High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Phillies Offseason Preview With GM Preston Mattingly!

Episode Date: November 4, 2025

Philadelphia Phillies general manager Preston Mattingly joins the High Hopes podcast to give his thoughts on the World Series, the Phils' quick playoff exit, Bryce Harper and what he expects from the team'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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We're better. Let's get it. This is the High Hopes podcast. 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. I feel a little less along.

Yo. Oh. He's talking. Make sure. Make it clean for you. Yo. God damn. You got to.

You should put this in. Yo. Hold on. That was perfect timing. Sorry, I'll mess you up this time. 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, adding Leon. Jack, 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. 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, 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, I know, projecting my sad. Are you as sad as I am? Imagine if, imagine if it was just you and I talking to Nebraska for the end of the end of season press conference yeah we're the we're the media hey Dave what what did you just say hey Dave what did you just say hold up Dave we're not leaving this Bryce 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's the best and I I I you know how

I talk about quarterbacks having pocket awareness oh yeah you know they feel the blind side rush coming. 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 of being like, I wrap it up, big dog. And I could have kept going. And 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 Brex and talked about it. 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 you'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 actually one of the things. I was driving in the day thinking about, you know, what I wanted to ask them. 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 him? Well, he was the one who brought it up, which is 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 can talk about every answer. He said or we could just give you the answers themselves. I'm still pretty geeked about it. There it is. Listen, here's President Mattingly. 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?

One of them. 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 what he's obviously very busy. with Eagles 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 it practice squad guys yeah no yeah press just let you know I didn't move off my couch for 10 minutes after they lost 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 and 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 let let's start how about this before we start are with the Phillies. We'll start with pain for someone else, sadly. Quickly about your dad. I mean, we got to mention it. You know, 40 years plus in the sport, finally gets a chance to go to the World Series. Now, it 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. 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 obviously, how's he dealing with 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, you know, happy he got there. And obviously, he's had a tremendous baseball career. Like, obviously, I'm pretty biased, but in my opinion, he's a Hall of Famer. I was going to 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, you know, 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. 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 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, Eggarenta really, I have these games in there at 2016, the weird rain delay, but still it comes way. the whole thing. I actually think that Game 7 of this World Series

is the single best baseball game I've ever watched. I really do. Yeah. I mean, I have been watching for too long, but I couldn't agree with you guys more. I mean, 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 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 broke 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, NLCS, what kind of stuck out to you as to what those teams were doing and maybe something you could 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 con.

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 and they play for the homers. And on base percentage, and 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 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 and, 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 the teams are looking for baseball players. Like obviously you have superstars, right? I mean, you need superstars a title. And, you know, the payrolls do matter. But it seems like the things that's helping these teams win ball games

is pure baseball players. Put the ball on play. Play good defense. Ernie Clements. Just like 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 that the, with their baseball player, I think position versatility in the league 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 is 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 Phil's. 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 a very unsatisfying end of the 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. Yeah, 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. to. But, you know, I think we feel like we have a good base and a foundation, but ultimately we have to get better and, you know, to get over the hump and win that World Series. What do you think is the number one thing that, you know, this, 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 another guy, 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, it's time for, you know, some of the guys at the bottom to take a step forward and, and kind of take that next step to be in the quality, you know, not that 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 feel internally? Or is that where you go outside the organization and maybe bring in another power righty to get the ball to Duran?

Yeah, 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 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 also there's a group that's been together for, you know, four years of players. off run now and some of the guys longer. How do you kind of balance the chemistry that this team has had, how close they've come to getting it done, you know, they 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 changeup? There's a need for some sort of new chemistry there or new type of players in

the lineup or whatever to kind of, that it's kind of the same 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 philosophic yeah it's a great question um obviously we love you know you mentioned a bunch of free agents we are very high on all those guys and like to have them back um yeah i think it's tough i think you you've got to balance like you know long term sustainability of of an organization of keeping guys together versus going outside the the organization with the free agency and signing guys that like a, maybe have a longer term in their contract. We can get guys for stay here a little bit longer. You 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 Aidan Miller and Andrew Painter and Gabriel Rinconus. 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, like 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.

Like, that's a win-now situation. Like we need, but you're talking about bringing Aiden and Miller up potentially at 21, 22, right? Like painters, 20 can be 23, 24. Justin Crawford, that age, you mean, that'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? I mean, why can't we do both, right? Like, why can't we have guys that are in, like, you know, win now moments of their, or parts of their career and then also introduce young players who can grow with them. And I think some of the veteran guys, we obviously love our clubhouse and 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 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, you know, throughout the years. He's very steady, a good, 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, 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. But so we we thought of it as a way Cal is 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 serve for him to kind of take over that responsibility.

And then give Tomper 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 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 in a couple

different press conference and I'll let that stand on that. But obviously, Bryce has been a tremendous player throughout his career and with the Philadelphia Phillies. And we expect that continue going forward. One of the things that, you know, 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 off season? Yeah, I think we're always looking to improve, right? I think, you know, it's definitely something we've earmarked is, you know,

getting protection for a lot of our guys. We're pretty left-handed, as Tom said in the post-game press conference. So, you know, just look at 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 much about. We talked about Schwerber and JT. 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 he was a career 750 OPS guy, a career 247 hitter. He comes here. He's bat in like 340. He's got like that 900 OPS or 1,000 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.

And 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 pull side. I mean, he always just 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 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 tried a 16-year-old arm. We traded out of the 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 and make a decision here in the offseason can imagine trade 16 years old you're your guys j i've said this before i've said it to barbara 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 then like is it's so hard and i'm always so freaking impressed by it go ahead jack i just i had to say that how many times have you watched the two to pitch to

alex call from chris 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 strike. the 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 the ability to control the strike zone even better so that's my stance not saying i'm right but just these umpires to your point that to the you and i can't catch that speed and the way the ball moves and exactly what 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 was, you know, human hair, you know. 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, getting rewarded. So I don't know. I mean, there's, there's, I like the three challenges thing. I think he's going to add a lot of interesting strategy next year. I think it's going to be fascinating. I agree.

And like the teammates, if a guy blows on the third inning, they're going to be like, what are you doing? Like, we're going to use that for later. So I'm, I'm pretty excited for. 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 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 a great question for this year for listeners who might not know what you're talking about the potential of labor strife of a potential lockout a 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 into your forecasting and your planning we've heard some of that but i think our organization we're not we're not uh factoring that in i think it's so much unknown um 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 you know 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 Norrie.

I return my check in the AFL. He has two hits. Like, I mean, has he made real adjustments? 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 double A in his first full season. in professional baseball. Where are we at on Dante Norris?

Yeah, I mean, like Dante's a 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, an elite clip, make contact an elite clip. We think 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 that he's shown. So, yeah, we're very high on him. Obviously, we're thrilled with what he's done this year and 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 and but knowing dante he's in the fall league he's grinding he'll come after he's done the dead period he'll be down in clear water 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 Raelic. 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 Norris someone that can just plug and play center field? Yeah, I mean, we think

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. And 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. 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 genes.

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 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, inability 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 a 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

110 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 air 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 who kind of dominated the minor leagues before we moved everybody up we move him to Jersey for a short while their team does nothing but win and he's a big part of that 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 in 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 he 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 that's defense whether at 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 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. And then there's

Aiden. So, so what I find interesting about, about his year is so he's really like, you know, it was kind of cold for, for a good portion. And then the underlying stuff seemed fine. And then August just goes nuts. And it, it seems like he could be a factor on the, on the 2016. I mean, how close do you view Aidan Miller from being able to come up and, and help this ball club? Yeah, I think the really good one. 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 a credit to the kid honestly I if you would have told me that

you know coming out of the draft after after seeing him and his first kind of a few months out and I was PD director that Jut 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. Yeah, I don't think people give him enough credit for the year he had, getting to AAA doing what he did there. I think people forget he's 21 years old again. But I think that, yeah, Aidan's got a very bright future. 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 Brian Walters. Oh, yeah, you heard some buzz. Yeah, we're a little excited. We're a little excited about Brian Walters. You know, Gabe Craig, I'm ready to get a jersey. Obviously, you know, Gage Wood. Two first names.

I watched Trey Osevage and said that's got to be Gage. So, you know, how. Oh, yeah, Gage 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, you know, a lot of our prospects are down there. I've been training in Clearwater since, you know, mid-October. go through that through the dead period all i can say is um you know so we invested a ton of picks in in our pitching group uh for the first time in a while and i think you know i'm going to got to be

careful what i say i think guys are going to come out and be really excited with the arms we got um i think it's you know gauge and at the top with with uh kate obermuller um you mentioned even some reliever type arm and gave craig uh 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 then 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 AutoCamp 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? What the hell? It's like a hockey player or something like that does that. What a beast? I mean, Otto, great story. He's a self-made kid, big-time worker, one of the toughest players I've ever been around.

And the knee wasn't the only injury he was dealing with. He was doing 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. He's got some position. I mean, I don't say 80, but he's got a chance to be a guy that hits 20 home run, 25 home runs in the major leagues.

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 he was playing some positions and like his range was so limited due to the injuries. Yeah, we're very high. on him. We think he can impact the club. Obviously, he's destroyed left-handed pitching

throughout his career. 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 player. Baseball player. Yeah, yeah. All right. He's one of Jack's baseball players. That's right. Look for more baseball players.

Yeah, yeah. Just sign baseball players, Preston. This isn't that hard. Just go get guys who play the sport. Yeah, yeah. Two more. One Phillies, one knot. I'll start with the knot. I know you're a huge basketball guy. He used to play, all that. Have you gotten a chance to watch Vijay Edgecombe 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 Vijay at the stadium. Oh, you took me one step up. I was like, if you hadn't to watch him, you're like, I met him, actually. Yeah, yeah.

So it happened to the medium, great kid. And when you're watching 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, we'll see. 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 know I know let's let's turn it down a little bit like let's stop being locked in on the sexers we got a

ball glove to help win I mean I do like the use and energy they're bringing yeah yeah it's fun fun to watch and look it's it's a good time in the city it's 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 are 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 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 info. flux of young players coming that are really excited to watch so i think philly baseball's in a really good spot i know we haven't finished the way us as an organization or the fans want um i think but you know we're i know as an organization we're not going to stop until we get that world series so i would tell fans that you know stick 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 then inject some youthful energy and some life into a ball club and I can't wait. I can't wait for for the eventual those guys coming up and

the only world series Jack and I have won in our lifetime was one that way. They added to and something. It was one because of Chase Sutley and Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins and Papro 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 come 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 with them where when you get the free agent and not those guys are great players too but just you feel more invested in your own guys totally 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 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 being 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 offseason, what would he kind of heard or talk to Andrew Painter about and how we look and heading into 26? 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 belt.

But when you kind of, like the part of me kind of, and 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 talked 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 offseason. It's like, hey, some people are writing me off. And I know the kid, 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 face adversity at some point. 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 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 as 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 well that was pretty cool of course yeah thank you again preston 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 Preston. I said it there. I really, I think it was the best baseball game I've ever seen my life, Game 7. 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 bombed at least. I know you're, you know, Dodgers fan and all that. No, I switched. Okay, good. Yeah, well, because I got to the point where I think it was better for baseball, 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 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. Oh, yeah. Or Bobichette.

Oh, yeah. 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, they were horrible. The guy who got their biggest hit, you know, was freaking Miguel Rojas, you know. Sure. Sure, and they've been shut down a lot. And you look at Freeman, you look at Mookie.

They only bad, what, 2, or 3, 204 in the World Series or something like that, you know, so. Yeah, Kiki 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. offensively. Okay. I do. Okay. And, but then if they just go inject it 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. I mean,

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, little tired, fell asleep in the eighth. A sight of feeling, because normally you're tweeting nonstop,

and you weren't tweeting So I fell asleep, woke up right before the Will Smith. Oh, that's cool, you know, and so I'm close it out. Wow. You wake up, I'm not a big nap guy. I know you're a big nap guy. I have to be. 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 dodges were down. For some reason, that didn't really. really register how they tie it 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 isn't 20-20. This is where he killed the Phillies. And I re-watched 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, of the world series, an 18 in and get caught every inning of the world series and hit the big

home run. Really, they are, they're winners, man. Yeah. They're, credit word do. You got it. They bought it, but 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, 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 unbiased announcer? I don't know, you know, to beat the, the, the, beat the champs he got to knock him out uh he you know he's been cooking oh yeah that one waiting it's like jim jim nance simon says arizona wins the national yeah it's always got his thing ready you don't remember the simon says from miles simon what is that reference that from the

nineties yeah now sim when when when when arizona won the national it because i was trying it was the world oh people right it was the worst of the gym nansism shout out to jim nance friend of the show it's good to see him hasn't resigned yet yet uh he yeah when when because myel simon Do you remember, you're too young. Miles Simon on that Arizona team with Khalid. Oh, it's named Clid. No. Anyway,

big old swing. I had no idea. Anyway, they were awesome. They won the national championship and Miles Simon, the best friend on the team. It says, Simon says,

it was so bad. I hate one. Clearly, like planned ahead of time. I don't like what an announcer's trying to do too much. I don't like when they plan the line. I just, you know,

just say what, what you feel in the moment. Don't plan the line. Don't plan the line. Don't plan the line. I agree. So, but yeah,

it was a great world series. It was, the, now the ratings are a little different how they check them now. Well, in the Canada thing and all that, it's hard to. So it was good to see the numbers and 50% higher than you. Yeah, it's good. See it crushed basketball. Take that.

But all this is great. And baseball is lockout and no one great. Dude, it would be. So again, we talked about this once in 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 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 their sport. That's great. The worst.

So one more year of baseball. That's what we get. Enjoy it. Enjoy it. Enjoy it. 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, I was going on vacation. See your family. It's great. So, yeah, no, but great World Series. Look forward to Phillies being there next year. And if Harrison Bader was-

I knew you're going to do this. I said it. I said it. Harrison Bader is healthy. Who knows? Maybe the Phillies would have been there as well this year. Come on, man. On that note.

Everything's fine. Thank you. It was really tough. going back through the series with Preston real quick. Like, I just, you know, got sad all over again. Yeah, stuff. 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. You all feel really sad. Yeah. All right. All right. Well, thank you to Preston.

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 with something.

I'm sure there's something exciting. free agency opening up we do have to start you know perfect off 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 winter's coming man frozen done 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 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 him 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. A lot of stuff. Can we go nap now? All right. Until then, he spreads himself.