High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - EMERGENCY POD: Phillies Trade For Carlos Estevez (And Blow-Out The Guardians)

Episode Date: July 28, 2024

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to the Phillies trading for closer Carlos Estevez and the bats finally waking up in an 8-0 win over Cleveland. Presented by Miller Lite. 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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Will you hear this? Hold on into the microphone for those not watching the YouTube. Bang. Usually Jack cheers. There's a Miller Lite man, as you can see. Usually I never get to do this. The Friday and Saturday bods are the all-time rarity of rarities, but it's a beautiful thing, buddy. I always want to crack them with you, you know?

So go, Phils. Thank God. Honestly, I doubt Jack would have been able to sweet-talk me because that's what happened into recording right now if we had not watched a 8-0 gem from Tyler, the stopper, Phillips. Like, our guy, Jack, I don't know if you've noticed it, but three of the last Phillies four wins have come in Tyler Phillips. Last three starts the Wheeler game that he started the only other one.

You know, we're getting the trades in a second. We're going to talk more about the series tomorrow. This is not about the game today. Really. This is about the trades just to get you something quickly. And then we'll react to what happens tomorrow, but just quickly on Tyler Phillips, just because it'd be weird to talk and not mention what – especially, again, with the losing and the way – like, it does feel like this guy's kind of stepped in, you know,

two times in a row. The first one, Oakland, was just a win. But the two times in a row when the team's been floundering and been like, I got it, shut out baseball. Yeah, and I would hate to cabara anyone to bailey falter but it's a lot like bailey falter in 2022 so i'm starting to think that might be an unfair and falter was so good then in huge like tyler phillips might be better than that like damn dude damn so so let me just get this out like i'm so happy for tyler phillips. He's a local kid.

Obviously went to Bishop Eustace, which I don't know what's – What are you talking to, mister? Like, cries at Luke Williams. Like, this is even cooler. This kid's like a real deal true blue Phillies fan tweeting out pictures of him at the vet and stuff. Like, are you kidding me? And all that combined, like, all clears Mike Lorenzen's little no-hitter last year.

That was – They all do. Yes, this is the ultimate. This is the – For any kid who played baseball growing up around here and loves baseball, do yes this is the ultimate this is the the for any kid who played baseball growing up around here and loves baseball like this is it this is the number one dream obviously to win the world series here but just what this kid is doing right now it's a dream it's the dream yeah and the way you said that so on one hand very happy for tyler phillips on the other

hand i hate tyler phillips He's absolutely living out everything that I wish that I could have done in my entire life. So congratulations to Tyler Phillips for, frankly, listen, I don't want to put any extra pressure on the guy. He's living out my dream right now. Like, I feel like I'm watching myself in Tyler Phillips. But I just, what a pitcher, man.

And it's so funny. Like, again, Michael Mercardo comes up 1.7 era down in triple a it's like all right this is the guy that's going to save the rotation and then boom like the first game in chicago was like yeah pretty good but there were some signs of of questions totally and then down the life on the fastball was felt like that was like it it was like oh that and it was like oh that was it that was all yeah yeah like it. It was like, oh, that. And it was like, oh, that was it. That was all he had. Yeah. Like, this dude's a pitcher.

This dude's like pitches, man. And Atlanta gets shelled. And then Tyler Phillips comes in. And it's like, this guy's got some interesting stuff. And I swear to you, I swear to you, I remember in spring training, I was like, this guy's got some stuff. You know, I'm interested in Tyler Phillips a little bit. So, you know, he comes out in that start or in that relief appearance sets a team record he I mean he like it's just it's just absolutely pitching he did 4.78 era in in Lehigh Valley and so far he's just been absolutely

brilliant so he has a nice little mixture of Jared eikhoff and and Vance Worley a little bit like Vance worley's aggressiveness on the mound and Eikhoff's kind of curveball, all that stuff. I know he's a sweeper rather than a traditional curveball, but man, he just has moxie and he is 100% saving the Phillies right now. It's awesome. So dude, it's so funny. I was gonna

say guts and guile is what he's getting by on. Like he is, and his stuff's better than that. That's not fair. And he can mix his stuff and he's and he really has command he he fills the strike zone up uh you know he pitches to contact when he needs to and gets weak contact like but to your point dude there's just something about him you know we whatever that cliche is whether it's a bulldog on the mound or or he's just kind of got that to you said moxie guts and guile like it just feels like since the moment this kid has stepped into a game in a philly's uniform and every single time

we've seen him he's just gone out there and like battled and and and given this team exactly what it's needed i mean today to go uh to give like not just to to win the game when they need it and to throw shot but to like give them that complete game and do it in 100 pitches or whatever it was, to be able to give the bullpen a day off and to really kind of just settle everything. Obviously, the offense helped that too. And he's fun to watch because of that. Because to your point, Jack, I honestly think one of my favorite, a cliche is a cliche for a reason guy.

And one of my favorite i'm a cliche is a cliche for a reason guy and one of my favorite cliches is like the it's usually an older guy who doesn't have his stuff anymore but i love pitchers who can just get by by you know to to you know we always say he's a ball player like he's a pitcher like he pitches and it seems clever and he's outsmarting guys and using his stuff and and and it's just it's fun to watch man watch, man. Who knows how long it'll keep up, but it's fun. Well, he's worked himself into at least being interesting. It's sort of Turnbull-ish, where Turnbull had the big sweeper, had the big stuff, and the stuff's a little bit down from Turnbull.

I think Turnbull on paper has better stuff, but the guy competes. The guy is a workhorse. And again, for a team that... How many cliches can we throw at him? I know. It's only been six minutes and we've worked him like four. But the guy competes. The guy competes.

Again, I just couldn't be happier for him. It's an awesome little story for a season that outside the last three series and last night has been magical it's a nice little it's a nice little addition to what has been a really really cool season so shout out tyler phillips shot the offense that they showed up tonight and it was i said last night on the final out they needed a laugher like this team needed a laugher more than anything in

the world because i feel like last night was the first time where they looked tight. They looked tight. I mean, come on. That's the worst defense we've seen them play in maybe like years with an S. Like, you know, since, you know, at least that Yancei Schwarber just, you know, being unable to get to things or whatever.

Like, that was like, like it felt like no one was locked in on the game. They had the two best records of baseball battling at home. And it felt like they weren't at all ready to play. It was so strange. It was not something we've seen from this group this year, that specific game. You know what I mean, Jack? Totally.

And I am just very, very happy that Bryce got a home run tonight because... Well, dude, I felt it. Like, I honestly like, you know me, I don't really like bet on baseball day-to-day. Like, I bet on a harper homer today like i thought he was gonna homer i'll send it to you after so you you can verify 250 on it seems like a 250 bet two dollars so close yeah two i know i i was two to win nine

why is there balloons going off in your background i know i know because i won i'm a winner i but yeah i i just knew it and i also thought thought if I were going to bet on anything else, I'd bet on a Schwerber one because it just felt like this was that type of game. A game where it's like, to your point, you got your stopper on the hill and it's a game where the big hitters with his bad and his struggles, this offense

has been like you got a new dude in the lineup which we're going to talk about in a sec. It felt like it was a day for Harper and Schwerber to show up and it's awesome when they do when you expect it or need it like that. And we needed it because big time. Oh, my God, believe it or not, believe it or not, had not been handling the last little little bit of losses very, very well. And Harper, especially like I thought last night, obviously, some of the players in the

field were were brutal. Some of the base running to like we're not on him for running hard. We're cool with it. Like we get it. Like that one was like unconscionable. Like you could have easily beat that out if you had at all gone out of the box. And it was like – So, you know, sometimes that happens.

And he just was off. It was great to – I'm with you. And it set the tone, hitting the first one, getting it going for the team like it was it was one of those nights where it's like all right they're gonna be okay like i i don't think a big free fall is coming i never really felt like a free fall is coming i i trust this team more than to think that they're gonna free fall and and play their way out of this race but tonight was a nice like okay we're gonna be all right and bryce having a big night not carrying over to the field and and just like reminding himself how good he is.

I think that's really big for the makeup and the mentality of the team because after he hit that home run, the floodgates opened. And they were able to just go out and play Phillies baseball that we've seen for a majority of the season. And they played great defense because, you know, Phillips pitched a contact for most of the game. I think he only ended up with like four strikeouts. I two i think no no no he's got a third in the ninth he struck out two yeah so it's the third the ninth okay whatever yeah i think he got two in

the ninth to get to four that was my way it was two going into the ninth and he got two of the last three guys but he um you know the defense was great today behind him so you know there was that one play where it was like marsh and uh had the miscommunication. Marsh had to make that catch at the end. It was a little scary, but they got it done, and it was good to see. And Marsh needed a little bit of get-off-the-schneid. Yeah, he's been struggling. Dude, he hasn't had a hit since July 11th. That's insane.

Well, you also, another stat that you really, and now it's 20-20, I guess, but it's like I'm not concerned. This is baseball. I'd never expect them to win 108 games or whatever. Like it'd be fine. But like, I wasn't expecting that. Like it was possible, but I didn't expect it. It's hard to do. And they had injuries in this run with you losing,

having JT Harper and Schwarber out at the same time. Like that's tough. And those guys coming back. But you know, when you said they were 1919 since the London game on the last pot, I was like, we don't curse here. I almost said, holy bleep. But, you know, like, that's what I felt. I was like, holy bleep, really?

Like, wow. Like, I didn't realize it had been that bad, you know? So it does feel like I think we're starting to turn a corner. And I think that the trade's off. It's a good transition. We'll talk more about this series tomorrow. We will have another pot after the game tomorrow, so tune in for that. But I do have a – So many thoughts. Real quick. Zoe's a good transition. We'll talk more about this series tomorrow. We will have another pod after the game tomorrow, so tune in for that. I do have a... So many thoughts.

Real quick, Zoe has a birthday party. We'll be watching the game at a brewery across the street or whatever. Not a brewery, a bar across the street. I might be home at 4 and 7, whatever. Either way, we'll be there after the game. We'll coordinate. Either way, let's roll. Hey, fantasy football owners.

The road to winning your fantasy football championship starts now. I'm Matt Harmon from Reception Perception. Join me and James Coe as we take a deep dive into the position that's going to make or break your fantasy roster. Wide receivers. We analyze route running, target share, and all the metrics that matter

giving you the insights you need to draft the best wide receivers. As you prep for your draft, let us give you the coverage you need. Follow and listen to Reception Perception on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. The trades. Let's go in sequential order. I think both kind of strange.

We'll start in sequential order so you don't have to cry at the beginning of this. You can cry at the end. I've talked myself into it, by the way. Okay, good. All right, well, let's start with the Austinin hayes trade which yes you know i think is a value trade you know giving up sir anthony uh where you know they don't trust him anymore where his fans didn't really trust him no matter how many good stretches he kind of would have and then and then a bad one um you know and getting a guy who austin hayes you know giving a pache i mean they would have

cut him anyway if they brought someone in, let's be honest. I mean, Austin Hayes, I don't love him, like, in general. Like, he's fine, though. He's fine. The most annoying headline was, like, ESPN having, you know, 2023 All-Star. Philly's trade for All-Star, Austin Hayes. It's like, all right. Like, Austin Hayes is a fine player.

He's an upgrade. He is kind of what they needed. You know, we've talked a lot about lane thomas lane thomas a little better against lefties he's good against lefties too but but austin he's probably a better or all around as good players lane thomas like that type of guy we had talked about needing it the price seems fair it was a name we hadn't talked about you know uh on the field wise like i think it's a a fine unexciting, but, but solid move that makes them,

you know, whatever, you know, 3%, 4% better, you know, 2% better, whatever it is.

That's funny. Cause I think he's the next Jason worth. So it seems like we are on, there it is. Two different. What did you think when you first heard that they traded for him? So it took me. All right.

All right. Let's, let's go through the range of emotions. Like he's a, he's a better player probably than I sold there, but like, you know, he's,

he's, he's like an eighth hitter in a lineup, you know, he's fine. You know, maybe a seventh. And, and,

and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and,

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and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and,

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and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and,

and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, andars taking you through the range of emotions. So, yes. You are, though, like, honestly, I'm trying to think of a player they could trade for

he wouldn't talk yourself into. Like, I don't know if there are any. So, go ahead. Luis Robert, I would be immediately in on. Well, obviously, I'm saying I don't think there's any players where you would be out. Like, I'm trying to think of, if they traded for like maybe like um uh i don't know someone who's retired then maybe you'd be like yeah i don't know maybe he's gonna come back maybe cabrera has another year in him maybe he looked okay at the end there you know i don't

know hey notice how to play the game that knows how to play the game exactly he's gonna help around the club i was better in presence he's done it um you're talking to a by the way you're talking to a guy who in his perfect off seasons and last well last year i had mac carpenter so yeah i and actually ended up proving to be kind of prophetic in a way i mean the dudes had those moments where he has those runs and look you had estevez which is hilarious i did have estevez which we'll get to and two years ago i did have brett gardner and john lester so i you're a fan of the the and you're an old guy man here and there you know well that's why that's why i do a podcast with you just the the oldest people that i can find i'm your brett gardner that's probably the meanest thing i've ever said

about myself based on something you said all right let's go we're we've already gone so much longer than uh than uh i told him i mean not yet but we're on pace okay so so here's take me through the austin hayes range of emotions. So when it first happened, I was like, holy bleep. Because on one hand, I was like, I liked Austin Hayes a couple years ago. I had Austin Hayes in my fantasy team last year. I was a big Austin Hayes guy. And then I was like, dude, they gave up Sir Anthony for him.

I thought Sir Anthony was pitching a little bit better. And before we go full on Austin Hayes, so what Sir Anthony said after the game was awesome I I love Sir Anthony Sir Anthony saying he wants his team to still win a World Series is amazing like I and I was just happy in general that he went to a good team like um I'm happy that he's still gonna get to compete prop in games it'll matter and all that like it would have sucked if he was traded to like the White Sox or something. I'd have been like, that sucks for him. I like him too much for that fate.

Right. I thought about all of our old bits, like Sir Anthony's Knights and all that good stuff. And the 2022 playoffs, that run. He gave us some great memories and almost got it done.

In 2018, Sir Anthony was special. Yeah, yeah. Well, buddy. And that was a time when we needed that. He really gave us a lot of hope. Shout out. I'm with you. I'm happy for Sir Anthony.

I'm glad he's going to a good spot. And this is not a crap on Sir Anthony at all. I love Sir Anthony. So I was a little a little bit like man you're kind of cutting off your nose to spite your face a little bit like you're giving away uh another bullpen option to go get a guy like you're you're upgrading the outfield sure but you're also weakening the bullpen i felt like i always knew they're gonna go get a bullpen piece i would still like one more but whatever they got carlos estevez we'll get to that later so it was really just a shock from the beginning but here's what i like about it is and by the way barring a louise robert trade you know i think that that still could happen

you know like coming down to the wire the white socks decreased their demands and the phillies are like bleep it let's go all we need to know is that all these reports coming out and saying like the phillies are done they're not getting another outfielder. Oh, this is going to be there. It's like, all right. So anything could happen. We get it. Like the bed,

the bed and Brown rule, as we've discussed. Yeah, sure. Sure. So, so, but Austin Hayes,

from the standpoint of listen, he's been, he's hitting three 33 since may he had fallen out of favor down there in Baltimore. We know that they have a plethora of guys. It was a, it was a, give us a strength for a weakness and vice versa.

So, like, I'm just... I think there's legitimate upside here. And any time you can flip a reliever that you weren't totally confident in, barring that you know you were going to get multiple pieces, for a bat with some upside, like, I think you'd take that. With another year of control

at a really cheap price. He's through 26. I think you'd take that. With another year of control at a really cheap price. Two. I think he's through 26. I believe he's through 26. Okay. So him and Marsh, I believe, are on the same kind of trajectory. Even if it's one year, I think the value is good to give up Sir Anthony for him as a player, even if it's only one more year of control,

much less two. What I also loved was the away numbers. His away numbers, he was a 280, 850 OPS guy. And we know that Baltimore pushed their fence back down there. So it was a little bit harder for righties to get going. It was the highest hard hit percentage of his career. So we knew he matched lefties. I do think there's a legitimate upside from the right side as well.

I think he's more of an everyday guy than a platoon guy. I think the actual platoon, again, barring a trade for Luis Robert, is really more about Rojas and Marsh than it is about Austin Hayes. I think that the Phillies feel like they went out and they got their left fielder for a majority of this run. And it was a name that we weren't talking about. It's a name that came out of nowhere. But the fact that Dombrowski wanted him for two years

and given that last year would have costed a boatload to get him and now you get him at a little bit of a discount, I'm sure. And by the way, I'm sure he was pissy down there. He seems like a good teammate. Some of the guys down there, I watched Colton Couser and some of the guys and they seemed upset he was gone. I'm sure he was annoyed. Well, it's like, dude, he was an all-star starter last year.

Exactly. Whether he's an all-star or whatever, the guy's going to be like, I should be playing over all these kids who are coming up. I don't blame him, of course. Yeah, so I'm actually pretty fired up about it i thought i thought he worked some good at bats tonight i think he hits the ball really really hard and like i i guess the best way i can simplify it down is that i don't trust like marsh against lefties very much like i don't think austin hayes is so bad against righties where he can't play

like i think i think there is a path he's a he's a better hitter right now than if all around if you're talking about if you had to play a guy every day austin hayes is a better option to play every day than brandon marsh there's no question about it yeah so i as a hitter as you know i mean purely as a hitter i'm talking about so yeah i um i i really do like it and and he is under arb for next year so it's only it's this year and next year and then a free agent in 26 but um so that's what i thought yeah yeah all right so so but yeah i just but that's a good deal of course it's a good deal it's a good deal and obviously we know what he does against lefties and to put a little cherry on top smokes chris sale smokes just in case

so that i'm gonna save it for tomorrow but i i definitely want to bitch to you about how good chris sale is like it's so i was watching some of this start yet like i'm so annoyed by it like it's like screw you braves anyway um is that well it's the only thing they've gotten right in a long time so that's yeah well rinaldo but they've gotten right in a long time. Yeah. Well, Reynaldo. But that's something like what the salesman. All right. And look, I'm with you. And look, the Hayes thing.

By the way, I think we should learn what Dombrowski. I mean, like the Brandon Marsh trade, we had not said one word about Brandon Marsh. He does seem to kind of surprise us with these moves, with the names we hear out there. Maybe all the insiders don't know everything. Who knew? surprise us with these moves um with the names we hear out there oh maybe you know maybe all the insiders don't know everything uh who knew uh dave is i think he might keep it tight to the vest though um and and the fact that and we'll get to the again the s of s trade but they didn't give up anything as another one that we didn't hear him connect to the phillies till like today really yeah i guess like if you're looking for... Other than like supposition. Other than like guesses and stuff.

Exactly. Like guesses, it was like, oh, that makes sense. Like they make sense. Yeah, exactly. Right. Well, and the other interesting part about the Austin Hayes trade is obviously they didn't give up anything besides just a major league player. So like they saved all of their prospects. So they do have a good amount

in the chamber. And... Theoretically, if they don't make another trade, according to them them going to be an everyday player for them like i mean if like that's you don't see that trade very often like no matter how good he is a guy who a uh a team that is contending for the world series trades for a quote-unquote guy who's going to play every day for them and they you give up a their fifth reliever or sixth reliever or whatever he is at the time and a guy who's gonna get cut like the that like that feels like they really took advantage of an orioles team that was feeling a desperate need for reliever and as we'll get to with estevez like and we'll see what else happens but it feels like the reliever market is steep out there and maybe that's part of the situation too is the orioles looked at all this other stuff and said

we'd rather just trade this surplus guy even if it's a bit of a loss for us to get a guy we think is really good who we can maybe work with. Maybe they see something who the hell knows and get that. You know what I mean? Instead of giving up some legit prospect they love or something, you know? Yeah, definitely. And again, the reliever market does seem very, very steep. Let's get to that. Let's get to that. Let's get to that. And again, I'm with you on the Hayes thing.

It's just an unexciting name, but I'm with you. It is a smart baseball move, and there is a lot of upside there where at the end of the season, we're like, wow, Austin Hayes, what a great trade that was. All right, Estevez, the reliever market's deep. That's what we talked about. Look, Carlos Estevez at 31, like a really good reliever. He's had like a later career kind of surge.

Again, Jack wanted him in the perfect deadline last year. Was really good two years ago. Last year, some bad luck but still good. He's really kind of had a later career like rise to prominence. But he's been lights out for like what, two and a half months or something like that. One of the best relievers in baseball. But look, we've talked about Clausen on this pod.

You know, we haven't talked a ton about Spencer. I'm not going to try and say that. It's Samuel. It's Samuel, whatever the last name. Yes. The,

the Italian pit. Oh, Gary, I think. Like, but he's a, you know, a highly regarded prospect for what it's worth um estevez makes

them better in the bullpen your thoughts on the the overall thing because at first i know you saw clauston's name and and probably had a panic attack well it was really both of them like so my first reaction was okay like i thought that i thought there's any multiple trades of like one of those guys going with something else for something, the other guy going with something else for something else. I didn't think that both of them would go together for one pitcher that's a rental. He's a rental. We thought he might go for a Rosarena or something like that.

You know what I mean? Something like that where it was a bigger, like a bigger fish. Exactly. Great point. Massive as to like, he's the literal rental. He is a free agent at the end of this year. Now, at the same time, they did trade Ben Brown for David Robertson. And I'm way more excited about Carlos Estevez than I am.

Oh, yeah. Like, he's a way bigger prize, so to speak, and a better pitcher. And again, it's not that I don't think they can find another George Clawson. I think they might have found one in the ninth round in Marcus Morgan. And we trust them to develop guys, as Clawson is proof of. But at the same time, if this time next year they're trading Marcus Morgan, that's going to hurt my soul. So one day at a time.

Well, at least we know Brian Barber is there with you, but it's all for the good of the team. He feels the pain too, but we all got to say it's all about winning the series, boys. That's exactly right. Me and Brian Barber, team guys. Just absolute team guys.

It felt like an insane price. I thought that someone else was going to come back in the deal. The fact that it was just Carlos Estevez wases was a little disappointing but i was i i guess i have to deal with the reality of that situation now so again it felt like an overpay but i guess you have to do in this market me personally i would have rather had tanner scott like i think tanner scott would have caused about the same if if that's what carlos estes went for and they they chose carlos estes which i i guess i just have to trust dave nebrowski so again like i hope it works out like there's there's no scenario where i'm like rooting

against carlos obviously yeah it's just it's just i would have in a perfect world rather had tanner scott and possibly save those guys save one of those guys for another move but carlos estevez is here and numbers good. He is more pitch to contact. The two things that... The strikeouts are down from the last couple years. Those are the two things that worry me the most. One, strikeout rate is down. Two, his fly ball rate is about 56%.

That's way up for his career. If you get that at Citizens Bank Park, I don't love that. Obviously, we know CBP. And the Angels have a pretty big ballpark too. Right. So those are the two things that worry me. Now, what I like about it is – Now, I will say I took a look at his home road splits,

and he's been much better on the road this year, and I don't know why. Interesting. But he's good everywhere. But he's got like a sub-400 OPS on the road this year. And I think the other thing that is worrying me a little bit is that Johan Rojas took him deep. So we'll put bull. That is as concerning as it gets.

It's basically him and a position player, right? I think it's anyone else. Maybe there's one other. No, he had one done in Miami this year. That was awful. Yeah, me too. But it's a real big red flag, let's be honest. But what I do like about it is that I think you can pretty much hand him the ninth

and let Hoffman kind of cook 7-8-9, or 7-8, and kind of rotate a little bit. Lestrame and Alvarado hopefully is back there. Then all of a sudden you have such a versatile pen, and that's the thing that I like about – and look, I think Tanner Scott's nastier, so to speak, but the thing I like about Estevez is that he's right-handed and we came into this saying like ideally especially after trading strength you could get another right-handed guy in addition to Hoffman that that isn't you know super young and and was pitching in you know college you know year and

a half ago or two years whatever is for Kirk ring it is, I think bringing in a guy like SVS, who's, you know, been in the league forever, has had real success closing games and is right-handed. I just, I just think it fits like to the point with the Austin Hayes. That's what I was thinking about where it's like, no matter what you say, like we came in saying, all right, let's get a right-handed bat that we could play in the outfield that is really good against lefties and can, can potentially play every day. If you need them to, you did it, you know,

and, and same thing in the bullpen, we said, get a right-handed arm who you don't have to go nuts, but get a right-handed arm, hopefully as close games, but someone who's, you know,

just a guy we think is, is a, a, someone we could trust in a playoff game, theoretically from the right side. And, and I think Estevez is that, you know,

I agree. I agree. So we've never seen him in that spot, but theoretically the profile, you know, you would think he could, could pitch in that spot. And if you're giving me truth serum,

I trust Carlos Estevez more than I would have trusted Brandon Finnegan. Like I think Brandon Finnegan's had a good year. I just, I've, and part of it is because I've seen him blow too many games to the Phillies to where it's like... Me too. Yeah, as far as I was saying, Colorado and the Angels, it's like we just didn't see him as much.

And the good part is he's still touching 98. He's still going to hit 98 up in the zone. You give that to Caleb Cotham and you kind of trust him to kind of work his way... You trust him to get the most out of him. So he's been really good. He's really good since May. I think he's a lot of like one run since May.

So he's obviously on a good, good run here the last few years. Like he really has like two years ago, he was awesome. And again, like the, like right now, if you're,

if you're a believer in, in, you know, baseball's about hot streaks and relievers are season to season. Like this guy right now is having a freaking awesome season. So, so far this, this trade deadline,

all they've really traded for their left fielder of the year. And maybe next year is Sir Anthony Dominguez. And for their closer, they've traded, you know, that was what I was going to say. Let's get, you know,

you love them, but to the point they trip, they're closer trade for two they trade two guys are in high a yeah if you're trying to win the world series you know like i don't take that risk almost every time and they do what the market we said it like we'll see what other trades are made but it does feel like the reliever market is is is steep right now and they have left themselves open to like still that blockbuster like it's still there if they want to go yeah they didn't give up any of the dudes that we talked about other than clausen was in some packages and stuff but yeah yeah well and and i just i'm curious if the ranger thing kind of changes anything for them rangers obviously on

the il today well the question is it my first thought was phantom you know like hey give me so like it's they know more than we do it that we can only know if they think if it's not a serious thing then they'll know i think you know i think the only thing left and i'm sure we'll talk about this more tomorrow i think the only thing left would be a blockbuster but i think for the time being they're they're pretty much set yeah or cheap ad with another reliever that maybe isn't someone who's gonna pitch in the playoffs even but it's someone who kind of you know tightens up the pen to get there who knows you know one name one name give it to dylan flora dylan flora that's saying it buddy maybe it'll happen and look i could see them adding a a uh potential bench bat who's better than weston wilson look i could see them adding a a uh potential bench

bat who's better than weston wilson like i think that's still a possibility too there where it's like a fourth out like a i don't know like you know i don't know who the type of guy is but like classically you know i think you know kevin pilar type guys still are you know that kind of guy not you know kevin kiermeier you know he's more of a defense guy. But that type of guy where it's like, come in and... The Kiermaier-Rojas split in center field. Eddie Rosario, Jacque Piers, a little better than that. But the way the Braves won the series that year with those type of ads, I could see something like that little.

But I'm with you. I think they will make a big move if it's there. But I think I don't expect much more than this well the nice part is that they've given themselves a good baseline no matter what they got better they've gotten better and now it's like all right do they want to like really push the chips yeah and also it's a question of and they'll know better we do what the market is saying but like the braves and dodgers neither of them have cashed their chips in the middle yet either like those trades are and they'll know better if we do what the market is saying, but like the Braves and Dodgers, neither of them have cashed their chips in the middle yet.

Either like those trades are still out there. Like who knows, Luis Robert might be a white sock on July 31st, you know, when it's all said and done after the deadline, you know? So deadline, by the way, on the 30th,

I, and then last year was at the first river. Like, I don't, I'm out on that, man. It's been July 31st, our entire lives,

like super, and probably hasn't, I'm sure someone's gonna be like,'s been July 31st our entire lives. And probably hasn't. I'm sure someone's going to be like, well, actually, in 1988, it was this. It was July 31st. It made sense. It worked. Anyway. I know. And it's at 6 o'clock, which I hate.

I wish it was at 4. Yeah. Oh, I know. Super, super annoying. So at least it's good for your show, which works out. But it's not good for the show because it was before we could react all the way up to it and then oh that's a really good point if they make it three at the end yeah it's a good point actually all right well thank you and then

on and then on deck starts you know final out there you go you're doing final out at least you get to talk about it i know but i'm going to the game whatever it's we'll figure it all out there uh we've we've crossed the threshold of that i was like we i was like 20 minutes but like 30 max and of course it was crazy to think that we would this is fun i'm happy we did it um jack convinced me everyone say thank you to jack um and it was really i did it for everyone listening because he convinced me that you deserve it it was nothing to do with him other than him convincing me of that uh all right we're back tomorrow anything else before we get out here no i'm got any like 2025 draft guys you want to start talking about now or no i'm kidding well

the good part is is that they just keep finding george clausens so you can keep flipping them at the deadline for pieces to help the win now team. Yes. So good teams do they draft and develop. So you mock me all you want. You can, you can, you can laugh in my face all you want, but just know that July 27th of 2025, when I'm a father of two and a leader of men that when they,

when they trade someone else that you mocked me for loving, it's, it's because of our interview with barber that you even know who that guy is no well yeah it's true i'm not gonna i honestly other than the you know vitriol and uh you know oh you know all that part you know this i don't really have much i can say about that that was pretty good uh all right um really can't believe i'm gonna be a father of two very excited but it's pretty awesome man yeah it's exciting trust me i can't i dude emily and i with just zoe we say all the time we're like i can't believe anyone has more than one kid like holy crap like she is a whirlwind buddy

i'm a uh very i'm a i'm a huge dad guy i'm a huge dad guy me too dude i'd say honestly i i i often will will have to stop and think like how do people like just go through life every day loving something as much as you love your kid you know i mean like how do you like function sometimes it's like all you think about it's like i just want to make sure you're okay and i want everything to be good for you and i'm like you know sometimes it's. You know what I mean? So imagine feeling that way. But twice, I can only imagine. I know, I know. No, no, no, no, no.

Imagine feeling that way and expanding your heart. But everything you just described about a baseball team. And that's where the whole diseased thing kind of comes from. It's true. It's well said. I love it. Thank you. You're tying it together.

What a pro. All right. I really got to go now because if I don't help put Zoe to bed in the near future, it will not be good. I hope Walker's asleep,

but we'll see. Trust me. I promise you Zoe's not. All right. We'll be back tomorrow after the game, probably right away after the game,

but if I get traffic coming back from this party, maybe a little later, but we'll be there. You said it's a great street you should be dave dave go do something else why not like add a little bit more to the point i made for you don't have to go like with some crazy move but like you know if you have a little bit of doubt about something on the team like whether it's a bench guy whether it's the six bullpen guy like make it better if you can that's what i'll well and and don't go on too long though i was

not i was trying to end it there go ahead go ahead you traded for adolfo castro last year good move good move like process over results give me another rodolfo castro trade that's all i asked for except one where the guy is good and all i asked for is just one rumor just give me one big rumor about louis robert garchet, or Mike Trout. Just for fun. One of those. Just for fun. Mike Trout.

Yeah, like that guy's never going to play again. Meaningful baseball. All right. We'll talk to you guys tomorrow. I got to get the hell out of here. I love you, everyone. Even you, Jack. Shout out to Miller Lite.

Thank you for sponsoring the pod. It's a lovely thing to be able to drink it on the pod. We'll talk to you guys later. He's Fred Seltzer.