High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Does This Mean We Own The Mets Now?

Episode Date: June 23, 2025

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to the Phillies' series win over the Mets and discuss what the future should be with Bryce Harper after another ominous update on his injured wrist. Presented by Miller Lite To purchase Ring The Bell by Jack Fritz and Kevin Reavy go to RingTheBellBook.com To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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the capability you need to leave the asphalt behind. Hurry in! Employee pricing is on for a limited time. Visit your local Chevrolet dealer for details. This is the High Hopes Podcast. On the Odyssey app and sports radio 94 WIP. Oh, I feel a little less alone. Oh, it is another edition of the high homes podcast sponsored by Miller Lite official partner of the Philadelphia Phillies tastes like Miller time Philadelphia celebrate responsibly fritzy that that was the that felt like the most enjoyable yo of the season for me. It felt like for real. There was real reason to do the yo today. Like they, they, they won two or three from the mat.

I know it's not the end of the world, like the greatest thing that ever happened, but like, you know, after the series earlier this year, after the playoffs last year, like that was a really freaking awesome series win this weekend. I, I really enjoyed this weekend, man. How you doing pal? Oh man. And they, they kind of took it to the Mets. enjoyed this weekend, man. How you doing, pal? Daw man, and they it kind of took it to the meds. I'm just gonna say we got it. We got it, you know, caught like it is outside of Saturday, which

we'll get into. And I tell you what, a bit of a bloodbath. It was I mean, just seeing the balls fly out of CBP like that. It was actually a pretty trigger triggering experience. It was like, don't want don't want to see that. It almost, it almost ruined my weekend, but thankfully, uh, they came out yesterday. And like, I think the thing that stuck out the most to me is they could say all they want those series in June, they could say all they want. It didn't matter.

It's just, it's just baseball. It's a daily grind, yada, yada, yada. They didn't play that way. They, they, they played like that series meant something and they had something they needed to return to the Mets after what happened in April. And I don't know if it swung momentum completely back on their side,

but I think from the standpoint of at least getting that little Mets thing behind them, I think that they did that this weekend and I appreciated how into it they were. I appreciated the emotion that they showed. I appreciated Lazardo. I mean he way struck out Soto after going up and in. He went up and in which I loved. I was dying for a little up and in and and and they you know blew 98 right. Even the first inning. He showed it when he struck out Alonzo in that spot like he he was he was feeling it and he was into

it and feeling the emotion. It felt like a big game, man. It did like this whole series. We always do though felt like the playoffs, but it kind of did like it really felt like it mattered like it was a meaningful series and the players felt like they understood, like it was a meaningful series and the players felt like they understood that and played that way, you know? And I thought the fans did too. I thought the fans treated it like a playoff series. I mean, they started bringing out some of the chants from the postseason. Like it had

a whole big game feel. You want to talk about emotion? I mean, wheels, he struck out Soto too and I don't know what he said. I couldn't tell if he was saying that. I can't blame him. I mean, he was saying it to the umpire. I mean, that was it. That was just a trash performance by that umpire. I mean, I don't blame him at all.

Like that there was no consistency with the calls. Like one same spot, the balls of a ball or strike. It's like, how am I supposed to know what I'm doing here? Yeah. And and just trying to evaluate, you know, both clubs and see how they match up. Obviously, the Mets top of the lineup is really good. I mean, I mean, Lindor, Nemo, Alonso, Soto, Vientas had a tough year. But you know, when he gets back,

I assume he's gonna be all right. It is brutal after that top. Like you was about the Phillies bottom of the lineup being being subpar at Mets bottom of the lineup is just is just dreadful. So and it looks like hopefully some of the Mets voodoo magic with some of the pitching is falling apart and canning and David Peters and all these guys having Cy Young seasons like rain it in. OK, that's let's calm down. I'll have whatever is his name is Jared, whatever their pitching coach guys these guys having Cy Young seasons like rain it in. OK, let's let's calm down.

Whatever is his name is Jared. Whatever their pitching coach guys like the gods said, the best pitching coach in history of baseball off like two months of baseball. Like, can we chill out a little bit, please? Yeah, yeah. So, you know, they've they've totally rebounded after the ninth out of 10 stretch. They're playing good baseball. There's real belief.

And I think that, I think the city needed that series this weekend, James. I think they can say, hey, great job beating the Blue Jays and you've done a good job against Braves and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. But there was a, there was Mets like, there was something about the Mets that I think the city needed to see them beat them before they were like, all right, bleep it. We're all in.

Yeah, I, I, dude, um, I think that series, it was big for the players, you know, it's, it's important for them to feel like they can beat the Mets and all that type of stuff. This was a series that mattered for us. This was a series for the fans because look, when the Mets come to town, like really ever since they won a hundred one games a few years ago, obviously playoffs last year, series this year, but like other than a few moments, they've really had the Phillies number the last few years. You know, they have, they played us really well and it has felt, I mean, your guy on your show, Spike was talking about, you know, until this weekend, they had been the Philly daddy.

And it's like annoying when I hear that, but he's not wrong. Like he's not wrong. The Mets have had the Phillilly number and I think as a fan base, we've felt that. And I, you know, no greater example of our anger and frustration than the playoff series last year. I think to see this team win the way they did too, you know, obviously the pitching, you know, on the, the nights they won was great, but to see the bats come through, to see some big hits in big spots,

the obviously, you know, it ended up being the play of the year with the way it finished with Castiel and Romero at the plate, easily the play of the year. But stop getting that double in that spot to hit that double with the bases loaded and break the game open like for Cassie that to add to it for them last night to keep pouring on, they get the one, nothing, Leo on the shore bomb and then keep pouring on Otto that big hit. So, so that Homer like they kept adding. It felt like it felt like exactly what we wanted to see from this team last October. We're seeing in this series. And I think for the fan base to see that after last October, I think it did allow people

to kind of start to get excited about this team in a way they really hadn't allowed themselves to. Yeah. And, and I think their brand of baseball matters. They're not slugging the ball all over the ballpark. They're, they're really not besides, dude, so it's going 4 33 or whatever to center field was great. Hariest. He, he smoked.

Didn't think he had that kind of BOP. Yeah. Well, and he was, he was struggling coming in and we hadn't really talked about it because he doesn't play all the time, but I think it was like three for 39 coming in. He, it was the stretch he had been on and obviously a massive day yesterday. Yeah.

Yeah. But it's, they're actually doing a much better job of, of going gap to gap and being able to, like, I think, I think what two weeks ago, they were scoring a lot by just having an exorbitant amount of singles. It was like disgusting the amount of singles that they were hitting. The time baby. What they have their back to back games of like 16 hits.

Yes. Four runs. It felt like, yeah, well, they had the one game where like it was, I think it was like 15 out of 16 hits or singles. Yep. So, so what they're at least doing now is they're mixing in a double every once in a while. They're, they're getting the balls in the gaps

and, and they're scoring in different ways than, than just the long ball. Obviously short of a one yard last night. That was great. So it's a one yard, but it's not been, they're not scoring in that kind of way where like the Mets could on Saturday where they had six home runs.

It's just not how this offense is. Was it seven? Wow. It was seven. Yeah. Seven solo shots. How crazy is that? And I was, I mean, you want to talk about Saturday night blood starts boiling a

little bit when Alvarez, when Alvarez hit that home run and he was like walking down the third baseline, I said, someone's got to wear one tomorrow night. Someone's got to wear one tomorrow night. Someone's gotta wear one tomorrow night. And then guess what? Guess what? Francisco Alvarez. He got sanded. Get ready to learn Syracuse, pal.

See ya. He wore one, all right. It's a different guy than what I remember. But he wore one. See ya. See ya. So, dude, I'm just so happy. I just, I'm so,

that felt like a big weight kind of lifted off of all of our shoulders. It really did. And, you know, I think Lizardo's interesting from the standpoint of he seems to shove against good teams. I mean, the- And feel the moment, you know? Yes.

And I think we learned that early on with that Dodger start on that Friday night, the city connects where he dominated that outing as well. And it's really. You could ask this question and and nine out of ten or, you know, ten different people would have ten different answers. But like, who's your game to starter? I mean, I know, I know, I know.

Dude, if you would ask me like Thursday last week, I was like, it's clearly Rangers Suarez. What are we talking about? It's obviously Ranger. Then Sanchez gives the eight one round innings in Miami. I'm like, well, it's probably Sanchez, if we're being honest. I mean, you know, you tried the best. And then I see Los Arias. I'm like, wait a minute. Hold on. I mean, he's clearly like the ceiling's the highest. Like, you know, it's just like, man, it's really in their own lefties,

which is just it's it's thrilling to watch. Like they are, they're all awesome, dude. I mean, this top four, they have, I mean, no, able pain or whatever. We'll figure out, we'll talk about Ava on Saturday and all that. But, but this top four they have with Wheeler and the three lefties is, I mean, it's special, special Jack. It's really fun to watch on a night tonight basis. And it should give you hope that that with those guys taking the ball Those being the only guys theoretically are gonna start a playoff game for you

You've got a chance to win every time they take the ball Yeah, I think there's something about Lizardo in that ballpark. I think he I think he has an extra level of juice It was like he went back to Miami and there's a cold shiver down his spine. You're right, dude. It's so funny He's like There's no one here, oh my god. No, no, no, I escaped, I escaped. So I think maybe there's something to that. He just spent one day back in Miami, it was like, no, no, get me back up, get me back up and he he is one of those guys and it's I'm not saying he's like an ace or whatever But he really is one of those guys like if you have to get him in the first two innings

Because then he usually finds his arm slot and it's pretty much game over if he can if he can get into a rhythm Because he the first what two innings, threw 45 pitches it felt like. I mean, if it wasn't 45, it was at least 38. And, and then he looked up and he started being really efficient. Mowing him down, yeah. Yeah. Because when he gets, him and Wheeler both

have that thing where if guys just start fouling them, the game plan against Lazardo and Wheeler should just be foul balled into death. I mean, that's, Wheeler didn't have his command on Friday night, but when Wheeler traditionally struggles, it's when they just can just foul him off, foul him off, foul him off, and then he's all of a sudden, he only went what, five on Friday night? Five, he went five on Friday night, so 98 pitches or 97 pitches, something like that, that was a lot. Which you never see. Which you never see. Which made, which was why they had to stretch Lazardo an extra inning yesterday, even though, you know, he's over a hundred pitches. The

bullpen was, we'll get to Abel, but like the bullpen was totally taxed. So it was, it was just gutsy all around. It was gutsy all around from, from the Phil's weekend. Yeah. And like to your point with the bullpen, you know, Romano comes in in that spot. Awesome, awesome work getting out of that and just kind of ending any real threat in that game. You know, Kirkering has, you know, he's, he's on his way to Palpable bond. You know, they've, they've been getting some better pitching there. We'll, we'll obviously get, get into all that. So I've been thinking about that bit. Imagine when it gets, if it, if it could just get to like five away, it'd be the most epic thing of all time. It'd be unreal. This slow play, the audio, the audio of you doing this thing. Yeah, it was it was four years ago.

The check, you know, like, oh, be a man. Let's go. Come on. I can say I'm not a traditional I'm not a just get a traditional closer guy. Except for this for this bit, I want them to go traditional closer and let let Orion Kirk and cook. Let them cook. Just do whatever it takes. Get Pablovon off the leaderboard. Yeah. Now look, it was a, I like, you know, prior to the series, I was already kind of, you know, in on on like committing to this team. But I think that what they've done over the last two weeks and really, you

know, this series and the way they played without Harper and we'll get to the Harper update. He talked during the game last night, you know, still like basically who the hell knows what I took away from what our brand is. I will get into it. But I do think that, look, we talked, you know, a couple of weeks ago when they were struggling and all that about and how unsure we were at that point. But you know, this team had a month, a month and a half to, to basically say to Dave Dabrowski, Hey, help us. Like we deserve you to go out and really go for it and help this team and add to this team. And so far they're making their case. Like they are like, this has been an important, this is an important stretch for this team, both what we've seen the last two weeks and, and the next month, because look, we

know we understand where they are as an organization. We've gone back and forth and stuff too. We know how important these prospects are. We know that you don't want to be stuck in the wilderness for 11 years again. But you know, when this team keeps doing what they're doing, and this group is here and you look around the league and I see even watching the NBA finals last night, you know, and I know it's a different sport, but but seeing Halliburton go down and you know, it reminds you it is a different sport, but, but seeing Halliburton go down and, and, you know, it reminds you, it is a war of attrition. Like so many guys will go down over the course of this baseball season, over the course of the playoffs. It is about being healthy and firing at the right time. Like this team can absolutely win the World Series. Like they can absolutely win it. This month is going to help inform Dave and Middleton on how much they want to commit to trying to win it. It's massive. So I thought it was interesting how I think I think sometimes you got to get tells from the broadcast. And I think we do

that. Totally, we do that a lot in we do that a lot with football, I feel like you can get a good tell of how the team feels about each feels about themselves, because of the meetings that they have during the week and whatnot. And then it gets brought on to the to the to the broadcast. And I thought last night, it was a lot of this group knows that this is their time running out together, essentially. And I did like how Buster mentioned Louie's Robert and then immediately went into also Reese Oskins, which I don't think is I think that's interesting as well. Just need to stop winning games like enough already.

Burr's like you're playing way too good a baseball. But yes, yes. Burr's just chill out and let us just bring Reese home. So we get into fights with I mean, like Reese is the exact energy I want right now I mean he is he is bringing it. No, he's a fighting Wilson. Good sure I love it, dude. I'm all like it. Yes. Yes But I just and the tone of the broadcast last night was there they're gonna go for it. They're like he said that He actually kind of poo-pooed not poo-poo But he he made it seem like they are prioritizing a real bat over a

bullpen piece, like that bullpen thing he threw it like, I think only threw it at the end. And he was like, yeah, and everyone expects him to go get a bullpen piece. But the first thing he mentioned was about was about going and trying to acquire another impact bat for this team. You could argue if Luis Robertson impacts that. Totally, totally understand it. Pyramus and another another couple of homers yesterday. Just saying, just saying.

All right. So I have a hypothetical Buxin trade. And I'm just I don't know if they'd say yes, but it feels close. OK, it would also it would also hurt. But Tyete, Crawford, and Abel for Buxton and Griffin-Jacks. I think that is a fair trade. I think you're giving up a lot. You're giving up a lot for a guy in Buxton who is a real question mark if he's going to stay on the field. But I do think that's that's fair value especially because you know You're you're assuming that you're now many years of control those bucks and have it can't be that many I feel like he's been around. I think yes

I think he's paid through his age 34 season and he's 31 now something okay, so a few more years left So so he signed a contract then so he's not obviously not okay. All right. No no no Yeah, you sound like a hundred million dollar contract. So he yeah. So he is up after twenty eight. OK, all right. So he gets a few years and, you know, it it. It was only twenty eight bills.

I look, I think that's a fair trade. It's given up a lot. And by the way, you could go play. You can go play left. If in the end of that towards the end of that contract But the upside is the ups. I don't know listen. I We're all a little little geeked up with the way the fills are playing right now, so it's like It's exciting trade package. We can throw out there. Let's get back if we get through out there, so it's exciting now able

out there. So now Able, official comment on Able. Yeah, so tough night for for Mick, you know, didn't the back to back to backers were, were a tough pill to swallow in the moment. Yes. I would agree. He's developing. Everyone take a chill pill. I mean, what is like, come on, what are we doing here? I'm with you. Is he 25 years old? Like chill out. 23. 23. Come mean, come on. I'm with you. Is he 25 years old? Chill out. 23.

23. Come on. 23 is a baby. Now he might have a home run problem. It does seem like when it goes bad, the ball seems to fly out of the ballpark. Yes. Yeah. So I know that Pitching ninja put out about tipping pitches.

I don't I don't think he's tipping pitches if I'm going to be completely every Philly tipping pitches when they struggle. Yeah, I know. I think he's tipping pitches. Must be tipping pitches. I I don't think he is tipping pitches. I think the I think teams I think teams have now watched him for a couple of starts. And I think it's very clear what the plan should be. If you see spin, don't even, don't swing at it. Yeah, and just wait. Don't swing at it. Yep. He can't throw a changeup. Like there's changeup, if he, if he, if he can spot a changeup, great. Like you tip your cap. But

if I was a betting man, I would say he's not going to be able to, to, to, to spot his changeup. So I think teams are just saying I'm sitting on everything. I'm not spitting on on spin. If you can locate it, great. Again, tip your cap. If you can locate a change up, great tip your cap. I'm waiting for the fastball. And and and he doesn't have super, super great command is fastball. Like I think when he first came up, it was actually better than it looked at Lehigh Valley. And now he's just missing way more and hitters aren't missing it. I think it's a really good fastball. I think it's a possible plus pitch, but it's only that if you can get the other stuff around

the strike zone or in the strike zone. So I also think he needs something to get in on lefties because I don't know. I think when he gets lefties out right now, it's it's Damn near a miracle. I mean it's they it's like watching Kirk ring before Kirk ring got this the sinker and And really developed that fastball of his and now he's got two different fastballs, which is huge. So Yeah, I just think that

He's not a finished product. We know that he has a home run problem. I think there's still a lot of pluses, but what you're seeing right now, I think, is the league adjusting to what they saw. The first couple times through, I still think there could be upside out of the bullpen, but again, he's gotta come in and throw strikes. So, yeah, I just think that it's all part of development,

but right now it's definitely maybe because you're not getting Nola back for at least a month. Yeah, we'll see. A month and a half. Yeah. A month and a half. Painter seems like they're just going to make him, and I don't hate the strategy, but they're making it. Yeah, they're making him earn it.

You know, it's fine. Yeah, we want him pitching well. And look, again, he is still coming up Tommy John surgery like it does like I was looking at I saw pretty interesting graphic or tweet where This baseball data guy went through and looked at here. So this guy John Rogel Went through the Tommy John surgery database of players and like went for the average number of days for various milestones, like the average number is one 55 to start throwing three 11 off of mountain three 41 to throw a bullpen for 10 to face live hitters. First game's five Oh eight.

It says return to same level, which is obviously a little bit, you know, of a, you know, what is the same level all that, but it says 614 days, you know? So that's, that's, you know, almost two years and we are not at that point yet. Like the point being that painter, especially at his age and stuff like he will probably not get back to what he was before until next season most likely, you know. Right. Which again, is fine. Like I totally fine. Yeah, this is this the tough part about baseball and prospects is and not to steal a hinky term, but it's not linear. It's it's it's nice.

It's it's just it's really not. Yeah. And by the way, even the the awesome level prospects, guess what? They're probably going to come up and struggle and then Jackson is the number one prospect in the sport. He's still figuring it out. He's kid, you know, very rare that they come up and that I mean, like Acuna came up and was amazing and never stopped being amazing. Tatis came up and largely never stopped being amazing. Like you have some unicorns trout came up and got sent down and then came. Yeah, trout sucked for a month.

He sucked and got sent down then came back up and was amazing. But was Mike Trout? Yeah. So that's the tough part when He sucked and got sent down then came back up and was amazing but was my drought Yeah, so that's the tough part when you're when you're when you're It's a tough part when you love prospects because you want them to just come up and be awesome But you have to you have to sort of look at it holistically. So yeah Abel's Abel's going through it right now It's going through growing pains is always gonna happen. I don't I know there was probably a fear of like, oh, this is hurting his trade value I don't think it's hurt it at all I think that if you're one of these other And one of these other pitching development teams, you're like, there's still enough there

He's 23 take it take a deep breath and then painter it just might take a little bit might take a little bit He's not like I think when you look at It looks like skeins, right and you look at chase burns Who is coming up on Tuesday if you are in a fantasy league and you have not picked up Chase Burns yet, he's the best pitching prospect in the baseball and he could be skeins, he's amazing. So I sent you that text at 1130. Oh buddy, I know, oh I know.

I was very excited, very excited about Chase Burns. But I made sure I added him in our league before. I saw that, that was good work. And I did make a miracle run to save a six four. I know, unbelievable. I checked in on Saturday, I was like, oh I'm make a miracle run to save a six for I know unbelievable I checked it on Saturday. I was like, I'm beating a 9-1. I'm feeling good and now it didn't work out a Miracle run on Sunday. You're still paying attention, which is a rarity. So, you know, dude I'm managing for fancy baseball leagues with two kids right now units about fire gun all

This is a lot of pressure. It's a lot of work, honestly. It's you know, it's it's a top of the afternoon show. I got three frith and sixes this week with two leading off to go until about seven thirty. Look at the I mean, just the hardest working man in show biz, you know, built, built different, built different. But everyone tells me I'm lazy. It's just sick. Just like speaking of me, would never do that.

Your favorite, your favorite topic. Yeah, you're good. Right before we started recording this podcast, the the the 1500 books showed up on my parents. So I can confirm you're not it's not a Ponzi scheme. You're not being ripped off. People were starting to wonder, you know, there's a lot of buzz. There's a lot of buzz. Did Prince really write a book? Is it all fake? It wasn't looking good for you.

Yeah, was this just some bit that he thought would be hilarious and. Yeah, and I did put it out. Yeah, yeah. I did put it out on April Fool's Day so that. That's true. I didn't think about that. Yeah, that's a good point. You had to do the whole not a joke, guys.

Well, I hate. I hate April Fool's Day. I hate April Fool's Day. It is my least favorite thing on the planet. joke, guys. Well, I hate I hate April Fool's Day. I hate April Fool's Day. It is my least favorite thing on the planet. I hate anyone who even does like a I'm clearly joking. It's a joke joke. I hate it. I hate everything about it.

It's it is the worst. I'm very with you on this. Thank you. So but either way, the book is officially here. So if you haven't pre ordered yet, we're gonna extend pre order by a week. So the pre order deal is this. First off, you're getting it before Amazon. So that's huge. Amazon is getting it until the end of July.

Because people are saying they can't wait. That's the thing. You know, they like, they cannot actually physically make it the extra time. So it's important. See, I don't like when you try to do sarcasm on me. Like, like, don't don't don't we've done this show for too long for you to start trying to reverse roles here, okay? Yeah, it's fair. It's disgusting. It's disgusting.

I saw an opportunity, I had to take it. So, so the, the, the pre-order deal is this. You'll get a signed copy. If you want me to personalize it, you can let me know. Oh, yes. Whatever it takes. You're not getting signed copies from Amazon. So

free shipping. But if you live close enough, I'm going to be dropping it off at your house. I'm not. Look at this door to door service. This is amazing. Come on, man. You kidding me? If you're if you're in the area, I'm

not. We're not going to shipping. But this is this is a real mom and pop operation. We got it going on over here. This is this is we are not some big entity. So so so yeah, the books are officially arrived and you have one more week to preorder. And. There it is. Love it. It-order. And there it is.

Love it. It's exciting. No, it's really thrilling. Honestly, I'm very proud of you, buddy. For someone who doesn't read books, the fact that you wrote one is pretty amazing. And I do appreciate that. I'm very curious if you're gonna read it.

Oh, I'm gonna read it. I bought it. You know I bought it, yeah. Are you gonna get ink under your fingers or are you gonna be a kindlesman? No, I bought it. So I'll do the ink in this case. You know, I'm a kindlesman in general, but look, I love to read.

I do like that you agree with me that listening to an audiobook doesn't count as reading it. It's nonsense. It's like, we have language. We can say, I listened to it. I heard it. I know what's in the book. You didn't read it.

It's crazy. Like, I couldn't believe Spike was arguing in the book. You didn't read it. It's crazy. Like I couldn't believe Spike was arguing the opposite side. Spike is a smart guy. Like one of the dumber things he's ever said. Yeah. A lot of dumb things he said last week. It was a tough week. Well, at least top 11 weeks over for people. Yeah. Cause it caused quite a stir. Although I think this week is quarter century week on the Midday Show, so we're gonna keep listing things. Oh good, good.

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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 diehard 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. Alright, let's get back to the Phil's here. Let's get it back to the Phil's. You know, trying to be a professional. We get to take back in a couple, but, uh, the Harbor thing, cause he did talk last night on the broadcast. Um, you know, very, it was like, yeah, one sentence I'll be like, Oh, I feel good. Then the next instance I'm like, Oh no, I feel bad. And it's like, you know, well, you know, I'm swinging the bats. That's good. But like,

you're just starting the process. Don't really know, but you know, yeah, it's feeling better, but you know, it could come back. Cause it was just like, I felt like I was wrapped around in circles hearing him talk. I didn't know if it was good, if it was bad. Some parts of it were good, some parts were bad. Like I don't know what to feel or think with Bryce Harp right now.

I'm happy they're winning. I'm hoping to your point that you made a million times on this podcast together, like I'm hoping he doesn't rush back or feel like he has to rush back cause they're winning. That's great. But I just, I don't know what to make of this whole thing. Like it's, you know, is it going to come back immediately? Is it something that's just going to play through? Like I just, it's, it's a, it's a weird one, Jack. It's a totally weird one. And I just want to get this a little precursor out or disclaimer.

The Phillies have played well without Bryce Harper. That doesn't mean they're better without Bryce Harper. Thank you. I've just- Please, yes. Stop. They can't win the World Series without Bryce Harper being a part of it. You know, like I just, and quick side note,

because people love to bring up the Nationals thing. Like that team was sick. That team was freaking loaded, like low stacked. They had Scherzer and Strasburg at the top. And Strasburg was like the one great year. Yeah, like they had Corbin, who was awesome that year. They had Randon and Soto and like dudes everywhere like Schwerber like Turner. Yeah, like they were freaking awesome. I guess

that's where I meant her. They were awesome. Yeah. And they had they had peak Daniel Hudson. They they had Sean Doolittle. I mean, they were just it's a loaded team, man. It's a loaded team. I don't know what to tell you. Like they probably could have won the World Series with Bryce there. You know, it's it doesn't whatever. So I just like the whole like first off, it's not like they're getting great production for First Space without him. I'm sure that it would be good to have him in the lineup. So yeah, so I, I don't know, I really don't know what to think.

I felt pretty positive after last night listening to him. But again, like, it's one of those things where I wish there was a surgery, like I wish that there was something that could could fix it. And theoretically, he'll be fine in a month or a month or two. And it really, it really just reminds me so much of the in beat injury. Yeah, I was actually talking there, I was thinking the exact same thing where it's just like, there's no magic surgery to fix it type of feel, you know? Right. And that's my fear. Now I do wonder if he's like, I'm sure he has,

but I wonder if he's talked to Jason Worth at all. I mean, Worth got cut by the Dodgers because of all this, his wrist injuries and then was able to, I think he wore like a brace on it. Yeah. You know, if I remember correctly during that time, and that might have helped. So, you know, maybe that's something he asked to start doing. But I am certainly in, I just, just wait and see and almost hope. I'm in like a hope and a prayer stage with, with with with Bryce in this wrist thing. I have definitely come to to to grips or

Starting to realize that the days of him hitting 30 plus home runs Might be over. I mean like it doesn't I think he might just have to be a 290 25 home run guy, which is fine, but it's not exactly it's not it's not Bryce and I think he's dealing with the something more in his wrist than Just like it feels like maybe wear and tear or maybe it's like out leaves knees, but it's in his wrist I don't know But it certainly doesn't seem like this is gonna be something that I think this is something to be dealing with for the rest of His career it feels like and that sucks.

But hopefully they can find some way to kind of manage it and work his way through it and to where it can at least feel comfortable. And then you can get a pretty good version of Bryce. But man, I just it feels really ominous right now with with where we're at with him in the and the and the wrist injury. right now with with where we're at with him in the end, the end the wrist injury. Yeah, for the you know, next six and a half years of the contract that's left, it's incredibly concerning, because it does seem like a, you know, chronic type of thing that keeps coming back that lingering that no matter what they do to fix it, it's and

again, it wasn't even the wrist that got hit, it's because his elbow got hit that caused this to happen again and stuff like that. It just it feels like something that is, you know, not to your point, something that they could just cure and not worry about it. Now, it does, you know, you hope that is the guy he can play through it, as we know, he played with it last year. I think he can have stretches, you know, all you need is playoff price for for a month and you can win the World Series. You know, so, but I agree with you. It's definitely. I was encouraged compared to what we had heard recently with what I heard last night, but at the same time, it just does feel like there's no real answer.

And it's a hope type of thing. And that that's, you know, that's concerning. Well, and the Browski said that he's cleared, you know, exactly. Yeah. You can play. Yeah. So, you know, it's like, wow. And Bryce, the one that's just not comfortable, which is crazy after yet. Yeah. And what makes it even more concerning is Bryce is always a guy that wants to be out there.

That's the point we like forces way back on the field. Again, he played in Toronto after like, he clearly shouldn't have played in that series. You know? No. Yeah, no, no. So and that's that's part of the concern. Concern here is that he he's not he's not in B from the standpoint of like I think in B can kind of check out and and and and not want to be out there. But like but Bryce wants to be out there. And by the way, like he's he has to be 100 percent aware of what this this time period in his career has to be.

Of course, the ring is important to him, we know that. But this is counting stats time. This is counting stats for a Hall of Fame resume. This is on the run for 400. This is on the road for 500. Feels like a stretch at this point. So he knows that these kind of years do matter and he's just missing chunks and chunks and again credit to the Phillies They've they've totally rebounded and they're playing pretty well

You know without him out there, but for this team to win the World Series They need Bryce to to be close to Bryce So again, you can win as many games You want the regular season without him? But when it comes to the postseason baseball, they're gonna need him out there and He'll get out there. I just wonder what version it's gonna be of him Yeah, it's it's the most important running storyline with the team this year like it to your point You know, they can't win in my opinion. They can't win the World Series without him. They need him He is too important and they need a good version of him. So you hope that this rest helps and, you know, he can kind of really take his time and get back.

And maybe, you know, you get that time where it's not bad for a while and it gets bad later or whatever. We'll see. But I'm hopeful. One more thing before we get to take back, because it is related to Bryce in a way. How about AutoCamp, man? Just keep look, the power hasn't been there. But, you know, cliche, but it's for a reason. Like, he's just a ballplayer. The dude just is a winning ballplayer. He makes plays, whether it's beating out a double play at first to score a run, whether it's, you know, making plays on defense, whether it's just grabbing a glove and playing left field for the first time ever. Sure. Why not? Like, I mean, you know, he's had a four hit game.

He's had multiple three games, like auto camp has been a winning player for this team. So a, the auto thing, but also the, you know, that is the question when harp comes back, you know, what do I think, obviously I think he stays on the roster at this point. He's been too good, but you know, do you want auto coming off the bench? How do you kind of manage that stuff? Can he play left field consistently? Where are you at on the auto thing? Yeah, I think, I think I got to see him out there more.

I didn't think last night was the, there was that one ball that was kind of in the gap where I was, I was like, ah, I don't know. I don't know. I don't know if he's got the range out there. I think he's standing in the outfield. I think he can stand in the outfield, but I don't know if he's going to go out there and be able to make a ton of plays. So, yeah, I think and the one thing you didn't mention there from a winning ball player standpoint loves get hit by pitches, man. Yeah, you're right. It's and he was in the minors, doesn't the majors. You're so right. And even look that bunt like a few weeks ago when he came in and

had the bunt like laid down a perfect bunt. He just feels like a ball player. Yeah. Now, I am sick and tired of the division two disrespect. I'm hearing on all these broadcasts, a lot of like, Oh, he came from lowly division to how could anyone ever make it from a division two program? By the way, I need to go see whatever his college field is because he keeps saying that's the most beautiful field he's ever played on. I think it like overlooks the San Diego Harbor,

which sounds pretty gorgeous. I'm gonna be completely honest with you. Sounds pretty good, but hold on, you play in CBP right now. So maybe let's tone it down a little bit. Yeah, tone it down. But yeah, every broadcast being like, oh, there he is. The underdog story. What a miracle.

What a miracle this little guy has been able to make it happen. Yeah, it's a little demeaning, yeah. Chas McCormick ended our entire lives with a, you know, playing center field. It's true. And it's a Division two level. Joey Wendell, a great an all star at the major league level. Now, I understand. I understand the PSAC is a level up compared to where AutoCamp played.

But it's just Emilio Pagan, by the way, is a Division 2 hero. Dan Altavilla, Tim Mesa, how much more do I need to prove to you that Division 2, we're not just a little engine that could. We're not the little engine that could. You're all right? On Division 2 talk.

No one said anything, but yeah, go ahead, you're good. We're at the little engine they could. You're all right? No one said anything. But yeah, go ahead. You're good. Lou Trevino, Lou Trevino, who threw a he threw a one hitter against us in college. He was disgusting. Tim Mays is shoved. Anyway, he said to me, enough of the division, division two slander, we chose division two, or at least that's what they told us. But yeah, he's. He's doing a better job. He's he doesn't look lost.

Him against spin is going to be an issue for a little bit until he but against fastballs, he rakes. I am going to need him to to to get a ball out on the floor. Well, he hit that fly ball last night. It was like an end of night like not even in the warning track, but off the bat, I was like, oh, oh, oh, no, it's just a fly just a fly out but it was like wow like I can't believe he hit in the air what a thrill he just he just reminds me of like a you know a cardinals type player yeah or like a dodger that just comes up and like Carson D. Martini when he eventually comes up I think him

and Kemper like similar I think they're they're winning players that can play all over the place they don't feel like they're a waste of time at the plate and I would definitely get him accustomed to playing left field now stop had a good weekend Mostly and he had a good couple games down in Miami So maybe he's coming out of whatever rut he's in as soon as I put him on zero watch He started, you know going off, which is how this whole thing works Maybe I put Harper on Zero Watch. Should I put Harper on Zero Watch?

Bryce, you're officially on Zero Watch. It's over, pal. Yep, it's over. We'll see if you can ever bounce back from this injury. So you are officially on Zero Watch as Stott is exiting being on Zero Watch. Might as well put Kepler back on Zero Watch. I'll put him back back on zero watch. Yeah, might have to put it back on.

I agree. Regardless. By the way, speaking of left-handed hitting left field options, Mickey's got 11 home runs. Oh, dude, Mickey's been white hot, dude. Another one yesterday. You have a little side by side of Kepler and Moniac. Tell me which player you'd rather have.

Why not Mick? Bring him home, bring him home, bring him home, play center for you. If you need it. No, no, no, no, no. Well, alright, shout out to the Miller Lite Bar of the Week. Our bar of the week this week is the Morrisville Tavern in Morrisville where you can watch all Phillies games

with a $3 Miller Lite can special. Go to Morrisville tavern.com. Alright, take back for T. Alright, what do I have in the take all fill these games with a three dollar Miller like can special go to Morrisville tavern dot com. All right. Take back, Fritzy. All right. What do I have in the take back today? Oh, tell you what, Castee, since the benching has swung at it, actually, here's an actual fact, he has swung it at every first pitch of the bat.

And I'm not sure, but doesn't it feel like as he's seen two pitches in an event since the outfield thing, it feels like every first pitch of the bat. And I'm not sure. But doesn't it feel like as he's seen two pitches in an abat since the outfield thing, it feels like every first pitch like bang, bang, let's go. Ah, he's running angry. He looks like pissed off. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, pissed off. Gasty might be an issue.

He's yeah. Now, can we be fair with like the worst read on a fly ball in the history of? Have you ever seen a guy standing in the foul territory as the ball drops fair? Like that was crazy at a night game. Like that was so wild. Anyway, watch the, I just gotta watch the games though. Just watch the games. Still hasn't made an error though. So that's how it works. Nice. Does it fit your narrative? So, and, um, and, uh, yeah, so pissed off, Castie.

He's actually like roping balls into the gap. He this is as since he cast that that Castie has looked. I mean, it's a lot of gap to gap. He hit the hit the home run, which is great. But at least at the plate. Yeah, I might be seeing some impact. I've seen some impacts from old Castie. I'm wrong, which is great. But at least at the plate. Might be seeing some impact. I've seen some impacts from old Castie. Yeah, that real edge like you feel it.

He it feels like he's been angry since that that, you know, incident. We'll call it. It feels like he's playing angry and, you know, so far so good. We'll see if we'll see if he could stay with it himself when the situation presents itself and you know, maybe not, you know, hack and whatnot. But you know, so far so good. By the way, if you're if you're a pitcher and you throw him a first pitch fastball, you should you should be yeah, it's good.

You just have to walk off the mound. You don't you don't deserve to lose. I think you actually lose the game for your team. Yeah, it's a little known rule. game for your team. Yeah, it's a little known rule. And it is Monday, June 23, which means we are 20 days from the MLB draft. And I would just like to officially Oh, oh, oh, officially call my shot. There we go. We get because you were for those you know, who

might have missed it. You've been struggling. Normally you've got like you're like you're picking between eight guys. You're like, which one do I love the most? This is my guy, whatever. And people might not remember Aiden Miller was officially your guy that year when they drafted him in twenty seven. Well, no, let's not let's not let's not lie to our listeners. I was I thought there was no shot. Aiden Miller would know you.

He wanted him. You didn't think he was going to be there. But my point is, you were like like I would love to get this guy I just don't think they're going to be you know I mean like so you've been struggling Have been struggling but also been Diving deep into the Research well, it's like yeah, cuz like I was disappointed in myself everyone listening was this we all were yeah we all were so I'll have more names as we get closer and closer, but on on Monday, June 23rd the draft is, you know, will be on a Sunday night. So, you know, it's not exactly synced up perfectly.

But with their first round pick, the Phillies are gonna select Sean Gamble. Sean Gamble. Sean Gamble is a jack of all trades. He can play center field, he can play second base, he can play shortstop. I wouldn't say he's plus at any of them, but he is a chance that he's a really tooled up guy

to play a little on the small side for now, but he's like like he could put on Is he a high school or college kid? We don't draft college kids. He's a high school kid. I figured I was just asking. Yeah, so he's from Des Moines, Iowa, but then transferred to IMG and Got a lot of luck with Iowans lately in Philadelphia just saying, you know? I know, I know, I know. So he he had like a 1300 OPS at at IMG last year.

He's been on the circuit for a long time. There might be some prospect fatigue there, which is where Brian Barber locks in, you know, a guy who's been around for a while. But like people like painter, no one felt like talking about painting anymore. And they go to 14 Miller had that injury. Yeah, they had me bone thing. Yep. Even like, yeah, it seems like the kind of guy that they go for.

But he's also 19 on draft day, which always scares some of the model heavy teams. But he is a really, really, really twitchy kind of athlete at the plate. And just in watching some interviews with him, like 10 out of 10 makeup, like an unbelievable kid. I like a 4.4 GPA in high school.

What a nerd. And he's committed to Vanderbilt and all that good stuff. Take 4.4. What's the point when we're good? Like a 4.0, right? Like that's- When I was growing up, it was a 4.0. It was 4.0.

Like that was it. And that was like 4.4? Like what are we doing here? You know? Anyway. Yeah. Reminds me of Johnny Damon. Reminds me of Johnny Damon. Reminds me of Johnny Damon.

I like that guy. Probably not the defender that Damon was, but I think at the plate, there's more power projection there with him. He could be Peeker Armstrong. Not defensively, but at the plate, he could be Peeker Armstrong. By thely, but at the plate. He could be Pico Armstrong. Yeah. So by the way, just real quick, something that we don't do enough

that I'll bet you a lot of our listeners don't know. I would just like to remind everyone cause we don't bring it up enough. Pico Armstrong was a Met and was traded to the Cubs. We just don't talk enough about the fact that they traded peak for Armstrong away. I just, I want to make sure we keep that alive. And it's something that that Mets fans hear constantly, because he was a two months of hobby bias. That's exactly right. So just I don't think we bring that up enough. I just want to get that out there. So nice. And we now own the Mets. So it's all good. Yeah, Sean Gamble, Sean Gamble, Sean Gamble. He's going to be the picket in the first round.

Love it. All right. We'll have more draft stuff, obviously, over the next few weeks. Obviously. Astros two or three. Praying for two or three. I don't feel comfortable facing the Azra. They could be bad and they're not bad, but like that the Astros could be in last place

in the AOS and I'd still be like, hmm. Yeah, there's something about that. Well, actually goes back to 2012. Like people will bring up. Well, actually it goes back to that entire run. Actually, it goes back to Craig Beasley in 2005 when actually, actually, actually. It does go back to Beasley. Beasley hit the home run to sink the Phillies wildcard chances in 2005 2005 or six or whatever five had to be five because they traded everyone in six, but

And and that's when Harry let out the all the runs are unearned, but who cares? So it so it goes back to then now I did clinch the division against the Astros and what? Wait in oh nine maybe one oh nine I think the clinch of the vision because lidge was horrible that year and then to get his confidence back They brought him in to to make the final out even the rough like 10 runs Yeah, they opened up the season in 2011 against the Astros and john mary barry jr. Hit the walkoff, which was beautiful they Yeah, and then 12 they went down there with a chance to really get back into the race and got swept by a team that won like 60

games so there's a lot of before the 2022 World Series there's already a lot of bad astros vibes out there so Framber tomorrow night Framber's like starting to strike people out at an absurd rate and then they got they do have to face Hunter Brown on on Thursday which I'm not looking forward to facing Hunter Brown Yeah, yeah, no, it's uh, you know, but you know what we got pitchers What a thrill that we get to roll out friggin Santas and Wheeler in the series. So it's like, okay, I got a shot, you know, yeah. No, it's a good Uh, it's a good show me series. It's good trio throw out there

Yeah, no, and it is good to especially after that the highs of this series, you know, it's a good, it's a good show me series. It's a good trio to roll out there. Yeah, no, and it is good too, especially after that, the highs of this series, you know, it felt big. It felt like a playoff series. It felt like these guys were locked in day off today to see them ratchet it back up and kind of keep that energy. I think it'll be important to see. So, all right, we'll be back after the Astros series. Remember, don't forget this. If you take anything away from this podcast, it's this. You still have time to pre-order Jack's book. You got to get on it now. Ringthebellbook.com. Get on it. We'll be back later in the week. Until then, peace for it's themselves.