High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Phillies Opening Weekend Reaction Pod

Episode Date: April 1, 2024

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to the Phillies' opening series against the Braves, the bullpen's struggles and Rob Thomson's decision to sit Bryson Stott and Bryce Harper on Sunday. 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

All-star closer, Kenley Jansen, we have a question. What's the best podcast of all time? Baseball Isn't Boring, baby. I'm Rob Bradford, and every single day I'm sitting down with the biggest names to show you this great game is the greatest game. It's my podcast. It's my passion. It's a cause I started more than two years ago and is now the most prolific national daily baseball pod there is.

Another fact, so jump aboard the B.I.B. Express. Follow and listen to Baseball Isn't Boring, presented by Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. This is the High Hopes Podcast. High Hopes! It's a bunch of baseball nerds talking about the Phillies on Odyssey and Sports Radio 94 WIP.

Oh! Oh, it wasn't that bad. It is. Another edition of the IOS podcast. It was that bad if you listened to the WIP callers this morning. Wow. The sky is falling. The bullpen's terrible. Rob Thompson's the worst manager who ever lived.

They can't hit. They're soft. They're't hit. They're soft. They're sitting players. Yes, yes. How you doing? We couldn't be more back. We are so squarely back. They didn't even have a ramp-up period.

I know. They know Joel Embiid's going through the ramp-up period, I guess. We didn't get that. We didn't get that at all. We got right back in there. This weekend was treated like the NLCS yeah it was and like it almost erased what they did to the the the braves in the playoffs i think for a lot of braves fans they certainly felt that way i mean oh my goodness now i will say in full disclosure i went from so happy they're back

to this the worst thing i've ever oh yeah oh yeah quickly like no one quicker yeah because again we've we've talked about this a lot on this podcast right where i perceive myself or i give off this perception cool calm collected leader oh i didn't know that was good is that where i yeah it's good yeah and then they start losing yeah and boy i actually wrote down so i want to start doing a i want to start doing a new segment. I like this. This is like your diary as you watch games or something. Boomer opinions that I did think this weekend

as they were losing. That's the funniest thing about us. I am significantly older than you, and you are way more of a boomer than I am. Yeah, yeah, yeah. One boomer opinion I had this weekend that I don't really believe, but during the game, you're thrust into action.

Yes, yes. You've got to really step up. Got to have more put-the-ball-and-play guys. Too many strikeouts. It is a lot of strikeouts. It was 28 strikeouts. They only struck out three times yesterday. Which means that they struck out 25 times in the first two games.

That is a lot of strikeouts. That's a lot of strikeouts. The frustrating part about the strikeouts is coming off the end of last year. Coming off the end of strikeouts. And the frustrating part about the strikeouts is... Coming off the end of last year. Coming off the end of last year. Yeah, it's like, you know, all right, there's something you all should work on, right? Like, come into the season and maybe strike out less,

but put the ball in play more. Put the ball in play. And then it's like, you go right to that, it's like, ooh, okay. Don't like it. I know that. No, the worst part is that you could spend all offseason with all the, you know, Rojas batting ninth.

It's like a pitcher batting ninth. Then you experience it. It's like, hmm, that kind of stinks. Dude, it's so bad where people, like even Rob Thompson's like, well, at least he beat out that ball. And it wasn't the highlight of the weekend for Yohan Ross was at least he didn't get doubled up on that play. It's big.

And it helped us win the game. Like, yikes, dude. That's big. It matters. Big capital Y. Yikes. Right. Well, and then it's always like, well, strikeouts, you know, the count statement isn't out.

God, I just hate watching. I just hate watching strikeouts, man. I really do yeah well and look when you you know we've saw it a lot last year and the more we see what was it uh uh first and second no out bases loaded no out you don't get any runs out of that type of stuff i mean you know that can that can become pretty frustrating yeah 100 because again now we watch every single game thinking is this going to hurt them in october i know which is a complete philosophy an insane way to watch baseball on it the beginning in march

yeah march i was about to say in in april i'm like wait we haven't even watched baseball in april yet yeah yeah uh the second boomer opinion that i that i felt over the weekend. I'm a big fan of this. This is good. Felt this in my gut, in my soul. There's no athlete in Philly sports that I feel like you can put bleeping this in front of them more than NOLA. Oh, I know. Where it's just like bleeping NOLA. I know.

I think someone tweeted out a photo of a guy with a bleeping NOLA jersey, and it was like it's so perfect. It's so perfect. It's so perfect. It's just... Seven years. I got nothing to say about it. I did not think he was going to have a good year.

I did not make any bold predictions about him. I was not in on the NOLA bandwagon this year. I knew this was coming. So I'm actually disappointed in both of us, frankly, I'm actually disappointed in both of us, frankly, because it's like we just completely erased from our brains. The entire season. It was like, oh, he made a mechanical adjustment and pitched well, kind of, in the playoffs.

And it's like, he's back. He's back. Let's go. Yeah, they got the real. It was a really bad job by us. Yeah. Because I was watching him and I was like, no, no, no. I watched this all you got paid

look at third base whatever point the shoulder over there oh my goodness and we certainly got to see a lot of it sitting out there dying on a vine it was like oh my god no i get it i get it

but you see like the braves pull freed settle down and win the game like and we just watch nola just out there just getting obliterated it's like this is great speaking of boomer opinions yeah 89 pitches we're getting them out i mean we were shoving man i know i don't care if it's game one you just cost us 92 wins possibly i Yeah, I can't get mad at that. You want to get mad? I'm not actually mad. But you know what? Boomer or not,

how do you not bring Jeff Hoffman into face Adam Duvall? What the hell are you thinking? That was bad. That was flat out bad. I mean, that was actively bad managing. Again, I know people ripping it, whatever. If they had left Wheeler out for another thing,

I would have been fine with it, but it's opening day. I have no problem with them after six shutout being like, alright, Zach, you did great today. We're good. Don't stress the arm. Not going to Hoffman there was crazy. He went to him the next day. He was waiting. He was ready. That made absolutely zero... And they lost the game

there. That's when the game fell apart. That made zero sense. Yeah, it was. There's a couple of sickening things that happened this weekend. One, Jesse Chavez coming in and going shove city. Hold on. I got it. Guys, no worries. Chavez to save the day.

I think his ERA in spring was... Can I say what you texted me during the game? I would have rather paid Jesse Chavez seven years $171 million than Nola yep i got that tag which is great just kidding um just kidding don't hold hold on don't hold texts during the game again yes that would be very unfair we can't do that yeah no but um yeah so so yeah obviously we'll get into more of this as we go along. But, yes, the –

Oh, it's not just going to be boomer opinions for 50 minutes and that's the pod? No, no, no. Okay, good. Because everything is fine. Everything is fine. It was a stressful week. Let's be honest.

I mean, they improved on last year. Yes. Start 0-4 last year. I mean, we're already significantly better. Again, sweeping teams is bad to open the year. That's right. Hope is bad. We've been over this a million times.

The second you start having belief. Shout out to Jonathan tweeted at us. Hey, 2021. I know. Philly swept the Braves start the year. What happened? Braves won the World Series. Just saying.

Bryce's first year. I believe they took two or three. No, they swept them that year too in 2019. Oh, really? Mm-hmm. I think. I could be wrong, but I'm almost positive. Okay.

I think it was. Whatever. I know they swept him in 2021. You might be right. Well, 2021, they definitely did. Yeah, you might be right. 2019 might be two or three. Who cares?

Who cares? Who cares? Who cares? Who cares? And then the final, which we'll get further, further, and further, further, further into. Yes.

The freaking sitting guys thing. I mean, the Stott one drives me nuts. Let's just start right there. We'll go back. The big headline of the weekend. So first and foremost, I do not believe, look, maybe they were going to get bryce a day off coming up soon because the back like that's fine i do not believe for one second one half a second that he was scheduled to sit on sunday with a full stadium against the atlanta braves the opening weekend

of the season bryce harper was not sitting that game like i do not believe that for a second now having fallen and one of the most terrifying moments for me in a really long time like that three seconds before he popped up it was like trauma like I started thinking about it I could barely I like it's traumatic so quick quick thought on the Harper thing he is it's the most reckless dude ever like stop well And he's actually gotten incredibly lucky with injuries. I know. He should have been hurt. You're right.

He missed his eyeball. Like, Genesis Cabrera barely missed his eyeball. Blake Snell didn't hit his head. Yep. He fell into the stands yesterday, into the concrete portion of the fallen area or whatever. And he was fine, I think. We'll see. Maybe a little sore, probably.

Be in the lineup today. Seriously, though, dude. Don't want to put any red flags on think. We'll see. Maybe a little sore, probably. Be in the lineup today. Yeah, I know. Seriously, though, dude. Don't want to put any red flags on there. Seriously, dude. I mean, we're getting really mad if he's not. But yeah, so I don't believe that, but whatever. He fell.

Maybe he was sore. I'm fine with him sitting there. Why is Bryson Stott not in the lineup? And also, look, I get you love to sit marching against lefties. Are you ever going to play marching against lefties? Is he just a platoon guy for the rest of his career here? You traded Logan Ohapi for him. And the stop thing, like, Bryson touched me in the lamp.

162 games, Jack. Like, maybe he needs one day here or there. He's 25 years old or whatever. He should play 160 games. Like, what are we doing here? So, a couple thoughts. The March one annoys me that's that one obviously but the marsh one like the problem with that is that he's going to go up

there every time against the lefty pressing and he thinks you don't trust him he thinks this is his shot to play against lefties every time he goes up there it's like the end of the world if he doesn't hit a lefty meanwhile they give they give rojas all the rope in the world. It's crazy. Now, it was a smart move. But there was a situation yesterday where they could have saved Marsh to bat for Rojas, but they had him bat for Pache instead. But the Marsh thing just annoys me from the standpoint of he clearly doesn't think you guys trust him against lefties. I'm fine if you want to play Pache it's just third game of the like he had he not pinch hit he would have sat two to

three games over the weekend so and it worries me it's gonna get into his head of like oh believe they don't try and then he struck out what twice yesterday against lefties which like isn't great but the same point like if if he feels like you guys don't trust him then then he's gonna of course go up there pressing and and he's never gonna get good if he feels like you guys don't trust him, then he's going to, of course, go up there pressing. And he's never going to get good at hitting lefties if you don't let him hit lefties. Sure. Like, flat out.

Totally. And then the Stott thing, and this was my concern when they signed Merrifield, was how much is he going to play second base and how much are they – But the thing is that Stott can hit lefties, and that's what drives me nuts. And Bryson Stott, he should be in your lineup every day. You can pull ugly against lefties.

I'm not comparing the two, but the ugly wasn't out. Dude, Bryson Stott's a good hitter. He can hit lefties. There are certain guys who are just in your lineup every day. That's just their – and that's him. It's so crazy to me. Again, two weeks into the season, you want to give him a sit against a tough – sure, I get it.

It's the opening series, man. And you're 0-2. Now they won, but still like, it's, I just don't get it. Like I don't, again, I can get pulling Wheeler. I can get being worried about your bullpen, especially now that Walker's down. You know what Turnbull's going to give you.

You know Christopher Sanchez has the flu thing. He's going to, I get it. You're concerned about the bullpen to start the season. That makes sense to me. I can understand. I can't make sense of not using Hoffman instead of Straum in that spot, but I can get saving pitchers thinking about the long term there. This makes zero sense to me. I just don't...

You want to get guys at bats early in the year. That I can understand. You want to get guys out there, get involved and all that, but sitting Martian Stott and Harper in the third game of the season. I don't think Harper. And it's not like Chris, I agree.

And it's not like Chris sale it. Like he's, he's a lefty. It's not like he's fricking Cy Young, Chris sale anymore. It's not like he's unhittable for lefty. It just, sorry. I know I'm,

I was very frustrated. Well, and we'll see what happens tonight. I mean, yeah, I mean, Andrew Abbott's in the mountains, third straight game against the left.

And I would actually say Andrew Abbott, in terms of facing a lefty, probably tougher right now for lefties that are as tough as you. Nah, I'm probably not. That's not fair.

I'm underrating him. Sale looked pretty good. You did look good. You did look good. Now, Schwartz took a yard, baby. Abbott is a lefty, though, that like,

you know, tough. I don't think deception. Yeah, I mean, I would think it's hard for lefties to see the ball against.

Yeah, I mean, Andrew Abbott's a good little pitcher. Yeah, but like, it's, you're think it's hard for lefties to see the ball against. Yeah. I mean, Andrew Abbott's a good little pitcher. Yeah. But like it's you're playing the Reds in the second second.

Exactly. Go see go go see it Brandon Marshall. Go see this thing. I don't think will happen. But they they did this all last year.

Well, that's what concerns me is like, you know, I like he should have he proved you last year. You don't need to do this. Like so, you know, it

just doesn't make any sense to me. It felt forced. And again, look, I you don't need to do this. So it just doesn't make any sense to me. It felt forced. And again, look, we love Topper. I mean, I think he had a really rough opening weekend. Yeah, I mean. He really did. The decision on Friday was.

I mean, that was the worst decision of the weekend by far. He kept saying. He said, like, I liked his pitches against Duvall's swing. It's like, I don't buy that for a second. A second? It makes no sense. And then, honestly, I thought he left Alvarado in a batter too long, too, at that point. He clearly didn't have it. I understood that one more than the knock on offense, Bob,

but it just felt like he had no feel for the games. Well, it was good that Alvarado bounced back. Huge. And strong, too. Both of them. That was really nice to see both those guys. Now, the one we're concerned about, Sir Anthony, did not bounce back. Has not looked great. I mean, it was better than the first outing.

But again, blanket statement, I am not overly concerned about anything that happened this weekend. But if I had to point to guys where I'm like, alright, I'm going to keep my eye on you. Sir Anthony was bad last year, has not gotten back to where we want to be, and didn't start as hot as I hoped. Well, Sir Anthony, yeah.

So, it was good to see the velocity back up to 99. He did show some things. You know, I thought... I don't think he has feel for the slider yet. I think the fastball is pretty good, but he doesn't have that secondary pitch that he feels like he can throw for a strike. The changeup is not there yet. But at the same time, relievers are so weird to where they can have some blowups.

And then be great for two months. No doubt. So what still gives me hope for Anthony is how good he looked in the postseason last year. I think that's still in there. But in the time being, it's time to give Hoffman more of these high leverage, no doubt, blatant games. And I know what Hoffman did yesterday was important, right? Like he got through Acuna, Albies, and Olsen, or Riley.

And on Friday, too, coming into that spot and shutting it down in that spot kept them in the game there. Jeff Hoffman. He's a stud dude. By the way money to extend them. Seriously if you're going to extend Strom extend Jeff Hoffman too because he's he's quickly developing into the best right handed option they have out of the bullpen.

Yeah I without a doubt trust him the most. Like after Alvarado if I have to get an out i'm probably going to hoffman anyone in the bullpen he's probably my number two guy i'm going to and it was it was it was cool yesterday because um taryn was talking i guess she talked to him for the game and he said yeah i got to spend all off season not trying to get a job i spent all off season working on what i thought like working all my pitches. So we could see an even better version. And it's just, I love the moxie. I love the freaking, that's 90 mile an hour.

He's hard to square up. And he's intimidating. That monster walks out on the mound, you're like, hey, man. By the way, big win for Bryce to GM. That's true. Big win for Bryce to GM. So while I appreciate him being able to come in earlier into a game, and this happened in the postseason last year

where he came in the third of game one down in Atlanta, and I appreciate getting through a key portion of Atlanta, late in the game just matter as it gets to crunch time. And he just has my trust way more than Sir Anthony. And if it's the eighth eighth if it's the ninth i think for a long time we've viewed the back of the bullpen as alvarado and sir anthony i wanted to be alvarado hoff i agree with you yeah he's also honestly among the best dirty inning relievers i ever remember in my life i know i don't ever remember a guy consistently coming into dirty

innings and getting out like Like, seriously, it is. And that takes something, you know? He's really, I know we make this comp a lot, but he's just, he's so Madsen. Yeah. Like, he's so Madsen. Now, he has more of a slider than Madsen had. Like, Madsen developed a little cutter, but, like, tall. The split moves, like, Madsen's changeup.

Now, changeup was, like, 83 off of 97. God. Madsen was sick. Dude, Madsen is one of the most. Prime Madsen's change up. Now change up was like 83 up with 97. Madsen was sick. Dude, Madsen is one of the most. Prime Madsen was sick. Dude, Prime Madsen in 09 and 10 was their best reliever. He was better than Lidge. He was better than Lidge in 08 too. But it was horrible.

Yeah, I mean, he was in 08 even though I'm saying. I think Madsen was better than Lidge in 08. I know the numbers or whatever. I think Madsen was their most talented reliever all those years. Dude, I think he's still the most underrated player of that entire team. I agree with you. Yeah,

you're right. We never talk about Madsen. He's massive. The bridge to live. You're right. It's a really good point. Yeah, look at you.

You made one. 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. All right. Follow and listen to Reception Perception on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. All right. Let's get to... What do you want to tackle next? Are you running out of things to talk about? No, I'm trying to decide what to go to next. We've got to get through all this stuff here.

What's next? Listen, point guard. Yeah, that's what I do here. All right. Here I am. Give me the no look. There's a lot to react to. Disaster weekend.

It almost was a disaster. It almost was. It was this close to being a disaster. Shout out to Adam Duvall. Especially if they blow that, too. Oh, my goodness. Although, let me say this. The Braves got a lot of BS hits this weekend, too.

There was a couple of moments on Saturday where it was like Harper ripped the bottle. Oh, I know. Yeah, and Turner was off first base, and he got doubled up. He couldn't do anything. It was like, all right, well, that sucked. Riley made some crazy plays on Saturday. Meanwhile, the stupid blooper over Harper's head was annoying.

This little bad luck was mixed on Saturday. I like this. I like this angle. We're turning here. I'm not a huge fan of having to use bad luck or bad bip or strictly eye test and boomer opinions in this podcast, but sometimes you got to call the truth the truth. That's your damn straight.

All right. Ranger. Oh. Yeah. Because Wheeler was perfect. No complaints. Nola was air Nola for most of the last year. Ranger comes out, gives up two run over, but then really mostly settling the other run. Nola was Aaron Nola for most of the last year Ranger you know

comes out gives up two run over but then really mostly settling the other run but like I thought you know

that was pretty good for Ranger it was good it was a big step forward he got a good amount of strikeouts and it was so funny because

like him and Sale are so different like Sale's 96 right even the way they move about on the mound

like everything about them. Rangers was like, eh, happy to be here. Meanwhile, Seattle looks like it's going to kill someone. I know. So yeah, I thought Rangers was really good. It was one of those starts where it could have gone. I don't know how that Albies ball got out. I don't either.

I thought it was a pop-up. I thought it was going to get to the wall, but I thought it was a pop-up. And it was just so... I figured they were going to lose when the JT ball didn't go out. Uh-huh. Did you see the note about that? There's only two ballparks that would not have gone out.

All of baseball. Yep. That's great. Great. I was told. Citizens Bank Park was a fan box. I was surprised by that, too. I'm like, wait, so there's a spot in Citizens Bank Park that's deeper than any other park

except Camden? Okay. Yeah, I don't know. That was a weird one. But, yeah, so the Albies ball got out. It was like, eh. But yeah, so the Albies ball he got out, I was like, eh. But he settled in fine. I thought the pitch selection on when he allowed the third run was annoying.

He had him set up for a change-up down or a sinker down, and he went fastball right down the middle, which I don't think he was trying to do. But I saw his bad pitch selection. But I thought he was really good. I thought he was perfectly fine. And it's just when we're, when we're evaluating guys,

we trust, you know, and he is just continuing to become a guy we trust. Now, Sanchez is a huge one tonight because if he's not, he doesn't have to be what he was last year. Last year was a three six. Yeah.

So, but he also can't like completely backtrack off of last year with the, with the fifth starter right now being special turnbull. So Rangers becomes that much more important. Like, you can't have, especially Nola being Nola, you don't always know what you're going to get. Like, Ranger has to be a guy. Good thing they paid him $170,000. No, I know.

Well, he's fine. It's just, I never know if it's going to be seven innings, one run. Yeah, or three innings, seven runs. Yeah, exactly. Even when he allows seven, he's usually getting three. Yeah through yeah you're right it's true innings baby innings they're valuable i don't know if you heard that before i've heard that's a phrase innings are valuable so when you have like like sanchez or ranger just has to be six innings three runs or six in six innings, four runs on most outings. Because Wheeler's going to be Wheeler. He clearly has taken –

Because last year, Wheeler did pitch to a 3-5, I think, in the regular season last year. So while in the postseason he's unbelievable, like lowest whip in the history of baseball, in the regular season he wasn't like lockdown, lockdown. So it's just imperative for ranger to be that and i thought sunday was was really good from the standpoint of last year in the regular season he was also really hit or miss i think we i think we use the the postseason as

as the barometer for the entire season where that's not really true it's not fair yeah it's not really true at all and i thought that sunday was a lot like the postseason ranger and that's what i wanted to see when i heard you know jt talking about he looks the best he's looked in in a couple years so big step forward for range all right let's get to the bats we'll get to like individual guys overall what like is is Rojas your biggest takeaway? Just looking over match? Like, what was your, because again, look, we're not going to overreact to the first three games, especially with the bats.

Like, you know, it is what it is. But what stuck out to you the most? No, Rojas was not my biggest. My biggest takeaway was still the chasing. I mean, Castellanos, Turner. Like, it just, and maybe it's PTSD from the postseason last year. Maybe it's the excitement of getting out there and all that. Sure.

But again, like, Cassiano's trying to stretch that single into a double yesterday. Oh, God, I know. Calm down. I know. Him getting the bases loaded walk and holding off two straight pitches outside was the single most shocking thing to him the entire weekend. Right. I couldn't, like, that's the most I've ever, like, jumped up from a walk.

It's like, no way! I can't believe that happened. That's the most i've ever like jumped up from a walk just like no way i can't believe that happened that's the most well no that is shock wise not excitement wise like i couldn't believe that happened brett meyers worked a walk i know but that in the moment you knew you felt that coming you know the magic yeah yes so i like the row us thing it's gonna be like it's gonna be excruciating oh yeah it's a thing's a thing. It's definitely a thing. Because especially the lineup Sunday, once you get through the first six and you look at the bottom of Edmundo. Who actually was one of the few guys that was hitting. Edmundo, Pache, and Rojas.

I'm like, what are we doing here? That's bad. So, no. Turn around the big hit on Sunday. That was good. Huge, yeah. They needed it. But I thought a little too much chasing,

and that is going to be something to monitor, I think, the majority of the season. But I also think that they brought in a new guy to help fix that or help that, and I think that's going to take a little bit of time. So if they're still doing it, it's something to monitor a lot in the first month but i think by month two hopefully we see the changes starting to happen first because in spring training i think it's just hard to implement it when you're not getting everyday reps and stuff so i'll be curious to see if by may we start to see a little bit more

like better plans at the plate were there any things things – look, it was not a weekend of – even though they won a game and it still feels like it was like an exhale. Were there things that you looked – I mean, outside of Wheeler, but, like, were there things where you were like, I'm really excited. Like, I mean, Kyle Schwarber looks bright. Like, Kyle Schwarber's stealing their base. Like, maybe the knee is a little better. Maybe that'll help.

Like, I mean, like, were there any other things you – I thought JT's swing looked pretty good for the most part. That was bomb. That's what I mean. And the other one should have been over. So when you look in, were there certain things, some positives to take away? For sure.

I mean, Hoffman I thought was the star of the weekend. Or, I mean, Ranger. Well, besides Wheeler. Zach, yeah. Besides Wheeler. But I thought Hoffman was like, okay, it translated over. Which I think is big. Which is huge because we'd only seen him do it that year, you know?

So it's like, you know, yeah. And he's been a pretty big bust before that. Yeah, you could say that. A ninth pick in the draft, right? But how about Schwarber, man? He had a little, excuse me, single over the shortstop. Yep. Laser shot.

Smoked the ball. I think it was the fourth hardest ball he's ever hit. Really? Yeah, I think it was like 114 and a half or something like that it got out quick and then he had a single up the middle and I did have a doll play which wasn't great you know it's gonna happen but he looked

like he's more conscious of putting the ball in play yeah he did which is I know when we were big put the ball in play I like you going the other way on that that's strong like you gotta put the ball. I like you going the other way on that. That's strong. Like, yeah,

got to put the ball. But listen, I would, I rather admit 250. Would you rather admit 250 with like 30 homers or 200 with 45? I'd rather have the 245. So yeah, I thought,

you know, I thought, I think it looks skinnier. Yeah. And his whole, um, like setup looks, he looks more crouched, I thought, you know, I think he looks skinnier. Yeah. And his whole, like, setup looks, he looks more crouched, I guess. And he just looks more balanced. And usually it seems like it takes until June for him to look balanced. So I think it's at least a good sign from that standpoint.

But at the same time, I am a little worried of, like, if he starts too hot. Oh, no. The reverse season? Right. Oh, can you imagine? Like, what's next's next he's not gonna hit in the nlcs imagine like oh god and he's just gonna hit the wild card gets like ice cold around june and it's like well that was great yeah so i was betting 350 earlier in the year and he ended at 200 yeah can't have that can't have that so i don't know i'm a big fan of consistency i'm a big fan of knowing what i'm gonna get okay yeah that's great and if he's gonna be a little if he's coming out the gate a little too hot yeah it might be a mistake i'll take it i'll take it you'll take it yes yes you'll

take it that's good yeah yeah give it to me that's good please go uh soto i thought gregor soto looked okay now every time metals hits the ball in the air, I assume it's going 700 feet. And one of them did. Yeah, they did. The Braves are good, man. Braves are good. They're good. They're good.

They won a game where Max Free got two outs. I mean, that's good. Well, they really think that they sent a message this weekend. I know. Who cares? Like Michael Harris tweeting, I'm rent-freeing your head. Did he really? He did, yeah. They really think that they sent a message this weekend. I know. And it's like, who cares? Like Michael Harris tweeting everything. I'm rent freeing your head.

Did he really? He did, yeah. And they said like, I don't know. He's talking about how, I don't know. He acted like we care so much about the regular season, but he completely missed that. We beat you in the postseason the last two years. Yeah, it's like, literally don't. That's the point.

The opposite of that. So I just, they clearly were like, we're going to go in there. We're going to show them how it is. this is what we do and i just i i did cool yeah you've won 100 games the last two seasons and it just hasn't mattered at all yeah so like if i know because some people were like oh man price on a match this is they send the message every year they're better like yeah what else is new it doesn't matter what else is new and then like they came out like acuna takes a takes a feel he's like yeah and rca takes a feel it's like yeah you guys are really well i will say really trying uh that was the biggest thing that i noticed being an opening day and opening day is great and there's an energy and

excitement or whatever but it is like after having the last game we were at being a playoff game like it is like a like going it like it's the difference between driving 100 and driving like 10 miles an hour even though energy in the ball and again it's opening day it was exciting like it's just not comparable like that that level of energy of tenseness of like it's just not what it is it's not but it did have a playoff field of it it was fun it was opening day but it wasn't like you know just the tension isn't there it's just a different thing no i know but like like the marsh home run felt like a playoff yeah like marsh at that home run it's like oh man like this means so much and then i was like ah it's just game one because you turn quick it's it's it's just game one so but it's it's a real it's a real rivalry which is amazing

yeah you know they don't like each other we don't like them they don't like uh like it's across the board and it's and it's it makes me happy from the standpoint of like i thought rivalries were kind of dead by the way speaking of rivalries seems like reese hasn't gotten over anything what a guy man he's He's still Phil. Totally. He left and nothing changed. I love him just as much. It was unbelievable. He's so great.

He's the best. Yeah. He's the best. There was a portion of me when they were struggling offensively over the week. You're like, wow, maybe I should have kept him. Maybe we should have kept him. Yeah, we should have kept him. So, yeah, it's so fun.

It's so fun, the Phillies-Braves thing. Strider was really into it again. And the Braves announcer is talking about how they boo the resurrection. They were funny about it for Westwood. Normally those things annoy me. You know me. I'm getting all, oh, Philly. And you know how I get.

But yeah, exactly. That's me. I do it. It's okay. I acknowledge it. I was fine with it. I thought they were, like, it was almost like, you know, they were acknowledging it was a joke.

And it was also like, it didn't feel like they're like these a-holes. No, no, no. like, it was almost like, you know, they were acknowledging it was a joke and it was also like, it didn't feel like they're like these a-holes. No, no, no. Yeah, it was more like, ha ha. Although I do wonder

if the Braves players go home to Little Tro's Park and they're like, eh. How could they not be? I mean, you guys don't bring,

they have to be talking. They never, obviously would never say it publicly, but they have to talk privately. I'm like, man.

Who doesn't? Of course. This place is so much more course they care so much more than atlanta so it's just it's a fun it's a fun thing and it it reminds me a lot of the 07 to 11 mets no doubt where you just you just know them so well and that's i think that's the the thing that has helped baseball the last couple years now some players change teams, and I get it. But it feels like basketball, guys change teams a lot. Oh, I'm so with you on this. Baseball is so much more consistent year to year with these teams.

So much more. Because it's the thing that I think has killed college basketball, is you don't know any of the players. I totally agree, yeah. And football, their peaks are so short. Yep. Quarterbacks, sure, you're used to quarterbacks being there. But back in the day, whether it was Tiki, whether it was Imani Toomer.

It's like a three-year run, a five-year run, or whatever, and then it's just done. And then it's over. Baseball. The fact that Acuna is already in year six of his eight-year deal. Yeah, exactly. Is he really? Is it already in year six? Yeah.

Wow. It's insane. That is unbelievable. Dude, I remember watching Acuna's first at-bats as a prospect on YouTube. Yeah. And I was like, this is a problem. Of course you did. And now he's almost like 30, it feels like. But you hate Olsen.

You hate Albies. You hate all these guys. Yeah, it's real. And it's what makes fun baseball fun baseball. It's what makes sports fun. That's one of the best things about sports is rivalries, hating the team you're playing, the joy of being a fan. It's part of the whole thing.

And you're right. It did feel like it was gone. It did feel like, all right, that's not going to happen in the same way anymore and it's there like it is like i hate that like we hate them it's great man and the players don't like it's even the players you know it's not just like a fan thing where it's like you know like do eagles players out hate cowboys players like probably not like i don't know whatever they used to like trotter and those guys they always like nowadays i don't know probably not it feels like these guys hate, like Arcea Harper, like all this,

the Cunha stuff. Like it feels like they actually hate each other. And I love that. Well, you would never see like, you never see a Phillies player, if a Braves player hit a big home run in the postseason, say like,

oh man, love this player. Nice job, man. Way to go. Yeah, exactly. Darius Slade tweeting like,

wow, great defense. That guy's a, Trey Diggs is a star. It's like, shut up. Like, what are you doing? What a sack by Micah Parsons. Love that guy. Yeah, great defense. That guy's a trade digs is a star. It's like, shut up. Like, what are you doing?

What a sack by Micah Parsons. Love that guy. Yeah. I love him. He's great. Everyone should root for him. How can you not respect that? Yeah. It's like, pretty easily.

All right. Pretty easily. But listen, now we got through the first weekend. Yes. I am ready for people to stop paying attention yeah i know the post yeah yeah win some games you know just move forward nice and easy moving right along nothing to see here just take a deep breath we survived the first weekend yes we did survive the first weekend and now like it should be a 17 to 21 month it better be buddy they better

they better go on a little run here man yeah two off days i believe and yeah it's it well with the rain i'll probably change it this week we'll see but they uh i mean they they play a lot of a lot of easy games in april you know it's like don't do the slow start thing guys seriously not this year well not not against these opponents that's the point i'm saying like you can't you can't put yourself in a hole with the schedule coming up like i mean they can they could you know they'll be all right probably but i believe you're one second away from saying they will they might they probably will no they're not a new new ball team it It certainly looked like the Phillies to start the season.

Well, no. I think I texted this to my buddy. It was like, they're the dumbest team until the postseason. And then they're winning. And then they're amazing. Yeah. When Gasianos got thrown out, it was like, they're so dumb. I know.

It's every year. What are you doing, dude? What are you doing? I mean, Harper, there should be a higher barrier there. Like, it shouldn't be that easy to fall over and stuff. Like, whatever. But, like, just be more careful with your body. You're out here saying you want to get signed until you're 43 or whatever.

Like, that's not going to help, man. Like, don't be so freaking reckless. He's like a maniac. And, look, I appreciate it. We love the passion with which he plays the game. Be smart. Be smart. What are you doing? I don't know what he's doing.

No regard for his body. Like the guy just has no care or regard. Well, listen. Time to start caring. Yes, exactly. Especially if you want that extension, pal. Especially with a back injury. Well, that's the other part. Your back's already hurt. Yes. Deep breaths. Deep breaths. I appreciate it. You know what, that's the other part. So you already, your back's already hurt. Yes. Deep breaths.

Deep breaths. I appreciate it. You know what? It's like I appreciate Embiid. Like, I appreciate Embiid diving for loose balls. Sure, but it's like. You're 7'2". Like, you're like. Jokic is never on the ground.

No. Ever. He knows what he should be doing. He also can't jump. And you know what else? Jokic is never hurt. Shock. Well, sometimes.

But yes. But I mean, really. You would never hurt like Embiid. Like, you would never miss his huge swaths of time, you know? just never hurt. Shock. Sometimes. But yes. But I mean, really, you would never hurt like a bead. Like, you would never miss a huge swath of time, you know? Mm-hmm. Anyway. Anyway. This was good.

Yeah. All right. You got some take back action? I got some take back action. So, Tucker tweeted this out. Oh, wow. I love the in the room shout out. It's good. Well, Tucker did numbies on the flag tweet.

Oh, you got some numbies? Yeah, yeah, yeah. What a good number that was. So I didn't see the tweet. What was it? Well, he's the one that- Oh, pointed out the ridiculous absurd flag thing that we're getting flags and making the playoffs now?

Did you get a million views on that one? It stalled out at like 975. So if you're listening and want to go look at it- Oh, that's what it is. Yeah. Talk to a number. So what was the actual and want to go look at it. Oh, that's what it is. Yeah. Talk to a number. So what was the actual tweet? This is the flag.

It was literally like outside the stadium. It was the most boring thing in the world. Yeah, there was not much to it. And then I checked my phone in the fourth inning and it had like 500,000. Wow. Yeah, it blew up. Wow. Listen, flags fly forever. You know that.

I believe that to my core. It's one of my number one beliefs. Real sports, fantasy sports, I'm a flags fly forever guy. Not wild card flags. What are we doing? They shouldn't even exist. There shouldn't be such a thing. What are we doing here? What are we doing?

Again, this is going to sound mean doing again this is gonna sound mean this is gonna sound mean but you're a big boy organ yes no that's not mean it's a fact yes we don't need to do it listen i'm glad the players got the nl championship rings last year yeah but it was so like the whole ceremony again you know i said at the moment i was like i don't need this i don't need some whole ceremony like take your second place Again, you know, I said it at the moment. I was like, I don't need this. I don't need some whole ceremony. Like take your second place rings like you deserve. And that's cool. But like, I don't need to celebrate it.

We lost. You guys are, we're entering into a new echelon. You know, I don't. You're right. Act like you've been there a little bit. Yeah. I just, I don't need the wild card. It just feels so Mickey Mouse.

It feels so like, like lame. It's just lame. Like, wow. It just feels so Mickey Mouse. It feels so like lame. It's just lame. Like, wow. Two years ago, you go to the World Series, you win the, put a pennant up. I'm fine with that. You actually won the pennant. Like, cool.

Pennant World Series. And I'm fine with divisions. And I'm fine with divisions because I've always done it. Like, I don't, like, I'm not like out there like, you know, yay. But yes, it's fine. You won the division. Exactly. That's fine. They were a wild card team and they beat the Marlins and the Braves.

They didn't even get to the World Series. Yeah, it's a lot. They did take the High Hopes colors of the logo. Which is fine. I appreciate that. We take that. Yeah, I guess. But I was like, really?

It's weak. It's very weak. Yeah. And not to make it about the Eagles, but the Eagles would never do that. They would never do that. No. No. No, they wouldn't.

So. Yeah. The Eagles lost to the Bucs in embarrassing fashion. Hey, we made the playoffs. Let's put a banner up. She's like, why are we doing this? No, no, no. Like, stop.

Stop, stop, stop, stop, stop. I strongly agree. Stop. Like, you're a big boy organization. So the Chavez thing was obviously annoying. Should be a thing. Expected. I mean, who couldn't have thought that Chavez was going to come in?

Duvall, too. Of course. Are you kidding me? The least surprising thing ever that Duvall and Chavez were big factors in the Braves winning those games. Totally. There was a... Listen, I know that they have shelled out a lot of money in contracts yeah it's really hard to complain about no no no we'll do it no no this is part

of my point though okay i know that they have shelled out a lot of money for contracts i know that it's a business there was a lot of advertisements as Oh, okay. I'm happy you brought this up. Like a lot. I was actually borderline embarrassed. Embarrassed a lot. It looked like the yellow pages on the outfield. What are we doing here? Honestly, you know what?

It felt like a minor league stadium. It felt like a minor league stadium. You go to a minor league stadium, and rightfully so, their job is to advertise, to make money. You don't make as much money as a minor league team, all that. You go into Sinsbank Park now, it looks like a minor league stadium. It looked like a major league when they had to sell ads. It just looks so like Mickey Mouse.

Was it the Asplunda? Is that what it is? Asplunda or something. The orange tape. Wasn't a huge fan of that. It's everywhere. It was crazy. A lot of advertising. It's everywhere. It was crazy. A lot of advertising.

I'm very with you on this. I was not into it. It just looks cheap. I mean, it's just funny because they're making money off it, but it makes it look cheap. Oh,

and they're going to have, they're going to have ads on their uniform. Yeah, that's coming too. That's why the number's not there. By the way, the new uniforms are atrocious.

It's bad. Like atrocious. I had assumed that by the time the season started, they would figure it out. They didn't. It looks really, really lame. Like it does not look. It's bad.

Yeah. Yeah. Great. So that's fun. That's great. That's fun. That's good. The new stats at the ballpark are so funny. yeah like woba who or expect i think i saw

expected woba yeah it's great and it was so funny and this is going to be a season-long bit i can already tell with franski in la because they can't find pitch speed but they can find they can find seven inches of horizontal break on the on that pitch And it's just like, we've gone too far. Way too far. Way too far. Here's my thing. Here's my thing. The market for those people, and I'm one of them.

I know horizontal break. I know vertical break. I sort of know WOBA. And I don't know what war is. Weighted on base average. I know what it is. No, I know. I'm just saying like that.

I like that, you know? Yeah. I like that stuff. Yeah. But speak to the market a little bit. Average RBIs of home run. It's crazy. And put... Know your audience.

Know your audience. Like, who is this for? Who is this for? 1% of people go to a game wondering... Maybe. Maybe less than 1% go to a game actually maybe maybe less than one percent go to a game actually interested in what the expected world is like again i love what was a good stat like i actually think like if you're looking for like i think it's the best i agree with you if i'm

looking at like just who's the best offensive player i'll look at their world but first but like first of all expected taking the next step to expect it but like who like no the Sats. But, like, no one knows what it means. No one knows what it is. No one's going into the game and saying, like, oh, cool, there's an expected Woba. They don't even know what the number symbolizes. Like, it's an expected Woba 430. It's like, I don't even know what that means if I'm a normal fan.

Like, it's crazy. It makes no sense to me. Like, who are they doing it? I just don't understand. Like, I get analytics. We're all for it. Like, analytics revolution all that stuff. We think that goes a little too far

for the average fan, especially, and all that. But like, I just am wondering like, when, you know, the Phillies brass

or whoever's involved in this decision is sitting there and going like, what stats should we put up? It's like, well, we got to put expected. Like, who's that expected?

Who's like, this is what the people want. Like, who at any point was like, the fans want expected. Well, how's that? How does it get there? I think you've gone more boomer than me this podcast.

Probably. You've gone way more boomer. Way more. You're just teeing me up. Yeah, I know you're entering your mid-40s. Jumpstarted. But yeah, no, it was funny. They can't find pitch speed.

But you can find the horizontal break. Useful. The short burst deal was the best part of the weekend. By far. And yeah, that's about it. The shoreboard steal. Especially a third. Oh, good base runner.

He's a winner. Unbelievable. He's a winner. You did get in there quick, too. I was impressed. He's spry. He's spry. You look good.

So we got Andrew Abbott, Graham Ashcraft, and Frankie Montas. Frankie Montas. I know. A favorite of ours. I know. He's been mentioned multiple times in Perfect Golf Seasons, I believe. He was a big portion of the Perfect Golf Seasons for a while. I didn't trade that much.

Yeah, we love Frankie. Yeah, always have. Won't give up on him. Opening day starter a couple years ago. He was. Robert took him deep. He did. Who could forget?

Who could forget? Who could forget? So, who could forget? Two or three? Yeah. Two or three. Well, the Reds,

yeah, they had a battle all weekend. Reds coming off of a walk off back to back. I mean, you don't see that very often. Back to back homers to win it. No. And listen,

the Reds are kind of spry. I'm not going to lie to you. Reds have a lot. Yeah. We're getting the Reds at a good time. Like, they are kind of beat up. I mean not going to lie to you. Reds have a lot, yeah. We're getting the Reds at a good time. They are kind of beat up. I mean, TJ Friedel might have been their best hitter last year. He's out for the first six weeks or whatever. So they've got some injuries in there, which helps.

But they're young. Well, it's not. And it's a pretty good lineup. I mean, India Benson, Encarnacion Strand, Candelario. Steer can hit. Ellie. Obviously Ellie, yeah. Former, do you remember when Nick Martini was a Philly?

No. Nick Martini. So the name sounds familiar. Like I feel like- Nick Martini is for the true- That's like a deep cut. Like true sickos. Like the name sounds familiar.

Like it feels like if you had said, I'd be like, yeah, maybe he was a Philly, but like I definitely don't- So Nick Martini was claimed off of waivers in the 2020 year, and he was going to start in AAA. He's good, yep. And then he didn't make the team

because obviously COVID happened and it was a AAA season. But he had two home runs on opening day. I always kind of believed in Nick Martini. One of your many. One of the JD Davis's. JD Davis, that was a good call. It of your many. One of these guys that I believed in. One of the J.D. Davises. J.D. Davis, that was a good call. It was, yeah.

Hold on, I had J.D. Davis, I had Cronenworth, I had Brasseau, these AAA guys going off, and then Martini. You got Martini. Look at this. And then he left. And some would say the franchise hasn't recovered since they lost Martini.

Probably. I mean, I would probably say that if I had to really think you know, think about it. Yeah. Come up with a sentence that made sense. Sure. That would be my sentence. So the Reds are kind of frisky.

Yeah. And, of course, I'm semi-nervous about this series. Yeah. How could you not be? They're kind of frisky. Again, after this weekend, I'm fully in. They need to win games in April and May before I'm going to just expect them

to win games in April and May. Right. I to just expect them to win games in April and May. I hate it, but that's where I'm at. I will be surprised when they start winning games in April and May. So please, surprise me. The one bit that I wish we didn't get bullied out of doing, because I think it's funny, is the... It was the Kurt Suzuki, who's going to kill kill us this week and the guy always went off yeah so i'm putting my uh my my hat into the ring of spencer steer so okay so yeah so the reason

we got bullied off is it because we would say it and then the guy would go nuts and people get mad at us so i'm excited for the spencer steer you know lash back at us that's gonna be awesome all right you got anything else? I can't wait for Spencer Turnbull tomorrow. I know. It's going to get rained out probably. Really? I don't know. It's Mother Nature.

I don't know. Everyone just keeps telling me. Well, today's not going to get rained out. It's going to clear up in the afternoon. They'll have a window. They'll have a window to get a ball game. Love a good window for a ball game. Love a good window for a ball game.

That's right. No, I just, my problem is, or not my problem. The thing I love about baseball is I just can't wait to see what new guys. I sort of know what I'm getting out of almost everyone on the Phillies. Sometimes the young players go off. It's like, that's cool. But the new addition that you don't really know yet who he is, that's my lane.

That's my lane. Three games into the season. What are you excited about Jack. The guy we don't know yet Spencer turn. That's what I'm Spencer turn.

Very good. I can't wait for it. I will be back later in the week hopefully react into three games but maybe two and we'll see what happens. Either way.

Well yeah because you had a little day game like yeah we're gonna see what happens. That could get rained out to apparently so come on. Enough with the rain

enough with the rain enough with the freaking rain. All right. All right. That could get rained out too, apparently. Come on. Enough with the rain. Enough with the rain. Enough with the freaking rain. All right? All right. We'll be back later in the week. Two or three. All right? There it is.

Even a sweep. There it is. Can we get crazier? All right. He's for himself. All right. All right. All right.

All right. We'll see you next time.