High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Boy, They Sure Feel A Lot Like Last Year!

Episode Date: April 6, 2026

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to the Phillies winning two games in Colorado and discuss Zack Wheeler's latest rehab start before previewing this week's series in San Francisco. Presented by Miller Lite. To purchase Ring The Bell by Jack Fritz and Kevin Reavy go to RingTheBellBook.com To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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On the Odyssey app and Sports Radio 94, WIP. The crowd is singing, High Hope. I feel a little less alone. Yo is another edition of the I-Obs podcast sponsored by Miller-Light official partner of the Philadelphia Phillies tastes like Miller Time Philadelphia celebrate responsibly. So here's my thing that I'm starting with.

Are you just going to predict every series now? Because you've been calling them like right on the nose so far. But it's strong work by you so far. You're locked in right now. Yeah. So I was actually going to start the podcast by talking about you're watching too much baseball to where all your takes start running along in,

in one brain. Like I think I've consumed too much baseball. I really do. I think that the, it's overtaken the brain. But yeah, so far, listen,

when the team's pretty much the same, it's been for four seasons, it's good to know, you know them like the back of your hand sometimes. Yeah, that's right. That's what they pay us the big bucks. That's right.

That's right. Yeah, no, and look, and I think we all on Friday, you know, thrilled, the ball's flying out of the ballpark.

We're like, look at this. How about it? And then it stopped. Only guy hitting out the ballpark was our guy, Mick. How about that? You know, shout out to Mick. It couldn't catch the ball, but you know. Lost it in the sun. A couple times. A couple times, man. It is. That's one of the weirdest things. It's, it'll always feel weird when a guy, even if you know he can't see it, when a guy's there and the ball drops like four feet from him is just such a surreal feeling when you're watching a baseball game every time it happens. Well, it's also the single worst feeling, I think, to happen. on a baseball field when you lose it.

Awful. Awful. If you're trying to find it, you're like looking, you're like, I don't have it, I'll have it. Oh, it's the worst. Well, it's part of the reason why I think baseball holds up so well is that every little leaguer and big leaguer can both relate to that exact moment where you just, you feel like you want to die inside. Well, and it reminds you too of like, you know, we get so, you, to the point of watching so much baseball, you get so used to being like, well, that's an out.

That's now. And it reminds you, like, baseball. it's not always going to play out exactly as you think it is. And, you know, it's part of why I just put the ball and play. Just put the ball in the way. It's right. It's right. It's right.

Put pressure on the defense, Jack. That's what I'm saying. All right. My college coach used to say there's no bad hops in the sky. That's right. He's right. His offensive strategy was to power ground balls. I know that I know everyone's strategy now.

That's a real new age strategy. That's what they're talking about these days. Yes. Well, I remember I walked in my freshman year. He's like, all right. I got a new plan for the offense this year. You know, who's it screwed? You said this thing where there was a line.

He put a like a shoestring line or above the batting cage. And if it hit above that. Oh, my God. Even if it was smoked, right? Like a smoke, it's going to be a home run. You had to go, the hitters had to go run. This is like Lou Brown and Willie May's Hayes type stuff. He felt like he was reinventing baseball.

I love coach. But, man, like, it was so funny to watch him just like, hey, we're going to rip the ball into the ground. I don't get. And you know who would have been a great husky? Justin Crawford. Bomer. Yeah, sure. So speed is the problem. Not the best way of going about it with Bomer. Bone would have been all piece sack. Yeah. Yeah. In leading the league in double plays, that's for sure. Yeah. All right. Speaking of Bome, let's get into it. Because I do think that it's been kind of a, the season has kind of started exactly how fans feel. You know, they're five and four kind of right down. in the middle. The starting pitching has been mostly good.

You know, we've had some moments. Taiwan is Taiwan, but, you know, Nola recovered from his first start. Lazzardo recovered and we'll get into their specific, you know, outings and whatnot. But, you know, the bat's cold, kind of winning close games, losing close games. Like, it's just kind of so far they've been exactly who everyone thought they were, Jack. Like almost to like an obnoxious level. Yeah, my headline of the podcast was going to be they're the same. Yes, that's my point's crazy.

It's like you're exactly the same. They are, they win the same, they lose the same. The starting pitching is still really good. I mean, Lazzardo generated 23 whiffs. Awesome. 23 whiffs on Saturday. The record is, the record is that you want to tie with Jacob de Grom. So Jacob de Grom, so this is in a game in Colorado you're talking about.

Yes, yes. In a game in Colorado, the most whiffs ever generated in a game was 27. Two pitchers have done it. Jacob de Grama is one. I'm not even going to let you guess the other one because there's no way to ever get it. And that is Hayden Birdsong. Oh, I would have gotten it. Totally would have gotten it.

Former member of the first list guy. Princeless guy. Yeah, of course. I think he just got her. Anyway. So you did it last year then because he's only been a league for a year. Yeah. Was he the last year or 24?

It might have been two years. Whatever. Yeah, yeah. So 23 swings and misses, which is, which is crazy, especially up there. Because he is a, you know, a heavy slider. sweeper guy now. Usually don't sweep as much in the high in the high Colorado air. So yeah, no, they, but but offensively, you know, I, I feel pretty good about, pretty good about where Tray's at. I think that he is recovered from the beginning of the season, made some adjustment

Schwabber I just never get too concerned about. And he was like this close from from time that game up yesterday. Oh, God, I was so annoying. If he had just gotten a touch more of it, would have been out. Yeah. Bryce, actually, like, I don't leave this weekend feeling like, concerned about. I thought he was on balance. I thought he smoked some balls on Saturday. Um, there just happened to be at people. And yesterday wasn't his day. You know, not every offer is, is the same. I thought a Saturday offer was not that bad. And I thought yesterday was a bad day. Uh, but he also was really good on Friday. And then, uh, you know, boom and start. You just, so those are the guys I wanted to like, say if you didn't, I wanted to

specifically bring up because to your point in the Harper thing, I'm sure a lot of people are concerned. And I'm not, I'm with you. I'm not as concerned so far. I feel like kind of okay with Harper, despite the numbers looking ugly. I mean, Bowman, stop.

We did this whole day. I've done spring training. Oh my God. They looks at a boom at like a 930 OPS in spring. I think stop is over a thousand. And I mean, booms batting 176. I think stop being like 222 or something.

Now stop some great defense, you know, as we expect this weekend. But those guys are, and Marsh, shout out to Marsh. Marsh has been really good so far. those two guys are especially Bome in the cleanup spot,

such an important part of this offense. And it's been an ugly start, you know, in big years. I mean, BOM's in a contract year, you know? Yeah. So, by the way, have you seen as many 170 averages as I feel like we've seen in baseball this year? It's unbelievable. And I feel like anyone who played the WBC has been almost like it's like a plague right now. Like a lot of those guys are struggling.

Yeah, I mean, besides like the Marlins where it feels like they have a bunch of guys sitting in 300s. Every time I look at- Otto Lopez and all these guys just crushing it down there. Every time I look at a lineup now when they're put out, it's like 175, 150 something.

I just, you know, not a hot start for offenses around the league. But yeah, I mean, shame on me times a million. It's every year with these two

where it's just like, I swear, I promise, this is going to be it. And then it's just not. Now, I don't know, man.

Look, it's what, nine games. Let's not, you know, get carried away with anything that we say. But, you know, all we can react to is nine games. Yeah, but the problem is that they look exactly the same. I mean, but the, for as infuriating as the double plays are with bone, or just the ground balls, well, equally as infuriating is the jam shots. Oh, I know.

Weakly get hit to the second baseman. Yeah, I don't know. I, like, obviously, they'll have their moments this year. They'll turn it up. They're not going to hit. I'm talking about 176. Yeah, exactly. But it just feels so much more like the same.

It's why we talked about last podcast, about how Adolus is the biggest swing guy on this team. And he's been good. He's been really good. I mean, the home run yesterday was just grown man strength, being able to take that ball out the opposite way. I think he's doing a conscious effort to let the ball travel as far as he can.

I can't wait for the first time. He's going to pull one. I mean, it's going to travel 450 feet. But at least from being an overall, hitter. I think he has looked better as an overall hitter than I expected. And he is still smoking the baseball. It seems like once a game, it's either right at someone or in for a hit. And that, that just matters. I mean, it's a lot like early Schwerber here where, you know, Schwerver was striking out a good amount, but he's also hit the ball hard.

Adela struck out a couple times on Saturday. It was annoying. But overall, whatever, it's, it's been better than I thought. And by the way, I think he's saved two games. Dude, he is, it is one of those things. It is one of the, just in terms of forgetting metrics, forgetting numbers, like specific things, just in terms of watching a team play every day, you know, for, like we do, one season of the next, it feels just defensively, one of the biggest upgrades I remember, just when I'm watching a game, like, the balls get hit and I'm like, well, he's not getting that, because I'm used to that no chance of getting it. And he gets to every one, every single time, like, he's not going to get to it.

The dude gets to it. And sometimes easily, like, just like how it feels watching it, it feels like a massive upgrade. when you watch it. You know what I mean? Like just the way you feel when the ball gets hit. Well, I tell you what, there's no, there's no feeling in the world with baseball quite like seeing a guy that knows that it played defense out there after going through what we've gone through.

Totally. So, I mean, I remember even Marsh, who is not a great defensive center fielder. When we got him, we were like, look at that. Oh, my goodness. Yeah, yeah, you're right. Like, he could just do it all. He can do it all. So, yeah, no, but it's always that that catch on Saturday was huge.

That saved the game for being tied. And a painter start, I mean, that's a two-run double if Nick Castellanos is out there. Totally. So, I mean, especially with how they're going offensively right now, run prevention is the biggest word in baseball right now. It's like, ooh, our run prevention strategy rather than just defense, you know, we got to have like a fancy title for everything. You can't just call it a slur, it's got to be a sweeper.

You're so right. So our run prevention strategy. but it is it is refreshing to watch him out there and I can't wait to really throw someone out because he's got a hoag. Yeah, I know. He's been close. He had that one at third where I ended up bouncing off the guy

and it like the throw was perfect. It was like it just hit the guy in the head as he was diving but if the guy's head's not there, it's right in the glove and it's like he has a pose out there. I'm with you like the first time he guns someone down, it's going to be a real throw because to the point you just made, I mean the outside of just having bad defenders for the most part, you know, outside of Roas. We haven't, and we talked about this, but we did, none of those guys had arms.

Nobody. It feels like a foreign concept to have an arm in the out there. Yeah, yeah, ever since like Bryce, when he threw out of Victor Oblis. But yeah, so, and even defensively as a whole, you know, Scott had some great plays over the weekend. Bryce is really good at first. Cropper, again, he continues to impress me. Yeah, he's been really solid. It's just, it's just, you can tell with the center fielder pretty quickly from the standpoint of

does he just go? Like, is there a hesitation? So, and the difference between Marsh and him and, you know, Rojas is a great defender. But like Crawford and Marsh is, Marsh always hesitates. Like when the ball's hit, he stops rather than, rather than reacts to it, which is so crazy because he's so freaking good at left. Yeah. I mean, he played the game, the catchy one to end the game to win that game.

The Nationals game. That was a great reading started back on an immediate, yeah, it started back on it immediately. And it was a great play. You're so right. Like in left field, it feels like he, maybe it's. just he gets good jumps off the, like he gets good reads off the bat there. I don't know what it is, but it is different. Yeah.

So, but even defensive, I mean, BOM, I think is obviously fine. We'll get to the bats, whatever. And I think Trace is taking a step forward as well. I mean, that play on Saturday, the one up the middle where it looked like J-roll. The spin, that was awesome. Yeah. And I'll give him a little bit of a break on the one, the, maybe the eighth inning. That ball was ripped.

And it was one of those ones where it was it. He elated a little bit. He could have, like, you're literally coach saying, get in front of the baseball. Get your body in front of it. Yeah, exactly. It's coming 110 miles an hour. So, so I'll give him a little bit of grace on that because I think overall he's been really good defensively. And, and JT's JT. But I think, you know, it's crazy about JT. They mentioned this on a broadcast. I think Saturday night. He's number one in the pitch thing. Yeah. In framing this year. It's unbelievable. And he's perfect in the ABS calls too. He hasn't like when he's called for it. He hasn't been wrong yet.

Yeah. Well, the framing is the one that's exciting there. I mean, he was, because that was an issue. I remember last year, you were, you were, you were, you were, you're panic about it. Well, he's just taking strikes out of the zone. I mean, I mean, just stick it at the bottom. I mean, get under the gluck, get under it and stick it. You don't need to take it out of the zone.

You cost your picture strikes. Come on, J.T. lock in. And it seems like, you know, maybe the extra million. Maybe he, maybe. That's what it was. Yeah. Maybe he for 14 million. He wasn't going to do it.

But they were like, hey, we'll give you the extra million. if you get under the baseball. Well, I will say, and to that point of the fact that he's making $15 million this year and next year and the year after that, like, he has to be great defensively. Because it's just what it is. I mean, you could just see it. He looks old at the plate. He does, and he'll have moments and whatever.

But to come anywhere close to making this contract not a massive overpay, he's got to be one of the best defenders in the league. That's what they're paying for now. Totally. And the pitching staff has to continue to pitch the way they have, because that's also a part of it. But, I mean, it feels like we are getting closer. I mean, you know, it's only nine games. So maybe this is a May 1st discussion.

But, I mean, the lineup should probably be Turner, Schwabre, Harper, Adolice, Marsh, Bome, Crawford, Real Muto, stop. Yep, that's the lineup. That's it. Yeah. Let's stop be a pest at the bottom. I think batting Crawford night's kind of a waste. I mean, he doesn't get to steal as much as you would like him to steal.

I mentioned him batting fifth. And I would push back a little bit on fifth. Seventh makes all the sense in the world. Like that's a perfect spot. Especially with the way Marsh is sitting. Like, Marsha just at fifth against him. Marsha at fifth.

Yes. And Stott, there's too much pressure on him at five. Like, what are we doing here? Like, Marsh has been awesome. Stott could be the most miscast about five holder in the league right now.

It's unbelievable. He is so, like, it's like the worst spot in the lineup for him just in skill set wise. Just bat him. Just bat him nine. Let him be a pest. Let him foul pitches off.

Let him like, you know, do that kind of stuff. and let Crawford bat's seventh. He's a similar-ish hitter to stop. But at least if he has JT behind him, and then stop behind him and stop, by the way, good bat to ball guy.

Maybe you can do a little hit and run action. I don't know. But let him use his wheels that way. And he stole his first bag the other night in game eight, game nine, nine yesterday. Was he yesterday? Yeah, you're right.

It was yesterday. I think you're right. I think it was yesterday. That should not happen. I mean, the guys are the guys are 45 still guys. He's the fastest people in the league. Literally, one of the fastest guys in the league. But when he's back,

batting ninth, it's just he has Trey and Schwerber and Harper behind him. He's not going to run and he shouldn't run. I don't want him to run. But in seventh, I want him to run. It makes all the sense in the world. And then even added in the fact that if you wanted to say, all right, we're putting him a nine, no pressure, start the year. Like, he's batting free 21.

He's good. Like this guy can handle the league, I think. You know, he'll have his ups and downs and stuff, but it's not going to be too big for him. You don't need to, like, you know, baby him. Move him up in the line. I totally agree. Well, I thought, so I, I misrememberment.

I remember, I guess, because I had this idea that, and maybe in the regular season he did, and that's where I got my, my things mixed up here. But I swore Segorah bat in fifth in 22. And in the playoffs, he was hitting eight. Yeah, yeah, I remember him ending second for a while, but I don't, yeah, that, that's interesting, you know, maybe we talked about in the pod and he probably should have at a certain. I don't know, but he was like eighth. And I guess, like, you know, the idea was him and style off the bottom just being, you know,

pests in a way. but I because I thought he was kind of in the middle like that that that kind of annoying guy that you don't want to face after you go through some of the big boppers and an annoying bat to ball guy because he's kind of who cropper reminds me up in a way but yeah no he was batting eighth for those teams so that kind of put my one point completely away so we'll settle for seven we'll settle yeah honestly I think that lineup and I you know I understand that they probably maybe they want to wait a little longer before the boom a dolea switch or whatever but if this keeps up, I mean, forgetting anything else,

just Adolus and Marsh have been their two best hitters, you know, along with Schwerber, I guess, you know, like you, I mean, Crawford, ironically, you got, you have to move Marsh up too. I mean, it's just, it just makes more sense. You get those guys more at bats, get them in more advantageous spot. So I'm fully with you and I do think it should be sooner rather than later. Yeah, yeah. And Marsh is so funny.

Like I, because you look at the numbers and he's been really good for a long stretch. Yeah, if you go back to, you know, when he, what was it, O for April? From then on last year, he's been like a 300 hitter, you know? I know. I know. And again, by Babip, he's one of the best hitters of all time. And it keeps happening too. So he's been around long enough where you start to look at that and say that's not like a fluky thing.

Like he just gets on base when he puts the ball in play, you know? Yeah. Yeah. Now, again, should never face a left end of pitcher. And by the way, these teams with, this cute little. Now, they got to make teams pay,

but it is so annoying when they start up a little left. Lefty to death, man, it's so annoying. I feel like we've seen more lefties in the first nine games. And it's crazy.

It is so annoying. And look, it only, you know, he hasn't played much. I think he's only got like seven or your bats, but the auto, they have to figure the auto thing out.

You know what I mean? Like, if auto's the answer for that, like, that spot is important because to your point, Marst should not play against lefties, certainly tough lefties. like they need with how big marsh has been offensively for them you can't just like you need

someone who's going to come and give you something when marsh isn't you know well yeah i mean auto is is the one that they're going to give the i know i know but well what's what's interesting is and they have till july he doesn't have an opt out until july but if auto can't or or we're struggling there and you know dylan more's not here for his bat we know that he's here to play every single position besides catcher. I mean, Brian Dela Cruz at three home runs over the weekend. He has had some big league success before. He was the against us with the Marlins.

We've seen him annoy us before. The Dominican Winter League MVP, who could forget, who forget? Brian Dela Cruz. And if you squint, if you squint, you just put them side by side. It's not the same little twirl at the beginning, but it's similar finish. You see a little Jason Worth. Okay. Yeah, sure do.

just a smidge a smidge of worth smidge at work maybe he's the next season worth who knows but yeah I mean so he can't opt out until July so he's here no matter what so you don't have to rush him up here

I think I want to give Otto some time and it's not like he's played enough to really no no that's why I said it's only been like seven or eight bats he hasn't gotten an opportunity yet yeah yeah but he's also going to have to like really make the most of those opportunities yeah one he's also never really proven at the major level

like I like Otto he's tough he's all it's up but like he has yet to have real success at the major league level. We don't know that he can, you know. He kind of feels like someone, and I think he's a good player, but he kind of feels like like someone that one has to get adjusted to being a bench player. He reminds me so much of Davis Schneider up in Toronto. Yeah, where, but he also could just be a guy that has to go to a 60-win baseball team

and play every day and find his footing from that standpoint. Because I think the bat's real. I do like the bat a lot. But it's tough when you don't play to be able to just get in there against left-in-end pitching, also have the pressure of like, I got to perform or else I'm not going to be up here. It's a lot for a young player. So, you know, it's where, like a Robbie Ref Snyder gets. Yeah.

Or Miguel and Duhar or any of these guys who we talked about is a potential option for that platoon. But even, you know, and Duhar had to bounce around a million teams. Oh, totally. Yeah, you did. You're right. Kind of finding his footing. So, we'll see. I don't want to get too far ahead of ourselves,

but Delacruz is one to certainly monitor from the standpoint of like has had big league success before and currently crushing minorly pitching and at a great time. And has a little pop like you mentioned. You know, that's kind of what you get them for, which they can use obviously. All right, let's flip over to the pitching side before we get to take back a little later.

Look, the good, Nola, I know the Rocky stink and they're not a very good lineup. And we saw that all weekend. I mean, even though they beat us when they scored, know, one, two, and four, whatever it was, or one, you know, they, they, they, they, they, they were, they were not a, they are not a powerful offense. But still, no luck going into that spot, you know, you, I think, you know, it helps when you get an eight run lead pretty

quickly helps you settle in and whatnot. But was it six and a third, six and two thirds one run. Like nine case, heart. And nine keys, that was heartening to see no matter who the opponent is. Yeah, when I thought was massive from the standpoint of, he kept the ball down. Like the ball was down in Colorado no less, yeah. Ball was down, down, down. And, you know, one of the things about pitching with the lead is like sometimes you can take your foot off the gas a little bit. So it's not always the easiest thing in the world.

And to his credit, he didn't do that. I also, I don't know, maybe it was the camera angle. I couldn't tell if it was a camera angle or not, and I haven't done the, I haven't looked at the numbers on it or not or anything yet. But it looks like his curveball has more of a vertical shape to it this year. I didn't, I feel like I had more 12. Yeah, it's not a 126. But it looked like it had more 12-6 movement than it's had in the past.

You know, maybe that's part of the adjustment on that pitch this year is like, you know, sometimes when he tries to sweep it too much, it stays elevated a little bit and hitters can just put the bat on it. Whereas if it goes more 12-6, maybe he can generate more swing and miss on it. And it was great. It was great on Friday. So, again, I think it might have just been the camera angle, but I was a little surprised at how vertical his curveball was. it usually does have a more sweeper movement to it. And then I still think like, well, I actually think his, his, he calls it a cutter and

they're going to call it a cutter and that's fine. It's just not. It's more like a slider because it moves too much. Like it's a cutter, well, maybe more just spoiled from watching like Mariana Rivera and Roy Halliday to where they can hold it on a plane for a long time and then have it cut. but this thing moves too much to be it's it's just it moves more like a slider so so i think all this stuff had way more life on it like that was the life that we saw at the wbc that it was it was getting on hitters it was 93 uh it had again it had the life back to it curb ball was sharp but you know

if he can get that life back have a little bit more vertical on his curveball and then throw that cutter where it's really more like a slider that moves more horizontal, at least that's three different looks. And then the change-up off that, which I think this is the best of change-up has looked even going back to the WBC. And I would like him to throw it more. He hasn't yet, but maybe this is one of those things where break glass in case of emergency

or multiple times through the league, let's not throw everything at them and whatever. So I was a really, really impressive Nola start. And I think we could pretty much just chalk up the Rangers game to it being full. 40 degrees in windy. Yeah, because that's what it looked like. It looked like they were freezing.

It looks like the ball. He's not great. He wasn't horrible. He gave up a couple of homers, but he wasn't like horrible in that game. The final line, five and three runs wasn't good, but I didn't watch that game thinking like Noel is a disaster in this game.

You know, it just felt like the first inning homer. It was like, oh, here we go. But it wasn't like a disaster. You know what I mean? Yeah. No,

I don't think so at all. So yeah, I was, I was really impressed by Knowles. And certainly, I mean, that's how he looked in the world baseball. classic. And if you get that version of Nola, especially with, well, you know, gets it a little bit later, but we'll see with all wheels. Um, you know, like they need, they need Nola to be not what he was last year and not a four year four to four or five year a guy. Like if he can get in the threes, it's a huge, huge win for the stand. Yeah, he's a massive swing guy for them, especially in terms of like regular season wins. Obviously the playoffs matter. But in terms of just this team being able to do what they've done the last few years and get in the 90s, like,

They need Nola to give them good starts because they're not going to have Wheeler for a little bit longer because you've got these Taiwan starts. And because like, and we'll get to Payner tonight and all that, but you can't count on Painter to be great all year long or even to give you 200 innings or anything like that. So Nola really is a super important guy for this team. Let's just get to Wheeler now because there's no reason to ask a question about Taiwan. He is what he is. We know it.

Like, you know, whatever, the Wheeler thing. So if people didn't see it if they're not, you know, locked in, had a good first start in the miners, second start, not as good. and gave up five runs, I believe, you know, started out well and then kind of fell apart, the Wheeler thing. Well, so I want this to be put out there. It kind of got screwed in that inning. I mean, it was first second two.

I love this. Thank you. Well, it was first and second two outs. A ball, again, the wall, I believe, is 308. So, which is not far at all. Yes, yes. And the left fielders stopped on the warning track and didn't go for it. So it was, it's, it fell on the warning track where if he just catches it, he's out of the

inning. So now after that, because that two runs came in on that, after that, runner on second base, he hit the next guy and the next guy blasted one, a 92 mile an hour fastball. So like, that was a little jarring. And honestly, watching the whole start and seeing him being 92 was pretty jarring, just from what we're used to with Zach Wheeler. And it looked like he was laboring. So I think a couple things.

One, you know, this is the first time he's had to, he's had to get it back up after, you know. I love the pause. You know, like, yeah, I'm just going to do it. Well, because he went five days ago. Like, he's on his regular rest. Right. This is his first time he said to do it with the shoulder. I think that attributed to the fatigue.

Maybe they give him more rest this time out and try to get him back. So I think that that has a lot to do with it, you know, just getting the arm back in. to pitching shape. Now, I will say, I don't think the basketball had great life to it. And, like, I, he threw, I thought he threw more, you know, two seam sinkers, whatever.

But I think it's one of these things where he's still coming back from the injury. This is his first time doing it, like, in what is this regular regular arrest. And we're now on Velo watch, because if he's 92, 93, it's going to look a lot like some Nola starts where it's going to miss down. He's going to have to learn how to pitch that way, too.

He's going to have to adjust his other speeds and find a way to mix and match better. Yeah. And you feel good about his off speed. But some of what Wheeler's been able to get away with off speed-wise over the last couple of years is because his fastball is so dominant that his awesome speed doesn't have to be that great. You know, but whereas. Yeah. But if it's fastball's not back, like the secondary stuff really has to take a step forward. because if his fastball is 92-93,

I mean, you're going to see some things like you saw from. I don't know who hit the home run, but it was a lefty hitter where if it's down and he misses down, if it's up, it's still a pretty good pitch, because I think it has good ride to it. But if it's down, major league hitters are not missing that pitch. They're just not.

So it was definitely concerning. It was jarring. But I'm more curious as to what the velocity is going to be and if they give him a little bit more, more rest in between starts. And maybe, you know, rather than two weeks, he's going to be back. Maybe let's wait until the end of the month before he's back. Well, look, here's my whole thing on it. I wasn't expecting him back originally to like June or like late May.

So every up until that start this weekend, like up until then, every single time the guy had done anything, it had been, this is better than we expected. This is at his schedule. He looks even better than he should right now. We finally got one. And honestly, him coming out of it and not like feeling pain and stuff like that, you know, I think this is this type of things to be expected. So I am, you know, if his velocity a month from now is still down and it's a, that's, that's a real problem and I start to get concerned.

But I still feel like he's been so far ahead of schedule that like I didn't expect his velocity to get back to where it will be quite yet anyway. So I'm not concerned, but I'm definitely paying attention. Yeah. Yeah. And he's going to have to, he's going to have to. he's going to have to really, really pitch if he's going to be even 95. 95, he can probably get away with.

But he's going to have to pitch. And I guess I just trust Zach Wheeler enough to know that is he going to be a, if the philosophy doesn't come back, is it realistic to expect him to be a two five guy? Probably not. But is it realistic enough to expect three to three five with his ability to pitch? I think that's fair. I totally agree. But we will, we'll see.

You know, they don't need to make a rush to judgment. which again, and also, not what we do. Don't rush him back. Like there is no, you know, him. Yep, coming back is the best version of Zach Willer that we can get is the most important thing by far. All right. Before we get to take back, the bullpen, you know, we've talked a little bit about it after the first series. But, you know, where are you at with the pen, nine games into the season?

It wasn't, you know, a bad series in Colorado. But, you know, it's been an up and down start to the season, I would say so far. well I guess I just trust I trust that Keller's going to be good more often than not I thought the CJ Abrams ball was like I mean I don't know how he hit it out I thought it was off the end of the bat and I thought it was good on Saturday we'd let the one you know but base knock guy got the second base and then he just mowed him down from there which that was good I mean duron we still have to accept that duron's going to have some hard contact yeah I totally if you're expecting him to never have hard contact and strike everyone out then you just have too high of expectations for

him. I mean, he's one of the best closures in baseball. He's not Mason Miller. You know? You're right. That's the difference. Like, he is maybe the fourth best closer. Whatever he is, Mason Miller is that next step up. But, like, Duran is still awesome and so better than most. He just has a few flaws. You know, like, you can run on him. It happens, you know? You can run on him and he, like, someone's going to square him up usually once an inning. And hopefully it's just right. And every once in a while, someone's going to square it up and get the right contact. It's going to go out of the park. Like stuff that you just, it's going to happen, you know? Yeah, but he's on pace for like 60 plus saves. Yeah, no, he's been good. So, yeah, so, and I tell you what, where you mocked me. Many mocked me when I said, Mesa stops taking an uptick.

No, I did not. But I think many did. But I'm, you know, I'm a P-SAC supporter. Yeah, many are talking about the Mesa uptick in stuff. He's good, man. He's looked really good. I think he says, he looks at it. You can see it eye test-wise.

The stuff looks like it has a little more juice to it. Yeah. Now he's hasn't pitched in any important time in an outing yet. So, you know, we'll see. But, you know, Kirkland coming back is going to be a big one once he's, once he's back in. I think we'll really settle in. But I think Backus, now Backus did have two scoreless addings this series.

The series was good. He was one that I was like, eh, maybe might have missed on him. But it's still against Wrighties. He's going to have some work to do there. But overall, I think they're going to settle into their roles. that we're going to settle in and do their job. I mean, Alvarado, again, it was a little concerning. He walked the guy and then made it a little bit hairier than it had to be,

but he got the shrink out. So he got there. So I don't know. I just, I expect the bullpen to be good. I expect them to be to figure it out. And there's been a little bit of issues, but nothing that I'm overly concerned about. So when Kirkring comes back, does he take Pops spot or Bally? Backus is the spot.

Hmm. That's a tough one. Because those are the two most likely candidates, you would say. Yeah. Meza, I guess theoretically, Maza just coming in the season, but he's been so much better. I feel like it'd be hard to. And do you need four lefties? That's my point.

That's why I'm written it. Like, Backus feels like the most likely one, but it might be amazing if they want to have a specific like lefty lefty thing like with Backus. I don't know. And I don't know Backus's options right now. And that's another important part of it. Yeah. but because Bolin has no options and but he's also under contract for 30 and they trade it I don't think

Bolins. I don't think he'd be yeah and they trade him for him. They think they believe in Bowen more than Pop or whatever, you know. They do, but at least the value of pop is that he can either come in when you're up six or down six where whereas like with Kirkering like Kirkring is obviously not going to do that. Backus doesn't feel like the guy that would do that. Oh, definitely not. Yeah.

So Backus is like a lefty situation. guy so whereas pop i think you know and then once lazar's back i think lazar comes back and he is the you know long man until until wheeler's back when and then Taiwan and so on it yeah because Taiwan's going to be a filly for life um but uh but yeah no i think when kirker comes back probably back is because maize has been so good and then pop is still the the really mop-up guy and it'd be a good outing. His last outing. Look, look, look the part. There you go. 97 with sync. Like, just freaking throw it in the middle and let it just do what it does.

Just let it do what it does. And his slider is just a spinner. It's truly horrendous pitch. But if he just throws that sinker down the middle, I think he could get out. And, and just go throw it. Just throw it down the middle and let it sink. That's all you got to do. It's about the easiest assignment you can give someone, right? Throw it down the middle, man. Just see what happens like it. All right, let's give the take back.

Well, who's ready to be annoyed by Oracle Park? So if you're not, well, yeah, if you're real quick, if you're not watching

the YouTube version of this, uh, are a phenomenal producer, uh, Tucker Bagley has put up a stat on here for us. Jack, uh, the Phillies are 28 and 55 lifetime in Oracle Park.

It is stunning. I, I can't, I keep looking at it. I mean, like, how is that possible? Like,

it's nuts. It's really insane. They, they stink out. there. 8 and 27 since 2014. Wow. Yeah.

It's just like, I know. It doesn't make sense. Like, what is it? It's different players. It's different teams, different times.

Like, it's just, I don't, like, there's just bad juju in that building for them or something. I don't know.

It's weird. Well, I think one of things is that, now maybe, maybe this is a good time to go out there because they're already. Three and seven and they're struggling. No.

Uh, maybe because it's, maybe because it's, they're used to playing in the cold. And, now that it's not going to surprise them. Maybe why they suck out there, it's because they usually go in the middle of summer

where it's super hot. And then it's all windy and cold and say, ah, not bad. It's like 55 degrees. So maybe that they're used to playing in the cold. Poor Adoles, clearly hates the cold more than any Philly. I know.

She's just like the ski-ass thing. It's like, man, it wasn't even that gold. It was 55, I think. It's like, wow, you're really cold, huh? I really don't like the cold. So maybe that's where we get some, maybe the Phillies go out there and take care of business.

But yeah, not a hot star for Tony V. You have Matt Chapman yelling at Casey Schmidt to catch the ball. It's a good teammate stuff. Tony V got ejected already. It's good. But don't you worry. The Phillies will heat them up. The Phillies will heat them up.

Oh, yeah. Get ready, San Francisco. You're about to go on a run. You're about to turn a corner. Cannot wait. I really hope I could stay up and watch Painter tonight. I don't know. 945 is now.

It's tough, man. It's tough. Yeah, it's really tough. But it's a shame. Painter makes it worth it. I agree with that. Seeing what the kid has. So looking forward to that, looking forward to see Painter and hopefully it doesn't have to do he did last time.

No, no. Just, you know, five innings two runs. Good ballpark for him too. Good ballpark for him. Yeah. What else do we have in here? Oh, I think I figured out one of the things I hate about ABS. Ooh, okay, good.

Because again, I stand by my. big fan so far of it. Again, I still, I'm waiting for it to grow on me. I really am. I'm waiting for it to grow on me. But the one thing that bothers me is like, dude, if it's four millimeters off the plate or whatever, like just, so I think it's changed to half the ball has to be on it. Oh, yeah.

So it's what, like, yes, I agree with you. When they show the thing and it's like just the very tip of the top of the ball is touching the line and that's a strike. I don't hate this, actually. I think this is a decent take. If half the ball can say it, then where I like ABS is if it's an obvious ball, or an obvious, whatever, it's an obvious call. Like, it's right down the middle and they call it a ball.

That's where I like the ABS. It's the freaking nonsense where it's on the corner and barely touching it where... I knew it. They really need to shame the on fire over that. But if half the ball is in, then that's a more egregious miss than that. I don't disagree with this. I don't hate this. Thank you.

Nees and take. Yeah. Thank you. Because I'm still trying to figure it out, you know, because I don't know why I don't like it. I'm sure, because I want to like it. I want them to get the calls right.

And I appreciate that aspect. And there is some entry with losing your challenges early. Totally. There's a little strategy to it and the player himself. Like it's putting a lot on the individual players of having to make these calls for their team in the moment. Like, I do think there's some fascinating stuff like that, you know?

By the way. And seeing like who's great. Like seeing like if JT just continues, then we're like, all right, that dude just knows what the strategy. strike so it should be better than other like it's fascinating you know well that layers to it and to that point it is impressive how they don't have the box i know that's what i'm saying like these guys are doing

it just by feel and like you know it's like it's like it is and and and and by the way this is for uh this is for there's two things you got to know about me is uh one if i ever get kidnapped i will give away every secret you want uh just we'll whatever you want yeah don't don't you have to totally don't you have to word to me or anything. I'm just, I'll just say what you want. I'll do it. I'll do it. Whatever. So for those of you thinking about kidnapping me, I will, uh, whatever, like, I'll give up whoever. I'll be, you know, a rap. I don't care. That's good. Good. I like that. I'm happy to know that. And two, too, if I was a pitcher during ABS, I'd be tapping that in the first. Oh, I know you would. It'd be like every single time. Oh, wait. What do you mean I'm out of him? I'm out of him. I'm out. My first two pitches, I called it. I'm out. I'm out. I'm tired out here, blue. I want to go home. Get it's a strike. It's a strike. All day. All day. Also,

why is every team that sucks, like the nationals and collars and Rockies? Why are they also bad at ABS? Like, why it's so funny. You know, it's like they don't look at the, like they didn't put any time into it,

maybe. I mean, it's an interesting thought. If that plays out, that would be interesting if bad organizations are bad at that. It's, that says something.

You know, I don't know what. Also says a lot of players are fighting for their lives, you know, that's true too. And the games matter more as they cared more. Yeah, there's probably some reasons.

There's probably some other things to it. It makes sense. Yeah, a little logic in there, yeah. Yeah, so that's my thing. I think if we've trained to half the ball in the strike zone, I'd be more prone to like it. I don't hate it. It's the little corner things.

It's like, ooh, idiot. Yeah, not bad. Don't answer it. And then the only other thing I have is this part of, like, again, I've consumed a lot of baseball the first two weeks. Not only, hold on, by the way, did you watch the big inning or no? So I didn't. So we were in Delaware for, you know, with Emily's family.

And then Saturday night was Emily's birthday. So we went to the movies and we just hung out and stuff. So I didn't get a chance, but I'm definitely going to. I instead, I forgot at the end of that, I'm watching the Angels Mariners game back and forth. The Angels went again. Was that the Adel three home run? No, so I wish I were watching that one. I watched the next day's game.

So less exciting. But yeah, I got to do the beginning. It's my bad. Emerson Hancock shoved again. That was good to say. Finally, Emerson Hancock, figuring it out. By the way, Emerson Hancock really just feels like a, like a British. Yeah, but like a British.

Sure. Writer or something. Yeah, a revolution. I could see that like a mystery writer or something. And that's a handcock. Yeah, I can see that. It's good work by you. By the way, with the, uh, damn it.

Oh, oh, the angels. How did we not talk about the fact that Jordan Romano is the closer for the angels? He's been pretty good. Is it unbelievable? It just, if you told, if you told, if you. rounded up 100 Phillies fans on the street and said, do you think Jordan Romano still pitches in baseball? I think 100 would say no, you know?

Well, I mean, that Angels team is just a hodgepodge of, has been major league players. Oh, it's unbelievable. Unbelievable. Every time. Every time. And like Zach Netto, it was amazing. I love Zach Netto.

He's my favorite. Only because I picked him up on drafted last year. He's trying to 26 home runs. Anyway, no. So, yeah, so Friday night, of course, once you get done watching the Phillies, which was a laffer, then you get a little annoyed by wheels. Like, I didn't need to see that. Then you turn on the first game of the year for your clear water threshers. Oh, buddy.

And Gagewood just goes shove city. I mean, shove city, seven strikeouts and four innings. one walk. He, so he is not going to last long in the minor leagues. Love this. He is. Love this. He eventually is going to have to learn a change up.

He flashed like two of them and it was like, it's there. It's right there, gauge. It's right there. He's throwing this power slider more than his power curveball. And the fastball is just a unicorn. It is a, it is. a special. And you know, dude,

he is the most... He's a dog, right? I mean, it just seems like a dog, this guy. He's the most Billy prospect I've ever seen in my life. I mean, he takes the ball and he's in your face. He is re-frikin lentless, this guy.

Ah, he, it's a, it is a special, special fastball. So he was really good. Sean Youngerman was really good because he had a little bit of a shaky spring breakout game but Sean Youngerman who I think could be like a four or five starter for this team he was also really good in his his treacher's debut but gauge gauge wood oh my goodness like get him to Jersey shore by May get him to Redding by June

and let's see where we're at around the trade done line if we need to bring them up I mean I don't know where they're going to be rotation wise but he there's no reason why I don't think he could The fastball's there. Fastball's there. Everything else is there. It's there. It's there. It's there. It's there. It's there. It's there. It's there. It's there. It's there. It's there. It's there. That's all. That's all you got. It's a beautiful thing. Yeah. All right. So we got the giants and then the diamond X as we get. Is that right? Sounds about right. Unfortunately, I'm in a day-to-day part of my life. So I don't look ahead. Bro, I know that game.

I legitimately don't look ahead to... I feel like it's a dime. I feel pretty... It is dimebacks. There you go. Oh, they got Soroka on Friday night. Oh, buddy. That is going to be exciting.

So it goes, it goes Painter versus Hauser tonight, which is the Phil's win. Adrian Houser, like the Brewers, that guy? Yeah, yeah. I didn't know he's a giant. How about that? Harper going yard, too,

he smoked him in the World Baseball Classic. Love it. The, uh, in the warm-up game, the exhibition game. And then Sanchez versus Robbie Ray, that feels like a classic one-nothing game. and don't know what way is going to go. Oh, yeah.

Feels like one of those. And then Wednesday is Nola versus Tyler Malley. So. All right. Feeling it? I was going to ask you because like it would be acceptable to say one of three because it's Oracle Park. We're doing two or three.

Two three. Let's get it. Go on, man. And Bryce shows out for Tony V. That's my prediction. Yeah, like that. This gets Bryce going. Seeing Tony V gets it.

It's just the juice. he needed. Five hits, five hits, two home runs. Oh, give it to me, please. Maybe one into McCovey Cove. Can we do that? I want, I want all left center field gap. I love it. I want one in it. I want one in it, just because it's so cool.

Yeah, it's the best. You know, Schwerber goes to McCove. There you go. I like that. All right. All right. Either way, we'll be back on Thursday after the series. So like, you know, please don't talk in San Francisco.

Please, please, please don't talk in San Francisco. All right. We'll talk to guys Thursday. Until then, let's Fritz himself.