High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Legit NEED 2 of 3.

Episode Date: September 24, 2020

The Phils always need to take 2 of 3 but this weekend they REALLY need to take 2 of 3. James Seltzer and Jack Fritz are back getting you ready for the big weekend ahead.  Listen, rate, review and subscribe.  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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It is another edition of the High Oaks podcast. Jack, I know the yo has been sad lately, but as much as I have stated my position, I feel strongly in my position. We are still on September 24th with the Phillies fighting for a playoff spot. So, you know, that's something, Jack. Are they going on a run? Does the run start now, Jack? One straight?

Never doubted September Phillies. September Phillies have always been great. They've always been great, and they have never collapsed or looked lifeless. It's their month. Yeah. It's their month. Yeah. Some say the Phillies own September. always been great and they've never collapsed or looked lifeless. Yeah. Yeah. The Philly.

Yeah. Some say the Phillies own September. Um, so yeah, honestly, honestly, I have been, so I have been running every single morning around the city of Philadelphia.

Um, because honestly I need to clear my head a little bit. You know, the brain was getting a little foggy. I figured as I'm getting older, you know, I need to make sure I'm in good shape so I'm around for a long time to do this podcast and totally this podcast.

So I started taking up running, and it's early morning. Wow. Yeah, and I hate running. You do. I know. It's awful. I loathe running, but I'm starting to see things more clear. And in my time of running around this city and, you know,

I'm running by Franklin Field. I'm like, you know, this is Philadelphia. I am Philadelphia. You are Philadelphia. And I just can't help but think the run is coming. And it's like that crisp, you know, when I get out at 6.45 in the morning and I'm thinking about how James is still sleeping

and not working as hard as I am. Yes, because I'm sure. Let's go with that. When James is fast asleep and not working as hard as I am and I am out running around South Street and down by the Schuylkill. And it's that crisp

October weather. And it's just, this is playoff weather. And for this team to still be in it, I know it's 60 games, I know there's eight teams to make the playoffs, but they're, damn it But they're still alive. They're still alive.

They're still alive. And it's crisp fall air. I can't help but think about what it would be like with rally towels and fans. And I get sad thinking about Citizens Bank Park. And I also get sad running around the city thinking this team, this city has a bullpen problem. But, yeah, it feels like playoff weather outside. The feeling of playoff weather.

I also heard some old Phillies cuts today. I listened to the Rollins walk off of Broxton. I listened to Rollins triple on 07. That's all I needed. That's all I needed to be all the way back in on this team. So, yeah, I mean, yesterday was great. Good start. I mean, big game F came through

like he always does. Ty Afflin, thank God for that guy. Big game F came through per usual. And yeah, it's three games. Me and you would like, if it came down to it, we would rather Matt Klintak not be here than make the playoffs.

All things considered, if having Matt Klintak fired meant no playoffs, we would both rather have Matt Klintak fired. But they are one freaking weekend away from returning to playoff baseball. And that has me excited. And look, that's very fair and like i said in spite of all of it i can't watch them play and actually feel myself rooting against them so it's somewhat hollow words in a in a grand sense like i'm gonna watch a play of the race this weekend and i'm gonna be rooting for them to win even though i don't want clint back here and whatever it takes to get him gone i am in support of but look i mean

again like i said it's september 24th and the phillies have a chance at a playoff spot however absurd this 60 game thing is well it's definitely not a sham right and it i mean it's it's pretty sham like jack shammy uh but and and for real in the world, and I was okay with it for this year, and so were you, but anyone who supports eight playoff teams in each division, eight in each league, is a moron. And just look at this Phillies team. Like, I'm excited that they can make the playoffs, but they are the furthest thing from a baseball team right now we're deserving of the playoffs it's great that they have a chance but what what a sham the eight

teams is jack like of all the things this year i at the end of the year you know all the stuff we hated or now you love the runner on second base i'm all in on the seven-inning doubleheaders. The stuff we came in hating, I've turned at least to a certain point on. I hate this the most. The eight playoff teams in each league is my least favorite thing from baseball in 2020. Yeah, and it looks like it's not going anywhere, which is

horrible. It's honestly genuinely bad for the sport. It hurts the integrity of the sport. It really does. And it waters down 162 and it makes regular season not matter. And sure, more teams are theoretically going to be in it, but the whole

beauty of baseball is the journey. It's the 162. And you're just going to have more teams at the end just sitting players for weeks on end because they're up by so much. Do you know that the Dodgers, if the winning percentage is played out, the Dodgers would be 33 games better than the Phillies.

They would be 33 games better than the Phillies. That's an amazing nugget. Well done by you. They would be 33 games better than the Phillies by their pace of play. Like, I don't, this is, I understand sports is a business, and I get that these guys that make money, and more playoff teams means more playoff revenue for these owners, and everyone wants to make more money. I hate how much sports have come down to just making more money, and there's no longer just rewarding greatness, you know, there's no longer just, you know, teams that deserve to be there being there.

And it's just all, like, why even have a regular season anymore? Like, why even have a regular season anymore? Like, you just want half the league, more than half the league in any way. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. With that being said, take 203 this weekend and we're in. And we get to benefit from it. I hate it. I hate it. With that being said, take two or three this weekend, and we're in. And we get to benefit from it.

Just to put a bow on it, it is infuriating. You're exactly right. It ruins the whole achievement. Like, making the playoffs doesn't even feel – again, this Phillies team, a perfect example, like, does quote-unquote making the playoffs. It'd be fun. We want to watch playoff baseball.

But it doesn't feel like an achievement, right? Like, in the same way that making it in 08, 07 through 11 did. You know, that felt like a real achievement each year that they got there. This does not. But the other part, too, that I want to say is why does it have to be eight in each league? We went from five to eight. Can't we try, I don't know, six? Like, why does it have to go all the way to eight?

Like, that's crazy town. I'm trying to think, does it make it even? Is that why? I mean, isn't the NFL doing seven this year? I guess because. So give a bye or whatever. Yeah, but byes in baseball are bad for. But six you could do.

Then just there's no, it's six is perfect. You have three division winners, three wild cards. The wild cards play the division winners. Oh, but then you only have three teams after that. Yeah. Well, three wild cards feels like a lot. Yeah. I mean, so does – eight teams feels like a lot.

I mean, this is so stupid. Anyway, let's talk about the weekend because somehow – Come on, baby. Somehow at 28 and 29, theiladelphia phillies are one of it's pretty crazy jack like in terms of it is you know like the dodgers and the braves and the cubs and the teams that have known they're going to be in for a while for the most part whether they clinch or not it's i'm sure far less interesting september for those teams, than a normal year. But for the other six teams separated by a game, Jack, you know, of course the Padres are locked in. There's six teams that

are separated by a game and four of them get in and two are out. It is going to be a wild weekend. And obviously stuff can happen today. Have you checked the giant score? I haven't checked the giant score yet. I know that's happening as we speak right now. But, you know, I mean, like, so the Giants, the Marlins, the Reds, the Brewers, the Cardinals, all of them are in it. Now, the Cardinals and Brewers play each other, which is huge. But I want to get to some of, like, the things to watch with that stuff this weekend with the other teams and some of the tiebreaker scenarios. But San Fran is down four, three in the seven.

Ooh. Okay. Maybe we'll get some live reactions on that one. Go Rockies. We're all Rockies fans right now. Um, but see, that's what I'm saying in the moment.

I just can't help. I know. I know you're, you're trying to put on this facade. I got it. I hate it. All right. Um,

the race, I've heard a lot of people say, Oh, the race have nothing to play for. You know who else didn't have anything to play for? The freaking Washington Nationals who just took three or four from the Phillies. Do you put any stock in the whole

the Rays don't have anything to play for thing? No, because I've seen the Rays' depth, and it's still really freaking good. I mean, they're starting Charlie Morton on Friday. They still have an elite bullpen, and the Rays are smart. The 98ers? Yeah. The Rays are smart enough

to know that you can't just sit guys heading into it. If they just completely sit their bullpen or all their hitters for an entire weekend, they're not going to be able to play until next Thursday? Is that when the AL playoffs start? Wednesday or Thursday, yeah. I believe you're right. That would be dumb to sit those next thursday is that when the al playoffs start i went there

thursday yeah i believe you're right like they're not that would be dumb to sit those guys for that long like you got you got to keep guys sharp so no i mean the the raise even at 80 are still probably comparable to the phillies i mean they're the most wins they're the most wins in baseball this year that the dodgers do one i think they're tied actually i think they both have 37, if I'm not mistaken. Yeah, and what are the payrolls? Yeah, it's a great point. And that's why the most official position of the High Ops podcast is give Eric Neander a blank check and get his ass up here. That is our number one position right now.

Yeah, yeah. There's nothing. Honestly, I've been thinking a lot about Eric Neander and what I would do if he got here. And I'm going to streak down Broad Street. There is, for as excited as we all were for the World Series in 2008, this might be more. I would look at whatever the Dodgers gave Andrew Friedman and I'd double it. Whatever it takes.

$50 million. I'd be like, hey, here's $50 million right now. Come here. Let's go. Like, whatever it's like 50 million dollars i'd be like hey here's 50 million dollars right now come here let's go like whatever it takes like what i it's nothing to john middleton and there's no salary cap there's no luxury tax to be scared of like this is the ultimate no-brainer blank check the official position of the high hopes podcast blank check blank check all right this weekend though yes what did it like all right so I think the biggest issue with the Phillies right now, at least, is a team outside of the bullpen, which if we're going to be excited about this weekend, we can't talk about the bullpen.

It is what it is. We all know the deal, other than, of course, that Connor Brogdon is, as you said, the new Ryan Madsen. Madsen 2.0. I mean, Madsen, now I don't want to draw this comparison because we put a lot of pressure on the young kid but Mad Dog was throwing 98 in the World Series

down in Tampa Bay with a hammer change up wow, Connor Brogdon next Ryan Madsen my question to you is outside the bullpen, it's the injuries like Hoskins, not going to be back not a the bullpen, it's the injuries.

Like Hoskins, not going to be back, not a surprise, but a massive loss in that lineup. You know, Howard and Arrieta means we're seeing Vince Velasquez pitching game one tomorrow against the Rays. Not bad. Do you think this team can overcome these injuries? I mean, for a weekend, yeah. I mean, yeah, sure, it's baseball. I mean, if it's 162, yeah, it's a disaster.

I mean, honestly, I'd rather have Velasquez out there than Arrieta right now. I would too, actually. The last couple of starts, Vinny's been all right. Yeah, we're going to bully Vince Velasquez into having a good start, being like, ah, Vince is going to lose to Charlie Moore. I think everyone who listens to this podcast and watches the Phillies every single night should just tell themselves and everyone they know we're losing the game Friday.

I mean, we're losing the game. 100% losing the game. There's no way the Phillies win. It's Charlie Morton versus Vince Velasquez. The Phillies don't win that matchup 10 times out of 10. I mean, it would be nice to try. Well, you know the way they're going to lose it. Vinny's going to show up, and it's going to be like 2-1 Phillies through 7, and then, you know.

You know. Does that usually not end well for the Phillies? You know they haven't won one game this year where they scored two runs or less? Yeah, I did know that. It's unbelievable. I mean, their record with three or less or whatever it is is like unbelievable over the last two years.

It's unbelievable. Yeah, it is. I would appreciate if Charlie Morton could make up for tearing his hamstring and ruining our rebuild by giving us one. Or not signing with us when he clearly should have instead of signing with the

freaking Rays for two years. What a deal. Are you serious? We would have given that to you. Probably. Maybe. I would. If I were in charge, I would have given it to you. We talked about it on this podcast. We sign charlie morton go get that dude from here kind of go get it well wife's from here wanted him to come back yeah that felt like the lockiest of all that was how wheeler happened it's like that it is kind of funny that it was the right idea wrong guy well with morton well i mean with his wife from the area

wanting to come back. Right, right, right. I see what you're saying now. But Charlie Morton tearing his hamstring off the bone when he was clearly about to break out and Klintak saw that. Never doubted Klintak. Oh, God.

If he could just give us one. They paid you, I don't know, wasn't it like $9 million for three starts? Well, yeah, it ended up being. Yeah, just give that money right back. Give us one start. I mean, Charlie, you're a great Philly. Just give us one on Friday night. I know, but how many runs does he have to give us for it to feel safe?

A lot. I mean, were you safe at 12-1 last night? Turned out. Turned out. 13-0 didn't feel so safe that time. No, they're fine. They're fine. The bullpen's fine when they have a 10-run lead.

You're right. The evidence says they are. Yeah, why don't you look up the stats on that one, nerd? as they are. Yeah. Good point. Yeah. Why don't you look up the stats on that one, nerd?

Well, the ERA is still horrible, but in terms of not losing the game, pretty good. Hey, what, what matters? The winner or loss.

It's true. I held the lead. Yeah. Just like Pavetta did against the, uh, Mets or whatever the game was. Is there anything less surprising than five innings, eight strikeouts,

one earned for Pavetta? Never a doubt. Never a doubt. Never a doubt. I hope every I hope literally Jack I'm not kidding in terms like Brandon Workman and Heath Embry are the worst mid-season combo that has ever been traded to Philadelphia like it's unbelievable how bad both those guys have been it's hard to fathom that both those guys could be as bad as they've been when you traded Pavetta and Seabold for him. It's unbelievable.

Yeah, I thought I could never hate a reliever more than I hated Jack Walls. And these guys are right up there. I would put it ahead. I hate both of them so much. The only good thing Eve Henry's done is gone on the IL. That's it. And I'm surprised it wasn't with a strained neck. That's a good one.

I can't wait until there's fans back in the ballpark. There would have been so much booing this year. Right, right, right. It would have been great. Right. But what I can't wait for is when there's fans back in the ballpark and Heath Embry and Brandon Workman show up on whatever team they're on next year and I get to be in left field

and just ruin their day during batting practice. Or in the bullpen. I get kicked out of the bullpen once a year. I give myself once a year where I get kicked out of the bullpen area. It will be used on Brandon Workman or Heath Embry. That is my only goal of next

season. The Phillies can make the playoffs, great. My goal is to get kicked out of the bullpen for just destroying Brandon Workman and Heath Embry. Jack, you're making a gigantic leap assuming that either of these will be Major League pitchers next year. Well, Heath Embry has one more year in his deal. I know he does. Yeah, he sure does. Don't forget that.

How could I ever? When you're putting your head down on your pillows tonight, just remember you have one more year of Heath Emory. Pay him to go away, Jack. Nope. Pay him to go away. Nope, nope, nope. Oh, my God.

It is unbelievable. It is. Honestly, Clint Tack should be fired just for that trade alone. Yeah, well, I mean, everyone saw what Pavetta did. I hope everyone feels bad for all the tweets that have been at me. I get tweeted about Nick Pavetta once a day. I'm sure everyone feels terrible, Jack. Yeah, they should, because if anyone saw what he did.

He was actually, he looked, I watched the whole start, obviously. No, get out of here. Yeah, I watched the whole thing. He looked pretty good. His fastball was like 93, which I thought was weird. That's weird. But it was jumping on hitters, and I think he added a little mechanical tweak. Slider

looked way better. Curveball, whatever, looked good, and then change up. But, yeah, I mean, it's something to build off of. Not like the Phillies shut down the Orioles. No, they didn't, Jack. No, they didn't. Lost all three, if I remember correctly. Was one of them on a pop-up that they couldn't jack no they didn't lost all three if i remember correctly was one of them on a pop-up that they couldn't catch on the pitching mound

how am i supposed to remember such things so many of those losses i mean we haven't talked since the national series but like that workman loss in the i mean it so predictable, but like to lose the second game of the doubleheader that day, that way was just like the biggest FU on the 2020 season. It was like, ha ha. To a guy who would not hit a homer before. A guy who's a career minor leaguer. Like this guy's like 30 years old or whatever he is.

Yeah. Well, and the good thing is the game wasn't started by a 32 year old career minor leaguer either. Like, again, and the good thing is the game wasn't started by a 32-year-old career minor leaguer either. Like, again, like, I legitimately, and you and I, we talk about a lot of guys,

we watch a lot of guys, we watch the MLB package, we play in deep fantasy leagues. I know a lot of players. Yadiel Hernandez, no idea who he is. I've never heard his name. I've never seen his name.

I've never heard that guy before in my life until he had a freaking walk-off home run against us. Or the guy who started it. That is his name, right? Yadiel Hernandez? I think so. I think it is. I know Yadiel's right. I think it was Hernandez. Yeah, I just, honestly, I just turned the TV off. Like, I saw it

going out, and I was like, oh, I'm just done. I'm not watching this anymore. Yeah, and, like, the guy who started the game for them, no idea who that was. And, like, Andrew, like, the guy who started the game for them, no idea who that was. And, like, Andrew, like, the Voth guy, he sucks. Anibal Sanchez sucks. And they made him look like... Oh, yeah, they both had ERAs over seven.

Seven. I know, I know, I know. But... They won last night. Now, the thing about... The game one was so frustrating. Well, they didn't show up. I mean, it was, like, the most lifeless effort we've seen from them

in a game that was like must-win series. Let's go. I know. I know. It's all right. It's all right. They're still alive. They're still alive.

It's not like those games cost them the tiebreaker with the Reds or anything. Oh, wait. They did. Never mind. Sorry. Just forgot. No biggie. All you have to do is probably take two or three this weekend.

Yeah. So, all right, let's talk about some of these teams that they're going up against here quickly. Johnny Heller had a good piece on Phillies Nation with all the tiebreaker scenarios. The Reds and the Marlins both own the tiebreaker over the Phillies, no matter what. We know that no matter how this weekend plays out. Obviously, the Marlins' head-to-head record will beat them in the division, so the Phillies are really like a game behind them instead of a half game.

The Phillies own the tiebreaker over the Giants no matter what happens. And this is interesting. The Cardinals have to win two of five against the Brewers to gain the tiebreaker over the Phillies, and the Brewers have to take four of five to win it. The Cardinals have to win two of five against the Brewers to gain the tiebreaker over the Phillies, and the Brewers have to take four of five to win it over the Cardinals. So it looks like most likely the Phillies will have the tiebreaker on two teams and one. Most likely the Cardinals, Reds, and Mons will own the tiebreaker

over the Phillies, but the Phillies will have the tiebreaker over the Giants and Brewers. Does that make you feel better? where you at honestly like i i just i'm i'm a big baseball fan i never can pay attention to that stuff like i just doesn't matter they usually play game 163 that's the problem right now that's why it's weird all this stuff is weird because like i didn't even think about it until we got close i'm like oh my god they're not gonna play an extra game like how does this all play out and it does matter like this like this is gonna this the phillies could lose the playoffs on a tiebreaker like that's how close this whole thing is that feels about right i just i'm jack jack what that that feels right

the phillies missing the playoffs on a tiebreaker feels so right. You're right. Go ahead. Just more pain. Just add as much pain. It's like the perfect end of the season. It is the perfect way for this season to end. Honestly, I'm just so focused on making up the half game against the Marlins.

That's where my head's at. The Marlins, because for me, can you just show me this weekend that you can kind of step your game up a little bit? For me, what was so frustrating about the freaking National Series, the first three games, was they just looked like they didn't

want to be there. I know that's what happens when you lose games and it always looks like you look lifeless, but they really look dead. Especially when you have something to play for and your opponent doesn't right and i that's why like i just want them to they might miss the playoffs they might miss playoffs but show me that you that they have show me they have the right guys that's what i want to know like do you have the right guys here because it's really been three straight septembers of lackluster baseball. You had the two massive collapses. I mean, the Colorado series in 2018 was still the worst series of all time.

The National series last year where they lost five straight was equally as bad. Oh, that was bad. The first three games of this series against the Nationals was very frustrating. They came back last night, got a big win, which was great. They might miss the playoffs. Messing up those first three games in the Nationals might cost them the playoff run. I just want to see them look like they give a crap, and I want to see guys step up. I want to see who I can trust going forward because they changed managers.

Gabe clearly was not the huge problem in September last year. It might be the guys. It might be the guys. It might be the guys on this team. They might not know how to win. They might not know how to win. So I want to see them be able to come out with some fire and just look like they give a crap. Because that's what was the most frustrating of the first three games

against the Nationals was it was like, do you guys even want to make the playoffs? Or are we just going through the motions to end out a season here? Like, if you just play decently well, you make the playoffs. So, yeah, I'm focused on half game behind the Marlins. If the Marlins lose tonight, they're going to be dead even heading into this weekend. The Marlins have the Yankees. We have the Rays.

The Yankees have something to play for. The Rays technically do not, but we know that. Well, the Yankees kind of have something to play for. Just the rays technically do not but we know that well the yankees kind of have something to play for just the team they would face like they're they're not winning the division no matter what and they're already a playoff team right but they have more to play for than the race is agree i guess i guess my well i mean i mean it depends on how important batting in the bottom of the inning is in in the second and third round of the playoffs, right? For the race. Yeah. Like whether, if they,

if they think that that's a legitimate market, you know, it's statistical advantage that they can gain from being the quote unquote home team in a neutral site, then they might have more interest, but they're the only team in baseball. I would even consider looking into the numbers on such things. Well,

I mean, they are skewed anyway, cause they're at home anyway. There aren't enough neutral site games to really get a real feel for. The Rays are so cool. I saw, it was like a month ago, they played an all-lefty lineup for the first time in baseball history. That's so cool, man.

Imagine having that much depth. Imagine having that much depth. Well, that's the thing. Dude, they lost like what? I think they had nine or ten pitchers on the IL at one point. Bullpen guys and their bullpen just keeps chugging along and being awesome. I mean just cycle guys up wander franco hasn't even seen the field this year and you know young and all that not expecting him to but i mean they have the best prospect in baseball just hanging out ready to go at some point i mean it's they are amazing they are

the model organization as far as and they haven't even won a world series obviously but just in terms of of how to go about your your organizational practices in terms of drafting developing scouting what you pay people what all this type of stuff i mean they're just they're the top of the class you know blank check yes blank check blank check blank all right check all right so unfortunately the only of these teams that are facing each other are the Cardinals and Brewers That makes it a little more, you know, kind of pick one and root for them, I would say Well, the Brewers have Corbin Burns tonight So I might have to chalk that one up as a win

For the Brewers, you mean? Yes Have you seen Corbin Burns? Yeah, he's nasty Again, either way, the point is one of those two teams is definitely making it. Yeah. So, you know, root against the other, I would say. Just pick one.

But outside of that, the problem with the Marlins, obviously, is that regardless of what happens tonight, you want them to lose. Obviously, you're tied with them, but you're not really tied with them. You have to beat the Marlins by a game that is frustrating you know that means that you've got to you got to play a little better one on a three ain't gonna get it done in terms of getting that spot for sure like no way so i know we say it a lot james we say it a lot but this time this time we really mean it two or three for the well that's the thing honestly don't make the playoffs if they win two or3. I legitimately believe that.

I think that there are enough variables with these other teams, especially with, look, the Giants are still down right now in the seventh, with the Marlins facing the Yankees. I think there's enough variables in there where if they win 2-3, they'll get in. They still might not. That's the craziest thing is they could still not get in if they win 2-3. But I think if they win 2-3, they're in.

All right. I will trust your math on that one. All I do is sit there and watch. Again, they might not. They're not a playoff team right now as we're speaking, but they're a half game back. I think two or three will get there. Again, it's six teams for four spots. You know?

Showtime. To your point, though, I agree with what you said i think and ultimately whether or not they make the playoffs or whatever like those first three games the national series like was the low point of the season for me and that and you could hear it you could hear it going into it the whole time like you and i talked like that's when i really was strongly saying i don't i'm out on them i don't want to but i was like like after already saying that it hammered it home for me because it just like in the in the biggest series of the season no question they didn't show up they didn't look like they had any life at all any fight until the the end of that second game obviously and they fought back in that one. And then they lost, but it carried over to the next day and they fought.

I want to see them fight, man. I want to see them come out and I want them to be like, all right, there are three games between us in the playoffs. Let's play like it. And if you get beat, you get beat. But don't get beat because you don't show up. That's what I need to see. I'm so with you on that, Jack.

Yeah, and honestly, the first couple games of the National Series, it was the most disappointed I had been in Joe Girardi. all with you on that, Jack. Yeah, and honestly, the first couple games of the National Series, I was just, it was the most disappointed I had been in Joe Girardi. It had nothing to do with the moves. It had nothing to do with any of that stuff. It's like, this is what they paid you to do. This is why Gabe Kappa's not here. They paid you to get this team ready to win these games,

and I know they're banged up, and I understand that. But the Nationals suck. The Nationals suck. The Nationals suck. Again the national suck austin both and animal sanchez there's no excuse for that like whatever you want to say about you know aaron nola needed to show up and he didn't and granted his defense did not help him not like let's be it was a horrendous jay bruce is just not a first baseman very clearly yeah um but but to to for this offense, which again, no Hoskins, I get it, and they're banged up and Harper is battling the back

and all that stuff, but to not show up against those two guys who came in, who are two guys who came in with over 70 RAs and also are two guys you know. You've seen these guys.

This isn't like, oh, he's got a weird delivery. I've never seen him before. It was just funky and I couldn't hit him or it was a weird day or whatever. You know what these guys do. That is lifelessness.

That is not grinding at bats. That is not coming in with a plan and approach, all that type of stuff. It was very disappointing. It was awful. It was straight up just awful. Yeah, it was nice that Willis Reed Harper came through last night. Just in time. That is awesome. Well done.

Back's fine when he's hitting two dingers in a game. Buddy, I love that. Your turning on Bryce has been my favorite plot of 2020. Pulling himself from the game after striking out the bases loaded did not so well with me. It just did not, did not, did not so well with me at all. So,

um, yeah, I mean, it's nice that he showed up last night. I would have liked him to show up the two games before that, but I guess the back was acting up, but the back was fine last night. So it's good to see.

It's good to see. Um, and I really, I mean, all jokes aside, like need him this weekend. Like this is a and the biggest of ways this is a jt and bryce it's showtime series i mean even more bryce i mean i think jt is i mean jt's legit banged up it seems with that like dude see it when he hustled that out yeah you know and let's let's

talk about that for a second this they're going to legitimately let this guy hit free agency when he is three games away from free agency. He's hurt. He still wants to come play for this team and help them make the playoffs, a team that took him to arbitration, a team that did not want to pay him after the pandemic. They're going to let that dude walk. That the pandemic, they're going to let that dude walk. That's the guy they're going to let walk.

They're letting that dude hit free agency, a guy who actually gives a crap. He is three days away from getting a huge payday. If he gets hurt again like it's only jeopardizing the the future yeah it's certainly not hurting helping his chances right to get more money yeah right right this this guy doesn't he doesn't have to play right now like legitimately you can say i'm hurt i don't want to play for the rest of the season i would say most people would in the situation with how the team is played whatever i would say more players than not at least would.

Jack, I think it's a great point. It's a great – like, what a gamer. What a – I mean, that's the kind of guy you want to be in your foxhole. It's the kind of guy we were just talking about. Like, you want those guys to be on your team in important games. Well, and imagine what his teammates are saying. Like, dude, JT's getting out there. We see what he's going through. We see the treatment he's getting, JT's getting out there. We see what he's going through.

We see the treatment he's getting, and he's going out there. What's my excuse? Like, what's my excuse? You know? And they've subjected him to catching this bullpen. So you factor all that in, and it's like, that's the guy that you're just going to let go, and it's going to be fine. That's the guy.

That's the guy. We're just going to let him hit free agency. We're not going to try fine that's the guy that's the guy we're just gonna we're just gonna let him hit free agency we're not gonna try to lock him up you know well obviously they tried to lock him up but once the pandemic hit and they lost a hundred million dollars also we can't pay our players like whatever middleton for that one and clint back to both they both deserve but fraud middleton to to not and did you see the jason Stark stat that he put out today or whatever that in the history of baseball since obviously free agency began, no player has been taken to arbitration in the last year of his deal, lost arbitration, and stayed with that team. So that is – you're fighting history here with that. Arbitration creates animosity and all that type of stuff. It does.

I don't care what anyone says. The whole point is you're going in there and you're saying why that guy's not worth the money that he thinks he's worth. Regardless, regardless of that, like to your point, Jack, like the fact that they're in this position, the fact that not wanting to go over the luxury tax or being so deathly scared of going into the luxury tax is one of the biggest reasons that they're in this position i mean it's an absolute embarrassment for john middleton he should be embarrassed i hope that the fan base is all embarrassed with for him and in him because mr big boy pants mr steinbrenner in the south stupid

money such a fraud man it is such a fraud uh going back to the arbitration thing for a second i got two things one i i feel like i didn't i know the stat i know no players every so i just feel like this is a different circumstance like i don't know i agree i'm not i'm not saying that stat is a way i again i still even with all this think if i had to bet money i would bet on him still being a philly next season like i do think that but i don't i do think that stat says something in the sense that i don't think that everyone understands just how ugly arbitration hearings are and like that like and jt i think the biggest part is that jt doesn't seem like the type of person who would take that that way like

he seems like someone who is a you know a solid guy who understands the process and was trying to do what he could for other catchers in the future and other players in the future but like the whole point of arbitration is the phillies are going in there and saying this guy isn't nearly as good as he's telling you he is like and here's why he doesn't do this look at his numbers it's an ugly thing is my point and the second thing i was going to do and you kind of just teed me up for it i feel like you missed a james seltzer staple which is this is a human being he's a human being that's one of my staples he's a human being it's my thing i know i know and it's true and that in those situations as much as any like again if i if if if we had to

go to arbitration because i hopes pod made money uh if you're out there sponsors we're down if if you want if you want us to make some money because we're sliding our dms very we're here baby we're here if you want to be yeah very available very open and available we are all in yeah for that yeah but let's say in a in an imaginary world obviously hopefully not someday money off of this podcast yeah like and we had to go and there was some sort of issue where where we had to decide who was worth more and we had to go to court and i had to fight you and and go to a judge and say i'm worth more than he we had to go to court and I had to fight you and, and go to a judge and say,

I'm worth more than he is. And it's a little different. Cause we're not talking about, we're talking about one versus the other, but I do want to be like, Jack's not worth as much as I am because of this, this, this Jack sucks at this.

And Jack does this. Like it's, it's, you would not be psyched with me. Like, it's not like you'd look at me and be like, Oh, I want to spend the next seven years of my life with that guy.

You know? Yeah. Why don't you tell me how you really feel? I feel like, I feel like you, I feel like you have some things that you've been wanting to get off your chest i mean is there anything anything you need to air out right now no i'm good but i mean obviously obviously i'd win that arbitration case but

dude wait hold on hold on how how how long into the arbitration case would you bring up break out pavetta like what was it i gotta be my lead argument it would be like did you did you see this guy we're talking about credibility right i mean this is what this is about yeah yeah yep and you would have said he almost tanked the podcast and then i would have said uh it was me people think we're a joke because of this i mean come on yeah yeah yeah although i mean then my counter would be do you enjoy watching i brought price harper to philadelphia well shocking i knew what you were going to say. Me personally. I knew exactly where you were going.

You didn't even need to tell me. I would win the arbitration because I would know exactly where you're going with everything. I'd be ready to dodge and volley it. Well, I would have a lawyer. I would too. My brother's a lawyer. There you go. I didn't know he was a lawyer.

Oh, yeah. Peter Seltzer. My guy. Great lawyer. What kind of lawyer is he? I always screw this up. I always say he's a labor lawyer, but he's not. He's an employment lawyer. I always say he's a labor lawyer, and he's like,

a labor lawyer is for unions. That's not what I do. I'm an employment lawyer. I only met Pete once. I don't see the lawyer in him. He's a little guy. What does that have to do with being a lawyer? I just want to trust him in the courtroom. He's a pretty damn good lawyer.

I don't know if he'd command the courtroom like I need. Let's put it this way, Jack. He's making a hell of a lot more money than you and I are. Did you just hear that pitch that we had to the potential advertisers? No. Who wouldn't want to advertise with us after that? Yeah, especially when we already are making arbitration cases. I know.

We're already ready to go at each other's throats. Come sponsor us. Yep. Yep. Everything's fine on this podcast. Oh, man. I don't even know what we got there. Oh, arbitration.

Yes. It's ugly. That's my favorite. Yes. And they're human beings. And they're human beings. That's my favorite. Yes, and they're human beings. And they're human beings. That's good. All right, you got anything else?

I'm growing tired of you, Jack. Oh, what are you going to do? Take me to arbitration? I might. I might. I was heading into the bottom of... If you are my daughter and arbitration is her bed, then yes, that's what I will be doing next. Okay.

Let's speak into existence. The Rockies are up 4-3 still, going to the bottom of the eighth. Okay. Bottom of the eighth. And just remember, no way Velasquez wins tomorrow night. There's no way the Phillies are beating...

That's some bad news, Jack. What? They're not winning anymore. Oh, they tied it up. 4-4. It's because Gabe knows how to win tight games. Gabe's good, man. Pulling all the right moves.

Brandon Belt, game-tying home run. Brandon Belt all of a sudden is good. How is Brandon Belt still a Giant and still just chugging along? Was Brandon Belt on the 2010 team? No, I think he was on the 20—he was definitely on the 2014 one. I don't think he was before then. Yeah. He was on one of those World Series.

I know he's definitely on 2014, but I feel like Brandon Belt's been there for a decade. Well, he probably has been there for a decade. But, yeah, so that game's tied up. And here's the thing with Gabe, and I don't want to turn into a Gabe thing, but the real difference is, between Girardi, Gabe, and whatever, Gabe and I don't want to turn into a Gabe thing but like the real difference is between

Girardi, Gabe and whatever is that the Giants have a real general manager. I mean Farhan is like this for there's going to be people that are like oh Gabe, Gabe, Gabe like managers don't matter. Like they just don't matter that much.

Farhan is obviously already proven to be a wizard like the thing that's the thing that i guess the main reason why eric neander is so important and blank check and all that is like is like look at the giants like that roster sucks man like they are not a good they are not a good baseball they're not but they got the most out of those guys because farhan just knows what he's looking at and he knows what he's looking at. And he knows what he's looking for. And he knows how his coaching staff can get the most out of those guys.

And the guy here is just awful at it. He is just awful at it. Look at, I mean, Farhan's a difference maker. Andrew Friedman's a difference maker. The whole Indians front office is a difference maker. The Rays, Yankees, those are different-making front offices, and I want that here. It is the only thing that matters.

The only thing that matters is getting a real GM that knows what he's doing. And, again, Eric Neander is the blank check guy. He's the only guy in baseball that you give a blank check to. You're the big market. He has the best record in baseball or tie for the best record in baseball with a payroll that's like 60 million dollars your pay last it's last it's last it's the last it's the lowest payroll every year every year and every year they're good every year they're good so and honestly he might be better than andrew friedman like

the rays were not the rays like the race were Rays. I actually think he is better than Andrew Friedman. I agree with you. Now, the big question is how good was Chaim with him, and we love Chaim. I think Neander, look what he's doing again this year and all that, some of the moves he's made. But, you know, I think the bigger – I think he's better, personally. Well, and it's not Neander. Like, there's another guy right below him that's been there for a while.

So, you know, maybe you take the next Chaim before he turns into – I think he's better, personally. Well, it's not Neander. There's another guy right below him that's been there for a while. So maybe you take the next Haim before he turns into what Haim turned into. So it's just so important. It's so important that Matt Klintock is not the GM of this team. It's everything. It's everything. It's the most important thing. Yeah. Harper's great.

Girardi's great. JT, great. Get a real GM in here, and let's go win some championships. Go, go, go, go, go,

go give Eric Neander a blank check and let's go, let's go really win. Let's go really win some ball games. So for a sustained period of time. Yes, yes, yes, yes.

Who do you trust more in a playoff game? Zach Eflin or Aaron Nola? Still Nola, but I mean, look, who do I trust to start this particular upcoming playoff? I mean, Eflin's pitching better right now. Eflin looks awesome. Eflin's great. Eflin is.

He's legit. And his stuff has taken an uptick. I mean, obviously everyone's talking about the curveball, but I haven't seen a two-seamer dance like that from him. I mean, he was 95 and he was dancing. He's got 70 strikeouts in 56 innings and only 14 walks. Like, that's high-level stuff. I'm shocked they were able to get that out of him.

It's really impressive. That's something a smart organization would do. Yeah. Well, Brian Price is smart. Yeah. It's really impressive. That's something a smart organization would do. Well, Brian Price is smart. Yeah. Brian Price is smart. Yeah. I wish that we were getting a little bit more from Brian Price, but it does seem like he's got another level of Zach Eflin.

We've seen another level of Aaron Nolan, Zach Wheeler. And he has no talent in the bullpen. Dog poop in the bullpen. Yeah. So I guess getting the most out of those three is a, is a good sign that Brian Price knows what he's doing. I think, I think if he spent more time with Spencer Howard before the injury,

you would have seen Spencer pitching a lot better right now. Area doesn't agree with you. And I mean, and look at Vinny. I mean, Vinny's had a couple of good starts here in a row. So, you know,

you never know, but there's no, again, there's no way Vince Velasquez wins tomorrow night against charlie morton just no just no way speaking speaking of good coaching our guy jason ochart is in how about you mean national phenomenon superstar jason ochart is that you're talking about yeah yeah and what podcast was the only podcast that was really excited about the jason ochart signing what other what other podcast ever heard of j O'Chart?

Yeah, that's a good point. Thank you. That's a good point. But, and I just, I fundamentally believe that, like, you know, there's a lot of people that are like, wow, you know, Alec Boehm is just Alec Boehm. Like, he's just the number three overall pick. He was always going to be really good, all that stuff.

Alec Boehm would not be this good without Jason O'Chartc Boehm would not be this good without Jason Ochart. He would not be this good without what Ochart and his staff is preaching down the minor leagues. And you're seeing these guys come up. You know, Moniak didn't look great, but Moniak walked four times when his career minor league walk rate was like 5%. Like he never walked, but you're seeing control of the strike zone. You're seeing these guys come up, and they seem like they know what they're doing. Like just get that guy

talent and let him go to work. So, um, for anyone that's talking about the player development of the Phillies and talking about Alec Baum and all, well, that was a no brainer. It wasn't, I mean, they got more out of Alec Baum. Alec Baum in his first year. We all remember the infamous hands video, Jack. We'll never forget it. Yeah, I got roasted for saying his hands weren't in a strong position. But they legitimately weren't. I was right. I was right.

And they fixed that. He didn't have a professional home run in his first year in minor league baseball. That was pre-O-Chart. And then they got the most out of them so um yeah i mean o chart is a is a a home run higher that sounded cliche didn't i didn't mean to say that that was a little too cliche for me sure you didn't it was a home run higher what a home run higher yeah um other things might take real quick though really really quickly Can he teach Mickey Moniak to play defense too? Is that

Mickey will be fine in the field He's always been a good defender Just Jack and Jack It has to be mentioned It was a bad moment, we don't talk about it One of the worst throws Obviously the miss the other night was bad too That throw was one of the worst throws

I've ever seen on a Major League Baseball game. Yeah, I don't care about the throw because I had seen enough bad throws on Sunday that the Mickey Moniak throw meant I was just dead at that point. I saw Carson overthrow Zach Ertz by 20 yards, so that throw meant nothing. What else have you gotten to take, then? Dude, what are the Nationals going forward like i've watched i've watched them that whole series like they might stink for a couple years here like like legitimately scherzer corbin strasburg fine i mean corbin actually might suck like corbin's had a bad

year yeah i mean he's down to like 88 miles an hour i mean they they really just they went all out for the world series last year i mean, I think they felt the effects of it. I really do. I think they just kind of broke down, which makes sense. Juan Soto, not breaking down, though. I mean, he is so good. It's unbelievable. He is just on another.

I didn't watch what Barry Bonds looked like as a kid, but I'm assuming this is what it was. I didn't watch Griffey. I didn't watch any of those guys. Soto's the first one. Like, this even feels bigger than Trout. Like, Trout came up and was, like, good at everything, you know, but just seeing the pure power and just being terrified of every Juan Soto at bat,

like, phew, dude's just different, man. And honestly, like, I love him. Like, I'm a Phillies fan. I love the Phillies. Honestly, I love him. I'm a Phillies fan. I love the Phillies. I love Juan Soto. It's annoying to go against, but he's just unbelievable. What are the Nationals? They have Soto, Turner.

Robles probably isn't that good. They have a big payroll they got to shed. We might be looking at a tough couple years for those Nats. Like if Carter Keeboom doesn't – From your lips to God's ears, Jack. If Carter Keeboom doesn't turn into something like – He doesn't look like he's going to. Yeah, that team might stink.

I mean, Juan Soto's going to be Juan Soto, but that team might stink for a little bit. How much does Didi get this offseason? I don't think we have even talked enough about Didi. He's been the most consistent player on the team. Boehm, since he's come up offensively, for sure. But Didi's been the most consistent player on the team. He leads them in RBI this year.

He's got double-digit home runs. He's got an 850-ish OPS at shortstop while playing great defense at shortstop. Didi has been all you could have hoped for and more. I think it's more. I mean, he's had some weird defensive moments, but whatever. He's batting like 289. You don't expect that with Didi. He has a 350 OBP.

He has 10 homers. Yeah, he's been great. He has been absolutely great. I desperately want them to re-sign him. I know. I know. I do too, but I just don't know would he take a two year deal

a third year option? I don't trust Fraud Middleton to get any of these guys signed in any situation I'm just saying I would love to have Didi here for an extended break I know, I know not the nice thing Andrew Allen Simmons is a free agent this offseason.

Simeon. They could do some things, but it's going to hurt not seeing Didi here. Didi is a pure joy. I don't think we've talked enough about how just really good. Usually Didi is like a streaky guy. He gets super hot, super cold, super hot, super cold. Just consistently good all year, consistently good all year with defense and leadership and,

um, timely home runs and really tough guy to strike out. So just a likable guy. Like he just comes off as a really likable guy. So yeah, I, I literally could not agree with you more. So gonna miss DD.

Uh, well they could resign him, but I, I wonder if he gets like a four year, $80 million deal. Is there any chance he gets four 80, 20 million? No. I wonder if he gets a four-year $80 million deal. Is there any chance he gets $480 million, $20 million? No.

I mean, there's a chance. I think it's more likely it's like four for $60 million, four for $65 million, something like that maybe. I wish they could find a way to bring him back. I do too. I just said I'm all in. I love him. That's all I have.

Big weekend ahead. Are you nervous? Let's do this, Jack. Again, what we always say, the truism of this podcast, we will never lie to the High Hopes listeners. Do you think the Phillies make the playoffs? No, I don't think the Phillies make the playoffs.

I don't either. I just don't. I don't know how you could trust them is the point like to show up this weekend and you know yeah yeah and i hate the whole like the rays i don't think i'm playing for like i just i'm nervous it drives me crazy again the nationals had nothing to play for like how far do we have to go back to remember a series where the other team had nothing to play for and the phillies lost 3-4 just this past one. It's not that hard. This just has a lot of 05, 06-ish vibes.

It's like they won 88 games and it wasn't enough. Actually, it feels more like last year, Jack. Yeah, sprinkled in with eight teams. Speaking of never lying to the High Ops listeners, it is your 40th birthday tomorrow, correct? It is not. Stop lying. It is my 39th birthday tomorrow.

What a birthday weekend, watching the Phils try to make the playoffs. Does it get any better than that? Look, Jack, it's been a long time. I was a young'un the last time I watched a birthday weekend, watched the Phils make the playoffs a long time ago. You were in your 30s. I know. Still am, Jack.

Still am. You turn 40 tomorrow, pal. Proud of you. Thanks, buddy. Means a lot. We'll have to have a high hops together to celebrate. Yes, yes, yes, yes. Sounds good to me.

High hops is, of course, brewed and ready to be drank for this weekend's games at Four Fingers Brewing Company in Aston Mills, PA. Go out and try to talk Phillies with my dad. You will be severely disappointed. He knows nothing about the Phillies. Awesome. Definitely go get some high hops. Rate and review the pod. We will be back Sunday. Whatever happens, right i mean you know whatever happens just don't make us sad just don't make us don't make us sad we'll be here monday there you know sunday monday probably sunday i think with this weekend um we'll see sunday or monday i guess i think if they make the playoffs we will definitely be there sunday night if they miss the playoffs it'll either be

sunday night or monday is that fair and i mean if they lose and If they miss the playoffs, it'll either be Sunday night or Monday. Is that fair? If they lose and don't make the playoffs, it'll be Sunday night with many a beer. Yes. Okay. I like that. That'll be the plan. Either way, we will be talking to you guys in a few days,

hopefully with good things to talk about. Go Phillies. He's Fred's himself, so we'll see 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.

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