High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - His Floor Is Zach Eflin, His Ceiling Is Roy Halladay

Episode Date: April 2, 2026

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to the Phillies' first homestand of the season and give their thoughts on Andrew Painter's Major-League debut. Presented by Miller Lite. To purchase Ring The Bell by Jack Fritz and Kevin Reavy go to RingTheBellBook.com 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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I was singing, Hi-Haw, I'm piling through a row. I can't feel a little less along. Yo! Is another edition of the I-House podcast, sponsored by Miller Light, official partner of Philadelphia, Phillies tastes like Miller time.

Philadelphia celebrate responsibly. You called it. You said they were going to lose the Foster Griffin game and then win the next two. Don't think we saw it happening that way. No. Getting outscored by nine runs, but they won two and threes. I'll take it.

Do they still have the worst run differential on baseball? I mean, I assume so. They were at minus 15 and they only went to minus 14 by winning yesterday. You got a lot of work to do. So the White Sox lost 10 nothing. So the White Sox maybe passed him because they were low. So I think they might have the second worst.

They're in the visit. Yeah, yeah, Sandy. It's good. Sandy. Is he back? Yeah, my page. Did you see his post games? No fans were here, but we love them.

We love them. We know they love us. I don't think they do, Sandy. I actually felt bad for him. I was like, dude, too. You got to go pitch in a real market. Like, imagine being that kind of pitcher and just pitching in front of 6,000 people. Like, there's 38,000, 37,000 yesterday.

Yeah. Phil is one o'clock game. One o'clock game against one of the worst teams in the sports. Yeah. They're a little frisky. They're a little frisky. They're fast is what they are. Dude, they're.

They fly around like Nunez. We were like, all these guys move, man. Nunez especially, like I was, Nunez moves. The one guy who I gained

probably the most respect for on the nationals this week that I, I knew last year he was good, but I didn't like watch him enough. Is Dailin Lyle. That dude's awesome. He does a lot of things well. I mean,

like hitting, I think he's hitting, what, 340 since, since last year? And he's super, fast. Like, it's one of those things. Have you seen that Dan Hurley clip that's been going around?

Who hasn't seen? You know what's what I'm talking about? Okay. So you're not talking about the post game stuff. Which one are you talking about? Okay. No, I'm talking about in 2020 when he said he better get us now. No, I haven't seen it.

That's how I feel about the nationals. Like, I think the nationals are going to be the problem of the 2030. Oh, great. And just so you want to hear. Well, and the Mets are going to be an issue too for a long time. I've been reading a lot about the best pitching development teams in baseball. And the Mets are very widely regarded. it as.

Oh, yeah, McLean and Tong and the guy dudes coming. Brody. Yeah, they have more coming. It's all right,

though. It's all right. We got, got got them. No, but the Nats, I was impressed by their, uh,

their, their frisiness. Their friskiness. And they're clearly just one of single themes of death and then be annoying. Oh, they're going to be annoying all year. They are annoying.

And you know what? That is, like, speaking of singling to death. I, look, we got homers yesterday. A couple of big ones from JT and Bryce.

Yeah. They won two and three, which is good. I think my biggest concern coming out of the first and it's only six games, you know, but it was something

we were worried about coming in and something you talked on the afternoon show on the last spot. Like the lack of power. Like, I'm shocked they came back yesterday. It was a miracle

when they were not buying one. I was like, well, pack it up. Yeah, it's done. And they came back, skin of their teeth, they got there.

They really don't hit the ball, the ball point. No, it makes you really appreciate the 08, 9, 10. Totally. Like people talk about worth is like, oh, and they had Jason Worth.

It's like, no, they had Jason Worth. Like, that dude was freaking awesome. His 2010, he hit 30. Seven, 30, yeah, somewhere in that range. Yeah. I would, dude, you said it last podcast, I haven't stopped thinking about it. Cassiano's a third on team of home hunts last year. And Max Kepler, who was on PEDs, was, it's 17.

I mean. 18 and 17. Those are the numbers. I know. So like, you. Yeah, it's why, it's why one of the things that I want to talk, my, my headline of the podcast. Ooh, I love a good headline for a pot. Oh, see, this is if you're not watching the video, you're missing out on the little face thing that Fritz did.

I was in on that right there. The headline of my podcast today that I felt walking in is on the power thing. It's why Adolis is the biggest, like, swing guy for this team when it comes to, reaching their ceiling because no matter how they pitched the first week, I think the rotation is going to be really good. Lizarro will be fun. I'm not at all concerning. Yeah.

I mean, honestly, that painter's start was that, like how good he was was a bigger thing for me than how Luzardo or Noa looked on the other side. Totally. It was a very reassuring start that I cannot wait to talk about. But so the starting staff, I think it's going to be fine.

Bullpen, some of the guys who I think are going to be really good have gotten off to a bad start. I was shocked that ball one outlet yesterday. I thought that was up the end of the bat. He could have been out of it, you know, with the tray plays, bang, bang, whatever. I think Keller's fine. Bowling's fine. It was fine.

It was a jam shot, two jam shots and a guy still a base. Whatever. It happens. Backus might not be as good as we thought, but I think, as we discussed, Mesa's stuff is really on the uptick. Alvarado in a low leverage spot, I don't care. It was meaningless to me. It was nine to. So I think the bullpen is going to end up rounding into form.

It's the offense. It's always going to be the offense. And the one thing that I don't see getting better is in the power department. It's why Adoli is if he can do it. If he can be a 20. He has done it. And he has. And he looks great.

I mean, he looks really good. You like him take a few more pitches and walk a little bit. But he's, he looks really good so far. Yeah, I feel like that's putting unrealistic. Just,

just hit the ball. He's hitting the ball hard. As long as he hits the ball hard, that's what I, that's what I care about. And he's, he is a clear. I know he had the one mistake play,

but he is a clear upgrade in right field. Well, that ball. hit down the right field sideline. Like that's a double against Cassiano's, maybe a triple every time. And he got there like with a few steps to spare. Like he covers ground out there.

Yeah, I was standing where he stood for Bedlam. So I had like a. So you had a good view of it. I thought it was a lock double. Yeah. Off the bat. I was like, well, that's a double. And he got there.

Got there. Off the bat. And just tracking. I was like, is he really going to get there? Yeah. I was I was really impressed with that. And he, yeah. So the floor where you knew with his defense was always going to be fine.

Good. it was always the bat. That was the question. And he is, you're going to like this, 14th in baseball with the, in, balls hit 95 plus mile an hour. 14th in baseball.

That's a good staff. That's a great step. That's a big stat. And I will say, like, and you saw it with the Sozabay, I know their best friends and all, but like,

he does bring it. And even when he hit that the, um, the double on, uh, Tuesday or whatever, like he gets like, like he's got,

he does bring. bring something this team does not have and has not had that they desperately need. And I think it's only going to continue to get better. I agree. And he gets to know the guys more and get to be a part of the group and all that more. And I do think that right now what you're seeing with him is I think he's still getting adjusted to the swing changes, where you hope that as the summer goes along, then the power starts to come. I think he's trying to get a swing down.

So like he's making better contact and things like that. And then as the season goes on, then he's going to start feeling more comfortable unleashing on baseballs. So, but he is so important from the standpoint of, you know what the big three are probably going to be, whether you, whether Harper's a little power up, power down, average up,

hope, something like, who knows, there could be like a little bit different type of player, but we'll see. Swarber's going to be in the 40s, probably. Trey's whatever.

I mean, 20 plus. It's not, I mean, from the standpoint of, like 15. I mean from the standpoint of, you know those guys are good hitters.

Yes. What's been kind of disappointing at the beginning of season is, well, own looks exactly the same exactly uh stop can we can we do it quick i know it's six games in but the spring training thing yeah i mean well some matter some don't but marsh had a disastrous spring he's been their best hitter so far and you know stott and boom crushing it in spring yeah now now adoli shows him signs in spring in spring i want that pointed out okay i'd want that pointed out put that on your little resume so again it's not everything you give cherry pick him yeah but it's

and not nothing. Okay. And Chase De Lauder. Hopefully he's fine. But he was great in spring and translated. So I knew, listen, I started preparing for things. I could feel like coming a mile away. You know what?

I'm guess what, bud? I've been thinking it since game two. I know, I can tell. I can tell. I'm seeing your eyes. And you know what, pal? I appreciate it. But guess what?

This has never changed. Okay, good. We're going to react strong. Keep a consistent. The spring training. It's good. Crawford. You look like, you looked apart in spring training.

He's translating over to the, to the big league level. So they put that little your little pipe and smoke. no but uh it is disappointing that bone looks like dude him getting him getting jammed again and hitting the little you know dinky pop up the second base it's like oh get ready to learn kansas city oh but just go be a freaking royal next year you're i don't aden's back could never heal and you can go learn k c bell so and then stop yeah it's disappointing i will he doesn't play it every day and there's been you know in an ass We're hopefully still believing in that. Six games. Six games. Six games. Six games. So, but Adoles is 14th and 95. That matters. That's important. No, but, but if he can, and by the way, I'll give, I'll give six four three.

I'll give him this month. But hopefully with May around the corner, we can get Adoles up there to four. Yeah. Just swap them. Yeah. Go down to sixth. It was a fun six four three the other day from six four three. Oh, it was perfect. It was a, the most lock six four. I turned down to him like he's getting in their I was like, I got my life on it.

And you just feel the Phillies, there's a couple things you feel. The funniest part about re-entering a Phillies season is in the, in the off season, you forget. You're making me snort over it. In the off season, you forget everything. And then once you watch them again, you're like, there it is.

I know this so well. Here it is. This feels so familiar. There it is. The JT double plays, the bone double plays. Like, I know that in my.

in my bones what is about to happen. And it's good to be back. It's going to be back. But like if we can get a Doleys up at four, because he almost feels like a waste at six. He's just down there. And sure, you want thump down there,

but I want him up at four as long as he continues to look at the part. And you know what? I don't want to put him one. I think the talk about putting Crawford at one is premature. Premature. Give the kid a chance to settle into his major league career. But I also don't want him batting nine.

No, I know. But for now I'm good with it. I think he's here. let him get settled. He's six games, five games, even play a game, five games in his major league career. Do you think that him having that off day

allowed him to be fresh for that game of course. What else could be? Yeah. I couldn't believe you got thrown out on that Brady house play. Oh, I know. It was unreal. Yeah.

I was like, unreal. He beat that out. Yeah. But I do think that five might be a good spot for Crawford. Wow. So, I mean,

I can't go there yet. I'm not saying right now. But look, he looks apart. There's no question. He looks apart. We're talking May. This is where the April,

you can have your little fills. we're going to once may rolls around adoli spats for here's my case for cropperd five is he's that like pesky little nat in the middle of the lineup that they haven't really had since sagora like he's the first first hitter like sigora they've had since sigora like they have high average guys but they don't have they don't have like ability to put that on the baseball yeah totally stock kind of can but i feel he's not so it's like it's like Trey led the league in batting last year, and we were not saying Trey.

It's a perfect example of what you're talking about. And Trey can put the bat on the ball, but he strikes out a lot. He has bad at bats. It feels like, and five games in the career, it feels like Crawford, like it almost feels like he's,

there's no real bad at bats with him. Like he's always finding a way to kind of put the bat on the ball or to, you know, he doesn't look foolish up there. Uh-uh, uh-uh. And even against lefties,

which I know they did the nonsense the other day of putting Marsh in there against the lefty, although March did get a hit. But, like if because nine it you're almost wasting his speed in a way because you don't really want him running with shoreber and harper after tray yeah so if you put him five then he could run more he could theoretically run more it can be like the second lead off at her if you wanted uh and and and he can be someone in the middle of the in the middle of the order that can kind of extend it and

put together a good at bat put a bat on the baseball um so i just i kind of watch a team And it's like a doleys feels like a waist at six. And Crawford kind of feels like a waste at nine. And I would like see Bowman him flip-flops. Like, is stopbats nine. No, I get it. And I do think the best argument for it outside of the, you know, what you just made is the idea that it's like it's not batting five. It's not like he's displacing, you know, Randy or Rosarina who's batting five in Seattle or whoever you want to pick someone who's like a good hitter with an established MLB career as a hitter.

Like he's replacing Bracin Stott. Who we don't even know if he can hit in the major level. He's only in flashes. So I do think that's part of it. I will say, I think it's, you know, I think it is an overall concern for the ball club that we're talking about the 22-year-old rookie. It's like, oh, you should hit fifth? I mean, that's not what you want from a, from a rest of the lineup perspective.

But I think it's compelling and it makes a lot of sense. When kids, when the kids are ready to go, you got to let him go. Let him go. You got to let him go. Yeah. Okay, got to get Aiden out there, you know, we just start playing. Maybe we can start working you in that second base. Get her eyes on it.

All the kids up here. You want to go Bryce first or painter first? Well, what's the Bryce thing? I just want to check in. Because look, if he doesn't at that home yesterday, win or lose, we're taught, like we're taught, it's only six names. We're talking about Bryce. We're talking about the sub 100 average,

which would have been a meeting in the Homer, sub 100 average and no homers. And that was a big homer. And it was a no doubt Homer like he got it. It wasn't a, you know, Dolis is one like it just clears. Like that was a home run. Off a lefty.

But it has, you know, it still has felt like the Homer was big, just like the WBC, but it has felt a lot like the beginning of the WBC for him, where it's just felt like Harper has not really been able to get in a groove any kind whatsoever to the point where until you get that Homer, like in that game,

I felt more confident with random March stepping the plate in that moment than I did Harper just the way he's looked at the first six games. Yeah. So, so obviously the first five, the first five games were just, just dreadful. And it really,

really, I love my job, right? It's hard to make us not enjoy coming into work, right? Well, it's been a bad month for the, I know. It's been your maybe worst in the history. I'm not my professional career. And I know when you text me that you're not listening to the morning show, I know you're in a bad spot. I haven't listened to the morning show.

I can only imagine. Why would you? A long time. Yeah. But I get all the updates. He said it. Oh, I don't care. I don't care.

I know. I don't care. I know. But the, no, it's been, almost cursed. It's been an unbelievable. It's been unbelievably annoying week. It's been an unbelievably annoying week. Like everyone's like Bryce done.

It's like, okay, take it easy. And also the ballpark is absurd about Bryce right now. It's tense there. It's, it's weird. Again, he didn't say, I'm an elite player. The general manager is one of the issues with what he said. He actually said not elite word t-shirt. What he said and why this.

was an issue is that now the ballpark's going to be like, see, you're not elite, which whenever he gets out, which is one of the dumb things that they did. But regardless. So the thing that was sinking him early in the season was, I was like, every at bat, his feet were moving all over the place. His ass was in the first base dug out. Like just, just moving all over the place, way too many moving parts. And what was encouraging about yesterday, and I hope that he can sustain it. Because for some reason, he just, I don't know why it happens, but, he loses balance for some reason. I thought yesterday the swing looked more connected

and he looks much more on balance. And that's why that home run happened. Even early in the game, he hit that ball to left field. It was at least on a line. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. He had it relatively hard. It wasn't like a sad fly. No, we've seen plenty of sad fly balls.

Lots of them, yeah. From him so far this year. Him getting, him going the other way, thinking the other way, at least being on that pitch, I thought was a good sign. He worked better at Baths yesterday. He struck out in one of them, you know, but I think what was encouraging about yesterday

is that the balance in his swing was there and it looked how it looked in spring and it looked how it looked in the first two games of the World Baseball Classic exhibition games where it was just free, easy, on-balance, smoke in the baseball. And like, I'm heading into this Rocky series expecting Bryce to really break out.

Like, I was very concerned for, four or five games of like oh my god you know i mean that's that's the thing that kind of hit me but i think yesterday was a good reminder of okay there's still there's still ability in there and i do think that getting on balance and not jumping all over the place and not being jumpy jumpy uh is is the key here and hopefully that he can translate it into the series and yeah yeah i think it was really big they won the game because he had the out in the was in the ninth or whatever we didn't come through i think his homework contributing to win, like was important.

It was a good thing. Look, it's one of those things with Bryce, and it's something we talked about a lot with the not elite comments on it, is that, look, he's 33 years old. He's going to be 34 in October. Like, he is changing as a player. Like, he's not as good as he was at 27. Like, that's what happens, you know?

And I think it's one of those things where whenever he goes to these stretches now, particularly, you know, after the off season, it's like, we're always just going to be concerned about is he losing it, you know? And that's, and again, I think to your point, that's kind of one of the issues with what like the big problems that come out of this Dombrowski thing like the the fact that to your point the ballpark is more tense than it should be when Bryce is batting the fact that we are talking about this at a much more frequent clip the fact that everyone is attuned to the Bryce of bats and how does he look and how is it like

it just it placed more pressure on Bryce than he already had on him and he already had so much pressure on him to begin with him we already know how much pressure he puts on himself yeah I think that that that at the the day, and I know there are people like, it could be a good thing. Like, I think this was a bad thing, like full stop because of, of the fact. And look, Bryce can move through it and we'll move forward and all that. But I do think there is unnecessary pressure on Bryce in the ballpark and just period that didn't have to be there. I totally agree.

And hopefully now, got the first one out of the way. Yeah, I think that was a big one. And I think going on the road now and kind of getting out of the ballpark is a good thing, going to the best setters ballpark there is like all that. And then straight to Oracle. Yeah. where dreams go to die. Oh, my guy.

I hate that place. But he seems to be playing in front of Tony V, which is going to get a very excited. That's true. He loves Tony V. He gets to see Harrison Bader. I'm sure I'll get everyone excited. Sure.

Tony Vee, very odd first week for... Weird. The Giants are weird to start the year. Yeah. Well, Tony Vitello is like acting as if losing opening day in the first two games, we're like the travesty.

Yeah, I know. And everyone of his players is like, it's calm down. Can we real quick to, and we'll get to Payter, but can we real quick since we're on the topic of managers. And I know he is the youngest. they said it.

The Nationals manager and pitching coach, like I know I'm old now and all that. It looks like they're children running that team. That is, is unbelievable how young both those guys. I was like a stunning. It looks like they picked them out of the crowd. It's unbelievable.

It's like a kid, a kid can come manage for the day. It's crazy. It's the new, it's the new, Henry Rongarer. Yes, yes. That's he's managing the national.

Oh, so Henry Rungar is Riga the year. It's the Minnesota 20th, a little big league. A little big league. Yes, yes, yes, yes. ass. That's what it is. You're right. It's what it feels like. It's crazy. I just, I had to get the advantage of them because they

the manager himself and then the pitching coach. I'm like, you look just as young. What is happening right now? Well, and then now, again, one of the funniest parts about getting older is the players that you remember are now based. I know, of course. Like, Jankowski is the first base. I know. I saw. Yeah, for the Rangers. Wow. And then I thought Jankowski was the pitching coach. For the national. It looks like him. I thought it was Thor for a second. Yeah, where is it? It's a tinyer, much tinier, but he looked like Thor.

He could forget. Game five started. you know, what a good time that was. Game five started, Noah Cindergarten. One of the most cook players I've seen physically wear a Philly's uniform. Such a shame. Yeah. So, um, no, this is really young.

So painter. Yeah, let's get to paint. Oh, thank God. I mean, he was awesome. Oh, he's great. And, you know. And a lot of the stuff you taught, and again, it's just one start, but a lot of the stuff you were concerned about in spring with the passball and stuff like wasn't an issue in the first,

or at least wasn't as big an issue. I mean, he was getting, he was getting swing and miss on that stuff. Uh, not on the fast. But like the The baseball looked better. It looked like it had the kind of ride up and a little bit of life at the end. A little cut. A little cuts on nice.

But I think the biggest thing that changed between spring painter and painter's first start was in the spring, I think he was still trying to use the fastball all the time. And like, because he thought he had it still. And I think what happened with the national start is he just pitched. He used his entire arsenal. And it's like,

It's so rare for a 22-year-old to be able to do that. Like, we see 22-year-olds come up all the time, but it's usually power fastball, wiped out slider, and the league will adjust and they'll walk a lot of guys. With Painter, there's so many at-bats that he just flipped over a curveball, started with a slider, and it got every hitter off the fastball. And it was encouraging late in the start when it would be 2-0, 2-1, 3-1, pure hitters counts.

It's a fastball count and they're still late on it because they know the threat of... Because they couldn't trust that he was going to throw the fastball. Of the other pitches. And the slider graded out is the best pitch. It kind of checks out. I mean, it starts the same plane as the fastball. It's a hard pitch and then really dives. So, like, that's the value in his slider.

And I watched him. You know, first time on a big league mound. By the way, what a moment. It feels we talked about Andrew Payner. for forever a decade and he's just i was i walked to the ballpark and i was and obviously i knew he was pitching of course but it's like he's actually pitching yeah for the phillies which is it feels like it's been forever that we've been dreaming of this day and he's just there and dan baker was unbelievable announcing his name and like he takes a field big ovation he's so big too he feels

big like yeah there are a lot of big pitchers but he feels big out there yeah and and and going back i I went and rewatched the start because I was there for the first four innings. So I don't, yeah, I got. Yeah, you got a lock in and get a real view, yes. And I feel, this is, this is my, my, my, my, my, my, my, my, comp for Andrew Painter. Like, floor, the floor for me is a better version of Eflin. Like stuff wise, it looks similar.

I think eventually Painter will use that sinker more. I think through one sinker that was disgusting. Yeah. And I think it only through five on the day. but I think as he gets older and goes to the league a couple times, he's going to get more comfortable with that pitch, and I think it's going to be a real weapon. So I think floor could be Eflin.

But I tell you what, I watched him. I saw Doc. Oh, no. I just, I saw Doc. Doug Gooden? No. The change-up plane was the exact change-up plane that he used to throw it on. The curveball kind of a get-me-

the other pitch, but could also bury it when he needed to. The slider, same shape as as docs. Once he starts using that sinker more, that's going to be, and then the fastball, well, it cuts a little bit. It's the doc arsenal. It's the doc arsenal. I felt like I was watching Doc reincarnated. That's what it was.

That's who he was. I'm telling you, that's who he reminded me of. Now, it could take a little while. It's going to take a little while. It's going to take a little while, just like it took with Doc. Yeah, it did. You got sent back to the miners and stuff. I don't think that's going to happen to Andrew Painter,

but really impressed by the command of five pitches at 22. And I think sort of just scratched in the surface. Okay. This, let's go. That's exciting. Now, I don't think he's going to get a strikeouts every starting. Five. The nationals, too, or not.

And also, like, I do think he was set up in the best possible spot. We've watched enough baseball to know that when a team puts up 13, runs one night. They usually don't put up 13 runs the next night. Like it just feels like they kind of take off a little bit. So I think it was a good spot for him, but regardless. And there's going to be more pitch to contact. But it's encouraging. I mean, no one, no one had a ball over 100 miles an hour off of them. You know, they're degenerated soft contact. He struck a bunch of dudes out. And I just think that I think he sort of the scratch and surface. Let's go. The arsenal looks like that. All right. Before we get to take bag, we talked about the bullpen.

And any other thought, we just kind of went past Nola and Lizarro. You said you weren't too worried, but just quick thoughts on anything, anything there, anything. Like, Lazaro, just no worries at all. Because I'm not, but I'm just. No, and I thought it was encouraging. He said the stuff was the best. A couple bad pitches screwed him, you know? Yeah.

The biggest terms of him and Sanchez is that, like, Sanchez is really tough to take out. Yeah, they did home runs. Exactly. We talked about that. Yeah. Yeah. And Sanchez yesterday, the fact that he didn't, I don't think he had. I don't think yet.

I don't even close. Yeah, you can tell. And he walked, what, three guys in the first three in the first three in? So unlike him. I ended up with four. Even the run he gave up. I mean, it was, you know, on the throw to first and all, like in the weird glove lock of the base thing or whatever it was.

That was a weird call. Yeah, yeah. And with Sanchi, you can, you can, like, his slider does look more like, like, he threw it way more with intent yesterday. I felt, and even in the first start, I thought he threw it more intent. But it, it moves more like Losardo's now. I really do think. I did this is my tin foil hat theory

that like last week of spring I don't know why I took it to the last week of spring maybe they get back from the WBC and they sat down and they just compared notes they said hey like Zeus said hey Chris how do you throw that change up

they said it is how I throw it and he said hey Zeus how do you throw that slider slider yeah there it they look like the same pitch I mean why wouldn't you converse with your teammates about in the day that's how it used to have I know now we got the the rap Soto

cameras and everything and it slows it all down. Back in the day, I mean, you know, Marianne Rivera taught Halliday, the cutter at the All-Star game in 2008. It's unbelievable. Didn't turn back. And many are saying painters, Arsenal reminds them of Royaleigh.

They are, I heard that somewhere. I don't know why you kind of... Dozens of people are saying it. I like the scale of better Zach Eflint or royalty is quite the scale. It's floor versus ceiling. That's good. It's a vintage.

the vintage sports sports conversation. No, it's really good. It just reminds me of Eflin. Oh, well, when I'm with bad news. Yeah, I get to hear it, by the way. Is he really? Yeah, yeah.

Is he still with the race? No, he's in the Orioles. Oh, I knew that. I knew that last year. I knew he went to the Orioles. I knew that. I did resign in the off season. All right.

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No, I mean, starting staff-wise. I mean, I'm, you know, excited to see the Italian bowl tomorrow night versus, you know, Lorenzen versus Nola. I mean, two pure, born in Italy, Italians facing off in Colorado. So that'll be fun. But, no, there's no sweeping conclusions. The one bullpen guy who might not be as good as I thought was Bacchus. But even Zach Pop had a good little inning.

actually. Yeah, after a tougher one, the one before. Everyone was ready to give up on old, oh, poppy. Poppy. Yeah.

You like Popper? I like Poppy better. Poppy's pretty good. Yeah. I like Poppy. Kirkland, Kirkland had a weird inning in Lehigh Valley. They technically gave up a run,

but the left field wall was 300 feet. And it let, what? They hit off the wall that would have been caught, I think, anywhere else. 300 feet. 300 feet. Where is that?

They were in Durham. It would be nice to be a right hand to hitter in Dorem. I'm right in a power hitter in Durham. Junior Caminara. That's right. Is that where I'm here? There's the raise. That makes sense.

He's doing the majors, too, though. Yeah, he's pretty good. 40-something moments last year. Yeah, I mean, I don't have like a crazy amount of things in the take bag. Our good pal, Justin, in Tennessee, both called me last night and texted me. Make sure he wanted me to bring up his nephew. Brady Smith, shout out. He's starting tonight for the debut.

He's starting the season for the Ontario. Is he still a Dodger, Brady Smith? Yes, he is a Dodger. What the heck is there? He sent me the tower buzzers. Ah, that's great. That's great. There's so many great minor league names.

Yeah. Now, unbelievable. The logos, the names, it's also great. Did you know there was an Ontario, California? No. Oh, I thought you were talking about Canada. I know. It's California.

How about it? I didn't know. I did not know that. I did not know that. I definitely thought you were talking about Canada. I know. Okay. Yeah.

Tennessee guy in Ontario. I don't know. I don't think that fits. Yeah, I don't know. So he's pitching the night at 935 if you want to watch on. Oh, I'll be up.

Yeah, I wouldn't even be up for the Phillies Giants game on Monday and Tuesday. Let's be honest. Are they 940? 945 or something. Yeah. Ain't going to work for this. Ain't going to work for this guy.

Luckily, the Rockies on the, now I only won nightgays 840, but it's a Saturday so I can watch them. Yeah, you'll be all right. Definitely watching that. I can't wait.

God, I hate the series in, in San France. Oh, it's the worst. Already dreading it. It's the worst place. Like, it is there a worst place for the Phillies? Like, I can't think of one, right?

Like, just Arizona is not great. We don't love going to Arizona. PNC. Disproportionate. But I think Oracle's got to be it. Oh, yeah. Well, even back in the heyday, they saw there. Yes.

I feel like we've never played well out there. No, no. They've never played well. It's horrible. It's it. The Patrick Bailey walk off last year. Oh, yeah. Oh, my God.

That was the worst. With the umpire that retired. I forget his name. He was horrible, though. Angel Hernandez. No, he was after Angel already retired. This guy was older than Angel. Oh, good.

Yeah, yeah. Did you, by the way, did you see the CB? It's been a tough week for CB. It, yeah, it's missing 88. He's only getting 80% calls, right? I think a lot, you know, a lot of times people will make grandiose statements and be like, this is the best ever. This is the worst ever.

This is whatever. I actually, a lot of people's, I actually think it's the worst call in baseball history. Which one? The CB Buckner first base call. Oh, is it worse than, uh, you said he missed the bag. He like his whole foot gets on the bag. He like wasn't even looking. It is look at, look, let's put this way.

I don't think you're going to have a worse call. It's as bad a call. It's worse than the Gala Rocka call at least like that was close kind of. Like this, the guy stepped on first. He said he didn't step on the bag. Like it's the replay shows his full foot. It wasn't like he glanced the bag. Like his whole foot comes down on the bag.

He's like, he didn't touch it. It's crazy. I am pretty out on ABS, by the way. Oh, all right. Let's battle here. Pretty out. I love it. Why?

Why wouldn't you love it? They're getting calls, right? It's shaming umpires when they need to be shamed. Like, I know L.A. was talking about it. He's like, I don't think they'll actually be any accountability. There should be. I agree with him. He loves the accountability on the umpires.

Well, because, see, Ruggner, Franzki brought up how bad he's been and how many calls have been overturned. And he's like, at a certain point, they have to stop him from calling balls and strikes, right? If it with this ABS system where it's like, you can prove that he is, you know, has eight wrong calls a game compared to like one or two or whatever. like, isn't that a way to get? And LA was like, nah, there'll never be any accountability.

I don't think the I should get them out. But I do like that, that CB Buckner is getting publicly shamed in the moment. And on top of that, like, it's super quick. Publicly shamed. Yeah,

when you deserve it, get publicly ashamed. It also, it's like that. It's so quick. I like the idea of having to make the split second call. You could screw your team over. Their strategy to it.

Like, like in the first inning, you miss the call. What a disaster? It's fun. What's wrong with it? No, it's the one that feels the most Mickey Mouse to me.

Oh, I don't disagree. I like it. At the home team cheers if they get the call. The one that I hate is, you know, you get the big strike out. It's like,

oh, everyone hold on and you tap the freaking helmet. I just, it's like, I know it's not going anywhere. It's like, I'm going to watch it. I think it's great.

I think it's elite. I think it creates fake entertainment. It's like, I love it. Yeah. Get on board, buddy. Just like at baseball.

I get it. Basketball. of learn from baseball. Every change they make is great. Well, that didn't. What a, what a turn that is for baseball. I know. All of a sudden, it's funny because I do, I dislike Kim in general and I hated the hunk of metal

comments and all up, but like, I know, Rob Manfred kind of having a decent, especially when you compare him to Adam Silver, who is as bad at commissioner. I mean, Gary Bettman is in his own, you know, two workers I was on. But Adam Silver's been an absolute disaster in the NBA. You compare the two like Manfred.

The last guy, give the guy a little credit. Post, post, post-COVID. He's been a different... It's been a different... She is actually making changes that are good for the fans. Like, what a crazy thought that is.

He's got one thing left to save his legacy, and that is, don't have a work stop. Yeah, no, if you're right, though. And, you know, look, he's... He's been through it. You can have a worse... He was there in the...

in 94 or whatever. You know, he knows that sides. 145 games. Do you see the war chest that the players have? Oh, I can only imagine. Up to 500 million? Good for them. Compared to the...

275 they had last time. Good for them. So they're ready. They're preparing us to play. They're ready. They're ready. So it's Christmas morning. Ooh.

It's Christmas morning. The minor league season starts tonight. I was wondering where this is going. You kidding me. I can't wait. So the Leigh games that they pitch. Leigh games are as already started. The rest of the minor league.

Okay. Okay. Got you got it. So that's weird. Redding. And got you. Okay. So just AAA started.

Yeah. Got. Redding. Jersey Shore. High, low, A, all the stuff. Clearwater. and just this is this is everything for you well it's it's it's it's both

off david the fill too so you can just fully lock in oh my god boys better be asleep by 740 oh that's right yeah because i got to mess around a night boys i got a lot a lot of sorry walker sutton can't read you a bedtime story got to go watch the clear water thrashers go crush it well i tell you what that thresher's pitching they are freaking awesome they are freaking awesome you know there's you know who's on the Thresher's pitching staff? I would say have I heard of any of them, but I'm a member of this pod. So I'm a member of this pod, so I'm sure I have.

Yeah. So on the, on the Thresher's pitching staff is Gagewood, Obermuller, Balker, Youngerman, Craig, Pacheco, who I love, and Brian Walters. Isaac. Isaac. No, Bradpichick. Okay. Everyone knows 98 miles an hour.

But just being back and like, I live and die with every single box score. And then if one of my guys has a moment, I go back and rewatch it because I usually don't because I watch it live because I'm watching the Phillies. And then you're watching it on a grainy tape usually, you know, and the the announcer's mics are always peaking. You know, they never just are. Oh, yeah. Great mics, you know, she's not a shot of, you know,

Jake Star or Sam Jellnick, who we love. But like, not their fault. Not their fault. Infrastructure is not there. It's just, you know, it's just mildly, it's the appeal of minor league baseball. Everything's peaking at all times. Like, let's, you know, get some good mics down there.

But just living, dying, checking. in the box store. stressing out if like, norie goes over for it. It's like, well, is he not good of a prospect? Oh, man. The mental highs and lows when they get two hits. It's like, oh my gosh. We're back. So there's a mix. I can't imagine being in your brain. I just, I can't imagine it. So Clearwater, the Clearwater guys, I'm looking forward to. I've mentioned the pitchers.

Only two hitter. They're, their headings might not be great. But Griffin Barkholder is healthy. That's exciting. Big. No that name. I can't wait. Know it. I'm ready. I need him to have a good year. And then Nate Humphreys was an undrafticade kid last year who works good at bats and does, you know. Love a good at bat worker. I don't know if he's actually good, but easily is a semi-endry.

Ward guy maybe. Jersey Shore is going to be pretty bad until the TV show. No. Oh, okay. The team, the blue calls. Until some of the Clearwater kids. Get up. But Luke Gabberish is a name to watch there.

St. Joe's kid. He's in the building for Bedland of the Bank. Big Bill's fan. He just missed it apparently. Just missed it, apparently. Yeah. Oh, so he's out there. He's a left field.

So he's a real Philist fan. Love that. I love that. He's a one. Is the high hopes listener? I don't know. Should be. You would think.

I mean, I'm still waiting for. I'll make it there's no other pot talking about him. I'll tell you that much. Still waiting for one high hopes listener to get drafted. For real, right? Now, Kurtz is probably the closest one.

Yeah. I think the Kurt's family listens. No big deal. But the best rookie in the league last year. No big deal. Him, Tom. One of the best rookies of all time last year, I should say. He's going to be the Phillies first basement in 2030.

I can't wait. Come home, Nick. Yeah. And come on that part with us. Yeah. Mavis Graves, who is my pick to have the Ben Brown go off for a half season, traded. Traded. Love it. Love those guys.

And then Titan Kennedy Hayes is a bull-time. Ben Brown made's in the majors, credit him. He's good. He needs a third pitch, but he never will. And then I just, John Spikerman, I believe is good, but he's been horrible. John Spider-Man. Spirman. Spikerman.

I like Spikerman, too, but not as much as Spider-Man. Yeah. Redding's going to be pretty dang good. Redding's going to be really good. Their bullpen's going to be sick. Alex and Farlands are closer. What did you do on the pod today? Oh, we broke down the entire Phillies minor leagues. Like all of it.

I got them all. Alex and Farlands are closed. They're never going to lose a game. And then hitters, I can't wait to see. It's obviously a run. You know, a ruin's a big. Because we're monitoring the stock situation. So we might need a second base.

Could be a run. And then, you know, Nori's there. So looking forward to the Dante Norris season. Who is it? Maybe he forces his way up this year. I don't think he will. But maybe just maybe he could. Maybe just maybe.

I don't think so, but he could. Well, according to multiple general managers, they'd already be up and leading off. Okay, sure, Alex. Arod, who owns a team that Nori's dad is his assistant. Yeah, it's like, all right. Thanks, Alex. Appreciate it.

Good player. Let's slow down. Yeah. Let's slow down a little bit. So it's all back tonight. I'm so excited for you. Yeah, thanks. Just living and dying with it.

If Aiden could, you know, not have a back injury, that would be phenomenal. Please, just be healthy. Has it's not a bad yet. So we need him to. It's great. Gosh, so annoying. It's the most annoying thing this happens. It's easily the most annoying.

Nothing's even close. Because, like, all these guys, so Connor Griffin called up today. Did you see that? No. He's getting called up. Then you have Cooper Pratt signed a $51 million deal with the broers. And then Cole Emerson. Yeah, Emerson.

Yeah, I saw that. Yeah. And all these guys, all these guys. And like, McGonagall comes up. Yeah, McGonagall comes up. Yeah. And it's just like, Aidan is one of them. Like, he's right there. It's right there.

Get the back. Need him back. So we can like. Need the back so we can get him back. Get third baseman. It's currently up here. So before we go, let me ask you the same question as last time. Because normally we are a lot to a three.

It's what we do three or four, two or three, whatever. Even splitsville. You know, we do that. But it is a team. that won 43 games last year. Yeah, but they did smoke the blue days. They won, they won two. Yeah, yeah.

But I do, I do love Hunter Goodman. Hunter Goodman's good. And Is he Gilta Vars? And Brent and Doyle bounce back maybe. Yeah, he might not be able to hit. He might not be able to hit. It's a problem.

But do you see Lewis Roberts? Oh, all right. So, so two or three then, we're not going three or three. So that's what I'm asking. Kentana's pitching Saturday. Oh, so that's a loss.

Okay. All right. So two or three, we lose on Saturday. Did. You've been on fire with these. Why does Kentana have to still? Why is he still the league? Why can't they just...

It's like 36 years old. Why can't the Phillies just sign them? Sure. Get him. Even if you don't play him. It costs you two wins a year. Yeah, it's true. Right.

And sometimes big games. Sometimes playoff games. Yeah, exactly. Sometimes playoff games. I can't believe he's still dealing. No, I know. He's out there. Yeah.

He's doing it. Tell you what. Get a paycheck. Other big development is, is, I don't know if you are a, are you a big inning consumer? A bit, no, I'm not. You are traditional. What I find so fun. about you is you have the two TV set up.

Yeah, I don't. One has probably some sloppy movie on. And then it got games. I watch games on the MLB on the MLB. So can I be completely honest with you? I don't have the MLB network. That's my big issue. It's on the end.

It's on the end. But I can watch it on the thing that we watch the games. Oh, all right. Well, this changes everything. Quad box. Okay, this is. Okay. All right.

I meant, I fully, I had no idea. I thought this was a, was like a show on MLB network. No. Bigging. Oh. She has multiple games at once. It's red zone. Oh my God.

Yes. So that's what I'll watch now. Of course. Why would I put anything else on? I know. Okay. You're watching it like it's a stone. I'm watching games.

I'm like, oh, Mariners, whoever, let's watch that one. I know. I'm trying to tell you about the beginning. No, this is big. There's a problem for you. It doesn't always start until like eight.

That's tough. I know you're usually. It's a weekend thing. It's a weekend thing. But the exciting development is that, that you did it the other night for the first time. They did a 730 start with Matt Yaloff. He used to be on.

Sure. Yeah, I know Matt. Yeah. I don't know personally, but I know he is. And I believe it went 730 to either 930 or 10. And then Greg Gasserta took 10 to 1230. Oh, buddy. So we got two big innings.

Ah, it's big. Now on the network, they took it off. But on the app, it's all there. Okay. It's all there. This is exciting. This will be a good thing for me. It's going to be right on the homepage.

I'm in. I'm checking it out. I love this. All right. Now that it's going to suck. for you tonight because there's only two games. I know. I know. It's not ideal. Tomorrow night. I can't wait. Friday night I'm home is perfect.

Two TVs. One with big ending on. So she's a day, Philly's four or five. Then I just go right into it. Ah, my Friday night, buddy. What would be up. What I do? All right. We'll be back after, uh, hopefully two or three in the Rockies. Maybe three and three. Don't let them sweet. Don't let them sweet. Until that, he's friends himself too.