High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Give Us All The Stats About How Good This Baseball Team Is

Episode Date: May 24, 2024

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to the Phillies sweep of the Rangers and their historic 37-14 start to the season. Presented by Miller Lite. New intro is courtesy of our friend, Tim Hause! The song, “High Hopes,” (search High Hopes by Tim Hause wherever you get your music) is meant to encapsulate what it means to be a Philly sports fan. We hope you enjoy the song and welcome to the show, Tim! 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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or wherever you get your podcasts. This is the High Hopes Podcast. High Hopes! On the Odyssey app and Sports Radio 94 WIP. The crowd was singing High Hopes. Smiling through a broken nose. Oh, High Hopes. High Hopes. I feel a little less alone.

Yo. It is another edition of the High Hopes podcast sponsored by miller light official partner of the philadelphia phillies tastes like miller time philadelphia celebrate responsibly celebrate responsibly while you watch our team sweep the world series champs no big deal fritzy i i mean like we're at the point where the stats that they threw out at the end of the broadcast all seem fake it's almost like like the the yesterday seventh sweep of the season same total they had all last year it's may 24th man like it's just every day every so i don't expect them to lose. I expect them to win every day.

But every day they actually win. Like, I was joking with my brother and his best friend, my other, you know, when I've known since he was a kid. I was like, like the never a doubt thing, Jack. It's real. Like, never a doubt is real. When I watch these games, I sit there and I'm like, they are winning. Never a doubt is real when i watch these games i sit there and i'm like they are winning never a doubt yeah and i think the i think the so first off i am not tired of any of any of the

stats like any of the stats that are out there i can't i can't get enough of them i can't get enough well did you know they're on pace for over 117 wins? Just in case you're wondering. Great. Great. And listen, there's definitely a part of me. Just like, calm down, the Mariners. Listen, how about this? I'll settle for 108. I'll be happy.

I'll settle for whatever the most in the league is. Yeah, I'm good. So a part of me is definitely nervous part of me is definitely like wow we're getting really ahead of our skis here but a part of me is like dude i don't know they're so good i don't like i know they're not really the the that's that's not the same team that won the world series last year they're dealing with a lot of injuries but at least they have a pulse i mean they are a real baseball team unlike a lot of the teams that they played so far and they're just taking it to them and i i've mentioned this on on the final out a couple times but like i get excited when they're losing early like i just

if they go it's different if they go down to nothing it's like okay how are they gonna come back and win tonight i just how they're playing is is so it's it's all phases of everything it's not like oh my god well i don't know if the offense is gonna be able to do this in the postseason because they're not just doing the home runner or or no snowball frenzy all the people out there we need to snowball man guess what you're welcome there well well i think the thing that i love most about this team is is that they are they're uniting they're uniting the young baseball fan and the old baseball fans oh they are yes look at this they are a they're all things to all baseball fans they are a purebred baseball team. They have starters that go deep into ballgames. They play station to station.

They're not really big on bunting, but that's all right. The bunting has pretty much been non-existent in the sport. That's fine. They shove out of the bullpen. By the way, the second lowest bullpen ERA in May.

So I think they're starting to figure that whole portion out. They're like 17-3 in May. What aren't they figuring out right now? They are a baseball team's baseball team, and they have pitchers that are pitchers, and they got ballplayers that are ballplayers. How about that?

Well said. Honestly, that might be the title. They got pitchers that are pitchers and ballplayers that are ballplayers. I mean, it's true, though. Like, it is. And, again, to your point, whenever they go down to nothing, normally... Emily and I watch every game together

because of my new schedule. I watch the games in bed now and move the... I got a TV in there and the whole thing. You make Emily go to bed at 6.40? No. We watch the Phillies game and then go to bed. But yeah, I make her get into bed at 6. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. she's cool with it

she's cool with it you know she's okay but yeah at least she tells me she is uh but we watch the games together and she's usually the like bring me down you know me i can get a little excitable people might not know that or believe that but she's always the like relax like you know they're gonna blow it this set she's like none of that this year she's like yeah they got it like she like it's i i can't watch these games without, like, they go down, and I have no doubt. I have no doubt they're going to come back. Even when they lose games, they lose in extra innings or something

on dumb things. I mean, it's like we had a caller say something like this, and it stuck with me, where it's like it feels like every time they're losing, they take it personal. Like, in a game. Not just losing, like at the end of the day a game, because they don't really do that. Like they go down 2-0, and they're like, no bleeping way, man.

No way. And they just get right on it. Like it is so special what we're watching. They're 37-14, Jack. Well, given how you are, and this is just how I envision the Knights in the Seltzer's house. You know, like I envision, like when they won their 50th game, you were just like pacing around the room. Be like, they're 35-14.

That's exactly what it is. I'm telling Emily all the stats. She's like, okay. I would tell her the sweeps. I'm like, look at that. Only gets her seven sweeps. They only had seven all last year. She's like, that's great.

Yeah. It's unbelievable. Yeah. I don't know how you sleep after it i don't know how you sleep after it honestly i don't either i'm texting you all game i'm just like you'll get a random seventh inning this team's a wagon man they're just a wagon they're just a wagon and you know look jack how about this i am off today a and b it's a Friday, which, as you know, is my no record day. And I couldn't wait to record. I'm like texting last night, like, you got to do this. Like, this is special.

Well, and I'm happy to be here. Let's put it this way. We were worried about you. For once, it was a bigger question if you were going to be here rather than if I was going to be here. Yesterday was not a great day to be, Jack. I do not believe I left my bed from 8.30 on, but we battled, we grinded,

and much like, listen, when the fills are hot, like, listen, here's what's not going to happen, okay, is that I'm not going to let what happened to Joe DiCamera in the 2017 Eagles run happen to me, where this guy, who obviously is a die-hard Philadelphia sports fan, was sick

during the whole playoff run and made it back for the Super Bowl. It was a disaster. I know stakes are a little lower when you're playing the Rangers in May. No, no, no, no, no. See, that's the important thing. Jack, we're 51 games into the season. The Phillies are winning over 72% of their games.

There's no more low stakes. This is it this all matters like commit this is being part of something special from the jump and it is as important everyone is as important i'm sorry let me ask you something more surprising making the 2022 world series or the start of this Philly season? Oh, this easily. Easily. Easily. I'm not kidding at all either. I'm really not. Like, this is easy.

Like, obviously, 2022 World Series is surprising, especially considering that, you know, we thought they were collapsing in September again. But, like, that year we were like, all right, they're going to make the playoffs. This is the year. And we felt it all year. And then they almost collapsed and that scared us.

But, like, we expected them to be a playoff team. And we both know like baseball playoffs are chaos. Anything can happen. And I, you know, I was surprised it happened, but not like, like them having the best record since the 01 Mariners through 51 games, man, the Phillies. Nah, nah. Like this is the craziest. I almost heard this is the craziest bleep No, no. Like, this is the craziest.

I almost cried. This is the craziest bleep that has happened. Like, I can't believe it. It feels so surreal every night. And the funniest part about them, and the funniest part about this team and the way that they've started the season is that, like, you can't have any other take about them besides, like, how fun is this? Like, Spike, you and and i we both know spike from

behind the scenes spike and now on air spike he was sitting there on wednesday and he's like i kind of think the show is just coming out and freaking out about how awesome the fillies are and i was like yeah the least spike idea for a show that has ever ever ever ever ever happened that's what it is though i know i know i was like, yeah, dude. Yeah, it's fine. It's fine. Trust me in a row. We just came out. We're like, so the Phillies, man, like, and even then we like tried to like throw an Eagles topic in as like a B. So inside baseball, sometimes we'll have a and B topics where we'll kind of throw two things out

and, you know, get calls on both. Again, no one wants to talk about the Eagles. Like we threw the Eagles out through the Phillies out full board of Phillies calls and this is after like their eighth win in a row like there's nothing there's nothing to complain about there's nothing to question it's just a board of people being like Phil's Phil's man I think they're gonna do it I think they're gonna do it look how fun they are they're great every night it's like the same call and it's not boring it's not it's it's interesting because it's just this awesome thing that we all are are thrilled to be a part of you know yeah well and the one thing that you know when you mentioned how they take it personally

when they go down by a couple runs like there was some quote from bryce before the series started and he wasn't saying like the rangers Rangers are in town or Texas is in town. I saw this, yeah. He kept calling them the world champs. And I just think that they're continuing to find little chips on their shoulder to keep them motivated. And I love the way they've talked. I love the way that Thompson has talked.

I love the way that Strom talked. And they seem so unsatisfied and not that they should not not feel unsatisfied like they're such bigger goals than having a good regular season and we've seen these teams that have had these ridiculous runs in the regular season losing the postseason so ultimately doesn't matter um but they just seem they just seem different from that standpoint of, like, they're not just celebrating every day. Like, oh, my God, look how good we are. It's like, this is nice, but we have a greater goal here than just having a good regular season.

And they're just taking it out on teams. I'm happy you brought that up because I agree with you. I thought that, you know that the Rob Thompson quote was awesome when they asked him about the Mariners, and he's like, well, what happened? What happened? Oh, yeah, they didn't win at all. And that's the mentality.

And I'm sure if he's saying that to reporters, he's saying that to the team, the messaging is there. But I don't even think they need it. I actually have noticed it, especially it feels like with Bryce, kind of all season, it feels like, and not in a bad way, but it doesn't feel like Bryce is smiling as much, is having quite, not that he's not having fun, but I feel like Bryce is so intense right now

and so focused and so, every time he gets asked about it, we talk about it, it's always about winning, it's always about the team, it's always about what's happening like he is like it feels like he has kind of taken a next step focus wise where he's like i just don't remember seeing baseball players in may seemingly so intense right now and so like like i'm serious you know what i mean though it just seems like this guy is like i am winning a freaking world series or I will freaking die trying to do it right now and that's what it feels like the energy he's giving you know yeah I totally agree and I think that and like I mean him he that play yesterday where he got thrown out was pretty wild like he just clearly was clearly just being super

aggressive I was like there's some like weird base running things well per usual he's clearly just being super aggressive there's just some like weird base running things well per usual he's just not great at it it just is what it is I'd rather have someone who's a little over aggressive and not great at it than someone who's gonna make mistakes because they're too timid I guess but yeah but I

agree with you I think there's a different level of locked inness especially with him and it just seems like everything is no nonsense which i think is such a like obviously the that's why garrett stubbs is here that's why like schwarber's here you know there's a lot and the kids like you know marsh bowman and stop like the energy they bring totally but it's like it's a good mixture of that and then there's also jt wheeler jt wheeler yep. JT, Wheeler, Bryce that are like, all right, let's go. Let's freaking go. Okay, it's time, boys.

It's time. No, and again, we've talked about it a lot on this pod, but this is what you wanted to see when they brought back essentially the same team. And they didn't send anyone out. They didn't trade Cassianos' offseason. They't trade time and walk us off season because they wanted that feeling of of what happened to the diamondbacks in the postseason they wanted that to burn these guys and it clearly is burn them like it is is something that they have taken personally and and i think that that they're taking that out on the rest of baseball saying, we blew one last year.

We're not going to do that again this year. And I think that's been the most – it's been like one of the most fun parts about this is, you know, I think there's fun in watching a team have fun, but there's also fun in watching a team that is so locked in. Be great, yeah. Yeah, that they just – they want to do more than just win in the regular

season i think that's what you're kind of seeing and you know i mean it really goes back to john middleton too and i'm right i've been thinking that about that a lot jack a lot about the you know the 1927 yankees quotes and all that stuff like you know he wanted an all-time great team man this team has a chance to be that. And he set the tone. I mean, he set the tone in spring training when he came out and talked and said, I want you guys to be remembered as one of the greatest teams of all time, which is insane. And the way they're playing so far, like, we might be watching.

Like, I don't – we'll get to the all-time, like, baseball teams ever, whatever, just Philadelphia-wise. Oh, so, Jack, I said this on the air today. I'm so – yes, Ram, whatever, just Philadelphia-wise. Oh, so, Jack, I said this on the air today. I'm so happy you brought this up. Like, I said to Joe, I was like, in my lifetime, this team, if they can win the World Series and just kind of continue this run, they don't have to set the World's record or whatever,

but just be this team all year. If they do, though, if they do. If they do. I was like, not all i've ever wanted but i've always wanted the chance to root for an all-time great team in any sport i mean the 83 sixers i was not old enough i was one year old one and a half like doesn't count like we we've never seen an all-time great team we've never seen a team that when you go through the history books of a game you know and yet you put the 10, the 12, the 15 best teams ever on a, on a piece of paper. Like we've never had that. Like we've never had close to that. And, and we're watching a Phillies team right now in the moment that, you know, and again, they have to, they have to finish it out. They have to win

it all. You have to win it all to be in this discussion. But like, like we actually, you know, almost a third, we are three games away from being a third of the way through the season, man. And like, we're watching a team that a third of the way through the season. And if they can finish out has a chance, a real chance to be considered one of the great teams in their history,

their sport, if they can finish this thing out again, we're a long way away but like that's what i'm trying like it just feels like we we are in the in the middle of something that has a chance to be the most special sports story of our lifetime like it's it's oh i mean nick falls wins the super bowl is pretty special it's right there too but it'd be the same idea like that this like and that for what it meant and all that but also to that team i love what you, it kind of reminds me a little bit of the, that we all, we got, we all, we need the kind of like chip on the shoulder that kind of like, Oh, you don't believe in Nick Foles. Well, guess what?

Everyone here believes in Nick Foles and we don't give a crap what anyone else out there believes. Like it, it feels like the great teams to your point. And I love that you brought it and phrased it that way. I feel like great teams always find ways to get fired up for things always find ways to be slighted you know the nobody believes in us thing the the only people who believe in this locker room even if everyone in the world believes in you if you can foster that energy and you can foster that that you know us against the world

thing I think it's such a powerful motivator in sports. And we've seen it so many times through the years matter in sports and this team, it just feels like they have that every day they come out and like, they're like, well, you talking to me? What are you talking to me? Like every day they come out there, like the Nero, are you talking to me? Let's go. You know, it's, it's, they take it personally. It's awesome. Well, and I, and even more and more watching them, it's like, they just got to personally it's awesome well and i and even more and more watching them it's like they just got to get it done like i mean well that's the thing these guys

we're talking about this yeah because they deserve it i mean like that's the thing is that is that i think that these guys they they deserve to have the parade down broad street they deserve to have the the the whole city showering them it would with with praise more than any team in my life. I said it last year. I've never wanted a team to win more for them. For those guys as much as for me. I want Bryce Harper to be a champion more than I've ever wanted any Philly athlete in my lifetime to be a champion. I want that dude

to win so bad, man. So bad. I do think this season does remind me of the 22 Eagles. It's not like the 22 Eagles beat a bunch of— Just from a dominance perspective. Yeah, like where they—I mean, they played some cupcakes during the 22 Eagles season, the Phillies have so far.

I do think it's interesting, you know, the stat that came out yesterday that they faced nine of the top 25 ERA starters in baseball so far, and they have a six ERA. Maybe if teams were not facing the Phillies, they wouldn't be under 500. I think there's like three or four of these teams that if you take away their losses against the Phillies, the sweep that they had against Phillies,

they'd be like above 500 or around 500. And then on top of that, like it's not like they're just beating these teams. They're beating the crap out of them. They are no doubting it every day it's like was it five two and it's like five two that's kind of a close baseball game for us like yeah they lead the league in run differential by by a handle mark like they're nine runs above the dodgers who are like 10 runs above everybody else or whatever and they're like 30 something

runs they're 40 something runs ahead of the the braves in terms of run differential like i look i get it that whenever stuff like this is going to happen, people are going to look at what's going on. And, and, and it is absolutely true to say the record of the teams that Phillies have played is, is not great, but like, all you can do is play the teams that you face and all you can do is beat the crap out of them. And then next step of that,

there is no sport where the difference on a day-to-day basis between the best team and the worst team is closer to baseball. Like any team can beat anyone on any day. There's a reason the worst teams win, you know, 60 games, you know, 70 games, whatever. It's just not, it's really hard to win every day. So look, I think it's fair to say it, but the whole record thing is like almost meaningless to me. Well, but I think that, and I think the eye test, they pass the eye test to say it, but the whole record thing is like almost meaningless to me. Well, but I think that and I think the eye test, they pass the eye test every day.

That's the thing. It's like if this didn't feel unsustainable, I don't think that you would have the reaction that you're getting in the city. And the reaction you're getting in the city is like, oh, my God, this is crazy. They've been great, too. It's like the next step. It's not like the 2022 Phillies all of a sudden did this. And we're like, oh, we've been waiting for them to be great. This is so fun.

This is a team that went to the World Series. This is a team that last year should have won 95 games, but kind of just took the foot off the gas a little bit at the end, whatever. But one should have gone to the World Series. This is a team that has accomplishment, has experience together, all this. This is maybe not 37 and 14 next step, but this is a logical next step for this group of guys, especially to your point, who've stayed together,

who they kept together, they didn't add to. Like, it is a logical next step for them to come out and be a really damn good baseball team. They've just, you know, taken that next step and made it a next leap, it feels like. So which of these three do you think is the most sustainable? The offense, the starting staff, the bullpen? I mean, it's starting staff. leap it feels like so which of these three do you think is the most sustainable the offense the starting staff the bullpen i mean it's starting staff and i think it's the reason that

this whole thing is feels sustainable and you know it's almost like a you know a cliche but it's like when you have three guys who could be stoppers and then you get other guys who are just good pitchers and christopher sanchez is any day can go out and dominate a team. You have three stoppers. Like it's really hard to go on a losing streak when, when you've got Wheeler, Nolan Ranger pitching three out of every five days, like it's just hard to do.

So I think that this starting staff, and especially to your point before with the way they're using these guys, the way they're, you know, eating innings, but being effective in them, the way they're saving their guys, the way they're, you know, eating innings, but being effective in them, the way they're saving their arms,

the way the whole thing, it just, it feels like the starting pitching is the most special thing on this team. And at the end of the day is the thing that that's going to carry them the furthest. Hey, fantasy football owners, the road to winning your fantasy football championship starts now. I'm Matt Harmon from Reception Perception.

Join me and James Coe as we take a deep dive into the position that's going to make or break your fantasy roster. Wide receivers. We analyze route running, target share, and all the metrics that matter, giving you the insights you need to draft the best wide receivers. As you prep for your draft, let us give you the coverage you need. Follow and listen to Reception Perception on theyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts yeah so i i hear you on the starting staff and the real answer is like i'm pretty confident in all of them but i

think that i i had to pick yeah yeah but i think the one that i i am believing the most and i think the reason why i'm even more positive than than usual on on the team is really the hitting i mean it's look at you i know because like usually at least with this offense out what are there 14 and 3 without 15 and 3 without 14 and 3 i believe without another stat to just throw out there it's like what yeah but like it's the team coming into good it's the way that they're it's the way that they're they're handling things at the plate. The amount of two-out runs they have this year, they're up by a run per game.

It feels like they've gotten more two-out hits than they have in years past. They're just always foot on the gas. The Rangers the other night, they made four errors, and the Phillies capitalized on seemingly all of them. I think the last couple years of the Phillies offense, you had that pit in your stomach where it was like, man, they're good. When they get hot and they're hitting home runs,

they are a really good offense. But what makes this offense much different than the last couple years is that it's not just home runs. It's not just Schwarber going nuclear in June or Harper having a Harper run. You know, it's it's I mean, it's almost like one home run a game, maybe. And then it's gappers and it's singles and it's base hits. And it's and it just seems so much more sustainable than the offenses in years past.

And again, this is without Trey, who was batting like 350 before he went down. Edmundo has been unbelievable. I mean, I love him, dude. Unbelievable. I love Edmundo. I love me too. I love him so much. Every time he comes up, I think he's going to come through.

I mentioned this last time, but like just the joy that guy brings to playing baseball. You know, we always joke around. We're like, they're playing a kid's game. They should have fun. And in years past, we've talked about watching teams that aren't having fun and how clear his day it is and how much of a difference it makes like and mundo sosa watching that guy just play a kid's game like i feel like i'm watching someone just bring such joy to what they do and he's always so happy and so positive and smart like like that matters and certainly

just as a viewer like i love watching the guy because I feel like he loves what he's doing so much. It like brings me joy to watch him have joy. Do you know what I mean? Well, and he's so important from the standpoint of like what a team needs. Like you need a good utility player that teams have, right? That can just go out there and play. And again, this is the value of Dombrowski, man. Like it just it just is like clintac we're gonna start

having the the ed way discussion about clintac i'm sure where it's like look the the wheeler contract that's come up i mean with the zach wheeler contract the first contract is arguably the best contract in the history of philadelphia sports like it's in the discussion whenever we break it down like that that's that's one of them you know yeah so but glen sack will get credit for jt i'll get credit for harper i'll get credit for stod and and boom they got credit for the note the first nola extension like like there's another one by the way geez louise what was that like five for like 545 i think yeah i went to contract geez louise Yeah, I probably wouldn't have gone back. Jeez Louise. Yeah. King Glentzak? Glentzak, not bad.

Not bad. But he had no idea how to build a winner. He had no idea how to fill in the pieces. Culture and all that too. Yes. And that's the value that Dave Dombrowski brings. And you're starting to see that with Edmundo Sosa. Sosa is the perfect example of, oh, we need a utility player that's happy to be there.

And when he has to come in and do his job, he'll do his job. There's just so many little examples of it that show you the difference in having him run your baseball club. And I was going to, again, I was going to save it for the take back. But speaking of Dave Dabrowski, this team reminds me so much of the 2018 Red Sox. This reminds me so much of that team where they just got hot, stayed hot, won 108 games. They hit the deadline, traded for Nathan Ivaldi and Steve Pierce, and they just rode it to the World Series.

Now, I think that this bullpen is better than that bullpen. They had Chris Sale having to close out some games. They had to put Ivaldi in the bullpen. Who else was on that team? Gamble, of course yes and he was dreadful in the postseason so yeah that's why chris sale was closing out the world series because craig kimbrell couldn't do it yeah craig karshaw yep craig karshaw so so they also had sandy leone start a lot of games and he's betting 151 151. So we have that in our center field. Wow, you're right. Yeah. Wow.

In center field. I forgot he was your catcher. Yeah. They had Rick Porcello, who was the Taiwan walker of the – Yeah. What year did he win a – He won a Cy Young in 17, I believe. Okay.

The Rick Porcello Cy Young is among the most absurd Cy Youngs. They shouldn't have given it out. It's like Steve Bedrosian winning the Cy Young back in 87 or whatever. Bedrock? What are we doing here? Yeah, he won it in 2016. Do you remember, I mean, you're too young for it, but do you know that in 1989

Mark Davis won a Cy Young as well? Don't know who Mark Davis is. Exactly. Padres closer Mark Davis won a Cy Young. Hold on. Jim Constani won the 1950 MVP. Exactly. Yeah, you're right. Baseball's been doing this for a while.

Wasn't the first one that broke everyone's brain was the Cologne versus Felix Hernandez? Oh, yeah. And then Felix got it with like 14 wins or 12 wins or whatever it was. broke everyone's brain was the cologne versus felix hernandez oh yeah and then we'll feel like scott it with like 14 wins or 12 wins or whatever it was and everyone's like oh my goodness yeah that all the old baseball heads were like this is this is a courageous this is a courageous yeah so porcelain one in 16 1989 mark davis saw young ready for this so mark davis pitched uh here we go 1989 was four and three with the 185 era my man pitched 92 innings on the way to a cy young that's a lot of relief innings for what it's worth though yeah 44 saves give the guy a cy young well that's a that's a kind of a grinder move man like that i'm in the market he was sixth at MVP voting. Yeah, that's right.

Oh, man. Did you sleep on 2016, Porcello? 22 wins, 3-1-5 ERA? Yeah, I do sleep on him. It's fine. I know that I've seen a lot of pitchers pitch, and certain ones I'm like, not a Cy Young winner. Rick Portella, not a Cy Young winner.

Not even close. Not even close. Nope. All right. Let's take back it all right so now we got the 2018 Red Sox thing out of the way which I'm happy you did that you know it's very exciting get done with yes I mean it is to that point though just with Dombrowski I mean he really is on the precipice of history I mean Dave Dombrowski's a hall of famer either

way but if the Phillies win a world series I, for this guy to win three World Series with three franchises and then take another team to the World Series, especially that Tigers team that was a disaster when he took it over and went to two World Series with them, if he wins a World Series with the Phillies, he's potentially in the running for greatest general manager in the history of baseball, front office exec, whatever. Dombrowski's resume is it's pretty special yeah take your little theo and and shove it yeah yeah what a what a scrub i don't even count him i mean

theo's like in his own he's like the the you know that all the at the all the quarterback uh rankings are gonna come out i'm sure we'll talk about those on on the radio here and there but like every single one should just have the Mahomes by himself thing. Mahomes and then everyone else. It's like Theo and then everyone else. Unless Dave Nebraska wins the title.

That's right. That's all I'm saying. I think Kyle Schwarber is one of the most fascinating players to ever study in the history of baseball. By the way, he is back to leading the National League in walks. Which feels... Or leading baseball in walks, sorry.

Of course. Which feels off because I feel like Lamont Wade only walks. Yeah, we talked about Lamont. I love that guy. I'm a huge Lamont dude. He was on base seven times the other day. It's probably a 450 OBP or whatever it is. It's nuts.

But Schwarber, again, I think it's been a pretty good start to the year. And it kind of seems like pitchers are trying to pitch him up so that he can't drive it out of the ballpark. And he's kind of just taking his singles. Which is a funny development.

He has one home run in May, which is wild. And usually if he's not hitting home runs, he's – He's a disaster. He's not exactly the best player ever. But he's felt still valuable with only having the one home run. 100% agree. I've had zero issues. Even when he's gone through those stretches,

people are like, at one point, he was on pace to set the strikeout record. And I was like, I don't feel that watching him. I know he strikes out a lot and it feels like he definitely strikes out a lot, but watching the games,

I'm not like, wow, Swarmer's striking out all the time. And then they say the numbers, I think he's what? I feel like every time I hear his numbers, I feel like he're striking out all the time. And then they say the numbers, I think he's what? Like, I feel like every time I hear his numbers, I feel like he's been better than that number. You know what I mean?

So, which is shocking compared, like, cause we're not even in junior, you know, assuming he just, you know, does his thing.

Like he could actually, at the end of the year, I have like a really good college forever season. Cause he's going into it, you know, two something instead of 100 or whatever, you know, like the little differences. Yeah, so, but I think you can always tell

when the Schwarber like hot streak's coming when he starts walking as much as he is because that's when he's really seeing it. Even the, he grounded out yesterday and the bases loaded with Heaney, but he worked through a three-two count, spit on some fastballs that just missed in the outside corner like he is seeing everything really really well right now so i mean the phillies are so good you haven't heard anyone complain about shore where the

oh it's so funny we had a caller say that yesterday it was like yep you're damn right it's like what because you'd sound ridiculous it was like yeah guys you know what i love this 37 and 14 baseball team but i got a real problem with the leadoff hitter. It's like, come on. They'd win even more. They'd win even more if he wasn't in the leadoff spot. Do we think, by the way, how funny is it that I think Alec Baum is, if he's not tied with the start that Ryan Howard had in RBI in 06,

he's like one below. But he's got like five homers. He's doing it without hitting any home runs. There's no homers. Like Ryan Howard hit 58. I know. It's so weird. It is such a unique.

Honestly, was it last game? What was the game where Boehm came up with the bases loaded and the double play? Was that yesterday? Yes. I thought so. That was like the most shocking moment of the season all year yeah home comes up there i was like wait watch it and we didn't even need it it was like and he was so mad too like you could tell he was shocked he

was like what just happened i can't believe that just happened it was the most him coming up with the bases let him went out and not coming through was the single most shot because it's like it's just become like automatic i feel like it's automatic when this guy comes up with runners on like dude's gonna like at the worst rip a single in the in the center field or whatever like he's just automatic automatic alec i heard someone say that like boom automatic it was a franski call it's great it's great like he is he has been close to automatic when it comes to to big spots of runners on base this year. Like, it's been so impressive. Yeah, it's a good time to check in.

Speaking of Alec Baum, I just want to check in on how my good pal down in Atlanta is doing. Ah, yes, look at you. See, this is when you hang on to a take and you just let it simmer. Let it just a little, you know. Is that 245 with a 707 OPS? Three homers? Yuck, dude. 100 OPS plus, which means he's pretty much been league average. By the way, do you know what Garrett Stubbs' OPS plus is?

Five. Negative 14. I'm not even Five. Negative 14. That's impossible. Seems impossible. I didn't think you could have a negative. Apparently, you can't have a negative OPS plus. There you go. I wasn't even aware you could have a negative FIP.

I mean, I knew you could have a... I got that wrong on the pot. I was like, I was wrong about it. Well, I knew you could have a negative whip. Not a negative whip because that yeah yeah that was not a negative whip it was the point but you can't have a negative fip i got that wrong yes yes you did obvious it's so dumb i didn't even think about it like i just said it if one of those classic say it without thinking about it type of things yeah i was like i don't think you can that's on me guys by the way by the way i don't think mason miller has a lot of hits

since we talked about that so well he allowed three earned yesterday so oh did he i okay it's funny i wasn't paying attention what oh my god he allowed her i know i know so prices guess who just took painter out of the deal this guy i'm pretty i'm in all seriousness i'm pretty much off the idea of trading for me. Yeah. I'm not trading Andrew Painter, period. Like, I'm just not. Or Aiden, please.

Or obviously. Or Aiden. I'm with you. Don't get me wrong. But like, I'm not trading Andrew Painter right now. There's no reason. And this team doesn't like, you don't need to do that. Like, just go get, you know, Mason Miller light.

Whoever you want that to be. Helsley. Go get Helsley. I'll be ecstatic with Elsie. What a great, great move. Synchronicity with him helping start this whole little rom with that. You know, wouldn't that feel like synchronicity? The whole kind of this whole thing starts with the Segura, Elsie thing,

the Ali Marmo not taking him out, the whole thing. And then we bring Elsie in here and he's part of this team. Wouldn't that just feel like you know meant to be yeah try not to well up I can sense I can sense I thought about it as I was saying that I felt them kind of just push up

against my eye ducks and I was like no no not yet not yet that's that's the post world series speech when Ryan Helsley has gone out and pitched a clean sixth inning. He'll be setting up for someone else, and I'm all fired up. Yeah, it's all good. It's all good.

It's all good. But, yeah, so, like, if they have one more just, like, super bullpen guy to go on top of everything, it'd be ridiculous. Like, Kirk Green's already developing. I think Sir Anthony's been pretty good uh hoffman's hoffman but i think like one more legit guy right there to go with like strong operato like it's just it would it would it would be phenomenal but i i just mason miller would be a lot of fun i just think it costs a lot and you could give up less for comparable if you wanted to go after like hellsley or i'm a class a probably cost a good amount because classes back to being class a this year

oh shocker which is good which is good the thing is i just find interesting is they and so much mentioned the chat they've like they've been mercato a starter down in triple a yeah i saw that which feels great he's been really good it feels like a it feels like a trade ship uh it's a good point like it just feels like okay well yeah he can be a starter no totally and the i mean you know it's such a weird thing to i'm sitting there i'm like thinking like you know well i mean we got nola signed we got wheeler signed we're gonna sign ranger i'm like christopher sanchez is good i'm like yeah painter you got m good. I'm like, yeah, Painter. You got Mick.

Like, it's like you start to think like, and again, you can never have enough starters. And I'm certainly not saying that, you know, Abel or whoever is a lock to be a great pitcher in the major stuff. But it is kind of crazy how kind of set up this staff is for the next five years or whatever you want to say. Like it's four years, whatever. It's pretty, it's, it's pretty insane, man. Now they have to sign Ranger and that'll be a big thing, especially, you know,

talk about an all time contract, uh, push the guys having, but it is pretty nuts how, how just kind of deep and strong the stable of, of major league or close to major league ready arms is it's it's actually it's astounding it's pretty wild well and then i do not want to do the contract stuff but they are gonna have to start paying stop they're gonna have to pay boom on top of like oh i know everything else i know this is my greatest fear there's a back to this thing that you've probably said i know you said today you probably say like at some point every single podcast we do man they've

really got to win it like i get it like yeah they really got to win it there's a lot of other things happening down the road yes they really got to they really got to win it i'm i'm ecstatic watch them every night i'm all in every night i just gotta win they gotta win it. I'm ecstatic. Watch them every night. I'm all in every night. They gotta win it. They really gotta win it. So, yes, Ryan Howard is on... Yeah, Ryan Howard is officially on watch with what Alec Baum is doing here. Speaking of the Braves, you know, I think they're...

Like, the loss of Ron Washington, I actually think, matters a lot with them. Oh, what an interesting... I like this. Good take. It matters. And they lost Eric Youngic young to another one of their their bench piece guys like i just on washington the cocaine cowboy love ron washington part of what made that team i thought good the last couple years was how like invested everything their coaching staff was like an old school coaching staff and you know he might have been propping up Brian Snicker and yeah

I just something to monitor the loss of Ron Washington it's good it could it might you know if we lost Caleb Cotham it would matter so good don't ever

say that I'm sorry I shouldn't even don't ever say that he is he's unlosable It would matter, so good. Don't ever say that. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have even said that. Don't ever say that. Yeah, you're right. He is. He's unlosable. He's unlosable. There are many things in Philadelphia sports I would sacrifice to make sure that Caleb Gotham never left.

I believe that. Yes. He's incredibly important. He's incredibly important. Like, why can't Pache just play like, why can't Pache just play more? Like, I just don't get it. You know what he does, Jack? He hits them all hard.

Actually, he's hitting them all pretty hard right now. He's fine. Just, like, why? They're so, and Johan's been fine. Sure. But, like, why not? Obviously, Pache is a better player right now. Oh, there's no doubt.

He's almost a 26-20. He's a significantly better hitter. Like, I mean, there's no question about it. Like, why not just see if Pache takes a job and runs with it? Like, I just feel like they're being so weird about it they are they've from the jump though right i mean they've been weird about this rojas thing it's almost like they like promised him and his family that they were going to keep him in the role and that they are doing everything they can not to break their promise like it's weird like it's a like and obviously they're not promising

his family you know what i mean though it feels like they've got like some like it feels like there's some piece of this that we don't understand. You know what I mean? Where it's like they are like... They... All offseason, I mean, the struggles in spring, it's just been like he's our guy. And I appreciate showing faith

and maybe they know that Rojas needs that mentally or whatever, but I'm with you. It has been... The whole thing has just felt, there's felt like there's, again, the best way I can say is it feels like there's something we don't know about this whole situation.

And they don't like Pache as much as we do, or they like Rojas so much more than ever. Like, there's something weird about it. And I don't know what it is. Yeah, I don't, I don't get it. I mean, I guess you want to show confidence in the kid, but all of a sudden it was like, he's's in AA, he's in the big leagues, and now he's –

He's like the starter for the next decade locked in. We're going to sign him to a 10-year contract, right? Like what? I know. So I would just appreciate if they just – Mix him back a little bit. See if Padre can play. Let's just see if he can play a little bit.

It kind of feels like they're – and maybe we're treading towards a 2022 Didi, Familia, Oduble thing with Whitmerryfield. But they are – and they'll probably send Clemens down when Trey's back just because. And Clemens has cooled off a bit. But, yeah. If he doesn't turn around, I don't know.

They're already kind of phasing him out. He played yesterday, which is fine. At one point I was like, is he hurt? Is Whitmerryfield hurt? We don't know. They're already kind of phasing him out. He played yesterday, which is fine. At one point I was like, is he hurt? Is Whitmerryfield hurt? We don't know about it. Like they really have – I mean Clemens was in the lineup, what, like three or four days in a row ahead of him or whatever. Yeah.

Yeah, so it seems like they're kind of phasing him out. And, I mean, hopefully he kind of gets going. Like I'm not giving up on Whitmerryfield. I'm not giving up on Cassiano's throwing it around either. And, you know, I just, it's a little weird. Maybe he's adjusting to a new role. I don't know. But he just is not doing anything, really, at all.

Yeah, well, I mean, like, Emundo Sosa has lapped him in terms of, like, when Trey comes back to your point, I agree Clemens will go down, but if, if they're giving trade day at the H or if they're, you know, whatever, someone needs an off day in the infield and they're moving the bone to first rubber, like Sosa is going to play over Merrifield. And so it's a deserves to play over Merrifield.

And that is absolutely was not the case to start the season. So like, I think Merrifield has already lost that first guy in role in those spots, in the infield certainly. And honestly, even at the point where you did something you talked about last year, and they did for a moment, but, like, hey, maybe get that Outfitters glove ready in Mundo. Maybe a few reps in the left field. Try it out.

See if we can do that. I'm sure you can be as good as Whit frickin' Merrifield out there. So, like, I'm with you. i think he's already a step down so says now officially ahead of him on the depth chart moving forward and he is in danger of if he can't pull together kind of taking that next step down which to your point is cody clemens taking your job which would be a shame because again he's the third most hits in baseball since 2017 like having that off the bench as someone in the playoffs that he can go to and and get you a base hit is really valuable but he just might be done like he just he just might be done and we'll see and again i don't want to i do

think to the initial thing you said just to go back to that i do think there is something to being an everyday player for your entire career and then being all of a sudden being like, are you going to play every fifth day? Are you going to play two days a week

or three days a week and you're going to have to fit in here and move over here and whatever? Like, he should figure it out and he has to figure it out soon and if he doesn't figure it out soon,

the excuse goes away, but I'm willing to give him a touch more time to adjust to a role he's never been. A little bit. Don Brown being a year older than him is still funny to me.

Wow. Jack, that is crazy. Wow. Don Brown should probably still be playing. Wow. Now he's throwing up the first round. A hitting coach or something. He's like a Norristown hitting coach or something.

Yep. That's good. Are Steinbaum going to be in the All-star game i mean bones gonna be starting it but bones in and whether or not he gets voted in bone will get in uh like stott so martin it's took like a month to figure this out right before we start to hear what the teams are and all like a few weeks like stott is playing like an all-star right now marty with the the hitting streak and all that. Marte will be the starter at second. He'll be the starter. But, yeah, I think Stott has a real chance.

I need a Stott and Boehm all-star game. It's also dependent upon what teams have representatives. And then the Phillies aren't going to need a representative. They're going to have multiple guys. So it's like if the Pirates need someone, it's going to be a second baseman, if it's this or that, then that could screw him. But I think he's making a strong case.

I mean, the Pirates should just send Paul Skeens for the good of the sport. Absolutely good of the sport. Absolutely, dude. Yeah. Or Jared Jones. I'm a Jared Jones fan. Yeah. Oh, dude.

Jared Jones is nasty. Yep. All right. Well, that's pretty much all I got. All right. Wow. That was an abrupt end to the take back. I appreciate that. Hey, buddy, buddy, buddy. I'm off, okay?

This is the only thing I would do. Everyone else could ask me to where I've been like bleep off, but this right now, I'm here. Hold on. Let me bring up Jose Ruiz then. Oh, no, don't. now, I'm here. Hold on. Let me bring up Jose Ruiz then. Oh, no, don't. No, no, no.

I'm done now. Jose Ruiz is dope. He is dope. Look, is it crazy that because it's Colorado, this is the most nervous I've been for a series all season? Because it's Colorado. It's Colorado. I don't like going to Colorado. This is the most nervous I've been for a series all season. Because they don't play well there? Because it's Colorado.

It's Colorado. I don't like going to Colorado. I feel like tonight, it's like if I go into every game expecting to win right now, I feel like tonight's a tough spot. Coming off sweeping the Rangers, flying out to Colorado, no off day, playing at 840 tonight. If they win tonight, I'm going to be, like, super impressed. If they win tonight, team might be pretty super impressed if they win tonight team might be

pretty good all right uh we'll be back uh monday at some point we're off we'll figure it out we'll get uh get some uh a pod then uh you got anything else uh rocky's been a little frisky a little frisky but no match no no match for the Phillies. It's nice having a little later game. I'm excited on the weekend when I'm off. Yeah. I'm psyched, buddy. It's great. What a ball club.

If you're anywhere near the AC Expressway, go see Jack today. He's on the service plaza for the show. I won't be i'll talk to you after the weekend all right everyone have a great memorial day weekend uh oh shout out to miller light uh of course uh um i don't have the account of the week with me it's a bad job by me jack so uh give me a second here just have some miller lights that's yeah honestly we we've got

we can do the accounting next week we did we already did yeah honestly we've got we can do the accounting next week we did we already did a pod this week so we'll do the accounting on Monday just drink Miller light because Miller lights awesome it's official partner of the Philadelphia Phillies and it's a sponsor of this podcast and and you know when we drink

Miller light the Phil's win it's just it's I don't know why but it just goes in and in Memorial Day Miller lights sounds pretty good match made it happen honestly it sounds perfect all right uh everyone have a wonderful more of their weekend we'll be back to react to phil's rockies after until then he's for himself We'll see you next time.