High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - James Saw Some Dumb Movie While Spencer Turnbull and Griff McGarry Exist (Important Note from James: Dune 2 is NOT Dumb)

Episode Date: March 3, 2024

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz talk Phils Spring Training, Dune 2, and more in a Takebag-heavy edition of HH. 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

All-star closer, Kenley Jansen, we have a question. What's the best podcast of all time? Baseball Isn't Boring, baby. I'm Rob Bradford, and every single day I'm sitting down with the biggest names to show you this great game is the greatest game. It's my podcast. It's my passion. It's a cause I started more than two years ago and is now the most prolific national daily baseball pod there is.

Another fact, so jump aboard the B.I.B. Express. Follow and listen to Baseball Isn't Boring, presented by Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. This is the High Hopes Podcast. I hope. It's a bunch of baseball nerds talking about the Phillies. On Odyssey and Sports Radio 94 WIP.

Yo! It is another edition of the O's podcast. Like a normal yo, a normal pod, a normal edition. Honestly, I almost went super aggressive on the O because I just saw Dune 2 and we don't curse on this cop, but it bleeping kicks ass dude oh my god it's so awesome like hype is warranted see it in the theaters it's totally worth it like that it's everything like the visuals the sound the story everything dude like that movie like rocks so highly recommend it so yeah i'm i'm flying buddy i don't really have much to say

about the phillies i could probably do like two hours on dune too but um how you doing what's going on well um you say we don't curse curse on this podcast i mean i cursed on the last one i know i forgot so yeah inside. I used to edit these. I used to mark them as we're going. And now we got our guy Tucker. Shout out to Tucker. And I just forgot to tell him that I cursed. I wrote down the time.

I just forgot. So I'm going to let you off the hook here. I want to let you off the hook here because you did text Tucker and he said 33 minute mark. I cursed. And he did. Oh, I did do it in the moment. Oh, thank God. I thought I forgot.

See, thank you. Not you. Okay. All right, good. See? Thank you. Not you. Okay. All right, good. Tucker, pull together, buddy. Because I would say that I don't think there's a human being in the world, maybe Joe to camera, that doesn't handle not being right about something worse than you. So I feel like that's been weighing on you, I can tell, for the last little bit. And I just want to make sure that you know that you're let off the hook that's on tucker but also like watch your

language there's kids watching yes yeah the the curse itself clearly on me the catching of the curse thank you i'm happy i covered myself i thought i did but then i just like oh i did i tried to own it i took i took it on me you know we're better than that many people do say that yes and i apologize to all the kids that we met over the runs and that is really the bigger i used to be like jack come on man it's podcast we can curse stop it and then i met a bunch of like dads and kids and moms and i was like you know what my bad guys yeah sorry about that yeah dang it that's like zoe said darn tootin zoe said dang it today and i was like yes okay let's go with that it's good uh all right how you doing you doing good i mean i'm doing too so i'm obviously good yeah

no i'm doing well um and i feel like i need to set this podcast off on the on the right tone okay like i just want to you know how like something yes yes sometimes in like football or like kyle schwarber is your lead off hitter oh there it is there i think things are are tone setters yes here's the tone setter for this podcast okay i'm just saying that Christian Pache's swing reminds me so much of Derek Jeter's that you can't even convince me they're not the same player. Look at Christian Pache and then go watch some old Derek Jeter clips. It's the same swing. It's the same swing. So I would never doubt you when it comes to swings, pitches.

So you probably know if you've listened to the pod long enough because we've alluded to it or referenced it or whatever. But if you're new or even somewhat new, Jack is a savant when it comes to, like, recognizing. If someone's like, whose batting stance is this, Jack? It's like, Gary Sheffield, stop. That was easy. Well, Gary Sheffield.

Everyone should know Gary Sheffield. I thought of the one i might get myself like the one uh but you know pitching uh wind up the whole thing like jack's like nuts about it he'll always come to work and be like who's this and i'm like i have no idea man and then this reminds you of and then like it'll tell me in like 30 of of the time, like I can see that. Yeah. But so like, if you say that, I trust you. Thank you.

Let's just call him the next day. I want, I want no pushback. I want no pushback. Yeah. Yeah. Well, you know, I've always been very big on if you see something in spring training,

especially only if it's a couple of games in spring training, just like roll with it. Like it's true. It's fact. So, so I don't't appreciate we got our derrick cheater derrick cheater well at least he's not a little slap hitter like derrick cheater he's got some pop um eric pache yeah yeah um so as far to be fair not to dredge up bad memories maybe his his heart doesn't be quite as slow as Derek in the big spots so far. But, you know, we'll see. Yeah, well, listen, that wasn't his fault.

We need some more experienced people on the roster, okay? Okay. Hey, hey, hey, what do we always say, James? What do we always say? Which of the many things we always say that is probably something we've never said to you about? Say, go ahead. Analytics can't always measure heart. It's true. You're right. No, we always say that we is probably something we've never said you're about to say go ahead uh analytics can't always measure heart it's true we do what you're right no we always say that i mean i it should have been the thing so so i have also what was it again i can't

remember okay got it yes yes analytics can't measure hearts yeah one of our phrases yeah um so yeah so i have been thinking a lot about this podcast because i've been like i swear to you i have been wanting to record this podcast since about wednesday i'm not surprised there's so much that i want to talk about i'm honestly i actually thought like she would just make the whole pot to take back why don't you could you could let's just do it it's a take back but i don't have anything to say i again i could talk about doing two like knots up and i got reaction we'll talk about blake snell the nightingale thing we'll get into that but like like let's just do it in form of a take back it's the take back pod why don't you go let's go you've mentioned set the tone are you gonna be a tone setter for the pod or what i don't know you have

mentioned this stupid movie three too many times it's so good it's so good it's i can't i like it was so hyped so last thing i'll say like so like emily is very big and obviously i mean i complete opposites that's why we work but emily's very big on like not getting her expectations up for things because like then her expectations are exceeded and is that because you consistently let you consistently let them down no oh that was good all. Alright, credit where it's at. I am, you know me, anyone who knows me, I'm very big on I can't possibly

tamp down my expectations for anything and everything is going to be the greatest thing ever and I'm always super excited for it. I was so hyped for this movie because of all the hype and all that stuff and it's even better than I expected. It was amazing. I'm done. I'm happy even better than I expected. Like, it was like amazing. So, yeah, I'm done. I'm happy

for you. I'm happy for you. What's on your mind, buddy? I'll let you know, buddy. It was not better than whatever Spencer Turnbull and Griff McGarry did the other day, but I'm sure it was. That's why you're a pro. I like how, like, of all the things you could have led with there in the Take Back episode, you're like, Spencer

Turnbull, man, Griff McGarry, let's go. Well, let's, let's put it this way. Um, before we get to the, the,

the, I guess hour long take back, which is a hundred percent. If we go an hour, Emily might kill me, but go ahead. Yeah. No,

I've been thinking about, I've been thinking about the podcast, like as a whole. And cause I've obviously been talking on the radio a bit more. All the time. I know. I just tune in. There he is. Obviously, I host the A6ers podcast.

When people think of basketball, they think of me. There you go. I've been thinking about this podcast. It was like, there's nothing I could do that could replicate the absolute passion and some would say psychoness. Is that the words? Yes. Of High Hopes and the Phillies. And like, it's irreplaceable and non-comparable is this podcast.

And I just – I've been – I had to submit my keepers in my fantasy league. Yeah. I've been building my Fritz list of like pitchers who I'm in on. By the way, I feel like maybe – so I'm trying to decide like – because I don't think many members of my fantasy leagues listen to the podcast sure but i feel like for the for the people out there that that do care about the first list i feel like i need to like put out maybe one guy an episode so yeah here's what i think you should do and it's like a commitment thing i think you should pick like

a different time each episode like at one minute give it out like at the end one minute one time give it out like 15 minutes and one give it out for so like people in your league have to like listen to the pod to hear your guy okay well i'll get this one out early and if he's taken i will be beside myself but i like i think my number feels like a bad idea but go ahead it's a bad idea especially with that setup you'll be beside yourself but go ahead it's a bad idea especially with that set of people beside yourself but go ahead yes great are you right are you are you writing this down i mean i i and people of my actually i do think there might be a dave stoneback if you're listening how you doing buddy go ahead bleep this yeah yeah um the i think the number one fritz guy early and there's plenty of time to develop this is uh dl hall um oh yes so so make sure dl hall is not dl hugley don't even know that is but um dl hall i thought that might be a slight age reference jump shout thank you the dl hugley show back in the day anyway we're good dl hall

one of my uh many friends guys not Derek Hall I do have actually a Derek Hall point in the take back which I can't wait to get to you mean in the episode? in the episode but before we get to it before we get to it oh my goodness we're off to a great start

should I tag sadly now and just say I'm sorry before we get to the take back i am curious yeah um because i i i argued this on the air the other day like and it was it was shocking because it's 50 50 the poll result but oh yeah is winning the nl at least a big deal to you like do you want the phillies to be not i'm not saying they have to win the nls but to be competitive in it like how much does winning the nls physically matter to james elter so i understand why it was 50 50 like my gut it's one of those things where when you first

see it your gut instinct is like no no, honestly, it doesn't. I mean, we've just seen the last two years that winning the NL East, when all is said and done with what we care about, doesn't matter. It just doesn't. But like, you know,

I hate the Braves and I also don't want to have to spend June and July and August. And, you know, two years ago, September, wondering if the Phillies were actually going to make playoffs. So, like, it does matter to me personally in a way, and I think that it's, you know, also just seeing them kind of put a full season together, whether they, you know, can actually finish at the Braves

or just kind of stay close to them enough where it's a thing, but where they, you know, win 97 games or whatever it is would just be nice to see. Cause it's the last few years we've, we've seen them win the playoffs, obviously not the ultimate goal, but we've seen them, you'll kind of step up their game when it matters. We know they could do that. We haven't seen them put a full season together and really kind of just look

like one of those elite squads in baseball. I mean, the dodgers won like 105 every year they're over unders like what like 101 or 103 it's crazy like i so it doesn't like ultimately it's one of those things where ultimately if i'm being completely honest like all i care about is winning a title ultimately like however you get there i don't really don't i know but but my point being that I don't really care how I get there. I just want to get there. But outside of that, you know, grand thing at the end,

like, just on a micro scale, like, yeah, I want to beat the Braves. I want to be good all year. I want to be, you know, every time I look at a power rankings, I want the Phillies to be top five, top six, whatever. So it does matter to me in a way, but I also don't think that ultimately in the grand scheme of things it matters. I think you just need to be the best team in the playoffs. Yeah, I just think that, you know, I want them –

I don't want it to be a 10-game division lead in, like, September. Or a 14 last year i want the phillies to just be actually like like just really good from from start to finish you know and um so like from that standpoint it does matter like i i hope that they're involved i hope that you know this isn't like a runaway heading into september because i mean the only thing that worries me and it's interesting because the of the three game you know off thing that that happens in the postseason now but like they've also had to go down and win a game one in atlanta in the last two years um and it's worked it's been great um but i just i wonder how long you can – Sustainable. Yeah, how sustainable is that?

I do think 95 wins is on the table this year. I think 95 is well within reach. And if you look at their April schedule – Well, that's, Jack, that you beat me to it. That's what I was going to say is like – and we know how often, especially with good teams. You always see a team that kind of gets off to a hot start in Kansas and it,

but if you're a good team, if you can get off to a hot start and really play well, you know, it kind of is easy to cruise. You can kind of just, you know, get out to like a 20 and eight star or something and then play 500 baseball and you're a hundred win team or whatever that plays out,

you know? So it's like, I do think that I, when you look at the schedule, the way it shakes out kind of another thing too, that we haven't talked a lot about is that, you know, it is, uh, you know, last year, I think the mentality has been the same. Both years last year was the two more wins this year. It's Middleton firing them up and them come out and being like, all we want is a title and all that stuff um but i think that the last year they had never gone that long into the play they didn't they might be like yeah all we care about title

but they didn't know what it took to go that deep into october and have their off season the right way do this do that be ready to like start the season. Plus the WBC added on top of that. Whereas this offseason, they just did it. They just went into October, played deep in October, and they know what it kind of feels like, what it takes to ratchet it back up, turn it back around. And I hope that – and the WBC thing. Again, I'll mention that. I do think that matters, especially when we saw a bad Turner started.

How Kyle Schwarber – I know he always starts slow, but started slow. How the guys – Taiwan. How the guys, Taiwan, how these guys who are part of that, we're not what you would expect. Certainly early in the season. In some cases, all season.

Like, I think that there should be more hope and not just hope more logical reasoning to believe that they might get off to a better start this year. Yeah. And I, I know it's spring training and I know that it I know that it's that time of the year, but there's something that feels right about this team. I agree.

You know, I look at the Braves, and am I really to expect that Olsen's going to hit 50-plus again, and Acuna's going to have a 40-70 year. Balkini already, buddy. I know. Just saying. Now, the last time this happened, they won a World Series. Yes, but it also happened later in the season and all that.

So just saying. Right. So they had a pretty ridiculous year last year offensively. They're like, can they really sustain that again? And it's just I've loved everything that has come out of Philly's camp, whether it's Whit Merrifield talking about how special the culture is, whether it's Rob Thompson talking the other day about, like, we've got to get bunts down.

We're working on bunting. Or when he was talking about it, he's like, we've had a bite of it. They want a chunk of it. They want to eat it. I know. And the Middleton thing, thing like not to undermine that like from everyone who was there like it seems like that speech he gave was like really inspiring and it was something where it was like all right enough like go freaking win like go get that bleeping trophy like you know it does seem

and i know there were good vibes last year but it does feel more concrete this year in a way, you know? Well, there's something there's something to these guys being together now for pretty much a third straight year. Yeah, it's a great point. Yeah. So when you've gone through the battles of this, this group's gone through and you are sitting here again and it's like, man, we're this close. We're this close. I think that it just means more and matters more when the group has stayed together the way they have. And it's the one thing I probably haven't been harping on enough is just what it means to be a part of a team that's been together for a couple years and like especially a team that likes each other yeah like knowing how other guys tick and i think that's going to be the big thing that that's going to show this year is everyone's

here they have the biomechanics lab i love this point man The pitchers have learned new pitches, but all they really have to work on is the extra little stuff to round out the roster and make them as good as possible. I just have a really good feeling. You do, man. You look at April, right? So this is their series in April. Home versus the Reds. Reds might win the Central.

Well, no, they have the Braves first, right? No, I know, but this is April. Yeah, yeah. Oh, April, my fault, my fault, my fault, my fault. April 1st, April 1st. Like, you just jumped over the Braves to make your point. We all see what you did there. Go ahead. Always, always.

But they're without Acuna, so who cares? Or might be without him. So Reds in the BOGO Dollar Dog Nights, which is like apparently Meltdown City. Who cares, guys? DeCam read a good line on the air. He's like, you know what? At one point, they got rid of the $0.10 Dog Night. what? At one point, they got rid of the 10-cent dog night.

And then at another point, they got rid of the 50-cent dog night. And then, you know, it's like, it's what happens, man. You know, once a bunch of kids are throwing hot dogs on the field and buying like 20 of them to just throw around and stuff, it's like, all right, we've reached the end of this. Like, this is over. It's all good. We'll all move forward.

We'll all be okay. You know what? Especially the pitch clock, the time it takes to get i'm like you know we're here for like we're not in that era anymore we're here to win a freaking world series we're here to go watch a great baseball team play like we're here to watch future hall of famers like bryce harper try to win a title like we're not there for dollar dogs anymore like we don't need that you know like manufactured way to get people to ballpark anymore we're try to win a title. Like we're not there for dollar dogs anymore. Like we don't need that, you know, like manufactured way to get people to ballpark anymore. We're there to win.

Yeah. And there's also three last year. Yeah. Yeah. It's already been decreasing anyway. Yeah. Relax. So reds at nationals at Cardinals verse pirates,

verse Rockies verse white socks at red, at Padres, at Angels. That should be like a 17 to 21 month, James. I mean, it's about as good as you could do coming out of the gate. You know, when he had started slow the last couple of years, to have that April, I mean, it's a little bit like last year's August where they, they put themselves square in, in contention in last year's August. Yep.

And again, I, I really, I don't think we can underestimate the fact that they went to the world series two years ago, came back and experience not being as good as they thought they were. Like they know what it feels like to come off playing in October thinking you're one thing and kind of getting punched in the mouth

to start the season. You know, it's one thing when you get punched in the mouth with Girardi and then you fire him and you go on a run. It's like, all right, we're good now. And then they got punched in the mouth again. They know what that feels like. Like, I think that they're just going to be more prepared to not have that type of slow start.

So, all right, what else you got? Let's keep it rolling. And they're really good. And they're just good. Yeah, they're just super talented. I guess before the take back, let's just like... Is this a bit? This better be a bit than before the take back.

No, I'm kidding. Yeah, go ahead. It's not a bit. Like, you know, it's not... Why not just be a part of the take back is my point. Like, it's all good. Maybe it is. Maybe it is.

All right. So, yeah. So, for those who didn't see bob nightingale reporting the so i will just give you the phillies are in on snail still like could be short-term deal whatever i am uh i am with all of these leaks when i hear them until proven differently and look the longer these people on the market the more uh likely i believe they are to take short-term deals for sure. But until something happens, I just feel like the Phillies are always kind of a leverage team and it's always kind of, you know, Hey, let's throw the Phillies in there. They'll cause the Phillies will,

cause the Phillies will sign him for a one-year deal or a two-year deal. Like they're not, not every team would like the Phillies will. So, and, and I feel like they've been signing to me guys last few years and they've been connected to them already that, and they've been connected to them already. And they made the bid for Yamamoto. People know they want pitching. So I feel like it's one of those things where I can't gauge. I think they would definitely sign him for a short-term deal,

but I feel like these leaks are more, hey, the Phillies would sign him for a short-term deal, better get him for a longer-term deal while you can type of stuff. You know what I mean sure um i'm just saying like i would i'm not really that in on the idea of snails on a short-term deal like even even short-term and the thing that worries me about where we're at with these pitchers right now heading into the market whether it's a one or two year deal is i don't like that they're starting now and they're already behind the eight ball.

Totally. No, no, I agree. So like why you're a pitcher, not a hitter. Correct. Like I would much rather sign Montgomery because like,

it's not like, again, I don't want to give up a second and fifth round pick. I know people don't care about this. I'm not, he's not a max. He's not like a velocity guy. He's not like,

you know, you feel like you can get into playing shape quicker, kind of like Ranger where he's able to like kind of get going quicker than another guy might. But Montgomery also doesn't cost the qualifying offer stuff. So like if for one year of Blake's now, I'm going to give up a second and fifth round pick and drop my spot back 10 slots. Like I just that that would be a pretty big mistake uh if i was you know the phillies i don't think i don't think you can say it's a mistake you care a lot more about that than

most people do but i think you can say like look if blake snell helps win a world series over the next two years it's totally worth it like it's like whatever who cares about that one year one year even then like but the point is we're in a window right now so i will not crush them for any sort of one you're doing no matter what assets they can't get because of it because like blake's not one that's not young last year like i like i do think he makes you better as blake's done better than tywin margaret yeah i think he is so the point and it gives you more depth regardless of the whole thing so i get your point but i don't think it can be a mistake. But I can understand where it makes way more sense

to Montgomery for that reason. Right, which is, I would rather sign Montgomery. Also, it seems like you forget that Reese Hoskins and Ryan Hauer both drafted in the fifth round. So it seems like you might be conveniently

forgetting that um yeah when you're talking about signing signing blake snell yeah well luckily first base is clogged up for the next at least eight years yeah yeah well only yeah she could at some point you might as well just say 12 years at this point um but um i would just if you're gonna if you're gonna sign one of the guys just just for me, just sign Montgomery. Yeah, do it for Jack. Yeah, we don't need the – don't give up the picks, man. Second-round picks are the greatest.

You know, I just – Everyone knows that. Everyone's been saying that for years, and hopefully you can get off Tom Walker. So, yeah, I'd be very surprised if they signed Snow. I do think that they could sign Jordan Montgomery. It seems like it's like us, the Red Sox, who are – is there a worse thing for the sport than the Red Sox basically just trying to – Yeah, it's a frigging embarrassment.

Like they should be embarrassed. The whole – and I know they won four championships. It's kind of hard to be like, all right, owners, you are embarrassing. Like, but what they're doing, I mean, honestly, from the Mookie Betts trade forward. Yeah, it's been an embarrassment. I mean, they should be trading. Like, are you kidding me? Like, you're the Boston Red Sox.

Like, Mookie should have never worn another uniform. It's just it's crazy. Embarrassment's the word. The Red Sox should be forced to have a 200 and yeah they should have like a floor that's way higher than everybody else i agree with you no doubt like it's they both should i agree it's healthy for the sport yes having the red socks punting on free agency because of like roman anthony and you know like it's it's it's insane to me. I think the Jordan Montgomery thing,

I believe in more than the Snell thing. I think it's us, the Red Sox. I still think the Rangers, if he wants to do a one-year deal. I still think the Yankees are in on that. They've been connected to Snell. I wouldn't be shocked if... Apparently, Snell turned down a...

Six for 168? Yeah, sure. Probably should have done that, though. I don't be shocked if... Apparently Snell turned down a... Six for 168? Yeah, sure. Okay. Probably should have done that, though. I don't think... Maybe he turned it down. I'll just leave it at that. Okay. Should I just go straight to the take back? Yeah. Please.

Please. Okay. Please. I might just keep teasing it. I just texted our buddy, you know, aforementioned Tucker. He's on vacation, so, like, I have to edit and post this, too. So, like, no big deal. No big deal.

No. So what you're saying is take all the time you need. Yeah. Just relax, buddy. It's all good. Take all the time you need. I am slowly, I'm curious where you're at, but Pache starting in center field and Rojas in AAA to start the year

has to be on tape. Oh, buddy. Yeah, look, of course it is. I think they're going to, you know, I don't think it's going to crush them in April, and I think they know that they can afford to give it a little bit of time, especially with the Martian tree and who knows when he'll be back fully ready to go. That I think that both guys will be here.

And I do think it's a, you know, whoever hits is going to stay kind of thing, you know? And I, and, and to your point, if I had to bet right now,

and if you said to me, one of these guys will be the starting center fielder on May 1st and one won't, I agree with you. I would bet on it being Pache. But again, I wouldn't be shocked. Rojas is bigger. He's done stuff you never know until games matter. Desperately, all offseason,

but one message is very clear. But I'm with you. If I had to bet on one of the two right now, where they're at in their careers and their physical abilities and whatever, I would bet on Pache producing more from now to May 1st. But also like, so he's out of minor league options. I'm not just losing Christian Pache.

I'm not just losing him. I agree. When he's a young player. And he's like turning the corner maybe. He might be. I mean, he might be. He's certainly worth finding out, right? And like –

Because Rojas has options too, you know? Right. And he's like close to as good a fielder. He's not like as good as Rojas, but like he's like – it's not like you're losing that much on the main reason you want Rojas. Rojas is a transcendent level defensive player. But like Christian Pache is really good defensively as well. So I don't want to have to lose Christian Pache

because of Johan Rojas having to start the year in the major leagues. And I think the hitting didn't get a hit today. It's not the end of the world. But now Pache did strike up three times. Not getting a hit in a spring training game is definitely not the end of the world i agree but like i just i i don't want to i don't want to i don't want to lose christian pache yet for for a pretty unproven player i do um hitting i like him look again last every moment of christian pache's philly's career you know outside of him hurting himself which has

been an issue for him but like hurting himself and then coming back, and it taking a little while to get going, and then the playoffs. But prior to getting hurt from the moment he got here, he was freaking awesome. And now he's come back in spring, and he's looking awesome so far. And look, again, pedigree-wise, as much as I have Rojas, Pache has a better pedigree. I mean, this guy was a top-ten prospect in the whole sport.

So I'm with you. I don't know if you heard the broadcast a couple weeks ago, but Rob Thompson focusing on bunting with some of the players. That's what I'm talking about. We've talked about this before. It's not like how you have to play small ball, but every person on the team should know how to bunt. You should just know how to bunt.

It should be part of your job description. It's like on the team should know how to bunt. Like you should just know how to bunt. It should be part of your job description. Like it's like you just don't have to know how to bunt. Sorry. Listen, you're a major league baseball player. You know how to bunt. Winning baseball. Winning baseball. That's the key.

That's what bunting is. That's what bunting is. Move the runner along. Like they've been, if you like really have dialed in on what they've been doing, like I feel like they've been much better about... Like, dude, Schwarber executed a hit and run the other day. You know what I mean?

They've been really good about runner on first, and it's the bottom of the lineup, getting him over, getting him in. Or runner on second, and then the bottom of the lineup, getting him over, getting him in. I know it's not as sexy as a home run, but that stuff excites me like there's nothing well you could tell me they're gonna have a three-run home run but a well-executed guy on second base get him over get him in i mean that's what matters james that's

what matters well here's why it does matter it's because like you know cliches are cliches for reason as i always say and that's a cliche in october because it does matter it just does it like small ball being able to execute on those things matters in october in the postseason and being able to do that and working on that all year and being like uh you know not just like good at those things but like accustomed to doing those things in situations is all things that you want to have at the end of the season. Like that's important reps and practice and prep. So yes.

Well, I mean like literally the other day I witnessed Johan Rojas have a two strike approach. And I said, what is that? What? You know, I know he,

he didn't take a, a big, a big leg kick. Loopy. It was just, hey, you know, the ball's in the outside corner. I'm going to hit it the opposite way. If it goes through, it goes through. But I'm going to get that runner over to third base. And I said, that's winning baseball by Johan Rojas.

So, it's very exciting. It feels like they're emphasizing the little things. Fundamentals, buddy. The little things matter the most when it comes to the end of the season. So very, very, very giddy. Again, this is in no order. This is just shrink consciousness take back. It's a take back.

Everyone knows. Chris Sanchez adding weight to himself and velocity. He's up to 95 with a little cutter. Oh, buddy, let's go. Very excited for another year of Christopher Sanchez. And, like, a cutter off of everything he does with back up to 95. Because when he first came up, he was like 96 to 97. Just had no idea where the

baseball is going now it seems like chris sanchez knows where the baseball is going and he's added a little cut to it um it's it's only been one outing in the spring but very excited about i dude i'm all in i am i fully believe i really do no one better No one better. No one better. It seems like they've done a better job. I don't know if they got that far, but I'm saying I think last year what we saw will carry on. Here's the thing that I think the Phillies are developing. It seems like everyone's learning a new pitch. You know, like whether it's a Sanchez cutter, everyone seems to be tinkering with a splitter.

And, James, if you know me and the diehard listener for this podcast like there's no pitch that that i i think i love more than a well-executed split finger fastball um now i know why guys don't throw it because it like it loosens up the muscles in your elbow so it could lead to issues but if your muscles are strong enough, like, whatever. Wheeler messing around with the splitter is just, I mean, it's better than Christmas. You know what I mean? Like, it's just, it's like having another president under the tree. Like, if he can learn a splitter to go along with a sweeper that, like, was kind of eh all year until the postseason, he's like, hey, you know what I'm going to do?

Be able to spot this sweeper wherever I want, coupled with 95 he's like he's plus 850 for the side it's like just put it down now like what's the point in even waiting it's over like zach do people like maybe maybe i'm the crazy one who could ever say that but like do people understand how insane zach wheeler would be with like a well-executed splitter to go along with all his other pitches like it's is this the first time everyone's following baseball like he develops from the one best pitchers in the sport he's one of the best pitchers in the sport it's like feed me feed me zach wheeler splitter it's it's it's it's the best news you could hear out of spring training. I have nothing to add to that.

That was like all perfect. Dude, think about it this way, right? Like 95. I'm good. I get it. 95 with the amount of backspin that he can create with his fastball. So it rises a little bit with a splitter off it. Like he's toyed around the splitter.

But he toyed around with the splitter, James like he's toyed around the splitter but like but he toyed around with the splitter james as a met as a met when no one cared they didn't they didn't have the the rap soto camera they didn't have caleb coughum being able to slow it all down like caleb coughum i swear to i swear to you there is no one more important in this organization than caleb coughum other than brian barber and Preston Mattingly, obviously. So, like, obviously it's a bit hyperbole because they're all important. But when I think about, like, the power structure of things that matter the most to this organization, I would say Ani Kalambi, of not the Mount Rushmore of the organization,

Ani Kalambi, Caleb Gotham, and I'm developing, and this is strictly, this is Alex Coffey's fault, but it's 100%, like, because of the article she wrote. Like, I'm ready to name a future kid of mine after Adam Lind. Like, Adam Lind

is incredibly important to the future of this organization. When they talk about chase rate, and you talk about not chasing the baseball, like Adam Lind was brought here for one reason. And like I have watched the Giants over the last couple of years, and it's like they suck. They suck it. They have no talent on the hitting side.

There's just no one. They stink. But for some reason, they always rip the Phillies pitching. And like I would see these scrubs hitting just moon shots okay um adam lynn was brought here to get a lineup that has stars up and down up and down to have like a freaking plan when they go up there and i just you watch them in spring training and you see them laying off pitches, and you see them looking to just do damage on the pitches that matter,

and it's like Adam Lind. That's all Adam Lind, who like hit 34 home runs randomly one year, and it was like a great. I loved it. Yeah. I don't know that fantasy. The middle 2000s baseball guy is Adam Lind. It's Dustin Lind.

Okay. I guess I was wrong the whole time. Whoever the Lind guy is, whoever the Lind guy is, one of the five most important people in the organization. So they're just doing everything right. And I'm so happy. I'm so happy. I'm so happy.

I'm so happy. Me too, buddy. They've been really good also. No, don't go off on another. No, no, no. Emily's texting me about how hungry she is. You're killing my soul. Shout out to Adam slash Dustin Lind.

Damn, it really is Dustin Lind. I thought it was Adam Lind this whole time. That's a bad one. You just did a whole rant about it and then it was not. Is it spelled the same way? L-A-N-D? Yes. I think I assumed it was Adam Lind. Maybe it's a relative or something.

Either way, this guy is ridiculous. We didn't have to push the Phillies. We got it. It's true. It's true. They don't need us anymore the Phillies. We got it. We got it. Yeah, it's true. It's true. Yes. They don't need us anymore from that perspective. I know.

They're smart. Yeah, it's a shame. Part of me is dead inside, but it's okay. No, it's not. Don't worry. All right. Let's get to probably the most important part of this. Yes.

I can't wait to see what you think is the most important part. Yes. Did you watch Griff McGarry? I didn't wait to see what you think is the most important part. Yes. Did you watch Griff McGarry? I didn't see it. I didn't. I haven't got a chance to go. You look good. Why don't you go take your gin too?

And, and. Yeah. Oh, wow. Okay. Like, like just.

Yeah. Griff looked so good. A ball didn't touch the backstop, which is a big, a big progress. Step in a big progress step in the right direction yeah yep um he didn't rick angle it dude it wasn't all it wasn't just like the fastball popped like he at one point i think he threw four straight sliders and they weren't on top of it um so it was a very encouraging first griff start i don't think we've done a podcast since the first mick abel out now now it was right after which that i did that i did see and that was that was nice it was popping it was the the mitts were popping so um

i think griff and and mick were on a like pretty big trajectory before last year. A bit of a step back here. But like... Back on track kind of thing. How Griff... I mean, I thought Griff looked insane. I thought Mick looked insane. I'm so like...

You want to talk about a weekend ruler? Like Mick not starting yesterday because he was sick. I mean, just what's the point? What's the point of even waking up that day? You know what I mean? Instead, I hung out with my child and spent time with my family. It was a disaster. But Griff looked awesome.

Spencer Turnbull. Now, the concerning part about – not concerning. That's the wrong word. But his fastball was only like 93, 94. Like when Spencer turnbull was peak he's just getting there buddy he's just ratcheting it up well the good part is the good part about where this team is is that they have let's say one of these guys in the rotation goes down or they need to space it out i feel pretty confident they could bring up a couple arms and

it's not going to be a disaster. Like even David Buchanan, who I still can't believe is a Philly again, pretty good field for pitching. You know what I mean? And speaking of David Buchanan, there's nothing funnier than it feels like what the Philly's pitching strategy was for like 10 years of drafting. It was like, hey, nose out of pitch.

Like that's all it was. That was all we had, yeah. It was like, hey, could pitch backwards. Did he go was yeah it was like yeah it was like hey could pitch backwards did he go to cal state floridan okay we'll draft him um but they they love guys that know how to pitch backwards dave buchanan can do all that stuff so i feel pretty confident that if one of these guys goes down then they can um bring up someone and they're fine so um i think it's huge mick mick seems like he's ready for like that next step griff is still i think they're working on mechanics and and um want to make sure he's right but the fact that it went from literally last week it was i'm not sure he's going to pitch in a great league game because we want everything to be in the right spot to bang he's pitching by the end of the week. It seems like they're pretty confident in,

in what they're doing. So Turnbull, I was surprised. I thought his curve ball looks better than I remember with the Tigers. And it's just, you can't, it can't be understated or said enough going from the Tigers pitching development to where the Phillies are.

Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh, my God. I mean, how many guys – and, like, there have been injuries and stuff. But, I mean, the Tigers have had all these talented high draft picks, like Manning and Mize and all this stuff. And, like, just, like, no real fruit has been born for me. And they're still young. Well, I'm backing on Casey Mize, by the way.

Back in. And Tarek Skubal might win the AL site. Yeah, I'm very in on Scubal. He's awesome. So, once again, Caleb Gotham, one of the most important people in the history of this organization. Speaking of random people they found out of nowhere,

just put this one away. Now, hopefully it doesn't turn out like mckinley moore because mckinley moore did not end up well very intrigued by tyler phillips just gonna get that one out there i know you're excited i know when you think of why we're doing this podcast like tyler phillips is not something that you felt like should be mentioned no probably not i wouldn't buy you know i probably wouldn't have taken the time but you know what dude the guy was popping it was like 95 out of nowhere with a hammer curveball. For a waiver wire pickup, yes, Tyler Phillips all of a sudden matters.

Sir Anthony looks insane. Please, yes. 99 already. Sir Anthony looks phenomenal. Throwing strikes, looks confident. They have some legit options in that back end well and look i mean it wouldn't be shocking at all if he went back to being elite sir anthony i mean we see that with these bullpen guys all the time where they have these you know kind of

off year or whatever and then they go back and it's like oh yeah there he is you know so many times that happens so i actually would be more surprised i don't like i don't know that i would guarantee you get back to like elite certainly but I would have been more surprised if we saw this or anything we saw last season than a much better version. I would have been surprised if you didn't take a step forward again. Dude, they have so many options back there. They got dudes. They got so many dudes.

They have so many dudes. Did Mike Angelina tell you the stat about Schwarber that he found? About the clogging up the bases thing? It's so great. Well, he found it because of my show. So we had a caller on our show who was doing this whole rant about him clogging up the bases. And Angelina came into my studio and goes, that guy broke me.

He's like, I'm looking up every instance of uh you know schwarber on base and turner this and that and he's it was he was like i'm done with it he's like i'm doing it and it's it's pretty hilarious the numbers so uh for all the people to talk about schwarber clocking the bases um batting the leadoff position so he it only happened turner only got hit behind kyle schwarber 16 times last year in 162 games it was only 16 times yeah i believe in three two or three of those it was home runs so obviously that doesn't matter um so that takes it down to 12 and or 13 and in those 13 if you look at what actually happened in the play he didn't clog the bases one zero times zero times he went to third he went to third on a few of them obviously turners got out on a few of them um uh there it was like zero times that uh zero times yeah zero times so

um for people that don't want Schwarber as the leadoff guy, just let them know that, hey, zero times, literally, had he ever clogged the bases, or maybe not ever, but last year, did he clog the bases at all as the Philly's leadoff hitter? I'm ready to go to war with all the Schwarber leadoff hitters, haters. And look, I love Trey Turner's leadoff hitter. I'm not against that. It's just the way that it sets up with all the lefties. I can't have Harper hitting two and JT or Castee or someone batting three

or Boehm batting three. So it just is what it is. So there we go. Speaking of JT, I don't know who I'm more excited about. A swing adjustment. Let's go. Well, the biomechanics lab, which, I mean, feed me all of that. Let's go wow the biomechanics lab which i mean feed me all of that but like but him and dude him and boom you know i mean even boom i just i hope that we have one of these like super breakout

boom years where it's like swing looks fluid he had three hits today he's going the opposite way like can i get a can i get like a 28525 home run Alec Bones? Totally. He doesn't have to be a superstar. He doesn't have to be an all-star. Just give us 280-22 or something. It would be great. I think that's super within reach. It's super attainable.

I'm with you, dude. The pressure will not be on him in the same way it was at the end of the season in the playoffs last year. JT's squaring up everything. Baum is kind of squaring up everything. It's just a lot of the regulars are looking super strong. Even like Schwarber, he struck out a ton, but he looks like he's kind of slimmed down a lot.

I think of the regulars that that super matter you know not the Tyler Phillips's of the world because I know you don't care um boom and JT easily I think have looked the best so far nice love it which is which is phenomenal um but but but but at what point do we... I sort of need Kingery on the roster. Oh, stop. I need him, man. I'm not doing it.

I'm not doing it. Swing looks different. Swing looks different. He made a backhand stab at third base the other day. I've got Emily texting me about when are we going to eat dinner and you're bringing up Sky Kingery. Really? Really? That's out of here?

If I don't talk about it, when are we going to talk about it? I was hoping never, but sure. Yes. It did cross my mind. And while I love Edmundo, do we have to trade Edmundo Sosa? No.

To make sure that Kingery's on this roster. No, we don't. What's next? When Scott Kingery saves the season and someone's hurt, he has to come up. I will absolutely shout out this moment and say,

Jack, you're right. But when Scott Kingery has zero impact on the season, you're going to be like, hey, man, sorry about that. I was wrong. My bad. You know what I'm going to say? I'm going to say, frick your dinner. You're going to say next year. Kingery will do it next year.

He's only 30. Say that to Emily. You don't have to say it to me. Say it to Emily. That's fine. No worries. Derek Hall is... This is just philosophically, I'm asking. Oh, good. That's what I was hoping for, a philosophical question at this point in the pod. Please.

Yes. So Derek Hall is nine home runs from setting the, or 10 home runs from the Iron Pigs record for home runs. If you set the Iron Pigs record for home runs with 70 career home runs, like what would you, would you be like happy or would you be like i would make them build a statue of me idly i i would take what i can get buddy come on i would be like oh sweet awesome i mean come on i will take any sort of like honor i can get along the way totally no yeah i don't know man don't hate on it don't hate on it i might be like hey guys listen

i don't need to come up to the majors give me a couple weeks let me break this then i'll come up let me hit 70 triple a home runs let me let me let me let me put my freaking name in the record books and then i'll be back yeah well listen he'd be taking down former philly's great andy tracy so i honestly don't remember that. I honestly, I'm sure I've heard that name before. I don't remember ever hearing it. So there you go. Yes, that's pretty much all I got to take back.

You're welcome. Emily, you're welcome. That's what he said. This was good. You're good. Can I have one final thought, though? Of course you can. Yeah, because we always do final thoughts on air.

Yes. I only have 12 days left in my 30s. Or 20s. That is a thought I can get down with. Yes. Bring it. Bring it. Welcome aboard.

Hello. 12 days left in my 20s. Imagine when you're like your 40s are coming up and then but yeah well yeah i'm saying when i was coming into my 40s yes i'm i mean on my way to sarah down the braille 50 i'm not quite there yet but yes i'm with you yes i'm so happy i can't wait i'm so happy you're turning 30 i have no is it like i'm trying to get the level of sympathy that i have for you feeling that you're getting older i have no is it like i'm trying to get the level of sympathy that i have for you feeling that you're getting older when you turn 30 and it's like whatever the most negative

a thing can be like negative like infinity that's the amount of sympathy that i have for you so thank you no it seems like it seems like a touching moment 30 when people are listening to this probably 11 11 days left ah it's exciting 20s and uh is this are you is this this week you go to clear water oh yeah thursday thursday clear water so thursday friday back saturday so we'll record next sunday again get into it all all right awesome yeah so uh jackie clearwater returns home to the site of the uh the fame nick pavetta meeting i know they're gonna put a statue in the outfield there that people just play around it because it's so special of the two of you that picture what i'm hoping is

that when i get down there i can you know maybe have more conversations about how good tyler phillips looks so far and how he could be in the mix if one of these guys get hurt in the mix remember the mix uh my final thought i'll give you a final thought and i haven't said this yet this pod so i really want to make sure i said it go see dune 2 it's awesome movie kicked ass once again movies are a waste of time especially especially during Philly season. It's not Philly season yet. All right. This does not matter is a word that could also be a phrase that could also be applied to something else.

All right. I'm going to go try to cook a steak for the first time. I believe in you, buddy. I know you're going to crush it. I'm going to go make my wife happy and make some food. We'll be back literally one week from today. And we'll have clear order stories. Unless the Phillies sign like Sheridan Montgomery, then we'll be back literally one week from today and we'll have clear order stories. Unless the Phillies sign

Sheridan Montgomery, then we'll be back then too. Until then, he's fed some chops. We'll see you next time.