High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - MacPhail Makes Everyone Feel Better About the Phillies and the Nationals Own Us

Episode Date: July 15, 2019

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz are back talking about the Phils and their president who always finds a way to make us feel better about the team... sike. Also the Nats just own us but at least we have Bryson Stott.  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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This is the High Hopes Podcast. High hopes. It's a bunch of baseball nerds talking about the Philadelphia Phillies We got you. Rogers. 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 High Hopes Podcast. Back in our studio, Jack. Hey. Get to look at your beautiful face over there. Yeah. Semi

beautiful. It's very. You have a big beard thing I know. You're like real burly these days Well it's cause like. Burly fritz. I'm waiting to get a haircut and shave at the same time but like I'm crying crosshairs or my hair's long and I got a long beard. It's long man I know. Like this is the longest beard I've ever seen you have It's a playoff beard. It's a legit playoff

beard. The season ended today. The Phil's will be in the second wild card. So for those who can't we'll get to that for for those who can't see jack imagine dallas keitel charlie blackman like pretty much right that's what he looks like right right uh james i would like to start this podcast by saying that um andy mcphail is Mike's dad from Stranger Things. Wow. He's Ted? You're calling him Ted? He is. Wow.

Poor Andy. That is horrendous. I love him. I love him in that show. He's great. He's great. The amount of... I didn't expect this to turn into a Stranger Things podcast so quickly.

But it can. I'm in. I'm ready. I love the subtle comedy in Stranger Things. It's unlike any show I've seen before where it can be so serious, but then also mix off into some funny stuff. It's really well written. I appreciate Stranger Things.

I'm very with you. Ted is a character. That is that exact example. Andy McPhail is the biggest freaking Debbie Downer. That's what he does, man. Every time he talks, I want to stab myself with a spoon. Well, he's not good at it. I hate listening to him talk about the Phillies.

And I just wish he wasn't even touching this franchise. That guy is a loser. Andy McPhail, he's a loser. That guy's a loser. Technically not. I mean, technically he has built a World Series championship team that won two World Series. And what year was that?

Minnesota Twins. What year was that? Minnesota Twins. What year was that? Well, yeah, 87 to 91. Okay, that was your high school years. I mean, I understand you're impartial, Andy McPhail, because you grew up with Andy McPhail, but it doesn't mean that I, someone who wants to live in the 21st century,

has to be subjected to relying on Jack Morris and Kirby Plunkett, okay? Plunkett? Is that his name? No and Kirby Plunkett, okay? Plunkett? Is that his name? No, Kirby Puckett. Kirby Puckett. Come on, Mr. Baseball Names Guy, Kirby Plunkett? I know.

I was thinking Jim Plunkett and get all mixed up. Not great. I mean, I know you watched that on your 18th birthday, but I just... I really remember it well. Dan Gladden scored the winning run in the 10th inning. I remember it well. Actually, I do wish I could... Gene Larkin with a fly ball over the outfielder.

I wish I could have seen the 1991 Smaltz versus Morris game. Watch it. I remember it vividly. It's like one of my first earliest true baseball memories where I remember it. Not every pitch, but I remember watching the whole game. I remember sitting up with my dad. I remember the 10th inning. Like I said, Gene Larkin.

That's the guy who got the winning hit in the world series the walk of it is gene freaking larkin look at that that's good that's good work by you i don't mess around man when it comes to you know my my uh my college years i was your college years you're you're home on uh how can i forget my college years so yeah i mean you're home for the weekend, you know, doing your laundry. Yeah. Wow. It's just like, every time this guy talks,

and the way he talks is such a losing mentality. He doesn't have the greatest drawl, as it were. It is a very depressing listen. Everything he does just is so brutal. All right, well, let's get into it, and we'll talk about the weekend series. I'm guessing neither of us, the Phillies seem to always do this, where they you know have a crappy series and then they'll walk off the last game or something like yeah all right go phillies they'll sweep the mats and oh go

phillies it's like every time but well here's the thing and the reason we get so excited is like we just want to believe like me and you like having, having to do semi, like, semi, semi, like, negative podcast hurts us to our core. It's not fine. Like, I just want to be cocky and have fun with this Phillies team, and they're making it freaking impossible. Impossible. Like, what happened on Saturday was, it was like, I, I, honest, honest to God, and I never,

I never lied to the High Hopes listeners. I left, not left, but I turned off the TV after Saturday's game. I didn't do it. Well, I turned it off after the Juan Soto home run. I said I'm done. I said I'm not watching. I'm sorry. I followed it on my phone, pitch by pitch, bat at bat.

I wasn't going to miss it if they did anything, but on principle, when Juan Soto hit that home run, I turned my TV off, legitimately. I don't blame you. I watched the whole thing, but after the game, I was like, I hate this Phillies team. I love the Phillies. I hate the game, I was like, I hate this Phillies team. Like, I love the Phillies. I hate this team. Like, I hate this team. They're not fun, man. Obviously, Sunday kind of salvaged it a little bit.

Sure. But sort of. I mean, it wasn't even like good. No, I still felt crappy about it. Did you feel good after the Broncos run? No, I didn't. And it's a shame that I didn't. And look, it was fun to see a walk-off and all that.

And thank God, because if they get swept by the Nationals, we're talking about, oh, well, how long until they're selling or something ridiculous? Of course, again, and let's get to McPhail. We'll get back to the Nationals because I was about to say the, if the season ended today, the playoff team. You and Andy. You guys sure know how to get a message. It's so ridiculous, Jack.

I hate him, dude. All right, so here's the thing. I actually don't have much of a problem with what McPhail said. I clearly have the minority with that, but I think he was just speaking truth. This team is not one trade away. He's dead right about that. It would be smart organizationally to not go all in on this year, as you and I have talked about a lot.

So I'm fine with that stuff. I also think that on a larger perspective, I think he was trying to take the eat-off Kapler and Klintak. And as someone in that position, the president of. I also think that, on a larger perspective, I think he was trying to take the heat off Kapler and Klintak. And as someone in that position, the president of the team and all that, it's the right move. It's what he's supposed to do. We don't like him for it because we're getting pissed at him now. It's worked perfectly.

Because now what are we talking about? We're talking about how everyone hates Andy McPhail. We're not talking about Klintak, who we should be talking about. Kapler, less so, should be talking about. I want to know where you're at with Kapler. You're finally starting to realize that almost none of this is his. On Klintac, you mean?

No, on Kapler. No, I've never. Look, again, I was annoyed with the whole segura of it all and the way that was handled and the way they were playing.

And I still think that if you're the manager of a team, the product that shows up on the team still at a certain point has to come back on you. It has to. But I definitely agree

it's more Klintak. I mean, this team just isn't good enough. Andrew Knapp is batting in the ninth inning. Andrew Knapp is their go-to pinch hitter in a big spot. What are we talking about? The bullpen is like... Adam Morgan, thank God, he looked like he bounced back a little bit yesterday. It looked like he was back.

Saturday, less so. Saturday was not good. His velocity is still down, and the sharpness on the slider isn't there. But I thought Sunday was the first time we really saw the Adam Morgan slider that made him so dominant for the first month of the year. We forget that he didn't give up a run until his 16th or 17th outing. He was awesome. I know.

And then he kind of cratered, and the injury happened. Now Tommy Hunter's back on the DL. I know. The IO. I know. It's 2019. Just helping you out, brother. Just getting you on the DL. But like this, the team, I know it's 2019. Just helping you out. Getting you on the right track.

But like, but like, it's just, this team is not, there's just too many holes like to really blame them. And I think, I think we're all, even if you're anti-Kapler or whatever, I think people are finally starting to realize like,

what is this guy really supposed to do? Like, what can you really get mad at? Like he's being forced to trust JD Hammer in, in, in big moments. And Edgar Garcia and all that. all yeah it's horrendous yeah it's bad and now it's 100 back on the il uh it's only gonna get neshek with the hand neshek done for the year now it seems like probably his career he's 38 yeah uh hey guess what pat won't miss you buddy bye-bye see ya see ya

cannot wait to not have the root for you again yeah like anyway he was a Phillies all star one of my very conflicted Phillies in the sense that when he was on the hill I wanted him to get outs but otherwise I was rooting against him and everything he did not great super but uh love that guy like McPhail like him real quick have they scheduled

Pat Neshek's wall of fame ceremony thinking about it no he was an all star so he was better than some of the other people on that wall of fame anyway the philly's all-stars from like 2015 on or just depressing like oh yeah the don brown all-star which was depressing the don brown of it all is just the neshek oh oh do was it all about that yeah it's crazy all-star very fun era of Philly's baseball Yeah, it's great It's great

But like him Like McPhail does this thing Where he somehow Like when Hinckley used to talk I would be like Oh, I'm so I trust this guy with my life He's smart

He sounds smart I love every time he talks I feel better about the future Every time Howie talks I'm like, oh, we're in great hands This guy's got it Every time McPhail talks I think this team is worse off than

he does really poo poo things doesn't he dude remember remember the poor free agency harper they go well you know we're probably not gonna sign guys the people that thought we could sign both of them haven't checked the books haven't been checking the numbers i'm andy mcphail he's just like like like oh i'm andy mcphail coming up soon to block a let zeppelin he's like they just haven't checked the books shut up man but him saying that all right this is his quote if the season end today we would have our goal we would be in the postseason in our fourth year to suggest for a second that there's something lacking at leadership level coaching level i just don't believe that andy you said those comments on july 12th man like you can't you can't be parading around the

we had a quick turnaround in major league baseball by being a second wild card in a league where on july 12th in a second wild card where the cardinals are 500 and they're like a game and a half out just one game back actually the mets are six games out of a wild card spot. The San Francisco Giants are four and a half games out. The Giants, man. I know. Again, they have an outfield of literally people we've never heard of. I think Kevin PR is still out there.

I know who he is. Steven Duggar. Steven Duggar. I had no idea who that guy was until he was starting for the Giants. It's crazy. The way they talk about this, quickest to make the playoffs. That's fine, but you have a couple of blue chippers. Well, they also use the Cubs as a reference when they trade for Chapman.

It's like, yeah, then they won the World Series. Okay? Trading for Chapman was the move that helped them win the World Series. Different. Different situation, Andy. I don't know. I think if we had a Glaber tour

in our system that's the other thing you don't even have a Glaber to trade are you kidding me when he said my biggest problem with the whole thing

was when he said you know you gotta protect your crown jewels of your system I was like we don't have any what crown jewels are we protecting

how dare you slander Alec Baum that's it that's all we got Spencer Howard. We don't have crown jewels. The Padres have like 10 guys in the top 50 across Major League Baseball. What is going on here?

Fernando Tatis Jr. Fernando Tatis Jr. is already one of the better players in the game. It's ridiculous. I know. It's absurd. He should have been an all-star. I wish he was an all-star. If he hadn't gotten hurt, he would have been.

I know. He's so good. He's going to be one of the great players in baseball for the next 15 years. Awesome. Where's that guy on this team? Would you bet on him or Vladdy? Oh, to Dees. I think he's better.

He's better. He's a better hitter. Well, not fair. He's certainly a better fielder. Like a way better. When you take defense into it, you're talking just purely offensively. There's such different types of hitters. It's hard to say he's a better hitter when Vlad is like the greatest minor league hitter

in the history of baseball. So it's hard to say that. But I... Until Wander Franco makes the league. Oh, yeah. Dude. I think that he's better. I think so, too.

Yeah, I do. And that's crazy. I thought Vlad, he was going to be like this generation's Manny. Me, too. Still good. He'll get up there. He'll get there. He's really good.

That's still good. I'd take him. Would you take him? Would you rather have him or jaylen ortiz for the same or for uh like a hundred thousand dollars more well that's it's like they didn't even need to draft pick to get vladdy jr no just sign him who needs it sign him maybe i don't know but the every time like the mcphail stuff just drives me crazy man like every time i hear him talk it makes me feel way worse about the team and like

he just gives off such a loser mentality vibe the guy like i just i i fear that like what modern baseball team employs andy mcphail like like it's it's 2019 right to be fair here to be fair like he is not the day-to-day guy like he's not making moves he's overseeing things and look he did come in here when he first came here and said i want to merge the old the new school like i'm not someone i'm into analytics i'm into he said all the things we wanted to hear initially yeah but he never like all right when i look at the dodgers like andrew friedman is there of course is there andy mcphail yes i know i i i've, the Theo thing. Yeah, with the best front organization

in the sport, like, or one of the two. The Theo thing's a bit, but like, Theo is their Andy McPhail. Yeah. Like,

Brian Cashman is the Yankees' Andy McPhail. Yes. Like, that's what I'm talking about. Like, you have guys

that are in the modern day and like, this guy hasn't been relevant. the Orioles teams are fine. Look where the Orioles are now. Like, I mean, he did a good job

with those Orioles teams. Maybe, but they didn't win anything. No. No, they didn't. But. No. You could argue that was Peter Angelos' fault and not Andy McPhail's fault.

But what I'm frustrated with McPhail and Klens, well, not frustrated, but I don't think we've talked enough about is that these guys came from small markets and they were building

small market teams. Good point. The way they've built this Phillies team, the Harper signing notwithstanding, it feels like a small market mentality. Like, the Keiko thing, they didn't want to go over the luxury tax. That's what it is.

They didn't want to go over the luxury tax. But look, you mean Andrew Friedman you bring up, he came from a small market background. He went to LA, and he's just good. It doesn't matter. Some guys are really good. I mean, Theo's obviously big market, cash in big market. I want the Phillies to be a big market team.

Me too. I want them Phillies to be a big market team. Me too. I want them to be freaking bullies. So that was one thing that McPhail did say that we've been waiting to hear said, and granted they have to do it, but he did say they'd take on salary. Did you believe that when he said it? You think that was just something he threw out there? Which do you believe more, the actions or the words? Of course.

Trade for Zach Greinke, then I'll believe you. Right. I mean, they didn't even go scout Dallas Keuchel. And that's so embarrassing Dallas Keuchel. And that's so embarrassing. Keuchel again, seven innings, one run.

Yeah, and like, not even that I think Keuchel's unbelievable. He's just better than what you got. You don't have anything else. You don't have anything else. And it's money. Like, that's the thing.

Like, it's only money. You don't have to give up any of your guys to go get him. Look, I was saying sign Keuchel at the time. I still believe they should have. It's clearly,

especially a one-year deal. He's playing for another contract. Like, it was a Sion Keuchel at the time. I still believe they should have. It's clearly... Especially a one-year deal. He's playing for another contract. It was a no-brainer. And now he's in Atlanta Brave. And the Braves are eight games up on the Phillies. Yeah. And only getting better.

They're just way better. I mean, we have to... For anyone out there, I've got a lot of people who've said this to me. They're like, oh, why are you focused on the wild card?

Because the division's over. Yeah. Like, it's over. Yeah. No, it's definitely over. They're not winning the NL East. Like, that is done. That dream is dead.

That ship has sailed. They're going to trade for another starter and then you'll have Soroka, Keichel, and said starter. Yeah. With that offense.

Jesus. And Freed and all these other guys who have struggled at times but are at least elite talents. Not cool, man. No. And they're how,

like, they are how... The Phillies have the money, right? And they have the market. They're a top five market in baseball. But the Braves are a well-run organization. And I'm willing to give this... I'm willing to give Klintac time, McPhail time. But they were able to turn this around with...

Their whole team is young. And they spend money on Donaldson. Like, they bring in the right veterans around their young talent. Like, every guy they bring up. And small commitments. Donaldson, one-year deal. Keiko, one-year deal. Like, you know?

And then they go sign Acuna to that absurd 10-year contract. Albies. But even when they move on from Donaldson this offseason, like, Riley's right there. Or Johan Camargo. Like, it's, they have answers to where like depth which what we see with the Dodgers is what we talk about with the Dodgers all the time it's like the Dodgers you know seventh and eighth pitchers

is better than the guys in the Phillies rotation the Dodgers bench bats are better than the Phillies starting players like that's just what it is the Dodgers are just way better yeah they need more they need more top to bottom organizational depth and I think they're building it I'm not saying that but it's just frustrating in the are just way better. Yeah. They need more top-to-bottom organizational depth. Yes. I think they're building it.

I'm not saying that they're... But it's just frustrating in the moment that we're four years in and you really... It's Hoskins, Harper, Nola, real amudo kangaroo. That's it? That's it, yeah.

That's it, right? Yeah. No, no question. That's about it. It's not great. No. When you look at a team like the Braves, and they've got Acuna and Freeman and Alves,

and then 8,000 starting pitchers who could just rotate in, and all young and all talented. And I think they have two more top 20 prospects. Well, they have Pash. Pashy. Pashy. He's like a top 10 prospect. And then once he graduates.

And then Ian Anderson, I think, is a top 25. Right, but there's another outfielder that's next on that list. Oh, good. That's after Pashy moves up. Oh, good. Put him in there. Yeah, of course. Why wouldn't they?

Yeah. See, that's my biggest frustration, is seeing all these other teams with just all this young talent just filtering up to the majors. And then, you know, the Phillies, it's... All right, let's get into the weekend, because we've talked enough about Andy McPhail. Jack loves him. That's the big takeaway from the Andy McPhail discussion. because we've talked enough about Andy McPhail. Jack loves him. That's the big takeaway from the Andy McPhail discussion. Can't get enough of Andy McPhail.

No, I don't know what modern team is employing Andy McPhail. What is the point of Andy McPhail in 2019? Andy McPhail has a dinosaur mindset from the early 90s when he was relevant. I want to bring in someone higher up than him. I just want them to spend all the I want to bring in someone higher up than him like I want to go high like I just want them to spend all the money on building

smart people yes get smart people in smart positions and let them do smart things get someone from a small market team and hire them for your team and pay them

like High and Bloom like High and Bloom is just sitting out there or David Stearns yes absolutely but with the Brewers right

but with the Brewers like imagine I'm just trying to imagine what those guys would do here with the level of money that we have. Yes, of course. Go take the Indians second best guy. I mean, to any of these smart organizations,

like the Indians, what are they doing? Oh, they got like 58 wins because they just find ways to put things together and make it work every year since the 90s. Like that's just what these teams do. These smart teams that continually build on being smart and win by being smart. I just want that. I just i just i am not this is a message to the phillies that i'm not going to stop i'm not gonna sleep okay until i get a smart baseball i actually believe this

okay it's literally james i am not kidding you it is all i think about is having a smart baseball team because i think they are not an very i think they're a smart-ish team but i feel like they're a team that's like a step behind all the teams it does seem that way when i see i like the fact that they can't get guys that can strike anyone out anymore is like it's crazy it's it baffles me it's all there is in baseball is guys who strike guys out like baseball is all about strikeouts all right let's uh let's look at the national series we don't even need to get into Friday. I think all we really need to say is...

Nick Pavetta has the highest increase in hard hit percentage this year. From 22% last year to 33% this year. Is that good? It's great. It's really good news. I mean, listen. I'll take five innings, three runs from him. That was the sad part about Friday.

I was like, cool. Five innings, three runs. Great. Great job, Nick. Kingery did save three runs. Great. I mean, great job, Nick. Kingery did save him from more runs. That catch was... And Quinn had a great catch, too. But that Kingery catch, he's gotten to be a really nice center fielder, Scott Kingery.

Shout out to Scott. I mean, the guy's just an athlete. He's a good baseball player. If they put him wherever they need him to put him, Kingery will figure it out. Yeah. He's so good at it. He's so good. But, you know look in pivetta

ultimately that game was lost because the offense sucked and they didn't show up in the first game after the all-star break oh we talked so bryce harper's sitting at home he's so mad yeah nothing we got nothing inspiring effort nothing and i know steven strasburg's good but we got nothing yeah and you know it's frustrating like watching p Pavetta and Strasburg was like Strasburg. Strasburg didn't have a change up until he got drafted by the Nationals. And I'm like, hey, learn this. And he's like, okay. And he figured it out.

Meanwhile, Nicky Tupich refuses to learn any kind of pitch that could freaking either a split or a change up. Like he has made me look so bad. He is like, it's, I honestly, I thought about, I thought about using my media credential and like going in and,

and like into the media scrum after with the beta and being like, like, when are you going to man up and figure out how to pitch? Like, like, and just see, I was, I was dead.

I was fuming, listening to the game and i was like i might just go straight down there and say when are you gonna figure it out why didn't you yeah i mean he probably would have a throat punch but i would get throat punched by nick bevetta if it turns and he's gonna get this there'll be no bigger it would be huge if we could use it as our on the audio for the open it would be amazing it would be the best things ever happened it's literally i was fuming. It was like,

when are you going to just figure it out? Here, I want to get this out there. Nick Pavetta does not suck. Nick Pavetta is really a good pitcher, a talent,

that just hasn't put it together. He doesn't suck. Cole Irvin sucks. Yeah, he sucks. Nick Pavetta is- Vince Velasquez sucks. Nick Pavetta is talented

that you can see it in front of you that just hasn't been able to put it together it's official I was just about to say is that the official Pavetta stance it's been it okay you're very good at it very good until you throw a bunch of them yes please it's all I want is you Nick uh you ever gonna man up and and learn how to pitch, buddy? That's my question. Jack Fritz, WIP. Yeah, he said something after the game. Paul Jalovich, WIP.

He said, well, I mean, I only allowed three runs. It wasn't that bad. It's like, oh, my God. Is this an Andy McPhail philosophy of trending over to the whole team? Oh, man. Speaking of oh, man. Saturday. How many gut punch losses can you have in a season?

Well, it's always the Nationals, too. I know! Juan Soto, again! Juan Soto has two essentially game, I mean, not walk-offs, but two game-winning home runs in the ninth inning or later against the Phillies. This frickin' season, Jack. Yeah, but I think it's three overall. Well, yeah, because the Victor Robles one tied it in that other game.

Well, no, no, but for Soto by himself, he's already done it three times and he's 20 years old. Like, for go-ahead home runs in the ninth inning or later. Well, we didn't include the Nationals and young talent guys that we don't have. Juan Soto, that'd be great. Trey Turner, that'd be cool. Like, sure. Victor Robles. Sure. I'll take him.

Yeah. I would. Can we sign Anthony Rendon? How about that? It's Rendon. Rendon. Thank you. You're welcome.

Just so bad. All right, Kirby Plunkett. Let's think about Jim. I'm a big 70s Raiders guy. I'm a big 70s Raiders guy But like Saturday Raiders At least Nola's back

Sure Nola's definitely back And the home runs I don't think there's a lot of home runs Last four starts I don't think so either We didn't give up runs in two of them It's just crazy how

like the weather warmed up he figured it out he figured out his command basketball command's back um I thought he could've done a little better Saturday I mean he's at 100

plus pitches he could've gone deeper in that game but I mean listen you'll take it yeah he's uh

he's very much back but Saturday was just like gut punch as soon as Kenny Albert started giving the freaking credits with two outs... Oh, I know. I was so mad. I was too.

I was like, what are you giving credits for? What are you doing, dude? This game is not over. What are you doing right now? I know. You a-hole. I was so mad. And the single, he got the single, and I'm just like, that's not good.

Yeah, I've seen this movie before. Like, this is not good. No. I think it's really not good. No, it's not good at all. First two outs, so easy. You're like, wow, that was quick.'s let's do this and then it's single and you're like uh-huh yeah yeah and then kenny's like and i'd like to give credit to our fifth

producer or whatever it's like it's like and rendon singles to left and boom juan soto first pitch yard uh it was it was gut punching and and I was just sitting there like, again? Again. That was my thought, too. I was like, really? We're doing this? This Nationals team just wears us out. They are... They're better. Well, of course they're better, but they're just... Of course they're better.

It's sad that we're at the point. They signed Fernando Rodney, 42 years old, and he's getting a clean eighth against us. He's getting out. Meanwhile, we try to sign Fernando Salas, and he's DFA'd in a week. Fernando Salas, yeah. In a week. Saturday was brutal. Nola's back.

I can't believe they did it again. And this team just tore. They own our souls. And it's such a- We should have taken two or three. I know. That's what I mean. Wouldn't you be feeling so much better?

It'd be a different world. It'd be a whole different Perspective on life Right now Four against the Dodgers How many did they win They're splitting You think so No

They see their I think they take one You think they take one I think they take one The Nola start I hope they take They lose the first three And then they

Sour the fourth game Yeah and then Nola beats Is it Maeda or something No Maeda's game three It's uh Stripling Oh That's it That Yeah and then Nola beats it was it Maeda or something no Maeda's game three it's uh Stripling. Oh that's it that's the win.

Nola versus Stripling. Stripling. Is it Stripling? Yeah. I thought it was Stripling. No. It's also Maeda

but I didn't feel like correcting you again. What did I say Maeda? Yeah. Maeda? Close enough.

Come on. You knew what I was talking about. Sure. Maeda. Kenta. I'll call him Kenta. They're so much

better. Well yeah. Walker Bueller. Kershaw. I get to see Kenta. They're so much better. Well, yeah. Walker Bueller. Kershaw. I get to see Kershaw tonight. I'm going to the game. All right. You're going down to the ballpark.

That's pretty cool. Speaking of going to the ballpark and watch a game. Yes! High hopes night, August 17th. We're actually coming up on like a month away from it. You can see Fernando Tatis Jr. in person. Fernando Tatis Jr. You can see Bryce Harper.

You get to see Manny Machado. Maybe Chris Paddock. Maybe some starter not named Velasquez oh god please whatever it's gotta be Pavetta Pavetta night? yeah I will personally go down to the I'll go outside the dugout with a sign

saying when are you gonna man up oh my god if you do this he's like walking off the mound after like this yeah he flips me off. Yeah, he would. He gives me the pabble bun. I really like this idea.

Yeah, well, he's really made me look bad. Yeah. To what lengths will I go? It's a good question. Yeah. As long as your Twitter mentions keep flaming, you know, anything could happen. Yeah. All right.

Sunday was nice Walk up It just sucks Cause that walk Like that's It's a fun way To win a baseball game I know

And it just felt like Whatever Yeah Big play 1-1 Yay Mikey's bad But when he's happy I'm happy

Yeah No he's fun to root for When he's going good And he had a great weekend Best player on the team Over the weekend Yeah he's been like 346 in his last

15 games or something Can't wait for the the team over the weekend. Yeah, he's been like 346 in his last 15 games or something. Can't wait for the 036 over the next 15. Well, now people are starting to talk themselves back into him. It's great. It's what always happens. It's a revolving door. It is. Arrieta, if we can get bone spur Arrieta to get us five innings.

I'll take five and one. Let's go. It's so weird that he owns that Nationals team. He only pitches well against the Nationals. And I think the key for Arrieta, again, is just if he can locate, if he can get that fastball down and he can hit the outside corner and it's like 93, but it's down, and then he can throw the changeup off of that,

it just makes a world difference. When he's off, it's because his sinker's up and it's just he's getting crushed. But if he can keep it down, just keep the ball down, Jake. I know you have bone spurs in your elbow, but come on. Man up. Man up. Did you hear him talking to Salisbury about it?

He's like, yeah, we ever play baseball? Kind of a dick. Of course he is. He's like, all right, Jake. Thanks, buddy. He's like, did you ever pitch? Yeah. Well, what's so funny about Arrieta is he's so bad most of the time, and then the one

time he has a good start, he talks about how great he is. Of course. You could predict it. You could see it coming. And oh, woe is me. The pain. The pain. He can't throw his cutter anymore.

Jack hurts too much. Now we have bone spurs going back to last season. Of course he did. That's what he said. It's like, what? Of course he did. It's like, what are you doing, man? Stop.

Just stop it. Complainer. Yeah, he's the worst. You ever play baseball before? Yeah, I play baseball. It should have been you. You're like, yeah, yeah bro i'll throw 82 in your face yeah i throw harder than you sometimes i'm just kidding i threw uh i threw

you have a good day yesterday i heard it was a tough day at the office the office what was like i never listened i never lied to the high hopes listeners eight unearned okay against your boy it was not a fun day all on earth well there? Well, there was a couple earned. It was like two earned and like eight unearned. Because you had like a chance at the third out that was missed and thus the rest

were all unearned or was it just consistent point offensively? It was like ground balls that were thrown away or just missed. So it was like multiple errors. Not just like,

well, because you can get eight unearned because the last out of the inning is an error and then every run after that. No, it was like five or six. Just brutal baseball. Bad defense.

But also, I couldn't find my location. I was pulling off myself. I was so mad. I was sitting there. I was like, I know what I'm doing. How do I fix it? But I also couldn't fix it at the time. I was just pulling off. It was bad. My two-seam wasn't moving. It wasn't running. Dog was barking. It was hot. You were too mad about it.

You just gave like six excuses. I love when you throw it. Dog was dog was barking was hot you're too bad about it you just gave like six excuses i love when you throw a dog was barking it was hot you know my arm hurt a little bit i couldn't get like what else so my hat was on too tight i've undone one button in the top i have to undo two yeah uh the mound was a little wet the mound was wearing the different cleats than I normally wear. The mound was uneven. It was. It was. I'm not even lying to you. I know you're not.

I believe it. All right. Anything else from the Nationals series in general? No. Good. Can we just move on from it? Yeah. I just want to be done with it.

All right. Let's move on to something more fun. The Dodgers. All right. How about this? Yes. The Dodgers come to right, how about this? Yes. The Dodgers come to town, but it gets so much better after the Dodgers. The Phillies are going to go on a run. The Pirates, the Giants, the Tigers are in there somewhere.

So if the Phillies want to go on a run, because obviously they want to go on a run, but if they have any- If the Phillies are going to go on a run. It happens after the Dodgers series because they go to the Pirates, to the Tigers, home versus the Braves, which is whatever, and then they go versus the Giants to round out July. August starts, they go versus the White Sox at home,

at Dimebacks, at Giants. Like, that's... It's the easiest stretch of battle season. If you're going to go on a run, that's what it is because then it turns into versus the Cubs, versus Padres, at Red Sox. Well, and it's really, again, those few weeks coming up here, the next two weeks essentially are potentially the most important of the season in terms of shaping what this team's going to do.

You know, look, if they... We have 16 days until the trade deadline. Exactly. That's my point. They save like 15 games before the trade deadline. I mean, if you go 9-6, they're probably going to go out and get some guys. If they go 5-11, what do they do? And it depends on what happens with the Brewers and all these other teams and stuff, but I just think it's really interesting.

The next few weeks are really going to shape how this team decides to make moves come the trade deadline. If they go 5-11 versus Pirates-Tigers... It would be bad. It'd be bad. It'd be so bad. Well, they could lose four straight to the Dodgers

and then it's off to the races. Yeah, that could happen. Well, I hope not. But either way, either way, like, I don't want to... I'm fine with giving some depth pieces up

like in the system for a guy this year. But, you know, yesterday they were scouting Stroman, which is interesting. Surprising, I would say. But it makes sense because... Look, you want to scout everybody. But, you know, yesterday they were scouting Stroman, which is interesting. Surprising, I would say. But it makes sense

because... Look, you want to scout everybody because you don't know what people are going to go for. They're kind of stuck because you don't want

to give away pieces that can help you next year when you are going to try to go for it again. Right. Well, the whole point is you've got to get...

I mean, theoretically, if you're going to give up anything, it has to be someone who's here for more than this year. Well, no, I agree. But there's been a lot

of talk about the Phillies selling recently. And like if you sell if you sell like do you really want to give away you really want to trade hector narris well and also like what are you really getting for the pieces that you have i mean we're talking theoretically let's say the phillies do get swept by the dodgers lose the two out of three of the pirates and somehow get swept by the tigers and all of a sudden we're coming up on the trade deadline and they're like five and a half out of the wild card or four out or whatever happens and another team plays well. Who knows?

I mean at that spot and they really decide to sell which again we both talked about. We'd be really surprised if they find themselves in a situation where it's to that point but I mean what are you selling? Cesar? Jay Bruce maybe? I mean there's not much you're going to get

for these guys. It's not like you have some stable of pieces that's going to redefine your farm system like there's not much you're gonna get for these guys like it's not like you have some stable of pieces that's gonna redefine your farm system it's not like you have Andrew Miller or Aldous Chapman

exactly or like you're the Tigers sitting there with Matthew Boyd and being like oh this is an asset like we could get

something for this Nick Castellanos like free agent end of the year but we get something for that guy like there's teams out there

that have real pieces the Giants are gonna get something for Will Smith and Mum Gardner. Both rentals, but Vasquez. If the Pirates want to trade, they'll get a haul for that guy. Oh my God, yeah. Like a haul.

So the Phillies don't have that. Right. But again, my main point, you don't want to give away guys that can help you next year. Of course not, yeah. You can't trade 6-0 for JT Romito and then rebuild a year later. It would be asinine. They can't rebuild 6-0 for JT Romito and then rebuild a year later. It would be asinine. They can't rebuild. Retool.

Look, Clint Tagg and all that, you don't have that many bullets. Your job's not on the line this specific moment, but over the next two years it is. Like, period. You need to make the playoffs. You have to. So even if they sell, I would rather have Neres here next year. I'd rather have Adam Morgan here next year. I would move Cesar just because he can move Kingery a second. Yeah, I would rather have Neres here next year I would rather have Adam Morgan here next year I would move Cesar

Sure Just because you can move Kingery a second Yeah I would fill that And you do have positions But what are you getting For Cesar Hernandez I know

I was thinking about The other day Like a B level prospect I would take a shot On like a 19 year old Kid with like talent Sure Sure

So it may not be Like flashing yet But there's something there Sure But again Like this is not inspiring stuff. No. Right.

The Red Sox could use them. Honestly, the Red Sox could use them. Sure. They're starting like Brock Holt second base. Yeah, they are actually. So. I mean, you know. I know.

I know. When Mitch Morling gets back, they'll move Chavis to second base. Yeah. So, but like that's, so it's like, it's like a tough balancing act. So where I think what they're going to do, I think they're going to go after guys that can help them the rest of this year and next year. That's my thought, too. Or years like Boyd, who's multiple years.

Stroman's next year. Stroman is next year. Bauer is next year. Like, those types of, I don't think it's Bauer, but. Minor. Exactly. Guys who are signed for this year and next year. Yeah, that's.

Or longer, but there aren't many. Which is a fine plan. I think that's a good plan to have. I think it's a smart plan because it still keeps you in it this year. And you and I have talked a ton about how not shirking the wild card, like this team making the playoffs in any form is a really important thing for this franchise now and moving forward. So I want them to contend this year.

I don't want them to just fold up, even though I know they're not good enough to win the World Series. I still want them to make a run. I just don't want them to give up i don't want them to give up the future or even relevant pieces that can help you next year to try and win just this right and you can chalk up this season to a lot of bad luck like injury wise part of it you can part of it you can but if they want to spin it as it was bad luck but they will spin it yes they will they will and but if you can bring in a guy like minor stroman and but i would like i would rather i would trade for stroman but i

if i'm going to give a prospect just i would like to assign to an extension so if they're going to if they're going to make a trade this offseason or this this trade deadline for someone that is here through next year i would i hope they evaluate it as this is a core piece moving forward and give a guy an extension on top of it. Well, yeah, and it depends on the guy and the situation and all that. But it's just kind of worthless for me. You're not even a big Marcus Sturman guy. You want them training for Marcus Sturman and then sign him to an extension?

I'm not saying I. I'm saying if they evaluate him as a guy they can feel is going to be a core piece moving forward, I want them to do that trade if they can sign him to an extension, sign someone to an extension. The here this year and the rest of next year is fine. But like, this is about, this is about the next five years for me.

Of course, you're a window guy. I'm a window guy. So like if Stroman this year, next year doesn't really matter to me. Like if you're, if you're evaluating him as a guy that can be a core member, you're starting staff for the next four seasons.

Right. Sign him to an extension. He has to want to sign an extension. I know, but that's part of the, that's part of the scouting. That's part of the, it's hard to know that. That's tough. It's tough to know whether a guy's going to want to sign an extension. I know, but that's part of the scouting. That's part of the... Well, it's hard to know that.

That's tough. It's tough to know whether a guy's going to want to re-sign with you before you trade for him. Maybe. Just saying that if they evaluate him as a... I don't want to trade for a guy just for this year and next year. That's fair. I ultimately agree with you on a macro level.

I don't know if there are options. I don't know if there's... I don't know if there is either. Yeah. But Stroman here... That's why Matthew Boyd makes know if there are options. I don't know if there's... I don't know if there is either. Yeah. But Stroman here... That's why Matthew Boyd makes so much sense. I mean, he signed, what, three more years after this season. Stroman would be a legend here, though.

Like, Stroman would be a... He is a Philly guy, man. Oh, my God. The city would love him. They would love him. If you've never seen the emotion that Marcus... Oh, his pure, pure emotion. Oh, people would love him.

The fist pumps, then he's a little guy. He's fun. He would be a legend. Like, absolute legend. Well, and look, if you're going to trade for Marcus Stroman, get Ken Giles in that trade, too. And then you actually start to do some stuff. Yeah, well, and...

Even if Daniel Hudson would help this pattern, or whoever. I know. I was thinking of Daniel Hudson, too. He's, like, up to 97 again. But he looks good. I never trust him. I never trust him. I don't either, but he closed out against the Yankees the other day.

He looked good. Besides rookie year Daniel Hudson. I love him. I've owned Daniel Hudson on many a fantasy team. Stroman's weird, though, because he only strikes out like 7.5 per nine and walks like two. But he's like the right-handed version and 94-mile-an-hour version of Dallas Keuchel. Sure. With a lot more emotion and energy on there.

Yeah, and way more fun. Yeah. And I weirdly trust him in every big game ever. To me, he's just a big game guy. And he's never pitched a big game, but I like that. Well, he has. He was on those Blue Jays teams. Which Blue Jays teams?

15 Blue Jays, 16 Blue Jays. Well, that's not a big game. Well, that was a big game for them. I mean, it's still the ALDS. Yeah. Yeah, that's fair. You're right. I forgot they made the ALDS in 15.

Yeah. Well, it was them versus the Rangers. Yeah. Forgot about that. Yeah, it was awesome. It was awesome. I love that series. Was he good in that. It was awesome. I love that series. Was he good in that series, Drummond?

I don't know. In my head, he's a big game pitcher. I like it. I really like that. No problem. I'm in on that. I'm just going to start calling him a big game pitcher now. Yeah, well, they do.

They did the James Shields. James Shields sucks in big games. Big game James, man. Big game James. He sucked in big games. And somehow they called him big game James. James Shields sucks in most games these days, sadly. Fernando Tatis Jr. for James Shields, who says no.

Was that what they traded for him? Yeah. No way. That was the trade? He was on the White Sox. Fernando Tatis Jr. God! I didn't realize that.

I didn't realize that was the trade. Dude, they could have had Magical, Fernando Tatis Jr., Eloy, Yon Mankata, I'm missing some obvious products, Dylan Cease, Lucas Giolito. They could have all those guys. All these White Sox guys. Yeah, Luis Romero. It's crazy. Wow.

The team could have been, well, they're already stacked, but it could have been even more stacked. Yeah, that's wild. That's some good stuff right there. That is insane. That might be the worst trade in the history of baseball, ultimately. That's up there.

Oh, it's horrible. That's up there. It's horrible. Yeah, it's up there. I mean, Fernando Tatis Jr., like, if he projects out the way, he's a Hall of Famer. Like, that's the type of player he is. For 33-year-old James Shields. Yeah, like, towards the end, James, wow. Wow!

That's like Fernando Rodney for two, or two months of Fernando Rodney for Chris Paddock. Wow. Rick Hans made some good moves. That, not one of them. No. No. I would say no. All right. like Fernando Rodney for two or two months Fernando Rodney for Chris Paddock Wow Rick Hans made some good moves that not one of them no no I would say no all right so the Dodgers series just split we would both be very happy with this but I'm streaking down Broad Street

split I'm going to a Phillies game tonight and by far the most exciting thing of it is that I get to see Clayton Kershaw pitch in person. That's it. Well, he hasn't pitched here since Aaron Altair took him. Oh, yeah. I forgot all about that.

That is sad, though, right? Like, I'm excited to see Clayton Kershaw. Yeah, but you appreciate baseball. You appreciate baseball history. You're seeing a Hall of Famer. That's why I'm excited. Yeah. But I wish I were excited about the other side.

You know what else is kind of sad and sad? Mostly sad? Mostly sad. Is that the second half of 2017 Phillies were the most exciting Phillies team in the last like three years. Stop. Outside of opening, outside of the opening week this year. Outside of opening week this year, yeah.

Yeah. That team was like an interesting team to watch every night. Oh, God. Where are we at right now? Is that like a 66 win baseball team? The second half. 66 win baseball team. It r God. Where are we at right now? Is that like a 66-win baseball team? The second half. 66-win baseball team. It raked.

It was. On the second half, remember, we were all pissed because they were going to get the one pick and then they kept playing better and better

and ultimately ended with the three pick, which turned into an Alec Baum. Yes. So it could have been worse. But it could have been Casey Mize.

Could have been. Would you rather have Mize? Would you trade Baum for Mize? Yeah. Yeah, they would have to. Yeah. But, I mean, it's fine. I'm ecstatic with Alec Baum. They got some pitching prospects in Detroit. Mize? Yeah. Yeah, they would have to. But, I mean, it's fine. I'm ecstatic with that.

They got some pitching prospects in Detroit. Mize, Manning. Yeah, I think Matt Manning stinks, though. Yeah, I was watching him in the Futures game. He had a bad night in the Futures game. Don't judge him just by that. But he doesn't have a second pitch. He looks like Pavetta.

Wow. Sorry, Tigers fans. Sorry, Tigers. Yikes. They listen to this podcast. That is ice cold right there. Yeah, I think he stinks. I think they should sell high.

So you think Pavetta stinks if so fat does? No, that's right. He's talented. All right. Empty the note bag. I do have a lot. All right. Let me ask you if this is a good player.

Okay? Yes. I love these blind resumes. All right. Is this a good player? 1.55 average. No. Not a good player.

2.95 on base percentage. No. Bad. 2 283 slugging percentage you know and a 578 ops is that a good player i would say it's a very very very bad player all right is this a unplayable player don't talk about andrew nap like that i'm just kidding that's not that's not it's not andrew but those are andrew nap type stats except too low in obp for andrew naps he's an OBP machine. Now, is this a good player? 365 average.

454 OBP. 673 slugging. I think you know the answers to these questions. 1100 OPS. Is that a good player? It's a great player. It's a best player in baseball type player. The second set of numbers that I just gave you are Bryce Harper's numbers with runners on base.

And the first one was Bryce Harper with bases empty. What is going on? So, I was watching LNB Network last night. This is weird. Like, generally, you would think those numbers would be reversed. Which is weird. It's just weird. But anyway, so they were talking about it on LNB Network last night.

It was like Girardi and someone else. And they were saying how with runners, with the bases empty, Bryce Harper has like a big leg kick. So I haven't noticed it until they pointed it out. So I'm excited to watch tonight and throughout just to see if this happens. They were saying that he has a high leg kick with no runners at base because he's trying to hit the ball to Redding or whatever. And then with runners on base just in general he doesn't have a he's a small leg kick or no leg kick at all and it simplifies everything for him and everything calms down okay where the where are you john mayley well we don't know what are you

doing how are the guys at the mlb network breaking this down and figuring this out and you're not? Yeah. Well, I do want to see if it happens tonight. I want to see if it's actually true. I'm skeptical, but I would like to see if it's true or not. So I thought that was super interesting. And those stats are crazy. But I think Bryce Harper is...

You would think it has to do with a stretch versus wind-up type thing maybe or whatever. And pitchers. I think this... And you would think it has to do with a stretch versus wind-up type thing maybe or whatever. It's much more interesting. Like what pitchers out of the wind-up maybe they have, or maybe they pitch them differently with better stuff. Sure. You know, they don't have to worry about runners and moving and whatnot. But I think that just shows you

that there's another level of Bryce Harper. I think people are worried that maybe his skills are deteriorating. I just think he's a hitting guru away from really getting back to Bryce Harper. You hear that, O-Chart? Yeah. You hear that, O-Chart? Jason, please work with our $330 million man.

Logan Morrison. Lomo. Very excited about a Logan Morrison signing. Are you really? Yeah. No, I am. Because he's basically, he's going to be what Jay Bruce was supposed to be

before the McCutcheon injury. Not as good as Jay Bruce. But yeah, look, Logan Morrison. He's 38 home runs two years ago. He's lefty power, for sure. It to be before the McCutcheon injury. Not as good as Jay Bruce. But yeah, look. 38 home runs two years ago. It's lefty power, for sure. It's like the Brad Miller time. Same idea. Which is great.

Which was great. And instead of having Andrew Knapp, it's going to be Logan Morrison. And it bumps Brad... Sure. Why not? How are you not excited about this? Because it's Logan Morrison. It's a 999 AAA OPS.

What are you, blind? What are you, blind? 38 home runs two years ago. is value the margins baby this is winning baseball look i like it again i'd rather they're stealing players from smart teams i'd rather have logan morrison at at in a the bottom of the ninth coming to the plate than andrew now yes i just think i think yes i think it's a steal nice move it's a nice move but you're way too excited about the 25th guy on the roster you're way too you're not excited enough

this is a smart baseball move good Twitter guy he's a great clubhouse guy yeah great clubhouse guy he's been around a little while I like

personally I like Logan Morrison a lot Logan Morrison he's fun much like Chris Coughlin I thought was going to be a Marlins star yeah well Chris Coughlin won't be was going to be a Marlins star.

Yeah, well, Chris Coughlin won the year. And then he was horrible. It's not good. Like horrible, horrible. Like really bad. Out of the league six years later,

whatever it was. Bryson Stott is just, I love him. How did 13 other teams pass on him, Jack? How did 13, I would like to thank

all those teams. He looks fresh in the number 10. Yet to strike out? He is yet to strike out. His numbers so far in both rookie ball and up with the cross cutters, he's batting 544. Is that good?

With a 667 OBP, 1200 OPS, and looks fresh as hell in the number 10. So will he be up by the end of the year? No. Is it good now? No. No, but at least he's playing. So stop bomb. Stop bomb, that's our side of the NBA of the future. No No No But But At least he's So Stottbaum Stottbaum is our

That's our side of the Infield of the future I would love What happened to Luis Garcia Well he's just He's super young for Where he's at Just having a rough year

They love They love challenging Their top prospects At different levels Which I'm fine with I got a run with that That's cool Let him figure it out

It's not a big deal Cool But yeah I just think he's I think he's awesome. I'm excited to watch him play shortstop. He just seems like he's smooth. It's a great name.

His swing is just so beautiful. He's finally... You said that with such a wistfulness. It's just so beautiful, man. I know, but it's so smooth. It's like this sunset. It was just like... I feel like the camera.

Beautiful, man. I feel like the camera is talking about the Super Bowl. I'm crying. Yeah. I really do. And I can't wait camera Is talking about the Super Bowl Start crying Yeah I really do And I can't wait to see What he continues to grow into I just think that

Like the fact that He hasn't struck out yet I think is super impressive Pretty cool That's a good one Like man he always had Elite bat to ball skills It was just the

It was just the Unlocking the power And when he When I was watching His USA collegiate games Like his swing just looked Like it wasn't smooth at all And it goes back to UNLV Smooth smooths it out, starts lifting the ball.

I think I just can't wait. You're so excited. I know. I've already started thinking about Baum, Stott, Kingery, to Hoskins. That's the dream infield for me. And then you have Moniak in center. You have Haisley in left, Harper in right. JT behind the plate.

I'm the perfect guy for struggles of the fills. I always go to the future I know you do You're just ready for it You're like let's go And speaking Speaking of the Of the futures

Damon Jones So Damon Jones Yesterday in AAA Five innings I think he had I forget his line But he pitched well And

Nice analysis I know I forget what his stat line was I'm gonna look it up now because he made me feel like an idiot so well you're the one who made yourself feel like an idiot well i do that all the time you're supposed to make me feel better like this is on you you're right my bad um so damon jones goes up to triple a oh they don't have it yet man this is so this is no no i don't lie to the high hopes listeners everyone knows that well i'm saying in this moment when they know you're making it up but i'm not i'm not letting

this happen hold on you'd rather just just take the time okay here we go okay five and a third two runs two hits four walks six k's so it's not great clearly but so the reason i got stuff strikeout stuff but if they put them in AAA, and the difference between AA and AAA this year is that they have the major league balls in AAA, so they want to see... This is a really good face. You're trying not to yawn. I was trying to hold a yawn.

Is my David Jones analysis putting you to sleep? This is unbelievable. No, the having a seven-month-old daughter. Oh, you've got to be a kid. Anyway, but they put him in AAA because they want to see what the balls are like. If he has two or three good starts in AAA, he will be up here. He will be with the Phillies.

And another birdie told me, little birdie told me, listen, don't be surprised if Spencer Howard is put on the fast track. Whoa! Spencer Howard. That would be a big deal. Him yesterday was unbelievable. He's so advanced for where he's at in Clearwater. And I always come back from the shoulder injury, but they're going to start fast-tracking him.

That'd be great. I would take Spencer out right now over three-fifths of the Philadelphia start. I legit think I would. Yeah, no question. I love him. In a second. At least I know he's got stuff. I'm excited about...

Let's go bone spurs go out there again i'm good jk bones bones spur out there um so i just think that i i'm excited for those two okay also also austin lissy should be up here as a right-handed bench option and i don't really know why he's not yet like he could be our max muncy and they're just letting him wallow wallow in triple a do you remember when i said joey lucese, or whatever his name was, last year's most important... Yes. Who was it?

Joey Manessis. Joey Manessis. Yes. You said the most important person in the Phillies organization. There's a case to be made. You're amazing. Thank you.

We need you right now, Jack. I'm trying. The Phillies nation needs you in this moment, these trying times. The one thing I noticed from the national series was I thought Kingery's swing was getting a little more uppercutty. Obviously, people are starting to – Uh-oh.

Well, Litoff Kingery's seen his average drop by like 49 points. Yeah, it hasn't been great. Yeah. I mean, he's still hitting the ball hard. I don't think he's struggling like he was last year. He's still putting the ball in play and swinging and being aggressive. I just think that rather than dropping the bat head on the ball, he's getting a little bit too uppercutty,

and I would like him to get back to line drives. Okay. That's a good note. Scott, take Jack's words. Listen. It's good. Sure. I like it.

It's a good idea. All right. More notes. What's a serious note bag you got? My last note bag before final thoughts yes is i'm wondering if baseball uh major league baseball fixed the balls over the all-star break like there was four balls this series that should have gone out yeah no it did feel that way like the hoskins won yesterday it was like that's that's the second deck i couldn't believe it it should have been a grand

slam i'm sitting there i'm like this is grand slam this is gone and it was like it wasn't even the warning track it was like a fly ball. I know Harper had a couple. Yeah, you're right. The gnat ball gets out. I didn't think about it in the moment, but now that you're talking about it, there were like four or five moments watching the game where I kept going like, huh, and there was a fly out.

You're right. It's a really good goal. I don't know if they changed the balls or not, but it definitely felt that series a little less pop. If there was juice balls in 2011 game five against the Cardinals, they win that game. Yeah. Look at that.

Great point, Jack. You're welcome. What do you think of these things? I was just thinking about the balls that should have gone out, and I can't stop thinking about the Ibanez home run that should have been and the Utley home run that should have been. I literally think about it once a week. You think about it way too much.

I will never get over that game. I will never get over that game. I will never, ever in my entire life. You just brought it up out of nowhere well because the howard stuff this weekend you know they kept showing reminded you freaking john crock kept bringing up the achilles thing i know howard they showed it like multiple times i'm like why why are you doing this this is the end this is the saddest part like show the freaking whole run show the freaking mvp season like show the freaking home runs. Show the freaking MVP season. Like, show me the good stuff. That was the play that ended Ryan Howard as Ryan Howard.

Yeah. I agree with you. I was a little off-put by the way they produced that. I was like, oh, my God. Can we just relax? Enough. We got it. Tours of Gillies.

I was there. I was in the building. I saw it happen. Oh, you were? I was there. Oh. Because I was in center field. Or, like, right center. Left center. Excuse me. Left center. I was in the booth., or like, you know,

right center, left center, excuse me, left center. Like I was in, I was in the blue team. That's where the High Hopes night is. That's exactly where

High Hopes night was. You could be sitting in the seat where James Southerstall and the Phillies and the San Joseans. Well, literally, you see him go down

and you're not focused on him when you're at the games. You're focused on the throwout and stuff and he just goes down and he's still there. Like the Cardinals are celebrating and my buddy goes like ryan howard's still on the ground i'm like what you look over and you're

still on the ground yeah yeah was it great yeah i know that's not good it was at that moment i watched that game at at jill's parents house and it's at that moment where i realized i'm never watching a major sporting event at jill's parents house anymore. Yeah, I think you get it. Don't worry. Well, it was just so, I stormed out and dropped a hard F-bomb. And I don't think they looked at me the same from that moment on.

Now you're married to their daughter. Yeah, I was like, what, 15? So it was weird. Final thoughts. My final thoughts. Now, I've seen this comparison around a little bit, and since this was your freshman year of college. No, this is actually in your mid-30s.

The 2006 Phillies. Does this team and what they might do this deadline? Because at that deadline, they traded away Abreu. They traded away. It was Abreu and Corey Leto, the Yankees, right? Yeah. He was a pretty major piece on and Corey Leto of the Yankees. Right. Yeah. And he was like a pretty major piece on that team

but they got rid of him and then Howard was on the run anyway. But they traded and bought at the same time because they brought in Moyer. Oh that's an interesting

thought. They brought in Moyer. Could they sell and buy at the same time. That's what I wanted to do. It's a really interesting thought.

Maybe. I mean that pitching staff was It's a really interesting thought. Maybe. I mean, that pitching staff was worse than this pitching staff. Oh, yeah. Which doesn't seem possible. Oh, yeah, buddy. I mean, it wasn't a good team.

No, but the offense raked. The offense raked, and you could feel it coming. Like, that was your hour on the MVP. Yeah. So sick.

Does it remind you of that at all? I could see that. I mean, a little bit. It's a different type of team. Like more young bats you felt really good about on that one. Like you felt, all right, we're good building this around Ryan and Jimmy and whatnot. Like you're like, oh, this will work.

It's a good one. I don't know. It's an interesting comp. Yeah. Yeah. I would say a little bit, but I don't, not a ton. By the way, the lineup is out tonight. Kingery, Segura, Harper, Hoskins, Romito, Bruce, Franco, Hernandez in the 8th hole.

The Oaks are facing a lefty. That makes sense. Which is fair. Look, Hernandez is horrendous from the right side of the plate. He just stinks. He's not a good hitter from the right side of the plate. One of those guys who should just hit left-handed. Not real.

You know what I mean, though. Roman Quinn, by the way, back to switch it. Makes me feel great. It's awesome. So exciting. Great catch. Why he didn't bunt, it was like,

was it the eighth inning or ninth inning? It was the eighth. It was the eighth. Why are you even swinging? Why are you even... Lay down a bunt. All right, final thought.

Rate and review the podcast. Do it for Jack. We'll figure out something cool to do for when we get close to 1,000. So get that process started now. I Hope's Night, August 17th. Check out our pinned tweets. Look, I got no defined final thought.

Just do something. Split. Split. Do something. All right? I can't. I just want to believe. I just want to not be depressed about my baseball team. It's all I want. Do something. Just split. Do something. All right? I can't. I just want to believe. I just want to not be depressed about my baseball team.

It's all I want. It's all I want. And I will not sleep until I get a smart baseball team. Okay. Well. That's my promise to the IHOPs listeners. So come back on Thursday when Jack is out of his mind. Somehow still awake for 72 hours or whatever it is.

Until then, just split. Split. All right. He's Fritz himself, so we'll talk 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 Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts.