High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Much Like We've Said All Along, The Phils are Fine

Episode Date: April 20, 2023

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to the Phillies taking two of three from the White Sox and more. Presented by Miller Lite. 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

This is the High Hopes Podcast. High Hopes! It's a bunch of baseball nerds talking about the Phillies. On Radio.com and Sports Radio 94 WIP. Yo! It is another edition of the High Hopes Podcast. I actually get to do a normal yo, which is exciting. I got a fired up Fritz today.

Let me tell you, in studio together, which is my favorite thing in the world. I get to see my guy. But Jack comes in like shot out of a cannon today. Like you are, you're fired up today. What am I supposed to do? You know, the first two weeks have been like the worst of the possible when it comes to the Philly season, you know? And then now they're back. Now they're back. Everything's good. Everything is fine in the world now that the Phillies are back. weeks have been like the worst of the possible when it comes to the philly season you know and

then now they're back now they're bad everything's good everything is fine in the world now that the phillies are back like they you know it was so annoying like the red series and losing that game on what saturday the 13 to nothing what are you talking about uh that was annoying but even like the thursday like the the red series they won sunday and it kind of made everything feel okay or whatever um but like that that thursday i was like is this really what we're getting it's just like a disappointing like everyone that was questioning the team last year with the whole like well it was a flash in the pan like i started to see that floated out there oh yeah the rob thompson's the disaster thing was floated out.

And it's just like I was annoyed at where I felt like it was kind of trending and all it took was a White Sox series for me to be like, you know what, they're fine. Everything's good. It was a big exhale series out in Chicago. Yeah, now they should have won

all three, but you know, we'll put that aside. You know, look, you never win a double. This team never wins a double. It's like the all-time lock. Yeah, I don't think I have the stats in front of me, but I feel pretty confident that I've never seen it. They've never won a doubleheader. No. That's actually a stat. That's actually a rule.

You're not allowed. The home team has to take one. Yeah, that's right. Or just basically the team facing the Phillies. At least one, because we've definitely lost both in the doubleheader. Yeah, that's right. Or just basically the team facing the Phillies. You know, at least one. Because we've definitely lost both in the double-edger. Yeah, we have seen that. I think the Kingery game, right? When Kingery pitched both. Oh, yeah, I remember that.

Guess who produced that whole game on the radio? The whole day on the radio. Look, you don't have to do that anymore. I know. On Ph.D., by the way. So not even here. So they had to learn a whole new system, and Scott Kingery's pitching, and it was a disaster. I think that was Wentz's first game back. That's also when games are like six hours long.

Oh, my God. That's awful. Dude, it's the top five worst day of my life. I mean, now a 15-run game is like two and a half hours. So it's no biggie. It's great. Get rid of the Ghostrunner. It's the best.

Why do we need the Ghostrunner anymore? Like, it's to speed up the game. We don't need that anymore. The game has sped up. You're in X ratings by the two-hour mark. We're fine. Totally. But yeah, I said this on the final out last

night, and the way that they've played the last week to me is like they've all settled down. They've all settled into roles. Rob Thompson, I believe, has found the top of his lineup that he's going to stick with until Bryce is back, and then we'll see how they adjust from there.

But it's pretty much going to be Scott Turner and then Harper eventually. I look at the bullpen, and like, dude. Well, yesterday was the day. Like yesterday was the first time we saw like big games, what it could look like, you know, Soto, Serrano, Alvarado. Like that can be devastating. It was Kimbre, Alvarado. That can be devastating. It was Kimbrel yesterday, but when it's Sir Anthony, that can be devastating.

Those three at the back of the bullpen when it matters can be devastating. Well, that was game one on Tuesday. Game one on Tuesday, they went Soto, Kimbrel, Sir Anthony, Alvarado, and it was like, good afternoon. Dude, I've messed that up three times. You were right. Good afternoon, good evening, and good night. No, it's good morning, good afternoon, good night.

It's good morning, good afternoon, good night, yeah. Well, I was thinking of the movie. There's a movie. It's Good Night and Good Luck. This is one of these awful, like, 60s movies. It's a George Clooney movie, buddy. Man, if it's not Ocean's Eleven. I got no time for George Clooney.

That's fair. I think it's a good take. I got no time. He's fine. He's okay. He's okay. Yeah, you liked One Fine Day. Also, like,

did he do anything before he was like 40? Is he in anything where he's in his 20s? Yeah, well, I don't know about 20. Well, he was in Facts of Life when he was really young.

He was on ER. But he started, oh, okay. But he started late, right? Yeah, he's like a late bloomer. No doubt. Yes. That's like you.

He also looked like you. Oh, fuck you. I almost cursed there You can probably hear a little bit of it Yes, just like me You know what, me and George Clooney Same thing Many people do say that, you are the George Clooney of radio

And podcasting, for what it's worth Well, ability to relate You have gray hair like George Clooney Ability to relate to a younger audience in your 40s I think that's one of your best traits. No, but like, dude, you're watching

Gregory Soto and you're watching, and Sir Anthony's back. We talked about, I think it was, maybe it might have been last podcast. It looked like they tweaked his mechanics and he talked to, I think, Alex Coffey yesterday about tweaking his mechanics. I mean, on Monday, it was just –

Nasty. Tuesday, it was like freaking 99 with Zink. And it's like, well, good to have you back, buddy. There we go, buddy. There we go, buddy. But, yeah, like it's just – it's kind of – it's – like good luck coming back against the Phillies if they have Soto, Alvarado, Sir Anthony.

Kimbrough? I don't know. Kimbrough. Strom? Anthony, Kimbrough. I don't know. Kimbrough. Strom, eventually. Eventually. But I don't know what their role for Strom is going to be. He's probably going to be more of a move him around, long when you need him kind of guy.

I kind of get the feel he's going to. Well, I think when Ranger first comes back, I think he's going to be the piggybacker. Yeah, you mentioned that last time, which makes a lot of sense. And then eventually I think he settles into a role. He's paid too much to be Nick Nelson. I don't want him to be the piggybacker. Yeah, you mentioned that last time, which makes a lot of sense. And then eventually I think he settles into a role. He's paid too much to be Nick Nelson. I don't want him to be Nick Nelson. But I think there's going to be starts where starters go five

and they only allow three runs or whatever, so you're still in it. And then Strom's job is going to be get through the six and seven. Yeah, or even just pitch until we catch up or whatever it is in those type of situations. And look, I mean, he's already stretched out, right? Like, you have a guy in the bullpen who can give you innings and it's especially important with this bullpen

has been crushed early in the season. I mean, Walker last night was like the third guy who's gone to the sixth inning this year or whatever. Well, Bailey Falter is their first one to go into the seventh. Just like we all predicted. Yeah, it's exactly right. Although I will say, do you think that Andrew Belotti was like, oh, you think that Andrew Bilotti was like, oh, thank God.

Andrew Bilotti was like, top, my arm's going to fall off. Like literally just fall off my body if you keep putting me in there. Yeah, I think Bilotti was like, thank God. I got three days off? Really?

What is this? This is a miracle. Brogdon, same thing. But that's going to be important. Like guys, you can give you length, especially in those spots where, you know, if your starter struggles and he only gives you three or four or five or whatever

and you can't just keep crushing the pen over and over and over again throughout the season, guys like Strom are going to matter. Saving pitchers for a day. Yeah. And I guess, is he back to top or is it Rob Thompson? I went top there.

Was it kind of halfway? I said hey, top. Kind of halfway. I'm starting to call? Oh, I love that. I said, hey, top. You know, kind of halfway. I'm starting to call Walker walk. Oh. Yeah. I like that. Well, that's a natural thing. Yeah.

Well, he's walkie when he's a baby. Walkie. And then eventually he's going to be walk. Walk. Yeah. Walk is strong. Yeah. Walk's got a strong kind of feel to it.

Believe me, it's weird watching time on Walker pitch every day. Oh, I bet it is. And they're like, Walker's shoving tonight. It's like, hold on. Don't give me a peek into my future. It is a funny thing where when you have a kid and then you name that kid, like all of a sudden this name that really just meant nothing to you your whole life becomes the most important thing.

And any time I see Zoe, I'm like, Zoe! Oh, my God, I love that name. But like before it was just like, yeah. Just a name. Just a name. Now it's the most important name. Yeah. It's a wild thing.

It is. By the way, that thing that you just just said though is is funny for me recently because for basically the entirety of my career we had no like real important jameses in philly sports i know and then we get harden and bradbury well and then i just heard the camera say like it comes down to whether or not james j and also like i'll catch something great what i was like if Seltzer is determining the outcome of the Sixers season, I don't think they got – I mean, you might have more burst than James Harden at this point, though. Dude, in game two, I would have more burst. Hold on.

2-1-5-5-9-2-9-4-9-4. James Harden cooked. You know what else I would have done? What? I would have ran back on defense instead of complaining about getting a foul every single time. Wow, there's Boomer Seltzer. There's Boomer Seltzer. There's Boomer Seltzer. You know what I would do?

I'd play hard. Oh, yeah. You'd be grinding it out. Yep. Sixers talk with Jack and James. Who doesn't love that? Everybody. Everyone loves that, obviously.

I totally forget what I was going to say about Rob Thompson. But, you know. I'm sure it was super poignant and impressive. Let's just pretend like you said it. Wow. Great point, Jeff. Pretty usual. Good point, dude. I'm sure it was super poignant and impressive. Let's just pretend like you said it. Wow. Great point, Jeff. Pretty usual. What a good point, dude.

I agree. You look at the, like, he couldn't run the bullpen into the ground. And that's the main. But I will say, like, you know, he was obviously very aggressive in this. Like, he treated this series like it was September. Yeah. Oh, yeah. He used his four big guys in two of those games.

To win the games. Close it out with Alvarado, all that. I appreciate that. Me too. I know it's early, but they're seven games back already. Girardi would have never, never. He could be 15 games back, and he'd still be doing his trash in the first two months of the season.

I've got to get everyone in there. I've got to get Nick Nelson some time. He literally had Nick Nelson try to close out a break. That's why I said it. I know. Yes. Yes. So that made me happy.

And again, when you get to those guys, I just think it's going to be tough for teams to come back against those guys if they're pitching at their best. And Kimbrell, while I still watch him with a cautious eye. He's looked better the last couple of games. Yes. I think he had four strikeouts in two games. The stuff looked good yesterday. Pretty good.

Pretty good. Still like 93. Solid. Yeah, but the movement. At least it felt like hitters were not as on top of his stuff as they were earlier. Right. I mean, he struck out Luis Robert at 93 right down the middle. I was like, what are you doing here?

By the way, hand up. Totally thought it was Luis Robert. Yeah. So did I. And then I heard Franzi say it, and I was like, oh. I heard Franzi say it. I heard McCarthy say it. And I was like, oh, so it's definitely Robert.

I know, but it's way cooler. It's way cooler. Robert is so much cooler. So much cooler. I mean, like in the same ballpark. I agree. Honestly, I like the player less. I'm kind of out on him now.

Just take it. Take Robert and go be the MVP you should be. He should be way better. If he hadn't have caught that ball, Turner could have had the cycle. I'm well aware. Well aware. I saw him go for it. I knew he was going to.

We talked about it before. Dude's an amazing outfielder. So I thought he would get there. But off the bat, I was like, oh, man, we're going to be potting right after this. Like, emergency pot is coming. Bastard. Yeah. I was, yeah.

He, like, again, it's just this David Bell thing is never going to end. I know. And it was funny. Someone pointed this out to me on Twitter. Like, Turner had three hits, and then David Bell simultaneously got thrown out of the game. And he was like, clearly David Bell is frustrated that his reign of terror in Philadelphia is coming to an end. But then Luis Robert, as we're calling him on this podcast. Let's just call him Robert.

It's better. Yeah. He had to chase down a ball in the gap. And I don't know how he got there so fast. He got there so fast. So fast. I was like, this is the triple. It's happening.

I was so sure. Although it's way harder to get a triple into the left center field gap. Oh, yeah. Way harder. Got to be right center field. Yeah. Harder for most. Turner is Turner.

But you need a nice bounce. Are you happy that I did not bet Trey Turner anytime I'm running? Yeah, thank you. That's really nice of you. It's been awful. I saw it, and I was like, God damn it, man. Like, come on. Everyone else is able to reap the rewards.

Yeah, yeah. Ah, man. I need to see if there is cycle odds. Ooh. If I bet a Trey Turner cycle every day I guarantee if I bet $10 on it like it would pay out you're just a great gambler right oh no one's better

I bet I'm gonna win and that's why I bet it's a good philosophy to have it's a numbers game you've got a system yeah I'm like Tripp Kelly with my system but yeah so uh yeah i just think that like the bullpen like they're kind of finding their roles out there and i will say he like he rob thompson will deny it all he wants i don't believe him i think alvarado

is a closer now what do you mean of course two straight games two straight save situation like they were saved situations he is the closer and i. Two straight save situations. Like, they were save situations. He is the closer. And. I went to pick him up in fantasy after the first one, and he was gone. But, like, I was like, oh, he's the closer. Like, me, after the first win, I was like, he's the closer now. And then backed it up yesterday. And the difference between him being the closer now, and I would normally fight this in the

past, but, like, the fact that he can, you needed Alvarado for the ability to put him in the seventh and shut an inning down. And also because he was the only lefty you had in your pen you could count on. Now they got dudes. He's got options. So if you have, if your choice is Soto or Alvarado in the seventh, he now can be like, alright, I'll give it

to Soto, and then I'll make sure that my final three outs are being given to the, like, he is so nasty, dude. He's the best reliever in baseball. I think he's. He might be the best reliever in baseball.

Yesterday was the first time all season he hasn't had at least two strikeouts in one of his outings. I mean, that's crazy. And I don't think he's walked a guy yet. No, he hasn't walked a guy yet. If you needed three outs right now, 08 Brad Lidge or this version of Jose Alvarado, who are you taking? I mean, Alvarado's way more

nasty. Like, I'm sorry. We remember, Lidge was amazing that year, obviously, 48-48, perfecting the playoffs, all that stuff, but like... Sort of Folesy. It was scary! Like, life on a Lidge, we all remember that. Like, it was not like life on a ledge we all remember that like it was it was not like come in and mow them down like jose alvarado it feels like i know soler had the

homer off him and that that happened but we erased that from memory it it it feels hopeless it feels like the other team has no shot when they're going up against alvarado yes um he is is that Yes. He is... Is that like heresy to say that he's better than Noah Eichler right now? I don't... I said that. But it is. I mean, he's stupid. I mean, he made one bad pitch to Solaire. Yeah.

Other than that, it's just like, good morning, good afternoon, good night. That's what it is watching... Strike one, strike two, and good luck. Yeah. That's like, that's his mantra. And like, man, it's just... When you saw it, Sager, I was actually listening

in the moment yesterday when Sager talked about it where he was like, clearly the White Sox plan against Alvarado was don't get behind the count because they just came swinging first pitch every time.

And that's the reason. Like, you're screwed if you get behind the count. Like, you're done. Yeah, it's like, oh, am I supposed to swing at the 101 bowling ball sinker? You're the 100-mile sinker! Or the 95-mile-an-hour cutter. Like, what am I supposed to swing at the 101 bowling ball sinker? You're the 100-mile sinker!

Or the 95-mile-an-hour cutter. What am I supposed to do against this? It really is silly. What a trade, by the way. I know. Garrett Clevenger. Actually got one right. It was the first one.

That was the reach of the known right away. Yeah, yeah. Take that, Rays. Take that. What have you guys done recently? Yeah! We were in the World Series last year. What have you done?

Yeah, what have you done, Rays? Yeah, what have you done? Yeah. Besides hit a home run on every game. Besides hit the best record possible. Hold on. This were in the World Series last year. What have you done? Yeah. What have you done? Yeah. What have you done? Yeah. Besides hit a home run every game. Besides you have the best record in baseball. This fills with the

same average as them. You have the second best record in baseball. I'm actually doing this just assuming because I haven't looked it up. It has to be the break. It has to be.

I mean there's. That's the point. I know. Believe it or not. With 15 and four. Yeah. Believe it or not. They're pretty good.

Yeah. Well like we knew. We knew they were good. It's all right. We knew they were good. Just like and that's where I think. I don I don't, like, people were freaking out, like, there were seven games back. It's like, I don't really care.

Like, I can't care about that stuff when the Phillies won 87 games and won the World Series. Like, I would love to compete for the division, like, coming down the stretch and it being Phillies Braves and, like, how fun that would be. Sure. But, like, ultimately, at this point, like, all I can focus on is what the Phillies are doing. Well, and also, think about last year. And I do think there is something to having to fight to make the playoffs and heading into the playoffs.

I mean, how many times in baseball have we seen wildcard teams go on runs? But last year, of the final four teams, three of them played in the wildcard round. The Houston Astros were the only team that got a bye that made it through. So I don't know. That tells me something. By the way, speaking of slow starts, do you know that the Astros have started 7-9? I saw. In like four straight years.

Yeah. And they've been in the ALCS. They won 106 games last year. Yeah. Like, 106! Yeah. Yeah, so. Yeah.

Whenever, you know, I'm starting to, I used to fight against the whole like, oh, look at these early starts, and like, you know, it's not all that bad. Now I lean into it, because now I need it. Like, now I need it. When we're talking about, you know, the future of this baseball team. Yeah, well, I'm also a big, like, oh, look at these early starts, and it's not all that bad. Now I lean into it because now I need it. Now I need it when we're talking about the future of this baseball team. Yeah, well, I'm also a big, like, every year I say I don't even look at the Saints until June 1st, which is a lie.

Oh, my gosh. That's such a lie. I know. That's like saying we can't overreact to spring training. Yeah, good. Thank you. I'm there. By the way, this team's hitting, man.

They have the best average in baseball. Somewhat handling. They're batting over 290 as a baseball team. We have four guys batting over 320. We used to yearn for one 300 hitter. Scott's batting 365. Almost 20 games into the season. I know.

Turner's batting 321. Everyone's like, Trey Turner hasn't been that good. He's back 321. It's like, no big deal. He's got to start driving the baseball. He's getting there. He's getting there.

We saw yesterday. Yesterday felt like a, a bit of a, an exhale moment for, for Trey Turner. You know, like, he's been good,

but it did feel like in watching him that he was pressing. And he was like, I'm the $300 million guy. I'm the shortstop. Bryce is out. Like, I got to kind of pick up the slack from that standpoint. And yesterday was kind of like, all right, I got the home run out of the way. So I don't have to look like I'm trying to get it out of the way.

So hopefully, like, I just think that these next 10 games. It's going to go on and on. Yeah, we're going to see Trey Turner like, oh, there he is. I mean, and again, to the point you just made with Harper out, man, when Harper gets bad. I mean, again,

the only issue with this team offensively has been hitting with runners in scoring position. And home runs. And home runs, you're right. There's not been enough power. But again,

even without the home runs, with the way they've just been hitting, if they were getting hits with runners in scoring position, they'd be an awesome offense. Well, eventually the floodgates are going to open. Absolutely. That's what we have to view.

It's frustrating. The runners in scoring position thing is annoying. I think they're, what, 14th in baseball? Yeah. Runners in scoring position. Which is a lot better than I think a lot of people would think. Well, but also it's skewed because of the 15 and 13 run games. Yeah, that's a good point.

You're right. Yeah, especially that third. Yeah. Dude, they're like 8 of 14 in the one game. It's games. Yeah, that's a good point. You're right. Yeah, especially that third. Dude, they're like 8 of 14 the one game. It's like, well, that's not. This isn't that team. But yeah, like, you know, eventually the run's going to come. The power is one that's going to be a thing all year, I think.

All right, so let's break this down because obviously Schwarber, we're not worried at all about the power. He's already got four, and we know he's going to. Honestly, last year he didn't have four by this time, I don't think. Obviously, Harper coming back, maybe it takes him a little bit to get going, but not too worried about that. But you're right. After that, I mean, Turner, you know, obviously hasn't hit a ton,

but he'll get to 20 or whatever. But that's what he's supposed to be. You know, he's not a high 20s, low 30s guy. He's done it before, but he's probably a low 20s guy. Castellanos might never hit another home run again. I mean, I'll take all the hits. He should have had one yesterday. The ball he hit to the wall off of whatever Robert called it.

And then a couple innings later, Robert hit the same ball, but it didn't go out. And I thought both should have been home runs. Marsh has been great, has shown some pop. Yeah, but still. But no, but that's the point. You're right. And this is where we come back

to the Reese thing, and the Derek Hall, and whoever it is, like, you're missing a big spot of power in your lineup. Yeah, and you just, like, look at it, right? So, Stock's gonna be 15 to 20. Turner's gonna be 20 to 25. I think he

didn't hit his first home run until around this time last year, too, and he ended up at 21. I'm not concerned about it. So, yeah, it doesn't... Like, the power thing is a thing, but also, like, I'll take as many base runners and whatever. Well, if he hits a runner in the scoring position, it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter. So then, like, Harper coming back

will help, obviously. By the way, you know home runs are rally killers, too. Exactly. We don't want that. That's an official Iowa's position. Listen, I'm very i i do believe home runs are right i know it's like a bit but you really do i do really believe that um so yeah so then uh but schwarber will end up with what 35 probably i think i'll probably end up in 45 or something or 40 or whatever it's also a better start this year 46 last year so like i don't know 40 somewhere in there if i had to bet, 40. I think that's a fair number.

So that's good. Harper will be 20s, hopefully. Because he's probably going to be in the lineup next week. Unbelievable. Castellanos, like, listen, if he hits, like, 10 home runs, whatever, as long as he's hitting 290 and driving runners in, we'll take it at this point. Oh, my God.

Well, at this point, it god well at this point it's again like just seeing him confident and at the plate not chasing everything and all that it's like what a win yeah but i do still i do still think that maybe like a month from now as he continues to get more comfortable then he'll be like okay i can i can go over because he is yeah he's hitting defensively yeah yeah and like the the hit yesterday to drive the runner in and i was like that's the cassiano that i'd like, be back breaking for years. But, yeah, like, Marsh would be 15 to 20. Boehm probably 20, hopefully.

And then it's just like, yeah, there's just – there's not a lot of pop. And it's not even, like, guys who are traditional pop guys not being pop guys anymore. They just don't have it. But, again, like, as long as there's runners on base and they're driving them in and whatever and you can pop one every once in a while It's not going to be the formula for this team

This team is going to be base hits And moving runners along on the bases And all that stuff Alright, let's get to Wheeler Because I saw your tweet the other day Officially more concerned about Zach Wheeler It was a weird outing for him I think the four run inning

I heard a lot of people saying It was blue pits and squibs And it was. I think the four-run inning, I heard a lot of people saying, oh, it was blue pits and squibs. It was. I think there was only one hard ball that inning. But, the loss, he was down. And he didn't look as effective and obviously didn't go deep, super deep. Where you at with Wheeler?

Well, I will say this. He had like three scoreless after that tweet, so you're welcome. You did? But yeah, it's just like, so now the thing with the third inning is that he had back tightness, which I don't like to hear that it could be injury-related. Yeah, I don't like that. Don't like the V-low down. Not getting as much swing and miss.

And it's just like, it just, it's. It doesn't look the same. It's not popping. Yeah, it doesn't look the same. It's not popping. And when I look at Nola, it's like, I think he can operate at a pretty consistent level at 91. Right. You know, he doesn't need 97 to be Aaron Nola.

And with Wheeler, it's like I think he can still be an effective pitcher at 93, but we're not getting like Zach Wheeler. He needs to be 97. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And, you know, getting swing and miss. There just hasn't been as much swing and miss this year. There hasn't been, like, you know know as much whiff rates and stuff so hopefully again hopefully that the the you know the back injury was bothering him or whatever and he can just kind of settle in and and start going off here and the short spray the short off season i mean for him you know like the

pitching deep we're hoping that that's something where he just kind of builds himself up but i was thinking and watching that start it's like when Painter hopefully gets back and Ranger gets back and whatever, they can kind of have some options in the starting staff. Like being able to give him essentially like a month I think would be massive. If they can find a way to do it, like give him a month and just monitor his stuff and hopefully that he can kind of have some bounce back in the second half of the year. I was thinking that in watching him. The problem with the start they've gotten off to is that they don't have that luxury right now.

And the way it's kind of trending here, they might not have the luxury all year. So, again, it's just one of those things where you hope that it's because of the short offseason and he pitched deep in the year and he's still ironing some things out. But, man, it's just been, he just doesn't look the same. And you hope you wake up a start from now and he's back to 97, but we did see it in the postseason. I mean, in the postseason, too. They had to skip his starts until he pitched in game six,

and I was like, oh, there's Zach Wheeler, 98, 99. So, man, it's just been worrisome. It is worrisome. It is. Honestly, it's probably the most concerning thing going on with the team right now. Yes. If you had to look at everything, everything else feels like it's kind of falling into shape. I think we feel really good about Tywin Walker and what he's given us so far.

Falter, you know, he's given us all you can kind of ask for from that role. The bullpen, like you said, we're starting to feel better about. And offensively, you know, outside of the lack of power, you know, this team hits. They put up, they put runners on base. They just got to knock them home. I'm with you.

You know, it's the Wheeler-Knoller combo, isn't it? But I think Wheeler, so far, I think you're right. I think it's more concerning of the two because, you know, he really needs that stuff. We haven't seen it. And not just that, he also is the ace. You know, like Knoller's good. Wheeler's your ace. We haven't seen it. And not just that, he also is the ace. Noel's good. Wheel is your ace.

Wheel is your one. Wheel is your guy who's going to have to go up and face Max Scherzer in a playoff series. Cheating Max Scherzer in a playoff series. Good luck with that sticky stuff, pal. Yeah. Did you see the umpire said it was the stickiest hand that he has felt in three years of checking this. To the point where when he put his finger on scherzer's hand it stuck to it nice oh but he didn't cheat gerardi is right gerardi how about that gerardi was right vacation

for joe i still it was one of the funniest things it was one of the funniest things yeah the you're telling me gerardi that the first night that they're instituting these massive new changes he's like nope get him check him check him because the scherzer was so mad. Yeah. Ah. Ah. It was beautiful. Remember Scherzer, the pants down, the ones. Yeah. Scherzer's such a baby about this stuff. He is. It's like, bro, sorry, man.

You're going to have to be smarter about how you cheat now. All right? Also, you're going to have to get checked. Yeah. You know it. Stop. Oh, my God. I know.

Everyone complaining about everything all the time. Just go out and freaking play baseball. Guess what? You got a pitch clock now. I'm sorry that you're cooked. Deal with now. I'm sorry that you're cooked. Deal with it. I'm sorry that you're cooked, Max. Yeah.

Hey! I'm sorry that all your stuff is declining. How's Verlander? Oh. Okay. Right. Maybe we don't bank on two 40-year-old pitchers. Maybe we don't do that.

All right. I got one more thing before we get to the take back. You can cover any other pitching stuff in there that you have. No. No. I need your official statement on something. Okay. Because you joked around the pub, but I know you.

Right. You really thought Bryson Stott was going to beat Joe DiMaggio. Yes. How are you feeling? So I... Yes. Yes, I did. I rarely agree with Elliot on baseball things. Yeah, never. But it is annoying that it

happened on a doubleheader day. Yeah, Elliot. So Elliot texted Elliot texted us that, and the heart of what he's saying is right. The day, he got to hit that day. Yes. It does suck. It does suck. Especially because he went two hits yesterday, like comes right back out. Yep. Like if he goes on another streak, it's going to be really-

We're going to point to that game. You're going to be like, oh, the Lucas G Alito game. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So I think DiMaggio called in the doubleheader. From the great. The DiMaggio family called it in.

That was what? Yeah. No, it's sickening. It's totally sickening what's happening in baseball right now. They used their juice to get to the White Sox

and say, you got to call this game today, save a doubleheader tomorrow, we know you won't get hits in two games in the same day. Yeah. Because it's not possible. It's the most logical explanation.

Thank you. No, it was legitimately soul-crushing. I just wanted it to happen so bad. Couldn't have been a worse game for it, too, where just the whole lineup just shut down completely. It's like, oh, they're going to get no hit tonight. It was the most scheduled loss I've ever seen of a Phillies team ever.

Jeez. It was so funny. It was classic. People were getting mad. It's like, dude, they obviously didn't care. Which is a shame. Don't do that, Phillies. But listen, man.

Again, I said this on the show or whatever. I watched this team get no hit in the World Series. Yeah, it's true. You're telling me an April game is supposed to break me? This is nothing. Do it all the time. Yeah, whatever. This is just another day. But yeah, the building. You're telling me an April game is supposed to break me? This is nothing. Do it all the time. Yeah, whatever.

This is just another day. But yeah, the start. That's so true. What a great point. We do have that trump card now moving forward. Like, no matter what type of shutdown game

a pitcher has against us, we're like, eh, could be worse. We saw it. And technically, it was their second no-hitter in 20 games. Wow.

I think. Yeah, well, it wasn't no-hitter. Right. It would have been their second no-hitter in like 20-some games. Yeah, you're right. Also, combined wasn't no hitter. Right. It would have been their second no hitter in like 27 games. You're right. Also, combined no hitters don't count.

So whatever. So like it's a no hitter, but I agree with the heart of what you're saying. It doesn't. It's not the same. It shouldn't. It shouldn't be. Do you even know who Cole Hamels threw the combined no hitter against? Who he threw it against or with?

Against. The Angels or something? It was the Braves. There you go. And it was the Cubs that he threw his against or with? Against. The Angels or something? It was the Braves. There you go. It was the Cubs that he threw his actual no-hitter. We know everything about that game. I know. We know everything about that game.

We know that it'll do a little whatever. Yeah, you're right. It's a good point. I agree with the heart of what you're saying. I know. I do. I'm just saying. I really do.

I feel very strongly that it should. It's a no-hitter technically, but it should be combined no-hitters in one category and regular no-hitters in another. You should mark it, but it's different. Yeah, it doesn't. I think that's fair. So yeah, the Stott thing was crushing. But what was also equally as crushing is that Boehm smoked two balls to left field that night

to where it's like, if we lose Stott's streak, at least we have the 13-game hitting streak for Alec Boehm, you know, right behind him. And that was disappointing. All taken away. All taken away. But believe it or not, someone's probably not going to catch DiMaggio despite your belief. Yeah.

I will say, though, it is a part of this balls-and-play stuff that we have seen more hitting streaks. Well. Like, across the league, it's been pretty fun. The fact that the Phillies are a team that has four guys hitting over.320. The Phillies are betting.293 or.295 as a team. That's crazy. We're 20 games into the season almost. They're betting.290?

That's nuts. I think they batted.240 last year. That's what every team does. Teams are always linked to.230 and.240. That's what baseball is now. Look at this. It's thrilling. We got our game back, buddy. You know Bryce Harper was like, oh, we want to get our game back? Sorry, Bryce. We got our game back, buddy. Oh, but I was told. You know, Bryce Harper was like, oh, we want to get our game back. Sorry, Bryce. We got our game back, buddy.

Oh, but I was told Manfred was a problem. Uh-huh. What a zag that would be. Mr. Rob Manfred. What a job he's done. Who let Manfred heat up? All I'm saying. Yeah.

You know what Manfred did? He hired Theo and said, Theo, fix my game. And Theo was like, got you, bro. Yep. And that's what happened. Yep. No, this is got you, bro. Yep. And that's what happened. Yep. No, this is all Theo. I'm being serious.

That's what happened. The stolen base thing is 100% Theo. It's all Theo. All this stuff Theo's been talking for years. He's like, we got to get the game back to where it should be. We need balls in play. We need stolen base. We need triples.

We need this. He's been saying it for years. Yep. So once again, thank you, Theo. Thank you, Theo. And I guess thank you, Rob, for hiring Theo. Yeah. That was an obvious move. Like, who wouldn't hire Theo?

Well, Dabrowski's better anyway. Yes. True. Yeah, let's go with that. Our guy. Let's go with that. Our guy. All right.

Take back it up. All right. Take back it up. All right. All right. You know what the Braves would do with Bryson Stott right now? They would love to have him. No.

Make him their starting shortstop. No. What would the Braves do with Bryce's start right now? You'd see a press release. Oh, they'd sign him. Yes, you're right. They'd sign him to a 10-year, $40 million contract or something along those lines. Yeah.

Maybe $50 million, something like that. Yeah. Just saying. That's a good point by you. You're right. You're right. Would you give... How do all these years again, look at the Acuna contract, look at the Albies contract, look at the Riley contract,

look at all these things. Like, why do they do this? Would you give Bryce and Stott a contract extension right now? Yeah, absolutely. Dude, I'm all in on him as a hitter. All in. Well. I think he's good.

Like I said, he could win a batting title someday. So the thing about Stott, and I wonder if they're thinking about it. I'm sure the Kingery thing has given them a little bit of cause for pause. Different regime. Of course. But the only thing that I wonder about possibly extending him or extending Marsh or extending Boehm is that do they want the extra cash to use in free agency? So the Braves do it because they don't have as much money as the Phillies,

in a way. So they have to. So they sign them young or whatever. But with the Phillies in the offseason, they still want to sign players. Do they want to increase Stott's? Keep their flexibility as the NBA. That's an interesting thought. Do you want to increase Stott's number right now?

The question is how much value do they see in getting him at a discount or what they believe will be a discount? Obviously, you're taking the risk of him not being the player you thought he was or whatever versus the flexibility year by year. It's a fascinating thought. Yeah. I think they'd rather have the flexibility. I don't think they're going to sign him.

But just saying. The Braves would do it. Yeah. The Braves would do it. Yeah, the Braves would do it. In a second. So this is tied into the Wheeler and Nola thing. And I know I advocated for this in the offseason, but now in watching those guys, and I know this might be a bit overreactionary,

but when it comes to trade deadline, I know there's going to be this idea of trading McAble or Griff McGarry to upgrade the team. I'm already seeing people talk. I saw on Twitter a Griff McGarry-based CJ Krohn trade. Ew. I know. I know.

Stop. Well, they had Kyle Freeland in it, too. Oh, awesome. Great. Awesome. That's even better. But with the way that it seems like, well, we'll see what happens with Nola. I still think they want to re-sign him, but there's a possibility he leaves, of course.

Yeah, and look, if Nola doesn't figure it out this year, he's probably not getting $200 million on the market. Like, he'll still get paid. Like, one down year won't stop it. But I don't think he gets the money he wants if he continues on this trajectory. And also, that might also help the Phillies bring him back. That's my point. Yeah, that's where he's going. And then Wheeler, we'll see.

Hopefully he turns it around. But at this point, they can't trade either of those guys. Wow. Wow, what a take here. Because if Wheeler is trending in this direction, he's 93, and you have one year left of him. With the team and the way they're built right now, this is a five-year window. No doubt. This is a five-year window no doubt this is a five-year window no doubt and they're gonna need

painter they're gonna need able and they're gonna need griff if they're gonna like where they could sign guys they can sign guys of course but you know it's just now i think that with their pitching the way that we learned all our pitching like you have to factor in the guys that you have and like proceed with caution when it comes to possibly trading those guys okay i look yeah i think it's very fair i think it's very fair now i think it look you could trade for a pitcher who has right two years left on his deal and then you give up one of those guys and then you're resigning that guy like there are other ways to do this but yeah i i think the heart of what you're saying is true like They need to prioritize pitching over the next five years.

The line is pretty set. They need to worry about where their staff is going to be in a few years. No doubt. And you have to hope that, again, the best case scenario here is that Wheeler starts bouncing back and it's back to Zach Wheeler. But they have to monitor at this point of like, okay, well, what if he's not? Well, and I think

that they have more information than we do on that. Like, they know how Zach is really feeling. They knew where this is coming from. Is it just, like, I think they're a lot more aware of where he's at and what the future is or what they believe the future is than we are. So, yeah, that's just one of the monitors.

I think it's a really interesting one. Oh, this time last year, Phillies were 8-11. Wait, were they 8-11? I might have gotten this backward. I think they're 8-11 now. They're 8-11 now. Okay, so this time last year, they were 7-10.

Oh, okay. This time last year, they were 7-10. This time now, they're 8-11. At both times, a four-game series at home against the Rockies happened. Oh, we remember that one went last year. Last time they swept. They swept the Rockies last year? Oh, here.

Okay, I'm thinking out there. They swept the Rockies. Oh, I remember that. It was a four-game series. Four-game series. I do remember that. They swept the Rockies here. They got back over 500.

Yes. And it was like, okay. And then it wasn't okay. And then it wasn't okay because Joe Girardi still existed. But, but, same thing. And this Rockies team is dreadful. They've But, but, same thing. And this Rockies team is dreadful. They've lost eight straight, I believe.

It's eight or nine. Like, they've been real bad. Well, and their pitching staff is better. It's an abomination. Their pitching staff. Almost comically bad. Yeah, it's really bad. I mean, Freeland, Marquez, I can't name the other guys. Sadly, Marquez is just.

He's cooked. It's a shame. Yeah, I loved him, but he's not the same guy anymore. And I don't even know who else in the rotation. Noah Davis? Never heard of him in my life. He almost got, like, he had a ball. Honestly, I've never heard.

You know what? I'm going to pull up the Rockies lineup real quick because this is fun. Well, it's like, it's Chris Bryan who started with a little bit of power. Yeah. Is Brendan Rodgers still there? No, no, no, no. No, no. I mean, CJ Crone, everyone's favorite.

Well, obviously CJ Crone. Even though he's been, like, kind of terrible recently. Okay. Oh, Blackman's still there? No, no, no, no. No, no. I mean, C.J. Crone, everyone's favorite. Well, obviously C.J. Crone. Even though he's been kind of terrible recently. Okay. Oh, Blackman's still there. Yeah, which he kills us, which is going to be so rushing. Yeah, so Charlie Blackman could be 75 years old, and he's killing us in an old-timers game. All right, let's look at this.

Oh, they got Profar. Jerks and Profar. They do have Jerks and Profar. I didn't know that. Ryan McMahon, of course. I've only met Mike Moustakis, Iraqi. Moustakis is Iraqi? Who knew? Wow. That's your guy. I Mike Moustakis is a Rocky. Moustakis is a Rocky? Who knew?

That's your guy. I liked Moustakis a decade ago. A. Trejo? You ever hear of him? He's a fan favorite out there, apparently. Really? What's his first name? H. Castro? Any idea who that is? Harold Castro, former Ray Gray. E. Tovar? No idea. Then they had

B. Servin catching. I know they've got Diaz, who's been pretty good for them as their everyday catcher. Well, the Phillies are facing Ryan Feltner, who's terrible and has an ADRA. They're facing Noah Davis. Oh, Urena's there. I know. They're facing Kyle Freeland. And yes, they're facing Jose Urena.

Urena. On Sunday. With a 9.82 ERA. Are you excited about the return of Christopher Sanchez on Saturday, by the way? Yes. I'm thrilled. He'll be the extra guy. What a thrill.

You know what? It is a good day of Christopher Sanchez. I'm not excited about it, but he is a guy who, for this specific situation, when you get ringed out and you need a six-starter, fine. Sure. Also, Ryan Kirkering is still nasty I just want everyone to oh Orion's

belt yep Orion's belt we gotta come up with the full accounting of what we're gonna do like 26 players maybe that's a pod like an all star break pod but the actual fan groups we need to like really nail that down yeah i was thinking

like jake cave it could be the cave and it's like people dressed as plato well why don't you think about that why don't you keep it simple and call them the cavemen yeah or and then they just all showed up with their beards and way better yeah way better than the cave and play though i was trying to go deep with that yeah you were it's not were. Sometimes the answer's right in front of you. By the way, Orion Kirkering, 18 strikeouts per nine to start his season. That is not bad, Jack.

He's allowed one hit. Savior. Get to Redding. Let's get to Redding. And then subsequently to Philly. Any final thoughts? By the way, I know a lot of people listen to this like quickly when it comes out or whatever. Check out our boy,

Jack Fritz, hosting the afternoon show today. No big deal to him. And tomorrow. And tomorrow, no big deal to him. But. Check out our guy,

call in, say your IOPs, listener, it'll make his day. But still doing final out. So. Look at you. Just,

just to work. Well, listen, someone's got to lead this fan base. That's right. You know, that's right. It's a good point first two weeks everything like yeah deep breaths they're they're back i'm just letting you know if you gave up on the phillies after the first two weeks you're putting on blinders to what it's turned out to be they're back they're 100 back i like

there's way more like there's gonna be a pod title in here somewhere well just like they're they're way more like you just look at how everything's developing. The lineup is starting to figure it out. The pitching staff's figured it out. The bullpen, they've found their four studs, and then you can let Brogdon and Belotti and whoever kind of just figure it out in the middle. And then

Rob Thompson's starting... The decisions are finally like, okay, this is working. So the only way this whole thing collapses is if nolan wheeler don't figure it out so that's my official position i love it it's a good position yeah and then even if they do painter will just come in and be a superstar hopefully yeah um all right you got any final thoughts final thought is uh we don't take three or four this weekend it's a sweep weekend whoa look at you i mean that would be 12 straight for the Rockies, so I like that.

Well, it's not in Colorado. So then we got a chance! In Colorado, we'd be saying, don't lose all four. Just don't embarrass us, is usually the motto heading into Colorado. Alright, we'll talk to you guys on Sundays for themselves. We'll see you next time.