High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - EMERGENCY POD: JESUS LUZARDO SIGNS 5-YEAR CONTRACT EXTENSION

Episode Date: March 10, 2026

The Philadelphia Phillies and Jesus Luzardo agreed to a five-year contract extension on Monday. Jack Fritz reacts to the huge news and also answers some questions about what has gone on so far in Spring Training. 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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This is the High Hopes podcast. I hope. On the Odyssey app and Sports Radio 94 WIP. What a day. didn't expect to have to do a solo emergency podcast. And Tucker made the good joke before the show that, hey, if we're going to do an emergency podcast, at least look like you're an emergency bunker. And yes, it does look like I am in an emergency bunker. If you're watching on YouTube, I am in my basement and this house is built in the 70s.

So these are like the old school, you know, I don't know. I do look like I am being held hostage. But one team that's not being held hostage is the Phil's. So all of a sudden, you know, it's, it's the first day of NFL legal tampering, which I still think is a crazy, crazy saying. But, you know, all of a sudden, I'm driving home, get a millions X responsibly. Check it and see what it is. Get fired up.

Have to pull the side of the road to fire off some tweets because that's what the content game calls for. Jesus Lazardo of Philly, five years. 135 million. So if you couldn't tell, this is a sole edition of I-Ox podcast, of course, brought to you by Miller Light. We'll talk a little bit about Hazis Lizardo here, and then maybe a little spring training AMA

as the Team USA is on. And I do want to watch ball schemes and the boys tonight and see what they got. But overall, you know, just my first initial reaction to it was, it's about as fair of a contract for both sides as you could see. And I think that there's a decent amount of risk here for the Phillies. It's not worth, it's not enough risk to where I'm not signing Hazel's Lazzardo to that contract because I think it's potentially really a steal for the Phillies at $27 million a year over the next five years.

It is a decent gamble because, again, the last time that Lazzardo threw or had 32-star, the next year he was battling all kinds of injuries and the Phillies were able to steal him in that following off season. So he is someone who has battled injury concerns in the past, but when you're, I guess, presented with that kind of deal, they really didn't have a choice. That is, it's not the Sanchez deal, no. But I was kind of the mindset of I'm not going to, I'm not going to try to pay Lozardo before opening day because, A, I want to see him kind of go out there. and do it again for 32 stars.

And B, I didn't think you would do it. I understand why Hades was Lazzardo signed that contract. But I'm also surprised he signed that contract. Because to me, at 28 years old, it's not like he's in his 30s. It's not like he could get another contract after this. He's going to pitch his full season at 28. So he's going to be 28 entering into free agency. And especially when you see what a guy like Dylan C's just got with what seven years to 10.

I mean, Hazel Zazardo, if he did even what he did last year, of course what he did last year, you're looking at a six, seven year deal that's over $30 million AAB and for over $200 million. It was almost refreshing to see him sign that contract. And it felt like two sides both got in a room. and they were like, this is a fair deal for both of us, a decent amount of risk on the Phillies side because of the hell stuff in the past. And Lazzardo, I don't think it's team friendly. Like the friendliest deal in the world,

but it's also something that he could have chased more money. So I just think all around, it is a home run deal. It's not a Sanchez deal because Sanchez deal is insane, but it is a really, really fair deal for both sides. And like I said, it was kind of refreshing. Hazel's Lazzardo, obviously just wanting to be here and foregoing, possibly, I don't know, an extra $5 to $10 million, not $10 million, but $5 to $8 million in that contract per year, which doesn't sound like a lot, but in this day and age, it feels like guys are always kind of doing that.

And he didn't. And I tell you what, it really goes to show you the pitching infrastructure that has been built here. And, you know, Paul Hembekeedy's Hembo on ESBM, like he tweeted out that ever since Caleb Gotham took the job, so 2021 on, the Phillies are number one in baseball and starting to pitch your F war. And whatever you want to think about advanced stats and war and things like that, even just by eye test. The simple fact of the matter is, is that Philadelphia is a pitching destination city because of Caleb Cothman and the crew that he is assembled. They have turned question marks into short things. They turn Chris Sanchez into one of the five best stars in baseball. They turn Hazis Lazzardo from someone who super talented, a lot of pedigree.

I think they really figured out what makes him. work last year. You look at some of the usages by months and they realized the four seamer wasn't it. They started throwing that sinker more and more. They threw that slider more and more. They, I think this year they're going to use that change up more rather than him, you know, just throwing that four seamer over and over again and letting it just get blasted. They changed his repertoire up or change the usage of his repertoire up and they're refining things. And I thought Hazel Salardo, even before science contract, was about to put together a top five Sall Young type of season.

Like he finished seventh last year and again, if he take out those two starts, maybe it's even higher. But I thought he was about to put together a special, special season. And it's good for the Phillies to get out in front of it. And by the way, I know, it's this, again, I feel like the solo fives are always just the mad ramblings of which is a crazy guy. But a lot of credit to John Middleton for. signing this before whatever happens this offseason.

You know, hopefully it's not a full-on lockout. Hopefully, that is not the case. But, you know, even with the impending idea that a salary cap is going to happen, I don't think it's going to happen. I just think the players are pretty strong on that front and they won't let it happen. But we don't know what the future of baseball's economics really look like. And the fact that he was willing to still do this, I think you should, I think, John Millington deserves credit for doing that as well.

But back to the, back to the Gotham point, I mean, just the guys that they have turned into studs here and getting the most out of them. I mean, Zach Wheeler even, you know, part of the reason he said he signed here was because of the analytics team. Well, that was really before Gotham. And then ever since Gotham took over, you know, 21, he should have won Cy Young over, over Brandon Woodruff. And it's turned into, again, one of the five best pitchers in baseball since, since, since, that point. And you have a guy like Lazzardo who comes here, works with him for a year, and is willing to take what could be and probably would have been a low market deal to continue to work with him. I mean, it is, it's one of the most important hires in Philly's history.

I mean, we can talk about, you know, Bryce's impact, huge impact. And Dumbowski coming over and turning the Phillies into a big boy organization and the leadership in which Kyle Schwerber has shown here and what he does and how he brings his team together and things like that. But you can make the case that Gotham is as big, if not bigger than a couple of those because of what this pitching staff has turned into. The number one F-war in baseball since he took over and started, starting pitching F-war in baseball. That's crazy.

That's with the Dodgers. The Dodgers are number two, the Phillies are number one. And what he has helped turn these guys into is crazy. So he's a super, super important hire. I mean, I was on the Philly show that Todd's Lucky was talking about. And it's Trevor Richards. It's not like it's an ace, but he said this is a place that people around baseball talk about you come here as a pitcher and you get better. And when word starts getting out around about that kind of stuff, I mean, you start thinking about like the brewers and how great they are.

And they're raised traditionally. The Yankees are up there. The Dodgers, of course. I mean, the Phillies are one of the five best, I think, pitching development and pitching situations in all of baseball. I firmly believe that. And I can't, I know this is not a podcast to talk about the draft picks from last year, but I can't wait to see what they do with the first seven round draftics of last year's draft. Because I think they all have real big league, big league chances. I really believe that.

I think they may have drafted seven big league pitchers in the first seven round. last year. And it's really a testament to this to this pitching infrastructure. But this is Hazus Lazzardo's night and just couldn't be more thrilled that he's not going anywhere. And he could end up getting another contract. I mean, five years from now, he'll only be 33 years old. Hopefully he's still pitching at a pretty high level. The one part of that's semi-nice about the injuries, of course, there's still concern there. But the one nice, part is that that does leave his arm to be relatively fresh. It's not like he's pitched a ton of innings, not like he's logged a ton of innings, but this could be one of those instances where

he just scratched the service last year and he's only going to get better. The arm is still in pretty good shape and he exceeds the value of that contract for the next five years. They are in a really, really good position with their starting pitching. Wheeler, he did say we'll see when talking about his future the other day. So you have Wheeler under contract through 27, but maybe that could be beyond. I mean, Nola's through 2030, Painter 2031, Lazzardo, 2030, 6, 7, 8, 9, 30, never a doubt. Sanchi 2028. So, I mean, that's going to be their next, like, really, really big contracts, probably. But at least have that, like, those guys all under contract plus Gagewood coming up

through the minor league system. I mean, I don't need to talk about the draft picks again. But, you know, overall, they're in a very, very healthy spot starting pitching wise. And to see that news tonight and the fact that we don't even have to stress about it. And the fact that it feels like one, Lazzardo wants to be here, and two, two of the Phillies are committed to still paying pretty high-end money for their talent, heading into a lockout, possibly. We have no idea what the future of baseball economics is going to be like.

I think it's just a home run all around. He probably could have got more money at the end of the year, but you know what he said? He said, I'd rather just take this now, be happy with it, be content. And guess what? Five years from now, if I'm still pitching at the same level, listen, the Phillies just gave Zach Wheeler $42 million a year at 35. So pitchers are pitching longer into their careers. I do think he has a pretty fresh arm.

It's funny. Like, when they got him, one of the things that Seltzfer and I said was, like, what if this turns out to be Wheeler 2.0, where he battles injuries, it's shown flashes, but then he gets here and boom, he takes off and turns off. and turn to it to a top of the top of the line type starter. Well, through year one he was, and I tell you what, the freaking stones that guy showed in the playoffs, I was ready to give him a lifetime deal.

Really was. I mean, it was super, super impressive. So, man, what a win. First off, we're not a big pat ourselves on the back type of podcast, but what a win for the podcast. I mean, Lazzardo was a fan favorite of this pod. you, me, Seltzer, the community, we all wanted Lazzardo, and they finally listen. When they, the history suggests that when you listen to the podcast, we lead you in the right direction. You know, Barber, Maddingly, Cotham, all up and down.

Lazzardo, get him. So, you know, for him to turn into the ace that he turned into is just, well, an ace level. We'll see. But I'll tell you what. I think we're going to have three starters with an ERA under three this year in Wheeler, Lozardo, and Sanchez. And that is special stuff. Hey, this is Richard Deich, the host of the sports media podcast.

If you're interested in what's happening with all the places where you consume sports, the sports media podcast has you covered. I've been turning down interviews all week. Hoda Copy reached out, Oprah, George Stephanopoulos. So I said no. I was booked on the Deich podcast before the Taylor Swift phenomenon. I must live up to my responsibility. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Before we get to the AMA here, obviously, if you listen to this podcast enough, you hear Tucker Bagley. And while Seltzer may have ditched me tonight, one guy who did not ditch me was Tucker Bagley. Tucker, welcome on in, pal. Thank you. What was your thoughts and your reaction to the Lozardo contract? I think what you said, it's weird to just see a deal and feel that both sides kind of got it right and that it's fair for everybody. Like I think from the Phillies perspective, it makes sense locking down a guy at $27 million per year who probably could have gotten 30 or 35 had he been healthy. And for someone like Jesus Lazzardo, who's dealt with a lot of injury history in his career being locked up for five years, although it kind of maybe limits his earning potential if he does hit his peak.

I think it really, you know, gives him insurance for an arm that has failed him, you know, a few different times in his career. So the fact that he's locked up long term now, you have younger pitching now in your rotation, you have guys coming up. Like you mentioned at the top of your prospect rankings, I think it's a huge win for this team, right? And for him to get almost identically, I think he's getting $1 million per year than Ranger Suarez. And he's younger than Rangers Juarez. His arm, I think he's going to age a little bit better if he's healthy. I just think it's a fair deal for both sides, which is pretty crazy to say, you know,

once I got a steal or, oh, my God, he fleeced them, I think you look at it and you have to say, well, both sides did a pretty good job. Totally. And the injury stuff is there. It is there. But I think where we got to give the Phillies the benefit of the doubt here is they have done a really good job with arm care.

You know, I mean, Nola, his injuries last year were not arm related. They were, what, an ankle and a side? And he was the most durable pitcher for a decade before that. For sure. And Wheeler, you know, that was a blood clot turned into, like, that's not, you know, pitching development stuff. I just think they've done a really good job. You know, they've managed Ranger really well over the last couple years, even though he probably has the back thing. And I am glad you brought up Ranger.

I mean, Rangers three years older and got five years 135. you just got Lazzardo who's who's 28 and is going to pitch the full season at 28 for five years 135. So you said it, we kind of said it. I think we're all feeling to you like they chose Lazzardo over Ranger? Well,

I think I think they chose Sanchez of a Ranger like when they first did the Sanchez extension. I think that was kind of writing on the wall. But no one expected Ranger to come back. But it's just it's interesting these two guys got very, very similar contracts. Obviously,

different situations with Lazzardo's an extension, but the juxtaposition is there. I just, I was so surprised. I was so surprised that he signed that deal because I guess you're just so used to guys wanting to hit free agency and see how much they can get on the open market. And I really do believe,

and it's been something we've been talking about. I think that it shows you how much these guys believe in the Phillies pitching infrastructure. And I think that is such a healthy baseline for an organization that obviously has some older players on it that are, at least on the offensive side, that are entering into or exiting, possibly their prime, at least having the pitching that they have, that's always going to keep them competitive, you know, as this kind of thing goes forth. They're always going to be competitive because of the pitching and the pitching infrastructure coming behind them. And that is exciting stuff. I don't think we're going to go through a 2012 to 2019 drought, Tucker. I don't think we have those in the car.

I don't think so. I think they had the younger talent there. But it also, it does feel a little bit like the end of the 2007 to 11 run where they have swayed so heavily into pitching. And it isn't exciting. And I think a lot of the fan base and the issues people have had with them, quote unquote, running it back this off season is because they focus so heavily on the lineup and not so much on the rotation. I mean, if Wheeler comes back, you know, end of April, early May. and he's 80% of what he was a year ago.

I just have a hard time looking at any other team in the National League and saying they definitively have a better rotation. I think the bullpen this year on paper is far superior to what it was a year ago. Hopefully you get a full year of Alvarado. You have a full year of DeRan. You have Brad Keller as the top right-handed guy, you know, as a setup man. I just think that the pitching is what's going to lead this team the way it kind of did in 2010 and 2011. Yeah, for sure.

It's bad, but I can't wait for it. October. All right. All right. So we promised some AMA and we'll do a couple of it. Is there anything going on in the Team USA game, Tucker in the World Baseball Classic? Or is? Skeens modem down one, two, three in the top of the first. USA loaded the bases in the bottom of the first Cal Rally struck out with two outs. Well, Harper grounded out, over walked. All right. All right. All right. All right. So, all right. We're going to do a quick AMA and then, you know, get back to the game. All right.

Rank the six pitchers who are signed for 27 million a year. Glass now, Freed Yomoto, Sale, Lazzardo, Roddo. Well, Sail's kind of cheating because it's one year. I would go, I would go, well, for one year, I would go Yamamoto, Sale. Freed and Lazzardo died. I probably, um, free and Lazzardo died. Glass now Rodone. Good names though. Good names. But I think that's how I go.

I do love Yamamoto. And then sale, sale, sale. But I think I would put Lozardo comfortably in the freed ranking, but I would have him above Glass Now and Rodone. In communities across Canada, hourly Amazon employees earn an average of over $24.50 an hour. employees also have the opportunity to grow their skills and their paycheck by enrolling in free skills training programs for in-demand fields like software development and information technology learn more at about amazon dot ca a all righty can the Phillies add any offensive pieces before opening day or is this it um no i mean i don't think so i mean maybe they'll get a center fielder because Johan Roas is going to be suspended for 80 games most likely. Maybe like a right-handed hitting center fielder unless they think Pedro Leon can do that. But no, I think I think Otto Kemp, the first off, you know, he has a 997 OPS in spring,

which is what you want to seize and a good job against lefties hit at home run. People talk about Otto Kemp like he's like a platoon merchant and can only hit left-handed pitching. None of his numbers in the minor leagues suggest that. I think he gets pigeonholed because that's the way that he's going to play this year. But I do think he's more of a, I don't think he's more of an all-around bat than just a guy that matches with lefties. And I think the Phillies are really, really high on him internally. I think that he's someone that reminds me of someone from last year's Blue Jays,

where I played a couple of different positions, not all gold glovers, but the bat's just good enough. And I don't think Outta Camp's going to be star, but I think he's going to be a really, really good player. but no like Sosa Sosa obviously be the utility guy you know Kemp Ben and I think comes down to Delacruz or Dylan Moore

and Dylan Moore has been playing all over the place Della Cruz's bats heating up a little bit which is good to say because he was so good for the the winner league and I was really really intrigued by him but I don't think so I mean no one of super significance maybe a right-headed hitting center fielder, but if they're available at this point, I don't know what you're expecting

offensively. But now, this is, this is it. That was next. How excited are you for Dante Norrie's oral baseball class of performance is the bad legit. Finally. Finally. Good prospect talk. So, so I'm very excited about Dante Nori.

I do think that if he was drafted by someone else, that he'd be much higher ranked on the prospect list. You look at his numbers last year. you're going to see 261 and you're going to say, well, he's supposed to be a pure hit tool guy and not a power guy. If you look at the numbers from June on, he hit over to 300 and he went to the torpedo bat and that really helped him. The thing that I love about Dante Nore is I think he's just a ball player. And in watching his at bats, it's either he's super aggressive looking to do damage on his first pitch or I feel like he's always three two. I feel like he's always either 2-2 or 3-2.

He'll hit with 2 strikes. He doesn't care. I think he went through that setup this year where he looks a lot like Cody Bollinger to try to generate some more pop. And in the WBC game the other day, it was good. He also got two hits the next night and a walk late. He was leading off for Team Italy. I wonder if he leads off tomorrow night against USA. But I think he's really solid defensively.

I think he's a better defensive center fielder than Crawford. And I've been impressed with Crawford so far in spring. I don't care about the ball yesterday in Minnesota. If you're listening to this on Tuesday, it was Sunday. That's clearly got lost in the sky. He was in the right spot. I mean, that's not going to happen at CBP. So I'm not worried about that.

I think Crawford's done a really, really good job in center field in spring. If you asked me who I thought was better heading into the year, I would say, norie, no slight to Johnson Crawford. But, you know, you hope he's a guy, obviously, with his size, he's not going to be, he's probably a 15 home run guy. But I don't think his power is, like, I think he has decent power potential. Obviously, not like 25, 30 home run guy. But it's not like he's going to be a five home run guy or a 10 home run guy. I mean, he could sprinkle in some 20 home run seasons, maybe.

but I think he's like a 15 to 20, 280 to 300 type hitter. And I think he's just a ball player. He, I really, really like him. He works a quality of bad. I think he has a good feel for the strike zone.

He, again, I feel like every at bad, he's 3-2 or he's hacking first pitch, looking to do some damage. I feel like he's just living in the right-center field, left-center field gaps a lot. there's a lot to like out there he's never going to be the highest ranked prospects prospect because people view him as maxed out meaning he's not getting taller he's not getting stronger this is about what he's going to be but that should not make people sleep on him the

way that they have and I think he's starting to open eyes I really do I think you know being on this stage and hitting the two home runs and having like the lead or not on the lead but the third inning of the game the other night. They're talking about Dante Nori going through for three. And they put him right back on the one spot on Sunday for team Italy after betting ninth. So I think he's a big leaguer. I think he could be at top of the lineup type guy. It's more of a traditional leadoff type hitter.

He's going to steal a lot of bags, play good defense in the outfield. I do think outfield is changing. You know, I think that this is a really long answer on top. It might be longer than Lazzardo talk. But, you know, I think outfield is changing in major league baseball where teams are opting for more defense and guys that can cover a lot of field. And if you have Norian left and you have Crawford and center, if you want to flip-flop those two, I don't care.

And then hopefully Francisco Rentaria and Wright, who could be your big bopper, but also can do everything. You know, I just, it seems like the sport is changing a bit with outfield defense and you don't see the big donkeys out there that are just slow-footed and can't move. You know, it seems like the teams are, it's part of their run prevention strategy is having really high-level defense in the

outfield. And I think that his bat's going to be good enough to where the defense is, it's going to be an added bonus. All right. After the six-minute answer on Dante Nori, what's next? You know, maybe that is the problem with, maybe, maybe that's what Salter's talking.

about with the with the prospect stuff maybe go a little too far got a lot of thoughts on the prospects uh from tim graff fritz are we getting bounced back in all of this year well so here's the thing is if you're expecting mid to low threes i think you're getting ahead of yourself is he going to be a disaster no i think erin nola's going to be a really really good pitcher for this team i think he's going to pitch to like a three eight to in the three eight to four range maybe a little bit about four but i think that he's going to think the ball fifth day. I've been more intrigued with the cutter this year than I have been in the years past. It looks like he may have made some adjustments on that pitch. I actually had a change.

I'm dancing a lot early in spring, but again, that's spring and I don't want to overreact too much. The thing that's been really the most impressive thing to me about Aaron Nullis so far is I think the command looks really good. I mean, he's commanded a fastball up in the zone better than I've seen him in the last couple years. So I'm pretty bullish on him. I don't want to get over the top. I don't think he's going to be unbelievable. I think he's going to be pretty good. And I think there should be way more starts this year of six or seven, six or seven innings, three runs or less than not. Like I think he's going to go out there and pitch competently. There's going to be some blow-up starts, 100 percent, and we know there's this

question of trusting Knowles, and I'm totally there with you. But I think the people that call him washed and have just written them off, I think that's crazy. The fastball velocity has already been up in spring. He came into camp in great shape. I think he's pissed about what happened last year. I think he's a prideful dude who got paid a lot of money and wants to live up to that contract, wants to win a World Series of Philly. He's been here since 2015. Like I just, I think last year with missing a good portion of the year and and letting that arm kind of recuperate a little bit, I think is going to end up being really good for Knowles. So let's tentatively put it at like a 3-8 to 4-2 range. And if he exceeds that, great. But that is that

is our baseline for an aeronola bounce back here. All right, what's next? This is fun, man. It's just, it's just fun talking fellas. It's fun talking fills. What I think of Justin Crawford's swing? Well, I think the lowered hands thing has been good for him. He's really cooled off in spring right now, but he still doesn't look overwhelmed.

He's trying to bunt a little bit, which is fine. He did hit some balls hard on Sunday, which was good to see, and they just happen to be out. You know, it's not the, it's not like a textbook swing, but I think the swing adjustment allows him to get to baseballs better and at least do a better job of driving them. Again, he is not going to be a 20 home run guy. You pray for 15. But, you know, it's not the most aesthetically pleasing swing, but I do think it's been

cleaned up. I think it's gotten better this offseason. And I think the thing that, and we said this on the podcast, but he doesn't look overwhelmed at all. He looks the part. He's in center field. He's moving around great out there. He's fast. He's going to bet ninth, which is a good, low pressure situation for him. And no, I think that, I do think the swing adjustment is allowing him to get to baseball's more, do a bit more damage. And I'll say, I'm expecting about 270-ish. I'm hoping for a 320-plus, OBP, but I don't know, 310, but 270, 280, 310, 320, I'll take that year for Justin

Crawford in year one, getting adjusted to big league pitching and obviously handling centered field full time. I mean, it's a lot of play for a guy who hasn't played in the big leagues yet. So a little bit of grace period, a little bit of grace period. All right, I was like two more. Any updates on the back injury from Aaron Boone with Aidan Miller? starting it really concerned about back injuries, take time to heal. Yeah.

So, yeah, it stinks 100%. I think there's been a little bit too much of, oh, well, this is just going to be something he's going to battle forever. I think it's something that popped up last year. Maybe it wasn't fully taken care of. It reflared up in the spring. And what they're trying to do now is just knock it completely out, do whatever they can. and then let's ride.

So if it's still going on early in the season, yeah. But, you know, he was never going to make the team out of spring training anyway. It's a total bummer he's not playing. I wish he was out there. I mean, it would be amazing having Aidan Miller being a part of these great for league games, especially because, like, the player is playing right now. We're getting into the depth of these spring training rosters. He'd be getting a lot of playing time right now, and it would be so fun to watch them.

It stinks. But I think they're just being super cautious, like overly cautious. Let him go back to Philly, work with the doctors, to the Philly's credit. They do have a pretty good track record with this stuff right now. And let's just knock it out. Don't rush him back for pointless, great for league games. And let's make sure he's good to go at the end of the month for the start of the Iron Pig season. I mean, I think that that is where they're at.

It's smart for fans. It stinks. And, of course, we always, you know, do worry about back-end. juries and hopefully it's not something that plagues him but you know i think he's also put on some strength and and wait the last couple years and you know he's still growing and the body's got to adjust so um you hope it's not something that robs us of what it what could be a special player i don't think we need to jump to that conclusion yet um but i think that it certainly stinks right now and then hopefully hopefully uh you can get up opening day for the iron pigs and we can

kind of go from there. But not super concerned, more just bumped. And then from the beat writer you need, does Bryce need to win a title to pass Jaylen on the Philly Top 10? And I feel like that was from Elliott. If I had to guess the beat writer that I need, interesting. Does Bryce need to win a title on the Philly top 10? Of course. Of course, Jaylon, you know, won a Super Bowl. And people forget, he won Super Bowl MVP. So, yeah, I mean, he sure does. And hopefully, hopefully that happens. But we'll see. I don't know. I don't know. You know what helps having Jesus Lazzardo be a part of the team and have him in a started rotation with Wheeler and Sanchez and Lazzardo and Painter. Hopefully Panter. Hopefully Panthers good.

And no one. So the baseline is here. The pitching infrastructure is here. thanks to everyone who hung out tonight. And, you know, I'm sure we're back with a full on high hopes here. Maybe this week, probably not. But if not this week, maybe over the weekend. But Jesus, Lizardo, is it Phil? Not going anywhere for five more years. What a shock.

But what a pleasant shock. Very pleasant shock. So very exciting stuff. Thanks to everyone again. And thanks to Tucker, of course, for hopping in and getting the questions up there. It means a lot. and let's go watch USA. Let's go win a ballgame.

Talk to you soon, and thanks for listening.