High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - BONUS High Hopes Hour with Joe Giglio

Episode Date: April 7, 2022

It's a bonus edition of the High Hopes Pod as James and Jack join Joe Giglio for his annual Phillies Roundtable Show. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.a...udacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Starting point is 00:00:41 Hot Cloud Storage on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. 6 o'clock, Sports Radio 94 WIP. Joe Giglio with you. Tucker Bagley behind the glass. And one of my favorite nights of the entire year on the evening show starts right now. For the next four hours, we have our Phillies Roundtable Show.
Starting point is 00:01:01 And how about that? We got the claps in here. I gave myself two extra minutes. We broke early, so it was more Jack time. That is the most believable thing I've ever heard. Hey, guys, we gotta break early, alright? Just so you know. There's extra commercials. We need to get on time at 6. Now we're
Starting point is 00:01:15 here at 5.58. Alright, well, listen, we're excited. As you can hear, James Seltzer, Jack Fritz are here. The High Hopes Hour. And we get to start off with you guys. We got the energy right away. The High Hopes Podcast is here for the next hour. Jack Fritz, here, the High Hopes Hour, and we get to start off with you guys. We've got the energy right away. The High Hopes Podcast is here for the next hour. Jack Fritz, James Seltzer, 215-592-9494 if you want to hop in and join us. As we got to get set, we are two days away from opening day.
Starting point is 00:01:37 So let's just start with this. Are you going to make it, Jack? How's the excitement level? Where are you right now? Well, dude, I mean, I got to be honest. I'm seeing them hit five dingers today. And, of course, my first thought is, like, can we save some of this for the regular season? I don't think anything's going to change.
Starting point is 00:01:53 Like, I need it to be Friday at 3.05. I've already called it now. I mean, Schwarber's leading off the game. Just like McCutcheon did? McCutcheon, yeah. It's going to end well. It's going to end better. No, no, but that was a fun moment.
Starting point is 00:02:05 It was a great moment. I had chills sitting here. I almost started tearing up. So am I handling this well, Joe? No, I'm not. Because I need to see how good they're going to be. They're doing the whole spring training thing. It's great.
Starting point is 00:02:19 They're hitting all these home runs. I just need the real thing. I need to see if they're good. I need to know they're good. I need to figure out what they're bad at. I need to see if I need to buy a Mickey Moniac jersey. There's a lot going on in this. Yeah, my guess is you're going to have a Moniac jersey.
Starting point is 00:02:34 James, excitement level. So two days from right now, let's say it's the ninth inning, eighth or ninth inning, two days from right now. We're all excited. They're up on the A's. But where are you right now? Give me your excitement level as we're almost there. Well, as excited as I am, which is very excited.
Starting point is 00:02:50 I always pailing it. That's like the dynamic of the IOWS podcast. I'm excited. Jack is 10 times more excited. I can't wait, man. Honestly, like we've kind of done this thing the last few years, ever since the Harper signing. It's been like, all right, we're really excited about this.
Starting point is 00:03:04 We talk ourselves into it. Yes. And they let us down. And they let us down. And they let us down. This year, it feels like the excitement is warranted. Like, this feels real. They went over the frickin' tax, man.
Starting point is 00:03:15 What have we talked about for years? I listened to your podcast right after they signed Castellanos. I was going for a run, and you opened your podcast, and you were just screaming. And I almost fell down. Like, I almost tripped because you were so excited. All all right let's start with the thing I think we're all on board with they're gonna hit oh buddy okay so we will debate how good they are based on the pitching defense depth how good is the offense gonna be Jack I got in the car today yes I heard the the take that Jack likes to roll out I would say once every few months better than the 2008
Starting point is 00:03:42 better than the 08 offense yeah we all know all know the take. Right around this time. How good is this offense? So they haven't scored 800 runs in a season since 09. That was the last time they scored 800 runs. Correct. Which was their offensively, numbers-wise, their best offense ever in terms of numbers. Yep. 224 with the Homers is the most.
Starting point is 00:03:59 They had a lot that year. I think last year seven teams got to 800. Are they getting to 800 runs? Because that feels like the number. Like, if you're at 800, you're a really good offense. If they don't get to 800, something went wrong. I mean, it's not even – I don't even think it's hyperbolic. Hyperbolic.
Starting point is 00:04:16 Hyperbolic. It's all Mark's fault. Like, with the whole regenerative. That's not an easy word. Yeah, I know. Well, the whole show is just screwed up now. Wait until I on tomorrow he's gonna mess that up but um it's just like i think one through six it's it's a combination of really good eyes i mean i think i think schwerber is a good eye yep jt's a little bit more aggressive but harper's gonna work pitchers
Starting point is 00:04:41 castellanos like i feel like he's gonna foul 1,000 pitches and then get a pitch he can kind of strike on. Hoskins, we know what he does well. You know, and then Didi, Segura. Like, they all work pitchers really, really well. So it's just going to be a grind for these guys to consistently keep the Phillies offense down. Now, it's all health related. If they can stay healthy, I think 800 runs is definitely in the mix here.
Starting point is 00:05:02 But what's nice about this team is last year, I bring up that Braves series a lot. They went to Atlanta last year, three games out, and Jorge Bonifacio was in the five hole, and Brad Miller is playing first base. Travis Jankowski leading off. Oduble was leading off a couple of those games. And it's just like even if they lose one of those guys,
Starting point is 00:05:23 you have Schwarber to step up. You have Castellanos to step up, like all, and all the pressures now off guys like JT and, and, and Hoskins. And I just think it's a really nice balance between home runs, good eyes,
Starting point is 00:05:36 working pitchers. It's going to be a struggle. And then once you get to the bottom of the lineup, I mean, Stotts, I think is incredible. Mickey's obviously having a breakout year. Like it's, it's a really, I think, is incredible. Mickey's obviously having a breakout year. Like, it's
Starting point is 00:05:45 a really, really tough lineup to consistently keep down. 800 runs should be the expectation for this team. And that's about five a game. I think it's like 4.9 a game. Like, that's... If they do that, they're going to win a lot of games. That's a... I mean, I think if you go through the teams, James, that score about
Starting point is 00:06:01 five runs per game, it's tough to be bad. You might not be great if you can't pitch and play defense. We'll get to that. But they're going to win more than they lose if they score five a game. Yeah. I mean, I think they're in the discussion for a top five offense in the sport. Like, there aren't that many offenses you just look at and say, that one's better, like Toronto, the Dodgers.
Starting point is 00:06:18 Like, there are only a couple that are definitively better than the Phillies lineup. And I think they have a real chance to do that. I know it's just spring training, and I'm like, my line every single year is I don't get carried away with spring training. I barely pay attention to it. Guys are working on stuff, all that. But it does feel real when you watch this team because it's day after day after day after day,
Starting point is 00:06:37 and it's bombs, and it's mashing. And to Jack's point, like, there's no – look, Mickey, you know, we love Mick. Why not Mick? That's our guy. If Mickey – I'm not where Jack's point, like, there's no, look, Mickey, you know, we love Mick. Why not Mick? That's our guy. If Mickey, I'm not where Jack is yet, but if Mickey can be like a competent, solid niner for you, and DeeDee obviously is a bit of a question mark, but there are no real holes in this lineup. There's no easy at-bats if those guys come through for you.
Starting point is 00:06:59 And I think Stott's going to hit too. I mean, and just the top of the lineup, how potent that's going to be. I think they have a real shot definitely at 800 and to be one of the five or so best offenses in baseball this year. And I love – it feels like they're kind of feeding off each other. It reminds me a little bit of those Braves rotations from the 90s where it's like – They want to one-up each other.
Starting point is 00:07:18 Yeah, you're going to throw a complete game. Well, I'm going to throw a complete game. Like, you're going to hit one 460. I'll hit one, you know, 470. It feels like the right vibe is down there. I think Schwarber's very important for that. I always thought he was...
Starting point is 00:07:31 For as important as I thought his bat was, I thought getting Schwarber the guy was equally as important. They didn't have a good vibe. And Castellanos too! Yeah, there was no winners here. Let's be real. This team, before they brought in Schwarber, there's nobody here that's won anything. And that's something that Dombrowski has harped on with these signs. Which I thought was kind of a shot at the guys here. He didn't let's be real. This team, before they brought in Schwarber, there's nobody here that's won anything. Well, and that's something that Dombrowski has harped on with these signs. Which I thought was kind of a
Starting point is 00:07:48 shot at the guys here. He didn't say anyone's name, but we missed that. Well, that's because these guys didn't have it. But it was fascinating, right? Because these are guys that you bring in for their bats, for what they do from an offensive perspective, and they're great signings from that perspective. But these are two guys who really should change this culture, and that's been one of the biggest issues with this team
Starting point is 00:08:03 the last couple years. This culture, like to your point, it didn't, and Jack said this a million times on the podcast, this team doesn't feel like they know how to win. And it feels like by bringing these guys in, it's that extra juice, that extra kind of push to get to that level and to feel like they can win. Once you feel like you can win, then you start winning. So just for reference, last year, everyone that scored at least
Starting point is 00:08:25 four and a half runs a game had a winning record except the Rockies. And like, forget that. Doesn't even count. Right, and Coors Field. Their pitching gives up a million runs. But like, everyone over five runs a game, it was Houston, Tampa Bay, Toronto, Boston, Dodgers. If you score five runs, and then the next two were White Sox Giants. Like, if you score five runs a game,
Starting point is 00:08:42 you're going to the playoffs. So the Phillies have that kind of ceiling. What are we doing with the lineup? Because I've been watching this all spring training, and it seems like Joe's locked in on Schwarber 1, Bryce 3, Castellanos 4. But like 2... He has batted Didier Haskins
Starting point is 00:08:58 like one too many times. I know! For my life. 2, 5, 6, 7. There's a lot going on there. I don't know what he's doing. I'm not sure if it's just experimentation and what's going to happen in the regular season. But, James, the one thing I'm not sure of is which Reese Hoskins are we getting, right?
Starting point is 00:09:12 Because when he was young, he walked a lot. And then last year, he seemed to trade those walks for power. I guess that depends on what he's going to be, where you hit him in the lineup. If he's walking, I put him two. He's going to hit just for power, five, six. Sure. Not behind Deedee, though. I don't know what that's about. No, no. That's like way too obsessed with the left him two. He's going to hit just for power, five, six. Sure. Not behind Deedee, though.
Starting point is 00:09:25 I don't know what that's about. No, no. That's like way too obsessed with the left-right. He was seventh today or yesterday, whenever it was. It's too low. It's too low. And look, Hoskins is one of those guys who, you know, when you look at this lineup, he's kind of an X-factor guy.
Starting point is 00:09:37 He's a swing guy. Yeah. You know what you're, or you think you know what you're going to get from Schwarber, Harper, Castellanos, Seguro. Like, a guy like Reeves, we've seen the swings, man. He could be one of the best hitters in baseball for a month and then be literally the worst hitter in the sport for a month. I've never seen an above-average player so streaky.
Starting point is 00:09:53 In my life. I don't ever remember a guy who's that big a swing. So, yeah, I think it's going to be massive. The one thing I will say is what we were just talking about, the idea that maybe a little less on his shoulders, a little bit less of that pressure to have to carry the offense, to be like, really, the only big bopper in the lineup last year
Starting point is 00:10:10 outside of Bryce, in terms of a guy who's going to hit over 30 home runs. Now you had two guys like that who can give you that type of power. I think hopefully, maybe it takes a little off Reese. He's not pressing as much. He's not getting into those funks as much. Hopefully. I don't like him in the two-hole, though, because I thought last year was actually the most consistent Reese has been.
Starting point is 00:10:27 And I know that counts with an 0 for 34 streak in the middle of there. That's the most consistent. Yes, I thought that was the most consistent by Reese. So you want him five? Yeah, I want him five because in the two-hole, I still think his idea is working pitchers. Which I guess that is what you're supposed to do there, right? When he was bad and when he was going through the ups and downs,
Starting point is 00:10:47 up and down, I thought he got too obsessed with, let me get to a 3-2 count, foul off a ton of pitches, rather than let me try to do damage. I know theoretically the two holes is supposed to be a spot where guys are looking to do damage, and he should get fastballs ahead of Bryce Harper. But I think his mentality, the higher he gets up in a lineup, is I'm going to work this pitcher.
Starting point is 00:11:04 When I thought last year he was at his best by jumping on fastballs, But I think his mentality, the higher he gets up in a lineup, is I'm going to work this pitcher. When I thought last year he was at his best by jumping on fastballs, being aggressive, and looking to do damage and bringing runs, I thought he was a good run producer last year. And the thing I like early in spring, thinking a lot right center field. That's where he has to stay because if he's staying on the ball, that means he's staying through the ball. And him thinking right center field just kind of unlocks his entire potential.
Starting point is 00:11:26 So who should be two then? I think it's Gene. Yeah, I think so too. And he kills lefties. So you figure Schwarber's a lefty, obviously. Bryce is a lefty. Lefties are coming in at the bullpen to face that spot. You sandwich him in there, he's going to get lefties to hit.
Starting point is 00:11:38 And he's going to get the bat on the ball too. I know we want to work counts and stuff, which is important. But he's going to foul off pitches. He's going to get the bat on the ball. He's going to put it in play if Schwarber walks. I really like Gene in the 2-hole, personally. I'm putting JT there. I'm putting JT in the two-hole, and the reason why I'm putting JT is because I think JT is the best base runner on the team,
Starting point is 00:11:54 so I think it helps from that standpoint. I agree with that. How about that, just in and of itself, your catcher, the best base runner on the team? It's pretty wild. It says something about the Phillies. Also, he's a good base runner. He is a very good base runner. He is a good base runner. And for me, I don't like him being a run producer. I'm so glad he's not.
Starting point is 00:12:10 You don't trust him in a big spot. Oh, he's never got a big hit in his life. I think that's the analytics on that. But in the two-hole, he's a guy that should get fastballs. And I think he still crushes fastballs. They're not going to want to pitch around him. They don't want to get to Bryce like you know so I feel as if JT in a two-hole lets him be aggressive lets him go after fastballs and that was the lineup today I mean JT
Starting point is 00:12:34 has consistently been in the two-hole I would say most of this spring training and I think they like it from the standpoint of he's gonna get fastballs and it lets him kind of be aggressive and I just like his base running Segura is like your classic two-hole hitter. He always reminds me of Polanco. He's always reminding me of him. Yeah, but in a worse lineup, I guess he would be
Starting point is 00:12:56 a good two-hole hitter, but I think JT makes the most sense for this team. So here's the only issue with that. I'm looking at today's lineup and Girardi's going to figure this left-right thing out, but Didi's now, today he was above Segura. So Segura's down to seven? Feels too low for him.
Starting point is 00:13:11 I'd put him six. Especially because he's the kind of guy who it seems cares about that type of stuff. I was thinking that. You know what I mean? Gene seems to care about perception. You need his head in the game. Gene Segura's the kind of guy who can kind of go off in his own world once in a while. You need him locked in. And I think in the the two hole he he's been locked in when he's
Starting point is 00:13:28 in that that role yeah well i actually um the one thing with the bottom of the lineup here i know he has i know he has moniak batting last what do you think about putting stott there and then it's basically a second turn it over kind of guy like he like he worked an 11 pitch at bat today you have him in the nine hole and then it left it should let schwarber get up with some runners on base i i actually think of gerardi smart numbers wise stock's obviously a better hitter than the moniac but if you put stott in a nine hole you get his on base skills you get his working pitcher skills ahead of kyle schwarber i think that makes the lineup more yeah they could do that.
Starting point is 00:14:05 We're listening to the High Hopes Hour here on the evening show. James Seltzer, Jack Fritz, why are they in here? It's the High Hopes Pod on the evening show. It is our Phillies roundtable. We got a lot to get into here. So, look, Jack just brought him up. How real is the Mickey Moniac thing? Because I think – I didn't think this –
Starting point is 00:14:20 You're asking the wrong guy. What do I want? No, I'm asking him on purpose. I want a real answer. I just – I can't believe this is happening. If you had told me all these different things play out, James, in spring training, I could have bought a lot of this. Pitching does this.
Starting point is 00:14:34 Knable bounces. We'll get to the pitching. He looks really good. The one I never would have guessed is, oh, yeah, Mickey Monia. Three weeks ago, Girardi said he's not an option in center field. He said that out loud. And then Oduble gets hurt. They trade Haisley.
Starting point is 00:14:46 The kid goes crazy. Is this real? I need to see it in a real game before I believe this is like he's a real player now. Yeah, I do too. I mean, look, it's awesome. It's fun. I just said I don't overreact to spring training stats, right? So I got to stick by that.
Starting point is 00:15:00 I will say, though, like he was the number one pick in the draft and he's 23 years old. Younger than Bryson Stott. Younger than most guys when they come up to the major leagues. You guys are starting to sound like me with Jalen Hurts. Younger than the guys in the draft. He's got to get some more weapons. It takes guys some time sometimes. Nelson Cruz was a quad A player until he was
Starting point is 00:15:19 28. It happens. It takes time for guys to figure it out. Especially a kid who was drafted at 17, drafted as a thin guy who's kind of grown into his body a bit. He was really small when they drafted him. So, like, I'm with you, Joe. Like, I need to see this in major league games that matter before I'm going to truly buy into Mickey Moniak
Starting point is 00:15:38 as a real potential guy for this team. But I will say crazier things have happened than a former number one overall pick figuring it out 23 and growing into his body all right jack go ahead how real is this listen here we go no i need to see it too i mean like i'm believe me i i'm over overjoyed with how he's looked so far but i don't want to be palm tree mickey you know we can't be having you know spring training only results i want to see see it in a real game. But I thought it was interesting, Kevin Long talking about how Moniak was the easiest fix he's had in his career.
Starting point is 00:16:10 And he's been a hitting coach for like 15 years. Yeah, for a long time. 16 years that Mickey Moniak was the easiest fix in his entire coaching career. What does that say about the Phillies coaching staff before he got here? Not great. No one ever thought about, hey, let's move him closer to the plate. Very complicated picture. Listen,
Starting point is 00:16:29 I think it's more real than not. I don't think he's all of a sudden going to get in the game and be better. For me, the last couple years, I would obviously be excited, but it was a lot of fastballs. It was a lot of doing damage on fastballs. The last couple home runs he's had have been on sliders. It seems like the pitch recognition is getting better and i think
Starting point is 00:16:48 for a reason to believe and i believe me i understand if people want to buy in he's a number one overall pick that's been largely a bust here but fastballs in the outside corner he's actually going the opposite way with intent and with damage and now i mean he's down to like eight percent body fat where he just looks like like last year he got up it was kind of like he clearly ate all off season and he's definitely bigger but it was on weight but it wasn't great this looks like i mean cut out fish tacos started journaling he's looking strong oh i read the journal started journaling yeah that's important so uh and his uh his motto of this year is bleep it let's party so he's everything's going well for mickey this year seems like he's a good headspace so i i'll say it's more real than not i don't want to say he's gonna like turn into some superstar but is it is it unrealistic to believe i can get a 245 hitter with 15 to 20 homers well
Starting point is 00:17:37 but here's the interesting question i have for you james is he the center fielder most nights because in a platoon as we all know the left side of the platoon plays more. Absolutely. What, 65% of pitchers are right-handed? So if it's a platoon, he's the center fielder for most of the games here. I don't know if it is yet. They'll play Montas on Friday. Who's playing center field?
Starting point is 00:17:59 Because if it's a platoon, it's Mickey. Yeah. No, and I think it will be Mickey. I don't know if it'll be a straight platoon and you know joe loves to look at gerardi loves to look at all the splits and there are a lot of righties who have reverse spits and all that type of stuff so i make the playoffs to be the real judge i wouldn't be surprised if he has some you know lineups where you don't see it coming and all that but i don't know if it'll be a straight platoon per se but i do think it'll
Starting point is 00:18:21 be a uh for all intents and purposes a platoon where the guy who hits wins. I think it's going to be one of those things where if one of these guys, Bierling or Moniak, is able to really get on a roll and start hitting, I think they have a chance to grab the job and run with it. I think it'll start as a platoon, but I don't know who he favors to begin and where it goes from there.
Starting point is 00:18:40 And we'll see with the bone bruise today. I mean, he got hit pretty hard. X-rays negative, which is good. X-rays negative, but I think there's some swelling there. So we'll see. So for Friday, it might be Veerling. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:18:55 Just opening day-wise, probably Veerling and maybe Mickey Mitz the first weekend. All right. Now, same thing at third base. Because that's going to be a platoon two, I guess. Sure. But now you have more names in there, right? So it's Stott. Alec Boehm is up, and they gave
Starting point is 00:19:05 Yohan Camargo a major league contract. You know Girardi's going to put him out there sometimes. Well, at least it's not Ronnie. No, I know. Thank God, Ronald Torres. You know what? That's not fair, because I liked Ronnie last year. He was great last year for them. He was at least a five-win player last year. Ronnie baseball. By some calculations.
Starting point is 00:19:21 By some calculations. Girardi's calculations. Girardi was definitely... Well, they sent down Alec Boehm to start running with Ron's Rays every day in a freaking playoff chase. Like, what are we doing? Do we trust Girardi to, because this isn't an easy juggle. No. Well, no. I don't either.
Starting point is 00:19:35 The juggling act with Boehm, Stott, Gregorius, who he likes way too much. Way too much. I don't think it's an easy juggling act. You have young players. You have lefty, righty. But then you have the old guy he likes there at shortstop. I'm curious how he's going to divide playing time here because if Stott and Boehm are both up here,
Starting point is 00:19:52 I heard Dombrowski say, James, that Girardi said he could find playing time for everyone, which sounds wonderful, but you've got to actually do it. Yeah, and I don't trust him. I don't. Joe Girardi clearly seems like one of these guys who trusts his dudes, trusts vets, all that type of stuff. And this is a platoon where you want to
Starting point is 00:20:07 see Bowman Stott out there. You want to see these guys, see what they got, see if one of them can take the job and run with it. And they're two young dudes, you know? So I'm very concerned. Look, I like Carmago as a defensive replacement late, all that type of stuff. Bench guy, yeah. Bench guy. He's a nice player to have on your team, but
Starting point is 00:20:24 he can't be starting over these guys. We've got to find out, if nothing else, find out what you have in those guys and move forward with one of them. Yeah, and honestly, there's a part of me that believes that, because there's 28 men until May, so they can have the two extra rounds. For now, I'm not sure that they're not going to keep that. I guess we'll see how pitching injuries pile up, but I wouldn't be surprised if they kept the 28 for a little while longer.
Starting point is 00:20:44 I wouldn't be shocked either. Yeah, but at least for the first month i think from i think the reason why boom is staying up here is because i think they want him working with kevin long every day like i think like kevin long last year schwerber started off really slow yeah and then as kevin long kept working with them they got schwerber to a point where like he was he got 79 million dollar contracts this offseason because of because of. He had like 20 home runs in June last year. Yeah, it was like 20 in 24 games or something insane like that. And I think that they want Boehm to stay up here and work with him every day
Starting point is 00:21:11 rather than going and getting AAA at-bats. I think they view that as more valuable possibly for their future. And in the meantime, it can be Stott and possibly Camargo. I don't think Boehm's going to play that much. I literally think he's just here to work in the cage with Kevin Long and kind of candle his development. Could be a pinch hitter late in games for Moniak or for
Starting point is 00:21:31 Didi. I mean, we could see him in that role. Defensive replacement. Yes. You can't? You don't think so? You sure about that? Is he going to be any better at third base? No. He's just bad. His body is not made to play third base no no no he's just bad oh he's just he's just his body is not made to play third we were down we were down in spring training and he was just even in practice
Starting point is 00:21:52 like field and ground balls was fighting the ball and i was like imagine what it's like in the game no shot no it's it's you feel like you just feel something bad's gonna happen every time the ball goes near him it's like i'll tell you, I can't wait for Bryson Stott. He's wanting me over here in spring training. And I am not worried about them playing him at short third if he goes to second. Do you have any fear? Is there any post-traumatic stress from the Scott Kingery experience? I think that thing is so overrated. I'm so glad you said that.
Starting point is 00:22:20 You know, the only person who's responsible for Scott Kingery not being a major league player is Scott Kingery. He never could decipher balls from strikes. That was his problem. I hate that narrative. Oh, they moved him around and thus he couldn't play. Ben Zobris played like 10 positions. The good teams do this all the time.
Starting point is 00:22:36 Teams do this all the time and there's so many guys who come up and have to move around and find a spot and all that. Like, nope. I don't buy that narrative at all. And I'm 100% with you with stott i'm fine with him playing anywhere in the infield and the reason why i think it's different than kingery and i said this a couple times is that like kingery was an aggressive hitter so every time that a pitcher would come in start breaking balling to death like he couldn't do anything with it what you see with stats at bats is that he knows when to launch he knows when to i can
Starting point is 00:23:02 attack this pitch and do damage with it he has very good pitch selection when it comes to trying to do some damage so you know i trust you trust eyes you trust you trust guy's ability to to see a strike zone feel a strike zone and stock just has that way more than kingery ever had like kingery was a bit of a free swinger even with the launch ankle nonsense yeah and even when he did well, it didn't feel sustainable. No. What did he bat, like 275 that one month? And people are like, well, there's Kingery breakout. Here he is.
Starting point is 00:23:31 And he was still striking out a lot. He only had one good season in the minors. One good month. In the minors I'm talking about, he only had one elite season. Other than that, you look at the numbers, it's pretty average. He had that one awesome year. He got the contract, and he was never as good ever again. He was never good in the major leagues. Ever.
Starting point is 00:23:49 Again, he had one month. He had one month where he looked like a major league player. The Don Brown of the late 2010s. He is. He wasn't as good as Don Brown. Don Brown was a way better major league player. How about that? Scott Kingery, bigger bust than Don Brown.
Starting point is 00:24:01 They didn't know that was possible. Cost him a lot more money, too. $24 million. I meant those option years. Those are no's. Cost him a lot more money, too. $24 million just down. I meant those option years. Those are no's. How about that? You think?
Starting point is 00:24:07 Yeah. 215-592-9494. That's how you hop in. You want to join us. High Hopes Podcast is here for the hour. James Seltzer, Jack Fritz. All right. We did all the offense.
Starting point is 00:24:16 We did all the hitting. On the other side, we need to talk about the pitching and the defense. The two things that could derail this. Defense is for nerds. All right. Here we go. the defense. The two things that could derail this. Defense is for nerds. I can't wait to see Jack's reaction on Friday when the ball goes through someone's legs if defense is for nerds.
Starting point is 00:24:33 215-592-9494. Ohio's potting. We'll talk defense, pitching, and season predictions next right here on Sports Radio 94 WIP. Welcome back. Sports Radio 94 WIP. Joe back. Sports Radio 94 WIP. Joe Giglio with you. It is the High Hopes Pod.
Starting point is 00:24:49 In for the hour. It is our Phillies Roundtable show. We got a lot of great guests coming up. Ruben Amaro is going to be with us at 7. Chad Durbin next hour. Scott Franski for a while. Scott's doing double duty today. I know.
Starting point is 00:24:58 Is he trying to take our jobs? That's what I – Like, is that his – This is the next step. Yeah. You know, like the backup career when he's done with this. Hey, pal, we got families to feed too. Like, relax.
Starting point is 00:25:08 I actually thought Scott was – He loses L.A. for one time, and now he's going to come in and try to take our job? I thought he'd back out because I found out he was doing the morning show. I was like, oh, that's all right. He's doing the morning. It's okay. He can't join us tonight. He's like, no, I want to do it.
Starting point is 00:25:18 What a beast. I know. So he'll be with us in the 8 o'clock hour. And I'm excited to talk about this part of the team, because we got all the excitement out, the hitting and the offense. All the good stuff. All the good stuff, and now we gotta talk about the stuff that I'm worried about, which is, alright, let's start with the defense. Jack, you
Starting point is 00:25:34 said defense is for nerds. Uh-huh. And, um, we'll see if you have the same feeling a month or two or three from now. Well, listen, I, April Jack doesn't care about July Jack's issue with the Phil's defense. But I can see the sadness that August Jack has
Starting point is 00:25:49 when the defense costs him another game. And I can also see September Julio. Oh, no. I can't do it again. Come on, man. What, your fifth straight year of September Julio? There's nothing worse than September Phil. When I'm sitting here doing final out after another loss.
Starting point is 00:26:02 The pain of my existence, yes. It's just soul crushing. It really is. We're doing this again. All right, before we get to September and what our predictions are, I'm worried about the defense. I know we could poo-poo it and say it's not a big deal. Right.
Starting point is 00:26:15 Are they above average at any position? Well, here's the thing. Just answer that. Here's my reason. Here's why I need you to calm down. All right? Just answer the question. Calm down.
Starting point is 00:26:25 Calm down. Third base is better? Just answer the question. Yeah, just answer the question. Calm down. Third base is better if Stott's playing there. You're getting shortstop range at third base with a guy that actually plays it. Okay. We'll see how much he plays there, though. If Didi can't get the same balls that he used to be able to get to, Stotti can get the 5-6 hole. That shortens Didi's range.
Starting point is 00:26:42 Gene Segura is very, very good at second base. And I know he's another year older, but he's a very good defensive second baseman. Good. Very good. Hoskins, looking skinnier. That's all I got there. Oh, my God. What are we doing?
Starting point is 00:26:54 Did he drop a pop-up like three weeks ago? Don't worry about it. Pop-ups are tough, man. He lost in the Florida Sun. Everyone knows the Sun's higher down there. Left field, I think. Dude, McCutcheon was terrible in left field. I agree with that. I think Schwarber
Starting point is 00:27:07 actually grades out decently well DRS-wise. He's still negative. What are you talking about, man? You are like out of your mind right now. I just don't think the defense is... I think it's going to be bad. But I don't think it's going to be detrimental. And I think it's going to be better than last year's. And I thought last year's was terrible. I think
Starting point is 00:27:24 center field, I think Moniak and Veerling are pretty good. And right field's Harper, who's fine. I just don't – I don't view it – it's going to be bad. But I don't think it's going to be the detriment that people think it's going to be. It's going to be horrible. Let's all be honest. Thank you. They're going to be terrible.
Starting point is 00:27:41 JT, I would say, is above average. If we're going to pick one guy on the team who's the above average defender... Someone answer the question. Yeah, I had to answer the question. They're going to be horrible defensively, and it's going to hurt them. We will have days where we come out of the game saying, wow, they lost that game because of defense. But, to Jack's point,
Starting point is 00:27:57 I don't think it's going to be something that submarines this team. I think they're going to hit enough to make up for those errors, and hopeful, at least. And I think they'll be, I don't think they'll be the worst defense we've ever seen. I just think they're going to be bad. Well, listen. I know that. Listen to that, you know. That's the
Starting point is 00:28:14 bar I'm shooting. I don't think they're going to be the worst defense we've ever seen. I just know that I'm sitting here with two guys that watched Reese Hoskins play left field for an entire season. The worst left fielder I've seen in my entire life. The worst outfielder I've ever seen in my life.
Starting point is 00:28:30 Maybe the worst player at a position I've ever seen in my life. Besides DeeDee Lashley. The day that Kingrey pitched, people forget that he dropped a ball on left field that I could have made the play. I mean, it's just like any of us could have made the play. You want to know why I don't forget that day? Because I produced both games of that doubleheader on PhD, and it was 20-4. I will never forget Angelo's reaction the next morning.
Starting point is 00:28:50 Of Kingery pitching? That team was in the race. Dude, I know. Gabe! Yeah, you're telling me. Gabe! You're telling me a team that started Carlos Santana at third base down the stretch run of that year and Justin Boer at first base.
Starting point is 00:29:05 They had five first bases in the lineup in one game. Yeah, like, listen, it's going to be bad. It's just like I've seen them be the worst defense in the history of the sport, so I don't think they're going to be that. But can they out-hit it? Well, if they can't out-hit it, we've got a problem. Well, but I'm sure you guys saw the Jason Stark piece of the athletic a couple weeks ago.
Starting point is 00:29:21 There's only been a handful of teams that have ever had defenses that are as bad as we think this will be that actually won. And they're all built by the same guy. I know. It's Dombrowski's team. But that team had Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder. I mean. And some elite pitching as well.
Starting point is 00:29:36 You don't think that there's five Cy Young winners on this rotation? Now you led me to that. So the pitching. Do they have enough pitching? They don't have good pitchers. They have good pitchers, right? On paper, yeah. Yeah, you look at the rankings.
Starting point is 00:29:49 I think a couple sites had them as top 10 or 15. Fangraphs has them number three. You writing for Fangraphs these days? They did talk to Billy Falter today. That was exciting. I did see that. I worry about the depth of their pitching. If you tell me right now these guys stay healthy for the most part all season,
Starting point is 00:30:04 I think there's enough pitching. I think it's above average and it's pretty good. Let's start with the rotation and the bullpen we'll get to because that's always the concern in Philadelphia. What do you think of the rotation? I think you nailed it. Like, I think if those five guys stay healthy, it's a good rotation, not even average or whatever.
Starting point is 00:30:20 It would be good. It's a good rotation, especially because I believe in Ranger. I do. He's not going to be a 1-5 ERA guy. But I think Ranger's good. I think he's a major league starting pitcher. So I feel really good about the five. I think Eflin could have a bounce-back season, contract year for Eflin,
Starting point is 00:30:34 like a big spot for Zach. Obviously, he's looked awesome in spring. Looks like he's back. The Wheeler injury is a concern. But if they stay healthy, Gibby is a fine fifth. He's not great, but he'll give you innings. He's a five. He's a classic five.
Starting point is 00:30:46 I feel really good about the five they have, but to your point, who's next? Every year, every year pitchers go down. Every year we deal with pitcher injuries, and I don't see that depth of roster and depth of system. We see other teams bring up minor leaguers. The Padres can bring up Mackenzie Gore for a start if they need to, or this or that or whatever. Like, that's
Starting point is 00:31:08 100% my concern, is if and when one of these guys go down for any sort of extended period of time, what's next? So, I think we counted the other night, Tucker, and I think there was like 25 starts last year by guys that weren't the top five most started pitchers on the team. How'd that go? And that's not bad.
Starting point is 00:31:24 That's pretty good. Yeah, it's pretty good. But if there has to be 25 or 30 this year, who's taking the ball? Who are the next – let's just go with three names. Jack, who are the next three guys that are going to start games for this team? Bailey Falter. I was going to say bullpen, bullpen, and bullpen. Bailey Falter, Hans Cross, and Christopher Sanchez. I know.
Starting point is 00:31:42 It's not exact. Well, Bailey's good. I like Bailey Falter. You can get by with bailey fault i think bailey's interesting uh i would actually say pitching depth is my is a bigger concern for me than the defense like just because i think with how april's gonna be they have no off days they've had a shortened spring training pitchers aren't fully stretched out although i mean definitely like seven innings i should believe it's like what are we doing
Starting point is 00:32:02 i was thinking could we save some of those innings for the season? Yeah, of course. Save some home runs and save some innings. We didn't even know if he was going to start the season with that injury. Yeah, they said May could have been. But he wants his money. He does. That's what I'm saying, man. That would be great.
Starting point is 00:32:16 And I would die for Eflin to put it together for one year. Because I think there's a really good pitcher there. I do, too. It's just that he's never done it. And he's worn down. He had a heavy body. Who could forget the heavy body? It was pitcher there. I do, too. It's just that he's never done it. And he's worn down. He had a heavy body. Who could forget the heavy body? It was the worst.
Starting point is 00:32:28 It was the worst. Another thing they blamed Gabe for. So you had Eflin, who's just never done it. Gibson, I think Gibson stinks. I really do. Well, he's on the wrong team. He needs a great defenseman. I know.
Starting point is 00:32:40 Well, Stott's at their base now. Oh, yeah. Mike Schmidt, Scott Roland, Bryce Stott. Millennium. Yeah, he doesn't inspire confidence in me. I don't trust Nola. The metric articles drive me crazy because you're just not watching. I mean, the strikeout numbers are fine.
Starting point is 00:32:55 Well, he should be good. He should be good. He strikes a bunch of guys out, he doesn't walk anyone. That means you should be good. I know, but it's the 0-2 home runs that he just can't put guys away. And my worry is that runners in base is kind of in his head now. It's almost like, oh, gosh, really? Like a runner's on base now,
Starting point is 00:33:13 and he hasn't been able to almost put that behind him since 2018. I think we'll get a better Nola. He won't be a 4-4 guy like he was last year. But they desperately need a 3-2 to 3-5 from him for this team to be good. And a September. And a September. Because that's the biggest one and one brave star can i just get one like one good start against the braves in atlanta where i don't hear the freaking tomahawk chop gabe was right get him out of the game because he knows the number so i i don't know that the rotation worries me a lot just health wise like efflin's never done it no i don't trust wheeler with the shoulder thing already i don't know he The rotation worries me a lot, just health-wise. Like, Eflin's never done it. Nola I don't trust. Wheeler with the shoulder thing already.
Starting point is 00:33:47 I don't know. He threw 200 innings for the first time in his career last year. We're supposed to expect him to bounce back and be the same guy? I can't put my confidence behind that. I started to wonder if the defense is in Nola's head because he doesn't throw the two-seamer anymore. He wants to strike everyone out. The home runs are like those fastballs over the plate.
Starting point is 00:34:04 He seems like he's afraid of this defense. And I would be too. I was just about to say, can you blame him? Of course. And that can get it. That's a dangerous thing because then he's trying to strike everyone out. Then he's trying to get that pitch always. And that gets you into trouble. You need to trust your defense at times.
Starting point is 00:34:19 And you need to be economical with your pitches at times. And if you don't trust your defense, that really does create a problem. Now, he did drive across country in a van this offseason. That was his offseason big thing. So maybe he's in a good headspace now. Aaron was in a van across the country? Yeah.
Starting point is 00:34:33 Nola? Yeah, him, his fiance, and his dog just driving across country. That actually strikes me as an Aaron Nola thing. Yeah. Getting in a van and going across the country. Could anyone at this station do that? I mean, I could. Really?
Starting point is 00:34:45 I went on fish tours. Oh, yeah. I always forget this station do that? I mean, I could. Really? I went on a fish tour. Oh, yeah. I always forget this side of you. I could handle that. You mean like can anyone here handle it or like in their current state? Because like Mark said, three kids and babies. Yeah, now I couldn't, obviously. I was talking, yeah, I'm 40 with a kid.
Starting point is 00:34:56 Right. Like I think I could do it, but not with two kids. I think Kefra could do it. Kefra is about to do it, right? Straight down to Memphis or whatever. You guys leaving us, which I didn't know was allowed. I didn't know you were allowed to leave WIU. Unbelievable.
Starting point is 00:35:08 Let's take a call here, and then we'll hit the bullpens up. Chris in Phoenixville wants to talk. What's up, Chris? Chris, you there, buddy? I'm here. Can you hear me? Gotcha. What's up?
Starting point is 00:35:17 What are you thinking? This is the time of year everybody gets pumped up. It's the beginning of a new. Everybody has a shot. I think the one thing that the Phillies shouldn't do, but they're going to do, is why would you put somebody at their second-best position and make your whole defense feel amateur?
Starting point is 00:35:36 So if you think Scott's going to be the man at short, you put him there from day one. DeeDee should be either at first, third, or put away to the pastures, or DH, and then maybe trade Reese Hoskins for a pitcher that can close, or you rely on an injured pitcher. Dominguez has been injured for five of his years in the minor leagues. So I think you've got to get the guys and put the best guys at each position,
Starting point is 00:36:02 and this way you have a solid shortstop as opposed to half-assed across the board. But don't you want the best players on the team? Isn't that what they're doing? By bringing Stott up, they're putting the best 28, and they're not worrying about the positions of us. You put them at short. Then you've got the same thing that happened to Kingery. You put them in an unnatural position.
Starting point is 00:36:21 Do you think Kingery failed because of the position thing? No, no, no. I think it was a bad instruction and bad hitting instruction. He just started to go. He was bad. Scott Kingery is not a good baseball player. That's what happened, man. In AA, he had a different thing.
Starting point is 00:36:38 One year. He had one good year in AA. What are we talking about? Let's look at Dominic Brown. Let's look at Michael Taylor. These guys are all studs allegedly according to major league baseball but chris a lot of players are studs in the minors and also prospect ranking is not a perfect science man like yeah but there are so many guys like it happens all the time where guys are highly ranked and don't pan out or like paul goldschmidt wasn't on any ranking ever and he comes up and he's a stud.
Starting point is 00:37:05 It is an overrated thing to just rely on those prospects. Let's not be homers here. How come Asuna's there? How come Rosario? How come the Braves can do it, but the Phillies? Rosario was a trade. Asuna wasn't. They didn't.
Starting point is 00:37:20 Asuna was better. Yeah, Asuna was. The Braves are better at finding talent. Obviously, the Braves are better. Acuna and Albies, they're better. No question. Matt Klintek and Ruben Amaro single-handedly destroyed our minor league system.
Starting point is 00:37:33 Well, I mean, the Phillies never really had a minor league system, Chris. I mean, they had one run. Chris, we appreciate the phone call. We could argue about the minor leagues. But we know the minor league system. They haven't been great at getting guys to reach their ceiling at the major league level i mean that's yeah that's just a fact but i think a lot of that also goes
Starting point is 00:37:49 back to drafting and not drafting the right kind of things you know i think but i will say i think it's turning a corner i think they're the right guy down there yeah leading that charge so and honestly given where they are payroll wise the only way they're really going to compete in this kind of core window is if they can get guys up from the minor leagues and get guys that can contribute because you're committing $200 million, essentially, to five or six players. Yeah, I know they went over the tax, but there's only so many $100 million players they can have.
Starting point is 00:38:19 Yeah, which they're not going to stay over the tax. Yeah, but even if they're around it, you can have, what, four or five of these guys? That's it. Then you've got to fill in. Even the Dodgers only have so many of these guys. It just doesn't work.
Starting point is 00:38:31 All right, let's get to the bullpen. I mean, we can't avoid it. It's Philadelphia. I mean, this is the Phillies. This is the Achilles heel every year. I am cautiously optimistic. There you go. At the top end of the bullpen.
Starting point is 00:38:45 Knable. Yeah, Sir Anthony. I think Familia will be fine. Fine. He will have five or six games. At the end of the season, we'll look at his numbers and say, that was good, but you're right. There are going to be a few nights where people are going to be cursing his name. He's going to be the name that you get on the call screen during the midday show a lot.
Starting point is 00:39:02 People are going to hate him, but his numbers will be okay. I agree. That's kind of where I'm done feeling great about. Everything else in there, I didn't like the Brad Hand signing. And everything else is just like they're throwing stuff at the wall. I could see it being a little bit better. But then I also, James, I worry about Girardi and his management of the bullpen.
Starting point is 00:39:21 It's not good. Everyone blames the guys. They have. But he's part of it. He's not good. Everyone blames the guys. They have, but he's part of it. He's done a horrible job, a horrible job. And even with having guys not up for a night and all this type of weird stuff and not letting guys pitch multiple nights in a row and just going way overboard with all that type of stuff.
Starting point is 00:39:36 I'm all for protecting your pitchers. He seems to go way overboard with that type of stuff. And you're right. The feel for what guys in what spots is missing. Girardi has been bad. 5.2 ERA as the bullpens he got here. It's horrendous. I mean, they had the worst bullpen in the history of baseball two years ago,
Starting point is 00:39:52 and last year was the most blown saves in the history of baseball. We had a 7 ERA one year and the most blown saves in the history of the sport the year after. I mean, think about that. It is, like, all-time bad futility there. But I agree with your point. The guys, like Kniebel, it's just if he stays healthy. If he's healthy, he's awesome.
Starting point is 00:40:10 He could be an all-star. People are going to love Corey Kniebel if he stays healthy. Sir Anthony, I'm really, really excited about him being back. I think he's a legitimately talented dude. And if he can stay healthy and get back, I feel good. But I'm with you. Like, I don't have a lot of faith. I'm nervous about Alvarado.
Starting point is 00:40:26 I'm nervous about Kunrad, who's already here. Brogdon. I loved Brogdon. Where did his velocity go? And now I'm terrified about Brogdon. So I'm with you. I think they might be better than the last two years, but I certainly wouldn't be surprised if at the end of the season
Starting point is 00:40:38 we look back and say, what was this team's Achilles heel? It wasn't the defense. It was the bullpen. Yeah, it's funny. The one thing I like more about this bullpen than in years past is I just trusted the guys they have at least have stuff. Like even Nick Nelson, who they got
Starting point is 00:40:51 off waivers. It's still 97 with a good change up and a pretty good curveball. It's a flat fastball. It's not great, but I think they at least have guys that have legitimate major league stuff, where in years past it was like we're bringing up guys who just have no shot. So it's funny. I think theillies bullpen is either gonna be top 10 or bottom 10 like i don't think there's any prediction i don't think there's any in between
Starting point is 00:41:12 i think they're either they hit and they're they're really good because they have stuff i mean knable stuff alvarado stuff uh familia stuff sir anthony stuff brogdon who is i mean he's back up to 95 his last game which is rod throws hard coon rod throws hard he's like the you know he's like the fifth or sixth guy down the bottom of the bullpen um they have guys with actual stuff which i which i like but there's also the reality that a lot of them get hurt like familiar is the only one that doesn't really have an injury that's why he's going to be the one that callers flip out on he's going to pitch the most games yeah no one's going to get his name right, and the WIP callers are going to struggle with it.
Starting point is 00:41:49 Do we think – what will his name be? Jerry? Instead of Jerry? Yeah, for sure. Jerry stinks. Yeah, I could hear it. Family? Yeah, it's going to be great.
Starting point is 00:41:58 Jerry family. Yes, but, you know, so I think it's either top ten or bottom ten. I don't think there's an in-between there. So I like that these guys have stuff. I think the upside is definitely there. I think Knable, if he is healthy, you know, obviously Papelbon was fine. But best closer since Lidge. He's going to be better than Papelbon?
Starting point is 00:42:19 I kind of forget the Papelbon era. I don't really count it. Yeah, Philly saves leader all the time. Yeah, I don't really count it. I got to be honest. Well, he was good. He was crafty. Let's take a call and then we gotta get our win predictions
Starting point is 00:42:29 from these guys and a bold take. Hot take, bold take, bold prediction, something. I'm trying to think what Jack told me last year around this time. Was Alvarado something about the greatest reliever? Alvarado's the greatest reliever in Philly's history. No. It was Alvarado. I've seen Papa Bon. Alvarado's the greatest reliever in Philly's history. No, it was Alvarado.
Starting point is 00:42:45 I've seen Papelbon. Alvarado is the greatest reliever I've ever seen. Sounds familiar. I think I just heard something like that about someone else. Alvarado is not going to allow a run was the take. What do you mean? Like ever? Yeah, that season.
Starting point is 00:42:56 Matt is in Wilmington. What's up, Matt? Hey, fellas. How you doing? Good, Matt. What's on your mind? What are you thinking? I'm thinking why are we keeping Alec Boehm up on this roster
Starting point is 00:43:08 when he could be better off seeing live pitching on a regular basis in AAA? And I get you want to keep him with Long and working on his stuff here, but I think what value does that provide when you're not seeing regular starting pitchers? It's a fair question. I think most teams would send him down, Matt. I mean, if you have a player you still believe in, you want to get him consistent at-bats. I mean, Jack brought up the point of keeping him with Kevin Long. The other thing I wonder is if they, maybe they still want to trade him.
Starting point is 00:43:35 That was my thought. You throw him down there, it makes him look bad. Joe, that was my exact thought. Matt, I think that could be part of it. There's still maybe a, he could be in a trade this year. That's true. If Stott takes off and just claims third base, what are they going to do with him? They're going to trade him.
Starting point is 00:43:52 Yeah, you don't want to Spencer Howard him or you want to be able to Spencer Howard him where you're able to dump him off or something before his value diminishes. But on another note, I think that the way this the big five or six of this lineup, the way that they are constructed could lead to Reese Hoskins being a potential MVP candidate
Starting point is 00:44:12 if everything falls right. That's my hottest take. That is a fire take right there. I like the fire take thrown in there, Matt. We appreciate it. So Reese Hoskins, I mean, he would have to have 120 RBL, like a Jose Abreu kind of season a few years ago. That's the only way.
Starting point is 00:44:26 Hoskins MVP? If Hoskins is the MVP, this team's winning 105 games. You brought up the win total. What to watch for your sponsor by Xfinity. Xfinity, the faster net in Philadelphia, and the sponsor of our Xfinity X1 Lounge. I'm watching and listening to see what the boldest take we can get from these guys is. All right, so give me a win total, James, and then give me a bold take on the team, a play or something. Okay, so I'll actually give you two bold takes.
Starting point is 00:44:52 One of them is tied to my win total. Okay, I like it. So I'll do that one second. First, my—and I don't know how bold this is, but I think Bryce is back-to-back MVPs. I think Bryce Harper is going to win the MVP again this season and have an empirically better season than he did last year. I agree. Well, wait a second.
Starting point is 00:45:10 I agree. If this happens, I mean, they might as well just carve out the plaque in Cooper's head. Damn right, buddy. Three MVPs, you're in the Hall of Fame. He's already in the Hall of Fame. I mean, Bryce Harper's going to be a Hall of Famer someday. Right, of course. But, I mean, there's been two-time MVPs.
Starting point is 00:45:22 Yeah. But three is different. It's a special thing. Mike Schmidt, one of them. Until Bonds, like, there was no one above threetime MVPs. Yeah, but three is different. It's a special thing. Mike Schmidt, one of them. Until Bonds, there was no one above three. Yeah, of course. So I think Bryce Harper's going to win the MVP again. And to James' point, he just looks –
Starting point is 00:45:33 when they signed him, I thought they were getting a really good player, but it looks like he has turned into the best hitter in the sport, which I didn't think was a realistic outcome. I thought he was just going to be really good here, and I wanted Bryce Harper. But how he's looking right now, he two different swings so even when a guy is he thinks a curveball is coming he has a toe tap ready to go like he is so locked in i i can't believe i can't believe how good bryce harper well they can't waste this right the year they got last
Starting point is 00:45:59 year james well they have they did last year no but they don't know like but to their credit is that they they didn't just say okay we'll get schwarber i don't. Well, they have. They did last year. They have. But to their credit is that they didn't just say, okay, we'll get Schwarber and get done. No, but you have something special here. I mean, if he's better than last year, holy moly, because his OPS was almost at 1,100. Yes. We're talking Bonzi. That had 309 last year.
Starting point is 00:46:17 I mean, no one talked about his harvest coming here and bagging 309 here. All right, and then my other. So it's a tied prediction. Bold. I think it's pretty bold. So it's a tied prediction. Bold. I think it's pretty bold. But I have an 89 wins. Okay. But I have them winning the division at 89 wins.
Starting point is 00:46:33 So everyone's kind of in the 80s. I think everyone's in the 80s. I got the Mets at like 85, 86. The Braves at like 87, 88. And the Phillies win the division with 89 wins. Similar to Braves last year. Let's go, baby. You know what that means.
Starting point is 00:46:45 That means baseball in October here. You're damn right, buddy. Do we know what the rule is for the three-game series in the first round? You don't get any home games if you're the road team. Correct. So even if they make the playoffs as a wild card, there'd be no games here unless they won a series. And then they would obviously get games in the next round.
Starting point is 00:46:59 So James is guaranteeing October baseball in Philadelphia. Lock it in. I might tear up. I really am. Just thinking about it gets me all warm and fuzzy inside. So, you know, a lot of people accuse me, I would say, of being over the top. A little bit. Being optimistic about the Phillies.
Starting point is 00:47:16 You're just emotional either way. Like, you want to fire everyone, cut everyone when they're bad. And then when this is happening, Moniac's all-famer. The best Mickey ever to play baseball is what I heard. And the best left-handed hitter in the team right now. But to my credit,
Starting point is 00:47:33 my win total is the last couple years. To my credit, by the way. My win total the last couple years has been lower than everyone else's. I was 86 and 84 the last couple years, so I never really fully bought in. First time, I'm going over 91. I think they win 91 games.
Starting point is 00:47:48 I just think that people are afraid to get there because they've let this team down. This whole city is truly being a bunch of cowards. Hard to blame them, though. It's been a decade. I know, but this... Also, again, like we just talked about, it's been
Starting point is 00:48:04 three straight years of this is the year, and then it wasn't the year, you know? And they die in September. Yeah, that's personal for you. We know what that's about, you and your September Phillies. Final out after a 15-5 loss in September is brutal. Yeah, well, listen, it's going to get longer this year because you guys both wanted AL baseball in the NL,
Starting point is 00:48:23 so I hope you enjoy your longer games. The Phillies need it. Oh, buddy. My bold take is that Mickey Moniak has a better rookie season than Bryson Stott. Wow, that is very bold. That is bold and an interesting take. Thanks, that's what I do, pal.
Starting point is 00:48:39 Do you notice how his take was one that didn't mean that they both couldn't be great? He found a way to- Right, just better. Better. One guy hits 300, one guy hits 330. There's no negative. Listen, Stoddy can have his little slap singles to the left side.
Starting point is 00:48:52 I'll take dingers. That's what I get out of Mickey Monia. How many home runs is Mickey Monia getting? 17. I would take that. In a second. You're a nine hitter? Wow.
Starting point is 00:49:00 From a guy that we didn't think was a major leaguer the half two months two weeks let's be honest the vast majority of philadelphia wrote this guy off as written this guy off you know imagine the last thing we'll talk about the last thing we'll hear could you imagine telling someone in this city two years ago that mickey moniak of the 2016 number one picks or top picks would be the one here playing well and the other guys would be gone. Mickey Moniak. No, I can't. I still don't really believe it. When you think about who was picked that year, I still really don't. Mickey Moniak is going to be
Starting point is 00:49:31 starting in center field for a playoff game this year for the Clayton Phils. He just keeps going. So you haven't won in the division? Yes. I think the Mets think they're already with DeGrom and Scherzer. They're already falling apart. Their lineup is so... signing Starling Marte.
Starting point is 00:49:49 Like, awesome. Cute little team you have there. And getting rid of Frey Freeman, like, there has to be some baseball gods that are like, you got rid of a guy that was the pillar to you winning a championship? I'm sorry. You're not winning the division. Acuna's not back till May. I will take the fills over all those teams.
Starting point is 00:50:04 Also, a magical run into late October to come back. And we just saw the Nationals fall apart the year after. They did. It's tough to do that, especially as a French, as your first World Series since 95. It's been a long time. It's tough to ratchet it back up after that and have that same sort of fire. Playoff baseball in Philadelphia.
Starting point is 00:50:22 You getting excited? I am getting excited. Yes, I can see it on your face. That's why we lead off I'm gonna see we'll see by the end of the night if my win total has jumped I'm at 86 but you guys are making me feel like I think this team stinks good pretty all right this was fun thank you guys for coming in high hopes pod hour when is the next podcast tomorrow night tomorrow night all right subscribe to high hopes podcast James Seltzer Jack Fritz thank you Ruben Amaro is going to join us next on the Phillies roundtable on sports radio 94 WIP

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