High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - High Hopes Chapter 1: Yoshinobu Yamamoto Should Be A Phillie

Episode Date: December 21, 2023

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz discuss the latest Yoshinobu Yamamoto rumors and how the Phillies fit in. 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. This is boring, right? It's so boring, yes. And it is. It's pretty boring.

But I will say this. Every little Yamamoto update does fill me with a lot of joy. Like the Bryce thing's great. The whole Alex Coffey article, great. And, you know, credit to the Phillies. The idea of saying, hey, you could be the Japanese player in Philly. That was a really clever pitch. For a guy who said he wanted to go to a team with a Japanese player

and we don't have one, I thought it was really clever. I think as far as it goes, the Phillies. And, look, I wish i could say i was confident that they were gonna sign yamamoto just the fact they're in it and the way they played it i think they've done a really good job with it and it is a shame too because right now you know if they if like they sign yamamoto today like the phillies could own the town in de in a way that never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever,

ever happened. Lift the spirits of the city. Yes. We all be like, thank you Phillies. Like never have we needed a sports Christmas present more. Yeah. It'd be awesome.

So, um, I will say the longer they stay in this, the longer I started to believe like maybe they really, and maybe their sales pitch is kind of working here. It's a clever pitch, man. You get to,

you get to be the face of, the face of Japanese baseball in Philadelphia. You are it. You are the trailblazer. And let me just, I just want to give a chance to kind of peacock. Really? Is that where we're going? Seems like a fair point. I was not expecting this.

Right time to do this? Sure, yeah. It's kind of, I want to peacock about our fans which we are very good at is is we love because we're lucky kind of propping up the the the phillies fans in this city great fans um so the the morosi report the other day was he wants to pitch on the biggest stage in baseball literally that was it and of course all the replies are oh yankee stadium oh you tell me they showed him clips this is the bank part the last two years and he's like oh yeah let me go play in the morgue that is yankee no doubt buddy or or city or city field listen big city overrated city too many

people please move why would you live there um it's expensive it's expensive and it's at least half the price. I mean, think about how much money you get. 300 million or whatever. Think about how much further that 300 million goes here rather than New York. Correct. Plus, Alistair was born there and grew up maybe a Mets fan. But he's talking about the biggest stage in baseball.

Right now, there's not a bigger stage in baseball than Philadelphia. And I know Los Angeles and the Dodgers and Shohei's there, and that's going to be – I can't wait to stay up and watch the beginning of Dodgers games. Yeah. Do not plan on staying up. Sadly, I will be watching very few. You'll see the highlights.

I used to watch late-night baseball. What a thrill. Well, West Coast Fills is now – there's more. It's going to nap during the day. And then, look, I got through the playoff run. I can do anything. Yeah, you're fine. I'm fine. Yeah, I haven't got as many tired texts. is i've been pretty good yeah yeah i've been doing good well i like to think that you're thinking about it and then

you're like yeah so i actually pick up the phone i'm about to fire it off and i'm like no i'm not gonna do it no um so like but but the biggest stage in baseball is philadelphia right now and i think if they showed him the clips and he heard Bryce Harper talk, like this is the biggest stage in baseball. You come here, you are part of a star-studded team. We're going to pay you. Now, it's so funny because all the reports are, they're not going to be the highest bidder.

Yep. It's like, okay. Great. Which shows that he really wants to go to a place that, A, he feels like he can win and feels like he can put his talents out there for for you know the world to see and philly's kind of that place right like they're gonna pay them i think they're more probably in the 250 range than the three plus i mean the the it was it was interesting the boden report yesterday was it had the yankees and dodgers is the favorite yes the mets and who is the other highest bidder is Mets and someone else is

the highest bidders. Giants maybe. Giants as the highest bidders and then add back burner Phillies Blue Jays and was there one other team or was it just those ones.

I think there might be one other blue back burner. Red Sox. Red Sox. Yeah. Expected highest bidders Mets or Giants favorites

the Lanham Dodgers or Yankees back burner teams Red Sox Phillies Blue Jays. So like. Again. They're like, again. They're just in it. They're there.

They're there. They're in it. And, obviously, from the standpoint of opening up that market and having a presence in Japan is massive. Because there's, like, for as good as, listen, for as good as Yoshi is, and I think Yoshi is really, really good. Like, Suzuki coming in a couple years is, I think, one of the three best pitchers on the planet right now wow like i think i think he's stupid how good he is um so he's coming uh just in general there's been a much bigger pipeline the last few years yeah i mean yoshida and senga and like guys are coming over

and they're good baseball of course yeah of course Of course. And it's just refreshing that. And maybe part of me was thinking this morning when thinking about the Yoshi thing, is this just more of a hat tip or a courtesy by the agent of Dombrowski who's like a legend in the game? Maybe. But I like having the legend of the game getting the courtesy of that. And I don't think it is. I think this seems too involved, too specific.

And look, there are other GMs on teams that he could hat tip to. And I know Dombrowski's probably the most, I mean, elder statesman now. I guess that's probably the best term for him. But it just feels like they're in it. Again, I'm not going to sit here and pretend to say that I think they're going to get him. But the fact that they're still in it, that's the shocking part. That's my point. I do think it's real.

My point is I don't think it's just like, hey, we're going to. I think it's real. I think the Phill're still in it, that's the shocking part. That's my point. I do think it's real. My point is I don't think it's just like, hey, we're going to. I think it's real. I think the Phillies are in it. The fact that they're still, like, he hasn't eliminated them. Like, he's still taking meetings. There's definitely something here. The thing that has me most encouraged is, you know, we can have all the lip service from Dombrowski throughout this offseason

of like, yeah, we're probably done. The fact that they're even willing to go like 250 plus for another pitcher. Well, it's like that you talked about last time with like the Blake Snell thing or an example like that, where if it's like, if they don't get Yamamoto, which, you know, we think there's a likelihood, it shows that they're still willing to spend money. And if Blake Snell's price is too low in their mind, I believe they would swoop in or that type of thing. to spend money. And if, if Blake Snell's price is too low in their mind,

I believe they would swoop in or that type of thing. It gives, it gives a belief. And also to the trades, whether it's Burns, whatever the point is, is the Phillies might say they're done, but they know they're not at least internally. They know they want to still add.

And that's super important. That's all I care about. Me too, buddy. Whether they get Yoshi. Yeah. Yeah. I don't want to.

Well, this is boring part nine exactly well we signed nola now we're gonna wait for the rest of the what is so funny the phillies are have spent the second most amount i saw that tweet hilarious i hate oh i hate this i know i really do i know but to that point and i know we've done a lot but like credit to john middleton like the fact that whether they get him or not john middleton is willing to offer 250 27 whatever it is a number to be in this with these seven teams like a number that has to like be at least of a certain level like middleton's willing to dish that out after just giving 175 or 172 million nola like credit dude credit credit

yes but there is the third part of the luxury tax but i believe that they are 24 million dollars under um and if you go to that and this is again this is for this is for me so let me have this does it have something to do with drop bags this drops this drops the pick back 10 spots how did i know what are we talking about where this was going? I can't have that pick dropping back 10 spots. I mean, you're talking about Aiden Miller. Would you rather have Yoshi Yamamoto or another Aiden Miller? I mean, that's what, by the way. It's a really tough choice for me.

By the way. I'm not going to say Yoshi, but I really thought about it. I don't know if anyone's going to agree with you. I don't know if you'd rather have Yoshi. You think I'm alone on that one? How does it feel being an alone wolf? Well, what's funny is that if we did the poll, 97% of Phillies fans,

the funny thing is all the 3% would be high hopes listeners. Very terrible. Yes, and they would be high hopes listeners. Like the only people we could be talking to right now are sitting there maybe like, well, the draft pick is important. You've got to have young talent coming through the system. Are your people.

Yes. Well, listen, John Middleton is the one that said, like, Draft and develop. But he also said, I have no problem spending money now because I know we have talent coming through the system. Well, that's a little, I mean, talk about pressure on our guys. I know. But you know what?

I believe in him. Preston and Brian got this. Like, I have no doubt in those guys. And once again. Full confidence. Hey, fantasy football owners. The road to winning your fantasy football championship starts now. I'm Matt

Harmon from Reception Perception. Join me and James Coe as we take a deep dive into the position that's going to make or break your fantasy roster. Wide receivers. We analyze route running, target share, and all the metrics that matter, giving you the insights you need to draft the best wide receivers. As you

prep for your draft, let us give you the coverage you need. draft the best wide receivers as you prep for your draft let us give you the coverage you need follow and listen to reception perception on the free odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts and i know that we um we've been accused i would say of of bullying um you're never allowed to leave so oh no no no yeah you never like pressin and brian i'm sorry no. It's a lifetime deal. I'm sorry, man. You came on the pod. Yeah. You know.

You're like one of us now. Yeah. They traded Mickey, who was a friend of the pod. Yeah. You can't get rid of too many friends of the pod. I know. We don't have enough. Well, because Preston was like labeled as one of the, what, 10 rising stars in baseball.

I saw. I saw. I saw. I saw. I saw. I saw. I saw. I saw.

I saw. I saw. I saw. I saw. I saw. I saw. I saw. I saw.

I saw. I saw. I saw. I saw. I saw. I saw. I saw. I saw.

I saw. I saw. I saw. I saw. I saw. I saw. I saw. I saw.

I saw. I saw. I saw. I saw. I saw. I saw. I saw. I saw.

I saw. I saw. I saw. I saw. I saw. I saw. I saw. I saw.

I saw. I saw. I saw. I saw. I saw. I saw. I saw. I saw. I saw. I saw. which um what are you doing you know yeah like a chill out yeah just relax all right relax yeah

he's our guy yeah we know he's gonna be a general manager someday let's let's but can we bring in it we have the 90s the 90s cleveland front office yes that's right yes except we're gonna keep them all never leave never allowed to leave so i'm sorry again to feel like this is bullying but um I usually get what I want. It's part of being an only child is if I don't get what I want, then temper tantrums. Tell me about that. I got an only child right now.

So I feel you. So yeah. But the fact that they're even in it, I think is really impressive. And it shows the commitment to obviously winning. And I don't buy this whole notion that, okay, well, we're out in this offseason. And obviously the main thing it comes back to is the Tyrone Walker thing

and if he's going to be on this team. Because if the $24 million thing is right there, if you get off Walker, obviously that opens up another $18 million before the next threshold of the luxury tax. I don't think they really want to get into that because it is. I mean, it's pun money. It's punitive. It's punitive. Yeah, but 10 spots.

And they're not Steve Cohen. As much as John spends and we appreciate, like, I understand the realities of one guy has like 20 billion and another guy has like a few billion, 4 billion, 5 billion. Believe it or not, can't relate. No. No.

Can't relate. Can't relate to a million, much less a billion. By the way, I have started looking at the 2024 draft. I'm shocked. I love that you say that like it would be surprising. I'm surprised it took you this long. I'm surprised you weren't looking at it the day Aiden Miller got drafted. All right, on to next year.

It's a little fast. I put so much into that draft that it's like I don't want to, I can't mentally get there. Emotionally, mentally. Correct. much into that draft that it's like I don't want to like I can't mentally get there emotionally mentally correct um and what I used to do is every pregame show uh I would just sit on my computer look up draft stuff for for the Eagles

yeah you know seems like I'm locked in on the game yeah of course yeah you're doing your job I feel like I've had more responsibility this year you know what a tough beat for you the Phillies went deeper into the playoffs so it's just less time less time to really get into the draft. You can't half-ass it. I mean, you got to full-ass it.

Exactly. And I don't really half-ass anything when it comes to the Phillies. That's right. There is not half-ass Eagles for sure. I know. No. But it was dead right also. Oh, yeah.

So for those wondering, it's not official yet. You don't know what it is. But I'm going to jack dinner. I'm going to lose our bet. It took a long time. It did. It was up in the air. It looked good for you for a while. I thought I had it. At one point, you even said, I'm buying you dinner. I'm buying you dinner. It's a good reverse. Congrats to Jack. You won the bet.

Unless this is a reverse jinx and I can win it still. I think that's what you're doing. I'm probably not going to win it. I'm going to buy you dinner. I'm looking forward to a night out with you. The big question about the draft cycle this year is do I send my thoughts to Barb's? I mean, you know, you got a contact now. Hold on. Kind of like that was a giant mistake by Brian.

Like not just coming on the pod. When you called him Bill. All right. Can we move past this? Did I say Bill there? I said Brian. All right. Everyone makes mistakes. All right, pal. Can we move past this? Did I say Bill there? I said Brian. All right. Everyone makes mistakes.

All right, pal. Can we move? You said Jim Nance resigned on the freaking pod. All right. That was a grammatical. It was also. I mean, you were right. Eventually.

Eventually. From tournament. Yes. Yeah. I think Brian made a huge mistake, like opening the channel of connectivity with you. Yeah. Because that's like, man, what a risk. Yeah.

What a risk to his time, his mental sanity. Whitley hires me. Whitley says, come on board, buddy. I really like your insight. I like the cut of your jib. All I want is this. No analytics. Strictly eye test. I will say.ib. All I want is this. No analytics. Strictly eye test.

I will say. That's what I'm there for. I will not be able to get on a spreadsheet. I'm not breaking any new analytics out there. I will say, and we believe in analytics. They're important and all that stuff. The older I get, the more I just veer towards the eye test. Well, it's just so much more fun.

So you do a pod with Elliot now, so you know how this is. Elliot just fires stats at me. Oh, I know. And I literally, the other pod, I was just like, stop with the stats. I was like, what do you see? What are you seeing with your eyes right now? Look at that.

And it's like- Pretty intense eye use. I know, because I'm getting tired of it, and I'm an eye test man now, an eye test min. I've always been an eye test min, but now I'm so firmly in the eye test min. I've always been an eye test min, but now I'm like so firmly in the eye test. Because listen, analytics are boring. And like, you know what is the breaking point for me?

The 753rd stat that Elliot threw at you? Is that the breaking point? Because that was it for me. No, it's always the Ryan Howard war. Where it's like, I know how good Ryan Howard war. Oh, yeah. Where it's like, I know how good Ryan Howard was. It's a great one. I can't.

Or the Schwarber war this past year. That was silly. That was nonsense. Or like, I'm glad they re-signed him. But like the NOLA war the last couple years. Oh, I know. Like the best pitcher in baseball. You didn't know that?

Well, come on. You didn't know he's the best pitcher in baseball? Oh, because he doesn't walk anyone. He strikes people out. I'm with you. Boring'm very i love analytics they're super important i get it just it can't be the end all be all you gotta use what do you see what do you see you see hey you can tell a sportsman by what they see like trying to tell me the eagles offense is good because they've got a bunch of points. Like, stop it. I want to.

Are you watching anything with your eyes? When he does that. It drives me crazy. I feel like once every four months. I love Elliott. Me too. And every time he does it. So, like, once every four months, it actually makes me mad.

I know. That's what happened to me. And I want to just shove him in a trash can. I know. That's what happened to me. It's currently the offense thing. Like, well, you don't like being seventh in points per game? Not with this offense.

I don't like watching it. Does it look good to you? Does it ever feel easy? Do you ever watch him and say, like, oh, that was a cool play? Never. Tune in to Go Birds, Bob. You get way more yelly seltzer. Sorry.

It is way more yelly. Oh, my God. We don't do that. I know. I love you, buddy. You don't irk me. Ever. I don't really Oh, my God. We don't do that. I know. I love you, buddy. You don't irk me ever. I don't really irk many people. You don't.

I irk our listeners of WIP more. Yeah, that's true. Here, everyone gets you. We get you here. Yeah, they don't get me on the radio all the time. This is your trust tree when you're talking to a microman. Yeah. Yeah.

Which is a beautiful thing. Thank you, everyone. Of course. It makes us happy. We love doing this.