just so downtrodden. I know you were. You were like, this is going really you you were like this is

gonna happen this is the one i felt good i felt good about earlier in the days like today's gonna be a good day for baseball you're all jacked up i know i was with you i saw you yeah it was so i was i was ready to go like my body was fully ready for there to be major league baseball and and everything um and then so they rejected or whatnot. That's when I'm leaving work. I'm depressed driving home. I'm just sad and thinking about the future of my sport. Driving along listening to Incredible Hulk music like do, do, do, do. Yeah.

Like looking out the window all sad. I can see it. Yeah. That was the SPCA music with Sarah McLachlan. That was playing at the same time. So, yeah, then I get home and it starts to break that, hey, well, first off, a friend of the show, Bob Nightingale, says nothing's happening tonight. Five minutes later.

You can't win them all, Bob. You can't win them all. Yeah, he said a rough little stretch here, Bob. But, yeah, so it comes back, and they're starting to break that it's actually going to be 60 games rather than the 50 games, which I was excited about. But, honestly, my first reaction was kind of like, cool, glad, cool. You guys figured it out. You guys.

Yeah. Wow, awesome. Awesome. Thank you. You guys nailed this whole process. So I wasn't even really excited. Me too. And then, I mean, you can't keep the.

You can't keep the – The big dog in the cage? Yeah. You can't keep the negativity down forever. I started thinking about Aaron Nola's first two seamers against a lefty that breaks and comes right back down the middle of the plate, and they're going back to the dugout. Like, what the – was that?

And then, you know, I started thinking about Bryce Harper. I started thinking a lot about Bryce Harper. And then – Shots never stopped. And then I remember that Joe Girardi is the manager. And then I started remembering about Zach Wheeler if it was 100 miles an hour, which Matt Klimtak is probably freaking out about. It's too fast.

Yeah, it's way too fast for Klimtak. And I was just like, oh, my God, I can't wait. And I feel like that's how everyone was. Like when it was all happening and everyone was kind of downtrodden and everyone was annoyed with the baseball. And like, I feel like everyone's reaction when the 60 games was implemented by Rob Manfred,

it was the same thing. I was like, Oh, cool. Glad. But then they started thinking about baseball and it was like, yeah, okay,

it's time to go. Because if they were freaking smart, they would start, they would start selling this as a 60 game sprint rather than just like, uh, the signs that they could not get along. But hopefully they start doing that in the next couple of weeks. But it feels like everyone's properly there and we're excited for baseball. Yeah.

No, I think you really summed it up perfectly because that was my reaction too. When the season's in land, first and foremost, we need to wait for the safety and health stuff to get approved and the July 1st report day to get approved. And, you know, Jeff Passan saying it's going to happen. Everything appears like it's going to happen. But throughout this whole process, it's just been like one blue balls after another. It just seems like there have been so many times where it's like, all right, this is the time. It's going to happen today. This is the deal that'll work. They're going to offer this and this will work. the deal that'll work. They're going to offer this and this will work. So I think it was like partially on Monday. I was partially like, all right, like I'm, I'm happy they figured this out, but what's going to happen. That's going to screw it up at the last minute. I just couldn't bring myself to believe that it was actually real. And then last night after it's, you know, officially official. And then you just, like you said, Jack, I started thinking about baseball. I stopped thinking about labor negotiations and millionaires and billionaires fighting and

baseball, you know, losing the opportunity to come back in this heroic way that we all had hoped and thought they would that that put a sour taste in your mouth. And I just kind of threw that all out the window. And I was like, you know what? Screw it. I am so excited at baseball. My TV is like I I can't wait till my two tvs are only baseball and i'm inundated with baseball and i'm watching i'm watching guys play like you said i thought

about bryce harper i thought about aaron noel i thought about dd gregorius to rory like i just i i know i got excited i gotta so that's where i'm at i'm i'm full-on ready i now i'm like i don't want to wait a month for the season to start, but I get it. I get it. I'm just ready for it to be back. Let's talk about some of the specifics of it, because like you said, first and foremost, it's going to be a 60 game sprint to the finish, which is going to be, you know, unique enough as it is. But the game's also going to look different. I mean, obviously the no fans in the stands is one thing with even, you know, like an Orioles game in July.

There aren't many people on the stands, but there are at least like people behind home plate when they're pitching and stuff like it's going to look weird for sure. But also like all the safety regulations, like they can't high five. They can't spit the wet rag of it all and all that. Um, what are your thoughts about the version of baseball we're going to see this season and how different it could be from what we're used to? Yeah. So let me be completely honest.

This is what we do here. I haven't read any safety negotiation. Absolutely none of it. Like I just, I just don't, I just want to see baseball. Like I haven't, I haven't broken down the wet rag.

I don't know what picture, I don't know what picture is using a wet rag because that makes your hand wet. That's not what we need. Honestly, they're going to start using their forehead. Then they'll start getting sweat. Sweat works. Which they're also probably not allowed to do, if I had to guess, just because you don't want them touching their face. Yeah.

Well, they can touch their arm. I don't know. Sure. A wet rag. Or armpit sweat. Yeah. A little jock sweat. It'll be fun. Oh, who doesn't can touch their arm. I don't know. Sure. A wet rag. Or armpit sweat. Yeah. A little jock sweat. They'll be fine.

Oh, who doesn't love a good jock sweat? But, yeah, no, I'm just, like, I just, I didn't break down the 100-page, like, safety and health protocols. Like, they'll figure it out. I mean, that's what the first set of negotiations were all about, the health and safety protocols. And, yeah, it's going to be weird. It's going to be weird without fans in the stands. But, like, baseball is the one sport where it doesn't really matter. Like, the playoffs will be the time where it will kind of suck.

But, like, we've watched enough Marlins games. I mean, there's not fans in the stands anyway. There's not many. If anything, there's a few hundred. Right. And I've already started imagining in my head like a Bryce Harper home run and it's going to land in the stands and no one's going to be there. And yeah, that'll suck. But like, I'm still gonna be excited about a Bryce Harper home run. Like in other sports, it would kill my buzz. Like for football, it's totally it's going to kill my buzz.

If the Phillies make the postseason would kill my buzz. But like, I just don't care. Like it's there. i'm glad they're playing at their home ballpark i think that's awesome um and yeah i think they're gonna figure it out and i also think in some ways it it could be fun like it's different you know it's it's the like watching the guys do like air high five routines or you know there's gonna be parts of it that are unique and and different and fun and well i hope they're mic'd up too i for, there's going to be parts of it that are unique and different and fun. Well, I hope they're mic'd up, too. If there's going to be no fans there, I hope that they're at least mic'ing the players up like they do in spring training. Like, that's got to be, like, number one thing that they can do to help market it and sell the game.

Yeah, no, I agree. But, again, that's something where it's how vindictive do the players want to be, right? Because that was something they had offered to do in the deal. And then the deal was done. So who knows? Hopefully for the good of the game, I agree with you. Hopefully the players are willing to do that type of stuff. But look, I think, again, it is in terms of historically speaking, it's more or less, I don't want to say a sham, but sham-ish of a season.

Like, you know, we're all all gonna look back at this world series whether it actually has a little asterisk in the history books or not we're all gonna have an asterisk of some form maybe bigger for some and smaller for others to some degree in our head on this but well unless unless the phillies win it i mean obviously then it's 100 legitimate and maybe the greatest championship in the history of baseball yeah um but i do think that i think you're point jagging and i think that to me the most about the 60 games sprint to the finish is incredibly compelling man yeah no it is and and that's what i'm saying like if they they need to start marketing is like every game is gonna matter you know because they because the thing that the thing that is most frustrating about this from a baseball

fan perspective is that they're only getting back six days before the other leagues start up rather than the full month. They need to figure out a way to steal eyeballs from basketball and hockey to an extent.

Basketball playoffs too is the point. It's not just basketball. It's the playoffs. Right, and NHL playoffs. So if they start marketing as, like, listen, this is a 60-game sprint. Every game is going to matter. Your team is 100% in it. Like, you have a chance to make the playoffs.

Now, if they were smart, they would have expanded the playoffs, and it would really be every team's in it. Now, I hate the expanded playoffs, but I would have been fine for it for this one i actually i i'm i don't i like them more than you i i would have wanted 12 instead of 10 i don't 16 is you know mickey mouse it's more than half the league yeah but for this season i would actually go so far as to say i think it's actually a good thing for this season because it'll just help kind of prevent some of that variance that we're going to see. I mean, like, there is going to be a team that literally no one thought had any chance to make the playoffs back in March that's going to make the playoffs. And there's going to be a team that's one of the best teams in the league roster-wise that's going to miss out, and an expanded playoffs could help level some of that a little bit, I think.

Yeah, exactly. So that's kind of where I was coming from, from that standpoint. But yeah, a 60-game sprint's going to be a lot of fun and hopefully kind of get some juice going back. And hopefully, like, I hope that people aren't so turned off from the labor negotiations that they're not in. And I think once they're actually physically on TV and it's exactly a month from now and Aaron Nola is making his first start, I think people will kind of forget about it.

But that's the risk that they ran by this last three-month charade was that people aren't going to care. And there's so many freaking Twitter polls about, like, do you actually care if baseball comes back? And I would just like to say that I think everyone is freaking lying. I think they're all lying. I think they're all lying. It's so – Yeah, well, certainly to the point where even if they feel that now, like you said, in a month they're going to be watching.

Oh, my God. It's like, yeah, of course you're going to watch. It drives me crazy. I mean, we talk about it a lot, but the whole baseball is dying and all this stuff. It's like, if baseball is so dead, then why is everyone so upset that they're not back on the field? Great point. Why have we spent the last three months talking about labor negotiations if no one cares?

Please tell me. And everyone's so sad. For as much as I think the NBA is more popular than baseball, I think the general sports fan that loves all our four teams, I think they are missing their baseball team. I've kind of – you know what's crazy? Today is the one-year anniversary of the curveball machine, and I swear to God that was in August. It was in June we broke out of the curveball machine.

That's how bad this is going. We're three months into the season. I thought that – That's crazy. It's a great point, Jack this is going. We're three months into the season. I thought that – That's crazy. It's a great point, Jack. It felt like it was way later in the season. I'm so with you on this. Yeah, I thought it was way later in the season.

We're almost approaching Sean Rodriguez ripping the fans. There's so much to uncover with the 2019 Phillies. But, yeah, it's just like I think everyone's lying with the baseballs dying. Well, obviously, it's not as big as as as it once was but like regionally baseball still matters and i think people really miss their baseball teams because it was just it was summer like you think of summer you think of baseball all the great summer movies are related to baseball you have something to do every night at seven o'clock you You get to watch your guys. And I'm just so excited to have that back. It's 60 games.

I don't care. It's one year. I can suck it up. I can't wait. I don't know what else to say, but I'm excited. Yeah, I think that's a great point, too. I think that, like, at this time of year, you know, the NBA finals are just finishing up, if not already done. The NHL finals are done.

This is baseball you know this is the time of year when it's end of june beginning of july like it's baseball's time you know that is when baseball owns the sports calendar there's nothing else and it does amplify the not having that sport in this moment way more i mean i go outside and it's beautiful out and i'm like oh there should be a baseball game tonight. Like, the Phillies should be playing tonight. Like, that's weird to me. Well, how about Father's Day? Like, Father's Day is like baseball.

That's what you think about. You think about baseball. You think about Jim Bunning and you think, totally. Yeah. That was the toughest one for me, honestly. The toughest one for me was like, man, they should be playing on Father's Day. Like, there's just something that should just be happening and whatever. It's bad. Yeah, there's just something that should just be happening. And whatever.

It's bad. Yeah, and look, July 4th is going to be another tough one. That, you know, July 4th weekend is such a, you know, we always think of baseball. It's kind of when baseball takes over as the only sport going. And the All-Star game. We'd have the All-Star game. We would be approaching the All-Star game in a few weeks, Jack.

So, yeah, I'm so with you. of the all-star game we would be approaching the all-star game in a few weeks jack um so yeah i'm so with you and i and i do think it is a bummer as you kind of alluded to before that baseball really did have an opportunity to to kind of to the whole and i agree with you i think the baseball dying thing is is so silly and so overblown and it's just look i get it that maybe from an like you said a national perspective maybe it is it is wan, but locally it is as strong as ever. I mean, again, there's a reason that obviously prior to this, you know, poor MLB owners, disastrous, you know, thing for them now, like not for everybody else, but for them. But prior to this year, I mean, they made record profits like 17 years in a row or whatever. I mean, this is not a sport that is floundering. It's not a sport that is dying,

but it is a bummer that from that national perspective that if they could have just, you know, I don't know, not hated each other and actually figured something out where they could have come back sooner and really, like you said, not have to compete with the NBA playoffs, not have to compete with the NHL playoffs and have, you know, two, three weeks to themselves as the first sport back on the national stage. It's definitely a bummer that they missed that opportunity. have you know two three weeks to themselves as the first sport back on the national stage it's definitely a bummer that they missed that opportunity but i still i again i'm like you i i'm whenever i start to get annoyed at what happened i just think you know what i got baseball i don't care i got baseball yeah yeah i mean you you'd even take an andrew knapp uh ab right now like you would you like i think about that i would you would watch andrew knapp bat and not be upset about it you'd like to see him work a good count um now can we can we please get into the mickey mouse rules that they that they are putting in place well i so i am let's start with the mickeyest mickey mickey matt like the mini mouse

or whatever you want to call it i mean the runner on second base to start the run around second base to start the 10th inning is the dumbest thing I've ever heard. I hate it. It is a sham of a rule. It's against every single baseball fiber in my body. I could not

hate it more. I understand why they're doing it because they want people not to have to be at the ballpark longer than they have to. But the thing that just pisses me off is that it's another win for the people who don't like baseball. It's all about the whole like, well, I got to go to bed and I got to do this. I got to get up early. I can't stay for 15 innings and don't watch. And I know that sounds stupid because I know that, you know, the sport needs eyeballs on it, but I just, I hate changing the fabric of the sport for people who don't care about it. It's, it's just, it drives me crazy. I know it's for only a year. I know they're doing it for health

reasons, but like we got to go this far to where we're putting a runner on second base in the 10th inning. It's such a joke. It's so Minnie Mouse. Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, same thing. I just hate it. I just hate it. I hate it.

Jack, normally I'm the one being like, no, Jack, we've got to innovate. We've got to think about the future. No innovation. No'm a Jag. Normally, I'm the one being like, no, Jack, we got to innovate. We got to think about the future. No innovation. No innovation at all. Couldn't be more on your side in this. I think it is just an asinine. And again, I get why they're doing it. I just think it's stupid. I think it's just a stupid way to do it. Again, it's not baseball. You don't start an inning off of the runner on base. It's not baseball. That's not baseball. I'm sorry. Listen, I can't wait for them to just implement it next year, and it becomes like a rule until the postseason. I know. How great is it?

We had 13% shorter games because there were less extra innings. Hey, you know what would shorten games? You wouldn't notice a game taking as long if there wasn't just three outcomes. Like, you just wouldn't notice it. You wouldn't notice how long the games are taking if there was more game action, if there was more balls in play, all that stuff. And I understand the launch angle.

I understand that the home run's worth more. But, like, a triple's more exciting than a home run. They need more balls in play. They need to get away from the three outcomes um you know so so like all of their like all of their problems are trying to fix artificially rather than actually improving and and changing the the game play or affecting the game play and and starting a runner on second base in in extra innings it's just it's so so stupid but you know whatever i i guess listen if it if it if the alternative is no baseball i'll take a

runner on second base and i guess yes i guess i'll have to deal with the the dh in the in the nl this year yeah you're gonna have to deal with it this year, Jack. Yeah. Well, we don't need to rehash the DH debate. We both know strongly where we stand. Thank God it's coming to the National League this year. Only a year. Only a year. Then I go back to it.

Yeah, it'll be there for a year, then gone for a year, then back forever. Love it. Love it. No, it's never coming back. I can't wait until they take it out of baseball. That would be the Jack Fritz plan. Oh, yeah.

I can't wait to watch pitchers bat 114 again. It's not about pitchers hitting. It's never about pitchers hitting. Sweet. What a fun use of my time. No, it's just a real shame that you're on a baseball podcast and you hate baseball. This is great. I love it.

I love it. It is great. I love it. I love the... It is funny. I think the DH argument, maybe of any argument in baseball, among all arguments in sports, is the most consistent 50% on one side, 50% on the other, and everyone thinks the other side is crazy.

It's a great argument. I like to think that I revived the DH. Oh, you do? dh taking this down you know i feel like everyone was starting to just accept that the dh is coming and i like i like to think that i was the one that that held it up keep thinking it buddy i think you know sure can you reach your back that far to pat yourself on it i can't i honestly can't act that far to pat yourself on it i can't i can't honestly can't it's impossible it's impossible yes um are you got any other thoughts on uh the comeback obviously we're gonna well we are going to in in coming up pods we're gonna talk about the schedule we're gonna talk about how break

time with the phillies like we're we're gonna get into the nitty-gritty of all of it yeah but hold on i have a lot more thoughts but but we got to do something else first. Yeah. Well, you know, in case for those who didn't know, the Phillies actually signing first round pick Mick Abel today. And we thought it'd be fun to talk to someone about it. And joining us right now, it is our distinct pleasure to have this man on. The man who helped build Mick abel into what he is

first round pick of course with the phillies signed today from jesuit high in oregon mick abel's high school coach mr colin griffin colin thank you so much for taking some time yeah i'm excited to be on the show with you guys i've been listening to your podcast last couple episodes so i'm pumped pumped to talk to you guys. Wow, that's far too kind. I don't know why you took the time to listen to this podcast. And I'm very sorry for the Keith Lobbs,

where he said the Phillies weren't going to take a high school pitcher, and then they took a high school pitcher. So, yeah, no, thanks so much, Coach, for joining us. We're excited to talk to you about Mick. Yeah, we are excited. Why don't we start off, because we've obviously seen some of the highlights, Thanks so much, Coach, for joining us. We're excited to talk to you about Mick. Yeah, we are excited.

Why don't we start off, like, just because we've obviously seen some of the highlights, and we'll get into Mick Abel, the pitcher. But, you know, the one thing we have no idea of is Mick Abel, the person. You know, what kind of kid are the Phillies getting in Mick Abel? Well, he's not a kid. We've said that since he walked into the hallways his freshman year. He's just always carried himself in a just more mature than what his age represents. He's never acted like a kid with us.

We've always, you know, on the field or off the field, he's been in my power training classes for PE. It's just like talking to a college-age kid. So that's number one. You don't have to worry about a kid. He doesn't have the maturity to take on this responsibility. He's as good as it gets when it comes to that for his age. High-character kid.

He was never – I mean, you would never know what type of attention Mick got unless you got on social media and typed in Mick's name because he would never brag. He would never share it with you. He just acted like a high school baseball player until you started asking stories, and then he would kind of tell you some really cool stories and people he's met in costumes,

and that was when you kind of got to know what he was going through. But he was a great teammate, just always encouraging his teammates. He was never challenging us as coaches to bend the rules because he's the superstar. He felt he was just the rules of the rules, the guidelines of the guidelines. And his job as a leader was to get the most out of the program. So as far as the character of Mick Abel, I mean, it's tops. It's A+.

Yeah, it sounds like it. That is something a lot of Phillies fans are going to be happy to hear. All right, so now we're hearing about Mick, the person. Tell us about Mick, the player, and obviously we'll dive into some specifics, but on a macro scale, what is is Mick Abel the pitcher bringing to Philadelphia? Oh Mick Abel right now compared to what you're going to see when he actually gets to get on the field it's going to be even different I mean he is he hasn't even come close to the ceiling uh and just listen podcasts about what your excitement

was for Mick is he's electric and there's so much more. And, you know, one, I'm so frustrated we didn't get a senior season with Mick and his classmates for Mick was we didn't get to represent his changeup. And that was a pitch that his junior year, we couldn't really throw it that much. It's teams, you know, But his junior year, we couldn't really throw it that much. Teams, you know, I don't know if you know the company Jug Sports.

It's in Tualatin, Oregon. I'm not trying to plug them. I'm just saying that they've done a great job of getting this BP3 machine into everybody's hitting facilities. So every time we would face teams, they would just pump up that BP3 machine to about 90 miles per hour and just sit on mixed fastball. And so his changeup wasn't dialed in to the point where we could just play fastball changeup catch.

We relied on that slider a lot. And this year, already in our inner squads, we were just throwing the changeup more and more and more, and it was filthy. I mean, I truly believe we could have gone first three times through the batting order and just play a fastball change-up catch because same release point for his fastball, his two-seam, his four-seam,

his slider, but also that change-up. All that same tunneling vision for the hitter. It's just lethal. For him to be at where he is right now, he's got tons more growth to establish that changeup, so he doesn't have to depend on that wipeout slider.

So he's got so much more room to grow. I think you guys, the Phillies, should be excited because they definitely got a steal in Mick Abel from the draft, being number 15. Well, I mean, my jaw's almost on the floor when you start talking about his changeup. I mean, that's all I was crying for. Because when you look at his mechanics, it's like, oh, he's perfect.

It's perfect to come out with a tumbling changeup, the couple with his two-seam fastball. Was it – I know you can't give it all away, but was it like – what kind of grip did he have? Was it a four-seam grip? Was it a two-seam grip? Was he splitting it? Do you know what he was doing with the changeup?

That would be a question you'd have to talk to Jeff Jensen, my pitching coach, and then Kevin Gunderson, his private pitching coach. As a coach, like I said, you guys gave me too much credit that I molded Nick. I just made sure to put him in the lineup. Yeah. Yep.

That was my job, right? Don't leave him him in the lineup. Yeah. Yep. That was my job, right? Don't leave him out of the lineup. In fact, I even created positions for him to get his bat in the lineup because he could hit. But going on your changeup, I'm not too sure how he was holding it. I know he was playing around with the grip because the changeup is such a field pitch. I mean, you mentioned Curt Schilling not being able to throw the changeup,

so he turned it into that splitter. I'm not sure how Mick ended up holding it, but I do know that that changeup was filthy when we were in his squad this year. And it was about a 10- to 12-mile difference out of that state release point. Same arm action. Well, listen, you're not exactly going to calm down this hype train. I mean, we might be more all in at this point. So the changeup is there, obviously.

If he develops that pitch, I think it's unbelievable. And the way you're talking about it, it seems like it is. Now, can you tell us a little bit about the slider? I mean, because the way he talks about it, he said he can kind of throw two different ones, and he feels like he can throw a slider in any count for a strike. Is that kind of the same thing you saw when you were coaching him? Yeah.

In fact, we started to fall in love with it too much. And, you know, I did challenge my pitching coach and say, hey, I know we're getting these. Our goal with Mick was we didn't want to – I told him when he was a freshman, I know what I have in my bag with you. I'm not going to abuse you. You have a future way beyond Jesuit high school. We're definitely going to keep a pitch count on you.

So when I pulled him out of a no-hitter his sophomore year, he was definitely – or freshman year, he was mad at me, but I was explaining to him, we're making sure we take care of that arm of yours. So his junior year, we're trying to be efficient, be out in three pitches, you know, get guys to roll over. Because kids were going in the box just aggressive, trying to get after that fastball early on the count.

So, again, we started going to this two-seam fastball or his slider, which was just filthy. And, you know, people are so worried about the slider's going to create Tommy John. In fact, the more and more research to discover, it's not really the slider that's causing it. But I was super sensitive over it. Let's see if we can just get him out on fastballs and change ups and play with that.

But that slider, it just, like I said, it comes out of that same release point as his fastball that people are geared up on. And then the last 10 feet, it just dives and breaks. And, you know, for Adley Retchman to even mention that his slider is one of the best he's ever caught is, I mean, that's me a lot because Adley's played the game and been around some high-profile players. Yeah, for sure.

I mean, Adley Rutschman was a generational catching prospect. He's talking about how special high school pitchers' pitches were. Like, that's insane. Now, the one thing that I've really liked about and what I've read about Mick is his use of analytics. Like, how has he used the analytics? Has he used them to kind of help develop the pitches even further, using the Rapsodo and stuff like that?

Like, how has he kind of used that? Yeah, and that was – I can't remember which interview I did with the Philadelphia Press, but they were asking me about what else are we getting out of Mick. And the generation of kids coming out of high school and college now are all having the access to Rhapsodo or HitTracks or whatever it might be that displays all this analytics for the kids. And, you know, in my perspective, 99% of the high schooler kids

don't really understand it, especially if you look at hitters and all they want to talk about is launch angle. Pitchers, it's the same thing. There's so many different variables that affect a pitch. And so for Mick Abel, A, he's already a super intelligent kid, high academics. For him to already be basically a 300-level college student and understanding what spin rate and finger placement

all that can do to his fastball and moving on his pitches uh he's already ahead of the game so i've he's actually educated me and same with his pitching coach gunderson on uh what they've learned with rapsodo and how we could use that in our uh our our approach when we're going after hitters i mean our goal this year when we're going after hitters. I mean, our goal this year was we're just going to throw fastballs two inches above the belly button because his spin rate was so fast that it gave that perception that it was going to come down and the kids were just going to swing underneath it all day. Okay, so Colin, obviously a lot of this is awesome stuff and getting everyone hyped up

at Gable, but you did say before that he's not even as good as he could be or will be someday. What do you think is the number one thing Mick needs to work on right now? Well, he's going to keep putting on muscle. You know, if you looked at Mick and you saw the pictures, maybe you guys did. I don't think he even owns a Gillette shaving razor. I mean, the kid still hasn't totally matured yet. There's still height left in him, and there's still muscle that he needs to put on,

especially to continue to maintain the amount of force that he's putting into his body. So that would be what Mick's going to have to work on the most is, you know, being able to continue staying with his routine, his workout, and also adjust as his body adjusts. Now, just real quick mechanically-wise, like a couple people, and I kind of noticed it a little bit, do you think there's concern with him? Do you think he cuts himself off at all when he's finishing his pitches?

Like is there any concern there? Or has he been working on being more linear to the plate in his kind of in his bullpens leading up to the draft i've never uh had that conversation with him i know what you're talking about uh but nor have i thought that that is affecting uh his arm i know that guys who open up more are more vulnerable to put that elbow at risk compared to closing themselves off. But the biggest thing that we had to work on with Mick from his freshman year to his junior year, so we didn't totally get him off his year, he was kind of rushing himself to the plate.

He wasn't really getting that balance point before he was coming forward. And then once that was kind of dialed in with him, his accuracy level definitely went up big time. I think he had two immaculate innings for us last year. One in the state championship game and one in some other games.

I don't see that cutting him off as something that affects Mick, but again, I'm a high school baseball coach compared to the Philadelphia Phillies, so they'll have a better idea than me. Yeah, yeah. I was curious if it was something that had been talked about, but interesting. Now, one quick thing.

When did you kind of realize that Mick was special? Was he kind of coming up throughout his kind of career in middle school and he knew you were getting him, or what was that kind of like? Yeah, that's another fun story. You know, I'm, we're a private high school. And so, uh, and we're not a large high school. And so it, it's, you know, you're fortunate if you get accepted into judgment, uh, and we're fortunate to get kids to, to come to judgment. So I get emails and phone calls and texts all the time for starting now up

until August from coaches, private instructors, parents who know me saying, oh, you got this great kid who's coming in. He's going to be so good. He's a superstar. He's a Division I baseball player. And it turns out like he's bad or I have to cut him because he's just, I mean, the daddy goggles were, were so obvious. I get that. I get that. Yeah. Right. So, and, and, you know,

my answer is always, you know what, well, my, I'm sorry. My first reaction is he might be this superstar in eighth grade. Cause I don't know who they are. I don't go out and recruit eighth grade baseball players. So my first concern is, okay, this kid's probably got armpit hair. He's been shaving since sixth grade. Of course he's blowing everybody away, but wait until his sophomore year when everything balances out.

So when I started getting those emails about this kid named Nick Abel, I was like, yeah, okay, well, let's see how good he is. If he was that good, I mean, if he was that good, Pat Casey at Oregon State would have already called me and said, hey, this kid's coming in, let's see how good he is. If he was that good, I mean, if he was that good, Pat Casey at Oregon State would have already called me and said, hey, this kid's coming in, let's talk. Because Pat Casey is a guy that I know pretty well. So when I hadn't gotten that phone call, definitely my guard was up. And then Mick Cable shows up to our summer baseball camp.

And this is what makes Mick special. And you guys use that word a lot about him, about his athleticism. But the kid who's the best is not rarely the kid who outworks everyone. And that's what makes you a superstar athlete, whether high school makes you a superstar collegiate athlete or you're blessed to be at that level you are that Mick is at. And it's the kid who has the talent and the character and the work ethic that takes you to the top and so when i was getting these texts i mean mick was a kid that i

just eyeballed right away it's like all right how prime time is this kid that the whole world tells about greatness never would have known that that was mick he was always the first kid to a huddle which is an indicator for me is how much does he want it uh he always hustled to the next station yes coach looks you in the eyes so when i got that from mick plus i saw what he could do on the field watching him play long toss his glove he came in i was i called oregon state and said if his kid was throwing 78 miles per hour you'd be recruiting him at the first baseman and he'd be getting drafted his junior year of college at the first baseman. Get out of here. Wow.

He drops bombs. So I actually texted Mick today. I go, please tell me the Phillies let you take BP on the field. And he just dropped it and said no. But so I saw this kid as an eighth grader looking like that. Plus, he looked like a baby. He was not what I described. He was long, lean, but didn't look developed yet.

And so we had all these red flags that I had my guard up about Mick. It took me about 30 seconds to see, okay, this kid, he's different. He's special. And he never disappointed. That is just awesome. Colin, again, Coach Colin Griffin,esuit high school um thank you so much for taking the time to talk to us i know certainly all our listeners you've you've made some some big time mick abel fans today i think we're all really excited about it thanks man well can i say this

really quick i um i live in a small pocket in Portland, and there are a lot of Phillies fans within a par five of me because I can't believe the amount of people walk by who have now given me suggestions about Philadelphia. That's awesome. Even walking my daughter to the library, there's a big Phillies banner. That is so cool. Man, there are Phillies fans everywhere. This is great.

Even my son's best friend's dad is from Philly who's i could see his house from my back deck right now and he is so jacked i mean that is so cool philly philly nation ah love to hear that love to hear that so cool that was so cool well uh we'll stay in touch as uh as mick moves along and uh and you know keep uh keep growing that Phillies, Phillies nation out there in Oregon. That's awesome. Keep building our farm system. We appreciate it.

I appreciate you guys having me. I'd love to be on again if you have time. All right. Thanks a lot, coach. Awesome. Awesome stuff from Colin Griffin. Jack,

I think, I think people are going to be in on Mick Gable. You think? I mean, did you hear him talking about the changeup? Oh my God. I was trying not to jump up and down when he was talking about the changeup. I mean, that's all I want. That's all I want is a well-developed change up to go with power stuff, James? I think we found our ace. I really do.

Like I love Aaron Nola. I love Spencer Howard, but guess what, baby? It's big able season. And I just can't wait. I am. I could not,

I thought I was all in after the draft and the podcast after the draft. I'm more all in now. It's a beautiful, I can hear it, Jack. I can hear it. Hold up, hold up. We're talking about baseball being back

after like three months of animosity and acrimony and baseball's finally back and you're more excited now about McCable than you were at the beginning of the pod. Did you hear the talk about the changeup? I mean, you said it was nasty. I was just asking for a development of the changeup. He threw, he said it was nasty. I was just asking for a development of the changeup.

He threw out the word nasty? I mean, I was asking if he... I want to know if it was a little two-seam changeup. I think that makes sense, given his arm angle and given where he throws his two-seam fastball. That's great. I'm all in. I'm so happy. Baseball's back,

baby. And so is this Mick Ab able hype train oh i love it well thank you to coach colin griffin uh for having on all right let's get back and shout out to mick able the newest philly officially a philly signs his contract very excited to see him get to work and uh and see what happens let's get back to baseball because uh still a lot to get into and like i said we're gonna we can actually jack do shows where like you and i can talk about what the phillies lineup's gonna look like and and the impact of joe gerardi and like we can actually talk baseball now it's not all this other crap i'm so excited i'm so excited oh i mean we don't deal with stupid labor discussions anymore it's such a beautiful thing and it's real like we can talk about real baseball coming back

so let's get back to um kind of what we were talking about before we brought Coach Griffin on. Where else are you at with the – what are some of your other takeaways from 60-game season, how it's going to look, all that? Well, I got a couple things. I'm sure you do, brother. So the transaction freeze is lifted on Friday, and I'm gonna need j3 or muto uh re-signed to a five-year contract by monday like that's that's that's the ultimatum i'm putting out there i need it done by look i i i love the idea do you like there's no no i don't think he's gonna sign no yeah yeah i don't i don't but but if he was if he was smart like so i put out the other day on Twitter, I would offer $5.85 right off the bat.

And people are like, well, why would he take that? It's not that much money. It's like, well, the alternative is one year. I don't know if he's going to get that. Right, right. I'm of the belief that this free agent market and maybe even the next one too, and who knows for how long, but I think they're getting screwed. I think they're getting screwed. None of these guys are making what they thought they were like if i'm jt romito and i get 585 i'm taking it and running i don't i like i would take it and run if i remember i i honestly think i think it's gonna end up being something more like a three for 50 type

of contract or something with shorter years less overall money money. I think that the free agents this year, the JT Romitos, the Mookie Betts, the people who have gotten screwed by this whole situation, the worst. Oh, yeah. It's really unfortunate. Just awful timing. Imagine if you just signed it back in January or February and took a contract extension then. I would be surprised if JT got $100 million.

Like $100 million feels like the – I would be floored. Right. I would be absolutely stunned. Well, and if his agent takes a one-year deal, like he should be fired. I mean, taking a one-year deal as a 30-year-old catcher is just a disaster. So, if the Phillies put $585 on the table, I think he takes it and runs. I'm not sure they will.

I'm not sure how any of this is going to work. Like, this is – like, usually there's precedent for all this stuff, James. Like, we usually have a general idea. We can look back in history for other contracts. But, like, there's just no precedent here. None. I have no idea what it's going to look like. Yeah, well, especially when we're talking about vindictive owners who are mad at the players to begin with right now and who are crying poor

because they're not gonna have people in the stadiums this year and like they are going to take it out on this free agent class they just are like they just are and i'm not saying it's collusion or whatever we just know that they are mutually going to agree that no one's giving the people the contracts they want to get like it's not going to agree that no one's giving the people the contracts they want to get. Like, it's just not going to happen. No, no, it's not going to happen. It's not going to happen. And it's going to be annoying.

I'll give you another interesting one. Do you think that guys like Yasiel Puig get signed? Yeah. Yeah, I do. But it's going to be for like $4 million maybe. Yeah, if that. Yeah, I think it's going to be super cheap. But that's an interesting, like, the phillies add to the roster like that guy i think there's still a

couple pweeg's really the big name out there but um yeah there's still a couple guys who kind of got caught by the end of the thing and they're players out there remember the luxury tax threshold i mean oh remember that remember when that was the the biggest worry what is that gonna be now now i guess then so i saw it really quickly on Twitter today, but, um, another thing I want to get into real quick is like, so I,

I guess it's, you keep players down for seven days into the season and that's how you affect a service time manipulation. Is that what it is? I hadn't seen it yet. I was wondering. so what I saw was some tweet about, um,

Nate Pearson, how I think it's seven days. All you got to do to keep a guy down is for seven days. Yeah, it's so dumb. It's so, so dumb. But there's going to be some serious service time manipulation. What are the Phillies going to do? I mean, I think I know.

They're going to keep Bob and Howard down for seven games. I think there's no way that Spencer Howard and Alec Blum are going to be on the opening day roster. Zero percent. If that's the way it works, and again, I don't know for sure, but if that's the way it works, there is a zero percent chance they will be on the opening day roster, which is a shame because we're talking about 60 games here. The whole every game matters. If you're really going to take that seriously, then those two guys should both be on the opening day roster.

They just should. Right, right, especially because it's a sprint Matt Klintock's job is theoretically on the line except uh Matt Guelph kind of put a damper on that today that um I guess the Phillies just aren't like they're they're not taking this season as a as a evaluation of Matt Klintock and his job and that's fine I get it like i i get it but i'm already yeah i mean you should have fired him already but sure yeah exactly um but if you if you're saying to your fans that it's time to win now in your press conference when you hire joe gerardi and you don't have alec bone and spencer howard on your roster that's embarrassing that's embarrassing. That's embarrassing, especially for a 60-day or a 60-game schedule.

But I don't know. I don't know. I don't know what I want the Phillies to do. I know that sounds bad, but it's only seven days. Yeah, no, I'm fine with it. I wish baseball didn't have this rule. That's really what I wish it's gotta be the dumbest rule in sports like it's it's the absolute dumbest and if if there is anything that has

changed in the new cba i feel like that is top on the list of just one of the dumbest things that shouldn't exist but you know being that the rule exists like yeah i i think it's you know as much as i want them to win every game like i think the the smart – I don't think this Phillies team is winning the World Series this year anyway. I think the smart organizational decision is to make sure you save that year of service time. Like I think it's actually malpractice not to. I know.

I know. It's a bummer. It's a bummer, Jack. It's awful. It is. It's awful. Because you do the whole thing every year where you're like, this team's going to be a contending team.

It could come down to a game or two in September. You're really going to keep those guys down until May. Now it's like so much more impactful because it's 60 games. So it's like every game really, truly matters. So it's harder to do that. But again, I think they have to. Yeah, yeah. I mean, listen, they didn't exactly get a break with the schedule.

I mean, it's 40 games against the NL East and then 20 against the AL East, which obviously the Orioles are mixed in there. But I can just tell the Blue Jays are going to kill us. Like, I don't know how, but they're definitely going to kill us. A lot of young talent that will get hot against the Phillies. Dude, I can't wait for the first back-breaking loss. I just, I experience, I feel like every loss the Phillies had in the last two years

under Gabe Kapler was back-breaking. I'm excited for that to come back. Oh, great. That'll be fun, right? The other thing I've been thinking a lot about is like, you know, I feel like with baseball more than almost any other sport, you kind of see the collapse coming.

I can't wait to see that for the first time, you know? Oh, God. I can't wait to see that for the first time. You know? I can't wait to be broken. I honestly can't. It's going to feel... You're just all in. You're down to get broken. It feels like we'll be back. The Phillies 2020.

Break me. Yeah. I'm ready. Listen, after that interview with Mick Abel's life's code, you can tell me whatever you want. I am all in. You're good. I do think, though, mentioning Girardi,

I do think that I feel like having a good manager, and again, I know that people are back and forth on how much a manager really matters in baseball and all that type of stuff, but I do think that having a good, strong manager this year in this weird, so many balls in the air so many potential for injuries and switching guys in and out all this type of stuff i think having a good manager matters more this year than other years if that makes any sense yeah uh i could see that and the thing that kind

of sucks is that um like i thought his culture was kind of kind of separate itself throughout the season and now it's harder to do that this year. Exactly. Exactly. Cause the clubhouse isn't going to be the same. It's just not the same. And like the, the plane rides,

I don't know what they're going to be like. I don't know how they're going to bond on the road. I don't know what's well, I guess. Yeah. I, I, I,

it's going to be a weird disjointed kind of season. So, um, but I think his actual in-game managing could definitely help. But I think the thing I was most excited about was what he's going to bring to a locker room. And unfortunately, he probably won't have that this year.

Yeah, I agree. And that is a bummer. I will say, thank God we're not wasting all of the age 27 Bryce Harper season. That could have been in my watch is getting mad about it too. Like the prospect of, and again, I'm sad that it's this year that it's Bryce Harper's age 27 season,

but at least we get something out of it. Sure, sure. At least we'll get it. It'll be, you know, I think that it'll be fun that we can say that Bryce Harper is one of only two people to win MVP in a 60-game season. I mean, that'll be fun to be able to say. Yeah, for sure, for sure. So, you know, I mean, that'll be fun to be able to say. Yeah, for sure. For sure.

So, you know, I mean, he is, I guess, so I looked up all his numbers in his career pretty much back to 2015, and the one thing that's consistent, the average kind of fluctuates, but the one thing that's consistent is that he hits a lot of homers early. So, like, I think we should expect 15, at least 15 home runs from bryce this season which if you told me about that before the season it'd be a disaster but um yeah i think we can expect 15 home runs from bryce this season and it's going to be a monster 15 home runs it's so weird to say that isn't it well the phillies over under was 31 and a half i know

i saw it was so it was just weird how close they all are too it's like the best in baseball or the best in actually was 37 and a half like that's like really close it also just underscores how like how much variance there is in this season and like we talked about before how like getting off to a hot 30 game start could and then just playing 500 baseball gig in the playoffs or you know something like that um there's going to be a weird team in the playoffs there, or, you know, something like that. Um, there's going to be a weird team in the playoffs. There's going to be a really good team that we expect to be in the playoffs out of it. Like that's going to happen.

It's going to happen this year. And, um, it is going to be weird. I mean, like, look, I mean,

something about 400, you know, that's, that's all the table. That doesn't count. I mean, I agree. I agree.

None of it counts. It's all a sham. Historically speaking, as far as I'm concerned. Unless the Phillies win the World Series. Exactly. And Bryce Harper wins the MVP. Yeah, that'll hold.

And Pavetta wins the Cy Young. Yeah, I actually had written down for a possible show next week of like, if someone hits 400, does it count? Yeah, it's a great, it doesn't. No. Clearly, no, it's asinine. No, but I feel like your host could make it that it would count. My host will say anything.

Can't you just see the camera being like, it counts? It's 400. I can already see it. I already said that this season is going to have an asterisk on it, and he's like, no, it won't. I'm like, what do you mean it won't? Of course it does. Of course.

It's a 60-game baseball season. I don't care what happens. Like, it'll have an asterisk. It's okay. Like, it doesn't mean it's not an accomplishment to win it, but it is an asterisk. It is very different from baseball, you know? 100%.

So I got two final takes for you. You ready? Lay them on me. Lay them on me. All right. Now, the first one's going to hurt, but it's the truth. God, I'm already terrified. The Phillies should tank. Thanks for you. You ready? Lay them on me. Lay them on me. All right. Now, the first one's going to hurt, but it's the truth. Oh, God. I'm already terrified.

The Phillies should tank. And, like, I'm already looking at next year's. Wow. What a take. What a take. It's 60 games. The year doesn't count anyway. I'm not saying tank, like, tank, tank.

But I could use a top ten pick. Oh, man. Zach Veen was a ninth pick in this draft, but I could use a top 10 pick. Zach Veen was a nice pick in this draft, and he's a superstar in the making. All I'm saying is I would welcome a playoffs. I would take it. What do they even need a top 10 pick? They got the best player in the draft at 15 this time, Jack. I know, but that took a lot to get there.

I mean, 15 was a little bit of a risk. So listen. Look, I will say, I think you will see certain teams this year play young guys. I think you will see certain teams decide relatively quickly to develop players and whatnot. I do think there will be teams that will take that approach where they'll say, hey, you know what, this is a weird, and we don't want to get anyone hurt. We don't want to worry anything long-term. We're just going to develop guys and look towards the future. I think you will see some teams, especially after slow starts, do that.

Yeah, well, the Orioles might win, what, five games this year? Man. What's the point in winning 15 games this year? It's more beneficial to the future of franchise get 100 to get to get a higher pick so that the so that you know it's 60 games and no one's gonna care about the season anyway just get a higher pick now if the phillies make the playoffs yeah i'm gonna be happy that the plays me the playoffs but i wouldn't hate a top 10 pick so and also wouldn't you know and the whole thing like i want them to win the world series this year but like if i could pick any

year for them to not win the world series and win it a different year instead like obviously i would take the world series over no world series at all but like i'd much rather they win it next year you know i'd rather they win it the year after that than this year which doesn't really feel that great so i get it i i i don't necessarily agree with it, but I get it. That's all I ask for. That's all you ever want. My final one. It kind of hit me last night, and I started really feeling it today.

I think Scott Kingery is going to lead this team in war this season. Whoa! Yeah. Wow, that is a really unexpected take. I know. Kingery breakout. Yeah. I mean, I'm sorry for ruining your season, Scott.

But, yeah. I mean, poor Scott. Yeah, poor guy. Put it in the bio and just crush him completely. Poor guy. I almost put baseball in the bio. But whatever. But, yeah, I think he's going to have a monster year. I'm in on Scott Kingery.

You know, the second base thing, we'll see what happens there. But it's year three. He's seen major league pitching for two straight years. I think he knows what to expect now. I love this. I mean, year three, you do see a lot of players break out in year three. That is a thing. So we shall see.

I like that take. Scott Kingery leads the Phillies in war this year. I'll still take Harper, but I like that take. I like that take. I think he leads the Phillies in war this year. I'll still take Harper, but I like that take. I like that take. I think he's going to have a really good year. You got any other final thoughts, Fritzy? Let's, I mean, there's a fresh batch. Baseball!

Baseball! Fresh batch of high hops to enjoy baseball with over Four Fingers Brewing Company. There's actually a chance that I might find my way down there. We'll see. I might try hops this weekend. That's on the table. We'll see. I might try to have this weekend. That's on the table. We'll see what happens. Look at you.

If I do, you will hear a review on next week's pod when we're talking about actual Phillies baseball. Let's go. Yeah, I'm excited. I'm excited to see what the roster is going to break down. I'm excited to see Didi. Can't wait to analyze the taxi squad. I'm just ready.

It's just going to be exciting to have it back in our lives and being able to like, again, just give me a heartbreaking loss that I can just not get over for an entire night. I'll take it. I can't wait. I'm ready to have my heart

broken and shout out to Coach Colin Griffin because if you weren't excited about Nick Abel heading into this podcast, I mean, now you have way more to be excited about. If you're not excited now, there's something actually wrong with you. You should go back and listen to the interview again, because you missed it. That was awesome. Thanks to Coach Colin Griffin.

Thank you to, I'm not going to thank anyone involved in it, but thank you to the gods of baseball for bringing us baseball back. How about that? Because no one involved in the actual decision deserves credit, but thank you for baseball being back. Yeah, and the best part of it was it was so seamless and painless that it didn't matter. I can't wait to never, ever, ever talk about it again, Jack.

Until 2022. Luckily, next week we'll talk some Phillies baseball. Cannot wait for that. He's Fritz. I'm Seltzer. We'll see you later.