High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Just Please Make a Decision (And Bring Us Chaim Bloom)

Episode Date: October 9, 2019

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz are back as the Phils aren't making a decision and we're taking crazy pills.  See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information. 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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Wait, are you dreaming? No? Then yeah, this Reese's Extreme Blizzard is real. And for a limited time at DQ. Happy tastes good. This is the High Hopes Podcast. High Hopes. It's a bunch of baseball nerds talking about the Philadelphia Phillies

on Radio.com and Sports Radio 94 WIP. Yo! It is another edition of the Hubs podcast. As we continue. Oh, geez. To wait to see what the hell is going to happen with this team, with anything. What's up, Jack? Well, I'm waiting.

I'm waiting. I'm waiting some more. I'm waiting. We, so. It's just like, it's, you know, every day so it's just like it's you know every day i wake up like it's today the day like there what if he just shows up at spring training and just wonders what what what are you guys talking about that's what i can't believe at this point is like because obviously there have been lots of rumors we'll dive into it all but you know show walter and all this stuff and it's like at this point hasn't it gotten to the point with the gabe capler weight here where it's actually cruel's like, at this point, hasn't it gotten to the point with the Gabe Kapler wait here

where it's actually cruel to fire him at this point? To have made him do this, to make him come into work and go in and sit like sad music playing behind him, sitting at the desk with his Albert Einstein photo looking at him, and to have all these rumors go around and then to make him wait it out

and then actually fire the guy, it actually has gotten to the point where I think it's cruel to fire Gabe Kapler. I just swear I'm at, man. It would be cruel to fire the guy at this point. If they make him go through this week and they don't fire him, then you have to bring him back. Well, yeah. If they don't ask by Friday, then you have to bring him back.

I can't believe it hasn't happened yet. I mean, dude, we... It's crazy. It doesn't make any sense. Last week, in scheduling, when we were going to record, we're like, oh, we'll record on Tuesday. No, we'll wait till it happens on Wednesday. Oh, can't record Wednesday.

Gotta wait till Thursday. And the same thing's happening again this week. We're like, all right, screw it. We're just going to record because... It feels like the Harper thing all over again. It's unbelievable. Except way less fun on any end of it. Oh, way less fun.

And way less, you know... It's just... What... The most frustrating know it's just what the the most frustrating thing and it's been the most frustrating thing you know continue to be the most frustrating thing is is what is what is the plan what is the plan exactly if you fire him what's the plan if you keep him what's the plan i want to obviously not going to come out and like lay out their whole entire blueprint well no obviously but they just feel rudderless right now. Rudderless is a great word, Jack. I just don't know where they're going.

What are they doing here? Why is John Middleton just starting to fly around and visit players? They were here. They were here. Literally. You could have just talked to them then. For months. You could have, hey, come to my office real quick. You had a whole month of the season where you're basically out of it.

Yes. You were down in Washington. You were down in Washington the whole final week. you couldn't have brought him out to dinner why are you just doing now why did you not know what you were doing when the season was ending that's what i'm saying that that's why it feels like there's no plan here and that's why i think it's absolutely insane that anyone trusts this guy right now well that's the problem man that's the problem and when you look at it like you just said um the idea that, look, every other franchise, even the freaking Mets, who had a managerial decision to make, have made it a long time ago. Like, all these other teams were able to figure it out by the end of the season, but we can't.

And then, look, I know there's the other side to it. Well, he's being thorough. He's being meticulous. Like, fine. That's all fine and dandy. Why is it now? Why is it happening now? Why was he not meticulous a month ago?

Why was he not prepared for this potential eventuality? Why did he not say, all right, maybe this isn't going to go the way we want it to and I need to be prepared because that's the way this works. That's the way it works in Major League Baseball. Teams are ready to make decisions when they have to make decisions.

They don't just go on and from a fan perspective, I don't know how this could not hurt their standing with the fan base. How is any fan looking at this and saying, this is great, this is fine? Yeah. Well, it's so funny how when the season ended, everyone's like, ah. If you polled Phillies fans when the season ended,

what do you think about John Middleton? You'd say, what, 95% love the guy? Absolutely. Now it's what? 50-50? 60-40? Still love him? Look, I mean, here's the thing.

I really just want a man that has conviction. That's what's so frustrating about this. If they're going to fire him, it's just like, well, I guess we'll fire you now. That's not like a well-run smart organization is decisive. There's no decisiveness here. That's why this sucks so much. Like, this is just, there's no decisiveness. There's no like, let's do this and then we have this plan.

We'll fire him, bring in this guy, go to this, plan A, plan B, and like execute. Multiple plans, not none. Execute. Execution. And it's like, it's like, why are we even firing Gabe Kapler at this point? Well, again. Why are we acting like it's just a Gabe Kapler problem? Well, that's the biggest issue.

The fact that this is only a Gabe, like he's only focused. So it's official now. Jim Salisbury reporting today and we all knew it. You could infer it from what's been said, but Matt Klintak and Andy McPhail will officially 100% be back with this super, super.

I'm so glad Andy McPhail's back. They, they, they ruined our bring Chaim home thing before we could even start. Unless, unless they, they promote someone from like they promote, like could they,

could there, is there a scenario where they promote Matt Klintak, the president and then bring Haim as the GM? No. Why not? You know it's not going to happen. I'm finding a way. I'm finding any way to get him here.

Could they make him the president? Could they make Haim the president? They could. Will they? No. And then let McPhail be the president of the Ships? Let McPhail go to Florida, get into a retirement home, and just hang out and play Pinochle and whatever. I just, I don't, why is Andy McPhail coming back?

And I know he probably doesn't do anything, but just him being around this organization is frustrating. Well, I mean, it really is, and that's the thing. And look, we've talked a lot this offseason about owners and whether we want them to listen to fans. We don't. But the idea— Well, except for me and you and the High House podcast.

Come talk to us directly, John. Listen, we'll give you the balls. We got you, bro. Yeah, all we want is a good baseball team. That's all we want. We want to win. So, I mean, forgetting the fan, what the fans want of this whole

situation, with Andy McPhail, it's almost like a slap in the face. Like, the Kapler thing, like, I'm fine with, if John Middleton wants to keep Gabe Kapler, and again, I wanted him to want to keep him the day the season ended and to know that and whatever, but I'm fine with that, even though that's something

that would be, I think, a very unpopular decision even though now i feel like gabe's becoming a sympathetic figure like i said um the fan perspective on that but with mcphail it's like what first of all he doesn't do anything second of all he is reviled in this family there is not a single like you could find people who still stump for gabe kapler there is no one who wants andy mcphail Nobody. You will not find Andy McPhail's kids don't want him here. Nobody does. They want to be in Florida with him.

Nobody wants him here. So like I just I'm with you. Send him back to the Twins. God they don't want him. Oh yeah there's no way. They're a smart organization. Way too smart. Send him to the Cubs. Oh wait they're a smart organization. Send him back to the Orioles. Oh wait they're turning into a smart organization. They're trying harder than Phillies are right now. You know, and the other thing I don't get about this whole thing,

about this whole Kapler whatnot, what does John Middleton think a manager does? Like, are you kidding me? That this is only, like, does John Middleton think that Gabe Kapler is holding back a 90-win team this year? Look, if he does, then we have much bigger issues because then John Middleton doesn't know what the hell he's doing, which is absolutely on the table. I mean, that is that is squarely in the it's possible range that he doesn't know what he's doing. But if that if he thinks that Gabe Kapler is the reason, if he thinks that firing Gabe Kapler changes things, then then we got a problem.

Well, it's pretty scary that two podcast hosts could do the, do a better job. Yes. It's terrifying. It's horrifying. I don't want me to be in charge of the Phillies. I want smart people to be in charge of the Phillies. Like,

like here's the thing that's so frustrating. And I know Haim's not coming here, but like, it is just such an obvious, obvious upgrade. Like, and he's from frustrating. And I know Haim's not coming here. But it is just such an obvious upgrade. And he's from here. I mean, how much closer to you does he have to be? It's just too perfect. And why are we...

What has Matt Klintec done to justify... We don't need an upgrade here. First off, if you want to really be a bully, you should be looking for upgrades all the time. All the time. In any situation, any spot. Absolutely you should. You should be like, oh, the Rays have the best scouting director?

Yeah, let's go pay him more money. Let's just pluck that guy away. Why wouldn't you do that? Like, why? They have an opportunity with the scouting director. Yeah, absolutely, and that's my point, though. But, like, if you want to be a big boy, spend money to be a big boy

and go get the people who are the most qualified for their positions and get smart people in here. And to your point, a point you've made a hundred times, but bears repeating, the idea that Matt Klintak

is someone who he doesn't trust enough to trust his opinion fully on the manager of the team, but yet is still able to control the roster and be in charge of all this stuff. It's nuts to me. What's even more nuts is that Gabe Kapler's input

on other coaches staying here and he doesn't even know if he has a job or not. That's another crazy thing. That doesn't even make sense in any world realm. People try to compare their jobs to Major League Baseball or whatever sport. Imagine your boss letting you keep your job but him not knowing if he's gonna like if he's unbelievable and not just that asking for your thoughts on other

employees and what they've done even if you don't know if you're gonna be there it's crazy talk there's there's a reason why they've lost 11 000 games yeah there really is and it hurts because it hurts because this is what older phillies fans talk about all the time they're like don't mess it up yeah and i didn't want it i didn't want them to be right but they were right i all the they were right that they would screw this up they've they've managed to mess up analytics which i was you know it's so funny you said that because i was literally just thinking in my head i'm like they're the only people who could like make me say like I actually when the people call them like these damn analytics are ruining the Phillies.

Yeah, they are because they're not using them. Right. But whatever. It's still true. They have me wanting to hire Buck Showalter. It's crazy. I know that's a real statement like Dusty Baker. You're like, yeah, bring me Dusty.

Not too bad. No set of windows. I manage a locker room. It's like we're, bring me Dusty. Not too bad. No set of wins, no set of manager locker room. It's like we're so beaten down. Oh. I'm weary. Oh, just, man. Like, this is awful.

It's really rough. It's truly, I mean, you have, you have, like. All we want to do is have fun and be positive and have a good baseball game. It gives credence to the morons who are like, well, you know, analytics are bad. I know. That's how, that's how messed up this whole thing is that people want to get away from analytics when the Phillies are going to be used. The Phillies,

this is how dumb the Phillies are, is that they have all the information, all the analysts, all of that. They have all the numbers. They just have no idea how to use them. That's the problem. That's the problem. That is the basic inherent problem here. They don't know how to apply these things at all.

And you know what happens in that case, Jack? They become useless. The stats, the information, the advantages, and again because this is all margins. You're looking for minor on the margins type of advantages that ultimately all add up to

making you a better team than the sum of your parts better than the parts. We're seeing it right now with the Tampa Bay Rays. It's just a fact. You watch that team play and there are guys you're like, wow, that guy's starting in an ALDS game and beating the Astros. The whole roster. The whole roster.

Trips don't know. That's what I mean. These guys are castoffs. G-Man Choi. G-Man Choi's betting third in the ALDS. Joey Wendell, watch this for zone. Yeah, there you go. Look at you.

Emilio Pagan, someone you basically could have been. I could have been Emilio Pagan. That's the big takeaway. If I didn't have food poisoning that trip, maybe a scout could have seen me. Played against him. I played against Emilio Pagan. He was a third baseman at that time, but he was still nasty at third base. He closed out the game for the Rays last night.

I was physically in the same park as him. You could have been him. But my problem was, James, is that I had food poisoning from a golden corral from the night before. That's the problem. So I spent the whole day throwing up in the trainer's office,

which I didn't know where I was in North Carolina. I like that you think that's the problem. That's the only reason why I'm doing this podcast right now. So you're welcome for my knowledge. But the point is, how can someone like John Middleton, you think that's the problem. That's the only reason why I'm doing this podcast right now. So you're welcome for my knowledge. But, um, but the point is like, how can, how can someone like John Middleton,

who is a smart businessman, there's no question about that. And it's unassailable when it comes to that. He's clearly a shrewd, smart businessman. How can he look at this and see a team that, as you mentioned, again,

this stat blows my effing mind that the rays are 55% less than the average in terms of what they spend and they're taking the 107 win Astros to the brink here an Astros team that is just

loaded with stars upon stars upon stars one of the best rosters I've ever seen in my life watching baseball

they're taking Verlander out in four innings it's so loaded and this Rays team how do you not as John Middleton watch this happen and say,

okay, like these are the type of people I need. I need the guys who are making this happen. Yeah, like please, John,

for the love of God, like Chaim is going to get hired by someone else's off season. Yeah, the dream is going to be dead. You have an opportunity here to bring in the answer.

The answer to all your problems is right there. Like, just hire him. What has Matt Klintak done? What has he done to make you believe in him so much? You don't even believe in him enough to make a competent decision on your manager, and you're going to let an actual superstar go somewhere else to probably a bigger market team and do what Andrew Friedman did with the Dodgers. I want to be the freaking Dodgers, John. Just do it.

Just do it. Just do it. I don't get it. It blows my freaking mind. It blows my mind how they just won't do it. They're not going to do it, and I'm already getting mad about it. Just do it. It's not that hard. It's not I know. It's not that hard.

It's literally not that hard. It's not that hard. That's what I just said. The team is staring you in the face. If you watch playoff baseball, it's in your face. Well, he's too busy flying around meeting with J.C. Romito in Oklahoma.

It's in your face. How can you not see this team right in front of you building it the way they did and not say, I want some of that. I want the people involved in that. It's so blatantly obvious to me when you look at it.

It's crazy. And again, this is the idea that Salisbury and everyone's putting out there that Klintak's coming back, but it's going to be on him. We're watching him now or whatever. Great. So you're saying for this incredibly important offseason where the prime of Bryce

Harper's career and others, but the prime of a Hall of Famer's career, a future Hall of Famer's career is on the line here. This is it. You brought Bryce Harper in. This is it. You've got his prime ready to stare you right in the face. And you're putting Matt Klintak in charge of building that team around him

when he's already shown he can't do it? It's asinine to me. It's asinine to me. This is incredibly, you have to build a bullpen from scratch, essentially. You have to sign Garrett Cole no matter what. Yeah, yeah. I mean, should we get into that real quick?

Sure. So last podcast we talked about how I asked James, would you rather have Rendon or Cole? And James said Cole and I said from dome because you always in most scenarios you always take the excellent hitter the high war player the guy who's like like anthony rendon is a truly unbelievable like an actual mvp candidate in a vacuum he is a more valuable baseball asset than garrett and he'll get paid more money than garrett that just was a good example. But in watching these playoffs, they need someone that

can not only start game one for you, but come out of the bullpen in game three and just shut down an opposing team when it goes on a rally. They need Garrett Cole. Either him or Strasburg. I don't trust Strasburg as much as I trust Garrett Cole.

But dude, I didn't even realize. He's a.64 playoff ERA. It's unbelievable. The problem is, obviously, that he has the injury history. This is the first year. Also, he's 15 this year, 15 next year, and then

45 the year after. Is that the way the contract is structured? It's one of those deferred contracts. That's a weird one. It's Washingtonhington yeah yeah so like they just they need power arms and like the fact that you know they they go through these stretches of drafting where it's like oh let's get excited about david parkinson and like guys that don't throw hard at all it just like you need power arms and In October. Every time, every time,

every October for the last four Octobers or whatever, it's been, hey, here's a guy who throws 100. Let's put him in the bullpen and see how that,

like, yeah, so it's fifth. All right, so he would be opting out of 25 next year, 15, 15,

and then 45 in 2023 at age 34. I mean, I think he's probably going to opt out. Yeah. I mean, Boris is his agent. I think it's likely he opts out. I mean, I think he's probably going to opt out. Yeah. I mean, Boris is his agent. I think it's likely he opts out. I think so too.

But the overall point is that you need power arms and you just need the starters that they don't have at this point. And Andy McPhail's whole philosophy or his original philosophy was what? It was, well, actually, it was actually grow the arms by the bats, which I thought was kind of ass backwards.

It's ridiculous. Actually, I think both ways are kind of ass backwards. Even Theo's way. Theo came up with this way of grow the bats by the arms. But that scenario, why am I buying older pitchers? Well, that's a problem. And look, I know he's getting killed, and I still say they won their first World Series in 108 years.

I would never say anything. You trade Torres for Chapman every time. You do that trade. There's no way you had to trade Gleyber Torres. Well, that's the issue. And that's a different discussion. I think he overreacted and said we have to get a discussion. Brian Cashman taking advantage of a situation.

I agree with you. I agree with you. But ultimately, you make that trade. Even knowing what you know, you make that trade. Again, it won you a World Series or played a role in I agree with you. I agree with you. But ultimately, you make that trade even knowing what you know, you make that trade, again, it won you a World Series or played a role in winning a World Series. Joe Maddon almost tried to kill him. Well, I mean, and Roldis Chapman, not

a great guy. And he did break his hand. Not a big fan of that guy. He hurt his hand celebrating. Not a big fan of that guy. But, look, I'm with you. I said that before and I, again, they need, they don't just need someone like Garrett Cole. They need Garrett Cole. I mean, that's the guy.

He changes so much just by himself coming in here. I honestly think they're going to get him. Look, I love that. We talked about this last time, that nugget from Jim Salisbury on the At The Art podcast, the idea that Boris is going to try and funnel some guys here. I totally believe that. My issue isn't that he would be willing to come here. My issue is, will John Middleton give him the money he wants?

That's my issue. Will Matt Klintak's evaluation tell him that he's worth the money? That's what I worry about. It'll be like the Yankees bidding on him, and Matt Klintak will be like, he's above our calculations. We'll go sign Zach Wheeler. I like Zach Wheeler, but them signing Zach Wheeler is the biggest lock

and then him coming here and sucking. And Garrett Cole is a legitimate franchise-changing type of pitcher. I think I just had 15 strikeouts. It was nothing. Let's factor this in. He is coming from an Astros pitching staff. Which is true.

No question. You have to factor in. He is coming from an Astros pitching stat. Which is true. No question. You have to factor in the fact that he might regress a little bit. But the talent is so overwhelming there that even him regressing, he's still one of the best pitchers in the National League. And you'd hope that he has learned enough and can take it, yes, and doesn't need to rely on them.

But it is unreal, man. And also, I think that he is you you know i don't he just looks like your classic horse a classic it's exactly the way he's not gonna get hurt totally agree with you like just a a warrior like like bum garner like that and granted right hand pitcher and i would say yeah but like that guy you just know like like you said if you need someone to come in and pitch three innings of relief in a game seven to win the World Series, even though he pitched two days before, I feel like Garrett Cole is one of the short list of guys in Major League Baseball where I would say I bet that guy could do it.

Yeah, and I don't care what you say. I think Spencer Howard is going to be able to do the same thing. Yeah, like you say, like I said, like some disparaging thing. You said you hated Spencer Howard. Interesting, real quick hated Spencer Howard. Interesting. Real quick on Spencer Howard. Let's be real here with each other because this came up on the Midday Show and I think I know exactly what they will do.

But Spencer Howard will be ready from a ready-to-play baseball in the Major League's perspective to start the season with the Phillies next year. No chance he starts the season with the Phillies next year. No. May. I know. May. I know. Yeah, listen.

That's smart. It's smart baseball smart we're talking about year of control and stuff like that but man it's just it's frustrating well I don't know

that's smart baseball that's an issue that Major League Baseball needs to fix but we just saw look Pete Alonzo doesn't have 53 home runs if they don't bring him up

right away they don't make a run you know Fernando Tatis Jr. obviously got hurt and stuff but that dude it would have been folly to have him in the minors for an extra month he was one of

the best players in baseball immediately well it would be a good test for if if major league baseball thinks that the service time thing's going away it's a great point so i mean like it could if they think it's going away which is could be the reason that those decisions were made this past season that they ultimately think in the next few years it will go away it should go away it's so. It's so stupid. One of the dumbest things baseball has done. One of the dumbest things baseball has done. It's going to cost the Cubs Chris Bryant.

Yeah. Good. But yeah. It's so silly. While we're talking about Arizona Fall League legends, I mean, Connor Siebold. I'm already all in. I can't wait. It's so easy for you to be all in.

Oh, my God. I love him. You're the quickest all in there is out there. Yeah, of course. Can I throw you my comp? You know you can. Charlie Morton without going over the top. Okay.

I feel like you use Charlie Morton a lot as a comp. Yeah, but it's because a lot of young pitchers are kind of cloning themselves after what he does with his glove. Like, he really pulls his glove. He really pulls his glove. Yeah. Glove side. And it's just like they say the same. Flaherty does the same kind of thing.

I love that guy. His high school pitching staff has got to be the greatest pitching staff of all time. Who was on the high school pitching staff with Flaherty? Max Freed and Louis Giolito. What? Yeah, dude. On a high school staff? Yeah.

Jack Flaherty's high school pitching staff was Jack Flaherty, Lucas Giolito, and Max Freed. That's unbelievable. Yeah. If they lost the game, their head coach would be fired. That's like having Matt Chapman and Nolan Arenado being on the same high school team. If you have one of those guys, you should probably never lose as far as it goes. Even you find a way to win. I mean, that's unbelievable.

That's disgusting. That's disgusting. That is disgusting. But Connor Siebold, I think he's a.75 ERA in the Arizona Fall League. And I got a text from someone the other day that said his changeup

is just unbelievable. Nice. All right. So, that plays. Look, no Chris Young next year. That can only help, right? Yeah, I don't know what he's got. I don't know what he's... So he got reassigned within the organization? Is that the idea?, no Chris Young next year. That can only help, right? Yeah, I don't know what he's got. I don't know what he's...

So, he got reassigned within the organization? Is that the idea? Yeah, he got reassigned. Which is, I'm... That's fine. A lot of people don't like Chris Young, but... I think he's a smart baseball mind. Look, to get to where he got to as quickly as he did

with zero, you know, real experience, I think that's impressive. And he might not have been very good at relating to players, but I think he understands pitching. It made me think that I could have done it. True. Is that a good or bad thing? But Chris Young, I mean, back in Houston,

he was one of the guys that helped convince Justin Verlander to throw a slider more. I think he's a good pitching mind, just has no idea when it comes to like mechanics and how to make it and clearly to relate to players I think that's the most important thing that isn't talked about enough when you talk about whether it's a hitting coach

pitching coach whatever it is that these guys have to be able to relate to these guys and explain what they're trying to teach them in a way that is digestible and understandable otherwise it's not gonna work Mickey Calloway. Dude, you said that, and I've stolen it, and I've said it as my own now

because it's such a great idea. He's my top choice. I want him to be the Phillies pitching coach. Yeah. He was a great pitching coach in Cleveland. For those who just know him as the Mets manager and what a fool and all that, there's a reason he became a manager. Pitching, it's really hard

for pitching coaches to become managers. It so rarely happens. Bud Black's the other one that comes to mind. There are very few. He was a great pitching coach. Yeah. And I would like to put my hand up. I said something stupid on Twitter and I tweeted. So,

here's the thing. Had a few beers with me and I was like, oh, I remember I used to love this guy. And then I really started doing some research. And I was like, oh, that's a really dumb tweet. So I had to follow it up with something that was smart. Okay. But I want to get it out there for the High Hopes podcast listeners that may have been concerned that I was getting dumb. Why would anyone ever think that, right?

Never. Never. Never. You think the High Hopes listeners are like he is smart yeah yeah they're probably common conversation well i think most of the high hopes listeners when they're discussing the podcast amongst themselves um they wonder if i did go to mit whether that's probably the first of all i love the idea that that high hopes listeners discuss the podcast with each other shout out to you who's doing that because i love you for that but yes i think that's probably the one

topic of conversation yeah fictitious conversations yeah they're probably they're probably did jack go to bloomsburg for computer science yes dumb dumb stuff like that like you went to bloomsburg after harvard right yeah harvard then bloomsburg was my safety school um no, it wasn't. I only applied to one school, so whatever. Look at that. 100% success rate. One for one. It was after I committed anyway because I knew I was getting in. It's tough being a five-star recruit.

Oh, man. I tweeted that I wanted... High in Bloomsburg. It's pretty good. I tweeted that I wanted Ray Searidge As a pitching coach And I started doing Some research And I was like

Oh Ray's completely Is he not good anymore Oh no Yeah he's bad I know I know 2014 Jack loved Ray Searidge I mean

To be fair Ray Searidge is a legend And was the best Pitching coach in baseball For a time Right but now So his main trick Was teaching guys

Sinkers And they're just Getting bombed now Like he tried to teach Chris Archer a sinker. That's a bummer. And Tyler Glass now left. He's amazing. Sure.

Garrett Cole left. He became amazing. Yeah, sure. So the track record just became overwhelming. Oh, that's too bad. Poor Ray. Yeah. Changing with the times.

Yeah. So I'd like to retract my tweet, but I left it up there because I didn't want to say with my conviction, but I followed it up saying I wanted the Vandy Pigeon coach. There you go. She said something smart in there. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Trying to get back on people's good side. I don't want people thinking it was...

Listen, James and I both built this podcast on wanting it to be smart and not saying dumb stuff. Yep. The Sears tweet was a dumb tweet. See, that's what you have to do. Just admit it. It's okay. Yeah.

We say dumb things. Yeah, we say dumb things. I mean, I don't, but some people do. Yeah. I mean, Blo's what you have to do. Just admit it. It's okay. Yeah. We say dumb things. Yeah, we say dumb things. I mean, I don't, but some people do. Yeah. I mean, Blunsburg was my safety school. Oh, man. Yeah. Yeah.

All right. Well, thank you. No problem. I had to be honest. I think, yeah. And the Braves are down 13-2. Oh, yeah, buddy. 10 runs in the first inning.

Give it to me. With Flaherty on the hill. See ya. You know. Oh, that's what. Give it to me. With Flaherty on the hill? See ya. You know. Oh, that's what I was going to say. Do you think right now, right now, right now, to win one game. Wait, right now? Right now.

You have to win one game. Is Jack Flaherty on the hill? What about Strasburg? Well, that's what I'm asking you. I'm asking you. I think like the way Jack Flaherty is pitching. I think it's probably Walker Bueller. No, no, no.

Is up there. I mean, Gary Cole shook out 15. Well, and Cole too. That's what I mean. I think it's probably Walker Bueller. No, no, no. He's up there. I mean, Gary Cole shook out 15. Cole, too. That's what I mean. Yeah, it's pretty good. Tonight's matchup is going to be... Jack Flaherty's pitching amazing right now, and he doesn't have the playoff success and all that yet. I'm more just talking about heading into the playoffs.

I think Jack Flaherty might have been the best pitcher on the planet going right into the playoffs. You want to know a great Jack Flaherty stat? You know I do. Hasn't allowed a hard hit ball in a slider since August 8th. What? No one's squared up a slider since

August. The first week of August. Wow. That's a really good stat. It's pretty good. Jack Flaherty. He's having his 2015 second half Arrieta moment right now. He is and he's way younger than Arrieta was at that point. Are the Phillies going to

give him $75 million in two years? No, in like four years or five years. He's way past his prime. Why do you have to bring up Jake Arrieta? Hey, only one more year.

That's true. Only one more year. $20 million. And Carlos Santana owned his soul publicly. That was fun. It's embarrassing. I know.

It's okay. What else you got? I feel like I'm getting to the point with this where i i feel like i've been saying the same thing every day i feel like i'm losing my mind i really feel like i'm losing my mind you're also fasting that's true too i've not eaten anything yet today that sucks it's notration number this year is 11.8 million. What? So. Peace.

I don't think Cesar's going to be on the team next year. Wow. Yeah. That'll work itself out just right. No problem. Yeah, he'll be gone. And then Kingery can slide into second. All right.

Or maybe Segura at second and Kingery at short. God, I'm so happy Gene Segura's here. Klantac, at least he's locked in. Can't get rid of that guy. I heard he was an elite general manager. I was told that Branch Rickey never had an offseason. It's just so annoying how he's just keeping Clint Dex so he doesn't look like an idiot.

Yes, I agree. I think that is the number one predominant reason why he's keeping him is that he just doesn't want to have people go back six months and be like, really dude? So we're going to let High and Bloom go somewhere else and turn him into Dodgers wherever. And because you said,

because you were too hopped up on your own stuff to... Just admit a mistake and move on. Which is Matt Klintak's biggest problem. That guy never does that. John, I just admitted that I tweeted something dumb about Ray Searidge. Just do the same with Matt Klintak.

John, I don't beg for much, but please, for the love of God, find a way to get Chaim Blum here. Bring him home. Just hashtag bring Chaim home. Hashtag bring Chaim home. My final thought, you tweeted at me about it when I said it, but a little recommendation out there. If people haven't heard Wolfpack yet, go check them out because they are freaking awesome.

It is my favorite band that I've heard in a really long time. If you're in jam bands. They're not a jam band. They are jammy. But they're popular. People like them.

Is it the government? Government. Check out Wolfpack. They're awesome. If we're giving music recommendations, check out Details by Billy Carrington.

Some little country. Oh, no. I give out a funk fusion band and you give out country. I mean, we're talking about music recommendations when Gabe Kapler's supposed to be fired. Gabe Kapler's getting ready for work tomorrow. Jack, we gotta do something to

feel happy again. It's called High Hopes. The poor guy is like the guy in Office Space. Yes! He's like, freaking, what's his name with the stapler? Yeah. Poor guy. Yeah. Steven Root.

Is that his real name? It's the actor's name. I don't know the character's name. Norman Nelson something like that. Norman Raymond one of those two. Wow. Alright.

We'll talk to you again soon. Well at least the Eagles isn't a row for three straight games because we're going to play off baseball. This is great. Isn't this podcast called High Hopes?

Once there was a silly old ant thought he'd move a rubber tree plant anyone knows that ant can't move a rubber tree plant but he had He had high hopes. He had high hopes. He had high apple pie in the sky. So when you start a feeling low, instead of letting go, just remember that. And whoops. Yeah, I know. I was trying to sound like Harry, by the way. I know. I've friends I was trying to sound Like Harry by the way I know I've studied it a lot

He tried to sound like Harry And then he went into Delco Harry And then it just Devolved from there It was good Just remember that Ant

Oh my god Alright we are so Out of here I'm so sorry For this podcast We are a mess It was only 32 minutes Yeah

It felt like it was Six hours It felt like the Longest podcast I've ever recorded In my life I agree. So with you.

I need to eat something. These friends of themselves. We'll talk to you later. 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

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