High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - High Hopes Chapter 2: Ok, maybe we're panicking a little

Episode Date: April 3, 2023

Jack starts to unravel a bit after the Phillies' terrible start to the season and can't understand why Christian Pache was in the lineup on Sunday night. 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

It's been a tough weekend. I can tell, buddy. Walker's amazing. We're starting to get into a little bit of rhythm here. Love it. But you're 0-3, pal. I know. You guys step it up, kid.

You don't have it back on the baseball card yet, so I don't know the track record that we can kind of suggest with you that you're going to be able to keep it up. But, like, holy – Like, it's just – Why did they have to do that? Like, why did they have to do that? Why did they have to do that? If they lost every game like they lost last night.

Yeah, it would have been fine. Where like, okay, Schwarber should have had a home run. Turner should have had two. Boom, rips a ball that's a home run. Oh, I know. That catcher. What was that? I know.

And this stupid, Jonah Heim calls time while Turner's going to second base. That was a soul mace. What was that? I know. And, like, the stupid, what did Jonah Heim, like, calls time while Turner's going to second base? Oh, yeah. That was so amazing. What was that? That made no sense. I know. That made no sense.

Didn't get the role. But, like, the way Saturday happened. Turner and Harrison, the ball dropping between them. I mean, there was so much of that. There was so much of that. It's just, like, the Phillies to me, right? The Phillies to me, they're like a family member. You know what I mean?

We know. Where it's like, just don't embarrass me in front of all my friends. You know what I mean? Like, just don't embarrass me in front of everyone. Yes. And they embarrassed me on Thursday. Saturday, also national TV. Embarrassing.

And Sunday, loss. I mean, just a loss. It wasn't embarrassing. No, it was just a loss. But it's just like, I hate it. Like, I just, there is no one on planet Earth that is worse at handling Philly's losses than me. We know, buddy. I am not.

We know. Let me make this very clear. I am not doing well with the start of the season. I'm not a panicky fan, but there's a panic in this voice right now. I can hear it, buddy.

Especially because I know how tough the NL is. Especially because I know they're going to need 90 plus wins, I believe, to make the playoffs. Wow, you think so? I think they're going to need 90 plus wins. believe to make the playoffs wow you think so I think they're gonna need 90 plus wins like I think I think the Padres are 90 plus wins I think the Dodgers are obviously 90 plus the two NLEs teams and the Cardinals but then that I mean that sixth spot will probably be you know the Brewers the Giants those teams like you think any of those teams win in 90 games I need 90 okay Okay. I like that. That's good. It's because of what I expect now.

Yeah. I think that people were just dying to get the Phillies back. I want that feeling for 162. Now, that's not fair either, James. It's just not fair to expect that level of intensity

for an entire season. At least they're interested in Dallas Keuchel. Everything seems to be. What is going on here? We're talking about like, oh, we get hard throwers now. Let's go look at Dallas Keuchel. At least they're interested in. What is happening right now?

Go trade for someone, Dave. What are you doing? It's not great. It's not great, buddy. And the fact that that's even like a thought i know well that's the more concerning part like dallas keitel will not make the major league roster dallas even if they give him my league deal he will not make the major league roster like the fact that they're even talking to the guy what are we doing here i know i know and and it's like

there's first off as a as a as a better like there is no one easier to fade in the history of baseball than Dallas Keuchel the last couple years. All the time. Did you see he's hitting 86? Yeah. So the funniest part about Keuchel is that he went to driveline, which is supposed to be like, hey, we're going to increase velocity. And I watched his video from like, this was like two months ago

before I even knew that it was like, oh, maybe the closure got signed. It was like sitting 87. Like, what are we? Like, Dave, no. I know you're looking at the pedigree. I know we're looking at the back of the baseball card. If you sign Dallas Keuchel, fold the season. Oh, God.

It's over. It's over. Dallas Keuchel? Yeah, dude, I'm right there with you. I couldn't believe it. I thought it was a joke when I heard it. Rhea said it on the morning show, and I was like, what? And I Googled it.

I was like, no, no, no. I was like, where are you getting your information? Oh, John Heyman. Not great. Not what I want to hear. Now, we know Heyman's a Boris guy. That's true. So, yeah.

Trying to get it out there, help it out there. Uh-oh, let's see what his market is. Oh, God. Yeah, let's see what Dallas Geico's market's going to be. Oh, buddy. Yeah, that was definitely the out there, help it out there. Let's see what his market is. Yeah, let's see what Dallas Kleckle's market's going to be. Oh, buddy. Yeah, that was definitely the worst news of the weekend. Yeah, the worst possible thing. Losses or whatever, but don't be talking about Dallas Kleckle.

Yeah, another guy named Dallas? I can handle Goddard. You start mixing in a pitcher? So things are going well. Things are great. Things are going well. Yeah, we got no issues. Everything's fine.

CB Buckner should probably be fired. Dude. So again, I don't. And you know, I've wavered more than you have. You've been very staunch. But I am anti-robot umps is my official stance. I would absolutely take a robot ump over CB Buckner today. Like all CB Buckner's games, robots do it right now.

That was like disastrous. And usually umps are just bad. And it doesn are just bad, and they're bad for everybody. That actually really hurt the Phillies. He was extra bad for us. Extra bad. He could not place what an inside fastball is supposed to look like. I mean, the Marsh one, I know that was the one that talked about it most, but that was like a disastrous call

it was atrocious and obviously still very anti-robot umpire but he was terrible and you know it was not great timing after our rant about the human element of the game they didn't feel great about the human element of the game

on Saturday when they're down 16-3 and I know the pitchers still gotta make pitches and stuff but it 100% affected human element of the game on Saturday when they're down 16-3. And I know the pitchers still gotta make pitches and stuff, but it 100% affected the outcome of the game. Without a doubt it did. I mean, in multiple different spots. And those were big spots. It doesn't spiral like that, probably, if it doesn't play out that way. Wheeler's probably not

out of the game as early. There are multiple... And Wheeler was pitching differently because of it. You could see it, and partially because of the pitch clock, but he wasn't trusting his stuff. No, he was not. So, C. You could see it, and partially because of the pitch clock, but he wasn't trusting his stuff. No, he was not. So, C.B. Buckner, an atrocity. An atrocity. Dude, I'm getting annoyed.

I'm just, like, so ready for this season to start, and then we get this trash, and then we got to watch C.B. Buckner, and I got you nervous. But it's not. I was expecting to come in, and you calm everyone down down and you're like, no, I'm panicking. Not quite, but I'm nervous. Well, I guess my thing is this, is that like, sure, like I can, I could do the whole, the 19 Braves got swept in the first week of the year and the 21 Braves got swept by the Phillies

in the first weekend of the year and they the 21 Braves got swept by the Phillies in the first weekend of the year, and they ended up winning the World Series. They sure did. But it really, I've just genuinely felt this way since I saw the first lineup where it's like, that's not what I expected. And if the pitchers aren't ready to go, I don't think the lineup is going to be able to carry them the way that they could have. I think that had Reese been there, I think the lineup could be expected to have, you know,

five-run, six-run games on a pretty regular basis. Now what happens, after I see what happened with Wheeler and Nola and Tywon Walker, his last start, his velocity was down in all three spots, which is worrisome. Oh, that's great. You already have the Ranger injury. You have Andrew Painter, who's not ready, or is banged up a little bit. And then you see the bullpen.

I think the bullpen, of all the things that suck this weekend, I think the bullpen's going to be fine. Yeah, I'm not going to freak out. Very small sample. And, again, the Junior Marte thing blew up. I wasn't going to bring it up. No, that's all right. I wasn't going to bring it up.

It's a bring it up podcast. That was when the game fell apart. It was a game until Junior Marte came in in and then it was no longer a game. Yes. Yeah. But we're a bounce back team here. Yes. Yes, we are.

Also, just this is me. I'm talking to myself here. Yes, good. That's all we want, really. Yeah. Stop betting on the Phillies. Like, dude, every time they go down, I'm like, well, it's obviously a thought. Yeah, I like that.

Yeah, yeah. because it used to be a little bit against the Phillies but now it's like I got so much faith in them plus there's just good odds I know you do get good odds

live in game betting I know internal monologue I know stop betting on the Phillies do you think I'm handling this well so James and I are sitting next to each other

which is amazing for this podcast love it how do I do I look am'm handling this well? So James and I are sitting next to each other. Which is amazing. For this podcast. Love it. Am I handling this well? So, not really. Not really? No. I know I'm not.

You're not. I'm not. You're really not. Like you're definitively not. No, it's because I have waited since freaking Jordan Alvarez hit the furthest ball I've seen in my entire life that I've only seen twice. Although at MLB.TV, they keep showing it. I know. Have you noticed that every highlight is an anti-Phillies highlight?

I have not noticed that. Dude, it's like they throw the Mets combined no-hitter on there. I do love the highlights in there because it used to just be like commercial break or whatever. And now they do the highlights, which I appreciate. Yeah, but they're all anti-Phillies. I didn't notice that. They're all anti-Phillies. I didn't notice that.

You'll notice that next time when you're watching. So someone at MLB is anti-Phillies. It's out to get the Phillies, correct. That's good to know. No, but it's like I waited since the Jordan home run for them to get back. They signed Trey Turner. The lineup top to bottom looks unbelievable. They make legitimate upgrades in the bullpen where it's like,

oh my God, I don't have to freak out about them anymore. I think the staff's really good. I can't wait to see Andrew Painter. I can't wait to see Ranger Suarez in another full year as a starter, see him continue to develop into one of the best left-handed pitchers in baseball. We have Wheeler and Nolan develop into one of the best left-handed pitchers in baseball. We have Wheeler and Nolan at the top of the rotation. I'm not trying to be

a soft fan with the three games into the season thing, but it's just like, I'm definitely shaking a little bit off of what I saw this weekend. It didn't help that in the third game of the year, I have Josh Harrison in left field.

Batting sixth. And Christian Pache, who I think has stunk for years. Which it was fun. I texted you immediately when they got him. I was like, Pache, LOL. You have long. So for those who don't know, Pache was like a top 20 prospect in the sport. Yeah.

Like top 10 maybe even at certain points with the Braves. And the entire time, Jack was like, that dude stinks. I always used to be like, oh, they got this guy. He's like, Pash, he stinks. He stinks. And then they trade for him. Yeah. Because of what they do.

And he does stink. Very clearly. I mean, it was essentially like having a pitcher hit it. Yeah. Great defensive player. Horrible hitter. Also, like, oh my God. You know, like, Stott works a great at bat.

Oh, I know, and then it's like first pitch. I know. You can't hit. I know, I know. Like, you can't hit. When you've treat Turner on deck. At least take a pitch, Christian. You've treat Turner. Christian Pache? Yeah. In the third game of the year? I know. I mean, Well, and they told

March he's gonna bat again. Lefty, sit on the benchette And Bailey Falter Was pretty good last night He was really good He was good He was really good But like holy cow You signed Tywon Walker

To be your third starter That had to be some sort of It's No it is He said it was matchup based But like I know But like It's

You need to win It's baseball Yeah You wanna win Is the better way to put it They're fine