High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Baseball is On Our Screens, How Could We Not Overreact?

Episode Date: March 2, 2023

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz talk Spring Training, Painter's debut, the greatness of Trea Turner, and 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

This is the High Hopes Podcast. High Hopes! 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 High Oaks Podcast. A unique special edition. We're in the same room together.

Look at this. I can reach out and touch you if I want to. I don't even know how to look at you. I know. You keep looking away. I'm like, I'm right here, buddy. I know, but it's because I've gotten so used to the rhythm of not looking at you. And the screen.

It's like through a screen is a different thing. It's like a barrier. It gives you this false sense of I'm not actually looking at the person. I think this is the second podcast we've done in person in two and a half years. That's crazy, by the way. Yeah. First of all, it's always better in person. Ever since we moved.

No, actually, so we've done two podcasts in person in the last two and a half years. Wow. Because the last one we did was some random time like last year or whatever. But then before that, it was before I was going to spring training for the first time. And that was right before the pandemic. That was Pavetta? Yeah, it was the Pavetta thing. God, dude.

It was the last time we were in person. So it's two times in the last year. This is unbelievable. Especially with Elliot, we record like 95% of the pods we were in person So it's two times the last time This is unbelievable Like especially like with Elliot Like we record like 95% of the pods we do in person Yeah It's pretty amazing how good our pod is When we're never together

Yeah well listen Sometimes there's a little thing called chemistry You're damn right buddy That you know Supersedes any kind of being in person But I'm excited man I'm excited to be in person Me too

Also big day for the big dog Oh yeah yeah yeah For those So we will have this up. It will be up before 2 o'clock. If you are one of our favorites, people listen right away or dive right into this. Jack Fritz hosting the afternoon show today. What a day.

It's a big day. It's a big day. I'm excited. I'm excited. You'll be like, Zoe, shut up. I'm listening to the radio. Well, the great part is that I can finally do a little bit of nerdy baseball talk. Yeah, buddy.

Bring that to the afternoon show airwaves. I can't wait. I'm already planning. So we do it every day at 3.30 to do Philly's Fever. I think I'm addicted to doing top five lists for some reason. Yeah, we know that on this pod. Yes. You had that little run where you were doing them on the pod for a little while.

You just couldn't help yourself. But I am. I'm deferring to Dan Wilson today. He can do the top five. Thank you. How magnanimous. He's bigger than me. I know.

Thank you. But I think I'm going to do the five things I believe the most about this Philly. Oh, I love this. You're giving him the top five of five, but you're still sneaking a five in. Well, because listen, I only have so many opportunities to host the afternoon show. Yeah, like very few. I need to go and lay it on the line today.

It's a lay it on the line Thursday. It is. It's a big day. I'm excited. We're four weeks to the day from opening day, baby. I know. Again, I said this last podcast, I should play in the World Series more often. I know. It's like, boom, we're back Feels like it kind of just ended, honestly

So, it's great to be back Just watching Spring training baseball every day Has been such a joy for me Dude, who you talking to? This is my new life, I get done at 10am I go home, I watch baseball at 1 o'clock It is such a joke

Honestly, let me tell you Getting done at 10 a.m i go oh my god baseball one o'clock it is such a joke it honestly let me tell you let me tell you let me tell you getting done at 10 a.m is the most ridiculous thing that's ever happened i know it it's it's like it's it's almost it's almost weird it's almost weird to walk out of the office and it'd be and granted there are days where i record pods it's you know 10 11 now i'm done today at like noon or whatever you big baby tough day for me tough day for me dude there it's like you walk out and you're now. I'm done today at like noon or whatever. Oh, you big baby. Tough day for me. Tough day for me. Dude, it's like you walk out and you're like, the whole world's in front of me. Like, it's 10 a.m. and I'm done work.

It's crazy, man. I know. How's your sleep schedule? I wake up at 3.20 every day. How's that going? Really good. Like, shockingly good. Oh, yeah. I've been doing great.

Now, Philly season presents a whole new challenge. Yep. Because, you know, I've been doing great because I'm going to bed like 7 o'clock every night. So, yeah. That's true. Now, but you are going to luck out. The fact that you're starting this, it's going to save your life. People are always like, oh, I love the Pitch Clock.

I'm like, you don't understand. I love it more than you. I'm so sure I love the Pitch Clock more than you. The timing don't understand. I love it more than you. I'm so sure I love the Pitchcock more than you. The timing couldn't have been more perfect. It's unbelievable. Yeah. And you're seeing the dividends already being paid off, which is great. I think the average time of game right now is like 2.38.

It's unbelievable. They've lost like 30 minutes on games. Average. If these games start at 6.40 or 6 610, like a lot of them are, you're going to wrap up at nine. Yeah, buddy. You're going to go right to bed. It's going to be great.

It's going to be great. I'm happy for you. You know, the fact that Angelo had to slum it for 30-some years. I know. No pitch clock. No problem. Yeah. It's going to be a big deal.

Yeah, we're getting there. I'm really excited. And I am fully, fully ready for baseball season. You're over it? You're over the Super Bowl? What's the Super Bowl? Beautiful. I don't even know what sport you're talking about.

Now, just don't talk about it. Then we'll be good. But yeah, I'm pumped. And honestly, let's get into it. I think the thing that I'm watching Andrew Boehner pitch yesterday was like almost like a religious experience, Jack. Just being like, because like, seriously, how long have we waited for this? We talked about this forever, the entirety of this podcast to have a guy like this, like a guy come up from the minors at 19 who's the best pitching prospect in the sport, and he just looks the part. Like, it almost doesn't feel real, Jack. Like, I can't believe Andrew Painter's our guy.

That's where I'm at. And it was so funny because he just looked like he belongs. Totally. Like, just looked like he belonged. Totally. So I have a couple thoughts on Andrew Painter. One, I need there to be some kind of fan group where people go down there and they paint K's. Oh, yeah.

When he gets a strikeout. Oh, yeah. We started to see it last year. The Jeans Jeans. They were back. Phenomenal stuff. Which is a good start to bring back the fan groups. This one's so easy.

Yeah. I mean, paint club or painting numbers or painting numbers. Or like the Picassos. The Picasso. Oh, look at you. You're getting a little fancy there. Yeah. House painters.

The Van Goghs. Something. There's something there. House painters, not bad. There's something there. By the way, have we talked about just the fact that his name's Painter? I'm a huge, huge, huge fan in life of the name matching the thing. DeAndre Swift's a fast running back.

I love that. That type of stuff. And the fact that we have a pitcher named Painter, that's cool as hell, man. Well, and Pitching Ninja's already putting Bob Ross. Love it. Strong. By the way, if they want to go full bit, you know, Bob Ross wigs. Oh. For the Andrew Painter starts. I like this.

Bring in the easel, the whole thing. It's just beautiful. So. I'm surprised you know who Bob Ross is. Well, I only know because of GIFs. Okay. That makes sense. I've never actually watched it.

I was certainly not expecting to really know who Bob Ross was. No, absolutely not. That's definitely an age gap. I'm a bigger Jeff Ross guy than a Bob Ross guy. Are you sure? You know, the roast master general. Yeah. I can see you being a roast guy.

They're funny. You like to roast every day, really. I mean, it's kind of how you go about your business. Well, it's always bringing people down. That's right. Whenever you get a little bit of confidence, bring you right back to the dirt. It's really just, you know,

getting people where they need to be. Correct. You know, people get a little big for the britches. But no one's allowed to roast me. That's the... Oh, yeah. Good to know. Cool. That's the... Okay, good. But no one's allowed to roast me. Oh, yeah. Good to know. Cool.

Okay, good. I roast. No one roasts me. I think that's how it's supposed to be. Yeah. Yeah. You take the joke. I'm not taking the joke.

No. So with Andrew Painter. So first off, looked like he belonged, which I think is big. Didn't look overwhelmed. Looked like weirdly composed for being 19. I agree with you. Starting his first spring training game. And he knows that he's basically pitching for a job on this team,

which is a lot of pressure for a guy that's a high school year ago. Which is also insane that a 19-year-old is pitching for a job on the team. I will say that it was obvious in the second inning, like, so. He went hard in the first. Yeah. He went hard. But the difference between major league hitters and minor league hitters is obviously that they can hit 98.

And you saw that. And it was actually nice. I was glad that the Twins had a lot of their regulars in there. You know, like he faced Correa. Correa, Kapler, he faced a lot of dudes. That pit. Gallo. Yeah, Gallo.

I guess he counts still. Hey, bounce back season. Without the shift, Joey Gallo's going to be better this year. He was good in the Dodgers last year. Yeah, and as you told me, I didn't realize an elite defensive outfielder. I had no idea. But it did reinforce my belief of, like, he's going to need to develop more pitches. It was obvious in the second inning.

Now, to be fair, Rob thompson did say like he they told him you're starting every batter with a with a fastball so that's obviously not part of his usual game plan which again this is my whole thing with spring training stats don't overreact i know you do but this stuff happens where they're like work on this well they're playing baseball and i'm unfriendly on tv yeah how am i supposed to not over yes that's fair um but you know playing baseball on tv in front of me yeah sure i'm just gonna sit there on my hand you're starting center fielder over marsh or he's the next kevin france i kind of like him um no so like so in watching him the the stuff obviously popped the the the cutter is something that he's working on he seems

like he's kind of still working through his arsenal. But, like, there are going to be growing pains with him. And that was pretty obvious, too. For as much as the stuff flashed, for as much as he looked like he belonged, for as much as I'm excited about seeing where that cutter goes, seeing how the fastball... I was a little surprised he was so down in the zone with the fastball. I thought he was going to be more up in the zone. I think that's an adjustment he'll make.

Just because, you know, swing path and all that, it's obvious be more up in the zone. I think that's an adjustment he'll make. Just because, you know, swing path and all that, it's obvious to throw up in the zone. But, you know, it's so funny because we're so excited. It pops. And, like, an ERA in the 3-7 to 4-2 range this year is a win. He's 19! Guys don't pitch in the major leagues at 19. Kevin Stocker was called in the

game he's like last time i faced a 19 year old was in high school or in college he said or whatever you know it's like like it is super rare and to your point like he's like did really good in double it was like 21 innings or something 20 something innings like he has had very little experience pitching against the best hitters in the world. Like, none. And I was looking at today, actually. So, like, we think Kershaw's the best pitcher of a generation, right? It's like him, Verlander, Scherzer. There are a few guys you'd put in the running, but I'm a Kershaw guy. Right.

And right before that was Felix Hernandez. And those were the two pitchers I remember distinctly. Like, Kershaw was up at 20. Hernandez was up at 19. I think he was 19. And Hernandez's first year, he had, like, a 2.6, which is insane, but it was also maybe like nine starts. But his second year, he was at like a 4.3.

And in Kershaw's first year, he was like a 4.04. So he's going to have these growing pains. And I don't want to like, there should not be too much pressure on him. There should not be an expectation he's going to go out there and pitch to a 3 or a 2.5 or whatever. And believe me, if he does... Get the plaque ready now. Just put him in Goobers now. Exactly.

So I'm geeked up. I'm excited. But there's just going to be obvious growing pains with him. And that's fine. They're going to happen. And he is going to work through it. He seems like such a pitching nerd. He's been going to Brian Kaplan's Cressy performance thing since he was 13. I that stuff i love that stuff i think it all matters and i just can't wait you know and and it did reinforce my belief that they should go six man

when they can oh yeah i i as soon as we talked about that in the pot i was like yeah that's that's actually a really good idea the one thing that stood out to me too and again it's it's hard to you know tell this with the eye but but watching it over and over i mean his release is so deep like i know six foot seven but even still it just feels like when he can really you know when he gets there man like he's gonna be unhittable like he is the type of guy who when he gets to where he's gonna be like you know he's gonna like he has the potential to's going to be, like, you know, he's going to, like, he has the potential. To your point, like, he does, like, his ceiling is those guys. It's Verlander, it's Scherzer. Like, that's crazy to think about.

Well, it's crazy to think about as a Phillies prospect. That's my point. I'm only talking, yes, of course, there are guys like that, but as a Philly, like, this is crazy. Yeah, and I think he's got even more in the tank. Wow. Because it's like. You're talking like inner circle Hall of Famer type stuff.

No, no, no. I'm talking strictly stuff wise and fastball wise. And look, the longevity. I mean, the fact that those guys are all still pitching effectively and in certain cases winning Cy Young's is what makes them all time great. Right, but in watching him, it's like he can get on top. His stuff and his makeup and his size, it could be overbearing at times.

And I think that as he continues to grow and continues to get in the mindset of I'm nasty, I'm unhittable, having that kind of cocky, no-one-can-mess-with-me kind of feel, I just think there's so much more of coming downhill and getting right in their grill at 99 up in the zone. Well, yeah, with that release point. Yeah, exactly. It's like right on you.

It probably feels like 105 at that point. Yeah. And it's just, yeah, it was a good first start. I am curious, you know, as we go along here, as we get into the second start, third start of spring training, you know, how does he look the third fourth inning part of me right once they get to see him a little bit and all that and part of me is still scarred from spencer howard you know like the velocity dipping again he's painters a way way way better prospect than how it was but yeah i'm with you so with you yeah so like that was our last quote-unquote great printing prospect

that we've had here. I know. And they didn't let him, you know, if part of the idea was like just work your fastball or see how that goes. I'm curious to see him go along here and actually pitch because I don't think he threw a change up all day. I think it was only fastballs and cutters. Yeah. I think. He threw a couple curveballs.

Did he? That was about it, I'm pretty sure. But yeah, it's just, he's stupid, man. It's unbelievable. Again, like I, it'm pretty sure. But yeah, it's just... He's stupid, man. Unbelievable. Again, like I... It just feels surreal. Like, it doesn't feel like this guy's actually a Philly. Well, and then you start thinking about, okay, so

I'm watching Zach Wheeler and I sort of think he's going to win Cy Young this year. Wow, look at you coming out hot. Dude, like... Well, I was impressed, especially coming off the year. Wow, look at you coming out hot. Dude, like... Well, I was impressed, especially coming off the year last year. I mean, a long season. Well, and someone wrote about this.

It might have been Zalecki. You know, I'd forgotten about it. He entered last year with a shoulder injury. Yeah. Oh, I forgot about that. You're right. He was barely throwing down there. Yes.

I remember we were worried about freaking like... Not TJ, but we had the forearm thing too, didn't we? That was last year in the middle of the season. Yeah. And they brought him back. But yeah, you're right. He had the shoulder fatigue thing early in the season. So, I mean, just going off his first start, 97 to 99, looking overpowering.

He's added in that sweeper, which makes me excited. It's all the rage in baseball now is the sweeper. The sweeper. So if he's figuring out that pitch he didn't even throw a change up or anything you think about Wheeler has a year after this year so hopefully re-sign him

I think he's just going to age well he doesn't look like his stuff is going anywhere I think he's one of those guys so you go Wheeler and then you think about Painter developing because Painter's upside is just as high as Wheeler's it's not higher oh I think it's higher I think it's definitively

higher don't you think yeah I mean it should be I think it's just ceiling we're talking pure ceiling look if he becomes Zach Wheeler like steal what a win I mean amazing if he becomes like Zach Wheeler light like great career whatever but like I think his ceiling is like Scherzer.

Like I think that kind of guy is what Painter's ceiling is. I mean, considering where he's at at his age and what he can do, like his ceiling is best pitcher in baseball. Like that's his ceiling. So you have those two at the top of your rotation. Then you mix in a guy who's like by the advanced metrics. Yeah, Nola's better than Wheeler according to the advanced metrics. Every season, Nola's better than Wheeler. Yeah. advanced metrics. Every season, Nola's better than Wheeler.

Yeah. And we watch, we know he's not, but like, you know. I know. So you have those three, which is just, it's an insane way to start an eventual playoff series.

Yep. Then you mix in Ranger, who I think still has... We adore. And also, if you're talking playoff series, like who else do you want to... I actually would trust Ranger as much as any of those guys in a playoff series, who else do you want to... I actually would trust Ranger as much as any of those guys in a playoff series

because of what we've seen and what we know about him. Exactly. And then five's Tyrone Walker. Who's a really good pitcher. Right. But, but, let's say Abel pops. Let's say Griff pops. Gary, yeah.

These guys start popping, and it's like just the upside of the whole pitching thing. And listen, if Griff, he can also go to the bullpen and be a nasty weapon out of there. So then it's like just the upside of the whole pitching thing. And listen, if Griff, he can also go to the bullpen and be a nasty weapon out of there. So then it's like Sir Anthony, Alvarado, Andrew Baker, Griff McGarry, Soto. Like that's five guys that are young. That's stupid. Given where we've been.

Oh, my God. It's unbelievable. Like the bullpen alone. I mean, the bullpen this year verse 2020 2021 2019 like that whole thing is like oh my god it's like we how how many pods did we do i mean how many like devastatingly sad pods that we do just talking about like how it's not fun to watch baseball because you can't watch a game and feel like anything's safe. Like, it was hard. Honestly, of all the horrible Philly stuff we watched,

if I had to just pick one specific thing about a team, like the bullpens those couple years there were the thing I've hated the most because it felt like it ruined the game, like all the games. Like, I felt like even when we won, I was just like, I didn't enjoy it. I couldn't enjoy watching baseball. Every time they got a lead, it was like, oh, here, this is great. Can't wait to see how we blow this one. It'll be great.

That's how the whole live betting bit started. This year. You're right. That is. I forgot about that. Because it's like, oh, I've seen this story a million times. This is nothing. No.

And the worst part was that we got so trained. I know. And now even last year, it's like, oh, the bullpen's good. But I'm like, I still can't watch a game without like feeling those like the last time I truly felt it was the was the the Nick Nelson to winning try to save with the Bryce Harper-Omer. It was like, oh, I'm going to be back now. That was a that was a hard. Yeah, that was that was a fireball. That's probably the first time. Not the first time. But I think that was the... I think Bryce probably called John Middleton. Oh, I think that was the end for Girardi. Like, I think that day felt like, all right, this is over. This is done.

Because he didn't use Kniebel there, too, if you remember. Our lockdown closer, Corey Kniebel. Well, at the time, at least. You know, it was like, we thought he was going to get closer. Also, remember the Dodgers game on that Sunday when they should have been for a four-game sweep? Yes! It would have been a sweep!

It would have been a four-game sweep out there! Bad memories. It's a shame. a four-game sweep. Yes. It would have been a sweep. It would have been a four-game sweep out there. Bad memories. It's a shame. Bad memories, but also the fact that we just pulled these out just shows how sadly attached these teams have been. Hector against Pablo Sandoval where JT caught a fastball. Yeah, how about Hector in L.A.? Hector in L.A.?

You want to go back to L.A.? The night that Nolan Patrick was, I think the Flyers got the number two overall pick. Was that that same night? Big hockey guy. Yeah, Jackie Poggs. Everyone knows Jackie Poggs. But listen,

I'm just telling you, James. Are you leading the show with Flyers today? I was thinking about it. Okay, good. Well, didn't Comcast like take them off their abroad? They got blacked out or whatever.

Yeah, and then not just that, the whole freaking place is full of Rangers fans last night. They are cooked, man. yeah. Well, we were there at one point. Yeah.

Maybe they'll turn around. Good thing we're a Phillies pod, not a Flyers pod. Exactly right. No, but listen, I'm just telling you, I know those are painful memories, but it's important to remember those times as well when we're watching this bullpen. Oh, you're right. As we develop here. And I felt that

last year in the run. We talked about it on the pods where it's like all this losing, all this sadness, all these things in our talked about it on the pods where it's like all this losing all this sadness all these like um you know um things like in our body where it's like we feel the the this is gonna go wrong that's gonna all that stuff that we had in us like that's what made the run so much more special is it like it felt like oh my god like we went through all that to get to this and here's what i'm really

excited about. And you just kind of alluded to it. But when you look at where this, it's not just this season, cause I'm super, excuse me, super excited about this season, but the,

the, where the franchise is set right now, to your point, like forgetting all the behind the scenes stuff that we just keep talking about with Dabrowski, where it's like the, the true greatness of Dave Dombrowski is creating a winning organization and bringing all these people in

and making it look great and understand what a winning organization looks like. Which we never doubted. Which we never doubted. They won. Loved them. But, like, from a roster perspective, I mean, other than Hoskins, I didn't realize this today, but other than Hoskins, every single one of their starting, you know, of their starting eight

is signed through 2025 at least. I mean, they got a core here. And then you talk about this pitching thing where they've got legit dudes now and a wave of guys coming and a great bullpen and an owner who wants to win and spend money and chips to trade to get better. Where this team is situated for, let's let's say the next three to five years or whatever you want to call it, it's – I can't believe it, Jack.

Like, it is all we ever wanted with this team, and it's thrilling, man. It is thrilling. And I think at the end of this year, whatever happens, I think you'll start – the Phillies will start to be talked about among the upper echelon teams. It's like everyone talks about the Braves now. Like, the Phillies will start to be talked about among the upper echelon teams. It's like everyone talks about the Braves now. The Phillies will be talked about like that. Yeah, and they'll deserve it. Because they're doing

it in so many different ways. They're not, I know people say, well, they're buying their way to a championship and whatever. Sure, they are, sort of. But there's other things that are growing underneath the surface that we've talked about a lot. You know, them building a $300 million complex, whatever, down in Clearwater, just to build a bio lab of baseball players. So I took a sip of water and the water splashed when it went down and got in my eye.

I'm fine. I'm fine. I really thought I was making such a great point. I was going to power through it. I wasn't going to stop. You stop. No, I know, but I thought you were like, wow, what a great point by Jack, per usual. That's why I was crying. That's why I have water in my eye. Yeah but I thought you were like, wow, what a great point by Jack, per usual. That's why I was crying.

That's why I have water in my eye. Yeah, because you thought about it. It was such a great point, it made me cry. That's how great it was. Dodgers East. Bring that to the radio today. Dodgers East. For real, though.

I mean, like, raised pod. Like, we're a raised pod now, in a way. We are. Except we spend money. Well, and there was a story by Gelb this week just about how Sam Fold, who is eventually going to take over for Dombrowski, we hope. Everything goes well there. But just his connection was able to get Brian Kaplan here,

and Brian Kaplan was not taking any MLB offers, but he trusted Sam Fold. And now we have this guy paired with Caleb Cotham who, like, every pitcher is learning a freaking cutter, which I've been trying to preach for years. Like it's an important pitch to get off the barrel. It's great pitch. Now they're starting to get into the sweeper thing, which is the most revolutionary pitch in baseball.

Cause it's a combination of a slider and a curve ball. That just, I can't believe there's a new pitch. It's exciting. I know. It is exciting. That's what I'm saying. It's been a while since we had a new pitch.

The gyro ball. Maybe. Yeah. And that wasn't even like really, you know, like that's a'm saying. It's been a while since we had a new pitch. The gyro ball? Maybe. Yeah. The last one? That wasn't even really, you know. It's been a while. It's been the same pitches. And how about the Phillies being the team that's starting to embrace it? Right?

That's crazy. And the other thing that I think is really important, and maybe the most important part of this whole thing, and maybe the most important how the team has transitioned into being a smart team, the most important part of this whole thing and maybe the most important um you know uh you know where how the team has transitioned into being a smart team is that the players actually buy in now and that's the biggest thing because the phillies have tried this they've they brought in driveline they've brought in smart pitching people they've brought in all this stuff but now that now they're

you finally see them buying in like zach wheeler's buying into a sweeper. Aaron Nola's buying into changing his routine to keep him more fresh late into a season. All these things that they would usually push back on, they're starting to finally embrace because the sport has become so science-y oriented, but the Phillies were resistant to it. That's the thing that I think hurt them for a long time. Who's the thing that i think hurt them for a long time like you know uh who's the the pitching coach was it chris uh it was a pitching coach after after mcclure that was with the astros or whatever that that was like oh i told them that justin verlander needs to throw the fourth team up in the zone oh um regardless yes regardless yeah um like he might have been a pretty smart guy but he didn't know how to implement it like john maylee you know on maylee disaster right but like he had been a part

of a cubs team that was very data oriented and these guys didn't buy into it uh like gabe capler whatever like all these guys throughout the years where it's they've tried but now they're actually buying in and you're starting to see the development of these guys you're starting to see them okay a cutter here makes sense here's why i'm throwing it like it's just it's such a for as excited as i am to watch them and for as excited as i am like the future is making me just that much more excited because they're real like this is all real tangible and i just i think it's only gonna get better and i hate that the mets are smart now and i hate that the braves are smart because it's gonna make everything harder

the braves have been smart for a while they happen um although they try to the travis so how smart are they really i i hated that i'm with you but like you know it's just it's just this this whole thing's gonna be a gauntlet and they're only getting better they're only hopefully gonna start you know developing better hitters but that's like the one thing that they really they figured out pitching pitching is gonna be great um now it's on developing some hitters so it's uh it's it's really exciting that's the one thing that sucks about spring training is there's no like interesting really hitters until late in the game yeah no yeah exactly yeah you're not yeah you're not taking any big you know takeaways i mean look it was nice seeing Castellanos moving up the box a little bit?

Like you can see little things. Oh, a 31-inch bat? Yeah, buddy. Hittin' bombs. Look, I'm with you, dude. And again, I said it before, but it's the thing that we keep coming back to. You know, when Dabrowski got here, the thing, you know, we expected him to kind of make moves to win now for this team.

What I didn't expect was him to build up the franchise the way he has for him to, you know, again, make it look like what a winning organization should look like. And, you know, I like Dave Dombrowski is the most important person in the franchise in a really long time. Yep. And I didn't I obviously didn't see that coming. see that coming well he's like he is he is like we could look back and say dave dombrowski is the reason the phillies are you know what a 20-year contender or whatever you want to say like are in it almost every year consider winning world series like we can look back and point to this change like i believe we'll be able to look back and point to this change and be like dombrowski changed everything i know he won a world championship but he's more important than gillick like gillick took a really, but he's more important than Gillick. Like, Gillick took a... It's a really

fascinating point. He's certainly done more for the organization already than Gillick did. But Gillick was, you know, Gillick was... He made the perfect moves to get them over the top. Gillick might be the best general manager in this sport. He's one of them. But, but, he also took over a team that already had Howard, Ali, Rollins, Hamill. Right, he did not

have nearly as hard a job as what Dombrowski's done here. Dombrowski's changing the, changing everything. Yeah. It's a really, it'sins, Hamill. He did not have nearly as hard a job as what Dombrowski's done here. Dombrowski's changing everything. Yeah. It's an interesting thought. It's a really interesting thought. Like, you might be right about that, which is kind of crazy. It's kind of crazy. And when they get the World Series this year, it'll be cemented.

All right. Let's get – yeah. All right. Let's get some other stuff from spring training. What stood out to you? Obviously, I mean, the Trey Turner just dude. Let's just, let's gosh. Yeah, let's do it.

You know what? Because it's one of those things where it's like, oh, yeah, we got Trey Turner, but we should make a gigantic deal about watching Trey Turner play in a Philly's uniform. So I have fought the idea of Trey Turner being the leadoff hitter just because, like, I think it makes more sense to go Schwarber, Turner, Harper when Harper is back. But, man, watching him at the top of the lineup and just, first off, just putting immediate pressure on the pitcher's head.

If he gets a base hit, then he's on first base. pitcher's head like if he gets a base hit then he's and then then he's on first base and the pitchers already so you so what the hope there is is that if the if schwarber's batting too which thompson seems to indicate is going to be the thing which i think is smart yeah i guess i'll get get up you were like oh let's get up one on then get up to nothing boom to nothing and i do nothing i agree i just i i've uh maybe the world series just scarred me but like the my one two hitters being strikeout machines was not something I enjoyed last year. Yeah, I agree, I agree.

But for what it's worth, I mean, what Schwarber's talking about, like, he is talking about trying to make contact more this year and take advantage of the shift, which is a really smart thing to do. And maybe it's a few less homers, but he's a good enough, smart enough hitter where I could see him, you know, adding 30, 40 points to the average or something like that. Like, it wouldn't be the craziest thing that ever happened with the shift.

Maybe not 40 points, but you know what I mean? Like 20, 30 points. He could have 250 and hit 35 homers. It just changes the math equation. But with Turner at first base, now you have the pitcher already thinking like, oh bleep, I gotta make sure I keep him close.

So it takes a little bit of their focus off of the batter at the plate. Plus, if he gets on first base and they don't got to make sure I keep him close. So it takes a little bit of their focus off the batter at the plate. Plus, if he gets on first base and they don't want to make sure he gets to second base, it's going to be a lot of fastballs. So, Schwarber should be able to sit there and sit dead red. Especially with the pitch clock, with the pickoff stuff. There's a whole new

layer to all this. These pitchers are just going in and trying to get used to this whole thing. Then you've got Trey Turner on first base being like, yeah, try to pick me off again i'll take it i'm good you know and and it's dude he is one of those people that are so fast they glide he glides no he glides like that's it dude it looks like his feet come off the ground and he's just gliding it's like you're on those uh the airport escalators yes which i think you're the dumbest thing in the world just walk dude well the dumbest is that they get on there and then start

walking. Yeah, I know. And it's like, either stand on it or don't. Yeah, make a decision. You don't get to go in between. I need to start running airports. I think it's a good point, by the way. Thank you. Not just a good point, an important point. Thank you. It's important. This needs to be talked about. Just stop walking. Yeah. Or walk. Take it easy.

No, but he, it's so fast. It is so fast. And just immediately puts that pressure on like, all right, Jay turns on first base, bang, he's going to get to second because he's like, because the base, I think, have already made a big difference. Yeah. Like Stoddy stole a base the other day that was easy. Like it's all been easy.

So it's just like he is, he is just so good. And I love, the thing that I love the most is just the bat control and saying like, all right, well, I'm going to shoot this right field. Well, again, also taking advantage of the shift again, too. Like, you know, he can put the ball wherever, you know. The infield was in the other day. The non-shift, yeah. The infield was in the other day. He's up the bat.

Just like, I'm going to poke this over the shortstop. It's no big deal. So, I knew Trey Turner was great. But watching him, yeah. Watching him every day, it's like,

we get to watch this hopefully 160 times and in the playoffs. I'm so excited about that. Yeah. He's actually the most, like, Harper's better

and I was more excited when they signed Harper because it was the first time, and we got the guy, and we got the biggest star in the sport. But in terms of just, like, my excitement, as someone who watches, you know, whatever we watch, 158, 160, whatever we watch, with missing a game or two here or there when we have to with a wedding or whatever,

like, I think this is the most excited I've been for a player they brought in to just watch him every night, to just watch this dude play baseball. Well, I mean, you could make the case Turner's the better all-around player than Bryce. You could, absolutely. Harper has the box office appeal, and he's the guy. Turner plays a more important position.

He's a way better defender. He does more on the field. It's an absolute argument, an absolute argument. But we have them both, so it doesn't matter. We don't have to. I just have one of those moments. I was ventilating for a second

there. The Phillies. Our Phillies. The Phillies. So the fact that they have them both. You have Schwarber who can hit 40 some home runs whenever. Literally led the league last year. Led the league in home runs. You have I'm and hit 40-some home runs whenever. Literally led the league last year. Led the league in home runs.

You have... I'm continuing to buy into Castellanos. I think we all are. Honestly, it's one of the weirder things that's going right now. I thought you and I would be, like, having to convince people or fighting people or whatever. Seems like the vast majority of people are like,

oh, yeah, he's going to be good. Like, it's really strange, actually, to me. I really expected a lot more like, ah, Gath, what a boss. It hasn't been that. We did a poll on the mid- There it is. Wow. We did a poll on the morning show.

Do you expect a Canciano's bounce back season? It was like 80%. Yes. I couldn't believe it. Well, and it's because they finally, you know, look at track records. Oh, yeah. Look at a career instead of a season. Oh, yeah.

He had a down year. So, and I would be more concerned if he was chasing again. But everything in spring training has been, I'm laying off that. I'm laying off that. I'm laying off that. So, Kevin Long's telling him to move up more in the box. I think the 31-inch bat, at least training with it, is smart. So, I think Cassiano's bounce back hopefully happens. more in the box i think the 31 inch bat at least training with it is smart um so so i think

cassiano's bounce back hopefully happens i i would be surprised if we had like he's not doing 309 34 exactly yeah but i think i think like 280 28 280 25 280 30 even like something like that is like 270 and and 28 or something like that like i think that's a realistic season when you think about what he did last year compared to that, it's like having a whole new player. I know. Yeah. So you have those two, Cassidy, whatever. But the guy who I can... I think I talked about this last podcast.

But the guy that I've been the highest on. Yeah, I know. Bomer. He's already looking great so far. It just looks like a different player. First off... That Homer was like... That was eye-opening. It was like, oh, you don't do that type of stuff. Well, unless it's Josh Hader. Unless it's Josh Hader.

Or Lance McCullers in the World Series. That's about it, yeah. No, so with Boehm, you want to talk about a guy who just looks more confident and looks the part this year. Like, ever since I bleeping hate this place and the city giving him that standing ovation when he came back the next night. It's been a boom. It's the best thing that could happen for him.

It really is. It's the best thing that could happen for him. And I'm not going to let the negativity of someone like Joe Giglio bring me down. We're looking down the hole, which is a weird thing. See, these are the changes we talk about. The new scheduling and stuff. It's like Joe Giglio is here during the day every day now. It's so strange.

Which is great. No. You know what else, too, with Boone that I don't think we talk about enough, as a Phillies fan base, just in general doesn't get talked about enough. You don't think about him as a super hard worker or whatever, but to make the improvement he made last year defensively, to go from what he was to the more than passable player he was

by the end of the season as a defender. That takes work, man. Bobby Dickerson, man. That's what I mean, though. But that takes dedication. That takes effort. That takes work. That takes want to.

It doesn't just happen. And I don't think we give Alec enough credit for the work he put in to get there. Do you know what I'm saying? Alec Hurts? Alec Hurts. Exactly. Look at that. Same guy, essentially.

Winners. They don't look the Same guy, essentially. Winners. They look the same. Winners. Winners. So with Boehm. Imagine if Hurts were 6'5". Oh, my God. Well, then he would be the best player.

First off, he would have been the first overall. He would have been. You're right. He would have got him in the second round. But with Boehm, we talked about this before the spring even started, but just in watching him in camp and watching him at BP, you could just tell his swing looked more fluid. He wasn't stopping.

He was getting more powerful, which is just another sign of these guys buying into what Kevin Long is preaching. And I actually asked my buddies this the other day, and it's wild to think about. I actually don't have an answer for it, which is not usually what I do. Yeah, usually you're right. So don't do this on the radio today. Which has been a more important hire as an assistant coach,

Kevin Long or Cotham slash Kaplan? It's a phenomenal question. It's a phenomenal, like I've thought about this because they both have been super important. So I actually think it's Kevin Long. I think so too. Yeah, I really do. I think he's just done more.

In terms of all the adjustments we've heard, the stuff he did with Boehm last year, the stuff he did with Stott last year, the stuff he's doing with Cassie now. I mean, Trey Turner partially coming here. How many guys between Schwerber, Turner? I've never heard of players going to a team because of a hitting coach or even a hitting coach being involved in the discussions for players going to a team and

his name keeps coming up with this stuff like that's rare like that shows that that a how good he is but also how much these players believe in him is is you don't see that very often yeah and Yeah, and when Juan Soto's here in... Just kidding. Kind of. Open up the checkbook. Go get Steve Cohen. You got him. That was $500 million for Juan Soto's sound there. Either way, Kevin Long and Caleb Gotham and Brian Kaplan,

lifetime contracts. Not allowed to leave. I'm in. Please. Not allowed to leave. But yeah, it's just, you know, you can see the changes with Boehm. You're starting to see him learn how to lift

the ball more. And people go, oh, he's on a triangle. He has to. Of course he does. You can't have 13 home runs. Whatever. And this is what baseball is. It works. I'm sorry. You might not like the terminology and all that, but all it means is he's uppercutting a little more.

All right? Relax. Yep. So his swing looks different. Stott's swing actually looks a little different, too. He doesn't have as much movement, and he's not doing as much toe tapping, I think. So it looks like he's kind of just trying to get to a set spot and go.

Well, he talked about that. That was part of his whole thing with watching the playoffs where he saw some certain things he was doing at the plate that he thought he could correct. And it's probably to go catch up the fastballs up because he saw that that was a hole in the swing. Like, how do I get to that pitch more? Don't move as much.

So I've actually been surprised at the offense so far. Not surprised. That's the wrong word because they are pretty talented. Pretty? Like, super-duper talented. But the one thing that has been interesting in watching the regulars on offense, at least, is that it does look more bat to bally uh you know just get a base hit keep the train moving which would be smart again with these

changes like that is a smart approach with the elimination of the shift like put the ball in play more that's the whole reason for these rule changes get the ball in play more and and let stuff happen it would be a smart approach so that seems like, you know, while Boehm is hitting 400-plus foot homers, I've seen JT go up the middle, I've seen Turner just poking the ball over the second baseman or shortstop's head. You know, even like Marshy, in a way, is starting to do things like that. Stoddy.

So that might be the approach this year of like, okay, the shift's gone, let's get these averages up and let's put the ball in play more. Let's keep the train rolling here. You know, the whole idea was like, well, it's hard to string together a bunch of singles and whatnot and score that way. Now the shift's gone.

It might be a little bit easier. So that could be something to monitor. But they just, I keep trying to like fight myself because I know that how it sounds when it's like, oh, there goes Jack getting all excited again and fired up. No, but now it's, now it's, no, you had to do that when you were doing it like 2018 and 2019. Then it was like, pull it in, buddy. Here,

freaking run, Jack. Run, Jack, run. Do your thing, buddy. I keep looking at them and I'm just like, you know, I hear them in the after the games or like whenever they talk and everything they say is two more, like we to get two more wins. And it's just, they're having such a great time.

So, this is my thing. I know it's your thing. It's my number one thing. It's the single thing that I'm most excited. I mean, Trey Turner, you know what I mean? But the vibes, man. You know I'm a sucker for it. I always bring it up,

but I think it matters so much. And I don't honestly ever remember stuff like this in Spring Training like Brandon Marsh asking Painter a question at his press conference like the

the connection these guys have them putting a Kyle Schwerber shirt in Painter's locker room after the homer like that's what I mean like how long have we

talked about this on this pod we used to talk about like all these teams and we would watch them and like the Red Sox back in the day when they would

roll the guys around the court. We're like, these guys look like they like each other. We had the bamboo hat. We had the stupid freaking bamboo hat. No, we had the bamboo plant. Yeah, the bamboo plant and then the dumb straw hat, which was so dumb. And I said it in the moment.

I was like, this is so forced. It's so not real. This all feels real. Honestly, since the heyday, since 08, 09, those type of teams, I don't remember a team just having vibes like this. We haven't mentioned him yet, but I

do think it's important. Rob Thompson, that's his culture. He sets the time. He's demanding. I do believe he's demanding, but he's also like, go be you. He's going to let Schwarber be the time. He's demanding. I do believe he's demanding. But he's also like, go be you. And he's going to let Schwarber be the leader. Which is what always happened, right?

It was from the jump, the daycare. All that stuff came from that. And, man, his quote of, first off, needs to be on a t-shirt. And if this was the 90s or the 80s, it would turn into a big, this is our mentality as a city now. But him saying Citizens Bank Park was four hours of hell for opponents, that's got to be the face of the next year's yearbook or whatever. Four hours of hell coming to Citizens Bank Park should be something

that galvanizes this fan base into being like, yeah, you're damn right. The jungle thing with Cassianos. That's why he's our guy. That's why he's our guy. That's why he's our guy. That's why he's our guy. He really was. That comment, we're like, ah. He gets it.

He gets it. So it's just, it's so hard to fight the feeling that it's like, I think they're going to go back. I think they're going to go back. And just again, two more. Listen, I saw the Royals do it in 2014. They went back. It's the most recent team to do it.

It doesn't happen often. No. To go back and actually win it the year after you lose it is not super common. No. But the Royals did do it less than a decade ago. So that's where I'm at. And this Phillies team, way better than that Royals team. Yeah.

Like light years better. A little slappier. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Oh my God. Yeah. Sal Perez, a good player.

All that stuff. Like, what are we doing here? All right. I think 42 minutes in, probably a good time to get to the take back. I usually do it 10, 15 minutes ago. But I'm enjoying myself. We're having fun here. It's great.

We're talking Phil's baseball. We're talking Phil's baseball. So I have, obviously, a lot here. But... I expected nothing less, buddy. Hence why I was like, I probably should have gotten to it 10 minutes ago. The first thing that I noticed with the pitch clock is that I barely looked at my phone. You know, like a couple years ago or last year without the pitch clock, it was like, yeah, pitch thrown.

Let me look at Twitter, look at my phone. That was pitch clock. That phone was down. It's so great, dude. It is. And again, not just because I wake up at 3 in the morning, but that definitely helps me. It is. I think it's going to be the most important change in the sport in a long, long, long time.

I think it has a chance to revitalize the sport in a way that we have not seen in a really long time. There's four. There's four bullpen guys I need to talk about. Oh, four. We got four. Yeah. One is Junior Marte. One is Andrew Vasquez.

One is Eric Ullman. And one is Connorrew vasquez uh one is eric ullman and one is connor brogdon and i'll i'll save mckinley more for another time okay yes but let's start with you and your marty sure this dude if he now he he had a sinker up in the zone one time and it was hit like 500 feet but if he gets that if he gets that sinker down his natural stuff is just so stupid and when you go through the bullpen the fact that we can talk about a Junior Marte

in the back end of the bullpen bottom of the bullpen more likely minors and bring up when you need a guy type guy but the stuff is there we've always talked about this the Phillies never had guys they could just bring. We had guys like Ramon Rosso

and all those guys in the actual bullpen to have guys who are better than that to just bring up is when guys get hurt. I lied. Five bullpen people I've talked about. Andrew Baker. I had just assumed Baker was one of them. He was nasty. Donovan Chespat. He...

It just pops. I don't know what else to tell you. You just watchesspat. He, it just pops. It's got stuff. I don't know what else to tell you. It's just what it is. You just watch him and you're like, yep, I get it. And it reminds me a lot of, it reminds me of Ken Giles. Like when Ken Giles first came up, 100 Mile Giles, like it was power fastball, power slider,

and you know, good afternoon, good night. Then, you know, the Astros started punching himself, but whatever. Pure Ken Giles when he first came up was a revelation. Ken Giles has a lot of saves in Major League Baseball. So Andrew Baker, I think, if he's not here on opening day, will be up soon and is another guy that's going to help

this bullpen. I can't believe, like, this just feels like ridiculous. I know. We're talking about like the 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th guys, like theoretically it won't be, like we're talking about those guys as like guys we're excited about is, like, we don't curse on this pod, but I want to come, like, it's bat bleep. Like, it's, like, it's crazy, man.

Well, and you factor in, like, like, Alvarado's pumping 102 his first. I couldn't believe that, dude. I was like, what? Especially after pitching, like, deep into October last year. I know he's in the minors for a stretch, but that's a long season. He's still pitching in the minors. That's what I mean, yeah. So you have Strom and you have Alvarado.

I thought Strom looked really good yesterday, a lot of homer, but I thought the stuff was there and actually commanded it better than I thought he would, so those two. But then this guy, Andrew Vasquez, that they got off the Giants as a wafer guy, I think his slider is stupid. I keep looking at it, and it's like, I don't know how he... Even righties were jamming in and little jam shots like the second baseman. So I don't think he'll make the Major League roster

because I think they're going to go Strom and Alvarado. But if they need a lefty, it's not the worst thing in the world they can bring this guy up. When have we had a slider-of-the-death lefty? Oh, man. I had to watch freaking Pedro Feliciano my whole life. You know, what's his name? He didn't work for us, but Aaron Loop has been that in baseball,

but he wasn't for us. But we have not had a guy like that who just comes in and just, like, against a tough lefty. We haven't had guys like that. That'd be exciting. Eric Yeoman, another guy. He's famously coined on this podcast, Slider Guy. Yep, Slider Guy. Yep, Slider Guy.

Oh, Slider Guy. I forgot about Slider Guy. Might be a sinker guy, too. His three-pitch repertoire, as he gets going here, it's a power sinker. It's a change-up off that power sinker, which moves the exact same, but it's like eight miles an hour off. And then that slider, if you're a lefty, right, and his first two pitches are sinker away, sinker away,

or sinker away, change up away, both for strikes, you automatically start leaning out over the plate. But this guy has a chance to go hard slider in off that. So if you're sitting that, then you're jam shot. It's over. So really impressed with his stuff. We'll see. Again, the bullpen is pretty much set, but they have guys if injuries happen.

I can't believe it. The one guy that's going to be a part of this bullpen that I was so happy for at the end of the playoffs was Connor Brogdon. The Braves game where he got lit up. Yeah. Well, he had to stretch. I feel like it's always, like, always. Like, the couple years we've seen Connor in the majors,

like, he's awesome 96% of the time, and then he just has, like, a 4% stretches. He has, like, two stretches where his, like, arm dies, and then he has, like, eight runs in that one time against the Giants or whatever. But, like, for the most part, the vast majority of times he's taken the hills of Philly, Connor Brogdon has been really good. Well, and what I think I've noticed so far this spring training

is just pitching with way more confidence. When he first came up, it's like, oh, this stuff's dumb. But is he getting to the point mentally where it's like, I'm nasty? Yeah. And pitchers have to eventually get there. You're right. I think playoff success matters for that. It's a part of being a pitcher, I believe,

is like no one's going to touch me today. Well, I think it's the sport. It's mano a mano. There's no other sport where it's me versus you in the same way, right? Like it's like no one else. Me versus the hitter versus the pitcher. And like you need that confidence. You need that belief in yourself.

Yeah. So those are the five guys I want to talk about. Before we get to this last thing, because I think it's going are the five guys I want to talk about. Before we get, I guess, last thing, because I think it's going to take a little bit longer to talk about, but like, the report this week

that Hoskins and the Phillies have not come. Yeah, I should have, I meant to bring, thank you. I meant to bring that up. That's my bad.

So, it's tough because there's a part of me that is like, Reese is our guy. He's been here the longest. You know, he's kind of one of the makeup of this team uh and at the same time good offensive player frustrating defensive player

we get it um and my other thing is like if you move on from Reese then what's the plan yeah well that's the point and I guess I keep coming back to can you get similar Reese production from a season of Bohm and Hall at first base? And then when Bohm starts at first and Mundo Sosa becomes like the default third baseman. Is that good enough? You know what I mean? Like I keep going back to like, what's the plan? Is it Hall and Bohm? Is it like I have?

Look, a big part of that is is bohm's power development right i mean like you need some pop at first base and his defense is first has never really been great um he's turned into a solid third baseman like so i don't yeah like i don't know if you move him and look i do think i think sosa i think sosa is a really nice player to have i don't i don't want him as my everyday third baseman. I'm not there. Well, he wouldn't have to be. Right. So he'd play

like 30% of the time. He probably starts two times a week at third base. That's fine. It's fine. You can get by with that. It's not ideal, but I do think he has more in him offensively than I think people think. He's going to hit the ball hard. Do not. I'm serious. I love him. We said it. He's a winning player and I think people think. Start hitting the ball hard. Do not. I'm serious. I love him. We said it.

He's a winning player, and I think he's going to be a massively important part of this field. And now he's taking reps in center field. Center field, I know. The one thing I have no interest in, and I don't know why it's an idea, but the idea of Schwarber or Castellanos playing first base. It's asinine. It doesn't work. Castellanos couldn't play third It's asinine. Stop. It doesn't work. Castellanos couldn't play third.

It doesn't move very well. And Schwarber was first with Boston, and he was mocked in a way. You can't play first base for you. So it's a big decision. I understand. I think they're going to pay Nola. I think they're going to choose between those two guys who we're going to pay, and I think it'll be Nola.

As it should. Let's be honest'll be Nola. And as it should. Let's be honest. Now Nola will be more expensive. I don't think they can pay everyone. Johnny Cohen. Johnny Cohen. So, I mean, listen, maybe it changes. And maybe he's like, you know, I believe it.

We'll sign everyone. You know, who cares? Look, I think the Reese market is going to be interesting. I think he's obviously helped by the DH coming to the National League league i think you know he could easily be signed as a dh by some team but you know look he's a good no i agree i think he'll probably end up as a first baseman for someone because he's he's not a good first baseman he's not like the worst ever just don't pay for dhs i agree but that's my point is like what does hoskins get that's my point is that hoskins is a really nice offensive player i think he he's underrated here as an offensive player, and I think analytics-wise, people look at, he's going

to get a certain amount of money, but, you know, is Reese Hoskins going to get paid paid? I don't know. Like, I don't know if he will. I really don't. It's an interesting one, because, you know, he doesn't, he's got power, but he doesn't like do anything, anything elite elite. He's just a really nice hitter who gets on base and he's a streaky hitter, goes through stretches. You know, the overall numbers look great, but you know, when you look at how he gets there, it can be frustrating at times as we know. I just don't know what the market is for him. Is he like, he's certainly not a hundred million dollar player. Is he a, is he a $60 million player? Is he an $80 million player?

Is he a $50? Four. Four for 60 or four for70 or something like that? Well, Schwarber got $480, right? Schwarber's better. Probably. Schwarber's better. Schwarber's high end is better, and Schwarber gives you one thing

at an elite, elite, elite level that Hoskins doesn't. So I think four. I feel $480-ish. And I could see that. That's what I said. Somewhere in that range, but like. Abreu, Abreu got what, 368 this year? And Abreu's better.

And he's 36. He's better. He's a better hitter still, and he's a much better fielder. Like, so, you know what I mean? Like, I don't know. Rizzo got 240, and he's 30. He got two for 40? Is that what he got?

Yeah, and he's 33. And look, I think that, like, Rizzo, way better defender. I think Hoskins is a better offensive what he got? Yeah. And he's 33. Look, I think that like Rizzo way better defender. I think Hoskins better offensive player than Rizzo. So that's an interesting one. I just don't know what he's going to be. What? 29, 30, somewhere in that range. Maybe 30, 30 or 31 when he hits the mark.

Okay. So, yeah, I mean, like, I don't know. Like, is Hoskins getting paid? Probably not paid, paid. Yeah. You know, so that's going to be interesting. You know how and it is. you know so that's gonna be

interesting you know how and it is it's I think Lauber wrote it this week but it is so so so reminiscent

of Burl like Burl's last year Joe said that on the air today that's exactly what the camera said on the air today it's the exact same thing as Burl so we'll see

and the first thing that Dombrowski mentioned was Gene Segura in there when he talked about it so that's not a great sign no it's not but hey you know what win a World Series

like Burl Reese yeah who cares well and hopefully you, you know what? Win a World Series like bro, Reese. Yeah. Who cares? Well, and hopefully you have more than one hit in the World Series. Yeah, buddy. Well, to be fair, not many hits to go around in the World Series. At least they were not like, you know, plentiful. It was a 408-foot double, so whatever.

Yeah, yeah, I'd take it. But no, I think it's going to be a really fascinating one because to your point, I know a lot of people were turned off by Game five and you know some of those mistakes and stuff like that but reese has been our guy you know he's been six of his 11 postseason hits for homers yeah dude i we love where we are we are the official high hopes position is we are reese hoskins fans and we think he is he is somewhat unfairly maligned by certain portions of the fan base. But it's going to be a really interesting situation, an interesting year for that, because again, like he is obviously he's the only one not signed,

but he's also in some ways kind of expendable comparatively to other parts of the roster. So, but he's our guy and he's been here the longest. And he's like in a lot of ways, like obviously Bryce Harper to the national audience is the face of the team, but a lot of ways to Philadelphia, Reese Hoskins, like kind of the face of the team in a certain way in that he's the guy here when we sucked. He's the guy who is here through it all. So it's a really, really interesting because, again, you don't especially for good baseball players like you don't hear. We don't see a lot of them going to their final year before free agency, too. We're normally signing guys to come in here instead of that.

Now, Boris helps. Boris wants the guys to reach the markets. Yeah, that's true. That's true. Yeah, it's going to be a fascinating one. All right. You got anything else before we get higher? You got to go do your show stuff.

It is 11.45 now, so this will be up quickly. If you're listening to this, check Jack out. Two o'clock today. Him and Ike Reese. How about it? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

If you told eight-year-old Jack. It's pretty cool, buddy. It's pretty cool. I'm really excited for that. It's going to be awesome. I'm going to crush it. And everyone listen. Support Jack.

Call Jack. If you're an IOPs listener, call Jack. Talk some clothes with him. I'm sure he'd love it. Oh, people will love that. People will love that. All right. Final thought.

Final thought. Final thought, the Phillies playing every day again in spring training has been great. That was a not ready for the final thought. I'm just going to say what's on my mind in the moment. Well, because they play at 12. That's right. I'm not ready for the final thought either. I just said final thought. I got nothing. Oh, final thought. Bailey Falter finally learned to change up, so

welcome to wisdom, Bailey. Ooh, Bailey Falter, big year coming up here. Can't wait. Yeah, I don't really have a final thought. It's all right. Yeah, I feel bad about it though. But you know, trying to scroll quickly through my notes.

I got nothing. I do think, this I haven't said anywhere. I think Bill Pullman and Jeff Daniels remind me of each other. And I don't know why because they're very different actors. But there's some, like they could be brothers. Is Jeff Daniels a D of each other. And I don't know why, because they're very different actors. But there's some, like, they could be brothers. Is Jeff Daniels a Dumb and Dumber guy?

He is. But is he different than the guy in Big Lebowski? Yeah. You're talking about the main character? That's Jeff Bridges. That's the difference. Jeff Bridges, like, Oscar winner, like, great, great actor. Jeff Daniels, a really good actor, but, like, stepped down from Bridges.

Bill Pullman, on the level with Jeff Daniels. But like, I think there's something about the two of them. Bill Pullman is the president from Independence Day. There's something about the two of them that I don't know why. It's good. I just had to say it somewhere. I'm proud of you, buddy. I'm glad you got it out.

I know, me too. All right. We'll be back next week. Talking Phils. Two o'clock today. If you're listening right away check it out and if not go back and listen to the pod and all that but check out Jack our guy hosting the afternoon

show at WIV super super awesome until then he's for himself We'll see you next time.