High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Matt Strahm And Alec Bohm Are Talking Trade Deadline, Phillies Clubhouse | 'Baseball Isn't Boring'

Episode Date: July 16, 2024

From 'Baseball Isn't Boring' (subscribe here): Baseball Isn't Boring proclaimed way back in spring training that the Phillies had the best clubhouse in baseball. It turns out we might have been on to something. Rob Bradford sits down with Matt Strahm and Alec Bohm to talk about the Phillies' upcoming trade deadline and their clubhouse dynamic. 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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Let's go seize the night. That's the powerful backing of American Express. Visit amex.ca slash yamex. Benefits vary by car and other conditions apply. Yeah, there should be some passion. This doesn't have to be boring, boring, boring. Okay, one thing the game needs is more people like you, you, you. Still have grown men run around tight hands.

It's Mookie Betts. It's Daniel Bard. It's Steve Aoki. It's Salt Sal Lamacchia. This is Brock Holtz. Hey, this is John Lester. Baseball. Baseball. Baseball isn't boring. Welcome to Baseball Isn't Boring. Here's your host, Rob Radford. What's it mean just representing North Dakota and Fargo? Yeah, being here. Yeah, I mean, it's like, it still hasn't really sank in. I mean, obviously, not many of us come from North Dakota.

And, I mean, yeah, I just, I don't know. I'm still shocked. What did you do? I mean, up there, I mean, not many guys make it to the big leagues alone, let alone All-Star. Yeah, played whatever was in season. I mean, basketball season, played basketball. Football, played football.

And then baseball, played baseball. So, I mean, that's kind of the Midwest way is you can't really walk into one to have those weather patterns that kind of dictate everything for you so you just you adapt and I mean I know there's since I've graduated high school there's three baseball facilities now up in West Fargo and Fargo and I never had that I had a gym and we get yelled at when we hit the bleachers. So yeah, it's definitely growing up there for sure. But yeah, the weather makes it hard. But like I said, just adapt. So what's it mean to be here with some of your teammates?

Is that a reflection of what you guys have done and what you're hoping to do this year? Yeah, I mean, obviously, this doesn't mean anything to any of us. I mean, it still means something, but what we want to do as a whole, like, no one's going to talk about the eight Phillies that made the All-Star game unless we win the World Series. It would be, remember when they won the World Series and had eight All-Stars.

So, we all have one goal in mind and this is just to stop all of that. So, what is Bryce's advice? He's been here a few times. What's his advice to all you guys that are coming for the first time? Yeah, he just, I mean, he said just take it all in, slow down, and just enjoy it. Don't feel the rush of everything because it will come at you quick. So just enjoy it.

Obviously, this team's on a mission. There's a one-stated goal, clear goal. You felt that all year. I mean, has it kind of just continued to build? Yeah, I mean, we had that. Obviously, in 22, they came up short. And then last year, being with the team, you could feel it from the guys that came up short the year before.

And, I mean, just feed off it. And then, I mean, our turnover in our clubhouse was very minimal. It was the smallest I've ever had. And, yeah, it was, I mean, they won a spring. It didn't even feel like we said hi. We were just like, let's go. We all do. How long did it take to kind of get over it last year?

I mean, did you just move on? I think it's just an open wound until we fix it. It is what it is, but we've got to fix it. Hey, the Rangers had six All-Stars last year, and they won the World Series. Yeah, yeah, there we go. Exactly, exactly, exactly. Hey, the Rangers had eight or six All-Stars last year, and they won the World Series. Yep, yep. There we go. Exactly, exactly.

Exactly. Thanks, man. Thank you very much. Did you know it was in you? Did you know? I mean, I've always known I can compete with the best. Never really thought I would be in an All-star game just because of the role I play. Middle relievers usually aren't all-stars.

The close, the saves look better than the holds. And, I mean, yeah, it was a shock. And, I mean, I'm happy to be here. Is there, because your name started coming up. Yes. But baseball has changed. Yep. Your role is as important as the closer, the starter, and up. Yes. But baseball has changed. Yep. Your role is as important as the closer, the starter, and anything.

Yeah. That's something that I think this highlights, right? Yeah, no doubt. And I hope it's recognized. I feel like Andrew Miller's career didn't get appreciated as much as it should have because he was throwing the seventh and eighth. I mean, yeah, he got appreciated because it was postseason, what he was doing and all that,

but he did it a lot in the regular season that it got overlooked. And, I mean, like you said, the game's changing. I mean, momentum's a big thing in all sports, so when you can stop it, whether it's the sixth, seventh, or eighth, it's just as important entering the game with three runs in the ninth. The base is empty, so it's good to see that they're acknowledging that. What's the Detroit Deadline feel like for you right now? You've been through a few of them.

I mean, from a player's perspective, we've talked about late-bys. Yeah, yeah, yeah. From a player's perspective, like, we can yell about it, but from your perspective? Yeah, I mean, I've been in, I mean, this is my ninth season, so of nine clubhouses, I don't think this one, there's not really a care. We know we have what we have. We know what we can do. We know what we're capable of.

And I think every single one of us trusts Dave, and whatever he does, we're going to run with it. It is what it is. Obviously, I've been on other teams where we're looking around, wondering which one of us is getting shipped out of here. I've been on other teams. What are we going to do? What are we going to do? What are we going to add?

But yeah, this team, it's, we've just got to play until October. We're doing a Reddit AMA for an obvious Reddit account. We've got some questions from fans on Reddit for you. What profession would you choose if you weren't a major league baseball player? baseball? I'd probably, if I wasn't gonna coach baseball, I would probably, I don't know, I'd want to do farming, probably farming. Favorite city to visit on the road? I like going back to Minneapolis just because you get to see a lot of family. Okay, this is a funny one. How much food do you usually eat in one sitting if you had to? See, yeah, food and I don't have a good relationship. So one of my years in San Diego they wanted me to gain a bunch of weight in the off season.

So I was like four-seating myself. And so I eat for fuel. I eat the stuff myself. So not very much. How did it feel to get the call for this all-star? Oh, yeah, it was unbelievable. Yeah, great moment to share with my family, and, yeah, it should be a lot of fun. Who would you say is your baseball go-to, like, greatest player of all time? My baseball go-to? I mean, I think he's playing right now.

It's got to be Otani, doesn't it? I mean, he hits and pitches at the top. I mean, he's top of the charts in both of them, so it's got to be him. Hypothetical, facing off against a pitcher or facing a batter all the time, who would you want to face off against? I'd want to try and blow Babe Ruth's doors. Nice. And?

I'd probably blow his doors. All Ruth's doors. Nice. And? I'd probably blow his doors. Alright. That might be the best way. Yeah. Thanks man. No problem. So, it's the Lugged Lines.

Yeah. I always give you the opportunity, whatever you want to talk about. I'm good. I'm just taking it all in. Alright. Yeah. Alright. Is this, you know, like I talk about the process of getting here,

but it is like from Red Sox to signing to the Phillies. I mean, this is, you've done well for yourself. I'm not just saying that because you. I appreciate it. Yeah, but. Appreciate it. But, yeah, has this been, is this sort of the culmination of it or no? No, I got to win.

That's what I'm looking to do. Win the World Series. Yeah, that's why we play this. I mean, this is cool. Don't get me wrong. I'm not downplaying this at all. This is awesome. Yeah.

The one thing I want to do is win the World Series. And you feel, being on the team last year, does it feel similar or even better? I mean, better. We got 162 under our belt together last year and we're gonna do it again this year. I'll talk to you guys before the best clubhouse in the major league. Rehab Pro Game. That's a good compliment I like that. Did you feel that? Yeah I mean I can't speak for everybody else you know but I definitely you know I feel like showing up to work every day is just hanging out with a bunch of your, you know, but I definitely, you know, I feel like showing up to work every day is just hanging out with a bunch of your friends, you know, yeah, for sure.

So, with that said, like, the trade deadline's an interesting thing. You get your guys, but you got your guys, you know? What's it like from your perspective? Yeah, I mean, trade deadline's always weird, just because, you know, just like that, you know, ring of the phone, you know, maybe somebody that you came up with and been playing with for the last three, four years is gone, you know. So, just kind of the business aspect of it is, you know, a little, makes it a little weird, but, I mean, anytime. Is it unnerving? I mean, because, again, you guys do really well. Yeah. But is it, I don't want to say, it's all good because you're probably going to add, right? Right, yeah. But it's weird because you're, hey, welcome in for the last couple of months. Yeah, I mean, you build relationships with all these guys. And, you know, every time you bring somebody in, somebody's got to go.

So that's just the reality of it. And, you know, who's to say what happens this year this time around who knows and I think you know I think there's always surprises and I think you just kind of roll with the punches and you just keep doing your thing I don't have a t-shirt I've seen them yeah you got a couple guys that wear them yeah awesome thank you