High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - High Hopes Chapter 3: Is Scott Kingery really making the Opening Day Roster?

Episode Date: March 20, 2023

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz discuss the candidates for the Phillies bench, including Scott Kingery who has had a scorching spring. 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

We had John Middleton on the show today, and I know he had said a similar quote. I can't remember what article it was, but it made the rounds athletic or something like that. It was in an article a few months ago, but he said it on the show again, and it was talking about his goals for the team, and he had two lines that stuck out. The first one was, when I talk to this team, if I say, I want you to win a World Series, he's like, that's not good enough. He's like, this team should win multiple world series. And he said, when I look back, when you look back at the history of baseball, when you talk about the great teams in the history of the sport,

he's like, I want this Phillies team to be on that. Like that is such a grandiose and lofty thing to say and a goal to have. And, and again, they have to go out and prove it and stuff. But the pieces are there. The pieces are there for this team to do what the Astros just did, to win two World Series in a five-year span or whatever. They obviously, again, win one. Win one. And we said the same thing about 08, and they had the chance and all that.

But it is really exciting to look at this group of what's here now the next few years with these guys everyone under contract already like the the sky is the limit with this group yeah and that's why you know i feel like i i i sound a bit like a broken record but you know i've kind of had that feeling all off season where where it's just like, look at how they are now. Look at how Middleton is spending money on big stars, and how underneath the surface, they're

just continuing to build this thing. People freak out about the starting pitching depth or the bullpen depth. The bench spots, or the this, or the that. It's like, well, there's more coming. When people talk about, is Ranger going to make the –

well, Ranger's going to be in the rotation this season. Ranger's going to be in the rotation, yeah. But, you know, Painter down, and then it's like Falter, whatever, and, like, these guys get hurt. Like, who's to say that Griff doesn't just get hot and everything starts clicking for him, that he can come in there and that raises the level of your team. Mick Abel looked good the other day against

the Braves, and I feel almost bad for Mick, because it's like he just gets left behind with Andrew Painter turning into a superstar prospect, but Mick Abel is a top 40 prospect in baseball right now, who reached AA at

21 years old. He has to work. He's not as flawless as Andrew Painter. He has to work he's not as like flawless as as as andrew painter he has to work on fastball command but like i mean it's still great it's a great point by you jack like we we almost have like just kind of forgotten about mcable because of and rightfully so the the level of greatness as a prospect that painter has reached and kind of surpassed him but you're right Like, we don't talk nearly enough. I mean, Mick Gable could be a one or a two in the major leagues. Like, that's a ceiling.

Like, he's that talented. You know, not like a one-one, not like a – you never know. But, like, he could be a two in the major leagues. Like, the guy's legit. Yeah, 100%. So, you know, when we talk about Dodgers East and we talk about turning into one of these super, like, I think they're on the verge of being. I know, but this is what we're doing here. This is a high hopes podcast.

We're supposed to be talking about the 2026 fills and and get me some pictures. We could talk about the minors. We're talking about, like, let's go on a dynastic run, Jack. But that's where the franchise is right now. I mean, for the next five years, I mean, we talked about this, I think, maybe three pods ago, but, like, everyone on their team is, everyone on the team is, at least in the lineup, is locked up through 2025.

So, you know, you look at the core of this team is pretty much set so you have the core pretty much set on offense you have we'll see what happens like it could be extension a week for Aaron Nola um so you have your one and two locked up for the next couple years Wheeler we'll see what happens with him um like it's just it's so hard not to start dreaming on what they can be and and and think about them as one of the future, you know, superpower ish teams in the sport. I mean,

there's, there's only a handful of them, but they have everything there to where they can get the job done. And, and I don't think Middleton's like speaking out of turn to say like only winning one, only winning one is, is obviously a big thing.

Yeah. Let's win the, let's win the freaking world series. Okay. We've won one in our lifetimes. Okay. Like, yes, it obviously a big thing yeah let's win the let's win the freaking world series okay we've won one in our lifetimes okay like yes it is a big deal but but i get your point like i don't think it's i don't think it's when he said it i wasn't like what the hell like i was like yeah like you're right and again the the the thing that you know you can look at this team but then yeah there's other great teams and steve cohen's up there spending money and the braves are good and there's all this stuff but but you

look at this group of guys and especially what they achieved last year and the mentality and the the two more games thing bone brought that up too like just that there it really does feel like this group is locked in on a goal and and clearly that goal is to win the world series and then you worry about past that but but as the owner especially talking about his goals for the franchise like absolutely he's not speaking out of turn i mean he has set some some very lofty expectations you know great teams of all time but but he's not but the point is like the pieces are there the infrastructure for the first time in in you know over a decade is there from a from a baseball operations perspective like we always talk about the infrastructure is there and the guy making

that statement is willing to open up his checkbook and keep adding and willing to keep going over taxes and keep spending money to do what it takes to win so yeah like if they keep this formula in this group, like they should have a lot of success with these guys, you know? Yeah. And so weird. Man, it's like high hopes is like I what I think about with this now is like, you know, the new listeners, whatever. And if you are a new listener who came on during the run, like, thank you. We love you. Welcome. Welcome aboard.

whatever. And if you are a new listener who came on during the run, like, thank you. We love you. Welcome, welcome aboard. Um, but like the, the old school listeners will know, like there is as much as, you know, it's thrilling and exciting. Like there is a bit of a, like a, I keep pinching myself when we do these pods being like, this doesn't feel like we've never done this before a season. These have never been the high hopes preseason pods we've been doing before. You know, there's been hype and excitement, but it's never been like, yeah, this team could go on with a few World Series over the next couple of years. Like, this is crazy, Jack.

Like, step back and look at this and be like, you know, I'm just I'm like feeling the feels. I'm unclear about all that. Like, I'm really grateful. I'm so grateful that we're here right now man i feel like we i feel like we were andy new frame slogging through you know what for years with this podcast digging through and we have come out the other side and we are raising our arms in the air and it feels amazing well it's funny because it feels like one of those we almost got calmed down you know what i mean like too far in the old high hopes ways it was like people told us to calm down. You know what I mean? Like too far in the old high hopes ways. It was like,

people told us to calm down. Could it be like, listen, this, this team could win 90 games, you know? And like, this guy could break out.

This guy could turn into this. And then he's going to, you know, fulfill all of our expectations for, for, you know, we're always looking at the highest possible outcome for whatever player, whatever team,

whatever manager, whatever GM, whatever, like that's been the, the, the thing about this podcast. And you talk about maybe not, not able to handle the moment.

Might be, it might be us. Maybe, maybe we can't handle the moment. Watch them start like 10 and 15. And we're like, just, we'll be right back to where we get them all out.

That is going gonna be the funny part about the season is that you know it's gonna be way less like living and dying with every single game like well i i will watch every second i will care as much as i usually do but like pretty much after every game for what it's worth there are a lot of them you know regular season games i mean uh weekday games and all that yeah but it's but it's um like there's like now that we we we got through we broke through there's not that same like oh my god are they gonna miss the playoffs again like oh my god like this is all a disaster because like i for the first time since again the heyday it's like i trust them like i just i trust i trust the manager i trust the players i trust the i trust the gm and

i trust the owner so you talk about coming a long way you know i used to wow i used to try to find those names like topper we never didn't trust but like we we didn't think he would ever be the manager of a baseball team the dude was going to retire after last season and now he's you know extension all that but like for the statements you just made with john jack middleton and dave dombrowski you know we've come a long way come a long way buddy yeah um and i again i just you know when i think about when i think about how a majority of the last couple years like they would be in first place or they'd be like over 500 and like 20,000 people in the stadium you know and and now like I just think they're gonna get rewarded for the for the fruits of what they just went through

so um it's it's gonna be a a different watching experience you know where it's not wow this whole thing's crumbling and it's falling apart as a disaster. It's going to be more like this is what we do now. This is just this is just what we do. Like, well, maybe start a little slow. Maybe we won't win the division, but don't let us make the playoffs. Like, just don't let the Phillies make the playoffs. Like, entering into a cocky era of Phillies baseball

is not something that I didn't know I'd be able to feel again. But that's kind of where we're heading into, a cocky era of Phillies baseball is not something that I didn't know I'd be able to feel again. But that's kind of where we're heading into, a cocky era of Phillies baseball. And yet again, like Andy Dufresne, this podcast has freaking earned that. All right. You know, we have earned the chance to be a little cocky about this team. And yet you're absolutely right. It is weird having those expectations shift, especially, you know, like we've talked about so many times, but how, you know, in September, I don't know, I'll pick a date, like September 25th, September 27th, like none of us

felt this way. None of us felt this way about this team come October 3rd or whatever day it was, they clinched in Houston, October 2nd, whatever that was. Like, it's just ever since that moment, like everything about how we feel about the Phillies has changed in such a profound and powerful and awesome way. And it all feels justified. And, and to your point, look, I don't,

I don't think there's at least in my lifetime, you can maybe say a week after Oh seven, but like, it was a different thing then I think this might be the most important from a, not making the playoffs or whatever perspective, because I'm with you. I think they could start slow and figure it out. They're going to be good. But from a business of baseball perspective, like a hot start,

that place is full all year. The place is full. I'm serious, right? But if they start slow, it might take them a little time for people. There'll be full games. There'll be some repeat. But if they start hot, if they come out 20 and 10 or 20 and 8 or whatever and they're like rolling like we could get back to those days the salad days the hey i got a ticket

to a game night you want to go yes let me drop everything i have going on my life because i have to be at that game like like we're on the verge of that again, man. And that was the freaking best. Yeah. And I thought about this a lot. I thought about, so I come back from Texas and then they go to New York and just like game one at Citizens Bank Park, you know, when for the first time we get to welcome the national league champions back on the field and say like because you know they go they went down to houston and we never really had the chance to say thank you you know what i mean and um yeah our last moment was marred by chas freaking mccormick you know it's like we were all in shock and we're all

stunned you're right dude like we didn't so we were angry you know so when they take the field and dan baker does this and they do the introductions and i know and then you couple all that with with turner you know making his making his uh his philly's what a donation he's gonna get because because bryce isn't there too so it's just like all the energy is going to go into that Turner. That place is going to be insane. I know. I know. Calm down.

I know. It's hard for you. That's why Walker, it's time to go. Walker, let's go, go pal we should quickly just officially address that because um you know uh i didn't know that the name was out there for a while so we were kind of saying baby boy fritz and all that type of stuff but apparently it's out there if you don't miss the afternoon show, apparently. Just got out.

Walker! We got Walker coming, man. Well, it's going to be so surreal watching Taiwan Walker and seeing Walker 99. It's going to be weird. Well, it is funny. You notice that type of stuff. The name pops. Whenever I see Zoe anywhere, it's like a totally different thing.

I was watching the Michigan State game yesterday, and their point guard's last name was Walker. I was like, Walker to the 10. I was like, what is going on? Oh, yeah. So, yeah. So the names out there, it is kind of funny being a washed pitcher. Well, it's hilarious.

You named your kid Walker. It's freaking hilarious. It's like almost knowing you, and I know it wasn't, but knowing you, you're like, is this a bit? Is his actual naming of his kid an actual bit? But no, it's not. Life's a bit. We know. You're basically having the kid

just for the bit take. Well, my content was slowing down. It's soon. It's like how people have the baby to save a marriage. You're the baby to save the career yeah save the content yeah that's good uh well listen uh our due date is supposed to be in three days so i know i know so yeah well unless we got opening day in in nine days like you know

let's speed this up especially at least at least let me make the home opener like all i want to do is make the yeah i'm with you buddy we we want you we need you at the home opener. All I want to do is make the home opener. Yeah, I'm with you, buddy. We want you. We need you at the home opener. But I will say, watching it with Walker, all you want to do is not be in labor for the home opener. That would be a disaster. But if he's out, you could watch it.

Holding your boy, watching the opener. There's something to that. So I agree. It would be better if it were a Texas game. Come sooner, and we could do that while they're on the road. I get it. But like, it could be worse. Well, yeah, but I will say, but I'd rather go to the home. Still a bit of a me guy.

Like, listen, you'll he'll experience his little with the Phillies are coming off the third straight World Series or whatever. Then he could be there. But like, you know, let me, let me soak this in, you know, more about me is what, is what parenthood is usually about.

Oh yes. That is, let me tell you, buddy, it's all about you all and not giving up anything of yourself or your, what you want to do or, you know, none of that.

Yeah, you're right. That's a good point. I'm happy. You're heading in with the right expectations for what this is going to be. I'm so excited, dude. You're going to be such a great dad.

It's going to be awesome. Well. I really think you're going to be. I think you're going to. I know you'll see. The last five minutes of conversation shouldn't let anyone down that path, but you're going to be great, buddy.

It's going to be awesome. Thanks, buddy. Thanks, buddy. All right. So I have to go in a few minutes because I get to go watch the phillies play it's not rubbed in let's not how about it you were just here um but quickly because i saw a bunch of people and in true high hopes fashion i feel like this is the perfect kind of last phillies thing to get into before a quick take back because again gotta go um but just quickly because i've seen a bunch of people

talking about in the chat and thank you to everyone showing up you know a lot of awesome people i see scott i see buddy rocott i see a bunch of great people our buddy dave uk phillies tv in there um but um quickly the one real phillies topic outside the macro stuff the five man bench who's making it buddy look if i think like obviously we all know that that stubs is on the roster that so is on the roster those those are locks i think uh derrick hall at this point looks like a lock i think jake cave the way he's i mean put his bag 500 or something like i think he's a lock i think that last spot comes down to harrison kingery maybe clemens i don't think clemens gets i think it's gonna be harris or Guthrie, excuse me, or Guthrie.

What do you think? Where are you going with this last spot? So I'm not going to Scott Kingery. Like, I'm sorry. Like I, I know, I know it's intoxicating.

I know people are like, Oh, it do. We got three calls about it. Like everyone wants it. It's it's why, why, why are people so King read up?

I, I, I guess, I guess because people just, just haven't given up on the idea. It's hard to let go. You should know about this. Are you kidding me, Mr. Hang on to a take? I think it's a take thing.

People don't want to be wrong. Dustin Pedroia with more talent. People are still holding on to that one. For me, it just doesn't make sense. Go down to AAA and hit for a little bit before it's like, oh, we got to get Scottie Jetpacks back on the roster. I'm not moving off Josh Harrison at this point. He's a veteran. He's been around. He's a good clubhouse guy.

This is the second time they brought him in, the first time they cut him, which I don't think he was expecting. They gave him $2 million. I'm going to give Josh Harrison every, not every shot. cut him which i don't think he's expecting they gave him two million dollars you know like i'm gonna give josh harrison every not every shot like he's not gonna play every day but like i'm gonna give josh harrison a shot before i'm like no i'm gonna i'm not my evaluation is wrong um so i'm going uh yeah i'm going harrison sosa cave hall stubs that's my uh it's it's it's absolutely locked in for me as well.

Now, Dalton Guthrie turned out that... I didn't know this, but he's Jewish. So I'm fully on Team Dalton Guthrie now. So if he makes the roster, I'll be very happy about it. I had no idea Dalton Guthrie's Jewish. He's a gamer. Dalton Guthrie? That is about as not Jewish a name as you will often hear.

But happy to have him on board. But I'm right there with you look we made this mistake with josh harrison once right like we made the mistake we brought him in we were like ah money whatever let's give him he was a valuable player for another i mean in his role a valuable player for not washington like he made a difference there like just keep josh harrison here dude's proven that he can handle this role he play all over the diamond for you like it just i think he just gives you more versatility and again that kind of veteran presence off the bench i'm all about it yeah i so here's my here's my final not my final this is my last this is my roster

projection as of today uh real muto hoskins stott turner boom schwarber marsh cast uh wheeler nola ranger you're going full 26? This is great. Good job. I did this in the first. I appreciate you, buddy. It's good work. Real top of my head, too.

So obviously, my person this time is going to be on the I.L. So I'm factoring that in. Painter should be on the I.L., I would think. Anyway, so. He'll do minor league starts to ramp back up anyway, right? Yeah. Yeah. So Real Muto, Hoskins, Stott, Turner, Boehm, Schwarber, Marsh, Kast,

Wheeler, Nola, Ranger, Walker, Falter, Harrison, Sosa, Cave, Hall, Stubbs, and then bullpen of Alvarado, Soto, Sir Anthony, Kimbrell, Strom, Brogdon, Junior Marte. Wow, you're doing it. I'm like a Junior Marte jersey. I'm sorry. I might. He's my favorite film.

So for the listeners who might not be up on every single one of those last guys, the Junior Marte slot, who else could it be? If it's not Junior Marte, is it Drew Baker? Who are the guys who you think are in for that spot? Well, it's Pilate. It's Pilate. Pilate, of course, yes. It's Nick Nelson.

It's Drew Baker. Nick Nelson's still. Pilate, of course, yes. It's Nick Nelson. It's Drew Baker. Nick Nelson's still dealing with the hamstring thing, right? That'll probably hinder him. That's a big loss. I might affect my window. Everyone was really bummed when that happened, yes. How does Pilate not make the roster, though? I mean, that dude pitched big innings for you and was good.

I know, look, these guys are going to psych up and down. It's all about options and all that stuff, but I don't't know i'd be surprised if blight doesn't make the roster too good how about that that's my answer too good i'm a big fan of of jays as ya sounds in general you and your martha like if people want to call me yames i'm totally fine with that i think it's great jimmy's where you draw the line, right? Jimmy. You can call me Jimmy. No, Jimmy's okay. Jamie is where I draw the line.

Shut it down. I just am not a Jamie. I've never been a Jamie. Can't do it. That's when I actually get mad. People can call me Jimmy. Yeah, I get mad when people call me Jimmy. Now, how many high hopes people are going to come up to a game and be like,

Hey, Jamie. I'll be like, God darn it. Why did I say that? Listen, Jamie, you can go to the game soon. Thanks, buddy. I have to. I got Richie and the camera waiting on me. Yo and Jan.

Or you might say. Jan Jansen. But yeah, that's just... They're too good. I don't know what to tell you. What a pod. What a pod we What a pod. What a pod we just did there. There's no point in talking about it until opening day because it's just like, hey, everything's fine.

Everything's fine. Everything's great. It is wild, I will say. And again, I feel it. You're right there with me. It is like, we're going into a season where like, and he might come back soon, earlier and all, but like Bryce Harper is theoretically out for half the season

and we were more excited like we're like they're fine they're gonna do great it's just like wild the MVP of the league two years ago is out for half the season it's like literally no big deal it's not a big deal I know I'm saying it's literally no big deal it's crazy

it's crazy are you got anything else in the take bag I think it's interesting they're stretching Matt Straum out. So that came out the other day. Obviously a starter prior. So with him being stretched out, obviously, yeah, he's been a kind of a bad starter before, but he only became good when they started

relief pitching. Yes, exactly. It seems like this is a this is going to be a piggyback with him and Ranger, I think, to begin the season. So then Ranger will start, give like three innings, and then Strom can get you through four, five, six, and then hand over the bullpen in an ideal world. So I don't think it means Matt Strom is going to be in the rotation,

but I do think it means a Ranger, him, piggyback, maybe Falter is the same kind of thing. But if Nick Nelson is's not gonna make the roster they need someone who is a long man yeah no doubt to be a long man so um they didn't sign him to be a long man like they gave they gave back to be a believer to be a situational lefty essentially yes but they did trade for soto which wasn't also a plan uh so like strom has done it before and also a lot of those numbers with the starts it's you know the second third time through the lineup if you're hoping he can kind of get one clean time

through the lineup like that's that's not that much to ask of some someone who's done stuff like that before yep um i thought billy foster looked really good in his last start i i continue to believe in him like i i know people like are scarred by the NLCS game. It was two out. It didn't even get through an inning. And we all, and again, also had not pitched in a month or whatever it felt like, a few weeks before that. We all loved him going in. We were talking about him being one of the three or four pitchers on the team we trusted the most.

Jack, keep pounding this drum, buddy. Saved the season last year. But I thought what he did the other day, you know, so I think he, when he first came up, fell in love with his fastball too much, and major league hitters are eventually going to figure it out. I thought he did a good job on Sunday, and I think going forward, of mixing in the slider curveball,

and we'll see what the changeup happens. So I just think he's going to be harder to hit. And it should be NOLA contract week. I don't think they want to head into the season with this whole extension thing looming over his head. I think they want to get it done. So hopefully it's NOLA contract week. Yeah, look, and if you do want to re-sign him,

I'm saying from the Phillies' perspective, which, you know, of course they should want to, especially with how durable and how consistent he's been over his career. But if you want to, it is imperative. It might be a little too strong a word, but it is important to do it before free agency.