High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - High Hopes Chapter 1: The National League is STACKED

Episode Date: December 16, 2022

Don't have time to listen to the entire High Hopes pod? Check out this segment where Jack Fritz and James Seltzer discuss all the latest moves around the rest of Major League Baseball and just how much talent has migrated to the National League. 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

But yeah, it's just been weird. And like, I mean, who's the biggest free agent left? Like all these relievers. Well, now after, I mean, Swanson, right? Dan, I'd be counts, I guess. Like, yeah, but I mean, that's pretty sad that he's like the big dog on the market now. Well, yeah, it's not great. And at the same time, like if the Braves don't resign him, what's the, what's the plan down

there, Atlanta? Oh, trouble in paradise. I guess our Grissom and then Sean Murphy play shortstop I don't think so dude I know I know we'll get in a time on Walker and Matt Strom but let me just make an official statement here Sean Murphy stinks man

yeah I didn't get like honestly I know he's a much better defensive player but like I kind of like William Contreras better 100% that's what I'm saying dude rakes man Honestly, I know he's a much better defensive player, but I kind of like William Gutierrez better. Oh, really? 100%? That's what I'm saying. Dude rakes, man. 100% like, dude, just keep Travis Darnot. Like, Travis Darnot?

Yeah, I'm with you. It was a really weird year. Everyone's like, ooh, rich get richer. I was like, really? Dude, am I? Okay, he's like, maybe it's 20 homers and plays good defense. Like, cool. Also, just, I mean, I guess they need to get Olsen, but he could have just kept Shea Langeleers and plays good defense like cool also just i mean i guess they need to get all said but he could have kept shea langoliers and whatever it's just like um i don't know like he's fine it's just i don't think he's a good player look he's like a 250 20 homer great defense catcher

like that is a valuable player especially in today's game the way catchers hit but they were acting like they traded for romito or something like that it's like relax dude they act like they trade for like a difference maker i mean he's a he's an important piece i guess but like sean murphy's like i'm supposed to be shaking in my shorts because he yeah he signed sean murphy i don't know it's just a bit of a weird do it again oh best front office in the history of baseball. So, yeah, it's like Dansey is the biggest one next. And, you know, I mean, some teams are probably going to have to overpay because he's the last, like, pretty good free agent guy on the market. But then after that, it's like all those relievers, like the Kimbrels,

the Chapmans, the, you know, those guys are all kind of the next guys to go. We're starting to – I mean, there's just no real intrigue left before Christmas. It's crazy. It's so weird. Now, it's smart. Get the holiday shopping out of the way. As we said, hey, hey. It's great.

But, yeah, man, it's just we're like two months away from pitchers and catchers, and it's almost all done. So I guess this is the new norm. Look, I actually think this could be fun if people expected it. You know, like NFL and NBA where it becomes a thing, and it's like, okay, it's middle of December. Get ready, baby. Like, let's go nuts. Like, refresh Twitter all's middle of December. Get ready, baby. Let's go nuts.

Refresh Twitter all day, every day. It's coming. Then it can be fun. It can be a thing that they can capitalize on. But I'm with you. This year just felt like, because we weren't expecting it. It was anticlimactic in a way, which is crazy. Specifically to the Turner contract, they will

say, you know, and I know this is not a, uh, is a pretty common refrain right now, but you know, great job. The Phillies logging that up quick. Cause the way the market has played out, I mean, I would much, much rather have Turner at 11 for three, then Bogarts at 11 for two 80 is crazy. I don't know what Swanson's going to go for but i can tell you i'd much rather have turner is contract and i'd much rather have turner than cray but i liked him better the cray what i get but still like you know big time freaking money um your thoughts on how the market's shaked out with these like big men and look rodonon just signed for six for 160. You know, pretty big, pretty strong amount of money there. Your thoughts on kind of how the market shook out with these guys?

Well, the interesting part about the Correa thing is that it came out, what, I think like a day or two later that, you know, it was pretty much Turner was obviously their main target. Which is wild. It means the Giants, Padres and phillies were all like all in on on turner and we won for usual that's what we do that's what we do man destination city it's just what we do and again doesn't happen without citizens bank park being the coolest place in sports for a month um true um but it came out that you know know, the Philly second choice was 100% Korea.

So as it should have been, because I guess they woke up, I guess they woke up that Monday morning and they were like, it was kind of like Harper where they were like, I don't think we're going to get Turner. Like we might want to start, you know, coming up with another plan here.

And then obviously things changed. I'm sure Bryce got in his ear and it was like, are you sure you want to be a San Diego Pad pod right um but i just wonder like i mean we were very close to probably having a sign career for like 13 350 like we could we could be sitting here with another huge contract like that now the intern is a huge contract too don't get me wrong 100 but just the sticker shock of another contract that's bigger than Bryce's like on, you know,

whole dot like three 50 is well, especially for the fan, especially for the fan base where right or wrong. And obviously time will, will bear it out, but the fan base clearly preferred Turner. So I think if they end up signing Korea for that contract, everyone's like,

why didn't you just sign Turner with the bleep, you know, and they lose it. Yeah. And then us, voice of reason, they came in and said, because he's a good player. He's great. And do you really want to sign Xander Bogarts for 11 through the 80? Like, is that really the other thing? That's the crazy one. I mean, that's just like the Padres just panicked after Turner didn't take their deal. I mean, wild. I mean, like I'm speechless when I think of that contract. What was the thing that came out?

They offered like a billion dollars to like three different players and none of them took it until Bogarts. Yeah, unbelievable, man. I mean, it really is. It is. Now I will say it is slightly disappointing that like, you know, other than the Yankees, maybe, you know, an American league team could decide to spend some fricking money. Like other than the Rangers are irrelevant.

Like, you know, I don't know. Could not all these guys not go to the national league. What the hell's the deal with that? Why are all these nationally teams signing all these big guys? Like we know the Mets are going to do it. Like really does the NL West have to beef up to really Jack? Really? Well, so here's my thing is like, I definitely I definitely hear you.

But man, is it going to be a lot of fun next year? Like, it's going to be it's going to be awesome. The one thing that actually is bummed me out a little bit, James, is that, you know, for the first time in my life. Mostly, I would say. I keep forgetting I'm almost like 30, so I'm cooked. Yeah, that's good. That's great, dear.

But for the first time, like the Braves, Mets, and us all realistically have a chance to go to the World Series. Oh, yeah. And it just kind of sucks that – I mean, you could argue there are three of the, I don't know, six best teams in baseball going into the season. It just kind of – it sucks that this is the year they're changing the schedule around to where you're not playing the NLU.

I know. Well, I mean, it is good. I mean, from a – I get it, and I love your – the heart of competition, the beats inside of you. Winner. This is amazing. And I'm ecstatic that it's the balance schedule. Oh, stop.

Why? It's great because we get to face all these other teams instead of facing the Mets and Braves a million times. Why do you want to face the Mets and Braves a million times? Because they're good and we can start hating things again. Oh, buddy. we can start hating things again oh buddy I want to hate you know you know when we can you know when we can can play good teams in the playoffs let's worry about that let's freaking get there all right I don't need to beat up on each other 19 games a season give me the Pirates more give me the Reds more give me the freaking Diamondbacks and the Rockies and all these trash teams.

Give me all these American League teams that everyone gets to face. Just tee off on the freaking Royals and Rangers and the A's now. I mean, geez, Louise. Give me all these teams. Love it. Love the unbalanced schedule. Give it to me. I get it. I get your point.

And as a sportsman, I appreciate it. But I want to win, Jack. We almost won the World Series. I get your point. And as a sportsman, I appreciate it, but I want to win Jack. We almost won the world series. Like I don't care. I don't care. I just want the ring. I want the trophy. Nothing else matters to me. Like, I don't care how we get there. You know, it's like the whole, like, Oh, I don't want guys to get hurt. I mean, not our players. Like if guys get like, Oh, you're facing the Padres. Oh, Juan Soto got hurt. I wanted to beat him at their best. Not me. Don't care. I'll face a minor league squad as far as I'm concerned.

That's my mentality right now. I want to win the World Series at all costs. Well, 215-592-9494, if you want to get in and join the phones here. James Seltzer, known loser, wants to see more of Royals, Reds, the bad teams in the NL and AL. Me, I'm on the side. I'm on the side of give me more National League competition because, James, here's the one thing

that you're not factoring in. I want to win games. Win games, Jack. Here's the one thing that you're not factoring in. Sorry if I want to win more than you. I guess I'm just in reality the bigger competitor. That's the truth. Here's the thing. And again, two one five five nine two ninety four ninety four. Get your calls in one minute.

But this team, how are they going to be battle tested heading into the playoffs? If they aren't playing against top level competition. They're still going to play them. They just don't need to play them as much. But they're still going to play. You get more battle tested the more that you go along. I need that. No battle tested that you win

85 games and miss the playoffs. That sounds awesome. Let's do that.