High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Our Pets Heads Are Falling Off (Again)

Episode Date: April 14, 2025

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to the Phillies' 2-4 road trip, discuss what the team can do to turn things around and preview this week's seven-game homestand. 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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On the Odyssey app in sports radio, 94 WIP. I was singing high hoes Smiling through a broken nose Oh I feel a little less alone. Yo It is another edition of the high hopes podcast sponsored by miller light official partner of the I of spagas sponsored by Miller light official partner of the fellow He's tastes like Miller time Philadelphia celebrate responsibly fritzy Not a lot of celebrating going on this weekend pal other than Rory McIlroy. That was cool. Shout to Rory Yep, plus 650. So that was the biggest thing that happened yesterday

We don't even do we needed to discuss the game. No, no, yeah, I can go nap now No naps no naps. There's a lot of distress yesterday. We don't even do we need to discuss the game? No, no. Okay, I can go nap now. No, no, no naps. No naps. There's a lot of distress. Everything is hit the panic button, hit the panic button. Yeah. So it was, uh, it was one of those weekends where as a good time to have some Miller lights there. Salter. You're not wrong, Jack. It was a frustrating weekend of baseball. The bats went cold. Oh, hey, James, you know what it felt like?

October. Oh, there you go. It sure did. With 20, the last 20 straight retired. Yeah, but I mean, you didn't know Matthew Liberator was a Cy Young caliber type pitcher. Well, if you listen to this podcast in the 2019 Mmm, one of the whatever draft he was in I was pretty liberated up, but He's definitely not good he's definitely you definitely should not get absolutely mowed down by by Matthew Liberator. So listen it is a

It was it was an infuriating weekend. I didn't feel like off the brace series the brace series was was Fine, they were all class games. Yeah a desperate team even Friday Listen, I would hate to be excused guy. Don't want to be that guy But they got the they got to st. Louis at what 430 in the morning. Yeah, it's I know that we have to pretend that They need to be on all the time But I guess you could excuse that what that away yesterday was just they want they showed up and wanted to go home that's that's that's what made it yesterday so annoying and And I know the there's there's a lot of camps, I think,

currently of Phillies fans. And I think that there's a, this is early, what are we freaking out about camp? Which I'm mostly in, but also not like poo-pooing some of the real stuff we're seeing, James. I mean, there is real concern for this team. And I know that they're nine and six and that's their best start in 15 years, which is funny But three of those games were against the rockies that they that they beat the rockies and you know Who are the worst team in base? But they didn't score the rockies didn't score around the g. Exactly. They're three and 12 So yeah, exactly So I think there's I think there's actually validity on both sides james of of the and i'm not really in the mood to

to poo the everything's validity on both sides, James, of the and I'm not really in the mood to to poo the everything's everything's our pets heads are falling off crowd because I think that there's like I think there's I think there's real concern with team. Yeah that's where I'm at too like I you know me I'm very big on the not freaking out early thing and it is a long season and it is early like it is I mean we are barely into this season, but I don't think the length of a season is gonna make Brandon Marsh good.

Like, sorry, like he's not a starting outfielder in the major league. The Phillies do not have a starting center fielder on the roster right now. They don't. Max Kepler, like we like Kepler so far has given them nothing. Alec Bohm after off season of trade Rumors, where he got benched in the playoffs because of his fricking attitude, comes back and is exactly the same guy. Like, it didn't even pretend to try and act differently. We didn't even like give it a shot to be like, oh, maybe I'll I know there are cameras on me at all times.

Maybe I'll, I know there are cameras on me at all times. Let me just for a moment, control my emotions like a grown adult can. So I'm with you. And obviously look, the bullpen has been better than the last time we recorded the pod. But I think we still have questions about it. Certainly when the games matter more. So I'm with you, it's early.

There's still a good baseball team comparatively. I think they, you know, I'm not panicking, but when you look at these issues with the team and especially your point, your joke, I should say with the way the last season ended and really the last two season and seasons ended, you know, I think that, that people are right to be concerned about this right now. Yeah. And I think the thing that continues just hit me in my gut. And sure, I kind of felt this way when the season ended, but now that we're back and nothing's really changed,

by the way, it's pretty ridiculous to me that like, boom has looked like the same exact player since when he not defensively is different. I get that. But but offensively, he's basically looked like the same players as the same guy. I mean, same dude, just no improvement, really. I mean, not even an ounce of I should maybe lift the baseball more or something like that. There's been there's been nothing in that standpoint. Brandon Marsh. I don't think he's gotten any like his best. He's got worse. Brandon Marsh has regressed his best time here is 2022. And like some portions of the beginning of last year where he looked good. And the thing that keeps hitting me in my gut is,

and the more and more you watch them is I think that there just needs to be a bold move coming somewhere, you know? And I know that you can't make a big trade right now, we know that, and maybe the big bold move is in July and they shake this thing up. But I think even a bold move before that with, again, fast tracking some of these prospects and shaking things up somehow, because you look at them

and they just look ripened for a shakeup. And of all the things that have annoyed me with running it back and keeping things status quo, the one that continues to bother me is keeping Kevin Long around. And it's been three years of the same thing has troubled this team. And he might just be a dinosaur from the standpoint of

His whole mentality is hunt fastball hunt fastball hunt fastball and guess what? They get breaking ball to death and they can't do anything about it And it's been it's been three years of this ever since the diamondback series It's been there's one way to beat the Phillies and there's been there hasn't been real adjustments I mean, I mean Schwab is the one that is adjusted, which is great You know Schwabers, ah, where would this team be without Kyle Schwabers? We know that but on the point of On the point of foam not getting an ounce better on marsh not getting an ounce better Rojas not developing even Scott feels like maybe he's split so it clats

So I think he's had a a good start to the season obviously had the big hit on Saturday to I think he's had a good start to the season. Obviously had the big hit on Saturday, back in the leadoff spot and whatever. But you just look up and down the lineup and they need to find, and I hope they turn it around. I hope the offense gets going, but it's hard to like feel that way right now. But they need to find the Gotham of hitting coaches. Cause I just, I think that he is being left behind

in where the sport is going. And I think pitching-wise, they feel up there. I think they're a top five pitching organization in the sport. I think with Gotham and crew, they're there. But hitting every single year, and the national media buys into it when they look at the Phillies top to bottom, they're like, they're pretty loaded and then we hear

Watch the team were like mmm trust us. You know, it's it doesn't always it doesn't always look right and I know you can't put it all in the hitting coach and I get that but at the same time not an ounce of Getting better The chase was good at the beginning of the season feels like it's it's cooled off Strikeouts are back to being an issue. Runners in scoring position is unbelievable. Red. I mean, dreadful. As bad as a week long stretch, as I remember.

I mean, we've talked many times over the past years about that. I'm not coming through the scoring position. I mean, what were they like one for 18 and one for the last 18? I think they're like, I think they're four for the last 38. It's it's they are they have been I think they're four for the last 38. It's it they are they have been I think they're four for more than I think it's four for like 50 something like I Read this well and the and the when when Trey got the hit on Saturday with two outs and a runner on third I I said I've never seen that in my life

I've never seen the Phillies get a two out, just normal base knock when they had failed in the last couple of batters to get a runner in from third base. Been excruciating of that by the way. I mean there's been a lot of instances in the last couple of games where second and third no outs or one out and just not getting the job done. I mean there's been such a lack of execution and getting a job done. It's infuriating. And I'm fine if you wanna bring back Domson,

you don't think it's a problem. We know that Coffin's not a problem. And if you wanna bring back the guys because you feel like you're stuck, okay. Kevin Long, I think he feels like the first one, the first domino to fall here, if this doesn't turn around. But just not trying to upgrade that position and try to be the best.

I think it's actually lazy. I thought it was lazy to bring back Kevin Long. And I just, it's frustrating that we're seeing the same stuff again and the same guy who's been echoing the same message and not advancing this team with a team full of all-stars is really infuriating. Yeah, it's crazy. Honestly, everything you just said,

and even if it weren't that stark and that obvious, like, you got to do something at some point, you know, we talked about they didn't, you know, really change it up in the off season, they haven't changed anything the last couple years since it's been happening at a certain point. You know, you just have to do something to shake things up, You have to do something to, to like put a joke into this team. And, and that's the kind of thing that if nothing else, maybe they, they wake some people up. But to your point, it's hard to look at this. Look, we know that, you know, they could get hot in the playoffs. They can, we saw in 2022 and granted Reese was here, it's a little bit different lineup, but, but they can get hot and go on a run. I mean, that's not like he was the measure of consistency.

Right. Yeah. I don't know how you could look at this, but to your point, I don't know how you can look at this lineup and expect it to change because it's been so consistently the same thing for the last, you know, two years, almost year and a half. Well, and the guys are to me, it looks like they're crumbling under the pressure. Like, that's the other thing. And not just that jacket, not just coming out of the pressure.

It seems like they're, they, they're not having fun. It seems like they're, they're just putting so much on them. Like there, there's nothing enjoyable about watching this team, or it feels like there's nothing enjoyable happening when they're playing. Well, and that's where that's where I think we said at the beginning of the season, I appreciate there being no daycare. I appreciate there being no dumping water on guys' heads after games. And I, we appreciate the, the uptick, I guess in seriousness, but what comes with that is

also if when things aren't going bad and there's a tight clubhouse, this is what you get. I mean, I'd never heard Brandon Marsh is as down as I heard him after the game. Oh, my God, Jack. Honestly, like, and I, you know, it is what it is. But like, I felt horrible for him. It sounded like he was going to cry when he was talking. I was actually like, is he about to bust into tears here? Yeah. Well, and that's that's what the sport can do to you. I mean, again, baseball and golf and then watching Rory,

there was times yesterday where I was like, oh, here he comes, here comes the crumble. They missed that putt on 18. He's starting to get the day with a double bogey. It's just these sports, they can just mess with you so much mentally. And in a case like Pride of Marsh, it was tough to watch yesterday with the with

the postgame press conference, but at the same time he's over April, which and and and at a horrendous defensive day. I mean, that inning was in he looked for the first time. Every looked lost in the outfield. Well, and especially because he's arguably I mean, he is a top three defensive left fielder in baseball. So that was that was what was surprising about that foam we talked about now he did I guess like he had a better weekend for the standpoint of like I did he hit some balls hard and it wasn't all first pitches

But still mean a lot of bad slams and and still not looking the part. I mean he's hitting 150 I think I think Marsh is a higher OPS than then I believe he does I think you're correct about that. Yes Which feels Possible guess cuz the home run against the Nationals. I guess that's why I think bohms still I think he has one extra base hit and I believe that that double in the Yeah, yeah, so that's great. That's awesome. That's awesome, but they and to his credit while he hasn't been great. I think Scott has handled it better Like I don't think he's crumbling I think you know I think that those two specifically are just it feels like there's been again an uptick in pressure and

they feel it and I'm sure that Crawford being a triple-a is has added some pressure to that and They're not handling it very well. They're just they they're not handling it very well. They're just not handling it very well and it's totally, I mean, it's obviously hurting them from that standpoint. But at the same time, James, at the same time, like the guys at the top have to be better too and the stars in this team have to be better. And Trey's down to 240 and it feels like, I know he's got a hit like nine out of ten games or whatever But it's a lot of one force

You know what I mean look a one for five or a one for four now He did have the home run in Atlanta get the hit on Saturday to extend lead great. But again, I think I think Marsh is what he is the guys at the top. I mean even Harper, you know He hit that he smoked the ball on the first, I mean, even Harper, you know, he hit the, he smoked the ball on the first inning yesterday, didn't go out, you know, happens. He, he'll be fine. It's not, but, but like Turner's the one, you know, Schwerber's been great. Harper's got to get going from the power standpoint. Castellanos has been, been really good when he's not in the four spot.

I mean, I mean, Trey is a, Trey has always kind of been the swing guy. If he's a star, they're going to be good. If he's this, they're going to be okay. Yeah, no. And look, we knew that coming into the season, we said it. And it's just even more apparent when Bohm's not giving anything when you're getting nothing out of the bottom of the lineup. To your point, you're right, you know, we and we we have a tendency to do that where we'll focus on the not, you know, the Rojas or the Marshes or whatever, when they're struggling and not give enough weight to the

struggles, the guys at the top of the lineup, but we do that all the time. And it's absolutely correct. I mean, Trey Turner will make this team go far more one way or the other than the I mean, Trey Turner will make this team go far more one way or the other than the Marshal Rojas will. But so, but I like, do you expect more from trade? Do you expect trade to turn it around? Like, where are you at with Trey? Where are you at with, you know, I mean, like, because, because that, like, I'm with you on this, but at the same time, like, I don't know where that leaves us, you know, because

if, if Trey's not going to turn around, like, I mean, it's a disaster. Well, you got a lot bigger problems than the little stretch we're in right now. Yeah, again, I, I don't want to say, because I think that's letting him off the hook. And I think he's better than this. I just don't want to say that this is who he is. I just, I guess I just refuse to believe that because he is a guy that has hit He's led the league in hitting

And I know we haven't always seen that here. We've seen some really hot stretches And some and way more up and down and I do agree from the standpoint of he's been better to start this season I I guess but still it it's is down to 240. So I guess I just, I guess I just refuse to believe that I have to accept that this is who he is because I, because if that's true, then we have a lot, like that's a huge, it has a huge problem. And I will say defensively hasn't been horrible. It's he's actually looking, looking kind of spry out there.

It sure is. But, but it's, it just comes down to the dish. So he has to be better. I think he can be better. And I'm sort of at the point where it's definitely more hoping than believing, I would say. But I'm certainly still in the camp of he will be better and there's a better version of Trey Turner. And I think if they get a better version of T or and I think if they if they get a better version of tray I just think that it makes everything that much easier and it's it's an easier pill to swallow and marsh sitting 150 or actually might be below that I think foam sitting 150 and What what made what made last year?

Fine at the beginning of the year even because I know people will bring up well They they stuck with Cassidy and look how that worked out Castee was the only one that was really Killing them. I mean you look at the lineup right now Turner's not been great Harper has not been great, but he'll be fine. We know that JT mostly and you know mostly just there boom. No zero Marsh zero Kepler just there. Boam, no, a zero. Marsh, a zero. Kepler, about a zero. I mean like a little bit better than a zero but still. More or less a zero, yeah. Yeah, like that's the issue is that when you get past five in the lineup, holy, holy smokes. I mean that's a real issue. That's a

massive, massive issue with this team that I don't know how you address right now and Again outside shaking it up by calling up one of the kids and Crawford is a 678 OPS. I believe in AAA It's not like he's not in the world it up. Yeah No I was hitting 325 before this weekend had a down weekend and I do trust that he would not strike out I mean he does have strikeouts, but I think he does a good job of putting the bat on the baseball. Maybe he's bringing them up and see what he does.

I mean, remember the Mets last year, they brought up Acuna, and I never thought, I didn't think he was that good. And he kind of gave that team a little bit of spark there in August and September. Rick Cones, I still think, he's actually doing well at AAA, like he smoked about 112 miles an hour on Saturday and then hit a home run on it

But again, like then you're just pulling the plug on Kepler who you signed this offseason because he can't he can't play centerfield I mean we bring conas can't play centerfield unless you want to try Kepler in centerfield and get nuts Then you have like a super slow outfield. I don't know but I do I I just have a feeling that there's gonna be a marsh send down one of these days. I really do I he's got two options left. They can send him down without having to place them on waivers and Given what he's doing right now. I I would not be shocked if if he gets sent down. I Mean even soon like I just I it I just I keep waiting for it. But I don't know. It feels like maybe within the month they send them down and try to try to spark something.

Well, I mean, if he keeps I mean, you can't just keep throwing him out there against major league pitching if he's doing what he's doing. I mean, he hasn't had a hit since the first series of the freaking season. I mean, and you got to give him some confidence. You're sending him down. Maybe gets going. I mean, we've seen it the past. Alvarado most recently was at 2022.

I think he got sent down early in the year, came back, was awesome. So we've seen that work. It is something that is on the table. But yeah, it's it's a problem. And especially look at to your point, you know, we're a few months away from it, but Dombrowski is not giving us any reason to believe that he's going to set the world on fire at the trade deadline either. And this is a team that's absolutely going to need some moves to help. I'm Jordan Robinson, host of the new podcast, The Women's Hoop Show.

Each episode, I'll be joined by a rotating group of women's basketball experts to talk WNBA, college hoops, the new Unrivaled League, and the shifting landscape of the sport. The game is growing and so are we. 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 podcasts. What do you think of the, or what, like, what's your take on how Topper has kind of managed the lineup? I look, I think bone forced his hand, he had to move bone down the lineup. But look, all of a sudden, we've got stopped leading off twice this weekend. And it seems like

topper is obviously searching for answers to you. We had talked a lot about, you know, not liking the idea of just flip-flopping lives in the first place. But your I had you were more okay with it. But also, it's like, just put Trey up there and let him do it. Like now we've gone even further away from that. And it's like, you know, just who knows what line up you're going to get where you have the way toppers handle it so far. Well, what I find interesting about Thompson is that,

is that for two and a half years, his whole MO has been, don't panic, don't panic. You guys are good. You guys are good. He is panicking and it feels like he is again, it's a It's a it's a it's tough because on one hand it's you appreciate the sense of urgency but on the one hand are you are you changing who you are and what these guys are are comfortable with and do they feel a certain level of tightness I Think that it's like just go play better and it won't be tight. Like just, just I know that sounds so simple and stupid but I

I and I and I know that tightness can can lead to bad baseball I totally get that but man you know it's easy just and it's easier to get rid of tightness is go play good and and work strong at bats and and do things you need to do offensively. So I I like this more to be completely honest. I know the sticking with the lineups thing and showing confidence and riding it out. I know that's worked, but I just think these guys need a kick in the ass.

And maybe they're trying to figure out right now who can handle it versus who can't. Who can handle the heightened sense of expectations and who's gonna fold? And it might be Rocky, it obviously has been Rocky, but they need to figure that out because this is a team who was folded in two straight Octobers.

It was good up until six and seven of the Diamondback series and then folded at the end of last season. They need to see if guys can handle real expectations and not just the la-di-da where we're having fun and what a great place to play when everyone's there. You gotta win a World Series. It's the only thing that's gonna get people off your back because the city's on their back right now, 100%.

And I think they're on Rob Thompson's back. is going to get people off your back because the city is on their back right now, 100%. And you know, I think they're on Rob Thompson's back. I think that's evident by how much shift there's been in the lineups and in some of the bullpen moves and stuff like that. So yeah, I just, I like it. I know it's different than how he's done it in the past, but I think they need it. And I think they need the feeling of, I'll be on the bench if I'm not doing the right thing today and and those little things hopefully in the long run this season

get the best version of these guys or it doesn't and you get some of the kids up here and again I just I keep watching them and I think that they are I think the the Rancones and the Crawford I think Aiden's dealing with an injury So it's been a really slow start to the season for him But and even like autocamp who no one cares about what I care about like I think that those kids and those guys There is a there is a certain level of toughness with them that I that I really do I think that you more you watch them that that maybe the guys in the big league roster don't have.

Good. Bring up the kids for toughness. That's what you know. Yeah. Well, the Crawford's been a big league clubhouse his entire life, his entire life. And I think that that does matter. I think that I I agree with you. And I totally look, I'm totally with you on the topper thing. I would rather this version of topper than it's fine. We'll get there

We'll figure it out. They'll hit that whatever like I want him to be aggressive. I I'm okay with it I just was surprised by how aggressive he's been this quickly I know I did not expect to see stoutly no like and then and the other thing that I've again we've talked about We documented it all season long, but Bryce is talking a lot, man He's he's talking a lot. He's talking after games a lot more. He seems more Ornery he said yesterday, you know, it's about the name on the front not the name on the back Was that that was a really interesting comment? I was like what what where's that about? Was that about him? Was that about maybe a certain third baseman?

Like I just tell me about a teammate. I think that was that was a message to a teammate one way or another Yeah, the way he said it he was saying it about himself too. He's like, I know I'm hitting 250 and like whatever And we gotta play for the name on the front of the jersey not the name on the back of the jersey He's he's lumping it in with himself, but he's so calculated that that I just I Don't believe that he was trying to say that I gotta play for the name on the front I think he believes he plays with the name on the front. That was definitely a a Hopefully a wake of call to do someone in there saying, you know,

stop making this about you and do little things to help us win baseball games. Yeah, yeah. And he's right. I mean, the message is out there. I one more thing I want to get to before we get to the take bag. Wheeler, look, he's gotten unlucky in some spots, obviously. You know, we remember in Atlanta, if the socialso Rojas play doesn't happen that Murphy Homer probably Isn't happening knows how the start goes but look back to back starts with five runs allowed You know whatever you want to take it for and he wasn't great yesterday in st. Louis

Where you at with Wheeler anything at all to be concerned about or just a little plug? Yeah, what's what's interesting is that he seems a little Worried about the velocity you know he mentioned that after the game like my velocity was down and it looked like even though at some points He's hitting 97 like 96 97. I mean on the contrary his home run He missed a spot by he missed a the he was trying to set up on the outside corner and it missed middle in So you rarely see Zach Wheeler missed like that so maybe it was a case of of overthrowing trying to find the the the extra velocity which we saw obviously that happened to Jordan Romano and that

didn't really work out well. Overall no I think that he is someone that you know I think there's little little mechanical issues with him right now that's what it seems like and once they iron that out he'll be he'll be fine. Velocity is one to definitely monitor if that's down. You know as we as we continue to kind of go along here I think it's interesting that you know his velocity down Sanchez velocity down velocity down Losarda velocity down for man beginning of the season velocity down

So I don't think it's a team-wide approach But that's a lot of a lot of guys that traditionally throw harder whose velocities have been down lower So maybe that's just beginning of the season stuff. And I think as the season moves on, it'll be fine. But again, it was seventy five and sunny yesterday in St. Louis, not like it was freezing. So, you know, Wheeler. Yeah, I mean, I just say I'm super concerned is would be would be not true.

But it's definitely something to monitor. Yeah, it just, you know, I couldn't really remember the last time we saw it back to back, you know, kind of down adding from me. All right, before we get to the take back, shout out to the Miller Lite account of the week. Today's Miller Lite bar of the week is the New Wave Cafe in Queens Village.

Shout out to Queens Village, where you can watch all of Philly's games with a $3.50, $3.50 cent Miller Lite draft special. Go to new wave cafe.com. All right, what'd you got to take back, Fritzie? Well, a lot of annoying stuff, but you know, a lot of stuff that we do. You know, on the starting staff in general, a lot of more battling rather than dominating. Now they've done a good job, but the the the the

the the the the the the the the

the the We're like we never get them plays never never get turned one and never turn to double play So so and again just saying Trey not not terrible defensively as we signed him for Good defense up the middle. That's how you want. That's we wanted to see so but yeah, he battled No long Friday battle. That was not a great no outing. But again He held in there. I guess that's what you could say about it. Okay, is that the new Nola? Yeah, sure Battle I mean, I mean is that what it is though? I mean, it feels like Nola like it it feels like Nola always was like, you know, I know he's been you know year by year and type of thing But you know you could count on N Noah to potentially pitch to like a three year a year, three one year.

It feels like he's much more of a three, six to four year a guy now. Just to put it simply, if you know, takes down two hundred innings, strikes out two hundred pitches to a three, six allows the most home runs of baseball. We know what we do. It's what we do. Lizardo battled same kind of thing. So a lot of battling. We got we got the old stopper on the mound tonight though the old Saiwan I won and they're facing what?

Loop or whatever his name is he's he's pretty interesting is it loop they're raising is a rope not Aaron loop No, it's not Aaron. No. Oh, it's rope R. O you pee pee. Oh, yeah that guy. Yeah, he's the one who took our he was the one who took our boy Hayden Bird song out of the lineup or out of the starting rotation So, you know, you get to stop on the mountain. I get to feel pretty good about that. So that is that's the point We've reached where two weeks it is like thank God time was on the home. We're in great shape Yeah, I'm sure that I'll I'm sure that won't backfire the Giants are the Giants are pretty frisky. I'm not gonna lie They're annoying. What are they 11 and 4 10 and 4 something?

One of these random Giants years where they win 100 plus games sure with no talent like I did sure hold on man They got Chapman out there Helio Ramos, that's my boy Jung-ho Lee There are boy Lamont Wade, we love Lamont Wade here big Lamont Wade people. We always love Lamont Wade 47 year old Justin Verlander is pitching love Is he pitching well the the best reliever in baseball in my opinion Ryan Walker? That's gonna be annoying. Ryan Walker is nasty He's just gonna use good Randy Rodriguez is very good.

Camila Deval is kind of back. So they're not a bad team. It's the National League stuff this year. Just is. It's so tough, dude. It's so tough. People keep saying what 90 plus wins. There might be some really good 85 to 88 win ball clubs.

I mean, think about this. We didn't talk about it that way, but last year the Diamondbacks won 89 games didn't make the playoffs last year at that app You know, so it's like and they're way better this year. That's my point. I think the league is better this year It's a it's a it's a lot better this year. It really is. So It's not it's definitely not your your the pushover Giants. They've been the last couple of years signs of life from Jordan Romano the pushover giants they've been the last couple of years. Signs of life from Jordan Romano.

Oh buddy. Come on. He's excited. I am honestly. Well, they need it. I'm really serious. Yes. I'm very, very excited about it. Please don't talk to her.

I was I was too in. I was too engulfed in golf yesterday. I did not. That's pretty good work. I call me a pro. So I did not. It's nice. not listen our guy Jim Nance. Yes It's up to the final hole just think that's the serious wait for this moment. That's the 11th We're only gonna have ten more. Ah, it's true. And then he will finally resign and it'll be a miracle

It'll be that's why they've haven't yes comes away even though retire resign. We'll go with it I've never heard of a 10 year retirement One of the most one of the most insane press releases I've ever seen yeah But just letting NBC or letting CBS know that I'm not you know yeah, you can't you can't fire me. No Yeah I can't believe it's gonna be be the one hundredth masters and then his 51st. That is pretty crazy. Yeah, that is pretty nice.

He doesn't look that old. Like, Jim, no, no. Yeah, but he is getting there. He's going to call over half the masters. Fifty one masters. That really is nuts. It's a ridiculous. Yeah. So only hey, cherish these moments.

There's only 10 more Jim Nams. That's true. It's true. On the mat, they got a lock in. But I but I did not see the oh, by the way, how funny would it be? Would how funny would it be if T Mac takes over for gymnastics? Oh, my God. Can you imagine? I don't know if T Mac has a golf voice. I don't think so. No, no.

I love T Mac. Yeah. You like because it's exactly right. Yes. What is what is happening over there? Only whispers, only whispers. No more, no more Ian Eagle either. And you know, we don't. I am.

No, it's Ian. You call him. I refuse to call him. You refuse. I think that's fair. You know, it's like, all right, get over yourself. Good name to you. Exactly.

So there's a long way of saying I did not did not rest my eyes on the Carlos Hernandez outing yesterday. It wasn't great. I'm choosing to watch Friday. He was good. And Thursday, he was good. So that's only things that matter from the Carlos Hernandez breakout tour.

Shoreburn, Shoreburn,per back to back in the lineup Interesting needs to happen Something yeah There's a shiver down everyone's spine when they pitched around harper in that final game of the brave series and they said oh Wait, hold on. Has this been something that sunk us into straight? Something about it Well, it is I mean the way the way that that chorber has hit lefties the last, you know Last year and so far this year. It does change the equation has hit lefties the last, you know last year and so far this year It does change the equation a little bit in a way, you know

Seriously, though like that was the whole idea or you can't have these lefty relievers to come into Facebook those guys Well, guess what one of those guys rocks against lefty relievers said no worries yeah, did not love the report from Rosenthal that they Started contract extensions and they didn't really progress anywhere. So he's going to hit the free agent market, which is going to make everyone around here tight heading into heading into the off season because he's the second most important or second best and most important offensive Philly still, you know, we're paying a short stop, three hundred million dollars. So so good to see that. And and I guess like the final thing is just the vintage. Well, of course, got to ring the bell book.

I was way I was like the final thing. What are you doing? Yeah, yeah, yeah. This whole pop without popping the book. Go book by the book by the book. It's going to be fun. So one read, I got the edits back. So I got to do that.

This work. I know you're all done. And now it's like, oh, no, I was so ready to kick my feet up. Well, so I've never in a book, you know, props to you. But when I was in grad school and I would have to do like the 40 page papers or whatever, the feeling when you're done, those is like just euphoric. It's like I'm never writing again. That's amazing. I'm sorry. I thought I was done too, James, when I turned to my final,

my final paper of college. And then Kevin's like, Hey, you want to write Philly's book? And I was like, you know what, you know what? You know what? I do have a second kid. I'll do it. You crazy son second kid. But I'll do it. Yeah, you crazy son of a gun. I'll do it. Oh, let's just see what happens. Yeah, everything's fine. Everything's done.

Four hundred and fifty eight pages later. Here we are. Here we are. So to end it on a positive note for that wasn't a positive note. Well, that was very positive. Yeah, I know. Yeah. So and this on a really, really positive note that I would say maybe five to 10 people care about in the.

I can't wait to see where this goes. Oh, hold on. Before we get to that, speaking of another positive. Yes. Tucker just glared at me from across the room. I think Tucker was ready to be done. Tucker was like, oh, I'm done. Sweet. I'm speaking of another positive. Yes. Tucker just glared at me from across the room, I think. Tucker was ready to be done. Tucker was like, oh, I'm done. Sweet. I'm seeing, I'm seeing, I'm getting a little getaway day vibes from Tucker.

Yeah, right? There you go. But, oh, so for the, for the fancy baseball people out there that the Fritz list obviously was, the thing that took over February and March for a lot of people, the Fritz list, a lot of guys are hurt. list a lot of guys are hurt. A lot of those guys are hurt. Yes, they are.

Generally, it happens when guys have six stuff as they get hurt. Two guys that I think you should pick up one Joe Boyle and Joe Boyle. Yeah. And it was on the original Fritz list. He was on the original Fritz list. And then he started the year in AAA. So we jumped off. OK, that's what happened. But when the original list you sent me, Joe Boyle was on it. Yep, and then and then I listen We've been burned by this guy in the past, but I promise you he has made he is a different. He's a different man

Eddie Cabrera, he's no He's dead it's a it's a Edward Cabrera, it's not Edward. Yes, lock in Edward I like Cabrera I texted you about him and you basically poo-pooed it and they know I've owned Edward Cabrera, it's not Edward. Yes. Lock in Edward, Edward Cabrera. I texted you about him and you basically poopooed it and then. No, I've owned Edward Cabrera many times over the last couple of years. Four starts and then the next start is usually not as good. Just saying if you didn't add it, if you need a guy, you need a guy, Edward Cabrera is is that. So speaking of changed men,

it's the second to last thing again, because I keep thinking of things. Sorry, Tucker. McCable continues to look better. I'm just letting everyone know, just letting everyone know. The problem is they don't need any pitchers right now. So I don't know what the what they're going to do. But like Mickey Centerfield. No, he can not.

He can usually usually gives up shots of centerfield. Joey Manessa Joe Manessa smoked one way. He probably should have gone back out there from the school name German. I know I know that At one point was viewed as the Max Muncie of the He actually turned out to be all right for one year the Nationals, but regardless Abel continues to he's filling up the strikes on a much better spot He's striking out guys in a much better clip not walking as many so we're excited about that We're all excited about Griff McGarry who is who has not allowed a hit yet, but he has allowed Yes, so small

Better and he's striking out a ton of guys So he's in Redding still so would like to see how that transition goes to the big lead or to the triple-a But you know, I don't know it this is something to monitor. They don't need pitching right now they could use someone that could hit in center field and third base, but at least from that standpoint, it's good and then a Bold claim about one of the filliest prospects is everyone talks about Eduardo Tai who's awesome I would like what Aiden we talk about Rincones. We talk about Crawford Like a ruin Escobar asked to be in that conversation with all those guys. He is awesome. He is awesome He is raking in clear water. I know every guy. Yeah, I in

Maybe maybe could be the the third baseman of the future if you put a in that. Oh Really or outside of the infield just set we're good over the second base of the future. He. I'm pretty ruined up. I'm pretty. I can see that look on your face when it's like, you know, probably how you looked when Walker took his first step like that kind of like just proud papa kind of vibe coming off right now. When you fall for a prospect, you fall hard and when you fall for a prospect you fall very hard Yes, yeah. Well listen it is what it is. No, it's true for it

And what I tell you continues to look the part by the way he he will he will chase a lot hundred percent So that won't fix that he is going he's got light tower power as they used to say back in the day. So All is that well the big leagues A lot of exciting stuff down in the minor league that are Yeah, it's all good stuff. So I hope every ask a bar. Uh, get your jerseys now. I love it All right, uh talker enjoy the rest of your day. You didn't okay jep get away Get away day. Uh, all okay Jeff get away get away day All right, uh four game series. We'll take will you take a split or you want three and four? You're gonna be so

With the current junction. Yeah, I'll take it. Yeah, I'd be very happy with this I'll take I'll take a split all day. They do avoid Logan Webb, which is huge huge so, you know need to see that hundred grand is gonna win and I'll say young and which is huge, huge. So need to see that. 100 grand is going to win and I'll say young and he's disgusting. He's he is I'm going to keep extending this to see how I know what I can make someone. He is he is what Mark Pryor was supposed to be. Wow. Bold statement there. 100 grand. It's finally all connected.

He said 100 miles an hour in the age. Teams are buying 126 against him. Yeah, he's disgusting. So he's what Mark Fier supposed to be. So we avoid him and and and I guess they're not playing the red. They're not playing the reds. They avoid Lovin Webb, who was off to the season and for game set. Well, I find out all those nights and then I guess the new pod Friday.

Yeah, Thursday, Friday, somewhere in there and make it happen. So, all right. All right. All right. Tugger, do your thing and Tariq. Good job. He's written something.