High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - High Hopes Chapter 1: Give Griff A Chance

Episode Date: May 30, 2023

Jack Fritz and James Seltzer discuss the Phillies struggles to find a fifth starter. 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

I'm a little worried about this pod because I feel like the gold that you were just spinning before we started recording, I don't know how you can match it. I mean, you were just dropping dimes of wisdom just now, Jack. And I got more wisdom for you. I hope so, because that was pretty impressive stuff. Mike goes on, I worry you're, you know. Well, here's my piece of wisdom to open the podcast, okay? Get a fifth starter! I mean, holy cow!

It's just like, what are we doing? Dylan Covey, Covey. I would have rather had Britton Covey, frankly. I would have rather had Britton Covey start that game. It's just like. That was infuriating. It was the most. It was like, it was the fastest.

I was like, oh, game's over. Game's over. Like, usually. Done. God, I could see them coming back in this game. Whatever. It was just fastest I was like, oh, game's over. Game's over. Usually. Done. I could see them coming back in this game, whatever. It was just atrocious. And they are in a really tough spot. Essentially, pitching Kobe every fifth day is just punting a game.

It's a scheduled loss. Yeah. So they can't do that. They'll probably bring up Chris Sanchez. Awesome. Great. I mean, we kind of know what Chris Sanchez is. There's a month and a half until the trade deadline?

Two months? Two months. Two months until the trade deadline. Essentially two months. Exactly two months. Now, theoretically, you can start making trades in a month. Yeah, you would hope. Yeah. I mean, I think the Jay Bruce trade was early June. It was earlier, yeah. And it was like, wow, what are the Mariners doing?

And it's just like andrew painter's probably gonna be ready till august 1st i think gail wrote that yesterday the date so fun i'm just i'm begging you just give griff a shot just give griff a shot he's not ready these the the command is going to be a little bit wild, but at least give me a modicum of hope that he can go and just give me four, five innings and just see what we got. Just see what we got. Well, I mean, the numbers are pretty wild.

I mean, what's faltered was 0-7. I think they were like 1-8 in his start, something like that. I mean, obviously's Falter was 0-7. I think they were like 1-8 in his start, something like that. I mean, obviously, lose the Covey start. They've lost the opener starts. I mean,

like literally, if you just take the fifth starter spot in the rotation and you give them wins in half the games, they're like three games over 500

and we're not freaking out right now. We're feeling so much better about this team. Like, you really can. There are all kinds of issues we've talked about.

There's many reasons they've lost games and stuff. But if you want to simplify it down and make it very simplistic, like, they have lost because they haven't had a fifth starter. Like, that's crazy.

Yeah. And it just, like, on one hand, obviously hindsight being 20-20, you're like, why didn't they get more starters in here? Oh, yeah, sure.

Get more starters. But at the same time, I mean, heading into the year, now you could have said that it was a mistake to put the expectations on Painter that they did. He's 19. He's 19. So, yeah, but they did sign Tom and Walker. Ranger, they weren't anticipating having an arm injury.

And look, Billy Fulter was okay last year. Like, not great, great not whatever but at least like you felt like for a fifth starter you can get by with Bailey Fulter he's not going to submarine your season little did we know little did we know and again we said this on the radio Saturday

is that like they can't just be normally bad like they can't just hey the fifth starter is kind of a question mark. Yeah, right? Or the defense is just like, okay. They have to be the worst ever. They have to be the worst.

They have to be. It's written in the bylaws of the Philadelphia Phillies is that you have to be the worst at something. And, like, a couple years ago, center field production. This year, there's actually a couple things. On-base percentage out of the leadoff spot, which I think is going up in the last couple games. But before the Brave series, their on-base percentage

from their one and two hitters was 271, which was the fifth worst since 1961. Yeah, that's like really, really, really bad. Why do you have to be this way? And now, I don't need the stats in front of me. They haven't won a start by a fifth starter. They haven't won a bullpen game by a fifth starter spot.

They have the worst fifth starter problem in the world, I'm pretty sure. I don't even need to look. I'm just gonna say it. Yeah, I mean, just assuming, right? Because that's what we do, is assume that they... How does it get worse? It's just like, maybe the A's, I guess. They're 11 and 45, so I'm sure their fifth starters haven't been great either.

Well, technically, I think all their starters are fifth starters. They have a minus 194 run differential. It almost seems impossible. Anyway. At least we're not A's fans. At least we're not A's fans. At least we're not A's fans. But yeah, it's just...

There's certain things that you need for them to turn the corner. Obviously what Wheeler did over the weekend was a big sign. It was the biggest thing that happened. I felt like they won a playoff game when they won on Saturday.

I was just giddy. I was like, we're so f***ed. And then I looked ahead and I was like, I was just giddy. You know, I was like, we're so ****. And then I looked ahead and I was like, God, Dylan Covey's on the mound. Do I have to bleep that? You keep making me bleep stuff. Oh, whoa, what did I say? Did I say the B word?

You just said the B word. It's too easy. Even though it was like in the moment where they weren't, so you were saying you thought they were, but even still. All right.

You said it. My bad. My bad. I need to be better with my loose use of- Yes, loose use of the B-A word. So, yeah, it's just like they can't stay in it with what they're doing at the fifth starter spot right now. And, like, Chris Sanchez can come up, and he was good.

He's giving you some outings. He's fine. Like, whatever. I just, I know he's not 100% there yet, come up and he was good. He's giving you some outings. He's fine. Whatever. I know he's not 100% there yet and I get it. But Griff at least has a chance. He has a chance. At least he's got stuff. And if you want him to be

a part of your rotation, it's important to me that in the next two months they figure out what they have in Griff McGarry. I know he's coming back from injury, so it's not fair to put real starter expectations on him. But he was up to 60 pitches in his last start. I would assume that means he can go 75 his next start.

And then after 75 is 90. So that's pretty much a starter workload in two starts up and running. And I just think it's... I think with two months until the deadline, really a month and a half, he can start making trades. And I just think it's, I think with two months until the deadline, really a month and a half until you can start making trades, you have to bank on a Wheeler turnaround, a Nola turnaround, Walker getting comfortable, and Ranger.

I think you have to bet on that stuff because if you don't, then you're in dire straits. But that fifth starter spot, if Griff can come up and give them a spark, then it becomes less of a need and you don't have to panic and go out and trade the farm for whoever. Now, I think they will do that. I think they'll give up one of Abel or McGarry to go

and get one of the starters on the market, just because I think they view this as their window, and it's a smart way to do it. Absolutely. All these guys are in their prime. They're all... This is their window. So whether you like smart way to do it. Absolutely. All these guys are in their prime. They're all... This is their window. So whether you like it or not, because it's... Obviously, it hurts to give a prospect. I'm a prospect hugger. We know,

buddy. Trust me. You are not a prospect hugger. I'm ready to roll, buddy. When do you become less of a prospect hugger? Like, 35 years above? And then you're like, why am I... Once you start thinking about your own mortality, you're like, let's win now. Let's win now. Why am I putting my hopes and dreams on an 18-year-old in the draft? So she is a Phillies fan where it's like, you know,

I mean, take him when you can get him, buddy. I know. So, like, it's such a crucial point for the franchise, and I think they realize that, that, yes, in an ideal world, McGarry and Abel both come up and are great, and you have your future. But I think that they want to go and get like an established stud and have the rotation, whether Nola walks or not,

of Wheeler, guy you trade for, Nola, Ranger, Taiwan. Painter eventually. Painter eventually. And it's like that's pretty damn good, coupled with the offense that they have on paper and the bullpen that they have on paper. So it's, they have to

stay in it, though. Like, they, because we talked, again, full disclaimer, never said they should sell, even though I still got tweets yesterday saying, I can't believe you said that. I know, like, it's your mistake. You're like, have you thought about maybe trading Nola? Well, it is something that they fall out of it to consider. The problem is third wild card, they're going to be there, and it's not even really.

I mean, they're only two and a half out now, and they've played mediocre baseball. Aren't they two and a half from the bottom of the National League? Dude, it's like all these teams are within six games of the wild card or something. It's nuts. And then you look at the American League East, where the Blue Jays are in last place in the division and are two games above 500. And they're talking about firing the manager. They're two games above 500 and they're in last place in their division.

And that'd be two straight years they fire the manager. Yeah, it would be. That would be wild. Seems like a problem. So, I just, you know, You bet it does fly in the face if you can't just fire the manager every year thing to get them going. I know. Maybe the team's going to try it.

They might try it. It would also throw a fly in the ointment of managers don't matter. Managers matter so little. So, yeah, it's going to be a really fascinating two months. Obviously, the guys stay in it. I think they will. I think they are playing better baseball. We would have signed up for a split in Atlanta no matter what. We did.

We said it on the pod. Once they won on Saturday, there's no way they're winning on Sunday. We were very sure they were going to win on Sunday. There was no shot. There was no shot. The Mets series looms here. It looms. I'm just putting it out there.

A little worried about the Nationals series. Just as like, of course. The Nationals are pesky. They are pesky. This year, maybe it's because Franzen's in the booth. That's probably, of course. The Nationals are pesky. They are pesky. They are. This year, maybe it's because Franzen's in the booth. That's probably why.

Yeah. Logical assumption. The friskiness. That's why. They take their cues from the TV. Yeah, that's a smart way

to go about it. I like to think that the Phillies take their cues from two podcasts. Okay, yeah, that's true.

If only they did. MWIP. No, but they have a bunch of random guys. I mean, Candelario's been on fire. Lane Thomas has been crushing it.

I love Lane Thomas. He's been awesome for them. Tom Smith is a Philly killer. Your guy, Joey? Oh, Manassas, yes. Yes, who one podcast host somehow got right that he was going to be the Max Muncy of the Phillies. Who knew?

Who knew? The Phillies didn't, sadly. The Phillies did not. Yes.