High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Is It Time To Change The Name Of The Pod?

Episode Date: January 17, 2026

The Philadelphia Phillies struck out on Bo Bichette and then signed JT Realmuto to a three-year contract. James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to an all-time bad day for the Phils. Presented by Miller Lite. To purchase Ring The Bell by Jack Fritz and Kevin Reavy go to RingTheBellBook.com To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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This is the High Hope's podcast. On the Odyssey app and Sports Radio 94 WIP. The crowd is singing high hope. I feel a little less. long. No. Another edition of the high hopes podcast, sponsor by Miller Light,

official partner of the Philadelphia. Philly's taste like Miller time, Philadelphia, celebrate responsibly. That Miller time thing is going to really hit with Edel Miller's here someday, which is going to be so much fun. And that might be all we have to look forward to right now.

What a horrible six hours it's been or whatever. I mean, honestly, like, I guess thank you, Phillies for making me like not even care about the Eagles seasoning over. It's like, who cares? Like to go

from feeling so confident, Jack, to so devastated and you're the one who broke the news to me. So thank you. You're like, Bichette to the Mets. And I'm like, oh, is it like a rumor or whatever? And you're like, no, dude, it's done. And I'm like, and there was no warning. There's no warning either.

It was just like, it was like when Ken Rosenthal's saying you're like the overwhelming favor of what that is that. It's one thing, you know, Heyman, Nightingale, like, they're good at their job and stuff, but like, we know that they've missed stuff in the past. Like when Rosenthaler passed and says it,

you're like, oh my God, dude, like this is, this is go time. And, you know, for it to seem like for the Phillies,

it was too with the reporting Jack where they thought they freaking had him. And the freaking Dodgers ruin it. And the Mets ruin it. And now we're sitting here. And then, of course, they slide the JT thing in.

Oh, for $45 million dollars for three years. Get that money of Harris and Bader. Like, I, I just, I, how you doing buddy i'm sorry like i shouldn't be getting this workup i'm hanging my family and then

you know i can down do this well you you should you should be worked up you should be worked up because they had i think the way that i would describe it is that buchette was their get out of jail free card you know what a good way to put it dude this was the move that all of a sudden kind of fell into their laps and boy i tell you what they it's becoming more and more apparent why it fell in their laps i mean they got played on. They played, dude. They clearly got played. Like, without a doubt.

Like, Suez Tucker was done. The Mets swoop in with basically a one-year offer if Bichette's good. Let's be honest. Like, the market next year, there's horrible for you. Worse than this year offensively. Like, pitching's good, but like horrible. Like, if he's good this year, behind Monsoto, he's going to get a monster deal next year. Like, smart moon by Bichette.

Weird, bad contract for the Mets, in my opinion. Dodgers, I hate you. And we're stuck here because the football. Phillies did get played, man, and it sucks, and it sucks. It sucks for John Middleton who was willing to do it. Like, after that, like, I kind of, you know, the rest of you at your job, but kind of like, mm, but like, I also understand going in on this and wanting to get this guy. I'm believing you had him, like, it sucks, man, it just sucks.

Well, what also sucks is that there's really no one left. I mean, there's really no one left. And it's the Dodgers and the Mets, like worst case scenario to get these two, I mean, particularly the Dodgers, obviously. But like, then he goes to the freaking Mets, like, who seemed like they were just like, all right, we're going to take the off season off. It's like, hey, hey, hey, let's screw you. Well, and hopefully they don't end it by getting scoble, too.

I know. But just play it out in Detroit, buddy. Just play it out. Do one more year in Detroit. You got a contract. Just finish it out. But they, they got played here from the standpoint of every single report is they're the favorite.

There's, you know, he's going to be a Philly. I'd be floored if he's not a Philly, blah, blah, blah. blah, blah, blah. And all of that was used to put pressure on these other teams to get their offer in. And Bichette just waited and waited and waited for Tucker to sign, for Tucker to go elsewhere. I think Bichette would have signed with the Phillies. But it's clear that their main objective with leaking everything about the Phillies was to try to make the market as robust as it could be. And here we are holding the back, you know.

and they were smart by choosing a fan base that really cared. They were smart by choosing a fan base that once changed, that does not want to run it back. And they played us hook, line, and sinker. And I think the Phillies should have done a better job of pushing back against it. But they let themselves believe, and it's the hope that kills you. It is always the hope that kills you. This is about as Phillies as it gets.

But this is a really, first of all, it feels like a playoff loss. It feels like reacting to a playoff loss. it totally does. Honestly, and it feels like, it feels like, and look, the option's not over. Maybe it trades him, but it feels like like, and they can still win. But it feels like the end of it. It feels like they kind of just got gut punched and like they went down the canvas. And like, you know, it's just like a gut punch, man.

Wow. And then the, the pivot to immediately just had to give JT three years. I swear to you, I would have rather just not paid them. Me too. Me too. Me too. At least do something different. Like, and he's, dude, you got him through 30. He's going to be 38 here.

Like playing catcher for 15 million. Dude, there's only three catchers in baseball, and it's including him who make 15 million or more. Three. It's Sal Perez and Cal Raleigh and JT. Like, where's the market? Who was paying this guy? Anything like that? Like, the suitors, like, all the teams have catchers for the most part.

Like, I just don't understand where the leverage was coming from. And you're totally right, dude. That's the point with Rosenthal, like I said before. Like, I think that sometimes there are reporters who will run with one side of the story. I think guys like Rosenthal on Pass and will not report something like that unless they're hearing it from both sides. Unless Boba Shet side is saying, oh, yeah, Phillies, like they're saying everybody. But the Phillies are like, yeah, Ken, we really think we're going to get this guy or we really think we have a really good chance to get this guy. Instead of being like, you know, Ken, like, we'll see.

Like, and downplaying it and giving the other side of it and tempering that. Like, you're right, dude. Like, they played into it, especially from a public. And that's what we were saying the whole time where I was like, they are playing with fire right now. Like, they are playing with fire. They have to get this guy after making this public thing where it seems like they're really in.

And the fan base has this carrot dangled in front of them that was to your, but what? That's what you're the best of this. The get out of gel free card is such a perfect, like, analogy for it. It's where everyone's down on this team. The, you know, most disastrous, depressing, unexpected, horrifying playoff loss you could have and this run it back thing is like the only thing people don't want and then like for for us to believe that we're going to get this you know young exciting player to come in and change

everything really change everything just from a perspective you know for us a perception perspective i mean like and then to like it it to get snatched out and and the jt thing it's just like they they played with fire and they got screwed by machette you know but that's business they played with fire, they didn't protect themselves, and now, like, they have to, you know, reap what they sowed. And, and they're going to feel it. They're going to feel it and they're going to hear it, you know, from this base. Well, and that was always the risk of being so far in is now, dude, people didn't even know who, obviously, I know. Domit City knew who Bobichette was, but all of a sudden, Bo Bichette became a household name in Philadelphia the last two weeks. And that was not

the case before and everyone was just like, wow, we're really going to get this guy. And there wasn't enough. They tried. There were little things, cautiously optimistic. There's hurdles we got to jump through. Even though that was nonsense because it's just not signing JT and trading phone. And I fully understand that they can technically win the NLEs next year. They can win the World Series next year.

Like people get hurt. Things happen. But I just. But it's like, come on. Like what, you know, it's hope. It's hope is what it is. But I don't feel that way at all. I, I feel like that they are, they are screwed.

I mean, they, they just paid a catcher three years, $45 million at age 35. Why not just, you know, not pay them? At least keep some of them the money open for the, you've, you have all this money. coming off the books next year. Now, what also sucks is that the free agent classes are brutal the next two years. Why do you think Pichette signed it on your deal? Like, smart because he's going to,

if Pichette is a good season and stays healthy, I will bet anyone, anything they want that he is opting out next off season. Like, why wouldn't you get 42-0 for this year opt-out still heading into each 29 season off a good health year? And like you're the, he'd be the, if he has a good, he's the best position player on the market next year. Jack. Like, it's a disaster next year. Yeah, it's like

jazz, Suzuki. So I have it. I took a picture. Taylor Ward, right? Yeah, yeah. You know I love to prepare. I'm a big prepare. Jazz Chisholm, yes. Like, and the thing is, it's like, when you look at the list, it's like, oh, Ozzy Albi's club option. Oh, Ronald Kunia club option. Like, all these things aren't going to happen. Like, a rose arena.

You know? Four. Like, our guy, say a Suzuki, like, you know what? 33. Like him. You know, your point. Taylor Ward, you know, like... 34. I mean, Max Muncie is the best third basement available. Awesome. Jazz Chisholm will be available next off.

Jazz Chisholm, Nico Horner, like the best first basement is Yanni Diaz, who has a vesting option, like Ryan Mountcastle, Andrew Vaughn, like guys who are like, you know, the internet name, whatever. But the point is Boba Shett is, if he's good this year, like, the best player, position player on the market next year, like, it's smart of him, you know? And it's a shame. And let me ask you a quick question. We're going to get into all this obviously. And, you know, I guess the JT thing.

But, you know, but in terms of like, I had a few buddies text me and say, do the Phillies need to change what they're doing from a contract structure perspective? Like the whole like the years or the separator like Tucker went four years, Bichette went three, but it's really going to be one. Like do they need, and I know they don't want to go over the tax eye and they can't look. the Dodgers have like, who knows, 20 times the amount of money. I don't know what the Googledime group has. 100 billion. Who hell knows?

Like, it's all these freaking billionaires of this part of it. Like, even we know Cohen has like five, six times the amount of money is John Middleton. And like, I just, I don't know if they can afford to like, all right, we're any of you 40. We're going to give six Cal Tucker 60 million. Like, and deferred stuff, I think that's going to end with the CPA. Like, but I don't know.

just, I don't know. Like, and all this whole thing, like, and I know that this might not be a popular side of it, but like, I do, like, the one person I feel really bad for is John Middleton, because I do believe he's trying. Like, he was willing to pay Boba Shat, $200 million. He's willing to do stuff. He was willing to try and sign Yamamoto for $325 million after already having contract. Like, all this stuff.

Like, it just, like, I don't, like, I don't think he was in charge of the media strategy with this and what they're talking to reporters. Like, I think he just wanted to get the guy and he was willing to. And like that sucks because, you know, like it didn't work out. And he can't like compete money wise with Dodgers. They're going to like it's insane. But they have over a billion in deferrals. Dude, like so like it's like what do you?

How do you spend? They signed Edwin Diaz. The best close was like 69 million. It was like also like end and sure. A drop in the bucket. So it's just like I don't know. what the answer is in terms of these big time guys if they're going to want to do these shorter term deals because they're not going to get as high in AAB on these long contracts after a lot

of these have turned into things where it's like that you can be pretty rough to have some of these contracts at the end of the day. So like I don't know, philosophically speaking, it feels like the Phillies might be a little bit behind where the market is from a contract structure perspective. But I also think there's only a couple teams that can do it. Agreed. Yeah. Dodgers and Metz have like such a jump and the Yankees if they, you know, Al-Sign runner wasn't in charge. Well, but also, currently I don't think the Phillies can really do it. Just with the how- contracts they have and stuff like that. Maybe once that gets off the books and the payroll isn't as bloated as it is, maybe they could do one of these kind of deals. And at least offer, I mean, they presented it to Bryce. If he, if that's something that Bryce wanted,

the Phillies that we'll do it. We'll do whatever. Yeah, but well, Bryce, yeah, that price is like the unique thing where it's like, if you're in the situation, you can, you're just like whatever the hell you want to do. Well, I think that's what this is disappoints me the most about Bichette is I felt like he, he wanted to get his roots down. Yeah, and the Maddingly thing and this and that. There's all these, look, that's, that's why the Phillies ended up being the perfect. Like, shout out to Boba Shet's agent. You know, we give Scott Borisus a lot of credit for what he does and he did with Ranger and all that stuff. but like, like Boba Shet's agent found the perfect stalking horse,

like the perfect like team to kind of pin it on with like they, and it wasn't even just fake like the Phillies were going to give them that contract. Like seven years, 200 million or whatever was reported. Like that's no joke. That's like, they match what Bo wanted last night. They matched Bo wanted last night. And that's what the, and the agent's like, oh, well, that's cute. But hold on, Steve.

You know, Kyle Tucker just went to the Dodgers. you want to just do whatever it takes to get bo here that's that sucks it sucks and again like i matched dude honestly and i've taught like my metz fans buddies have said the same thing like they're excited that boba's chef for a year but they think it's a horrible contract for the met's because it is there's no control he has an opt out after each year have you ever seen a contract like that a three-year contract with an opt-out after each year like it's like i like i it sucks and i think i think you can blame the Phillies for getting used and getting played but And I want Boba Shett for a year even, but like it is it is a bad contract for the team that Boba Shets up.

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I must live up to my responsibility. Listen, wherever you get your podcasts. And they gave up two draft picks to do it and international signing bonus money. It's an inarguably, like Bobbyshek can be great from this year. And like just from a team building contract money perspective, it's a bad contract. But Seab Cohen can afford to do a bad contract, especially when they let all these guys go. Offer a kind of chubby guy with bad B slap hitter that it'll only hit 20 home runs. Who needs?

So I was, I didn't know if we were getting there yet. I will say shout out to my brother. Peter Scheltzer, avid listener. He was like, honestly, I wasn't that excited about Bichette. He's like, you know, he's like, a trade Turner light, you know, down the road. He's like, you know, he's like a soft hitting right handed who probably end up like 15 homers down the road.

He's like, he's not that great defender. He said, I'm like, all right, Peter, give me that. Yeah, dude. You back phone up a little bit. We'll get there. Has Brobichette had playoff moments that Adoles Garcia has? No. Well, besides the Homer off at Donnie in Game 7.

Yeah, but did he have, did he have, Did he have eight homers in 15 games? I don't think so. Because he was hurt. I was using Adolus as an example because of the ridiculous. I think the thing that, I think the thing that hurts the most, the thing that hurts the most about it from a couple.

All of it is all of it. Yes, but go ahead. Well, well, is there, again, they're stuck. That's why they went and pivoted straight to JT because there's not really another obvious move. Maybe they, dude, if they get on the- But then you gave him $45 million over three years, though, because he could have pivoted and still played like,

AJC, we could do something else. If they get in on the... Oh, I guess you got to pay me now. If they get in on the Bellinger thing, maybe, like I would be absolutely floored at this point. Shot. So, you know, you let Breggman go to the Cove because you thought you were getting Bichet.

You didn't sign a mind because you thought you're getting Bichet. You didn't get in an Acomono because you're signing Bichet. And now you're kind of left holding the bag again. Like, maybe, I mean, if they really wanted to get into a, E E Eugenio Suarez and like take a chance on all the 30 plus home run guys that strike out a lot. You know, Adolus him could they have bounced back? Oh, I've been not bounced back for Swaras, but can he be a 30 plus home run guy, Adolus? And like in the postseason, they could just hit a big home run and he could play third base.

Listen, let's not get crazy here. But I think that that's the thing is that he was perfect from the standpoint of 28. Right. And it bad. Or this guys are getting older. Here's a younger guy. And now I just don't. And could replace Bome, whoever wanted to.

Like that gone to was like a, it was like a someone in you want, someone out you don't want, you know? And the thing that becomes more imperative and it's, it's super, super important. And it's not that it was never not important. But they need Aiden and Crawford. And eventually Francisco renteria. and painter and Norey and Norey.

They don't trade some of these guys. Or who they trade them for to be good too. They just need real homegrown talent. But the 2026 Phillies, I think it's going to be a tough year. I just think it's, they might win 90 plus games again, but you know what's on the table now?

I didn't think it was on the table is missing the playoffs or being like a low level wild card team. Because a lot of guys, a lot of guys had great years last year that we'll see if they if they do it again you know all of a sudden there's questions in their rotation which got worse with ranger leaving sure outfield you can make a case is is worse than last year now you have to give crawford a chance marshes i think we've gone a little too far with the marsh hate at least against right easy's fine they need to go find

a regular season player i think brand of marg's a good regular season player they need to find a good right-hand compliment to him in in left field adolus really dependent upon how he balance his back. I don't think he's going to be a disaster, but I don't think he's going to be close to 2023. Infield, you know, it's the same infield, but a year older and, and JT. So I just, the bullpen I would say is, is better. I'm very fired about Brad Keller. It's just, there was a real chance to get juice, real chance to get buzz, real chance to the, the steel headlines. And it's a, it's an interesting combination of, I'm both disappointed and and Matt at the same time.

Like I think it immediately when it hit, immediately when it hit, it was disappointment. And sadness and sadness. It was like I don't think disappointment alone covers it. It was sadness. It was sad. Disappointment and sadness. And then I think when I saw the JT think I'm down,

turned into anger because they thought, hey, you know, we know you're down right now. We know that Bo is not a favorite. But here's something to make you feel a little bit better. How about three years, 45, with $5 million dollars in escalators each year? year to make the deal a possible $60 million deal. That's going to get everyone their juice is flowing again. But now I'm getting back to disappointment because I don't know what this year is going to be.

I really don't. And the juice for them, they're obviously going to have to go out there and play well. The ballpark will most likely be filled. It's still a good team and things like that. But it's really hard to sit here and sell the idea that they can legitimately. completely compete for a World Series. I mean, things have to go their way, of course, and they have the horses in the rotation to do it. But I just, there's not even an obvious trade candidate, James. Like, Cotel Marte seems like he's been taken off the table.

I love Brennan Donovan, but Brandon Donovan's not putting you in the same stratosphere as the Dodgers. There's not, there's not an obvious pivot besides maybe Bellinger, but I don't think they're really going to get in the Bellinger thing. And that, and that sucks in there. And he's not like a perfect fit either, you know, like comparatively the way Bichette felt like a really perfect fit.

Look, I'm with you on everything you said. I, like, the only, like, the only thing I'll say is I think, like,

I'm more concerned about 2027 and 2028, even than 2026. Like, like, I think from a fan perspective is going to be blonde stuff. But like, if, Zach Wheeler comes back.

I mean, they, and if Andrew Painer is good, which neither of those are like crazy things to, to think, like they could have a pretty good pitching staff. I mean, I think Sanchez is great and will be great.

And I think Lazzardo in a contract year, you know, we'll see. Obviously there's, again, here's the thing. I'm like, you know,

and then like, could they make some trades at the deadline and get like someone who has a beta impact, a Duran impact type of thing. Obviously, you know, in the closer. And could the bullpen be really good?

Like, the thing is it's so many, like, Could this, could this, could this? And then on top of that, then you need the Dodgers to either have injuries or falter against you. Then you need, you know, like, that's the problem is like it's just you could, you can point to things that that give them a chance this year. And we know that like at the end of the day, we can always say that, you know, it's baseball thing. Like not the Dave Dombrowski way, but in the, you know, you can look, the Blue Jays did almost beat the Dodgers.

They didn't, but they did almost beat them. Like baseball, like baseball's a weird game. And when you get into a thing that's 160 games and you decide it in five or seven games or three games or whatever, like weird things can happen. Balls can bounce a weird way. People can be super hot for the right week. Like it's just the point is like we're painting these like long shot scenarios to how they'd have to be able to beat a team like the Dodgers. And it's such a shame because it's not just the lack of chance. because look, if you remember this time last year when, you know,

the Dodgers were doing the Snell thing and this and that, and even two years ago when they first signed show A and look, so far two for two, we were right. But we had this alarmist thing, too. We're like, this is like everyone screwed. Like we're not going to. And they were, you know, like ultimately they were. But I think that like now the,

the really depressing part about this, Jack, is that at least the last couple years, you could paint a picture of hope for the Phillies too, where like what I'm talking about with all these upside things and this and that like they didn't feel as ridiculous like I didn't feel as ridiculous spending two minutes saying well this could happen and that could happen and that can as I just did that two minutes because I'm like well it's a lot of things that need to happen and you know it's especially with Zach Beeler plug-clot this that like there are many things we can point to we have no idea there's so much uncertainty and the Dodgers

roll out you know a much better team yeah well and the other thing that that hurts off of all this is the Phillies are telling you. They're telling you that they don't believe in the offense. They're telling you that we need another bat. They're telling you that you need some infusion of life that they don't really want to run it back.

And they just fell flat on their face. I mean, they just fell flat on their face. And we're about to head into a year with Alec Baum heading clean up again. There's no excitement. Everyone's upset. Like, it sucks, you know? I know. I know. So, Oh my God, is Alec Bowen really going to clean up?

Like, oh my God, dude. Of course he is. Unless Adelis is like crazy. It goes back to 23. Then I do a quick like aside to our, our real ones and I hope's listeners and stuff. And like obviously West Coast games I wake up early. You guys know I can't watch us unless on the weekends way I used to.

But like, would you guys mind if I didn't watch the games this year and still did the pod? Would that offend you? Because you know, we've always just watched the games even when they're bad. It just like, and obviously I'm joking. and like, you know, we will find things he excited about and whatever. We've watched way worse teams and all that. And that's what.

Oh, man. The All-Star games here, pal. And yeah, you know, but it's like, it's just, again, it's, I keep going back to what we're talking about. There's a fork in the road. And they were forced and they wanted to walk the right path. And like, they couldn't get to it. They couldn't get there. And like, that makes it so much worse because, to,

your point, Jack, it's like, not only do we feel this way, but they knew that Boba Shep was a better thing than what they had. And they would figure the rest and get rid of JT, if they had to do and get rid of this. And like, now it's like, oh, all right. Like, yeah, it just

it's a, it's a, yeah, it's just, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, like, there aren't enough adjectives to describe it, man. You said before, like, sad and disappointed and angry. I'm frustrated. I'm, like, annoyed. I'm, uh, whatever, uh, not excited for the season. Is there a specific adjective for that?

Like, it just, it sucks. And then we got the old lockout thing however we go to the season. It's just like our favorite sport is really kicking us in the you know what's right now, dude. Yeah. And the world baseball class is happening. That's, that's exciting. Go on man. Best, best USA team of all time.

Better than the 92 dream team. Some are saying. Yeah. Uh, and the, you know, the one. A little bit shot on the team because if so, I'm reading against it. Nice. No. Can I, boy, I'll pay it.

Can I, obviously I'll pick a country to root for someone else. The, uh, like when, when the Mets miss out on Tucker, if, if, if the Mets just were able to sign Tucker, which that's probably a Philly today. Uh, the. And that would have hurt the Phillies last too, because let's be honest. Like the Mets at a bad off season. Like, the Mets aren't scary next year. Like, they're scary because they have money, but like the Dodgers getting Tucker is so much

more of an impediment to winning than the Mets getting Tucker. Yeah. But when the Mets miss out on Tucker, they can pivot straight to Bichette and have him take their money. I just don't, I don't know what the Philly is pivot is. I'm sure they're disappointed down there. I'm sure Middleton's mad. I'm sure Dumbrowski's mad because they felt like they had Bichette in the bag.

They felt like he was theirs and it got taken away from them. I don't know where the, I don't know. where the pivot is. And by the way, like, you think JT's, like thrilled to come back? Well,

dude, and that's the other thing, too, is like we talked about how they're telling the fans that way, but they're also telling JT that way. Like, I know it's a business and stuff,

but what do you think his reaction was when he picked up the phone today, you know, like, an hour after Bichette signs with the Mets. Do you think he was like, ha ha! You know, he might.

It certainly wasn't warm. I'm sure he was happy because he's like, yeah, good, damn straight to get my butt. It's what you deserve, but it certainly wasn't like, oh, I'm so happy to be back with the Phillies. I love you. This is great.

You know. I know. I know. I know. So. Especially because I'm sure like, you know, and look, I don't know. I think some players are more and certainly off season last time. By the way, his teammates were texting Boba.

That's my point. That's what I'm saying. I'm saying that some players are more tapped into what's going on and rumors and this than others. Like if he is, he knows that, A, like the Phillies wanted Bobagett instead of him. and B, the fan base desperately wanted Boba Chet instead of him. So it's just like, it's, yeah, it's just, it sucks because it's like, and we've talked about the fork and why it's up, but it really feels like we went from the absolute best or the absolute worst,

and it came up the worst. At Medcan, we know that life's greatest moments are built on a foundation of good health, from the big milestones to the quiet wins. That's why our annual health assessment offers a physician-led, full body checkup that provides a clear picture of your health today and may uncover early signs of conditions like heart disease and cancer the healthier you means more moments to cherish take control of your well-being and book an assessment today med can live well for life visit medcan.com slash moments to get started you know it isn't playoff dude you're all fire with the

analogies it is like a playoff loss like i said i was like yeah but it does feel that way you're right where it's like we, it felt like we had such an awesome chance in front of us. And it got snatched away. You know what I mean? I know. And you try not to think about the future and you try, you try not to look at 2023 and you try not to look at 2022. And you try to just put on a brave face and keep treading along.

But I tell you what. By the way, till when? What's the year? 231. Yeah, we've, I just really appreciate what you've done that. I'm not even going to go, you know, real listeners, no, but like that subtle thing that you did with that, 20131 is the year, right?

Yeah, one, got it. It's subtle thing and I really like it. I really like what you're doing. Listen, Francisco Rentaria, he'll be 22. Aiden will be 27, 26. Justin will be 27, all in their prime. The next, the baby Phillies will be the new,

the new daycare. So age will be 27 or 2026, whatever it'll be like. Price is last year. Bryce's last year goes out with a ring. Come on. It's poetic. It's beautiful. All those guys are still going to be like arbitration eligible.

Like, oh, this is going to be like, ah, let's go. No, they'll still be. I'm fully in,

dude. Rent, to read, you see the comps. He's getting to Julio Rodriguez and you mentioned kind of Griffin comps. Like, let's go,

dude. His, I'm transferring all my love to, to, to renteria. Nice. You also, you told me Edgar Renneria's kid.

I love that. He's not, he's not. He's not. He's not. He's not. He's not. He's not.

Still love you. Well, and also his, he idolized Jose Perella growing up. And, and, he's young. Well,

so the, what's so sick and twisted with my brain is, he hit a moon shot off Povetta in 2018. And it was the first thing I thought of. And who could forget, he was also a Philly at one point. And he was a Philella was a Philly? Yeah, he had a home run off Dallas Kichael in 2019.

Wow. Honestly, I truly don't remember. When Dallas Kikele was a brave, every every off-scenes, like, who's going to sign Dallas Kikle? I remember that whole thing. I definitely do. I don't remember Jose probably being here. I'm 44, he was not here very long. He was not here very long. Yeah. So I just really, I, I think this is it. I really do. I think this is it. I don't expect some like bone trade.

No, this is it. This is it. Until they prove me otherwise, until they prove me otherwise, this is it. This is it. They're going to,

JT's back, bone's going to hit cleanup. They're going to have Crawford. Maybe they'll sign Randall Gritchick. Maybe that's who they'll have as a platoon guy for Marshall left field. They won't even give us and dohar. How about that? How about that?

Awesome. Oh, man. Change the, I'm happy we did this pod. I'm happy we were able to, you know, make people feel better. What an awful day. Tucker tags to me feel sick listening. So, you know, we're really having a positive fact on people.

What a awful day. I mean, what an awful day. Honestly, I was saying, like, you know, one of the worst Philadelphia sports weeks in a while, I mean, what, the Flyers are on a five-game losing streak? The Sixers lost a couple games, you know. And then obviously, Eagles loss. Everyone hates everyone. Patrol fired a me league.

And then this, it really is like a, we don't curse on here, but you know, a bleepy week for us, dude. Well, and to make matters not as well, that's bad. I can't wait to see what else happens here. Well, like Victor Caratini signed a two-year deal with twins, meaning that Ryan Jeffers is available, which means you could have just not paid freaking JT and traded for Ryan Jeffers, who has one year left. maybe he goes off and it the JT contract

immediately becomes an albatross and it's and it's not that I don't I do appreciate what he does with the pitching step I understand what JT brings the plate but at the plate he doesn't bring much at this point he had a month and a half of good hitting last year

that brought his OPS up he was below opia it was a below average hitter even with that the the hot streak he went on so I know I know he ended up batting 270 and still was blood or cheddar, which is like crazy. Three years. Who?

Who's doing that? I mean, like, well, that's the thing, dude. It feels like they were bidding again to no one, which is like, why. And that's doubly concerning with the Bichette thing where they get played there and used. And then you turn around and give like what seems like there wasn't a market for. Like, and then on top of that, I mean, to the point you made, I mean, oh my goodness, dude, you're signing. again, 15 mil a year.

There's one with two cats to make more. One of them's Cal freaking Raleigh. Like, I just, I, it's stunning to me that, that, and to the point you just made, there are a lot, I get JT's good with the Savonaut. There are a lot of catchers who can do that. That's actually the thing.

The thing you can't find is catchers who can hit. You know, there's so many catchers who do this. Like, like, and I know JT's really great in some of these, 35, 36, 37, whatever it is, are those the years? Like, I mean, that's, that's insane at any position, much less Kester. I mean, what's the list of guys who've been great

or even good at that age? Like, Yaddei, you know, Carlton Fisk, like, I don't know, like, Ludge is all right. Pudge, like, but like, it's, it's a really low percentage, and those guys weren't as bad as JT was the last couple years. Like, I just, I can't believe they gave him 15 million a year.

Like, I can't. As like a as like a. And again, what you're doing is you're, it's like almost like they were like they didn't want to offend him by giving him less. You're paying for past performance. It's like the single thing you're not supposed to do. You're supposed to bet on future performance, pay for future performance. And they are absolutely paying for the worst years of the guy's career.

It's so crazy. It didn't make anyone feel better after they missed out on Bichette. It was the three year JT deal? That didn't help? Yeah, I don't know. I don't know. And again, it's like it just, it's, I watch.

How do they have such a bad feel for that? Like, why are they not listening to this podcast? What are you guys doing? Listen. Like, how did the front office not know that like, they should have been like, hey, JT. Listen, we're going to announce this next week, you know,

so you can have your day. It'll be cool, whatever. But like, like, it was, such a disastrous idea to immediately pivot and make it so clear like we didn't get that here we go like it's like I just I can't believe they like

I just can't believe they didn't have a better feel for it like it's shocking to me like do you need the Eagles and again not to like they know in no one's have with Eagles right I think the Eagles would have ever done that from an optics perspective like they might have dumped something on a Friday afternoon but if they missed out on someone

they knew the town like they were in the situation like they never would have been like well here's the guy we know don't want. Like, they never would have done that. All I know is that I spent a lot of time watching Boba Shett highlights the last two weeks. What a waste of time. What a waste of time. And this baseball's

Avant page is really good. So that's... I don't need to hear that. What a big old waste of time. That it's all this. Sweet to watch, everyone go hang out with your families. Like, I've had enough. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I'm going to go hang on my daughter They're all just still awake and get rid of go get rid of guilt by her instead of those. All right.

We'll be back next week, assuming, you know, I'd say it was about to say. Don't count on it. We'll see what happens. But either way, we're not, we're here for you. Right. We just, you know, maybe need a moment to recuperate and recharge. All right. I'm going to go.

You're going to go. I love everyone to listen to this. You are amazing. And you thank you. And thank you to Tucker, as always. Who's the best? All right. I'll talk to you guys later.

Until then, he's ripped themselves out, sir.