High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Get Andy MacPhail Away From Our Baseball Team

Episode Date: November 6, 2020

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to Andy MacPhail's disastrous press conference and the issues currently plaguing the Phillies organization. The guys also talk Didi Gregorious, free agency expectations, and much more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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This is the High Hopes Podcast. High Hopes! It's a bunch of baseball nerds talking about the Phillies on Radio.com and Sports Radio 94 WIP. Yo! It is another edition of the High Hopes Podcast. Jack, I just want one thing. Just one thing. I want Andy McPhail bleeping away from my baseball team, Jack. I want him away. I want to never see his dumb face ever again. I'm done. How you doing, buddy?

Is that it? Is that it? Yeah, I mean, I'm sure, let's be honest, I'm sure it will not be it in terms of complaining and being angry about Andy McPhail, but in terms of my opening salvo, yeah, that's it. agree about andy mcphail but in terms of my opening salvo yeah that's it well i uh i had to uproot myself to come do this podcast so i am willing to uproot whatever i'm doing and come do this podcast i mean seriously like what just uh just like a true embarrassment. I don't know about you. Well, I do know about you.

We think a lot about the Phillies, right? Too much, you might say. Yeah, I'd say so. And the listeners of this podcast think about the Phillies a lot. The Phillies are kind of our thing. Kind of our thing. And, like, Andy McPhail has sucked all the joy of being a Phillies fan away from me. Like, every time he talks, he just – I don't know how a president of a team you would think would be selling hope, right? And you would think that they'd be selling this whole, like, oh, we got this plan.

We got that plan. Let me be gullible. I'll be gullible. There's no one quicker. Jack, we know, buddy. Anyone listening to this podcast knows you are ready. Give you anything and you will grab it like a life raft. Yeah.

Yeah. If there's a little light in the door and I can see the light, light let me just explode through that door but the dude gives me nothing man like he gives me absolutely nothing and you know what you know what i noticed this james was because today i'm sitting here and across my twitter timeline is a story from bob nightingale who is always right and is on top where you're going with this because i i guarantee you i had the exact same reaction to the tweet that you did go ahead and it's like well thank you for giving me permission to get to go ahead you're welcome yeah i'm here for i'm the go ahead guy yeah if you didn't tell me to go ahead i wouldn't know which direction i was going um so like bob nightingale who again just dynamite analysis this is an awesome office friend of the pod sorry broke the harper news in the podcast buddy um he tweeted like yeah francisco lindors 100 not gonna be on the indians next year and i was like dude a year

ago i'd be concocting all kinds of trade proposals and now i'm just like no it's not gonna happen there was literally no point in me even putting out a fake trade getting excited or anything for francisco lindor because there is a zero percent chance that they are trading for Francisco Lindor. It's not even in the cards. It's not even something that the Phillies, hey, they're apparently in on everything, just like Howie's season. Two myths, by the way. Big time.

But you couldn't even give me that. Jack, my first, I'm not kidding at all. I swear to you i saw i was working today to produce the midday show and i see on my twitter timeline that thing pop up the night and yell tweet and my literal first thought was about this podcast and how disappointing it was that you and i couldn't talk about it in a real way like other than like we're doing now to like be like well there's no because there's no chance and like that was such a bummer i was like even for us to entertain the idea that maybe they could which is something you and i have talked about in the past like you and

i have talked about the idea of trading for francisco lindor back when it felt like there was like maybe a small small hope of something like that happening and you're right like my first thought was like no chance it's a very sad uh uh place to be because like it is like they just they just killed like they've they have made like they have really just taken the pandemic and like uses and as an excuse for almost everything you know it's it's crazy when it comes to when it comes to running a sports franchise and everything like the phillies are using all of it to to just say well listen we're pretty much sitting this out like they've effectively said they're basically sitting out the 2021 season. Like, you know, I see all these articles coming out where it's like, oh, well, if they don't sign JT, they can pivot to, like, James McCann and George Springer and all this.

And it's like, have you paid attention to what this team is doing? Like, they're cutting scouts. They're cutting player development. They're cutting everything because it's costing money like everything they're doing right now is to to cut costs so that they don't have to pay things and they're they're using the pandemic to i think get rid of a lot of things that they've been wanting to get rid of for a couple years you know they're they're starting to get rid of the senior advisors the general manager which there was like 2 000 senior advisors to the general manager, which there was like 2,000 senior advisors to the general manager,

and they're cutting Jim Jackson. I mean, like, seriously? We're cutting broadcasters? For what? Like, I don't know. Yeah, it's just so hard. And, again, I will happily be proven otherwise, obviously. It's just hard to be excited about a team that's just punting this 2021 season

and is using the pandemic as an excuse to not spend any money, even though they're worth plenty of money. And even though teams like the Yankees and teams like the Mets are still making moves, the Yankees are going to have to sign DJ this offseason. They're going to have to bring in pieces, and they're expected to lose $430 million this year. So it's just like it's so just excruciating to just not have almost any glimmer of hope.

It's just I don't know where my hope lies with this Phillies team until I'm proven otherwise. Oh, man, you sound like me, Jack. You're supposed to be the optimistic one. I mean, listen, we are one Eric Neander hiring away from this being. That's what I said last time. On the last pod, I said, one move. This all goes away.

Like, John, John, Jonathan Middleton, sir, one move. move all of this it's all gone one move you don't even have to spend money this offseason like i don't even care if you sign anybody like i'll take you being cheap you can rebuild for all i care like just bring me in tear it down tear it down tear it down if you want to tear it down i don't care i don't care just put the right guy there hey and i don't like i don't want to break news to John Middleton, but I would just like to say, there's no luxury tax with front office moves. There is not.

Hey, John. Hey, John. Hey, John. You don't have to pay the luxury tax. I know that's like the sweetest music possible to your ears, but you don't have to pay the luxury tax in signing front office executives. But you don't have to pay the luxury tax in signing front office executives. So, if so facto, let's just start paying some front office executives and really get this thing going a little bit.

Let's take that point a step further by signing this guy who took a team to Game 6 of the World Series on a quarter of the payroll of what is the luxury tax itself. Like bring the guy in and he'll manage your money too. In that sense. Like, I mean, what are we doing here? He's shown he can build on his shoestring budget. Like it's just, it's so simple. It's so simple. And again, just to like when Middleton said the response about the JT thing and he was like, do you know how many people are going to be in the stands? Can you tell me that? First of all, it was combative and whatever, but like, that was maybe the single and,

and a press conference full of alarming things. Maybe the single most alarming thing was that he's, it was such an insight into how he's looking at this, how he's thinking. Like it was such a sign that he is not going to spend money. Period. End of story. Like, sorry. sorry boom like you knew

it then yeah and then his uh his straight up i don't know like right hand man andy mcphail basically just used the same exact kind of quotes and you know like they they act like it's so impossible to do anything with what's going on. They're talking about like their offices aren't open until January or maybe January or whatnot. And it's like, dude, the Sixers just hosted a press conference with four guys all in the same building that you'd be talking about. The Eagles open the NovaCare every single day. What are you talking about? It's crazy. Like seriously, seriously, what are they talking about the eagles open the nova care every single day what are you talking about it's crazy like seriously seriously what are they talking about well i honestly think that andy mcphail

saying that saying that you know who would want to uproot in the middle of pandemic is a way to talk about how they're you know probably not gonna hire a general manager or whatever him saying that literally the the same week days after daryl Morey had agreed to come to Philly, after Glenn Doc Rivers coming to Philly too, but literally the same week where in basketball, one of the, whatever you want to call it, top five, whatever, like top executives in the sport chose to uproot in the middle of the pandemic and come this city for for a team in this city i mean to say that what he said the days after that happened is legitimately i think it's dumber than if we don't we don't i think it's dumber maybe than any stupid thing that has ever been said in the history of philadelphia what about stupid what about stupid money it's dumber it's dumber i mean it's it's it's the thing with mcphail is like you watch this guy and and we all know he hasn't had success in decades but like it's hard to understand how he ever had any success at all

like it almost feels like he just fell ass backward into a lucky situation because i don't believe this guy has ever been good at this ever ever and we know for a fact he hasn't been for a long time I don't think he ever was like I cannot believe he thought you said it he's one of the least impressive people I have seen in sports like that's it like factually he's one of the least impressive executives front men whatever that I have seen in my time in Philadelphia sports like flat out and I don't want I don't want that point to get missed because you've been involved in the Philadelphia sports scene since the 70s like you have been like 60 years almost yeah I mean you were in the 700 level

you know you you you you've been everywhere you were actually in the jail and I was in Scheib Park yeah you were in the jail it's straight jail the 700 level after a bad phil's mets game i mean expand your mind i was at shy park jack wow wow wow the baker bowl unbelievable so i will say though like i wish whatever i know this is gonna sound whatever but like i wish i could experience like when baseball was king you know like when baseball was was what football is today and people were breaking it down like it was football today and all the old ballparks and i think it's shy park i don't know but where people were able to like sit on their rooftops and watch a game uh that's just sweet to me that's just that's just good old-fashioned

baseball but um speaking of good old-fashioned baseball annie mcphail um yeah it's just like isn't it isn't the the job of the team and the president to like get you excited about what the team might do this offseason rather than like complaining about the situation they're in like what other team is a is complaining as much about this as the phillies are there's there's not another team that's like using this as a as as as big of an excuse as the phillies are and the angels have like eight interviews they interviewed rube i mean everybody because why the hell not but it's like the thing that's even crazier and the angels have like eight interviews set up they interviewed rube i mean i know they're interviewing everybody because why the hell not but it's like the the thing that's even crazier about the the mori thing is that like the guy has like college-age kids you're talking about like

legitimately uprooting like he's legitimately uprooting to go from houston to to philly and and i i was gonna save this for the save this for the take bag or whatever. But like, you know, Josh Harris is spending, I think, $10 million a year on Doc Rivers or $8 million a year on Doc Rivers. And he's definitely spending $10 million a year on Daryl Moore. Like he's investing $100 million into a coach and into a front office executive. Not to mention being way over the salary cap in terms of what he is paying

players. Like they might have the, maybe other than like one team, like one of the highest overall pay player payrolls in the NBA. Like he is way over that tax. So like, I mean, I look,

I said it on WIP this weekend and it's just a fact like it's sad to say especially considering where and I know not everyone's four for four and all that but but Jack and I are Sixers fans like to to see where we were with Josh Harris three months ago four months ago whatever and to now like Josh Harris is a better owner than John Middleton right now it's not even a question he's better owner than John Middleton. Right now, it's not even a question. He's running laps around John Middleton. And that's something I never thought I would say, Jack. Yeah, yeah.

It's absolutely insane. And I was thinking about it because I think what's really hurting the Phillies from a spending standpoint is, and correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think I am. Like, Middleton's only source of income is the phillies right because he sold that he sold the cigar business and i think his only source of income is the phillies whereas harris obviously has his his other stuff like hair i mean harris it's like a it's a it's a one of his many yeah i mean harris like harris's company apollo i don't know what it is they They made like $4 billion last quarter. So he's like seeing money coming in and spending it, whereas Middleton, I'm pretty sure the only thing he owns is the Phillies, and the only thing that he can make money off of is the Phillies.

So that's definitely – It's a really good point, Jack. It's a really good point. He has to be factoring into his equation. Well, we were just talking about Maury. I, you know, you look at a team like the rockets,

like their owner, Tillman for Tita, like he is, he owns a bunch of restaurants and a bunch of stuff like that. Like he's someone who, a lot of people have said the same type of thing where, you know, he's kind of like rich on paper,

but in terms of fluidity, not as rich as, you know, you would think. And I think, you know, that is certainly the case with certain owners and i i think that's happening here i think that's happening here now at the same time uh billions right i mean billions are still at play here if he wanted to he could do whatever it takes but it sure as heck doesn't seem like uh it's gonna do whatever it takes um

the mixed fail presser the ability for that dude to like sit there with a straight face and and say what he says is just unbelievable to me, he pulls out the war thing. Oh, my God. That was embarrassing. Did you watch the press conference, or did you just hear clips? So I finally watched it. I heard clips at first, and then I went back and watched it. Did you enjoy your second viewing experience? Dude, it was worse, honestly, because, like,

once you know everything he's going to say, and then you have to actually watch it and how he says it and the reaction to the questions he gets and all that, it really was worse. It was worse than even hearing the stuff. You would think you would be the other way around where you hear the stuff and then you're desensitized to it. It was worse because it's that much more appalling the second time through when you're watching it all in context. Well, yeah. And especially like the war answer, because if he didn't watch it, he just starts looking down at his notes. And like he thinks that he thinks that he's slick saying like, well, you know, since 2016, we've been like ninth in war. If you just look at 2018 through 2020, we're actually number one.

Like they're citing they're setting a dominant second half from Alec Boehm as a reason as to why their drafting hasn't been as bad. And the other insane thing, a dominant 50 whateverwhatever games for Malik Cole. The other insane thing is the whole young talent question that was brought up by Howard. And as always, I mean, thanks to Howard for actually asking the tough questions. Totally. He always does. Howard will ask whatever needs to be asked. Well, listen.

Howard is so stuck on the drafting thing and the development thing because ultimately i mean that's how teams win it's the most important thing it's them it's this we're stuck on anyone who's ever we i i ventured to say pretty confidently that no other phillyies podcast covers the draft one one hundredth of what we do. So, yeah. Yeah. What if I told you that I cannot confirm or deny this? I've spent like I'm already pretty deep into the 2021 draft. Like I'm already. It would be the least surprising thing.

It's just the greatest. It's just I honestly I would be shocked if you had said, what if I told you I haven't even looked at it for – that would have been shocking. I've already got a couple guys that – I'm sure you do. Yeah, listen, I'm excited. Like 13th pick in the draft. I'm very excited.

I'm very excited. Back to Howard. I'm sorry. I was just thinking about 13th pick in the draft again. No, I know you did. You know what else I'm thinking about? 13's my favorite number, Jack. Is it really?

Yeah. 13's your favorite number? That was thinking about 13 is my favorite number jack so is it really yeah 13 is your favorite number that was my my favorite number 13 was my favorite number growing up and you want to know why i would love to because of billy wagner really yeah until he got here super randa until he got here and i was like oh don't like billy wagner don't like billy wagner i don't like billy wagner um and then i became i was so so i was i was 13 for the longest time and then i became a 22 because of okay why was i why was that 22 let me think a 22 um it's not a philly i don't think right it's not a philly because the phillies were terrible i was trying i couldn't think of a single good 22 for the Phillies um this is like this is like this is like 04 to 06 if we're talking about pitchers and the number 22 04 to 06 I'm not gonna get it good Clemens I was a big Clemens guy Clemens was 22 with the Yankees with the Yankees and and I didn't remember in

Astros I know because you watched Clemens in 1987. I remember original Clemens. Yeah, where he was 21. Hey, and speaking of Roger Clemens, didn't expect to get into this tonight. No, I don't know how the hell we got there. I don't know how we got there. Whatever.

Let's roll with it. We'll just roll with it. So I would just like to say, Let's roll with it. We'll just roll with it. So I would just like to say that I support Roger Clemens when it comes to throwing the bat at Mike Piazza. I didn't have a problem with the bat throw because ultimately he's just trying to compete,

and he's just trying to say, hey, that's my mound. And ultimately he wasn't going to hit Mike Piazza, and people act like he was throwing like a dagger at Mike Piazza. He wasn't. He was just throwing it in his direction and said, hey, that's my mound. I'm going to go dominate. So I would just like to say I am pro Roger Clemens when it comes to the bat, quote, unquote, throw at Mike Piazza.

Yeah, you are such a pitcher that is such a pitcher thing to say like sure of course you are yep yep yep all right so howard back to howard i totally forget what we're talking about but um oh yeah so then the the the stones on this freaking guy to to pull the whole well before soto and akuna and all these guys were they were before my administration that's on the old regime for not getting the job done when it comes to those players hey buddy it's been five years i know none of those guys it's been five freaking years and yes i am very excited for johan rojas and i think he's being severely underappreciated in the prospect rankings but for the love of all that is holy five like you're you're you're you're you're saying you're throwing ruben's administration under the bus

because they didn't unearth soto and akuna and like you're just not taking any blame like how can you not take any blame like this is what pisses me off so much about these freaking press conferences they had it's because they try to come out for the first five to ten minutes like milton did the same thing and nick failed at the same thing whereas like the first five minutes it's it's like oh you know we're really tough on ourselves and we're really you know we're being self-reflective. And 100 years, we haven't drafted well. And I am disappointed we've been under 500. And then they get, like, the simplest hard question.

And they're, like, defending every single thing they've done. It's so true. It's so true. Like, Matt Klintzak has great character. And our war is actually number nine in baseball I don't care that you're number nine in freaking baseball and how about you stop using a stat that is skewed for 50 freaking games and why don't you just evaluate what you're actually seeing in front of your faces you bring up Cole Irvin like Cole Irvin even shows a pulse as a Major League Baseball player,

as if that's another success of the Matt Klintak era. Can you just have a little bit of accountability for five minutes and just say, hey, we haven't done a good job. I have one year left. I can't wait to get out of here because ultimately I suck at my job. I, Andy McPhail, suck at my job. I am not good at what they paid me to do. In five years here, I am under 500. I haven't won anything since 1991 and I am spoon feeding the owner these ridiculous talking points to try to make him sound smart. But in reality, they're not even smart. They make him look like an idiot. So why can't this whole front office just go away? I don't want Ned Rice near this organization. I know it might lead to Theo Epstein and I will take it. But Ned Rice is just Matt Klintak. It's the same exact thing as what Matt Klintak is and was.

You think that Ned Rice, who has never been a GM his entire life, is not going to call Matt Klintak and say, hey, what would you do in this scenario, buddy? And Matt Klintak is not going to tell him what he would do? buddy and Matt Klintak is not going to tell him what he would do like just blow the whole front office up and just get someone in here that knows what they're doing because these guys are ruining it like they are just ruining it and what makes me the most angry is before we started this podcast and around when we started this podcast we were talking about the phillies being a sleeping giant a sleeping giant they've had four top 10 picks since then including the number one overall pick oodles of money and they have just ruined it they have ruined it and i just i can't take the excuse making and the and the oh a pandemic has just thrown off our whole thing here. It does that for everyone.

You are not the only team that lost money this year. Everyone lost money, including the teams in your division that lost more money than you. Just would you stop with the freaking excuse making and do something about it and maybe maybe just maybe take the pain for a little bit so that the fans who haven't seen a playoff appearance in nine freaking years can just taste a little bit of success rather than thinking we're just wasting our time. I'm sorry. Yes. Just go yes.

Look, I couldn't have said it better myself. I mean, I wish, you know, I hope they're listening. I wish you would listen. If anyone knows anyone at the Phillies, get this to John Middleton. Get that rant there. Because, I mean, it's just, you just you nailed it i mean it's an embarrassment they botched it like they botched this they had five years again like you said with high draft picks and tons of money and they they completely botched it like we're sitting here after year five with zero playoff appearances zero over 500 records,

and a team that basically, Bryce Harper, you're going to waste his career. You got Zach Wheeler, you got Aaron Nola, and it's like, you know, some other small pieces. Like, you have no farm system. You got Alec Boehm, you know? Like, you got a couple guys. Like, you're nowhere close to the Dodgers or, you know, all these teams, the Rays, the Indians,

all these other teams that are just like light years ahead in terms of how they run their organization, in terms of the rosters, in terms of the Dodgers or, you know, all these teams, the Rays, the Indians, all these other teams that are just like light years ahead in terms of how they run their organization, in terms of the rosters, in terms of the farm systems. I mean, like you always say, Jack, I mean, you've probably said this a hundred times in the last few podcasts, but like the Rays are not only in the World Series with the least amount of money spent in baseball, but they have the best farm system in the sport.

Like, what are we doing here? Like, the Phillies spent five years to get this tick for this for bryce harper and a bunch of sadness like it's it's a true true again like i don't for those people who are not basketball fans just trust me trust me when i tell you that saying josh harris is a better owner than John Middleton is about as much of a slap in John Middleton's face as I can give him. Like that is a, you suck at your job, John. Like that's what you're saying there. Like it has been just a disastrous, disastrous ownership job that he has done since he took the reins. Like disastrous.

Hiring Andy McPhail and Klintak and then empowering them for the next five years to the point where even when you get rid of Klintak, you don't get rid of McPhail. Like it's almost like McPhail has brainwashed him. Like it's crazy. Like how is Andy McPhail here? How is Matt Klintak here? Like, how is Ned Rice an interim GM? It's like, it's too hard to believe, Jack. Like, even like the Angels, who are a bleep organization, fired their GM and just are moving forward. Like, it's just, it's crazy to me.

It's crazy. It's so crazy. And I will say, to your point, to what you said about Theo, like, it does feel like it's Theo. Like, this whole we're waiting year thing, while they've messaged it horrendously, does feel like the only real explanation, because this pandemic explanation is clearly a load of hogwash.

Like, it is just, it is clearly a load of hogwash like it is just it is clearly bs as we've talked about as we've seen many other teams do it like it almost feels like they're they want to say we're gonna get theo next year or something like because if that's not it if that's not that maybe i'm giving him too much credit jack because if they're not bringing in theo next year of this whole charade of whatever they're doing right now is not about, all right, we're just waiting a year and we're going to try and message it well and we didn't clearly, but we're going to just just i i feel like i'm giving him too much credit because the only thing that logically makes sense for how they're handling this is that they that it's theo next year but logic is playing no role here because why should i trust there's any logic involved it's just a mess it's disaster like who knows honestly in all reality they probably are

dumb enough there that this pandemic thing is something they actually believe like that that's where we're at to believe like why wouldn't we believe that at this point yeah and honestly though like the more thing has kind of given me a little bit of hope for a for a theo kind of reality because ultimately um like the more i think they just they lucked into that. Morey decided he was leaving, and apparently, if you believe him, he wanted to take some time off and be around his family and whatnot. The Sixers just came calling and offering him all kinds of money

to come run their franchise. But ultimately, the Sixers were looking for what the Phillies should be looking for now, which is a president, a guy that could oversee everything. Like, you believe in an Elton Brand, that's fine, and you think Elton Brand could do the job, but ultimately, like, you want someone above him who can oversee basketball operations and knows what they're doing.

And Maury kind of fell into the laps. And honestly, like, the Theo scenario is kind of falling into the laps. He has a year left on his contract. Actually, I'm pretty sure Neander only has a year left on his contract. I'm sure the Rays will do whatever it takes, but that's just interesting of note. It feels like the Theo thing could be falling into their laps a bit here. Sometimes it works out.

And, you know, I don't know. It just seems like that their main concern right now is definitely not filling the GM role and spending money to get a real president here and all that stuff. It seems like their main priority right now is to save as much money as possible and cut costs wherever they can and if it if it hurts the on-field product if it the thing that the thing that annoys me the most is like i think they're going to end up hurting their player development i mean all that matters in baseball right now is player development you know and and middleton's talking about how

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undefeated. 19 plus and physically located in Ontario. Gambling problem? Call 1-866-531-2600 or visit connectsontario.ca. Please play responsibly. You know, they haven't scouted well for 100 years and they haven't developed players for 100 years. Well, they have the right pieces in place down there and they need to just try to keep those guys help, keep those guys happy and keep those guys around because if they lose some of the the guys that they've brought in to help with the player development like it's gonna be it's gonna be some

major major losses and that should be priority number one like if you're not gonna spend on the major league roster like don't invest all your resources into player development and and getting the most out of the guys that you already have here and it just feels like it just feels like their main priority for everything right now is cut this cut that let this person lose their job we need to save money here and it's just like it's just so hard to be enthusiastic about the future that seemed like you know again like i'm reading articles of of trade possibilities and free agent signings and all this. And it's like, dude, none of this is happening. Like maybe could I talk myself into a one-year contract

for Kirby Yates for $5 million? Sure. I'll talk myself into that. Sweet. Let's do that. That'd be fun. But who are we trusting to make these sh shrewd small contracts and try to get the most out of these guys we're trusting ned rice why why am i trusting ned rice why am i trusting

again why is andy mcphail still here and and the thing that's that was so shocking from mcphail press conference was like the dude is begging to be let go. Like he just wants to be gone. He doesn't want to be here anymore. Like there was nothing in his whole 35 minutes that was like, oh, he's excited about the future of the Phillies. All Andy McPhail wants to do is just stay at his house in Maryland and probably golf. And like Middleton just won't let him go. And he's talking about how he'd happily step aside.

Great. How about you do some research and bring some guys in and spend some money and get the guy out of here? Because he clearly just wants to be done. Like, McPhail wants to be done. He told him the last time he signed his contract extension or whatever, this is it. Which is like a little ballsy for a guy who's pretty much sucks his job to say oh my illustrious career is over after this but like it's just it's just it's just crazy it was it was so awful and every time someone speaks from the organization outside of like

Girardi I just feel 10 times worse about them yeah if they never talked I would feel better about this team like it's not even a question, if they never talked, I would feel better about this team. It's not even a question. It's not even a question. I would feel better if these guys, if McPhail and Middleton never cracked a mic, as they say, I would feel better. I still, obviously, we wouldn't be excited. We're not idiots.

We see where things are. We understand how bad the farm system is. We understand all these things. But I would feel less bad. At least I still have some sense of hope. At least I still have some sense of hope. At least I still have some sense of belief because ultimately exposes that the people in charge of this franchise and, and, you know, obviously we think, we hope, we pray that McPhail will be gone at the worst next year. But like, especially Middleton, the owner of this franchise is someone

who we don't feel like we can trust around this this franchise like that's the bottom line when you see this guy talk it makes you feel less and less like he's the guy who's gonna run a franchise that's gonna win the world series that's gonna bring that effing trophy back or whatever bleeping the bleeping trophy back like like you see that guy doesn't inspire that in you like how could you possibly see him talk and say oh that's that guy's gonna lead us to the promised land like of course you don't of course you don't so i don't know let's you want to talk about something else i feel like we bitch about mcphail enough i feel like you know i know at this point i'm sure we're gonna spend the rest of the off season bitching about it more and stuff so we were gonna talk about some free agent stuff but that almost feels a little silly

um after we just talked about how meaningless it was i do want to talk about hopefully it's hopefully not meaningless but yeah and look we're gonna do our our hopeful shows and we'll get there but you know mcphail really angered me and i think clearly really angered jack and it just was you know to see that guy talk like that after middleton's horrible press conference it just is it's a lot it's a lot to take in is that fair i mean especially given how much we do you have any other final thoughts on it you want to you want to put a bow on it uh sure i love the phillies and i think everyone listens to this podcast knows how much we love the phillies and i know it sounds like you you know, we're hating or we're just finding the negatives. And I just don't think that way.

Like, I love this team so much that watching them operate this way is causing me, like, to be really upset about the future of the franchise. And to see the front office and the owner act the way that they act in these press conferences is just it gives me absolutely no faith for the future of this franchise and it I don't really talk I don't get to talk about it that much you know I don't I try to tweet about it I try not to you know it. I try not to, you know, on the air is on the air. We're mostly in Eagle season. And, I mean, rightfully so. We're not really breaking down the McPhail-Middleton press conferences

like it was if there's nothing else going on. Like this is really the only place where I can fully get my thoughts out. And, like, it's the first time I've really thought about, like, what he said and how awful it is for Phillies fans everywhere. And I just think about, I just think about everyone out there that listen to this podcast and we talk about being diseased and, you know, we talk about how the Phillies are all we care about and, you know, we get excited about draft prospects and prospects of themselves and Bryce and all that. And it just feels like they don't care.

And it feels like the front office doesn't care. And it feels like they're just, again, like the whole penny pinching thing. It's just not sitting well. And especially when you look at the roster right now. I mean, you have Reese, Kingery, Harper, Wheeler, Nola. Like this is a team that you you need to start investing in and they're just i have this overwhelming dread that they're just gonna you know punt the offseason punt 2021 and shoot for next season it's just like sweet so what so what can i talk myself into so um, yeah, I just hate hearing them talk.

I want to feel inspired again. And ultimately, Neander or someone that's smart becoming the president of this team and giving me some semblance of hope and giving the listener of this podcast some semblance of hope is just so massive. And I just hate where we're at right now. Like, I just couldn hate i hate where we're at right now like i just i couldn't possibly hate where we're at more yeah i think you nailed it i'm right there with you fun times and again and again like to to wrap it with an unlikely but optimistic bow one one move, man. Like, one move. Give Eric Neander a blank check. And even, look, even if it's not Eric Neander,

bring a smart person, a person who, you know, we agree. I mean, Jack and I, the authorities on this, agree, is a good hire for that role. And it all changes. Like, immediately, like, look, we'll accept losing a little longer like we will we will we're okay with that we just need it to be for a purpose we need a a light at the end of the tunnel as jack put it you know i mean we need something to look forward to something to believe in in that process because if it's ned rice and andy mcphail and another losing season and no

future and no hope, then what the hell are we supposed to believe in? What the hell are we supposed to have high hopes about? Like, what are the hopes supposed to be? There are none. So I think, you know, that's it. Like, that's what it comes down to. Like, hire someone smarter on this team.

And until then, like, it's just an aimless ship floating about, waiting. And again, like, to the dude who said we're going to bring the effing trophy back to the dude who said, I'm going to spend stupid money to all that, to like it, like you have to do this, man. Like you have to do this. You put your freaking mouth out there. You said these things. You're the one who created the stakes.

We didn't create the stakes. We're the fans. You're the one who said these things that I'm bringing the trophy back said, I'm going to spend stupid money. I'm going to do what it takes to bring a winner back to Philadelphia. I want to be sustained success. All these things like you're the one who said it. You're the one who promised it. It's your job. Like your ass is on the line line with this and all you got to do is hire a smart person like that's it like this is so easy all right um let's keep someone's got an uproot to come here you know that the angels have interviewed i met next year jack yeah yeah one other thing we definitely have to talk about because like you know we're not going to dive into

free agency much we'll do that next week when we're a little bit happier and at least can maybe feign some hope or whatever but but the dd thing is just another example that the for those who don't know and i'm sure most of you do because you're diseased phillies fans like us um the phillies decided not to offer dd a qualifying one-year offer 18.9 million one year for one year we all know what i say no bad one-year deal um because they were scared that he would accept the one-year deal jack your thoughts yeah just another uh just fun uh fun decision by this team Like it's just It's just so

The qualifying offer is the easiest win win In the history of baseball If he accepts it sweet You get the guy back on a one year deal And especially for this team Like Bryson Stotts is not ready to be the team starting shortstop Next season And DeeDee was great

Like DeeDee was great here Find me one Phillies fan who doesn't want Didi back. One. I bet you can't. Yeah, I have no idea. It's just insane. Like, all right. Honestly, it was the perfect scenario shaped up for them. Stott's not ready just yet. I think he's a year away from being ready ready they have dd on a one-year deal if he accepts it or he doesn't accept it and you get a draft pick like it's not this hard it's just it's not this hard and and again this is another example of like the the dd thing really killed me because it's like we're seriously going to be that much of penny pinchers this offseason where we can't even offer the short

stop a one-year qualifying offer where if he accepts it it's great for the team and if he declines it you have some compensation and he gets a multi-year deal elsewhere the only reason that didi did not get the qualifying offers because they're terrified he would take it they're terrified of having to pay a freaking short stop $18.9 million for one year. Again, for one year. So, yeah, just another fun, fun decision of a team that is just driving me insane. So that's what I have to say about the Didi thing.

Yeah, nothing to add. It's just a true bum say about the Didi thing. Yeah. Nothing to add. It's just a true bummer, especially Didi, who, again, it really is a true statement. I bet you can't find one Phillies fan who watched this team this season who wouldn't want that guy back playing shortstop. I mean, he was awesome. He's outside of being super likable and a great clubhouse guy, like we talked about when he was coming in and all that stuff.

He was just a good player like a really strong solid sure-handed defender pop the only player on the team who played in all 60 games like he showed up and all this with a a a actual like high risk guy like a guy had to wear the mask every game and stuff because he was putting his you know health on the line, to go out there and do this. It's massively, incredibly disappointing, Jack. I can't understate how disappointed I am that they didn't. Because in my mind, getting Didi for one year at 18-7 is a coup. It's a steal. You're telling me I can sign Didi for one year. Yes, please. At a

very fair price, considering how good he was last year, like, and considering, you know, it doesn't look like you're going to spend money in a bunch of other spots. Like it, I would like them to sign him to a long-term contract. Obviously, that seems even less likely now. I just, yeah, it sucks, man. It's what cheap, bad teams do. It's what cheap, bad teams do. Not my Phillies. Not my Phillies.

Yeah, well, we need some new Phillies, my friend. All right, what else you got? You got anything else in the take bag? Because I'm all out of... You're out? I'm out. Oh, it's so disappointing there's so many fun things somehow we're 45 minutes in and and we really have just railed on mcphail the entire time which we could probably do for another 45 but you know yeah i

feel like i cut myself so there's a lot going on right now jack you might not know that i feel like i cut we're in philadelphia we're like the epicenter of the world right now so you know no biggie no pressure no pressure how about this for for for in the take mailbag uh how about johan quazada the waiver claim from last week i would just like to talk about my guy here for a little bit i'm sure he would the floor is yours. Yes. Thank you for giving me the floor. The right kind of arm to take a bet on, first off, a Marlins guy, which we are very pro-Marlins when it comes to developing pitchers. Throws 100 miles an hour, which sounds sweet.

Didn't know the Phillies knew that was possible. Needs to use his legs a little bit more, but there's something in there. I think if you get him with the right kind of coaches and some of the guys in the minor leagues, like, listen, I'll take my shot on 96 to 100 with natural cut on his fastball. Listen, he might have something here.

Now, I don't know why Robert Stock didn't totally get a real shot last year, why they just outright moved on from him and he's throwing a hundred and whatnot. But I would like that not to be the case in this scenario because I want guys who throw hard and he definitely throws hard. And I think there's actually could be more in there with his legs if they use them more.

But that's all I got to say about that. I think it's, I'm surprised you had that much to say. I think it's really dumb that they declined David Phelps' option. I mean, it's not... Oh, I agree. I agree. It wasn't going to cost that much. I feel like me and you were lying, I don't know,

to the High Hopes listeners in saying that I swear David Phelps is good, but I swear David Phelps is good. David Phelps is good. I will stand by that. Like, Heath Embry definitely sucked, and I'm glad he's not here anymore, and it declined his option, which is great. But, you know, David Phelps, it wasn't going to cost him anything, and the upside is way more than, you know, what we're probably going to go into next year with.

I don't know. I thought it was dumb. Yeah. Thanks. I'm glad you agreed with me. Go sign. yeah thanks i'm glad you agreed with me um cosine what's what is your uh what's your departing message to heath embry i mean he's his option got declined he will not be on the phillies next year do you do you have any final words uh we don't curse on this podcast that's

true that's true that's true get the bleep out how about that i don't let the door hit you on the way out pal i would just if need a ride, call an Uber. I'm busy. I would just like to say that at one point I uttered the sentence, I now trust Heath Hembree with my life. Oh, you did? I remember that. Yeah.

And I would just like to say, of all the Pavetta takes, the Heath Hembree, I now trust you with my life is the most the greatest thing I've said in this podcast and I once said I actually agree yeah you see just Nick Pavetta stuff alone you've said and I once said that Joey Manessis who I don't know is still playing Major League Baseball is or playing baseball anywhere for that matter, is I said that Joey Manessis is our Max Muncy. So listen, we chalk some up to L's. Hey, at least you get taken out like a man. I appreciate that bad about you.

Listen, I just get ridiculed for every opinion that I have. So listen, the Heath Embry thing just you know falls off my shoulder means absolutely nothing it was like nothing yeah especially because i turned so quickly it was like people forgot that at one point i uttered the sentence i now trust heath embry with my life yeah it got forgotten pretty quick yeah because he was legitimately dreadful the second he had like one good outing and then he was like the worst pitcher i've ever seen in a philly's uniform yeah other than maybe brandon workman now workman was better than him and he was also sure horrendous sure that's the crazy part like a heat time i think he ended with

like a nine or ten era dude he tembri was literally a home run every single time he walked into yeah it was um um like legitimately hard to believe that someone could be as bad as he tembri was well this bullpen sure did try didn't they dude they were special man let let's let's put it this way let's hope we never see anything like that again let's put let's put it this way because i don't think we will we i mean again it's second worst of all time if you count this as a real season which i I don't, but whatever. Let's put it this way. We won't forget the 2020 Phillies bullpen. Well said, Jack.

You know what? The 2014 Phillies, the 2016, we're going to forget a lot of things about those teams. You are damn right, Jack. The 2020 bullpen is, for better or worse and i think we know which one forever ingrained in our minds and i and i can't wait for the 2024 championship parade where connor brogdon and jojo romero are on the floats heading down broad street and they're saying hey we survived the survived the 2020 Phillies bullpen.

See, there you are. There's the Jack we know and love. Listen, anytime you need me to shed any light of positivity. You could only be down for so long. The name of Connor Brogdon will always give me a little smile. And JoJo. I honestly, like JoJo. I'm in on JoJo. I'm not out on JoJo. I know the numbers. And JoJo. I honestly, like JoJo. I'm in on JoJo.

I'm not out on JoJo. I know the numbers don't look great. I'm in on JoJo. That dude felt like he belonged. JoJo and Brogdon, I love them. You know? I just. I like your children.

Just straight up love those guys. I have Zoe. You have Connor, Brogdon, and JoJo Romero. Yeah, which is more rewarding? I'm going to guess Zoe, but have Connor Brogdon and JJ Romero. Yeah, which is more rewarding. I'm going to guess Zoe, but, you know. Speaking of uninspiring baseball men, how about Rob Manfred? You know, not only did we have to listen to Andy McPhail, but we had to listen to the Andy McPhail of commissioners say that,

hey, guess what? Thinking about Neutral Sight world series next year oh i know it's like just fire them into the sun i mean in all seriousness like a neutral site world series i mean why does baseball have to be the way that they are there's nothing more beautiful in the sport of baseball than seeing if a pitcher can handle pitching in an opposing uh stadium you know like there's so many legendary moments like being able to shut up 45 000 guys it's like a question it's like like i honestly would say of all the weird crap that this season had like the thing that i didn't expect and we

talked and we knew it would bug us a little bit and stuff but like the no fans really felt awful it was like and and whatever it was just awful like it was awful like it really was awful and and like particularly playoff baseball like and you talked about it before the season but it just rung true like you need a full stadium like none of this none of this crap like none of this bs it is it is unacceptable yeah and you need your fans there yeah and like part of part of what makes postseason baseball so special is is the crowd reactions you know you still get chills thinking about what the crowd was the crowd was like of course it's one of the biggest parts of it like the j roll what do you want to make it like the super bowl where no one cares and it's not like a you know like the the every every single person who's ever gone to a

super bowl other than people say the eagles won mostly because there were a lot of eagles fans there but like for the most part it's like a very septic you know kind or you know like kind of antiseptic whatever it is like kind of just very like um you know like no one cares like it's a bunch of people who are not fans of either team for the most part a bunch of business people a bunch of you know people who got free tickets whatever it is like it's a bunch of people who are not fans of either team for the most part, a bunch of business people, a bunch of people who got free tickets, whatever it is. Like it's not, you know, business stuff. Like it's not a real crowd.

It's not like a feel of a crowd. Right. So I'm with you. This better not stand. Stop. Just, Rob, every idea that you have that pops into your head, just say that's a dumb idea. And it'll probably work out in your favor a majority of the time.

And then step down as commissioner and let someone else take over. How about you let someone who actually likes baseball? Yeah, wouldn't that be nice? Actually cares about watches. You know, baseball, likes baseball. That'd be nice. Yeah. What else you got?

I guess I'll make this the second to last thing. Somehow, with literally nothing to talk about, we've gone an hour again. I don't know how these things happen. You keep doubting the stuff that we have to talk about. I literally, inside baseball, because we never lie to the IOPs listeners, I said to Jack earlier today, I was like, I have nothing to say. I was like, I love IOPs. I love talking to you.

I have nothing to say tonight. I don't know. There's other things going on. My interests are elsewhere. tonight. Like, I don't know. There's other things going on. My interests are elsewhere. I'm just, I don't know what to say. And somehow we're about to be an hour in and we're still talking to each other. So I guess that says something. And you said, Jack said, you know, once we start talking, it'll be good.

Once I said, hey, when that red light turns on. You did say that. I know what's going to happen. So, yeah, one rant later and we're here um i tell you what i'm trying not to get too excited about the free agency but i just i can't stop thinking about the idea of like one year maybe two year deals in this scenario but oh give me a one a one year deal for garrett richards and charlie morton just give me a one a one-year deal for Garrett Richards and Charlie Morton just give me those guys for one year and just see what happens I love Garrett Richards I've

loved Garrett Richards forever and just in watching him in San Diego last year I was like oh this guy is disgusting like I could never imagine a guy with stuff being on the Phillies but um Garrett Richards is here I would love Garrett Richards. He may only make, I don't know, 10 starts next year until he gets hurt, but I want those 10 starts to be in the Phillies uniform. Also, the Phillies, probably not true, but in my mind true, fixed Charlie Morton. And I think it's just nice.

It would be nice of Charlie Morton to say, all right, you guys clearly were the ones that got the most out of me. I'm going to sign back in Philly on a one-year deal. And listen, the best postseason pitcher in the sport right now gets to go to Philadelphia and probably not make the postseason. So very much in on Charlie Morton and Garrett Richards on one-year deals. I know we're not at our free agency episode, but like. We'll get there. both seasons so um very much in on charlie moore and garrett richard's on one of your deals i know we're not at our free agency episode but like we'll get there i'm there i would be i would be

did you see jeff pass and said that free agency this year is going to move like molasses he said great it's great there's no there's no winter meetings no let's get everyone excited about three months of baseball free agency unlike the nba or the nfl where they have midnight that night whatever it is july 1st everyone's like yeah and people talk about it people are excited about it you know in the news cycle now let's just drag it out over the next three months awesome i will say i will say it again. I will say it once. Well, I've said it once. I'll say it again, whatever the term is.

I liked that the Harper thing was dragged out. It made it way more special. If Harper signed on midnight of the first night of free agency, it would not have felt as special as it did when Harper signed. That's fine. That's fine. That's fine. But I don't think it's the best thing for the sport. Regardless, for us, we're going to have a lot of time to talk about it.

Yeah, we got literally months. The Phillies won't get it. It'll be super fun. I can't wait to cover the Francisco Lindor to the Mets trade. It'll be great. We have maybe years to talk about this free agency class and when they sign. Terrific. have maybe years to talk about this free agency class and and when they sign terrific terrific you got any anything else and take i think we are one week away from the high ops cans i sent them to you the other day you sent me one it looks amazing it is it is i can confirm it's going to

be the real deal it's gonna be amazing they are in we're waiting for everything else to get in at four fingers brewing company um but the high hops cans are here and they are glorious cosine go get them they are absolutely amazing like one of the coolest things that has happened in 2020 is i have't i'll say that no doubt never a doubt all right you got any final thoughts big dog no i don't have any final thoughts uh just counting down the days until and mcphail is no longer here yes that honestly that's all i want just just go away just leave just be done bring me someone smart john all right uh i'm like going down a pit when i think about this team i go down a pit of despair it's so sad jack just end it just end the podcast and the podcast we're signing off there's no more despair needed he's fritz himself and we'll see you

later and we'll see you later. All-Star Closer, Kenley Jansen, we have a question. What's the best podcast of all time? Baseball isn't boring, baby. I'm Rob Bradford, and every single day I'm sitting down with the biggest names to show you this great game is the greatest game. It's my podcast. It's my passion. It's a cause I started more than two years ago and is now the most prolific national daily baseball pod there is. Another fact, so jump aboard the BIB Express.

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