High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - High Hopes Chapter 1: Are The Phillies Waiting For The Deadline?

Episode Date: February 7, 2024

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz discuss John Rojas's development and if the Phillies will make another move before the start of the season. 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

All-star closer, Kenley Jansen, we have a question. What's the best podcast of all time? Baseball Isn't Boring, baby. I'm Rob Bradford, and every single day I'm sitting down with the biggest names to show you this great game is the greatest game. It's my podcast. It's my passion. It's a cause I started more than two years ago and is now the most prolific national daily baseball pod there is.

Another fact, so jump aboard the B.I.B. Express. Follow and listen to Baseball Isn't Boring, presented by Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. I just got tired of the, you know, well, this is boring, so I just booked Dave Dombrowski for the morning show for us. So we had something to talk about. You're welcome, everybody.

No, yeah. No big deal. Could not care less. I'm here for IOPs. This is not a shot at Joe DiCamera or John Ritchie or yourself. I don't care what you guys have to say about the Dave Dabrowski interview. I care about what I have to say. I think everyone does.

That's why I did it. I did it so that we could hear what you had to say. No one else really cares. So you're welcome. Correct. It was fine. It was good. He's amazing.

I would like to say that in the history of this pod, we've had some really great takes. We've nailed some stuff. I mean, I would like to say that in the history of this, this pod, we've had some really great takes, you know, we've nailed some stuff. I mean, we've done some things, you know, got Bryce Harper here, save tree,

Turner's career, all that type of stuff. But I think the single, like most on point we've ever been was when we absolutely adored the Dave Dombrowski. When we were like, what a hire nailed this going to turn the franchise around. And we like, I mean, it started. When we were like, what a hire. Nailed this. Going to turn the franchise around and we like,

I mean, it's almost, we just nailed it. Exactly. Best take in the history of the podcast. Good job by us, man. He's a really good talker.

He's a great talker. Obvious. Knows how to say something without not saying anything. Yeah, but also giving you enough. Like, it's not one of those things

where you're like, you didn't say anything. It's like he gives you something, but it's smooth, man. Yeah, he's smooth. Very good at this. He's very good at this. Like, it's not one of those things where you're like, you didn't say anything. It's like, he gives you something, but it's smooth, man. Yeah, he's smooth. Very good at this. He's very good at this. Good, yes.

And yeah, like, the Rojas thing is one of the biggest takeaways from it. Dude, he went out of his way to mention Rojas

and then Joe wisely followed up on it, but in that first answer, he just kept saying, and Rojas, and Rojas. Yeah. Which you were all over. You know, I asked you like a month plus ago you know do you buy that that rojas is

is the guy they want to be the center fielder and you were in on it yeah and it's it's obviously going to be a big uh you know it is a gamble you know and the rojas thing is interesting because again the the 302 was probably the the fakest three years I've seen in my entire life yes um we saw what happened in the postseason I think it's I think you go almost too far worrying about what he did in the postseason he was in double a to start the year and he's tasked with again he's just batting ninth like it it killed him in game seven well it's because of big spots big spots yeah It really didn't backfire until game seven. And by the way, you talked about that,

the Trey Turner play last pod, where you're like the biggest forgotten defensive play ever. That Rojas play against the Braves, they might not win the series without that play. You know, we conveniently forget about that. Yeah, listen. I'm starting to look back on the 2023 highlights and i i let out a smile me too i let out a little bit i'm like the the pain

will always be there i'll always remember it of course but i'm but i'm i'm i'm not over it's the wrong phrase but i've moved on you know i mean i moved on to 2024 and i'm very excited me too that's where i'm at so but but rojas it's it's the biggest it reminds me so much and if it's funny it's the same position but a couple years ago when they went to the year and it was like all right it's gonna be hazley monia it just did and they remember that remember the uh the panic simone muziati simone muziati was roman quinn in there for a minute or two? Had to have been for a minute.

Simon Muziati got some plays out there. Yeah, some starts out there. I think he made his debut against the Mets because that's when Haseley just left in the middle of the series. Yeah, that was tough. So it reminds me a lot of that gamble that they're making with Rojas. It feels eerily similar to that. Now, the good part is is that like the rest is pretty much set well also there is a big big difference there in that he is light

years a better fielder than any of those guys you talked about like he is in a truly valuable he is a truly elite center fielder which provides on its own like regardless of the bat is valuable in a different way than those other guys yeah Yeah. I think they are clearly higher on Johan Rojas than I think that the general public is. And that's usually how teams are with their guys. And I think the things you see of him bulking up down in Clearwater is exciting. FaceTiming, hitting coaches, getting work in.

And that stuff's great. It's important and it matters. It's just, I don't know how much you can do to help pitch recognition. Like, I think almost being able to see pitches out of hand is just, you're either born with it

or you're not. And that's my... Bryson Stott can see a pitch out of the hand. Harper can see a pitch out of the hand. Well, obviously Harper. We're trying to use someone who's a little closer to Rojas.

We're trying to, you know... Castellanos, not so much. Not often, yes. But makes up for it with power and doubles and all that. I don't know what Johan is. You just want him to hit singles? The Rojas bet is a big one. But at the same time, signing Bellinger would be awesome.

You have Bellinger in center and Martian left. A lot of lefties in that lineup. I was just about to say, it's another lefty, man. It's a lot of lefties. Yeah. And for what it's worth, Bellinger was great last year. Like, really great. Was DFA of the year.

Literally DFA'd. Now, hold on. Schwarber was DFA'd. I know. It's just my point being that, you know, the big issue, what everyone felt, we all agreed at the end of the season, was a lack of contact when you need it. If you're going to pick the biggest thing that fell apart with the Phillies offense at the end of the season, or at the end of the playoffs,

like, you know, Bellinger is risky in that sense. In the loopy swing. And look, I know he batted.307 last year. He wasn't as loopy last year. He's won an MVP, but I'm just saying. Flattened it out. I'm saying there's a low floor when it comes to Cody Bellinger. Sure. Yeah, I just, it would be fun. It'd be fun saying there's a low floor when it comes to Cody Bellinger. Sure.

Yeah. I just, it would be fun. It'd be fun. I don't think they're going to Cody Bellinger. I think that was, I think that was Boris. Scott Boris, yeah. More trying to, you know, spook other teams. Use a little leverage there.

A little bit. And look, it's smart not just because they're the Phillies and they spend money, but because we just saw them do this. I mean, the Castellanos deal was two years ago where everyone's like, all right, they've spent their money, whatever. And a great deal, in their opinion, fell in their lap and they took it. So it's smart. And I guess with the Rojas thing is I don't think it's the worst idea in the world. Now, of course, you could get a boundary, but I don't think it's the worst idea in the world that you give him the first half the year see how he looks see if the offseason he made improvements hitting wise and he's starting to make a little

bit more impact on the baseball and if it becomes such an apparent need then the deadline like you know what your thing is you know what i mean so i think they're heading into the season basically saying we have a pretty set roster you know if you want to do the the numbers analytics whatever they have a top five rotation, a top five bullpen, a top five lineup. They don't know what the issue is right now. So sure, what I like them to correct all the issues or whatever the issues they think they have in the offseason.

But it's also not the craziest thing in the world to go into a year where you don't have an obvious hole. And then at the deadline, that's when you go in and try to fill that. Yeah. And I think that's what they're doing organizationally look i think that and dave alluded to it you know he was asked about montgomery and snell i believe richie asked the question and you know he's like we're not looking to do anything but hey you know if a great deal falls in your lap it falls in your lap essentially so i do believe that particularly with the pitchers i think more likely than bellinger

that if perchance those guys are sitting out there and there's a one-year deal a two-year deal to be had you know which i think more likely with snell than. If, perchance, those guys are sitting out there and there's a one-year deal, a two-year deal to be had, which I think more likely was Snell than Montgomery, but they're both still out there, I do think the Phillies would jump on something like that, but I wouldn't expect it. Hey, fantasy football owners. The road to winning your fantasy football championship starts now.

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You know, I'm not counting on it. No, but the nice part, the nice part about Montgomery is no qualifying offer. Oh, right. Oh, man. You want to talk about my dream. Sign someone that doesn't have a qualifying offer so I don't have to lose a freaking second round pick for the millionth

year in a row. That's all I care about. Keep the picks. That's all you care about. It's your whole thing. Thank you. that's why this all season has been a massive i have not signed anyone with your traffic that's all i care about dombrowski um listen i i appreciate the answer about tywin walker in the in the interview no i'm not it doesn't pass my smell bad yeah it was a Yeah. It was a lot like the Ben Brown and Logan Hoppy are untouchable. Like, there's no way. Like, if there's one thing to upgrade, that would be like, oh, man,

that takes you to another level. It's finding a way to upgrade that spot. And look, they could use another arm in the bullpen. Good. You know, I think if you were looking up, I'm not saying that they need it, but they could use it. Michael Rucker?

I mean, just quickly. I mean, I got to do it. We'll get back to Dave. How do you not sign Hector Neris for one-year $9 million? It doesn't make any sense. That is the most surprising contract that has happened this offseason to me. Why did he only get one year, $9 million?

Why didn't the Phillies give it to him? I'm perplexed by the actor, Neres. It makes zero sense to me. The underlying stats are bad. That's why. Whatever. He's a good pitcher. I watch him.

Oh, you're out on Neres now? You wanted him in your perfect offseason. We're both there. You're out now just because you got a bad deal you're like I price things strong this is not an heiress away from I feel

pretty good that that that one year nine million was a good move by the cops well the contrary to popular belief it's not like they've nailed the one year not true true but

that's why you sign Hector do what you don't want to do and sign the guy I want you to we told we did we told them we'd help him with that. He did allude to they were in on Robert Stevenson. Yes, that was very clear.

So Jordan Hicks, but I mean, just an example of honesty is he's like, yeah, we were in on this pitcher, but you know, he got a job to be a starter. It's like, so everyone knows you're in on Jordan Hicks. Like that's just clear. And then he's like, and then the sign on the West Coast.

It's just like, so it's Robert Stevenson. Okay, cool. And the other thing of, you're going to be shocked at how much we offered Yamamoto. Yeah, dude. Yeah,'s just like, it's Robert Stevenson. Okay, cool. And the other thing, you're going to be shocked at how much we offered Yamamoto. Yeah, dude. We offered Yamamoto. And I believe

he's right. But yeah, it's just there's going to be a... I think they're going to sign a bullpen guy by the end of the Aussie. The Maiton thing was... That pissed me off more than Hector. Six and a half million for a guy who is a soft contact king.

That hurts a little bit. It just, it does feel like they're really they really are not signing guys. I feel like that all just hit you in one sentence. It just all I saw your face strain. You're like, they really might not sign anyone. Which again, and I am okay.

You made this case and I agree with you. I think the roster's set and I do think they have a good roster and I don't think you need to go out. But it's disappointing. It just feels like I wanted more. What did this podcast accomplish this offseason? Nothing. We did nothing.

We talked to Preston, and that was amazing. That was a great time. You know, like, we essentially just sat on our hands. Like, this podcast also sat on our hands. We had nothing to react to. We had four straight episodes called, well, this is boring. We got Nolan. That's not a shot at Nolan.

No, it's not. But it was also the very first signing of the offseason. So it's like signing, and then it's like nothing yeah like months but like like we always say we could just not record you know we've done it a couple times but but but we're a week away yeah yeah that's right that's good it's all good we're back i do think to your point though i do think they are going in with this, you know, we are going to make moves at the deadline.

The last couple of deadlines have been light comparatively. I mean, you know, they made some moves around the edges, things that helped. And obviously Brandon Marsh was probably the biggest of those in terms of a piece of your team.

But I think they're going into this deadline going for it. Assuming the first half of the season works out. I don't love that. I don't love banking on, I mean, what if it's a situation where there are a lot of teams in it, there's less people on the market. Like, the first half of the season works out. I don't love that. I don't love banking on, I mean, what if it's a situation where a lot of teams in it, there's less people on the market.

Like you never know how the, the trade deadline is going to play out. So I don't love that as a, as a, as a philosophy, but it does feel like that's kind of what their mindset is. Yeah. And,

and Dave talked to even mention it. Yeah, no. And it's, it's a, it's a fair way to go about it when you don't have something that's like, you know's obvious. And once they sign Nola, I think Yamamoto they viewed as a once-in-a-lifetime luxury.

25-year-old, yep. We'll pay that. You know what I mean? We'll pay that. But the only thing giving me hesitancy about that plan is I've felt for the last freaking two years, where's the Dave Dombrowski trade? Where's the patentedented push your chips in like and maybe that's it is wild he is not he has done the exact opposite he's protecting prospect he's like building a franchise we always thought he was

gonna do he's wild like it really is it's the best bit there's a lot of bits going it's a good bit nebrowski turning into i'm not trading anyone this is a bit it's a new one yeah it's the best bit there's a lot of bits going to go back to broski turning into i'm not trading anyone yeah this is a bit it's a new one yeah it's a new one um so yeah it's it's it's something that um like i just keep waiting for that and maybe that's why i feel like there's been a lot of and i i like mick abel but it feels like there's been a more pushing of i made progress towards the end of the year like really trying to get him out there as like not his prospect ranking hasn't fallen that far

I think he's still in the 60s he's still in the 60s at most places at least where you look speaking of that like this isn't to rip the people that cover prospects but just go watch Aiden Miller and I saw him he was second on one list I saw.

Second? I think he's been in like the 80s. No, I'm talking in the Phillies list. I've seen him in second. But in top 100 lists, he's mostly been in. Has he been on top 100? I mean, that's good to begin with. He's made a couple of them.

I mean, that's impressive. Our good friend Keith Law did put him in there, which I appreciate. Oh, yeah. Good job, Keith. Friend of the pod. Friend of the pod. Yeah.

Loved coming on. Really had a great time. He has he has said it's his favorite interviews ever done i've heard him say that so um yeah that's a quick tangent very complimentary of him after as well no disagreements with what he said so positive yes yes such a warm ray of shining light yeah