High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - If You Could Have a Four Day Work Week Would You Rather Have Off Monday or Friday?

Episode Date: July 3, 2023

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to a disappointing series vs. the Nats, Casty making the ASG, 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

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Shout out to, so I went to the Phillies game yesterday. It sucked to be at, let me just tell you. Some dude named Stone Garrett did a thing. I never heard of the guy in my entire life. But I met a listener. Shout out to Antonio. Dude was awesome. We had a great time talking.

Also, sorry, the great Dave Shaw was hanging out with Dave Shaw. We were all talking and we were talking about the yo and about how much time and effort talking and we were talking about the yo and about how, like how much time and effort I put into trying to match the yo to what is happening with the Phillies. And it was an ironic conversation to have. Cause at the moment I thought they'd win the game. It'd be a nice little yo.

And then I came in, I'm like, I don't know what to do with the yo. Like I'm excited about the Phillies. They've been playing great. Like I think things have turned. We're going to, it's going to be a more positive pod, but that sucked.

A sucky series. Yeah, I don't know. I know they technically lost yesterday. Oh, yeah. I saw it there, buddy. They definitely lost. They definitely lost. If you look at the win-loss column, they definitely didn't lose the game.

I don't really feel like they lost. Ranger was so uncharacteristic. I think I wasn't watching Ranger's Warriors yesterday. My only fear with Ranger, and I hope it's not the case, but definitely watching him, I was thinking, is he hurt or something? Because like

all of a sudden he couldn't get the curveball over his command of both. Like it looked like when he first came back, which was not a good spot to be in. And I don't know, like the misplay between Marsh and Schwarber happened and then Stone Garrett hit a grand slam. It's like

Stone Garrett batting four for the vaunted Nationals. I just like, I don't know. They lost. It was annoying, but it was more like, it wasn't a massive panic button hitting loss for me because I just think that nine times out of ten, they win that game.

Friday night was more frustrating for me than anything. And frankly, the runners in scoring position thing is just the worst, man. Every time they start a rally, it's like, here we go, double play. Or weak pop-up to the shortstop slash third baseman. Or strikeout. And it's like, are you guys freaking serious like on friday night they had in the sixth they had runs the first and third no outs and couldn't score yep and then and then boom let off the next inning with a double and he didn't get in and then sunday i mean

they grounded into at least three double plays right right? At least three, I think. Yeah, three. And a couple of them, I think in the seventh and eighth, they had first and second go outs. And it's like, it was a series of shooting yourselves in the foot. But there's a part of me that's also like, they should have lost two or three to the Mets. So this is like nature healing itself in a way. Because there's no way they should. They really, they should have swept more than they should have lost to a three.

I mean, like Friday was atrocious, just atrocious. They didn't show up. Yeah, well, they clearly didn't show up. Yeah. And then Saturday was like they got their frustrations out. They were like, oh, we didn't show up yesterday. Let's show this is stupid. We're way better than that.

Yeah, but it bothered me a little bit. Spread it out a little bit. Spread it out a little bit. Well, it just bothered me, like, now you're hitting a Grand Slam. You know what I mean? It's like to make it 19 to 1 at the time or whatever it was. Like, really? Like, really? Yeah.

Come on, man. Save that. Save that for Sunday. Yes. Or Friday. Either of those games, that would have looked real nice. Yeah. Maybe save one of Alec

Boehm's home runs for one of the other games. Or Castiel. Four months. Save the Alec Boehm home run for another month. So, frustrating weekend. Some positives. I mean, Saturday was a lot of fun, even though like, again, it was, you didn't have to like, I'm glad they won 19 to four, but it's like, it's like you didn't have to, it's like,

congratulations on, on beating up on, on bad pitching coming in and, and just looking to, to step on a throat, I guess. But I don't know. My whole feeling right now is like it was just a blip in the radar. I think they've been playing pretty good baseball. They've been finding more ways to win than lose. I thought the Cubs series was obviously big.

I don't want to talk after the Cubs series, but they just went out and swept the Cubs in Chicago, a much better team than the Nationals, obviously. I think that the cubs in chicago a much better team than the than the uh nationals obviously and i just you know i think that the the toughness that they've showed on the road and the winning nine straight i i legitimately think they just came home and thought they could just roll over the gnats and then sunday kind of happened they're like oh bleep like we might actually lose this game and then

they actually did um and then it felt a bit lookahead-y like they were on the road they come back for for a random three game series at home it's weird it's a weird scheduling thing and then bang now they're in florida for the rest of the week it just it's the best team in baseball and then the team that's you know directly ahead of them in the division and in the wild card and all that yeah i think the rays are two oh dude are the braves pass them now i just the braves are just freaking yeah i'm not even talking about record wise oh yeah i was strictly talking record but but yeah oh i think the braves are definitely i mean i mean they're 21 and 5 in their last 26 uh let's look real quick uh no i'm oh i know you're right

well so yeah so the race stuff that i'll say the most wins in baseball but not technically the best record so yeah well it's just like i mean what the braves the braves so and i hate to have to give them props because obviously it's not like we haven't done that the last few years never we've never said hey i want to be like the braves um biggest heater we've seen an organization be on in like ever. Real quick, who's in a bigger heater right now, the Braves or the Eagles? I mean, the Braves. It's probably the Braves.

We're just talking development, drafting, signings, like unbelievable. It's insane. It's insane. Well, I guess they didn't have like a 61 season mixed in in the last five years like the Eagles did. Yes's insane. It's insane. But, well, I guess, and they didn't have a four, they didn't have like a 60-win season mixed in in the last five years like the Eagles did. Yes, exactly. They had a four-win season. But, you know, the Braves, imagine the 60-win Braves season.

I don't think I'm ever going to see it again in my life, frankly. The Braves, yeah, honestly, I was just going to say it, but like it is. Like they're the most consistent regular season wise the most consistently great team of my lifetime like they have to be right of your lifetime yeah I mean they went 14 straight or whatever and now they're just doing it again like they have to be like I'm just saying off the top of my head without really thinking about it but like I feel like they have to be well the last 10 years it's like them and the Dodgers and the thing about it my entire childhood was them yeah it's like from 91 on it's like up

braids for 14 years or whatever so yeah yeah our entire lives like the braids just be freaking awesome like it would essentially be like if the cowboys if the cowboys didn't waste the last like 25 years exactly you know and like we're just like but damn it you know what i mean but um the braves and heading into the series against the marlins the marlins the marlins starters and the seven starts before the brave series had a like 0.34 eri or something like something stupid like that and they they face the braves and it's like bang who cares with cares? Yuri Perez, everyone's like, wow, can't wait to see this kid pitch. Six, and he gets through one out. He got one out.

He got one out. The dude got one out in the baseball game. Give him six rounds. It was like over. All right. Regardless. They are right now. They are a.

They jump on you, man. They jump on you, that team. Yeah. Well, until the postseason. And then that's. You know. It feels time to shine. You know, it feels, that team. Yeah, well, until the postseason. And then that's the Phil's time to shine. You know, Phil's, you know.

One for one in their last playoff series. They were in both those games. They should have won them. Blame Rob for one of them. Yeah, but yeah, it's like this is, it felt like a, this weekend kind of felt like, get me to Tampa, get me to Miami, and let's show how good we are. Hopefully that's where they're at because everything that they had been doing better the last two weeks, they just went back to their May style of baseball this weekend against the Nationals where it's like,

oh, run in scoring position, we're not going to play smart baseball. We're not going to have consistent at bats game to game pitching was was mostly fine besides like ranger the pitching was mostly fine wheeler wasn't great but it was 11 it was 11 one he's probably just trying to get through it um so and chris sanchez buddy he was great yeah and it's so funny so essentially i guess what they told told Chris Sanchez was what they told. That's strikes, right? Yeah, but I know it sounds simplistic, but they told the same thing to Jose Alvarado because his stuff just moves so much where it's just like,

hey, if you throw it down the middle, it's going to move so much that the hitter's probably not going to be able to barrel it up anyway. So just focus on the middle and let the cutter cut, let the sinker sink, and I guarantee you get better results. And obviously, Cruz Sanchez and stuff is not Jose Alvarado's, but it moves a lot the same way. I mean,

I think Cotham was talking about how the sink, and it was an Alex Coffey's piece, the sink on his fastball is one of the highest in all of the league. So it was an alex coffees piece the sink on his fastball is like one of the highest in all of the league so it clearly is a pitch that can that he can manipulate and move a lot but if you're chris sanchez and you have that slider that can come into righties or away to lefties and then you have the the sinker that moves a ton uh coupled with the change up that can be you know thrown whenever like if you just focus on throwing it down the middle,

you're going to be better because rather than nibbling around the strike zone and trying to be fine and trying to hit the corners, like you're going to end up having more base runners and having more guys, you know, in scoring position because you're just walking more people. Whereas if you just focus in the middle, like sure, maybe you allow a home run or whatever, but it's harder to believe that things are going to snowball like they have for chris sanchez in the past if he's

just in the strike zone if you're just in the strike zone and let your stuff play i guarantee you have better results you don't have the commanded ranger like ranger's a guy that can dot both sides of the plate unless he's playing the nationals in a random hot ass sunday game um but he's mostly a guy that can dock both corners and throw a change up wherever and flip a curveball. If Chris Sanchez can just focus on being down the middle, I mean, it's certainly a

plan that can work from it. They don't need him to be great. They just need him to be good and serviceable and give him five innings. That's all they need. It is funny how it's completely flipped the narrative i mean we were early out on the hey maybe want to trade for a hitter early on and now that we're you know we're getting to the point where everyone's like oh yeah like team needs bat

huh like we're kind of that way i want to get to that in a sec quickly though because it has been you know look it was a bummer of a series and there's not a ton to say i do think it was a bummer of a series, and there's not a ton to say. I do think it was a letdown series. You know, human beings. Oh, there it is. Everything's fine. They're human beings. I didn't think about the weirdness scheduling-wise. I didn't think about how it's kind of just a home series just dropped in there,

super weird like that. It is strange. And then on top of that, you know, the weird 6.05 game on Friday, it's kind of like an off schedule. And then, again, they owned last year. And Sha on top of that, you know, the weird 605 game on Friday, it's kind of like an off schedule. So and then again, you know, they own last year. So and Shaq was there, you know, there's like there. You're right. Jack was just randomly there. Like under

it's okay, though, because Shaq said they're going to win the World Series. So I feel I feel happy. It makes me feel good. Could you imagine if Shaq was like, yeah, you know, I'm honestly with the Braves are playing right now. It's going to be tough like, yeah, you know, I'm honestly, the way the Braves are playing right now, it's going to be tough to beat him, you know? Like, if he started giving, like, real analysis,

like he's on, you know, like, NBA Tonight or whatever the show is. It would be amazing. Yeah, it's not the NBA, sorry. I wouldn't put it past him. I wouldn't, but Shaq can do anything. If he's just like, he's like, listen, I know I'm wearing Philly stuff.

I know I'm at Citizens Bank Park, but have you seen the way the Braves are playing recently? I gotta be real, okay? I know I'm DJing here tonight, but like the Braves, man, they're really good. You think you're gonna beat them again in the postseason? You guys have seen Acuna play, right? Dude, hold on.

I mean, are we a Braves podcast now? No, we're a Rays podcast. No, we're a Rays podcast. No, we are not this week. It just rhymes. No, we're not this week. We are absolutely not this week. But Acuna, does he have – hold on.

He's on pace for like 40, 60-something season. Dude, he's – so, yeah, he's one away from – Seriously, he's on pace for like a 40, 60 season. He is one stolen base away from 40 at the halfway point of the season. 40-80, excuse me. He's got 21 on runs. He's like on base for a 40-80 season practically. Has there been? No, of course there hasn't been a 40-80 season.

Of course not. There's barely been 40-40 seasons. It's like Bonds and Canseco and like someone else, I think. Like, no, it doesn't happen. That's like – We don't curse on this pod. That is like all bleep, bleep, bleep, bleep, I think. Like, no, it doesn't happen. That's like, we don't curse on this pod. That is like, that is like all bleep, bleep, bleep, bleep, bleep. That's what I want to say.

Like, that's what that is. Like, it is just craziness. So you're telling me that he could have a, he could be the one player, maybe in the history, he's not in the history of baseball, but one player that would have his, he'd be the only answer in one of the corners of the immaculate yeah theoretically yeah i think it's certainly possible again yeah it could be a 40 i mean even as even if he doesn't do 80 i mean 40 60 40 70 i don't think 40 60 i don't think any

of that stuff's happening i don't know for sure but i don't i don't think any of that stuff seems seems like he's recovered seems like he's recovered from the acl injury he's doing just fine yes yes um all right i gotta quickly before we get to um the other stuff i want to talk about um i mean you know we're not really a pat ourselves on the back type of podcast we would never do that not really what we do but you know you should pat yourself on the back. Yeah. Well, I mean, it's about time. Like right the night the Phillies lost the World Series.

No big deal. It's about time I could, you know, lock into one. You know, I don't really get many things right, you know. And again, I'm not one to make it about me when I do get things right. Never. And it's really. See, I made it about you. Right.

I think it's honestly more of a credit to both of us that all offseason it was like, dude, Cassie's going to be fine. Like, Cassie's going to be good. Bat him four and just let him kind of cook. And the guy's an all-star. And he's just been, like, every time, because I still have that little bit of fear and it's like i'm like oh here we go he chased out of the zone oh no but then like his next at bat he ropes his double down the left field the left field line and it's it's it's so much fun having like a peak

a peak castellano season because it's it's not just the power which is starting to come by the way i think it is but he's up to like 11 homers i think or something i because it's not just the power, which is starting to come, by the way. Yeah, it is, buddy. He's up to like 11 homers, I think, or something. I think it's seven in his last 25. Yeah. That's not true. He's on his way there.

No, it's not that. But I think he's at 11 for the season. Like, he's going to, like, right now he's on pace for like a 3-10, 22-23 homer season. I mean, that's freaking awesome, man. Like, that would be a freaking awesome season. No, he does have seven in his last 25. Oh, wow. So, is he at 11? I so he's at 11 and he's 11 he's at 11 yeah so he's seven in his last 25 he's been um he's obviously hitting for a high average and yeah uh so he could be the first philly to hit

over i think he's the first philly to hit over 300 with 20 home runs in a while. Yeah. I mean, I mean, I'm trying to think who, I mean, Rollins. I think it'd be something he's on pace for. It'd be the first time since Rollins. Yeah. I would guess since Rollins MVP season would probably, right. Cause he did it over 300 that year.

I think either way. Yeah. Yeah. But, but he's just been, he's just been phenomenal. And every time you're just kind of like, Oh no,

like here we go. He's chasing again. He he's just he just ropes a ball his next at bat so uh yeah so he's on pace for his and this is courtesy of uh anthony san felippo uh he's on pace to surpass 20 home runs and have 200 hits for the first time since rollins in 07 wow so he could have 200 hits, bat over 300, hit 20 plus home runs. And speaking of immaculate grid, 200 hits was the category today, which was a tough one to get through. Tougher than you'd think.

Maybe one day we could use Nick Cassianos in that grid. I haven't filled in my reds 200 hitters yet, but theoretically it could be an answer today. I'm not going to lament as my answer. I think there's a much better answer.

Well, there's one answer that 95% of people, and I tried to work around it. I think I was going to do that one. You're going to have to do it. Yeah. And by the way, I had a lot of hits, okay? Speaking of today's grid, Brooks Robinson's a total fraud.

How he never had 200 hit season is beyond season. I wouldn't have thought he would. I mean, all the gold gloves. Well, I mean, all I hear growing up is the greatest third baseman. I am not. People do the grid, so I won't say my answers. But I have a guess for each of the teams and the 200 hitters. And the Cincinnati one is the only one I'm very confident about. And let me get this one out of the way,

because this is yesterday's and one that happened prior. There's no bigger fraud in the history of baseball than Walter Ford or whatever his name is. What's his name? Whitey. Whitey Ford. Whitey Ford. Yesterday's category was 300 wins and the Yankees,

and I tried to get cute. I was like, all right, I'm going to like. Because now we're going for rarity scores. Now we're going for rarity. Honestly, my Peter, shout out to my brother, Peter, he texted me last night. He's like, do you care more about the 9 and 9 or do you care more about the rarity?

And I was like, honestly, I think I care more about the rarity because I could get a 9 from 9, but I'll go for something that'll get me an 8 or 9 or get me a 9 and 9 more rare. So I care more about the rarity. So it is one of those things where, you know, you got to take your shots, but then you feel like an idiot because Whitey Ford only won 236 games.

Who knew? And he also didn't have 3,000 strikeouts, which is what I lost on early in the run of the Immaculate Grid. Legend, okay. Quote, unquote, legend. Yeah, yeah. Just for the Yankees who are loaded and could get 300 wins I mean it's a joke yeah it's an absolute

joke by the way I totally mixed up I combined Walter Johnson and Whitey Ford for a second and I was like wow Walter Ford does not sound right at all it does not sound right at all and I was like that's not even close but yeah I haven't had my second cup of coffee today so this is completely throwing my whole day

I just realized that. I basically woke up and recorded with you. Dude, it's 10. What are you talking about? I was up at 6.30. I didn't wake up that late. I went to bed late. Do you work in the mornings?

Not on days I'm off. Oh, I got it. See, that's how out of it i am i said the plan was stay up late tonight then go to bed early tonight wake up early tomorrow and then be back on schedule i always so the four-day weekends just screwed me like i totally get off schedule i'm like by this day last night's day i'm like all right now i feel a little normal again i'm gonna stay up late and then tomorrow it's gonna be a disaster and then monday or wednesday whatever i'm gonna feel like crap so that's how it works if we move to three day work week or three day weekends would you rather have off the friday or the monday um it's

a great question i think our our whole conceptualization of the days would change as a result but i think mondays is probably the choice right right friday's already's already fun anyway, because you're like, oh, it's Friday. And then you get Monday off and then it's like, oh, I'm closer to Friday by the time I go back. So, yeah. But then poor Tuesday gets lumped in with being the new Monday. Tuesday becomes the new Monday, which is a really tough break for Tuesday and Monday. What a revelation for Monday, though. After all these years of being the, you know, crappy Monday, it's a Monday's a monday monday's rejuvenated monday is

like uh it's like a whole new era for monday oh oh got a case of the mondays oh buddy yeah you're damn right i do i'm sorry to anyone who says this because a lot of people say this a lot of people do this is like when i did my right i always feel bad when i read people who a lot of people say this a lot of people do this is like when i did my right i always feel bad when i read people who a lot of people say it but like we don't need to say happy monday anymore it sucks no one wants happy monday like no it's not a happy monday it's freaking monday like no it's just a monday say hey how you doing yeah it's monday let's move on with our stupid day so we can get through the day so it's Tuesday. Would you agree with me on that?

When people say happy Monday to me, I'm like, okay, yeah. It's always corporate people. I mean, it's a very corporate kind of joke to make because obviously they have no sense of reality. Yes. But I would follow that up with, I

hate Friday Eve when people say happy Friday Eve or Thursday. Get out. Honestly, outside of like, and again, Christmas isn't my favorite holiday, but outside of Christmas Eve, no Eves, period. Enough with Eves.

What about Thanksgiving Eve? Kind of, I guess. Get back to your roots super bowl eve i don't know no thanksgiving eve halloween eve mischief night halloween eve is mischief night it's not called halloween eve things before something and not have to have eve what about what about opening day eve oh that's a good one okay what about trade deadline what about mlb draftee um hold on hold on what about what about friday oh actually i'm okay with friday yeah i feel like you're a friday good friday is because friday is the best day i love friday oh god you know

how much i love fridays fries every day just love them well it's a new take it's a new take it's the only time i It's a new take. It's the only time I get Friday nights are like the only time I actually feel like I have off. That's my general. Why I love Friday so much. Yeah. You know, it's funny.

Well, you know, it's funny is we did this whole thing and the whole thing was to set up that you said that Nick Cassianos would make the all-star team after the world series that night when it ended last year. And we shared the companies up, but we never actually did that, that,

that sentence there that explained why we were patting on the back, never actually got said. So that's why we're patting on the back. So it's good. Well, I think that, I think the biggest takeaway from this podcast, at least today so far is that there's no bigger professionals when it comes

to hosting a podcast and making sure we stay on track and talking about the baseball team than us. We are by-the-book podcast hosts. That's why we're here. Yes, Nick Cassiano is an all-star. Yes, I said it at the end of the Phillies lose the World Series. I don't know how your mind could even think ahead in the moment, and yet you found it inside to dig deep and make a proclamation, and you deserve to be patted on the back. Thank you. Well, and it's so funny because I had to dig to go find it yesterday

because I knew it was at the end, but I wasn't sure if it was like the last thing we said, which turned out it was. It was like the most depressing. It was such a sad podcast, dude. It was just like I was sitting there, and you could just see my eyes glazed over in sadness. And my whole attitude was basically,

it was just like, yeah, whatever. I mean, they lost. You know, like, this sucks. You were particularly, especially that night, and I think I went, actually, we kind of like inverted a little bit as it went on. But that night, you were pretty much like, your whole tone.

I remember it. Like, I don't need to watch it. I remember so well. It's basically like, well, it's really hard to get back to the World Series. So like, we're probably screwed. Like, you're like, that sucked. And like, we're probably screwed. It was just like, we might never get back.

And of course, you missed your positive a little more bob like you know i believe in these guys they just have i believe in them i believe in them i believe in them but you know you just have vivid memories of you just yeah i was just i think i i think i said i think i said at one point like i think i said at one point like that might have been bryce's best chance to win a World Series. Yeah, I think you did. Yeah, which is such a devastating line to say. Like, just for that to come out of your mouth is just soul-crushing. Like, just tough stuff.

Well, at least they're following it up with inspiring baseball. Oh, yeah. All season long, they came out of the gates strong. Just like we said, two more wins, a mantra. And, you know, then they just And then they just like the Braves, just pacing with the Braves, going 22-4 in months or whatever the hell they did, or 22-5. What is that? How do the Phillies go 18-9 or whatever in a month

and lose like five games to a team? No, I know. And like 18-9, winning 18 games in a month is really, really know. Winning 18 games in a month is really, really good. The Phillies were outstanding this month. All kidding aside and all that, and this series sucked. The Phillies came into June absolutely needing

to save their season and certainly right the ship, and they did it. They deserve a ton of credit for it. Braves are just like they're a wagon I don't know what to tell you like they're just a wagon and I think

I feel like a lot of people are already there we don't have to do the Braves like the division thing that gets over we said before the season we're like we're going for the wild guard alright guys no bigger wild card guys at this point at this point

if we're being completely fair and honest I just want the third wild card again because I told you like if you look three of the final four teams last year were wild card teams well it's not only that getting hot and having to fight your way in and all that but it's not only that

I mean they'd be facing either the Reds or the Brewers in the first series. Great call. Yes. Like, would I rather one? Yes. Give me the Central. Yes, that's what we did last year. Let's follow the blueprint.

This is such a no-brainer. I mean, what are we doing here? Can we focus on the task at hand here and follow the group? We already got to almost seven games under 500. We fired the manager this year because he's the manager of the All-Star game, and that would have been an awkward setup. That would have been hilarious. That would have been an awkward setup.

And he's fun, though. You know, that's fun that he's going to be there. I forgot about that. I dig that. It's been a long time since we had our manager manage the All-Star game. That's cool. Well, obviously, first since Charlie. Yeah, so

listen. Give us a third wildcard. Let us, you know, hopefully beat the Reds or Brewers. And then we just do this whole thing over again. I don't need a home playoff game in the first round. You understand? Make the other ones even more special.

Exactly right. Last thing before we first round. You understand? Well, there was even more special. Exactly right. All right. Exactly right. Uh, last thing before we look at it and then we'll get to the take back, but quickly, uh, Derek Hall returned yesterday.

Clemens sent down, uh, obviously Derek Hall didn't do anything yesterday, but. I mean, he almost took off. Uh, almost.

Yeah. Brandon Finnegan's head. He did. So it's actually the second hardest hit ball of the season. Was it really? Dude, I watch you on TV. When you were there, where I was sitting, I could not really tell

that it was hit that hard. Dude, I heard it so vividly from the TV. Wow. You can tell when a ball is just touched. I mean, I heard it so vividly from the TV. Wow. Where, like, you know, you can tell when a ball is just touched. I mean, I heard it. It was the second.

Schwarber hit a ball 113 earlier this year. That ball was 112 miles an hour off the bat. Look, and Hall was hitting pretty well in the minors before coming up. I think, you know, we all wanted him up. They need at least the threat of some power there. And I think it gives them a chance now a month before the deadline to kind of see what he's got before they decide what they go do your thoughts on hall coming back up. And I mean, like Clemens going down, I suppose with it,

not, not a big surprise, but there were a lot of people who were upset even though he's been horrible for a month. Like I, of people who were upset even though he's been horrible for a month like i i was so shocked at the way that the cody clemens thing was talked about it's like oh my gosh he's done such a great job and it's like it's like he has he's like have you watched last month of baseball he did a great job for the first month and a half two months he was that was great it was awesome he's been horrible like i think he batted 135 in June with no home runs.

Honestly, that sounds high. If you had asked me to guess his batting average in June, I would have guessed like.093 or something like that, maybe 100 or something. Like that's honestly what I would have guessed. Right. So he, yeah, so like he was good with the walk-off that happened, you know, against the Tigers.

Good defensive first base, but but what are we doing here? Anyway, obviously I'm happy that Derek Hall is back up. I'm still leery of how good I think Derek Hall is. I think sometimes you get the ball hard, but whatever. The fact that they have a guy that can hit the ball at the ballpark and a pretty consistent base is batting like seventh for them is obviously a pretty big win at this point the interesting part to me is what is the plan with Bryce at first now because I think there's a chance he plays no no I lied he's there was talk of possibly him getting out

to first base before the all-star break yeah but either way it seemed like it was like ramping up to price legitimately playing first base here within the next like two weeks so if let's say derrick all comes up and starts going off like are they gonna are they gonna go back to their plan would they i don't think they would do this and i don't think they should do this but but would you put Bryce in left and try to limit the throws? I don't think you could do that. Which I don't think you can do either. I would rather he doesn't play the field rather than risk any. Even if it's a 1% chance that it's going to make it harder for him to hit

or longer to fully heal ultimately or whatever, I'm not doing it. for him to hit or longer to fully heal ultimately or whatever like i'm not doing it no and but again if derrick hall does come up and and stabilizes first base when it comes like getting power what do you do i mean i mean i mean what do you do you keep him at dh i don't know look i i lean towards them trading for first baseman still at this point. Like I don't expect Derek Hall to be awesome. I expect him to be fine. I expect him to be the kind of guy who, you know, you can get by with, but this team needs more. And like, I, I do think they're going to try the Arbor thing.

If, if, if he wants to, and if they feel it's safe, cause it does seem like he's pushing for it. And I think he probably wants to be out in the field. He seems like – I think DHing. I don't think he loves DHing even though he's done it for a year now or whatever. I just don't think he – I think he's somebody who wants to be involved in every second of the game. He always wants to be out there and part of it and stuff like that.

So I'm sure he's itching to get out there. I don't know. I just – I think ultimately with the way this team is and the way they've stabilized the pitching and the potential for Painter down the road, I just think they need another bat. I think they with the way this team is and the way they've stabilized the pitching and the potential for painter down the road, I just think they need another bat. I think they need another bat. When I was like,

you need to go get a bat and first base just makes all the sense in the world to go get. And I guess theoretically, if, if Harper can play first base and you can get a bat in left field, it opens it up a little bit in terms of your options. So interesting thought there, right field and move Cassie left or whatever.

But so look i if he can play first base and be healthy and not again have zero potential long-term impact on his arm i'm fine with it i just i don't need them to rush to get him out on the field if there's any sort of risk tied to it whatsoever even if it's one percent that's that's my official well it's more about the future of Bryce than this year of Bryce. I'm totally with you. And just saying, I mean,

if we've already gotten all of Kevin Long's guys, if we've got Harper, we've got Kyle Schwarber. Do I get on the phone with a we got out there? Yes, he is. Yeah, we got we got Trey Turner.

That's that's three. If there's only one high priced one price, did you just sayed, future Hall of Famer that could fill a position of need. I think they could go trade for Anthony Rendon. I'm just kidding. I'm just kidding. But, I mean, listen. I will always... Anthony Rendon helped me

win two fantasy championships. I will never say a bad word. But obviously, it's all about Juan Soto, dude. Like, if they want – I know this is like fantasy land, but if you're looking at Goldschmidt or you're looking at Juan Soto, both have a year and a half left. Soto, I don't think. They seem hesitant to re-sign him long-term. Or they're like, they're not going to do it.

And something seems so weird with the Padres where it's like they have all this talent, but they just have absolutely no chemistry. Like Machado, I think there's something going on there. And Tatisic, I don't know. There's something off about the Padres. And I feel like Windhorse right now. Like what's going on with the Padres? What's going on in San Diego?

Why would he say that? Right. So I'm just saying a year and a half of Juan Soto in left field, bring him, like, come on down, buddy. And you talk about feeling a need in left field to get Schwarber out of the field. It's going to cost you a bleep ton, obviously. But I'm just saying, I'm just saying for the next month, 28 days, Soto or Paul Goldschmidt, I think is going to be the big debate in Philly land. I love it.

I love it. Obviously. It'd be so stupid. It'd be so stupid. I can't trade Painter. I can't trade Painter. And you're not getting Soto without Painter. So like.

Unless you do Griff and Mick. Well, I would do that. See you guys. Enjoy San Diego. I've really enjoyed both of you here, but goodbye. Have fun. San Diego is beautiful. It's lovely.

I don't know where the minor teams are, but I'm sure they're lovely too. You're going to have a great time. Juan, come on down. Yeah, that I would do. Look, I mean, just the idea of either of these guys, obviously particularly Soto in the lineup, just changes the dynamic of everything but i look that i a fit like what it's july 3rd so we have about a month of the deadline like i do endorse this type of thing like this team it it is all about winning the world series right now like i will

like painter it would it would have to be a a freaking hall to to give up painter but like i'm willing to trade anyone like i am all in on this group of guys this window this team right now and so like i think they have to be super aggressive personally well the thing that the thing that i think changes the dynamic, and I know the Soto thing sounds outlandish, and I get it, but if you have either him or Goldschmidt for a year and a half, it's such a game changer. If you're theoretically trading Abel or Griff for a half year of Juan Soto, I think that's a massive mistake.

Agreed. But it's the year and a half that you have of him to where, like what gives you the best chance to win the world series next year? I mean, it's, it's, it's not just what's happening this year, but you have to think about next year as well. And if you go get a Juan Soto or a Goldschmidt, I would, you still would probably have to resign Noah just because like you need pitching still.

Um, and then you go, what? No, uh, Wheeler, Nola Suarez. Yeah.

Just a lot of money. I know. Well, I mean, once it doesn't cost like, I think compared to what he's going to get. Yeah. And Goldschmidt's 22,

which I don't think is like, not that bad. No, it's nothing like insane. Um, yeah, I mean, I I mean, Soto probably gets what? So he got 23 in ARB this year. Probably gets 25 next year. So it's essentially another $25 million a year player.

But the enticing possibility of having those two as a part of next year's team as well, on top of being on this year's team, it's just gaudy. it's gaudy it's it's it's hard to wrap your mind around but they are in position if they wanted to do it to probably be able to get it done maybe not soto i mean maybe not soto but goldschmidt it's right it's right there if the cardinals do decide and they're gonna they're gonna do it i don't think they will which which is going to be frustrating

because I think they're just going to be like, okay, it's a down year. We'll be back next year. They're not going to trade Aaron Otto. So I don't know if they're going to do it, but it's going to be interesting. And it's their time to go for it. And if they can get a guy for a year and a half of control

and you have this year's team and next year's team with another high caliber blue chip piece it just it's something they have to consider at this point yeah i think they have to do it i'm with you like i whatever like go out and make moves at goldschmidt obviously i would be interested in a soda d i think it is a little a lot more unlikely but but again i do think that ultimately this team needs a bat. They need to go out and add a bat, and that's where we're at. All right, take back.

Well, Aethelon versus Noel tomorrow. Oh, buddy, how about that? It's going to bring all the tears, man. A lot of tears coming down, buddy. So many tears. But yeah, the last couple times they've gone to tampa has just been an absolute disaster so definitely not looking forward to it um i'm not like so and look the miami series obviously it leads into the all-star break too but the miami series like that is a, that is a massive,

massive baseball series for this team this season, especially considering you know, the fact that they changed the schedule this year and you know, last year they played 19 games against the Marlins. They don't this year. So all of a sudden you're these, these games with the way that, you baseball made a big change and the fact that that tiebreakers um decide how you go to the playoffs now jack i mean this used to be a thing where it was like all right there's 19 times to play them or they used to be like oh we have playing games now it's like the the 10 times they play the marlins this season

theoretically could decide whether they make the playoffs or not. That's pretty crazy. Yeah. They did this last year, and they took two or three down in Miami, but obviously Miami's on a bit of a roll right now. Yeah, as much because of where Miami is in the schedule. Correct. So, Nola Taiwan and Sanchez going up against the Rays

this week. It's a bit of a revenge spot for Christopher Sanchez, who is traded for Curtis B. Big time. Yeah of a revenge spot for Christopher Sanchez, who was traded for Curtis B. Big time. Yeah. I mean, for him it is. Sure. He's going to go out there and shove. So, very much not looking forward to the Rays series.

Obviously excited to see how good they could possibly be, but it's the Rays. It's the Rays. So, I've kind of floated this idea, but I haven't brought it up on High Hopes yet. It's a race. It's the race. So, I've kind of floated this idea, but I haven't brought it up on High Hopes yet. Good sneeze there, buddy. I brought it up on the air.

I haven't talked about it on High Hopes, and I'm curious your thoughts on it. But, with what's going on with Bryce right now, I think it'd be smart to move him to lead off. If you move him to lead off. And if you move him, if you move him to lead off,

if you move him to lead off while he's not hitting for power, I'm just talking about strictly, if he moves to lead off and then the ball starts flying out of the ballpark. Great. Yeah. It makes a ton of sense. So great. So if you move them there,

you have a better chance of getting a hit. I believe in Schwarber. That's a great idea. I fully support this. The only issue is the Schwarber comfort thing. I know, but it's clearly an issue to them. The Phillies and Kyle Schwarber and Rob Thompson care about it.

So we have to talk about it. I know. And that's been part of Rob Thompson's thing, and that's fine. The comfort thing is fine. Battle four, whatever. But get Bryce to the top thing is fine. Battle four, whatever. But until Bryce,

like get Bryce to the top of the lineup. First off, you have way more opportunities to hit during a game, which is good. And then the other thing and why I've started to like it more and more is like, dude, you can't tell me that part of the reason he's not getting pitches is because JT's hitting behind him.

And going from having JT hitting behind him, who has just been batting 200 since May 25th. Horrible. Batting 188 with runners scoring position, which is not great, obviously. But if you go from that to like Turner, theoretically Turner, Cassianos and then Schwarber, he's just going to get more pitches to hit. And maybe if he gets more pitches to hit, he starts lifting the ball more and more. But at least in the meantime, he gets on base.

He is still hitting for singles. He would have the guys at the bottom of the lineup and the pitcher thinking, oh, bleep, there's Bryce Harper. I mean, at least if he wanted to try it, maybe even put Turner at one and Bryce at two. I just think that part of Bryce's problem in the meantime while he waits for the power stroke to come is that JT sitting behind him and JT is just not doing what he needs to do right now at the plate he's just he means

he's down to like 244 on the year um now I know that it was around this time last year we were all complaining about JT and they turned into like the best player in the team for for two months um but still I I just I'm gonna think about Bryce the lead off more and more and I just think it it makes it makes sense while he's not hitting for home runs yeah I I totally totally like you first said it and I blanched and I was like oh yeah duh it makes all the sense no it's a great point thanks buddy um so I got some pitching things here i got like four my overall take is that like caleb kotham is legitimately a difference maker and while i've been frustrated with kevin long because i i the my frustration point kevin long is that i see teams like the giants like the rays like

these teams who i know have less offensive talent produce better than the Phillies team with the amount of high-end talent they have. And I know they made Game 6 of the World Series last year, but part of the frustration with last year also was the up-and-down nature of the offense and the not getting in consistency and tons of strikeouts and feeling

like they didn't have like a plan so like so i give kind of long credit for what he's done with like pache and marsh and uh you know stats and i think he's a like that's good stuff but it's just there's too much nights like friday for a team that has as much talent. Even like the Braves. Like the Braves, I mean, they just rake. And the Phillies are, again, 20th in home runs. I mean, I know they hit some over the weekend, but probably in the 15 to 20 range in home runs.

It's just... Anyway, so Caleb Cotham, I think is just a total difference maker. Like, gets the most out of not the best talent down there. And a couple things I've noticed recently is that they've changed Soto to strictly being... Again, Soto is going to be the second best Soto on the team

coming up here soon. But they changed his whole thing to just being a sidestep guy. So he's not lifting his leg anymore. He's still hitting 99, but he's throwing way more strikes. That's a Caleb Coffin adjustment. What they've done with Tywin Walker

is obviously a Coffin adjustment. Junior Marte, who came in yesterday out of the rain delay, rolls a double play ball hitting 100. I was about to bring up how they should scrap that slider. But now they basically told him, throw it harder.

And he's averaging like 90 miles an hour on a slider the last couple of outings and looks like a totally, totally different pitcher. So Cotham's, like the adjustments he's made, the Sanchez, like Christopher Sanchez, what they've done with him. Craig Kimbrell, what they've done with him. I mean, there's so many guys up and down the rotation. And yet the Nola thing's frustrating. But look at everyone else.

I mean, everyone else, it feels like they've gotten a good amount of, like the most out of those guys. So Caleb Gotham to me, he's just such a difference maker. And it's very rare. You can give this much credit to a like pitching coach. Yeah. I think it's a great point. And I think he deserves,

uh, deserves some shine because there've been a lot of guys who have really made improvements this season. Well, and the one, the one that I had written down here, and I'm wondering if they would think about this, if they don't want to bring them up as a starter,

because Sanchez has kind of stabilized that spot. The Sir Anthony injury is definitely concerning because it's the oblique. But if you can bring up, maybe they consider bringing up Griff for that kind of McGarry role or for the Sir Anthony role. Because the junior's done a good job recently in the close games, but they haven't had someone take over the Sir Anthony spot and be that right-handed option. They tried Hoffman. They tried Marte. in the, in the close games, but they haven't had someone like take over the Sir Anthony spot and,

and be that right-handed option. Like they tried Hoffman. They tried Marte. Maybe Marte as it gets more comfortable. I just, there's a part of me that wonders about the Griff kind of bringing him up and seeing what he can do out of the bullpen and, and,

and whatnot. Junior. I know, I know, but whatever. I, it's, it's,

Oh really? All the's on this pod okay good well you said rendon that's a different um do you remember i got two things that i need to run by you of do you remembers okay one do you remember alec bohm hitting 434 last july no yeah that happened that's a real thing that That's a real stat, yes. No, zero. I remember none of that. Zero. No.

Which had a better chance of happening? That by Alec Bone? Or do you remember Jake Arrieta having a.9 ERA in May of 18? Was that his first year? Five starts? Yes, I do. Because I remember a Pittsburgh start where he was like, awesome. Pittsburgh's what we always talk about.

So I do remember him being pretty good for a moment. I didn't think it was a full month. I would have guessed two or three starts. I didn't think it was five starts. But that is more familiar to me than Boehm's 434. It makes me... Alec Boehm yesterday, I was obviously very happy. But there was definitely a part of me that was like why can't you just do that more often like why can't you just take the

baseball and try to hit it for power um he is bomb bomb at the plate is such like an interest like i just don't know what i don't know what he's gonna be like i have no idea at this point what alec bomb's gonna be because he goes through like two week stretches where it's like i'm gonna hit the ball at the ballpark and then he goes through like a month stretch where he's like no i'm just gonna be a little single sitter he's just i have no idea what to make of alec bomb same buddy right there with you pal like i he's an enigma, man. I really have no answer right now. Because, like, you could obviously make the case, like, he's also, I mean, he's 27. Like, he's one of those fake young guys.

I know. He's, like, 24, but he's 27. Yeah, you're right. He should be, like, you know, coalescing right now. Yeah, I mean, we're supposed to be getting this at the peak of Alec Baum. Yeah, I'm with you. Hey, he's 26, going to be 27 in August. I mean, like, let's figure this whole thing out there, buddy.

Let's figure this out there, bro. Let's figure this out. Obviously, we are now, this time next Monday, we know who the Phillies are going to draft. I think Thursday. Thursday after the Rays ray series i feel like i have a a longer i'll have my tears you know i'm a big fan of my tears where it's like guys i i i will die for uh guys will be happy guys i'll talk myself into and then and then the nose um

and i just want to call my shot here because they always take the guy that i don't really want but i'll easily talk myself into i'm just calling my shot they're 100 drafting thomas white he's like he's this pitching left-handed pitching prospect who's been like the best pitching prospect in base and uh best best young pitching prospect for four years now. Now I feel like everyone has prospect fatigue with him, so he's going to go in the 20s. I'd be happy. He's probably going to be pretty good. I want bats.

I've watched so much Chase Davis, it's not even funny. I want a high school shortstop, or I want Chase Davis, or I want some dope bat that's, like, underslotted. Either way, I'm just being completely truthful with you, James, and everyone that listens.

Like, I find myself having a hard time getting worked up about the Phillies because we're a week away from the draft. And, like... Oh, yeah, buddy. I'm only thinking about, like, a schwaber replacement and left and the 2026 bills and future trade deadlines and just having studs coming through the system i just it's it's hard to focus on anything else for me right now frankly like at all like it's the immaculate grid and then it's a draft and i feel you pal it is my brain is so mushed right now um but

it's great and i and i love every second of it um and final thing and i hope you have the information on this and i should as well but uh our next high hopes night yes july 11th yes july 11th so all-star game action buddy so it's not at the ballpark, obviously. We do not have... Do we have the actual info of where it is here? You look to see if you have the info quickly. Shout-out to Miller Lite. Obviously, it will be sponsored by Miller Lite, presented by Miller Lite.

Also, a quick shout-out to the Miller Lite account of the week, the bar of the week. Today's Miller Lite bar of the week is the Beaver Creek Tavern in Doylestown. Shout-out to D-Town. Where you can watch all Phillies games the week today's Miller like bar of the week is the Beaver Creek Tavern in Doylestown shout out the town uh where you can watch all Phillies games with a $3.25 Miller Lite Pine special go to beavercreek-tavern.com shout out to the Beaver Creek Tavern in Doylestown did you find out where we are on Tuesday oh yeah so we're a time out on Pine um shout out to a fun place in in Huntington

Valley Huntington Valley so we will be there uh 7 to 10 on tuesday july 11th so like right after for your boy uh waking up at six you know i mean waking up at three the next morning so it should be a fun night for me yes oh nice i'm off that week yeah so so great that'd be good for me um but it'd be like right after the draft. So I'll be hard to concentrate. But either way, it's just going to be more of a joyous affair. And we're going to have a great time, as always. So next Tuesday night, time out on Pine. Come on out.

And let's have some middle lights and top fills. Draft stuff later this week. Emily has texted me about going to get lunch. So we're going to go get lunch. Well, it's 112020 and rule of the pod is no lunch before noon. That's why I did this. Jackson McNoel lunch before noon guy. I'm going to get some lunch. It's going to be great.

I do have to post the pod first, but we'll make that happen. Any final thoughts before we get out of here, buddy? Final thoughts is again, I don't want to exist in a world in which Chase davis is not a philly he is the next cargo he is going to hit like there's nothing cooler to me than a than a left-handed hitter that like just hits bombs so it's like the first off lefties have the coolest swings so like i've

already started to think i've already like you know me right how many times do you think i've thought about chase davis hitting a ball into like a sea of red like and just and like chase davis to the to the third deck and i i just i see ryan howard i see i see cargo i see robbie cano like he's he is a top 10 talent that for some reason is going to be available in the 20s to 30s and it's driving me nuts and I hope these teams don't wisen up. But every year I fall in love with a draft prospect

and no one I fall more in love with in this draft process than Chase Davis. I need him to be a Philly. So bad. That's my week. That is my week. Can't wait to talk more about Chase Davis later. That is your week. I can't wait for him to be drafted by the

Jays at the 20th pick. Besides that. And I can't wait. The other thing I can't wait for is I can't I really do have to go. I know. Somebody just texted me the reservation for lunch. I gotta hustle here. Final go. I know. Just text me the reservation for lunch.

I got to hustle. Final thought. I can't wait to run through my late round, mid round guys and seeing your face as I'm talking about Brody Hopkins from Winthrop. Right now. So it'll be great. We'll really look forward to it. I will wax poetically about Brody Hopkins from Winthrop. Yeah. Oh, my God. All right. It'll be great. We'll really look forward to it. I will wax poetically about Brody Hopkins from Winthrop.

It'll be great. Can't wait. Until then, peace for instance. We'll see you next time.