High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Phillies Lose 2 of 3 In Miami

Episode Date: July 9, 2023

Jack Fritz and James Seltzer discuss the Phillies losing two of three to the Marlins and tonight's MLB Draft. Presented by Miller Lite. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Yo! It is another edition of the High Ops Podcast. What a high it was, Jack, for it's Friday night. Maybe the moment of the season to date. The Christian Pache, like a man, home run. And, you know, the 13-game winning streak, really an amazing accomplishment. You know, one time, other time in the history of the franchise in 76. So, you know, it was a really thrilling night on Friday night.

The most fun night of Phillies baseball. Regular season baseball that I remember in a little while outside of like actually clinching a playoff spot. So it was awesome. And then kind of, you know, petered out the last two. You know, look, it was a great run on the road. They are in really fine shape entering the second half of the season. Annoying way to end the first half,

especially against the team you're trailing. But, you know, amazing night, Friday night. And I'm hanging on to that. How you doing, pal? Me too. And the draft tonight, like the most important thing. Anyway. Right.

It was vintage. i'll say that it was a a it was a nice i think the the nicest part about this weekend which i feel like is a good way to put it is that they're still the phils you know like they're just what nice just when you think you can you can sit back and and they're going to go play good baseball. They're like, hey, hey, hey, we're still here. We're still here. Yep. Yep. So grand scheme of things, not that big of a deal.

Yesterday was annoying. We'll get into Ranger. And today was the most. It was the most day before the all-star break kind of effort. I think I've seen in a while because last year last year they went down to miami and took two or three and they they're and i'm glad they won't wait so the chicago series was on the other side of the break right they came out and lost they came out they came out of the break and got sweat totally yes yes yes

they came out of the break and got sweat yes yes so yes, yes. So, I'm happy they won Friday. I also think it was probably the worst thing that could have happened to them. Because they were just like... That's why they lost the next two, without a doubt. Without a doubt. Like, it was such a high that they just kind of couldn't get back there. Yeah. So, it happened.

It stinks. It is... Again, they lost 2-3 to the Marlins, who are a good team. They just swept the Rays. They've been on an unbelievable run. Just like deep breaths. I think that might be the title of the podcast, deep breaths. Love it.

It's just like it happened. To go in and take 2-3 from the Marlins would have been an upset. They went down. They won Friday night. They didn't get swept. I don't know. It's just like I can't do the whole oh, they lose the game. Here we go. Everything's falling apart again kind of thing.

They've earned our trust from that standpoint. There are some good things to take away from this weekend. Some vintage things to take away from this weekend. But overall, the drafts tonight, not letting the Bills ruin the draft. How could they, the Bills ruin the draft. How could they, buddy?

You're absolutely right. Look, I'm 100% with you. Deep breaths. We've decided we never, this might be the quickest into a podcast that we've just acknowledged and agreed what the title of the podcast is, because absolutely, man. Look, they're seven games above 500.

They've played great baseball since June 1st. They had their best win of the season in a really emotional moment to tie a team record. And then they had a letdown game. And then another, like it happens, especially with the all-star break right on the other side of it, how they come out of the break. And those first couple of weeks, we're going to get them. I think they're going to be fine. And that's going to be weeks we're going to get them, you know, I think they're going to be fine. And that's going to be where, you know, we're going to be able to to feel fine again, or at least the people who don't.

But look, it was also really it was like kind of a long road trip when you just take out that one random home series to, you know, like they're on the road, come home for a weird three game series against the Nationals where they look completely flat the entire thing, except for the two of the three and then the 19 to four obviously sandwich but then you know like then they're back on the road to florida for a tough tough tough six games you know if honestly if we went into the florida stretch saying no matter how you shake it you would take four or six in a second you'd be ecstatic about four of six on that specific Florida trip against these teams the way they had been playing.

So, yeah, deep breaths, man. It's like very frustrating to see them not trip after what felt like, all right, we're about to win 15 straight road games heading into the all-star break. Let's go. But, yeah, I'm right there with you, man. I can't get too worked up. They played great baseball going into the break.

Right. And I think Friday is still one of those moments where it's like, we look back on that at the end of the year and we say, I had so many thoughts of the Phillies video yearbook, obviously. It was set up perfectly for it. Just set up perfectly for it. So yeah, Friday night was one of those moments. it was it was it was set up perfectly for it just set up perfectly for it so um yeah like the friday night was just was was one of those moments and i think that in the grand scheme of things when

we look back at the end of the year like i just don't think that series is ultimately gonna change that much i think like they face jesus lazardo who's just like was stupid today um braxton garrett they actually did a pretty good job against early yesterday but he's been really really good this year i mean the marlins are like it's it sucks it's annoying i hate like i hate garrett cooper with uh uh every fiber of my being he's i i can i just permission to call my shot here sure okay so you know how like for years in the middle two thousands, the Phillies just brought in a bunch of ex Marlins that, that we didn't like. Like, yes,

absolutely. For sure. Nine West. Conine was the very first one that popped in my head, but yes, West Helms. They hate that guy as we've covered. Yes.

Yes. Derek Cooper is going to be a fill at some point. I could very much see that. He's he's raking right now for them. Of course. He'll come here and stink, but he's raking for them they look they they've been great they've been a really good baseball team like in in the grand

scheme of things there's no shame to losing two of three in their ballpark i mean be happy they didn't lose three they were very easily yeah they were a christian pache not just a bat but a christian pache ball that feels like it might have carried more than any ball I've ever like that felt like it was Colorado or something. It felt like it was like, oh, that's like a lazy fly out. And all of a sudden it's like going and guy keeps running and he's looking up and I'm like, what is this actually going to is this going to be a home run? Like it was so unlikely from every moment about it. So unlikely. So, you know, a thrilling win.

People are ripping Murph. People are ripping Murph. They're like, how could you call that as a pop-up? I thought it was a pop-up. We all did. Are you kidding me? Like, there is not a single person watching that who thought that was home run.

Not one. Not one. No way. Thought it was a pop-up. So, yeah. Yeah. I just, I don't know. It's annoying having to give credit to another team

and it feels excuse making ish but this is like one of like i believe me no one's better at that having like a meltdown about the current state of the phil's like i i can get there from zero to 60 real quick um this i just not it's not the time for me it's just it's just not the time you know like i just the marlins are good i hate having to give them credit but they're good and like they It's just not the time for me. It's just not the time. The Marlins are good. I hate having to give them credit, but they're good. The smartest thing I think the Marlins did is they went after a bunch of contact hitters. I think they lead Major League Baseball in opposite field hits.

With that ballpark, given that it's hard to hit home runs there, it makes sense. Like they're a pesky, tough, annoying team. And the thing that I, and I'll be curious what you thought about this. Dude, how in the world is their bullpen era 20th in baseball? It felt like, yeah. Everyone they have come out there is like 96

with like six sink and a white thought slider. Totally. I, they felt like unhittable. I'm right there with you. And, and you're right about the lineup. Like it's the line that just goes out there and puts a bat on the ball and

gets themselves in advantageous situations and is able to take advantage of other teams mistakes when they make them. And that's what happens when you're able to do it. And look, a rise coming in and like, at least shocking thing of, uh, of the entire series is a rise coming in and that spot and getting the big hit pinch hit. And look, Arias coming in, like the least shocking thing of the entire series

is Arias coming in in that spot and getting the big hit pinch hit. Like it's like, of course, of course that was going to happen, you know? So they're pesky and they're annoying. And that's the thing is that for a while, the Marlins have been pesky and annoying just for the Phillies, like just for us.

Now they're just, they're good. Like they're a good baseball team with a lot of young talent and they believe in themselves and they play smart baseball I mean look there were certainly some Phillies moments that you were incredibly frustrating to see like Schwarber not running that ball out all the way and and I think he was safe but like whatever he didn't deserve to be safe he stopped running you know there are so many little things I mean Harper like and we'll get them getting hit and that whole thing. But I mean,

I'm trying to take third there. Like that was just dumb. Like how many times this guy and we love aggressive base running on this pod. Like Bryson Stott, love you, dude. Love what you're doing. Keep doing all you're doing. Like, we love it. Like this guy goes from aggressive to stupid all the fricking time. It's like, and you know, it's because he gets hit and he's frustrated. He wants to do something. It's like, dude, like stop it.

That was a big spot in the game. You know, maybe don't lose that game. Like, so there's so much that, that you can point to over the last two games that were incredibly frustrating because it felt like a team that, you know, kind of after we're in the 13 straight after the past day, Homer kind of just reverted back for a couple of days, but that's baseball and it sucks, but they're going to the Ulster break. Like Jack said, too, it's not like they're going into the playoffs and have to win these games as much as we want them to feel that. Yeah. And I got a quick theory. I got a quick thought on Bryce, uh, with the,

with the base running thing. I'm pretty sure. I'm pretty sure he's jealous of Ellie Dillard Cruz. I like, I think he's just. Oh, I like that. He's like, this guy is so cool. Yeah, I'm going to be a cool guy. I mean, Eli is just unbelievable. I think

the Bryce base running thing, it's just like... Wild, man. There's mostly no need for it and almost always and he's like he he's safe sometimes but he gets thrown out all the freaking time man it's wild he does i don't ever remember philly in my lifetime being thrown out on the base pass more like in my life ever uh victorino i felt like i thrown out a lot sure that's a decent one but like i just the frequency with which

hard burn gets thrown out on it's out of control sounding it's out of control um i mean again sometimes he'll he'll steal your run every once it's just sure it's sometimes this team is no team in baseball i think it's it's funny i even when they win series i'm like they win series i still don't see the opposing team like really doing like when opposing team does dumb stuff to the phillies it's like it stands out i feel like totally meanwhile series the med series was like look at the mets haha yeah meanwhile when the phillies do it and it's like they win series despite it, where it's just like, how do you, why are you, like that's not smart at all.

But whatever, they keep winning and good vibes, baby. That's what the Phillies are. Not fundamental baseball and good vibes. That's Phillies baseball. And they have a 185 hitter hitting lead off yeah who's like the vibes captain him and stubsy is the vibes captains it's a great point though that that really i mean again and then the defense you know trey turner who needs it guy trey turner like seems like he forgets to play shortstop every few games at first today was boom finally you know he's i

was praising him like he's like a vacuum now today was boom. Finally, you know, he's, I was praising him. Like he's like a vacuum now, of course, you know, and then, you know, obviously Schwarber just a train wreck. It was,

you know, obviously I want to see our brother line, but it was nice not see Schwarber in the field day. All right, let's get to some of the moments from thing. Let's start with the Harper thing. Cause you know, I think that it's certainly in the moments,

it felt like the potentially the biggest news, this series and all that, you know, right on the surge of group paired elbow. It like terrific and i saw a lot of people being like why is he just wear padding and you know i kind of agree but it's also like if he feels uncomfortable hitting with it like he's already not hitting the way he wants to keep taking the batting gloves off and on and all that he's clearly not comfortable but um it looks like he's gonna be okay x-rays negative all that stuff.

So I look forward to him missing at least one. Yeah. Three weeks at least. What were your, take me through you in the moment and just your general thoughts about the whole Harper thing there. My thought in the moment, I don't know. I, yeah.

My thought in the moment was, was like never mind it's fine um so like the Bryce thing is definitely I mean he gets hit there it feels like all the time like all the time um I I just I I guess I didn't have the panic that I felt like after he got hit last year. I didn't either. I didn't either. I thought it was, I thought it was more like he's going to miss tomorrow. He's going to like, and, and, but getting the off break and stuff up, we know like he can, we have definitely seen him like massaging things or like, I mean, he did try to steal

third immediately. Yeah, exactly. And it's like, you stay in the game and then obviously came out. It's like, Oh, I'm with you, dude. one in san diego you knew like he was like like you could tell that he knew that he's was absolutely screwed for at least a period of time with that one like this one i agree with you it didn't feel that way it felt like he was like more in shock and nerves and nervous well and i don't and by the way like don't blame him there either he's got a major surgery there he's gotten hit with the bro i don't blame anyone who gets hit by a 90 plus mile per hour pitch you keep i've been like in the fetal position for an hour in

tears if i get hit with one of those pitches but that is the third straight year it's happened genesis cabrera uh blake snell yeah yeah and and now this so uh's a great point. I didn't think about that, Jack. He has a significant every year. Now this one doesn't feel as bad as those but still. Stock got hit today. No one threw it to Marlon, did

they? It's like enough. What are we doing here? I tweeted about it. I'm like enough with our best hit players getting hit on the arm. It's like enough. Do something oh did we have a little old school seltzer yeah wow especially with a lifeless team today a team that didn't seem at any point to really get anything going outside of like the amundo homer and then like a little bit here and there it's like like show some life like nola never would like i did i had no thought that nola would but like soto coming in i thought maybe soto wouldn't you know take a shot or something but i don't know

whatever no didn't happen but that's not the game anymore kim rolls the kim kimbrough kimbrough would have done it for sure yeah kimbrough and alvarado i feel like the only two dudes on this team who i feel oh and i strom i'm surprised strom didn't like i could have seen strom doing it but i guess he didn't so kim, I could have seen Strom doing it, but I guess he didn't. So Kimbrough and Alvarado are the only two I have faith in to do that in that moment. Well, the problem with Kimbrough would have been

that he would have had a pitch clock violation. So he would have gotten it off just late. Just late. He is... It's one of my favorite bits with the current Phillies team is him and the pitch block. Just giving up strikes. He can't figure it out.

He's got to do the arm thing. Yeah, he can't help it. How about Schwarber? We're going to end an inning with a pitch block violation. It's like, guys, come on. So, I know this is going to sound a little let off the hooky. I just don't blame him for not running it yesterday.

I didn't hate it as much as everyone else did, but he definitely did not run. I agree he didn't run. I'm just saying that when a pitcher has it in his glove and you're just barely out of the box, you're not It's human nature. You're obviously frustrated in the moment.

It's just Schwarber is the new like everyone's just got every little thing yeah yeah every little thing he does everyone's gotta rip him for everything and like dude I like and it's and I think with Schwarber like I'm I just I guess I just can separate my frustration with him from like wanting him benched and and he's a bad player and um i know that's like not allowed you know um but i i just think i i need him to go on a hot streak here though to calm it all down because like time and hopefully this all-star break comes at the right time because i just think i think he's banged up with something and i think they all need the all-star break i think it's a perfect time damn with all the road games i mean they played they have the most uh home games of any team in baseball in the second half like they play way more road

games than anyone else so you know if you're looking for optimism i'll give you a little bit there what am i gonna do without the phils until friday oh i know dude you're gonna go crazy well i'll tell you one thing you're gonna do you. You're going to hang out with our, with our people. I'm out sports bar in, in Huntington Valley, coming out with us all courtesy of Miller light. We're all going to watch the all-star game together. Like you'll, you know,

you can make fun of me for how tired I'm going to be. Jack has the week off. So he's going to be in peak happy, chilling Jack mode. So it's going to be great. We're going to all hang out. It's courtesy of Miller light. It's going to be so much fun. So coming out with us, it's going to be the all-star game to all hang out. It's courtesy of Miller light. It's going to be so much fun.

So coming out with us, it's going to be the all-star game. Watch party. We'll go watch the game. You know, you maybe see a little Nick Castellanos action, Craig Kimbrell. Maybe you'll save it out.

Who knows the pitch clap for the all-star game? I assume I hadn't thought about that, but I would assume they use that, right? Yeah. I would have to. I do. Yeah.

That'll be fun. A history being made there again. That'll be thrilling. So yeah. Yeah. I think it's going to be awesome. What would be the funniest thing Rob Thompson could do as the manager? I mean, I forgot about that. That's even better. It's great. I guess all

coaching staff's gone. Yeah, the funniest thing he could do is the manager. Well, it's probably bad if they could find a 200 hitter to bat lead off i think that would be that would be such a good bit oh my god i'm guessing there aren't too many 200 hitting all-stars at the uh at the all-star game um though i guess schwerber was one last year um yeah it's a great question what's the funniest thing well i guess if if the if if k longs take all the braves out after the first inning like they're like there's like six starting or whatever just take them all out after the first inning see i'd appreciate that that would be hilarious

all of philadelphia would would be very grateful for that you know act of hilarity from around yeah i think that's yeah i'm looking's like a million Braves in the game. Oh, get out. I'm looking forward to the topper at the All-Star game. No, it's going to be cool. He's going to do what Rob Thompson does, and that's put on a show. Yeah, well, yeah. It's also, look, for him, that's probably a really neat thing.

I mean, there's a baseball lifer who is, you know, as lifer as it gets with all the levels and all the stuff to be the manager of the All-Star Game. We might not care about the All-Star Game like we used to, but I'm sure for Rob Thompson, that's a pretty cool thing. Hey, fantasy football owners. The road to winning your fantasy football championship starts now. I'm Matt Harmon from Reception Perception. Join me and James Coe as we take a deep dive into the position that's going to make or break your fantasy roster.

Wide receivers. We analyze route running, target share, and into the position that's going to make or break your fantasy roster. Wide receivers. We analyze route running, target share, and all the metrics that matter, giving you the insights you need to draft the best wide receivers. As you prep for your draft, let us give you the coverage you need. Follow and listen to Reception Perception on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. Yeah, but you know what I don't get? You know what I don't get is the MLB All't get is like the lv all-star game is far

and away the best off like it oh by far like they are still trying and there is still it is still mono with pitcher or hitter and like pitchers throwing their best stuff and hitters trying their best against the best pitchers i agree dude like it's just lost its luster like uh like back when you old people are just young, like for starters, like the American league and actually didn't play each other. So with the world star game was like, wow, I get to see,

you know, this guy gets this guy. That's so cool. I never face each other. Like, wow. You know, that kind of stuff.

It was, it was neat. Like from that perspective, like, wow. Roger Clemens against Barry Bonds. Whoa. That's,

that's awesome. You know, that kind of stuff. But then even after that, know i did just i think because everyone gets to see all these guys all the time and we didn't used to see all the players you didn't have like the ticket you know the package and all that whatever it is what it is it's definitely the best all-star game by far and it is it's still fun to watch but yeah it's just yeah i i think the lb all-star game is pretty good theater if you're a baseball fan yeah i agree i agree i'm just saying it's not what it used to be plus i mean who could

forget when nola struck out mookie i mean that's like maybe his maybe his pinnacle moment as a player well he didn't he didn't miss many bats today i mean holy cow i've never i've never seen i've never seen the Marlins look so – I was fearful of some of the Marlins. Oh, my God. I mean, the homer to make it 5-0 was such a tank shot. Was it that one? Yeah.

It was just such a tank shot. Even the one to make it 4-0 was just like a freaking – it looked like Stanton was back in Miami hitting home runs. All right, let's get to it because that, you know, obviously from today and again, coming out with this time out on, on Tuesday night, it's going to be awesome. All right. Yeah, dude. I mean the most Aaron Nola thing of all time has his best start. We said since, you know, either why the,

the Houston game last year or since Boston in 2018, you know, one of the best starts in forever. And then, you know, either the Houston game last year or since Boston in 2018. You know, one of the best starts of forever. And then, you know, he comes out today and it's just like, just didn't have it. They were slapping it around the field off. Yeah. And, you know, he's had a home run problem this year. I mean, it's probably been the biggest problem with him.

He leads Major League Baseball. I knew he was up there, but I guess today he took the league. Congrats, buddy. Always have to be the best. Like high 30s. That's a lot of home runs. baseball i didn't i knew he was up there but i guess today he took the league congrats buddy always have to be the best like close like third high 30s that's a lot of home runs man it's a it's a it's a crap ton of home runs insane amount of home runs like if you you give up more home runs than starts you make really like that's not great dude seems like a problem i i just i have no i think i swear to you james like i just have no idea what to say about aaron nola anymore like i really don't because i like and it's the funniest thing ever because he just had two great starts in a row or uh right yeah he went

braves he was really good against the braves and then he he shut down the race. And he has to be the biggest conundrum of any Philly athlete I've ever seen. No doubt. Because he has value. Aaron Nola has value. He takes the ball every fifth day. He pitches into the sixth inning every single start. He strikes out a top five in Cy Young twice. Top five in Cy Young twice. Like, top five in Cy Young.

Like, that's like, no joke. And then he just does a game like that today. And it's like, there it is. Like, that's Aaron Nola. Like, he just, I just, I keep waiting for that month where he just gets on a roll and wins like five starts. But at this point, it continues to be more wishful thinking. Like he's going to have his good starts. He's had a couple of them in his last,

um, you know, last four or whatever, but then he's going to do that. And it's just gonna, it's just gonna throw the whole kind of conversation off. I mean, again,

third, the sign last year, he was, I mean, 18 was the best pitching season we've had around here in a while. Um, and, and until Wheeler in 21 or whatever yeah i i still i think i liked it might have been better no it might have been better but wheeler was pretty great in 20 he was he was i just thought 18 18 and all it was on might have been might have been might have been um but i i i don't know i i'm always the the part, I guess, is that he's lowering his value.

I was going to say, like, the contract push is just tough. Look, buddy. By the way, I mean, usually in contract years, it's a different result. And this is the exact opposite. This is actually this is actually the most Philly's outcome. Frank, I totally agree with you. I totally couldn't agree more with you. This is so on brand, dude.

It's so on brand. And the key part about the NOLA contract now is obviously the painter thing. Because now we have no idea what we're getting out of Painter. So the NOLA contract. It was good news after, but I thought it was a lock for Tommy John. But he still might need Tommy John. This is not like he's young. Like who knows what they decide to do. They can't let her,

they can't let Nola go. Well, the other point with Nola too, is that like, ideally the best thing for Nola, I think is like what they did with Wheeler last year. I just think, you know, the amount of innings he's put on his arm the last year is particularly pitching deep into, you know, the amount of innings he's put on his arm the last few years, particularly pitching deep into, you know, not deep into November last year, that I think that, you know, he would benefit from like a month off. But when this guy is pitching for a contract, like you can't tell him, like, take a month off.

You know what I mean? Like it's a tough situation there. tough situation there so i think that honestly the smartest thing for the team would be to try and find him at least a few weeks off to give that arm a rest to get it more important for you know a run but you know because if he doesn't i don't know if i think we'll still see flashes but it just feels like he's going to be inconsistent this year like cole like and he's been better than cole in 09 overall but like it still feels like that kind of year we talked about it early in the season we're like we just hope it isn't a colon 09 year and it feels like it's more veering that way than a than a nola year you know yeah but but even no i mean we don't even have to use nola

we can use aaron nola or we don't use hamels we can use nola i mean he did this in 2021 yeah i mean 2021 in the era over four as well. Sure. Yeah. And I don't even know. He pitched deep in, but it also could just be as it wasn't. It was weird in 2020. Different like year and different whatever. Who knows? Well, I mean, 2021 wasn't as bad as 2020, but I don't know. He's just he's so hit or miss right now.

When he's on, he's I mean, the race start again. We talked about it was one of his best starts of his career in my opinion and and then to follow that up and like and what stinks is that he's not riding any of that momentum into the into the uh all-star break like he's not saying like all right there's two good starts like now i can get rolling it was again another step back today and i just i i think it's at this point we just have to not plan on getting the last year Aaron Nola or the very, very good Aaron Nola that we've seen for most of his career. And we can't bank on it. I mean, that's not something we can bank on anymore because he's way too hit or miss.

And it's frustrating. Again, it's much like the Schwarber thing. I mean, maybe people want to play pat patrae every day um but until tarper can play first base he's staying out there and there's nothing they're gonna do about arinola like they can go out and trade for a starter i guess um but he's gonna be taking down the ball every fifth day and and you just have to hope that he turns it around um but man it's just another step back today. Yeah, I agree with you.

I'm definitely concerned about that. I still think they need to add a bat more than an arm at the deadline. But it does make you think about it. Like you said, I mean, you know, if you can't. And look, Noel's going to get the ball. But if you can't trust him, he's going to be the two. You know, you have to hope that Ranger and Taiwan continue to look as good as they have. Obviously, we're going to get the ball, but if you can't trust him, he's going to be the two, you know, you have to hope that Ranger and Taiwan continue to look as good as they have. Obviously we're going to get to Ranger. That's how he's going to get there. But, um, I mean, I don't think

you feel great going into the playoffs with that rotation when you're going up against, you know, potentially like, you know, whether it's like Blake Snell and Musgrove, if they can turn around or, um, you know, whoever, like the, whoever the brewers are going to throw up against you or whoever, you know, and I know Burns hasn't been great this year, but, you know, there, you know, you need you need those those horses to be able to go in those spots. All right. Ranger seemed concerned after yesterday's start or two days ago. Yeah, it just looks flat.

Like all this, all this is yesterday. All this stuff just looks flat. And it's not that he's missing. I mean, this is how he looked when he came back from the injury and was having the warm-up starts before he went on the run, where it's just like no command to either side of the plate. Curveball looks lackluster. And yesterday, there was like five at-bats in a row where I felt like they had the

hitter set up for a change up and he didn't throw it at all. Um, so I, I, I worry, I worry that he's in a, in a bit of that period where he has, he doesn't have a good feel for the change and it's just throwing everything

out of whack because when he has that pitch, I think he's really, really good. Um, and hitters are also doing the smart thing, which is they're making sure that he gets into the strike zone um so they're not chasing out they're they're making sure that he is on the strike zone and even when even when raider tries to expand a little bit

they're not chasing at all because they're they're just gonna wait for him to throw them a strike and then when he throws them a strike they're not missing it they're not missing it. They're not missing it. So I think that, again, you talk about someone that needs the all-star break. He needs it. I'm telling you. He 100% needs it because I think that he came back from the injury. He had a good run. And then now there's a bit of that fatigue. Which we see all the time.

I mean, that's very common. Yeah. So overall. He had a spring training. He just had those three starts with the spring training. fatigue which we see all the time i mean that's very common you know yeah so uh overall out of spring training he just had those three starts with the spring training you know but also there was like some some some not ranger kind of things we saw yesterday like yeah the the window ball yeah the ball in the middle oh and the bunt oh my goodness you're right yeah like that way i mean especially the bunt the window ball in the, but the bunt, it's like he catches that every time.

Every single time. It was his first fielding error in his career. I know. He had a throwing error. It was only his second error. It was his first actual fielding error in his life as a baseball player. It's crazy. So, definitely not. I'm not like panic button-y with him, but

I really, really think he needs that. He needs a little bit of time off here to get rolling back in the right direction. Because everything, and maybe it's a mechanical adjustment they need to make in the bullpen, all his stuff looks like it flattened out. And I don't know.

That seems like a mechanical kind of thing to me. Yeah, I'm not too worried. They've done a really good job with these situations all season long in terms of kind of correcting that stuff and all that. So, look, we'll see. And Ranger historically has had a pretty rubber arm and ability. Yeah, and Ranger also, every year this happens to him,

where there's like a four-start stretch where he's just like, eh, and then he kind of gets rolling again. So maybe we're just in that midsummer lull with Ranger. Yeah, and again, like ultimately someone we trust in big games which is the most important thing when it's going to come to the staff ultimately um all right um anything else from the weekend before we get to take bag and draft stuff and all that um well christian pache i mean just like yeah i mean what a stud obviously yeah just yeah. Just love the guy. And then doubles in the first bat the next night.

Almost looked like it was going to go out. That one, actually, I thought off the bat felt more like a homer than the one on Friday. Dude, he reminds me, and I brought this up when he first started playing well, he reminds me so much of B.J. Upton. Like, same kind of inside-out swing. Great fielder. I mean, inside out swing. Um,

and the older, I mean, BJ, I mean, yeah, BJ was a great, great, I mean,

BJ stars infield or was able to move to the outfield is a great fielder. All that. Yeah, dude. Pache running down. Pache is unbelievable. That,

that dude, that dude covers more ground than anyone. We like Marsh is great at covering ground. Like Pache is better. Different level. Yeah. It's a different level. It's a different level. And different level and he's got like pasha is just terrific have you did you see gary maddox when no i'm not that old okay well i never know i've seen video and stuff but you know

and i tweeted this i think he's the best individual like defensive player i i've seen i mean like freddie comes to mind victorino won a gold glove work was really good obviously work was a smart defender um bobby bray who won a gold glove um but like rowan was was very good here yeah but not pache no no i agree i'm just now freddie i mean freddie obviously freddie galvis was a wizard um j roll is great. But I've also felt like J-Roll just made every single play. You know what I mean?

Like, and everything, every throw was perfect. Pedro Feliz was just a vacuum. Terrific, yeah. At third base. Roland, obviously, we know. But, like, he is a difference maker in center field. Like, an absolute difference maker. And I love, and I'm so,

so there's two things that I'm happy about. One, that Rob Thompson came to the conclusion. And two, that Brandon Marsh was okay with it. Because we know how athletes are and their territory. Yeah, he would let him have center and play. Yeah, yeah, yeah. He lets him have center. And it's like, that's big.

That's just, That's important stuff. And that's teammate stuff. That's camaraderie stuff. And another thing that I loved about Marsh is he was the first one on the field. He still dumped the water on Pache after the walk-off home run. That's a guy that theoretically could be coming to take his job. So it's going to be fascinating like i think they still obviously still need to go trade for a bat in my opinion but if harper can play first like the the pache

marsh center field left field at least defensively dynamic i nothing's gonna fall in i mean you're not mentioning the third gold glove outfielder i mean come on i mean come on yep um i just i i love the kid man and and you see you see his growth uh and his confidence at the plate like he was he was he like fouled a ball off and he was like mad at himself yeah and i think that's when you see a confident hitter. And that's what I believe he's doing right now. He just has a ton of confidence. And again, seeing him play center field defense and then having that home run,

I brought this up on the final out on Friday. Who was the last failed ex-prospect that the Phillies have turned into hitting-wise that they've turned into something. We go back to Victorino. We go back to Worf. It's been forever. That's been so annoying about the last...

Forever. They haven't... They've had at least positive results on two. It's actually both those guys. It's the same model, you know? Pashy ain't even, like we've talked about, I mean, Pashy was a top-ten prospect in baseball, and yes, it was because of the defense first and foremost,

but, like, also because they, everyone believed he had the tools to be a good hitter. He just never been able to put it together there. And, like, Phillies deserve a ton of credit for that. It's, I mean, this could go down as Dombrowski's, like, best trade with the Phillies. If if this guy if i said could if this guy like continues to to develop and turn into like what people thought he could be like it's phenomenal it's a really really amazing move and it's probably the biggest question there's other but but one of the biggest questions heading into the deadline is how much they truly

believe in christian pache and camera because and and it's honestly it's it's it's a lot like a lot of the decisions that they made in the in the 050607 range where they moved on from rowland for victorino they moved on from jeff jenkins for jason worth they moved on from Rowland for Victorino. They moved on from Jeff Jenkins for Jason worth. They moved on from Jim Tomei for Ryan Howard. Like there's, this is, it could be one of those critical decision points where how much do you truly believe in them to where you're maybe not going and investing so much

assets to get another bat because you believe that much in Christian Pache's development. And you believe that the center field left field kind of defensive dynamic adds more um you know adds more value from that standpoint um because like i don't know if those other balls are gonna fall in but it's it's just gonna be really interesting of seeing how much they truly believe in this christian pache at the plate thing because it could affect their whole deadline plan. Yeah, no, it really could. But I mean, like, I think like the thing that affects it first and foremost

is the Harper thing, you know, where it's kind of taken for granted. But I mean, like, he just got hit in the elbow. Who knows when he'll actually be playing in the field? But yeah, look, it certainly could if they believe that he is that far advanced. And look, I don't expect passion to continue to hit three 30 all season or whatever, you know, like, like this is there.

We see this all the time where guys figure it out and then they get adjusted to, and then they struggle again and then they figure it out again or don't or whatever. Um, but yeah, like early results obviously are just unbelievable with passion. All right. Take back in a second. First shout out to the Miller Lite. Bar of the Week. We love Miller Lite.

Miller Lite, of course. Miller Lite fulfills wins. Miller Lite just consistently, you know. Well, they always perform, James. I was about to say, when you think of Miller Lite, you think of good Phillies baseball. You think of wins. You think of turning seasons around.

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So check them out. Miller Lite Bar of the Week. All right, Fritzy, let's get to the take bag, my friend. And again, I'll set it up, and he'll mention it again, I'm sure. But don't forget the draft. Jack will be on while I am fast asleep, excited to find out what happened and listen to Jack on the way in. But Jack will be up with you guys talking after the draft

for the draft sickos like him. He's going to be there for you. All right, take back. Painter thing was kind of – I don't really know what to do with the painter thing um i have no idea all i'll say is we're not seeing him this season i think we can feel super confident about that maybe september wow well i mean but if we'll see we'll see how big this is the setback is but if it's showing healing then like what are we doing here you know i mean

i like it i like it so we'll see um again there's there's so many interesting factors heading into the deadline i mean three off the top of my head painter harper at first and pache's development it's a great point great well and nola you know you do all that um nick abel and uh johnson crawford of the Futures game. Dude, Nick Abel looked nasty. Nasty. So that was exciting. I wonder if other teams take notice.

But either way, Fastball is 99. 99, buddy. He didn't even throw his slider. And I think that's his best pitch. I mean, he did, but he didn't throw as much as i think he could uh and justin crawford he uh i mean he looks pretty confident to play like he very clearly knows how to at least put the bat on the baseball and then we'll see from there if it's like home runs doubles or if he's just going to be a single sitter but regardless i thought the fact that he didn't look overmatched, I thought was good for an 18-year-old.

He's facing like 97 from the left side. And again, he has all the physical ability in the world. If he could start lifting the ball, the frame, the whole thing, there's a ton of upside in that kid. Yep. Dude, he's playing better. He's hitting some home runs. I just, I just, I'm so disappointed in Trey.

Like, I'm just, I'm just disappointed. Like, he's in the defense again. Like, it's like every once in a while, just start like, you know, obviously we know about the offensive slumps, but it feels like he keeps reverting back to this where he's like fielding balls cleanly and booting things and all that, man.

It's very strange. And it's almost, unless he's hitting a home run, it feels like there's no hard contact. Oh, it's just like the weak singles, like the little single right, single right center, you know, whatever. And last year, I still believed in Cassianos, the offensive player. I just, I don't in Cassianos, the offensive player.

I just, I don't know if I'm there with Trey. I really, like I just. It's a very uplifting thing to hear. Well, it's just, it just doesn't look. I mean, he doesn't look as bad as Cassie looked last year for what it's worth. Cassie chased it way more. Yeah, I agree with you. Cassie looked lost to the play.

Trey doesn't look lost. He just looks like more feeble than he used to. Yeah. It's really the feebleness for me, I agree. He looked lost to play. Trey doesn't look lost. He just looks like more feeble than he used to. Yeah. It's really the feebleness for me. I think I got it. Trust me. Remember how feeble Nick was too. When he put the ball on the bat,

it was the similar type of contact. Yeah. I just, at least Trey's hitting home runs. You remember Nick decided not to do that for like months at a time or whatever. So, well now he's an all-star.

So exactly. So I'm saying don't give up on our guy yet. Not giving up on Trey at all. to do that for like months at a time or whatever so well now he's an all-star so no exactly so i'm saying don't give up on our guy yet not giving up on right i like that look i'm i'm disappointed too like there's no question that first you know obviously we know it's a little more than half but the halfway you know the all-star break first half of this season of his philly's career has been a massive disappointment there's no other way to spin it yeah um i gotta be honest the alvarado thing feels like what they did last year where it was just like we're we got an extended time off right now and we'll see after two series i gotta i don't think it's a massive cause for concern i think it's just like he hasn't looked he hasn't looked quite the same since

coming back from that first you know hiatus injury that he had like he hasn't he's the same since coming back from that first, you know, hiatus injury that he had. Like he hasn't, he's been fine, but he's not been, you know, when he got hurt, he was the best reliever in baseball. He looked absolutely unhittable. Like we didn't see that guy as much when he came back.

He had moments, but certainly not, you know, certainly not the same guy. Yeah. Um, I, yeah,

I, I, I just think that this is one of those times to, to get them right and get them healthy. What if I told you that there was a player in AAA that over his last 28 games was batting 330 with an OPS over 1,000 that can play second, short, third, center field?

All right, there you go. I'm with this. I think we... So Scott King has been good, huh? He's also the 11th highest paid player on the team. He's been good, huh? So I've not been following Scotty at all. I feel like no one's been following Scott King.

I had no clue. 330 with an OPS over 1,000. Great numbers. I mean, those are phenomenal numbers. In his last 28 games. Joe Clu. 330 with an OPS over 1,000. Great numbers. I mean, those are phenomenal numbers. In his last 28 games. And my biggest, another one of the key decision points they are going to have to have

is how much do we value the good clubhouse and vibes guys like a Josh Harrison, where it's like, maybe Scott Cary is a better option. But does Josh Harrison... I don't think any phillies fan you know is going to be sad if josh harrison is i know but he's like a great dude seems like it jay and i think everyone loves him and he he made some sick plays the third in the game like a couple weeks ago yeah he has he has some flashes he has some

moments where like oh there's that guy i mean he wasn't really good he's had a great career like for for his talent level and his abilities like he's really had a really nice career but you know just looks old out there man he just looks like he didn't have it anymore for the majority of the time at least and there's there's a hundred percent of part of me that is is starting to dream about a scott kingery like what a story it would be right dude it would be a great story there's no doubt it would be a great story get jet packs back man get jet packs back up here now they would have to create a 40-man spot for him but regardless it's not that hard i don't think um so i never i i guess i've just noticed this last like maybe because i'm a dad now and i'm uh approaching 30 and maybe i've just matured a little bit

oh that's probably what it is but do you find it like do you find it as funny as i do that we as a baseball community encourage managers to go like it like verbally assault umpires like it's such a fun like if that was any other job you'd be like talking to hr and and the fact that like dude david ross came out today and was like, you bleep and suck. And it's just like, what is this? Any of this stuff, if you translate it to, you know, again, the fact that the manager wears a uniform is so weird. Like that's such a weird thing that all of them. And I, dude, I love watching. Like, what are we doing?

I love watching managers get thrown out. They're so mean to umpires. And umpires are just supposed to sit there and take it. And it's just like, when did this become a thing? In a place of work, yeah. It's so funny. Good day. It's the only way I watch ejections now.

Imagine this happening anywhere else and it getting cheered you know what i mean um speaking of another thought i had like that like when the 1888 team was was when or 18 night whatever was winning anything was 12 straight road games like were they traveling on train yeah no they were traveling like down the street probably like it was like who were they playing or like a bus a quick like if they had to go an hour if they had to go play st louis or whatever i mean that would take them days yeah there was no buses in 1888 oh yeah you yeah. You're right. 1888, there were no buses. I mean, no buses.

There was definitely like, yeah, carriages. But trains had to be around, right? Trains were definitely around. Trains were 100% around. So you'd take trains. I'm just thinking for like local stuff, you know? How early were cars? This is showing our... Was the first car the Model T?

No, that was the first mass-produced car. When was the first car the model t no that was the first mass-produced car when was the first car yeah 1871 1866 ah so there were so maybe there were buses in 1888 no way dude let's find out when was the first bus this is riveting podcasting right here this is good steam back so the 20th century like the 1930s that's too early 1878 first city to city automobile race was in 1878 so that's all right maybe i'll maybe i give the 1888 fails more credit but yeah they were busing around buddy early buses maybe no they're probably training and if they were training like there's no way they could have a three-game series and then get on a train to wherever and they're there the next day like he probably had to have what like three days off in between i don't know i don't know three days for a train ride i mean i

guess so like st louis i mean it wouldn't take that long to get to St. Louis. It's probably a day maybe. It takes a day to get to Florida. I don't know which is that much further. Like to get to like the bottom of Florida, it's probably pretty close in distance. I don't know. Geography is definitely not my thing. So I'm not going to pretend to now. Right. What else you got?

What else you got? It's a good hypothetical. I'm happy you brought it to the table. I'm sure there are listeners out here listening who absolutely know the correct answer to this stuff and are like yelling at their... You morons! I agree with you.

We're morons. We know that. Thank you. There is a special place in my heart over the weekend for all the reactions to Segura. You know? I'm usually not

one for like, alright, we get it. It was cool, man. I actually wonder if some of the Marlins players were like, alright. Enough already, guys. Come on. Clearly. Clearly was beloved here. And and it was just it was it was cool seeing everyone get really happy.

I even liked like, you know, seeing Eflin and Segura in the same week, I thought was fun. And even like when you get out, he'd be messing with player like guys. And I don't know. I just I thought it was cool. Man, he was the best he just did it reaffirm what we always said that the players on the team said that he was like the best teammate and like everyone's excited to see him and that's why he's the best teammate because he creates relationships and he remembers people and he cares about people and all that stuff like um yeah it was neat to see yeah um and that's pretty much it. Draft tonight.

Let's go. Chase Davis. You are our... Chase Davis. So what time? Set up the timing for people. What time does the draft start? If you had to guess what time... The cover starts at 6, but I'm pretty sure it really starts at 7.

Okay. And I would think the Phillies will... You'll probably be coming on around 10 or something like that, maybe. I would think the Phillies are around on around like 10 or something like that. Maybe I would think the Phillies are around 930 town. And Chase Davis keeps getting mocked to the Phillies. It keeps being like this is 100 percent Chase Davis's floor. We think he's probably going to go higher, but he will not get back. Don't get your hopes up too much.

I am really trying not to. I am really, really trying not to get my hopes up. It won't happen. But if it does, it'll be a thrill. And other than that, like a lot of buzz towards Charlie Soto, who I like. But and they've had a really good run of success with developing high school arms. He reminds me of he has a couple of comps for me. a really good run of success with developing high school arms. He reminds me of...

He has a couple comps for me. He has... He reminds me a little bit of Tim Hudson. He has a little bit of Cranky without the command and a little bit of Yordano Ventura. Nice.

That's good. So, I'm going to be Ventura. Nice. That's good. Yeah. You're done on guard. I'm going to be watching the draft on pins and needles and I cannot freaking wait and I will hop on here and talk for as long as I want because Seltzer will be asleep.

You're damn right, pal. You're going to be asleep very soon. Okay. Deep breaths. Deep breaths. Deep breaths. Deep breaths. Chase Davis or someone Jack's happy about. Let's give Jack a win here.

And coming out Tuesday night, 7 o'clock, all-star game at timeout in Huntington Valley. Until then, he's dressed himself.