High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - High Hopes Chapter 1: We're Excited About Rodolfo Castro

Episode Date: August 2, 2023

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz discuss their hopes for new Phillie Rodolfo Castro. 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. All right, let's talk trades. Yes. Because you did kind of segue in there. Well, I don't know why.

We'll get back to the series. Yes, so excitedly. Are you excited? Because it was fine. It was a fine day of trades. I will say. So we'll leave it Lorenzen. But when they traded for Castro, I get a text.

And I was like, okay, so I see the trade. I'm like, oh, really? Like, that is a good move. And then I looked even more to Castro. I was like, that's a great move. Like, my initial reaction was like, really nice move. You got something for Falter. And then I was like, wow, you got something I'm kind of excited about for Falter.

Like, great move. Jack texts me, let's go, with like 18 O's at the end. I thought they made a bigger move. I was like, nice move. Who did they get? You were that excited about the cast. Because A's, first off, club control until 2029. He's 24, man.

Yeah, he's 24. Like a lot of players don't make the majors at 24. Yeah. Pirates fans are upset. Yeah, which you know, that's my go-to, dude. My go-to rudimentary way to decide if a trade is good. If the fans of that team are upset, it's probably a good trade. Hits the ball hard.

Plays pretty good defense. And, like, so he's a 900-plus OPS against lefties. Like, for his career. And now it's only a 200-plus play appearances, whatever, but crushes him. Yeah. And I wonder if, so I guess they've been tinkering with this in AAA for the Pirates of just making him a righty. Which would make sense.

If they just make him a righty, I mean, who knows? I mean, who knows? He may even be pitching better. He might just suck it left-handed. Hey, guess what? Some guys can't switch hit. Most guys. Well, Cedric Mullins is a switch hitter.

Switch went back. And there have been guys in the past. Roman Quinn was also a switch hitter. They tried to make him righty. there have been guys in the past. Roman Quinn was also a switch hitter. They tried to make a righty. There have been guys in the past. That's happened, you know, where guys will switch. And look, like, either way, don't let this guy ever face, you know, a righty. I mean, he's like a 500 OPS guy against righties.

I know. He's really bad. But the point is, like, I agree with you. Like, if you're going to let him face righties, bat right-handed. Like, why not? You're not getting it done lefty. But against lefties, again, not the biggest sample size, but the guy's a weapon. Yeah.

Well, and listen. And he got it for Bailey Fulter. This might be a big comp. Uh-oh. What are you about to do here? This poor kid, poor Castro. He's about to get the Nick Pavetta treatment. What do you got?

I'm just saying. His right-handed swing looks a lot like Boba Shett's. Oh, come on. What do you got? I'm just saying, his right hand swing looks a lot like Boba Shett's. Oh, come on. I'm just saying. I'm just saying it does. It looks just like Bo's. It looks just like Boba Shett's. Oh, God.

I can't even. Rodolfo Castro. No. It does, though. Great name, though. Great name. Rodolfo Castro is, like, so in on that. I like that they added the guy that had his cell phone in the pocket.

Me, too. So I saw that. Just the like knowing it was going to irk certain. And I heard, you know, driving in this morning on, you know, some WIP overnight listeners calling in. Oh, the idiot with the cell phone. The best thing about him is he has a cell phone. Like they were like, like, I enjoy that.

Yeah. I enjoy it. Yeah. It's pretty hilarious. By the way, I also just. Yeah. I enjoy it. Yeah. It's pretty hilarious. By the way, I also just enjoy watching the video again. The best part of that video. I can't believe it happened. I know.

It's the craziest thing ever. Like, how does that? The best part, though, is like the ump sees the phone, looks at the third base coast, makes a face, looks back down and just points. It's just like the ump is just like, I don't even know what to do. Like, did this like really dude? I know. He dude i know i know it's an all-time moment that i hope happens here as well i think it'd be so funny so you would get crushed 100% angelo might come out of retirement just to do the show that day to come back

so i i really just like from the standpoint of he's a switch hitter. He has, I mean, really good upside, hits the ball hard, right-hand swing looks really pretty. And it's just like it's something that I think a Dodgers, a Rays, it's something that I think the smart teams take a shot on and see if they can turn around. Well, it's like Brandon Marshy, right? You know, you look at a guy who's a, and he was a higher prospect

Marsh, but the idea of taking someone who's a pedigree type guy who's better than he's doing in that organization and saying, we can fix this guy. By the way, real quick step back. Is there anything more I hopes than leading the trade deadline talking about Rodolfo Castro and not? It's actually me saying we're going to lead with Lorenzen and then I lead with Castro.

Because he's so excited. That's what it is. He is so exciting. And I just, I like that. I like that the Phillies are kind of turning Rays-ish where it's like, oh, think of all the players they've turned in the last little bit here. Like they trade for Christian Pache. He looks like a competent.

Literally could not hit. And then he's banging like, he's got the highest OPS on the team. Now, granted, you know, not a ton of it, but in terms of anyone who's played in this year, he's got the highest OPS on the team. I'm just saying. I know.

Marsh. Yep. Hoffman. Stott. The improvement from Stott over the last year plus. Yeah. But still pedigree. More like failed elsewhere.

Yeah, sure. Comes here and could be something. Hoffman. Hoffman, Marte, Sosa, Soto, Alvarado. Soto didn't fail. But I think he looks better now. I agree. I mean, Strom never looked this good. I mean, I know he's innings, things like that,

but he wasn't this good in San Diego. Yeah, but even like, I guess pitching, I'm not surprised. I think Kauffman's really good at his job. Being able to turn a hitter into someone useful I think is harder. Well, it's the only thing that, I mean, Long's been great at that. Don't let him near the veterans, but give him the young kids and he's phenomenal. Yeah, it's the weirdest thing.

And I'm sure a lot of it is like, they're veterans, they're going to do their thing. They're in their own ways, it is what it is. Although I think they made a swing change with Cassidy a little bit yesterday. He looked more vertical. I think he got a little bit, I don't know, horizontal in a way. And that was hurting him. Last night, I thought his bat was more vertical.

And I thought that led to more, obviously, helped out late. And Harper also looked different yesterday. I mean, that was pop. Look, I know he's a couple homers. Oh, here it is. But, I mean, that was some pop to the opposite field. a couple homers. Oh, here it is. But I mean, that was some pop to the opposite field. Well, I actually thought

the more important thing was that he felt comfortable turning and ripping that single early in the game. Yeah, you're right. When was the last time he really just turned and just... No, it's always,

the only power we've seen from him has been the left center, or center. That's pretty much been it. So I think getting that torque back is going to be important. And I know he's, listen, I'm trying to find positives for Trey Turner. At least in three straight games he's hit the ball hard once.

Didn't make an error yesterday, so that's good. Three straight games and he hit the ball hard. Bryce is great. This is where we're at. This is where we're at with Trey Turner. How about Bryce's – The shortstop. The one – Bryce's lollipop.

Like Bryce is not there at first. He's got it upside. But the one where he was early in the game. I was driving, so I didn't see it. He just lollipopped it to Ranger running over. And it was just like, dude. Hold on. Speaking of the defense yesterday,

where the hell did Yuli Gurriel get so fast? Like, Alec Baum fielded it and I was like, oh, he's out. Yuli Gurriel was the slowest player in the sport. And it turns out Jacob Stallings is, who knew. And shot to Stubby, by the way.

And Nick staying with it, the great relay to Stubb. I can't believe, I would have bet – and without – he told me he's the slowest person on the planet. I would have bet my life he was scoring that. And they still only beat him by, like, a shoelace. Only because. Only because.

Because. Because he didn't slide like a moron? Right, because Stubbsy baited him. Yeah. No, you're right. Because Stubbsy was like – Dude, Stubbsy – Smart player.

That was great. And Stubbsy had the nice play at second, getting the force out on that, like kind of nibbling in front. Subsy's good back. He's a good little player. He's a good little player. Want to get more Subsy? Emphasis on little.

More Subsy? Hey, maybe that injury's a blessing in disguise there. That time of the year? We call for Subsy. Yep. That time of year. The stretch run when Garrett Stubbs shines. Exactly right.

He smoked the ball the game before, too. He's big at Lone Depot Park. Team Israel. You're damn right, buddy. The big double, which I'm sure you're all in and watching. Yes, for sure. Hey, fantasy football owners. The road to winning your fantasy football championship starts now.

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or wherever you get your podcasts. I forget. Anyway. I totally forget where we were. You're talking Kevin Long. Oh, Kevin Long. Kevin Long. Yes, of course. The shortstop. We're locked in today. No, for sure. Locked in. But, like, Kevin Long, the young players have all taken steps forward. I mean, Boehm looks way better. Marsh looks way better. Stott looks way better. Obviously, Pache and Rojas, who I just keep waiting to not be able to hit.

He's been pretty fine and adds good energy. Biggest hit of the game two years ago. I love that he has electric as one of his elbow guard. It has Rojas and then it has electric. I did not notice that. I love it. and then it has Electra. I did not notice that. I love it. Yeah, it's incredible. Like, fully support that.

Yes. Yes, it's awesome. So, like, I just, I like that they're taking shots on players with legitimate upside. And listen, the part about Castro and the not being a free agent until 2029, like, let's say he's a good player. Let's say they want to stick with Sosa or whatever. They could probably flip Kasher for way more than Bailey Falter if he figures it out. Absolutely.

No, probably. Definitely. Definitely. And that's why I feel about Pache, too. I love Christian Pache. He's a piece. 100%. Again, Pache was a top-ten presser in the sport.

I know. So, like, there's a chance here that two guys that they got essentially for nothing, they could turn into pieces down the road if they don't fit with this team. I do wonder what happens with Sosa. Well, yeah. I mean, Castro will play more than Sosa, I think. I think he definitely will. Or at least he has a role.

He has a defined role. He will play against left-handed pitching. Yes. For sure. Yes. Now, I haven't seen him play much defense that's what so i was gonna ask can he play multiple yes he's played i figured he had to be able to play multiple positions but i have not watched him defensively the one part i thompson said that he didn't play left field post game but if you're athletic enough to play if you play the infield i mean i think you're and and and vince velasquez can play left field.

True. And Michael Lorenzen probably can too. Well, not probably. He has. He's done it. He's the first with Tony. I mean, honestly,

I mean, with the bats in this lineup right now, you know, Lorenzen can hit. The interesting part about Castro in the after, if they want to try it, he has like the fifth highest average

like miles per hour across the infield. So he does have a little bit of a hose. Dude, you're not lying.