High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Disregard The Last Pod, The Phillies Are Back

Episode Date: June 16, 2025

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to the Phillies' weekend sweep of the Blue Jays and talk about Otto Kemp's impact on the lineup. Later, the guys discuss Ranger Suarez's potential value at the trade deadline and what the pitching staff might look like in two years if Zack Wheeler does retire. 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

No Frills delivers. Get groceries delivered to your door from No Frills with PC Express. Shop online and get $15 in PC Optimum Points on your first five orders. Shop now at nofrills.ca. Are you ready to dive into the stories, stats, and personalities that make baseball the greatest game in the world? Rob Bradford from the Baseballs and Boring Podcast here, and we'll have you covered every day with podcasts that bring you closer to the action. From the bleachers to the clubhouse, whether you're a die-hard fan or just a casual observer, these conversations are aimed to educate, entertain, and most importantly inform you. Follow the Baseballs and Boring

Podcast in the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcast. This is the High Hopes Podcast. High Hopes! On the Odyssey app and sports radio 94 WIP. The crowd was singing High Hopes! Smiling through a broken nose. Oh High Hopes! High Hopes! I can't know. Oh, High home, High home. I feel

a little less alone. Yoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo is another edition of the High Hopes Podcast, a sweep five, six, everything's fine. We're great, Jack. How you doing, pal? Man, what a week, what a week. What a difference a week makes. Little different energy this Monday than last Monday. And I couldn't be happier.

I couldn't be happier. All is right in the world. And it was a beautiful Father's Day weekend and man, I just Every single time it's like mmm. There they go. This is where they fall off They seem to derail everyone back in so what a weekend of baseball and it looks like they ain't dead yet Don't put that nail in the coffin on some of our favorite players

Just yet they they might still have a little bit of juice left How about it? What a what a thrill that weekend was a Father's Day present for all of us a nice easy win What a thrill handling a blue team that came in hot like anyone 12 or 14 or something like that coming in so Awesome to see of course, I hope so. Sponsored by Miller light, official partner of the Philadelphia Phillies tastes like Miller time. Philadelphia celebrate responsibly. And speaking of Miller light,

before we dive into a great weekend of Phillies baseball, maybe some less, you know, dour podcasting than the last time we did some excitement, maybe. Here's some real excitement. Thursday night, June 19th, Juneteenth, we are going to be out hanging out. We're going to ladder 15. It's in the city coming out with us. It's Thursday night game six 40 star. You know, it's an early game. You won't get home too late. I'm off work the next day. So you're getting some full self-sacction. I'm gonna be bringing it. No complaints about waking up. Just be give me some Miller lights like I'm ready to

freaking hang. It's gonna be awesome. Ladder 15 in the city Thursday night coming out with us. And it looks like it's gonna be Chris Sanchez in the mount. So you know, the nice part about checking the Philly schedule every day or like every upcoming series is like, Hey, I'm probably going to see one of the starters in baseball. Be able to, uh, to make his rounds. This starting, I want day we're like, Oh, is it going to be a Taiwan day? Even Taiwan days this year.

I haven't been too bad at other rotation bullpen leaves a little bit to be desired a little bit to be desired a little bit to be desired, but dude, this, this rotation is such a joy and it's actually, we almost, I think we're currently maybe taking them for granted when talking about the, the future of this team or even just this year. I mean, they could walk into a playoff series. They're going to walk into every single playoff series with an advantage on the mound. And that is a it's not nothing And it's not like they're giving them four or five innings I mean these guys are going deep into games and they are dominant and all these guys look like they are

Rounding into form I guess at at this at the same time which makes it even that much more exciting Yeah, I mean like look we you know We talk a lot about we've talked a lot this year about Wheeler Lizardo and Sanchez at the top and obviously lamented the Nola stuff and we'll get into the Nola updates. You know, he who knows if we'll see her and all it but you know, we got everyone it's time to give Rangers some more credit. I mean, another one seven shut out. He's been basically since that first start where he stunk. He's been the best pitcher in baseball, not named like Paul skeins essentially since, since that moment. Yeah. And school was up there too, but a one, one six era since that first start. I mean, he has been, he's been absolutely brilliant. We are seeing the ranger that we saw for the first half of last season before the back injury, you know, that, that what

it was 10 and over nine and 10 and one, whatever he was, he needs that guy again. You put that in this together. I mean, you're almost at a, you're getting close to a season of, of being one of the best pitchers in the sport for me. Yeah. And he's back in that mode where it's just like pitching, pitching. And I know that it sounds simplistic, but that's what he's doing. I mean, he's just, he's pitching, he's, he's just he's pitching He's he's keeping guys off balance. His command is back. The biggest question is of course, is he gonna be able to hold up? I mean that's always been the the Ranger, you know Conundrum is is he gonna be able to hold up but you keep watching him. He keeps going out there. They keep saying

We sure we sure we sure we don't want to just pay them and make sure that we keep Suarez around it's You know and with what's happening with Nola? I don't think this means like his career is all of a sudden in jeopardy You know, it's it seems like a weird just season for him with this whatever happened with the stress fracture It was first a stress reaction years of no injuries. It's all coming back now. It's like, oh, you've been super healthy for 10 years. We're just going to pummel you right now, pal. Yeah. And they do have a plethora of starters. I mean, I was trying to, I was thinking like, all right, is he, is he changing the equation here to where they should just pay them? And I mean, if you go through it, Wheeler and also Wheeler,

apparently really only has two years left. I mean, that changes go through it, we and also Wheeler apparently really only has two, two years left. I mean, that changes the equation and you read that article and we'll get into it more, but the Matt Kalb article on the athletic, I mean, it like, it's like you hear it and you're like, Oh, he's probably not serious. I mean, you read that article. It feels like it feels like he's retiring after 2027. Like they were like, everyone's trying to change minds. Like, Nope, shut up.

I'm out. It's done. Like pretty crazy. He sees pretty stead done like crazy he sees pretty steadfast now I have already started thinking about all right well what if he pulls a Clemens and comes in halfway through the year if we if we need a little bit of a jump I still I believe him right now I do James I just can't in the history of baseball in the history of baseball I mean is Kofax the one that left truly on top and not exactly or is is Kofax level, but I struggle to find

Starting pitchers in the history of baseball. Let's say he's pitching how he is now that leave the top football happens all the time I mean we see we see it with football. We see it sometimes with other sports. I just, it would be so rare if a guy is still pitching as well as Zach Wheeler is pitching right now. And especially with how guys like him, you know, he compares, I think to Scherzer. I think he compares the Verlander. Compare these guys that were able to pitch into their 40s

at a semi-decent clip. I mean, didn't Verlander win the Cy Young at 39? Off of a Tommy John John which is pretty insane I Struggle to find the times in history that that's happened But again as of right now he seems pretty steadfast And I do wonder if that changes their their plan here with Ranger now on the contrary You have wheeler two years, you still have the Nola contract, you have you have the Sanchez contract, you have, and then you have Abel, Painter,

Lazardo. I mean, that's it's still seven guys. It's still a lot of guys to where he probably is still not going to be here after this year. I agree with you. I would I would bet pretty heavily that he's not a Philly after this season. But, and look, it's one of those things where, to your point, where you keep saying, and I'm with you, every start makes me think more and more, Oh, you know what I mean? It's got to go. I mean, be a lifetime Philly.

I mean, think about it, Philly, since you were 16 years old, you know, it's one of those things where it's hard to think about saying goodbye to Ranger, much less the playoff performances, there's a bunch of things you can point to how consistent he is all this stuff, just the way he goes about his business, like he's a, he's someone you think like that's a lifetime or like you want that guy here forever. And but with each start to he's also probably making himself more money.

You know, I mean, it's one of those things where it's, he wanted to pitch well. And you also are like, oh, we're not too well, but it's, it's creating a real, it's a fascinating situation to your point, Jack, much less in all baseball. You just talked about someone like Wheeler, like when does someone step down when they're that good? When has a Philly's pitcher been this good? And we'd be like, well, not resigning him. Like, it's such a strange situation that they're in. Yeah. I mean, besides the doldrum days where they but shilling was.

Yeah. Like this is a totally different. Like a good you want to win it. I know. Exactly. Yeah, I know. And actually now, again, hindsight, hindsight, point 20. It makes me more mad about paying Nola. I mean, that's that's where it keeps going back to but then you know last year they know it was fine and Ranger wasn't so you know, it's It all usually evens itself out. But yeah there it seems like they're just gonna let a guy who

Has the ability to be one of the ten best pitchers in in at least the National League, no doubt about it. It stretches without a doubt, you know. They're just going to let him walk through the door because they they have a plethora of starting pitching. I mean, and I don't the one thing I keep thinking about and I don't I don't I don't think it's going happen, but he also could really help them at the trade that line if they know they aren't gonna pay him and he's pitching this well. Now, you have to feel pretty good about Nola. Abel still has to be pitching very well. I don't really want to trade Ranger because I think he gives them the best chance to help win a World Series this year. But at the same time, if those guys are pitching well, Noel on the way back, he's probably going to walk. I do wonder if it enters into their brain about, OK, well,

what if we can get a real legit, and also has to find a perfect match, James. It's not like a rebuilding team is not trading for most. I think it obviously doesn't have to be a team trade, which is so rare in baseball. But like, I think that's the type of trade you'd have to kind of look out. Right? Because to your point, what contender has a bat they want to get rid of for a starter, you know, it's like

everyone wants to start or sure, but they're not trading from the team they're trying to win with right now, you'd have to find like to your point, the like it just this unbelievably perfect match or find a three team really? Yeah, I have no idea. I have no idea. But I just just finding a way to maximize whatever they have here with Ranger is, is really going to be a fascinating watch that they could be really creative at the trade deadline. I mean, they could be a really, really fascinating trade deadline, especially what we saw up in Boston yesterday. You know, they could be a really, really fascinating trade deadline, especially what we saw up in Boston yesterday. You know, they might be ready to sell off some pieces.

Yeah, I mean, and like, you know, they do have guys who would fit, you know, I mean Ben Davis when he was asked what player in the all baseball does he want the village to trade for? He mentioned Duran, you know, it makes sense as a center field fit and all that He mentioned Duran, you know, he makes sense as a center field fit and all that He's got like three or four years left to control left Like that's a name that's a name that makes a ton of sense would fit their biggest hole right now is a great fielder can hit Turner one two, I mean that'd be it would be like there it's a perfect fit and Boston is saying okay Well, we're dealing guys off now the fact that has, I think it's four years of control left. It's three, at least I think it's after 29.

All right. Makes Boston maybe not want to move. Maybe it's a part of what they want to do moving forward. It's already been out there. It's already out there. And they pro and the point is, is if they don't want to, you know, pay the rest of the Devers contract, why would this group pay Durant in a couple of years? So it is, you know, it does open it up. I mean, the fact that, I mean, you tweeted it. I mean, the fact that they look at it and didn't shop him around the league with Devers is like, I'm speechless. I'm like speechless by this. I mean, Boston fans were upset when

they had a high in bloom who restocked them up pretty good. You know, I can't imagine what they're saying right now. I mean, oh my God, like, I can't wait to after losing Mookie. It's just they lost Xander. They lost Xander, Devers and Mookie in the last one. Them a freaking title. Five years. We were like, we waited too long with our guys when we win titles here. They're like clip up. It's crazy. Get them out get them out Yeah, no, I it's I can't wait to listen to

Boston sports radio. I'm gonna be I'm gonna be locked in I'm gonna be locked in it's crazy, man And and I think actually the one thing it does make people better about is I think they must be pretty well If you believe the reports that they didn't shop them around I can't get mad at the Phillies, but it does make me feel better about how they feel about restying Kyle Schwab Because we have a DH. I mean we we we have a DH and Devers is great But at the same time it's a what there's still nine years left on that contract that they that they got out from underneath He's pretty much only a DH now now. He's an unbelievable bad. I with a top ten hitter, I think in this morning. It's 28. So Baseball in front of him. I cannot believe the Devers is already 28. I know I feel like he was 23 like yesterday And I was talking about I think I did though like under 25

I was gonna bet on someone to get 3,000 hits. He'd be the guy, you know, yeah, it's crazy It's the time pay time flies now. I've heard that before now me a big dog cheese. You have to tell you six-year-old Yeah, yeah, so yeah, I just I think it feels it makes me a little bit better about where they're at wish warbler They're probably pretty confident. They're gonna be able to resign him that also factors into the Ranger thing It's like well, are we really gonna pay Ranger when we're at the bait and we're going to have to extend JT? I've got to extend JT. Come on, come on. What do you think?

And good weekend. Start to go the opposite way. Start to go the opposite way using the whole entire field. Re-sign everyone. We said, what do you think? Yeah, why not? Yeah, we could go along. I wonder if there would be a a ring. It was the daycare eventually.

It's going to turn into the old folks home over there. Yeah, yeah, that's what we do. That's what we do. And given the amount of kids that the Phillies have, you know, that's true. You're a real daycare over there. Daycare. It's unbelievable how many kids the Phillies have.

It's ridiculous. And we're big bad guys. So yeah, we're in. It's just it is. It is wild. I mean, I've never seen a film with this amount of kids. The OAT didn't have this amount of kids. No, there's a lot of kids, man.

A lot of good stuff because I wonder. I do wonder about like a starting package with Ranger and Duran. I was like the headliners. Sure. Yeah. I mean, it's just a question of if the Red Sox care about winning, which it seems like they just pay crochet, though. So like, it's so strange. But but more that like that's the thing with the Ranger trade

that is so fascinating in that Boris is his agent. He's going to the market. So if you're a team training firm like the Red Sox, you know, you really have to either feel incredibly confident that you're going to sign him, which is hard to do, or it means you're trying to compete this year, right? Cause what's the other, and then you're trading to Rand. So it just, so the point made before I just, it feels like if they train Ranger, it has to be a three team deal or it will likely be a three team deal.

And those are just really rare. Like you really rarely see three team deals in major league baseball. So if I had to bet, I would bet that they won't trade Ranger, but I agree with you at something like that. They have to put all this stuff on the table. They have to. Oh, especially cause getting another bat in here is imperative. I mean, it's, it's, it was a good weekend. I think that they certainly stabilized. And I think the one of the most important things that happened this week

and hopefully is because I have this fear with Bryce that he's going to try to rush back as fast as possible. I could you could try to get back to them for the Met series. I mean, just like the the heroes return. I want I want Bryce to be as healthy as possible. And what stinks about that is that I think he knows right that he's now in his 30s These counting stats are gonna matter when it comes to Hall of Fame We I'm dying to get him to the 500 home runs

but for this team to be at their best Bryce has to be at his best and I just hope that this weekend I Think the biggest thing that hopefully happened this weekend is he saw how they played and he said alright Cuz I think that's what happened after the Brewer series James I thought that after the Brewer series James I thought that after the Brewer series the guys slept they said I got to get back they need me and I appreciate that mentality I do because I think that you know I want a guy who wants to get out there but we have to be smart about this thing I mean the fact that we talked about a million times he had a wrist injury at the end of last

year and didn't recover for two and a half months without swinging a bat they can tell me all the once about all they want about how his field and ground balls right now great But he hasn't swung a bat and that seems to be the huge issue with him is he's not being able to swing the bat So I hope that this weekend was a good and now they go down to Miami I know it's a dead place walking But just go down there and take care of business and while the Mets series is great And I obviously want them to go and compete and win the series It is June it is June and I if they can get him through the all-star break

I feel much better about the the future of this season for Bryce. Yeah, I feel exactly the same way And I don't think there's you know There aren't many Phillies fans who want Bryce to rush back, no matter how deficient the lineup looks without him. Whether it's a family member, friend, or furry companion joining your summer road trip, enjoy the peace of mind that comes with Volvo's legendary safety. During Volvo Discover Days, enjoy limited time savings as you make plans to cruise through Mom, Dads, are you the parent of a student athlete? Do you want to know how to get the most out of youth sports?

If so, listen to the next Pitch Podcast to give you the tools to raise an aspiring athlete. Speaking of which though, so everyone can benefit. Follow next pitch on the Odyssey app or wherever you listen to podcasts. Speaking of which though, let's just talk Otto here because I do think that's the natural thing. I think that it's hard to think that this guy hasn't earned a shot to have more playing time with this team, especially the way the line-up's spinning, the way this guy's played the spark, he's added the four hit day, you know, the whole thing. But he's never played left field in his life ever. And, you know, he's not going to play third or first, most likely when Harper's back, you know, unless they move Harper. But again, no, no, with this arm thing, it's like, just let's not mess around with any of that stuff. What do you think of the look, look, to your point, if they can get Bryce to stay out longer and rest it up, you know, this is a, uh, they get more time to

figure this out, but look to your point, I mean, Bryce could come back sooner. You know, if he starts swinging, we know Bryce could, could try and get rushed his way back, whatever. What did they do with auto camp? I mean, he's better in Weston Wilson. We know that, but can he play left field? Do you want him not playing every day if he can't like, what's the, what's the auto camp thing in your mind?

Second base. I want him to play. I want him to play second. I mean that'd be easier for them, for him than left field. Obviously. I mean I played their base. He could play second. You know, you'd think, yeah, he's not going double play turning a double play Is the first thing you think of is like Kenny do that, but it's not gonna be fleet of foot It's not gonna be like stop stops an unbelievable defensive second baseman But you know with the way Kepler is slowly starting to heat up. I think he started drive the ball, which is nice

Yeah, I mean now Homer. How was one of the bigger hits of the season? Well, all he does is hit big home runs I mean the off of Mason Miller. I mean this guy's a prime time player. He's getting ready for his Jeff Jenkins moment in the post He's gonna go for a real left fielder. Come on, man. Come on pop off the bench We take that from from Keppi, but yeah, I know it slowly but surely Now it was a lot of like one for fours with the ball ripped off the wall But he had a couple hits yesterday, which was which is good to see. So Kepler maybe finding his footing here certainly looks more comfortable. It just looks like it's it's slowing down from a little bit.

I hope I hope that this is the the turnaround. Bum is obviously playing too well. And I didn't know he had a four hundred and thirty three foot home run in his bag. I would certainly like to see when he turned on that ball. I was like, who is that? That looked awesome. Yes, like it wasn't a wall scraper. Yeah, it was very crushed. It pulled it.

Come on, Boomer. It's like you're six of pleading for this. It's it's borderline insanity by this point. But to your point, I do think and because we've been really down on him and rightfully so, like I don't I don I do think, and because we've been really down on him and rightfully so, like I don't, I don't pull any of the punches we've thrown, but you know, it's an extended streak of he is hitting well. And even if he doesn't have the power, like he's not, we've called him a zero.

I think he's probably moved past zero status. He, he is not the player I want him to be, but you know, I'd much rather boom up than start or real mute or any of these other guys who were, you know, the center fielder, whoever it may be, you know, so, you know, I'd much rather boom up than start or room you door any of these other guys who were You know the center fielder whoever it may be, you know, so, you know deserves some credit for that. Yeah office Currently is off zero watch but I think he's off zero watch as because if we that's I'm not moving them off Zero watch for a bunch of singles. We're starting to see more driving the baseball and some clutches Now if there's not a runner on first base he he will knock around into a double play so in second and third i feel pretty good that he's gonna you know flip one into

the outfield so that's that's really important he has responded well because i did say on wip that he changed his number and no one's seed yet he changed his number to six four three come on man it was a good one and he's responded very well thank you thank you but he's responded and So much weak contact it is Like he he worked along at bat yesterday. It's uh 35 pitches and they're gonna hit but yeah And there is you saw 35 There is value to that but it's just it's a lot of bitches. I don't know how many more weak fly balls the left side uh a human being is supposed to take so

That's the one i'm monitoring a monitoring camp at second base and it allows those to continue to be an unbelievable role player which I think he is but I And camp it's a lot of singles for camp as well. You know, I think he's had what one double so he obviously has to keep it going but That's the one I'm looking at. And maybe on left field, you can mix them in, I'm sure, you know, and it sounds like Stott's going to be permanently on the bench. But with the way that Stott is currently playing, even with the value he brings defensively, I mean, just to suggest that, how concerned are you?

Cause it felt like coming into the year, I think all of us, when we heard about the injury and the way he talked about it and how it restricted him and how he was thinking about it all the time, it was such a clear, that's the reason, there we go. That's the reason we didn't see the guy we expected to see. And he looks like exactly the same hitter, exactly the same guy he was last year. How concerning is this for you as, as we both been stopped believers, you know, how, you

know, how concerned are you? Cause he's a good ball player, man. Like he's a, like what he does defensively when he does get on the base. Like I think he's a smart baseball player. It's just he might be a non-impact bat and and it's a real bummer because I I genuinely love Bryson Scott. I want him to be good. But I feel like we are more I think there's a disconnect between who he is and what people think he is like. He might just be.

I still refuse to believe he is a 245 hitter. I just I just refuse to believe that But the longer this goes on I don't know what other conclusion to draw from that he's not the long-term answer at second base and That opens up the path for more of a platoon there And that opens up the path for more of a platoon there for as long as it takes for him to maybe figure it out or maybe he just won't figure it out and it's just this is what it is. But I think the conversation of it is what it is

and this is who he is, is certainly more prevalent now than at any time in his tenure as a Philly. Yeah, it is starting to get really concerning, especially without any sort of improvement after the injury thing. It's you know, you kind of throw that out the window as an excuse. And to your point, it he feels like a ballplayer. It feels like he's a winning player, you know, just watching every day. It feels like he's a winning player, but you have to produce. I mean, yeah, the number of times they are, you know, yeah, exactly.

At a certain point, you just have to, you have to get some hits. You have to get on base. You have to have a touch of power. You have to be able to, you know, make some impact plays outside of your defense. And I'm with you that in the base running. So, I mean, what is he down to now? I mean, he's down to 30 or something like that. Is he sitting to be sitting to 36? Yeah, I mean, I know, isn't that general range? I mean, that's so bad, dude.

And if you look at the savant like this savant page, it is it's it's like, oh, yeah, it's ice. It's it's it's all blue. The Rockies haven't even been that blue in the in the competing can. It's it's it's all blue the Rockies haven't even been that blue in the Competing can but like, you know, like it did nothing is as blue as Bryce's thoughts from price and starts baseball savanna page. It's It's it's just it's it's thanks. I mean, I want her to be good. I love Bryson stop, but man, I just I don't know What with the way the camps playing? Again left field I hope Kepler kind of ticks

off here. If he can play some left play some second base start four times a week, as long as he's continuing to hit. I think that's a good outcome. Yeah, it's a shame, but that's starting to feel like what it is. And look, to be fair, and it was his first year, but if we remember in 2022, he started horrendously first month, month and a half was a seven to triple a. Yeah. And then came back and was a damn good hitter for the rest of the season. So like,

you know, he has had a slow first half and a good second half before. And that's what you hope for. But yeah, it's starting at the point where it's been so long since we've seen him be that hitter. It's hard to see it. You know, it's just like when he goes off a cliff, he goes off a cliff. I mean, he was batting to 94 at one point this year, I believe. And now he's down to 236. That's that's a huge drop off. I mean, a ridiculous drop off. Yeah, it's massive.

And and and guess what? The eye test back. It's exactly what it feels like. It feels like he never gets it. So I feel like he's got a hit in feels like. It feels like he never gets it. So I feel like he's not. I feel he's got a hit in the month. Like he. Yeah.

He hit that ball yesterday. Yeah, it's like close to the warning track. It wasn't even the warning track. And I just knew it was no chance. I'm like, well, that's now like because he hit it. Well, I'll talk about the one later in the game when it looked like he was going to hit it up the middle. And I was like, oh, there's a base.

And then the shortstop like did a little bunny hop to grab and I was like, damn it. Yeah, it is pretty crazy how soft the ball comes off his bat wherever he hits it to however he hits it. It is. It's alarming. It's alarming. You could say.

Yeah. Flip side though. Brandon Marsh has been decent. All right. All right. I know ever since I put these guys on zero watch by the way Yeah, so Marsh was labeled zero Kepler label of zero bomb label zero all three of them heating up now Um, let's get this let's get the RJ out of the way the reverse jinx starts is zero hundred percent

No doubt about it, and he's not leaving zero zero watch the remainder of the season, so You're welcome. But yes those those three currently not leaving zero, zero watch the remainder of the season. So you're welcome. But yes, those, those three currently doing well off of zero watch, which is, which is important for this team. Yeah. Yeah. We need guys to respond to the zero watch and, you know, migrate their way towards, you know, actual full numbers would be really important.

You know, I even take like a 0.5 from some of these guys at some point here along the way. All right. What else from the weekend? That's the answer to the grand slam. It'll be a cast to the grand slam, which was thrilling. Almost had a second. You know, that's nice. He is the the king of the random baseball stats,

but you watch him every day. You're like, I don't know. You know, he has the the the homerun stretch in the playoffs. He almost had two grand slams in the same game, which on his home runs looks so pretty, too, because he has that big swing. Like when he gets a hold of one, it really just it pops off the bat. It looks majestic. And how did I not bet on a Cassie on his home run on Father's Day?

That's my big, big regret off yesterday. I mean, come on. You know, I had to be there. I know. Especially after he just had the kid this year to amateur hour by me. And so it's bad luck. It's bad luck. Should have known. Yeah. Yeah. You know, I still believe in you. I wouldn't believe in this.

I'm going to be the I'm going to be the worst gambler in the country. Can't buy one. Can't buy one. I've been on I've been on Aberg over the weekend because he I he killed the Americans in the In the in a rider couple a couple years ago, and I've been obsessed with them ever since so I'm pretty sure I've bet on Him to win every single major. I forgot to bet. I'm on better to win the US Open I took a minus two when he was leading the tournament I don't know if you made the cut

I mean the last time I checked he was plus plus eight So, you know again everything I touch with with gambling turns the crap So I just won't uh, I might I meant everybody again. I met everybody again. That's a lie I will be reverse changing the the Phillies into into a a World Series team ASAP. All right, Fritzy. Let's take back it up Let's take back it up smooth transition. No one knows Nothing did nothing happen there that I couldn't hear you for the last two minutes. I have no idea what you said, but I'm sure it was really good. I'm sure it was insightful.

That's why my reaction was the way, all right, take back, let's go. Yeah. So our good friend Bob Winkle and Anthony Sanfilippo had nulls on the old podcast and seems like he's going to been out for two more months. Not great. No, I just. That's mid-August. I mean, it's the serious. This is a serious extended from one minute sprained ankle into a stress fracture in his.

Actual. Yeah. Like what? How? What? He coughed that I got sick. Like, it's like one thing leads to another. And the team saying a stress reaction, and he's like a stress fracture. The whole thing is like, guys, maybe we just shutting all the down or something. I lock in a little bit. I mean, let's, let's

figure it out. Let's figure it out. So that's,'s a on one hand, it's a bummer for him on the hand of watching every fifth day. I feel all right. And it doesn't go with it. I do wonder how it affects able the deadline, you know, and that it's it seems like every day. It's like a the old sunflower where it's he loves me He loves me not a to him Nick Abel Untouchable not untouchable untouchable not unthought you desperately need him. Yeah Yeah, so and I think a lot of it is also dependent on paint on on painters development doesn't seem that they want to put

Doesn't see they want to put Taiwan back in the rotation So they're gonna you know run with this little bit But he's getting an extended run here is Mick and I thought his last start he showed some some real moxie again We talked about it, but still it was three home runs now He should not allow three home runs to this Marlin seam, especially Especially down there so able versus Alcontra Alcontra night. It's unbelievable how much I was falling off Yeah, it's I'm like quickly too. Like it was not there was no like You know gradual decline. He just saw young guy off a cliff saw young Tommy John and then yeah

No, no worries now, I think slowly starting to pitch better He'd like shoved against the Pirates his last time out but still, you know, it's not like we need to get Nick get Nick mates on down to Miami ASAP to take down Alcantara like he used to do back in the day, so So yeah, we'll see what happens with Nola out till mid-august It probably I do I wonder if it changes plans with Abel that it seems like they're gonna wait until after the all-star break for for painter let him continue to

Work through whatever he's working through down there and I was really good yesterday. Yeah good outing yesterday I watched I watched a good portion of that because I said hey, it's Father's Day, you know, I want to watch Andrew Paner It's my days, but I want yes exactly right exactly right so he looks much better like the Stuff look more crisp early in the game He's getting hit around a little bit And then he kind of found his down his rhythm and looked like Andrew painter Still think the fastball is is gonna be the biggest Issue for him when he gets to the big leagues, but at least stuff wise yesterday

He looked closer to the entrepreneur that we that we've seen it. We went what like six Six shot out with one hit. Yes, it's not out. It was yep, and not to break down too much from that game But Lucas sim still is not a lot of run in Come on man See you soon Lucas See you soon the the winner of the most The most perfect deadlines, Lucas Sims. Finally, we are getting the the cook version of him.

And then I don't really have much left. I was sort of like feel bad for North Penn High School baseball team for once. That was so horrible. I feel so bad for the pitcher. I feel so bad for the whole team. I don't blame the UMPs like I know it's the right call. Like you. I don't think the umpire wanted to call it. I think the umpire was devastated. I totally agree with you.

I think he was like, I can't believe it, but like that's the sport. Like it was clearly a balk. It is what it is. But man, Jack, like, I mean, you, you played as you always talk about, like maybe your college years weren't quite what you hoped they were. But you were a dog in high school. You were you played real high school baseball, high level games, big moments like take us inside what's going through that kid's head. Don't like that.

The team. I mean, that's just I felt so, so bad. Well, I think what I think what makes high school baseball so special and like if there's ever one time I could transport myself back to for one year, it would be my senior year of high school baseball. I don't think that makes me a loser, but but the what makes it what makes high school baseball and if you know, senior year and that kind of thing So special is like for a majority you're you played the same kids from from when you were eight, you know It's about eight little league and then Legion ball if you play Legion ball Travel usually takes you to play with different kids. But regardless for the most part you play the same kids for ten years and

you in most cases they're some of your your your best friends and like I just I feel horrible for that kid I mean that's going to be something that he's probably never going to forget for his entire life and his teammates are going to forget it so uh yeah it's just a huge bummer and I was like man that, that's a, that's a, I lost in high school in a very horrible way. We lost on a walk off walk, maybe. But, uh, or maybe we had three, three on leading the seventh and I'm pretty sure I blacked out after that. But I think that if it had been this situation in the state championship, you probably would not remember. You would probably remember the details. I think. Yeah, that's actually showed a shown good growth for me.

I I once vowed to never enter into the town of Horsham ever again for what happened to Horsham personally did to me. So I think that's now I remember everything leading up to that. But I think we lost on a walk off walk against the number one team in the state with the three on leading the seventh, but regardless Regardless who's who's who's keeping track? We did we'd afford for the game earlier in the season because I pitched too much so that took a record from 60 from 17 and 36 in enforcement that we did drop back in the seat and then What should have been a four seed into an eight seed?

Dude That's tough. I know. And I exceeded my my your exceeded my innings limit that week is I came into close out of ballgame against against D West. And of course, I did it. And then, yeah, that took our our overall record 17 and three to 16 and four. And that dropped us from like a four seed to an eight seed.

And see, you're still talking about this and it bothers you. You see it. Think about this poor North Bend kid. I know God. It's that times like not a million, but definitely times a hundred. And the championship and the videos everywhere. And I don't feel too bad for North Bend because they cheat by taking the thousand kids in each grade because there's one high school. So I would hope that this.

I mean, they've won. They've won plenty of state champion. Yes. So this is how we bring it back around to the local high school baseball. And then shots to take Davis and Ben Davis. It's it's probably like a father weekend. That's cool stuff, man. That's, you know, I'm going to start thinking about it every day with Walker and Sutton. But cool, cool for Ben and big.

So cool, man. I mean, you spend your whole life preparing and working and, you know, and Ben obviously got a little welled up on TV. But I don't blame him. I would have been I probably wouldn't have made it through the interview. I'd be bawling my eyes out. Yeah, they asked the wrong guy. Yeah, I knew it when she was left handed. I knew it was a legend. Yeah, no, it really, really neat thing. And look, they're one of six teams still alive to win the World Series. And for Louisville, like that's that's pretty cool, man. Like that's not a program that you see, you know, at the top of college

baseball every year, year after year, like some of these other programs. So it's a big deal. One other thing I wanted to mention, too, I mentioned it before, but we didn't dive into it. And shout out to MacGill of the Athletic because really the kind of the exact Wheeler, you know, to your point before, you know, I think we both said it before, but I think certainly in my opinion, the best Phillies free agent signing of my lifetime, probably the best Philadelphia, just the contract, that first contract, maybe the best Phillies free agent signing of my lifetime, probably the best Philadelphia, just the contract that first contract, maybe the best contract I've ever seen signed in Philly sports.

So you hate Saquon and Bryce Arbor? Talking bang for the buck. Just hear one fire. Yeah, Saquon is actually probably that should throw that one in there. But for a guy who has become such an important, you know, we were talking about the air today and you know, Joe asked me if he's above Roy Halliday as a Philly, just the time in Philly. And I was like, I think so. And that's crazy.

But I think he is, you know, how they two great years and then those two last years, you know, struggle through. I think Wheeler is a better Philly than how they was. That's crazy. But yet until this gal particle feels like we knew nothing about the guy as a human as a person, like he is so quiet and so to himself and so and this article got into that. It was really neat to kind of see what what a what a character in his own ways. Zach Wheeler is

never works out which I thought was hilarious. He's a king is what he is. He's just he is he is like such a pitcher and he's such like an ace. That's like how I think that's how aces act is there. They're they're odd. They're absurdly locked in. They're a little like, don't look at me that way right now. Kind of kind of way. It's it was reading it. It was it was

very throwbacky To this is how I how aces have traditionally act for their for their entire life in in baseball And it's just so fascinating like, you know, everyone's doing a little weighted balls, you know like kirkere. He's like get that stupid crap out of here and woman He's like, get that stupid crap out here. And when and Wheeler, what I also took away from me, he's just so blessed with what his mechanics and what his arm does. Oh, he doesn't need any of it to create the backspin on the baseball. I don't do any of that stuff.

Yeah. Well, if I if I had 97 with that kind of backspin, I wouldn't do it either. There are wheels, you know. So, yeah, I just I it really did I know there was a story over the offseason about him only having Two years left or three years at that point because it was in the offseason But it really hammered home yesterday when he was mowing down the Blue Jays of we're only gonna have two and a half years of Zach Wheeler left that's

Daunting that is daunting and it did make me want to win a ring so freaking bad that I was right to put everyone on the table to Go ensure that at least he gets one trip down Broad Street during his time here, and I don't know if it's gonna affect any of the deadline plans, but There's seems like there's really gonna be an expiration date on on the Zach Wheeler Phillies tenure and seems like there's really going to be an expiration date on on the Zach Wheeler Philly's tenure and If there's ever a time to act, it's probably it's probably right now. It's probably right now So yeah It did it did make me like because I've been I've I've been about keeping the window open not trading these prospects being as smart As you can and then that are okay. I was like, well damn it

I don't know. We might have to push all our chips in and and really go for it this year Yeah, it is. I look to your initial point. We first talked about it You know, it's one thing to say it now and a lot can change in two and a half years Everything can change how he feels can change, you know, whatever so like I'm not saying he's definitely gonna be on two and a half years But that article really, you know, they kept coming back to it and he kept saying, you know, made it seem like he's really committed to this idea and he's kind of got it in his head as a thing. And I think the Phillies

obviously would know better than we would about this. The Phillies have had real conversations with him about how serious he is, but assuming that the Phillies believe him and they've talked to him about it, I don't know how it couldn't impact their plans, you know, just because whatever you're doing at the deadline, it's all part of a bigger mosaic or whatever you want to call it where it's about next year and the year after and the prospects and the money and how much money to this guy and how much we have allotted and all there's so many factors and things that go into this. And you know, Zach Wheeler at the top of the rotation,

like if they have a set thing where it's two and a half years, like you have to, you have to play to that. You have to use that information and, and act on it in a way. So I don't know if it means going all in, all in, but I certainly think it has to change the way they think about it. And to, to the point of signing Ranger, you know, you have to think like, well, you know, we do have a glut now, but only got two more seasons of Wheeler. Does it make sense, you know, with all these decisions? So it really could complicate things, you know, crossword. And after, after Abel and Painter, there's no one currently that interesting coming through the pipeline from a story was until he got hurt, right?

Yeah, shot say was, but other than that, I mean no one really jumps out and so I mean, I think that's probably going to change at the at the draft. It kind of well, I think they'll probably just take one of the high school prep shortstop stuff all because it's not a great college class and whatever. We don't need to get fully into the draft, but I think they're going to draft a lot more pitchers than they did last year. I think they're going to, I think they have to. I mean, they took a lot of bullpen guys last year late in the draft in the middle of the draft, but they need some,

they need some, some starters down there to, to, to help supplement the system a little bit. Yeah. Well, and especially when they've done such a good job with the, the high end guys and, and the Sanchez's and stuff, you know, give them some guys to work with and let them go to work. You know, the development group. So I'm with you. I think that to your point, it's we look at it now and say, oh, my God, can you believe all this starting? I've never had this much starting pitching. But whether it's we learn two and a half years Ranger at the end of this year, that like Abel, what like there there's there's more question marks. It's not like you've just got your set five for the next five years. that like, able what like there's, there's more question marks.

It's not like you've just got your set five for the next five years and like, let's roll, you know, there are questions that have to be answered. Well, and they also have the answer. We drive pay ranger or Los Ardo. That's another thing after next year. Well, that's an interesting thing. Where do they? I'm sure they do.

But I mean, they have to get a feel for what Los Ardos thing. I know he's a year and a half out, but if it feels like Los Ardos, I'm definitely go to the market guy. Like I'm going to, I want to, like, then do you adjust and say, well, you know what we know we can sign. Rangers want to sign this deal right now. Play out those are maybe they could trade. I mean, there's so many ways this could go and so many You know if this then that's and how healthy is Luzardo. I mean do yeah now both have battled injury things But it seems like Rangers more ours three years younger than Luzardo which and yeah Luzardo is three years younger than Rangers

What I'm okay. I was like that is right. I was bad Yeah, but is is L Ardo more arm versus Ranger back and which is easier to manage? I don't know. But he's he's he is certainly pitching well enough to to change the equation. Yeah, it's pretty crazy. Yeah. All right. One final thing. One final thing. I want to check in on this.

Real quick, don't forget. Ladder 15 Thursday coming out with us and go ahead. Yes. Do you want to update everyone? Third best record in the National League against teams above 500. Hey, I just want to make sure that above 500 with the sweep of the Mets that helps. Right. We were rooting for the race to win games for this. Yes, for the for the staff that everyone became obsessed with last week

with with and now absolutely no matter. That matters. Yes. Now, yes. Always find their little ways to try to the discredit the Phillies. Now, the new one is the new one is, well, they can't be good pitching. As if every team is just like, you know what? Unless you're you're beating Paul Skeens. I can't say having got not a good pitcher anymore.

I mean, he's good. They risk for real. Shut down the picture, too. Like, yeah, what are we talking about here? You know, yeah, that's the new one. I like I like up seeing what everyone's new thing is for why they're not that good. Is they can't just track them throughout the year and at the end,

yeah, whatever whatever made up fantasy they can think about to to to hate on the hate on the Fills. So I thought it's just hate. Shout out to today's Miller Lite Bar of the Week. It's buckets in Jenga down buckets. That's about as good a name for a bar as I think you come up with buckets. I mean, buckets in Jenga town where you can watch all fillies games with three dollar Miller Lite pint special.

No lights for fills wins. Shout out to buckets. All right, Fritzy, uh, four against the Marlins. You live with a split? Nope. I need three or four body. We're back. All right. All right. As always, live with the split. We live with the split. I know. All right. Well, I bring the Bellas, I believe, shipping today. So, oh, buddy, come may be come on Thursday.

You may get a book. Maybe they have to get here from Minnesota. Maybe strong, maybe here from Minnesota. Maybe strong maybe from Minnesota. Love it. All right. Well, either way coming out you can the hope of the book being there should be enough to get you that's that's right. You know, I mean, all right. Awesome. We'll see everyone on Thursday night at ladder 15. Three or four. Let's do it. And a pod later in the week until then. He's for some shelter.