High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Our Pets Heads are No Longer Falling Off

Episode Date: May 1, 2023

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to the Phils taking 2 of 3 in Houston, Bryce Harper's imminent return, and much more. Presented by Miller Lite. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the High Hopes Podcast. High Hopes! It's a bunch of baseball nerds talking about the Phillies. On Odyssey and Sports Radio 94 WIP. Yoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Oh, it is another edition of the High Ops Podcast. Fritzy, we keep saying everything's okay. We keep saying the season is back on. It's fine.

It is. Yeah. It's fine. We made it to fine. We're good. How you doing, Val? I'm doing great. I'm doing legitimately great.

Look at you. I'm so happy. I'm so happy i'm so happy they've they've they've they've stabilized they've righted the ship they have they are clearly evolving into a very very good baseball team like that's like my biggest takeaway the last week because we didn't do one during the mariners series whatever but the biggest takeaway the last like week is that they that you see all the makings of them developing into a top-tier team in baseball. Are the Braves insane? Sure.

The Mets, I think, are fine. But we said, what, two weeks ago, we'll wake up a month from now and there'll be a couple games over 500 and everything's going to be fine. The biggest thing from the weekend was obviously Wheeler and Noah looking like Wheeler and Noah. No doubt. But you look at the rest of the staff, and it's like Tyrone Walker avoiding major injuries. Huge.

Big time. Forearm tightness. It's like, uh-oh. Second time they've gotten away with forearm tightness not turning into something bigger. I know. I know. Even Wheeler. Well, and Ranger.

And Ranger 2-3 because it was Wheeler last year. So, like, and then you factor in Ranger coming back. And then you look at the bullpen. And it's like, how many times in your Phillies fandom lifetime, which I know goes back to the 80s, 70s. Yeah, the WizKids and whatnot. And blowing the pennant. Yeah, 64. It was tough.

But how many times have you been like, I got four guys in the back of the bullpen that close that game. Yeah. And can legitimately hand the ball to them. And on most nights, they're going to get the job. Pretty much never. Never. They weren't in closer guys, yeah. But even 08, it was like Romero could, I guess.

Yeah, but not really. Now you've got like four. Soto has given up one hit in his last whatever it is. He hasn't given up a hit in a month or whatever. I mean, these guys are unbelievable. Or two weeks, whatever. And Alvarado, I mean, when was the last time we had the best reliever in baseball? Never. Oh, whatever. Like, it is the, and Alvarado, I mean, when was the last time we had the best reliever

in baseball? Never. Oh, wait. Never. Yeah, sure, like numbers wise, but was Brad Lidge like pitch for pitch

the single best reliever in baseball that year? I guess Mariano still exists. Best numbers, exactly. Like, Jose Alvarado's the best reliever

in baseball, man. He is the guy, if you had to say, all right, I need to get one guy out in one spot, you pose Alvarado on the

mound. Like, that's crazy, dude. I know, especially because he's... I'm talking to baseball! I'm aware. I'm aware. It's unbelievable. It's wild. And then you look at, obviously, the lineup, and the home run thing is annoying, the run and scoring position thing is kind of annoying, but at the same time, like, they're

getting the MVP. They're getting... Unbelievable, dude. They're getting the MVP. Unbelievable, dude. They're getting Bryce Harper back, possibly tomorrow. So possibly freaking tomorrow, we're going to have Bryce Harper back in our lives. And we thought it was going to be the first half of the year he's going to be gone. We predicted June 10th originally. And that was like, you guys are insane. No way he's back that fast.

It's way too early. So it's just like, you look at how every single aspect of the team like thompson has clearly found a little bit of a feel here for this team um and it's just like i'm almost i'm almost back to being like stress-free look at you like they'll lose games whatever but that doesn't mean like the entire foundation of my life is crumbling so i think that's been a big improvement. I'm happy we've reached that point. Because the first week, it was very frustrating.

And they went 1-5, whatever, and every aspect of the team looked terrible. And they've just righted the ship. It feels like people obviously are focused on the Eagles, they're focused on the Sixers, and the Phillies are kind of like flying under the radar. And what I think people are missing while they're flying under the radar is that before our eyes, they're developing into a good, good, good, good baseball team. Look at you. Love this.

It's good to be back. You are fully in your thing right now. Yeah, it's good to be back. I love it. And look, they beat a good team this weekend. You know, it had been some winning some series against, I guess the Mariners are a good team but you know not necessarily the the toughest competition in baseball and and going to houston winning two games to your point the wheeler and noel thing

we'll get to that in a sec but quickly on harper harper has a chance if he does come back tomorrow which i mean absurd like it's absurd to say this it'll be 160 days post-surgery. The next fastest in the history of the sport is 182 days. Harper has a chance to be more than three weeks faster than he has ever returned from this injury. It is insane, Jack. Besides Womack, right? No, Womack was 182. Oh, I thought he was like 150.

No, Tony Womack was 182 games. He is, to date, the fastest it has ever happened, and he's by a bit. After that is Jay Buhner at 207, and then Carl Crawford at 221. So Harper has a chance to just obliterate it. Like, really, it is. And granted, you know, he's coming back to DH, so a little different than maybe someone had to come back and play the field or whatever type of thing.

But, I mean, it's unheard of. It's unprecedented. Like, this has never happened before. Like, our dude. Do you think it was the Tommy John surgery that forced Steinbrenner to trade Jay Buhner? Do you think that's what it was? Yeah, probably.

How could you trade Jay Buhner? Yes. Do you know who they traded Jay Buhner? Yes. Do you know who they traded Jay Buhner for? I believe I'm right about this. I think I know the name. I'm probably wrong,

but I think there's a name that's sticking out in my head, so I'm going to go for it. And it ended up being a really good player? No. Oh, a terrible player?

Ken Phelps is the name in my head. I'm going to check it. All right. Well, I mean, 90s baseball seems like your wheelhouse, so I won't

question it but like yeah bryce like like bryce harper coming back to this team as fast as he is i know there's this concern out there if like well they're rushing him back it was ken phelps good um proud of you but like the the fact that that like the rushing back thing, I just think is kind of, it doesn't really matter when he still has to get cleared by a doctor. The doctor's not going to be like, hey, you know what? It's fast. I'm just going to let you go for it, man. Like, no.

He has to pass medical clearances. If he passes them, he's allowed to play. Like, this is not, I don't understand why people are like, don't rush back. Yeah, and I just don't get it from the standpoint of like, well, he's cleared, but let's just sit him for an extra month to make sure. Like, well, what are we doing here? Like, of course, he can come back and re-aggravate or whatever, and that would stink.

But at the same time, it's just like the doctor still has to do his job. He's obviously risking his medical profession. Absolutely. To be like, you know what? Yeah, you got it. Go for it. Yeah, you'll be all right. You'll be all right. So what? Yeah, you got it. Go for it. Yeah, you'll be alright. You'll be alright. So,

yeah, it's just, it's ridiculous. And he obviously is pushing for it. It's not like he's not attacking rehab. You can't magically make a elbow tendon get back together fast. There's just nothing you can, he's just a fast

healer. He's just a fast healer. It's as simple as that. So, I can't wait and and just adding him into the lineup and looking at how they go top to bottom like obviously the turner start has been a no we're not sorry the start was good the last two weeks yeah two weeks he's had a couple couple bad weeks yeah called me horrible yeah 260 um so so you you go top to bottom and it's just like everyone kind of gets better from it. You know, you already are having the Marsh breakout, the bone breakout, even though he's in a bit of a slump or whatever. He's too good to not do that.

Stott, I feel like, is almost slump-proof because his at-bats are so good. It's unbelievable. Dude, he is as tough in the bat as there is in baseball right now. I mean, other than maybe the reason why. 438 in May 1st. I know. And then Schwarber does not have to bat three. So you can kind of bump him down if you want.

And I think part of Turner's thing, like just adding, like for two years when he batted, he's batted over 300 the last two years, 330 I believe in 21. He's had Freddie Freeman right behind him. And now you're adding Bryce Harper right behind him. I love, in 21. He's had Freddie Freeman right behind him. And now you're adding Bryce Harper right behind him. I love Kyle Schwarber. He's not Bryce Harper. He's not Bryce Harper.

He's not Freddie Freeman. So I just think that now the problem with Turner is that he's still getting a lot of fastballs and not doing much against him. So it's not like he's going to see more fastballs. But I do think that having Bryce behind him is going to make him feel a little bit more comfortable. Yeah. And also just the pressure of coming in and getting $300 million and harboring out.

I mean, you know, it's like, all right, I got to not only come in, I'm the big money guy, but I got to pick up the slack. Like, hey, I know you like to steal this now. Oh, yes. Athletes are humans. They go through stuff. You know, it's your thing now. I heard people tweeting at me or using it all on your own, not crediting me. No big deal.

Whatever. Well, in my defense, I don't know how else to say it. In my defense of Trey Turner. Well, the funny thing about it is that we were just talking about something where it's like, you know, I have the athletes are humans thing. There might have to be a corollary to it. Bryce Harper might not be human. Right.

So he might not be part of this. Speaking of infringement upon each other's bits, I believe that you tweeted this yesterday. So you know what's funny is when I tweeted this, I literally, as I was tweeting it, I was thinking, I'm like, this is such a jack tweet. Cody Clemens has to be the best performance by a Clemens in Houston ever. I couldn't help myself.

Interesting. Interesting how you could accuse me of being a bit stealer when you literally did the exact same thing. So we're stealing each other's bits now. That's good. Yeah, but Bryce definitely might not be human. I can't believe he's going to be back, and I can't believe that on Friday night

we have a chance to see Joel Embiid get his MVP and we get a chance to see Bryce Harper take the, you know, obviously his first at-bat of this year. I mean, Friday night at, unless the Sixers go down 0-2. It'd be a little less fun, man. It'd be a little less fun. I should say when the Sixers go down 0-2.

No, they got this for sure, definitely, 100%. But, like, it could melt our faces like it could melt our faces on friday so um i can't wait and i just think that like you look at top to bottom now like i don't know who they they put um they obviously put castellanos behind him now i love how that was like that'd be considered like a hot take a month ago oh now it's like obviously obviously he's 100 back for your best hitter on the team. So you put Schwarber five and then JT six. And then you put Baum, I guess, seven. It's just stupid.

It's a stupid, stupid lineup. Well, it makes a big difference. It really does. Because they've hit well, like we talked about. They've just not as much power and not come through with runners on base. But it's been a really solid lineup in terms of numbers across the sport, but they've been missing that dude in the middle. They've been missing the guy who can give them that power, give them those big at-bats,

and just changes the whole complexion of the lineup. It changes everything. Yeah, and the Ron scoring position thing is annoying. So hopefully Bryce is going to back. And we think somewhat fluky. At least I think. If it's still happening a month and a half from now, we'll have another discussion. At the moment, I feel okay.

Now, the one thing that's probably not going to change is the home run thing. I mean, Schwarber will hit more. Sure. Harper coming back up. But you look up and down the lineup, it's not like they have a bunch of third-round run guys. No, no.

They really have three with Hoskins. Yeah, that's it. Yeah, it's really just Schwarber and Harper are your power. I mean, you've got a bunch of guys who'll hit between 15 and 25 maybe, whether it's JT or Boehm or Trey, or these guys are generally going to end up in that range. But you're right, man. They only have two big boppers on the team,

especially Derek Hall goes down, Reese goes down. I mean, at least if Hall's in there, you can count on him for some power. Well, Cody Clemens. Cody Clemens. But you're right. Like, it is. Look, I mean, we did say. I mean, at least if Hall's in there, you can count on him for some power. Well, Cody Clemens. Cody Clemens. But you're right. Like, it is. Look, I mean, we did say, I remember many times on this specific podcast talking about the 28-team Boston Red Sox and how much we love them spraying the ball around the field

and putting it in play, and we want a team that just gets hits. I mean, we got a team that gets hits. I know. And I was just going to bring that up because they look like a more connected offense. Yeah, they really do. Early in the season, it was a lot of swinging first pitch. No one looked like they were kind of on the same page. And I know it's hard for an offense in baseball

to totally look like they need to be in sync, but the way their at-bats have changed, I feel like, in the last week. Since April 23rd, their strikeout rate is 21%, which is pretty low. They were like 27% the first couple weeks. It was a lot of strikeouts. A lot of strikeouts. So they're doing a much better job of putting the bat on the baseball. And I just think that it kind of just infiltrates the whole

lineup and um it was uh this guy matt on twitter dm me and he was like have you noticed that marsh boom and someone else like all of their it might have not been boom but like some of their key guys here like all their launch angles are down like like seven degrees or whatever So it's like maybe it's a whole concerted effort. It's like a philosophical thing that they've done. With no shift. Smart. Even though there's still some shortstops that are basically playing. It makes me annoyed.

Can you just go play shortstop? Just go play freaking shortstop, but whatever. But it seems like they've really worked on flattening everyone's bat path out and then eventually the home runs will get there, but they want to make sure they're good hitters first. Well, and also, like, honestly. Besides Sean Warper. But if that's a philosophy that you can, you know, carry out through the season

and start to get more hits when runners are on base, that's a playoff winning type of philosophy. I mean, we talk about that every year when it comes down to October, November, and, yeah, the Phillies had a lot of home runs last year, but, I mean, you win in October by getting big hits, by putting the ball in play, by moving runners over, by doing all those type of things when it's colder, when pitching matters more. This is, you know, not to get ahead of ourselves,

but this could be the type of offense you want to see in October. Well, it's the exact opposite of what the Yankees have done for the last couple years, which is just like, hey, let's get a bunch of home run guys. The Judge and Stanton and Rizzo. Yeah, exactly. And I just fundamentally believe that this is a better brand of winning baseball that's more sustainable. The Astros for the last five years, obviously they've been to five ALCSs,

they've had the lowest strikeout rate in baseball. And they've always prioritized contact. And it's not a bunch of power hitters. It's like Jordan and Kyle Tucker at 30, whatever. But it's not like they've got a bunch of dudes hitting the ball out of the ballpark. I mean they're a bunch of Dubones and you know those type of guys getting on base, getting hits.

Dubon. Dubon. By the way, sorry, ruined his little DiMaggio streak. That's our thing. Don't try to take that. You guys ruined it with Stoddy because we had to play a double header. That's a good point.

So we had to ruin Dubon's. Yeah, it's only fair. Yeah, it's only fair. And even Jordan's like a 300-level hitter. Like, he's stupid. It was nice not having him in the lineup game one. It was so funny. Was it not, like, so eerie, everything that was similar between game one and game six?

Oh, my God. It was so weird, dude. It was like the Sosa ball. Yeah. You had Schwarber off of Framber. had the phillies pitcher going deep into the game you had uh alvarado on the mound the club like it's just there's so many little things that was like well it was the whole weekend you couldn't get past it all like every time wheeler face you heard on all i could think about was like oh what if he got to face him last time you know

like it was like so many of these things they They let him finish out the six yesterday. I know. They sure did, buddy. Let's not forget. Crazy concept. But it was, it was, it was, it was weird. It was eerie. It was weird. I didn't, I'll be honest, I didn't like it. Thank God we won two or three, but I did not like it.

No, I didn't. Yeah, I don't like that place. I didn't like it. And I love the, by the way, Kaki Castellanos. It's so funny. It's great. It's like, there he is. There's that guy that we thought we were getting.

But him being like, yeah, they waved the World Series ring in our faces and we took that like a little personally. We took that personally.

I was like, nice, that's our guy. And I will say that the Phillies lineup, it was definitely more, I was more scared of it than I was the Houston lineup.

I know they're missing out too, but I know. Yeah, but once they get down to the bottom, yeah, like Myers, I know Homer,

but like all these dudes. F, but I know. Yeah, but once they get down to the bottom, yeah, like Myers, I know Homer, but like all these dudes. Ferocious. Yeah. Although, Martin Maldonado can't hit. And like, can we stop trying to hit Martin Maldonado? I know. Like, just let him put it in play, man. Just throw it over the plate.

He's probably not going to hurt you. Yeah, I'm very confident about challenging Martin Maldonado. Yeah, so it was eerie. All right. I want to get back to Castellanos and some other stuff, but you started mentioning this, and it should. It's my fault, 16 minutes in. The biggest thing that happened this weekend was Aaron Nolan and Zach Wheeler.

For the first time this season, those two dudes look like the guys we hope to see and to the point we've made many times need to see if this team is going to get where we want them to get. Also against a great team, obviously some extra motivation going into Houston and all that. What do you think about the performances from Nolan Wheeler? So I think the interesting thing that we're going to have to learn with Nola is that we might be dealing with a diminished velocity version of him,

but that doesn't mean he's like a bad pitcher. And I thought it was interesting. He was like 89 to 91-ish, and then at one point he threw like an 83 mile an hour and i was like hold on could i pitch anyway um no no still no still no but with the diminished velocity i did think his command was like back to being otherworldly so my hope is is that he was trying to overthrow early in the season and still trying to be 93-94, and that caused him to miss his spots and stuff. Because what we saw on Friday was, I feel like, well, besides his curveballs that ended up out of the zone at some point,

but I feel like he didn't miss a spot when it came to his fastball. He was able to pitch it down. He was able to be up in the zone with it. I thought his changeup worked really well off of it, even though the other thing I don't get, there were so many questions off of that Aaron Nola start because all of a sudden

it was like 83 mile an hour cutter, 89 mile an hour fastball, curveball kind of out of the zone at 77. But then it was like an 87 mile an hour changeup. It's like, well, hold on. Like, where are we at?

What are we doing here? So maybe, and that makes me feel like it's more concerted to like not try to overthrow stuff. You're not a power pitcher. Be your 90 miles an hour and get out that way.

I mean, I was never a fan of him, but Kyle Hendricks was a good pitcher for a while. Yeah, he was. No doubt. At like 88 miles an hour. So it's a bit like late 90s, early 2000s-ish of Nolan. Yeah. There are a lot of guys who have done that. I mean, Glavin, when he, you know, Glavin was always at.

And Maddox is obviously the poster child. Yeah, there are a bunch of guys. But I just think that maybe the 93 mile an hour NOLAs is gone, and it's more like 89 to 91. And then, you know, but the command just gets way better so that everything kind of works better off of that. So it was definitely a good step forward. I believe more in like I would rather have command Nola than stuff Nola.

So I'm interested to see how it keeps going forward. But I was thinking that on Friday. It was like you might just have to deal with that he's throwing 89 now and whatever. Zach Wheeler I thought was great. Both of those guys look like they got their command back, which is what they needed. Because Zach Wheeler, the velocity stuff was a concern. Being 94 in the fifth was annoying.

But it was also the command was all over the place. And he was, you know, that one inning, he walked three batters. That's not what Zach Wheeler has done here. So both of those guys, I felt like they got their command back. And it was one start. We get it. But it looks more like they're back on being on the track they are. You know, the ace level performance we expect.

Yeah. And again, this is as important a thing as it could happen with this team. Like, this team is not going anywhere if those two guys are not great. You know, in terms of winning the World Series, which is the goal of the season. We got a little off track to start the season, but two more wins was the mantra, was the ethos of this team, and I think that is still there.

And without those two guys, it's not happening. If you had to guess, what do you think Zach Wheeler's ERA is? Actually, I'll bet it's pretty low. Because I'm trying to think of his starts. He's been bad, but he hasn't gotten shelled in any of them. I think there are some unearned runs in the one.

I'll go with like a 3-1. 3-2-6. I was like, and I've been one of them, worried about Wheeler. It's like, he's still pretty good. Still pretty good. Still pretty good. Still pretty nasty. So, yeah, it was just so reassuring to see those guys.

Like, okay, because you just said it. But, like, the lineup can so reassuring to see those guys like, okay, because you just said it, but, like, the lineup can be getting a ton of hits and Harper can come back and they can produce. The bullpen, we can finally have our lockdown guys. But if those guys weren't giving you six, seven innings and then the bullpen has to be used in those starts more, then it hurts, obviously, the bullpen because they have to cover for Falter, Strom, and Tywin Walker. He has some length, but those three are usually five-inning pitchers.

So then the bullpen would have to carry the rest. But those guys being able to go out there and give the bullpen a rest for a day or two, that's imperative given the stretch that they have upcoming now, which is like Dodgers, Red Sox. Yeah, they got some games coming up. Yes, they do. Yes, they do, buddy. It's a show me time. Yeah, and that was a great series for it to your point, though.

Like Nola gives them eight, Wheeler goes over six, and then yesterday, even though they lose that game, they get important innings from like Brogdon. We talked about that on the last spot, about maybe Brogdon be this guy where it's like a 4-2 game and you're losing and you're not going to use your best guys, but you also just don't want to concede a baseball game. Like we saw Girardi do so many times.

Like, all right, I guess I'm losing this one. We're also going to go out and get them. You know what I mean? Like that was big. Like they didn't end up coming back, but the bullpen kept them in that game, and we've seen the Phillies lose that game 8-2 so many times. Well, and future legend here, Luis Ortiz.

Yeah, buddy. Dude, he's been great. Luis Ortiz is good. All he does is get outs, man. You said it when he first pitched. I was like, I don't know who this guy is. And you're like, come on, you're a little giant spotter. He's been good, man.

He's been legitimately solid for this team. Can I just say something? Yeah, please. Feels good to get at least one right. I know. It's been a tough year for my bullpen takes. Besides, well, Kimbrel actually ended up being good. Soto's turn.

Soto's great. Soto's good. But guys, for the under the radar guys, I needed a win. Soto's turn. Soto's great. But guys, for the under the radar guys, I needed a win. McKinley Moore crushed my soul. Hold on. Junior's on his way back. He's on his way back. Oh, man. He's nasty.

I can't wait. You guys are all going to be sick. They did him dirty. You guys are all going to be sick when he's got a two-way ERA in like a month. It's going to be great. No, I'm going to be. You have a lot of work to get to a two-way ERA. Dude, it's funny.

It's funny. Sir Anthony's always been disgusting the last week. Dude, his ERA is still like five and a half. It's like six or something. Yeah, I think it's six and a half. I know. I know. Well, that's what's so funny with relievers because that can happen where you have like a couple bad outings to start the season and then you literally spend the entire season

trying to get back to like a three. It's nuts. Exactly. But they need guys the entire season trying to get back to three. Exactly. But they need guys that can not let games get out of hand. They found the four when they have leads. It's over. It's as good as I remember here, like you said. But they need the guys that can keep the game close. And Luis Ortiz and

Brogdon feel like they're developing the guys that can be those kind of pitchers for this team. And Ortiz, like, specifically, like, obviously against the Mariners when they came back, he kept that game where it was for two innings and gave the offense time. Last night

kept the game 4-3, you know, which was good to see. So, Big Luis, he's really good. He's 95 and then it makes it so hard because his slider is about 80. So, it's just hard to get timing down on him. So, I's 95, and then it makes it so hard because his slider is about 80. Yeah. So it's just hard to get timing down on him. So I'm curious. I'm curious to see.

Hey, he's done everything you asked of him so far. He's been very, very solid for this team. Yeah, dude. I'm with you. Who knew it? Luis Ortiz coming in and saving the season. Hold on, man. Andrew Vasquez doesn't hear a F2.

Look at that. He's mop up. Yeah, he's the mop up guy. That's exactly what he is. And look, you need mop up guys. Let's get to, I want to get to the lineup in a year, I have two. Look at that. He's mop-up. Yeah, he's the mop-up guy. That's exactly what he is. And look, you need mop-up guys. Let's get to, I want to get to the lineup in a sec,

but the Strom thing, because again, Strom, since the last time we talked, goes out, shoves again. I know. This guy has been phenomenal as a starting pitcher.

Really, that one bad outing, was it Cincinnati, I think, where he kind of got out of control. Even that was, he got pulled, and then it was a home run. Yeah, and he could have stayed in the game,

got a shot. Belotti ended up making it way worse so look we both agree that that he makes the most sense to go to the bullpen he gives him a lot of options there and all that uh ranger on his way back doing rehab assignments theoretically shouldn't be too long probably piggybacks ranger to start but what do you say to a lot of philly's fans are going to be like why is matt strom leaving the rotation he's better than Bailey Falter. So here's what they can do. Yes. Just send Falter down. Wow.

I mean, they can. So you're thinking maybe keep Strom up there. Oh. I mean, he's been nasty. He's been great. He's been nasty. He's been great. But he's given them like between five and six. He's like, you know, doing better than most fifth starters would do.

So the question, what they can, it's like, it almost turns into a math equation, right? So what brings them more value? Matt Strom being able to give them two innings three times a week. Or five to six innings once to twice a week, depending on how. Which brings them more value. That's a great question. And I think that's what they're going to have to do. But if they love what Strom's doing as a starter,

and given what they've got with the bullpen right now, so we just talked about Luis Ortiz and Brogdon, and then you talk about the four that you trust in big spots. I don't totally know where Strom does fit in. I don't know what his role becomes. He's too good to be a long man. Yeah, he's too good. So maybe he just provides more value as a starter.

Now what they could do is they could piggyback him with Falter when Ranger gets back if they wanted. But at the same time, I was thinking about that. Maybe they can just send down Falter and keep Strom in the rotation and keep the bullpen the same way and go from there. And hopefully Strom can kind of keep his love. Maybe you luck

into... I've dynamite fist starter. Yeah. It's unbelievable. Dude, he's so good. He's great. He's great. And's unbelievable. Dude, he's so good. He's great. He's great. And he competes. And he's fun to watch. And he gives a crap.

They have so many guys. I've already envisioned in my head. I've already envisioned in my head. Which you know is a dangerous spot. Oh, yeah, buddy. Very dangerous. But I've already envisioned like it's the fifth inning of some nighttime playoff game at Citizens Bank Park.

Rally Tiles are going crazy. They have a 2-0 lead. Runners are first, second, and the fifth. And Strom strikes out the last guy, and he just goes nuts. Popping his fist. Just goes nuts running off the mound. There's so many guys on this team that have a chance to be such legends here. And we saw a lot of it last year.

But you add in Stromy now. Cocky Castellanos which is like a difference maker. Cody Clemens. Who knew? The next Matt Stairs. The next Matt Stairs.

Like there's just so many guys that like it just Alvarado developing into more and more of a legend. Apparently he has like 18 cups of coffee

a day. I saw that. No one's more beamed up than the Phillies. Don't forget that. It's so funny. It's such a great quote. It's the funniest thing ever.

But part of the Strom thing part part of everyone, part of Cassiano, it's like they're back to being our guys again, which is good. Yeah. Because the first week was the hardest spot to be. It was not. We were hating them. You guys are back to being losers. No, it's like after the offseason of just love and excitement.

It's like, way to go, guys. Thanks for that. But they're back. They're back. They are. And I'm with you on that. Two double-digit plus strikeout games. What are we doing here? And he competes, dude.

That's what I love about him. He competes. I'm so with you. I feel like every pitch he throws, he's competitive with. Which is so weird because I have a nasty amount of confidence in Matt Strachan. I know. All this history should tell you you should not have that much confidence in him. I know. Yeah.

Dude, I just trust him to go out there. First off, compete obviously, but also do a good job. Yeah. It's wild because he's been... I have picked up and dropped Matt Strom for six years. Even as a Padre. Yeah, exactly.

Six years I've done this with him. And everything suggests don't trust them, but I trust them. Yeah, I do too. And look, credit to the Phillies in general with their development of guys. I mean, Pache got hurt, which who'd have thought Christian Pache would get hurt. I was crushed. Demonstrating, right? But the changes like that, I mean, Marsh, what they've done in a year,

obviously what he's done with Long, I mean, with Stott, and on the pitching side, these developments we're seeing, it's been really impressive what this coaching staff has done with these guys. No, I mean, Kevin Long, again. I just, he is not, like, they can never, if he wants to, if he can go, I don't know why I'm struggling to get this out, and I sound like an idiot. Never leave, is what you're saying. But last year he was up for the Blue Jays' managerial job, I believe.

Like, just pay him whatever it takes. He's Stoutland. He's a Philly Stoutland. Exactly. Lifetime contract. He is Jeff Stoutland. I will pay you what they pay head coaches. Just stay.

Yeah, I agree. Oh, the Eagles tried to do that with Gannon. That was a good thing, though. They missed out on that. That's great. But, yeah, he is. And I know people will be like, whoa, Turner. First off a good thing, though. They missed out on that. But yeah, he is... And I know people will be like, whoa, Turner. First off, those guys are established.

Yes, look at the young guys. It's not about... And, I mean... They made a bunch of adjustments to Castellanos. It's harder. The point is, it's harder to guys who are set in their ways who've had success in baseball. It's harder to change what they're doing yeah so i'm sorry kevin but i hope you like philadelphia yeah you better because i haven't thought about a world

in which kevin longs on my hitting coach and i won't let that world exist i will start whatever it takes i i it's he's more important than a lot of a lot of the whatever free agents are out there he's more important oh yeah i agree so it's just but yeah like ani ani being brought in i think he's been great at finding the under the radar kind of guys i feel like that's a strong move yep is ani luis ortiz 100 that's an ani move um you know like he's andrew baladi last year so and then you have to obviously deborah's just like i will pay you trade earner to be our shortstop you know what i mean so like they have a lot of the aspects covered rob thompson i know people are freaking out, and he was bad the first week and a half, two weeks of the year.

He's clearly found a feel for this team. He's back to, like, they're just back. I don't know how else to tell it, but they're just back. They're back. Speaking of back, let's do a little more on Castellanos. Yes! I mean, I texted you. It was before the game on Sunday.

I just texted you a slash line. It was, like, 320-380-515 or whatever it was. I don't know where it's at now, but, I mean, I texted you. It was before the game on Sunday. I just texted you a slash line. It was like 320-380-515 or whatever it was. I don't know where it's at now. But, I mean, like, and thank God. All right? Because not only, you know, did we shill for him before he came here and tell everyone how great he was and then, you know, look like idiots last year. But then we doubled down and said he's going to be all right.

Don't freak out. Thank God. That's really all I have to say, Jack. Thank freaking God he's gonna be all right don't don't freak out thank god that's really all i have to say jack thank freaking god he's back yeah because it was not a good spot to be in no and um you know i don't like the recent trends of players who've been great for a decade coming here and struggling in their first year like what the hell why why does this have to happen i don't know if you've ever heard this before, but athletes are humans. That's a good point. A lot going on.

Yeah, there's a lot going on. It's true. So, you know, but Castellanos, it was so, it was like, all right, he's getting some singles, you know, some little, like, doubles, but it's still not exactly driving the baseball. I mean, that home run he hit on Saturday, it was just like a tank.

Yeah, dude. Like, crushed it. I've never seen that from Castellanos again. Like, over the left. Yeah, dude. Like, crushed it. I didn't know we'd ever see that from Cassidy. Like, over the left wall just f***ing smoked it. Whoa! You get all excited about Cassidy. Gotta bleep that out! Get excited about Cassidy. You're dropping F-bombs! Yeah, I was. Yeah, Phil's are back, man. Phil's are so back.

Just stop dropping F-bombs in a positive way. I just don't understand how you do that. And you also are on the radio all the time, but you don't ever curse on the radio. Never curse. I just hear it's the same kind of anyway I know except it's not because I know that I won't get fired if I curse here right there I you know theoretically so I mean Castellanos and he almost hit a ball he felt like straight back last night but it was like

he was like damn I saw that was his first at bat and he was like he knew we had it it was like I could have crushed that ball, and he didn't. Yeah. So it's just, I think it's real. You know, I could understand two weeks ago, it was still a lot of weak contact. Like, you know, I'll see it when I believe it. But now he just broke.

He broke the ball on, I think it was Saturday, that Jake Myers just ran down and caught. But the ball was just, I think it was Friday. But the ball was just, I think it was Friday. But the ball was just smoked. So, yeah, we're getting the 2020 version of Castellanos, which I didn't. Well, 2019. He sucked in 2020. 2021.

No, 2021. Thank you. He was great in 2021. I thought you said 2020. No. 2020 was a disaster. Because he had a down year in 2020. Yes.

Last year it was just 2020. 2021. Now we're getting 2021. Boom. Bang. And it's such a game changer. I think we talked about this last pod, but when Hoskins went down, or before Hoskins went down, I was like, yeah,

Castellanos being back will be a cherry on top. Now when Hoskins went down, I was like, well, now it's imperative that he's back. And now you start thinking about, okay, I'm adding Bryce back to a lineup with, I think JT has turned a corner. Castie has turned a corner. Schwarber, I just was Bryce back to a lineup with, I think JT has turned a corner. Cassie has turned a corner. Schwarber, I just was never worried about him. It'll happen. Just wait for it.

Just deep breaths. It'll happen. Stott's obviously great. Turner, I'm waiting for. But he'll come. Turner will come. Yeah. Well, no, it's just like.

It's just after watching Cassie last year. We did the same thing with Cassie. It took him a while to get going. No, it's fair. Look at the baseball card. I did that all last year with Cassiano. He was terrible. That's a good point.

I think it's going to happen. Yeah. But after what we've been through, I'm not locked it's going to happen. I think that's fair. I hope that by the all-star break, he gets back. But it's just the lineup. And then, boom, obviously, in Marsh, who I think is still in the NL and OPS. But whatever.

I think it's just they're so good, and they're only getting better. Yeah. And again, I think to your point that you said, not just are they back, but it feels like they finally believe they're back. Yes. You know what I mean? It feels like there's a confidence to the team. They're playing with the swagger and a confidence that we didn't see the first week and a half, two weeks of the season. Even though they lost last night, they could have easily won that game.

Oh, absolutely. They had runners in first and second with Turner. No outs. Yeah, with no outs. No outs. No outs. Everything's fine. They took two.

It is fine. It's good. We're good. It's exciting. It is exciting. Even Jake Cave had three at some point. Miracle. This is the most miracle thing that's happened all season.

Oh, he responded with the pache. Yeah, he did. That's true. That's true. That's true. Who did thunk it? I know. Pache. Well, and it's like, of course, I just said he would start every day, and like a millisecond

later, it's like, ah, they're touring in Minnesota. I know. But it was cool to see Alex Coffey. The team kind of, yeah. Yeah, the coffee story about everyone's hugging him. Well, it's particularly cool in that you know we knew it we saw it last year but i mean you know how long are the entirety of this podcast until last year really until last october it's like oh it'd be cool if like we had a team

where everyone liked each other and a culture and you know seem like they're having fun out there it doesn't even seem like they're having a good time it's like now we hear all these stories where it's like you know guys come here and are like, oh, my God, like, this is awesome. This is what I want. I've never felt embraced before, the stuff you were saying. Like, it's thrilling, honestly. It really is to, like, have a team that you feel like there's a real culture there and they like each other and they're having fun.

Like, it matters. Well, and that's why Stubbs, he gets a lifetime contract. I don't care if he ever gets hit. I'm just telling you, man. Fiend up. That guy means a lot. He does. It matters. Well, that's why Stubbs, he gets a lifetime contract. I don't care if he ever gets hit. I'm just telling you, man. Bean dog. That guy means a lot. He does. I agree.

But then, dude, Marsh is such an energy guy. And they needed those kind of guys with Maiton being traded this offseason. They needed the energy guys from the young players. Marsh just seems like such a ball of energy ready to go all the time. Oh, yeah. So, yeah. It's yeah, it's refreshing. It's refreshing. We have a baseball team.

We've got a baseball team. We've got a dog now, too. Oh, I know. Major. That's major. He suffered his first loss. It was tough. It was tough.

But, yeah, 4-1. Pretty good. 4-1. Got the season back on track. If they keep winning at that clip, they're going to be one of the better teams in the history of the sport. Yeah. How about that?

That's what they do under Rob Thompson in the major era. It was a cute dog. It was a cute dog. Yeah, Thompson in the major era. It's a cute dog. It's a cute dog. Yeah, it's a good dog. It's a good pup. Good work. All right, take it back. All right.

I have like two things because we covered everything else so far, and that's good. But, dude, like, all right. I understand JK fed three hits on Saturday. All right. I understand JK had three hits on Saturday. The fact that in the year 2023, a gray-haired man is still coming out to Till I Collapse by Eminem. Dude, that's a middle school 2006 hype song.

It's a great take by you. It's a great take. It's bad vibes. It is a bad vibes vlog. Like, what are you, 12? I mean, are you serious? What a great take. You're still coming out to Till I Collapse?

I really appreciate this. Dude, that was on every middle school like hype up playlist. It's like, yeah, I get it. It's 15 years. 15 years still Till I Collapse? What's next? We ready? Like, come on.

Do you look in the mirror and lose yourself, too? You got one chance. Yeah, I mean, come on, JK. Enough. You're just a big Eminem guy. I get it. I don't know. It's old.

It's just old. It's old. If it was 2006, I'd get it. Well, maybe it matches the fact that he looks like he's 40 when he's 30. He looks like he's 50. He looks older than me. He looks way older than me. Right?

He does. He looks way older than you. Right? He does. He looks way older than me. And I am a decade older than that guy. How old is Jake Cave? He's only 31. He's like 30 or 31, I think. Dude, he's two years older than me? I'm almost positive he's like 30 or 31.

Wow. You want to look it up? Yeah, I'll look it up. Yeah, I'm almost positive. Jake Cave? I got Kevin Phelps right. Let's see if I can go two for two. Jake Cave age.

Yeah, he's 30. I told you. See? Right? I know. Yeah, he's 30. I told you. See? Right? Wow. I know. No wonder he still has the last of his. I know.

This is a walkout song. I know. He is the oldest looking 30-year-old I've ever seen in my life. It's ridiculous, right? Wow. Well, it's funny because I've said this, I'm sure, before, but I really appreciate Nelson Cruz because- He's keeping your hope alive.

He's the only person who has older than me in baseball. And I appreciate those guys. I never wanted Tom Brady to retire. Like, all the old guys keep playing because soon enough there's going to be no one in any of these sports that's older than me. Very soon. Jake Cave, I feel like at least someone looks older than me.

Way older. Way, way, way older. Yes. Well, Cruz, I was watching the Mexico City game yesterday, which is like. My brother went. Really? Got it to Peter. Yeah.

So he's on vacation. They're doing Mexico and Costa Rica. And it just randomly, they were in Mexico. He's like, well, I got to go to the game. Like, yeah, you got to go to the game. I mean, the ball was awesome. The park was amazing. It's like 20,000 people.

He's sending me pictures. It looks awesome. And I guess it's basically like playing Colorado. Yeah. Oh, Coors Field on steroids was the quote that I read. Literally, that was the exact quote. And it was like 16-11 the one night there. Yeah.

Well, dude, it was funny because the over-under, and I thought it was a glitch on Vandal. It was 14 and a half. And I was like, dude, we got hammered the under, you know? And it was like, no, they were right. They went way over. Yeah. But yeah, I had Nelson Cruz at a triple. under, you know? And it was like, no, they were right. They went way over. But yeah, I had Nelson Cruz at a triple. Yeah, you did.

My guy. Everything's going on. Keep doing it, buddy. Keep doing it. By the way, Costa Rica's incredible. Yeah, I'm jealous of Peter and his wife waiting for that one. Anyway. And then my other thing to take back is that, did you notice?

Did you notice in the Mariners series, the start of what is going to be a new massive phenomenon at Citizens Bank Park? Because it was the ninth inning. They had two outs. And what did you start to hear? Rain down from a crowd that was rain-soaked and cold. But Jose chants.

And I'm just saying. from a crowd that was rain-soaked and cold. But Jose chants. Oh. And I'm just saying. I'm just saying. As this thing starts picking up more steam, and as he is now the closer, closer. Yeah, he's the closer. Oh, this is great. As we get full people back at the ballpark.

Oh, this is so good, dude. The whole crowd chanting, Jose, Jose, Jose, Jose. I'm standing on this. This is a standing ovation. It's going to be incredible. I can't wait. I cannot wait. What a, wow. The Mets can have your little Timmy trumpets.

Jose chants, raining down on Zyzzens Bank Park is my new favorite vision. I love this. This is, I couldn't be more in on something. Honestly. Like, there's nothing I'm more in on this world right now than this becoming a thing. What a great call. Well, I've shouted to people at the stadium

that have thought of it before I do. But you know, that's why you're the leader of movement. You let people know that was the right thing to do. Great job, you guys. Now it's a thing. Expound on it. And we all do it. Yes.

Love this. It's going to be great. It's great. Poor Red Sox. They don't know what they're getting in for. Bryce's return and Jose chance. And Jake Cave coming out until I collapse. Done.

It's over. It's sweet. Yep. Dodgers. Dodgers. Great games, buddy. Should be fun for your boy over here. But what are you going to do?

I mean, I think what you should do is you should nap. Yeah. And then you stay up. I'm probably going to sleep during the day and then stay up. Yeah. And then you should go straight to work. Sixers playoff game tonight, not helpful. But, you up. I'm probably going to sleep during the day and then stay up. Yeah. And then just go straight to work. Sixers playoff game tonight, not helpful. But, you know.

I'm going to work it out, buddy. I'm going to figure it out. Yeah. That's what we do. Yeah. So, yeah. Me and Walk will be up late watching it together. Adorable.

Oh, it's so cute. Yeah. So, yeah. Late starts. Dodgers are weird this year. Yeah, they're just not. And they're not the – like, you look at the lineup and you're like, all right. You know, it doesn't –

People are still like, yeah, the Dodgers are great. Watch them. Maybe not, dude. Maybe not. I mean, like, they're starting rotation. Everything, really. It's really, you know, not the Dodgers. It's not like you walk into last year and like you're shocked they

took three or four yeah and could have swept no you're right but it's more like i think they can play with the dodgers like i think the phillies are probably a better roster right now than the dodgers plus a trey turner revenge spot yeah there it is it's true trey turner revenge spot yes trey turner it is wild though harper is traditionally towards the dodgers so yes yeah his first hit in the big leagues there you know had some recent success in l.a yeah but... Yeah, straight to... It is wild, though. Plus, Harper's traditionally towards the Dodgers, so... He has, yeah. His first hit in the big leagues was there. The Phillies have, you know, had some recent success in LA.

Yeah, of course. As in last year. As long as Knievel's not going in. Hector's not pitching, no Knievel, we should be fine. Yep. By the way, you know, Hector was interviewed last night

on the broadcast. Uh-huh. I was like, Hector, stop, man. You're still a Phil. Like, yeah, I know you're wearing the Astro stuff. I did not. Come on. In your heart.

You're looking across the... Yeah, you're still a Phil. Yeah. Of course he is. Every time he's talking, I can still feel like... I feel like the little wandering eye. Yeah, he's still a Phil. Yeah, I like that.

He's been great with them. I know. All he does is get outs. Classic. As long as he's not closing games, he's good. He's great. Always. That's what we always said.

Imagine the four guys we have at the back of the bullpen now and then also have to enter. Can you imagine? Because you know why? That could have happened. But instead, they signed Jairus Familias. Well, listen. Dave gets one a year. He does.

The biggest... Kimball looking okay, dude. Well, that's the worst thing that could have happened so far is that Kimball's great. Oh, I know. It's like, oh, God. And then Dave's like, I'm bad. Hold on. The next six are going to be...

Hold on. What are we giving up for Chris Sale? What are we giving up for Mazda? Bumgarner, get me Mad Bum. Pull him out of the minors and bring him up here. Come on, Mad Bum. You know he wants to. You know he saw him get released.

He's like, oh. You know he turned to Ani. That's a playoff pitcher right there. Let me tell you. That's a big game pitcher. That's a big game pitcher. You know he turned to Ani and was like, what do you think? What do you think? You still got anything left? That's a playoff pitcher right there. That's a big game pitcher. That's a big game pitcher. You know he turned it on.

He was like, what do you think? What do you think? You still got anything left? What do you think? Can we fix that? What do you think? Yeah, check the numbers. Check the numbers.

We've got 1030, all right? Yeah. All right. So Dodgers series. Dodgers. Nice off day on Thursday. We actually did a recording on an off day. I feel like we haven't done that like all year.

Yes. That'll be nice. Relaxing day off. And then Boston. Then Boston. I can't wait. It was a big Boston weekend. Oh yeah, I didn't think about it. Double-double. Look at this. I know. I wanted to do the Philadelphia Tea Party. I didn't think about it. You should do that. Yep, by myself.

Yeah, you should. By yourself. Just walk and dump some tea in the water. Maybe if Embiid wasn't hurt, I'd have more confidence. Yeah, I know. It really does put a pall over the whole thing. It's a shame. But, you know, Bryce, we lose one MVP so that another can return. Yep. See?

Exactly right. All right. You got any final thoughts? No. But I can't wait for the Dodgers series. It's another show me series. I mean, like, the Astros series was show me. Seattle was ish show me.

But, again, the Dodgers aren't great. They're still very good. So, you know, go out and prove how good you are to this fan base. So, by the way, Gregory Soto has given up one hit in his last 36 batters faced. Dude, their bullpen. Is that good? Their bullpen, this is on Friday, I think. But since April 20th, since April 20th, they'd allowed,

they struck out like 24 and 20 innings, I think. Wow. I just love it. It's so weird. So good to see. It's very weird.

You don't hate to see it. All right. They allowed one iron run in that whole time, too. Since April 20th, yes. Let's go. All right. Should be a fun

Dodger series. Red Sox after that. We'll talk to you on Thursday Thursday I feel like I just got something else to say but I don't I got nothing else to say Jack Phil's are back he's for it's himself We'll see you next time.