High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Extend J.T and Baseball Will Be Played This Month

Episode Date: July 2, 2020

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz are back as they talk a lot of J.T Realmuto and also baseball being played this season. See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information. 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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Jack, we got pictures of baseball players in baseball attire. They are down at Citizens Bank Park, checking in, getting ready. It's starting to feel real, buddy. I like that your yo's are getting progressively yo-ier. It's go time. I mean, they're real now. They're not the sad, depressing yo's of labor negotiation times. Nope.

And the best part about that, James, is that there's never going to be any more labor negotiations. Yeah, we're sad. We'll never have to go through that again. What a beautiful thing. Yeah, we're set. We'll never have to go through that again. What a beautiful thing. Yeah, never again. I think before we start this podcast off, we have to say goodbye to the open of our podcast. I mean, JB's hanging them up. I know. I know. Very unexpected. Very crazy. But it seems like he's very happy with his decision, so we'll support him.

But yeah, you know, uh, definitely the, the open of the pod for a long time now. I know. Hey, and listen, as, as we say on the high house podcast, if you're happy, we're happy. Um, and it seems like, it seems like JB is happening, happy. So, uh, I think we're still allowed to use his voice for the open, right? I mean, I don't think that's... I believe so. We're still... There's no ill will.

We're still friends. I'm sure he wouldn't have a problem with it. It'd be a real shame if he just up and took the Open. He's like, listen, the one thing I have to bring with me when I go is the IOPs Open. It's the only thing that can't stay. Hey, let's be the first to say this.

If that happens, John Barcher, no longer friend of the podcast. Yeah, exactly. And luckily, I don't think it's going to happen. So I think we'll be good. Oh, James. Like, dude, baseball. It's almost back. It's so almost back.

I don't know what I'm doing in any of my fantasy leagues because I don't know how we're going to do a 60-game season. Yeah, I know. But, like, I just don't care. I mean, Reese Hoskins looks like Mike Schmidt. Reese is bringing it, Jack. You directed me to a photo of Reese Hoskins that I had not seen yet. He looks good, man. He's got the stache, the seltzer slash, you know,

quarantine hair action going on. It's good work. Yeah, and if you put a side-by-side of Reese Hoskins and Mike Schmidt next to each other, they look exactly the same. If so facto, Reese Hoskins is going to turn into Mike Schmidt at the plate. Yeah, sure. I mean, it's unassailable logic jack i i what am

i supposed to say that's what i tried to bring to this podcast james is the the deep analysis type stuff yeah yeah dude i don't know about you man but i'm just i'm just busting at the seams to get this thing started and you know everyone talks about how it won't be the same without fans and like yeah i get it it won't be the same without fans but really i don't think we'll notice that to the playoffs like i mean regular season baseball without fans i mean i've watched it before i've played in it before like it's not happens it happens relatively often not not zero fans, but like a few thousand. Yeah, yeah.

And I just don't care. I just don't care. We're so close to it to just being back in our lives every night. I mean, they have to play 60 games in 66 days. And it's going to be – I feel like maybe we have to save baseball from itself and stop making it look like this was just a money grab, which it was was but like this is a straight up 60 game sprint and sure the best team probably won't make the playoffs or the best team might not win the whole entire thing but i mean every baseball game it's gonna matter every every single one's gonna matter it's gonna be crazy and i don't know

man just seeing those guys back on the field today seeing it's like bryce wearing a jt real amudo jersey i just think is it it just it's such an alpha alpha move by bryce you know because he really is because he really is i mean he's basically like listen matt klintzak sure you're technically the gm i get it. Andy McPhail, you talk about the fourth lowest second half bullpen ERA and worry about the concession stands. But who's the most important voice here? It's me. We're going to figure out a way to get this done.

And I love that he's stumping for JT. He's letting him know that he's his boy. Yeah, I think it's really cool. I think we're probably both on the same page then. I know we've talked about this a bit, but that, you know, we both also don't want the Phillies to overpay for JT Romito. So it's one of those situations where I – let's talk about that real quick because, you know, Klintak came out since we last spoke and said, you know,

there had been the Salisbury Report, which I believe we talked about last time, about, you know, 23 or 24 million a year for four to six years or whatever. And Klintak came out and kind of threw a little cold water on the general idea of it and said, you know, the landscapes change. And it has, you know, where are you at with the Romita situation? Well, here's the thing is that i don't think what clintack said was wrong um i mean clintack was was right and i'm already you know what i you know what i haven't been able to stop thinking about since the comments is um do you

remember his comments after they didn't go after manny Machado? Because he was like, the player exceeded our evaluations. Oh, yeah, yeah, of course. And I just started getting flashbacks to that, where it's like, yeah, JT, love the player, but he's so bad with talking. Dude, every time he talks, I just feel worse. Well, he's one of those, I think I'm smarter than you,

and I'm going to talk to you like I'm smarter than you guys. And those are the worst guys. I mean, you know? Like, look, I know you went to Dartmouth. I know you're smart, but I'm not an idiot. You don't have to talk to me like I'm an idiot. You don't have to, like, talk down to me, talk to me, like, in a way where it's almost, like, pandering to me.

It's cool buddy like i i can get what you're saying you don't have to act that way well that's i mean that's what this podcast prizes off on just just just trying to talk to the baseball fans like they're baseball fans and not like like normal people yeah yeah so with the real muto stuff like i i think i think jt he's just gotta he's gotta just realize that the market's not gonna be what he thought it was gonna be and it sucks like it sucks for jt because jt is a catcher he's gonna be entering into his age i mean he's gonna play this year at age 29 but he's turning 30 uh he's been the best best guy well he's been the best catcher in baseball last year but he's been a top five catcher for the last couple years.

And usually that translates itself into a pretty big payday. And I just don't think he's going to get it. And I think the Phillies are almost playing chicken with JT and saying, hey, sure, we'd love to sign you. You are our guy, and Bryce loves you, and the city's kind of falling for you but but we're not gonna we're not gonna pay like 40 million more than we have to because you thought you're gonna get a huge contract uh after this season or whatnot um so i almost think jt has to has to just be like all right this is unfortunate but i'm gonna take the contract i can

get and i think it's on the Phillies to not, you know, I don't want the Phillies to take advantage of the situation because I don't want them to severely lowball them and just anger them and send them to free agency. But I just think there's a path towards a fair deal here that I would like to see both sides kind of uh you know come to an agreement you know you have salisbury earlier this week saying like 23 24 million dollars a year and like that's insane like you're not getting insane you're not getting that money that's not going to happen this year

these owners have already talked about how they're losing 100 plus million dollars a year and i know that like we think they're probably lying. I don't believe the owners. But if that's going to be every single owner in baseball, that's going to be every single owner in baseball, not just the Phillies, not just John Melton. That's going to be every ownership group in baseball. They're going to cry poor and say, we can't afford to pay you. And JT, it's either get hopefully a fair contract from the Phillies now

or maybe sign a one-year deal in the offseason. And, dude, if you're JT Romulo, you're going to play at age 30 in 2021. If you're at a one-year deal and there's a possible work stoppage after 2021, like, I'm sorry, you just have to take the deal now. I think he has to take the deal now. Five years, 100 – just make Like five years, a hundred, like just make it five years, a hundred million and see what he says.

You know, I don't think the Phillies have to pay 40 million more than they have to. I mean, that's a couple other players to make the rest of this team better. So I just, I think Real Muto has to take down his asking price a little bit, be more realistic with where the market's going to be, and it's on the Phillies to make a fair offer.

Yeah, I think he kind of nailed everything I would say about it too. I think to hammer home the point, though, I don't even know if, to be honest, he would get $20 million a year on the open market right now. I think your point about ownership groups and how they're going to handle this offseason, I think we've talked about this before, but I think free agents are getting screwed. It just is what it is.

It's not collusion, but they're all going to agree without saying they're all going to agree. Like no one's giving out those types of contracts. Like maybe Mookie Betts gets, you know, something over $200 million, maybe. You know, I think like he's the one guy who maybe can get something. And even then, it's going to be like $100 million less than he would have made before. Especially a catcher heading into his age 30 season, and we think he's going to age well, but a guy who's the vast majority of Romito's value, and look, he's a good hitter, but the vast majority of his value as an elite baseball player and an elite asset is that he's the best catcher in the game defensively and that he's great with the staff and all that type of stuff.

I mean, it's rare to see catchers age well into their mid-30s. You know, Yadier Molina and, you know, you don't see many right now. If you're just writing guys who've aged well into their mid-30s and continued it hit. I mean, Liatia is really the only example that you have. Well, Pudge was one, but Pudge, you don't know. No, I'm talking about guys who are playing right now. But, yeah, there have been others. But the point is I was talking strictly about guys who are in the league right now. Right, right, right.

But even still, they're few and far between is the point. And I do think JT theoretically could be one of those guys because he started playing the position later, all that type of stuff. He's in great shape. He's all that type of stuff. But it's just a concern. Ultimately, too, one quick thing that, look, I know that the 6-0 Sanchez part of it hurts.

And I think that in a way he is more important to the Phillies for that reason than he is to other teams. But the idea that the Phillies have to overpay for him just because they traded 6-0 for him is just silly. I mean, it's faulty logic. Like, you don't make another mistake just because you already made one mistake if that's what it ends up being. It's the sunk cost fallacy. It's classic stuff. So, again, because they traded 6-0 604 him i want them to figure it out obviously and we just want jt here but not at any cost just because you gave up the asset the asset's gone already you know what i

mean yeah but man i it's not that i disagree with you it's just like i mean what i'm saying is like factual like whatever whatever else you want to say and i again i agree i don't think you should make that six or trade without the belief that you're going to sign jt to a long-term deal but once you've traded away six though it's over he's gone like that cost is gone you you can't give Romulo extra money than you believe he's worth or whatever simply because of six so like that can't be the reason if you get into a bidding war and there's another team and you desperately want to keep him and and you do it for for other reasons that's fine but it can't be because you traded six to four him like that's a sunk cost like that's the wrong way

to think yeah but I mean you did trade the number your number one prospect for him i agree look i want them to sign him i'm just saying like the idea that i mean it again this is like basic economic principles like it's a sunk cost six toes gone six toe doesn't matter anymore to the phillies he is not their asset anymore. So like ultimately, again, I want them to keep JT for many reasons and it would hurt if they trade 604 him and he left. But the point is, if there is a team out there that's willing to give him $25 million a year or something, you can't go above that just because you traded 604 him. Like you can't overpay for the guy just because you traded the prospect is my point but

what if you don't have a plan like that i think i think the thing is so that's a much more endemic problem for the phillies obviously oh yeah i think the thing is most frustrating for me is like it feels like they're surprised that they have to pay jt and like you don't trade i know you you just brought up six though but you don't trade your best prospect but your best prospect and then a year later don't pay the guy you know you don't i i just think that you know i understand the sunk cost fallacy i mean it's a little a little too big a word for your your boy over here i mean it's get it's getting a little too nerdy uh you know i just want to talk about baseball here but no i'm just kidding i know

i know i learned i know i learned all of the sunk cost fallacy when it came to uh julia locifer um but like but at the same time like you have what's the what's the plan like what's the plan if they don't sign j3 velmuto like it can't be, it can't be, well, we're going to build the best team we can, you know, you know, using prospects and, and I agree. And they,

and they haven't developed guys. And, and look also to that point, I look, I would feel a lot better about saying, screw it. Oh, overpay for JT.

What do I care? If they've proved that they're willing to spend money, but if this is a team that's going to do this BS with the luxury tax on a year-to-year basis and maybe go over it sometimes but get back under, if they're going to be a team that is consistently concerned about the luxury tax, and we hope that he's not going to be. We've talked about this with Middleton, but we don't know. There's no evidence to say they're not going to be that type of team.

And if they're going to be that type of team, then how much they pay JT on a yearly basis is incredibly important. Yeah, well, two things off that is that I just don't believe that Middleton lets JT walk, you know? I don't either. Ultimately, I agree. I think he will be here. Yeah, and the other thing off of that, you know,

and me and Julia were kind of getting into it today, was, like, who are you really paying, you know? I mean, Nio were kind of getting into it today was like who are you really paying you know i mean noel is not making that much bryce is obviously making his money although with the price thing can we just stop with the freaking oh he makes you know the 330 million dollar contract how about we break it down to aav like if you break it down to AAV, it doesn't look nearly as insane as the $330 million. I just get annoyed when it's always the $330 million

price tag rather than $25 million a year, which is in the top 20. I think it's tied for 12th, but it's tied with 15 guys or something. It just drives me crazy. But anyway, who are you really paying?

Noel's not making that much. Bryce isn't making that much. DD is a one-year deal. I think they'll probably resign him just because his market's going to be thin. He'll probably want to play for Girardi. And they don't really have – like Stott won't be ready, I don't think. Hoskins isn't getting paid yet. Kingery is on a cheap deal.

Segura obviously is on a relatively cheap-ish contract, you're paying for the next couple years mccutchen's gone after two uh next year the following year ariana's done it for this year robertson's done after this year like you're not really paying that much and even if it's a little bit of an overpay i don't think it should have to be like a 30 million dollar overpay but it's a little bit of an overpay to to secure the best catcher of baseball like i just have a problem with it because I don't think it should have to be a $30 million overpay, but it's a little bit of an overpay to secure the best catcher of baseball. I just don't have a problem with it because I don't know, first off, where the rest of the talent's coming from. Hopefully

Boehm and Howard come up and Stott and Mick Abel in a couple years who, by the way, Jim Callis thinks is going to be the first high school player to make the big leagues. Whatever. No big deal. You know, you hopefully have that kind of cheapish contracts coming up and and then jt you know you're not really spending it elsewhere with the big money coming off the books

i would like to them to to kind of secure the best catcher in baseball so um you know i i just i don't see where all the the money concerns really come into it because i don't really know who they're paying. You know, I forgot Wheeler. Wheeler's obviously making a pretty decent chunk. But, you know. Well, and also, look, the team they have now is not good enough to be a perennial World Series contender. Like, you still need some flexibility to add to this team

because, you know, there are only a couple guys in the system who are close right now who we feel great about and then people lower down like like they need to develop prospects and and turn some minor leaguers into quality major leaguers for a long-term thing but if we're talking about this core of guys harper and romito and stuff like that winning world series they still need guys you know i mean they still have to spend money they have to be willing to go over the luxury tax like this isn't good enough i mean look what the dodgers are doing look what other teams are doing like this isn't good enough yeah i mean yeah but and another thing off that you know the the idea that they're going to stop building if they resign jt like that's

another thing that's been brought up and it's like you can you can still draft well even if you're drafting in the 20s and in the second round, and then also spend money internationally. Like the idea that signing – I'm not saying you. I'm just talking about some of the conversation around JT that's driven me crazy is they're acting like if you re-sign JT, it's like such a disaster because you're going to be picking in the 20s or 30s. Oh, yeah, that doesn't matter.

Yeah, no, no, no, no. I mean, look, Mike Trout went 23. Gavin Lux went like 17. Again, my worry is strictly more financial. And again, this is all upon the idea that, based upon the idea that they won't go over the luxury tax. If Middleton's willing to pony up and pay players, then they can add to this,

and paying Romito doesn't matter, and all that type of stuff. And look, you got Arrieta coming off the books. I mean, there's, you know, again, I think we both agree they should sign JT Romito. They need to sign JT Romito. But I'm happy they're not, I don't want it to be at all costs, is my point.

Like, I think they need to bring him back, but I'm happy that they're at least being somewhat guarded about the financial part. Yeah, no, it's just unbelievable to me that you're calling for 162 of Andrew Knapp if they don't re-sign JT, and I think that's very sad. Yeah. All right. I'm not going to dignify that with a response. Moving on.

I'm not going to dignify that with a response. Moving on. We have the, I guess it's now, is it 54 men with Swarczak added? We still have some ads to happen. They're probably going to add another catcher, Clint Axehead. But what were your impressions of the, you know, quote-unquote 60-man roster that as of now is a 54-man roster? Initially, I was a little surprised that like moniak and stott and a couple of the prospects were kind of left off of it but then started

thinking about it and you know the phillies are one of those teams that is taking they're kind of just throwing darts at a dartboard and they're seeing what can stick and see if if they can find a kind of diamond in the rough you know like mikey and Logan Forsythe, Josh Harrison, Larry Riano. They're kind of just taking a bunch of shots and seeing if they can kind of strike some gold there. So the Phillies, more than other teams, I guess, they have a lot more veteran presence that could possibly make

the major league roster. So I think they'll add to it. Like Austin Davis wasn't on it um a couple other prospects you can't can't forget austin yeah i mean yeah i mean yeah just uh can't do without austin davis a truly electrifying talent but um you know i i think that they'll they'll kind of figure out the rest of those guys. You know, some of those guys might want to go find a job elsewhere if they don't think they're going to get playing time in this bullpen, which seems like a stretch. So, yeah, I was fine with it.

You know, I just think that as we get closer to the season, they'll narrow it down, and I think that they'll add some of the prospects in. Like I know the Braves and Nationals and the Marlins had a ton of prospects on their 60 man. But, you know, those teams are also kind of set with the talent they have. The Phillies have a lot more wild cards. So I would think that as we get closer here, they would add like Moniak and um add stott and

casey martin and mick abel maybe mick abel i mean uh getting those guys i think getting those four specifically into uh player development and making sure that they're around these guys and uh you know they're up at lehigh valley and they're getting some kind of minor league development since i'm so sad there's there's not gonna be any minor i know it really it really hurts like well we knew it was coming but it still hurts yeah and like you know i just gotten so used to you know checking the um you know checking the box scores and kind of following all the the minor league baseball writers on twitter and uh you know just get like you know me i get excited about prospects and and get excited about the yeah i get excited about these things and like those kind of guys those guys have been my

like mitch rupert up in up in williamsport doesn't does an unbelievable job for the paper up there. And I am legitimately going to miss his cross-cutters updates. I said it before. I'll say it again. The cross-cutters are the only team I care about in this whole entire system. They're my favorite team. I like them more than the Phillies. And then it goes cross-cutters, Redding, and then to the Phillies, and then Lehigh Valley. But I'm legitimately going to miss the cross cutters.

Yeah, well, it's a bummer. I think what you just said. But I do think your point is really important. Like, I don't want your point to get lost because I was going to bring it up to the idea that it's really important to get these prospects on the 60-man roster, whether it's with the extra spots they have now or, like you said, I think an interesting thought of bringing in guys to the camp to see some veteran guys and say who's going to make it, who's not, and then replace those guys once the 30-man has to be set.

Either way, I think to get, like you said, to get those guys development, I think it is, and it's why you're seeing a lot of teams do it. I think it's really, really important without a minor league season that especially guys like star, you know, guys who are, who are important prospects in your system,

guys who are like, we were just talking about important part of your future. I think those guys have to be active and involved. A hundred percent. I totally agree with you. You can't, you can't let a year of development go to waste. You know, I mean, like Eric Allen's or Eric Miller is another name that comes to mind. Gosh, it's turning into an Eagles podcast over here.

I'm very sorry, Eric Miller. I mean, you know I think very highly of you. But Eric Allen should be in the Hall of Fame. I mean, look, Eric Allen's a pretty good, you know. It's not like you think poorly of someone if you call him eric allen yeah i mean he he played in your college early college days so um i i know he meant a lot to you um i did watch eric allen so i think that's enough all right uh yeah so i i totally agree like just

at some point those guys have to be added to the roster like they um and i think the phillies will you know and i At some point, those guys have to be added to the roster. And I think the Phillies will. And I just pray that one of those guys is not a doable. I just, I'm so. Oh, please no. I'm really happy he's not on there. And look, I do think that you mentioned Josh Harrison, but I think he's one of a few guys who I like the, the Logan Forsythe, Josh Harrison,

Neil Walker type of guys. I think that there's something to, especially in a season like this, where obviously injuries are going to be a factor. I think where, you know, guys might need off days, this, that might, obviously, you know, COVID is a factor i think having guys like harrison and foresight than guys who are you know maybe not the best players ever but legitimate major league baseball players who've been around the block who do certain things really

well i mean logan foresight has always hit left hand hitting i feel like he'll hit left hand hitting until the day retires like know, that type of stuff. I think that the bottom of the roster is not as bad as I think some people think it is. Oh, I love the bottom of the roster. Me too. And really the lineup as a whole is pretty good. I mean, I don't know. I think I was watching the hype video that Philly's put out today. And it's just kind of crazy.

Like, Didi's legitimate 25-home run threat. Segura could bat. I mean, he could bat 300. Look, he batted until last year. It was over 300 three years in a row. 300 or better. Yeah, I mean, Hoskins could easily bounce back. And after the photos that were circulating Twitter today,

I think he's a lock to bounce back and after the photos that were uh circulating twitter today i think he's a lock to bounce back and then you have like you have kinkery who i think is going to lead the team in war this year and get my monster year like there there's a take mccutchen's gonna be a much mccutchen's 100 um like you kind of you kind of forget how loaded the phillies just from a lineup standpoint are like there's some legitimate dudes in that lineup and that's before you even get to Bryson and Real Muto and kind of go down that path it's like you know there there could be something here I mean we talked about how deep they were before last year and I don't know it they got better I mean Didi makes them better Segura makes them Segura back makes

them healthy or it makes them better the coaching back healthy makes them better Kingery you I the whole second base thing you know being the catalyst to an unbelievable season I think is a little strong um but but I mean sure I hope it i hope it happens hazel getting more and more comfortable harper you know with the the bad may of last year and then after that was a really good baseball player like there's there's a path here to having a really good offense and the guys you just mentioned like i think forsyth forsyth was our best player in spring training uh neil walker neil walker is neil walker he's been around forever and josh harrison i love josh harrison he's like already one of my favorite

phillies and i really need him to make the team so um yeah there's just we're almost there we're almost there i'm sorry i even just hearing you talk about about these guys is getting me so jack bryce harper just tweeted out a rocky quote so he's in peak oh come on can we stop with rocky i hate rocky i hate rocky bryce is so locked in on like his philly mess uh i hate rocky i think i think uh i think rocky's my least favorite thing to ever happen to Philadelphia. I really do. Yeah, well, it's a bad take, but that's okay. Wouldn't it be the first time? No, it would not.

It won't be the last. Yeah, look, I do think it's a good point because remember after that first series against the Braves last year? We were like, this team's going to lead the league in runs. I mean, this team's going to hit, baby. runs. I mean, this team's going to hit, baby. And now I don't want to blow up your spot, but your host on the Midday Show said what? The 1927 Yankees is going to which they are?

He said they were going to be one of the great offenses we've ever seen. I mean, Jesus. I love. I feel like the camera gets more in on, like, baseball teams than any other sport. Like he just, when he nerds out to baseball teams, he nerds out. Yeah. It's good stuff.

It's very good stuff. Um, so yeah, I think you're right. Like this team can hit, they can really hit. Um, there's a chance that they're going to be a really good offensive team. You know, you just worry about the whole other part of the game. It's going to be a little less confident in their ability to pitch on a night-to-night basis. They might not protect one lead, but they're going to rake, man. They're going to hit.

No, but like, you know, here's the other thing with the freaking, you know, people talking about the Phillies and whatnot. Oh, is that what we're doing? I know. I know. I know. I just hear a lot of Phillies' stakes throughout the week. So, but, like, Zach Wheeler is on this team, man.

Like, Zach Wheeler is here. Like, Zach Wheeler is a good guy. I know he's inconsistent. I got it. I get it. I get it. A hundred percent. I am with you. But like can we can we stop

acting like zach wheeler it's not a massive addition to this this rotation like did we see zach wheeler in spring training he looked like he was ready for a like a dominant season like i don't know i understand there's a lot of question marks but dola and wheeler and spencer howard giving what they want to do with them like that's a good that's a good three add and break out pavetta you might have the best staff since the 90s braves i love when you're making a point it's like a really solid point it's a good point and then you you you know throw the hammer in know, I got to keep everyone on their toes. Let's talk about Howard real quick because I think the Howard

and obviously Boehm in the same sense too is a fascinating thing because we talked about the seven days thing, which we both agree that. And again, but that's not confirmed. I guess that's what I saw. I saw Jim Salisbury mention it as well. Oh, okay. Cool. So I think it's correct, but I haven't seen it.

Like, it was mentioned in an article in passing, and it didn't, it wasn't like, I haven't seen a rule that says it, but it feels like that's, you know, let's roll with that for now. We both agree that as much as, know every game matters and it truly does it is an interesting philosophical question how much do these games matter compared to a year of control um more so than in a normal year where that question is is you know less of an obvious answer um but we still both think you keep them down for seven games because it's just too valuable for that year but you i'm of the belief that certainly Howard should be up the moment that clock is good. I don't get the impression that that is the Phillies' plan.

Where do you stand on this? It's so tough, because if you listen to Klantac, after the season he was talking about how it's time to win now. And they even put that into the hype video today. So it seems like they're all in on winning now. So I would like to think that they're going to do whatever it takes to kind of make the playoffs in this season. So I would like to think that Spencer Howard is going to be on the team right

after seven days. Because, listen, you can't tell me that Spencer Howard is not one of the five best starters on this team. You can't tell me. You can't tell me he's not ready to come up right now and pitch in the big leagues. He's that good. So I think that given what they said you know i think they'll do the seven days thing if that if that does come to to fruition i think they'll keep him down and then i i legitimately think he'll be right in the rotation after that i think it's gonna be

quick because i think that they brought in gerardi uh they brought in dd on a one-year deal uh you know arietta's on his last year. I think they want to try to win now. And I know it's a 60-game season, and I don't think that whoever wins the World Series this year should be crowned World Series champions. But making the playoffs for this team is going to mean something. And maybe kind of jumpstart them in the year after um and i there's no good logical baseball reason not to get spencer howard up here and listen i mean talk about the perfect kind of you know uh chance to make your mark there's not gonna be anyone in the crowd you're gonna get to face major league hitters the the season ultimately doesn't matter that much i I mean, it's 60 games. Everyone knows it's a sham.

Like, the intensity won't quite be there. You can kind of just go out and be Spencer Howard. And I'm in on that philosophy. I would bring him up as soon as I can. So whether it's seven days or 14 days, just do it as fast as you can. I think you nailed it like i think that's and i think that's a great point i hadn't thought about that about the idea of kind of a little less pressure for a kick coming up into that spot uh but on a most most basic level look they literally every game matters this year and teams are going to miss the playoffs by one game like that's what's

going to happen it's too close it's too short there's going to be too much bunching up like there will probably be a tiebreaker in one of the two leagues like that kind of stuff's gonna happen because it's so few games um every one of them matters so much like they have no excuse not to bring eric up because like you said i mean you can't tell me he's not one of the best three pitchers on this team you know what i mean like even though he's never done in the majors i i he's just better certainly than than whoever the five star is going to be no offense to break out well let's not let's not get ahead of ourselves but yeah i think they have to bring him up and i think look i think i think the fan base is gonna let them know that too i think that's gonna be one of the the early

season storylines is you know when, when can they bring Howard up? When will they bring Howard up? And why haven't they brought him up? I think it's all going to be stuff we talk about. Well, unless they take my philosophy, you know, just tank the season. One year. Yeah, one year. I like it.

Also, to your point, I meant to talk about the World Series thing. I'm 100% with you, by the way. This is not a World Series championship. It's an accomplishment. Like, whoever like whoever wins like it's certainly an accomplishment it's going to be super fun to watch and i'm totally all in on having fun with it but it's not the world series like i'm sorry this is not a a real title that should be you know remembered forever you're not going to tear up when the Phillies are walking. Of course, we should know that, of course,

this is the year the Phillies are going to put together a win. It's going to be like, oh, great. I mean, I'm happy. I'm happy they won, but now I have to argue that my team has an asterisk next to their title. It just won't count. I legitimately think that even if the Phillies win this year, maybe this will change once the games get started.

But even if they win, it just won't feel the same. There won't be that intense playoff run. For as much as people say fans don't make sports, they kind of do. A little bit. Yeah. I mean, the Victorino Grand Slam, like the J-Roll walk-off, the Howard Homer off-loche, like just iconic home moments with the holiday no-hitter,

like rejoicing with Phillies fans around you, you know, that's not going to be there this year. And just being able to bear down on an opposing team and trying to rattle them and see if they can handle the pressure of the Phillies fans, like, it's not going to be there this year. I'm excited to make the playoffs. I'm all in on the Phillies make the playoffs, whatever, you know. Tanker make the playoffs.

That's the only thing I care about. But, like, it's just not going to be the same it's not going to be the same there's not uh 45 000 plus fans this isn't my part with the with the rally towels going and all that just not going to be the same um so it's it's a total shame um that it's not going to happen this year but um whatever we have baseball back this it's actually yeah it's going to happen we're still going to enjoy it's going to be this month like it's going to be fun it's going to be super intense it'll be fun like it's going to be neat to watch the first baseball game of the year and know that that game actually truly matters in the outcome of the season is it's unique if nothing else that it is and it's this

month that's all that matters we are jackie 20 jackie we're 23 or 24 days away whatever 23 days from opening day let's go we need a schedule we need to get i know they're gonna say they're saying next week i need i need a schedule so bad i need it like i need air to breathe jack give me the schedule let me look at it way too much and think about what i'm going to be doing every night for the next two months i can't wait yeah can't wait let me let me just break down those at least opponents that we have to go up against oh buddy let's not talk about that now this is a happy podcast well hey they only play the i think they only played the Rays for one series.

That's what we're hoping. It looks like that's the way it's going to break. If it's the same as it was in whatever year they said it was, I can't remember, but they would get the Blue Jays the most, which would be great. Well, let's not get ahead of ourselves with the Blue Jays. That's true, too. It's a good point.

Give us the Orioles. Can we just play the Orioles a bunch? Is that possible? Well, we don't do well against bad teams either, although I did see today that the last series of the year is going to be Philly's Rays. Ooh, I can dig on that. Yeah, Haim's old team versus Haim's former future team.

I love this. Let's make this happen. I'm in. God, I can't wait. I can't wait. Versus Haim's future team. All right, what else you got? You got any final thought bag stuff?

Wait, hold on. Before I get my final thoughts, I would like to know what your review of high hops was oh yes i didn't know we were getting into that um it's perfect is that a good review i think it's literally perfect it's a perfect beer to drink and watch baseball it's perfect beer i haven't done it with baseball yet but i am sure it is perfect with baseball it's a smooth ipa um it's perfect it was a true delight hey let's jack jack i will say this it was a uh afternoon that i will never forget for the rest of my life yeah i'm glad you enjoyed it uh and yeah it's it's fresh there at and you know when the season rolls around you know just go pick up

one for yourself and uh enjoy some philly's baseball some high ops it's the best four fingers brewery yes um so i have two final thoughts but they're they're both kind of long-winded so i'm sorry um what else is new and i was just like i don't know how i stumbled upon this this youtube this is like uh iso possession this is like iverson and i'm the other four guys and i'm just kind of moving off to the side and i'm gonna let you do your thing well i was on youtube the other night and i have absolutely no idea how i found this this page but it's the single most important youtube page of my life and um oh god what a sell um i don't know how they got their hands on this this video but they had a live stream of of pivetta pitching to alec baum um and i was breaking down the entire

thing and i've got a couple takeaways from it that i have to share with i hope listeners is is that um so he's really shortened up his mechanics like like almost all right you know who i finally figured out who pivette is and it kind of sucks but whatever it's just it's just it is what it is he he's just he's phil hughes like and when you look at his phil hughes phil hughes had a solid career i mean he lasted when he looked never he was just never what he was supposed to be his mechanics right now look just like phil hughes's did you know very short arm action um and it's weird so he's pitching to bone and bone didn't get one good swing off him now it's hard to kind of say you know it's kind of hard to read too much into what

the hitters are doing because like i don't know it it's a live. Pitching should be, I would think pitching will be ahead of hitting to start. Right, and it's live VP. It caters towards the pitcher. It generally does. But Boehm didn't square up one Pavetta pitch, which is good, I think. Now, the bad side is that I don't think he located one fastball, which sucks. But, um, and I think, I really do think the shortened mechanics have kind of hurt his,

uh, his ability to kind of finish with this fastball. Um, but I will say he threw like, I want to say he threw almost 40% change ups to bone in this, in this, like, I think bone pretty much had much had, like, three or four at-bats off him. Threw a lot, a lot of change-ups, and he threw a lot of them for strikes. Didn't have, like, crazy movement on him, but, you know, good enough to kind of get a job done and give a hitter a different look. Slider came along. Curveball didn't look great, but I think he started finally starting to find a groove for it as the at-bat went on. But anyway, just a great little YouTube. But I think he's finally starting to find a groove for it as the at-bat went on.

But anyway, just a great little YouTube. I don't know how he got his hands on it, but a little Pavetta update for people. And there's also a video on there from the Phillies at Twins, which wasn't broadcast live. But Garrett Clevenger, I don't know if you've – do you know who Garrett Clevenger is? I know that he is on the Philly 60-man roster. And he should be because he was pitching to Josh Donaldson, and he made Josh Donaldson look like a fool. And I've never seen Josh Donaldson not square up a baseball against the Phillies or Phillies pitchers.

So Clevenger kind of took him to school a little bit. And that's a lefty versus righty. So, interesting stuff. I'm excited to see what Gary Clevenger can do. I'm excited to see what Connor Brogdon can do on the 60-man roster. Damon Jones. Like, listen. Yeah, Ramon Rosso.

There's some Fritz specials on there. Don't get me too excited about Ramon. You know, I don't want to not be able to sleep tonight. And the other thing I want to do real quick, because I didn't do it last week, but listen, this podcast is for anything. It's for the nitty-gritty disease Phillies fans. And we got to get into it. I can't wait to see where you're going with this one.

We can't not get into the undrafted free agents That Brian Barber Absolutely was stealing from Teams I should have known To be fair With only a five round draft This is obviously the most important

Undrafted Free agent class maybe ever correct i don't know um now my mic was muted uh that's why i wasn't talking i thought i was talking i thought i was talking wasn't talking the whole time um you got so excited yeah i did that's 100 100 correct but uh honestly james i have i have no idea how the hell the phillies signed all these guys because they're legitimate like some third round prospects in here that that went undrafted and the guys they signed are guys that really smart teams sign i don't want to get ahead of myself james i think the phillies might be a smart baseball team and that makes me very very

no no you can't slow this hype train down oh buddy you may be brian barber smart let's start there brian barber smart and the driveline guys are smart and having the driveline guys associated with the phillies has really I think, getting some of the talent. So the most exciting name for me is Blake Brown from UNC Asheville. Up to 100.5 miles an hour with a 98% spin efficiency on a sports team fastball. You get him around some of the driveline guys and it just might be game over. Had a 1.89 ERA this year at UNC Asheville, striking out 26 guys. They added so many guys that can throw hard.

Chase Antle from Coastal Carolina, he's another guy that gets up to 100 miles an hour. Absolute power arm that probably could have gotten drafted. The freaking Delaware kid, Billy Williams. drafted um uh uh the freaking the delaware kid uh billy williams he's another one that gets up to 100 miles an hour uh no billy sullivan sorry billy sullivan uh up to 100 miles an hour but just like the the guys they brought in they brought in three guys to throw over 100 miles an hour and i think that's massive uh no noah skidiro is from liberty pitched the cape last year and had a 260 ra in the cape which is good although i don't think the cape is what it used to be for pitchers because colleges are kind of telling them to stay back and don't waste your

innings up there but he reminds me a little bit of dan straley and if you can if you can sign dan straley out of the under at the region market that's pretty good uh jake mckenna is another local kid um big six seven lefty up to 230 pounds i mean for for a guy who's at a high school in six seven and can get into the lower 90s from the left side um you know that's kind of a a risk that you're willing to take but but they they just drafted like john and he's the guy with it with really good spin rates on a slider. Same thing with Sam Jacobsack. Like, just guys that have – the Phillies targeted two guys in their undrafted free agent class. Guys that could touch 100 or 95 plus with elite spin rates on their fastball

or guys who could really spin breaking balls. And that just makes me really excited. So, I don't know i'm pumped i'm very i'm very excited about what they did in the uh in the undrafted free agent class and i like this look at this looking for guys you know guys are all 100 that used to be something they they would would ding people for now now they're they're looking for them how exciting i didn't know i i would like to think that mclintock Matt Klintak wasn't allowed anywhere near the Phil's draft room or the undrafted free agent process,

because I'm sure he was just freaking out that these guys throw too hard. But either way, I don't know. I'm pretty pumped. I love it. I love it. The excitement in your voice. It's good. Frenzy, we got baseball coming back, man.

I'm so ready. This month. Legitimately this month. It's a beautiful thing. You got anything else? Ah, my mic was muted again. I thought I was getting hot on this. But I do not have anything else.

You really run into some issues here well i realized that if i could if i could hold it close to me and i mute it then it might not bleed through with your audio ah look at you clever inside baseball right we've had some we've had some trouble with the edit yeah yeah, it's been good. The audio bleeding through, so I figured if I mute it, then maybe that won't happen. So I was trying to make your life easier, but it turns out I muted myself.

So I have nothing else to say, but we are so close to baseball. Sign JT Real Muto, and we'll talk to you next week Yeah and let's end it with Bryce Harper Quoting Rocky No It ain't about how hard you hit It's about how hard you can get hit And keep moving forward

Rocky By way of Bryce Harper What the hell does that even mean What does that even mean Who is getting hit and who is getting up? Are we talking about the Phillies or are we talking about the JT Real Amido contract negotiations?

Oh, I love it. Anyway, he's Fritz. I'm Salter. We'll see you later.