High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Phillies GM Preston Mattingly Joins The Pod To Preview Offseason!

Episode Date: November 4, 2025

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz are joined by Phillies General Manager Preston Mattingly to get his thoughts on the World Series, the Phils' playoff exit and what he expects from some of the franchise's top prospects in 2026. Presented by Miller Lite To purchase Ring The Bell by Jack Fritz and Kevin Reavy go to RingTheBellBook.com 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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This is the High Hope's podcast. Hi Hope! On the Odyssey app and Sports Radio 94 WIP. I feel a little less along. I can't tell the broken nose. Oh, I hope. High hope.

I feel a little less along. Yo. Oh. He's talking. Make sure. Make it clean for you. Yo. God damn.

You should put this in. Yo. Hold on. That was perfect timing. Sorry. I'll mess up this time. Please don't. All right.

Yo. No, now I missed on. Just off. Let's go. Let's do it. Yo, it is another edition of the I hope's podcast.

I tried to do a real yo this time. You guys talk. I hope Tucker puts that in at the end or something. You will hear the attempts. It was worth it because we had our freaking guy, the best friend of the podcast, Preston Matt. Leon Jack what I can't believe this guy comes and talks to us it's really it's it's he's too

good for this podcast well yeah I mean listen we're just too uh do slapies slapy we are slapies that is a good way to put us yeah you know care a little too much talking to the general manager of the team yeah yeah yeah just care a little too much about the team a little I like uh projecting like how many times you watch the other I know projecting my sad are you are you as sad as I is imagine if imagine if it was just you and I talking about for the end of the end of season press conference yeah we're the we're the media hey dave you look at me hey dave what what did you just say hold up dave we're not leaving this brys arbor thing do you want to correct what you just said right there and rephrase please rewrite but yeah no

press is the best so it was the best all right and i i i you know how i i talk about quarterbacks having pocket awareness oh yeah you know they feel the blind side rush coming mm-hmm when I started asking too many prospect questions. Oh, he was on it. Yeah. I felt, no, I felt you.

I felt you. It was like the edge rusher coming around the corner being like, I wrap it up, big dog. Yeah. And I could have kept going. Oh, buddy,

we know. I didn't even ask about Alex McFarland. I know. And it was on your list. It was on the sheet. Did you have to look who Alex McFarland was? No, I just figured I'd find out when you in Breast and talked about it.

Yeah. Now, you've brought up Alex McFarland before. I do pay attention when you talk, you know, sometimes. He means a lot to me. And I think that he could, I think it'd really help this team next year out of the bullpen.

There's a lot of guys that they could help the team out. Well, we talked about some of those guys. And that was an exciting answer. It was. It was actually one of the things. I was driving in the day thinking about, you know, what I wanted to ask him. And I was like, it's a little nerdy asking about bullpen. Oh, it's a lot nerdy.

But I really, but also you see some of the names that adopted out. And if they wanted to go crazy and for whatever reason, give Robert Suarez money or, I mean, I mean, Edwin to pitch the eighth would be. would be insane if they wanted to do stuff like this. So they could theoretically build a super bullpen if they so chose. So I was curious of the do you go for one of the big name arms already did the build it with them.

Well, he was the one who brought it up, which is he was noticeable. When you're like, what are you doing? He's like lengthen the bullpen. Like that was a clear. Yeah. So I thought that was fascinating. Anyway, we should let people hear that.

Yeah. We don't need to recap. We talk about every answer he said or we can just give you the answers themselves. I'm still pretty geeked about it. There it is. Listen, here's President Mattingley. And it is our pleasure to welcome back to the podcast. I was going to say friend of the pod. Can we say best friend of the pod? Our number one recurring guest, the general manager of the Philadelphia Phillies, Mr. Preston, Maddenley. Preston, what up, pal? Thanks for having me, guys. I think we need to do this like maybe a weekly type thing.

Oh, buddy. Don't you, you see this guy right next to me right here. Be careful about what you said. Yeah, I didn't know that he's obviously very busy with Eagle stuff, so I didn't know how busy he would be and be able. Well, it is trade deadline. You're right. He's very locked in right now. He's perusing other teams' rosters, really breaking it down. Look at practice squad guys. Yeah. No, yeah, I just want to let you know. I didn't move off my couch for 10 minutes after their loss. So like, why don't we just tone it down a little bit, okay? We're all trying to do our best. We're all trying to get over. I'm trying to move fast. I don't need you trouble about the Eagles right now. We're all putting on a brave face and moving forward. He's doing fine. He's doing. let's start how about this before we start with the Phillies we'll start with pain for someone else sadly uh quickly about your dad i mean we got to mention it uh you know 40 years plus in the sport finally gets a chance to go the world series now was a part of arguably the greatest world series of all time game seven the best game i think i've ever seen in my life sports period uh but you know came out on the wrong end i'm sure you've talked to your dad what was the experience like for your dad and and obviously uh how's he dealing with it with it a tough, tough loss. Yeah, I think he's bummed. I mean, you know, obviously you get that close to winning the World Series. You feel like it kind of gets snatched from you.

It's obviously very tough. And it was tough for me even just watching this game for him. But, I mean, even like, you know, like he's told me before when you pour your heart into something, you spend his whole life in the game. And when you do that and you really invest in something, it's going to break your heart if it doesn't go your way. And obviously, very tough series. A great series for baseball, but, you know, obviously tough on his end. but happy he got there

and obviously he'd had a tremendous baseball career like obviously I'm pretty biased but in my opinion he's a Hall of Famer I was on the committee here that just got released but I think he's a Hall of Fame level player and honestly if it wasn't my dad I'd say the same he's a tremendous person he treats everybody with respect

it's been great for the game and I was hoping he could pull one out there but obviously you know Dodgers made a lot of plays and came out on top yeah Dom I mean I don't think people go back and look at the 80s and Don Mattingly Like literally one of the best players in the sport for a decade and for a few years, the best player in baseball. So I'm with you, Mattingly, an all-time baseball guy.

And that game seven, you can count on one hand. The amount of baseball games are as good as that. I think, I think one finger. I actually think, like I've thought about this a lot. I thought 91 when I saw Jack Morris throw 10 innings as a 10-year-old, I was like, well, I'll never see anything better than that. Luis Gonzalez off Mo, like 97, Edgar Rintere. I have these games in there. 2016, the weird rain delay, but still the Cubs way.

And the whole thing, I actually think that that game seven of this world series is the single best baseball game I've ever watched. I really do. Yeah. I mean, I have to have been watching for too long, but I couldn't agree with you guys more. And there's just so many quality players on the field, too, both sides. You know, I think that you see that many plays being made on both sides, that many kind of swings of momentum and, you know, shifting back and forth. it was it was uh riveting for sure if the phillies ever playing a game like that and come out on the losing end oh my god i wouldn't recover yeah i don't think i'd be here we might end the pod

i think it would be the up high hopes is done yeah yeah yeah yeah good time guys thanks it was a good run it was a good run it was all professional sports then i mean honestly all sports are built to to break your heart and uh you know obviously we talked about my dad but it's like in general like you people pour so much time and in in money and into watching their teams and spending time with their families while doing it. And you know, you get so invested in the players in the city. And I think when it doesn't turn out your way, it's just, it's heartbreaking. Totally, man.

Especially baseball. It's just a bigger investment time-wise than any other sport. That's a game designed to break your heart. That's what it is. What kind of stuck out to you, though, like from a team building perspective, kind of watching the rest of the playoffs, obviously after, you know, the fills were eliminated and watching this World Series, even the ALCS and LCS, what kind of stuck out to you as to what those teams were doing and maybe something you can implement with this team.

Yeah, I think it always comes back to pitching. You take the Dodgers, for example. I think we stack up right there with anybody in baseball from a starting pitching standpoint. So when you're able to throw quality starting pitching out there every single day, I think you're going to have a really good chance to win. And then from an offensive standpoint, like ability to control the strike zone, make a ton of contact. And then I think when you do, do damage, that's kind of what these teams do in the playoffs.

the Blue Jays did that really well, ability to control the zone, have players that with position versatility, able to control the zone, put good at bats on good starting pitching, and then, you know, have some superstar level players like Flaggarero Jr.

and George Springer are able to kind of carry you from that boba shit. Do you think we're starting to see a bit of a shift in baseball, especially what you were just talking about with the high kind, I mean, look, it's been the three true outcomes for a long stretch of baseball now where it's like, you know, obviously there's other stuff,

but teams play for it. they play for the homers and an on base percentage. If you strike out, you strike out, there's Blue Jays team, the complete opposite, the way they went about it. Do you think, and look,

starting pitching too, you know, with the Dodgers, with the Phillies, I think we're seeing teams, you know, focus on pitchers going deeper in games and stuff like that. Do you think that's representative of where baseball is heading?

Or do you think that's kind of an anomaly for, for just this season? I think the really quality teams can move the baseball forward. I think if you, if you're the goal is to build a roster of guys who can, probably do both, can slug in, you know, make a ton of contact. But I think with pitching being as good as it is, I don't think it's going away. I think organizations are going to continue to search in the draft and the international market in my league free agency for

players who can move the ball forward and put the ball in play. So I think that contact's kind of always been king. And I don't think that's going anywhere with the quality of pitching that's in the league. Yeah, it kind of feels like we're getting, teams are looking for baseball players. Like obviously you have superstars, right? I mean, the, the, the, the, the unique superstars to win a title and you know the the payrolls do matter but it seems like the the things that's helping these teams win ball games is pure baseball players let the ball and play play good defense ernie clements just like it's it's it's actually refreshing it was a refreshing watch at the at the towards the end of the postseason of these teams that are just

consistently putting the bat on the ball and also just running the base as well doing the little things right like baseball that's what we're looking for is baseball players playing baseball yeah I think, you know, like you mentioned, like the baseball player, I think position versatility in the league is, is becoming bigger than ever. The ability to move guys around the field, whether it's play, you know, the infield, move to the outfield. I think the Blue Jays had a bunch of those guys. The Dodgers have, you know, I think four or five of those guys as well.

It just gives you position versatility. It gives you flexibility with your roster. It kind of supports you from an injury standpoint. When guys go down, you can shift guys around the field. And I think, like, the good baseball player, I think that's usually the guy that to me has gone to college in the past. I think nowadays those players are getting drafted in the top of the draft or the middle rounds of the draft to where you're getting them in pro baseball sooner and they're

able to kind of grow throughout your system and then become one of your own guys. All right. Let's segue to the fills. I think we're good on World Series talk. Quickly, just off the top, I mean, we haven't spoken you since the end of this season. You know, obviously I think for all of us is very unsatisfying. of this season. But, you know, you guys played the Dodgers as well as anyone along with the Blue Jays.

How do you in the front office look at the past season from a, you know, obviously you want to win the World Series and that's it. But do you take the way you played the Dodgers as a positive? Do you look at it that way or is it just the way it ended is failure and we've got to kind of find a way to get over the home? Yeah. I mean, like anytime we lose, I take it very hard and it's been a rough last month. I think as an organization where we're at,

I think anything less than what in the World Series, we would qualify it as a failure. That's not saying that we didn't do some good things along the way. Obviously, winning the division for the second straight year, winning 96 games. All that stuff's great, but I think, you know, organizations built to win championships. And obviously, we came up short this year.

It was disappointing. We lost to a quality team, but I felt like, you know, going into that series that, you know, we had just as good a team as them. And, you know, honestly, they made a few more plays than we did. They got a few more big hits, and they came out on top. That's not to say I wouldn't take our guys. That's not to say we can't get better because we're going to.

But I think we feel like we have a good base and a foundation, but ultimately we have to get better to get over the hump and win that World Series. What do you think is the number one thing that, you know, this group, this team has to improve on this offseason in order to get over the hump? You know, it's a tough question. I think, you know, I think we feel really good about our quality starting pitching. So I think, you know, obviously add to that mix, you can never have enough of it.

Maybe lengthen the bullpen. I think I had a few more arms out there to have, you know, more pieces able to go to throughout the season and in the playoffs, higher leverage. And then I think, you know, lengthen the lineup. I think, you know, we've had guys at the top that have, you know, been superstar level players. And I think it's time for, you know,

some of the guys at the bottom to take a step forward and kind of take that next step to be in the quality, not that they're not already quality major league players, but be, you know, that upper level major league player. and contribute up in the, when it comes time most in the playoffs. I'm really curious about what you mentioned there about the bullpen. And because I do think that there are some arms in the, you know, that are coming through the pipeline.

We'll break them down later. That could help as soon as next year. Is that something you view as something that you can fill internally? Or is that where you go outside the organization and maybe bring in another power righty to get the ball to Duran? on. I think both. I think we feel good about our system. We got guys coming, but I think we're also going to look outside the organization, whether that's, you know, free agency or also via trade. I think we're always looking to improve. I think we've definitely looked at that as an area where we can add more, more depth there. Andrew Walters. Obviously, I know that, you know, you've got some big time free agent decisions coming up with your own players. You've got, you know, the Swarber decision, the Ranger decision, J.T. Harrison Bader. But all. Also, there's a group that's been together for, you know, four years of playoff run now and some of the guys longer.

How do you kind of balance the chemistry that this team has had, that how close they've come to getting it done, you know, that made the playoffs four years in a row have been there and, you know, a few plays this way, that way. How do you balance that verse what a lot of fans feel there's a need for a change up? There's a need for some sort of new chemistry there or new type of players in the line up or whatever to kind of that it's kind of the same. game old and that they need different guys there. How do you balance those two things? And philosophically, how do you look at, you know, how long you keep a group together? When do you need new blood?

How does that work? How do you think about that philosophy? Yeah, it's a great question. Obviously, we love, you mentioned a bunch of free agents. We are very high on all those guys and like to have them back. Yeah, I think it's tough. I think you've got to balance like, you know, long-term sustainability of an organization of keeping guys together versus going outside the organization with the free agency and signing guys

at like a maybe have a longer term in their contract we can get guys for stay here a little bit longer can look at that but i also think a lot of our change is going to come from within i think you know it's you know we've as an organization we've spent the last three years kind of building our system up trying to get guys you know through the system and we're starting to get there right you know you know we can talk about these guys in more detail but you need Justin crawford and aiden miller and Painter and Gabriel Rinconis, like, I think we have to break in young players to our major league roster. And I think they're quality major league players.

This isn't like just bringing anybody up. I think they'll fit in great with our group. And so I think a lot of change can come internal as well. Perfect segue to what I wanted to ask next, because potentially if you do bring back guys like JT and Schwerber three, four year, five year deals, whatever it ends up being in those situations, you are looking at a situation where whether it's with Harper and Turner and Nola and those two guys. You have the chance for a large portion of the core to be kind of aging together in their mid-30s and later in the case of Harper and Turner and whatnot.

And then you talk about the young guys coming up, how do you balance that? Because if you're talking about having these guys, they're mid-30s to late. They're like that's a win now situation. Like we need, but you're talking about bringing Aiden Miller up potentially at 21, 22, right? Like painters 20 can be 23, 24, Justin Crawford, that age you. I mean, it's young. They're young guys. How do you balance the need to win now and this kind of veteran group with trying to infuse,

youth and trying to like lengthen that window if you bring back and have this kind of core of players who are aging my I mean why can't we do both right like why can't we have guys that are in like you know when now moments or parts of their career and then also introduce young players who can who can grow with them and I think some of the veteran guys we obviously love our clubhouse and what they what they brought there with Schorber and harper and Turner and the group and I think it's a good environment to bring young players into so I think you know I think you know having those guys there it helps our young players to to introduce them.

Why is Rob Thompson the right guy to continue to lead this team, not only to the playoffs, hopefully, but through the playoffs and to hopefully win a World Series? I think he's shown throughout the years. He's very steady, a good calming presence to our group. I think our players, you know, spoke very clearly and loudly that Rob, that we felt like Rob was a guy that, you know, could get us to where we want to get to. That's obviously winning the World Series.

and I think he's done a lot of good. And I know the fans only, you know, see, you know, a few moments of the season and nitpick. And I understand that. That's part of the job. But he does a lot behind the scenes to help, you know, our clubhouse, our coaching staff, develop our players. So I think we really feel like we continue to grow with him and our players. And why was it important to create the new role for Mike Kalitri? And kind of what is the front office looking for from the eventual bench coach?

to go next to Topper. Yeah, I think it's a role that other teams have already been using. So we had it on our mind a couple years prior. So we thought of it as a way, Cal was doing a lot of Calitri, Mike Kalitri was doing a lot of the scheduling and spring training,

a lot of the stuff already, kind of the field coordinator duties. So we thought it would be best served for him to kind of take over that responsibility and then give Topper a guy to kind of lean on throughout the game. So I think you ask what they're going to be doing. I think a lot of strategy will go into this. So I think a lot of leaning on, you know,

bouncing stuff back and forth, ability to help in the clubhouse with different guys in different situations. Obviously, David mentioned a guy that, you know, we thought we'd like a guy with some managerial experience potentially. Somebody just to help guide, you know, kind of guide and, you know, take our staff to a new level. All right. Got to ask the question. There's been some consternation with the fan base with the Bryce Harper situation with the question. Obviously, Dave Dembrowski, the answer in the press conference, and then Bryce reaching out the athletic and, you know, saying he's hurting all that stuff. I understand it's a tough question, but just your thoughts on Bryce Harper right now with the Philism where you're at. Yeah, we love Bryce Harper.

I think Dave's kind of said it in a couple different press conference, and I'll let that stand on that. But obviously, Bryce has been a tremendous player for, you know, throughout his career and with the Philadelphia Phillies, and we expect that continue going forward. one of the things that Scott Boris I guess has come out and been said about is getting protection for Bryce in the lineup what do you kind of think about that

do you think it's making a little bit out of nothing or is that something that we're going to take into account this offseason? Yeah I think we're always looking to improve right I think it's definitely something we've earmarked is getting protection for a lot of our guys we're pretty left-handed as Tom said in the post-game press conference

so just look at a different options, different avenues to improve our club, whether it's a right-handed bat. Yeah, just another guy that can hit in the middle of our order. I want to bring up another free agent. We haven't talked about Schwerber and J.T. But I want to talk about Harrison Bader because he is someone who obviously came over the trade deadline and played the best he's ever played in his career while he was here. He was a superstar here in Philadelphia for a couple months before getting hurt.

And I honestly believe if he doesn't get hurt, I really truly believe the Phillies win that series, but it's kind of a hard guy to evaluate in the sense that he's been a nice player. He's a phenomenal defender his whole career, but it was a career 750 OPS guy, a career 247 hitter. He comes here. He's bat in like 340. He's got like 900 OPS or a thousand of whatever it was here. How do you evaluate a guy like that where, you know, for a large portion of their career, they've been this, but I know that they've talked about changes to the like batting changes

that he's made and there are tangible reasons you can grab on. to, but it is weighing a half a season with you, with us, versus the rest of the career somewhere else. But that half a season is so magical here. How do you guys kind of balance that? Yeah, it's a good question. Obviously, he was tremendous when he came over with us. Some of the changes he made, I think it's pretty clear. Like he was getting the ball in the air to the pool side. I mean, he always has had power. I think he's tapping into that now, getting the ball in the air. Always been a quality defender. So I think like we look at everything, whether that's you know, his sample size with us, which was pretty small,

his career, you know, what he's done throughout there. And then also we have a ton of metrics internally that we can view and see, like, some things that he, the changes he's made and how we think he'll move going forward. But obviously, he starts with a very high floor with just the defense that he plays, and it's at a premium position. So the energy he brought to our club, I think when we made the trade, we knew we were giving up a lot.

And now, people won't know this yet, but maybe Jack will. Jeremy Valoria is a really talented arm. We trade a 16-year-old arm. We traded out of Dominican, and we gave up a lot for him, but we thought he was the piece that could put us over the top. So we were willing to make that trade. And obviously, he played great for us. It just didn't work out in the end.

But, you know, we have a ton of metrics we look at, and we'll continue to evaluate those and try to make a decision here in the offseason. Can imagine trade 16 years old? Your guys, I've said this before. I've said it to Barber. Like, the fact that you guys have to look at like 16-year-old kids and project what they're going to be a decade from that, like, is it's so hard. Always so freaking impressed by it.

Go ahead, Jack. I just, I had to say that. How many times have you watched the two-two pitch to Alex call from Chris Sanchez? I mean, how many times? You know, you're talking to the right guy here. I've been a pretty big proponent of not just ABS, but full ABS. And not just because of that call.

Tell Jack, Preston, tell Jack. All right. We have had this battle before. You and I, same page, my friend. Yes. I just think, you know, and I, look, I'm open to conversations about it. I think my stance has been just from the standpoint, it's so hard to hit.

Pitchers are so good. I actually think the full ABS would help hit it. And it would give guys a consistent strike zone where they know a strikes to strike. And yeah, there would be a little bit, a few pitches that guys are going to gripe about. But I think once a hitter, like the hitters are so good as well. And once they know the strike zone,

it's the same every single day. I think it helps them ability to control the strike zone even better. So that's my stance. Not saying I'm right, just these umpires to your point to the human eye can't catch that speed and the way the ball moves and exactly where it goes over the plate like it's just an impossible job they're asking to these guys

yeah jack's a big tuck rule supporter I know I knew it is you know human hair it's just like all right sometimes pitchers have to earn pitches in my opinion and I don't like the idea of a guy missing a spot by six inches and it getting it getting rewarded so I don't know I mean there's there's I I like the three challenges thing

I think it's going to add a lot of interesting strategy. I think it's going to be fascinating. I agree. And like the teammates, if a guy blows on in the third inning, they're going to be like, what are you doing? We're going to use that for later. So I'm pretty excited. I like this spring training.

I don't know about full ABS, but in spring training, at least it was cool. And if it goes back and overturns the two-two pitch to Alex Ball. Which it would have. I'm all for it. Yeah, I think fans will enjoy it too, honestly, when they haven't seen it yet.

It's like fans get into it a little bit during the games. And they put it up on the big board. And it's almost like the tennis, like US Open style where they kind of zoom it in. And, you know, fans get the little chant going. So it's been fun. Is what seems like it's going to happen in, in 2027, playing any effect into team building for this year? For listeners who might not know what you're talking about, the potential of labor strife, of a potential lock, got to strike, whatever, like that the deals up.

there has been a lot of wondering and questioning whether there will be a season to start in 2027. I know you're not going to comment comment on that specific thing. But to Jack's point, we've seen a lot of theories that like maybe teams aren't going to give out huge contracts because of it or this or that or whatever. You want to be on the hook for something if there's no baseball, whatever. Have you guys, do you guys factor the potential of that in into your forecasting and your planning?

We've heard some of that, but I think our organization, we're not, we're not a factoring. that in. I think it's so much unknown. I think we're just going to build our team as if, you know, it's just normal kind of status quo. So we haven't factored that in at all, but it's definitely worth conversation, I understand. That makes me happy. Yeah, me too. That makes me happy.

Can we talk about the minor league guys? Yeah, I think we're there. Come on. All right. All right. So we got the sad stuff out of the way. Let's talk a little positive. All right. Dante Noree. I'm checking the AFL. He has two hits. Like,

I mean, has he made real adjustments that it seemed like, it seems like everyone's sleeping on him. And it actually is starting to make me mad, Preston, because all he did for three months at the end of the year was hit and reached AA in his first full season professional baseball. Where are we at on Dante Noritz? Yeah, I mean, like Dante's the guy that we thought very highly of and took him where we took him in the draft.

Just such a high floor player with skills that we really value, a guy that can control the zone and elite clip, make contact an elite clip. He's going to be an above average base runner, above average defender. And I think it's just if the power comes, you're looking at a premium player. And I think we think there's way more power in there than he's shown. So, yeah, we're very high on him. Obviously, we're thrilled with what he's done this year in the fall league in his first full season.

I think people, you know, lose sight of, I think, honestly, why he doesn't get the credit that you're talking about Jack is because his size, right? He's a smaller guy. If he was six foot two, everybody would talk about him. Yeah. You know, or if different organizations took him, everybody would talk about him. But I think, you know, his skill set is such a high floor. And it's something that teams value throughout the league. And we're really happy with his progress.

It's so tough to do what he did coming from a Michigan high school, cold weather. And to put up the numbers he did and the leagues he did, I'm really proud of him. But knowing Dante, he's in the fall league, he's grinding. and he'll come after he's done the dead period he'll be down in Clearwater starting in January and he's ready to turn the page and have a big year next year so you know I think they can sleep everybody can sleep on him but we're definitely not no no and also just like watch south relic like he's a good valuable player so anyway but is he someone so crawford big questions about sticking in center field seems like he's going to be more of a corner guy

is is nor is someone that can just plug and play center field Yeah, I mean, we think we, you know, like, you know, I hate to say plug and play, but, you know, we think he's got a chance to be an above average center fielder. You know, I think Justin, I think as an organization, people have questioned that outside. I think we still think Justin could be an above ever center fielder. And I think people want to judge players at 20, 21 years old when they're playing at levels that, you know, really no other players are playing at. So we think he's going to grow and get a lot better. Justin's still growing into his body. I mean, every time he comes back every year, he's 15 pounds heavier.

it wouldn't shock me if he's 205 pounds in spring training this year and he's still going to look like he could add another 40 and that's just the body he has he's been blessed with great jeans so yeah I think we think you know Dante and Justin can play above every center field yeah and Justin Crawford barring something crazy will be on the team next year I know we've talked a lot about Justin Crawford and I know that he's pretty well known in in fan circles but I guess just a summary

what are Phillies fans getting in Justin Crawford when he eventually comes up here? Yeah, you're getting an elite athlete with elite speed and ability to make a ton of contact. I think right now it's been very well documented, like there's a lot of balls on the ground, which I think with his speed is going to be better than most. I still think there's line drive and home run power in there. To me, it's all about just the angle he hits the ball. And it's still, he's hitting balls at, you know, 1-10 off the bat. it's not like he's one of these guys

that can't hit it hard. Justin can hit the ball hard and you've seen when he hits the ball in the year he's able to hit it out. So I think there's going to be, it's a dynamic player speed, athleticism and when he hits the ball in the gaps it's going to be really fun to watch. He brings a ton of energy

and it's just a different dynamic to a club. You know, it's been funny. I think like we started him in low A's first full year. He goes out and does, you know, has a great year. His team there was the Clearwater team. We've kind of dominated the minor leagues before we moved everybody up we moved him to jersey for a short while their team does nothing but win and he's a big part of that um we put him in double a and we've had a really

tough time with kind of as we built our organization like having success the minor leagues not that hey we have to win at every level I'm just more putting that Justin crawford's been a winner his whole life and he's been a big part of why these teams win you put him in triple a last year before we got moving a ton of guys up and they had the best record in minor league baseball I just think this guy does a lot to help your team win and whether it's defense whether it's the speed whether it's the contact aspect of it yeah I mean I can't say enough about Justin

this is at 21 years old right so I know we want the perfect player to come up and never chase a pitch and never hit a ball on the ground that hit every ball of the pool side in the air I just think it's not reality right the guys that come up in the big leagues a lot of young kids struggle early on and I think you know Justin's got a

a very high, very good skill set to have success at the major league level. But it's not to say there's not more development still to come. So, yeah, we're very high on Justin. And, yeah, can't wait for Philly fans to see him. And then there's Aden. So what I find interesting about his year is so he's really like, you know, it was kind of cold for a good portion. That of the underlying stuff seemed fine.

And then August just goes nuts. And it seems like he could be a factor on the 2016. I mean, how close do you view Aidan Miller from being able to come up and help this ball club? Yeah, I think the really good ones come quick. And I think he falls into that bucket. I think, honestly, people don't talk about the year he had. I mean, he took a maybe got a full grade better at shortstop. He went from probably a 50 runner to maybe a 70 runner.

I mean, it's credit to the kid, honestly. If you would have told me that, you know, coming out of the draft after seeing him and his first kind of few months out, and I was PD director that, that Aiden Miller was going to steal 50 plus bases and he'd be a 70 runner, I probably would have laughed at you. But, I mean, it's a credit to the kid that he did a ton of speed work this offseason, worked a ton with Adam Everett, and in Luke Merton, Edward Gonzalez on the hitting side. And the kids kind of turned himself into a, like he's kind of flipped the profile. he's now like a guy that can play shortstop could potentially steal 30 to 40 bases in the major leagues while also having the power like you know a guy that can hit 25 to 30 home runs and play a premium position

um yeah i don't think people give him enough credit for the year he had um getting to triple a doing what he did there i think people forget he's 21 years old again like but i think that uh yeah aden's got a very bright future and and honestly if he impacted the big league club whenever you if he kind of takes that next step it wouldn't surprise me how are the draft picks throwing i mean like you know i've heard some buzz about about brian walters oh yeah it's buzz yeah we're a little excited your sources we're a little excited about brian walters uh you know gave craig i'm ready to get a jersey obviously you know gage wood two first names i watched treya savage and said that's got to be gage so you know how oh yeah could gauge pitch in the world series come on i'm in i'm in anything you

could tell us about how some of the draft picks are throwing. Yeah, we're really excited about them. Obviously, with the way the draft falls now, we don't really get to see a lot of them come out and pitch right away. But they've been down there. All of our guys from the draft last year, and a lot of our prospects are down there. Been training in Clearwater since mid-October. They'll go through that through the dead period. All I can say is, you know, we invested a ton of picks in our pitching group for the first time in a while. And I think, you know, I'm going to to have got to be careful what I say. I think guys are going to come out and be really excited with the arms we got.

I think it's, you know, Gage at the top with Kate Obermuller. You mentioned even some reliever type arm in Gabe Craig, Matthew Fisher in the seventh round. I just think like Cody Balker, Sean Youngerman, even guys down the line that I think have a chance to be good. You mentioned Walters. Yeah, we're really excited about our pitching group, but I don't want to say too much because I want them to go out and prove it.

and let them speak for themselves. Yeah, well, let us get excited. Yeah, we'll get excited on the outside. He's beaming right now. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And then I guess final one on most of the prospect question. I know, I know. So.

I got one more Philly's question. I know. So, you know, Dave mentioned at the end of season press conference about auto camp and the idea of him being an everyday player. What kind of gives you the confidence that he can be an everyday player? And how do you play through a broken kneecap or whatever? the hell it's like a hockey player or something like that does that what a beast yeah i mean auto great story he's a self-made kid big time worker one of the toughest players i've ever been

around um and the knee wasn't the only injury he was dealing with he was dealing with multiple things i don't think philly fans really got to see the true auto camp i think it's got a chance to be top of the scale power um he's got some position i mean like i don't say 80 but like he's got a chance to be a a guy that hits 20 home run 25 home runs in the major leagues Um, he's got some versatility. I think, you know, from a defensive standpoint, he wasn't able to move the way he honestly could move in the minor league. So I kind of felt bad for him that, that he was playing some positions in like his

range was so limited due to the injuries. Um, yeah, we're very high on him. We think he can impact the club. Obviously, he's destroyed left-handed pitching throughout his career. Um, and we think there's enough, you know, a bat taker in there to hold his own versus righties and do real damage. Yeah, he just feels like a ball plan. Yeah, he's ball playing.

Yeah. All right, two more. Jack's baseball players. That's right. Look for more baseball players. Yeah, just sign baseball players, Preston. This isn't that hard. Just go get guys who play the sport.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Two more. One, Philly's one not. I'll start with the knot. I know you're huge basketball guy. Used to play, all that. Have you gotten a chance to watch VJ Edgecom at all? And any thoughts on this new kind of young star athlete in Philly?

Well, first sixers are back. Yeah, buddy. How about it? They're young. They're athletic. I got the chance to meet VJ at the stadium. Oh, you took me one step off. I was like, if you hadn't to watch him, you're like, I met him, actually.

Yeah, yeah. So it's happened to the medium, great kid. And when you watch him play, I don't want to throw some cops out there, but there's some real bounce in there, the ability to attack the rim. I mean, Max, he's playing at like an elite level. Joel looks like he's getting healthy. I think this team's got a chance to do real damage. East feels down to me too. It does.

It is. All the injuries, Tatum and Halliburton and all that stuff. Yeah, I think the Sixers got to get. Now, Paul George has got to come back healthy. Yeah,

and B's got to keep trending in the right way. But I like the team, man. They're young. They're fun. And we got McCain coming back tonight, I think. I know.

He's logged in on Sixers. This is great. Let's turn it down a little bit. Let's stop being locked in on the Sexers. We got a ball glove to. Helm, I mean, I do like the use and energy they're bringing. Yeah, it's fun to watch. And look, it's a good time in the city.

It's good for everyone. All right, last one. And look, I don't think it's really our listeners as much, but they're definitely fans who after, you know, four straight, you know, kind of decreasing length in how they finish the season, there's some fans who are down right now with the Phil's and obviously the way the season ended. I want to give you a chance to speak to those people and tell them. why they should be excited and get back in because next year is going to be honest.

Yeah, I think we've got a good core group coming back. I think, you know, as an organization, we're always looking to improve our club, and we will do that this offseason. And I think we have an influx of young players coming that are really excited to watch. So I think Philly Baseball is in a really good spot. I know we haven't finished the way us as an organization or the fans want. I think, but, you know, as an organization, we're not going to stop until we get that world series.

So I would tell fans that, you know, still. with us. We're going to keep building this thing the right way. And we got a lot of exciting young players to come and to build with. Tell you what. There's nothing like having some some homegrown kids come up and inject some youthful energy and some life into a ball club. And I can't wait. I can't wait for the eventual those guys coming up. Look, the only World Series Jack and I have won in our lifetime was one that way. They added to something. It was one because of Chase Sutley and Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins and Pat Bro and all these guys, Brett Myers, Cole Hamels, the whole thing.

Like, they were all homegrown guys. Like, that's how we won our world series in our lifetime. So, and since then, it's been until now, really, that the affiliates have done and put so much into and cared so much about drafting and developing. And we're, I mean, I'm freaking thrilled so far with what you guys been doing. So definitely keep it up. Look, I think fans, too, they understand like when you get the young players, they play with a different energy.

And I think you get more invested in them because you see the way they play the game. And it feels like you can grow. them where when you get the free agent and those guys are great players too but just you feel more invest in your own guys totally and i think as an organization i can just speak to this like like obviously it's been very public of like the lack of draft capital we've had um but i think as an organization we're just getting started we're trying to build a monster here and i think we're going to keep trying to do that obviously we've made a ton of trades to to supplement our major league club and we're going to keep doing that as well to try and win because that's the ultimate goal but we're

going to build this thing the right way and we're going to get a ton of players we're going to develop them and you're going to see home run players. As fans know, it takes time. Yeah. Listen, I'm going to build a monster. Let's go. I'm as upset about the complex this year as you are. I would love that to be in the first round.

But it is what it is. You know, we take a fourth round and we take it. Last thing for me, Andrew Painter. I mean, obviously last year, you know, it was good getting him through the season healthy. But I guess this off season, what do you kind of heard or talk to Andrew Painter about and how we look and heading into 20.

sex. Yeah, obviously from a performance standpoint, wasn't what Andrew or anybody, you know, what he's capable of. Honestly, we were thrilled for him to get the innings he got to give a good baseline under his, on his belt. But when you kind of, like the part of me kind of looks at this and says, okay, this elite, in my opinion, elite prospect, elite player, coming back from injury, hadn't pitched in two years, doesn't have the year he wants to have. You know, people talk about him being in the major leagues. That didn't happen. I'm kind of excited that like Andrew Painter has a chip on his shoulder this off season. It's like, hey, some people are writing me off. And I know that I know the kids, so I know he's going to go work. And I think we're going to be

really excited with what we come out of this, come next spring training and next season, because he's still an elite pitcher. He's still an elite talent. He's elite makeup, elite worker. And Philly fans are going to love him. And I actually kind of like it. He's going to have a little chip on his shoulder that hey you know i'm not going to name the other prospects that people are saying are better than him but we'll have to see yeah yeah listen he's got to he's got a face adversity at some point and just saw you savage go and pitching the world series i'm sure that was motivation too watching a 22 year old kid his age in the world series i mean how could it not be you know looking forward no question about it me too ah awesome all right we'll let you go we've

taken apart too much of your time way too much of your time we will definitely have you back on is now you are the best friend of the pod but uh seriously can't tell you how much we appreciate the time pressing thank you so much yeah thanks for having me all right awesome that was phenomenal dude you were great i think you like if i'm a fan you answered questions the way i want to hear got i thought your answer on the failure i thought that was freaking per like put like write it on the wall and have everyone say that like that was fucking perfect yeah i appreciate it yeah i like look at i'm not the one doing these press conferences and i get it but look it sucks you like you win i i i mean i i got to get better at controlling my emotions and you know but losing's tough

you spend your whole you know whole year and years like building this team and it doesn't turn out the way you want it's just like it's just like a crash ending right you know well that was the word so unsatisfying it was just like it's over like that you know totally yeah it feels like you're even like you're losing four like you win that game you're just like okay we're gonna we're to win this game five like you never kind of feel like you're out of it even more down two oh you kind of lose two 50 50 toss up games where hey we didn't make the plays they did um but yeah it's just really frustrating because i feel like we had the the team to win it all yeah what were you uh in the in the booth when they bunted when stott bunted were you

uh were you happy with that or are you freaking out i i freak out at every place i was like you fucking i know jack when i sat by myself and the bleachers, by the way, for the final couple of it. He left us. He left. We were all hanging out, like me, Spike, I call and Jack just leaves. Yeah, yeah. Like, where are you? No, it's, I mean, the loneliest place in the ballpark,

he said. They're just such a swing of emotions in that game. All those games, really, right? In game one, you know, we got the big hit from JT. We're up three nothing. Bader just misses a Homer, honestly. It could have been four nothing. We thought it was gone in the park. We were like, sure it was gone. Sosa just misses

a ball. It's just like, and then obviously, you know, Strom comes in with a couple guys on, gets the first two guys, gets to two strikes, and just makes a bad pitch, right? Tay Oscar's a dangerous hitter and got one out over and did what he does. But you feel like you're in every game and they're just such a big swing.

And even game two, it's like kind of down the whole game. You get to the ninth, you get a couple runs. And it's just like, okay, here we go. We're in this. Like, we're going to win this thing. And it just gets ripped out from under you. You know, it's tough. You know this.

Yeah, we know. Yeah. well onward and upward onward and upward we appreciate the time man seriously really so i'm sure jack will be reaching out to have you back after you guys make the moves you make and whatnot yeah let me know i'm ready it's like we got to do like the once a month pot this is good we can get you ready for you know the press conferences down the road this is yeah there we go that was the goal listen we're warming you up pal that's right that's the plan yeah just you know don't say the star player is not elite anymore and you know we won't have a whole cluster it'll be okay yeah

on times oh good time all right all right say man thank you see you guys hey brother yeah well that was pretty cool of course yeah yeah thank you again pressing yeah yeah for lowering your standards to come on this podcast we genuinely appreciate it all right you got anything else dude so the world's there's pretty crazy good point we talked about a bit with president i said it there i i really i think it was the best baseball can have ever seen my life game seven yeah well and what made me the most happy so all right let's we're sad that the blue jays lost you know the dodgers won you know i'm bummed at least i know you're you know dodgers fan and all that but no i switched okay good yeah well i because i got to the point

where i think it was better for baseball at toronto kept it close okay because if they if the dodgers just went out there and bludgeon them i think that the 27 lockout is much more because then then there's a big case of look this isn't even fair now i think that reaction will happen if they sign Kyle Tucker this offseason or Bobachette. Yeah. I think then people are going to because you look at the Dodgers lineup

and with like it's it's not an unbelievable lineup. I mean there was times this postseason where they were horrible. The guy who got their biggest hit, you know, was freaking Miguel Rojas. Sure. Sure. And they've been shut down a lot. And you look at Freeman. You look at Mooky. They only bad what, 2 or 3,

204 in the World Series or something like that, you know, so. Kike, I can't do this forever, right? I mean, you would think. You would think. So they do have, they do have the possibility of a lineup that is on the decline. Are you trying to say the Dodgers aren't going to be that good? Is that where we're going on? No, I think that, well, this is all predicated.

I'm saying this, saying I think the lineup could be on the verge of like not being that great anymore. With, with Freeman getting older and Mookie, I think Mookie is mostly done offensively. Okay. I do. Okay. And, but then if they just go injected with Kyle Tucker. Well, exactly. And Boba Shett, like, or both are one of them.

And then, then that's when I start getting into it again. The World Series odds for next year. I believe they are plus 340. Not bad. Not bad. It's like, wow. So, yeah, but it was an amazing game. I, full disclosure, well,

a little tired, fell asleep in the eighth. A sight of feeling, because normally you're tweeting nonstop and you weren't tweeting the way you normally were. Yeah. So I fell asleep, woke up right before the Will Smith. Oh, wow. Yeah. I'm like, that's cool, you know, and, and so I'm close it out.

Wow. You ever, you wake up, I'm not a big nap guy. I know you're a big nap guy. I have to be. I'm a choice. And I'm actually going to take one as soon as we're done with this. I knew you were. But I feel like when I wake up from anything that's not my usual sleep, I'm just, so nothing

really computes. Oh, totally. So I know I went to bed and the Dodgers were down. For some reason, that didn't really register how they tied up. And then obviously the Will Smith home run and watched the end of the game. That was great. But didn't know how. everything happened.

So you know Miguel Rojas is the star of the game. I woke up the next morning. I'm going to talk about Miguel Rojas. And I was like, this is in 2020. This is where he killed the Phillies. And I had to, I rewatch it.

And it was ridiculous. And what Yamamoto did was insane. 96 pitches and then pitching two and two thirds. The next day, that's nuts. Yeah. Pretty unheard of. Pretty amazing.

Three wins in the World Series. How about Will Smith catching every inning of the World Series? I know. The dude caught every inning of the World Series and hit the big home run. I know. really they are they're winners man yeah they've credit we're due you got it they bought it but they're they're winners yeah well and joe davis said it i did find it annoying joe davis on the call so i thought that was a bit of uh i it it did feel like he got way more excited for the

dodgers than the blue jays route like it was just very clear that the guy is the dodgers announcer like could we could we maybe have an um bias announcer i don't know you know to beat the the beat the champs he got to knock him out uh he you know he's been cooking oh yeah that one waiting. This is like Jim, Jim Nance. Simon says Arizona wins the national day.

Yeah, it's always got a thing ready. You don't remember the Simon says from Miles Simon? What is that reference? That's in the 90s? Yeah, Miles Simon.

When Arizona won the national, because I was trying to. It was the worst. It was the worst of the gym nancesism. Shout out to Jim Nance, friend of the show. It's good to see him. Hasn't resigned yet.

Yet, yet. He, yeah, when, because Miles Simon, you remember, you're too young.

Miles Simon on that Arizona team with Khalid. Oh, his name, Clint. no anyway big old swing i'd no idea anyway they were awesome they won the national championship and miles salmon the best around the team says simon says it was so bad i hate clearly like planned ahead of time i don't like what announcers try to do too much i don't like

when they plan in the line like i just you know just just just say what what you feel in the moment don't plan the line don't plan the line i agree so but yeah it was a uh a great world series it was i love the now the ratings are a little different how they check them now well and the canada thing and all that. It's hard to... So it was good to see in the numbers and 50% higher. Yeah, it's good to crush basketball. I'll take that. But all this is great and baseball...

And the lockout and no... Of course. Dude, it would be... So again, we talked about this once in a recent pod somewhat, but what 94 did to baseball and how angry people were with the sport and all that. Like, this is... Baseball's good again.

I know. Like, the pitch clock has changed everything. People who I have not talked baseball with in years are excited about baseball. baseball again. Dude, baseball cards are back. It would be the worst. The worst thing that could possibly happen to the sport, which based on the history of the sport means get ready for a lockout. Kids, kids care about baseball again. You know, baseball loves to do everything they can to force people not to root for the worst. That's great. The worst. So one more year of baseball. That's what we get.

Enjoy it. Enjoy it. Enjoy that last Dodgers championship. It's going to be really fun. Well, I did start thinking about how nice it would be to have a free summer. you know you're already spinning them yeah yeah yeah and go on vacation see your family it's great so yeah no but uh great world series look forward to phillies being there next year and if harrison beta i knew you're going to do this yeah if harrison bader was healthy who knows maybe the phyllis would have been there as well this year come on man on that note everything's fine it was it was really tough going back through the series with bresden real quick like i just you know, got sad all over again, yeah, stuff.

I wanted to ask a Kirkland question. I was like, I can't even. I don't have anything to, you know, what are you going to say? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, you all feel really sad. Yeah. All right. All right. Well, thank you to Preston.

And again, it really is a thrill having him on. And if he wants to do it monthly, guess what? We'll do it. We got time. We're in. We'll definitely have them on again soon. So we'll be back. I'm sure next week was something.

I'm sure there's something exciting, pre-agency opening up. We do have to start, you know, perfect golf. season that's true perfect off season that's coming soon so we'll get on that and then uh go from there the the cold winter is coming winter's coming man frozen done and then it'll be march before we know march 26 305 the rangers let's go why do they keep opening with the rangers i don't know it's really weird 2014 2023 and really weird it's really weird it's ridiculous why you got me buddy there's no there's no connection will zach wheeler be pitching that game no i don't think so either Sanji.

First of, I don't want to rush them back. I don't want to see until mid-May. I don't either. I was based off they said they might be ready. No need to rush them. All right. No need to rush him.

I feel good. I'm going to go nap now. All right. Until then, he's friends himself. What's up? It's Draymond Green. I'm back for my 14th NBA season and my podcast of Draymond Green show is back to.

This season, I'm breaking down games, reacting to the biggest NBA stories and sitting down with teammates, rivals, and culture shapers. And trust me, I'm not holding back. On the court or on the Mike. Two new episodes every week. New segments, big conversations, real basketball talk for the real hoop heads. Listen to and follow the Draymond Green Show wherever you get your podcast. We're back,

we're better. Let's get it.