High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - High Hopes Chapter 2: 4-1 in the Major Era

Episode Date: May 1, 2023

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz discuss the Phillies improving bullpen and their hot stretch since the introduction of Major the dog. 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

They found the four when they have leads. It's over. It's as good as I remember here, like you said. But they need the guys that can keep the game close. And Luis Ortiz and Brock didn't feel like they're kind of developing the guys that can be those kind of pitchers for this team. And Ortiz, like specifically, like obviously against the Mariners when they came back, he kept that game where it was for two innings

and gave the offense time. Last night kept the game 4-3, which was good to see. So Big Luis, he's 95, and then it makes it so hard because his slider is about 80. So it's just hard to get timing down on him. So I'm curious. I'm curious to see. Hey, he's done everything you asked him so far. He's been very, very solid for this team.

Yeah, dude, I'm with you. Who knew it? Luis Ortiz coming in saving the season. Hold on, man. Andrew Vasquez doesn't hear it, too. Look at that. He's mop-up. Yeah, he's the mop-up guy. That's exactly what he is. And look, you need mop-up guys. Let's get to... I want to get to the lineup in a sec, but the

Strom thing. Because again, Strom, since the last time we talked, goes out. Shoves again. I know. This guy has been phenomenal as a starting pitcher really in that one bad outing was it Cincinnati I think we're kind of got out of control but even that was he got pulled and he could have stayed in the game that a shot Belotti ended up making it way worse so look we both agree that that he makes the most sense to go the bullpen he gives him a lot of options there and all that. Ranger on his way back, doing rehab assignments, theoretically shouldn't be too long, probably piggybacks Ranger to start.

But what do you say to a lot of Phillies fans who are going to be like, why is Matt Strom leaving the rotation? He's better than Bailey Falter. So here's what they can do. Yes. Just send Falter down. Wow.

I mean, they can. So you're thinking maybe keep Strom up there. Oh. I mean, he's been nasty. He's been great. He's been nasty. He's been great. And he's given them He's been nasty. He's been great. And he's given them, like, between five and six.

Like, he's like, you know, doing better than most fifth starters would do. So, the question, what they can, it's like, it almost turns into a math equation, right? So, what brings them more value? Matt Strom being able to give them two innings three times a week. Or five to six innings once to twice a week, depending on how. Which brings them more value. That's a great question. And I think that's what they're going to have to do.

But if they love what Strom's doing as a starter, and given what they've got with the bullpen right now, so we just talked about Luis Ortiz and Brogdon, and then you talk about the four that you trust in big spots. I don't totally know where Strom does fit in. I don't know what his role becomes. He's too good to be a long man. Yeah, he's too good.

So maybe he just provides more value as a starter. Now what they could do is they could piggyback him and falter when Ranger gets back if they wanted. But at the same time, I was thinking about that. Like, maybe they can just send down falter and keep Strom in the rotation and keep the bullpen the same way and go from there.

And hopefully Strom can kind of keep his love. Maybe you luck into a guy. I've dynamite fist starter. Yeah. It's unbelievable. Dude, he's so good. He's great. He's great.

And he competes. And he's fun to watch. And he gives a crap. They have so many guys. I've already envisioned in my head. I've already envisioned in my head, which you know is a dangerous spot. Oh, yeah, buddy. Very dangerous.

But I've already envisioned it's the fifth inning of some nighttime playoff game at Citizens Bank Park. Rally Tiles are going crazy. They have a 2-0 lead. Runners are first, second, and the fifth. And Strom strikes out the last guy, and he just goes nuts. Popping his fans. Just goes nuts running off the mound. He has, like, there's so many guys on this team that have a chance to be such legends here.

And we saw a lot of it last year. But, like, you add in Stromy now. Like, cocky Castellanos, which is like a difference maker. Cody Clemens. Who knew? The next Matt Stairs. The next Matt Stairs. Like, there's just so many guys.

Like, Alvarado developing into more and more of a legend. Apparently he has like 18 cups of coffee a day. I saw that. No one's more beamed up than the Phillies. Don't forget that. It's so funny. It's such a great quote. It's the funniest thing ever.

Part of the strong thing, part of everyone, part of Cassiano, they're back to being our guys again, which is good. Yeah. Because the first week was a hard spot to be in. It was not. We were hating them. You guys are back to being our guys again, which is good. Yeah. Because the first week was a hard spot to be in. It was not. Yeah, we were hating them. You guys are back to being losers. No, it's like after the offseason of just love and excitement.

It's like, way to go, guys. Thanks for that. But they're back. They're back. They are. And I'm with you on this. I mean, two double-digit plus strikeouts. What are we doing here?

And he competes, dude. That's what I love about him. That's my favorite. I'm so with you. Like, I feel like every pitch he throws, he's competitive with. Which is so weird because I have a nasty amount of confidence in Matt Strom. I know. All this history should tell you you should not have that much confidence in him.

I know. Yeah. Dude, I just trust him to go out there, first off, compete, obviously, but also do a good job. Yeah. It's wild because he's wild because I have picked up and dropped Matt Strom for six years.

Even as a Padre, yeah, exactly. Six years I've done this with him. Everything suggests don't trust him, but I trust him. I do too. And look, credit to the Phillies in general with their development of guys. I mean, Pache got hurt, which who'd have thought Christian Pache would get hurt.

I was crushed. No! Demonstrating, right? Because, like, the changes like that, I mean, Marsh, what they've done in a year, obviously what he's done with Long, I mean, with Stott, and on the pitching side, these developments we're seeing, it's been really impressive what this coaching staff has done with these guys.

No, I mean, Kevin Long, again. It's like... Just, he is not, like, they can never. If he wants to, if he can go, I don't know why I'm struggling to get this out. And I sound like an idiot. Never leave, is what you're saying. But last year he was up for the Blue Jays managerial job, I believe. Like, just pay him whatever it takes.

He's Stoutland. He's a Philly Stoutland. Exactly. Lifetime contract. He is Jeff Stoutland. I will pay you what they pay head coaches

just that yeah I agree oh the Eagles tried to do that with Gannon that was a good thing they missed out on that but yeah

he is and I know people will be like whoa Turner first off those guys are established yes look at the young guys

it's not about yes and I mean Casti let's be honest, right? They made a bunch of adjustments to Castianos. It's harder. The point is, it's harder to guys who are set in their ways,

who've had success in baseball, it's harder to change what they're doing. So, I'm sorry, Kevin, but I hope you like Philadelphia. You better. Because I haven't thought about a world in which Kevin Long's not my hitting coach. And I won't let that world exist. I will start whatever it takes.

He's more important than a lot of the better free agents that are out there. He's more important than that. Oh, yeah. I agree. So it's just, but yeah. Like, Ani being brought in, I think he's been great at finding the under-the-radar kind of guys. I feel like that's a strong move. Yep.

Is Ani. Luis Ortiz, 100%. That's an Ani move. You know, like, he's Andrew Belotti last year. So, and then you have to, obviously, Dabrowski's just like, well, I will pay you, Trey Turner, to be our shortstop. You know what I mean? So, like, they have a lot of the aspects

covered. Rob Thompson, I know people are freaking out, and he was bad the first week and a half, two weeks of the year. He's clearly found a feel for this team. He's back to, like, they're just back. I don't know how else to tell it, but they're just back. They're back. Speaking of back, let's do a little more on Castellanos. Yes!

I mean, I texted you, it was before the game on Sunday, I just texted you a slash line. It was like 320-380-515 or whatever it was. I don't know where it's at now, but I mean, and thank God, alright? Because not only did we shill for him before he came here and tell everyone how great he was and then look like idiots last year,

but then we doubled down and said he's going to be all right. Don't freak out. Thank God. That's really all I have to say, Jack. Thank freaking God he's back. Yeah, because it was not a good spot to be in with him. And, you know, I don't like the recent trends of players who've been great for a decade coming here and struggling in their first year like what the hell why why

does this have to happen i don't know if you've ever heard this before but athletes are humans good point a lot going on yeah there's a lot going on it's true so you know but but castellanos it was so it was like all right he's getting some singles, little doubles, but it's still not exactly driving the baseball. I mean, that home run he hit on Saturday was just like a tank. Yeah, dude. I didn't know we'd ever see that from Castellanos again. Over the left field wall, just f***ing smoked it. Whoa!

You're all excited about Cassie. Gotta bleep that out! Get excited about Cassie. You're dropping F-bombs. Yeah, I was. Yeah, Phil's are back, man. Phil's are so back. Phil's are back. Just dropping F-bombs Yeah, I was Yeah, Phil's are back, man Phil's are so back Phil's are back

Just stop dropping F-bombs In a positive way I just don't understand How you do that And he also On the radio all the time But you don't ever curse On the radio

Never curse Never I just think it's the same Kind of Anyway Kinda Except it's not Because I know

That I won't get fired If I curse here Whereas there I, you know Theoretically could So I mean, Castellanos And he almost hit a ball

he fouled it like straight back last night but it was like he he was like damn i i saw that it was his first at bat and he was like he he knew we had it it was like i could have crushed that ball and he didn't yeah so it so it's just i think it's swagger it's real you know he's it's it's now i could understand two weeks ago it was still a lot of weak contact like uh you know i'll see it when i believe it but now he just wrote he wrote the ball on i think it was saturday that jake meyer just ran down and yeah caught but the ball was just and i was i think it's friday but he's the ball was just smoked so uh yeah he is we're getting the 2020 version of castellanos which i didn't well 20 2019 he sucked in 2020. 2021 2021. thank you great in 2020. i thought you said 2020. no 2020. he had a down year in 2020 yes last year it's just 2020.

2020. now we're getting 2021. bang um good and it's such a it's such a game changer i think we talked about this last pod but like when hoskins went down or before austin's went down i was like yeah castellanos being back would be a cherry on top. Now when Hoskins went down, I was like, well, now it's imperative that he's back. And now you start thinking about, okay, I'm adding Bryce back to a lineup with, I think JT has turned a corner. Castie has turned a corner. Schwarber, I just was never worried about him. It'll happen.

Just wait for it. It's just deep breaths. It'll happen. Stott's obviously great. Turner, I'm waiting for. But he'll come. Turner will come. Yeah. Well, no, it's just deep breaths. It'll happen. Stott's obviously great. Turner, I'm waiting for. But he'll come. Turner will come. Yeah.

Well, no, it's just like. It's just after watching Cassie last year. We did the same thing with Cassie. It's going to happen. First year, it took him a while to get going. No, it's fair. Look at the baseball card. I did that all last year with Cassiano.

He was terrible. That's a good point. I think it's going to happen. Yeah. But after what we've been through, I'm not locked it's going to happen. I think that's fair. I hope that by the all-star break he gets back. But it's just the lineup.

And then Boehm, obviously, and Marsh, who I think is still in the NL and OPS. But whatever. I think it's just they're so good and they're only getting better. Yeah. And again, I think to your point that you said, not just are they back, but it feels like they finally believe they're back yes you know what I mean

it feels like there's a confidence to the team they're playing with the swagger and a confidence that we didn't see the first week and a half

two weeks of the season like even though they lost last night they could have easily won that game oh absolutely they had runners in first and second

with Turner yeah with no outs no outs no outs everything's fine they took to it it is fine it's good

we're good it's exciting it is fine it's good we're good it's exciting it is exciting even Jake Cave had three heads on Saturday miracle this is the most miracle thing that's happened

all season he responded to the Pache yeah he did that's true who did thunk it Pache and it's like

of course I just said he had started every day and like a millisecond later it's like ah they're torn into this I know but it was it was cool to see the team kind of yeah I just said he would start every day, and like a millisecond later, it's like, ah, they're touring in Minnesota. I know.

But it was cool to see Alex Coffey. The team kind of, yeah. The coffee story about everyone's hugging him. Well, it's particularly cool in that we knew it. We saw it last year. But I mean, how long are the entirety of this podcast until last year? Really, until last October. It's like, ah, it'd be cool if we had a team where everyone liked each other and a culture

and it seemed like they were having fun out there. It doesn't even seem like they're having a good time. It's like now we hear all these stories where it's like, you know, guys come here and are like, oh my God, like this is awesome. This is what I want. I've always, I've never felt embraced before the stuff you were saying.

Like it's thrilling, honestly, it really is to like have a team that you feel like there's a real's it's thrilling honestly really is to like have a team that that you feel like there's a real a real culture there and they like each other and they're having fun like it matters well that's why it's like Stubbs he's he gets a lifetime contract I don't care if he ever gets hit I'm just telling you that guy means a lot um but then he's like dude Marsh is such an energy guy and like they needed those kind of guys with Maiton being traded this offseason they needed the energy guys from with Maiton being traded this offseason. They needed the energy guys from the young players.

Like, Marsh just seems like such, like, just, like, a ball of energy. Oh, yeah, dude. All the time. Oh, yeah. So, yeah, it's refreshing. It's refreshing. We have a baseball team. We got a baseball team.

We got a dog now, too. Oh, I know. Major. That's major. He suffered his first loss. It was tough. It was tough. But, yeah, 4-1.

Pretty good. 4-1. Got the season back on track. If they keep winning at that clip, they're going to be one of the better teams in the history of the sport. Yeah. How about that?

That's what they do under Rob Thompson in the major era.