High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Our Last Podcast Until April, Probably, and Corey Knebel is a Phil

Episode Date: December 2, 2021

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to the Phillies signing Corey Knebel, the Phillies signing no one else, the impending MLB lockout, and more. 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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Yo! It is another edition of the High Oaks podcast. The Corey Knievel emergency podcast is here, Fritzy. We did it. Yeah, it's about time.

You know, finally, the move that we have been waiting for this offseason is is here we want it i mean we're good and sad great great offseason we're good i believe he was on both of our perfect offseason he was actually he's one of the few people who made both lists so we are excited there's the we've said this before and i think it's one of those times that we gotta say it again i mean no podcast is is is more has their their finger on the pulse of this team more than us and that's just another example you know it's good to see that dave

listens and he's like wow cory knable is nasty wow he does have an absolute hammer curveball wow he does start 97 and is clearly back gets hurt a lot but but but he is disgusting when he pitches. I was going to originally lead with how many weeks until Knievel gets hurt, but I figured I'd go positive. Yeah, no. I mean, listen, there's plenty of negatives. And his name is Steve Cohen. Is that the negative? Is that the one?

Well, that and, you know, you know how bullpen acquisitions usually go for us now. I mean, they did do well. Yeah, I mean, well, I actually am fine with it because they signed David Robertson, who'd literally never been hurt in his career, and he promptly, immediately tears his, you know, has to have Tommy John surgery. So you know what?

Go the other way. Screw it. Take a shot. Yeah, get the super injured guy. Why not? Why not? Take a shot. He's nasty. And why not why not take a shot he's nasty and also they did one of your favorite things which is they signed to a one-year deal which you have

said a thousand times there's no such thing as a bad one-year deal no such thing it is it is it is a fine deal i'm very happy with it did i wish that we had more deals talked about before there's a freaking lockout tonight jack yeah i Yeah, I wish there were more. I'll be honest. I was hoping it was a Schwarber pod or Castellanos pod or Trevor Story pod. It's a Gordon Abel pod.

I know. And it's like... And there's a lockout tonight, Jack. And for our... If it ended tonight, you i're gonna be on pods like months now or a month plus whatever just being like well no news because you know what they can't do anything so it's fun it's really fun it's great and and the best part about it james is that it's great for the sport so it is it's one of those it's one of those it's a good thing

yeah it's a good thing all around no downside to it it's gonna be it's gonna be clean yeah yes and after a pandemic you know where so many people lost their jobs and there's all kinds of issues in this country that we're dealing with people want to watch billionaires and millionaires fight over money i mean it's just it sounds like the thing that everyone would want right well it sounds like the perfect thing for for right now in this world well at least they're doing something really important like playing baseball you know at least it's one of those things that's like it's really it's really really important so you know i'd love to hear it just going back but at least you know i think we could i think there's enough there i know i wonder how fast people would turn it off but i don't know i think i could. I think there's enough there. I know. I wonder how fast people would turn it off, but I don't know.

I think I could go a whole show with it. But listen, honestly, I'm just glad they did something. I'm glad they gave us a little bit of something. And I do hold out hope that maybe we can get a little Schwarbo signing tonight because, honestly, I've watched his home run. Do you really? Do you really, though? Hold out hope? No, not really but i mean like i mean i honestly i don't like i don't have hope for anything anymore right nothing else

is happening tonight like it's done like yeah i i mean maybe a trade could happen but i think that's unlikely but i i think we're past the point of like physicals and the whole thing happening it looks like strohan's gonna be to be a cub. That just came out. Oh, great. That makes me happy. Another guy that we don't get. So not that I'm dying for Strowman, but I'd take Marcus Strowman over, you know, air.

Well, I also don't really need him. I mean, if we're being right. I know. I know. I know. I know. I'm much more upset that Max Scherzer's a Met. I'm much more upset that all of a sudden the Texas Rangers are like, let's go spend $560 million.

That the Marlins are paying for guys. That every team in baseball, except for eight, have spent money. And now the Phillies finally spent a little money. But the Royals, they're on these lists with these teams of like the loser teams. They don't spend money, Jack. No, but they're also on the same list as the Dodgers, Giants, Yankees, Red Sox. Here's the thing. Here's the thing. And I thought you nailed it with a tweet you had, which is, you know, rare.

But I really thought you nailed it, which I'm paraphrasing. But the idea of it was you, you know, it's not you're not upset that they haven't necessarily signed guys. Like, look, a lot of the guys we want are still out there. Like, my top guy, Nick Cassiano, is still out there. Schwarber, your guy, still out there. Story on your list, still out there. Like, a lot of the guys we want are still out there. It's not about that.

It's about, like, you watch Steve Cohen. And, look, I don't think Steve Cohen's all of a sudden a good owner or whatever, but I do appreciate these going out and just throwing cash around. But at least like the Mets went in and said, all right, these are the guys we want. We're going to go get them. Right. Like they're like, we have a plan. We want to get Max Scherzer.

We're going to get sorry, marching for a center fielder. We're going to add some guys who can play around the diamond. We're going to make some moves here. And like, and they went out and executed and they said, you know what? I don't care about money. I don't care about whatever. Like we're going to go out and we're going to get the guys we want. And it feels like the Phillies. I want to see what happens in the CBA.

I want to make sure we don't go over. Maybe we get a little more room to play with because we're not going over the luxury tax. God forbid we go over the luxury tax. Like, oh, my God, that $3 million that will cause me to go over the luxury tax, how am I going to survive if I'm John Middleton? Like, it just feels weak. And I think they can still end up having feels it feels weak and i think they can still end up having a good offseason i think they can still end up signing a lot of guys we like and

i'm not like panicking but it feels weak from a franchise that is you know spent money in quotes but has refused to commit the way they need to to the roster that they have i don't know i'm frustrated and i think you and i are on the light end of frustration i think there are a lot of police friends out there that are angry right now yeah yeah and i i'm not again i'm not angry because i like it's if if if this is the move and i don't think it will be but if this is the move uh that the only move they make and and come spring training like yeah like i'll be there believe me believe me we will we will absolutely be there like we we do a pretty good job of holding this team accountable i think uh and i guess my my main point is not that they haven't made any moves and this is before they signed cory can able and all

that stuff and believe me i'm like i'm actually like i can't wait like i i love i'm really excited about him individually he was born both that's all we need to say. Like, we had two perfect off seasons. He's one of the few guys who made both. I mean, granted, there are like 8,000 perfect off seasons out there now. But, you know, whatever. But he was on our – we are excited about this. But I'm with you. It's still just – it feels uninspiring compared to everything else.

Especially with the – like, yesterday was like, Jack, for the first – maybe they should just have a lockout every year or something i don't know what the plan is but like for the first time in our lifetime major league baseball free agency was like the nfl like the nba it was like we got a day and everyone's signing and this is so exciting and oh my god bias just signed 140 million singer 325 and and semi in 125 it's like all this awesome, fun stuff. And it's like, ah, nothing. I know. And, and believe me,

I, I, I feel that way to an extent. Cause honestly, like I just, I love the off season. I love when the Phillies are involved and it's just not, it's honestly,

it's just not fun being on the outside looking in. Like it's like the classic SpongeBob meme, you know, like the Phillies and then watching everyone else having fun. And that's basically what the whole offseason has been so far. And it's just not fun. It's not fun being on the outside looking in. And for me, it just frustrates me that, again, you know,

it feels like they're trying to get good deals rather than targeting a guy and going and getting them. And like Brad Lidge, they traded for at the GM meetings, which are in early November back in 2007, because they went into the offseason and said, we need a closer. That's our guy. I'm going to go get him.

And I expected a guy like Dave Dombrowski, who is seasoned, who is doing a good job, I believe, but is a guy that knows how to build winning rosters, to have come into this offseason and said, I'm going to go get a guy that I believe in. And you shouldn't have to be trying to get a good deal on a guy. I don't want to end up with second fiddle because it's a better deal than spending a little bit more money or giving up a better prospect

to go get a better player. I want them to be aggressive in going to a target their guys and bring that guy in. The Mets just did it with Scherzer, who we've been told for months that he's a West Coast guy who'd never come East Coast. And they said, I don't care. We're going to give him $43 million a year. Right, and they brought Max Scherzer to pair with Jacob DeGrom,

and it's basically like Schilling and Randy Johnson from 2001. I mean, I can't say it's better because those guys won the world series and we're calling bps but like it could be better it's just as good right there i'm saying it's like the like that that's that level of a one-two punch i know so so it's it's it's ridiculous and because they went out there and i think steve cohen uh honestly like have you watched billions or have you not? I saw the first two seasons, so I get the idea. I mean, apparently Steve Cohen was based off of that guy or Bobby Axelrod.

Well, yeah, Bobby Axelrod was based on Steve Cohen. Right. And like that was the first time with the Scherzer sign. It was like, oh, wow. So he really was upset about the Mets thing and no one letting him interview any of their GM candidates. He's just going to take it out on the rest of the baseball world. It was the first time I really saw the axelrod, I guess, in Steve Cohen.

Teams are... The Tigers won this offseason. We're getting a shortstop. They signed Javi Baez. The Rangers are like, we're going to spend a ton of money. We're going to go get Simeon and Seager. The Phillies aren't in position. They went into the 2019 offseason and said, we're going to sign one of the guys,

Bryce Harper, Manny Machado. It took forever, but they eventually got it done. I just don't know. When Dave Dombrowski came out and said, I want a center fielder, I want a left fielder, I want a closer, I was excited because I was like, alright, here's an experienced president of baseball operations

who has built winning rosters before, who knows what it takes to win, all that stuff, who has self-scouted this system, saying this is what we need. And I expected him to be more aggressive in having targets that he wants to go get. And for me, it just feels like they're trying to get a good deal. And this is what happened last year with Deedee. I mean, they tried to get the best shortstop deal possible

and ended up giving Deedee two years because they just they just didn't like I don't think Andrew Alderson is any good but like he was their main target like just go get it done and then you have to deal another year of Didi for for 14 million dollars so you know it's it's it's mildly frustrating again this the offseason isn't over again some big market teams Red So Red Sox, Giants, Dodgers, Yankees have not spent either. So it's not like everyone's spending money. The Phillies are out of it. But I just wish that there was more of a,

that's our target. We're going to go get it done. And I know that Corey Knievel was their target and they got it done, but I need a little bit more. Yeah, I think you nailed it perfectly. I think that that's exactly how I feel. And,

and look i while it is also like oh look we're with the yankees red sox whatever you know those teams haven't spent money either dodgers like that's cool it also means that they're still there to spend money right like it means that half the pool is gone of guys we want the other half is still there and you get to compete with the big boys to go get them like kyle schwarber like the red sox are one i'm gonna go for him too like that's that's the thing you know like they're they're gonna be trevor story i'm sure the yankees might be in on trevor story like that kind of stuff so you know it while it is like oh look there are smart good teams not

doing it as well there are also smart good teams waiting to pounce on the guys you might want to pounce on and that's why again it's so frustrating. And that's why, again, it's so frustrating. Like, I just – and look, for me, it comes back to Middleton. It comes back to this idea of an organization that is always trying to get a deal. Like, just put your – you know what on the table and man up, dude. Like, go out and spend – like, the fact that – like, it is so clear to anyone who watches this team, anyone who covers this team, whatever, like, that the only chance they have this year, right now, to win the World Series is to spend. It's to go over the luxury tax, to spend, to add to this roster,

to help Bryce Harper, to help JT, to help all these guys. Like, that's it. That is the only path forward if you're talking about winning the World Series this year. Unless, you know, look, fluky stuff happens. But you know what I mean. Like, the only chance to have a real winning the World Series this year. Unless, you know, look, fluky stuff happens. But you know what I mean. Like, the only chance to have a real, true World Series competitor team is to go over the luxury tax.

And this guy's not going to do it. Like, he's just not going to do it. He's never going to do it, Jack. I don't think he's ever going to do it. I honestly am there. I think John Middleton will never go over the luxury tax. I think that he is willing to spend up to a point, and that point is the freaking tax and

that's it and that's where we're at and we have to just wait like for them to rebuild like that that's how i feel right now that's how frustrated i am because i i'm just tired of john middleton not like like what where is the guy who said i'm gonna bring the trophy back to failure die trying like that i just feel like everything this guy says is all lip service it's all words i don't believe a word john middleton says anymore, and I won't until he proves me wrong, which I don't think is going to happen. Yeah, it does feel like hollow words.

I mean, it does at this point. It's hard not to argue that it does feel hollow-ish. And, you know, last year in the Mets trade for Lindor, it did feel like it did spark a little bit of that competitiveness in in him to go I think he resigned JT after the Lindor thing

and whatever like it did spark them to finally do something and you know maybe they do that this year because honestly the NL East is arms race at this point and the Braves won the World Series I

don't know what they're doing with with Freddie Freeman like they sure they sure seem like they have like hard-line stance for Freddie Freeman, which is insane. I think he's going to be a Dodger. I really do. I don't know if he's going to be back with Atlanta.

Obviously, that would change a lot of the fortunes of the NL East, but it's an arms race, and it would be disappointing to see this team sit out. But even if not, they still have room to spend money if they want to but honestly you know i've long uh sat here and said no he'll go over it when the time comes i'm i'm back to to see it to believe it and he'll spend to a point and you know he's proven the last couple years that he won't go over it. It's more disappointing than anything.

I don't really get mad about it anymore. I now have to find a way to build a team with that restraint, with the self-imposed cap that they're putting on the roster. And believe me, I'm not one of those people that thinks they need to blow by it and oh you gotta sign story and brian and go way over and all this stuff but my thing is is that you got it like you need to put a competitive team on the field to maintain your standing in the city i guess um but also like the team it's the only way that they're going to be competitive and i don't want you to have to like you don't have to keep being over the luxury tax. Yeah, you go over it for a couple years and then go back under.

That's cool, man. It's not punitive if you do that. It would literally cost him like $10 million out of his pocket if he did this for like two, three years. What are we talking about? This guy's worth $4 billion. While they are building up the rest of the team, and listen, because they do. Like, you can't sustain winning by trades, free agency, all that.

So they have to build the farm system, have to do that, and I think they're on the right track. It just takes years. But in the meantime, while you're getting the young talent, while you're figuring that stuff out, like, you've got to put it down and put your foot down and say, no, we're going to go for it. The Mets are at $268 million right now.

They're way over it. And it's just millions. I know that sounds insane. But to a billionaire, it's not. You're right, Jack. To a billionaire, it's like what $100 is, Doug. It's just a cool mill um so like it's less honestly it's less than 100 bucks right so it's it's it's disappointing uh i guess i'm

more apathetic at this point um you know i can hear it it's a little disappointing i'm i mean i'm i'm sad that you have stopped believing in in in john middleton but i'm also happy welcome aboard like you should well my thing is wrong opinion my thing john middleton but i'm also happy welcome aboard like you should well my thing is wrong opinion my thing is is that i'm i'm i'm glad that you know i i just i think he wants to win like how the rays win and i think he wants to win like a small market team in a big market city i think honestly that's his his goal in life is is that um now i i am so weak i know i know but but it it's just like what i have to deal with now like i don't i don't have the energy to keep melting down about a luxury tax like i just don't care anymore honestly i don't care anymore like i i don't think it's gonna happen

and i gotta find a way to build a team to stay under it and i understand that sounds like a like i'm just giving up and yeah sure it does it really no i know i know and i i'm one that stands up and fights for the good fight i just you know i just i can't do it anymore it's just it's not gonna happen so i don't know i don't know what the point of yelling about it anymore is this is sad i know middleton i mean like play this for john middleton i mean if nothing else has gotten through to him this should be like that that Todd's a lucky Twitter poll. Yeah. Bryce Harper. Yeah. I mean, he should have that kind of seriously.

You are. You are. I mean, there is no one who jumps in with two feet more than Jack Fritz. Like this is devastating stuff here. Like my daughter is on the first floor. I can hear her patterning around and something. I'm nervous that she's hearing this and it's going to kill her hopes and dreams. Well, I don't want to do that model of hopes and dreams. I'm nervous that she's hearing this and it's going to kill her hopes and dreams.

You have a model of hopes and dreams. I have a lot of hopes and dreams. A luxury tax just doesn't happen to be one of them. I don't know. In reality, you should be able to win without going over the luxury tax. Example number one, the Tampa Bay Rays.

Example number two, the Cleveland Indians for many years like there are a lot of example canades for many years like like you can do it the problem is because of mismanagement and poorly spent money for the last you know whatever it is decade really but really the last five years the clintac rain like they've put themselves in a position where you either have to pick like if you really want to compete right now then you gotta suck it up and you gotta freaking tag i know it comes down to you just be honestly like go the other way then like trade everyone like rebuild if you're gonna do that and then just have a a system like tampa like those teams where you can just bring guys in and flip and do that do what they do and stay under the tax and compete for many years, but this is just a joke right now,

what they're doing. Now, there's one thing you can do at this point, and that's simply go over. The bar has been set. The bar has been set. Listen, Steve Cohen's here. Steve Cohen's here. The Braves won a World Series. The Nationals won one a couple years ago.

The Marlins are whatever. Still the Marlins. But they did get my guy, Joey Wendell. So that was good to see. Outspending the Phillies right now. We'll see if that holds up. Kim Ng, bringing it. I know. And my

guy, Derek Jeter, doing a great job. Your favorite of all time. Yeah. Someone brought up, because Correa, I don't know where he's going to go. And I was like, well, the Marlins have money. It's like, yeah, well, Correa also just said that Derek Jeter doesn't deserve any gold glove. Which is a good take. It's not wrong.

Yeah, it's a good take. Not wrong. But yeah, so, you know, it's just more apathy at this point, you know. And the NL East is, it's aathy at this point. The NL East is a battle at this point. I know last year was disappointing because none of the teams really lived up to the billing heading into the year. It was the most competitive division in baseball, and then the Braves ended up winning the whole thing. So maybe we were right. There's no time to just sit back and let the division run you by.

Again, I think Harper is going to keep holding him accountable this podcast can only do so much but Bryce having an MVP season might be the best thing for the luxury tax talk Bryce having a MVP everyone's fired up about it

and now it kind of validates the signing not that he hadn't before. But I feel like that pressure's going to be on John to put a winner around him, and that's on Dombrowski, and that's on Middleton to say, hey, go spend what you need to do. And I do think that he trusts Dave with his money.

I think he lost trust with Klintzak and McPhail, and rightfully so. They pretty much burned like $500 million. So, yeah. Minus the best contract in the sport, fail and rightfully so uh they pretty much burned like 500 million so uh yeah it's it's minus the best contract in the sport or other than the like braves somehow just like i don't know if the braves have some sort of thing where they like dig up dirt on players and they get them to sign these contracts because like the kunya and albies contract are the two best contracts in the sport but the zag wheeler contract like it is pretty unbelievable that matt clintak was responsible

for that because he had about as horrendous a tenure as you could possibly have in a five-year run in terms of setting a franchise back. But that Zach Wheeler contract looks like a top-five contract in the sport right now. Dude, he's right about him, and he's right about Harper. I mean, like we always said, Matt Klintak doesn't get enough credit around here. Oh, man.

Look, it's frustrating because I think that's where we're at. I think it's frustrating that we know what this team means. And I hope you're right that the combination of Bryce Harper and Dave Zembrowski will get this guy to just suck it up. And even I do think the Harper thing matters. I do think the fact that, you know, the cacophony of voices being like, don't waste another Harper MVP season. How could you do this to Bryce? You promised him on like, I hope that,

that grows and is loud and all that. Again, I just, I don't see it. I don't see it with this guy. Like I think John Middleton's like a fraud. I think he is. I don't see it with this guy. Like, I think John Middleton's like a fraud. I think he is. I don't know what else to say. I think he's a fraud. I think he's like a weak sauce owner. And I just I don't feel super confident that he's going to, you know, do what needs to be done. So, you know, prove me wrong. Prove me wrong, John. Yeah. Look up in New York and Bobby axelrod make you look like a loser like he is literally saying haha you know what i got lots of money way more than you and i'm gonna spend it and i'm gonna do whatever the hell i want hahaha like man up he's he's he is taking

on your pride right now he is taking a shot right at your pride John. Man up! Toughen up! Fight back! Don't let Steve Cohen make you look like a loser. Because guess what? Steve Cohen's making you look like a loser. Well, he didn't sign Javi Baez. So, listen, we'll see. We'll see. That was a smart move, we're saying. Yeah, that was a good job by them. Javi Baez, six years, 140?

Yeah, I'm good. Thanks. I'd rather have Semien at 7'125". And that's a lot of years. It is for a 31-year-old. Yeah. His second baseman. I feel like Javi is... You know, he's okay. He's obviously very talented, but

he does not feel like... I mean, I was going to say a winning player when he was obviously a massive part of the Cubs winning the World Series. It's a lot of strikeouts. I mean, it's a... I would not have given... That contract would be insane.

If I was a Tigers fan and going from thinking I'm getting Correa to getting Baez, I'd be pretty disappointed. I would be too. I mean, if I'm a Tigers fan, I'm like, oh, wow, that's a player I've heard of. That's pretty exciting. I'm sure Tigers fans are like we were when we got Jim Tomey. It's like, what? Someone we've heard of signed here? This is so exciting. I'm sure the Tigers fans are like we were when we got Jim Tomey. It's like, what?

Someone we've heard him sign here? This is so exciting. They want it up? Well, people forget the guy that built the 2014 Tigers. He did bring in Miguel Cabrera, so I'm sure they'd heard of him. And he did bring in Max Scherzer, who was not really a big name at that point. What else did that guy who built the 2014 Tigers bring in? Prince Fielder. Another big name that they brought in.

Maybe we should let that guy spend some money. Yeah, just let him spend money. That's the thing I don't understand. You do this to lure Dave Dombrowski. You spend all this money on Dave, which I totally support, but then you hamstring him.

You bring Dave Dombrowski in for a reason. Let him run your organization. Let him do what he thinks is right. Let him go out and spend money. Like it just feels like they're hamstringing him. I mean, look, and who knows,

maybe we're wrong. Maybe after the lockout, God, I can't, I'm so annoyed. There's a lot of fact check. There's no baseball news, like no hot stuff.

We have no hot stuff for the next like month or whatever. None. It sucks. We might be breaking down. We might be might we might be breaking down those bad games one by one oh that's a good point yeah we're gonna need that because i'm guessing we're not gonna have too many deep discussions on labor strife oh i i honestly i could have i couldn't have less interest in talking about the late like i genuinely don't care like honestly just wake me up when he signed a contract i don't i don't want to talk about it i don't want to hear anyone's opinion on it like i don't care i don't like there's nothing i could find less interesting than people talking

about the freaking cba and honestly these guys just need to come together and figure out that the sport cannot sustain a strike. Like, you've already lost enough interest in you. Like, just shut the hell up and come together and just come to an agreement. Like, this is so stupid. And the fact that they've got to walk in to this stupid cba thing with their stupid pride and they gotta stand up for what they believe in you're gonna have to compromise if you want to get anything done so just shut up and get it done like no one cares like they i no one cares what the owners think the players players, whatever. Just come to an agreement.

You have to swallow your pride on some things. You're not going to get everything you want. It's not how this works. It's called a negotiation. It's called jobs. It's called living. Like, oh, my God. And it's just every day it's, like, melting down about what the, like,

I don't, like, the average side is trying to win all the time. Just shut up. And, like, just think about the sport for once. They just never think. They never think about the freaking sport. Look, they're logging out tonight. It's embarrassing. What else has to happen for Rob Ranford to still keep a job?

Well, dude, the worst commissioner in my lifetime. I'm not talking baseball. I'm talking all sports. And that is saying something. Because somehow Gary Bettman has been commissioner of a league for 25 or 30, whatever, 40 years, whatever it is. It's unbelievable. Lifetime job. A guy who's had two work stoppages in his time.

But Rob Manfred is worse, at least in the short period we've seen him. I mean, you can see him at the last two years Rob Manfred has had from the, you know, obviously the disastrous job they did during the pandemic with that whole thing, the Astros cheating scandal, like could not have been handled worse. I mean, it's one thing, the Justin Turner World Series thing. Like there's so many examples of this guy just having zero handle, like zero handle on how to run a sport.

And now it's a stoppage. Like it's an actual lockout on his tenure. I think Rob Manfred is as bad a commissioner as I've ever seen in my life. And then you add in the fact that, you know, I'm ripping John Middleton, and rightfully so, but he's one of many. MLB owners are the worst. Like other than maybe NFL owners, MLB owners are the worst group of 30 guys you will find on the planet.

Like the worst group you will find. Like just the most, you know find like just the the the the most uh you know all they care about is themselves their money and not about their sport not about their fans not about their players look i agree the players need to compromise the players shouldn't get everything they want and all that but like oh my god these owners are the worst just top the bottom the worst i mean they don't i honestly believe the vast majority of them don't care about their score i truly believe like bob nutting in pittsburgh you think that guy cares about his sport nope oakland a's guy you think he cares about his sport nope like these

guys don't care about their sport they don't care about their team they don't care about their fans they don't care about their players they certainly don't care about their minor league players that's abundantly clear like i just think you know i'm not surprised there's going to be a lockout and i don't have a ton of hope for it to to be settled quickly i think we will have a season i think they'll get it done before them but it's just horrible for the sport a sport that already has so many issues with presenting the best version of itself i mean we've talked about that a million times but like there is a we we love baseball more than I would say 99.9 percent of people. There's probably a small percentage of people who love it as much as us.

And those people are listening to this podcast right now. Like there's a small percentage of people love baseball as much as us. And we love it as it is. We love the game where our whole thing is like, if you don't like baseball, go away. I don't care. Like enough with the baseball dying, all that. But like we both agree, all of us agree there is a better version of baseball that can be played like there are real issues with the game that need to be figured out that are important in terms of pace of play in terms of the the strikeout issue like there are so many things that we could talk about

and it's like it's all secondary to money it's all secondary to money. It's all secondary to, to the, the owners getting what they want. And you know, I just, it's incredibly frustrating. It feels like we love the game so much more than the people are in charge of it. Yeah. It seems like a problem.

It seems like a problem. At least, at least, at least it seems like everyone's getting along in these, in these labor negotiations. So I don't know. I kind of just put my blinders on and hope that one day we'll have baseball again i honestly i'll update you on everything i'll follow it all i'll

update i will update it too i'll be fine it's just like i hate it i just hate it so much i don't blame you it's the worst all right um 30 plus minutes in this podcast we're missed uh honestly it's because it hurts too much to really talk about but you couldn't go two for 18 for hector really like what are we doing here what are we doing here two for 17 that's what we let hector go on really really yeah it seems like they were gonna give out there seems like they're gonna give out a one-year deal to either him or or knable and and knable took their one-year deal and hector got a multi-year deal elsewhere I love the Knievel signing I'm very excited about it and I think his high end is clearly

better than Hector but I'd rather have Hector for two years 17 than Knievel for one I think yeah I mean here's the thing is that I think Hector will be a better return on investment just because he'll take the ball every every time you need him to take the ball like hector is a hector is a rely uh outside outside the closer role hector is a reliable uh reliable pitcher that never is going on he's ever even been on the il now the astros might have to send him down triple a for a little bit you know just just when he has one of those mid-season collapses but you know once he when he has one of those midseason collapses, but, you know, once he comes back from AAA, he's nasty again. So,

yeah, like, listen, I am upset Hector's gone. We were the Hector protectors, and rightfully so because he was a good pitcher here, and you know, but at the same time, like, on paper,

if I am replacing Hector Neris with Corey Knable, I am fired up. You know what I mean? So Hector, I don't think Knable is the closer. I know they kind of paid him closer money. I mean, $10 million a year. When we was in our perfect offseason, neither of us had them signing him to be the closer. No. And I don't think dave does

like i think dave wants a legitimate lockdown closer in a sense uh whether that's hater um even though again that's another one-year deal which i just i don't want to give up the prospect package to well i can't i can't like what i mean hater costs like i mean a serious package to get josh hater like if you're getting josh rather, like, it probably, let's put it this way, it would cost more to get Brian Reynolds, but I don't think it costs that much more to get Brian Reynolds. And that's crazy. Like, I'd rather just pay extra and get a guy who's under control for four years

that can play every day for me than a closer. I think Josh Hader's price tag is that expensive. Yeah, I mean, he's the best in the sport. Yeah, and that's crazy. I'm not doing that i don't don't do that well and then you're gonna have to resign him which he's probably gonna want and again we're back in this situation of like like pick one like go all in on this team add or whatever but like if you're not going to do that if you're going to do what we expect you to

do which is add some pieces you know the the you know sign a guy we really like make a trade for someone add some pieces stay under the luxury tax not fully commit but like supplement the roster then you can't be trading away the prospects we have like i'm not giving mick abel the brewers for josh hater i'm not giving andrew painter the brewers for for for josh hater like i'm not giving those guys like the only guys we have like i'm sorry i can't trade like if you're not going to all in commit like we are winning the world series in the next three years which again like i'm not saying i would do that but like at least i can get behind like all right all in let's go like those prospects are untouchable i mean like untradeable unless i'm getting someone who's going

to be here for four five six years back yeah it really Yeah. It really feels like, and I'm with you. I'm not, I'm not trading any of those guys for, for hater. Um, I'm not, I'm not trading that much for Kimbrell either. I mean, I know. I want to trade nothing for Kimbrell. Like if I can get Kimbrell for, for, I don't know, Jack, who's the Phillies 24th rated number prospect. If I can get Kimbrell for that guy, I'll do it.

Cause you're already, you're taking back the 14 million. Um, I've kind of just, I don think kimball's that great anymore like i think i know he was really good last year but i don't think he's like he is on the end like craig kimball's what 34 somewhere there 33 like he's an old dude like i don't expect him to continue to be great he's already fallen apart multiple times in the last few years at times when funny enough when he's in a race like i don't know like he fell apart with the white socks after getting traded there he literally couldn't close the world series for the red socks like i don't know i just don't feel great about kimbrough considering the money and actually giving up a piece for it yeah i guess i've just uh you know just accepted that he's gonna be a

philly so i don't know i just don really. They've got you really beaten down. They've really like, you know, I'm worried about you, buddy. Well, I just, you know what it is,

is that I, I need, it's like you're in a bad relationship and you're just like, you know what though? I think he's going to change. Oh, I think she's going to change. Whatever it is.

Like, that's what it feels like. Well, that's me to a T. I mean, every, every year, every year it's like, no, they're going to change. Whatever it is. That's what it feels like. Well, that's me to a T. I mean, every year. Every year, it's like, no, they're going to change. Trust me. No, they're going to change.

They're going to change. You'll go over the tax. They'll make a cool trade. They'll be great at analytics. They'll have great prospect development. Everyone they come up is going to, every guy they bring up is going to be great. Listen, again, it's what I do. It's just what

i do i love them and i will never leave them and i'm sticking with them through mostly tough times which is a lot and this is where i'm at so i've just resigned to the fact that that kimbrough's going to be a fill uh you know whatever honestly this is kind of there's there's one trade out there that like almost solves all of their issues and it's it's the loriano and and trevino trade like it's a it's a not it's a closer it's still kind of ascending and it's a center fielder who's going to be suspended for like 28 games um because there's because the ped thing um but plays elite defense and can hit a and pop a few homers.

It's like the A's fire sale is actually coming available at the right time for the Phils because they have so many things that can fix a lot of their problems. And I think center field is going to have to come from a trade. And they need a closer. I have no interest in Kimbrel. I have no interest in Hayter. Go get Luchavino.

It's the perfect ailment to the Phillies. They both don't cost anything at this point, just prospects, which I know they don't totally want to give up. But I do trust that Dombrowski at this point, given the ability that he did to, you know, self-scout the front office people and get them out of there and keep the people that we are good with you know like he was able to self-scout those guys i would assume he's doing the same thing with the minor league

guy so i think he knows who he believes in who he doesn't believe in um you know i just it feels like the right time for that kind of trade and given the other options out there it's the best option for them at the moment yeah i don't disagree i don't disagree it's just you know i just think they're they're bagging themselves in a bit of a corner and and you know by by staying back by not making moves to start you've kind of left yourself with a lot of needs and potentially less people not potentially definitely less options to fill it with. Well, maybe baseball's never coming back and we don't have to worry about this.

Jack, it's a great point. Thank you. Certainly, but it's an upsetting point. Maybe that's why they're not going over the tax because they know the sport is never coming back. It's like, you know what? No one's ever going to play it. I'm not going to sign contracts and owe people money.

That's a good call right there. Exactly right. I think they might have to no one's ever going to play it. I'm not going to sign contracts and owe people money. That's a good call right there. Exactly. I think they might have to play though to get that money. I'm not sure that works. That's usually how those contracts work, but they are guaranteed. Guaranteed. What does that mean to you? Right?

I mean, come on. Right? No, that's exactly right. They're still paying Kingery. I almost just cursed. I just want everyone to know I was really close to saying the F word. Wow. With a bleeping max scherzer's like it just i i just was feeling it and i was like bleeping max scherzer's a met and that's

what was hitting me in that moment and i stopped myself right well you for the people listening with their kids right mostly for you i have no problem cursing i'm happy to curse but i stopped it buddy well but that's how i feel like max scherzer as a met is curse worthy to me well if we were to break our rule we don't curse in the house i guess like i feel like it would be worth it like i almost want to curse just you have to actually i want i want it to be bleeped but i know that you have to like take the time to do that and since you're writing podcast tonight, and I don't want to do that to you. But I wanted to say bleeping Max Scherzer, Matt, but actually say it, but I'm not going to say it.

Yeah, I think everyone out there knows what you're trying to say. No, I'm just kidding. I think everyone now is on the same page. Oh, wow, James is trying to say bleeping Max Scherzer is a Matt. So I think everyone's man how annoying is it like I look I know he's coming off and missing most of the year thing and I'm like assuming Jacob deGrom is healthy to start the nearest year next year like deGrom Scherzer really like that's just that's upsetting Jack that's upsetting it upsets me i'm actually upset about this i mean they're

the mets like i need to see the match win games where i actually believe they're going to be good like four years from our taste too many like all that stuff but man the ground shares are buddy i don't know what you're so worried about they have the they have a the best opener we agree jacob degram is the best opener in baseball. I don't know. Corey Gnabel is a pretty damn good opener. He is. How many playoff games

has Jacob DeGrom opened? Answer that for me, Jack. He's opened a couple. DeGrom did pitch in 15, though. Did he open a playoff game, Jack, or did he start one i don't think so i think he started one back then all right buddy all right it's a good distinction um thank you thank you but the thing is is that i'm done i got nothing else you're gonna take back after

the ground the ground's a fine opener and scherzer is hey his stuff was declining last year. I like this take. What a take. He's 37. Yeah, you're right. You expect me to believe that he's going to stay this version of Max Scherzer as a Mets? Can you imagine if, and look, if there was any team on the planet that this would happen to, it is the Mets. But I don't know. I'm not like a prayer type of guy or whatever but but I'm gonna do this right now I'm literally praying to God any God

whichever God you believe in I'm Jewish Jack's not Jack's Christian please let Max Scherzer suck please God please let Max Scherzer suck as a mat. Let it be the biggest waste of money in the history of this sport. Please let Max Scherzer fall off a cliff. Amen. Thank you. Yes, he will. Stalling Marte has no shot to be a good return on investment.

Mark Kanya can't hit anyway. anyway so listen if there's one i always thought it was kona i thought it was kanye you would know better than i would you're the expert i will never question your pronunciation game again i've already been down this road to me it's kanye huh kanye kanye but kanye yeah that's how i've always said it i I always said it was Kana. How about that? It's good knowledge out of you. He plays for the A's, so frankly, I haven't really watched him. I watched a lot of these last year.

They were fun, man. Yeah, I had him in fantasy. He scored a ton of runs for me, so that was good. But Max Scherzer is a Met. It is frustrating that Cohen is alive, and he's, you know, starting to really flex his financial muscle and stupid Stephen Matz's agent had to piss him off.

So we had to deal with this crap. Like, come on, it's Stephen Matz. Like, we get so upset about Stephen Matz not signing with you for like, he's a fine little pitcher, but come on,

it's like a fourth, fifth starter. Really? That's what, that's what's causing him to go sign scherzer and marty and kanya and and like all like really it's just it's just disheartening so um thanks to the steven matts agent you've effectively ruined everyone's lives here um from a baseball sense and and listen i saw the mets signed delgado beltron pedro johan it's, Mets are back. They're still the Mets.

So true, buddy. I mean, I'll remember when they had the future three greatest pitchers of all time. Yeah. Oh, Cinderguard, Harvey. No, see, Jack, you're showing your ear. I'm going old school. I'm going Jason Isringhausen bill pulsifer and billy wilson or phil wilson was it paul wilson paul wilson that's literally only heard of jason isringhausen

and that's as a close that's the point is yeah those are the the big three they had a name for hold on hold on hold on let me google this let me it's worth it it's where the bill paul super this is good podcast by the way when people like look stuff up while they're talking i've always thought that do you want me to help you out or should i just let you keep doing this i mean you could bill if you're some sort of pro or whatever yeah i don't know though i kind of like sitting here and seeing if you're gonna fail if you're gonna if you I found it. I found it. So I didn't fail, Jack. Those men, just mentioned Bill Pulsper, Paul Wilson, Jason Isnerhausen, were known as Generation K. How about that?

Wow. That was their nickname. They were supposed to be like the three greatest young pitching prospects you've ever seen in your life. They're going to take over the world for the Mets. As you pointed out, Jason Isnerhaus it's a closer for another team yes that's only legitimately the only one i had heard of is jason isringhausen so if we're gonna go modern times i mean yeah yours is a more a better example

cinder guard and harvey Harvey, Harvey, uh, Wheeler. Oh, the ground. Who's like this scrub who might be like this, maybe good fourth starter. Oh, that guy.

Uh, Oh, and Steven mats. So we're going to have the best rotation in baseball and it did not happen. So listen, the Mets can win the off season all they want, but until they put it together, I don't care.

You know, I, I just, I don't care. I don't care you know i think i just i don't care i don't care prove prove to me you know how to win it's a good take uh all right take back speed of takes i i honestly don't know what we just talked about in 45 minutes i don't know how we're this deep into the podcast yeah it is that's what we do um i feel like that's a pretty consistent feeling for me i'll like look at me like huh 50 minutes i would have guessed 10 you would ask me without me looking right well that's that's the podcast so uh there's two things i want to clear up and there's two things that have oh i think you can

clear up well it's just a no dude i the having the Twitter platform that I do is fine. Being a Twitter star is what you're saying. Like when you're a Twitter star is what you're saying. Boy, do my mentions get filled with like, it's like, what are you even talking? It pains me not to respond, but I don't have time to sit there and get in Twitter fights. Like, I can't do it um i can't really respond to anyone ever jack that's the key don't ever respond don't ever look at them that's the real key my friend no i look at them because they're funny sometimes yeah

and to all the high ups listeners who i've never responded to you and if i have it is a rare treat when i actually do respond to something if i'm randomly like looking at anyone but just know I very rarely look at my mentions if ever and when I do maybe I'll respond to one if I see something in the moment but I just don't do it so I'm sorry yeah I don't do it really much either uh because I just again I just don't have time so uh there's two things that are trying to drive me crazy. Okay. So one is Kiermaier. Like, holy crap. Do people act like it's so easy to find a center fielder off a tree that can pick it right off, you know, like an apple. Like a center fielder that is both elite defensively and also can hit.

Like they just don't happen. And then the Phillies aren't in position. Like there's maybe, what maybe five in all of baseball. Maybe not even five. I don't think there's five. Like elite? You're talking elite? Elite defends the center fielder and a guy that can hit.

It just doesn't happen. There's three. There's Buxton, Trout, Cedric Mullins. That's about it. Yeah, and also Cedric Mullins never hit before this past season. It was his breakout year. Right. I mean, he was fine.

One of the rare, like, going from switcher, being a left-handed guy and now as a stud, that's so rare. You rarely see that. They tried that with Roman Quinn. Yeah. Didn't work as well. He only tried so much with Roman. It's a great point.

Like, I can't – I point. Brian Reynolds is a really good defensive player and can hit. Mookie plays right field more than center field. Mookie could do it for sure. I feel like we're definitely missing one guy who's there. And even then, again, none of those guys

are streaky hitters for the most part. But my thing is like it's it's it's it i'm choosing to have kevin kiermeier who is the best defense centerfielder in the sport uh for 12 million dollars and i know he can't hit like i know like these guys don't grow on trees like the elite defense centerfielders that can also hit do not grow on trees they don't, you can't just go find one but Kiermaier I will take elite defense

especially if I'm signing a guy like Schwarber Marte is a pretty good one too Marte is fine, I agree, he's fine just popped in my head, sorry but if you have Castellanos or Schwarber and left it's fine if you go get a guy like Kevin Kiermaier to patrol center field and be that

guy. So, you know, the whole idea of, Oh, well, he can't hit. It's like,

I know, I know he can't hit, but you know what he can do is he can play lead defense. And if he can, if he can, God forbid bat 250, like with, I know his OBP sucks.

I know he can't hit homers. Like I know all that, but like, for $12 million, just go run down everything in center field, and like, I'll live with the rest. I don't get what's so hard to understand about this. Like, you can't find center fielders that are great defensively

and can also hit. You gotta sacrifice one for the other, but if I'm sacrificing one thing for center field, I want him to be a good defender, especially if I have a guy like Schwarber or Castellanos on left, who I'm sacrificing one thing for center field, I want him to be a good defender, especially if I have a guy like Schwarber or Castellanos on left who I know can't do it. Enough with the whole why would you want Kevin

Kiermaier? Because he's a good player that is elite at one thing that you need defensively is a guy that can go run down everything in center field. It's as simple as that. 100% agree. I only listen to like a third of what you said i got the gist i agree with the gist i was too busy trying to think of other centerfielders who we could put on the list trent grisham off here but a but a solid defensive outfielder but i wouldn't put him quazley i have one name i'll hold on to it for a sec i do want to i agree with everything you said especially

look like you said, if you're going to sign Kyle Schwarber in left field, guess what? You're going to need a center fielder to get through the ball. Sorry. Like I love Kyle Schwarber. Dude ain't a good left fielder. He labors out there. He's a big boy.

Like, you know, I, and this is a team, look, we've seen the last couple of years, particularly last year, like how much bad defense can crush your soul. And honestly, just from an aesthetic value from a being a baseball fan and you know watching this team 160 times a year 150 times a year whatever it is with a couple games we have to miss whatever like like i just want to watch a team that makes plays in the field like it really really sucks like it sucks so hard we just saw how crappy it is i almost said another word how crappy it is to watch a bad defense so i'm with you on that um we missed one there's an obvious one and i don't think he's elite defensively yet but i think he has the tools

to be elite defensively luis robert not available no definitely not available uh and also i don't know if the defense is gonna get there um i think i mean he's so athletic he's not there yet but i feel like he's so athletic he can get there yeah we're also uh we're leaving off another big one now he's who because i spent so much time trying to yeah no it's fair i understand why you forgot this guy because he's he's not you know i don't know if he's there yet, but Johan Rojas. He will be there in a couple years. And the second thing that is driving me crazy is like, oh, Schwarber's a career 237 hitter.

Like, why do you want him in left field? Like, it's, again, again, they, they, Schwerber's a career 237 hitter. Why do you want him in left field? Again, again, we need an impact bat in left field with high OBP and hits bombs. That's what they went into this offseason looking for. Kyle Schwerber had two bad years that sunk his overall career average. Other than that, he's been like an 850 to 950 OPS guy. Like, I understand he batted 188 in 2020. I understand he got non-tendered. But, like, Kevin Long is the guy that has been placed with turning around Kyle Schwarber's career.

Like, that's why turning around Kyle Schwarber's career. That's why I want Kyle Schwarber. I want him to come here, and I want him to hit 35 homers a year, and I want him to have... I've already recreated the Matt Starris home run in my head. He's going to hit a Matt Starris kind of home run for the eventual playoff Philadelphia Phillies. It's going to happen. He doesn't cost a draft pick,

and I want to keep a second-round draft pick. So that's why I like him more than Castellanos. And sue me for wanting another impact bat that's not going to cost me over $100 million or a draft pick and is a legit impact bat that gets on base and can bat leadoff. Like, oh my God, the Schwarber. Oh, he's bad defensively. I know he's bad defensively.

I watched Reese Hoskins play left field for an entire season. You can't tell me anything is bad defensively that I wouldn't take over. Reese Hoskins having to play left field again. Schwarber can physically play left field. It's not the end of the world. Oh my God. Well, it's also crazy because he's literally only had one bad year in the majors

and it was like the flukiest weirdest year of our lives like i i don't know about you jack but like i look at 2020 as like a complete like i don't hold anything against anyone which way i don't use 2020 as a way to prop someone up i don't use 2020 as a way to put someone down like i look at 2020 as the all-time sham of the baseball season all time you know so many other things going on all this other stuff like i don't blame anyone for anything that happened from on the baseball field in 2020 like i just throw it out the window and it's literally his only bad year like he's never been bad otherwise like i don't i don't understand it like he had one bad year it was 2020 that's it yeah i also i also consider...

Until a time. He hasn't been elite or whatever, but he's still an 823 OPS, 850, 871 OPS. He's still a damn good hitter. I don't get it. I'm with you. I don't get it. I don't get it.

I will add to that. I do think the 2021 World Series also did not count. You can add that to the 2020 uh season do i love that take quick question can 2019 not count too 2019 counts 2019 counts 2021 believe it or not never never happened i was hoping to get a three-year reprieve no nope nope nope very sorry. Very sorry. We could get what everyone wants is the Astros as the reigning world series. Yes.

Everyone loves that Astros team. The next thing I have is another thing I need to clear up. Sorry, I have a lot of gripes with people. If they sign Trevor Story and they move Bryson Stott to second base, it does not automatically mean that Bryson Stott is Scott Kingery.

Like, Scott Kingery got screwed up because Scott Kingery isn't that good. Who's saying this? What is this coming? Dude, I've seen it all over the place. Like, don't sign, don't move Stott around like you move Kingery around. Like, Bryson Stott has played second base, shortstop, and third base. Bryson Stott is not an elite shortstop rating either, guys. Like, Bryson Stott is not someone you drafted to play shortstop for his entire career.

If I had to guess, I think there was a decent chance they thought he could end up in second or third. Like, he may have drafted for his bat as a middle infielder, theoretically. You're not screwing with, like, they were asking Scott Kingery to play center field and shortstop. Also, enough with this. The whole narrative is bleeped up. Scott Kingery sucked because Scott Kingery sucked. That's what it is. The guy had one good season in his life, in his career, his professional career. He had one good season in the minors.

That was it. One. Like enough with the Phillies ruined Scott Kingery. Everyone overrated Scott Kingery. Like did moving him around some, maybe hitting him the tiniest bit, like maybe, but you're not out of the major leagues and a lost player,

like who got $24 million historic contract because they moved you around the diamond or because they told you to use launch angle. Like it's the dumbest thing I've ever heard. Scott Kingery didn't work because Scott carries a bad baseball player. Sorry. So you would not be upset if they lost him in the rule five draft. I would give, I would,

I would beg teams to take him in the Rule 5. You get the contract off your books. Are you kidding me? Goodbye. I would give him away for free. The Kerry Lightenberg package. Give me a bag of baseballs back and we're good. You're throwing out a bunch of old references that I have no idea what you're talking about.

You don't remember? I mean, Kerry Lightenberg actually got traded for a bag of baseball. It's one of the all-time great... Is that where the saying came from? I think it happened after the saying. I mean, it was somewhere. You remember Kerry Lightenberg?

He closed, I think, for the Braves for a year or two. Yeah, Kerry Lightenberg once got traded for some baseballs and other equipment. It's a real thing. Look it up. That sounds like Jackie Moon trading a washing machine. It's a real thing. Look it up. That sounds like Jackie Moon trading a washing machine. It does.

Chad Kuhl finally got released by the Pirates. Like I always said, bring him home. A very small take back. You do always say. As I open this podcast with every time, Chad Kuhl's the guy. My final thing is that it seems like expanded playoffs

are here and yet again I hate expanded playoffs so much. I would rather the Phillies not make the playoffs than make the playoffs as an 84-win baseball team. Like, I have no interest. 84? I mean, 84 is fine. I think the real worry is we're talking about, like, 81 and stuff. But 84, it's the one in the World Series with 84 wins. I just,

I just hate, I hate that everything comes down to money for the playoffs. And I hate the regular season getting watered down. And I hate teams that don't deserve it, making the playoffs and winning the World Series like the Braves. And I just, it just drives me crazy. They won their division.

I know. It was a joke. It was a bit. Would you go along with it? Would you just let, would you just have let it slide? just let it would you just have let it slide just let it go this spot is as long how are we still talking i don't know it's cory mabel cory the cory mabel emergency well frankly it's like it's the last it's the last podcast

we're gonna do until until april seriously get ready for some Pods About Labor talk, aka me talking and Jack not here. Nope. You're doing Back to Philly's today. You're doing solo Pods yet again. Talk labor. Talking to yourself. But expanded playoffs are brutal. Yeah, especially going to 14.

Like, do we really need to jump all the way to 14? Like, if you're going to do it, can we try 12? How about this? I don't know. How about this? I'd rather have the DH in the N nl than expanded whoa yeah wow wow wow that is a that is an impactful statement buddy thank you that's all i do around here is give impactful statements like like chad cool it's like all right you got anything else any final thoughts I guess since this is our last podcast

until April it is Spotify unwrapped season and everyone that tweets us a photo of their favorite podcast no it's fine I guess it's fine if we're in the top five and not number one I like it more when we're number one but it's fine I would just like

to say I would just like to say the derision with which you just it's fine. I would just like to say, I would just like to say, I would just like to say, I appreciate it. We appreciate it. And to all of our listeners, I hope you had a nice Thanksgiving. I hope you have a happy holidays coming up.

We love you very much. Throw out the L word, love, especially during the holidays. And we'll talk to you in April what Jack said everything he said is so true

literal love like we love you we wouldn't be doing this without you we need you honestly we feel like two crazy idiots just caring about the village the way we do for this community of people who make us feel like less idiot which is good

so yeah I mean we'll probably talk again right I don't know this is on baseball now fingers crossed I can't wait to wake up tomorrow morning and remember that

baseball is not being played oh man I can't wait to follow who tomorrow morning and remember that baseball is not being played. Oh, man. Oh, I can't wait to follow who the Phillies are going to sign. Oh, wait. I can't because they can't sign anybody. Yeah. That's correct. What a time.

What a time. Also, Stroman's a Cub, by the way. We got Corey Gnavel. Yep. He's written a couple of letters. All-Star Closer, Kenley Jansen, we have a question. What's the best podcast of all time? Baseball isn't boring, baby.

I'm Rob Bradford, and every single day I'm sitting down with the biggest names to show you this great game is the greatest game. It's my podcast. It's my passion. It's a cause I started more than two years ago and is now the most prolific national daily baseball pod there is. Another fact. So jump aboard the BIB

Express. Follow and listen to Baseball Isn't Boring presented by Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts.