High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Have Josh Bell Home Runs Become Funny To You?

Episode Date: March 31, 2025

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to the Phillies winning two of three in their opening series in Washington and preview today's Home Opener. Presented by Miller Lite. 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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It's Miller Time Philadelphia and Jack Fritz. It's baseball time. We've made it. We actually saw games that mattered. We lost one of them. But you know what? Two in one, a classic two in one. I think every single High Hopes listener knew that when they heard this pod it

would be about a two of three and not a sweep I don't think there was anyone watching the game yesterday for it to actually thought they would sweep so how you doing pal well first off all games matter let you know even spring training games they're all important so I want you to lock in. Totally. Guys, second off, where are you? I can't see you. I have no idea what you look like right now. This is weird. Yeah, this is weird.

It's weird. So it's so funny because it's inside baseball for everyone. So we are not in the same room. Jack is, you know, going to the ballpark to a show today. So not at the studio. So we're doing it over Skype. We can't see each other. This is how we recorded like the first, I don't know,

500 podcasts we did. And we haven't done it in years and it feels like I've never done it before. It feels so weird not being able to see you. Because my biggest concern was at one point it was, hold on, like, I don't know if I can do a pod where I have to look at you in the eye. I remember.

You would like always look away from me. I'm staring right at you. You're, you're like a tractor beam. Oh, I look right in the eyes. I don't mess around. Yeah. No, I don't. I'm not an eye. You know what I mean? I trust you. I know. I know. Yeah. Like, hold on. What? See people think, I think the biggest misconception about me is that, uh, loves the attention,

loves it, loves it, loves it. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. When the lights get too bright, I'm somewhere else. You know what I mean? So I think that's a big misconception. But, but, yeah. Honestly, it's so true. And like, if you get to know Jack, you will learn that what he just said is the truth. I'm the one who's like, hello everybody. And Jack's like, don't look at me, don't notice me. I'm over here in the corner, leave me alone. Yeah, but also definitely notice me. Yeah, you do like it when it happens though, yeah.

I can't, it's like the only part of it. But yes, the fills are back. And I think someone tweeted at us that they convert at about 40%. So I was gonna bring this up. I took it. So I have a picture of it. I think it was believed Big Tasty on Twitter. Yeah, so Big Tasty Cake. John T. Siffle on Twitter said, since you always talk about how it feels inevitable, the Phillies will fail to complete a three game sweep. Not only is it true, but it stacks up horribly. He went through and did an analysis of like all the top contending teams

over since 2019, since the Phillies have been in it. And like the best teams like the Dodgers, 78 percent sweep rate, 75 percent for the Braves, the Guardians 73, the Astros 71, 72, like all this stuff up there. The Philadelphia Phillies, 40 percent of the time. We've been right the whole time, Jack, the whole time. And the best part is, is it's not like the Phillies have been a bad team during that time. Exactly.

Haven't even been bad. They've been very good. Well, pretty good for a majority of that. They can't do it. They can't do it. The worst thing, the worst thing that happens is they win the first game this year. That's me. No things are going down But again Would definitely take it. We always take two or three. That's it If you could play win two or three all year, you're gonna have the best record in baseball

If you could put one well, there's a lot of a lot of things that I would like in my T-shirt. I wish in a perfect world as we develop our T-shirt game, you know, by the way, if you ever want to have a T-shirt, go to breaking T. We should eventually just get all the dumb sayings on the back. Oh, that'd be amazing. Oh, I mean, who let the Phil's get hot was an old one. A classic. But goody. And then we think. Amazing. Oh, I mean, who let the fills get hot was at all one class. But goody and then

we feel so back. You just said that one. That's a classic. Just a big yo big, you know what I mean? Totally a big yo. It's a great idea. We're getting a lot of ideas out

here. So well, I'm sure that's definitely going to come together at some point. Yeah, I with that'll happen. I'm sure. Yes. We're very good at executing on these things, you know? Mm-mm. We're strictly, you know what we are? We're I.B. isn't it? And someone else has that.

We just talk, all right? You're asking anything else from us, you're making a mistake. You know? I agree. All right, let's dive in, Frantzi. How you feeling? You know, was the weekend all you expected it to be? Uh, no.

Because I... Again, it's a whole life right now is a big old adjustment. Yeah, you're going through it right now. I feel like every time I hang out with you or talk to you, we somehow come back to the fact that you have two kids, two and under at the moment. Yeah, well, and it's a lot. But it's great.

It's great, but it's a lot, but it's great. Well, yesterday, I missed the first four innings because I was like, I had to go run and go grocery shopping and then go to Ace and then go get diapers somewhere else. You know, so it is what it is. I got back. I watched it. I rewatched nulls today, Saturday, you know, I had a whole idea of, oh man, like we're

going to sit outside. Well, my neighbors are bringing the TV over. We'll be outdoors and then Walker doesn't nap. And then, you know, so I'm in and out watching the game. You know, I'm like all I could think about. I mean, so last night I last night I put Walker to sleep. But what often happens when I put Walker asleep is I fall asleep. So like, like, like an idiot, I woke up at like 10 15.

He's asleep. I get out of bed Whatever and then I can't sleep because I basically just took like a 30 minute nap. So it was like 1130 at night I'm riding hazes lasardo tape and then I couldn't stop thinking about hazes lasardo. So Listen, it's all an adjustment. I'm so glad they're back I wish I could just sit down and watch a baseball game, but I don't think that's gonna happen So, you know, it's it's all good, but they're back and hazel Salazar. No, I just want to talk about him for 45 minutes Oh, dude. He was so fun. He was so nasty dude. Oh my god Like his fastball just has such life on it. It is he's awesome, man. He is so much fun 11 K's let's go 11 K's in five

minutes yeah it was awesome so the biggest thing with the Lazzardo is I don't know if it's gonna happen James I don't know if he's ever gonna be able to be an efficient pitcher because yeah five innings that's the point with five innings he only went five innings yeah there you go yeah his stuff might move too much you know he he's sort of like, he's sort of like, like Snell and Cease, you know what I mean? Where where Snell disgusting, but usually it's five innings Dylan Cease now he's getting more efficient as he's getting a little bit older, but for a majority of his career, but like he looked disgusting for five innings. And

you don't want to like tell hazes to not go all out with the stuff that he has, because it's part of what makes him a really interesting pitcher. But I can't wait for like a month from now, because I think that the more and more he works with Gotham, the more and more he works with this Philly's pitching coaching staff. You know, I just think that the upside for him is ridiculous. I mean, that was, that he let up the homerun, whatever, Kavett Ruiz had a good weekend, what fine, but it was over freaking power and stuff.

Yeah, he looked dominating. You know, again, the homer happened, and Ruiz, he was the only one who hit Wheeler, too. It's weird. He was having a good weekend, like you said, but yeah, I mean, Lazardo was the kind of stuff where it just pops. You can see it, it passes the eye test.

We're big eye test men, as you know. It just passed it. I think there are a lot of Phillies fans, obviously not listeners of this pod who've been hearing Asus Lazardo's name for literally years now on this podcast. But I think they're probably a lot of Phillies fans who, you know, don't remember really what that one playoff start was like and really had no idea what to expect. And we're probably like,

pretty blown away by the stuff that you brought. Well, and the thing is, is that I think he's just starting to tap into, you know, like the sweeper, right? That we talked about. He just learned that and he was tinkering with it in spring training. And then he saw it on, on, he was throwing, he was throwing like bullet sweepers to right handed hitters, just burying them, which isn't traditionally how it happens. He it's not the best comp because I think his stuff is better than this guy, but he really reminds me of a young Francisco Liriano.

When, like remember that first time? Yeah, young Liriano was freaking awesome. When he burst onto the scene. In Minnesota. Oh, I forgot, former Philly Francisco Liriano. I forgot, you're right, I forgot that too, wow. Who could forget, who could forget? But it's just, it's power, he can keep it down.

He added like, it's like four miles an hour harder than the average sweeper. So I think the more and more he hones that in, off of the change up, I think as the season goes along, he's probably gonna use his fastball less and less. I think as the season goes along he's probably gonna use his fastball less and less. I think he should probably use his sinker more because I think his sinker is actually better than the one that he can

throw like 98. If he could hit that sinker at 96 and kind of just follow the Chris Sanchez plan. I think that again I just think the upside is so ridiculous and it was it was just nice seeing like battle through some things because you know just being able to like battle through some things because, you know, just being able to do that and not just, you know, first time back on the mound, cave it, Ruiz took a yard and not letting that kind of unravel your entire routing, I thought was huge. So again, haven't stopped thinking about it. I love it. I love it. Yeah, he's amazing. Now he was amazing. So I want to get to the other pitchers, but I think we'd be remiss.

We're already 10 minutes into the pod. We have not mentioned the Bats, the Shadows, Trey with the injury. You know, well, as excited as I am about Lizardo, I think, you know, we came in saying, all right, Trey Turner, like most important guy in a lot of ways and was not a great first weekend for Trey Jack and the shadows and the bats and the Sunday hitting and, you know, Mitchell Parker and Mackenzie Gore, who are both, you know, talented young pitchers so much time and again, it's the first weekend. You know, I'm not going to overreact, but you feeling about the whole thing? Well, was it 17 and a third against national starters and they scored two, two runs? Mm hmm. Yeah.

The, you know, Mackenzie Gore to start the year like that, it was just, and look, he would, the pitches were around the zone. Like he was, he was good, you know, but. Well, I think I think they were the pitches were around the zone. Like he was he was good, you know, but well, I think I think they were surprised at how in the zone. I think so too. Yeah, they're like, well, he's eventually gonna fall out of the zone. They were just falling behind no one or two late. It felt like every batter. Yeah, yeah. And the national bullpen just continues to like they they almost came

back in the night yesterday. You know, they brought me they brought in that kid that was working at Home Depot and walked the bases loaded or two walks and a hit. And then, yeah, they couldn't ultimately break through against the brain. And then again, is just going to pitch against us until I mean, you're going to be in your 50s, James. Oh, I know. And and Brandon Finnegan is still going to be. I feel like I've seen him just so many, so many times already. Yeah, yeah. He's gotten really good.

It's fine. They I'll give I'll give him mostly a pass on the on the first game. I mean, so it's not even just the shadows. There's also a glare in centerfield that affects everything. So I think it's like a I think it's like a unwritten thing in baseball, like especially even when you're down there and through the players, that playing at four o'clock at Nats Park is a waste of everyone's time. I mean, I don't think that Bohm has the reaction

he has after the game. First off, Bohm never shows emotion. Well, he shows emotion, but not positive emotion. He, after the game, was just like, this is stupid, right? We should all. He basically was like, hey, maybe we should not play at four o'clock so we can give him a good product.

He was indignant about it. You're right, it did not sound like Alec Bohm when he was talking, because you never hear him talk that. We'll see him, like you've talked about, freak out in the dugout, you never hear him talk that animatedly. And by the way, right after the game, it was right back to old Alec,

in the post-game pressers are posting availability. Barely, you know, barely lifting his voice. Super boring. Yeah, exactly. I know. I know. So, you know, first game, obviously, whatever they came back, scored a lot of runs and Saturday, Saturday they scored 11 runs.

I'm, it can't be too down about that. I think the, like everyone's obviously obsessed with the approaches. And I know the first game, I think, sent shivers down their spine, you know, at the first six innings. But I think for the most part, it's been fine. Look, they're second or third in the league in walks. I mean, you like to see that.

Well, Cassie, I always say it's four. It's unbelievable. I know. I don't think he's happy about it. I know, I know. I think Cassie hates I always has four. It's unbelievable. I know. And I don't think he's happy about it. I know, I know. I think Cassie hates walking. I do too. Like he walked, I think in game one, and I think he like threw his bat down.

He absolutely threw his bat down, without a doubt threw his bat down. Yeah. So I don't know. Obviously we'll see how, the Rockies should not be a problem, even though they added Mickey, you know, so watch out for the Rockies. Uh-uh really the the big test is gonna be obviously these next two weekends against the again Our next two series against the Dodgers and Dodgers and Braves and the the winless Braves by the way, Jane Oh and for buddy. How about your boy last night? I mean you I thought you were gonna say you woke up and you watch Nick Pivetta twirl a masterpiece That's what I thought you were going to say you woke up and you watch Nick Pavetta twirl a masterpiece.

That's what I thought you were going to say. No, again, I'm over Nick. You know, it's right when he gets good. I think this is a good bit by you. You know, you know, it's already over. He's he's he's long gone. You want I was right. Good. Yeah, you want I get it.

It's good, dude. Seven shot against the brain. One hit. Nick Pivetta doing that just, I can't compute it. I know. It's so ridiculous. Because every time he pitched against the Braves here, he had a meltdown.

There's a zero percent chance he's going to pitch well. He could not handle it. So, so, so, yeah, I don't know. I just I think the biggest thing that that I'm encouraged by off the weekend is, I think I'm just seeing them taking this whole thing more seriously. Me, dude, that's, so that's my number one takeaway too.

I totally agree. The no, the no daycare stuff, they're not messing around. Like it feels like they're, they're serious. It's a, it's a workman's leg approach. Now at the same time, you don't want them to lose the It's it's a it's a workman's like approach now. At the same time, you don't want them to lose the fun because it is a it is one hundred and sixty two game season. So although one hundred and fifty eight now, you get the point. It's a long season.

Nine bad math, whatever there there's there's there's ups and downs. That's going to get it. Start getting hot. They're going to get started getting annoyed with each other. I think it's I think it's hard to be like dead serious all the time. You know, I want them to at least still show some emotion and maybe they're like looking at what the Eagles did and said, look, they were, they're a business, like at the same time they play once a week, so it's, it's a little bit easier and football.

I think it's more natural to be locked in. So I appreciate it from the beginning of the season. I hope it's something they can keep up, but I don't want them to like lose the ability to have fun playing baseball because the long season, I think you'll drive yourself nuts, but at least for the first weekend, you know, the, the no post game water dumps, the no daycare and, and really Bryce, like I think Bryce from a leadership standpoint, it looks like to me, he's taking the bull by the horns here and saying, like I'm, cause it's his legacy that's on the line.

And I think he's just like, all right, I'm gonna put more of this on my shoulders and it's creating a nice dynamic where Swarbr is the, you're a great player, be a great player. It's a long season, you'll be fine. And Bryce a little bit more of the we got a lock-in guy. I think it could create a really nice dynamic. I think it's it's huge, honestly. I think it's so important for this team. We've talked a lot and look I think you know Schwab, he's clearly a great leader. The stuff Dombrowski said about him, all

that stuff, he's important in that forum. And, you know, your best player doesn't have to be your leader, but people look to the best player on the team. People look towards that guy, whether they're a leader or not. They're going to look to them for leadership. It's just going to happen, especially when you're not only the best player on the team, but you're like by far the most famous and are, you know, one of the most famous players in the sport. Like you're there is a, a, a, like a leadership expectation that comes with that role.

Like, and Bryce has always, you know, it's not like he has sharked leadership, but it's never felt like what, like we just talked about where it's always like, oh, it's the leader of the team. Oh, it's Kyle Schwerber. Like if Bryce can do it, if he get to your point, take take the bull by the horns like that is the best setup for this team like Bryce Harper should be the leader of this team if he is capable and willing and it seems like both of those things are occurring well because I think I think Bryce's leadership is of the almost Utley ish way which is we see what I do and do it. Yeah. Yeah. And that's

great when you have rounds. And when you have a worth and a Howard and a veteran team, which the Phillies are a veteran team. But again, just the first game, how we talked before the game, how he the most striking thing that Bryce said before the game was, I want the young guys to put the pressure on us. Yeah. Like put the pressure on me, JT, Schwerber, Trey, Castellanos.

And what's funny about that is that the young guys are 28 and 27. I know, I know. It's not, and they've been here for a good amount of time, but still you get the point. They, cause I think that that's the thing with BOM, is that BOM puts a ton of pressure on himself. They've been here for a good amount of time, but still you get the point. Because I think that that's the thing with Boehm is that Boehm puts a ton of pressure on himself and it ends up hurting him rather than helping him. And I just love that.

I love that message. And when you're star, you're one of the faces of baseball that has put it on us, we'll handle it. I love that. So I thought before the game was interesting, you know, he just said the day cares over I It was only one weekend But I think the bright step up in in leadership and kind of again taking over this thing was it was really noticeable Yeah, I'm so with you and I love that Bryce said that too. I think that's an example of I think he's saying the right things

Now, I don't think that that actually ends up being true. I. I think that's an example of, I think he's saying the right things now. I don't think that that actually ends up being true. I don't think there's any way for those guys to avoid pressure. If pressure finds you, it finds you. But I do appreciate Bryce saying that and putting that out there. And to your point overall, taking more of a leadership role. And I agree with you. I think it's because he knows. You know, at the end of the day, all these guys want to win. Like, there's only one guy where it's like, the his whole legacy is

dependent. Like, look, everyone's legacy is dependent upon winning. We know that in sports rings help create legacies, and they're part of legacies and all that. But as great as as a lot of these guys are, and Zach Wheeler, you know, is truly great. Like none of them have what Bryce has on his shoulders. None of them have that, you know, pressure to be the one of the greatest of all time. Have come into the league with that. Have won the two MVPs, have been one of the best players in the sport for over a decade. Like he has all that stuff on his shoulders already. And when you're those guys, the top of the top guys, like, it's

going to be one of the first things mentioned like Barry Bonds, you know, the best hitter I've ever seen in my life. We've talked about it. But him not winning World Series, even though he's great in the one World Series he was in is one of the first things you think of when you think about Barry Bonds is legacy. Like it is just, it's just part of the deal. And I think Bryce knows that. And he's trying to do everything he can to win a championship. That's one of the things to think about with thons. There are others yes. He was a really good fielder too is that what you're talking about? Yeah yeah yeah well and

and I think I brought this up on the air you know let's say God forbid they don't want a title, which I try not to think about often because it makes me sad. But let's say they never want a title when it's all said and done. No one's going to say Zach Wheeler wasn't one of the best big game pitchers that we've seen. Totally. And, and, you know, I think there obviously will be some NOLA thing if they never want a title, you know, it's's just gonna happen by the way. I mean

NOLA is just he's gonna end he's gonna finish his career at second most strikeouts in the in team history He's already he's gonna pass shilling and and not already passionate He's gonna pass Robin Roberts this year and someone else. I just like it's he's gonna pass 10 years of service time this year James which feels Ridiculous it's he's gonna pass 10 years of service time this year James which feels Ridiculous it does he I mean when it's all said and done Someone's I can just tell Jillio at some point is gonna make a Hall of Fame case for Aaron Oh, like I could just sense it because it's probably gonna end his career with 2500 strikeouts. I mean he's at 1780 something now. He's probably going to get to 2500 if

things go well. If he stays on the path that he's been on. Yeah. Yeah. But yeah. So like Wheeler's legacy, I think winning a World Series obviously actually really helped his Hall of Fame case because he's like, he's kind of putting together a Kelsey like run here. like Kelsey from Kelsey was Almost getting traded before the 2017 season and then you and then you ripped off six straight six or seven straight first team all-pros And we are just kind of doing that right now But like Harper's the one actual already has a ring. Everyone knows that Trey already has a ring

It's it's really Harper. It's Harper that it's the perfect cherry on top to what has been a pretty charmed baseball life. And like, again, Sports Illustrated at 16, graduating high school and going to college and being in an overall pick and debuting and the MVP in 15 and hitting Benlam at the bank the MVP in 20. It just it feels so right and so perfect that

to close this whole thing out he'll probably get the 500 home runs but it's just it just doesn't hit the same without a ring it just doesn't. I mean, Schmidt got one. He won MVP and World Series MVP and he got one. Harper needs to get one. Yeah, has to get one for for for for again, a cherry on top on what was a what is an unbelievable career. Yeah, no, he has to get one.

I agree for his resume to be full, so to speak. And look to that point to or to the Harper point about him knowing that, it's because, like we've talked about so many times, I don't ever remember an athlete who knew more what it meant for his legacy for him to win.

Like Bryce Harper is such a baseball nerd. Like, you know, we've heard him on the broadcast, all that stuff, like he is baseball and nothing else. You know, it's all the guy cares about, and he cares've heard him on the broadcast, all that stuff like he is, he is baseball and nothing else. You know, it's all the guy cares about and he cares about the history of the game and he loves the history of the game and all that stuff. So it's, it's not just that that he needs it for his legacy. It's that he knows how much he needs it for his legacy and that fuels it even more. I just I desperately want this guy to win a title. Jack, like I really it's we really

need to get this guy a title, man. Like I really know it would be really a true it would be a tragedy. You know, tragedy, there are real tragedies in life. I get it. But in terms of sports, this would be a sports tragedy if he doesn't get a World Series title. Yeah. Yeah. So again, good signs in the first week. And by the way, he's ripping the baseball. Oh, that was a tank shot on Thursday. Tank shot. And a couple just hard hit singles. Maybe a nice little 300 average year for Bryce, maybe.

Maybe, maybe, maybe. But yes, Schwab returns out pretty good. My fan, there were like 8,000 people who tweeted it, but I liked every single one of them. Maybe. But yes, Schwab returns out pretty good. We have my fan. I there were like eight thousand people who tweeted it, but I liked every single one of them. The the fact that he had the solo homer in the clean up spot and then

the three on shot when he's leading off is just a chef's kiss. Like, it's so perfect. It's just so freaking funny. Do you think Rob Thompson like winged the fan base yesterday? I guarantee you, Rob was like, you're damn right, man.

You're damn right. You sit there like you're damn right. Okay. Just so you guys get it. Well, not only did he put Schwerberg back in the leadoff spot, he put Bohm too. I know. Which might be the slowest, which is a slower one too. That or Hoskins. Or Schwerberg and Hoskins. I think it's Schwerberg and Hoskins, but it's close. Dude, I actually don't think, I think Bohm is slower than Hoskins. You think Bohm is slower? He might be be he might there they are in the same hemisphere

That's for sure. He is he is So slow. I mean it's odd. It is unbelievable for how tall he is Like I mean he's grounded you would go fast enough just based on the amount of ground He covers with each step like it's crazy Can't do it. Yeah, That's why grounds into so many double plays. Oh, I know. I know. When he swung first pitch. Yes, I know. It was only it was only game three. I told myself that over and over again. It's only game three. But I was seeing

red. I was I was guessing you were not the only one at that at that point. Yeah. It was I mean, it's a national ballpen. Let them be the national ballpen. You don't think first pitch and. You know, he strike the whole offseason was like, oh, well, you know, you need that kind of bat in the lineup.

It doesn't strike out. Well, he swings a bunch of first pitches and doesn't always do whatever. It's fine. Only game three. Not going to overreact to the big hit in game one. So it all evens out. But take a pitch.

All right. Yeah, please. A couple of things before we get to the tape bag. Back to Turner real quick, because we didn't really talk about it much. But are you at all? Are you concerned at all about the back spasms? Is this just like a no big deal type thing or does it worry you? So here's what I can't figure out. What is the back spasm?

I feel like I had back spasm. Yeah. Is it just like back pain? Like we, you know. I don't know. What does that mean? Is it like his back like actually spasming and he's like shaking?

I doubt it. That's what I can't tell. Because I have little spasm. Yeah. I'm going to say I doubt it is my guess. I would assume they're more painful than that. So, so yeah, I just, obviously I hate everything. I mean, like with a back, whenever I hear back, I get...

It's not good. And he said that he's never dealt with anything like this before, I believe. So definitely don't love that. But I guess he's probably going to be in the lineup today and we'll see how it looks. I thought he was probably not going to be in the lineup today. And we'll see how- Is he? I thought he was probably not gonna be in the lineup today. Is he gonna be in the- Thompson said he's hoping that he can get here in the lineup today. But at the same time, I guess because he's a home opener

and he wanted to do all the pomp and circumstance, but you could just sit him today and have him back on Wednesday and give it a few more days but whatever. So I just always at the back I'm always concerned because what's talked about last year is I felt like the hamstring really hampered what was it. He was playing really well and the hamstring happened and it kind of obviously fell apart in a way. But yeah I I mean, I hope he's in there today. I wouldn't hate if he's out today, but I get it, it's the home opener.

You want everyone to play. And, you know, hopefully the best. Yeah, yeah. I want him to make sure he's healthy. Like, obviously don't push it or whatever because it's the home opener, but it's just frustrating. You know, I think a lot, you know,

we were all ready for Trey to kind of do something and then it's like oh he's out. Well and what's stunk is I really like the lineup on opening day I mean I liked Harper in the two spot I liked Bum in the three spot because having someone that can control the bat in that situation with either Harper on for you know Harper returner on the faces and you gotta get a job done whether that's a ball the outfield or or hitting the ball to the right side and letting those guys kind of go first or third whatever I like the bomb and I like I do like Schwerberg in the four spot you know I don't think it matters where he hits I

think he's gonna be okay I did not think I what are we doing with JT the five spots and then clean up yeah and then he was clean up the next day like what are we doing? Okay, see the five spots? Oh, and then clean up Yeah, and then he was clean up the next day. Like what are we doing? It's insanity. Are they saying something that we're not apparently I get that he's one of the leaders and I get that Eight or whatever, you know, like what are we doing here? Just put Kassianos there. Kassianos is clearly a better hitter. Like, it's not even, they're not in the same hemisphere

as hitters right now. Well, and what I find interesting is, you know, they're all about how these guys feel, right? And it's, you know, this guy likes sitting here, this guy likes sitting here. Kassian here Cassiano's I said like multiple times I like hitting higher in the line. Yeah, because I'm surrounded by hitters and they're still like no you're gonna hit and It's not like again. It's not like he's he was there like second most productive hitter for a good portion of season last year

It's not like this is not the beginning of last year cascana So and he's walked four times again. It's that he's not chasing. He's he's locking in he If they go back to the lineup when they go back to the lineup just put cascana sir. I'm sorry. It's not that hard Yeah, I'm dude. I'm 100% with you. The real muter thing is is crazy to me I made no sense when I saw the lineup bite. I I got nothing I got nothing and he's looked horrible Obviously to obviously had that triple quote unquote in game one. That's the ball. Yeah I mean you gotta use in your glove buddy. Like what are we by the way?

Tough tough opening weekend for Dylan Cruz. What are you sure I got nine straight? I think it might yeah I like I think was a record right? It was something like that. Yeah Not a great start for Dillon Cruz. He's gonna be fine. I wasn't the biggest Cruz guy. The Nationals have done this rebuild thing. They've really gotten bailed out by that Soto trade. Oh, I know, getting Wood and Abrams and all that, yeah.

Because the other draft picks, well, Gore too. Oh yeah, and Gore too, wow. That was a great trade. Wow. Oh, so interesting about the trade at the time is that a lot of those guys had fallen off pedigree wise besides wood. Yeah. Wood was still highly ranked. Yeah. Dude, dude, James would flipping that ball off of Luzzardo to the left field wall. I know. I know. Jarring. It was jarring. But without that trade, it's it's Cruz. It's they have some other kids that like Brady House, but he's I think he's just a guy. They did another top five pick who's not even one of their

top top 10 prospects. They've gotten they've gotten dealt up by that trade, but we don't need to do national breakdowns. Now that was the extent of it right there. We're done. We're it's over. Oh, oh, speaking of national. You got more? Oh, good. Yeah. But whatever. So listen, I know they lost, but

you know, it's kind of funny now when Josh Bell hits home run. Oh, yeah. So is it funny? I think it's her actually turned. I was so sure he was going to hit home run in that side, too. I was like, I will bet everything I have. Plus, who tweeted it out? I saw something. Hold on. I think I took a picture of it where it was like I think it was maybe John Foley tweeted out. But we're actually like it's a list of the players with a certain number of it, where it was like, I think it was maybe John Foley tweeted out, but where actually like it's a list of the players with a certain number of here it is.

So yeah, it was John Foley tweeted out. So entering today and this is prior to the homer, Josh Bell was one of 10 active major league hitters with at least 15 home runs and an OPS over 850 against the Phillies. The other players on this list are Freddie Freeman, Bryce Harper, ironically, Juan Soto, Matt Olson, Anthony Rendon, Austin Riley, Ronald Acuna, Andrew McCutcheon, and then it's Michael Conferto and Josh Bell are the two like, we kill the Phillies more than we kill other teams. Everyone else is just a great player who kills everyone. Yeah, well, Conferto was a legend up with the Mets. So, I'm not looking forward to Coforto if the Phillies play the Dodgers in the NLCS.

I forgot they picked him up. That's great. Oh, yeah. Turns out the Dodgers are pretty good. Not a hot star for Roki Sasaki though. No, no, no. There's still five of five or whatever it is. Yeah, there's still five and there's

still five. No. So, yeah. But I don't know. When Josh Bell hit the home run, it was kind of like nature's healing in a way. That's the way I would have gone with it. But yeah, sure. I like it.

It's kind of funny now. It's now when he gets dealt midseason. And he did it in the playoffs. It's less funny. Yes. Now when he gets dealt mid season. And he did it in the playoffs, it's less funny. Yes, you're right. When it's on the Nationals, it's like, oh, it's adorable. Look at Josh Bell. I don't think, I still, I think he's number one for me.

Because like Ryan Braun. No, because again, all the others are great players. Like he is like, Josh Bell becomes a superstar when he plays the Phillies. Everyone else is usually already a superstar. Yeah, Brian McCann, Freeman. I got it. These guys were all multiple time all stars or Hall of Famers in some cases. Yeah, when we're doing that, when we're doing this podcast 20 to 25 years from now, we're going to be telling people about the Josh Bell run. Yes, we will. You're right. 2019 to 2025 and then what it was like.

Yeah, it is. It is unlike anything else. I mean, especially because he's like he's like bounce around the freaking league. It's so crazy. All right. And he always ends up playing in the Phillies. Of course, he does. I mean, it's the Padres, Marlins. It's always a national league team, it seems to them. Yes. It's remarkable. He was a guardian. I think the guardians picked him up the weekend before they went out there a couple years

ago and it was Bryce's debut at first base. He was in Arizona last year I think when they went down there to play them. It's just they know what to do. Trey is not in the line. Yeah I just saw that. So JT bag in line, Trey in the line, which we're good with. Give him the extra rest, you know, if you've got a bag thing. All right, two more things from me and then we'll get to the take bag and maybe these things are already in there. But Nola first. I thought, you know, it wasn't great, but I thought Nola was okay yesterday.

I didn't think he was as bad as the five runs. What did you think of Noli? Yes, sir. I Thought he was mostly fine. I know the home runs happened. He I didn't know I guess Watching a lot or watching the stars last year. Did he give up 30 homers last year? I didn't realize he No, dude. I know he did it again somehow Again, that's a Hall of Famer. But yeah, I thought, again, he struck out a ton of guys, which is nice, he did keep the ball down.

I thought he was actually, I think that umpire does not work well with Nolan because Nolan needs that down and away pitch and he was not giving it to him. So obviously you don't want to see the home runs happen you want more solo shots rather than obviously the multi run home runs but I thought for the most part he was fine. It was a vintage performance we've seen that a thousand times he's gonna go out and be fine his next start.

I thought it was good that he was down in the zone. I thought that was important. And I'm not overly concerned. I thought Nola was mostly okay, made a couple bad pitches and they came back to bite him. All right. And then Jordan Romano, your thoughts? Oh, he's fine. I thought the first... So my honest reaction was he did the first pitch slider that should have been called strike and I thought he hurt himself because his next pitch is like 93 is his slider lost all movement But I thought after he hit the guy and he got at least an out Then at least it was nice to the fastball come back up to like 97 and he got the bite back on the slider

So again, not a great first start for first outing But I didn't think it was it wasn't a super big cost for concern because I thought the fastball got better as the outing Went on. All right I have one more thing, but I'll see if you get to it in the take back if not I'll fire to at the end. So let's take back it. Okay. Well, there's a couple of travesties that are currently happening. One in the search, I'm getting live updates from the from the beat guys. So gelt, we did out. So they're not they enclosed the opposing bullpen and what's the see?

You can't heckle them anymore. Oh, now, while they're still in the mound, they can. But but there is an internal thing where they can go hide if they want. I mean, I listen, the touch push is enough to take this away on top of maybe the touch push is again. This is just it's just soft. It's unbelievable. It's unbelievable. It's unbelievable.

Like that is part of going to a Phillies game is heckling guys in the bullpen. And I don't know whose decision that was, but not happy about it. Yeah, this is an outrageous decision. Like I don't have words for it. I'm disappointed in this decision. Whoever decided that this was the way to go. I'm disappointed in this decision. Whoever decided that this was the

way to go, I'm incredibly disappointed in you. That's really all I have. Yeah, I don't like that at all. I don't like that one bit. Also, while we've been doing the podcast, Victus, who does a lot of the filly's bats. So this is what I was going to ask about the torpedo bats at the end. So let's get into it. Very important stuff. He said he said you might see some torpedo bats this week. All right, so just go. Torpedo bats go and then we'll get into the fillies part of it. But go. So I don't get it, right? I don't understand why you can all of a sudden make the sweet spot bigger. How is it all of a sudden part is where I'm like,

how is this just happening? Like if you eat, fine, you could do it. Like how has no one thought to do this before? How is this just some MIT physicist now, 150 years into baseball being played, it's like, oh, I got an idea. What? Well, and where was it in spring?

I mean, I don't think they use it since, I don't think they use it. I don't think they did either. Yeah, it's a good point. Just all of a sudden, the Yankees are hitting 700 home runs this weekend. And except judge is too good to not use it. Yeah.

He made 75 home runs, but he's like, no, I don't need it. Anyway. Yeah, I don't get it. You know, I want the fillies to use it. Obviously it looks like sure. Why not? They've deemed it legal for now. You know, they've deemed it legal for now. We'll see. I don't until I see the fillies use it. I don't think it should be illegal unless it's like outside the the restrictions as to what a major league back can be. But I need the Phillies to get their shipment in ASAP.

That's for sure. Yeah, that's really the number one thing is like, get the bats. What are we doing here? And why did this not get done before? But yeah, to your point, look, if it's within the rules, I don't know what they can do to change it now. Right. Like in season, I don't know what you do. But at the same time, I do think that there is a chance that this becomes

one of the bigger talking points of the entire season. And I think that's something that baseball probably doesn't want. So I know. But it's a fascinating one. But do they want do they want home runs and offense? You know, so it's a it's a balance because it's it's a fascinating one. But do they want do they want home runs and offense? You know, so it's a it's a balance because it's it's not spider attack. You know what I mean? No, I agree. Again, my my gut says let it let it go. I'm with you. I'm just saying that that it is the kind of thing that if it depends

on how it's it's like the perspective people have on it, how it sold us all this stuff. But if people look at it as cheating, it's gonna be a thing, you know? Well, I think the first team using it being the Yankees, I probably won't help. You know what I mean? Oh, you're damn right about that, buddy. Yeah, no doubt, no doubt.

The Yankees, the Yankees get all the race. It was the Marlins, and they were scoring a few extra runs. We were like, oh, look at the adorable Marlins trying to get any edge they can. How about it? Yep. Yeah, so I'm not outraged by it.

I want to see how it works. I mean, I give them a lot of credit more than anything. I'm like, good for you. I wish we had thought of this first and I can't believe no one thought of it before. That's my first thought is like, good job thinking of this. Yep.

So, and hopefully the Phillies can get them ASAP. I need to Harper and a Harper and a torpedo bat stat. So only a couple things here in the take back. Oh, I want to talk about Carlos Hernandez. Yeah, wasn't a great first outing for Luce. Yeah, I, again, I think he's gonna be work in progress. I'm fine starting him in low lever spots. That's what they did.

And I still think the stuff plays. He threw a 90 mile an hour splitter that went on a guy. The 98 was there. I want to see it pick back up. I think they'll eventually find a way to get more spin or get a better shape on his curveball slider pitch or whatever. But I think it was a good again. I didn't think it was a disaster. I thought he flashed in things and obviously home run happened but I thought mostly fine. Everyone else in

the bullpen you know that Kirk in the first game was ridiculous. It was the most unlucky inning I've ever seen. I'm believing. Yeah. I we I've seen Tanner banks twice in so far, which has been a delight. Um, but yeah, I mean, the bullpen's a bullpen there. They need someone to pop, but the four they have there are the studs you feel pretty good about. You feel pretty good about. So, um, Wheeler was Wheeler, Nola was Nola, and Lazardo was tantalizing. So that's the... That's well done right there. That was good work by you.

The biggest thing to me that happened in the first weekend is that the stump of fans trivia question is back and as a kid growing up that was a staple and I'm sad that it went away but the some fans trivia question being back now they just need to bring back the the the home run jackpot. Oh buddy. They got to bring back the birthday shout outs. I just bring it back to the to the era of baseball that we grew up on I was I Streaked when I saw

Sure your question was back. I'm so happy. I was like this is this is again a sign that Nature's healing that we got the trivia questions back. I Love I couldn't agree with you more. I've got a similar reaction. I reaction. I'm sure. Oh, I love, dude, I love it so much. Anything that, I mean, anything that brings me back to that time, I'm just fully in on, especially with baseball, you know, especially, you know, why not? Well, dude, it's so weird. It's so weird. The little, the little things that trigger.

Totally. Earlier memories. So I got a new car over the weekend, very excited. Shout out to Scott Honda. But so it's a prologue, so it's completely electric. And I know it's awesome, drives so smooth. But I guess it is made by GM, so it's a GM Honda collaboration.

And the horn on it when I go to lock it is just like the it hasn't changed since like my dad, my dad had a Tahoe growing up and I heard the horn for the first time since I was like 10 and I was like, I'm back. That's like, whoa. Oh, it was so weird. It was so weird. I was like, Dad, listen to the's like, it was so weird. It was so weird. I was like, dad, listen to the horn. And he, he wasn't as shocked as I was.

He's like, yeah, whatever, Jack. All right, cool. Why did you bother me with this? You're 31, you big loser. I was like, dad, look, just like, well, it's like, dad, remember? Jack, remember? Can we have a catch?

Remember remember Come here to catch Just kidding And then final thing pretty sick pretty sick thing Then after years of talking about the Philly studio yearbook and just wanting a small small cameo Maybe even just the voice in it. But I made the Eagles video yearbook. Philly's video yearbook. That actually is one of the funniest things that could ever happen. Honestly, I pray that whoever made the video yearbook is a High Hopes fan

and did it just as a bit because that's it's hilarious if so. Yeah, dude. Yeah. And again, I'm just like you, James, I'm still basking in the glory of being a student folks fan. Oh, I know you are. I know you are. I know you are. We're just champs, you know? I feel like a champ every day, you know?

It's really, it's a beautiful thing. Exactly. Yeah, it's nice. Exactly. I want Bryce Harper to feel that, okay? I know. Moniac's not in the lineup for the Rockies today. That is a sick thing.

Please get your priorities in order. And and yeah, I think that's that's pretty much it. That's definitely it, I think. All right. If you are listening to this quickly, assuming Tucker puts it out quickly, you never know with Tucker, but assuming he does, come say hi to the game. We'll be down at the game,

certainly at least for part of the game. I know Jack's doing his show. Are you going? I'm going to the game, buddy. I will be there today. How about that? Down at the ballpark. Let's see that one coming.

I know, I like to shock people. So come say hi. If not, we will have a pod up after the Rockies series. And... Wow, and I'm doing post-game, so there'll be... And post-game, of course, every morning. The post-game will be up in your feed, or night, depending on how late Tucker stays up to post it, right?

Yeah, well, the game's a three, so I hope it's not that bad. Yeah, I was talking more in general, but yes, you're right. It is a three o'clock game today. Thank God. All right, so keep your eye out for those pods. We'll be back together later in the week. And two or three, Fritzie? We go with the two or three here? Always two or three, always two or three.

Good to be back, love the Fills. And talk to you soon. Love the Fills. All right, he's frozen himself.