High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Bringing the Joy Back to Phillies Baseball

Episode Date: August 30, 2019

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz recap the Phillies taking two of three from the Pirates, Sean Rodriguez's dumb comments, and more. See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Introducing TD Insurance for Business, with customized coverage options for your business. Because at TD Insurance, we understand that your business is unique, so your business insurance should be too. Contact a licensed TD Insurance advisor to learn more. This episode is brought to you a Mazda, you'll find out why RSUVs won more 2024 IIHS top safety picks than any other brand as of June 2024. Find out what makes Mazda different at Mazda.ca. Hi, this is Bryson Stott, first round draft pick of the Philadelphia Phillies. And you're listening to the High Hopes podcast with James Seltzer and Jack Fritz. This is the High Hopes Podcast with James Seltzer and Jack Fritz. This is the High Hopes Podcast.

High Hopes. It's a bunch of baseball nerds talking about the Philadelphia Phillies on Radio.com and Sports Radio 94 WIP. Yo! It is another edition of the High Hopes Podcast. We get excited about two or three again, Jack. It's too early for a yo that loud. Yeah, I know.

It is early in the morning. We were planning on recording. Is this our first morning podcast? I think it's our first morning podcast. Jack, I think if I had to guess, I know that I'm a morning person. I get going pretty quickly guessing you are not if I know you pretty well. Why? Is that because I'm a morning person. I get going pretty quickly guessing you are not if I know you pretty well.

Why? Is that because I'm slightly overweight? Overweight people can't be. Why do you have to go there? Well, listen, I kind of just feel like you're an all the time high wire guy. I don't think it matters if it's morning. It's not not true. I'll say that.

Yeah, I know. Zoe is probably like just trying to sleep but you come in like wake her up all excited about something so honestly i feel bad i feel bad for the kid honestly yeah most people do i think that's a pretty uh it's a pretty fair thing to say all right fritzy let's uh let's dive into this as look man this really steam is the we're back i just i i the amount of of we're out we're back we're out we're back do you ever remember a team that we are it's it's august 30th it's about to be september we're about to be in the last month of the season they're in it they're right there do you ever remember a team that was so hot and cold?

No. I mean, like last year's team wasn't even this weird. It was like last year's team was pretty good and then just fell off the face of the earth. And then, I mean, like during the runs, I don't know, like the 0-9 team wasn't very good for most of the regular season and then they kind of figured it out and went on a little bit of a run and obviously made the world series after they got cliff lee um but i never experienced a team that i know is bad but is also in the playoff it's a good way to put it they're not they're not a very good baseball team but they're

also in the run so we're gonna get behind them're going to be excited for a little bit of a wild card fever in South Philly. But they're just, now they're fighting with their fans. This team just has it all. I was not, of all the narratives I was expecting for the end of the season, Phillies versus their fan base was not what I was expecting, Jack. I did not see that coming. No, but if you're a player on that team, you're just frustrated with it's only negative

when you're talking about the Phillies. Imagine you're on a team, and you're in a playoff run the entire season. You've been in first place in your division and whatnot. You're in a playoff run, and you know you're not that great, but the entire fan base is just negative about your team eventually it's starting to wear thin and this week it broke

everyone everyone broke this week well yeah you could say let's dive into that let's let's start there i guess obviously they do take two or three from p. And an exciting win on Monday night. It was a frustrating game. But ultimately, they came out on top as Sean Rodriguez, his welcome to Philadelphia moments. Moments. Moments. As he hit the homer. That was one. But then my man, my man, comes out and calls Van Mee's entitled.

Maybe not the best approach. Look, I think think and we'll dive into what sean had to say um and also in his apology what he had to say but what's your overall take it seems like you're kind of more on the you understand where he was coming from side yeah i think the the sean rodriguez thing got blown way out of proportion just because he said the word entitled. And that was probably the wrong word to say. All right, definitely the wrong word to say. He was an idiot.

Dude, like, come on. I know. Realize the position you're in that you've made $22 million playing baseball and people go out and work their asses off every day to be able to pay to go watch you play it. Ah, here we go. No, but seriously, like it was just, I'll get to my full point on Rodriguez, but he was incredibly stupid. I don't think there's any way you could say he wasn't.

His words were stupid, but I really appreciated what he did, actually. Like I think what people are just totally missing here is that it's clear that Reese Hoskins is down, and it's clear that Reese Hoskins is is down and it's clear that Reese Hoskins is frustrated with with how his season's gone and obviously Reese Hoskins is in a major slump and Reese Hoskins is someone that we need to be our four-hole hitter on a championship team this team's going to be a a world series contender like we need Reese Hoskins to be our four-hole hitter is he capable of being a four-hole hitter I'm not sure and these last couple months have waned my confidence in that. But what Sean Rodriguez was trying to do

was he was just trying to stick up for Reese Hoskins because Reese Hoskins has been hearing it from fans. And for the most part of Reese Hoskins' career, he has been a good player for the Phillies that is mired in a long slump. And what he was trying to do was send a message to the fans and the fan base like, yo, I've been in this game for a while. I've been around great players. Reese Hoskins is a great player. He's going through a tough time.

Just back that guy and trust that guy and let him figure it out. And I think I almost respect him in a way for doing that. He basically sacrificed his own perception in this city. He's getting booed on doubles, which is crazy. He's getting booed in 12-3 games because of what he said. But what he was doing was backing up his teammate, and that shows how good of a teammate,

and it shows why Sean Rodriguez is still here. Everyone's like like oh my god michael franco why why is sean rodriguez still on the scene sean rodriguez is still on his team because last year this team crumbled when they had no veteran leadership in that locker room they did not have a good clubhouse culture and what sean rodriguez does and does bring is a clubhouse culture accountability and and just like a guy that's been around the game and is going to bring that level of, I guess, accountability up. I don't know.

But what he was trying to do was just try to stick up for his teammate. It's unfortunate that he said the word entitled. I think he came out and was like and approached the retouching thing different and didn't make it about him. It would have gone way better than it actually did. But I appreciate what Sean Rodriguez was trying to do.

And if we're still going to boo him this weekend, I think it's embarrassing. I just think it's embarrassing to the entire city to continue to boo this guy. He kind of apologized. The entitled word was stupid. But honestly, I just think that he was trying to stay up for his teammate, and I think that's cool

ah this is some real Sean Rodriguez love coming here I was not expecting this look I uh I'm of two minds on this uh first of all I just look I agree with you the booing should stop at this point he apologized and whether or not you accept the apology he did come out and say listen i was wrong but i mean look i i hope that was the intent and and whatnot but i mean he was an idiot i'm sorry like he deserved every boo he got that first night he did i mean man like you got to be better you've you've been you're 34 years old you play baseball for what 12 years you made 22 million dollars playing the sport a kid's game. Like, you got to be better, man.

Like, that's part of the job description. You play in Philadelphia. Like, just be better. And I understand what you're saying, but look, he could have so easily come out and said, hey, guys, listen, you guys have every right to do what you want to do. You pay money to come out here. If you want to boo us, boo us. If you want to keep us accountable, keep us accountable.

But I'm just telling you, as someone who's in this locker room every day, someone who knows the players on this team, this is a particular group of guys who are going to respond better to positive support. If you encourage them, that's what's going to get them to play better. That's what's going to motivate them. Booing them, honestly, is just hurting things. So you can do whatever the hell you want. Like you, you have earned that, right? It's your fan base. It's your team. Go crazy if you want to, but I'm just telling you, trust me, I'm here. I'm in this locker room. We are a team that if you encourage us, we will play our butts off for you. If he had said that,

there's no issue. I think if he had said that people would actually step back and say, wow, what an interesting thought. What a philosophical discussion point there. Yeah, maybe there are human beings who respond better to encouragement rather than booze. I'm one of those people. I know that if you're my boss,

I'm going to work way harder for you if you treat me well, if you encourage me, than if you crap all over me. That's just how I'm wired. So get it that's like asking yeah listen spike if you're listening which we know you're absolutely not but if you are not listening but if you are uh yeah that's how that's what i respond to treat me good buddy but like i get it that's me i totally get it i just think he went about it so poorly that it just submarines his whole point

and it's like it's hard to come back from that in the eyes of the fan base but i do agree with you i think at this point look and it was kind of a half-assed apology he did kind of still stand by his point and he tried to make it a love over hate thing which look again i think that's like shawn you just punched a cooler two years ago. Love over hate is a little grandiose for what we're doing here. But look, I do. I get my point is I understand the point he was trying to make that this is a group of guys who is going to respond better to you, encouraging them rather than booing them. And if he had just said that, I don't think any of this is an issue, Jack.

Yeah, I just think I think that I think he was trying to be the voice that reese hoskins can't have because reese hoskins is the face like one of the faces of the franchise and reese is always good with the media but i can just i can just tell that in that locker room they're just down with the negativity or whatnot and yeah i mean sure when it's an emotional moment when you got dave uram asking you questions it's hard not to get a little flustered. Intrepid reporter. Shouts to Dave Uram, man. That guy has been down at Novocare at the Phillies Clubhouse asking the tough questions. The tough questions.

I love it. Intrepid reporter Dave Uram. That's my guy. Yeah. So Sean Rodriguez is probably just really flustered. He saw Dave Uram asking the tough questions. He's like, ah, man, I'm going to get real emotional right here. So, yeah, it's just, I'm not saying that I don't think what he said was dumb.

The entitled thing was stupid and just a wrong choice of words. But I just think we can look at it from another level, right? I don't think we have to look just strictly on the surface for what he was saying. I think we can look at it from another level right i don't think we have to look just strictly on the surface for what he was saying i think we could take it to another level and just understand kind of the next level of where he was coming from so um ultimately like if it bonds that locker room and and kind of gets them on a roll and um that's a that's that could be a good thing so uh it was weird Just a weird couple days. The games almost didn't matter, even though they won 12-3 and dominated.

Yeah, the games almost didn't matter. Yeah. It was secondary. And I thought actually you're spinning this off. I thought your former boy, until you stabbed him in the back and bailed on him, Joe Giglio, had a really interesting philosophical point about this, saying essentially, yeah, yeah, yeah, Sean Rodriguez, he shouldn't have said that that was stupid, but is there a point with this team

where there's no joy with this team anymore? Like, there's a team that, and it really hit me hard because I've definitely been part of this. I've definitely been someone who has gotten really upset many times this year, and justifiably, I feel. But it was an interesting point from Giglio saying, hey, this is a team that is in a playoff chase. They're going to be in a playoff chase to the end of the season, and yet they constantly get nitpicked. They're constantly getting derided. There's nothing that seems to be good enough. seems to be good enough. It's a really interesting philosophical point, Jack. You and I have talked a lot about, like, when are people going to be on board?

Is it going to be a week left in the season and everyone's going to be like, ah, freaking Kapler, and they're like a game up in the wild card, you know? I could see that happening. It's such a strange feel for a season. So I do think that when Julio said that, that did hit me as like, yo,

there's 30 games left in this season. If you're going to be in on this team and try and have fun with it, which is, again, the whole point of the whole thing of being a sports fan, I mean, it does feel like now's the time to kind of start to just say, all right, you know, maybe they've disappointed. Maybe they've had some horrendous losses. But maybe it's time to say, all right, F all that. Let's, let's go. Yeah. I mean, I think, I think almost Philadelphia has to get to a point to where it's like,

we're no, we know they're a flawed team. We know they're not very good, but like they're in the run, like they're in a run and why, why not just get behind them? Why not just get behind this team? We, we know they're not... If we put out the precursor that they are not a very good baseball team, they do not have a good enough pitching staff, their bullpen is now kind of showing some crack, some shock, the Jared Hughes, Mike Moran, Blake Parker.

I thought it was Lock City. I mean, you know, it's as good a bullpen as you could ask for. Yeah, I'm shocked it's kind of falling apart a little bit. Oh, man. Man. Well, Mike Morin's doing good, but everyone else is just – There's an okay bullpen that doesn't have that much talent.

But now – It has zero talent. Again, just to harp on this bullpen thing for a half a second, Hector Neris and Jose Alvarez are the two most talented pitchers in this bullpen right now. Think about that. Every single guy you counted on, from David Robertson as your closer, Sir Anthony as your go-to fireman in any situation,

Tommy Hunter, Pat Neshek, Adam Morgan, all the 7th, 8th, and 9th inning guys you thought you were going to have coming into the season, not a single one of them is pitching for you right now. So, yes, it is a group of castoffs, and what they've gotten from them already is probably more than we could have expected. Oh, for sure. I mean, what we've got out of Mike Morin

is downright shocking. So, yeah, it's just that they're not a very good team. We know they're not a very good team, but why not? Like, they've just been, I don't know. I don't know how the rest of the season is going to play out. I feel like the Cubs are starting to get hot. The Bills are two and a half games out.

They might just fall out of this and whatnot. But it sure beats not having competitive September baseball or something to watch for every night. I enjoy going home and turning on games at 7.05. Yeah, I know they're not a very good team, but they're in it. They're technically in it, and I don't know. I don't know when people are going to get behind it.

I wonder if they're two games out with two weeks left to play, and everyone's like, well, let's go, whatnot. I don't know if that's going to get people to jump started, but I agree with the overall point. Yeah, me too. And uh and again i i accept my own responsibility in this i have been right at the front of this at times we both have at times but um you've been a little bit more willing to go all in than i have at times as well uh but i think it's time look again there's only 30 games left and and i am a little worried about the cubs um we do have a a met squad

limping to 10 six straight losses unfortunately three of them were to the cubs or four of them were the cubs so that's frustrating but uh and i see the mets falling out of it if nothing else but yeah look it's a good point the cubs might get a little hot here and maybe they're not in it till the last day of the season but they're gonna be in it until the last day of the season, but they're going to be in it until the last week of the season. They just are. Maybe they won't look. As I say that, I start thinking about the Braves and the Indians

and the Braves and the Nationals and that whole schedule they got coming up. So you never know. They could fall out of it. But right now they're in it. Right now they are more often than not playing at least competitive baseball with, like you said, not a great team. So I'm with you. I think it's time to get in.

All right, let's look back at the Pirates series of this. Not a ton to take away. We already talked about the Rodriguez walk-off. Anything else from Game 1 saying out to you? Game 1 of the vaunted Pirates series. Oh, that was the Sean Rodriguez walk-off game. It was. And that was when we went 0-5.

Not great. He's already out of his slump, Jack. You didn't know? You didn't hear? Right. I like watching Sean Rodriguez. I like watching Jason Vargas, I mean. You like watching Jason Vargas?

Wow. Yeah, he's good. He's the definition of solid. He just will go out. He's going to give you a six inning somewhere between two and four. Okay. Very okay. Very okay.

The quintessential number two starter you want, right? Honestly, what makes this whole thing more frustrating than it has to be is that I think the Phillies offense has picked it up and they've been a good offense since Charlie's taken over. And I think that they could be good enough to carry this team into contention. But they gave him nothing at the deadline. And I think it's super frustrating. Every time I want to get in and want to buy in,

I have to remember that Drew Smiley is my number three, Jason Vargas is my number two, Vince Velasquez is in there. That's what's so frustrating about this. That's another thing that's so frustrating about this team. I think they could get back into this run. It's just that they have nothing in the starting rotation, like just nothing in the starting rotation. Like, just nothing in the starting rotation. So, yeah, it's frustrating.

But at least Jason Vargas is good, and they're probably going to pick up that option next year. He's probably going to be like, if he can just be their number four, number five, that's not the worst thing in the world. No, look, Jason Vargas as a five is fine. Again, he's their two right now. He's fine as a five.

Again, if he can go out and give you six innings, two earned, three earned, whatever, I mean, that's great. That's fine. The bigger issue is you don't feel good with any of the other guys. Like you said, it's Smiley, it's Velasquez, it's Eflin. And Eflin obviously had a nice start in Miami. I definitely need to see him do that more, going back to what he did before. Just, you know, great, cool.

Vinny has, you know, had that disastrous start in Miami, but otherwise has been solid, you know, for the last month or so. Smiley's been the real disaster, which brings me to a point, and we've talked about this before, but Jack, and I know it's probably because it's not September 1st yet is the answer, but why is Spencer Howard not in this rotation? Why? I can't come up with a single, not one, not even the like, oh, they could damage him if

they bring it. Like, there's nothing. There is not a single reason that Spencer Howard is not pitching for the Phillies right now, in my mind. Well, I mean, sure there is. I mean, he's big, picked five starts in double A. Who cares? You're telling me he's not better than Drew Smiley right now, Spencer Howard?

Yeah, but is it about this season or is it about the future? What's it going to hurt? How is it going to hurt him? You can bring him up in September. You're not any sort of like, you know, service time issues. What's the downside? Is he going to come up and get bombed? I mean, Mitch Keller's getting bombed for the Pirates.

I don't think his career's over. I don't know. Is there any way that Spencer Howard doesn't give you more of a chance to win than Drew Smiley right now? I mean, I think so. But he's still in like 30 innings. I don't know. He's done 30 innings in double A.

He's still not perfect. I don't know. I think he'd be better in double A. He's still not like perfect. I don't know. I think he'd be better than Drew Smiley. But are we going to rush Spencer Howard up here and just put him in the rotation for a possible playoff run? Why not? Why not? What else is there?

I'm serious. I get what you're saying. Sure, in a perfect world, Spencer Howard, you don't need to bring him up. What are you going to do? You're going to roll Drew Smiley out there and try to make the playoffs? Do you want to make the playoffs or not? That's what it comes down to. If you want to make the playoffs, you're giving Spencer Howard a chance. What are you going to do? You're going to roll Drew Smiley out there and try and make the playoffs? Do you want to make the playoffs or not? That's what it comes down to. If you want to make the playoffs, you're giving Spencer Howard a chance. You are. Tons of teams

bring up prospects to help them with playoff runs. Usually it's in the bullpen because AJ Puck getting called up by Oakland and stuff like that. But this is a team that doesn't have starters. Why wouldn't you? What's the downside here? I really don't get it.

Do you think that if they brought Spencer Howard up and he got bombed, that that would hurt his development? Is that what you think? No, I just don't know if he's a complete finished product. I don't know. I don't think he's done as a prospect yet. I mean, listen, for entertainment value, sure, I'll bring him up,

but I don't know. I just, I would bring him for the bullpen. You're saying you're not sure he's a better pitcher than Drew Smiley right now

is what you're saying. No, I think he's a better pitcher than Drew Smiley right now. So what's the loss here? We're talking about a one for one. You're taking one guy

you can put in your rotation who will be a better starting pitcher in your rotation for you than the other guys in your rotation. Like, why wouldn't you do it if you're trying to make the playoffs? Yeah, but I think I'm better than Drew Smiley right now. So, what's the downside of that?

Again, like, okay, I'll rephrase. Is there a better option in the organization right now to be the quote-unquote fifth starter or whatever you want to say to replace Drew Smiley in the rotation than Spencer Howard? Do you want my honest answer? Don't say Nick Pavetta. I will murder you. Has not a lot of hit in AAA. God.

I can't tell if you're being serious or not. That's the problem. I can't tell. Hey, man, if you want to bring up Spencer Howard, cool. I just, I think he, listen, I would love to see Spencer Howard. I'm not, I just, I don't know if throwing in a guy who's thrown, who's coming off a shoulder injury, who just got the double A five starts ago, has thrown 60-some innings this year, and just putting him in the starting rotation in a pennant chase, like, that just sounds like a lot.

Honestly, it just sounds like a lot. If you want to do it, fine. I don't think it'll mess up his psyche. I don't think he's finished pride yet i just think that's a lot of a lot of workload for a guy who's coming off an injury only thrown 71 innings this year and obviously he's talented but he's not like a world beater or whatnot like he may not be like dustin may or whatever i know he's in the dodged bullpen but sure sure if you want to bring on spencer howard bring on spencer howard i don't see the the super super downside to it.

Yeah, that's really all it comes down to for me is like what's the downside? Again, I know there are some people who believe that players coming up and getting beat up can hurt their psyche. I'm not one of those people. I've never thought that way, whether it's hitters or – Yeah, I just – I don't get that. I never got it. I never got it.

Unless – the only thing you can't do is you can't do what they did with Don Brown where it was up, down, up, down, up, down. If you bring a guy up, just let him finish the season like what they did with Kingery last year. That's why I'm glad they never sent down Kingery last year because he has to develop. He has to learn. He has to go through the struggles of it. Listen, either you can play in the major leagues or you can't play in the major leagues.

And if you get up there and you struggle, that's fine. And the mentally tough guys figure it out and come back better than ever. And the not mentally tough guys go back to AAA and go to the bullpen and then may have the initials NP. All right. So let's get back to the Pirate Series game two. Speaking of which, Drew Smiley, not great. Wait, can they give Spencer Howard number 34?

I feel like number 34 is like an ace number. Well, I mean, that's the Roy Holiday number, so probably not. And it's the Jack Fritz high school number. Horses. More importantly. Horses. Horses. Like, man, Smiley, the experiment is over as far as i'm concerned he's just not good

nope good stuff there um what about he's so bad he's so bad like he is just he can't get out um what did you think of the reese error and all that did you have any like macro thoughts on it, or he just missed the ball and it happened? Yeah, it clearly sunk on him. Jesus Cora definitely gripped that. It was a two-seam fastball, and I'm pretty sure it had Derek low-level sink to it. It just moved to the last second and went right off his glove. You've got to catch the ball. It was unfortunate because it definitely sunk on him. Yeah, it bummer i mean that was and it was a game defining play any other thoughts from game two not much there too uh it was nice to see adam

hazley bounce back um i was worried about adam hazley kind of going into a tank here and um you know ever since they ever since he got shipped out in San Francisco and was physically in the airport but then got called back, he's had three hits, I'm pretty sure. So it was nice to see him get two hits in that game and bounce out of it and get him going a little bit. The Logan Morrison home run was awesome to see. Could be a really big bench bat down the stretch here. I like that.

And yeah, Corey Dickerson continues to rake. But it was just nice to see Adam Haseley kind of bounce back and get out of his little bit of a slump. Corey Dickerson's so good. Yeah. He's just good at hitting. He's just one of those guys you watch him in, and you're like, all right, that guy's good at that.

Obviously, he's had issues staying healthy and all that type of stuff, but Corey Dickerson's a hitter. And he would homer again in Game 3, 12-3, Jack the phillies actually put up some runs in game three speaking of mitch keller mitch keller at top 50 whatever prospect in baseball has been absolutely just torched so far in the majors but um i was happy the phillies got the opportunity to torch him in that spot now you see the bats get going everyone every single starter had hits uh reese where you at on reese obviously has been just mired in the worst lump of his professional career much less major league career um maybe breaking that first two-week game what since july 27th july 24th something

absurd like that um three years early first two-week game as a major leaguer so what do you think about reese where you at like i know it's just one game and i am firmly in the it's just one game camp but did you see anything positive where you're starting to say all right maybe maybe he's breaking out of this uh yeah he went to right field he it was it was back-to-back games where he drove a ball off the uh off the right field wall That's massive if if Reese Hostos can get back to doing that that that's gonna be massive for for Reese So he so goes the opposite way drives the ball keeps it keeps his shoulder in and and takes the ball the other way Like that's that's huge for recent. I don't think people are giving Gabe Kapler enough credit for for moving him down to four in the lineup

And for everyone that says oh, he doesn't use his eye or whatever. So in the game before Game two, I guess he had a couple balls that were barreled up and Gabe said after the game like I feel like he's about to break out of this and he was using his eyes he wasn't just sitting there on spreadsheets and And he moved him down a lineup and put him in the number four hole because he saw him start to make good contact. And I think Reese is coming out of this. I think he's definitely going to help more than he has absolutely killed the team last month.

So it seems like he's getting the barrel of the ball. It seems like his swing has been leveled out a little bit. So, yeah, no, I think it's really positive signs for Reese. And putting him back in the four hole, hopefully he can be that anchor to this lineup for the rest of the season. But it's good to see when Reese can just focus on going to the opposite way and going to right field and not having half the plate cut off, that's massive for him.

And we saw that twice this series, which is good. So I think Reese is coming out of this i i hope you're right we've talked a lot during this slump about him being someone who does kind of have the ability to slip switch the flip a little bit someone who can make adjustments and kind of just be okay so look we've talked a ton about how the offense has to carry this team if they're gonna make make a wild card run, if they're going to get to the playoffs, if they're going to win a game or two or whatever. And obviously, I think if you could just... Look, Harper's been really...

I was going to say really good. Harper's been great. Real Muto is finally really starting to heat up. Corey Dickerson keeps hitting. I mean, the lineup's been all right. It's that one guy who should be such a major part that has been such a massive hole. If Reese can turn this around, if he can be not even like superstar, super hot Reese Hoskins, if he can just be like normal Reese Hoskins, the guy we know, I mean, I don't think there's a single thing right now with the team as it's currently comprised

that can make a bigger difference over the stretch run. Totally agree. Totally agree. I mean, Bryce is doing him. Bryce is definitely back. Real Muto has been unbelievable. Corey Dickerson is just a professional hitter. Those guys are going to be good. I feel good down the stretch knowing that I have Dickerson, Real Muto, Harper all going. Segura's been fine for months now.

Kingery's been back since he's been out of the leadoff spot. Adam Haseley seems like he's coming around a little bit. It's really Reese. If Reese can drive in those guys, it changes everything for this Phillies team. So I totally agree with you. Massive series coming up here, Jack. The Mets coming down. The Phillies, obviously, as we all know, have had such success against the Mets this year.

And it is a Mets team that's limited off six straight losses, but also a Mets team that's limited off six straight losses but also a Mets team that for the most part in the you know whatever it's been month and a half since the Phillies have played them have played much better baseball on the whole where are you at with this year's obviously Nola going tonight in the first game how do you feel about the series obviously we know they have to they have to take two or three. It's everything to take two or three, and obviously you hope they sweep them. Where are you at heading into this Mets series?

I feel good. I think the Phillies are just a good home team. I just think they play better at home in front of the title fans, and I just think that if you get this team at home, I trust them much more than if they're on the road, obviously. But I think the Mets are better than they've played in this little six-game losing streak. Pete Alonzo just set their rookie home run record this week in August. J. Davis is a monster.

That offense is going to be tough to put out consistently over this weekend. 2-3 is massive. And they're on Sunday night baseball on Sunday, which is nice. I think it's an Eflin start. They go what? They go Nola, Vargas, Eflin. Yeah, originally it was going to be Nola, Eflin, Vargas, and we were going to have the Sunday night Vargas-Strowman battle, but they flipped the guys.

The Klintak Bowl. Klintak Bowl. That's great. I love that. But not going to happen. Yeah, I feel good I don't want to take too much into the Mets losing

six in a row because I don't think they're playing as bad as that so I don't want to overlook this Mets team and think they're living in here because I think they've been playing better but I'm excited it's the biggest it's a real good old fashioned Mets fills September showdown,

and I think that's cool. Been a long time, Jack, since we had one of those. It's pretty awesome. 2011, definitely 2011. Definitely 2011. That is crazy to think about. I'm with you. I'm super excited.

I feel good, I think. Obviously, they match up well with the Mets. We've seen that all year, but I feel good. I feel good with the Mets coming to town. Big stretch here is they have the Mets, then the Reds well with the Mets. We've seen that all year, but I feel good. I feel good with the Mets coming to town. Big stretch here is they have the Mets, then the Reds, and the Mets again, and then it gets really hard over that last month. So it's a big stretch of games here. If they're going to make some noise and catch up on the Cubs,

and again, the Cubs actually have to lose baseball games for that to happen, but if they're going to, this is that little stretch here where I think they need to do some damage all right fritz note bag note bag can they re-sign cory dickerson uh this has been a great thought yeah it's been one of the big questions you know because he's been so good yeah he's been really good uh the thing is that you have mccutcheon coming back from injury next year. And it's like, well, we're going to put a,

we're going to put a 31 year old Andrew McCutcheon coming off of ACL surgery, not a 33 year old Andrew McCutcheon coming off ACL surgery. So you can't play center field every day. Um, Corey Dickerson, like, do you put them in,

do you put Corey Dickerson in center and, and have Andrew McCutcheon in left field? And if Cutch can play center for a little bit, then Corey goes back to left. What do you do with Adam Haisley? It's interesting. It's going to be a huge offseason decision. I just don't know what they're going to go with

because I think he's really good. I think he's a professional hitter. I think he's added a good level of professionalism to that locker room. I enjoy watching him play. I just don't know if he is in their plans. I don't know if they can keep him because he's a free agent. Obviously, he's going to go elsewhere. And I just don't know what they're going to do with Andrew McCutcheon.

It's a real interesting problem that those have here. Yeah, you know what they need, Jack? The DH in the National League, Fritz. Let's go. Let's go. Such bad. So bad baseball. I hate it.

Like, you could make an argument that the Phillies are among the team's most ready if you wanted to just bring it in this year. Oh, they need it. It's perfect. I mean, between Reese and Jay Bruce and this Dickerson thing and all that, I mean, like, it solves a lot of their problems. It really does. I know you hate it, but are you a Phillies fan or a National League baseball fan?

That's the real question, Jack. I know. It's a really tough position I'm in right now. I love NL baseball. I know. I know. I know it's a really tough position I'm in right now. I love NL baseball. I know. I know. I know you do. I'm also thinking about the JT Real Muto extension.

I mean, because I don't think he's going to be able to catch until he's 33. It's such an interesting situation because like you said, he's what, 29 now or about to be 29 if he's not 29 already. I mean, how many years, especially for a who who's such a large part of his value is wrapped up in his defensive ability yeah i mean he uh i think russell martin got the same kind of contract around this time and it was like 480 um so i think he's probably gonna get like four four 100 so i I don't know what the Real Amuto extension is going to look like, but yeah, his defense is obviously... I mean, teams keep running on him.

I don't get it, but... It's insanity. It makes zero sense. Please keep doing it. I saw you put this out. He's been the best defensive player in baseball by most metrics this year, which is not just the best catcher, like the best defensive player in baseball by most metrics this year, which is not just the best catcher. The best defensive player in baseball is a real... The most valuable defensive player in the game.

I mean, that's a really... It's a hell of a statement, especially at the most important defensive position in the game as well. So, I'm at it. I wonder how good of a... Every time he makes a throw to second base, I always wonder how good of a quarterback he probably was. Like, every throw is right on the money. So, I'm at it. I wonder how good of a, every time he makes a throw at a second base, I always wonder how good of a quarterback he probably was.

Like, every throw is right on the money. Well, and also, I mean, like, catchers and quarterbacks throw from the same arm angle, too. Like, you know,

like, obviously, third baseman, shortstop, wherever, they'll kind of have more of a, you know, outside arm type of throw or where it's more towards the side.

But, like, catchers have to throw from the ear. Like, that's where you get it up and you pop it up from the top. That's the same type of, like, throwing motion a quarterback has. It's a much closer throwing motion than a shortstop or whatever.

Yeah. Yep. So that's an interesting point. I'll bet you JT could sling it. All right, Fritz, final thoughts. I'm sure he's super accurate. I have a couple. One more.

Final thoughts? Notebag thing here. So Buster Oney on Baseball Tonight said that Garrett Cole is going to be One more note bag thing here. So Buster Oney on Baseball Tonight said that Garrett Cole is going to be asking for six years to 25 this offseason. Oh! Give it to him. Yeah, sign it. Just do it.

By the way, really quickly, I love your distinction between note bag and final thought. You care whether it's a note bag item or a final thought item when you could have just said you could have just said added it to your final thoughts because you'll do multiple final thoughts anyway i respect that about you fritz you respect the sanctity of the final thought the final thought is a thought this is a note bag can you please can you please figure out the difference that'd be great it matters all right i agree with you just pay him six for 225 done lock him in yeah i mean they talk about a team that needs garrett cole the phillies if you want to go into next season with jason vargas is your number two again go ahead i'll pay you'll play Garakul, whatever it takes.

It doesn't matter. You have to bring Garakul. You don't have a choice. Yeah, just like last offseason with Bryce Harper, the Phillies have yet again painted themselves into a corner when it comes to having to go get some money. So, great. Yeah, maybe develop some talent for once.

Yeah, you know. In the meantime. What the hell have you been doing for four years but sure? Yeah, in the meantime, you know, just a care goal, six years, 225. Why not? All right, final thoughts. All right, fine. Now I have two final thoughts because one just popped up on my screen

thanks to Bob Wankel from Crossing Broad. Tonight the Phillies will attempt to reach the seemingly unreachable as they attempt to go seven games over 500 for the first time since mid-June. James, they are 0 for 10 when going for this since June 19th. Yeah, I have seen this as it's kind of progressed, and I didn't realize it was 0 for 9. I knew that they had really been struggling to get to that 7 over 500 number. So look, they got the best guy they could possibly have on the hill to try and do it. Yeah.

All right. And then my real final thought is that Bryce Harper has turned into just the leader of the Phillies. And we've talked about this a lot. We've talked about how this is the first time he's really been relied upon as the leader of the Phillies. And we've talked about this a lot. We've talked about how this is the first time he's really been relied upon as the leader, as this is his team. And you're kind of seeing it now. Like he was the first one out of the dugout with the Corey Dickerson homer.

He was giving him like a let's go. There's been nuggets from the clubhouse being like this is just – Bryce feels like this is his team he is the leader of this team he is doing all of that i think i think it's just really like i love the bryce harper's here i just love the bryce harper's here i love that dude and i just think that like him developing into a leader him being the face of the phillies franchise him being one of the faces of the sport if not the most recognizable player in the sport, it's all important.

And the fact that he's embraced being a leader, the fact that he loves this city, the fact that he named his kid Crew, is a mild shock. I mean, Crew is... Yeah, my first thought was like Paul Crew from The Longest Yard. That was literally my first thought too. That was absolutely my first thought was like paul crew from the longest yard that was literally my first

thought too that was absolutely my first thought i don't really know what it means but big burt reynolds fan yeah big burt reynolds guy so sadly he's probably a big adam sandler fan i just i think that kid's gonna have a mohawk at the age of two like they get If Crew's not rocking a mohawk to the ballpark at the age of two, I think there's something wrong. Yeah, Crew Aaron. The A-R-O-N Aaron as well. Aaron. Yeah, I think Crew Aaron sounds like a superhero.

I know everyone's into these stupid Marvel movies. That should be the next one, Crew Aaron. Crew Aaron, I like it. Oh, that should be the next one. Crew Aaron. Crew Aaron. I like it. Oh, wait, hold on. And by the way, Bryce Harper's number since he started toe-tapping on August 14th. Ooh, I saw you tweet this out. 314 average, 385 OVP, 857 slugging, 1200 OPS, 6 homers, 13 RBS.

Is that good? Is that good? Bring it! All right. Rate and review the podcast. It makes Jack so, so happy. My final thought, I'll go to another team for my final thought. We've talked, I think, on here once or twice about it,

but this Sunday the Indians are going to activate Carlos Carrasco, one of the best stories in the sport this season, diagnosed with a treatable form of leukemia earlier in the year um has done his treatment worked his way back and on sunday he will be returning to action out of the bullpen for the cleveland indians there are a few better guys in the sport former phillies farmhand as we know part of that cliff lee trade oh yeah um shout out to carlos carrasco like i think i've said on here, but if the Phillies do what I expect them to do and find a way to not make the playoffs, I'm rooting for them.

I'm in. Don't get me wrong. Sean, don't get mad at me. All love, brother, but I'm not expecting it. I'm hoping for it. If they don't make it, I will be all in on the Indians bandwagon. I think that's a great story and nice to see Carlos Carrasco back in action. So if you're watching baseball on Sunday, flip around.

Maybe catch the Indians and maybe get to see Carlos Carrasco back in action. So if you're watching baseball on Sunday, flip around. Maybe catch the Indians and maybe get to see Carlos Carrasco come in out of the bullpen. Sunday night baseball for the Phillies on Sunday night. So you get some chance to watch some baseball during the day. All right. We'll be back on Monday. Again, rate and review the pod. It really does mean a lot to us.

It's the best way to help people find the pod and interact and all that. And we love you. We really do. So for Fritz, I'm Seltzer. We'll talk to you later. question. What's the best podcast of all time? Baseball isn't boring, baby. I'm Rob Bradford, and every single day I'm sitting down with the biggest names to show you this great game is the greatest game. It's my podcast. It's my passion.

It's a cause I started more than two years ago and is now the most prolific national daily baseball pod there is. Another fact, so jump aboard the BIB Express. Follow and listen to Baseball Isn't Boring, presented by Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts.