High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Give This Team A Shot

Episode Date: July 3, 2025

Jack Fritz and James Seltzer are back as the Phils just keep winning games. The guys give updated thoughts on the deadline, Zack Wheeler’s legacy and the MLB Draft.  Presented by Miller Lite To purchase Ring The Bell by Jack Fritz and Kevin Reavy go to RingTheBellBook.com To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Eye exams provided by independent optometrists. This is the High Hopes Podcast. next eye exam. Eye exams provided by independent optometrists. Oh Feel a little less alone. Yeah Is Another edition of the iObs podcast sponsored by miller light official partner of the philadelphia phillies tastes like miller time philadelphia Sponsored by Miller Lite, official partner of the Philadelphia Phillies. Tastes like Miller time Philadelphia. Celebrate responsibly. No one listening to this, except for Jack Fritz, who's listening right now to me, knows this. But this has taken us like 20 minutes to get this podcast rolling.

All kinds of technical issues. I had to get the great Dave Scalish in here to work it out. We did one pod that we started. Actually, this is the second, second yo of the podcast session because then I just disappeared on you. We're here now. I don't know if anyone's ever going to hear this. It might work.

It might not. How you doing, Fritzy? Just two pros. Just two pros doing pro-life things. Tucker is gone and we fall apart. So that's great. Yeah. Yeah.

Like, you know, like do work with this stuff for a living or anything. It's like I used to plug it to post upon myself that you see my job and it's like all of a sudden, I'm incompetent. It's a disaster. I feel the same way. I feel the same way. I've gotten way like as technology has increased, I have taken a step back.

It's why I'm probably never going to I don't ever want to figure out like any of the chat GPT like I Don't want to do it. I don't know. I've never used a jack and I have had conversations with people who swear by it who use it whatever and they will always have Very valid things where they'll be like, yes I used it for this specific thing and I asked this question and help for like my students for a you know I did the real work myself, but it helped me get this like, you know idea of where I was awesome I'm like sure I yeah makes total sense. I'm out. I'm sorry like in the in the war of AI verse humans

Guess what? I'm firmly planning my feet on the side of humans Right. It's like I'm not no more social media apps for me. Don't care. I'm firmly planting my feet on the side of humans. Right, it's like I'm not, no more social media apps for me. Don't care, I'm gonna be on X and Instagram. I loosely have a Facebook, but it's just there for tagging purposes, I guess. So yeah, dude, I'm pretty out on it all, as a normal 31-year-old should be. It's just done with technology, but

Fills playing good ball goes playing good ball James That was a workman like two or three, you know, you love yes Handle business game one obviously game two got away from they fought back had a chance You know should have ended could have ended on on an incredibly stupid play by Brandon Marsh But I didn't end up striking out Chorber at the end there but they fought back and then they just handled business in game two look you know there's still issues with this team we know we're going to continue to get into it for the next three weeks until we see what Dave Dombrowski does to help this team

and there's so many things but to your point Jack I do think that after ever since the nine of ten, like this team has has been a good baseball team since then. Now they got issues and their stuff. We're going to talk about all that. But like, I do think that that, you know, if you've kind of just been like, I'm out or whatever, like you're missing a team that is handling business and playing some professional workmen like good baseball. Yeah. And but for my other technical difficulties, handling business and playing some professional workmen like good baseball. Yeah, and and

but for my other technical difficulties last night of the final out, which for some reason, my comracks is dying right in front of me. So I also need to bring that in to to talk to Dave Scaleless, oddly enough, about about that. Yes. Yeah. But, you know, they're really starting to remind me a little bit of the Andy Eagles. oddly enough about That yes. Yeah But you know, they're really starting to remind me a little bit of the Andy Eagles where you sort of just take for granted how good they are and Yeah, they have not won a ring and I get it and that's what separating them from the 08 team and separate them from the 17 Eagles and last year's Eagles team of being in like the pantheon of Philadelphia sports.

And I get it, winning a title, first off, not the easiest thing in the world. And the Phillies are not a lot of them in the title. But I think we've reached a point where we're actually starting to take this team for granted. Like there has been times this year where they could have collapsed. They could have fallen apart without Bryce where they could have collapsed, they could

have fallen apart without Bryce, they could have gone in the toilet after getting swept by the pirates and they keep fighting back each time and beating good teams and a bullpen that is definitely not good is getting through it with guts and guile and they have an all-time star rotation the lineup if they can just give them four runs They're probably gonna win. I mean that's more up unless the cables in the number we'll get to the cable You know, I I just think that they they they we've gotten to a point with them where we're so obsessed with October and I'm obsessed with October so like I Want I'm dying for them to win a World Series You're dying that for them to win a World Series everyone'm dying for them to win a World Series. You're dying for them to win a World Series.

Everyone listening is dying for them to win a World Series. But I almost think that we're letting that war pal or watching a team right now, who I think we all agree is not the most talented. They're definitely good. They're definitely pretty deep, but there's real flaws in the bullpen and there's real flaws in the bullpen and there's real flaws

in the lineup. But they're also getting the job done and it's not just against bad teams. I mean, they even played a bad team in a little while and they're not going to play a bad team until a trade deadline. And it's almost Andy Eagles where it's like, yeah, ha, they won. Awesome, whatever, win a Superbowl. You know what I mean? And it's hard to yeah, ha, they won. Awesome. Whatever. Win a Super Bowl. You know what I mean? And it's hard to do that for a baseball season. And on one hand, I understand why people are in that way. But sitting there last night and watch Chris Sanchez shove. And I was all geeked up and ready to go for a nice Chris

Sanchez complete game. And then that stupid temperature bad against the Glaze piece and they blew it over. And he sends me at 85 pitches through seven. Like he got pulled at 85 pitches, you know? Yeah. And I was sitting there last night, professional win, they hit some home runs, they did some little things, they came back in game one, I took more positives from game one than negatives. And I'm just like, what are we doing? The conversation around this team is is mind boggling. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I don't get it.

I also I, I get it. I do get it. And that's kind of the point you made in there where you say you don't get it, but you do get it because I understand where people are coming from. And I understand that especially in this city with the lack of championships in our lifetimes and you know, how much we value that and how much we want that that You know after a few years in the playoffs it gets to this point where it's like all right, whatever I don't really care especially because we've seen I think jack

I think if they had not been so good last year, especially the the you know historic pace for two months and all that stuff I think that factored into it too. It's not just the playoffs loss, but it's like all right Well, we've seen them play great in the regular season now We we, you know, we've seen them do both things come from behind and be a wildcard team and get it and going around. We've seen them have a great regular season and be the big dog for large portions of the season. And as an ended the way we want to. And, and also obviously, I think seeing the same things the last two seasons be the things that led to their ultimate demise plays into it as well, because we still see certain things.

I mean, no, the lineup's not quite good enough and all that. But like, I'm a million percent with you. And that's kind of where I've been the last few weeks. I mean, I know we've said it over the last few years as it's happening and more in the good times than the bad. But I mean, this is definitively without a doubt, we are smack dab right in the middle or in the midst of the third greatest error in Phillies baseball period and the story and has a chance to rise above if they can actually win a World Series.

But like we as Phillies fans, not just in our lifetime, but in the hundred and whatever 30 year history of this franchise, 40 year history of this franchise, there have been only two other stretches of time that were as successful as what we're seeing right now, Jack. I mean, that is crazy when you put it into those terms. And when you think about how we feel and how people have talked about this team. The other thing I've been thinking about a lot too, was, you know, that podcast we did in 2022, right after they lost

and you being despondent and, and being like, man, it's really hard to get here. Like, I know this feels like the beginning, but this is a chance we're not back here. And I think about that a lot, man, because you're right. Like they could have this era and continue to win games and continue to be a really good team. And at times the best team in baseball and back and forth or whatever, and get unlucky in the playoffs. And it doesn't work out and they never get over the top. And it's that obviously is that really sad thing to think about. And you don't want that to play out, especially these next couple of years where you still have Wheeler and Harper still, you know, physically able to contribute and all that stuff. So I'm with you. I'm, I'm much more of the, uh, in the camp of. I am starting to just be so grateful that I get to watch a good team every night that I have a team that gives me any sort of hope than I am in the.

These bleeping guys can't get it done. They're never going to get it done. Like, and like they might not, but like I am much more in the I'm trying to live in this moment of like the fact that I get to see four out of five nights right now I get to see a freaking elite pitcher take the hill and deal like I get to see Kyle Schwaber, you know, hit bombs and like all this stuff. I'm trying to focus on that when I know that at the end of the day, years down the road, ultimately, we will look back on it as did they win or not? Did they win at all or not?

But I'm really trying to like put myself in the moment and appreciate what we have because like this is one of the best Phillies teams we've ever seen as as crazy as that is Eras of teams. I know I know in the history of Philly's it's well documented. Well documented and like I just ring the bell.com. Thank you. Bring the blog. The blog. The blog. The first wave of shipments came out yesterday. Had I came in today. the would have done. And, and yeah, it is. It's just a really interesting time. It's just a really interesting time for the franchise. And, and maybe one of these years they'll go forward to trade that line, but especially like this year, and I feel we've probably said something similar last year, because, but I think last year, they were starting to taper off around this, this point, and they're getting close to playing

500 baseball for the rest of the year and I keep thinking about the trade deadline and the one thing that I keep thinking about is I think And this this is obviously before however the season ends saying this and then I guess it could feel differently season ends. Saying this and then I guess it could feel differently if the season ends and not a title. But I don't think fans are going to get on Dombrowski if he does make a quote unquote all in type move and you get a pretty sick player in here and it just doesn't work out. Like obviously people will be disappointed, but at least at the end of the day you can say

Dabrowski did his job, he gave them a shot. Whereas if they, a staff doesn't haze it again, then it calls them to question of are they ever gonna do it? And like I just think that, and then then Dabrowski's job starts getting questioned more and more. Like, if you give this team a shot, and you do trade some of the pieces,

and you go get a, I don't know, a Buxton, or a Duran, and another bullpen arm, and you really try to give them their best chance to win a title, I don't think we'll sit back at the end of the year and say, well, there goes Dabrowski again. Whereas if you do semi-half-ass it again, we're going to be right back in the, well, are we ever going to just, if it's not now, when? When is the time to push your chips in? If not now, when? So that's the one thing trade deadline wise.

Dude, I am so with you. And you know that over like, you know, whatever, three weeks ago or whatever, I turned and I'm fully in I'm trading guys like I'm going for this now. I think it's the right decision, especially after the Wheeler article came out. It just kind of hammers it home. And you felt that way too. But I think just from forgetting what our opinions of it are or the listening audience, and I do think that I think that it's turned more towards more

people wanting to go for it than not. I think there is a portion of Phillies fans and I know we have a buddy on a text chain that we talked to a lot of that elk and he takes it way too far. But I do think there, there is a portion of these fans who say, listen, I just don't think they're good enough. I don't want to trade able I don't want to treat painter I don't trade any of these top your type of guys. And I get it. But I think more people are towards the go for it thing. I think more than anything, though, for Dave Dombrowski personally, like his legacy in Philly, I don't think has ever been more on the line.

Like I don't think he has had a single and it's funny because whatever he does at the trade deadline is not a quote unquote big a thing in, you know, in the grand sense as giving trade Turner a $300 million contract as giving the Cassiouse 100 million or whatever it is like those are supposed to be more impactful, full like long term things that Dave Nebraska is doing. But I really do think, Jack, to your point, I think that what he does at this trade deadline has a chance to define his legacy one way or the other. Like, I think that if to your point, if he doesn't go for it and they don't win and the guys you get don't come through, like it will change the way people feel about his entire tenure here. And we know we both believe he doesn't get enough credit for the behind the scenes stuff, the, you know, bringing in the Brian Barbers and the Preston Mattingly's and making it look like a winning organization, showing them how to function and getting out of the Andy McPhail malaise and all that.

I think he doesn't get enough credit for that. But I think from the general fan base, like this trade deadline is like a real pivot point for Dave Dabrowski and to your point, whether it works out or not, I think if he goes out and takes big swings, people will look at Dave Dabrowski as a successful, uh, winning story here in Philadelphia, no matter how it plays out. Obviously, if you win a title or not is always going to be there, but I think that if he doesn't and they lose, like I, I think it's going to really hurt his, I think there'll be more people who if, if he doesn't go for it and you did a poll at the end of his tenure year and said, was Dave Nebraska's a tenure a success, which I would

say absolutely. I think more people would say no than yes, depending on how this trade deadline goes. I think it's that important. Well, especially because we have no idea what this team is going to look like next year. We just don't. We think Schw team is going to look like next year. We just don't. We think Schwab is going to come back. There's a possibility Ranger could be back, possibility JT could be back. I mean, we have no idea what they're going to look like.

And I love the Broskos. Huge fan of the Broskos. No one loves them more than you. We know you don't need to go for... We know that you are the process. Huge fan of the process. No one loves him more than you. We know you don't need to go for it. We know that you are the guy. They're great. I've made this point. I've already made the point on the pod.

But like, if you have faith in your development staff, the guys picking the players, and the guys developing the players, then you should be able to replenish it. You should be able to continue to churn out talent. You should be able to draft at 26 or 27. And again, this is a little unfair because we're 10 days away from the draft and I have a couple guys that I just cannot stop thinking about, where it's like, all right, we can make a move here. Like, come on, we can make a move and get one of these guys in here. We're fine. We're fine. We're

fine. So, um, I put it, but again, if you go for it, I don't think you get crushed at the end of the year. You say, Hey, Dave, Dave gave him a shot and then it falls on the players. If he doesn't, then, then more of the blame falls on him. And I just, you have really good people in your building. You have Brian Barber, you have Luke Merton now who's under the Preston Mattingly wing. You feel good about where this whole operation is at. You do also, and this also goes to Middleton too. I think this goes up to Middleton,

whereas I don't wanna go through 2012, 2013 to 2018 again. It was horrible, it was horrible. But at the same time, I just think the organization is in such a healthier position now than it was during that time. In that time, they were ranked as what? The least analytically driven team in all of sports.

You know, like they were so, they were where the Rockies are now. You know, like they were so far behind. This organization has taken such a huge step forward that we can't be so afraid of going through a doldrum again to where we don't give this team a shot in the arm to go and be remembered how they should be remembered. These guys should not be talked about the way that they are talked about online or on the

air or with your like about how their chokers and how, you know, their past, like all the stuff that is out there about this team. I want it all to, Rob Thompson's a moron, right? Like I just, all of that stuff, I need to be erased. And I think there's a fear of going back to how it was from 13 to 18. And I just don't think that's going to happen with where they are organizational, organizationally and the way they're playing and who they're beating and the way that they're piecing this

thing together and the way they're actually showing like grit and grinding their way through ball games. I, yeah, you to give him a shot. I feel like I'm Terry Collins in the belt down. I really got to give us a shot. You know what I mean? Like that's that's my top baseball video of all time. Not even mic'd up. It was leaked.

It wasn't mic'd up. The field mics caught it. You're right. I met like Mike. That's why I met Mike catching stuff is what I'm trying to say. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So that's that's how I feel, man. I were it's at the end of this month. We got three and a half weeks.

It's really an interesting time. They got a tough schedule heading into the heading into the All-Star break. But man, you got to give them a shot. Yeah, I'm with you. And look, we've talked many times on the pod about the fact that when you draft and develop, well, that gives you the opportunity to make trades like this because you theoretically can replenish and bring guys through and recreate those prospects. And that's exact. And again, that goes back to what I was saying about the Marowski and building this

organization up to function at a higher level and to do all these other types of things that are super important to a franchise at a high level. And before it was just an afterthought. I'm with you. All right, let's get to the series. Obviously, I want to get to Able because I think, you know, coming out of it, probably the biggest question mark story out of the series. But I do think that we, you know, sometimes and it is what it is, but sometimes we just kind of are like, yeah, Zach Wheeler pitched again. Like I thought, I thought that was his best adding of the season for Wheeler. I know it ended an elite month, two runs in the month, you know, was the, just was it 31 innings, two runs.

And I think one of those was on the, the tray ball that, that should have been called an error. Like I feel like it was really one earned run. I like, I know we kind of gloss over it sometimes, like just, I mean, Zach Wheeler, I thought he was, again, I know he's had a lot of great starts. I thought that was his best start of the year. I thought he was absolutely freaking brilliant on Monday night. Well, and what makes him so fascinating to watch is that, you know, he has like six pitches, I feel like, and he really only uses three because the other three aren't really working.

It's whatever one of his because his, his, his force gamers always want to be the best. I feel like and He really only uses three because the other three aren't really working it's whatever one of his because Is for seamers always working to seem are always working if one of them are off that's when you have like a five inning outing out of him where guys are fouling him off and and Now he didn't allow a run again in that net start, but the Mets are as one that jumps out Yeah, where he thinks 98 pitches in five innings or something something like that I mean, that's very unwieler like yeah, but when he has this and again like nine times out of ten He has his fastball. So he has his two fastballs. He has a little sinker. He has the force aimer and then You know, I feel he never can locate his curveball. Well, I mean it was at Monday night

He was unbelievable Dude the curve like I felt like it's the best I've ever seen him throw that curveball, especially the lefties, like he was owning lefties with that curveball coming in on them. I think he had like two or three strikeouts with it. He was awesome with that pitch. Yeah, because usually the it's usually the sweeper he mixes in that splitter. But I've never seen him have that kind of curveball. Dude, I felt the same way watching it. But I've never seen him have that kind of curveball

I felt the same way watching Yeah, and that's nice part about him in the postseason. It feels in the postseason He's like, oh, I'm just gonna make sure every month every single one of my pitches is good Before that, I mean the famous David Cohn line I think it was David Cohn where they asked like what's your best pitch and he's like mystery He's like them not knowing what's coming is my best pitch, you know? So it was nice the next day, you know, the whole station is like, wow, is that pretty dang good, right? Maybe it was a little underrated and the 11 brothers.

Yeah. Maybe finished third, you finished third. But, um, and then certainly, uh, who, who, he, who shall not be named in this, uh, just insane, just insane. But yeah, he is, man, the, the, the, the best part about Zach Wheeler or the craziest part about Zach Wheeler is I thought he had no shot to ever, you know, make the hall of fame. I think he's all famous to ever, you know, make the hall of fame. And I think he's all famer.

We're getting into that. Did you see some of those like, you know, obviously because of the June, there was people would compile stats, but not like basically since twenty twenty. He's first in Major League Baseball and like almost every important pitching category, like first. That's a five year run in the major leagues or I guess it's four or four and a half because of the 60 games and we're at now whatever. But like essentially for four years, he has been the best pitcher in the sport. Like that's when you start to think Hall of Fame, when someone has been the best

player in the sport at their position for four years, like guess what? Like that, then it gets real. Like obviously you need more than that. But that's the type of stuff that like gets you into the hole I mean, that's the chase Utley case, right? I mean the chase Utley Casey was the best position five years You know seven years whatever you want to say Well, and you add on top of that ways on the post-season and he's been arguably the best big game pitcher And yeah, you can make the case. He's the best pitcher never when I saw young

I mean he could we'll see what happens with changes this year Hopefully hopefully I mean this is the year. This is the year. This is the year is the year here Paul skeins I'm sorry. You can win it next year as wheelers here three three Runner-up the Cy Young would be a tough pill to swallow. They would yeah, I mean we can't let that happen We can't let that happen much We can't let that happen. Much like Trey should be starting the All-Star game over Lindoor. Uh, Zach Wheeler should win this ION over Paul Schienz.

Like, we could see where we're at. Like last year, Philly's fans showed the hell up for the All-Star voting this year. They're like, yeah, you know, we're good. Yeah, we're good. That's what you get for having a bad week against the Mets. Exactly. JT was was the highest vote getter of the Phillies. He was third for catchers or no fourth.

Like, I don't think any no Phillies made the like final vote thing. That's that's tough. Yeah, it is tough. It is tough. But yeah, Wheeler is and it feels like he doesn't we're were talking about this on the show Tuesday about, you know, Halliday and Lee and Hamels. And what Ike was saying, which I actually, I kind of agree with, was about how,

we doesn't have like the moment, whereas you know, like you can, in your head, you can rattle off the Hamils moments, you can rattle off the Cliff moments, you can rattle off the Halliday moments. And also Halliday had like an- Perfect game and a no hit, playoff no hitter in the same year, I mean, come on, what's a wet moment?

Yeah, and Halliday also had like an aura about him, you know, like Zach Wheeler blossomed into the best pitcher in baseball here You know, yeah You're right Jack. That's a great like qualifier that I didn't think about that way Well, especially for me for a year and a half Ruben was trying to get him, you know He tried to get him in the deadline in 09 and then got him, you know in the offseason, but Yeah, like I just.

From that standpoint of not having like the moment, it's more just a compilation of dominance for for Zach Wheeler. There's has there's not that one. He said great starts the postseason last year against him at some great start. You know what? The shame it if they could have won game seven and when he came in in relief and pitch release, if they had won that game and he came, it would have been like a bomb gardener moment like that. Could that could have been his moment?

And it was because they didn't win the game. But I feel like that had the best potential so far to be like a true like remember when Wheeler came in and they took the lead, Wheeler closed it out like. You know, I mean, like that could that could have been a moment. I really could have been. In fact, I'm mad. You get over again. I know. I'm so sorry. I remember this.

I remember Game 7 because I remember where I was. I just thought that's why I needed to be alone. So I was the toughest. That was definitely the number one after a game. Jack was in the worst spot of all spots. Like that was the lowest I think you were. Even Game 5 World Series, I think you were lower after Game 7, answer that.

I think that's fair. I think that's fair. But I just remember being right field by myself and hearing Rooster come on. And I was like Speaking of that he needs to go back to rooster What was he doing? Well, I don't know what he's done. I don't know what he's done I don't know is it rooster is like an unbelievable walkout song. So it's great. I That that's very worrisome. Yeah, that would have been it

He was dominant in game five to get it back to game that filly up three two in that series and then You know, I mean the biggest moment is getting pulled for your down. Yeah, you're right. You're right Wow, he's brilliant in that game before then too. He was great And he was he actually that was the one time he actually got thought was running out of gas because he got He got ripped in game two Yeah, yeah Yeah, yeah, cuz it was kind of like shilling's World Series in 93

Yeah, I got ripped ripped in was that game one or two and then he went and then was amazing. Yeah Yeah And then he went and then was amazing. Yeah Yeah so dang We really need again. It's funny cuz I had we had done this whole thing especially like in that diamond mixers remember being like Like it the team itself But really Bryce Harper like I felt like and I still do that I in my lifetime of people in this city who I felt like I

Desperately wanted a championship for them as much as for me. Like Bryce has been the top of that. Like it's Wheeler and Bryce. Like to your point, like Wheeler's there now. Like I want it just as bad for Wheeler as I do for Bryce. And I didn't think that would happen. So, all right, let's get to Abel. Because that was, that was, I mean, honestly, there are some times where you, you, you like, you get mad when you're watching a game and there are just sometimes where you just feel for the kid on the mound like I felt For him on the mound and it felt like he was gonna get out of it to oh to had that check It was a check swing. It shouldn't have been a strike, but if he was walking off the mound

He thought he went like he's like, all right, I'm done It's like battles back walk another walk another walk to run through and all falling apart and Obviously, you know, especially Mick in that spot, two runs are in all falling apart. And obviously, you know, especially Mick in that spot, you know, in a game, one of a doubleheader, you're going in saying, let me give you some friggin innings like all around, just the toughest major league day yet for Mickey. Yeah. And I was especially sympathetic

for him because went through that on Sunday. Yeah. So I mean, the and then the cable essentially had the same week we essentially had the same week it was at least yours is on a smaller stage, you know, I actually don't think so. It's actually it sure seems like everyone is aware of what happened on Sunday. I'm sorry. Yeah, yeah, that's great. Great. So

I know that it seems like a big deal. Just remember that it's really not. It's a radio. It's a huge deal. Well, your co host is certainly not helping in making it seem like it's World War Three. I mean, like, like, oh my god, like, the first words he said to you on Monday, we're like, Jack, this is a big deal. It's like, my god like the first words he said to you on Monday were like Jack This is a big deal. It's like dude like chill out man We're on the radio talking about sports like me cable lost a major league baseball game. Okay different

Yeah, so So one thing I need to get out of the way about Nick Gable is I don't think this is really affected his trade value at all I think anything that he does in the major leagues could have helped his trade value. Or if anything, like he was pitching well, we'd be saying he's untouchable. You know what I mean? And he's a, he's a 23 year old kid who's who like, he can go back to the minor leagues and shove and would that make people feel like his trade values back? I don't know.

I think he's shown enough, I think, to, to, to where teams say he's interesting. He has stuff to work on. I mean like I Well, I mean i've said it a thousand times but like the The plan against him is pretty clear like just waiting for the fastball because he can't get the other pitches over I thought the first inning he got some pitches over. It's like all right. There it is. There it is. There it is and then Um, yeah, but the game just kind of sped up on him I mean it just it just of sped up on him. I mean, it just, it just totally sped up on him. He thought he got out of that inning and he spiraled after that. So it's all learning

experience. I mean, he's, he's, if I didn't guess he's probably getting traded, you know, I mean, I, because at this point, you see how he right, he makes the most sense. If you had to be a person to get treated, like he's the one that kind of bridges the gap of what we're talking about, where you still feel like he is a valuable trade prospect to a certain level, but he's not, you're not giving up painter. You know what I mean? No, no.

And the other thing is like, you saw how he reacted to the checks, we're not going this way and then you think, well, I need you out of the bullpen in really tight rope situations, is that something we can trust, or is more of your value being used to bring someone else in here? And I think it's to bring someone else in here. So yeah, the interesting discussion

or the interesting decision they're gonna have to make now is Okay, do we bring painter up? Do we now I think that won't be made until after the trade deadline or not after the trade deadline after the all-star break? Yeah But he struggles, but he probably has what one more start before the all-star break to pride to but I Think that's where the painter one more start before the All-Star break? Yeah. Two? Probably two. But I think that's where the painter talking points gets louder and louder.

But at the same time, the painter has to pitch well too. And do you want to bring him up in what kind of could be perceived as a panic situation? Where maybe he's not totally ready? I don't know. So but if he can finish the pitch poorly and no is not ready yet, the Phillies just might not have a choice. They might not have a choice, but to bring Andrew Banner up.

Yeah, it's a fascinating situation. And with Abel, I keep thinking, I mean, you say this all the time and have said it through the years on the pod, and it's because it's factually true is progress isn't linear with these guys, with these prospects. You know, I mean, think about Abel, just in the fact that like this time a year ago, we thought making people might be a lost cause. I mean, we were like, oh, like he's never going to be what we thought he was. That's too bad.

But he's only 22 at that time. Now he's 23, like 100% cosine what he has done in the majors yesterday. I actually think his overall performance in the majors has helped him as a trade chip more than it's hurt him. Like I think yesterday, including yesterday, I think overall showing that he can compete at the major league level has been more of a positive than a negative for his trade value. Would you agree with that?

Well, yeah, and I think the game's just humbling them right now, but you see, you see some of the stuff, he has stuff, he has stuff to work on change. If I have to get better, have to be able to locate those off the pitches better. But I think the fast ball plays and, and if you're a team that is rebuilding, you kind of can dream on this guy being at the top three pitcher in your, in your rotation, he's probably a three at his at his max. And the other valuable part about McCable is that he takes the ball every fifth day, which you can't say about every single prospect.

I mean, he he's thrown like a ton of it. And he's got no injuries. Great point. Or not early on. And then to your point, I do think to hammer it home and I'm not saying that this means they will or should treat him. But I personally believe that Mick Able, the best way that Mick Able can help the 2025 Phillies is as a trade chip. Like I think that putting him in the bullpen a lot like sure, maybe it works out. However, I think he is more likely to bring you something that will help you more than him converting into a dynamite piece that's going to help you in the postseason.

Personally. Yeah, I mean, that's probably more painter. Oh, great. If they're willing to know that. If they're willing to, and if they're like, if, yeah, I mean, I'm not rushing to put Andrew Payne on the bullpen. It's more of the same point of, okay, if he comes up and starts and then they head into the postseason, he's probably not going to be one of her. Almost definitely not. Yeah. up and starts and then they head into the postseason he's probably not gonna be one of her

Probably not then then Then would they consider him in the bullpen? And I think that you know painter probably would help them more from that standpoint then then able would All right, uh anything else and we got the tape back coming up But anything specific from the Padres series that stuck out to you before we get to the bag? I Think Marsh continues to look really good. Okay, dude. That was a that was a Bomb he asked me. I mean dead center field just kept going. That was a big big home run Yeah, and he so

He said after the game and I hear him with the whole correct play for Jackson Marrows to go to second base. It doesn't matter that there is no excusing it like that was so dumb that your run doesn't matter. You're down two runs like that was that was I mean, I was in the car listening to it. I only saw the blaster but I mean, Scott in LA immediately like what the hell you doing dude? Like what are you doing? You cannot. And the other part is like, Jackson Marrow sees he's right in front.A. immediately. Like, what the hell are you doing, dude? Like, what are you doing? You cannot.

And the other part is like Jackson Merrill, he's he's right in front of you. Like he and he sees the whole thing. Maybe one of the top two or three defensive centerfielders in the sport also. I do like Jackson now. Oh, he's awesome. When he stole the one from Kepler, like that was that was about as casual and cool a home run steal I have ever seen he just went up got it starts running off bit

like didn't even ignore it I don't even took the ball out he's like yeah of course I got it like he was so cool in that moment yeah another guy picked 27th in the draft he's like 20 years old too Anna he's like a child and obviously obviously, we have to talk about Seth Johnson. I mean, did you see that stuff? We have to talk about Seth Johnson. Hey, hey, is he the bullpen piece we've been waiting for? Hold on. This is interesting.

Yeah, I'm intrigued by Daniel Robert, too. He's I don't care. I pretty much throw strikes and he's got a pretty good breaking ball, but Seth Johnson It was a real 9900 and he flipped over some breaking balls They sent him back down. But again, he is the 27th man for the doubleheader so he can't come up Friday It's not like he has to stay down and I've been and hopefully I would I would love to keep him up here I just it was a really Interesting stuff kind of outing from Seth Johnson where kind of pop kind of pop

Why not be monitoring Seth Johnson situation? Love it. Yeah, look, I mean boy Today's all right Let's get the take back first shot at tomorrow light bar ofilite Bar of the Week. Today's Marilite Bar of the Week is the Old State Tavern in Media where you can watch all Philly's games with a four dollar and fifty cent Miller Lite aluminum special. Go to OldStateTavern.com. Fritzie, the floor is yours. Yeah. So the one thing and I brought this up,

I don't know, two or three weeks ago, but there's been a lot of talk about. the Scott Scott is just going through it, man. And it's so many pop ups to the left side. And I just he looks like he's going through it. And there hasn't really been any progress in the plate. But he had that little stretch. Yeah, like a game stretch. It started with the Homer in Miami. He had the double to clear the bases here. That was the you know, Cassie JT around third play, like it felt like he was coming out of it. And then that was it.

Yeah. And an auto to his credit, smoke some balls yesterday off the Dylan sees and I mean, so in the last couple of games, smoke some balls off Dylan sees smoke the double against Spencer Schreider at his first time. There's nothing funnier than when this team was executed. I texted Jack this last night. Dude, the crowd went nuts. The Marchand bun at the end.

Like the crowd went crazy when he executed his sacrifice bun. It was so funny. Just insane. I mean, it is just insane to be in reaction to a good bunt but whatever whatever I just He's he's he's loving up a little bit and that's that's hits off of right-handed pitching I thought he was here to kind of be a weapon against left-handed pitching But he's doing some damage against right-handed pitching still worry about him against spin But at least when he gets a fastball, he sure't seem to miss it. Power's not like great great but the guys are more natural in

field he will not be stopped at second base there's there's not many in baseball that are stopped at second base but like that's the one that I keep looking at. I know Edmundo and I love Edmundo but just if they're trying to find ways to get camp on the field Maybe second base is one that I want to see how it would look Yeah, look, I think to the point you just kind of slid in there at the end There is no question auto camps played a lot field like ten times in his life It was like seven in the minors a couple of majors. Whatever it is like

he will Absolutely, I've never seen him play second base and I can guarantee going from third base to second base will be a significantly easier transition for the guy than going from third base to left field. Like so much, like again, he's not going to be stopped, but I have to think that someone who's played third base his whole life can handle themselves in second. The real question will be turning the double play. The real question is can he turn it? Like that's really the main thing that they'll have to make sure that he can, and I would assume he can. We don't know, but would you agree, Jack,

that turning the double play is really the only thing you have to see from him to be like, all right, you can go out there and take a base? Yeah, I mean, obviously you want to see how he plays going. There was left a ball in the hole. Like, can he die? What's his range like out there? I mean, I don't think it's gonna be fantastic. Um, but yeah, don't play ball. I think is it's certainly a big one

I just yeah, I I Want to know what that would look like. There's one give it a shot so when I give it a shot see what it looks like without a camp laying second base and and maybe get get starter off his feet for a little bit because There just has not been the progress that you want to see it at all. Which is a shame. Yeah, well, especially because like it felt in the off season, it felt like we had real hope and an explanation. You know, it really felt like, oh, yes, that's why.

That's why we didn't see the guy we saw a year ago. Like, that's it. And, you know, it seems like it was. Yeah. Dude, did you have any idea that Kershaw was going for 3000? Jack, thank you for bringing this up. Thank you. Like, I had no clue. I didn't know he was like even like approaching it over the last few weeks. Like I hadn't heard anyone talk about it. Thank you. I'm so I honestly didn't want to mention because I was like, I guess I just missed it or whatever.

It feels like first off, it feels like Kershaw hasn't pitched in two years. I had MLB Network on yesterday at work and they were showing like old Kershaw clips. I was like, well, it seems a little weird. Did you retire? What's going on? Why are we doing this? And then I wake up and it's like 3000 kids. There's like 20 in the history of baseball. We might never see another. The way it goes.

Dude, they post the freaking Ohtani clip every 30 seconds. Every Judge Home run is out there every millisecond. 3000 strikeouts. 3000 strikeouts as crickets. I saw a clip of Freddie Freeman's walk off before I found out about the 3000 strikeouts Freddie Freeman walked the game off last night I saw that some I saw Freeman walks it off before I found out about the 3000 strikeouts. What is that? Unbelievable this game used to mean something

Yeah, holy cow and we are ten days away from the LV draft. And yeah, guys. Well, I have, I think I have my guy. So I think they're gonna, I think, I think they're gonna draft Sean Gamble, who I would be very happy with his explosive twitchy doesn't really have a position. They think he's a second baseman. I think he's just about to ask you what position does he play? You got me there. That's good

So he's like a super athletic 10 out of 10 makeup kid plays second base I think evaluators believe he can play center field He made a sick play in the futures game, but it doesn't look exactly the most natural out there But I think he's a gamer. I think he's a baller and I think he would be I think you'd be good but my guy officially 10 days out is this guy named Josh Hammond, who his swing looked a little flat last year. This year with the circuit,

the draft combine in the high school year, he is just, first off, he looks like he's just, first off, he looks like he's totally muscled up. And he's probably a third baseman long-term, would allow you to keep Ada Miller at shortstop if you wanted. But the guy screams Austin Riley and Josh Donaldson.

That is who he, that is who he reminds me of. I think this dude absolutely ranks. And I think he's gonna go, he might go earlier, like 20 of the Brewers, he feels like a Brewers player. Braves he's been linked to. In the last mock on MLB Pipeline or whatever, he was at the Phillies at 26. I think the kid's to be a stud. I think the kids going to be a

stud. So Sean Gamble or Josh Hammond, but Josh Hammond officially Fritz guy number one. Emily and I just watched Drastic Park again this weekend because you know, one of my 10 favorite moves of all time. Great movie. I one of the main characters named John Hammond. I'm fully on this this feels like a universe winking at me Josh Hammond John John Hammond on the brain my friend I'm all I'm and that's my guy now for that. It's not as good as the name is it's Jack Baller, of course Well, but you know what? Yeah, I might Jack Bar might have a problem throwing strikes The real guy never

strikes. The real Jack Fowler would never. No, he would never. He's too locked in at all times. When did Jack Fowler ever go to the bathroom? When did he ever go to the bathroom? They never showed that scene. You know what he did? Save the freaking world over and over and over again. Okay, no big deal. Almost 11 times, right? Was there 11 seasons 24? Or like 8? That'd be at least eight. Oh, yeah, I watched them all. But I definitely like the first

four seasons, I was like super into it. And then I just kind of watched them as they happen. So I, I don't remember exactly. And they did that like one didn't they do that end like shorter season movie? Yeah, the movie. That is a movie. How would a great show? Dude, I was a 24th absolute sicko. I think like when I was big Tony guy, love Tony.

Of course. Yeah. I didn't love the where Tony went after, you know, the first few seasons. I didn't like that. I was like, all right, chill the hell out. That's okay. Exactly. So yeah, so so Josh Hammond, I would be very excited

to 10 days away. Actually, I actually specifically made my vacation around the only draft. So like, we're leaving Monday for our vacation rather than Sunday because you've learned from bass lessons. Yeah, I learned last year. I was in the fricking airport and I'm trying to like, I'm trying to chase Walker around the Toronto airport after we got delayed and after the Phillies got blasted by the, by the A's like 18 to two and all of a sudden they take like

Dante Nore and I can't break it all down. You just to confirm it's the 13th. Yeah. I got good news for you, buddy. I'm off the week of the 14th. the to actually do this for once. It's a night usually I'm working the next day. I might be sitting there. Let me sit in there for 45 minutes, but you'll be there. Yeah, I'll tune in when you need me. That's for sure. Well, the real key is like, do we go live? I think what we might have to do is might go live right after the pic is made. And then now we can't stay there until the next like, that's We can't you could maybe I said I'd be there I didn't say for how long

now it'll be good it'll be good to July 13 the draft looking forward to it that'll be awesome. Anyone who maybe listens to VIP Saturday one to three. Oh yeah, well high hopes radio. Yeah, is it wonderful 30 or is it wonderful? Right well, so it's one to three and then we have leading off till 330 So it's one if you have to go or something I could do leading off. No, I figured all right So come check out my comracks. Yeah, call it call us call us. We need high hopes calls. That'll be awesome Alright, we will be back no conversation about me versus Joe. No, no, no, I didn't bring it up You're the only one who brought up this pot I didn't bring it up. I wasn't playing arena. We're good. Good. Good. That's what's going good

So I might be back in the 80s. I believe in you. I believe in you. This is this is you got this I just need this one. Yeah, it's it if you if you win this you win if you don't you're in trouble Really? It's two words, you know, you're gonna hear them from everyone until then. But it is it is just the truth. Throw strikes. That's it. It's just our strikes like you you will win if you throw strikes, he will not get hits. Yeah, that's it. Okay. Like he even said he struggled with 70 miles an hour today. He was like, if he throws 70, I'm gonna be if he throws strikes at 70, I'm gonna be in trouble. So

like, just say, okay, good. All right, we'll be back after the weekend. Red series, react to that. We will not mention what's happening on Wednesday. Check us out on Saturday, one to three, 30 on WIP. Until then, he's Fritz himself. Are you ready to dive into the story stats and personalities that make baseball the greatest game in the world? Rob Bradford from the Baseballs & Boring Podcast here, and we'll have you covered every day with podcasts that bring you closer to the action.

From the bleachers to the clubhouse, whether you're a diehard fan or just a casual observer, these conversations are aimed to educate, entertain and most importantly, inform you. Follow the Baseballs & Boring Podcast in the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcast.