High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - One BOLD Prediction For the 2025 Philadelphia Phillies

Episode Date: March 13, 2025

With just two weeks until Opening Day, Jack Fritz unleashes a bold prediction for the 2025 Philadelphia Phillies as he and James Seltzer discuss the state of the team one month into Spring Training. 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

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your podcasts. This is the high hopes podcast on the Odyssey App and Sports Radio 94 WIP The crowd was singing Hi Hopes Smiling through a broken nose Oh Hi Hopes, Hi Hopes I feel a little less alone. Yo, it is another edition of the High Hopes podcast sponsored by Miller Lite, official partner of the Philadelphia Phillies Tastes Like Miller Time Philadelphia.

Celebrate the sponsor. How you doing, buddy? You look like you're beaming right now. You like, you're happy. This is a happy Jack Fritz. Is it because the Eagles lost so many players? Is that like you're beaming right now. You like, yeah, you're happy. This is a happy Jack Fritz. Is it because the Eagles lost so many players? Is that why you're so happy right now?

Again, a little bit happened a month ago. Can't couldn't pride me off Rod Street. No, it's like your best day of your life. They have the same dude every time. How bad you need the Phillies. Is there any? OK, better question. Who wants the Phillies to win a World Series more? You or Bryce Harper? Bryce, but every time, every time, every time you say, go birds, baby,

I want to punt a puppy into traffic. Please don't do that. We're a puppy friendly podcast. I'm just kidding. We love puppies here. I know. You've long been a dog's man. No, I love dogs. You don't do that. We're a puppy friendly podcast. I'm just kidding. We love puppies here. I know. All right. You've long been a dogsman. No, I love dogs.

I had a dog. No, I know. I haven't actually physically owned a dog. So this is what's funny. We're going to go old school here. When Jack and I first became friends back in turning at another station and producing another station, Jack used to give me dog treats for my dogs. Cause he made dog.

I know. Like that was part of our first interaction. I think I think was dog treat guy. I think the dog bones were bigger than your dogs. Your dogs were this big. He's really is a little thicker, a little thicker, a little bigger. No, like, all right. I'm over the whatever.

The Eagles are fine. Move on. They're great. It's not I'm not being because of the Eagles. I'm beaming because I've never done this before, James, in the history of the podcast. Whoa. And I'm ready to have a monumental moment. Because- Oh my God.

For what? For just so everyone knows, I have no idea what he's talking about. He is shocking me with this as well. Yeah. It's March 13th. I've never said on the history of the podcast, heading into the season,

what I'm about to say, but I truly believe it for the first time. I'm so intrigued right now. I have no idea where this guy, I think they're going to win the world's there. I think they're going to win the world's series. Never said that. I've never done that. The only times we've ever kind of done is like in the moment and play off, been like, Oh, this team could win. I think they're going to win it.

You know, but like you've never come into a season and said this ever. And I promise this is not a, I can't believe you're doing. I know. And I promise it's not, we can't believe you're doing. I know. And I promise it's not. We got our title for the pod, right? It's not a it's not a bit from the standpoint of like saying something just to say something because I do guard myself and I like I don't I try not to get ahead of myself. Here's the thing. You would not do that with the bill.

So you just wouldn't put that out. You wouldn't. Other teams made maybe would you predict deals go 15 to 16? No, I think you got and when this. Yeah, nailed it. I actually did. Well, I did. That was a bit obvious. I know. That's my point. I'm saying you wouldn't do that. I did really feel like they were going to go on a run after the. I know. And they were tuned to you. Three and two.

Yeah. But I really. I would make it three and two. But you said it after I said it after the Browns game and everyone around would make it three and two. So yeah, people people forget people were mad about the Eagles early. Like really mad, like fire that coach. Yeah, I know. No, I'm better. No, I'm better.

Hmm. But like, I, I, I really believe it. And I maybe it's because I've just read this quote over and over again from Stark. So Stark wrote a whole piece on the athletic the other day about obviously the Phillies. And he talked to players in the team, talked to people around the organization. Saw Jason Stark in Clearwater for a second. Yeah, the best.

He's my favorite writer of all time. Yeah. This quote just continues to jump out at me. And he wrote that nothing boils this group's juices after 95 win season, more than the talk that they've missed their shot to clear that hump or that they're not even one of the two best teams in the NL East this year. They've also noticed that they're now three weeks into a spring in which they've generated virtually no buzz despite all the winning they've done.

Last quote, a little annoying. A little annoying. A little annoying. Don't be looking at the buzz, all right, boys? No, the last thing about all the winning they've done. Last quote, a little annoying. A little annoying. Don't be looking at the buzz, all right boys? No, the last thing about all the winning they've done, it's very six years in. It is. But just the idea... Like use it as fuel, that's great, but like,

the Eagles did just win the Super Bowl, you should not expect a ton of buzz because they won the Super Bowl, you know? Yeah, I don't care. I know. What I care about is that no one believes in us Phillies. Yeah, and you know, that's like I believe in no one believes in us as much as I believe in any sports motivational thing there is I think it is the number one best motivator for a team that there is all they've heard all off season is you did nothing in the off season you choked last year against the Mets. You guys are old, you can't get over the hump. This group's never going to do it together. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

And I just never going to change the way they approach, never going to hit different than never going to hit in the playoffs. Yeah. It's a lot of, and you look at the landscape of baseball and it's really just the Dodgers. I'm with you on this. I think this is a great take. I think all the other teams that are at the top are kind of in a similar vein

It's just the Dodgers that feel like a juggernaut if you can take down the Dodgers James Who's the best team in the American League? Yeah, like the Yankees lost Garry Cole and they're still the favorites Which is and they lost one Soto. Oh, the the Astros lost Kyle Tucker now When was the last time the American League was this bad? I have no idea. It's been When was the last time the American league was this bad? I have no idea. It's been years. James, James, the three top, top, like the India or the guardians and Royals, the best teams in the Orioles lost or go and they have the second best odds.

The Astros lost Bregman and Kyle Tucker and have the third best out better. When I think about all the players that came to the National League, though, it shouldn't. The National League is a is a freaking juggernaut. It's insane. But I think the I think the DBAX Padres, Billy's Braves, Mets. Are those the five best teams in baseball all in the National League? Is that possible? It's possible. It's possible. By the way, can they can the oddsmakers grow up a little bit? The Red Sox are going to win the A.L. I just look at the Red Sox.

Love this take. They got Crochet. He's going to. Got Bragman. No, he's going to, Crochet is going to finish second in Cy Young. Trevor's story breakout season. Or rebranded. He was playing well as a.

No, I actually meant on Trevor's story this year. Yeah. By the way. By the way, I need for it's just real quick before we forget. And I have my draft tomorrow night. So like I need Fritz, guys. Should I? All right. Should I just do it on the podcast? It's right. I don't think anyone listens.

I'll do it at the end of the pod so that I think what you should do is do Fritz, guys, on the next pod since my draft is on Friday. And then you do they so it doesn't hurt me. Yes. Your league members. There are people in the legal list. OK, so I won't bring up Gavin Williams, but. It's like my top guy, dude. Yeah.

He's already dropped this young odds from 10,000 to 6,000. So next pod we'll do the Fritz guy. You are, you just got a free Fritz guy and whoever takes it in front of me in the graph, I know you listen, I'm mad at you already. Yeah. But, but, uh, no, I just, I, I, I look at them. And this is a group that I think believes themselves. I think they think they're really good. I think when, when you were down there, when I was down there, we were there at the

same time, didn't see each other. Always fantastic. Yeah. Blame American airlines. The, I just think they don't know what to say besides, I think there's they feel foolish being saying the same things they said last year. But when in reality, like the mentality is the same like World Series or bus type of thing, they feel foolish. And they've just been beaten down off season of of you guys, chokers, blah, blah, blah, blah. So they really want to be like, I think we're really good and then have everyone tell them, no, you're not. You idiot. Yeah. How could you say that? I'll take the bullets for them.

You know what I mean? It's just a true. Look at this. I'll take them. I just, listen, if they don't win the world series, whatever, I think they're going to win the world series. I think at least they're going to be in the NLCS. If the Dodgers are just a juggernaut, the Dodgers are just a juggernaut.

Some things you can't do about it. No, like if you take them to six games, I don't think everyone's going to be melting down about losing to the Dodgers. And maybe they're an all-time team. Maybe they're not. Maybe it's baseball and you can beat them. Maybe guys get hurt. I mean, it's baseball.

Yeah. Everyone did get hurt on their rotation last year and it was still... They still won the World Series. They still won the World Series. No closer, no starters, didn't matter. Well, at least they added Tanner Scott and Kirby Gates to that. I just... Yeah.

Yeah. And they added some starters too, like Sasaki and Snell. I know. And Otani by the way is a starter now too. Did you see Sasaki the other day? He looked nasty. Yeah. He looked real nasty. Game two starter for them.

And I think, cause I've been kind of piecing my way through how to feel about them. And I think there's, I think there's two camps. I think there's one camp with Philly's fans that is more worried about, like, if you're asking your worry heading into the season there's I think there's two camps. I think there's one camp of Phillies fans that is more worried about like if you're asking your worry heading into the season. I think that there's two camps. I think one camp is I'm just worried about the Phillies. And there's the other camp where I'm just worried about the Dodgers. And like I fall more into I'm worried about the Dodgers. I'm worried about me too. I the Dodgers when I was and I'm good now. I'm super ready for baseball. I'm excited. Like I'm back to where I needed to be. But like, honestly, it was like it wasn't the only thing in the Super Bowl

that I couldn't get jacked up for. Like I was relishing that and all that. But like the Dodgers thing, I've just been so upset about it. And it feels so like like it's not unfair, but it feels unfair. Like it feels like what are we doing here? Like, what's the point of this? If that team's just going to add everyone. So the Dodgers thing is frustrating me the most. But as we get closer, to your point, like to quote Dave Dombrowski, that's baseball. Well, except when he has to use

it after the season. Like I do think to your point, like it is baseball and the Dodgers absolutely could lose any team could lose. So but the Dodgers thing has annoyed me more than the Phillies in active. Yeah. And, and again, it's it's interesting, because I actually think the I think the Eagles and Phillies are in a very similar situation. Obviously, the Eagles won the Super Bowl, Phillies did not do that. But heading into this year, where the Eagles had to purge a lot of like a good amount of their defense. The Phillies thing are heading into this year. They can't win the world series, but it's not, we're not dying to win the world series. I think the Eagles are heading the next year saying, we just won the Superbowl. You know what? We need to get the some things right on the roster.

We still got a lot of talent we could win, but we're not going to like go all in to winning it. Exactly. Exactly. So I think they're actually in a similar situation, but a little, a little bit of a pause. But maybe the pause here ends in a it can end in a title. Of course it can. Because I don't. Look, it doesn't even need like the 2017 Eagles came out of nowhere to win a title like you can win a title. Even last year's Eagles team. I mean, I think people were excited, but. Good point. You're right. I mean, they came the worst collapse in history the franchise and absolutely like compared to the 1964

I actually do feel like and look at the I mean Evidence suggests I feel like it's more likely in Philadelphia that we're gonna win a championship when we're not all expecting them Oh, yeah, yeah, again, we don't do dynasty No, no, we don't we don't we don't go into a season saying we're about to dominate and then actually dominate Having us be some bumpy roads and believe me me saying I think they're going to win the World Series has nothing to do with that. I still think it's going to be a slow start. I think I don't. Now, Ben made a good point about the division and how hard it is and how they

maybe they have a quicker leash on the Turner leadoff thing. I just don't I just don't feel that. I think I don't feel I don't feel a turn. I think I think they'll give a turn or things. I'm breathing room. Do you think they will start the season maternally? Yeah, they've been going back to server a lot in the spring training lineups. They have and they've been trying to do the whole like we're going to do both thing.

Maybe the worst. It's like, yeah, I just pick one. Just pick one. I just want to see. I just want to see how it works. I'm I'm in on it. So I've I've been very staunchly, you know, it worked with Schorber. I don't think that was the problem with the team. But like, why not at this point, try it out, especially when you did bring Trey Turner in here to do that. And again, I think we talked about last pod where I'm like, I was astounded it was only 15 games that he let off like I that is is I would have guessed 25 at least and I knew it wasn't much. But like, and that's not enough, right? When you sign a guy or three hundred million dollar contract,

that's not enough leash to give him 15 games. That was it. That's all he ever did with all of you. It's crazy. Like, I don't even get it. So I'm I'm in. Yeah. I just because again, and I made this point all offseason, like, I just think it has more to do with the postseason than it does the regular season. I don't I think they're gonna make the postseason and I don't if they say healthy they're gonna be and and they're pitching like what I What has happened in the postseason? I believe is that again?

I think I think teams just pitch around Bryce and I think as he gets higher and higher in the lineup It's harder harder, but it's harder to pitch around him. And he gets more high impact, high impact situations. I sure as be really good. I mean, sure, it has to be good. He can't be hitting 240. No, he's got to be like 295. He's got a walk. We're needed. And, you know, we do this whole thing with what's the best getting the best version of the player, right? If Trey thinks that's the best version of Trey, you got to give it a shot.

Well, I told you on the last part, I think maybe the single thing that kind of flipped my opinion the most was Rob Thompson saying that they thought that if they put Trey in the leadoff spot, that maybe he it would change his approach because he was leading off and it would he would go about his abeds differently because he was the leadoff guy. And it's like he basically sure try it. That makes a ton of sense. I did blackout during the interview with him, but I think one thing he said was was that.

You know, I'm probably not going to go up there and swing first pitch. Like sometimes I'm prone to do batting second, looking to jump over, jump on a pitcher, right, which there. Listen, I know he has one hit in spring, but he has 17. Not awesome. Has worked. He has worked a good amount of eight pitch walks. You know what I'm gonna say?

Who cares? Retrain doesn't matter. I could be out for 17. Honestly, I wouldn't care. And as I always said, I don't care what the good players do. Right, only the, yeah. I don't care what the good players do.

You don't care about bad performance, only good performance. Always. That's the ethos of the podcast. Is good results in spring training lead to a breakout year bad results they're working on and I even when I go back and rewatch games I don't even bother I don't I don't need to watch or I don't need to watch Harper I don't need to watch you just know there don't

care you get me get me to auto you know get me to Rinconi. I'm still not sick of spring training. By the way, he is a big boy. So I didn't know he did the pod. I guess it was Thursday or whatever. And then I ended up going to the game on Saturday. And we had seats like right behind the Phillies dugout. You saw Taiwan, right to John Brazier. We did see Taiwan. So it looked all right. I mean, yeah, in the three non postseason games you've been to in the last calendar year plus two of them, two of them have been started by Tywin Walker. More than that. Really? Did you go?

Yeah, I guess you have. Yeah. I guess I just want to make a joke. We went to two in London and then. Right. So you flew to London, you flew to Clearwater and two of those three. Yes, exactly. You're correct. Yes. Yes. Lucky me. I'm Jordan Robinson, host of the new podcast, The Women's Hoop Show.

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Listen to and follow The Women's hoop show and Odyssey podcast Available now for free on the Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcast But Rincon is a big dude yet like seeing him stand in the line with the other guys like he's he was Towering over some dudes like I was impressed. Well, I've got to see it He's added 20 to 25 pounds since they drafted him. So, you know, there's an interesting player there I again he's gonna need I think he's gonna need an injury of someone to come up and like get a little bit of extended runway to talk them out of maybe I got Does he play well enough to?

Yeah, Ben Spott probably no. No, does he play well enough to next year? They don't sign a max Kepler type to play left field You know what I mean? Unless Kepler's like has a great year and I'm excited about Kepler by the way you guys are you guys you know I liked him when they signed him. He is a guy of own and fantasy And this is what I said when they sign him He's like one of those guys who I've owned a fancy and I always thought he was better than like he always Performed for all of our perception of players around league is based on

Which is great. Hey, you know what? At least we've heard of them We know who they are. We want to watch them play well, he's always been someone that the reason I have them will be packaged that we both you know, I know I know I know but the the um, he's always been a guy that the analytics darlings loved, you know, I guess he hits the ball hard and Plays good defense, whatever. But and I did, I do believe I think he's in the year is one of the five most valuable offensive pieces. I saw you say that. I think it's a bold statement, but I could absolutely see it.

So I like I would, I think he's gonna be more valuable than, than Castellana. You're basically saying the top four in the lineup and then he's the next best. Yeah. Yeah. And I think there's a chance, I think there's a chance he, I mean, Is better than Boam or better than whatever. Like it's possible next best. Yeah. Yeah. And I think there's a chance. I think there's a chance he, I mean, is better than Boam or better than whatever. Like it's possible.

Twenty, twenty five. And he had 31 home runs a couple of years ago. Max Kepler did that. Yeah, he did. He had 31 home runs in a season. Like he's done it. And I've been really impressed with the I know it's spring training, but the the quality that Batsy's puts together, he puts together is not

you can see a guy who has bad play discipline like we've watched. Yeah, we know what it looks like. And more than most. And given the scars that we have of six or seven against the Diamondbacks in last year's Mets series, it's hard not to just. Zero in on that. If a guy is like, I don't even really care if you hit the ball.

I just want to see if you're taking I don't I don't care. I don't care if you can put the dude. That's why that's why I've been so impressed It's why I've been so impressed that that's our bar I've been so impressed with the the young kids that have come up because I look at the abat and it's a high quality Abat seemingly is good organizationally say like that that is something they're teaching as they develop them. Also, what I'm in on Kepler and this is like this is super nerdy. But on this podcast, at what point does this podcast get not super nerdy?

Dude, he does the he does the little ugly when he takes a walk, things step in front of the mound and bat, which I have, I was always in on that. I dig that. It was a little, I, I, I'm with you on that. I'm in on, on like a little cocky after a walk. Latitude man. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So I'm a little Kepler up. I'm too, man. I really, I really like that. There's a lot of, I'm in on a lot of fills this year. I saw, just letting everyone know. You did just say you think they're gonna win the World Series, so no.

In on a lot of Phils. You know what's sick too? Is that even in fantasy, like I never take Phillies. Yeah, I generally lean towards not. And this is in like a dynasty of things, so I could have, now I might have draft dated. But, like I've already had, I already have Harper Wheeler Turner and boom

The heart of looking at him This guy's a steel in this spot 97 army eyes in the third base marketing kidding me Kidding me. So I did I do want to do a fantasy draft of me and you I love it Just drafting just drafting Phillies our guys. I think it's a great idea who wins at the end of the year Yeah, we do want to do that next Bob. Do we plan for it? I love it. Just drafting. Just drafting Phillies. Our guys. I think it's a great idea. Who wins at the end of the year. Yeah. Yeah. Do you want to do the next pod? Do we plan for it? The pod after like right before the season. Week of opening.

OK, I'm down. Love that. Yeah. Tucker, get on it. You have to get it. Maybe just a graphic at the end with maybe just a list of the roster for when we get deep. This isn't a high effort pod. Wow. Just wow. That was well, listen, we know where the Elliott does make him do a lot of work. If we're being honest, that does turn the season. Yeah, it's starting to win final outs every night. Yeah. I'm the only one who doesn't make you do a lot of work.

Wow. It's got to put a lot of work in. I know it's true. Two different things there. You're wrong. Yeah. Yeah. So yes, I stay up till 11. I'm final out. By the way, have you thought of have you guys thought about this that that my going to bed early is over now? Oh, man. That's all I think about. I'm two weeks away from not going to bed at seven o'clock. Again, here's my counter. Yes. It's like 930 now. Dude, it's awesome. I I've no complaints. Much better than like much. Dude, the pitch clock coming in the year I went to the morning show is is how I know that if there is a higher power, that higher power loves me. That's it. I know. Really? Could not have been a more. Yeah.

It's and the Super Bowl. Probably the greatest thing that ever happened to me in an individual. And like like I've talked about, I'll get nothing I want sports wise. Everything else is great. Life. Perfect sports. The worst can't get one right. I can't great. Life perfect sports, the worst. Can't get one right. I can't buy one. You can't buy one.

But here's the thing. If you get this one right today, what we're doing here, nothing else matters. It's the ultimate one. And the first time you ever did it, too. I feel very. It would be. And we'd play this audio like Tucker, market the audio.

I mean, it would be. Would it be hard to find? It was about 30 about 30 seconds. Very, very. I know. We don't make Tucker work hard on this. I didn't save it for the 48 minute mark. Hey, Tucker, can you dig and find that spot? Because I was driving in today. And I was like, enough. I think they're gonna win. I like enough of this. Yeah, I just because I'm so sick and tired of like, you know, I just I like this kind of motivation of is the city because the Phillies have never really experienced real Philadelphia. That's true. And since they started winning, they did up until then, like 2022 until

September. Sure. And it's never didn't know that. Agree. Agree. My point is, is you're right. They've not in the same way, but that was the closest in September. We were like, I don't want to. Yeah, but people are like, I don't want to celebrate if they win and all that. Like, I do think there was a bit of that from from the 2019 through 2022. Before they made it, there was a little frustration there at the end. But you're right. It has not been what it is now. And because now everyone knows them. And I don't again, I don't

think it's Sixers territory. It's not because but but I think that there is a little bit of because people care. Like Sixers have have legitimately even before this season have legitimately reached happen. Like they have actually reached the point where people don't care. Yeah. Well, and even like there wasn't that big of a pop after the PG thing, which you that's my point. It was like the PG thing. I was like, okay, I guess it was the move to make sure.

Yeah. See what happens. Yeah. But I think now they're starting to like even the Casting House quote about the media, you guys get to be right, you know, and that's dope, whatever. I hated the quote, but if it's part of us against the world I'm all in. And I think last year's Eagles team used the media no doubt a vessel to the fans. Especially when they like the last year's Eagles team was creating their own like issues with which they had to fight against the world like they're the ones who got into fights with each other and then told us about it like we didn't tell Brandon Graham hey man can you come on and talk to us

about AJ Brown and Jalen Hurts not liking each other? He did that. I think they created their own stuff and then used it as fuel. I mean, that is that is strong. And by the way, they don't win the Super Bowl if Brandon Graham doesn't. 100% I bring a nice guy's hashtag. Thank you, WIP. I'll bet you that hashtag is going to pick up.

You don't think it's going to catch on? I think we're going to see a lot you that hashtag is gonna pick up. You don't think it's gonna catch on I think we're gonna see a lot of that hashtag. I've tried to send it internally to the Eagles and they laugh every time And I don't appreciate that Appreciate that. Yeah. It's alright. It's alright. It's full season, but Just I just I which we throw any day by the way, I know working day I just I just I'm in the middle of my draft right now I I'm now to be fair I'm back to back champ no big deal you are of all the things that you're pretty good at like you're like disgusting. I know, actually, I've been playing for 25 years, like, you know, I mean, like,

sure. Did you ever do the thing that was like, playing fantasy sports since you were five years old? Did you play fantasy sports? When they were not on computers? No, I was just on I did not do I like, just when it started to boom on computers is when I started to get into fantasy. Yeah, is I remember, I remember when I was maybe eight or whatever, I was over by grandparents house for Thanksgiving. My cousins were over and it was a Cowboys game. Of course, I was like, there's some that like fantasy. And I was so confused because I was still like eight.

And I was like, fantasy football, like what was it? Was there Dungeons and Dragons? You know, like this, it just didn't make any sense to me. Little did you know little did I know and the fancy footballs cook the fancy baseball. It's a baseball so much better. I tell us to anyone now, granted, you have to be into it and be willing to like, you know, for six months grinds like check your team every day, set your line up every day, make moves every day like you got to like be on it. But it is just such a better game.

Well, and if you're terrible, if you get into a league that cares and I think I think keepers and prospects make it more fun. Yeah. And it makes deadlines more fun. And it's just a regular old fancy baseball season. Boring. You know what I mean? Where it's like there's a single season.

Well, yeah, head to head like Roto can get pretty boring, especially if one team was out road. I know. I just had to head. I'm with you. A little bit of an intro. I'm with you. I'll take the fact that I might be the best team and lose,

as opposed to just, OK, well, I'm in first place with a month to go. I guess I win. No one can catch me. This is cool. I'm in fourth place, and the best I can do is third. Let me get a bunch of stolen bases so I can move up to third place. It's like, what are we doing here? It's why I wish the Super Bowl is a little closer.

Yeah. Wasn't it boring? That's a good take right here. Yeah, it's good. It was not glorious. All things considered, would you like they win, right? Yeah. I'm not saying you have to.

No, I get it. So I would you rather have had a close game or a blow up? This time I would rather have bought just because I like having a win where we had a close game and a win where he had a blow. Like so I could feel both next time I agree with you. I'd rather be a great Super Bowl on close game But but I did enjoy experiencing the blowout and having no stress. Wow, it was odd. It was very so weird It was one of the weirdest sporting events. I've ever watched. It was very sure. Yeah when they when Jalen threw the pick I Was actually mad with I'm just letting you know, what are you doing?

I really appreciate that when he threw the pick and then they didn't move the ball an inch an inch Yeah, it's like yeah I agree and if you were like even if you were doing the like Oh, you know when they came out to start the second half and did absolutely nothing after India You know a whole half time to scheme it up It's like oh, they're they're cooked Would you rather when the other fills one in seven or four in the World Series this year?

Four, I'm not messing around anymore. Now that we've experienced the game seven let me tell you, don't like it. Yeah for a while the fillies. Probably won't feel good going into the next one either. The fillies are the Michael Jordan of uh they're in the Michael Jordan franchises they're playing in a game seven. Yeah. And we experienced one never wanted to do it again. It was not fun. It was not fun. Honestly, it's I think it's the worst game I've ever been to. Oh, we were game five and 11. Yeah, but we were at game five. And you're right. No, you're right. That was worse because the injury. You're right. No, you're right. That that was

worse. But it's close. It's right there with it. It's not you're right. I agree with you. It's not as bad. I think that's fair. I think but like game seven against the diamondbacks when we get up three, two and up two oh and like, it just felt so painful. But I agree that Howard injury makes that. So I really do. I think game five and 22 was worse than game seven and 23. Because game five and 22 was like it was there. They were win the World Series they had it and if Marsh puts the ball in play if Chaz doesn't make the trade man scene he doesn't make that play if Tremont he doesn't make the

play sub Tremont seen he in and he's not playing for his base if Reese doesn't strike out against Berlander in the third the Rojas at that like there are so many Rojas was 20 it was another rose about the the more you said, I meant the Marsha. You said the Marsha. Yeah. The Marsha. The Marsha was the one that was the JT smoked up on again, again. I know. And then game seven, it was just it was like in jazz. I hope jazz feels bad about it. I hope he knows as a true

Philly fan, what he did to us. I'm sure he does. We bring them on. I'd love to. Yeah. I'm sure he does. We bring them on. I'd love to. Yeah. Are we past it? Can we bring him on and not be like anger people? So, Chas, what was it like to make that big catch in that game? How's pretty cool, huh? Did you feel bad?

Did you feel like a jerk ruining our dreams? Cool. It was. Of course, it was. I know. Of course. Of course. So but in game seven and twenty three, it was just watching a slow game. I agree. I'm talking more in terms of like the hopes and dreams of the game and then losing. What about being especially because it was to go to the World Series? Like that was the first round.

You know, I mean, so like I get your point. You're right. Like on the whole scale with the Howard injury, it's worse. But and that was the best team and all that. But like. The first game seven ever at home, it's the Diamondbacks we lost. And they use my sick voice to open up the domo. Oh, yeah, I know. The MLB highlights. That was a good moment.

Now people look back at it. Well, all I remember about that moment was you sent that to me like a day after it happened. And I'm like, why the hell did you watch these highlights in the first place to find out that our voices were there? Yeah. Cause you're sick. Cause you are sick. Again, the 10 things better than the 11 team, but that's just it. All right. I got like 10 minutes left. Let's do some take back. You don't want to rehash the 10 and 11 fillies. So I think, can I be honest? People aren't going to like this.

The 11 fillies are overrated. little bit over. They just are like, everyone's like best team ever. Like, well, no, like, sorry, no, they lost to an 84 win Cardinals team. And the Cardinals team was better than 84 wins. They had injuries and guys came back and they won the World Series. But like, like, everyone's like, Oh, that was the best team we had. It's like, why? Because they won 102 games. Like, the 10 team is better. I think they might have been they were certainly better offensively.

Yeah. No, 10 was a deadline. 10 was a deadline. They were considering trading worth and then Don Brown got hurt. So they kept worth. They did not trade. Yeah. Losing worth matter.

I know. I know. All right. So tomorrow is spring breakout day. Come on. You know what that is? What spring break out there? Come on, man.

It's real. Hold on. Let me think here. You don't know what that is? What spring break out there? Come on, man, it's real. Hold on, let me think here. You don't know what spring breakout is. This is just this is just disappointing. This is I know your Super Bowl was early February. This is your Super Bowl, dude. What do they play at all? The young guys or something?

It's Philly's prospects versus Pirates. Prospects tomorrow at one of five something like that one of five tomorrow. Excited. I can't wait. tomorrow excited. Yeah, I can't wait I can't I can't listen to this roster. All right, this this should be my opening day roster I did these guys played 162. I think I watched more you'd be locked in and then that Watertight catching sec So the infield is is Aiden Miller Arun Escobar by the way his home run the other day like the rune is in He's not you're you're a rune. Oh, yeah run the other day like the rune is in he's not here

You're a rune. Oh, yeah, you're in on a rune Yeah, Devin saltaban cars and D martino auto camp Keaton Anthony can't wait for Keaton Anthony outfielders Justin Crawford nori buck Burke holder Rinconis. That's that's an outfield I can't wait to see Burke holder Burke holder is is my guy and the pitching staff is of Shase Cabrera Alex McFarlane is really interesting. He hasn't gotten healthy yet, but when he gets healthy, there's a, there's another problem there. Our boy, Aaron Combs, Go Vols, shot the Justin and fantasy and Brad Pacheco, who I have heard is like the most underrated guy in the system. He's pitching tomorrow. So it's just,

I, it makes me a little sick. How many of those names I know. Good. Yeah. Like like Burke, I'm like Griffin Burkholder. Yep. I know who that is. Yep. Griffin Bur Like, you're like, Burkholder. I'm like, Griffin Burkholder. Yep. I know who that is. Yep. Griffin Burkholder. We almost named Sutton Griffin. Really?

Yeah. It was another name we were considering, but then I thought to myself, you know, the year before, one could say that the name Walker came from watching a lot of Walker Jenkins highlights. Or Tyrone, but yeah, never Taiwan. And I was like, and I wanted I I was always a Wyatt guy.

Why it's good name. Yeah. I can't just name all my sons after baseball. No, like why Langford Walker Jenkins? Yeah. Why is she a Rangers cross? I know you're doing it. I can't do Aiden. Why like that? He's hurt. No, he's back. A dark horse sleeper pick for a L.M.V. Yeah. A L.M Langford's good though? He's hurt now, right? No, he's back. Okay.

A dark horse, sleeper pick for ALMVP. Yeah. ALMVP you're going? I was gonna be like, you can make the All-Star. Only take odds again. Okay. We're only... You are Mr. Odds.

Gavin Williams plus 10,000, tell your friends. Well, not anymore, right? Don't tell all your friends. Didn't you say not anymore? It's down to plus 6,000. Yeah. Tough. It is.

Sure seems like they're more inclined to give Schwerberg an extension than JT. Another... Guess what? Good. Yeah, it is sure seems like they're more inclined to give shore burn extension than JT another another guess what good so I would extend shore bur but I don't want it that I don't want to take them out of Tucker or Vlad a hundred percent my point was more like honestly, I want to we're back I'm fine with it but I also like I would I just don't want them to extend Jake like that's more my thing like I Like if you want to give them an extra year or something, which you don't want them to extend JT. Like that's more my thing. Like I, like if you want to give him an extra year or something, which you wouldn't do like fine, but like I can't have a

35 year old, 36 year old, 37 year old, 38 year old catcher. Like I'm not going to bet that he's got any Malina. Like I'm just not going to bet on it. Sure. And again, I want to extend Schwerber. I think he's- I'm down. I agree. I would rather extend him than not. I just wonder what the number is. I mean, he signed for 18 per for three Years or four years four four seven is four seventy nine 60 seems small right 360 as a two million dollar a year raise Please he's 32. Oh, I don't think he has to get a huge raise like really 32 He's in his 30s like 360 sounds about right.

360 or 365. Yeah. In that range. Another $20 million a year. It's just like then. And again, I'm OK with it, but we're starting to get to the point where. You know, it's young guys here. I don't know where full of guys in their mid thirties, because guess what?

Trey is going to be as mid 30s price. Give me his mid 30s. Like we're getting there. You know, we're heading that direction. Like I don't need all the mid 30s guys. It would also be speaking in the mid 30s guys. It'd be sickening if, if the two, I think the 18 Red Sox were a one year, you know, wonder unbelievable team that that wasn't a run, you know what I mean?

But the Browsky having the 14 Tigers in that run. So like what they're the Second third best team in the AL even the best team the AL 14 they haven't that run up and in the title and then have this run that ended the title would be brutal because start start putting that piece to because they do they hey, I think that Tigers team is Probably better than this team that Tigers team is great I mean like I mean they got Hall of Famers on that and they had five ended up having Mickey and his prime and her lander and his prime a chaser yeah I mean those teams and V Mart yeah the ah prime I know that's my you know it's my guy like Victor Martinez is one of my favorite

players of my life and I love that, I've told you this before, Victor Martinez used to have a secret antique for every player on the team. Whenever team he was on, you would come up with an individual antique with every fricking player on the team. Like, are you kidding me? Yep. Uh, the, and then, uh, younger and better in Kinsler. Also, yeah, Kinsler was great.

It was a good player. Yeah. But like comparing this perennial all star, Ian, this team and the, uh, yeah, it was great. Yeah, but like comparing this perennial all-star yankin this team and the 10 to 13 or whatever Texas Rangers, you know Now the Rangers made to and we're one strike away from left. Yeah, what Dave freeze but um Maybe it's yeah even freeze. Mm-hmm. They're gonna get it done this year. I'm not too worried. I love it So excited they're gonna win the World Series. I'm ready now the one thing that is hurting that is Matt strong and hopefully he's fine So that's that that's probably been the worst news of spring. Would you agree with that?

Any and look it is great to hear that there's no structural damage. That's big news, but like I mean I'm sure you agree anytime your shoulder you're like, well, that's not good. No, like I'd rather run elbow. Now, Alvarado's looked great. The great Alvarado's looked. Yeah, like capital letters, like all caps. Great. He's been phenomenal.

The curveball is an equalizer. I think he's sitting over 100. I mean, it's been awesome. But what's going to take him to the next level is that curveball. He is the only lefty that I like. Tanner Banks is the second best left in the bullpen right now. Hmm if we're saying What probably it have to probably be injury but

The mashroom can't if mashroom can't get it going this year, you know, he's missing time in and out That's where the debt around the deadline you or whenever painters coming up you have the Ranger and you or whenever painters coming up, you have the Ranger bullpen conversation. Yeah. Now, the question is, if Rangers don't want to do it as in the contract here, it's a tough spot. Yeah. Zardo, pens, Zardo, pens, Zardo. Benzardo. Probably not. Probably not.

It's but it is fascinating. It's going to be. And look, I think that, you know, I think you can nitpick Dave and I think fans have fans get mad, whatever. I think you can nitpick the moves he's made here and there. I think on the whole it's more wins and losses. But like one thing I think everyone would agree with is he is under delivered at the trade deadline since he's been here, like definitively under. Well, and some of the prospects look pretty good. Like how you leave freaking bring it, dude. The best player he's acquired a trade deadline is a freaking minor leaguer in Chasse. Like that's probably the best guy he's brought in.

Yeah. That's even with a guy through a no hitter. Yeah. And the gave away Logan Hoppy. But Marsha, I mean, Marsha. Yeah, exactly. But it's like, and then the final thing, and I have to end this in the most high hopes way possible. But like you started it was I have to before I let you go to your parent teacher conferences. I got a John McMillan theory and this is this is directed for the the front office because I'm on to you. I'm on to the the McMillan game that you guys are playing. They keep putting John McMillan in there and like the ninth inning against double A players and he's overpowering

them. I think they're trying to hide the world from John McMillan so they don't have to put him on the 40-man roster and they can just start them in triple a continue to develop them Move them and then move them up and then I try and they're trying to not let the world know what they have in John McMillan like this whereas my theory is just put him on the freaking 40 man roster. What are we doing and let him possibly be an Important piece of this bullpen. I don't need they're gonna need guys like that like whether it's McMillan or someone else like they're gonna as we do, I mean SRAM obviously a wild card in this, but I mean, other than strong, but they have three guys you trust,

like that's it. And that's, and that's with Romano who are Romano, Romano, whatever, if we're hoping he's healthy. So one of the, one of those guys is going to pop. They have good stuff. Like legitimately I feel great about Kirk and Alvarado. I think those guys are getting, Oh no, I'm talking about like the,

No, I know I'm saying they need one of those young guys to pop. Like that's my point. They have to. Yeah. Kirk rings a monster. I very in on Kirk very very not a lot of film I'm sure I'm looking forward to our drafts gonna be great. You're gonna I think it's gonna be Jack a lot more than me Going like no Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Yeah And if anyone needs a fritz list that people have already been reaching out, mm-hmm Shoot me a shoot me at the end

Oh, I love this or message the high hopes pod. We will talk about on the next spot. All right Well my draft yeah, cuz my drafts are mostly Sunday. So it's perfect. So we'll go through it in the next week Fritz lists I feel very calm. I can't wait I looked at I do I literally just draft off the Fritz list like my lat like from the 10th round on like all I do is draft Fritz Guys, like that's my whole staff every year So I talked to one guy only he only read texts or only DMS me about the Fritz list So I my last message him was the first one. That's amazing. I got like six thoughts. You kicked ass I know you got at least on my team. I have Bryce Miller Bailey over and you made fun of me for hunter Brown green

Yeah, hunter. I've dropped him. I dropped on a brown drop and it being good. Like that. It was a you did great, man. So it again, I got like seven names on top. All right. We'll be back next week. Until then. He's written himself