High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Offense Comes to Life and Harper is Officially a Phillie Now

Episode Date: May 2, 2019

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz are back fresh off a split against the Tigers. The guys talk about Harper being booed. 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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It's a bunch of baseball nerds. Well, without the computers. Talking about the Philadelphia Phillies. On Radio.com and Sports Radio 94 WIP. Yo! It is... Time's two. Another edition of the High Hopes Podcast. This is our second attempt. We recorded for about five minutes before we realized Jack's mic wasn't on.

Yeah, now, was that a ploy by you? Well, I was trying to get you to, you know, not talk. You did it on purpose. Yeah, you did it on purpose. You wanted to make this podcast all about you. Jack's smugly, all of a sudden, he looks over. He's like, wait a minute. Is my mic not on?

What I'm saying is not being heard by the masses of people out there. And I can't let that happen. Well, guess what, masses? You weren't missing much. That is a lie. You literally just said 30 seconds ago, this is the most brilliant thing you've ever said in months of recording this podcast.

Oh, yeah? What was it? What did you say? It was so brilliant. Well, we'll get back into it. All right. Bryce Harper got booed. Bryce Harper got booed.

So, Bryce, officially, welcome to the city uh the first month was nice um james thought you're gonna get a year i thought it was a year like a break james thought this city has changed and let me just say one thing is that philly's fans are the only fans in this city that actually hold their team accountable like they're the only ones that like like and believe me they're crazy opinions but like at least they're passionate and they care and bryce like listen buddy james's dad's high school friend best friend was that what yeah yeah best friends best friend reggie jackson once said that they don't they don't boo nobodies. And welcome to the city, buddy. It was a moment.

I didn't totally hate it because I don't think it was all directed at Bryce Harper. I just, I don't think it was directed at Bryce Harper. Okay. First and foremost, great quote from Reggie. It is true. You don't boo nobodies. No. I get booed walking down the street.

How am I supposed to go on after that? You can't. What am I supposed to say to that? Listen, I got it today, buddy. You are in rare form today. Yeah. Well, I ran four days in a row. I don't know if you've noticed.

Have you noticed I've lost some weight? No. No one's noticed? See, no one notices. No one notices. I've had a salad today. What? Yeah.

It's crazy. Wow. We're back. You're committing. Yeah. Well, kind of. I will never go full in If I go full in

Then I'm just Then I should worry about you Yeah yeah yeah Okay good to know I'm guessing I'm guessing that you've not Harper letted the beer away Come on

Yeah Come on Let's figure out It's gross Let me just say this If I ever get to around 180ish Pounds wise

You should be worried about me Okay It's good to know Cause then Cause then my baseball knowledge Is just gone Like I'm just probably a smoothie guy. You're wasting away is probably what's happening.

Yeah. Yeah. So watch out for that. Yeah. Everyone watch out. If you start getting too thin, I'll be like, Jack, get that fat back on there, man. We need it. The high hopes people need it.

Grab a cheese stick, buddy. Yes. Eat a cheese stick. Get back to your roots. Drink some more beers. What are you doing? I like this. I didn't like the Harper boo as much as you did, though.

Oh, come on. Come on, man. It's April 30th. He got booed before the end of the month. I mean, really? Look, I get it. And I generally am with you. I don't have any problem with booing in general.

I'm fine with the boo and all that. It just felt like a little quick. A little quick for the boo. He's been're a month give him a chance i just think that hustling and he's trying it's one thing like if if i get it if you want to boo someone because they don't run down to first base hard enough or whatever it is warranted righteous fair but we're we're less than a month into the season and this guy's getting booed because he's dropping a ball i mean mean, it happens because he's striking out. Sorry, he's in a slump.

Look, I'm not super angry about it. Personally, I wouldn't have booed. Now, let me just say this, is that if I thought it was directed at Bryce Harper, I would be more upset about the boo. Sure, in the moment, it was directed

at Bryce Harper, but in my opinion, Bryce Harper is the face of the Phillies and he is supposed to be the straw that stirs the drink and the Phillies have come out flat they have not played good baseball for what feels like 10 days or two years eight years I think he's actually correct and it just it just felt like it felt like they were dead and and when you're a Phillies fan and you're going down to the ballpark and you have a good baseball team, like there's a good

baseball team inside this Phillies team. I mean, they are in first place. They're 17 and 13 right now. I understand they're in first place, but that's more of a results over process

to be in first place for me. It's fair. So, to me, that was just a frustration boo with how the Phillies have played for the last 10 days. It just happened to be right after he drops the ball on right field and then strikes it out of the plate. And to me, I think that's warranted to kind of get this team going.

I don't think it was a boo of Bryce Harper. I don't think Philadelphia is at all sour grapes with Bryce Harper. Because listen, if the Phillies were winning and playing good baseball, and he drops the ball on right field and then strikes out, no one's booing him. No one's booing him. No one's booing him. But the fact that he made those two mistakes, well, a strikeout's not really a mistake. It just kind of happens.

He made a mistake and he struck out. And the way the Phillies have played recently, I just think that was a lot of fan frustration coming up because if they're winning and he does that, no one gives a crap. All right. Not to give you too much credit. I think it's a really good point.

Thank you. I do. I think that if the boo was directed at the cumulative product of the team that we had seen, and I was at that game, the 3-1 loss. I'm so sorry. That was a horrible game. It was.

They had four hits. It was a horrible game. They had four hits. And I know you're a big Spencer Turnbull guy, but he's not that good. I tried to tell you all. Oh, what a horrendous game it was. So for that perspective, Jack, you've kind of swayed me a little bit. If that was the case, I'm all right with it.

If it's a personal Bryce you suck boo, less okay. Is that fair? In your heart, do you think it was that? Probably not. I do think there were some people who were like i paid money to see bryce harper and you're sucking i'm mad and those are the knuckle draggers exactly those are the people that i'm calling yeah and those are the people that don't actually care about the phillies right like those are the people that are like oh i'm

gonna pay 200 for this game and the fact that you the fact that you got out. If my game that I paid all of my part down there, I freaking got out of work early, I talked to my buddies, and I was like, yeah, I'm going to ballpark to see Bryce. And Bryce didn't show up. Bryce didn't do it, so I beat him. Real quick, is that the premiere? I think that's the premiere. For those who don't know, this is Jack's go-to.

I mean, jack rocks the philly accent like none i've ever heard in my life strong yeah i don't think it's been it's premiere on the high notes right it is because i've heard you do it 10 000 times maybe i don't think we've ever brought it to the pod i know i know um it's good stuff it's it's one of my favorite things to do you do it in the history of the world all the time there's nothing i love more than breaking it out um it's just like it's just the best you're really good it's much better than you're saying because we're thinking we're thinking the guy from opening day that called into marks and reese and he was like yeah got out of work paid 300 paid 100 in beer and yeah

booed him i beat him it's like oh why are you doing that i remember that call top five worst call in the history of sports right now. Yeah, so, yeah, it was a frustration with the team, I think. I don't know if it was totally directed at Bryce Harper. And ultimately, hopefully it gets them going a little bit. And I just, I like that Phillies fans, like, I think Phillies fans more than other teams in the city care the most about the product on the field. And they care about how the team is trending and all that stuff.

And they see through the BS. We talk about this a lot. But that team last year was flawed. And fans didn't show up, even though they were in first. Fans didn't believe you. You're right. Right. And I think Phillies fans are the best at kind of sniffing that out.

And they got on them on Tuesday night. And I think there was a warranted time. Because, James, they have not played inspired baseball since the first week and a half of the season really since they blew that game in Washington we haven't seen the same team is that fair since they blew a game at home against Washington

yeah yeah yeah the Juan Soto game the Victor Robles game yep the 6-1 game I agree with you since that game they have not been this I think it's a really you can point to that game and they really have played differently since then. And my worry is, is that this is a team that when they're going great, going right, everything's

fine. But I don't see, and I haven't seen it one month into the season, I have not seen the resiliency of a team that has as much talent as this team has. Like, I haven't seen the back against the wall. And last night was a good... Last night was. That's where I was going to go. But it felt like an exhale more than

we're going to get back in this game and do some damage. And it also felt like, and we'll get to it, but it also felt like if they go down further than 2-1, they don't come back. It felt like it was teetering there. And especially when, and we'll get to it, when Neris gets that out there, it felt like that inning could have blown open

and I don't know if they come back from that. But it was a resilient win. It felt like, and we'll dive into it, that when Neris gets that out there, it felt like that inning could have blown open, and I don't know if they come back from that. But it was a resilient win. It felt like, and we'll dive into each one, but I think your overall point is very fair. I concur with it. I just generally think that a month into the season of a team that is 17-13, or at that time 16-12, whatever they were about to be, 16-13,

I'm willing to give them a little more rope to figure it out. Yeah, and especially with they were about to be 16 and 13 i'm willing to give them a little more rope to figure it out yeah and especially the injuries with the injuries and all that but i i fair point you've turned me a little bit on the boo yeah good work by you uh they're 17 and 13 uh after one month of season which is the exact same record as the 2018 also i do i'm gonna spread this i'm gonna spread this on you right now. Waiting. Ready. Happy anniversary because yesterday in 1883 was the first Phillies game. I saw that. Very cool. And look, 100 some odd years later, here's the high hopes podcast.

Two monumental moments in Phillies history. Them starting the team in 1883. By the way, their starting pitcher that day lost 48 games that season. Oh, really? Yeah. Oh, my God. He lost 48 games. Wow.

And the first game took 90 minutes. Wow. Can you imagine? Do you think we're going to see that again? Can you imagine? No. Can you imagine being done watching a baseball game at 830 and setting your whole night ahead of you?

No. It's like, no, I go to bed at midnight every night. I choose to sit here. I choose. Through all of this. All right, let's dive into the specifics and we'll look at it after that and all that. And I know we want to get into a particular member of the Phillies coaching staff who on Jack Furtz's hot seat, let's say.

We'll get to that. But let's start with this series. 3-1 loss on Monday. I didn't say Friday this time, Jack. I didn't say Friday. But it was Tuesday. It was Tuesday. So you're getting there.

I'm going to break another pen. You're getting there, buddy. I'll get the day right at some point. One of these days. Yes. And the asshole-ness of me to say I didn't say Friday when I got the day wrong. This is so sad. I should be banned from this podcast for doing that again.

All right. We won't blame you too much because I know you have daddy brain. Yes. By the way, real thing. I heard the caller today. It's a real thing. Daddy brain's a real thing. I am 100% dumber than I used to be.

It's just a fact. The listeners have noticed. Oh, I set myself up for that one. All right. So shout out to all the dads out there. You guys get me. James is clearly taking a big step back on this podcast, and it's because of his child. I'm blaming it on Zoe.

Look at that. I can't even take responsibility myself. It's all Zoe's fault. We can't let James have another kid or else this podcast is going into the tank. Yes. Luckily, I think we'll be all right with that one. All right. Let's start with Vinny. Bad Vinny was back, Jack. And it wasn't all the tank. Yes. Luckily, I think we'll be all right with that one. All right. Let's start with Vinny.

Bad Vinny was back, Jack. And it wasn't all his fault. Yeah. We'll get into Cesar Hoskins, whoever you blame for that. Like, oh my God. But Vinny, we still saw some of that nibbler, the old school Vinny that we're going to hate. Dude, a hundred pitches in three and two thirds. Old school Vinny. I mean, that's the guy right there. Yeah. That's the guy. And like, I don't want to crush Vinny because I're going to hate. Dude, 100 pitches in three and two thirds. Old school Vinny. I mean, that's the

guy right there. Yeah. And like I don't want to crush Vinny because I don't think he's been very good. I mean, I don't want to rip him. He's been coming into the game. He had an area of 1.99. Like I'm not going to kill the guy, but it was worrisome because I think the thing with Vinny is whenever he has these stretches of solid baseball, he had the one last year where it was

like 10 starts where like eight of them were pretty decent and he'll have these stretches and he'll show the flashes but every single time he always goes back to that guy. So I think when you see it even once,

it's terrifying. Listen, do you want the main sign as to I'm not totally giving up on Vinny? There was no bring up Pavetta takes, okay? That's a good point actually.

Right. It's a big moment for me. Which is shocking considering the guy is like the best minor league pitcher in the history of baseball, but whatever. Of all time.

And so, yeah, Vinny had a... We're going to get to Pavetta, by the way, later on. Yeah. Vinny had a bad start. It was 100 pitches. Obviously, it wasn't totally his fault there in the third inning

or whatever when... It was the third inning. Third inning. Yeah. Where the ball... Let me blame for that real quick because I heard a lot of people blame Hoskins,

and I thought it was as much if not more Cesar's fault than Hoskins. I thought it was Hoskins' fault. I could have gone either way. It was kind of between them. I felt like Cesar had a better angle at it if he wanted it but either way. Mistakes. But Cesar is playing over on the shift so he had a longer run to get

there whereas Hoskins just had a drop back and go at it. Reese at first base is just horrendous it's not been great so bad yeah he's he's serviceable but uh no he's not he's well below average he's potentially the worst first baseman in baseball i think he's probably in the running i i don't i don't know every bad defensive first baseman in baseball but i bet he's in the top five if i had to guess not great yeah um so with Yeah. So with Vinny on Tuesday, the one part that I was getting frustrated with Vinny

was that he was going back to how he was before the last four starts, which he would not fully reach his balance point before going home. You talked a lot about this. And when he doesn't do that, his fastball location is just way off. When you fully reach your balance point all of your energy is back on your back leg and when you explode to the plate like you just have so much more umph behind it it's like it's like throwing a punch but you loaded the punch instead of just throwing your arm in a way and when he does not fully collect himself

and have all the weight back on his back leg and it just it causes his fastball location to be all over the place like his fastball location what had made vinny vinny the last four starts was his fastball location where he's putting the ball where he wanted to put it and what happened on on tuesday was the ball was up in the zone up in a way and they weren't competitive pitches and that's why you see his pitch count be 100 pitches and in three and two thirds i think that's a pretty simple fix that i'm sure chris young saw and they'll be able to fix that my my bigger concern with vinny going forward is that even when he was going well he still wasn't doing it out of the stretch like out of the stretch he was just lift and go rather than

making sure and i understand you want to be quick to the plate because they're major leaguers and whatnot but um i think it's more important to focus on the batter at the plate than than the runner on first sometimes as does noah center guard yeah and i just think that he got away from that a little bit uh he needs to get back to his balance point but the first three innings or two innings i mean he was he was vinny i mean it was fastballs up they weren't able to catch up to it and he was 97 so totally out, but a simple fix that he needs to change. Yeah, I could see that. And hopefully we get good Vinny more than bad Vinny. But until I see it for like a full season, I'm not. It's hard to trust him.

Jack, it's impossible to trust him. Him and Franco. And listen, Franco's been great. So good. I mean, opposite field double will get to that game. But, I mean, my man's hitting the ball the opposite field he's not swinging

over the ball like you so he's not stepping out the way he used to he's not striking out yeah unfortunately the strikeout streak came to an end of course right after

we do this podcast why wouldn't it we are like the kiss of death so this is I took Moniak out of my bio and I just put in there

like tweeting through my mush face because like literally everything has just been crap like it's it's unbelievable yeah it's unbelievable I'll tweet one thing and then the next second the exact

opposite will happen it is like Moniac's back down at 195 and double A he's out of the bio I'm not putting another athlete in my bio yeah last athlete that was in my bio was Mark Alfalz yeah you're a disaster with this. Dude, it's crazy. My God, you were the kiss of death.

Players are legitimately talented, and then they reach the bio, and it's game over. It's crazy. Ooh, I just had an idea. No. Jeff McNeil in the bio, maybe? Yeah, but it doesn't work when I obviously do it. I have to genuinely believe it. Okay, all right.

Fair. For it to go completely to crap, I have to genuinely believe it. Okay, all right. Fair. For it to go completely to crap, I have to genuinely believe it with all my heart. Because I'd really like to knock Jeff McNeil down a few pegs, if possible. Can't do it. He's impossible. He's unjinxable.

He owns our soul. Poor Jeff McNeil. But yeah, Tuesday was not fun. Nothing else from Tuesday. Obviously, the offense didn't get going. We'll get into that a little deeper. The one thing I did notice on Tuesday was that Bryce Harper did change his batting stance a little bit.

So instead of doing the hands up, drop the bat to the shoulder, and then back up timing-wise, he just kept his hands up the whole time. Really? He didn't drop the bat back? He didn't do that. That is interesting. I think he does that when he feels like his timing's a little off. He needs to get a little quicker to the plate type of thing? Correct.

And when he's going right, obviously, he'll do the toe tap and all that, and it'll be back to normal. But I think for him to get to the plate type of thing? Correct. And when he's going right, obviously he'll do the toe tap and all that. And it'll be back to normal. But I think for him to get to the right spot mentally, he has to not drop his hands and just drive to the baseball. It was one thing that got him going in the second half last year. I remember watching in the 30,000 Bryce Harper highlight tapes I watched. No one knows him better than you, Jack. The second half, he started raising his hands

and not doing the drop the bat on the shoulder and then go um kind of thing so that was interesting on tuesday and then obviously you came out and saw it on wednesday smoked three balls um so hopefully he's coming out of whatever slump he was in but i thought that was interesting um from tuesday yeah all right so let's dive into wednesday because obviously a lot more fun to talk about before we move on from tuesday tuesday was the day that alecehm got promoted to Clearwater, baby. I'm just going to get there, brother. Oh, you're going to get there? Look at Alec promoted on my thing. You should probably just send me this sheet.

I should. I probably should. Well, you know, we like to do it live. I like to make fun of you bringing up things before I get to them. Yes. So, yes, Alec Boehm. Are you so excited? Yeah.

We needed it. We talked about it on this show. He needed to be called up. He was too old to be in that league. It was absurd. Way too old to be in that league. It's the kind of thing that makes you worry. needed to be called up. He was too old to be in that league. It was absurd. Way too old to be in that league. It's the kind of thing that makes you worry. And he got called up.

But the fact that he wasn't called up at that moment, you're like, should I be more worried about Alec Baum than I am? Absolutely correct. Yes. So he came out like gangbusters. I mean, he's bagging like 373 before he got brought up. Because you didn't put him in the bio. Yeah.

Alec Baum will never touch the bio. But the one thing that's interesting, I was watching some tape of him, and he's slowly but surely getting his hands into the correct one.

Oh, the hands! O-Chart! Oh! Never doubt Jason O-Chart. He has the, he now has the sensors on the bottom of the bats, which all the Astros use.

Love it. I mean, listen, I, you know, I said it before the season, I'll say it again, behind Bryce Harper, bringing in Jason O'Chart was the second biggest acquisition. I thought you said it was the most important, but that's fine.

We'll go second. Well, Bryce Harper's pretty important. So Jason O'Chart, second most important. He's already fixed Alec Boehm. It's great. It's great. We've got to get O'Chart on the pod. Yeah.

I mean, he's a huge fan of the podcast. We are the official Jason O'Chart for Hitting Coach Podcast. I would say we've mentioned Jason O'Chart's name more than his family has within the last year. The important things. Yes. Let's move on to Wednesday. Start with the obvious place we need to start. Not vintage.

Not yet. Personally, I thought Nola looked better. The curve looked better. He was fooling guys. A couple called third strike strikeouts. He seemed to have guys a little bit more off balance, but not quite there yet. What was your take on Noah? So what I've started doing in my mush phase is...

I love this. Dude, it's in my head. I'm not even lying. I can tell, man. It's in my head like no other. I tweet one thing, I get three responses. Stop drinking. So do you really think when you tweet, you're like, should I send this?

Yes. Wow. Yes, of course I do. So it's because I own the mush gods during the whole Eagles playoff run. So do you like really think when you tweet, you're like, should I send this? Yes. Wow. Yes. Of course I do. So when I start, so it's because I own the mush gods during the whole Eagles playoff run. Like I was in there, I destroyed them on counterpoint. Like they didn't have a chance, but they're getting me back now in a big way. In a big way.

But of course, as soon as I pass 10,000 followers. Shout out to Jackie 10K. It's a big moment for me. This guy. Big moment for me this guy big moment for me um so oh so what i if you'll notice what i'll start doing is i'll say a certain someone is looking like himself oh is that what you're doing these days yeah oh you are really in your head yeah so this is great i did with eikhoff a couple days ago i said a certain someone is looking like his 2016 form and he dominated he was awesome and then yesterday with nola after the first inning i could just tell like i could just tell he was looking like nola

a little bit um now i will say wasn't great as the game went along and it was incredibly frustrating that he couldn't get that lot i mean and even though we know like just watching he wasn't vintage nola but you look at the line six innings no runs is a whole lot different than five and two-thirds in one run i know it shouldn't be but it is it just we would all felt a lot better about the show and here's how we know that nola's not totally back yet is that uh overall by the end of the game he threw 42 fastballs 60 curves and change-ups wow like that's just not wow that's not nola that's not nola just yet he doesn't trust that fastball i think early he trust the fastball

he was getting up to 95 with like legitimate zip to it and he was crossing guys up on the right handed batters up with fastballs in but as the game went on he just lost feel for it he lost feel for his fastball and the home run I think it was the home run no it was it was whatever

whatever tied the game 1-1 which was a Jacoby Jones single. Yep. It was seven straight curveballs. Really? Like seven straight curveballs or change-ups and no fastballs. And you're telling me Jacoby Jones, who stinks, was going to catch up to a fastball? So that was really

frustrating. The football players are better, Jacoby Jones, and he wasn't even that good. I know. He wasn't good at all. Yes. But, yeah, he's close they thought there'd be two professional athletes named jacoby jones yeah um so the it was it was a good nola start the curveball i am i am i am that was the best curveball of the season like that was a good curveball yeah and it was i mean people looked fooled by the curveball but he's not nola until that fastball's back and I just

it was weird. Like the fastball was just darting on him. Like it was just taking off. It wasn't even competitive. It was just flying in like the fifth or sixth inning. It was like come out of his hands and automatically come flying out. And I wonder, so I was wrong about the balls.

Yeah, you texted me about this. So a couple weeks ago we talked about how we thought the seams might, I thought the seams might Yeah, you texted me about this. So a couple weeks ago, we talked about how we thought the seams might have been higher on the baseballs. And that's why Nola's curveball was not moving as much. But L.A. was talking about this yesterday on Marks and Reese, and he was saying that it's actually the exact opposite. The seams are lower. The seams are lower.

Which makes more sense, because you would think if the seams are up, like it wouldn't affect, like he'd still be able to find a grip that works there because he'd have something to have friction with. You know what I mean? Yeah, but he would throw it softer. I don't think that's totally off base.

No, no, no. I'm just saying this makes a little more sense than what we originally thought. Well, it makes sense from a command standpoint. Yeah. Like the higher seams, you would still be able to command it at a high level. And so I think it comes down to this with nola with the balls is that so how la was describing it and he talked to nola about it and he said basically they come out and they feel like ice cubes like it feels like you're throwing ice

cubes which does not sound fun at all no so they're not rubbing them up so you can't get a feel you can't get a grip on them at all and they're not scoffed or anything um and the seams are lower so what i think was happening there in the fifth or sixth inning was when you are, when your fastball is at its best and when it's getting its best movements, and especially him, I'm sure he does this to get two seam run on his ball. But you put pressure on your index finger and you like to get the best possible velocity and movement. You want it on your finger as long as possible. You want it on your fingers as long as possible uh you want it

on your fingers as long as possible before you release it and what i think was happening there was like he was putting pressure on the on his index finger on the ball and the ball would just come out and just dart on him like a lot of a lot of slide out of his head yeah and a lot of those pitches in the fifth and sixth innings it was it was a fastball that would just dart it would it would just it was like what was that would just rise up to lefties. It would go out of the zone, up and in. And I think a lot of that had to do with the balls and not being able to rub them up. And he was saying that once it gets warmer, he'll actually have moisture on his face that he can actually start gripping it.

And the fact that it's cold out, he can't sweat. So why is he not using Vaseline like every other pitcher in baseball does, just on the sly? I mean, he probably does. Yeah. I mean, he probably does. I mean, he probably has it somewhere. Right. We need more. He probably has Pintar somewhere. Get more of that in there, Aaron.

Everyone does it. Do it more. Yeah. But I'm with you. I think that makes a lot of sense. All right. Quickly, before we move on to the offense, we ripped Kapler a little bit recently.

We've had a couple of questions about his bullpen use and whatnot. Massive amount of credit for bringing Hctor narrows there in the sixth inning i mean he's the de facto closer for this team for all intents and purposes he saved their last four saves 99 a minute or i guess baseball change let's say 90 of managers would not have brought him in in that situation he brings narrows in in the sixth inning to get one out one pitch pitch. And I appreciate that he didn't bring him back out. Granted, you know, when spots come up in the order, there are other reasons for that. But I do think that potentially that's a data point.

We haven't seen that as much this year. You talked a lot about not bringing guys back in after they get out of a big inning. But I just thought that to go to his closer, for all intents and purposes, in the sixth inning in that spot of a game that could have slipped away there. That was a really good move by Kapler. Yeah. And the game's in the balance.

I mean, the game's in the balance at that point. And what I liked about Gabe was on Tuesday and Wednesday night, even though they were down, or in that case, they were tied, he didn't bring in the human white towel that is Jose Alvarez. Thank you. Jesus. And I think what we'll learn is that when Gabe has the off days and he has a fully rested bullpen, he has no problem bringing in guys

and help them keep them in a ballgame and not completely throwing in the white flag. And I thought that was good. It was 3-1 on Tuesday night and he brought in his best relievers. So I thought that was a good adjustment and kept them in that game, even though they didn't come back. And obviously, last night, it kept them in the game just long enough to where they could take advantage and come back late in the ballgame against the Tigers' bullpen that is atrocious.

It's bad. I mean, it's too bad they couldn't get to Daniel Norris. Daniel Norris stinks, man. I think he's better than you. I mean, he's talented. I know he's talented, but he's not. You should be able to get to him. Yeah. This team doesn't hit lefties as well as you would think they would.

And we talked about Rees, but just in general. Yeah, and Joe Giglio brought this up the other night. The Dodgers are a nightmare scenario for the playoffs. Because they go Kershaw, Ryu. Dodgers are just a nightmare scenario, period. But yes, I agree with you. But they have all the Urias. They have all these lefties.

Well, the other thing about the Dodgers, they do. They do. They have all those lefties. And then on top of that, they also have a lineup with a bunch of guys who they sub in and out where they can throw a bunch of righties at you, a bunch of lefties. That's the thing is they got a lot of lefty to pop. And that's a bad matchup for our rotation as well on the other side. I mean, you got Muncy, Peterson, like all these guys who are just – Bellinger.

Like all these guys are just going to freaking mash balls against right-handed pitching. The Dodgers are a nightmare matchup. I don't think they have a chance, to be honest. As of the way they're comprised now, there's a lot of baseball to be played, but the Dodgers are the worst possible matchup

for the Phillies. Like, I would say, so Hoskins can't hit lefties. That's been documented. Which is the craziest thing. It doesn't make any sense. And Michael Franco was 4 for 24

against lefties this year. He can't hit lefties. But what is this? How does this make any sense? Harper's good against them. Real Muto, I haven't noticed him crushing lefties this year. He can't hit lefties. But what is this? How does this make any sense? Harper's good against them. Real Muto, I haven't noticed him crushing lefties. No. Literally, Sean Rodriguez is on this team to hit left-handed pitching.

And my man hits lefties. He does hit lefties. I will give him that. He does smoke lefties. Hope he's okay, too. Got hit last night and pulled out. Speaking of a potential Dodgers series, I was going to bring this up later, but I feel like it's a good time now.

Future Philly Madison Bumgarner last night, he had 18 swings and misses against that Dodgers team. I saw that. And he pitched pretty well. You know. Buster Posey said. This is my guy for a while. I'm all in. Let's go.

Buster Posey said that Madison Bumgarner stuff last night was the best he's had all year. Let's go. Bum? Get him. Get me Bumgarner and Will Smith in a trade? Oh, my God. Come on. Come on.

I like it. How much better are you? I like it. I like it. I like it. I like it. We'll get there. All right.

You mentioned it before. The offense in general bounces back in that game, obviously, all late for the most part, down 2-1. Mike Elfranco. Yeah, it's weird. The offense, they need that exhale moment, and then everyone's like, oh, we're actually talented. Oh, we can hit.

Yeah. Franco with the big bases loaded double. Opposite field hit. Impressed there. Hoskins, homers later. They got it done, which was necessary. But where are you at after yesterday's game? So let me ask you something. Is Mike Alfranco the

second person you'd want up the most in a big spot on this team right now. Right now, like today, the way, I mean, oh God. Reese obviously number one. Reese is number one. I mean, he's proven that he's a pretty clutch. And Jimmy Reese. Reese is number one for me.

No. But just because I think I would take Gene Segura's bat and ability to put his bat on the ball exactly in in any situation like that but Franco's probably third for me which is crazy what are we talking about I'm putting over Bryce Harper Romulo McCutcheon what is that no and Mike I mean here's what I think I was ready to have him be traded the Padres I was like leave yeah we a lot of us were and I mean I don't want to you know whatever but Mike Moustakas

is still having a better year so before you know before you get all up and at him I like that you couldn't even go the whole way and you just had to kind of get the dig in there I'm just saying I was like whoa remember when people wanted Mike Moustakas yeah well, Mike Mousakis is better and having a better season,

so let's relax for five seconds. It's good. I like that. You just shoved that in there. But I will say that Franco, like, what will get out of Franco, I mean, he's been clutch this season. He had the hit last night.

He had the single early in the week that broke open the game. And when it comes to those situations, he's the eight-hole hitter. He is aggressive. And in those situations, he's not going to strike out. He's like a 9% K rate or a 10% K rate. That's crazy.

Even after the three-strikeout game, it might have gone up a little bit. But before that game, it was a 9% K rate. So he's not... Actually, it was nine strikeouts in the whole year. Yeah, nine strikeouts in the year. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So he's not, it was actually, it was nine strikeouts in the whole year. Yeah, nine strikeouts on the year. Yeah,

yeah, yeah. So that was crazy. So Franco, I just, I kind of trust him in big moments. Me too right now.

Big moment Franco and the fact that he's going opposite field. I mean, it does feel like he's had a lot of big hits this year. You're right.

No, I know. He's had a lot of big hits. And it feels like also in a lot of spots where everyone's struggling, Franco has been the guy to get him going.

I feel like that has happened multiple times this year. The catalyst? The catalyst. Michael Franco? Oh, my God. The straw that stirs the drink? Oh, man.

Wow. What are we doing, Jack? What are we doing? I did not predict that. No, and he puts together a solid at-bat, and he is coming up big in big moments he did it again last night

that team needed that win and for him to step up in that position like it's big any other thoughts on the Tiger series

can you give me I'm trying to find his clutch stats because I want to know what they look like but they're pretty good I will bring up real quick

some injury updates I wanted to make sure we mention it looks like Odubel could be back on sunday okay hold on five seconds huge go ahead one second i finally found him so two outs two outs okay two outs runners in scoring position he's batting 364 with a 1300 ops so the numbers bear it out. Yeah. In late and close games, he is batting 278 with a 316 OBP. Let's see. Yeah, I mean, basically in those two situations,

two outs, running and scoring position, late and close. Tie game, he's only batting 167, but he has a... His OBP is not great either. But I will say,

late and close games, stats very good, two outs, runners in scoring position. He's batting.364. Yeah, and it's felt that way. The eye test has said, the moments have said, I feel like Franco has come through in a lot of big spots.

Injury updates really quickly. Odubel looking to be back on Sunday, obviously. We are aligned in that being a very good thing for this team. How about Nick Williams saying he's going to get traded on WIP? Did you hear this? Of course. What was that? My man goes, Jim Jackson just asked him a question about, you know, you're not doubting yourself or anything.

He goes, well, you know, probably be in another uniform soon, but you know, whatever. What? He's just like, this was craziness, Jack. Yeah. What was that? Yeah, dude. Nick Williams is just not a great talker. He's just not. Like, I remember last year when he did the whole, yeah, I Williams is just not a great talker. He's just not.

I remember last year when he did the whole, yeah, I guess the computers make the lineups. The robot lineups, baby. Yeah, he's just... And then how about the thing with his manager and the minors? He had those issues. He seems like maybe a bit of a malcontent. Yeah, it was weird.

It's like, hey, bro, hit better than 162 maybe. When I heard him with JJ, obviously I was sitting there, and I went to Julio. I was like, did he just say he's just waiting to be traded? Yes, that's exactly what he said. And also, the Phillies aren't going to trade you right now. I know. I know.

I couldn't believe. I don't know if I've ever heard an athlete say that in an interview in such a situation where he's just chatting, very, you know, very casually saying, like, yeah, you know, probably be in another uniform. Yeah, it was so weird. It was such a weird moment. Really weird. So anyway, we're happy to have Oduble back on Sunday for many reasons.

Kingery apparently is in the first stage of his running program. Yeah. I don't know what that means. Well, Gabe was very, very positive yesterday on the manager's show. Just like that was a big moment for him to step forward. Good. So hopefully get him back. A few weeks type of thing probably.

Yeah, like that was a legit hamstring train. Which is a killer. It can be four to six weeks, something like that. Even though Cesar has been great in the field, at least he's hitting well. Has not been great in the field. You said has been great in the field. I said has not. Okay. It sounded like has. Believe me. He has not been great in the field. said has been great i said has not okay it sounded like has believe me he is not i don't think anyone would have misinterpreted that you're right all right last one david robertson still sore and not

throwing not great jack yeah no that's not great and there was a positive uh there was a positive update i think tuesday and then and then their negative one came yeah i know it sounded like they were like oh he could be back soon almost and And then it's like, oh, by the way, he still hurts. Not great. Maybe a little setback. So not great on Robertson. There will be a David Robertson is going to visit Dr. James Andrews update at some point. That's the way I look at it.

I think he's going to pitch soon. Really? Okay, good. I think he's going to be fine. I think he's going to be fine. Okay. I really do. Now, Tommy Hunter.

You're more optimistic than I am. Tommy Hunter. He's not pitching this year. Tommy Hunter's out of sight, out of mind. Yeah? Okay, good. I think he's going to be fine. I think he's going to be fine. Okay. I really do. Now, Tommy Hunter. You're more optimistic than I am. Tommy Hunter, he's not pitching this year. Tommy Hunter's out of sight, out of mind. Yeah, yeah, yeah. He's not playing for the Phillies this year. No, he's not. He had another, he's been like, he was like frustrated, I guess, with some something the other day, so. Alright, two more quick notes I want to get into. We'll look at the

Nats series coming up as well, but in a second, we'll get to Jack's hot seat. Hot seat coming from Jack, but Jack's guy second we'll get to jack's hot seat hot seat coming from jack but uh jack's guy how about that nick pavetta actually gabe capler saying maybe we could use him in the bullpen the new the actual brand new pavetta is a multi-inning weapon i mean just from a talent perspective and what he could offer he could could be a devastating piece in the bullpen. Yeah, so I swear to God, this is not just whatever. I would rather have Pavetta out of the pen than Craig Kimbrell.

I think Pavetta would be better out of the pen this season than Craig Kimbrell would be. From a standpoint of... Kimbrell's cooked. Kimbrell, again, has not pitched. He has not pitched. I'm sure he's picked up a baseball, but it's cooked kimbrough kimbrough hasn't again has not pitched he has not pitched he's not picked up i'm sure he's picked up a baseball but it's not the same and he was not good last year in the postseason he his spin rates have gone down on every one of his pitches he's a power pitcher he's if these if the rumors or whatever about these balls are true how is he

going to locate anything like his walk rate was already going up last year. His strikeout rate was declining. At least with Pavetta, listen, he may not be the most emotionally stable guy. Like on the mound, he's not exactly tough-willed, I would say. Yeah, I think you could say that. I could say it's probably the biggest issue, but yes. But I think that in that role, and I don't know if he'd be the closer. I don't think he would be the closer. I think he'd be a multi-inning guy.

I think he'd be a 6'7". He would be like what Sir Anthony was last year, theoretically, like that type of guy. Or what Neres did last night, basically. Sure, yeah. Except go another inning. Go another, yeah. I just think that if you put him in the bullpen, right,

and he is coming out and he is throwing 98-99. And then the curve. And then the curve. That's all you need well that's the big difference i mean to be a starting pitcher as you've discussed many times and have only two pitches is a problem to be a reliever and have only two pitches is fine yeah and the difference the difference between um him and vinny out of the pen is that i think pivetta will come in and pump strikes like it's never been a problem for pivetta the pump strikes it's just

that his so there's a difference between control and command. And sure, Pavetta does not walk people, but he's also not accurate within the zone. So when a catcher is located down and away, he'll miss right down the middle rather than missing away. Or he misses in the heart of the zone rather than missing to the corners or what have you. So I think when you're coming in throwing 98, 99,

you can afford to miss where you can't as a starter because you're coming in, you're trying to warm up into the game, throw 95, 96. And what Pavetta's mentality was in spring training was I'm going to throw as hard as I can for as long as I can and good luck hitting me.

And that's what it looked like in Lehigh Valley the other day. And that's not what it looked like when he was actually pitching in the big leagues. Yeah. And I think in the bullpen, it should be, you should be well enough to where you can just say, I'm going to throw as hard as I can and just try to strike everyone out. Yeah.

And I think he'd be dominant at it. I think he would be absolutely dominant at it. And if he can, that almost, it almost shurs up your entire bullpen. It really does. Yeah. And then you can go, you can go and add a starter if you need to. I think for this season, I think that Pavetta to the

pen makes a ton of sense. I think it's an asset that you don't have right now that, you know, you don't have that guy. Well, and there's no point in keeping him in AAA. Well, and that's my point. So, I do think that long-term, look, if the Phillies believe that Nick Pavetta can be a quality starter for them, they should keep him as a starter.

I don't think there's any question about that. It's a more valuable asset. But I think for this season specifically, in the situation they are in right now, I just think he's more valuable to you as a bullpen piece. And like... And for a team that says every game matters. You know, look, they sent him down in the first place

because every game matters. I think he might be more valuable as a bullpen piece this year. Yeah, and it might even be better than... So let's say Velasquez gives you five or four, then you just bring in Pavetta, and it almost works as an opener. That's a good point, too. Yeah.

Kind of what we saw Eikhoff do in that blowout game. Correct. That Pavetta started. Yeah, right? How about it? Full circle, baby. Yeah, and listen. I think everyone in the rotation right now

is pitching well enough to stay in the rotation. There's no doubt about that. But you're just, you're wasting Pavetta down in AAA when he could give you something. He could help you out. He could help the team win games. And tell me you'd rather have Jose Alvarez or Dubrai Ramos or

Nicasio. Any of those guys. I don't care. I know they're different roles, but I'll take them over all those guys. Correct. Okay. Hot seat. Lay it on us. Who's on the hot seat, Jack? It's John Maley. Oh, no! This offense has been inconsistent ever since he's gotten here. The only player who's gotten better under him is Mikel Franco.

Fair. There is no one else. And I guess Scott Kingery before he got hurt kind of. But he got better because he went away from John Maley's pitch. Very fair. He got away from what Maley told him to do. Reese has always been a launch angle guy, so that's fine. Real Muto, he is the best hitting catcher in baseball,

but that's only because the hitting position for catchers is so bad. He's been fine offensively. He's got like a 780 OPS. He's fine. Let's not get carried away. He's not great. He's been fine. Great defensively, but he's been fine.

Like shockingly great defensively. Unbelievable. We all talked about how far his arm, JT doesn't have been fine. Like shockingly great defensively. Like unbelievable. I mean I we all talked about how far his arm oh JT doesn't have the arm you can't run on JT Romito the transfer is so fast

but anyway. Stop running on him. Yes. 10 runners or not. Segura Segura Harper hasn't been able to like my problem with Segura doesn't need a hitting coach.

Segura is his own hitting coach. Yeah and neither does Kutch at this point. But like it doesn't feel like there's any adjustments at the plate. It feels like it's just one way, this is how I'm going to do it. And I don't want to call for the guy's head because no one totally knows what hitting coaches do. Great point.

Like, no one really knows. Great point. Like, you know what pitching coaches do. Like, I don't know. Like, it's funny, too, because when you think about it, you and I could list off, you know, five guys who are considered the greatest pitching coaches of all time, whether it's Dave Duncan or Ray Searidge or Mel Stottlemyre or whoever it is.

There have been guys who you're like, oh, they're the best pitching coaches. I get it. Tell me the best hitting coaches. Tell me one. Tell me a hitting coach who was a good hitter. Like Kevin Seitzer, I feel like, was a pretty good hitting coach for someone at some point.

It's just, I don't know. All the best hitting coaches are running their own academies to get guys to break out. That's a great point, Jack. They're Jason O'Charts. They're Jason O'Charts. And now those guys are getting into the big leagues. I mean, so. The Dodgers guy.

Again. The Dodgers guy. He never played baseball. Like, never at a high level. He played like Juco. But he's a smart guy who understands video and baseball and all that stuff. And he puts it together and he's a hitting coach now. One of the best offense in baseball. And look at what they're doing.

Doing great. It's working. I don't want to call for the guy's head, but I'm just saying that this offense has been inconsistent for two years. This lineup has, I don't know, $500 million worth of bats. I mean, like we said before, this season and again, the Dodgers lineup is better right now.

There's no argument, but I think you could argue that the Phillies lineup has as much or more talent than any lineup in the National League. It's probably the deepest lineup in the NL. And pure talent. Probably the most talented. And they haven't been great. I understand the injuries have been there. That's perfectly fine. Totally get it.

But when Adubo comes back, I need to see the offense getting back to how it was the first two weeks of the season. Because if not, like, what are we, what are, John Maylee was fired from a Marlins team that was ascending, and then they got rid of him, from a Cubs team that's more World Series, from a Astros team before they really took off. Like, there's something there that this guy's been fired in three different spots.

Yeah, it's a really fair point. Look, I'm right there with you. I agree we're not calling for his job yet, but John Maylee is definitively on the hot seat as far as i'm concerned it's really the the lack of life at times to this offense is shown like we just talked about this lineup is is too good how many one or no run games have they had this season it just feels like way too many and it's maddening too it's not even it's like it's not it's it's not competitive and it's inconsistency and it's maddening, too. It's not competitive at bats. And it's inconsistency.

It's not competitive at bats. It's a great way to put it. I wonder what their plan is. The way they describe the hitting coach for the Dodgers is that he sees pitches that these guys should be able to crush and where he throws it. And before games, they get a detailed plan of how you're going to attack these pitchers. I'm sure Mailey, they have some kind of game plan. It doesn't seem like it's nearly as involved or as detailed. This lineup is

too good to be as inconsistent as it's been. Ultimately, that comes on the hitting coach dimension. Look, they're not going to re-Brice Harper. They're not going to re-Reece Hoskins. They're not going to re-Andrew McCutcheon. Whatever. They're going to get rid of the hitting coach. I just know, John Mailey, that we are a Jason O'Chart podcast. Oh, buddy!

And we're watching. Cut to John Maley sitting there saying, I'm going to list my spot. I love it. And now he's just ruined his deck. Dejected. Poor John. Do better. Alright. Real quickly, before we move on to final thoughts, two quick

things to throw in there. I'm emptying my notes, as you like to say, Jack. One, Smash Mouth. Can you say, like, LOL? Is that what you want to go with? Yeah. And what is this American Heart Association home runs for hearts game thing that- No, you don't have to talk about that.

Was apparently not great, Jack. No, you don't have to talk about that. What happened? Dude, it was a disaster. It was a utter disaster. So set the scene. Do I have it? Yeah, I just asked you that.

You never lie to the High Oaks listeners. That's one of your lines, Jack. I know. What happened? It's really tough not never lying to them because I really want to lie. So, okay. So I get ready to go to the ballpark and the day before I went and bought batting gloves.

Cause I'm playing in a Sunday league this year. You didn't want to go Will Myers style. But then I showed up and I was like, I would really look like a douche if I wore batting gloves. So I decided not to wear batting gloves. So you did go Will Myers style. Which I'm attributing 25% of my struggles. And the helmet was huge.

Let me just say that. It was all over my head. I tried to find a small one. This is so on brand. You got any more excuses? Dogs are barking. It's crazy. All of a sudden,

it was barks to the park. So I go to this thing, right? And I'm in the outfield. I'm watching all these scrubs. And I'm out there shagging. I'm like, I'm going to run away. I'm going to absolutely run away. I'm talking to Pat Gallen. I'm talking to Kyle Scott. And I'm just like, I'm going to run away. I'm going to absolutely run away.

I'm talking to Pat Gallen, talking to Kyle Scott. And I'm just like, these guys, like, I'm watching these guys who can't hit. They're barely making contact. So I get called in and I'm like, showtime. And I go and dug out and I give like a little head nod to John Clark, like it's showtime. It's go time. it's go time. It's go time.

Um, and then, and then I'm going, you know, I didn't take any warmup packs, which I'm attributing at least 30% no warmup packs, like dry. Um, and, and then right before I go on, like, uh, one of the organizers of the event was like, Hey, my, my husband wanted to pass on a Pavetta message. Like he loves the podcast and that got in my head. like shout out to that guy thank you thank you for listening um and getting jack's head and i go out there and i i don't know if this is true or not but i think they put a stop ball in there like like like this thing was first off as a pitching machine and let me just say this the year before i was I was squaring up Ricky Bowe.

I was destroying Ricky Bowe in the cage. It was tank shots. There was people fawning in the back. It was an absolute show, a laser show. And then I go out there against this pitching machine, and the audacity for the Phillies to make me look as bad as they did by putting in stop balls, it was...

They were out to get you, Jack. They knew how much crap I was talking about. They were like, we got to knock this Harper-Lenk guy down a peg. Dude, so I hit three balls into the side of the cage. I swing and miss at least twice. I'm popping balls into the top of the cage. I have a very quick trigger when it comes to anger. When it comes to F-bombs coming out.

Get out of here. It's a nice charity event. I'm in my head. Are you bleeping kidding me? Way to represent that spot there. And then I finally hit one foul ball into the stands. I barely snuck out of this cage that was catering to left-handed hitters. I love that you just slide them in there.

Left-handed hitter cage, obviously. Obviously it was. And then the guy's like, you got three more. And I was like, I freaking know I got three more. And then it just went to crap. It was horrible.

I've never been more disappointed in my entire life. Wow. I was so mad. And then I go running out to left field and Pat Gallin's laughing at me. Well deserved. Shout out to Pat. And I see Matt O'Donnell win my trophy and I was infuriated.

I'm so happy I asked about that. You're welcome, listeners. That was worth it. I wasn't wearing cleats. I wasn't wearing my batting gloves. The bat was too big. It was so worth it. The bat was heavy.

Final thoughts, Fritzy. Well, should we do the National Series before finals? Oh, yeah. Duh. I forgot all about it. All right. So we get to see Jeremy Helixson, which is terrific. Jeremy Helixson versus Jared Eikhoff in the battle of 89 miles an hour.

Hey, in the battle of aces. Yeah. I mean, I never want to see Jeremy Helixson pitch again after that last game, the 15-1 John. Where do you come down? Eikhoff, Hellickson, then we have Arrieta versus Corbin, which is clearly the marquee pitching matchup of the series. Does Patrick Corbin throw a no-hitter or a perfect game?

He's one of the two. One of the two. Because... We ripped that contract a lot. He's going to come and show us. No, I ripped the 36-year-old when he's 36 or paying him $35 million portion of that two. Because. We ripped that contract a lot. He's going to come and show us. No, I ripped the 36-year-old when he's 36 or paying him $35 million portion of that contract. It's a horrendous contract.

It's going to go down. He's good now. He's good now. He's going to be good. And then they missed Scherzer and Strasburg, which is pretty cool. It's Eflin versus Anibal in the third game. And shout out to the Nationals for putting Rendon on the IL too late, I guess. It was great.

They put him on the IL after he missed like eight games. They're like, oh, now let's throw him on the IL. Right, so they missed Rendon this whole entire series, which like maybe they have a... It's huge. Maybe the Phillies have a fighting chance now that Anthony Rendon's not playing. Yeah, we call Jeff McNeil a Philly killer.

Anthony Rendon owns our soul. And thank God Pavetta's not pitching in this series because there's a 0% chance they would win. Any general thoughts on the series? You like that it's here? A little payback for the last series from a not-sucking perspective, maybe? You've heard this before.

I'll say it again. Take two or three. There it is. That's what it always is. There it is. Take two or three. Listen, they should be able to crush Hellickson. They probably won't. He owns him. They'll lose the Cor be able to crush Hellickson. They probably won't.

He owns him. They'll lose the Corbin start, I'm just convinced. They'll beat Anibal. And Anibal will find some way to pitch six innings and infuriate all of us. Luckily, they have that bullpen, though, so we'll get to that. Oh, my God. Where's Trevor Rosenthal? Well, is Rosenthal?

I don't think Rosenthal's on the team, though. Oh, yeah, they sent him down. You're right. Had to give him some extra work. Yeah, right. Good job. Carter Keerboom? Carter Keerboom. What do you think sent him down, you're right. Had to give him some extra work. Yeah, right. Good job. Carter Keerboom, what do you think

about that guy, Keerboom? He is, It's like a legit prospect. It's fun. Listen, the Nationals, they just,

they scout well. They always have studs coming up. Even though they lost Harper, like the future of Robles, Soto, Keerboom,

Turner, Rendon. It's a lot of talent. It's a lot of guys. It is a lot of guys. It's a lot of guys. And that staff, I mean, it makes sense why they invested in the staff. You have Corbin, Scherzer, Strasburg.

That's a good point. It's fine. The bullpen is an absolute tire fire. It's crazy that the Phillies have the best bullpen in the NL East, and everyone hates the Phillies' bullpen. How about this? The Phillies have the best starting staff from a numbers perspective. Just pure numbers.

The Phillies have the best starting staff and a numbers perspective. Just pure numbers. The Phillies have the best starting staff and the best bullpen. And the cumulative numbers of the pitching staff versus the rest of the NL East is crazy. They're like a half run better ERA-wise than anyone else in the NL. It's crazy. It's hilarious. It's absurd because they're not good from that perspective. All right. They're also pretty good.

They're fine. They're good. I think people overreact to how bad they are. Yeah. I think it goes both ways. And look, Eflin's been solid. And Eikhoff's been good since he's been here. Arrieta's been good. They're fine. They're good. I think people overreact to how bad they are. Yeah, I think it goes both ways. And look, Eflin's been solid, and Eikhoff's been good since he's been here. Arrieta's been good. They're better than I think we kind of rip them more than they deserve,

but it is crazy they're that much better than everyone else. Yeah, and the Phillies certainly have a better back end on the rotation than all of those teams. I mean, they're not rolling out Jeremy Hellickson and Anibal Sanchez to round out a rotation. It's fair. You would think the Mets, with all the talent, should be the best should be the best but it is they have jason vargas there you go final thoughts for thank you for jason vargas uh so i was thinking about this a lot or i was thinking

about this last night i thought you thought about a lot well i have thought about a lot i wanted to figure out a way to bring it up uh contextually so this is obviously a bland statement, but I think the Phillies are like, I think they're a few years away. I've been, for me to, I think Klintak's really good, but for me to fully believe in Klintak long-term, I need him to find an under-the-radar stud and turn him into a stud. You know what I mean? I do know what you mean.

Like all these teams, like the Dodgers find Max Muncy. Yes. They find those kind of guys. They found Chris Taylor. Yes. The Rays find everyone, it feels like. The Rays just are machines. The Yankees turn Chase.

The Rays just bring up Nate Lowe. They're like, yeah, no biggie. The Yankees turn Chase and Shreve into Luke Voigt. Like that kind of stuff. And I think the Phillies, they're close to that. I think the Phillies are a smart organization. I think they are well run. But they're like three years behind where they need to be.

So while this is year one of the Bryce Harper experience, I would say three years from now, they're going to finally start turning out some studs. The problem with the Phillies right now, and that's been mildly frustrating, is that when one guy gets hurt, we're replacing them with just eh. Like just blah. Like just not great players. But when Yankees get hurt, someone else turns into a stud and whatever.

Yeah, Clint Frazier starts and then Luke Voigt starts. Right, and they have insane levels of depth. And the Dodgers have crazy levels of depth. That's what the Dodgers are built on. So what I'm saying here is that Klintak has done a really good job of putting the Phillies in this position where they are now.

And I think he's building this thing the right way from the ground up because the Phillies, he basically took over a team that had none of this. This is building from ground zero. He took over a team that had none of this. This is building from ground zero. He took over a team that was actually the opposite way, further, had issues, he had to clean up, and then move forward.

The fact that they've been this good this quickly actually I think is impressive. I agree with you. The Astros in 2012, that's when Lunau took over, they had absolutely nothing. The Astros had three straight seasons, like 106 losses or more. They lost 110 games in a season.

They were one of the worst teams in the history of baseball for three straight years. Let's not forget that. And that's where the Orioles are heading. Agree. So, the Phillies are building a juggernaut. And I just think that they're three years behind where they need to be. And look at all the teams that are thriving right now. You have the Rays, who was put in place by Andrew Friedman.

Now Friedman's in L.A. He knows what he's doing. You have Cashman in New York. He knows exactly what he's doing. You have Dave Dombrowski in Boston, who I don't totally love. He kind of knows what he's doing. He kind of knows what he's doing. Theo knows how to grow from the ground up,

but obviously he's one of the worst maintainers in the history of the sport and Klintzak I think Klintzak is building this the right way from the ground up and I think it's going to start yielding its results in about three years like they had to

build a whole analytics department from scratch they had to create their whole and their foreign scouting system like the dominican academy like all these things that were were basic infrastructure needs that an mlb organization in the late you know 20 or in the like late 2019 20 teens i'm trying to say that's the type of thing you you have to have i mean you have to have that so i i i will say that i think they're i think they're three years away from really having a full... Organizationally even.

Organization, top to bottom, depth, crushing it everywhere. Love it. All right, two final thoughts. One is Cody Bellinger is hitting 429 with 14 homers and 38 RBI. I just... Dude. I mean, the guy is having an unbelievable season. Ted Williams on watch.

Spending 429. But my real final thought is that before the show, Jack said that he's better than Paul McCartney. If you put me in the 60s, I'm just like Paul McCartney. I at least appreciate that you weren't singing some horrendous country song today and we're singing a Beatles song. Yeah. That's good.

I actually have one more final thought. Ooh. So, AAA home runs in 2018 in the month of April. 551. AAA home runs in April of 2019 now that they're using MLB balls.

960. What? Nothing to see here. Well, you've seen all the numbers. It's like the, it's like the home runs are having

the fastest per bat in the history of baseball. The most home runs in the month of April in this. home runs in the month of April. It's unbelievable. It's just. Nothing to see here.

Home run time, baby. Nothing to see here. Chicks dig the long ball, Jack. Yeah, they're trying. They're trying. They are trying. All right, we'll be back Monday. He's Fritz.

I'm Salza. We'll talk to you later. All-star closer, Kenley Jansen. We have a question. What's the best podcast of all time? Baseball isn't boring, baby. I'm Rob Bradford, and every single day I'm sitting down with the biggest names to show you this great game is the greatest game.

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