High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Dumb and Dumber Talk Phils

Episode Date: May 11, 2023

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to the Phillies sweeping the Blue Jays, the Alvarado injury, and more. 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

This is the High Hopes Podcast. High Hopes! It's a bunch of baseball nerds talking about the Phillies on Odyssey and Sports Radio 94 WIP. Goal! It is another edition. That was a weird yo. Yeah, it was. The High Hopes Podcast presented by the wonderful people over at Miller Lite, the wonderful brand, the wonderful beer.

We love Miller Lite. Celebrate responsibly. That was a weird yo because I don't really know what to think about this Phillies team right now. Here's what I will say, and I will make this promise from myself. Now, Jack Fritz can't contain him. He just does what he does. There's no pigeonholing him. There's no putting him in a box.

But I promise you, I promise you that at no point during this podcast will I say I won't do it. But you just said it. I said I won't say it. But if I cut that audio and I would drop it in later they would have no idea that you didn't say it.

That's a decent point. A bit of a mistake there. I think you should bleep it out. In all seriousness, I think you should bleep it out. The Bills are bleep. I will not say bleep. That's it. We're done. Good. I think it's a great idea. I will bleep it out.

If I remember. You don't miss on the bleep remembering. I will write it down right now. Oh yeah, look at you, notes guy. I'm a notes guy. You know why I'm a notes guy, James? Because you're a pro. Because I'm dumb.

And I'm sort of like a goldfish where I forget the point that I wanted to make, you know? So I have to make sure I write it down. It's called baby brain. I get it. Yeah. I've been there. I think I'm actually adjusted. I'm good.

Okay. So I am not. I think I am well aware. I think I'm actually adjusted. I'm good. Okay. So I am not. Yeah, well aware. I have what's called morning show brain. Now, literally yesterday, Emily, I said something, and I don't remember what it was, but it was dumb. And Emily turns to me, she's like, man, you've been really dumb these days. I'm like, thanks, man.

Yep. I will say- I'm tired all the time. I will say, in talking to you recently, you do remind me of Elaine. Like when Elaine, in the episode where she stops- Oh, yeah, yeah, sure. That's like talking to you recently, you do remind me of Elaine. Like when Elaine, in that episode where she stops, you know. Oh, yeah, yeah, sure. That's like talking to you right now.

Yeah. I'm a lot dumber than I used to be, man. Yeah, you sure are. I was smart. I felt really good about my level of intelligence. It's gone. Turns out sleep's important.

Yeah. They always said it. I was like, ah, come on. It's important. Yeah, no, it's good. Sleep matters. It's good stuff.

So, it is an interesting time to be a Phillies fan. I'll say that. Yes, summing it up well. It's an interesting time. It is an interesting time. Because in our past, we would come on and we'd be boisterous. Yes, three straight.

Sweeping the blue. We swept the blue Jays. Again, I can't do a two-game series with the sweep. It doesn't compute in my head. They've won three straight. According to Major League, that's a winning streak. Correct. Yes. But I will say this.

You smell that? Uh-oh. You smell that? What am I smelling? You smell that run that's coming? Come on, man. You smell the run that's about to come for the Phillies? You just rope-a-dope me there.

I did not see that coming. You don't smell it? Nah, see, I smell it. I really do. I really, like, smell this run coming. I really do. Confident Jack has worked really well. Rangers coming back on Saturday.

Bryce is back in the lineup. The lineup. And listen, Boehm's struggling right now. Not just Boehm. I know. The young kids are struggling. Stodd's struggling. I know. Marsh really is not as much. Well, he's obviously going to lead the National League in OPS. I guess when you drop from 1,200

to 9-11, it is a drop. But yes. But yeah, I mean, Stodd's got like a 3-10 on base percentage or something. I know. What? I know. How'd that happen? I know. And it's the ebbs and flows of the baseball season.

Like, when they were hot at the beginning of the season, the old guys were cold. So, like, whatever. You know who's the only person who stayed out the whole time? Your boy Nick Castellanos. Nick Castellanos, man. All dude does, rake. I mean, obviously the team MVP so far. He's hitting over 300.

All jokes aside, without a doubt, he's the team MVP. Great defense. Yeah. Like we always said. Unbelievable. I mean, another one last night. Like, that catch was great. And he stole a base yesterday?

Dude, I... Five-tole player. Five-tole, right. Except the lollipop arm still. But regardless. And, you know, he's been making amazing catches when he gets to them. Might not get to all of them. No, no, no, no.

That happens. No, no, no. And definitely Schwarber and Castellanos in the corner is definitely not keeping me up at night. But yeah, it's just like you look at how they are right now. And I'm not going to use the B word because I don't want to use the B word. We have a negative connotation with it. Okay, whatever.

Yeah. No B word. But, but, but when this thing starts to turn and i did the dodger series is bad they were on the turn and they took a minor step back minor step five straight yeah five straight minors five straight minor step backs yeah but ranger back on saturday yep lineup will eventually like it's it's naive to think a lineup's hot at the same time like it just doesn't happen it never happens we always say every year we're like oh it's not possible i'm sorry it's naive to think a lineup's hot at the same time like it just doesn't happen we always say every year it's not possible I'm sorry

but they have enough talent in it to where it can supplement guys who wear cold and you just look at it with Bryce especially being back and it's just like there's no like Stott right now is an easy out he's not necessarily an easy out

he still does work at bats. Give him credit. He does go up there and he works counts and he fouls balls off. He just has not been hitting the ball where they ain't. Right. He doesn't have the exit hits right now. But at the same time, I agree with you. He's working a ton of pitches. They are 3-0 in their last

three with him. Undefeated as soon as they made the switch. You gotta factor that in. They might never lose againated as soon as they made the switch. You got to factor that in. They might never lose again. That'd be good for the brand because we're complaining about it. But yeah, the lineup is just going to be good. Imagine we were so upset they were

17-19. Now they're 119. How cool is that? It's pretty crazy. Best team ever. So, you know, the lineup I think is going to be fine. I think Ranger coming back is a major lift to this team The Alvarado injury stinks It's a real bummer It is a bummer

But they actually It's not going to crumble It's not going to crumble the bullpen And Strom is back So Strom is in the bullpen So they have another lefty option And you already had Soto to begin with Correct

So I'm just saying I know you're not smelling it Pastrami's in the bullpen. So they have another lefty option to where it's not like. And you already had soda to begin with, so. Correct. Correct. So I'm just saying, I know you're not smelling it. I know that there might not be a lot of people out there that are currently smelling the Phil's Run. Smelling it. But I hear it. Let's just put it this way.

It's like when you were younger and it's like a weekend morning and your parents are already downstairs. Nothing better. Right? Your parents are already downstairs. Nothing better. Right? Your parents are already downstairs. They're cooking up breakfast, and when you wake up, you smell the hint of the bacon, right? You smell a hint of the bacon. That's me right now smelling this village run.

Smelling this village run. Is that a Lehigh Valley shout out? Sure. Go pigs, man. I can't believe it's been 15 years with the Iron Pigs, by the way. Has it really? Wow. I was a Wilkes-Barre Scranton Barons.

Wasn't that what they were? Yeah. The Red Barons. The Red Barons. Yeah. Look at you. So, but yeah, it's just. You're feeling it.

I am. No, real quick, real quick. Beating Gosman and Manoa has done some. Yeah. They didn't really beat Gosman. No, they didn't. But they worked enough pitches. Literally did not beat Gosman

But I don't know if you can deny this Good luck with that But they won the game that Gosman started They did Dude Swanson was annoying He annoyed me My problem with adding Swanson now

Is I always keep saying in my head Samsonite Swanson now is I just always just keep saying in my head, like, Samsonite, Swanson. You know what I mean? I was so close. Yeah. So that's my problem with Swansons. That's a good one. You've really been in Dumb and Dumber lately.

Well, that's because I am Dumb and Dumber. I feel like we've gotten a lot of Dumb and Dumber quotes from you recently. Well. It's good work. Because I would say that this podcast right now is Dumb and Dumber. Which one am I? I don't know. I'm definitely more Jeff Daniels.

Yeah, I'm definitely Jim Carrey. Yeah, yeah. Which makes me dumber, I guess. They're pretty close. They're both pretty though. They're pretty close. They're both pretty though. So how's that?

It's good. Yeah. I appreciate it. Thank you. No problem. All right, let's start with the Alvarado injuries because I think that is clearly the biggest news since we last spoke. Elbow inflammation, you know, Thompson said he's a little concerned. I think anyone would be a little concerned with any sort of elbow injury to a pitcher.

That throws 100. That throws 100 miles an hour, exactly. How concerned are you? Talk to me in a week. Yeah, I know what you mean. You just don't know right now. If it's a week from now, they're like, yeah, he'll be back. It was more precautionary than anything.

He did say after the game that they got good news on the elbow thing, which is good. Which is great. But at the same time, the way they've talked about injuries recently has just annoyed me. Because they just give you hope when they're like, yeah, he could have gone today. And then like, oh, wait, no, he's actually on the IL.

Well, and then also the Bryce thing just totally like obscures everything. Yeah, true. It's like all this positivity. And it's true. It turned out true. So now it's like, all right, they positive. He's like, Bryce, we'll be back. I know.

Maybe they're overly positive about injuries. And then they're just like, yeah, we'll see what happens in the morning. And then they come back in the morning. It's like, well, there's a 15-day I.L. soon. Yeah, well, even like Reese, remember? Topper's like, well, he's walking around. Oh, my God. Yeah.

That was the worst. Yeah, yeah, yeah. He's walking around the clubhouse. God. Yeah. That was the worst. Yeah, yeah, yeah. He's walking around the clubhouse. Might be all right. I can't believe he looked all right. Next day, done for the year. Boom. Like immediately.

The next morning, it was like, yeah. He had us hoping for one night that everything was going to be all right. I believed him, too. I was such a sucker. You didn't. You were better. I remember being like, we're talking about should we pod, should we not? I was like, let's wait.

We're going to pod and it's going to be out four to six weeks or whatever. They're like, I don't think so. I'm like, look what Topper said. I know. Thanks, Topper. I know. Well, quick thing on Reese. Imagine him in this lineup.

It's so annoying that he's out. It's so annoying. I know. It is. It's mattered. It has mattered. And I talked about this on the final out the other night, but the one, the most underrated part of Bryce going back for me is obviously like his presence, whatever.

But they finally have another guy that's like patient, you know, like they have so many aggressive guys in the lineup that he balances. Oh, like Trey Turner? Yeah. He walked again yesterday. That's two straight games at the walk. Dude, his K percentage is 25.7. He's like 18 for his career. That's, that's his career. Awesome.

That's drastic. He is striking out at a significantly higher clip than he ever has. What about his 6 for 33 with a runner in the scoring position? What about another guy who's like a 310 OBP or whatever? OBP! What about 2 for 19 in a late and close situation? Is that good? Is that what we want?

He'll be all right. He'll be fine. All right. We'll just keep saying that. we want? He'll be all right. He'll be fine. All right. We'll just keep saying that. Next season, he's going to be awesome. All right? That's what happens. We sign big guys, they suck for a year,

and then they're good. I'm just saying. I'm praying for the Trey Turner turnaround. Cannot wait for it. No pun intended. Because when it happens, if it happens, Dude, Turner, Harper, Castellellanos especially this version of castellanos turner yeah i know june schwarber only that's what i mean though once he gets rolling i mean

that that four in a row is like well imagine if you had said in 2018 we're sitting here plugging away at this little podcast talking about reese hoskins and how excited we are about scott kangery's future and whatever. And Nick Williams. And you said to us, hey, in five years, your two through five hitters are going to be Trey Turner, Bryce Harper, Nick Cassianos, and Kyle Schwarber. And JT.

Yeah. We would have been like, get the bleep out of here. Like, no way. That would not happen. It's not possible. Would you tell me that our ace is also Zach Wheeler? I know. I know. Well, I guess five years ago, I probably would have been like, ah. We would have been like, ah, he's okay. Yeah, we'll see. No way. That would not happen. It's not possible. Would you tell me that our ace is also Zach Wheeler? I know. I know. Well, I guess five years ago, I would have been like, eh. We would have been like, eh,

it's okay. We'll see. Come on. I don't believe it. Maybe for the second half or the first half. I believe one member of this podcast heading into that free agency year said, what dumb team's going to sign up to a $100 million contract? I remember that. This guy. This guy.

Listen, it's okay. But yeah, so again, it is funny when you put in perspective everything we've been through to where we are now. It really is. And they got to figure it out. But they will. We're in much better shape today than we were five years ago. I think that's the same thing to say. Well, it's funny because five years ago it was like they're a sleeping giant.

Yeah. You know? Well, they're getting close. They're getting close. They're getting close. But yeah, I forget where you were. Alvarado. Alvarado.

Alvarado. I thought you were going to get back to it there. I was like, oh, he's got this. Alvarado. So yeah, so like a week from now, like he was only 13. They made it retrospective or whatever. So, it's 13 instead of 15. Not retrospective.

It's not retrospective? No. What is retrospective? Retrospective is like looking back on a time. But they made it retroactive. Thank you. Retroactive. Well done.

Dumb and dumber, dude. I told you. You're right. So, they made it retroactive for 13 days, whatever. So a week from now, if they're looking to extend it or he's already pitching up in Lehigh Valley, whatever. But right now, I have no idea. Because he just didn't look right.

He didn't look right the last couple hours. We literally talked about it on the last pod. You literally said it on the last pod. So I hope it's just like a shutdown and it could work out well for the Phillies. Well, that's what I was about to say. You might have been a thing where we've talked about, like the kind of thing where at some point they would have to give them a few weeks, a month off anyway.

Yeah. You know what they work with. And I guess this is the pocket to do it if they wanted to. I mean, the schedule lightens up a little bit. Yeah, you get the Rays, you get the D-Bags, you get some of these. And D-Bags played well, but. Yeah. I mean, not the Rays, the Rockies. I meant to say the Rockies.

I don't know why I said the Rays. Well, we're doing well so far. Dumb and dumber, man. Well, they go to Rockies Giants. Rockies Giants, then home for the D-Bags, I believe. Okay. Hopefully Zach Gallin's not pitching. Someone else in the...

By Zach Gallin, you mean the best pitcher in baseball, Zach Gallin? Should have made him my Cy Young ticket. Dude, he is. That's what I get for opening. That's actually Leslie Knope. How about that? Oh, nice.

Trying to get into. It won't stop. Shout out to Leslie Knope. Okay. Oh, yeah. This is good. So it goes Rockies, Giants, Cubs, D-backs. That's a nice 12-game stretch there.

Yeah. Then you get the Braves-Mets for the first time. But then after that, you get six against the Nationals and the Tigers. You got the A's coming up in June. Oh man, Schwarber's going to be on fire. Oh, June Schwarber's going to be. They better go 20-6

in June. Well, they do have the Braves and the Mets. They're done. The Dodgers again, but no big deal. Don't the Mets have a worse record than us? Do they? Are we at that point? No, I don't know. I don't know. The Phillies got...

I think they're the same record. It's pretty close, I would guess. Here, I can look that up. I feel like it's the same record. But either way, this is a pocket if you wanted to give him a little bit of a breather so that he is good in August and September, hopefully. Same record, by the way. Same record.

18 to 19. So you go August, September, and then hopefully into October. Whereas last year, obviously he got sent down in the middle of the year. Then he ran out of gas. Alvarado. At the worst possible time. At the worst possible time. It was not good.

It's fine. He pitched a ton of innings. He was great. It happens. If he was Alvarado that we'd see most of the year in the World Series, or in the World Series, they very well could have won it. Yeah. Without a doubt.

Yeah. Besides game one. He's great in game one. Yeah, that's tough. But you're right. Yeah. I mean, obviously, we all remember how it played out. Yeah, I'm concerned, but I'm not to the point where I'm that concerned.

Especially if they're saying they got good news on the MRI. I think that's a real positive. Hopefully. Hopefully. Fingers crossed. Hopefully. All right. Speaking of real good news, though, how about Zach Whaley yesterday?

Yes. Like, that was that 99 early. I know the velocity decreased a little bit as it went on, but he was still able to dial it up a bit and just locked it against a really, really good Toronto lineup. Completely locked it and made one mistake to Brandon Bell on it. I didn't even know Brandon Bell was still playing, but sure, Brandon Bell in Toronto. He's been

around forever. There's just no doubt about it. What has just lasted? Just had a career. It was never that good. Never great. But he was one who was supposed to be. Everyone was so excited. But he was just always around. I mean, he's one World Series. He's been around.

Good defensive player. He's just blasted. Good for him. He's got his 10-year vet thing. All that stuff. Good for him. Other than one mistake to Brandon Bell, he was great yesterday. He was great.

He was great. And it was nice. No, I thought it was good, too. I did, too. I know it wasn't like dominant shutdown, but I think the most important thing for me was that he was 94 again. You know, being 94 so I think that was the most important thing

to take out of the night. And then hopefully as he continues to go along here, he gets back to being Aaron Ola. So it is funny how last podcast all worried about those two and then they go out and they're back to being themselves. So that's a good sign. And Zach Wheeler was great. And he only walked one yesterday. He struck out seven.

He went into the seed, beat seven innings. Only allowed three hits. Like that's, it was in watching Zach Wheeler yesterday. It was like, oh, there's Zach Wheeler.

It was almost a kick your feet up. It was the first time all season. I felt like I was watching Zach. Yeah. Like the last two years have pretty much been kick your feet up. Zach Wheeler's going to go out and do his thing. This is the first time this year. And I know the Astros start was good, but this felt better.

I totally agree. This felt better. So hopefully he can keep it up. It is interesting though, and I was going to say it for the take back, but I got a little... I wonder if something's up with the baseballs again. There was something... Or the guns are juiced.

Like, all of a sudden, Zach Wheeler's back to 98. Oh, I see what you're saying. All of a sudden, Noel's at 94. Kimbrel was 99. I, I, that was like, what is happening? Good point, actually. Sir Anthony was back up 98, 99. Dude, Kelly Jansen was throwing 99 yesterday.

That's a really good point. So, I'm just, it was weird. It was weird that- Yeah, they could be juicing the guns. That's possible. Now, maybe the weather's warmer. Sure. They could be juicing the guns. That's possible. Maybe the weather's warmer. That could be a factor. It was a little suspicious.

Gossman was 98 yesterday. I know he can, but everything was just stupid. I like this take. It was stupid yesterday. He's nasty. He's weird though. He'll go 8 earned, 0-0, 7 earned, 0-0. He's Well, he's nasty. I know. Except, I mean, he's weird, though, because he'll go like eight earned, zero, zero, seven earned, zero, zero.

Yeah, he's a blow-up guy. Yeah, he's a blow-up guy. He's a 100% a blow-up guy. Yeah, he's a blow-up guy. Like, I think he had a 2-3 ERA before the Red Sox started. He allowed seven and three in the third, so. And then he shuts us out for seven. I'm just saying.

Yeah. I want to keep an eye on, all of a sudden, everyone's back to. That's a really good point. Like. That's a really good point. Like, Kimbrough the other night, it was like, hold on. Who is that? Yeah. Dude, Kimbrell the other night, it was like, hold on, who is that? Yeah.

He looked amazing. 2016 Kimbrell? He looked amazing last night. Like, he was in a big spot, you know, like, or was it two nights ago?

No, it was last night. It was in extra innings. He was, I mean, dotting. Like, he looked, Cayman just blew those guys away.

At first, he just blew them away and then gets the weak ground out. He was awesome. I couldn't believe it. The ultimate test of this... And really, two outings in a row, he's been solid. The ultimate test of this is going to be Garakal. If Garakal is throwing 100 with maybe spider attacks back.

Ooh, that could be a two. But no, Kimbrel, what he did in the 10th yesterday, I feel like it's borderline impossible for these guys to not allow a run in extra innings. Dude, I was shocked. I was just expecting runs. I was expecting it. So, yeah, Kimbrell, I feel like is going to... So we've been anti-Kimbrell in a way.

In a way, no. You could just say it. We've been anti-Kimbrell. But he, for two weeks, three weeks, he was pitching well. And I was like, okay, maybe Kimbrel can do something. I think there was a little overreaction to the Dodgers thing. The Dodgers thing was bad, I agree. But he's been mostly more good than bad.

And also, it just is one of those ones that is ultimately not... Look, he's going to give up a lot more. The ERA goes up way more than it actually was. He gave up a walk-off Grand Slam. But any hit in that spot wins. Like, it wasn't, you know, yeah. But the fact that he was hitting 99 and his fastball looked it. Dude, it's the best he's looked.

Yes. Personally, I think. In a Phillies uniform, that might be the best. Like, not that I watch every Craig Kimball outing, but, you know, we watch a lot of baseball. I've seen him pitch with the Dodgers. I've seen him with the White Sox. Like, that's the best inning I've seen Craig Kimball pitch in years, man. Yeah. Personally. That I've seen. It was a lot of baseball. I've seen him pitch with the Dodgers. I've seen him pitch with the White Sox. That's the best inning I've seen Craig Kimbrell pitch in years, man.

Personally. It was a lot. He's even good at his slider over for a strike. It was everything. He was locked in. That was a good sign. If Alvarado's going to miss time, it's going to be Kimbrell. I think they like having Soto and Sir Anthony be more rotating.

Kimbrell's closed out a million games in this league. Fourth most in history, I believe. Although him and Jansen. No, seventh most or something like that. He's up there, though. He's in the top ten. Jansen passed him yesterday. Did he really?

Jansen has that many? Well, he got to 400 yesterday. Wow. I didn't realize. No, Kimbrell's at 400. No, he's not. He's at 398, I think. Really?

They're both going forward at the same time. Wow. Jansen. I didn't realize Jansen had that many. It's because he's on all those Dodgers teams for so long, but still, I didn't realize he had that many. Yeah. Yeah, he's at 397. Jansen's at 400. So Jansen will lap

him, obviously. Well, yeah, probably. But yeah, so I think Kimball's going to close now for a little bit here until Alvarado's back. And then they can kind of put Soto and Sir Anthony as the firemen. And then Strom, I guess, steps into that role too. You know, he becomes more not middle inning guy, but big spot guy.

Because he's awesome. I'm surprised by his strikeout rate. He's been phenomenal. Striking out a ton of guys. So those two are there. And then it's like Brogdon is kind of like the keep it close guy. A lot of back with Alvarado injury. They brought him back.

Although Brogdon was really good in the eighth the other night. He was. In a tight game, which is a good sign to see. And then Nick Nelson's on his way back to do something. We'll see what Nick Nelson does. Can't wait for that. I do want... Is Nick Nelson going to be on the roster? Do you really think he'll be on the roster?

Well, it could come down to Billy Falter's start on Monday. That's a really good point. So let's talk about Falter there in this context. Do you think Falter is pitching for his rotation spot right now? Yes. So what's the plan? Because they're putting Strom in the pen. He's in the pen. So what's the plan? You they're putting Strom in the pen. He's in the pen.

So what's the plan? You think they start Nick Nelson? Start Nick Nelson. Really though? I don't know. I don't know. I would let Falter go. I would just see what he does. I would bank on him figuring it out.

Him figuring it out. And being solid. Their whole idea I guess of pushing him back was they want to see an uptick in velocity which is interesting um but i just i don't get this well it's not very it's easy to make this case but i don't get the sense they're thrilled with what he's done this year i would doubt they are yeah i would say that they're not like hey pretty hard to be thrown with what the man has done this year. So maybe it's a Nelson opener-ish kind of thing. The thing about Nelson is that he's bad.

Generally has no idea where the baseball is going. He's not good is the takeaway for Nick Nelson. But dominating in Reading and AAA. Has he been great? He's been good. I don't know. I don't know. I just think there's no one.

Sanchez, I guess. Sure. Not great options. No. I just, like, there's no one. Like, Sanchez, I guess. Sure. I mean. Not great options. No. I mean, for what it's worth, I would take Christopher Sanchez over Nick Nelson. Okay. I mean, I'm not happy about it.

I'm not happy about any of it. Like, if I had to choose between them, who would you choose between those two? Sanchez. Yeah. I think, you know, but again, like. Seems like a fun place to be in. And it's so funny. How about Bailey you just Sanchez. Yeah. But again, seems like a fun place to be in. And it's so funny. How about Bailey

you just figured out? Yeah. How about when we were like, oh, they don't even need Andrew Painter. I know. It's okay. Andrew Painter

throwing from 120 feet though? And he's doing flat grounds, which means that he should be on a mound soon. I mean, there was palpable excitement it seemed like around the clubhouse

when he was there that day. Oh, he's back. You know, let's go. It is. Let's get Andrew Painter out there. Can we win a World Series, please? What's the goal this season?

Well, the goal right now is to get over 500 and back into the playoff race. Well, we can do that in the next couple days, buddy. I know. I mean, well, hold up. They're a game out of the wild card. They're in the playoff race. You know what's funny? I never look at any of the standings.

I know you don't. I just, I don't care. I don't start, I'm such a blinders guy. You should be. It's smart. I don't look of the standings. I know you don't. I don't care. I'm such a blinders guy. You should be. It's smart. I don't look at the standings. I look at them just to have general ideas, and I like to know stuff and whatever. But I always say I don't take them at all seriously until June 1st.

And even then, July 1st is when it's like, all right, we're eight games out on July 1st. I'm like, all right, this is not good. I wait that long, though. That's what I do. I assume the Braves are like 15 games up. They're seven games out on July 1st. I'm like, all right, this is not good. You know, it's like, I wait that long, though. That's what I do. I assume the Braves are like 15 games up. They're seven games up right now. Only seven. Only seven.

We're coming. Only seven. We're coming. Yeah. We're going to catch those second-place Marlins soon, though. Don't worry. By the way, cute little start, Braves, but we're coming. You're only seven games up on the Philips.

Look, the Braves have some injuries. Like, Max Fried hurt again. I know. Like, this could be a lost year for Max Fried. Started the year on the I.L. I.L. again. Who knows the way that goes? You know, break the Phillies way a little bit.

Well, the last time they lost a major star, they won the World Series. No, stop. I don't need to hear that. But that is funny that the Braves have been the best team in baseball. Well, they haven't. Whatever. The Rays. Close enough.

Remember them? Ever heard of them? We were never at one point going to be a Rays. Close enough. Remember them? Ever heard of them? We were never at one point going to be a Rays podcast. No. But the best team in the- Like Eric Neander just keeps getting it done. The best team in the NL or whatever. Yes.

And I'm just saying, like, if all the buzz is that you're the best team in the NL, the fact that you haven't buried the Phils yet is embarrassing. Great point. The Phils are under 500. It is pretty funny that I'd look at the standings and I just pulled them up and the Dodgers are just 23 and15 all of a sudden. Really? Tough start. Now they're 23-15. Well, that's because Mookie just started. Second best

record in the National League. They're back. They are a machine. They're not even that good this year. I know. They're starting like Miguel Rojas at shortstop. Dude, they got dudes like, and I know James Altman now because I haven't been fantasy. Doesn't get out, man. That's good. That's good.

That was good work by you, man. Wow, you're not the best in the business right now. Yep. They got dudes like Vargas pitting bombs for him. He's one of their top prospects. Yeah, I know. I'm just saying, like, they just bring dudes. My point is, like, they bring dudes up, and it's like, okay, I guess that guy's good now.

James Altman, sure, I guess that guy's good now. Yeah, I know. Yeah. Pretty good player development. Yeah, organizational, strong organizational development by them. Yes, in the race too. But you know what? Got to win in the postseason, Jack. Exactly.

Is there any podcast better at general baseball talk than us? No. This is off the cuff. We broke down the Angels last decade, last podcast. I know. Talked about, you know, some Dodgers today. Yeah, there's nothing. We might as well just be an all-baseball podcast.

We could be if we wanted to. But who would that be for, Jack? It would be for no one. The shame of it is there are very few national baseball fans. No, no, no. The baseball fans care about their team and nothing. Correct. Like us. Honestly, people might have just skipped the last

two minutes. What are they doing? Why are they wasting our time? I'm sorry for wasting your time. I apologize. Let's get to Bryce Harper. Okay. I thought last night it was just such a sign of why having that dude back is so important. He's the one who steps to the plate in the ninth.

He gets that hit. He scores. It does feel like since Harper's come back, and by the way, we talked about it last time, but still just so impressed with how quick his timing is. That ball hit was destroyed. It was destroyed. He just crushed it. He doesn't look hurt.

He doesn't look hurt. He doesn't look like he missed any time. He looks like he's had spring training. He didn't have spring training. He just stepped into a baseball game, man. He looks like playoff prize. He looks like playoff. How impressed have you been?

I can't. Again, I said this last podcast. The first game he came back, I was like, ah, they should definitely set him seven. He's a black hole batting third right now. A terrible idea. And then five for five. It's like, okay, he's just back. He is the best.

He's just back. He is the best. And part of, I think, the five-game losing streak was I do get the sense that they were like, Bryce is back. We're fine. It's kind of like the opposite of last year when he went down that Padres game. They were all like, all right, we've got to lift the team up because Bryce is out. The opposite, oh, Bryce is back.

We're good. Yeah. But I think the Saturday night against the Red Sox was a bit of a wake-up call. They were like, oh, I guess we can't just bank on Bryce going back and making our pitching staff great. And ever since then, I thought they've done a really good job of grinding out the bats. And I think they've just done a better job offensively. Like, I thought Tuesday night was, like, the most fundamentally sound, like, solid offensive performance you could find.

I mean, they had a hit and run, James. Yep, they did. Brandon Marsh scoring from first freaking base, dude. Which I know you growing up watching baseball, something that happened all the time was a hit and run. Yes, it really did, though. It was a part of the game. It's so great.

I honestly almost welled up. Well, it was great to watch the game it's so great i almost i honestly almost walled up like it was great to watch too because like that brandon marsh had no business scoring from none yeah even to the point where when the like that was a single to center field and if the relay throw comes in the second baseman doesn't even look someone like must have yelled at me he turns around and fires at home and it was obviously wide and whatever that was that was awesome that was awesome to watch more More hit and runs. Good for the sport. More Brandon Marsh on the base pass.

Correct. I can't get enough of that. He is great on the base pass. He's great. Like the taking third. Like he's like, normally I'd be like, what are you doing? Why are you taking third there? Like what are you, like stop.

But like he had it. Yep. So I thought Tuesday night, you know, between that play, between Cassidy leadoff double, they get him over, get him in. Brandon Marsh had a key hit late

with Ron in scoring position, made 7-4, but then Stott, they didn't just stop there, Stott put a ball in play, they made 8-4, like fundamentally sound. And it was 5-4,

like they needed those runs. Yes. Like those were important runs. And then yesterday, you know, not getting bunts down will always drive me crazy. Yeah. Well, how about Edmundo getting it done with two strikes?

I couldn't believe he actually did it. I was like, it was a mistake. You should not have done that. You should not have done that. Just try to steal it up. Anyway. Yeah. Not the most fun on the lay down.

But in the ninth inning, like Castiano's working that at bat. It was great. And having your veterans come up in those spots And be able to drive them home That was a great at bat And laid off like two or three of those pitches That last year you would have swung at every single one of them But you see them and you see them in the moment

It's been impressive And he hit one like 450 This close I jumped out of my seat I'm like Casti walk off let's go I actually do have a quick thought on that and I get it. Number one on my life sports bucket list is to get

a foul ball. It always has been. It always will be. What about a home run ball? Sure. Ideally a home run ball, but just get me a ball. Alright? That went off a bat in a game. Not thrown to me, whatever. I want a foul ball or a home run or whatever, but when your team almost wins with a walk off homer, but then your team almost wins with a walk-off homer

but then it goes foul, you can't be as excited for the foul ball. I'm sorry. You've got to rein it in there. You could be internally excited, but you can't be like, because you just almost won the game and didn't because it went foul. So a little PSA there. Good take. Thank you.

I thought really strongly about it. You really did. I did. Your arms were just shaking. It's the first thing I thought. I did not think you could possibly get that fired up without a foul ball. Thank you. It is a good take, though.

It's a good take. Thank you. You should not be that excited. No excitement at all. Thank you. Oh, well, I got it. Maybe throw it back. Throw it back.

How about that? What a bad idea. Yeah, just say, yeah, whatever. Give it to the closest kid in your section. Right. Like, here you go. All right, good. I don't want this ball.

But yeah, either way. Sorry to throw you off. I forget where I was. But the lineup. Talking about Cassie's attack. I know. But, you know, for as good as they were fundamentally on Tuesday, Wednesday was a bit of a step back.

But they did grind some at-bats late. So you take that. Down 1-0 in the ninth inning. They won the baseball game. Like, every time you do that, like, props. They just look tougher, which is what i want like the the feeble mentally tough the feeble at bats from over the weekend and and most of the dodger series were annoying um and it just just i don't know why they can't just and it's baseball i get it but like you had the plan

tuesday just like do the same just be locked in more yeah um but yeah it was it's been it's been it's been good uh and i think the bryce came back they thought that was gonna solve everything and now they're settling back into having bryce back and now on saturday they're getting ranger back which i can't wait for i can't wait like i said this last podcast i i do think that getting ranger back matters more than getting bryce back it's a wild thing to say buddy but i get it i mean logically i get it it's a while they need them, buddy. But I get it. I mean, logically, I get it. It's a wild thing to say. They need him.

They absolutely need Ranger to get back to being Ranger. I can't believe he's out this long. Remember when it first happened? They're like, not even doing an MRI. I know. Well, again. I will never get taken by the not even doing an MRI again, I'm just saying.

Okay. Well, that's why wake me up in a week with the Alvarado thing. I know. I know. He could be meeting Tommy John next week. Yeah, you're right. You're right. I agree.

But getting Ranger back, just giving them the length, and now if Nola and Wheeler start rolling a little bit, Ranger gets rolling hopefully. Walker potentially could get rolling. Should. That last outing was good. He should get rolling. I don't think he's caught.

I think he's – no. I think he's going to be a guy who will give you three good starts and then a horrible one. He's going to be that guy for you. And you just have to hope he stays healthy. Because that was the selling point to having him over Affleck. Was that he's going to stay healthier. Which is hilarious because he's been hurt for most of his career. Only the last couple of years has he been.

He missed full years early in his career. But we don't talk about that. He's an innings eater now. That's, he missed full years early in his career. But we don't talk about that. He's an innings eater now. That's what he does. Getting the starting staff back rolling just makes this whole thing way easier. It makes the bullpen be better.

Not tiring guys out. Not having to overwork Alvarado early in the season so he gets hurt. So I can't wait. It's a tough spot having to go into course for your first start of the year but either way like getting him back rolling um they could just again start of the show you smell the run coming part of it has to do with ranger coming back baby all right uh take back my all right i kind of just did this a little like five minutes ago oh but i realized the three things in life that make me the most angry.

I like this. I gotta be honest. I don't get angry at anything. I really don't. Inside baseball, I can actually confirm this. Jack is about as... Sometimes Elliot will be purposefully trying to make Jack angry

and it won't work. You are really good at staying mellow. Didn't used to be. angry and it won't work. You are really good at staying mellow. Didn't used to be. Now me on the other hand. Ooh, bad at it. I just freaked out about getting a foul ball at a game. Yeah, you ruin a kid's day. I get angry really quick. The kid was like, oh my gosh, I caught a foul ball

but James Seltzer wants me to throw it back. Literally the point where in the car sometimes Emily will not drive me because she'll be like, you get too angry. Right, that's good. That's good healthy stuff. It's very healthy, yes. I'm better than i used to be like for example got a minor fender better the other day oh really yeah yeah i'm fine got out of the car there wasn't like real there's like a little bit of damage or whatever it was like not not anything real and i was like eh you want to just like i gotta go to work

something else yeah i got out i was like would you slip your your foot slip off the thing and hit my car like all right it's all good i can't shake and i gotta work you are someone else you're unbelievable i was like ah i'm good i'm okay it's very believable i was like yeah i gotta go you know i gotta do the big show for that um so like yeah i just don't get angry at really anything. You really don't. I'm pretty calm. So what are the three things? The three things that make me the most angry. Bad driving.

Yes. Whether it's traffic, people being bad, whatever. Bad radio. Let me tell you. Let me tell you how true this is. Very bad. I would get texts from Jack, like, nothing to do with anything, all of a sudden just, like, crushing someone or something and being like listen i'll be like okay bad driving bad radio and bad baseball i yeah i was that's a

good list for you i was so like mad yesterday at not getting the buns down like it was a it's a may 10th game against the blue jays and I was like pacing my living room. I was like you're major leaguers. Just get the freaking bunt down. Someone's going to teach them how to do it. There's no

scenario where you should not be able to get a bunt down. You are a major leaguer. I couldn't agree more. Just do it. It's not hard. I promise you it's not hard. I agree. So three things.

Bad driving, bad radio, bad baseball. That's a great list. Thank you. Bad driving is the one that makes me angry. I know. I'm with you. Good. Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-ba.

So, Alec Ball. Yes. I'm happy you brought up Boe. Like. Yes. Because Mike and I know this is not a home run in a little while. A long time. A long time.

Got really excited about that. I know. And it's just like he's getting back to doing what he was doing a lot of last year, which is like slap hits. Yeah, he slapped. You know, and it's like early early in the season, he had it. Like, he, spring training,

it was like, bang, you're lifting the ball. Swing looks fluid. And it just, it's, he will still get hits. He's gonna be a good hitter. He's a good solid hitter.

But like, it feels like we're training back to 15 home run Alec Baum. Yeah, it does. Rather than 25 home run Alec Baum. And the 25 home run Alec Baum is a guy that you can play at first base. By the way, first base defense has been really good.

Like, phenomenal. Yes. Like, he hasn't, like, made amazing plays or whatever, but he has been so solid out there. But having a 15 home run first baseman. You can't have it. You can't have it. Especially when your third baseman is another guy

who's going to give you, like, eight home runs. Right. So, I don't know what the change. There's nothing you can really do about it it but it feels like in spring training they were doing a concerted effort to get him to lift and drive the baseball um and just in watching him recently it's back to just like driving the ball into the ground over and over it feels like every bat like i mean there was a game was it tuesday where he just grounded the shortstop like three straight at bats and like first pitch is like come on man like come like get the ball out of the ballpark drive it like what is this what is this like the bat with the base is loaded i know like the ground he hit it hard he hit it hard but it was a ground

ball to first base man yes your base is loaded one out my dude it's a ground ball to first base, man. I know. Yes, your base is loaded, one out. My dude, it's a grounder to first. I know. So I really, like this lineup, if he is back to lifting the baseball, he's just stupid. It's a stupid lineup if he can get back to doing that. No, I'm with you, especially with like what we've talked about, the one thing this team is kind of missing from an offensive perspective is Pop.

Yeah, and Bryce is going to take a little bit to get his home run power back. I know he had the home run over the weekend, but still, I just think he's going to take them all. He hasn't had a lot of – he's not had close ones. He's been hitting well, but he's not been driving the ball. Right. And that may take time. Of course it takes time. That's something that I would like to see them get back to doing

and making a concerted effort to try to get him to drive the baseball. But other than that, again, Ron's coming. I got one more Harper thing for you that I forgot about. And we talked about it last time. What do you think the process is with the sometimes batting gloves sometimes not i think it's just whatever he feels comfortable with it's just like a uh in the moment like i feel it because it has it's weird like i don't ever like we talk about all the time they're non-batting love guys the you know cameron rups and the will myers like dudes are just i don't

use batting gloves that's the way i hit it's cameron what one camera rup use batting gloves did he then maybe i'm thinking of another philly's are you thinking of uh jason kendall well jason kendall was a different team but he was a no batting those guys i feel like the phillies had a catcher who was a no batting gloves guy uh it was not it was south asano might have been a no bang those guys paul bacco paul no i'm just kidding either way chris coast i don't know no he did because he did either way there are guys who are just you, they're the no batting those guys. Like, good for you. Moises Salou, like all these guys. I've never seen someone who goes back and forth.

I've never seen it. I think it's like if he doesn't get a hit, then he'll go back. No gloves. He's a psycho. He just changes. He's always changing. He really is.

Except what we talked about this last podcast, does not change his swing, which is good. Which is good. I'll take that. You got any final thoughts, my friend? I am not excited about going to Coors. They never play well in Coors. Dude, I hate Coors.

It's like a freaking house of ours. And the Rockies are like 15 and 25 or whatever they are. I'm terrified to go out there. I'm terrified. It's always the wackiest, weirdest losses. Yeah, and again, I think ever since 2018, we'll just never forget it. No. Like, that alone.

Like, they could have won every game they've played in Coors since 2018. Literally. Perfect in 20, 3 for 3 in 20, 4 for 4, whatever it is, every year. And I would still feel uncomfortable going to Coors just because of 2018. Now, I don't think he's pitching this weekend for the Phillies in Coors. But I just always feel like it's Velasquez. I know. It's always Velasquez at Coors. I know.

It's never going well. You're like, no, I don't think he's pitching. I don't think he's pitching this weekend for the Phillies. But I wouldn't be surprised if I'd tune in for Sunday. All of a sudden, oh my god, Vinny, how about it? He's back, even though you had a good stretch. Pirates loaned him to us for a day. He had a good stretch. And he's on the IL, I think.

He had a little stretch there. He had a great stretch. I know. He's been pitching well for them. It's awful. What if, all right.

If Vinny's good for another, yeah. No, no, no, no. Okay. Worse. Because that would be worse. Worse.

I have something worse for you. Uh-oh. What if he's their trade deadline acquisition? Oh, stop. No. Come on, man.

Bring Vinny home. Stop. That is worse. Bring Vinny home. That is way worse. Now, I already have my deadline acquisition. Look at you. Bring Vinny home. Stop. That is worse. Bring Vinny home. That is way worse. I already have my deadline acquisition. Look at you.

Really? I wish everyone could have seen the face that Jack just made to me because he was just like, no, I'm dead serious. That face he just made to me was like, no, I really do. I have it. I'm just saying, I hope you're ready for Dylan Cease to be a Philly. Don't toy with me, man. Don't just throw that out there.

Like, are you kidding me? Like, don't do that. Dylan Cease. He's been terrible, by the way. He's been horrible. He's got like a five-something ERA. Yeah, and don't even get me started on Lance Lynn. Lance Lynn is ruining.

Let me guess. You want to do fantasy? I have an insane fantasy baseball team this year. Like, he is going to cost me a ring. I have three, four things that make me angry. Bad driving, bad radio, bad baseball, and Lance freaking Lynn. That's a fair one. Oh, my.

Like, the Royals, Lance? Listen to this lineup, all right? I know people love listening to fantasy lineups. It's a thing everyone loves. Salvador Perez, Christian Walker, Jonathan India, Matt Chapman, Jeremy Pena, Julio Rodriguez, Betts, Tatis, Olsen. That's pretty good. That's stupid.

That's pretty good. And then it's Lance Lynn. Lance Lynn. Nesta Cortez is great. Like, whatever. Hunter Brown is great Hunter Brown is good And then

Freddie Peralta is good And then Zac Eflin It's Lance Lynn That's the guy That lineup Is a championship lineup It is

It's a championship lineup Right there Lance Lynn Yeah They might DFA him I mean I was about to say He might not be on your fans

Hold on I mean I'd take a shot Can we might not be on your fans. Hold on. I mean, I'd take a shot. Can we fix him? Hell yeah. I mean, come on. We got Caleb Cobb. Who can't we fix?

Right. Well, maybe they'll teach him a cutter. Seriously, back to the original thing. I would do a lot of things to get Dylan Cease on the list. Dylan Cease. I'll just say that. He is as fun to watch as maybe anyone in the league. Just the movement. I'll just say that.

He is as fun to watch as maybe anyone in the league. Like, just the movement, you know, the – like, I feel like when you watch it, he's on the short list of guys you watch and say the most times in a game, like, holy bleep, how did you do that? Like, he's that kind of pitcher. Yeah. Dylan sees. I was just saying.

Probably would not be cheap. No. It would be able plus. Yeah, a plus. Yeah, without a doubt. Yeah, plus plot. It might be able to have McGarry. Yes. saying. Probably would not be cheap. No. It would be able plus. Yeah. A plus. Yeah, without a doubt. Plus plot. It might be able amigary.

Yes. Yeah. Probably. Let's do it. Don't say it's not what the world says. Wow. But yeah. And again, still in season until the trade deadline.

Well, you can get it for cheaper. That's my point. So, yeah. Vince Velasquez is going to be their trade deadline acquisition. Don't say it. And he is not pitching for the Phillies to begin. Although, last bad image before we get out of here. This is great.

Thank you for rolling these out. I'm just, because I have to be honest with people. Of course, keep it real. I have to tell you what I've been thinking about. I do not want to think about this series being 1-1 with Nola starting in court. It's not, not atmm, not at all. Mm-mm. No, no.

No, sir. No, no, no. No, no. With the first two. Yes, please. Yeah. It's not. It's just that feels like a meltdown day.

Yeah. If I could picture what a meltdown day would be. Seven runs in the fourth inning type of day, yes. That's a meltdown day. I try to get out in front of them so I don't get too angry in the moment. Yeah. That feels like a meltdown day would be. Seven runs in the fourth inning type of day, yes. That's a meltdown day. I try to get out in front of them so I don't get too angry at the moment. That feels like a meltdown day. That's a meltdown day. By the way, if they did win two straight, no way they went on Sunday.

No, they're not sweeping Galra. They're just not. Not possible. No. Two or three, I'll be ecstatic. Even though we helped them with their tarp in 07. Right? I know.

I know. And we let them beat us in 07. We could have won that series if we wanted to. Get me to the plate, boys. That's what they're holding against us. Huh? They're holding get me to the plate, boys, against us. Are they still holding it?

Get over it. Get over it. You won the series. Well, not in 09. The first one, not in 09. You won the 07 series. Yeah. You got a series on us.

So, again, just please, don't lose to a three. Yeah. Run. Run. Run. So, again, just please, don't lose to a three. It's a run. It's a run. All right. These rhythms suck. We'll see you next time.