High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - "How You Feeling? That's a Stupid Question."

Episode Date: July 24, 2022

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to a disappointing weekend of Phillies baseball. The guys rip the team for their performance against the Cubs, discuss Jack's favorite draft picks, and more. Presented by Miller Lite. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the High Hopes Podcast. High Hopes! It's a bunch of baseball nerds talking about the Phillies on Odyssey and Sports Radio 94 WIP. Yo, it is another edition of the High Hopes Podcast. What do we say here, Jack? What do we say here, Jack? What do we say? All the good vibes heading into the All-Star break, all the excitement, all that we swept the Marlins in Miami. They never do that. And then it's just like right back to where we always are, right back to where

we know. What a disappointing weekend weekend What an embarrassing weekend of baseball From the Phillies From everybody We'll obviously get into the Nick Castellanos thing But like Just Just such a loser weekend From the Phillies

For the first time Coming out of the All-Star break And they've been competitive the last few years, Jack But the first time coming out of the All-Star break We're all like You know what? I feel good about this team They just kick us right in the teeth Anyway How you doing, buddy? First time coming out of the All-Star Bank, we're all like, you know what? I feel good about this team.

They just kick us right in the teeth. Anyway, how you doing, buddy? That's a stupid question. Yeah, thank you. That's a stupid question. By the way, presented by Miller Lite. We love Miller Lite. Miller Lite, the one good thing about this season right now, and honestly, I didn't even want to do the podcast.

That's how annoyed I am with this team. I'm basically doing it so we can tell you about our event on thursday night because you should coming out with this and it's going to be super fun so you're welcome that miller light uh is the only reason you have a podcast right now so there you go that's how i feel go ahead jack well and you know sometimes i don't know this podcast i think is uh i would say that no podcast rides the highs harder and no one rides the lows worse um than this podcast and i guess where i'm at right now is that what i watched this weekend was a team that one i felt like viewed the win over the Marlins and the series win over the Marlins as a division-clinching thing. I think they viewed beating the Marlins as like, okay, now we've arrived,

which is such a sad existence that you beat a bad baseball team in Miami, you sweep a bad baseball team in Miami, and you think, okay, we're good now. And how they played this weekend pretty much confirmed every single doubter's worry about this team. Every single doubter, it worked for them this weekend. That's that's what they did was create doubt in a fan base that I would think largely I would say what James like 80 percent were feeling good about them and believe that this team had a different feel than years past. And I know we've been suckers to that in the past but it really i mean no podcast has been more suckers to believing in this team no more me than you i don't i don't feel like i need to to lump you into this um but i i think even the doubters uh view this team is

different and that's what makes this weekend so frustrating it's like you you come off a big series when against miami you you build off a big series winning against Miami. You build up a lot of goodwill. I know hopes were down a little bit heading into that Miami series. And they stabilized. And they had an impressive weekend. I mean, they killed the Marlins. And to go and do that this weekend, like truly winning teams don't do that.

Like truly different teams don't do that. Like, truly different teams don't do that. You know, it seems like as Schwarber's cooled off, everything is cooled off. Like, Friday night was just embarrassing. I mean, legitimately, one of the worst weekends of my life, James. One of the worst weekends. Oh, my God. It's one of the worst weekends of my life. I really am.

I'm really down. I really am. Yeah. Last time you were really down, I was trying to pick you up I'm really down. I really, yeah. Yeah. I, last time you were really down, I was trying to pick you up. You ain't going to get that from me. And look, you know, they're only, you know, there's still three games over 500 and there's still a lot of baseball to play and they got a lot of bad teams on their schedule. Like that means anything apparently.

I mean, can you, the Cubs are 38 and57 after sweeping the Phillies. Like, man, that's a bad baseball team. They came into this series at 35-57. 22 games below.500, this Cubs team, coming into this series. And the Phillies are fighting for a freaking playoff spot. Like, it was infuriating. It was a mail-it-in weekend. No big hits. Today, you know, they get runners on the ninth, the DD fly. Like, a mail-it-in weekend. No big hits.

No, you know, today, you know, they get runners on the ninth, the DD fly. Like, they just can't get anything going. Castellanos just sucks. Like, what a flat-out loser. And we'll get to the thing because I actually am. I think this specific instance, we'll get to the thing with him in Salisbury to hear the stupid question. I actually don't think he's, like, I don't think he's wrong in the moment. I think he's just, you know, you're struggling, dude.

Like, just shut up and figure out how to hit baseballs. But we'll get into the specifics of all that. But just across the board, yeah, it feels like a really down time for this team right now in terms of what we expect night to night. Like, I don't expect to, like, they were down 4-3. And, you know, like, two weeks ago, a week and a half ago, whatever, like, I'm like, oh, they're going four, three and, and you know, like two weeks ago, a week and a half ago, whatever. Like, I'm like, Oh, they're going to come back. They'll get a hit. They'll tie this game though. And like, I just thought they were going to lose today. I really

did. I watched, I was like, eh, I was like, you know, they're going to lose. And that sucks. Cause that's not the vibe of the team that we, that has gotten us so excited. And they're starting to show the cracks without Harper, without Segura, with the injuries they've had, with no affluent. And we talked about Dombrowski needing to go out and do something to help this team. He didn't. And this is what you see coming out.

There's no fire from this team. And they played crappy baseball. I almost cursed, Jack. I almost said a different word for the baseball that they played. Yeah. And honestly, I'm looking at the Cubs they played. Yeah. And, and honestly, I'm looking at the Cubs lineup and I'm like, yeah,

I might be more afraid of more people in the Cubs lineup than I am the Phillies lineup, which is like such a disappointing spot to be in. But I mean, their first like six hitters, at least they're all batting like over two 50 or whatever. So yeah, it was a really frustrating weekend i mean the thing is

like i i can't i'm not i'm not in the mode and maybe you are i'm not like with the whole i'm not throwing in the towel like ah no no no no definitely not definitely not like i just i frankly i don't feel that way i view this as like a frustrating weekend i still like they're they're they're two games out of a wild card. They're three games over 500. I can't do the whole season's over. They play bad for a weekend. It's like, okay, yep, bad, not going to check in, don't believe.

It's like, listen, it was a bad weekend. And I do believe that winning teams don't do that. But I also think, you know, you mentioned it the loss of segor and loss of harper i mean like now that the players that you were relying on now they can't go cold like hoskins and i know hoskins had a couple hits today um and and whatever schwarber had let off the second half with the homer and then did nothing um but like when those guys go cold you know there's just there's no one behind them they can pick them up and it's pretty much like if if those guys don't hit a home

run then it's really hard for the scene to win and then you're relying on a starting staff that's been pretty good i mean like the falter start is basically just a bullpen game at this point which is it's so annoying because i do think Falter can be good. I mean, he goes down to AAA, and he's pretty good, and then he comes up here, and it's like batting practice. But the starting rotation has been pretty good. The bullpen's been much better than I think a lot of us thought or even felt a month and a half, two months ago.

And the offense, the thing that everyone was banking on as the thing that was was everyone was banking on as the thing that was going to carry this team and the thing that they they went over the luxury tax to to smash the bell as they said um they've just been woefully disappointing and i know sagor and harper are out but you look at at cassianos you look at yeah i know i'm sorry buddy you look at you you look at uh jt and and dd and it and they're just they're just there's nothing there's just nothing there i i when when casting out was leading off the night today i was like oh well they already have they're they're down uh they have two outs left because he's not he's an automatic out at this point so um you know it, it's really annoying.

But, like, they need something to kind of flip the switch again and get going. And I just don't know how, after the series in Miami, after getting a little bit of a breather, I just don't know how you come out that flat. And that's what's so frustrating about what happened this weekend. Yeah, I think it's such a great way to put it. They came out completely flat. And, look, I mean, you know, you can – I think you can place a large share – look, there's blame to go around and the injuries and, you know,

JT certainly deserves his share of blame. DeeDee, I just – I think DeeDee's kind of cooked. I just think he is what he is. But, you know, he's not the player they were hoping. He's certainly not the player they're playing for. But, you know, it is what it is. Nick Castellanos sucks. Like, what a loser.

Like, this guy is as responsible for this Phillies team not being able to pick it up as anyone. Like, without a doubt. Like, Harper goes down. Step the bleep up, man. Like, Jesus. Like, I hate it. It drives me crazy. All right, let's just get into the Cassianos thing because, you know,

we can talk about it. I can't talk about him hitting, so let's talk about him talking, Jack. What did you make of the Salisbury thing? I'm sure everyone's seen it by now if you haven't. Basically, after the game yesterday, salisbury asked him a question basically says did you hear the booing and cassio's like that's a stupid question you know he's not necessarily wrong you know it's like you know he's basically like i heard the of course it's more like a question for a follow-up yeah exactly then then jim should have followed up

again okay well how do you respond to the fans booing you or whatever or the very first question let's be honest the very first question what should have been hey you heard the fans booing tonight you know how does that make you feel or how do you respond to that or do you appreciate the fans or whatever like there are a bunch of even questions you could ask I agree with Cassianos that that Jim phrased it poorly and he didn't follow up the right way, but at the same time, Cassianos also just, you know, you stink, dude.

Like, you don't have a lot of leeway to do that. I'm sorry. Like, if he were hitting and that kind of thing happened, I would be 100% on his side because I do agree, and I understand it can get frustrating, and a question like, did you hear the booing? I understand he can be like man come on what kind of question is that you know i heard it like it was crazy loud i my ears work like of

course i heard it so i can understand i'm getting bristly at that but dude you stink like you're not allowed you don't have any leeway you have no leeway so even if you're in the right in certain ways with this you're to come off looking wrong. Like, go out and hit baseballs. You have a college degree. Go hit baseballs, right? Like, don't worry about any of this other crap. And I get it.

He's frustrated. But what did you make of the whole thing? Yeah. I mean, it's just, you know, I think on one hand, apparently, apparently like 90 seconds of it was like, was taken out and it was, it wasn't like as quick of an escalation. Okay. Well, that's actually really interesting and doesn't matter.

Context matters. Yeah. Like when you're looking at the whole story, like it's a very important, it's not like it went from zero to a hundred. Like apparently there was followups and then, but the way it was cut, um, is, is is is how it ended

up looking um you know it frustrates me like it just i don't like i i just think it's so in i think alec boehm showed exactly how you should handle these situations you know um come out and be honest and and the city will will will embrace you but these kind of of instances and i know castellanos has traditionally been a fiery guy um you know if i was in a situation if i was in his shoes i would be frustrated too um and i would be annoyed at the line of questioning um but at the same time like he's gotten off so easy here like like he he hasn't received any criticism and it's almost august it's it's the end of july and this is the and he hasn't hit by the way since may you know since early may and he just hasn't received any criticism. Like, sure, maybe on social

media. But that was the first time I think he's really been booed was last night. And, you know, to come out and have that kind of response, like, you haven't gone through it enough here to have that kind of like visceral reaction and to me it just sets up for a bristly five years if he doesn't start hitting and he doesn't figure it out like i'm not ready to give up on cassiano's the player and it's never going to work out here and whatnot but like that moment's going to stick with fans for a while um and it you got to come out and and turn it around offensively for them really to to get over it because his first reaction was not accountability you know it was it was that situation on salisbury's end you know i do think now the the 90 second context matters obviously um but i think he got a little emotional about it um you know just because

you know he was being challenged i feel like a little bit and he didn't think it was a bad question and whatnot um so you know i don't think jim was totally uh correct there um but really for me like with cassiano it's like you you haven't gotten it at all like you haven't been ripped you haven't been booed and even bad and killing this team for a month and a half now and especially when Bryce goes down so I I don't want to hear the the the bristle after the game if you're not going to back it up and go hit and today again it's just like weak contact bad swing and misses like they say he's he's grinding grinding and working all the time to figure it out. I need to see some results because that's one of those moments

that this fan base will not forget. That's a stupid question. It's something that's going to be used all over. Oh, buddy, has there ever been a bigger, like every single show at WIP will have that on their drop board, every single one. Oh, I already thought about it. Yeah, I was almost going to at WIP will have that on their drop board, every single one? Oh, I already thought about it. Yeah, I was almost going to drive in today and add it to my drop board on a Sunday.

So, yeah, it just creates that little divide by not just kind of being like, you know, Bryce kind of laid out the template a couple years ago with the whole, you know, I would boo me too. And it just, it's one of those moments that that's not casting on, kind of casting on his personality, but he's also never been this bad of a hitter. So I'm sure he's frustrated. I'm sure the fans are frustrated. And my only hope is that this is something that can kind of get him going a

little bit. The first chance for that was not a great one. Yeah. I'm also, I'm done with the, this will get them going or this will get him going thing we've just been to talk about being suckers we've just been way too wrong with that way too often oh this is the thing oh this moment oh this is gonna fuel the team yeah we'll see um but i look i think you nailed it. And that's kind of where I was trying to say less eloquently that this guy, I understand how you could be bristly. I understand you're upset.

You're struggling too. But I think he went too far with it. And he doesn't have the ground, the standing right now to do that. He just needs to take his L's on the chin the chin bro because you got a ton of l's hanging off you right now so just take take him on the chin and and to the point with salisbury yeah i think and look i think that's kind of the way salisbury does his questions too he'll always do the kind of question and just kind of see how you're feeling and then ask the bob and stuff so i don't i don't blame salisbury in this at all like i understand what he was trying to get to

and stuff but i understand why castellanos heard that specific question and was like, yeah, of course I heard the booze. He just handled it the wrong way. And it's because he's angry and it's because he's pissed off and I get it. But like, sorry, man, you made a great point, Jack. Like for someone who has gotten the kind of money he got and has played the way he has played like that dude in philly gets crushed we crush those guys the guys who get the big contracts and don't live up to them or don't come close and honestly a lot of the time as we've talked about look like they almost don't even care when they're out there the nominees of the world like those guys are going to get crushed in this city and cassianos has kind of like skirted past a lot of that so far you know we've complained

about his hitting and stuff but he really has not gotten crushed he hasn't gotten the booze and and and you know outside of the the interaction between Salisbury and Cassianos those booze were well deserved well over you know over time in the ballpark by the way oh buddy I would are you leading the charge yeah I mean they mean, they were deserved. Like, dude, like, sorry. You deserve to get booed. You suck right now. You suck so hard in a Phillies uniform. You are as big a reason this team can't freaking hang on

or isn't 10 games over 500 instead of three as there is on this baseball team. Like, you stink. So you have no ground. You have no hand, to quote George Costanza. You have no hand in this relationship, all right? You just got to put your head down and get better and hit some baseballs and shut up. So that's where I'm at.

I got to be honest. I just don't think this is something that's going to end up. I don't have a good feeling about this, like just the relationship between Castellanos and the fans. He doesn't seem like a guy that's going you know just take his l's as you said like he seems like someone that's gonna like i could totally see him like hitting a big home run and then like giving the thumbs down to the fans you know what i mean like i just i don't see this really ending that well um and for a guy who's here for the next four years after this,

that's not a great place to be at. Yeah, that's putting it lightly, Jack. All right, we'll get to... Do you have anything else on the weekend or whatever? Because I honestly don't care anymore about the weekend. We're moving forward.

Like you said, it was just a horrible weekend. I hate this team right now. I don't really have anything else to say from the weekend before we move on. Did you have anything else you want to say about the weekend? No, I'll just put it in the take bag. Yeah, that's what I figured. All right now. I don't really have anything else to say from the weekend before we move on. Did you have anything else you want to say about the weekend?

No, I'll just put it in the take bag. Yeah, that's what I figured. All right, so we'll get to take bag and the somewhere between 15, 20 minutes of draft monologuing that Jack's going to do. But coming out with us, this is the main reason for the pod today is we are going to be hanging out at Time Out Sports Bar in Skipback, PA on Skipback Pike. It's going to be this Thursday night, a special watch party with Fritz and me. July 28th at 630. We will be there. We'll be watching the Phillies game there that night.

There will be a special appearance from a Phillies alumnus. Can't wait to see who that is and of course there's a three dollar miller light special uh for the night and again you know we're gonna be hanging out we're gonna be watching a baseball game come hang out with us what at least we can find some fun in the sadness that is the nick castellano sarah jack once again your fault. And listen, they're playing the Pirates, so maybe they can snap their six-game losing streak. Would we still be there if they have a six-game winning streak?

Are you sure? I mean, I guess the worst-case scenario is we have 1,000 Millerites and hang out with a Phillies alumnus that could be Chase Utley. Sure. Yeah. I mean, probably it will be Chase Utley, you know, just if I'm guessing. Apparently he's the U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom for baseball. Wow. Look at that.

That sounds like a government job. No, he's just like an ambassador for Major League Baseball in the United Kingdom. Well, maybe he can be the ambassador to the High Hopes podcast, the most important podcast in baseball. Yeah, before he goes and hangs out with UK Phillies. You know, why don't you come hang out in Skipback first? That's right. I mean, it's Time Out Sports Bar.

What a blast. I mean, who needs to go to England when you can go to Time Out Sports Bar? That's what I'm saying, Jack. Yeah, I agree. I am really excited. It's going to be fun. And Big Ben's justout sports bar. What a blast. Who needs to go to England when you can go to timeout sports bar? That's what I'm saying, Jack. I am really excited. It's going to be fun. It's just a clock anyway. It's just a clock. Just bring the takes, buddy. Keep them coming. I love it. This is good.

It's going to be awesome coming out with us. Miller Lite, official partner of the Philadelphia Phillies. We love our Miller Lites. Fritzy, give us the take back, buddy. All right. I will save my favorite picks of the draft for later. So we'll go take back, and then we'll do my favorite player of the draft.

All right? That sound fair to you? Sounds fair, my friend. This is your world, buddy. I showed up. fair, my friend. This is your world, buddy. I showed up. I did my read. I got people excited about our event.

I'm done for all intents and purposes. I'll edit it. I'll post it. You're good now. Do your thing. Just give me the ball and get out of the way. I want to start off Take Back by giving a special shout out to my new friend and longtime listener of the High Host podcast, Doug, who owns the Alpaca 8 Ranch in Percerville, Virginia. This is amazing. Did you go hang out with alpacas in Virginia?

I did. I did. That's awesome. Shout out to Doug. Did you go hang out with alpacas in Virginia? I did. I did. That's awesome. I texted Seltzer. Shout out to Doug. I texted Seltzer on Thursday, and I was like, guess what I'm about to do? I was going to go hang out at an alpaca ranch on my drive home from Elkton, Virginia, where Jill and I spent a week, or not, we like three days, um, in like a year,

um, with no service, got completely disconnected, uh, and had beers and hiked. So that was awesome. Um, and then,

yeah. So then on my way home, Doug was like, Hey, we'd love for you to stop, stop by my, uh, alpaca ranch.

I love the podcast. I have a, he has an alpaca named Harper, which I appreciate yeah and and another one named scherzer who because it has the it has two discolored eyes so it was kind of wild it was kind of wild seeing that so um yeah it was a really cool spot if you're ever in the area it's like in the northern virginia right by harper's ferry i guess it's, it's like in the Northern Virginia, right by Harper's Ferry, I guess. It's like 15 minutes from Harper's Ferry, West Virginia.

Go meet a great Philz fan and meet some alpacas slash llamas and learn all about that stuff. So that was cool. Farm life seems fun. And shout out to Doug. Jack, you know, Fish has a song called Llama. So there you go. Do they?

Do they? How was Fish, by the way? Llama song called Llama. So there you go. Do they? Do they? How was Fish, by the way? Llama to boot to boot. 144 for you? I don't know. Somewhere in the 140, 150 range. I stopped counting a little while back, but it was super fun. I had a blast.

I'm still recovering now. Between that and I had a party yesterday, like this isn't the hangover pod, but I'm definitely not, not hung over right now. How, uh, how many repeats? None.

Obviously. They're going to repeat a song in the same venue. They don't do that. Jack, come on, buddy. You got your mind. Wow.

Wow. All right. Well, Hey, maybe, maybe your mayor will join them next after, uh, the great. Oh, there you go, buddy. There you go. Um. All right. Well, hey, maybe Mayor will join them next after the great win. Oh, there you go, buddy.

There you go. All right. Are you done? Are you done yet? Do you have more you want to talk about? No. Okay. Not even close, Michael Jordan.

Not even close. So today, they put Matt Veerling at the leadoff spot. And let me just say this. If they're going to put Veerling there, then you have to commit to it. Like you can't just do the whole, he's there, he's not, he's there, he's not. Because you saw already in his at-bats

that like it's an adjustment period for him. He's going from like batting 7, 8, 9 to batting 1, which is fine because he does put up, he puts together good at-bats. But like you saw today that he was clearly pressing. So if you want to make him the leadoff hitter, then you better stick to it. Because if you don't, then it's like, okay, well, he's terrible for three games. We're going to move him back down to 789.

We're going to put Schwarber back up there. And then maybe Matt Verling is not the same player that we had seen for the last month and a half. So, you know, I understand why they did it. I think he puts together good at bats, like, you know, him, Hoskins, Schwarber, um, boom, you know, those are kind of the guys that I look at as putting together good at bats. I just don't want to see him ruined by being at the leadoff spot. And I don't want to see him take a step back. Cause I really have enjoyed watching Matt Behrling for the last month and

a half, like one of the bright spots of this team. So if you're going to do it, fine. I think it makes sense. You get Schwarber with hopefully more runners on base, but you've got to commit to it. You can't just do the three games up, three games down thing. If you're going to do it, give me at least 10. Sure. Yeah, I think that makes a lot of sense.

I would probably still keep Schwarber in the leadoff spot, but I understand why they're doing it, and I agree. Don't just do it for a game and then abandon it. By the way, I would rather just focus on correcting you. You said the Phillies were two game out of the wild cards spot. They're only one game out, Jack. Just so you know. I thought the Cardinals won

today. Cardinals lost to the Reds today, buddy. They lost again to the Reds? They lost again to the Reds! All right! How about that? Other teams have issues too, buddy. Well, I'll say this. I mean, getting swept by the Reds is worse than getting swept by the Cubs. Yeah, they didn't get swept. They won one of them, right?

But it's pretty close, actually. They did win one. Here's the thing. Yeah, I mean, they're one game apart, the Cubs and the Reds, one and a half. So it's basically the same thing. Listen, Cardinals are losers. You heard it here first. James, I physically cannot watch DJ Gregorius play baseball anymore.

Oh, it's so rough. Well, actually, defensively, he's actually kind of fun. He made a really nice play today. But, dude, I don't know if this is going to make sense to you, but every single time he hits a baseball, it looks like he is hitting a sand wedge out of a sand trap. It's just such a weak little pop-up. And I swear to God, he's just hitting a golf club. And unless his bat is like 45 ounces, I just, he has so little power right now. And it's just such weak contact. And frankly, I don't know why he still tries to

hit the ball in the air. Like I would just bunt almost every time down at their baseline and see what happens. You know, there's a lot of unwatchable players in this team jerry's familiar being one of them casting on us at this point um but dd is just another level and i don't know what they're gonna do when gene's coming back because apparently he's talking like he could be back august 3rd 4th wow yeah he said he said that on on friday which i thought was insane because i thought it was i was pretty much like all right he won't be back till september um he seems like he's gonna be back soon there's just no way i'm put i'm not putting style on the bench because i need him to get his his reps

i don't know and he's been like the most competitive at bats he's been getting. Which is crazy because he's still batting 190. I know. But the thing is, also, his second base defense has just been pretty ridiculous. He's been phenomenal. Phenomenal. But do you put Stott at shortstop and Gene at second? Do you put Gene at shortstop, Bryson at second?

Either way, i don't care if dd's making 14 million dollars like i can't i can't play him over those guys we're way too deep in the season to do that and they're already showing that like like like topper's already showing that he'll he'll move guys down he doesn't care about um money you are yeah topper doesn't mess around with that yeah well listen he did put familiar in did put Familia in a tight game. I know, buddy. I just wanted to throw a Topper in at your Topper. I'm not super happy with Topper right now. Yeah.

I will say, though, I think the real symbol of where we're at with Didi Agorius is you saying, just bun it down the third base line every time and see what happens. And me thinking, yeah i mean sure just hit them where they ain't dd or bun them where they ain't i don't care um yeah it's just dude i swear to god like every time it hits the baseball in the air i'm like that looks like a that looks like a sand wedge like it's just it really does it just kind of like softly flies into the outfielder's glove every time.

It's like he's just always hitting a flop shot. It's wild. James, it feels like, and I don't know how you feel, but it does feel like we're heading towards one of those deadlines where they're going to trade for like Martin Perez. Oh, yeah, buddy. Jose Quintana or, you know. I actually think Martin

Perez is probably too good for what they're going to do. Yeah. Well, he has a classic like was an all-star this year and then did like kind of bad the second half or not the second half, but like the last month. And I only say that because I own him a fantasy and he's just crushing me right now. I know me too, buddy. He'd been so good for so long, though, that

you know, and I picked him up off the wire. So props, Martinin that's my guy still my guy yeah so it feels like we're heading towards that direction and i know that people are saying well do you really want to invest in this team in a team that is you know um competing for like the third wild card spot and i guess my answer to that is you know i want to go after someone that can help next year, too. Like that's and if it comes this deadline, it comes this deadline or this offseason, whatever. I just think that, you know, I'm not ready to throw in the towel and I'd rather go get a difference maker.

And for the first time, I actually am willing to put like a Mick Abel on the table to go, to go get like a real, I would, I would go get another big time starter. You know, I would put them in a, in a package to try to go get Montas or, or Castillo from the reds or whatever. Like,

and it's not that I, I'm like down on Mick Abel at all. I think he's made a good pitcher, but I guess where, where I finally got to with this team is that I actually trust their pitching development for the first time in forever. And I think that they can continue to find and develop like the Mick Gables of the world. So like, we don't need to hold, like hold on to all of them. Like if we hold on to all of them and all three of them come up and we have like this nineties Braves rotation,

like sure. That's, that's, that's like the ultimate the ultimate outcome but you know if you want to use that kind of an arm now for a team that's in their window to to go compete i think i would probably do it will they do it i don't think so i don't think they're going to trade any of those arms to to go get a guy for now but when you look at the trajectory of the franchise like by the time that abel griff and well griff will be up faster uh and painter who i i think is untouchable but like what does the team look like when those guys are up here um griff should be up by next year so whatever but like painter and able like is it going to be a 33 year old bryce you know is it going to be like a 33 year old castellanos like these guys are getting older so if you go out and trade one of the guys now,

you go get a guy for next year where you have a front three of Wheeler, Nola, Montage slash Castillo, that's pretty dominant. You bank on Bryce being healthy again. You maybe bring back Gene, Stott second year, Boehm, who continues to look pretty good offensively. Defensively was a massive regression last night. I just think it makes sense from a team-building standpoint for where this team is at. So I think it's something they should consider.

I don't know if they will. But for the first time, I'm okay with doing it because I do think that if you want to draft a high school prep arm in the first round next year, I think they're going to do a good job of developing them. They've really done a good job when it comes to getting these pitchers ready to go. And I think as they continue to get more talent down there, they're going to continue churning out results. Yeah, that's what I've been saying the whole time. I couldn't agree with you more. And you've got a core that you have to commit to.

You have committed to this core so it's either going to work or it's not but the kids and the minors aren't going to be a part of that like mick abel is not going to pitch bryce harper to world series most likely unless like you said it's an older bryce harper so um i'm with you on all that um and uh i would like to see them do something i think they need need to do something, and look, I'm 100% with you. I need someone who's going to be here past this year. The only way I'm going for rental guys is if I'm giving up org guys or giving up cash.

I'm fine with that type of move, but in terms of if I'm giving up something real, I'm absolutely getting someone who's going to be here past this season. That's a must for me, and I'm with you. I think that's a smart way to do things. So, yeah, and I don't know if they will either. I really don't, and I think this next week is going to kind of drive their decision.

If they continue to sputter, it could change their decision. So it is kind of a pivot point with that. But ultimately, I would commit to this core. I think you already have in the way of the organization. It's like a double-barrel thing. You've got the young you got the young young young guys and you got the core at the major league level like you know they're not that close together unfortunately or you want to get really crazy and go get zander from the red socks we're falling apart that would be fun as well so i would be down with that yeah listen get dave dom Dombrowski. Get the whole crew back together.

There was nothing more infuriating than having to watch Drew Smiley dominate today and then David Robertson close it out. Oh, yeah. And what did we do to deserve this? You know, like David Robertson was the most durable reliever in the sport his career career era is like 2.83 he comes here and for the first time in his career his arm blows out and it's just like these things never work out in our favor and having to watch a failed free agent signing dominating oh no i guess you didn't dominate but whatever like shut us out the ninth was just like really just to just to to pour some

sand over us that's what we gotta do so whatever frustrating frustrating weekend same thought buddy exactly the same thought yep um there's nothing that frustrates me more, James, after losses than the, well, I guess it wasn't Girardi's fault crowd. Is that a crowd? Is that a what? Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Listen, very clearly, Joe Girardi had a healthy MVP Bryce Harper.

He had two months of Gene Segura he had a fully healthy rotation and the same bullpen and they were 22 and 29 like I'm sorry he was a terrible manager just because the the roster is not perfect doesn't mean that Girardi also wasn't an an abject failure here so if you're if you're thinking oh well see it wasn't Girardi also wasn't an abject failure here. So if you're thinking, oh, well, see, it wasn't Girardi's fault. The guy had a full roster, whereas our guy, Topper, is dealing with Derek Hall being brought up and batting in the cleanup spot, which isn't like a big problem. Nick Cassiano's not hitting.

Schwarber going cold. Like he's got no fifth starter at this point. You know, let's lay off the whole, well, let's see. It wasn't all Girardi's fault. I legit didn't know that was a thing, so I'm with you. Very disappointing. James? I don't know why I have to start every one of those.

But it feels authoritative. I thought you did good there i thought it was good there is like i am very pro big poppy being in the hall of fame like i think he's a hall of famer but i just don't understand how he's a lock no doubt about a hall of famer and there's so many other guys that were also in the mitchell report that are not And it's just like, how? Where does this come? No, no, no. Yes.

I know. I've said this forever. I know. I know. I know. I'm preaching to the choir with you here. But it's like I'm watching these these big poppy like Hall of Fame stuff that's going on today. And it's like, yeah, I agree.

But like, what separates him from every other steroid guy? It's a great question, Jack. Why is he? Pudge is the same thing. It's not that I don't think Big Papi's a Hall of Famer. I think they're all Hall of Famers. But it's just this disingenuous, like, oh, Big Papi this, Big Papi that. He was also on the Mitchell Report as well.

So, you know, whatever. Just let the people that we watch that we know are Hall of Famers in the Hall of Fame. I mean, come on. I hate it. I'm so obviously so, so, so, so with you. So with you. And the last thing to take back before I get to my favorite picks in the draft

is Juan Soto. Yeah, real quick. I'm happy you brought this up because I'm sure people saw it. And I did not. I really did try to disconnect. Obviously, I wasn't in a yurt with no service. That's probably the best way to disconnect. But I did try to disconnect this week.

And one of the few things that kind of made it through my disconnection was people losing their minds at Joe Giglio for saying he would trade Bryce Harper for Juan Soto, acting like it was the craziest, dumbest thing that they've ever heard. People were like, and look, I love Bryce Harper, but it's Juan Soto. What are we doing here? I'm so confused, Jack. I didn't understand the vitriol and hate going on there. Yeah, it was pretty wild.

It was pretty wild. So, I mean, Bryce still won an MVP here. He's our guy. Yeah, it was pretty wild. It was pretty wild. So, I mean, Bryce did win an MVP here. He's our guy. I get it. I love him, but he won Soto's like six years younger. I know. It's also never going to happen, so I don't really care. Of course not.

It's an absurd notion. Like, they're going to trade Bryce Harper back to Washington? Like, come on. It's a great take. It was a great take. It was a great take. A great, great take. But I just, like, I wonder if he ends up being that. Like, I just, I'll be so infuriated, you know.

He could, man. He could. He definitely could. Straight wild card. Although, if I got to be honest, like, I have a feeling that they're not going to. Well, they very well could, and this could all, you know, be for naught. But I have this feeling that they're going to sign Judge this offseason just so Steve Cohen can, like, announce that he's arrived. You know what I mean?

Like, I have a feeling that judge is gonna be in that after like wow well i'd rather judge be a met than soda be a man yeah um judge's answer at the all-star game was one of the more insane things i've ever seen where he's like he's basically like i'm not going back next year so um it was it was like one of the like if we were doing sports radio in new york like i would have just, I think I would have cried on the air, honestly. So I, I don't know where he goes,

you know, uh, some Yankees prospects are pulled from the game today. That could be for Castillo, could be for Soto. Soto is still playing. So I guess that might not be happening. Um,

you know, the Yankees, like this should be the trade. Like this is, this is a Steinbrenner, you know, kind of go get Juan Sotooto move that you know they would have done back in the day that's makes sense the team that i think should be all over it and could

be all over it i i think the cardinals make a ton of sense you know like they already have goldie and arenado and they have like a ton of interesting prospects that like they want to trade libertor jordan walker um noah bororman dylan carlson like they have they have enough ammunition to go get it so um if he gets traded there you know that definitely hurts the phil's wildcard chances just like imagine being the nationals and like 29 2019 you win the world series and within three years like you're trading a 23 year old phenom uh rendon's gone strasburg's hurtrasburg's hurt. Corbin's hurt. Scherzer's in net.

Like it seems like just, I mean, what a deconstruction of what was a truly phenomenal Nationals team. It is very quickly being taken apart. They're like, all right, we got our chip. We're out. See you guys. We'll be good in 20 years. Good luck. Well, yeah, I think Lerner is selling the team,

and they're going through that right now. So I actually don't blame Soto. He seems like he wants to be on a winner. I don't blame him at all, dude, at all. Why would he want to sit there and play for a 60-win team for the next four years in the middle of his prime? And the contract they offered him was BS, all the deferred money. It came out to like $29 a year. It's like a joke.

Well, they did offer $15 for $40 with no deferrals though. Oh, I didn't see that. The one I saw I had deferrals. But even still $15 for $440. Let's be honest. That is an underpay for Juan Soto. Why would he sign that? Yeah, he's going to get $500 million.

Yes, and he should. He's worth it. It's a lowball offer. It was a lowball offer even though it's ridiculous to say a 440 million dollar offer is a lowball offer that was a lowball offer well and i you must have missed it um while you were on your your staycation but um dude like they they made him fly commercial to the home runs. Oh, I saw it. Oh, my God. Like, dude, what are you guys doing here? Like, what are you doing?

It's pretty insane. It really is. I couldn't imagine that happening here. I think, again, I think I would cry on the radio. I think you would drive in on Sunday and say, I don't care. Tom Kelly, get off the air. This is my possession. I need to talk. Tom Kelly, get off the air. This is my possession. I need to talk.

Yep. See you, Tiggs. Okay. I'll try to speed through this draft thing for you. Please. Could you, Val? I thought we were going to be done 15 minutes ago. I don't care.

So, all right. I'll go fast. But these are my favorite picks of the draft. Um, Mavis Graves, which is just a phenomenal name. I mean, can't you just see? Great name. Great. It's a great name.

So he wasn't on much, uh, draft radars, I'd say. Um, but he was committed to Clemson, which I think is one of the better team, uh, better, uh, programs in the country. And just in watching him like they and and brian barber talked about this uh in his post in his press conference after the draft like they see that there's much more uh to him and he's already up to 92 with like legitimate sync to his stuff so you would think that if he gets into a college program there's more there and i just the way i wrote it was like i think he would be a top two round pick in uh in three years when he's

ready to come out and the Phil's got him a little bit later and they're banking on development and I think they're gonna do a good job with him so um I know he's like off of a lot of radars but I'm pretty excited about that um Orion Kirkering uh USF kid he like did not have good college stats at all but like holy cow when you watch his stuff it's it's just it's stupid so um another one like the thing that the thing about this draft that uh it was frustrating going through it in the moment but it's like they had the 27th most money available just because of the the your boy um they had to sign and lose the second round pick again um so they didn't have much money uh they wanted to to save it to get one of the players later but the player the pitchers that they got like just like this stuff just pops and i don't

care what they did in college but every single pitcher they drafted was like the stuff pops so that's exciting they didn't get as many big name guys as i was like looking for in the draft but when you look at the money and the circumstances like it just wasn't gonna happen but anyway um orion kirkering uh uh he reminds me of bruce draw or uh gratterall not as ridiculous as a fastball but like same kind of mechanics and a slider is disgusting um alex roa is a notre Notre Dame kid who just looks like a big-time reliever. Has an interesting change-up movement. Kind of, you know, not Devin Williams, but similar movement to Devin Williams.

Won't be as good. I'm not saying that. But some legitimate upside there. Gabriel Rincones Jr. is this corner outfielder slash first baseman from florida atlantic he only played there for a year and two years before that he's playing in a juco so like i think he's barely on anyone's radar but like he raked at fau um similar kind of profile to ethan wilson last year that i liked a little bit but i liked a lot um and it's been off to a slow start but i think he has really good bat-ball skills and a lot of natural power.

So I think if he had played another year of college baseball, he goes higher than what he did. But I think the Phillies might have stolen a player there. So I'm excited to see him. Alex McFarlane, I think, this year is Griff McGarry. I don't know if they're going to make him a starter or a leaver. But the raw stuff, like I saw his one changeup. I swear to God, it moved like seven inches. It was stupid. So another guy that they gave a ton of, or another guy that has a ton of raw stuff that I can't wait

to see how they develop. And the last one is Amarian Boyd, who heading into the year was like a top 85 prospect on some big sites. But, you know, didn't have a great high school year, I guess. But at every big showcase event, did hit well. And you look at the tools and it's, man, he's fast. He's got quick hands. It seems like he changes his swing a lot. But if they can get him right, they got a legitimate upside player there. Like, it reminds me a lot of Chris Young, the old Diamondback center fielder.

So I think he's going to be a really interesting player. Crispy. The more I watch. Yeah. And finally, this was never a surprise to anyone. But I have talked myself into Justin Crawford. Oh, shocking. Who could have seen this coming?

Yes. Well, honestly, there's a couple of things. A week in a yurt and you're you're all in well there's a couple things i uh dude like barber is pretty much just gushing about about him and like how i think he was like the the main guy that walks into the draft wanting to get so listen if we we can't sit here and say we trust brian barber with everything, and then he gets the guy that he wanted in the draft and not be in. So if Barber's in, I'm in. The swings that I saw from later in his high school year looked much more clean.

It's interesting. He's one of those guys that it seems like he chases a lot, but he doesn't strike out. I think he had a 7% strikeout rate. So I thought that was interesting. He batted 500, so it seems like he put the bat on the ball. Um, but yeah, we'll see. So it seems like a great makeup and all of that. So talk myself into Justin Crawford and, uh, overall, you know, I wish that they had taken more swings at some, some starters and, and some, some prep bats that had fallen. But when you look at

the money and look at the circumstances that just wasn't going to happen. I think they have at least four really interesting possible bullpen options and a corner outfield bat in Rincones. So I'm excited, as always. All right. I'll take it. I love the draft. I love the draft.

I know, buddy. It makes you so happy. I'm happier. Oh, listen. Yeah, I was watching the highlights this morning of all the guys just going through it. I don't remember a single name. You said I did.

Mavis name was a cool. It's the Mavis name. That's a good name. Mavis graves. Yeah. I'm fully a hundred percent in on Mavis graves. Unfortunately for you, I don't think we're going to see him in the big leagues till you're in your mid forties.

So in five years, I'll remind you of Mavis graves, right? Yes. Thanks buddy. I'm two months from 41 today wow or tomorrow tomorrow is two months from 41 yeah buddy i am dying just slowly day by day and it's not that slow jack just dying it's great i'm seven months from 29 so i feel your pain oh the party we're gonna have when you turn 30 oh buddy i'm never gonna let it i'm just gonna call you old forever once you turn 30 get ready i feel your pain two old guys on a podcast all right what what pods are, right? All right. What else you got? Is that it?

We done? That's all I got. You can enjoy the rest of your Sunday, pal. Thanks, pal. That means I'm going to bed. I will say, just saw it, no aeronautical engulfment for the Toronto series.

So things are already looking up. So there you go. Like we always say, James, everything's fine. We say that far too much uh are you getting final thoughts or anything that's a stupid question you're right it really is he's friends of seltzer we'll see you next time.