High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - High Hopes Live At 94WIP Deadline Day

Episode Date: July 30, 2024

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz are live with Joe Giglio and Hugh Douglas discussing all the latest Phillies rumors ahead of Tuesday's trade deadline. 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

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or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome back. It's the Midday Show. We're live today. McGurks and Horsham for Deadline Day, sponsored by Surfside Iced Tea and Vodka. Hugh Douglas, Joe Gillia, come on out for lunch. Great crowd out here, and

it's going to be a great day as we lead you all the way up to 6 o'clock today on WIP. The MLB trade deadline and all eyes now on Dave Dombrowska. James Seltzer still with us here. Still alive. Still there at the deadline desk. Waiting for a big move.

And joining us right now is Jack Fritz, which means we have high hopes hour here on the midday show. Jack, all right, give us your concern level right now. How panicked, worried are you right now about this team? I'm about a four, frankly. Out of a five or ten? Out of a ten. I'm about a 4, frankly. Out of a 5 or 10? Out of a 10. I'm about a 4 out of 10. I am both annoyed, angry, want them to play better.

But ultimately, it's hard to get like, I don't believe that, you know, Trey's going to be this bad, Harper's going to be this bad, JT's going to be this bad. Like a lot of their key guys are slumping at the same time, which is annoying because that's obviously what happened in the NLCS last year. And that's what everything is hitting everyone in the gut right now. I think that's why you're seeing the visceral reaction. But I can't get too freaking out because the rest of baseball is also sucking right now. Besides the Mets going on this run they're on,

all the best teams are kind of going through their 500th spell right now. So maybe it's just the nature of the sport right now. Well, it is. I mean, the Dodgers have struggled. The Yankees before last night were struggling. The Orioles. I mean, you're right about that. And the Phillies still hold the best record. But here's the question as we lead up to the deadline. Does Dave Dombrowski need to do something more?

I mean, he's made two moves. He got an outfielder. He got maybe the best reliever that'll change hands at Estevez. Jack, does Dombrowski need to do more before 6 o'clock? Real quick, by the way, I do appreciate Dave reading our texts from two years ago, Joe. Jack and I were on Estevez before he got to the Angels. So we called this one.

It's called having a vision. It's called having a vision. And I guess they got too caught up in Trey Turner to remember to sign him. That was the day he signed here, right? That was the quote. So where I'm at with Dave is that I want to, as you were saying, Jack. Yes, that's what I was saying. Leave no doubt.

Leave no doubt. He was cooking. That man was cooking. Leave no doubt. And, like, again, these kind of seasons don't come around very often. You've mentioned a lot of times in listening to the midday show, are the Braves going to be down this much? Are the Dodgers going to be down?

It's right there in front of them. There's no dominant team right now in baseball. Like, I want him to operate as still cocky, confident, but I think this team needs a little bit of a jolt. I think if he makes a big move today, let's say he goes and trades for Garrett Crochet. If he pushes

all his chips in and brings in Luis Robert, who I know is a polarizing figure. You're telling me that clubhouse is not treating Dave Dombrowski like a king and that there's not a real lift? Listen, Estepes, fine. Austin Hayes, I refuse to believe that they're just going to wipe their hands and be like, yeah, Austin Hayes is our guy for the rest of the year.

Everything's fine. Like, I think he's got to move him, and we'll see if he can get it done. I'm kind of curious, how do you feel about this, Jack? Because there's been a sentiment or a feeling that, you know, they kind of let their foot off the gas pedal a little bit. Do you feel like the Phillies have let their foot off the gas pedal just a tad? Yeah, I think that's 100% what's happening right now. And I think that they're trying to kick it back into high gear.

I think that's why you see Harper kind of reacting so strongly all the time to everything. Because I think he's like mad and he wants to get this thing going. But when you downshift, like the A series is a perfect example. They sweep the Dodgers. Everyone's riding high. This team's the best team in baseball. They're going to win the World Series. And then they just start downshifting a little bit.

And now you start to see them sitting guys a little bit more. They put Ranger on the IL. How hurt is he? I don't know. But they've kind of done this in years past. So I think that that's kind of a bit of the mentality right now. I just hope that they don't get so downshift on

cruise control that they lose kind of the spark that they had at the beginning of the season. Alright, let's get to something that's been on the minds of a lot of people the last few weeks before the trade deadline, which of course is 6 o'clock today. And that's the level of vibes versus just get the best player. Hugh brought it up to start the show. It was

unavoidable not to think about. Jazz Chisholm homered twice last night, right? Chisholm was one of those guys. Well, the second one shouldn't count. Can we stop counting home runs off of position players? The second one shouldn't count. It shouldn't count. He had a home run.

We'll just say one. He had a home run last night, and it was hard not to think about it. The report was they didn't really want him, even though he could have been a guy they could have used. Because he didn't fit the vibe. Right. Should we throw that out today, James? How much should that matter?

I know this morning show you guys were discussing different kinds of players and like Soto last year or Chisholm this year. Should that be a consideration today, or do they have to go get the best possible player they could get before 6 o'clock? I think they get the best possible player. Look, if you know that a guy is like a real problem for one reason or another and look with jazz chisholm that's like we're guessing people are assuming because the way he plays like there's never been any issues with jazz chisholm like this guy's a locker room problem or whatever so unless you know for a fact that he's a real

problem like if this clubhouse is as strong as we think it is, as it seems to be, then they should be able to bring a player in. Like one guy coming in shouldn't be able to disrupt the 25 other guys and what they have going on, especially if it's a player who's coming in to help them win games. So I think the vibes matter, but I think in terms of bringing in a player today, I don't think you can say like, I don't think you overrate them. I agree.

Jack, where are you on the vibes? I mean, it's been a part of this team the last two years, but I have a sense of urgency today to finish this thing. Like you said, leave no doubt. And if I get a player, let's just use Luis Robert, right? Some people look at him. There was a play about a month ago where he could have probably caught the ball in center field and tried to throw home.

The guy probably would have been safe, but he didn't even attempt it. And people look at it like, is he an all-out guy that's going all the time and you wonder how you fit that should the vibes matter so i think dude i think vibes do matter but in the case of louis robert like i just need to take a chance on that upside and and hope that everything plays out because really joe he just fits in so seamlessly like he can just play center field he can he can just stay there you can have the Hayes-Marsh platoon rather than seeing if Austin Hayes can take the job and run with it. It's just more of a safe plan. And I think that a guy like Luis Robert, a guy like those White Sox players, if they can't get Crochet or Robert or both, whatever,

those guys are coming from the worst organization in baseball. I would like to see how they do in a market like this, at a ballpark like that, with walking into the clubhouse and seeing Bryce Harper and seeing Trey Turner and seeing Kyle Schwarber. Listen, if they can't hack it or they don't put their best foot forward, their best effort forward with those guys, then you've really, really, really got the wrong guys. But I just want to take a chance to try to see if they can get the real Luis Robert. effort for with those guys, then you really, really, really got the wrong guys. But I just want to take a chance to try to see if they can get the real Luis Robert. Again, he's a year removed from 38 home runs as a center fielder. That's pretty unicorn-ish.

So he's been down this year. He's been hurt. It's real. He's not exactly a walk guy. We're seeing this team right now get back into the kind of not walking much, striking out, and chasing thing. Luis Robert doesn't really help that. But I just want to see them take a shot on a guy that has top five MVP kind of upside in Luis Robert.

Hugh, you've been a vibes guy too. You've been worried about the clubhouse and the fit and all that stuff. Only with Stubby, man. Only Stubby. I'll say this. Last night, my faith was shook. The jazz shimmy around the bass has got you, didn't it? It was one day with jazz.

It was one day. May I please be allowed to have the floor? Seems like I'm trying to have the floor. But no, my point is this. I was shaking a little bit, but I'm unwavering in my faith with the vibes. That was a hell of a thing to see, though, especially when you talk about where we've been the last couple of days as far as this team is concerned, as far as this offense is concerned. But I'm still a vibes guy.

I just feel like we're in the valley right now. And sometimes when you're in the valley, you just have to weather the storm. You have to weather the storm. You can't get moved off your square square and you just have to go back to i hate to quote coach siriotti but the cliche fits you gotta go back to those core values i know but no more siriotti i know i hate i hate they collapse i hate to do it but it's the truth like as as a former athlete and jack can tell you this yeah there there are certain certain like cliches that that are just universal.

Cliches are cliches for a reason sometimes. But, no, but seriously, you have to get back to who you are as an individual sometimes and just take it game by game. And that's what I think, especially when you talk about Bryce. He's a little frustrated. He's frustrated because he's trying to get back to where he's been centered, and he's just been a hair off just a little bit. Yeah, listen, I understand that, and the clubhouse stuff matters. I just don't want to be in the middle of October, and Austin Hayes –

let's just use Austin Hayes as an example. He's not hitting, and, well, they could have had Jazz Chisholm, but he didn't fit. Yeah, that's going to hurt. That's just one example, but there's others. I mean, like, I just think they have to go finish the puzzle, get the last piece of the puzzle. Hold on.

Have you – I mean, have you done your patented Juan Soto trade yet? I just want to know, what's your closing move there, pal? Hold on. I was hoping this Yankee collapse would go further and they would sell. But then last night didn't happen. You are the Yankee Clipper. Well, I've been trying to get Soto here forever. Same, pal.

I bite my tongue every time he gets big hits because everyone tells me he's not that great, even though he's obviously great. They're not trading him. Jack, I don't know. Again, Joe, it's tough. Should have traded for him last year when we said they should have. I think me, you, and Seltzer really do have to handhold this city sometimes when talking about the baseball team.

We're trying to guide the people. All right, so you want the finishing move? Yeah, what's your finishing move? Mr. Anniversary, how was that, speaking of finishing moves? My anniversary was great. It wasn't even this weekend. He hung out, but he hung out. He spent quality time.

Did you like our side topic yesterday? Well, I heard it. Wait a minute, they took shots. Jack asked me why I was off yesterday. I told him, and I knew it would be a thing when he asked. All right, so you want the finishing move for the Phillies? Here, I got it for you. Yeah.

Because I don't think the White Sox are going to move Robert. I'd love them to, but I don't think they're going to. I think the two best players that could get traded today are Garrett Crochet and Jack Flaherty. Go get one of those guys. Crochet and Pitcher. Well, all right, so two things. Who knows? Go get one of those guys and then figure out the best arms in October.

If that means Ranger goes to the bullpen and Flaherty's in the rotation, fine. I'm fine with that. And the crochet thing, I'll call his bluff. Is he really going to sit out October? If he comes to this city, speaking of... Can you imagine? Could you imagine the pressure WIP will put on Garrett crocheted? You mean the pressure you'll put on him? Not just me.

You're going to come here and not pitch for a chance at a World Series? Yeah, what are you, Ricky Waters? Wait a minute. I will say this. Hugh, come on. I don't agree with it, but I understand it. Wait, hold on. Would you have sat out and not played in the playoffs because you didn't have a contract?

No, no. Well, then I need you to rip Garrett Christian. But, no, it's different in baseball. And he knows he's in a position of power right now. And I said I condone it, people, so don't get mad at me. But I understand. I understand where he's coming from. That's all I. I'm not saying I condone it, people, so don't get mad at me. But I understand. I understand where he's coming from. That's all I'm saying.

Listen, you're defending this guy? I'm not defending him. You don't understand. Like, every time I say I get where they're coming from, you always say I'm defending him. I'm not defending him. I just understand he's trying to get his payday. What did the dude make, like, 800 grand this year or something crazy like that?

He hasn't earned more yet. Well, he's been pretty nasty. But, no, but he's in a position to make money. Sure, but he just started being good this year. But he's trying to leverage that position. You don't understand. Who doesn't understand that? I get it, but if he gets here, he's got to pitch.

Nah, he drew the heart. Like, I do not condone what he did. He did it right when Trey started to heat up, and he threw it out there. Like, that probably. Well, and by the way, the White Sox GM was furious yesterday. Oh, I'm sure. He was furious.

He threw it out there at a time that you probably didn't want to throw it out there. We destroyed his trademark. Well, I appreciate it because maybe we can get Garrett Crochet for a little cheaper and then maybe we shell out some big money. What's the missing piece? Because I would go Flaherty or Crochet. So I'll throw one more name at you. If they do want to go, because I think they like the idea of the Lorenzen type from last year.

Hopefully it's not Michael Lorenzen. Obviously he's a Royal now. But the idea that a guy that can start and can relieve. And a guy that I would want more than Flaherty. I know Flaherty's had a great year. I want Crochet the most. But if they don't want to pay the price for him, there's one name. And it's Nathan Evaldi.

Nathan Evaldi. I am so shocked you brought this name up. I will bring it up until I'm blue crochet the most, but if they don't want to pay the price for him, there's one name, and it's Nathan Ivaldi. Nathan Ivaldi. I am so shocked you brought this name up. I will bring it up until I'm blue in the face. Nathan Ivaldi is your Juan Soto, Joe Giglio. You want to talk about a guy that has stones? You want to talk about a guy that has pitched in big moments? You want to talk about 18? He came out of the bullpen for Dave Dombrowski's Red Sox.

Last year in the postseason was nails. The guy is a big game pitcher. If Ranger and the back thing is a real thing and they want to kind of limit his innings, bring me Nate Evaldi. They're starting to scuffle a little bit. If they walk out of today with a Nate Evaldi-Kirby Yates trade, I think that would sound like not a bad deadline.

I would love that. Nate Evaldi does have stones. That moment you brought up in 18, Jack, he was coming off of Tommy John the year before. He was. And he pitched like six innings out of the bullpen in Dodger Stadium. I'd be in on that. James, what's the missing piece for you?

Look, Ivaldi-Yates deal makes a ton of sense. And Ivaldi is that exact type of guy where he's done both things. He has literally, as we talked about, come out of the bullpen in World Series games. He started World Series games. It makes a ton of sense. I'm still on a bat. You know, if it's me, I mentioned Taylor Ward before. Someone like that seems realistic.

Where does he play, though? I mean, because Hayes isn't left now, unless you think Hayes could play center. Hayes is not my everyday left fielder. What do we make of the messaging? Hugh and I were on the air Friday when the trade went down. Our first assumption was this is the platoon batting left to go with Marsh. Him and Marsh, that's perfect. And then over the weekend, I'm listening to Topper,

and he's like, no, he's our left fielder now. Do we buy this, or is this leverage for another trade? I don't buy anything that they say around this time of year. It could happen, and it's possible, but I'm not taking anything at face value that they say on July 28th, July 29th, that time of year. Jack, you buying the Hayes thing? It's kind of weird. Unfortunately, yeah.

Like, I just, here's the thing. If they were saying you want to give them runway in May, June, I'd be fine with that. I just think it's so you know howie roseman always talks about hope's not a strategy this is some hope it feels like legit hope and like to sit here and again like dave dombrowski is washing his hands saying we got our guy austin hayes it feels so on dombrowski like and again when they made the move it really is if they can get it done i don't know but it just sets up so perfectly for the Luis Robert trade. He can play center, and then they can just platoon those to the left.

Yeah, it does. And it's perfect. Yeah, it does make sense that way. It feels like a center fielder added to that. Then the Austin-Hayes trade makes all the sense in the world. Unless they think Hayes is way better than he is. Listen, they can think that all they want. But maybe they're right.

He got buried in Baltimore because of the young guys. It wasn't so much he was terrible. Well, he's been horrible against right-handed pitching this year. But also those guys all graduated at the same time. Prospect outfielders were up, so he was naturally going to get pushed down the depth chart. I get it, but what if he's not? What if he can't hit right-handed pitching? They need more to the team because they haven't had enough there.

I'm not giving up on him after the last couple of games. He did hit a ball hard in the ninth, which is fine, but I guess him just waving at those sliders out of the zone was... He looked like... A caller before said it looked like Cassiano. I know, and that changeup that went in on him and he swung at it. We can't utter the name Cassiano. I mean, he was missing the ball by a foot on those strikeouts.

It was bad. His first impression's not great so far for us. Let can't utter the name Cassiano. I mean, he was missing the ball by a foot on those strikeouts. It was bad. First impressions, not great so far for us. Let's go to the phone lines here. Jeff in Wilmington is up on WIP. Hey, Jeff. What's up, guys? Jeff in there, buddy? Hey, Jeff.

What's up, pal? Can you hear me? Got you. Go ahead. All right. Yes. I'm more along the lines of what you and the camera were saying, where you can't go 162 full bore all year long.

And if I'm going to have a lull in that play, the way they're playing, I'd rather have it now than have it at the end of the season like we had last year. So I would, too. The only thing is you can't predict that right like i yeah if you tell me when the season ends we look back and we laugh we laugh at july because they won the world series i'm i'm great with that i just for me i want to add more because i i get concerned this is going to happen again this lineup is streaky that's they are a ton of streaky hitters and it's happening now, unfortunately.

But if you're going to act desperate to get one more player, I think that's the wrong move. They shouldn't be desperate. The whole league is down right now, like Jack was saying. None of the top four teams are playing well. I mean, the Yankees had a horrible month the last 30 days. They almost looked like they were tanking. And they're still a really good team.

I would like to pick up another left-handed pitcher possibly, and maybe if they could get Roberts from the White Sox, that would be great. But I wouldn't go crazy and try to pick up a huge player right now. I don't think desperation is the right move. Yeah, well, we'll find out what most people say today on the desperation front. And, Jeff, we appreciate the phone call. All right, let me throw a name.

We've thrown some names out this segment here, right? So many names. Let me give you a name that is not having a good year, if you look at his numbers. But we know he's been good in the past. And I think he could be had for little because the team he's on is in a weird spot. Would you take Blake Snell on with his contract for next year?

He just struck out 15 batters in his start over the weekend. Jack, would you take Blake Snell? No. No. It's a good amount of money. I just, I've never really been a huge Snell guy. I understand the upside of Blake Snell. I think he gets moved, but not really interested.

James, I would take him. If they want to dump him. Again, that's what it is. If I'm just paying his salary next year, sure, but not really interested. James, I would take him. If they want to dump him. Again, that's what it is. If I'm just paying his salary next year, sure, I'd do it. If I'm not giving up anything of real value from a prospect perspective, like Blake Snell, another guy who's pitching the playoffs, who, you know, I'm not a huge Blake Snell guy either, as Jack points out, but we've seen what his ceiling is.

It's a two-time Cy Young winner. Like, if he gets in a groove, he's the kind of guy who can make a massive difference for you in October. It also gives him some insurance in the rotation, Hugh. Because they've had some, you know, look, Taiwan's not back yet. Does it give him insurance? He's missed time twice this year. So he has, but he's back now. I mean, I'm going to assume he's back right now.

The Ranger thing is interesting to me because his velocity went down. Then they said he was fine. He was on the IL. Now he's, oh, he wasn't on the IL, but he missed time. Now he's on the IL. Why did I – so you're starting to believe what I said. Well, I don't know the cause of the issue. It's a direct correlation between him having his season starting to slide a little bit

and his family coming back. Yeah, but they're going to be here, so I need some insurance. And he has to adjust. He got to adjust. I know Mama need her time too but you gotta you gotta be able to adjust man i'm trying to win a world series well i mean listen it happened in 2022 they shut him down with back spasms in the middle of the season so maybe it's maybe it's that hopefully it's that and hopefully it's not something more serious but i do wonder if they get a starter today that kind of says to me they're a little bit more worried about ranger how about i got a name for you joe and i got a name

for you like hugh i'm sure you're a huge fan of this guy Ranger. How about I got a name for you, Joe, and I got a name for you, Hugh. I'm sure you're a huge fan of this guy. And Seltzer. Because you mentioned the Giants. And if they need a nice, patient bat, what do you think about going and getting Lamont Wade Jr.? Oh, I would take him in a second. Are you kidding me?

He can still play some outfield a little bit. Well, that's what I was going to say. Where are you playing him? Because, like, I love that dude. That dude gets on base nonstop. I haven't checked in in the last few weeks, but his OBP obp was well over 400 for like most of the first half of the season yes i mean and you could bat him anywhere anywhere if lamont wade's available today again like they're kind of selling do it in a second weird if they if they are all in on this patience because i think

they kind of need right now given the chase rate rate of their righties. Lamont Wade. Hitting 295. I bet his OBP is close to 400. Walks all the time. He doesn't strike out that much. He walks all the time. Yeah, that 295 is speaking about only three home runs, 19 RBIs. Well, the other thing is he's a leadoff hitter.

He's a hedge in the outfield. I mean, like if someone goes bad, like Hayes can't play. I mean, I know Marsh has heated up a little bit here. That was a nice home running hit last night, but Marsh has had a weird year where he was great in April, James, but then he fell off. I mean, I, I see why you're talking outfield because they could use another hedge in the outfield because there are three guys. I don't know what I'm getting. Yeah. You said it before. If the, if it just continues as it is, they don't do anything. It would be the lowest OPS an outfield has ever had if they went on to win the World Series.

I mean, it tells you everything you need to know. And, yes, they have a good hitting infield. It doesn't just completely mail in the outfield and expect it to score. No, you can when you can. You need offense out there. 2-1-5, 5-9-2, 94-94. That's how you hop on. We'll come back.

We'll hit your phone calls. We're live at McGurk's today in Horsham. It's deadline day. Sponsored by Surfside Iced Tea and Vodka. Should the Phillies feel desperate today to make a move? Got some surprises. I'll throw another surprise in with these guys. Also, we'll talk to Howard Eskin, who's down

at Eagles practice. The first padded practice. Who cares? It's real football. Who cares? And we'll get his thoughts on the trade deadline. No, no, no, no, no, no, no. We'll get to your little football team. We'll get his thoughts on the trade deadline. We've got to get this thing back on track.

I've got to be my little football team, though. Well, until they start winning again, they're the little team. The Phillies are the big team in town right now. All right, we'll get Howard's thoughts next on the trade deadline and what he saw at Eagles practice. 2-1-5, 5-9-2, 94-94. It is the Midday Show. We are live today at McGurk's in Horsham on Sports Radio 94 WIP.