High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Glen Macnow Comes on High Hopes to Talk Phils

Episode Date: February 16, 2018

Today, Jack Fritz is joined by the legendary Glen Macnow to preview the Phils and just how close they are to contending this season. Who's a lock to come into camp in the best shape of their life? Should the Phils pursue a starter? Is there anything Franco can do this season to trust him long term? All that is answered and Glen reveals his 5 beers that he enjoys while watching a ballgame.  See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Rogers. Let's talk some baseball. We are here on the High Hopes podcast. Spring training. Well, pitchers and catchers are underway. And I am lucky enough to be joined by a Philadelphia radio icon and a great baseball man himself. Glenn, is there a better term in the English language than pitchers and catchers? No, I love the whole thing.

than pitchers and catchers. No, I love the whole thing. I love the whole Grapefruit League and Cactus League and all of the stuff. Coaches hitting fungos. I love all that stuff. Guys doing calisthenics. It's the best. It is.

And it feels weird this year because if you've seen anything going on in spring training this year, Gabe Kapler is running a very odd and interesting spring training that I can only imagine is making Charlie Manuel's eyes roll. You mean

sleep as late as you want and then come in? Yeah. And take an off day whenever you want and all that? Yeah, you know, I'm not sure how I feel yet because I don't want to draw too early an opinion on Kapler. And part of it is because I was wrong about Charlie.

When they hired Charlie, I initially thought Charlie was kind of a buffoon who wouldn't be able to manage in the National League, and Charlie won a world title. And when somebody told me that the Eagles were going to hire Doug Peterson, I laughed aloud on the air and looked at what he had done. So I don't want to form a quick judgment, but, man, Jackie Scott, you're raising your eyebrows, right? Yeah, and it's weird because I don't want to jump to conclusions as well because I was the same with you with Charlie Emanuel.

Now I was, like, in fifth grade when they hired Charlie Emanuel. But I remember arguing so hard with my granddad because he liked Charlie and I didn't like him. And I was like, he has no shot to ever win the World Series here. And then my granddad ended up being right, which he didn't let me down. And then with Doug Peterson, I felt the same kind of way. But now Doug kind of has the same Charlie Manuel-ish vibe. Now, I mostly like Gabe Kapler, but I am really worried.

I'm still burned from Chip Kelly, and I'm kind of getting the same vibe from Gabe. Yeah, I get that, right? But I'm getting maybe a little bit of a different vibe, which is this. I realize they did not hire Gabe Kapler to talk to people like me. Gabe Kapler's job is not to communicate. I guess it's part of his job. But his primary focus is not to communicate with old fart radio guys and newspaper columnists. He's supposed to get through to a bunch of kids who are 22 to 25 years old

and inspire them to play well and work with them to make them better. and inspire them to play well and work with them to make them better. Chip Kelly came in, and what we didn't know about Chip Kelly at the beginning and learned is Chip Kelly couldn't communicate with anybody. Chip Kelly couldn't talk to his players. He couldn't talk to the people in the organization. He couldn't talk to other people in the league. So that's where I'll draw a difference. If you want to say that, like Chip Kelly, he's this new wave guy,

I will agree with you on that. But I'm thinking and hoping that his strength is going to be that these kids are going to really want to play for him. Yeah, I agree. And the fact that this is a young team and he's not walking into an older veteran clubhouse, I think definitely. He couldn't manage the 2011 Phils. He could not take that team.

No, it's good that he's starting young and it feels fresh. And I will say this, to you, does it feel like there's a breath of fresh air around this team? Because it feels that way for me. Yeah, and they needed it, right? So we had that great run, whatever, five, six years, and then we had the decline, and then we had the guys coming in for a year, that whole group of guys,

one-year free agents, most of whom stunk, a couple of whom were okay. And now you've got all these guys coming up through the farm system at the same time, and to a degree it reminds me of the early 2000s when Utley, well, Rollins arrived first, and then Utley, and then Hamels, and then Howard, and all these guys kind of came up. We don't know that it's that yet, but that's what we're hoping. Yeah, and it feels like they have, it just feels like they have so many guys, they have so many quality baseball players, but they might not have the star.

Like, I think Reese Hoskins is a star. I think he's going to develop into a star. I think Kingery is going to be a star. I think JB Crawford is going to be a very nice player. The outfield is definitely an interesting spot because you have Altair, Nick Williams. They have four outfielders really with the signing of Carlos Santana. It feels like they're waiting to make a trade. They have almost too many guys.

They have Scott Kingery knocking on the door for Cesar Hernandez. It feels like they wanted to go into this offseason and trade for a controllable starter, and that market just never really developed for them. Yeah, which surprises me in a couple of regards. Depending on who you want to trade, which to me

would either be Nick Williams or Altier, you'd probably get more for Nick Williams. Agreed. I don't know what calls the general manager is feeling. I don't know what offers Klintegg has made or rejected, but I would have thought he could have gotten something, you know, a three-starter for Nick Williams. And the other one that you mentioned is Hernandez,

which is an interesting case. And part of me is thinking this, that they're kind of hedging their bet with Hernandez, keeping him around as we're waiting for Kingrey to come up, because they don't know what's going to happen with Franco. So if Franco comes back and has a career and they keep Franco, they can trade Hernandez, play Kingrey at second. If Franco is as bad this year as he was last year,

and I guess the year before, then what you do is you play Kingrey at third and you get rid of Franco. Because you mentioned with Hernandez, you've got those controllable years. The guy gets on base a lot. He's a good fielder. There's nothing not to like about the guy. Two years ago, he had all those bonehead plays. He didn't have them last year.

So I'm assuming they could have gotten something good for him, certainly better than what they got for Gallus because of where he is, and that they didn't take it tells me that maybe they're hanging on and hedging the bet. Yeah, and you mentioned Franco there, and as we know, every year someone comes into camp in the best shape of their life. And if I had to bet, those stories are going to be about Mike Alfranco this year. Yeah, usually it's a guy on the other side of 30, right, who's just trying to hang on.

Not your 25-year-old cornerstone short third baseman? Right, exactly, right. I mean, who thought a couple years ago that we would hear that, because best stage of your life usually means you're one step from getting tossed out. So who thought we would have heard that about him? He is such a critical guy. I mean, if he can come back and hit, I mean, I'm not even going to set the bar too high. He hit 270 this year, 25 home runs, 85 RBIs, played decent defense, right? That's not an all-star caliber. If

he can do that, and the other kids start to produce, this team really, I may be jumping your questions, but this team really could be a wild card contender. Yeah, but with Franco, even if he does that, that's not even enough for me to warrant not going after a Manny Machado. Like, for me, it's almost like Franco has to slam me in the face and say, you're not moving me for anything. And you're not bringing in a guy to take my position or trade me away. Like, I almost need 35 homers and 270

to not go after Machado or in a year later go after Nolan Arenado. Because then if you bring in Machado, then you can say, hey, you want to play shortstop? Fine. Then just move Crawford over to third or Kingery over to third or whatever you can do there. It's almost like Franco has to slap me in the face and say, you're not moving me for

anything. Do you kind of feel the same way? Well, I was talking about this year. You're talking about the future. Yeah, the future is I'm not married to Franco long-term, and I would, you know. Listen, there's that whole, we've been hearing this for the last three years. There's that whole group of 2019 free agents, Bryce Harper, Machado, all of whom are attractive to me, any of whom I would take. Machado is the one guy that we keep talking about more than any.

But, I mean, you know, man, the Yankees are going to go after Machado. The Reds, I don't know about the Red Sox, but the Yankees will. Other teams will. Big money teams, the Dodgers, the Cubs. So it's not a given that the Phillies are going to get him. Am I interested? You bet. I'm interested in all those guys.

And we keep hearing from Middleton that when it's time to spend the money, they'll do it. So I'm not disagreeing with you. I'm just saying I'm looking at Franco more for what they can do this year. Yeah, and obviously Franco's a major key to that. And even if you want to talk about some of these these free agent starters out there uh i know you're you're you're all aboard the the sign alex cobb and and lance lynn train which to an extent i am as well uh do you see like i don't know it i i just don't think they're gonna the way i'm viewing clint tack and everything he's done this off season it feels like they're

gonna walk into camp with Chris Tillman. They're going to sign him a couple days before camp, and this is going to be your fifth starter that can hopefully eat innings. But I'm starting to move into your area and go after one of those guys or even shoot for the Stars and go for Jake Arrieta. Yeah, and I know they talk to Arrieta's people. I think Arrieta, this is what know they talk to Arrieta's people. I think Arrieta, this is what I think is the bottom line

with him. I think they still think they're a year away from contending. And, you know, while you and I look at Hoskins and Crawford and all the Kingrey and all the other young kids and say, hey, this guy, you know, Hoskins could hit 35 home

runs this year and Crawford could play a really good defense and get on bail. They're probably smarter. No, they're not going to all develop. So they see themselves a year away. So they want to figure out from the Ikov, Velasquez, Pavetta, Lively, who might be the Eflin, Jake Thompson, all those, who's worth it and who's not, and want to give them their shot. I think the rest of the division, other than Washington, got bad this offseason. And coming in second doesn't get you anything unless you get the wild card.

But I honestly think if they were to go out and get some pitching, it's not ridiculous to think that they could make a run for a wild card. So, you know, hey, we've been spoiled with the Super Bowl. Why do I need to wait three years for them to contend in baseball? And that's the weird thing. If you go out and you get Carlos Santana and you sign Tommy Hunter and you're showing interest in Tony Watson and you bring back Pat Neshek, it's like you think you're,

and the way they've talked this whole spring training, they think that they have a chance to compete this year. It's not Pete McKinnon coming in saying, hey, well, hopefully we go 500 this year. They're like, no, I think we can actually do something. And if you see what the Eagles, if you're one of the other teams in Philadelphia and you see what the Eagles just did

in losing their franchise quarterback, franchise left tackle, franchise linebacker, best special teams player. What excuse do you have? And it's just like, I feel like they're one starter away from this thing being serious. And if we want to talk about the free agent class next year, you're not going to walk up to Bryce Harper off of a 75 win season and be like, Hey, come here. Or Manny Machado, hey, we won 75 games. You need to have something in place that is tangible that these guys will want to come here. And by signing an Arrieta, even if it's three years, 90 million, they're like, wow, they have Arrieta, Knoll at the top of their lineup or at the top of their rotation. We'll see what Velasquez can be.

They have Hoskins, a young emerging star. They have Carlos Santana, a real bat. It's almost like you need Arrieta or Lin or Cobb for the optics in a way. Yeah, well, that's a good point, absolutely, because if they do finish this year at 72-90, it's going to be hard to tell any big-time free agent that you're a contender. You've got to show that this year you can do something. And listen, I think when you improve at the top of the rotation,

it improves everybody. The whole team is going to get improve at the top of the rotation, it improves everybody. The whole team is going to get better. They helped the bullpen, as you said, with Hunter and bringing back Neshek. That's great. We'll see if Neshek pitches two days in a row this year. Yeah, well, you know, it's 2018, guys. The relievers get $6 million to pitch 60 innings. That part always baffles me, but they do.

But I'll ask you, do you think, I mean, I'll give you Velazquez, Pavetta, Lively, Jake Thompson, maybe Eikhoff comes back. I kind of think he can do better. But do you have faith that two of those guys are going to show you something? I've always been an Eikhoff truther. I think guys are going to show you something? I've always been an Eikhoff truther. I think he's going to bounce back. I think he lost a lot of velocity last year,

and I think that had to do with his arm problems that he was having. He seems healthy now, and that curveball is a legit weapon, and as he learns to use that more and more, I'm pretty bullish on Eikhoff having a nice bounce-back season. Velasquez, definitely worried about,

just because he doesn't have a good secondary pitch. He can get ahead with his fastball, but he has zero capabilities to pitch backwards and actually learn how to become a starting pitcher rather than a guy that can just throw 98. And can't stay healthy, which means... I mean, since the first time I saw him, and by the way, the first game I ever saw him is the one where he struck out 16 guys.

It was amazing, but I always thought sooner or later this guy is going to be a reliever. Yeah, and a lot of people have that same sentiment. I am interested to see how him and Kapler work together. They seem like they're really buddy-buddy, so I'm interested to see what happens there. I honestly think that I would sign one of those pitchers just so I don't have to watch Ben Lively or Mark Lader Jr.

It's just like, please for my eyes. They're fine. Stick Mark Lader Jr. and make him be like the Kyle Kendrick, first guy out of the pen, long man. Right, right. He'll get some innings. And for whatever reason, you brought up Kendrick. Kendrick, it always seemed to me for years that the one out of five games I would always go to

was always the game that Kyle Kendrick started. I'm so sorry. This is when they, you know, had Hamels and Halliday and Oswald, all those guys. And I would go and say, yeah, I'm going on Sunday. And it's like, oh, good. Then it's Kyle Kendrick. Yeah, I think I got stuck with Blanton. i was always a blanton guy plumber joe but yeah i don't want i don't want it to be nick pavetta day every time i go to the ballgame yeah i mean i think pavetta

is one of the guys that i kind of liked a little bit last year just like he throws 96 and he has a legit hard slider i think he could develop into a solid bullpen guy, but he's another one like Velasquez where you're getting five innings, and that's it, and then you've got to rely on your bullpen. Right, they fall apart. Yep. Yep, second, third time around the lineup, they're done. They're toast.

But do you see any bounce back from Velasquez, or are you pretty much just he's going to be a closer? I don't know. Well, I think eventually he's a closer. I understand why they want to continue to try to make him a starter because he's more valuable. He can get 180 innings out of him and close to 70. So last year when they weren't contending, well, last year he's hurt.

But, you know, you give it a shot. I'd probably give it one more shot as a starter with him. And if that doesn't work, you got to put him into the bullpen. Let me put it this way. If by the end of May, he still can't get past the fifth inning, that's when I'd make the move. And I don't care about middle of the season. I'll put him in the bullpen. Yeah. I mean, you don't really have anything to lose at this point. If he can develop into a top-flight rotation guy, then it's only helping you heading into the offseason. Duff is so good.

It is, but at the same time, he can't throw a curveball for a strike. No, I know. His one pitch is so good. Right, that's it. One pitch. And you look at his mechanics, and, like, they're really solid. They remind me of, like, Pryor's it. One pitch. And you look at his mechanics, and they're really solid. They remind me of Pryor's mechanics. You pick it off of a screen,

but that's what you want your mechanics to look like. But then he also can't form a change-up out of that. He's a really weird case, and I want him to learn to splitter more than anything in the world. Yeah, he pitches dumb. I mean, there's times where you just want to pitch to contact, and he's still... He's thrown 80 pitches in four innings,

and he's still trying to throw high heat. Just take the ground ball when you've got a man out first and get out of the inning. Now, the one guy that does know how to pitch is Aaron Nola, and I don't know, Glenn. I really think he's going to finish...

I think he's going to be an all-star this year, and I think he's going to finish. I think he's going to be an all-star this year. And I think he's going to finish maybe top six in the NL and ERA. I'm very bullish on Aaron Nola. He had a really strong second half of the year once he came back from injury. I like Aaron Nola, and I think he's being underrated in a lot of preview episodes that I see on MLB websites going around the league. Aaron Nola is going to be one of the best pitchers in the NL this year. I firmly believe that.

Yeah, I do too. And the way he finished last year, I think he had 10 really good starts in a row at the end of the year, all six innings more, all two earned runs or less. He's smart. You know, I talk about guys that pitch smart and not. He really pitches smart. He pitches quick, which the guys around him love.

He's 24 years old. I can't project his health, but I think hopefully he's over that stuff in the past. If he stays healthy with his stuff and his – well, it's not that his stuff is so good. It's that he pitches smart and uses his stuff well. I agree. This guy is capable of getting some Cy Young votes. Some Cy Young votes. I love it. Here's the thing.

We're going to talk about the outlook of the season here in a second. If you add an Arrieta to that or you add a Lance Lynn or an Alex Cobb, then you have a legit starting rotation to go with a lineup. Glenn, I think the lineup is going to be much improved from last year. It's deeper. It has more ability to get on base.

Hopefully he can get consistency out of Dubu Herrera, and then he can be a legit table setter at a 26-year-old. He was an all-star two years ago, which people forget about, I feel like. It feels like the lineup is set to be maybe a top 10-ish in the NL lineup. You need that one more starter for this thing to get legit. And that's kind of where I'm at with this team. I don't know what they're going to be unless they get a legit starter in here.

I agree. I mean, we brought up the names before, but you can't count on all those pitchers to do well. You know, if Jake Thompson emerges as a guy worth putting in your rotation, I will be pleasantly surprised. I don't believe in a lot of those guys. I shouldn't say I don't believe in a lot of those guys. I shouldn't say I don't believe.

I haven't been proven. It hasn't been shown that those guys can play. Alex Cobb, Lance Lynn, great. I mean, Arietta's great. It is shooting for the moon, but I'm certainly not going to oppose it. Those other guys, you know, the market's kind of dry. It's the end of February or the middle of February, and nobody has made a bid on

those guys all those unsigned free agents and there are like a hundred of them have to play somewhere this year the phillies to me would be wise to now go in and grab up their share yeah it feels like with arietta he kind of seems like a guy that would sit out until mid-season and then a contender would be like all right we'll give you whatever you need to help us win this win this championship. And you know he'll be ready because he's one of those workout freaks. And obviously the drawback to signing one of those guys is you have to give up a third-round pick

because they already gave up a second-round pick for signing Carlos Santana. Are you worried about that at all? Do you not care about the draft picks? No, no. I mean, you know, first round picks, yes. Second round picks, third round picks, no. You're getting a proven

quality player. Neither Cobb nor Lynn. They're not 35 years old. They're guys who you can keep around for years to come. They're guys who can really produce for you. I would have not a second thought about giving up that draft pick. Yeah, I mean, I love

the... I'm one of those weirdos that loves the MLB draft, so I get married to these prospects. You watch the MLB draft? Oh yeah, I get all in. I don't know. I'm trying to find my niche here in this world of media, and I think

the MLB draft might be my way in. Just kidding. But with Cobb, I feel weird about. Just because he seems like a guy that consistently gets hurt, and I don't know if I can trust him with big money. Lance Lynn, if you look at Lance Lynn, tell me

you're not seeing that guy pitching in October in the cold. He just seems like a guy that can eat innings late into October. Cause he's just a little bit overweight. He's got that big beard. So I kind of like Lance Lynn a little bit more than, than Alex Cobb and Arietta. Let me just say this,

but Cobb had 29 starts last year. I know he was hurt the year before. If you have, we have Tommy John back in 2015. I know he was out for like a year and a half, so I'm assuming it was Tommy John. But other than that, he's always had 25, 28 starts a year. So I'm less worried about you. There are so many guys that come back from that that I'm not that worried.

But yeah, Lynn is a guy. I always like pitchers who come from St. Louis. I think St. Louis is probably the best team in baseball at developing players, and this guy's got a pedigree from there. He had a good year last year. He pitched really well. He did. He did.

And I'm glad they didn't sign like an Andrew Kashner, who I think is terrible, but his ERA was lower. So we're at the start of pitchers and catchers. they didn't sign like an Andrew Kashner, who I think is terrible, but his ERA was lower. So we're at the start of pitchers and catchers. The full team will come in next week. Very exciting time. And honestly, I'm more excited. This is probably the most excited I've been about a Phillies season since probably 2011, just because of Kapler.

I don't know what I'm going to get out of Gabe Kapler, but I'm sure he's heck interested to find out how he's going to manage, how he's going to manage pitching, if they're going to change how they play analytic-wise. I'm just glad that Pete McCann— Oh, they're definitely going to do that. No, I— Definitely.

Let me just tell you this. Yeah. Everybody who loves Sam Hinckley is going to love Gabe Kapler. Well, as you know, I was a big Sam Hinckkey guy, so I'm also in on Gabe Kapler. I'm more analytics with baseball than I am with basketball. I'm not opposed to analytics in basketball, although I think sometimes you guys go nuts. But I think in baseball it makes a lot of sense. But you're going to get all of that language after every game,

and guys like you are just going to drool over this stuff. You're probably right. I need him talking about FIP. And honestly, I saw an article. War and Vorp and all that. Babip, all that stuff is going to be part of this conversation. I saw an article today talking about pitch framing and how they brought in a guy from Yale

just to specifically teach these catchers about pitch framing. And Glenn, I'm not lying to you. I got so excited because it's the sign of a progressive organization, Glenn. And I'm so sick. I was so sick and tired of the Amaro regime being so far behind the times that bringing in a guy specific for just pitch framing got me real. Yeah, because, listen, I've watched the Washington Nationals for too long get so many strikes called because of Jose Lobaton and Wilson Ramos that I just can't take it anymore. And honestly, I can't watch Cam Rupp play catcher anymore, and he is probably the worst pitch framer I've ever seen in my life.

Yeah, I'm kind of done with his era um and i mean faro needs a lot of work in that regard so if they brought in a guy who can teach al faro how to do it that's that's great i don't think i'm quite as excited as the pitch frame coach from el as you i'm not quite as excited when gabe capler came out the other day and talked about strength in the organization and one of the first things he mentioned was the chef. I don't get quite as giddy as you guys, but I get it. I'm not opposed to it. Well, I've studied the rebuilds of the Cubs and the Astros pretty closely

because I want to see how the Phillies are doing compared to them, and they've brought in people from those organizations. They're in a really healthy spot, I think. Overall, from the minor leagues, they're learning how to develop these guys. It actually feels like they have a plan for their entire organization.

Opening up the facility in the Dominican, I think was really smart. Yeah, that was way late, but still obviously a great idea. Should have been done 15 years ago, but yes. I tell you what, that World Series saved them from a lot

of flack because they set this organization back maybe 10 years, but I think now we've moved on from that era. Everything's starting to come together and it feels like we're entering into a really positive age of Phillies baseball. Once they get to the top or make the playoffs

and hopefully win a World Series, I don't think it's going to be as close of a window as we had with the 2008-2011 squad. Once they get there, I think they're going to stay there for a long time because of the resources they have and the resources they put in place. Do you kind of get the same sense, or are you still a little hesitant? I don't know.

That was a good run, man. It was a great run. I mean, think about that team won the East, what, five years in a row? Yeah. Went to two World Series. But then it just shut. The window just shut, and it was all of a sudden over. Yeah, it shut because Amaro tried to squeeze that one last year.

I don't really – well, it was the wrong thing to do, and we kind of all knew it at the time, but I understand why he just thought maybe everybody can have that one last year. And then, of course, everybody got old at the same time and got bad at the same time. Although I'll give you this, to Amaro's credit, man, the last deal he made, which I believe was the Hamels deal, got Nick Williams, got Alfaro, got Eikhoff, got Jake Thompson. I think there was one other guy that done the mountain.

It's like Harold Aruz or something. Yeah, and they took the salary dump on what's his name, that injured pitcher from Texas. Yeah, yeah. But, you know, listen, it was a great deal for both sides because Hamels has been great for Texas. But if the Phillies end up with Nick Williams, Alfaro, and Eikhoff,

and anything from Jake Thompson's a bonus, that wasn't a bad way to leave. It definitely wasn't. No, and he did some good things in his final year. He finally moved on from Utley, moved on from Rollins, and he did moves that he probably should have done maybe a year or two before. Right. But I waited a little

too long on Rollins and Utley and guys like that, yeah. Yeah, and honestly, letting go of Utley was the hardest thing in my life, in my young life. Listen, Glenn, I love Chase Utley. Let me ask you a question.

All-time, all-time most popular former athlete, beloved former athlete in Philadelphia, because to me, it comes down i'm just talking for like the last 35 years right i'm not going to chuck but narek prehistoric please don't is it utley or is it dawkins you have to choose one uh well i yeah it's either i think it's utley dawkins iverson if i had to put them all three on there i don't put iverson

quite there because there are a lot of people who didn't like Iverson. Interesting. Everybody loved Utley. Everybody loved Dawkins. A lot of people loved Iverson. Some people did not. But you put Utley over Dawkins? Yeah, I would.

I go the other way on that. Yeah, no, that's... Yeah, and obviously Dawkins is the best, but just as a young player, you know, I grew up playing baseball while also watching Chase Utley. Oh, yeah, they were 26 on your back there. Oh, yeah.

Oh, yeah. And I still get emotional thinking about Chase Utley. Tight little swing. I try to imitate him with that little compact swing. Chase Utley, you are the bad. You know, that whole thing. You're a fake to throw to third and throw home. Yeah, sure.

He just did everything. And the World Series in 2009, where he slayed CeCe. What? Yeah, Chase Utley for me is just a guy that he's just like the peak male, in my opinion. Just like the most male you could possibly be taking out Juan Ligares. I've gotten so many arguments about him breaking Juan Ligares' leg that it's tenfold. That's baseball, baby.

Yeah, it was just baseball. And people didn't get that. These stupid millennials. Plus it was the Mets, so it was good. These stupid millennials don't understand about how real hard-nosed baseball is. That's right. I can't even run over the catcher anymore for God's sake. You know what?

That is the worst rule in all sports. Posey rule. Ridiculous. I hate the Posey rule. I will always hate the Posey rule. It is the worst rule in all sports. It may trump how if you fumble a football into the end zone, it automatically becomes the other team's possession and at the

25 yard line. That's the dumbest rule. Yes, that is the dumbest rule. Yes, I've agreed on that. You should get it. It should be a 10-yard penalty or something. Yeah, it should be. You shouldn't lose because the other team shouldn't get the ball. I agree.

So before I let you out of here, two things. What is your outlook on the season? Do you think they have a shot to make a little run here and make our summer? Give us something to talk about this summer, Glenn. Yeah, I think we'll have something to talk about. I think they'll hang around. I still don't believe in the starting pitching. I believe in the kids in the lineup. I think their bullpen is deep enough that they'll figure that out. They'll get guys for different roles. But I just worry

after Nola and maybe Eikhoff, I don't see how the rest of that rotation plays out. So between now and the Eikhoff, I don't see how the rest of that rotation plays out. So between now and the start of the season, they need to add one or two real pitchers, guys who can help the rotation. If they do that, I think they can be in the run for a wild card. Agreed. And when it's a nice summer day, Glenn, give me five of your favorite beers to watch a ball game with. Oh, now you're in my wheelhouse.

Yes. All right. So I will leave out, for conflict of interest, all of the fine quality beers by the Conchahokan Brewing Company, in which I am a partner, but I would tell people that you should try all of them, and they certainly are IPAs for a nice summer day. I do love your beers, Glenn. I appreciate that. And you've said that, and I appreciate that. But I'll leave out the Con summer day. I do love your beers, Glenn. I appreciate that.

And you've said that and I appreciate that. But I'll leave out the contract and brewing company beers for now. I'll stay local, though, and tell you I love the Victory Prima Pils. It's a great beer. Okay. Let's take something by Yards. I'll take the Yards Brawler. I like the Yards Brawler. On a hot summer

day? Are you bringing out a brawler? Yeah, maybe more for a night game. It's more of a night game. Pale Ale for a summer Yards Brawler. I like the Yards Brawler. On a hot summer day, you're bringing out a brawler? Yeah, maybe more for a night game. It's more of a night game. I'll have Pale Ale for a summer day, Brawler for a night game. I like the Stout's Golden Lager. I think it's a really nice beer. Trogg's Nugget Nectar I'll put in there. And I'll take one that's not local, but it's my favorite not local beer.

And actually, our brewery won a bet with them over the soup bowl, and they had to make a $500 donation to charity, so I'll give them a shout-out. Lord Hobo Brewing Company in Woburn, Massachusetts, makes an IPA called Steal This Can, which is one of my favorites. I know they now sell down here. You can get them in PA. They just moved down here, and they're good guys,

so I'll give them the fifth and final shout-out. Now, I've got to recommend something for you. Yeah. I just saw it in Westchester. I was picking up beer last weekend, and there's a brand-new, it's called a 394 Ale, and it is from a San Diego-inspired brewery

that they made a 394 Ale after Tony Gwynn's famous season where he batted 394. It's a really clean, crisp, hoppy beer that he helped co-create. If you see that out there, I think you'd really enjoy it. Is it Lagunitas? Who makes that? No, it's like Alesmith. Okay.

I'll find it. And you found it in Pennsylvania? I did. It was over in Westchester. All right. Nice. Okay. I'll look for that.

I definitely think you'll enjoy it. But, Glenn, thank you for joining me on High Hopes. That I also do with James Seltzer and John Marks. Listen to Glenn every Saturday morning and sometimes Sunday mornings with, of course, Ray Dittinger, another Hall of Famer. Glenn, thanks for coming on. Hopefully you can do it again sometime. Hey, it's my pleasure. You'd be great. I'm Rob Bradford, and every single day I'm sitting down with the biggest names to show you this great game is the greatest game.

It's my podcast. It's my passion. It's a cause I started more than two years ago and is now the most prolific national daily baseball pod there is. Another fact, so jump aboard the BIB Express. Follow and listen to Baseball Isn't Boring, presented by Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts.