High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Phillies Sweep and Mickey Moniak Joins the Show

Episode Date: August 27, 2023

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to a Phillies sweep over the Cardinals and talk to Friend of the Pod Mickey Moniak with the Angels coming to town. Plus, more! Presented by Miller Lite. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. I hope. It's a bunch of baseball nerds talking about the Phillies. On Odyssey and Sports Radio 94. W.I.P.

Go. It is another edition of the I.O.S. podcast. We have a freaking awesome guest coming up later. our guy will be on with us later uh we'll get to that he was kind enough to give us uh like 20 minutes of his time awesome awesome stuff we'll get to that but jack uh presented by miller light by the way shout out to miller light jack asked me where my miller light fulfills wins tweets boom they're there check it out uh in all honesty jack i'm all jacked up right now because like jacked up no pun intended jack jack um i feel like we've done this pot a zillion times and they never sweep when we're

doing this pod and they swept they freaking swept they just handle business they kick the cardinals butts like they were just like we're just gonna dispatch of this team this team that is way inferior to us this season they're gonna come to come to town, and we're just going to handle business, Jack. Like, the Phillies are 14 games above.500. They're creating separation in the wild card. Like, let's freaking go. How you doing, pal? I'm doing great, man.

Like, I just – first off, my first Phils at the Beach experience is going on right now. Yeah. Which is – I mean, again, there's just nothing better. There's nothing better in the world than watching the phillies down the beach now does my my family question it of course well i heard them in the background before we started recording like babies and kids everywhere and i'm gonna go to the boardwalk i want to go to the beach like in the background a lot of that action just want to let everyone know that i am missing out on boardwalk time right now to do this because it is strictly that important well i even said to jack i was like do you have like an out time do you like because again we already did the interviews

so you know we've been you know it's like how much yeah he's like no man he's like i'm good yeah i just again again and i think i've explained this to you and i'm sure there's a lot of people out there that understand this and or maybe i'm just, like, sick in the head. But when I'm not, when the Phillies are on and I'm not watching, it's just like I can't physically do it. Like, I just, I'm on my phone all the time. I am checking everything. So for the greater good of the family, you just, you have to just let me watch.

I know it can seem insane. Who's the child at the shore house this weekend? That's the real question. This idiot. Let me ask the question. Who is the child? Exactly right. But, like, dude, we talked about this a lot last week.

I know you're on the air for three more days because Joe DiCamera is in freaking Sweden. So you're continuing to host the morning show, which is great, and I'm happy for you. But we've talked a lot about, like, man, I just love this team. Like, I just love these guys. And what's so nice about this weekend and how they've played recently even the Giants series for the most part except for you know game three is that like they're just showing up in beating teams finally it's like first off this should have been the entire year I mean the whole year should have been this where it's like that's that sounds harsh because it's

like it's baseball I understand it's hard but I think this is what we and they didn't have rice in april like you can make excuses but i agree with you this is what i think we were anticipating and a nice part about where we're at right now and what just has me just downright giddy is not only the offense is 100 like they've i think they've mostly figured it out um i think it they face bad pitching i'm shocked by the way it's quick side note that cardinals pitching staff is just atrocious i mean the cardinals themselves this was a playoff last year you had a better record than the phillies last year i know and they're so bad i mean they're so bad team. And the pitching is even worse. I kept waiting.

I thought Bryce was going to take Nicholas like 600 feet on try. He was trying to, which I appreciate. But it's just like they're showing up and winning games. And what has me excited is, again, I'm trying not to get there because we know he can make us feel horrible in milliseconds. I mean, he was awesome today. He was awesome today. He was awesome too straight.

Should we not even say his name? We're definitely not going to say the B word or anything about him. Yeah, 27. How about that? 27. He was, I mean, the last outing in the Giant Series was nice, and we talked about it, and obviously he had the couple home runs, the solo shots, and a couple moments.

But he settled in and did a good job. Today, he was nasty. Today, he was dominant. Totally. What has been holding me back of talking about this team and how far they can go, I've always been a believer that the offense, if they get in, was going to be good because I think there's enough talent here, and they get in these big moments, and I expect them to kind of flip the switch here.

Well, they have in August. I know. Do you see that stat going around? I mean, they've already set the record for home runs in a month. Which again. In any month in the history of the franchise, and it's August 27th. They set it on the 26th. I mean, they broke it on the 26th i mean i watched the i watched the 07 to 11 phillies like you know this is not how it's supposed to be

but what was always holding me back was what am i getting out of the the number one and number two in the rotation and i think when ranger gets back hopefully he can just settle in and be the third guy and we we head in and a wild card round is those two. Or Walker. If Walker can figure it out. I still don't think that's crazy. Why are we not allowed to say Christopher Sanchez? I'm still with you.

All he does is go out and give you like six innings, two runs. Seven innings, two runs. That's all he does. It's like, why can't we talk about it? Possibly being a part of the rotation he's been insane and you talk about you like like best pitches on the team i mean the chris sanchez change up is one of the best pitches on the team um so again we'll see how september goes we'll see how everything else kind of goes but like i don't think like i would i would i would rather have christopher sanchez start a playoff game over Lorenzen or Walker.

Over Lorenzen, for sure. And, yeah, I mean, right now, today, over Walker, for sure. Right now, today, like, even if Ranger was healthy, I might start. I mean, Ranger, the history of Ranger, and how cool and calm he is in those spots. You know, it's hard for me not to to give him that shot but like in terms of right now today christopher sanchez is pitching like one of the best three starters on this team without a doubt what a world i mean the phillies clearly i mean i mean they won the curtis mead trade right like we don't is that who was i would you could you could have given me uh

i would i don't want to be hyperbolic and just be like ridiculous you could have given me – I don't want to be hyperbolic and just be ridiculous. You could have given me 15 million guesses, and I would not have gotten that it was the Curtis Meade trade. Interesting. So I did not – I was not aware. I guess I learned that at 5-12 on Sunday, August 27th, I was doing this podcast of the total fraud. I mean, are you serious? I mean, they gave up a guy who ended up being a top 50 prospect for Chris Sanchez. So, yeah.

I mean, are you serious? It's a pretty lopsided trade. But right now, Chris Sanchez is obviously – he's doing great. He's doing great. Anyway, but with the way those two are going right now and, I mean, dude, I mean, Zach Wheeler yesterday, it was just uh it's nasty yeah and apparently he made a mechanical change right before the national start nothing nothing gets me to to hook line and sinker right back in on a guy like a mechanical change. He moved his arm degree 3% and it's changed everything.

So I haven't been totally... The way it looks to me is he's doing a way better job of staying back and then finding a way to have that little extra zip on his fastball the last couple starts

which is really important. That's the funniest part about Zach Wheeler. He's been so good then finding a way to have that little extra zip on his fastball the last couple starts, which is really important. Because that's what... That's Zach Wheeler. That's the funniest part about Zach Wheeler. He's been so good, right, as a Philly. And I feel like he's never been able to locate an off-speed pitch. Like, that shows how dominant his fastball can be. It's a great point.

I'm, like, trying to think of, like, an image of him just, like, snapping one off. And I, like, I can't. I can't think of any. Like, they're all like soft kind of they're all like his his his breaking uh pitches are all show me pitches like they're just all show me pitches um so yeah it's just it's it's such an exciting time right now and i think what has me most excited james is that it feels like the city feels it like like the the the giant series we talked about dude it's been

packed down there and not even like 35 000. we're talking over 40. sellout like i looked at them like that's a sellout dude the crowd feels like a sellout the crowd last night was was one of the best regular season crowds i've seen since maybe the the uh holiday or uh the the wheeler start on holiday day like that's what it reminded me of, just crowd-wise, for a regular season game. But other than that, we're talking heyday, heyday for that crowd on Saturday night. And the Phillies were just like,

you know what we're going to do? We're just going to go out and score 12. Welcome. Don't wait. They're going to go down 1-0 and then score 12. I was nervous when they were. It was shocking. I guess you can't shut out a team without getting the lead before them. go down one nothing and then score 12 yes i was i was nervous when they were shocking i guess that's

you can't shut out a team without getting the lead before them so i'm happy they just did it right away because it was very jarring it was i was like calm down you know like especially so so not only did they score first but they also won a game the night after scoring like a million runs oh dude i yeah i i almost said that that was part of what I was saying at the front. It's not just the sweep. It was like I felt so sure they were going to lose today. I felt like that. And if they won, I felt like it was going to be one nothing

on like a Cardinals error that allowed a run to score. Like, it felt like there was no way they were coming out and doing anything. Schwarber, though, you know, like to, you know, that's what the guy does on the days when you need him. When you're clinching in Houston, he comes out and he's like, bang, let's go. It's just

everything with the team right now. It does feel like the city is now... I've been joking, texting with my cousin-in-laws or whatever, who always give me crap for being a phillies guy like oh like oh you watch every game whatever like what a loser and i heard through sources

that they now have phillies flags like outside their house what a loser what a burn oh got me and now it's like now everyone's just all in on like watching because because they're finally bringing an exciting brand of baseball. And when you see the crowd the way they've been for a home series in August, especially the last couple, I mean, not last couple years, but like 18, 19, when they were in it, no one was showing up because no one believed. This year, it's like, we're going to have your back

and let's go on a run together. Let's go on a run together. It's a love affair, dude. It is, it is an absolute love affair, this fan base and this team. It's, it's, again, we talked about this last podcast. I didn't think I would feel the, the way I do about a baseball team post 08

and like obviously the subsequent years after, like I do about this team. Like it's, it's, it like i do about this team like it's it's it's childlike it's it's bringing everything back and i just i'm so happy that for years of of us preaching baseball is not dead here the way that this fan base has just just just sold it it's just it's it's giddy it's it's so cool especially i came back like that and yes they don't have a playoff run and they did yeah but but one playoff run it was one playoff run and obviously you know they get credit for being likable and letting us into their celebrations

and kind of letting us feel that they liked each other and all that stuff and obviously that's grown and grown as we've gotten to know them better and gotten to know their camaraderie and obviously as it's gotten more and more and they've talked to how much we mean to them and the playoff experience itself of the fans where it's, you know, why Trey Turner signed here and I can feel through the TV and all that stuff. Like it's all,

it all compounds and it all adds up together. But I think like just the fact that this, that we had the run last year and it's like, Oh yeah, we love the Phillies. Like, that's cool. We do love the Phillies.

And then for, for them to start slow this year, but the fan base to stick with them and the fan base to still show up and to be there. We talked about that. Keep coming to games. And then to do that for Turner, and now they're turning it on. And it's like, yes, that's why we keep coming for this right now.

Like, give me this. This is awesome. And it's great, man. It's awesome to see and i just can't wait for the playoffs like i'm i'm so ready for i know playoff baseball here again i was thinking that today i was like i'm very happy this is great but like if i could just fast forward to october like i'm just emotionally physically like get me through october well especially get me back in that ballpark you know september like i feel i really do think that this team will will give us

a stress-free september like for the first time i do i believe or at least stress-ish free i'm sure there'll be a couple moments but i think it won't be like last year where you know it's coming down to the final days and we're like oh they're they're you know we're counting on the brewers to lose because we lost and all that stuff like i don't think it'll be like that but it's september and until they they don't make it feel like that like we you know we don't have any other experience with this group but um uh it's it's freaking thrilling man it is thrilling and to your point like that point, I think the most important thing that came out of this weekend, even though they had a 12-run barrage and they showed up and all that,

it was like seeing Wheeler and Nola do that on back-to-back days. Again, the Cardinals are a bad team, but they're not like a horrible offense. I mean, they still have some dudes who can hit there and stuff. I mean, to see them both just go out and shove like that, that's what you've been talking about all season. That's been like your number one rallying cry for this team is you know i think the bats will figure out and they're all like figure out the same time which is nice um but you know you've always besides the catcher besides the catcher trust me i was gonna get to that that was literally

gonna be my next thing that's next but like you know for them to uh you know for for you've been saying all the time like none of it matters unless they have their aces at the top. Like, you said it over and over and over again. Yeah. And, you know, the Cardinals offense definitely isn't terrible. Although, like, what is Taylor Motter doing on a big league? It's not good. It's not good.

There's a reason they're, like, you know, 20 games out of 500 or whatever. Yeah. But, like, listen, it doesn't matter. It was eye test. There's a reason they're like 20 games out of 500 or whatever. Yeah, but listen. It was eye test. You could see it. They would have done that against anybody today. I agree. I agree.

And Nola especially because Wheeler's been really good. I mean, Wheeler, I know I kind of – I just don't like – Wheeler's been better than his numbers, Chef. Yeah, I'm just not a war guy when it comes to pitching. But, like. Well, yeah, I feel like this Kyle Schwerber season might make me officially reject war moving forward. Well, it should have.

Ryan Howard's season is back in the day. It's like you're telling me that he's a less, like, stop. Like, that's stupid. Like, I'm sorry. That needs to adjust for players like this because that's stupid like i'm sorry this that needs to adjust for players like this because that's incredibly stupid to tell me that he's like a negative player like you're dumb i'm sorry uh but pitching war like i just i think it's hard to quantify whatever i don't think just like defense like the defensive stats are still not great you know yeah but good they're

good but they're not like perfect you know no you know? No, no. Listen, listen. As always, I test this game. I test this game. But what Nola has specifically done, the last two starts, I think, is really exciting. Today was definitely better than his last start, even though I thought it was really good in his last start, but today was obviously a different level. I thought what he did better today than I've seen in, I mean, ages, is he made such an emphasis to get on top of the ball and drive it down. And he was low in the zone. The moment where it really stuck out to me is he very deliberately spiked a curveball.

And it was maybe 60 feet feet or not 60 feet maybe 59 feet but he threw it so directly like into the ground that you could tell that what they told him was get on top of the fastball get on top of everything when when you're not doing that that's when balls are leaving the yard so get on top of it he was down and then what what made him so effective today first off dotting both sides of the plate with with ease which is again been a while it feels like but it was down down down down down and then up and that's like that's the plan and like down down down have their eye level looking down and then when you raise it it's jarring to them but he can't be a

guy that starts at the hip or I guess the hip he can't be a guy that starts the hip and you know goes up but if he's a guy living at the knees and then going up that works so he was very made a very very concerted effort to get on top of the baseball keep it down and it just it it mean they reap the benefits of it um so again i don't want to get too ahead of myself and i don't think we should you never do it's not your it's not your style at all. I am trying my hardest, but that is good stuff if you can just keep it going.

Yeah, it's all about keeping it going. He also dominates the Cardinals. He threw a complete game against them last year. I was thinking, and the playoffs start. And the playoffs start. Yeah, I know. I was thinking about that. So, you know, I agree.

We need to see more of it, but it's encouraging, especially to your point, which it is, King. Like, the eye test today. today, he just looked nasty. He looked pretty much nastier than he has all season. Maybe only one or two other times this season I feel like I've watched him and just been so impressed with his stuff.

All right, I want to talk. We're going to talk JT, obviously, and then I want to get to one good thing and then take back some sure gets to the rest there. But quickly on JT, I know he had the two hits today whatever i mean they put up 12 runs he's literally the only person in the starting lineup who wasn't on the stat sheet like there were other people who had no hits they scored runs like he was literally the only starter who did nothing he has been we've kept waiting for it and look everyone's turning around and the good we're gonna get to is price

because i want to talk price in a sec because by, by the way, he's batting.306, like no big deal. Like if Bryce Harper had played more, like we'd be talking about, are we sure Freddie Freeman and Acuna and Betts are fighting for the MVP? Can Bryce sneak into this thing? Dude, real quick. Mookie, I believe, is hitting.458 this month. Yeah, Mookie's been insane, dude. He's just been like, oh, you think Acuna's winning it?

Guess what? And like Mookie's numbers are better all of a sudden. I thought Acookie's been insane, dude. He's just been like, oh, you think Acuna's winning it? Guess what? And Mookie's numbers are better all of a sudden. I thought Acuna had it locked up. I mean, Freddie Freeman has 50 doubles. It's August 27th. What is happening? All right, we'll get to Harvard in a sec. But JT, it's like all these guys have turned a corner. Every single one of them.

Trey Turner, obviously we know when that happened. All these guys have shown up. Nick's been what he's been all season. That type of stuff. And JT was like, oh, the Toronto series. We're going to get, you know, or been, you know, Nick's been what he's been all season, you know, that type of stuff. And, and JT, it was like, Oh, the Toronto series, we're going to get, you know, or last year. And now we're going to wait for that this year. And it's going to happen.

Like he has just looked lost consistently. I mean, we talked about last time that strikeout in the night, the ninth of that giants game, they should, it should be on a six game winning streak right now. I don't know if they won before. Yeah. Yeah. Six, right.

I mean, it should be one, six straight. They should have swept back to-game winning streak right now. I don't know if they won before. Yeah, six straight. I mean, they should have won six straight. They should have swept back-to-back series. But, you know, where are you at with JT? Are we at the point where it's just like this is what we're getting this year and you hope for the best, hope he gets a hold of one luckily or someone hangs one to him or something? Standing O? Does he need a standing O?

No. No, we can't do it. We can't do it um so here's my thoughts on jt is i i mean stub started friday which i thought was interesting i thought i thought stuff's gonna start today like especially with the well that's what they usually do yeah so i was a little surprised by that um but maybe with a righty on the mound with Giolito tomorrow that they put Stubbs out there again. I don't know. But I guess how I feel about JT is that he's

batting seventh, and he's just not killing him. I know the strikeout happened. Yeah, I agree with you. When Turner was batting two and Cassianos was batting four, those are really important spots in the lineup that you just can't have no production out of. Seventh, sure, contract aside, you're paying $25 million and he's just not living up to it.

I'm at the point where he's batting low. I don't think he's really killing them. I'm not anticipating what he did after the Toronto series last year at all. But it's not something that I'm melting down about every day. Because I also know that the offense is not going to be all hot at the same time. So maybe if they go down a little bit here, then JT can kind of take off. I like that. I like that.

It's just like it hasn't felt that terrible we know that he can do it he has it in him and he has it in him to kind of turn on a dime we've seen that before um i'm not super optimistic or super hopeful but i do think to your point that i don't think he's killing them and look you know maybe uh maybe in the playoffs we just get you know let stubs play at citizens bank park and play JT in the road games and just follow that home road thing. It's shocking. Stunning.

The numbers are stunning. I mean, it obviously has to be a thing now. Yeah. I mean, it's almost September. Yeah. I mean, it's not a huge sample size, but it's a sample size. All right. Last thing before the take bag, or actually, excuse me, right uh last thing before the take bag or actually excuse me before our guest then the take back um bryce i mean dude they showed the now i mean he

has he has like i think what he has nine homers since he also break he had five before it or maybe it's like 11 actually or something so i don't know what it is but he's been like he's just a completely different player than he was a month ago. It's awesome. He's not a completely different player. He's Bryce Harper again. He's locked in. I would argue the guy that was not hitting home runs.

Oh, I like that. I like that. Yeah, he's back to being Bryce Harper. Well done. Good work, play by you. Well, I mean, think about it. It feels like all the stars in baseball have kind of just figured it out the last month and a half. We just talked about Mookie.

We talked about Freddie Freeman. We talked about, I mean, dude, Julio Rodriguez, Ron, is also insane. He raised his average like 20 points in August in like a week. It was like insane. That like is impossible. Yeah. I mean, Trey Turner looks closer to being to being back to being Trey Turner than, than we had thought.

So it's just, there's just not enough that you can say about the guy to where it's, you know, he gets big hits and big moments. He extends the lead today. You know, it's a two nothing game kind of tight bang. Harper at the single late makes it three nothing.

And then that just kind of calms down a lot of people, you know, I mean, this bullpen has been good, but there's still that little bit of fear of their leaking oil at the wrong time. And it's just everything righty, lefty. I mean, he just does it all. The one thing about Bryce that I'm just interested in, like what are we doing with the first base thing because I'm with it's what six straight games that Bryce isn't it's been since the little league game on Sunday I mean he didn't

inside the park on Ronnie he had a game where he had four balls 110 miles an hour he's crushing the ball I'd be shocked frankly if the back injury was still there um they're winning like i can't tell if they're trying to do this thing where they're winning with bryce at dh and shoreburn left at the at the moment but like are you telling me that in the second half of september and as we get into the postseason that that short was gonna be out there or can we can we iron out the problems now with bryce at first base so that by the time the playoffs roll around we're we're firing on all cylinders that's yeah no it's um it's important it's it's a it's just it it has to be a thing at this point so i don't know what it is maybe

they're trying to do the whole thing we're winning with schwarber and left field and bryce the dh and maybe they're maybe they're saying what bryce is doing at dh outweighs what schwarber does defensively and maybe they felt like bryce at first base wasn't having the same level of offensive production i guess you can make that case um but i would just like it's so much it's so much better when you can make that case. But I would just like, it's so much better when you can have Rojas and Marsh out there, Schwarber the DH, and Bryce at first base. I think he's been fine. He's not a gold glover. It was never

about being perfect this year. It was about figuring it out. But either way, what he's doing at the plate, the way he's carrying this team, and really just his energy feeding into the rest of the ball club is, is a big reason why I think they've gone on this, on this insane run. Totally agree with you. Like, uh, it's, uh,

it's like we saw in the playoffs last year that that was the feeling, you know, his energy kind of his talent kind of led, you know, kind of was the catalyst for everything. And it's awesome. All right. Uh, special guests in a sec, shout out to the Miller light bar of the week. And this is what I've been doing many times. It's a great barn Philly. I love this place. Shout out to Oscars tavern.

Uh, today's Miller light bar of the week is Oscars tavern in center city. We can watch all Philly's games with $3 Miller light pint specials. Check out Oscars tavern on Facebook. Oscars is an awesome place. Hey, fantasy football owners, the road to winning your fantasy football championship starts now.

I'm Matt Harmon from Reception Perception. Join me and James Coe as we take a deep dive into the position that's going to make or break your fantasy roster. Wide receivers. We analyze route running, target share, and all the metrics that matter, giving you the insights you need to draft the best wide receivers. As you prep for your draft, let us give you the coverage you need follow and listen to perception perception on the free odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts all right uh what a pleasure i mean jack and i uh you know just a couple idiots

doing a podcast and you know we get to talk to a major league baseball player who like you know appreciates us and and when he's in town he's like yeah sure like we love you mick mickey modiac our guy like our the official baseball player of the iops podcast whether he's a philly or not um took some time to talk to us take back coming up in a few but uh we hope you enjoy this i know he's the enemy for three days but i'm i'm pretty sure everyone who's a member of the high hopes community is is always going to be a fan of this guy so uh here's uh here's our guy mickey moniak join us a little bit ago all right it's our distinct pleasure to welcome

back to the podcast multiple time guest friend of the pod he may be playing for the angels right now but he will always be the favorite baseball player of this podcast, no matter where he is. Our guy crushing it out in L.A., no big deal. Showy Ohtani tells people, I play with Mickey Moniak. Mickey! What up, fellas? Now, I mean, again, I told you this this morning,

but if you need me to organize a standing O and get the whole fan base ready to go, I got your back, man. It's going to be a good sign. The boy returns home. I don't know about all that, but definitely excited to be back for a few days. And, yeah, it should be fun.

It should be good seeing everybody and being back to where it all started. Well, I'll tell you what. Citizens Bank Park's a little different than the last time you were around. Well, Mick, let's start with that. Go ahead, bud. Go ahead. No, no.

I mean, what do you got? What's different? I was just going to say, like, I want to get to the Angel stuff and what it's been like out there. But seeing from afar, like, the standing ovations for turner thing and and how you know he's talked about it changing his season and all that as someone who played here and and saw what it was like and was back you know and saw that playoff atmosphere what's it like to see that from afar and kind of see you know from the outside knowing what it's like you know yeah i thought it

was i thought it was incredible i think uh you know just Yeah, I thought it was, I thought it was incredible. I think, you know, just watching the playoff run that the boys had last year and, you know, just seeing how that fan base rallied around the guys during that whole run to the World Series was, you know, something that, you know, when I got drafted, I dreamed of being a part of. And, you know, obviously that didn't happen, but being able to watch it and see, you know, all the guys that I dreamed of being a part of. And, you know, obviously that didn't happen. But being able to watch it and see, you know, all the guys that I grew up with, some of my closest friends, you know, still to this day, be able to experience that was special. And, you know, just kind of shows what the Philly fan base is all about.

And, you know, what I knew it was all about, you know, just had to get some winning involved and once that happened it was uh it was awesome to see it and then obviously you know watching you know watching what they did for trey rallying around him and and now kind of seeing him go on that that surge and uh be the trey turner that that they signed is uh it was super cool to watch for sure now obviously we'll we'll get back to some Phil stuff, but, man, you're killing it out in L.A. How's it been?

I mean, like a big kind of like weight lifted off your shoulder, and now just watching from afar, it just seems like you can just go out there and play. What's it been like as an Angel? It's been great. You know, I think as much as I would have liked to be doing this in Philly, I think a change of scenery was good for me. And, you know, just kind of getting a fresh start.

Obviously didn't play the way I wanted to for the Phills. And I'm grateful for every second that I got to spend there and all the development that I did there. You know, I don't think that I'm doing what I'm doing right now without everything that went on, you know, the don't think that I'm doing what I'm doing right now without everything that went on, you know, the seven years I played in Philadelphia and, you know, coming through the minor leagues there. So it's been fun, man. I think, like you said, just going out and playing baseball, trusting myself, having confidence in myself. And, you know,

I've always known it was in there. It's just took a little bit to come out. knowing it was in there, it just took a little bit to come out. Yeah, and, I mean, it helps your plan with, you know, Shohei Otani and Mike Trout. Like, I mean, James and I are baseball geeks, and, like, our fans are all geeks. Like, I mean, can you explain to us, like, what Shohei Otani is? Honestly, I honestly don't think I can do that because it's one of the most impressive things

that I've ever gotten to watch on a baseball field. You know, I've been fortunate enough to play with a lot of really good players, you know, in my short career so far. And, you know, just for me going out there and getting ready for the starter, you know, every day. And, you know, that's tough enough. But, you know, when he was going out there and getting ready for the starter, you know, every day. And, you know, that's tough enough. But, you know, when he was going out there every fifth day, getting ready to face, you know, an opposing lineup and dominate them

and then go out there and get three hits and maybe a homer or two. You know, I've seen some of the crazier feats that have been accomplished in this game firsthand. So it's something that I'll be able to tell my kids about. You know, I think the one in particular that stands out was when we were in Detroit, you know, going out there throwing the complete game shutout and then going out to homers. And yeah, I was watching that on. I was that it was like during the day I was home. I was watching that as it happened. I'm like, geez, man, it's ridiculous. He's not of this planet. It's yeah. I mean mean it's something i'm

gonna tell my kids about that's that's the best way to put it yeah i mean i think you're playing with the greatest baseball player of all time personally like that's like like i don't even know you can argue it you know you can say other people have had better careers but in terms of just like pure talent like the best ever mick wanted to ask, you talked a little bit before about kind of getting a fresh start in Los Angeles. And I've always found that interesting as someone who doesn't play the game. You always hear that with you. I mean, you were the number one pick in the draft, you know, like a top prospect. You always hear that with top prospects who sometimes don't get the opportunity somewhere or it doesn't work out.

And if they go somewhere else and succeed or it doesn't work out and they go somewhere else and succeed it's like oh they just needed a fresh start like like how real is that like that is that something that is is like tangible to you i think it's very real real um you know i think a few things go into that i don't think it's just like i think when you say a fresh start i think there's a lot that that goes into just that statement right there I think for me it was you know when I was with Philly I there wasn't a real long leash for good reason and you know I didn't I didn't validate getting everyday opportunities to play I think you know there was a lot of money on the field the The team was built to win now, and obviously we saw that last year

making the World Series run. For me, it took a little bit to get comfortable. It took a little bit to kind of feel confident in the box in the big leagues and facing big league pitching and kind of just slowing the game down. I think for me it came with reps. So in that sense, coming over to Anaheim um last year not really in a playoff hunt kind of just had a little bit longer of a leash to go out there and get every day at bats and and kind of fail and learn and figure out how to how to hit in the big leagues you know

what i need to do on a daily basis and and uh kind of just refine an approach up there was something that i needed and and um you know, unfortunately that, that, uh, opportunity wasn't given in Philly for good reason, like I said, and, uh, you know, no ill will towards anybody over there. You know, I think I'm always grateful for the times that I spent over there, the people that I met, um, you know, that whole, that whole journey, like I said, led me to here. And then on top of that just being back in california hour away from home um you know i tell the story when i got traded i uh the travel guy tom taylor with the angels called me and was uh he's like so we're gonna fly you into orange county and at the

time my car was at my parents house i was like i think you can just fly me to san diego and i can just pick up my car and drive up and i remember that once once i asked that it's kind of just set in and then you know had my girlfriend pick me up at the airport in san diego that next day and uh you know got my car and drove literally an hour to the stadium you know the same drive that i made a hundred times when i was a kid going to travel ball tournaments up north in orange county and um it was just a surreal feeling just remember driving by angel stadium on a you know always in awe of it you know never went there as a kid growing up but always drove by it and you know it sticks out like a sore thumb it's right off the freeway it's right there and uh so, yeah, it was something that was pretty cool.

I remember driving up to the stadium and just kind of being like, wow, I'm going here to work now. It's not – we're in the big leagues. I think, yeah, just a lot of things going into the so-called fresh start was huge for me. Yeah, for sure. And, you know, obviously, I mean, you were hitting tanks early this season out there in L.A.

I mean, where did this power come from, man? Like, you were, like, what, 140 pounds when we drafted you? Oh, about 142 maybe. Soaking wet. No, I don't know. Hey, listen, I hit six in spring training last year. People forget that. People forget that.

Well, and you broke your wrist. Well, listen, listen, Ryan Yarbrough is still, like, Ryan Yarbrough is still enemy number one of this podcast. Yeah, man. I hate that guy. Trent Thornton hit Bryce in his first year here, and Bryce is a little gimpy. John Lennon broke Utley's hand in 07. And Ryan Yarbrough.

Those are the three guys who I can't stand. Yeah, Blake Snell. If the Phillies hadn't have made the playoffs last year. Blake Snell. Hadn't had his run, Blake Snell would be right on that list, too. We remember them. Genesis Cabrera. Well, because, dude.

I remember all this. The game. It was the last freaking game of spring training. And it was in Tampa. And you hit a home run. And you were white hot. Like, white hot all spring. Unbelievable.

Unbelievable. We were like yes mickey i'll never forget it was like no yeah i remember it was it was the weirdest thing too because i had a feeling after my first at-bat hitting that home run i don't know what it was but in the back of my head you know you get those just like something's not right like there's a bad feeling in the back of your head. And it was, it was a weird moment, but you know, it,

it happened and it sucked and you know, just got to move on, learn from it. And then obviously getting hit again, got, got to Anaheim and got hit again. That sucked too. So,

and then got hit. Just stop getting hit. It was, it was a rollercoaster last last year so just grateful to be uh to be healthy this year and luckily not getting hit in the hand three times it's definitely pretty sweet oh my god yeah well i mean listen we are obviously happy for you um and it's been like it's just been like honestly now the pressure's off you know at least here because like with you it was like that's our guy like

he's our future here and now it's like you can just go cook elsewhere you know what I mean like so unfortunately we're not reaping the rewards of you going off but it's okay we're just happy for you man we just want you to succeed and maybe someday you'll find your way

back here you know and let me tell you something else too Mick seriously like no joke dude Yeah, that's all. You just want you to succeed. Yeah. And maybe someday you'll find your way back here, you know? Yes. And let me tell you something else, too, Mick, seriously. Like, no joke, dude. Whenever you are done playing baseball in 15 years or whatever it is, like, you could talk about baseball, man. You're a good talker. Like, that's another, like, you know,

whenever they offer those classes to active players, hey, you want to get into media or whatever, you know, don't turn your nose at it, man. Like really talk so i thought about it just throwing that out there too no doubt hey nothing's off the table good yeah ever so i'm curious uh obviously you like you've been in the dugout with rob thompson um obviously gerardi took over the beginning or gerardi was the manager at the beginning of last year what do you see from rob thompson um obviously gerardi took over the beginning or gerardi was the manager beginning of last year what do you see from rob thompson like are you are you surprised that that how well he's done since taking over for this team um i mean again you were in the clubhouse with him not at all not at all i think um i think topper's the perfect perfect guy for that group of guys

you know i think he's a perfect manager not only only for the Phillies, but, I mean, he could manage anywhere. He's just got that trust in his guys. I think, you know, when I was over there and even when I wasn't playing well, you know, Tomper always made me feel like I could go out there and get four hits that night. You know, he showed confidence in me even when, you know, I didn't deserve it at times. I think that's just the kind of manager, that's just the kind of guy he is he's uh even keeled he you know

there's no panic and topper it's uh you know who he is is what you get and it's uh he's the perfect guy for that job and you know when he got the job last year that guy's been in baseball forever and you know never got the opportunity to manage and you know, I remember when when Girardi did get fired and we got the text that that Topper was going to be the manager. I just remember being, you know, it's a weird day, obviously, because you don't want your manager to get fired. But I remember being pretty excited to see what Topper can do. And, you know, just that first meeting we had with him in the clubhouse that day uh you could feel that that things were going to start changing and obviously they did i remember i think we'll be going like a 10 game win streak after topper took over yeah something like that nine or ten i think it was yeah and it was it was it was on

after that so uh yeah i'm excited to see him you know he's he stayed in touch with me uh you know reached out from time to time. And, you know, he's always been in my corner even when, you know, I was in the minor leagues and he was still the bench coach. So it's definitely really, really cool to see, really cool to watch. Yeah, no, he comes on the morning show with us once every other week and he's, like, the nicest guy in the world. And he's so genuine and he gives you honest answers,

like really honest answers. And obviously his story finally getting a chance at his age is amazing. One more for me, Mick. You mentioned the guys early on when you're talking about watching the squad last year and the ovations in Philly and all that. Guys who are your best buds in the world, guys you came up with came up with, you know, seeing what Bryson, you know, Stott is doing this season, what Bomer's doing, what those guys that you kind of grew up with are doing.

Like, what's that like to see? And did you know that they had it in them this quick? Like, that Bryson Stott could go from what he was last year to a guy who's, like, among the batting average leaders in the sport this year. Like, you know, what's it like to see that from afar? And did you expect it to happen this quick? Yeah, I mean, I definitely expected it. I played with Bomer in, you know, that year in AA in 19

when he hit almost damn near 30 homers and hit 300. And, you know, it was, I remember just being like, that's going to play in the big leagues. I remember telling people, you know, he's one of just being like that. That's going to play in the big leagues. I remember telling people, you know, he's one of the better hitters I've ever seen. And, you know, obviously he's doing what he's doing. Definitely not surprised by that. And then Stoddard, you know, I got to play a little bit with Stoddard, obviously the the alt site and then came up a little bit in 21 and in Lehigh.

And then, you know, 22 last year had a great spring training, in Lehigh, and then 22 last year. Had a great spring training, obviously, and made the team and got off to a tough start, but that happens. I remember there was some analytical stat. I'm not a big analytics guy. I don't really pay attention, but someone brought it up, and it was like he was hitting a buck 80, but had some of the worst luck in baseball

he could have been hitting like 250 260 so you know i think him getting the opportunity and just getting more at bats it's obviously you know it's it's baseball things are gonna things are gonna turn you know if you just stay the course and you know he's he's done that. Yeah, but by no means am I surprised with what they're doing. You know, they're studs. It's been fun to watch and I'm excited to share the feel with them again coming up, even though it's an opposing dugout. For sure. Now, people do forget.

I know Boehm and Stoddard, you know, they get a lot of credit revealing part of the philly's daycare yeah i mean like i mean you were part of that as well how did that like how did that whole thing start i think schwarber was messing around with it one day maybe k long talking about you know i think one of the games there was like six of us in the lineup that day and it's like oh and I think like a couple of us did something. We won the game. And I think they were just joking around about, you know, the daycare won the day, like won the game today.

The daycare this, daycare that. And then we kind of ran with it. And, you know, we made shirts and, you know, just kind of embraced it. And it was fun you know obviously you got guys like Schwartz and and JT and Bryce you know veteran guys and then you had us young guys running around causing havoc Nick Maton throwing up wolfie to every single person he's feeling Bomer being the guy he is Stoddard. You know, I think it was fun. It was a good mix of young guys and older guys.

And I think the older guys, they let us, you know, feel comfortable in that clubhouse last year, at least when I was there. And, you know, kind of allowed us to be us and kind of mess around and let the youth, you know, take over a little bit. And I think that's kind of where the daycare kind of comes

from awesome people always talk about like schwarber and it's like oh he's batting 180 like this 180 that whatever like and a lot of from the outside it's like he's a great leader whatever like what what makes schwarber like a great leader and like kind of changing that clubhouse around he's just he's the same guy every day and uh you know he he wants everyone to be included he wants you know the team to to be doing stuff together he wants to bond with everybody because he knows you know when you make those deep runs in the postseason and he's been there a lot you know you got to be tight you got to stick together and um you know you, you win, you win, you lose. You play tomorrow.

So, you know, he was good at, you know, celebrating the wins. And it's hard to win the big leagues. And when you do win, you should enjoy it. But also if you lose, screw it. Tomorrow's a new day. And, you know, we got a game at 7 o'clock tomorrow. It doesn't change that game. So I think just having that presence,

having the experience that he's had in the post season and, and you know, just being there, winning a world series. You know, I think that was huge for us last year to, to have him there. And, and yeah, I mean, I think, you know, when everyone, everyone talks about him being a good clubhouse guy, I think that's an understatement because, I mean, his value to a team is immense, whether he's hitting a buck 80. I mean, he's hitting a buck 80, but he's got 30-some homers,

and he walks and gets on base. It's just like, you know, the old bad average stats. It's not us saying it, Mick. It's not us saying it. It's people outside of us saying it, yeah. And people, you know how it goes. Everyone's got their opinion and they're entitled to it. But he's, you know, I think he's playing to his contract.

He's playing to what the Phillies thought of him. And, you know, I can't begin to tell you guys how much he means to that clubhouse, for sure. At least when I was there. And I'm sure still to this day. I'm sure. I don't think he's changed in the last year or two. Last one for me. So you obviously play with Shohei.

You play with Trout. But I know you're also in attendance for, speaking of Shorbs, his 488-foot home run in San Diego last year. Furthest ball you've ever seen live is the Schwarber home run or what? You know, it might. I think Scholl might have hit one 490-something this year, unfortunately. I'm sure he did. I'm sure he did.

Sorry, Schwartz, but that was. Yeah, of course he did. Why not? Put it this way. Put it this way. I went to Petco Park growing up as a kid, you know, my whole life until I got drafted and went to a bunch of Padre games. And I was at one of the Dodger games.

We were sitting up in right field a little bit. There's like a little tunnel. We were kind of right above the tunnel for the game. And I remember someone nearby asking, like, you think we're going to get a home run hit here? I was like no never seen a ball hit here and then and then obviously was there for for the the series against the Phillies and he went over that upper deck so I mean I I he did something that I didn't think was possible and I've watched a lot of a lot of home runs been hit in that stadium and and that that was by far was possible. And I've watched a lot of, a lot of home runs been hit in that stadium.

And, and that, that was by far the furthest one I've seen hit in that stadium for sure. It's awesome. Yeah. I mean, the dude is just, I mean,

when he gets a hold of one, like really get, even when he doesn't, when he like gets off the end of the bat, it finds its way out. But I mean, when he really gets older, when it is,

it's majestic. It's unlike many things I've seen. Uh, Mick, seriously, like we can't tell you how much it means to us to spend some time with us. And I say at the top, but it's true. You're our favorite baseball player. I apologize to all the Phillies. We love all our Phillies.

All of them are our second favorite. But you're our top guy. We're rooting for you. I'll be at the game on Wednesday. I'll be giving you a standing out. I promise you that. You're our guy, man. Thanks for everything. I'll be at the game on Wednesday. I'll be giving you a standing out. I promise you that. You're our guy, man. Thanks for everything. We appreciate it.

I appreciate you guys, man. All the support, everything. It's good to talk to you guys again. It'll be good to see you guys, hopefully, in the next couple days. Take it easy, though. We gotta... Listen,

we're not knocked out of it yet. No, you're not. I'll do my best. Okay. Everyone just does their best. Let's all go out there. Everyone go out there and have a good time. Everyone go out there.

All right, Mick. Thanks so much, man. I appreciate you guys. The best. The best. Plus, I didn't call Mickey Morandini at the end of the interview, so I was proud of myself. Didn't mess that up.

I do like that the YouTube audience just saw what we do when we play interviews, which is pause. Oh, yeah, just the pause. Five seconds. 27 minutes because I'm editing. 27 minutes in got it well yeah yeah and cut it so um listening magic you heard it that way right um but yeah he's just i thought

he had good stuff on the fills and me too um you know i was serious he could do he could do tv or radio someday like he's a really good talker he's clearly a very bright guy. I think it was really interesting to hear him talk about the fresh start stuff and all that. He seems introspective. He's a good thinker. He's awesome, man. That's why we loved him originally. We rooted for him as a player.

The reason we loved to have him on the pod is because we used to have all these, not that we had many big-time guests or anything back in the day, but we would get Meyer League guys on or whatever. We had Bohm on. Not like any of these guys were bad talk guests or anything back in the day. We would get Meyer League guys on or whatever. We had Bowman and not like any of these guys were bad talkers or anything, but they just weren't super talkative or whatever. Mickey came on and he was just ripping off

jokes and being awesome. We were like, our guy. Our guy. The YouTube commenters were all confused as to why we stopped talking. That's why the youtube commenters were all confused as to why that we stopped talking so that's why i explained it okay so that's why so youtube commenters that's a little tease for you you gotta listen to the actual podcast and then you get the interview with mickey moniak all right

uh take back time i hear my wife starting to make dinner in the kitchen so it's it's take back time pritzy sounds good um and you gotta go to the boardwalk and see your son on the boardwalk the first time his life yeah probably like yesterday or today or whatever well he's too small for the rides at this point too and i know but you can see his eyes light up light up with the joy of it yes yes um although i i just wish i wasn't too big for like a log flume I was a big fan of the what are they called? Slides that you could go down

and talk big fan of slides right now a big fan of slides big takes on my iOS podcast can Kyle Schwimmer get to 50? Maybe. I mean, was he at 37 or 38 today?

What was that? I think that it was 37. I think it was 37, too. I mean, look, has Kyle Schwarber hit 13 homers in a month before? Yes, he has. He sure has. Yeah, he could. I wouldn't count on it, but he could, sure.

And people will still not like him. I just want to make sure that's still out there. By the way, don't look now. 189, just saying. Getting closer. Mendoza is quaking in his boots right now. Come on, Kyle. Come on, Kyle.

Yeah, him getting to 50 would just be hilarious just another reason why his season is just breaking people's brains is 50 50 100 rbi 100 runs third most walks in baseball more strikeouts as batting average is what a perfect player first defensive left fielder in baseball. He was born to make people angry. It's so good. Oh, and like the best clubhouse guy of all time by many people. Mickey Moniak just talked about it. Yeah.

Yeah, he's perfect. So there's a – and I felt it too in watching him. I always think like, hey, Trey, why don't you steal more? But the more and more I think about it, like, Trey's betting two. After him is Harper, Castellanos, Stott, Boehm, whatever. It's a lot of – You want to take the bat out of those guys' hands, yeah. Like, I know he'll probably make it.

I think he's 23 for 23 on the season. He'll probably make it. Yeah, he has a chance to set the record. He tied it, I believe, right? Chase's? I mean, that makes sense. I'm pretty sure. So, yeah, so I think there have been more who have gotten more consecutive in a row,

but Chase's record of 23 for 23 in a season is the most in a season without getting caught. So I think if he just steals one more and then doesn't run again, he could have the record. But obviously, let's hope he you know tries for more yeah yeah so like i think i think trey with two outs it makes sense like if if it's two outs and harper's um at the plate but even then it's like you could take a home run yeah what are we doing yeah so i felt it you know and i'm not even i'm watching the games like well why isn't trey stealing i think if i was if i was rob thompson and i was the phillies and i have those hitters coming up after him just let them hit and if they hit one in the gap he can score anyway um and they can take the ball to the ballpark rather than the risk of trey turner

stealing second and or getting thrown out trying to steal second. Yeah, I don't disagree. Obviously, if you think you have a particular advantage, like it's a center guard type guy on the mound or something, obviously go for it. But I generally agree. There is – I love – I think Johan Rojas has been a revelation. And I just – I'm very interested to see how he progresses here. There is nothing funnier than watching the ball die off his back.

Oh, I know. It was so funny. It was like, it's gone! It always dies, dude. It's like I'm sitting there. I'm like, I've seen that hit 10,000 times since Bank Park. That's a home run. Every time it's like, it's gone.

Wow. It's like he hits's like he he hits it with uh a pool noodle yeah and it just like it i don't i can't explain it i've never seen a player who hits the ball imaginary parachute that he ball rockets off the bat and at certain point just pops out and slows it down it's wild it's It's insane. It's insane. Every time I'm like, here comes the Johan Rojas cold streak hitting, he always is just like,

he's fine. And what he does defensively. 280-ish or whatever. He's been pretty solid. Defensively, it's worth it, especially if you can keep him on the bench. And I asked Topper about that when he was on the morning show about pass shaking. No big deal. Yeah, no big deal. Just a flex. No big deal. He said how they have the extra

roster spot for September now. So like they're set. So, you know, we're all speeders. It's good. It's not 40. It's not a 40 man roster. Which we talked about is so dumb. Thank God. Yeah, it's like poor Giants fans. Geez. I know. I haven't watched that every night. And then, um, last thing to take

back. I just, he closed it out. And then, um, last thing to take back. I just, he, he closed it out today, but I just, there's something about Kimbrough. Like he's pitched a lot this year. He's getting older. I would, if they,

if they can get like a five, six or like six game lead with like 2020 to play, like shelving for, for a couple of weeks, a little bit, just, just shut him down for a little bit. Make sure he's good for the postseason because he's down

like 95 tonight. Jack, a million percent with this. I couldn't agree with this more. And I'm not... Especially because, I mean, I talked about last podcast. Alvarado is good to see him again, but stuff didn't look like it flashed. I feel like the last couple outings, it's getting

back there. Today, it definitely looked – I thought today was like – you were like, oh, that looks like Jose. Hey, also, what a crazy concept. Like, hey, starters, pitch late into a game, and then I don't think Serenity pitched this weekend, did he? Did he go maybe Friday night? Yeah, maybe Friday. I don't remember.

But like all these guys are so not being worked at all right now to where it's like, just go deep into the games and then give the bullpen a little bit of a rest because they've been carrying them for a while. Yes, they did not pitch Friday. I would be shocked. They wouldn't have picked in the 12-1 game because they brought Wheeler back out, remember?

And then it was Hoffman, and then it was Covey. Covey! Bounce back Covey! Covey! so yeah like these guys aren't pitching yeah no it wasn't hoffman it was uh soda not not not excuse me it was soda um but yeah so um the kimbrough thing i'm definitely let's let's let's see what we can do here to to get him some time off alvarado being back's big saranthony more well rested strom i don't think they used him this weekend which is also good because they need him to to to be

healthy um it's good it's a good spot to be in and now the angels come into town um and it it's time to time to sweet nikki uh yeah it is it is though it is i mean they've been they've been a disaster it's a shame i feel bad. If there were any Angels fans, I would feel bad for them that your team goes out and makes all these moves and then tanks the moment the trade deadline happens. Oh, God. Worst case scenario. Tough. Thank God they have Mick. I'd be

grabbing on. It's all I got is I'm an Angels fan. Mick. Shohei's leaving. Trout's a shell of himself. Thank God for Mick. I think the crowds are going to be insane because they bought tickets thinking they were going to maybe see Shohei pitch.

It's going to be a great time. I expect $40K. Plus, we get to see Logan Ohapi finally play his business in Spank Park like we always dreamed. All of us had many dreams of him heading into a Sea of Red. It won't be a sea of red but alright you got any final thoughts

before I go to dinner Fritzy I'm gonna go to the boardwalk oh yeah you are and especially like coming off of Phil's win this is great you could stroll up with a big smile on your face be like you know what I think I got life figured out right now

yep that's what many people say that the guy that has life figured out is the yep that's what that's what many people say that the guy that has life figured out is the guy doing a podcast instead of being on the board yeah go to your family i'm gonna go to mine pot will be up soon we love everybody shout out to our guy he's for himself We'll see you next time.