High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - God, This Sucks

Episode Date: January 22, 2026

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz discuss their lack of optimism for the Phillies after yet another trade from the Mets. The guys voice their frustration with Dave Dombrowski's moves this offseason and wonder what the future could hold for an aging, expensive team. 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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Yo. Oh, it is another edition of the IOS podcast, sponsored for Miller. Light official partner of Philadelphia. Phillies taste like Miller time Philadelphia. Celebrate response. Jack, let me start off with the question. Ooh. Will we ever have a good yo again?

Is the yo dead. Man, what a bummer of week. How you doing? I mean, it is a real struggle right now. It's a real struggle. I'm almost like struggling to find the right words to come up with to talk about the current state of the baseball team. Because they're in such a weird spot.

You know, and I think what annoys me the most is that they didn't choose a path. They chose the path of like least resistance, I guess, in a way of just, well, this has worked to an extent. And what you see, like the Mets had, there's, here's some truth, right? Like, the Mets had more to do this all season. They made the decision move on from Alonzo and McNeil and Nimmo and they had to fill out a pitching staff. They had to fill out some of the lineup and they had to, they had more to do. But I think the optics of a team who had a collapse like that and the optics of they're mad and they're doing something about it versus seeing Dave Dombrowski and listening to Dave Dembrowski in a 35 minute press conference say that we're content with our ball club and hearing again and again again that we feel I know he can't lie but like I know he can't lie I guess but it's just not what. anyone wants to hear and I could come here and say,

ah, it's press conference speak. Like, I don't think they're really content. I think they're going to go and surprise us, but I don't believe that. I think that they went. First off, Bichette wasn't their plan. Bichette fell into their lives.

That was not their plan. Their plan was to resign JT and Choir. This was their plan. The plan was this. That was it. This is what they were planning to do. This was the big off season and Adela. Crazy.

I keep going back to the first pod we did in the off season. And you just sitting. there saying, well, they're not going to run it back. They can't, like, just being like almost like it was like a fact of life. Like they can't do it. Like they just won't do that. And they fucking did it. They did it.

They did the exact thing. We're like, we can't do this. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. We even got an F bomb drop. You didn't. Oh, go back and listen.

I said freaking. Go back and listen. Go back and listen. It will not be bleeped. I promise you. I said freaking. Listen. Listen.

on my. life I said freaky. Well, determine it after the podcast. Yes. I feel super confident. I will be vindicated in this. I could look like the biggest idiot ever. But no,

I did. No, no, no. I did not get the TK part out on the last spot. Okay. Shows the week I'm having right now. I said, Fah, which is okay. Right.

Yes. Okay. Things are going well. It's really summed up. No, but like the, but and that's what I can't, I just can't believe that they're doing it yet. We're about to go through another year of the 6'5 slap hitting third baseman.

If they just, even if they just got off bone. Like, okay, that's, go get to Auhayniosuras. I know we have a perfect fit. That was my perfect all of season. That was my move. I was like, go get this guy. Let's hit. Go get a guy that's going to hit 30 plus tanks behind Bryce.

Strike out a lot, whatever. But at least in the post season. It's with a bunch of mid-30s guys, you know, just lean in. At least maybe in the post season he could pop one. And Adolus can pop one. And then you might have two 30-plus home-run guys batting four or five. Okay, at least that's different. but to just throw our hands up and be like, well, what did you want us to do?

We've had to eat this for two off seasons as fans. We've had to eat it. And I think what you're starting to realize almost in a way is we talk our way through this whole thing because we have a million thoughts running through your head is that the Phillies are content with being good. They're not interested in being great. They are fine with bringing these guys back because they know they're pretty good. They know that they'll win 90 should win 90 plus games.

They know that the ballpark is going to be filled on every single night. But they're not interested in taking risks to try to be great. And that's what is so annoying. The Mets are taking risks on the chance of being great. Now, financially, they can do some things. They have more leeway. so to speak, than the Phillies. The Phillies can't right now.

I mean, I know that I think we should talk about the, I think I have to change their policy on the short term A.AV opt-out thing. I think they would, given the right circumstance, I don't think they can do it right now, just where they are luxury tax-wise. Bichette would have cost them $100 million. So it would have been the $42 million and then the tax on top of that, equaling basically around $100 million for one player. Can't do that right now.

When J-T or when Taiwan's off the books and Cassianos was off the book, books and this next off season when they do maybe they can get into something like that. But right now they can't. So that's what keeps hitting me, you know, in the face almost is I just, I am, I am frustrated with the word of the century now that might be his, if I don't, if we don't, we don't moment, which is we're content with where we are. And I would love to say, I don't believe them, but I do believe them. I believe them.

Because that's what their actions have showed really since they lost the Diamondbacks. Well, and also, let's take a step further in terms of just believing what he's saying. Like, they've been incredibly tone deaf this entire time. Like, multiple off seasons and off seasons in a row now, they have thought the fan base would appreciate one thing when we wanted the exact other. Like they, they're read on the fan base through multiple press conferences, through the moves they've made through, you know, selling Bichette to the city and not putting any sort of pushback. I hope maybe we won't get him. And then when you don't be like, like, oh, push. We'll bring you JT.

Good. Here you go. Congrats. Like, I, I believe it because I don't think they're savvy right now. Like, I don't think they are,

are reading situations correctly. And to your point about, I do think they are content being good. You know, they're content just, you know, competing and you never know. I can't take it.

I can't take the, what they say to the media or what they leak out to media members about, well, we were close to being the Dodgers. And how about people forget we sign? Schwartz. I know. Like seriously? I know. Are you really saying that to us? Yeah, we don't forget. You're bringing back the same team.

How do we forget? All the guys are back, except you lost Ranger. You're worse. That thing drives me crazy. They got worse this offseason. And I get it. I get that the Dodgers got better. Unbelievably. You know, okay. But like the gap widens even more.

You got worse. They got better. Well, I just, it's so it's so, well, it's baseball, anything can happen. And that's their strategy. That's their strategy. You never know. We just got to keep taking. Sweet, dude.

We just got to keep taking bites of the apple. What do you? That's your, this team has, has no shot. I mean, they have no shot. I agree with you. I said 2% chance to win the World Series on the air yesterday and the camera thought it was crazy. I thought it was the craziest thing I'd ever heard.

I was like, honestly, might be high. And listen, I hope that this. it's clipped and we look like the yeah oh my god there's nothing i want more in life prove me an idiot it's just you got a lot of great years at a guys last year and and it's the same team except a year older i mean and and and more question mark exactly we have no idea total no idea what that guy's going to come back and be you know he's such an important part of this whole thing price harper like i'm cite he's motivating on it we've no idea we're going to get from harper like that you go look around the diamond like and say question mark question mark question mark and they're older another

like it's and they're telling you they believe they're a bat short because they were in at seven two exactly and then and then and not just that i mean just from a pure like uh uh you know media as a PR as a team thing like then de brousky comes in and says it was a gut punch that we lost him like but we got j t like it's just it's crazy it's like for someone who is is very accomplished and has talked to the media a lot for the last 40 years over the 50 years of talking to the media

and who seems so comfortable at it I am shocked at how many missteps Dave Dombrowski has had this offseason just this off season. My one fear my one fear with well I've had this fear for a little bit but I do have a fear of the sport passing

Dave Braskey by. I think that's where like that's my concern right now is that the sport is past. It's my biggest concern. You watch a guy like David Stern's up there and what he's doing like he's running circles around Nebraska right now. And we're sitting here with dead weight in,

Noel, I believe, is now deadweight. Oh, but at least he's going to pitch for Italy. Well, and that's, I was going to bring up a flavor. It's such a joke. You have no connection to Italy. You just had a 60RA last year. You were hurt all last year.

What are you going and pitching for what purpose? You have no chance of winning the world of baseball last year. No, exactly. What are you doing? Why? You just want to be part of it? Oh, you want to go to Italy? Like, does it even been to Italy?

No. Once in his entire Who knows. It's so, but it kind of checks out the entire off season, which is, which is a bit toned out.

What are you, what are you pitching for Team Italy for? It's crazy. Like, just, hey, how about we're paying you five years left

on a hundred and seventy two million dollar contract? You were horrible last year for what sense of, what are you talking about? Why are you playing for Team Italy? Worry about the Phillies! It's crazy. It's crazy. It's crazy.

But they're all. all seem distracted. I know. I know that Bryce can't wait to go play for USA and this. And they got Lizardo. And it's because of money. But whatever, he's the only one who's like, I'm not playing. I'm going to get ready for the season. I don't see. I don't want Sanche's pitching. I don't either. I hate the Sanchez pitching. That I'm fair with Sanchi. It feels like Sanchi got forced into it. It did seem like Sanchez didn't want to do it. They were like, you've got to do it. Yeah. Yeah. I don't like it. Any pitcher I don't really want doing it. Agree. I do not want a single pitcher pitch. Now, they're going to have limitations on how much they can throw and stuff like that. I don't care. But I don't, it doesn't matter.

the Nola thing. And look, after the Turner thing, like, I don't love that my offensive guys are in it too. I mean, that was like Turner was, we all remember that, right? Captain America, Trey was great. And then comes here and stinks to start the year.

Like, I'm not saying it's one to one, but I'm saying I'd prefer they didn't play in the W.C. And they just got ready for the regular season, personally. Yeah, but on the Nebraska point, it's, you see what Stearns has done up there.

And obviously, Stearns and Stearns and Freedman's, Friedman. Yeah, there are some elite guys. And they're, they're the best of the best. And I think DeMbrowski, I think the Browski has done a good job here.

I think particularly like we always talk about in terms of building the organization up, in terms of like what he's done with the front office, in terms of what he's done with drafting and developing, the barbers, the Mattingley's. Like that type, I think Dave deserves a lot of credit for kind of setting this organization on a, on a better track than it was on before. And I think he's turned them into a big boy organization.

Exactly. But I think that we might be reaching the end of that. I agree. Because I just think his feel for the league is not what it was. Well, look at the, look at the, look at every offseason. They've been like, you know what? We're going to trade boom. Yeah, obviously.

And then Bome's going to probably be here again. Yeah, no feel. You can't just do that. Castiano's, they telegraphed all the last season. We're probably just going to cut them. So it's like teams are going to be like, oh, great. Let me go trade something about somewhat of value. And I mean, if you look at like the, the real big hits that he's had, it's, you know, big signings.

Like he hasn't really, I mean, it's that the Alvarado trade was a nice trade. You know, the Lazzardo trade was his best move, you know? But like, outside of that, you know, Dara, you know, Durant trade looks nice. But like, one good, one good deadline this past deadline.

But like for the most part, you know, on the sum of moves, he's had way more misses than hits. Well, and I think the one thing that is, I think the thing that has me concerned about the league passing him by the most

is really the trade stuff. Because I think, I just, I refuse to believe that Embraowski thinks that he should keep doing this. And I think he also doesn't know what current trade values are like. because they haven't made, again,

the Lazzardo trade was creative, but they haven't made one creative trade. What have they done since they signed track? Have you noticed the deadline thing too where each of the deadlines, each of them, he's traded with the same team. He's made multiple trades with the twins.

He's made multiple trades with the angels. It almost seems like he gets locked in. Yes, he almost gets locked in. The pirates, they almost had the two trades. Like, it feels like he's locked in on GM. He's like, all right, I'm just going to talk to you. And we're going to do this. Or you, like, it doesn't feel like that.

net is being cast and there's all these offers and all these things it feels like he gets locked in on something he's like well let's make a deal you know what I mean well and it's the it's weird right making multiple deadlines to make two separate trades with the same team like that's weird that doesn't happen very often yeah well I'm trying to white socks tigers Lorenzen twins twice I know I'm sure like the other ones there's yeah he made it that the Marlins was only once the Tigers one you know with the Beirling trade and all that. Like, but like, well,

Veerling and then the next year Yeah, and the next year, you're right. But it is weird, right? Like where it's kind of gets honed in on these things. The angels, all right, let's trade with the angels and that's it. Well, but even the, even some of the trades,

like they're so, and he gets, he gets around the game by older school, old school baseball games. Yeah, yeah. But older baseball people are like, that's just a good old fashioned baseball trade. Edward and Taidt for Joan Duran,

essentially, and Mick Abel. It's like, I get it, but some of these other teams are doing super under the rate, I don't know. I just, I look at how the Mets in like three years have turned into the, they have the best farm system

in baseball, they're not number six after the trade last night. Wow, really? Yeah, they signed now Francisco Rundrea is coming, but the Mets got the number one guy in the class. And, and now they're making super aggressive moves while moving on from their own core. And they also signed

Juan Soto last off season, like, you know, give $765 million. Like, they'll throw that in too, you know? Yeah. Yeah. And they, They took a shot on Louis Robert. RIP. I guess we won't have a deadline for the third straight year of they should trade and give a shot on Louis Robert. That's a smart shot for them to take. Of course.

Of course. He's going to have like eighth for them. Even if he's just a great center fielder for that means valuable for the team. Yeah. Someone tried to say that. So yeah, it's just it's a really, it's a really tough time. It's a really tough time where they're still pretty good. That's the thing, Jack.

it almost like and that's why I honestly I'm not I really need to think about this but I think if you had told me coming into the off season this is what the off season will be I might have blown it up well given those two options and I know that that I'm not sure that I would do that I really need to think about it and like really take stock of it but like I don't think they're winning a world series with this group this way so if you're not going to change like it's almost like all right well let's freaking build for the future then you know what I mean I'm not saying I would have done it, but I, I think about it. And on that point, what are you so afraid of with Bome? You're not paying them. You're not paying them after the next year. Why are we still so, can't even think like, I know, it just, it just, it irks me. Now, I would have re-sign Schwerver, no matter what, even if you want to do a little bit of a reset. Sure. But they didn't do anything. They're, again, to the, to the overall message of their, they're okay being good versus wanting, to be great. Re-sign Schwerber and then get alternative plans somewhere else or even put some of the prospects on the table and go get another real-ish type piece. Like I just, they, they just went straight

down the middle. They went straight down the middle. And then I was thinking about this too on my, on my drive-in was, okay, had the Bichette rumors never happened, would I feel this way? Because. So I was, I thought about that. Yes, damn well, our guy buzz asked me that exact question. we feel this way? And I said yes. I think I would still feel the same one. Yes, because this is what I didn't want. We talked to us. Don't do this. The exact opposite. Yeah. It's the exact opposite. It is, it is, they had two paths and they chose the most boring right down the middle, no risk. And they, they live in, I worry about they live in fear of 12 through 18, but they might be heading towards 12 again. I mean, this, this year might be like 2012. Oh, yeah, absolutely good. And then you've got

all these 30 plus year old making a lot of money. And you're right. You're right. Right. They are potentially heading down that path again. And I feel more confident, though. I think they're better this year than they were in 12. 100%. And again, the Wheeler thing is a question mark and all, but I think they're better. Yeah. And they don't have Ryan Howard coming up at Thorntickville.

So that's a big one. But also, prospect-wise, I think they're in a much healthier spot. Way, way healthier. So they're healthier from that standpoint. And again, I'm fine with Crawford playing and Painter being up here. Well, that's a certain point. It's like, you know what? Maybe it's smarter.

Just play these young guys. That would be part of the reset if I were doing it that way. You know, where you... They win 84 games and the kids play all the time and they're all up here. It'd be more fun. I'll tell you that much than winning 90 and losing the first round of the playoffs or whatever. Yeah, yeah. Hey, this is Richard Deich, the host of the sports media podcast.

If you're interested in what's happening with all the places where you consume sports, the sports media podcast has you covered. I've been turning down interviews all week. I've got a copy, reached out, Oprah, George Stephanopoulos. So I said, no. I was booked. on the Deich podcast before the Taylor Swift phenomenon, I must live up to my responsibility.

Listen, wherever you get your podcasts. So, ah, it, it, there's a lot on my mind. There's a lot on all of our minds. And maybe it's starting to kind of, you know, smack us in the face of the reality with where this baseball, like, I don't, I, it really, I don't want to hear anymore about how they have, like, the best odds to win the division. I'm so tired of right now.

Because I'm also... They're one of the best teams in baseball. Like, I don't want to hear that. I know. You know? When I feel I'm stuck between... Am I not appreciating having a good baseball team enough? Versus, you know, being frustrated that they're not...

They're probably not going to win the world. So I... DeCameral say this. Evercar say it. And they're dead right in that, like, I do understand that the vast majority of my life, I've had bad Phillies baseball. You know, I know what it's like to go through long, periods of time without a chance.

And that does suck more. Like, I get it. But I also think you have to look at a team and an era and a moment or whatever with the right perspective in that this Philly's team has raised the bar for itself. Like they are no, I get it overall in the history of my life. Yes, they're one of the better Phillies teams and making the past matters. Right. But you know what?

At the end of the day for this group of guys in this moment, they have changed the bar. The bar is now winning the world series. that's what is expected and that is what we need from them. So it's like I get it and I don't disagree that on the whole like we should be appreciative of having a competitive team. But I also think that when you've been competitive for a few years, like the standard changes. And it has to change. The point is to win at the end of the day.

Like I'm good with making the playoffs over not making it. But at a certain point, you can only do the same thing over and over and over again without it changing the way you look at it. Well, and it turns into it turns into a hope thing. I mean, I feel like the fan base, and I can't believe I'm here. But like heading into the year, it's almost to the point of what's the point? Oh, yeah. Well, we talked about this last year a bit where it's like they're, this is the concern that they could head in a sixers-ish type of path.

They're there this year. Like, we'll see what happens again. If they start 30 and eight or something, if they're like the 84 tigers to start the season or whatever. 84 Tigers poll, wow. Like 35 and 3 or something start the year like that. Who's on that? Was that Cecilfielder? Kirk Gibson,

Jack Morris, Alan Trammell, Lou Whitaker. Yeah, that was a great team. But I want to say 35 and three, something like that. Some insane start to the year. But again, they've done that before.

Not the Phillies. They haven't gone 30th. No, but you know what I mean? Like, but that's my point is. I think it has to be something like that to get people really excited to start. I think that people are excited for opening day. And I think people are going to say,

wait for the playoffs. And even then, I think with the playoffs, I think there's certainly not going to be that juice until they, like, win a couple rounds or something. They went around. I think people are juiced.

I think they're like, all right, here we go. Sure. But I just, even the team, it's boring. It's just boring. I listened to the whole JT.

presser and I could be wrong, but I don't even know if I heard JT say, listen, I'm excited to be back and help this team win a World Series. No, he didn't. I don't think he did. I don't, he said he's excited to be back.

He said, this is where we always wanted to be and all that. I did not hear like, let's go win a world series. It was such a, it was such a, the vibe of the presser was, so weird because usually that's a celebratory.

We got J.T. back. He knows. They know everyone knows. Because they telegraphed into the world. We didn't want you because we could have gotten that guy, but you know what? We didn't get that guy. So we love you. Come on back. Of course. Of course it's going to be a weird. I did appreciate that J.T. said he's going to be at the facility that afternoon.

You know? And he'll get over. And I don't care how he feels. He got three or 45 million. Like he's fine. He's signed. Honestly, I think you should be ecstatic with the way this played out. get that money most likely doesn't play out this way so like yeah i think jt is is he'll get over it real fast i think the bigger issue is just the way the fan base sees it and the way you've kind of you know as an organization have just bungled it oh yeah so publicly bungled it i mean two straight off seasons and boom he put up with it pretty well last year but another another another year of hey we're

definitely going to move you i think the thing with bom is you just hope like all right like free agent push it's like all i got you know it's like hey this contract year hope for the best you know contract year 20 dingers come on man yeah okay come on boomer you know let's let's let's pull the ball in the air a little bit kid last year 11 tough to look at it's it's again we looked it up we did the thing he is he is one of the tallest like his home runs per height and size is like one of the worst in this history of the sport so in nola 60 r a r a boom only i'm an 11 home runs last year to that kind of erased from the brain erased from the brain.

So maybe they'll surprise us. Look, I will say, I think, you know, they do have the low expectations thing going somehow, all of a sudden, which even though their expectations are doing the world series,

I think everyone's kind of just like, I don't care right now. So like it's taking away from that, I guess. The pressure is a little off me. Listen, we love taking the pressure out of the field. You know,

got Nick Castiano's here being like, you guys hate us anyway. Go out and prove you wrong. Yeah. You want us to lose. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Maybe he handled the Nick thing well, too, huh?

Oh, dynamite. Dynamite. I might say, oh, well, why would anyone give you a dollar for him? It's so crazy. Well, did you see the video? Well, I'm sure he did it, because you're not on, you're not on Instagram.

No. But Jess Castianos was videotaping, Cassie in the lab. No. The other night, you want to know what he was working on? First base. Groundball's at first base. Tagging the base throwing a second, you know?

Oh, there's off. Pour it in. The Phil is clipped in. it probably sent it to everyone. Hey, Gasty, willing to play first. Sizzle real. Yeah. Will you get John Hamm to narrate it? Yeah, I mean, what do we do? Look at the side. Look at how he moves side to side.

Oh, he's so, he says a natural, a natural at first base. So people don't know. He used to be a third baseman. Those skills will translate really well to first. Yeah, he's been in right field for multiple years. It is, yeah, it's a whole cluster. It's a whole cluster down there right now. So, good times.

I appreciate the energy you've coming with today. I thought you would be more positive. Really? Yeah. No, I appreciate you. Not that you be more positive. You just,

you are much better talking yourself into things than I. Yeah. You just are. But I'm happy because I thought we were going to be bad a little bit. We are same energy. Nah, we're on the same page. I got no talking myself into it.

I really don't. I should say something to the freaking Phillies, all right? Like when you, when you've beaten it out of Jack, like, come on, guys.

I've been walking around my house, Marose. Everyone's asking me, what's going on? It's like, well, the match is straight for Freddie Perrault. Which, by the way.

The Brewers are building a real glad not to make this a Brewers podcast, but they are building a sick crop of prospect. Of course. I mean, Churrio, Jet Williams, Cooper Pratt, Hayuz Made. They have, and they,

on top of that, they have a sick, they know how to develop pitchers, whatever. The Brewers are sick. The brovers are sick. And I'm just, I want,

I just want to, this is going to be a throwback to about 2018, 2019. I just want a stupidly sick front office that's smart. I want a smart front office again. We're back to a race pod. Dude, we're kind of back to, oh my gosh, they're so old school.

What's Eric Neander up to these kids? What do they do? I mean, I'm already ready. Listen, I'm ready for the press scenario. I'm ready for the press scenario. And like, and like, you know, O-Chart is leading the Red Sox minor league hitters. Jagers is their pitching guy up there.

Rangers are Red Sox. It's just, by the way, it's, it's wrong hair. I was going to go. Like, how do we feel about this? So for those you didn't see it. as introductory press conference, a Boston reporter asked Ranger how he pronounces his name.

And Ranger said, it's Ron Hare. Yeah. And you can call him Ranger if you like, but his name is Ron Hare. Yeah. Yeah. Ouch.

It's like when Freddie Galvis was, Freddie Galbis for a month. It's like Daria Sarich Sharich. Yeah. Yeah. Well, he's going to be Ranger. Oh,

he's always Ranger. Yeah. Yeah. But like I do feel a little bad that like he didn't feel comfortable telling us this whole thing. He could have told us, range. Yeah.

Mr. Rager. I mean, Rangers. it sounds cooler than Ron. It's awesome. It really did hurt though. Like he's at the Celtics game. He looks so happy. I know.

He's got $130 million. I'm sure he's stoked. I'm sure he's thrilled. What a thrill. I'm sure he's thrilled. So, dude, good for Ranger. I'm really happy. And you know what?

Like, he, Philly's got worse. Philly's got worse. Yeah. I don't, I'm actually, listen, rotation wise, probably,

but also you have to get painter. And painter and wheel are a wildcard. We don't know. I think the bullpen's better, personally. That might be. I think the bullpen's better. It might be. And then.

I don't know. I mean, you did move strong out. Like, you know. Yeah, you got to watch big game, Brad.

Oh, I'm excited. Brad Keller is, but maybe the single most exciting thing they did this off season. Yeah. I'm in on breath. Most out of nowhere.

In on breath. So it's not that I think that they might be worse. My, my reason why I think they might be worse is not about the, it's about the guys who had great years last year of progressing. Schwerver's not hitting 56 again. No. Is Trey six-win player again?

Is he going to lead the league in batting? Probably not. Six-win player. So Trey, top-5 MVP guy, Schwerver, top-five MVP guy. Sanchez second and Cy Young. Yeah. I think that's the most repeatable probably, but... I think Sanchez finished the top five and second again.

You know, JT's already declining last year, but at least you got that two months in the middle where he was great. Harper, if you get the bump, you know, the not elite bump. I hope so, what if you wore a shirt with Nbrowski on it and said, Nott elite, question mark. Do you think that would go over well? Let's put this way. right now.

Do you think that would go well? It's a great, but you should, that'd be hilarious. Could you imagine? Debrowski's face with not elite under it? It would be one of the funnier things. I mean,

it would not be good. It would be really bad. One of the worst things of an athlete could do here. It'd be really bad. It'd be overall really bad, but I'm just talking in terms of like, like, it'd be very,

it'd be clever, clever, you know, it'd be a clever thing to do for me. Well, that was a really clever thing to do, but I agree to be horrible. I know what I'm just thinking of the,

it's funny. I'm just trying to say it's funny and clever. And we're on the, we're on the fourth year of maybe this is the year bone puts it together. Maybe this is the year that's 280. Maybe this is the year that Marr, well,

so I'm so stuck with Marsh because I think he's underrated by the fan base. But I also don't think he's great. And I think he's one of those guys. His skills don't translate to the postseason as well as the regular season. And that's a problem. It's striking out a lot.

Yes, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And there's Crawford and Centerfield. Hey. Kenny play Centerville. We'll find out. Well, and that's the thing.

As it's currently constructed, 162 of Crawford and Center and 162 of Martian left with maybe Kemp and will they sign a right? They find it to mention Auto Kemp at every freaking press. Don't worry, guys, we got Auto Kemp, everything's going to be fine, which is fine. I like Auto Kemp, but they are, they, I think they're doing Auto Kemp a disservice. They are making the fan base be like, well, at least we got Auto Kemp. Like, put a lot of pressure on Auto Kemp here.

They are. But I still with Dre Bowman's, sorry. end the third base. Sure. Just for, just for belief's sake. Just for bleep's sake. Whatever.

At least you get a 20 home run. I don't want to see Alec Bone play baseball. I'm pretty over it. I'm done. It's not fun. He's not fun to watch my baseball. Yeah. He had 287 last year.

I know he did. Yeah. He's a good hitter. I hate him. I don't hate him. I hate him on my team. That's not fair. I don't.

He's a fine person, I suppose. I just am so tired of watching. Like he is not. I don't, like, I don't, I'm a big sports. You, I'm a big sports. supposed to be fun guy. Alec Bomo

my team is not fun. Yeah, he does. He takes the joy away from the game. Sucks some of the joy out of it. No, he does. He does. He does. Like that thing was Schwerver. It's like, you know, was it smart? Was it not? Like, I think it was smart. I think that contract for him. I think he ages. Well, we've talked about the quick risk on it. But like, at least I'm going to enjoy watching Kyle Schwerver. Yeah. I can't wait to watch that guy launch balls. Like, at least I get that. You could, again, with Schwerber, you could rebuild on, re-tool on the fly while also bringing back Kyle Schwerber. It's not a disaster contract. It's a, I agree.

It's the going rate. He's a, he's a great player in baseball. 17, by the way, on the MLB top 100. Was he really? Yeah, 17.

I was, I did do fake news last time when I talked about Harper. It was 12. He's ended up 32. I mean, that's probably right. It's a right,

you know, spot for him. Yeah. But, yeah, this is, I think we're the only podcast,

probably talking this way in the Phillies, Philly's uniform, universe. Well, you think that other podcasts are happy with the, I think they're just, I think they're like, oh, listen, they are a 90 plus one baseball.

Is that really happening? It kind of feels that way. Do people want that? I don't know. I mean, I wouldn't. It's going to be, listen, we'll be here. It's 162. It's like, I hate, I can't stand the people that are like, you should just give up on them.

No. Well, no, I'm going to watch every game. I can't wait for baseball. Like, I'm really, I'm so excited for baseball. I'm more excited for my only baseball than the Phillies. That jobs. Yeah. No, I can't wait.

We're excited for fantasy baseball. No. I can't wait for fantasy. Yeah, I'm very excited. I can't have fans. Although everyone in my leagues now is like, too good.

No, it's just they take it a little too seriously in the off season. They're making off season trades of our guys. And I'm like, I can't do that. I check out. Do you guys have jobs and kids? What's going on?

How do you have time for all this? That's right. Trying to make rules and stuff. Nonsense. Yeah, I've been in a league like that where it's a, it's a 16 team dynasty league where it's like, and like, commissioners great. He's awesome.

But like he is too. great. It's like there's email chains for everything. For this rule change for this. He does this big like draft order and like it's like videos on. And like he really puts time into it and I appreciate that. But like I don't have time for that man. I know. This is just a league that I do during the season.

And otherwise I'm checking out. Okay. I know. All right. I know. It's like take bag time. Yeah. I only have a.

I figured it can't be a huge bag. No, no. Uh, congratulations to Andrew Jones and Carlos Baltron. Deserved. I think both are Hall of Famers. I think Andrew Jones particularly feels like a hall ofamer. to me of the two. I know that Beltron,

the playoffs stuff. I think they're both all-fam. I thought Beltrane was a lock. Yeah, I thought they were both. I thought they both should be in. I thought Beltrane was more likely to get in. But,

I mean, I think Jones defense gets, I mean, he's the best center field I've ever seen. Ten-time Gold Glover. He's probably the best center field I've ever seen my life.

A ten-time gold Glover that had 434 home runs as a center fuel. Yeah. I mean, that's pretty amazing. And his eight-year peak, like, what, 96 to,

wait, actually might be long, whatever. From like, 96 to 07 or something. 960 to 2006. He averaged 35 one runs a year as a center fielder. Great player, man.

Great player. And Beltron, obviously. And Beltran in the playoffs stuff, not. I'm in on valuing the peaks over longevity. That's my whole thing. Chase, shout to Chase.

Yeah, Chase is probably going to get in next year. Next year, buddy. True. High hopes. What are the deal? To do it. So, yeah, I can't wait for the Othley Hall of Fame induction. Oh, buddy.

It's going to be special. Does he take a shot at the Mets in. speech he has to have to yeah has to a good first year for hamels of the 23% 23% I was surprised by that's very good yeah his cases is when you like step back and look at it it's I don't think he's all a favorite but his case is better than I thought it was like when you look at his numbers are better than I thought they were dude uh yeah not all thing I don't think no but but my point is just more it's a better case than I thought it was all angeline had some staff from me yesterday that that uh Andrew Jones and and Beltron you know before

this class. There had been two Senator Gehlerler's elected to the Hall of Fame since it debuted after 1952. And it was it was Kirby Bucket and Ken Griffey. Wow. Yeah.

Yeah. Until this one. That's stunning. Yeah. I was, I was shocked. I am floored by this. Like I'm like only two. Only two. Only two. Oh, wow. I know. Because I mean like, you see, man's on maze and all's good for so many. Wow. I know. debuted early.

So, all right. Interest is up. And then real quick, I want to give you a rundown of, do you see next year's class first time on the ballot?

So I saw it was like, Buster Posey. No one. All right. Arieta. Jay Bruce. Philly legend are you. Oh,

two, back to back Philly Legends. I was that. Three. Estrebel Cabrera. Starlin Castro. Wow, this is unbelievable.

Wade Davis. Starling Castro, one of those guys who's got a lot more hits than you think about it. Oh, yeah. He's almost on his way.

300, $300,000. Dexter Fowler. Jeez. Todd Frazier. So I've owned every single one of these guys in fantasy. Every single one. Brett Gardner. Yep.

Jay Hap. Wow. Scott Gasmere. Lester? Lester's interesting. I mean, he's not a lot of fame, but he's got an interesting career. 200 wins. Yeah.

And look, what? Three-time World Series. Cubs and Red Sogs. I mean, that's pretty big, you know. I think Lester's a Hall of Fame. I don't know that he is. Not first balance. Yeah.

I think Lester's the best name. you've read. Lester or Hamels? Lester. Okay. Andrew Miller. I would put Andrew Miller in. So you and I are Andrew Miller Devote. Revolutionizing baseball. The guy changed him and Frank Conner should get him together as like a tandem duo. Mitch Morland. Oh my God. Why is he on the ballot? Why is he on the ballot? Mitch Morland? Do they have to put someone on the ballot if they played a certain amount of time? I think 10 years service time. You automatically get on. I think it's 10 and maybe an all-star appearance. Mitch Morland played 10 years well. Yeah. He was a no, I know he's a rocky and a

He's all over the place, but... I think he was the first basing on the 18 Red Sox. Mitch Morland. Was he? Steve Pierce. Well, Pierce was... But I think earlier as Mitch Moore. I owned him many times in Faints, too. And then Posey, Locke.

Posey's Locke. Ervin Santana. Love her. Bigger. Kyle Seeger. This is an unbelievable list of names. Joachim Soria. Love it. He doesn't like it anymore, but the Mexicution are an all-time great nickname.

Ryan Zimmerman. Ryan Zimmerman. And then Jordan Zimmerman. Ryan Zimmerman. the Nationals Hall of Fame. Yeah. I thought Ryan Zimmerman was way closer to being a hall of him. Oh, he's not.

Yeah, he's nowhere close. Yeah. David Wright has a better Hall fame case than. Yeah, David Wright has an interesting game. I don't, I wouldn't put him in, but David Wright, if we're talking peak,

David was pretty damn good for a while. Yeah. If Utley gets in, Wright has a right. Right. Right is a really good case about Lee gets. I agree. It's very similar.

Yeah. So that's next, it's so funny now because I, I remember all of these guys. Yeah, I know. It's weird. Welcome, buddy.

Welcome to my world. good. It's good. It's fun. You can have real takes on these guys. Again, like I own all of them, I think I own last year of Ryan Zimmerman. I mean, Biggir, that guy was on and off. Irvin Santana, a waiver wire legend. Love bigger. WaverWire Legends.

Waiver Wire Legends are really good way to play. Can't wait for baseball. Yeah. I'm really excited for baseball. I am. I can't wait. I just wish everyone were saying about our team. And let me put us out there too.

There's not going to be a lockout. There's not going to be a lockout. This is a bold take. Okay. They're either going to extend the CBA. or they're going to delay it a little bit. But there's going to be games in 20. I think they'll find a way.

I think it's too big of money, cash count out. You know, I will say, though, I mean, did you see, I mean,

you saw what the, do you know how much money Kyle Talker's making this year? It's the $1 million. One million. Yeah, but he's got the $64 million sounding bonus.

The point is, is they're going to change this. Like, no matter what, you're not going to be able to do with the Dodgers do. Yeah. That's the big thing

that they'll try to iron out. There's not going to be a cap. Of course it's not going to be a cap. The players will strike for the rest of time before there's a cap. I just, I don't have a, I don't have a fear of no baseball in 27. There's me,

there's me baseball in 27th. I'm a little afraid, but I'm with you. I'm more, I think they'll work it out more than, than a lot of people think it's like going to happen. Yeah, I think that's fear mongering.

Look at you. It's not like we fear mongered on this program at all. No, not fear mongers. Not today. Sadness mongers. Well, yeah. I mean, Louis Robert and Frey Peralta in back-to-back days is,

is, is top. one on top of the now the Bichette press conference was hilarious. Oh my God. How about bobshipping? Like I obviously

wanted him to get in the Mets all the time, right? Well, no, but then he really, dude? Did you see the one with Haman or Haman said, is it fair to view? This is a one year deal

and he looked at his agent. And his agent started talking because he didn't say anything. No way. Yeah. That's awesome. It's obviously a one year. I mean, we all know.

I mean, let's see it's hurt or something, you know. Yeah. And there's something in it where they could pay him $5 million to just automatically opt in or something.

I don't know. Either way, it's still an embarrassing contract. But yeah, regardless. Could have been a fill. Could have been a Phil. Got bunch. Yeah. Yeah. They let J.T. go halfway through the press conference, which is hilarious. They knew the rest of it.

Bode. He's going to get booed. Oh, he's. He's going to get Bood. But like, at the same time, everyone would have signed that contract. Oh, I don't blame him that much now. I, you know, I like crazy? it's all time great contract per player. Maybe the most player friendly deal of all time.

Maybe. It's in the discussion for sure. Yeah. It's crazy. Yeah. Crazy. So a cathartic podcast, a lot on my mind.

It's been a top couple days. Just keep putting a brave face on and really talking about stuff into Ae, Aniosaurus, which is not the most positive timeline. I think, you know, 2031 fills, man. I told everyone. Yeah.

Start getting ready. Maybe even 2028. Well, but no, we are. God. this sucks. God, this sucks. There's a pod title potentially. Yeah. It really sucks, man. It sucks. It sucks. It's, I'm like this is boring. This sucks.

Yeah, you're right. That's the change. Yeah. Well, what can you do? Keep pressing for G. We're going to keep podding through it, buddy. Yeah, we're going to be pressing the job already. Yeah, we're going to be potting until it's on. They're never going to, whatever. They're never going to want to run it serious. As long as this podcast exists. That's my luck.

Okay. I'm going to get people telling us it's not the pot if you say, I know, I know, I know, you get your little

football podcast with two Super Bowls in four years. I know, it's been tough. I'm dying. And I got this little twerp Elliot.

I know, it left the room. We did pies, I guess the throw Phillies takes it out. Shut up. We get it. You're thrilled.

Yeah. All right. Let's go talk about the OC. We'll be back at some point. Can't wait. I can't wait. I will say this, it was quite heartic.

I did have it. It's helped me. I was really mad this morning. I feel better now. I told Tucker, and you were on my level. I was like, I hope Jack's right for me. Because I was like, I'm in a bad move about this. And you came in and you brought it.

So thank you. One member of this podcast, but we were skipping this week. I did. Not skipping. No. There's no skips. No skips.

So we'll be back next week. Until then, let's ridd some seltzer.