High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Holding Seltzer Hostage To Tell Him About The Quality Of The Phillies' ABs

Episode Date: March 1, 2026

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to Andrew Painter's first start of the spring and then review all of last week's interviews from their time in Clearwater. 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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Look, I, we've got a lot of time to complain, and we have, and we'll get into the interviews we did. and you know there's you know all kinds of stuff to talk about uh you know but like here's where my mind is at right now on a sunday afternoon at 2 30 as we sit here to record a pod like like we will do in season after series which be super fun and all that kind of stuff but like it's been for me a bummer of an off season the way it's paid out but in general like you know that the the way they lost all thing it hasn't been like there's that much super exciting stuff watching and your painter day was freaking exciting, man.

Like, that felt like, like, you, it was, look, it was two innings of 20 pitches, but like, just to see him look healthy and awesome and the stuff, like, like, like, to, you know, not to, we'll see the Fritz expert breakdown, but to my layman's eye, looked like it had life to it. And, you know, listen to him after the game and the confidence and how good he sound. Like, I was, you know, it's, I'm really freaking excited about that. this kid, man. And it's exciting to look at someone that age and think, like, you know, to dream, to dream that, like, this kid could be like a great positive part of our lives for the next

decade plus or something. It's like, you know, and who knows what happens, but it's fun to hope, you know? Well, I can tell you're excited because I don't think I've ever seen the camera move the way that it's currently moving, you know, the leg just must be going out of control. You know, so much shaking. So much shaking. But, no, and, you know, I mostly echo your sentiments on the excitement and stuff. But, man, being down there, and you mentioned Painter, we'll get the Painter, of course. Watching Justin Crawford has been equally as exciting, and it seems like every game he's getting a hit, he's doing little things well, playing good defense, you get a double yesterday on the line.

Like, that stuff, as the season is getting closer and closer, my excitement level is, is really starting to rise. What Scott is doing? What Stott's doing? Center field dead center. How about it? And it didn't look like the ball was traveling. It looked like it was like a fly ball. Like off the bat.

Like if you like it looked like a fly ball, a lazy fly ball to center field. Like the fact that it carried that far is a really good sign for where he's at like strength wise and, you know, swing wise. Well, and and he just looks something. much like Schwarber. It's hilarious. It's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, yeah, you know what? Charlie Morton, had an, a, a really nice, long career because of that, buddy.

You know who else tried to, uh, uh, look like Roy Halliday in, in college that didn't work out as well as, as, as Charlie Morton? Hmm. Me. Me. Yeah. Yeah. Well, let, let's hope, uh, uh, according to Rob Thompson, and we'll get into your interactions with the skipper. Let's hope that his Brad Keller looks like Roger Clemens thing, you know, plays out in a... Physically. Better than I know. It was very funny, though.

It was one of those. We'll get to it. But the word association, when you're just doing that, and it's like, you say Brad Keller and he's like, rock it. And it's like,

even you. I had such a high hopes moment where you'll do the like, well, you know, player guy. I've no one on listening has ever heard of. to bring it up is the next kerchilling or whatever the hell you'll do like and i'll be like yo like hearing you go easy like when he said i was like that's me that was great i love it don't it down don't down topper but uh on andrew painter by the way andrew bainer future superstar that word association

is what freaking topper said by the way yeah and it was it was really cool it was three years to the day since he pitched at the Twin Stadium. And I thought he looked a little jittery early. I didn't think he had super great feel for his off speed yet. I think that that's something that will come back as we go along here. But overall, I mean, pounded the strike zone. I thought when the fastball was up, it had the life back. It didn't generate as much, like a lot of whiff,

but no one really squared him up either. So I think that that was. Yeah, it was like felt like weak contact when they did it. Yeah. And that was not the case of AAA last year. And I understand that I understand that it wasn't, he wasn't facing judge and those Yankees. But there was, there was major leaguers at the top of that lineup that he had to go against. And it's his first competitive at bats pitching wise in three years.

I mean, you know. Well, besides AAA. But, yeah, you know, I mean, the majors. I'm sorry. I should have said against major leaders. I just said it. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. So I thought he was a little nervous early and then I thought once he settled in me, he was fine. And it was, all I was looking for all day was just what's the fastball going to look like? Because it really, it matters so much. It changes so much. Because if it's last year's fastball, then he has to be a guy. He has to be a guy that has to sneak fastballs by people. And even at 9798, like that's not a good spot to be in for Andrew Painter.

And that's not what made him such a great prospect. The fastball salt today, I think, is, I don't think it was like a dominant, dominant fastball, but it was much better than it was at AAA last year. So lots of weak contact. I think as the spring goes along, the feel for the, you threw like one sweeper, I think, but it was pretty nasty. I think it was only 20 pitches. Yeah.

And that was a slider that he got the stretch. right got on was a good big yeah it was it was um change up he's he's going with that split change uh look i think that's going to take a little while to to develop develop a feel for it didn't really do much but overall right i mean again that was more my point it's like his first it's his first outing a spring like anyone's would be much less him not having pitch so like i would expect you know all this stuff to get sharper that you know like that's that's you know like that's Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But I think the most important thing was the fastball. He was he was coming out and being aggressive with it. He was the old school established the fastball. It seemed like it was out. And I like that he wasn't afraid of it.

It wasn't afraid of it, which I think is really big for him. You know, just have the confidence in that pitch. So super encouraging up to 98, you know, with it, which was good. And I was so nervous like 1215. I was like, I was. I was like almost pacing around the house. I was like, just please don't think. I'm sure you were. Again, you tats him me two days ago and said, could we please do a podcast after BainterBridges? I have to.

I need to. Please don't think. You framed it as the audience needed it. But like, come on. I know the truth is you needed it. You know, maybe the audience needed it too. Yeah. Well, I wasn't, I was in clear water for two days.

You were in clear water before that. So many Phil's thoughts that. So much to think about here. Just been cooped up. Yeah. I will, before we get to the other stuff, one more thing on painter, I will say from day.

I mentioned it before that stood out to me was, and you know, look, it's small stuff. Anyone can talk at a microphone. But the interview after with Tom and Rube, I thought he just seems for a 22, almost 23-year-old kid in this type of spot, knowing that there are a lot of eyes on a spring training start, you know, more eyes than he pitches with for the most part. You know, and, you know, obviously there'll be many more coming. But I, he just seems super composed and super confident. And he looked confident on the mound too. And your point, you know, look, I know Tommy John surgery has become almost, you know,

commonplace for a lot of these guys at young ages and all that. But until you're the guy going through it and you're having to trust your arm again and go through surgery and do all this step and working back and trust yourself again to get back to that level and not know if you, like you, some part of you doesn't know if you can or will you hope to expect to whatever. But like, it's important to get that confidence back. And it really felt like on the mound the way carried himself the way through. and and even after the way he talked to those guys,

it just feels like this guy feels like he, it feels like he thinks he's like, if not fully back to where he was like close and going to get there. And I think that's huge. I think it was huge. I was really impressed listening. For such a baby face,

he looks like he has some fire in his eyes. He sounded like a 50-year-old guy the way talk, like just in terms of the confidence that he was a, you know, kind of a slow patient talk or like, oh, he just seems like, you see, He reminds you of kind of those like, you know, stoic pictures.

He does. He has that kind of personality of the guys when they interview. They're just kind of like, yep, yep, yep, yep, yep. I got it. It's cool. You know, whatever. Just like they're like he's locked. He feels locked in.

Yeah. I kind of, I thought he was a little goofier, to be honest with you. Me too. So did I. And he wasn't. He certainly wasn't there. Maybe it will be as it comes out. Like, look, we've learned, I feel like he reminds me of my first impressions of

Zach Wheeler. And then we've learned that Zach Wheeler is like a weirdo and funny and it has all these like quirky things about him. stuff like that. I mean, weirdo in a good way, you know, like it keeps your rib in a,

in a, in a, in a jar thing, weird, you know, funny, good stuff. I don't think Brad Keller kept to us.

But you know what I mean? Like he, but Wheeler's seen very stoic and very, like, serious. And I think he is that, but I think he's also got that other side.

I think, you know, we'll see it as painter grows and stuff. But he definitely has that, you know, it feels like he has that intense and that intense and that intense incovenance. So,

all right, let's get to some other stuff because I don't think there's too much from this specific game. We'll get to spring training thoughts. I'm sure your take bag is full of stuff. But let's talk about some big stuff because you're right. Since we've talked here,

like, uh, uh, my show talked to Bryce Harper, Schwerber, Dumbrowski, your show talked to Topper, Turner. I mean, there's been all these, uh, you know, our guy,

you know, a little, uh, good to see. For the big dog agent. Uh, where are my gloves? Come on. heat any day now.

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What's good, y'all? It's Vaughn Miller, Super Bowl MVP, Sagmaster, and now you're a host of Free Rain. This is where NFL meets Real Talk. Every week, I'm bringing you inside the game. from locker room stories to league-wide headlines. You want football IQ locker room insight and real conversations with the people shaping the league.

Welcome to Free Range with Von Miller, where nothing is off limits and every down counts. New episodes every Wednesday. Listen and follow Free Range with me, Von Miller, wherever you get your podcast. Good to see. So let's just go through it all. Let's kind of react to it all. Obviously, I think there's some bigger ones to react to than others. So we could start with those.

Let's start. We'll go in order the week. because I think look sure ever was great I don't think there's too much react to other than like I think if you want to understand from a behind the scenes perspective why that guy's worth the money is just listen to that interview I mean I felt like I wanted like if he had been like him in you want to come like run some errands for me I'd be like yeah let's do it man what can I do for you like he's just he's inspiring he's awesome like and I truly believe everything he says

about like all he cares about his winning all he wants to is win whatever you win like I totally buy that like I add the way he carries himself but let's get to harbor because I you know, I think, like, I've never met Bryce before. I've never been around him before. And I know, oh, the handshake thing. Like, oh, there people miss the magical moment off camera that we had. I told him about Bedlam at the bank.

And I'm amazing it was to be in the building for it. And whatever, but like, just forgetting that thing. Can we, can we admit it was a funny video? It's hilarious. And the funny thing is when I went and I saw him look because Ria's like, oh, Bryce. And he like turned away right as I was doing it. And I was like, well, like, I was like, I,

I almost Christmas. In my head, I'm like, bleep in my head. I'm like, I knew it. And then I walked off and I was like, oh, I'll leave you. And rehab my back because she's a queen. And she really did. It was very funny. It's better that way.

Look, it's way funnier with the video and stuff. But forgetting that that erection, just on the whole, I will say like it was, he's intense, man. Yeah. I had never been. I've seen him in the locker room like, you know, when they celebrate. Like, I've never like interview him, but he's intense. And he like looks to you in the eyes.

And he's like, answer when he answers, like whether people, but like believe what he says or not or this like in the room in the moment it feels like he is being a hundred percent honest with you and he is saying exactly what he feels and now he feels it and he's not like pulling any uh you know so i i don't know i thought bryce was great in the interview i really did i didn't i didn't really i will get to dembrowski i know you and i are actually i think on the i think you and i have we didn't really have much problem with it we'll get to it like but i think obviously many did but whatever we'll get to it but i thought with bry i Like I don't like you didn't really say I thought it was a kind of like from his perspective and from us I think it was a kind of a

Perfect interview for him where I think he reiterated his point between YouTube it wasn't nothing went past I think he didn't say anything that was Out of bounds and I think he was really interesting on stuff I obviously very candid with that you know I think that you know They're gonna start the same. The no on the sorry see but on the whole like I thought Bryce was You know really great that thing that stood out to me being in the room is like holy crap this can be super freaking intense. Like I feel like just like it's like intense just being in the room with him the way it carries himself. But on the whole, my takeaway from Bryce was like that was really interesting on it. But I don't think there's too much to take away.

I think we've kind of learned everything about this situation that we can. It's in an okay spot, you know, but what did you make of the Bryce interview? Well, he, I was glad he didn't further the story with him in Nebraska. He said, listen, him was in the past. I said what I had to say. We met all good. I think that was important. And, you know, you talk about the intensity and there's been this obsession with him not looking super thrilled and all the time.

Even like he says he loves playing baseball, I think you're just seeing. I think he's an intense guy, man. Some people are like that. I know. I think everyone knows people who are like, wow, they're great. They're like, it's not like they're nice through this or that. But like that's a pretty intense human to be around, you know. So he felt.

Yeah. Yeah. That too then. Because even if you've been around him, like you, he's just. he's intense. Well, he's got a, he's got an aura to him. He's got a no doubt, no doubt.

You're like, whoa, hey. Yeah, it's a little different when he walks. Like, Schwerber's one of the guys. Schwerver's like, totally, like, hang out of here. Superb kept, like, looking back at me and, like, smiling when he was doing the interview. And I was like, hey, man, like,

like, like, like Bryce was not doing that. Yeah, it's just like a different vibe, you know? Yeah, well, and I just remember the one time we were, we were interviewing him. He, like, looked me dead in the eye. And he was like, he was like, in 20, he was like, in 22, We had Hoskins batting to me for right and like was look and I was like in my head.

I'm like yeah. Yeah, yeah, sure. Okay. I was stumbling. I was like. You're not thinking at all about what he's saying. You're just like his price. Look at him.

I's like that what's happening right now. What are you grilling me for? You turn this interview around? Turn this interview around on me. But no, he was, he was good. He was intense. Like I think I think I think winning a ring would take a lot of, uh, everything. I think it's everything.

It would take a lot of stress off his office off the, off the, off. his shoulders. The thing about the the lockout coming was honest and I think it was funny when he was like, you better ask the owners that too about, you know, I'm right, Bryce. You know, for as much as he doesn't play with. You and I are union men, you know, that's where we're members of a union. We know how to. You get him. You get him made, the working man, the working man. I'm a union guy. But he, no, he was fine. He was good. He was, he was himself. And, and, and, And I do think the intensity was felt and it's been felt really all off season. So and by the way, he looks pretty damn good.

Yeah. I'm excited, especially because like, look, I think the one thing, and I believe everything he says, I really do. The one thing I don't know if I believe is that he doesn't get like even like the tiniest bit of motivation from this whole thing. Like I feel like anyone would. I don't believe you. Of course.

I something you want to admit it. So like I'm, I'm really excited to see how this whole thing kind of, you know, exhibits itself on the field and what this all like, you know, whether or not directly related, whatever, just kind of how it plays out from that perspective. Well, and now I'm obsessed with him walking ever since, ever since the Gelp story about how he has said that his dad gets mad at him

when he's not walking. He's a better player when he's walking. And he's walked to think in every game so far, which is, which is important. And I think he's at like three balls of our 105. So he had the home run yesterday, off of former friend Connor Seabold didn't think he was still in the league didn't think he was

what was what trade was Connor Seabold involved in the Rockies right well no no no no no he eventually ended up in the Rockies he eventually got to the Rockies Connor Seabold was uh was he part of the the Sir Anthony definitely gave him right now no no no no sirree no no Nick Pabetta yes thank you that was a I apologize that took me way too long bad job. I was sitting back in time and then I finally was like, Tha. The thing that threw me off is I remember

he played for the Rocky Seabold. So I had this rocky thing again. Pavetta and Seabold for Brandon Workman and Heath Hembring. The worst trade in the, even though Povetta wasn't there that long, whatever, it's still the worst trade in history of the very judge just because of how bad workman and

Embry were. There were disasters. Heath Embry used to like all my tweets about how much I hated him. I remember. That was a fun time. That was a fun time. I had some run-ins with family members of Phillies. Oh, yeah, you did there.

Yeah. Heath did not care. He was not, I don't think he's a huge fan of mine. No. The feeling was reciprocate. Well, those two guys are like guys who, it seemed like everywhere else they went were at least serviceable

and came here and decide be the worst pitch with those to the planet. So like, sorry, guys. You get what you get. Dude, that was the longest, the longest 60 game season. I hated it.

I hated it. They filled. They filled 162 games worth of pain into 60 games. I mean, Jared Hughes running out from the bullpen with the JT. Blake Parker, remember Blake Parker? What are we doing right now? Well, I'm just like, no, I know, I know.

This is the time that no one. See, here's what I'll say. I remember, I remember being happy they missed the playoffs because I was like, I don't want to, seriously, because I was like, I don't want this playoff streak and, you know, like where we're like, you know, waited this long. Like, I want it to be meaningful when we get back. And it wasn't even, also like, but you wanted to be able to be in the ballpark for it.

But just this team, I was like, screw this. Like, I don't want it like this. Like, it's so lame. It really was. It really was. Like, the whole thing was like, don't do this. Like, I was, I was actually happy. Yeah.

I mean, no one threw over 93 out of the bullpen. Very, very modern. Very modern. Yeah. So, no, but the, the Harper thing was good. And then the, the reaction. Let's get to Debrowski. So, yeah, because.

No, I mean. Honestly, I see. Yeah, go ahead. Real quick. Real quick. Just go. Real quick. I was going to set it up,

but just go. I got it. Real quick. The reaction negatively to the Nebraska thing is from people, like no one that is on, that listens to this podcast, I think reacted the way that certain Phillies fans reacted to the Nebraska interview personally.

Like, speaking of our Eagles beat reporter that is our good friend. Oh, I know. I know. A visceral. And again, I will say I was surprised how much the WIP callers were like fully anti what he said.

Like, it seemed like, all the calls we took were, I just, I'm with you, Jack, like I get, look,

I have been as critical of the off seasons as anyone. I gave him an F. Like, I think they had a horrible off season. I've not been afraid to say it. I thought Dave de Browski in that interview was completely reasonable.

And you might not like his explanations for things, but I don't think they were excuses. I think they were explanations. Like, he's going on there to answer questions about things he did. And like, I didn't like some of the answers because I don't like their decisions on, you know,

JT. or whatever, you know, like not changing up more and all these things. So I'm like disagreeing with generally what he's saying. But like I thought everything he said was reasoned and fair and made sense. Even if I disagreed with it. Like there was one line where he said that where he's like like a boom led the league of doubles a couple years ago. I was like, all right. I know that.

But like even then, like even that it was like that that's my point. Like that's as nitpicky as I can get. That's it. Like I really did not feel like it was an excusey or like a, um, a, uh, tone deaf type prep. We talked about the one the end of the season last year where we're like, whoa,

you know, that was not great, Dave, with the Harper comment, like I don't get what's happening here. I don't think there's a particularly good press conference. I, I thought he was fine.

Like, I thought he was borderline good with us in terms of the way he answered the questions. And again, I didn't like the moves. So I, uh, I was really,

Jack, it was one of those where you do the interview. You don't really know. You'd go home, whatever. I was shocked when I found out other than, because yes, we heard from,

you know, one particular person. me, but, but I would, who's usually not the, like, usually were on the more majority of these type of things. So I was, I was really surprised at how many people, and again, you're right, not our listeners here, but how many people who I expected not to be as, you know, angry about the answers as they were? Well, they were, again, sometimes, sometimes they're explanations. They're not excuses. It's not excuse. It's an explanation. It's one of my favorite lifelines, you know, like it's sometimes it's true.

true like it's okay to explain it like my bad you could say my bad and still explain what happened you know yeah well by the way the two disaster end of season press conferences who could forget the after the met series where he's talking about how chase frame yeah yeah yeah we were actually head or whatever yeah oh my god so um no i thought at the end that when he was talking about like we outscored the dodgers and stuff at the end of the season like it was like all right dude don't do that like you know i mean but but i thought he was good with us anyway i thought i thought he was honest. And some people had problems with the Stott and Marsh answer.

Well, why? I mean, he didn't, everyone knows they're not star players right now. He said they're solid big leaguers. And even Bome, he was like, we think he's closer to 24 and 25. Yeah, I thought it was very praise worthy of Bome. Like, again, and you can't like, yes, they went for Baud Bichette. First of all, we don't know if they were really going to play Bichette at third or second. We infer things, but we don't really know.

But regardless, with Bichette, like, Yet, there's a reason he got $40 something million a year. Like, he's a good baseball player. It would be ridiculous if Debrowski, like, pretended like he wasn't a good baseball player. Or like with the Kyle Tucker thing. It's like, like everyone knows that Kyle Tucker is better than Adolas Garcia. I'm sorry, Adolus.

Like for one month in, in 2023, you might have been better than Kyle Tucker. For the rest of your guys' career, Kyle Tucker is better. That's why Kyle Tucker is getting $60 million a year or whatever ridiculous thing it is. And you got a one year, $10 million, tryout deal. Like, I don't think it's crazy for a president baseball ops to refer to one of the better players in the sport who got a ton of money and say, oh, we couldn't afford him. But like obviously, you know, like implying like, yeah, you'd take out, Tucker. I just, I think it's so nitpicky. I think it's because people are upset and angry with the offseason and with, you know, what

Dumbowski's done that I think they are transferring that a little bit to what he's saying. And I, but yeah, I think like, you know, I personally think it again, like, like I've said many times, So we've talked about the offseason. I have said that I am very unhappy with what they did this off season. I thought it was a bad offseason for the team. But I was surprised that people were still as upset with what Dumbraowski had to say in response to that as they were. So we will get to the other interviews. We'll get to Rob Thompson was on with those guys.

Really interesting stuff from Topper. I thought like the word association stuff will get to. I thought was fascinating. And I also thought the stuff about Zach Wheeler was, was really good news. Hey, buddy. So yeah, let's get to Topper because I thought it was a really interesting interview with you guys.

I think obviously the biggest news out of it was the Zach Wheeler thing. I mean, I think that was maybe the best news that has come out of any of these interviews in spring training. You were there with him, you know, him, you know, not telling you. He's like, hey, both Benzsche, all that. Like really, really good news on Zach Wheel. Who's like such a big question mark, you know? Well, I think through another one today.

And I don't know if you heard Rube on the broadcast, but he said they've, the splitter, they've tweaked it, and it's added two to three inches of depth. Oh, my goodness. Which, that's true. Because I was, I was going to get him back healthy. Are we talking about him being better? Can we relax for a sec here?

You know, it's, I have gotten to the point with him where I just, I just think he's going to be. Great. Like, I just, I don't really have this, this big fear of, uh, of a, of a, of a, of a, of a, of a, of a, of a back wheeler. Like, I think he's going to be, I think he's been, I think he's been close to Zach Wheeler again. I don't have this pitch to a three five thing. I, I think he's just going to be wheels. I think it was just more about when will he be back.

Can he come back as quick? Like, will this linger and stuff. And, you know, because it's one we don't know about. Like, it's like, you know, Tommy John. We know, oh, they'll come back. The velocity will be there, the command, we know all these things. This is such a mystery. it just seems like every kind of step along the way.

Everything we've heard so far has been great. So all we could do is, you know, expect the best as of this moment, you know. All right, let's get to the name association thing. Because I thought that was a great question by you and I thought it was super fun. He said future superstar for Andrew Painter, which I thought stood out. I thought that the answer on Lazzardo was great to the workhorse thing, which is huge to hear considering the, you know, can he do it again from an inning's perspective?

And obviously the Keller thing with the rocket thing. That was, what were you thinking when he said Roger Clemens when you said Brad Keller? And he was like, word association. He's like, Roger Clemens. You're like, what? Yeah. Well, my thing was like, I was so caught off guard because that was about the last thing. The last thing I could have imagined him ever saying was that Brad Keller or mine.

Now, I think he was just talking about. He clarified. He was. He said he sees a body across the field. And he's like, oh, look at that. Yeah. But still. His physical presence reminds him of Rocket.

And he didn't exactly look like Rocket yesterday against the, uh, no, no, against the, uh, um, but yeah,

no, I thought that was good. Um, I thought it took him a little while to figure out that Kyle Bacchus is funky, you know? I thought that was like, I think he was just surprised that you actually asked him, Kyle Bagas was probably the thing.

He's like, hold on. I really got to think for his idea. Well, that's on Rob Thompson. Yeah. He's right. You should know who he's talking to.

Yeah, come on, man. And I, I was disappointed how, how long it's up going to get to the Jack Hughes joke that I threw on him.

I thought he was going to be on top of that you would think. I mean you'd be devastated in the moment. Because he looked at Chris Ware, who was one of the Phillies PR guys and was like, you know, and Chris Ware was like, the hockey guy. So that was funny. That was funny. And then he totally

ducked the question about if you get up, if you have one decision back, would it be putting Robertson out for the second inning? or the Stad, Stad Bunt, and he, he talked his way out of it. Yeah, which is not surprising. No, I really wanted to, I mean, he says he thinks about it all the time. I know, I know, I'm being intrigued. I think down the road, he'll get there, you know.

Yeah, so, like, my whole overall thing with talking to him is, like, I want that guy to win a title so bad. Like, I just, I think that he, I think that he, I think he's a really down-to-earth guy, and he comes across there, just like a normal human being. I don't think he has an ego. I think he's a really good baseball guy. And I just hope that he can get the job done here. I really do.

And outside of Nick Castiano, it seems like everyone is pretty in on Rob Thompson. That was what made the Cassiano's thing so weird is that it was like, he's like, hey, buddy, you're the only one. It seems like everyone else would run through a wall for the guy. And it keeps, And by the way, Cassianas is still talking about it.

Dude, I just, I wish you just like, like, I wish I could mute him like in life. Like you can mute things on Twitter. I'm mute Nick Cassiano's for my life. We get it, dude. Craig Stammon. When I think of the, uh, putting on the shoes, put on the putting on the spot. Went to war that guy. Craig Stamon.

Yeah. But, uh, no, I just, I, I really, really like him. And I think he gets, uh, some unwarranted criticism. I didn't think he had a great Dodgers series. Yeah, he gets some warranted. But I think he had a great Dodgers series. Yeah, he gets some warranted. But I think he,

But I think he gets probably more than he deserves. I agree. And I just, I couldn't root harder for a guy. I really couldn't. I think he's awesome. I totally agree with you. And every time he, you know, even joking around about his hair care routine, joking around with Spike, you know, very comfortable, it seems like I, I'm a big fan.

And I do think he thinks critically about decisions that he makes. And it's willing to change. Like, it's not like he makes, like, you know, he's like, you know, always does the same thing over and over again, you know. Well, hopefully besides the, the putting a guy out there for the second inning. Wow. After, after getting a big out, which I still. Yeah, I agree.

Should have started the end of Strome. Should it start the end of the drum. I agree. We all know. We all know. I agree. I think you have show, show, hey, with two outs, hopefully in a perfect world rather than ending up on the Oscar. Like, come on, man. So. Yeah. I agree. I agree.

That was my issue. All right. Before you get to take back anything from Trey or Aiden that stuck out to you. well i love ada i was just happy you got to be out with you guys that was yeah yeah yeah and he looks big like like bigger um which is which is good uh the back thing i i'm just weird yeah let's just because with us with us he seemed to downplay it i don't know if the maybe something else happened after that to where's a lecky you know uh when he reported that but he just he just has that presence look it could be the team trying to tamper it down a little bit or it could be anyone just trying to be like hey like alec booms the third

baseman to start there like this isn't happening now like everyone should know that aiden miller is not starting the season as the third baseman for the phillies not starting this season on the philly's like it could be that that you know the hype is getting a little much and he's getting mentioned with crawford and painter when he's not like those two guys will most likely be starting the season on the big league club as starters a eden isn't so like it could be a i'm not i think he has a real back thing but like this lack of your perk can be something where it's like you know kind of like playing it out like i'm just looking for things because it is weird just to have a a back issue at 21 to begin with you know like that well it was it was it cuts him out of the Arizona fall league so i think

he's had it for a little bit he and like we mentioned i think last podcast like he's he's had a a good amount of these little things yes um so so a back is always concerning one of my thoughts was They're just saying, dude, we're not rushing you out there to play in spring training games. What's the point? You know, so we'll go through spring training and get ready to play up in Lehigh Valley. You know, like that's, that was kind of one of my thought processes on the back thing of just like, we don't need to force you out there, just to force you out there. These games don't matter at all.

I totally agree with that. So we'll say. We'll say. But, I mean, him Crawford and Painter do have that presence of like, we all think we deserve to be here. Yeah, which is huge. And feel like they belong. And their hope, man. They give us hope.

It's exciting. I know. I thought Aiden was comfortable and, and all that stuff. So he's a, he's a good dude. He's a really, really good dude. And then Turner, him having that year he had last year, I think really just eased, like, calmed him down. I think he's comfortable. I thought the answer about the backhand, I thought was interesting, you know, because I think

that's such so different than how baseball has been where it's always stay in front of the baseball stay in front of the baseball you're right and then now it's you know kind of and he by the way through spring training i know it's spring training but he actually looks better defensively this year like yeah like that play today was great yeah yeah he looked good he's taken maybe another step forward on the defensive side of things so so yeah i thought it's him for working at it you know like yeah for sure for sure but uh good dudes good dude they're there are there are there are likable team and being down there again. Being down there again, I was like,

ah, it's hard enough to get the juice is long. It does. It gets exciting. And even just being down there in general, because everyone's wearing Philly's gear and you're in a different place, but it's all, but it's like you drive into Clearwater and the sign says, welcome to Clearwater official home, spring home of the Philadelphia. You know, it's like it's just ingrained. It's cool.

Everyone's so happy there. Everyone's. Yeah, it's all. As they should be, it's the best. It's the best. It's the best place on earth. All right. Speaking of which, getting back to my family, um, let's see the take back. Yeah, well, you'll get to your family in 15 minutes. So I got a lot. I got a lot.

I'll just reserve my comments. Okay. One of the most important pieces that have come out of spring training so far is the Orion Kirkcuring splitter. And even though we haven't seen it yet, that is something to get excited about. He needs something like that against lefties to truly take the next step forward. from being a really good reliever to a possible dominant reliever. Like every single righte needs to have something that goes away from left-handed hitters

because if not, they're going to get shelved. And Kirkering, he just spams the sweeper to lefties. And it's a really good pitch. But guess what? If you hang one of them, it ends up in the, you know, off McDonald's sign at CBP. So even though I don't think the McDonald's sign's there anymore, I'm going back to 2007 right now our territory so last year he did a better job getting that two seamer in on lefties and having it start at their ribs and come back good start but in order for him to take the next

step he needs that pitch i had been dying for a ryan kirkering to learn a splitter or i think i think he's using the the logan gilbert uh split grip which is pretty crazy because that's like almost to a traditional fork which is like you got to have monster hands to be able to pull that off So that feels a little aggressive, but we like where the head is at with a Ryan Kirkering. And like the fact that he is not going to have to be the big righty out of the pen, he can settle into maybe being the third guy. Like I think, dude, him and Bolin as the third righty are, the bullpen is so good. Like so freaking good.

and if Kirkring can really learn that pitch to go with everything else, he could turn into one of the better relievers in the sport. So super exciting development. I really can't wait to see it in the game. I'm worried it's going to come out a little flat, but whatever. We like where the head is at on Orion Kirkring. All right. Look at this out there.

We got this out there. We got you, big dog. We got you. What happened? in LA might have been the best thing ever for Ryan Kirk. All right. 215. 215.

5992. What's next in the extended takeback? I think overall, the team's working quality at bats. I think we're seeing high quality. I'm happy you're keeping me extra time to tell me about spring trading stuff. Well, let's go through it. Let's go through it. How about I just take your word for it?

I think, I think Adoli is, I'm, I am surprised. I thought Adolese was going to be way more chase. And I don't think I've seen him really chase. He's not launching yet, but he's putting the bat on the ball. And I like his new setup, although James, he's getting closer and closer to what player? What does his swing setup look like to you? Because there's one player. You know I'm not going to get this.

It just tell me. No, no, no, no, no. He's a former Philly. He played until he was 48 years old. Oh, Julio Franco? Yes. I can see that. Actually, it's not that far over, though.

It's not. Julio Franco looked like he was going to fall like forward because his bat was so far. But I can see that. You're right, actually. It does kind of like have, it gives Franco-ish vibes. Little Julio Franco, a little bit. But he's working good at bats. Stott is working really good at bats.

I mean, you're talking. He's either walking or roping. I'm excited about stop this year. Like, of all the, you know, I, like, we'll see on bone. We'll see on this. Like, I, Marsh, if you get, you know, I feel good about Stott. Like, if I feel like, like, Stott's when I, I'm in on that, that 294 second a half last year.

Like, I'm, I'm doing that thing with Statt. I tell you what, I'm a little boomed up. I'm going to be honest with you. I'm a little. I'm a little. Listen, I. Contract here. Well, and I.

If I brought up something that wasn't the take back, what's wrong with me? No, you go ahead. Never mind. Well, well, I'm just letting you know. But I did send one text today to our good friend, Mike Kay. And I said, out, love Mike. I said, I don't know, man. He's the guy, by the way, the Alec Bomesman is.

He is, to an annoying extent. Over the top. We get it, Mike. All right, Joe. But, but I was like, what if they extend Bome after the year? We play aided and left. Can we just do what's next? Aided and left.

See you went past. It's like that thing where you like go right up to the perfect spot and then go like 5% pass it. Also, Brian Dale-Cruz kind of has a Jason Worth swing to him. Anyway, another high quality at bat is Justin Crawford, who I am becoming a, I might just become a super fan. I never once worried about the ground ball rate with Justin Crawford. He's hitting the ball hard. You know my favorite part about you can just turn your mic? I had a thought in my head I was going to say, but you did the whole 2020 bullpen thing. I was like, I wish I had a, you know, the 2020 like cardboard cutouts they put in the stands of me that I could just put here and go hang with Emily and Zoe and like come back when you're done.

You could honestly do that. Like you could if you want to do. But the thing that has impressed me about a lot of the guys overall approach, wise in spring training, which matters more than the regular season, is they are working quality of bats and the lefties are hanging in there against lefties. And I think a lot of that has to do with Schwerber because Schwerber is someone who tells all these guys how to hit lefties and all a sudden Stats hanging in there against lefties. Justin Crawford, who was good against them last year in the minor leagues he was. Dante Norrie even hanging in there against lefties.

High quality of bats after high. And you know what? You know what I like the most? is their confident takes. Like, this is what I'm talking about. I'm so jealous of watching the other teams that, like, the ball's out of hand, and they're, like, already looking ahead. They're not, like, they're thinking about going. They're just, like, no out of hand. That's a ball.

I'm obsessed. I'm obsessed with quality of a bat right now. And even to the minor league level, high quality at bat. High quality at bats. All right. Some bullpen guys to get to, okay? First off, I don't carry loud or, on today. Jonathan Boland's fastball up in the zone is a huge freaking problem. I don't know how

you spare it up. It's heavy. It's up in the zone. They're much better. Like, they figured it out from that standpoint. Alex McFarland yesterday. Once he found his release point, he was nasty. The Alex McFarland, we've been dying to see. Everyone's talking about it. Thank God. And I do want to talk about Zach McCambly because I have labeled him my fourth righty out of the bullpen. You have. Yes. Who has not heard that? Little concerned here's my concern level here's my concern level take your time flesh it out is is is that it is a fastball that he has to sneak by people I don't like that from relievers So you know in the miners he didn't walk many guys he walked three guys the other day the sweeper is still a good pitch

But it feels like a he we're monitoring the Zach McCambly situation He threw a lot of cutters the other day which I don't maybe that's a pitch he's working on a couple of them backed up a couple of them are nasty if he can get a cutter if he can go with the four seamer get the sink off that then the sweeper we might have something but if it's what it's been we're concerned okay really intrigued by the nola cutter it's the best look yet i'm just we'll see we'll see maybe pitching for his home country of it really i'll do it yeah wearing that italy across the chest that's good of me meaningful it was quite funny watching him say i've never been there You know, in the interview yesterday.

He's zoning it. I think that's pretty much it. Yeah. Wow. This is great. Well, we did this in the middle of the game. Oh, Zach Pop got smoked today.

That's a shame. Oh, no. That's a bummer. I'd love that sad is in Jack's voice if we did this in the middle of the game. Like, he missed the fifth through seven. Guess what you can watch the bottom of the eighth and the ninth coming out. Yeah. Well, I've done a much better job this year in going back and rewatching and be like,

I know what Chwarber looks like. I don't need to watch. I'm proud of you, buddy. Yeah. So it gets to the important parts of spring training. Oh, and it was great to see Sanchi dominant yesterday. Yes,

he's awesome. I'm glad to you, like, laughing at the change of it was fun. It's amazing. Those spring training is all about. That's the best. It's why you love it. Just kidding.

It's not. But I'm happy. It's best to be down. All right. I'm going to go because I've been texted with that one and she wants me to go. But this is great. And I have a lot of fun.

All right. We'll see what happens with that. We'll have another pod soon. sometime soon. You got anything else for good? Maybe this week. Maybe this week. Maybe this week.

Maybe not. Come on, man. I'm around. Maybe I will. I'll say. All right. Thank you, Tucker. You're real.

Thank you everyone is listening. You're the best. We'll be back soon. Until that, he's written some delta.