High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Phils (and Jack) Dominated Today

Episode Date: July 10, 2025

The Philadelphia Phillies put up 13 runs today and Bryce Harper got four hits in the win over the Giants. James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to the win and discuss Jack's domination of Joe DeCamara in today's baseball contest. Presented by Miller Lite, To purchase Ring The Bell by Jack Fritz and Kevin Reavy go to RingTheBellBook.com To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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It's for Miller Lite being a partner that thought of you face. It's familiar like being a partner of this podcast hosted by one Mr. Jack, the big dog friends. What up, pal? How you doing? Last time we recorded a pod on a, you know, this type of situation was a lot less fun. A lot more of a dower type of pod. How you doing? Yeah, one of us looking for a way out and no longer need to worry about that. We got everything. We got everything back on track. I really back on track. So yeah, it was pretty,

pretty insane day. Pretty insane day. Was surprised it went a dough. I really I got I thought at least there'd be a walk in there. I did too. You really you threw strikes. You gotta cut. I think the up gave you a couple calls maybe, but not many. For the most part, I thought it you. I mean you threw strikes. I thought there were like two pitches that were a little high

that he called a strike, but for the most part, balls. Yeah, yeah, coin flip. But for the most part you came in, you just threw strikes and it worked as we expected. I was definitely, I was definitely worried that he was going to call those balls. I was like, ah, that's close. That's close.

The second pitch pretty like I was like, Ooh, we gave it to you. Got you off on a good fight. It was good. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So, uh, yeah, no, it was, I realized early. I didn't need to throw that like super hard I just yeah strikes. Yeah, that's what I said I was like if you throw strikes you're gonna beat him like he's not gonna hit 70, you know, he just won't 70 I got like 72 ish if I had to guess 70 or somewhere in that range No, there's times where I like try to throw it harder and well the last one the high heat was pretty

Fast, I don't know what it clocked at but when you you went all out with the high heat at the end and got him Dead to swing and miss you you went for it there. You could see it Leave it all in the field The biggest thrill for me was being able to come out to rooster and pretend I was exactly I saw Zach. Oh, I saw a buddy. I was pretty excited about that. I will add and Trey Turner wishing you good luck. Try those two are the biggest thrills.

Wow. That was that. No big deal. Just trade turn it. Shout out to Elliot Chirparks. A great idea from our guy, Elliott. He seems to be all over the Trey Turner Jack Fritz. He is like the avatar of it. He's like your your cupid or something. You know? Sure. Yeah, that's what everyone's saying. But I.

Yeah, I do think of Elliot as a little true big man. You know, I see that wings and whatnot. Yeah, by the way, we got to talk about whatever. You're not on Instagram. But no, not as. Is he going wild? He said he's in his lad era. That's what he told me. Jeez.

That is like one of the most disgusting sentences I've ever heard. He said I was in my lad era. I'm like, I'm proud of you, buddy. You gotta see the hair. If you like the word lad, I'm a fan of the word lad. I will, lad is great. Calling someone, like going out, the lad's like that strong.

I think lad should be brought back. I do agree. Absolutely. Yeah. No, we got like the hair is it's a really tough hair look. That I think he sent me a picture. Yeah, yeah. So I haven't seen the Instagram, but he sent me a picture of him and Kristen the first night raises and it's like, it's like, what are you doing? It's, it's, he's got bangs or something is very strange. You're not British. You know what he's doing? He's a chameleon. Elliot wants to be loved. He wants everyone

you wouldn't think it. That's the funniest thing about Elliot because you know, he says some things that piss people off and he has seems to have no problem making people angry. But Elliot truly at his core, just wants everyone to love him. That's the truth. He just wants to fit in and be a part of the crowd and and do his thing. You know, no, but but that haircut is straight out of Gen Z. Like it's a wild.

What are we doing? You're you're you're almost you're basically 40 by this point. So he goes 40. Yeah. Not to make this about Elliott, but yeah, it was a it was a pretty surreal day. Pretty fun day I will say I was next texting me from Europe asking for updates like he was like, please update me What is happening? I have to know he was very in your corner very project. So He was thrilled that's a make on at least that day. I did well

I told him the first update I gave him was Jack got the first two outs and he's gonna win. I literally wrote him that I'm like Jackson. I was like, Josh, no chance. I knew it. It was immediate. Like you, you could just tell. Let's be honest, because the second out was the ground out the third. As soon as I saw Joe run, I was like, he's got zero chance they like he's not, dude. Let's be honest. He, it would, like the cliche, it looks like he's running through molasses or whatever.

Like it looked like he was like stuck in the ground as his legs came up. Like there is a 0% chance he beat you in a sprint. He might not be able to beat my six-year-old daughter in a sprint. He might not be able to beat Walker in a sprint. Okay, like he is the slowest human I've ever seen. So as soon as he hit that,

I'm like, he's not beating anything out. He had weak contact. He didn't look like you just had him. I just knew you had him. He was overmatched today. Well, I think he got tired after the third time he ran down. Yeah, running down really tired.

He was like beat red. Well, and the moment, so I was like, it was six nothing. I went out for the last inning and I said, let's not make this cute. Like, let's just we don't need to mess around here or whatever. And then and I was like, you know, I started putting the pressure on myself or whatever. And then I turned around and he's sitting left. He's sitting left and it's like, what are you doing, dude? What are you doing? Oh, well, this is over.

I mean, this is as I said, OK, so this is a hell of a area. Yeah, this is the year you're hoping that he throws balls because you switch sides of the plate and it throws him off. Like, that's it. That's the only hope there. Right. Like, you're not a better hitter left handed. Like. Well, and after I was like, why'd you go left? He's like, it's me. I was like, so that was just trying to mess with him or something. He's like, no, I can hit left handed. I was like, okay.

Didn't say it. I can't wait to see what tennis coach he has. If so, for golf, the head pro. Honestly, honestly, a lot of credit to him. It's a really funny bit to go out and to like find from what I understood from the umpires and like multiple people there, the hitting coach in the area. Like it was like, this is like the guy you get if you are going to that area of Pennsylvania as a hitting coach and he just shows up as Joe's heading coach. It's hilarious. Yeah. So he's the golf pro and golf. He has that guy in in for

the heading coach. He was he was a great dude. And he said to me, guy. Yeah. He said to me, he was like, we went down the bullpen. And my first thought was like, well, he knows what he's doing. Like, yeah, a little bit, little bit. So I can't wait to see if he has like Andre Agassi for his for his tennis coach. He's training around here. I remember. So he did. Yeah, I remember going and watching him like warm up.

If Pete Sampras is around, he will be Joe's coach. I'm sure so a fun day. And then I tell you what, getting home and seeing Bryce at a home run. Oh, buddy. Bryce woke up, you woke Bryce up. Well, if you asked me which I would have rather had today, I would have obviously taken the, let's be honest, come on. Your life would have been miserable. Like let's be honest, come on.

Your life would have been miserable. Like you could have hoped Bryce had the day tomorrow. Right, right, right. But I like for both of my current mental states, I needed that Bryce day. It was a great day for you. Yeah, we all need the Bryce day. I think you desperately needed the Fritz Day. I think I as your podcast,

I was needed your Fritz Day today. I think the high hopes community to enjoy the podcast and I certainly needed the Fritz Day today. I think there are a lot of people who really, really needed to see that from Bryce. Like, and it was impressive. I mean, the Homer, like a BB, you know, opposite field shot was raking the ball, the three doubles. How about

this? I was shocked. Did you see the tweet from Mac? I'm other people might add to, but first game in Bryce's career or four extra base hits in that shot? Well, T Mac T Mac said that as soon as it happened. Yeah, it was. Yeah, I didn't hear it. I didn't hear it. Yeah. That makes sense. I like unbelievable. Yeah, I mean for a guy who said such a story career so So we're all we're all the way back in on 500 home run watch. We don't Anything that was said the last month. Yeah It's huge. Oh, I do I Was putting Walker I think I was I think I was actually changing Walker's diaper and my phone started

going berserk and it was like Harper, Harper, Harper. A sigh of relief you heard in this household. It was unbelievable. I was so, so happy he hit a home run and like four extra base heads just thinking the opposite way him and him and and And Howard are the two hitters that I just distinctly remember that when they start thinking left centerfield It's about to be on and and when Bryce starts thinking left centerfield when Ryan Howard you start thinking left centerfield First off, I don't know why they can't just do it all the time. Like it's clear, you should just be thinking

left center field at all times, and you'll probably not be off balance and all that good stuff. And it was really encouraging. I thought in his post-game interviews, he said, the wrist is fine, this was strictly timing. That was the best part for me. And I thought that it was nice to see seeing like let loose on some of those baseballs

like attack them and trying to launch them rather than just Needing like a perfect swing for it to be driven It was it was so Refreshing to watch Bryce Harper do that tonight and Hopefully it just lets him go on like a frickin I know unfortunately, of course, he's gonna heat up right before the All-Star break which is incredibly annoying but just I don't need Bryce being a 260 hitter I get get him back in the the 290s and back in the the pantheon of Philadelphia sports where

he belongs yeah it was massive and obviously you, it is funny with three games left for the deadline that he heat up and then have a week off. That just feels very on brand. But look, we've just been waiting to see a sign of life from him. I mean, and we've we keep you know, it's easy to say that every time he gets hurt, it takes him a little while to get going. It's another thing to live through it. It's just so much easier to say, Oh, get going. But then you watch your bats and the flailing and the just timings off and it's like, it's frustrating. But yeah, I thought that was huge. And it's just like we've talked about. I mean, it's they don't have a chance to win if Bryce isn't Bryce.

You just don't like the way this team is constructed. No matter what they need, they need Bryce to be Bryce and to make the deadline like you know, they need both things Well, and I think what was so what was so nice and massive about today was that You know, he is I think the the thermostat for the team. Oh, there it is. You're right Now I don't think he I don't think after his Taking after his guy, Jalen. I get it. He sure is. Winners win. Winners win. And he's like, I want to be like that. I get it. Yep. Me, Jalen Hurts, Bryce Harper.

Yeah. I don't know if you're allowed to put your name in Jalen. Three of the same guys. I don't know if I can let you do that. Three of the same guys. But, but, and I don't know if Bryce wants to be the thermostat of the team, but I think he is. Like I know that Schwwerber is the emotion. He doesn't have a choice.

He just doesn't have a choice. It is what it is. You're Bryce freaking Harper, dude. You will automatically be that person. And I think especially what the offense has done recently and on one hand, I'm sort of glad that they have been atrocious offensively since the since the comments from Nebraska and being mostly fine. So that it's pretty obvious that they're not.

But I just think that, you know, Bryce starting to wear it, you know, when we talk about not wear it like emotionally, but wear it from a carrying of the team perspective of if he is firing on all cylinders, I bet everyone in that lineup feels a extra sense of relief of, okay, it's not all on me right now. I like MV3 is back and he can carry us for a little bit.

So I think for this offense, the offense is gonna go through it's hot and cold stretches, we know that, but at least from the standpoint of they're not overwhelming I think for this offense, the offense is going to go through it's hot and cold stretches. We know that. But at least from the standpoint of they are not overwhelming offensively. And if he can just go on one of those tears and ease a lot of the tension around there. Because what I found interesting is, you know, Chris Sanchez the other night talks after the game about how, you know, he and the pitchers are putting a lot of pressure on themselves, essentially, because the offense isn't totally doing doing doing as

well as they could be. And I bet the pitchers feel that way. But also the position players are like, of course, we're trying, we're trying, we're trying. We're trying. And I just think they can get Bryce back to being Bryce. It would really go a long way for everyone in that lineup, not feeling like they have to hit a seven run home run every time to score a run. You know, I'm going to say athletes are humans. They have human emotions. There's no doubt. It's true, though. It makes all sense in the world.

Like if Bryce is struggling, every person that line up feels like they have to do just a little bit more and we know baseball is the baseball and golf Ironically the two games that you played against the camera Those are the all-time games of when you try to do more you end up with less like that's the way they work you know, it's it's really hard to try and do more and end up being the right thing to do you need to just play your game and keep your approach the same way and keep your mechanics the same way and all that stuff when you start to press that's when you fall out of rhythm you fall out of timing you fall out of whatever so

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with podcasts that bring you closer to the action. From the bleachers to the clubhouse, whether you're a diehard fan or just a casual observer, these conversations are aimed to educate, entertain, and most importantly, inform you. Follow the Baseballs and Boring podcast in the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcast. All right, one more good before we get to some of the bad the last

couple games. Oracle Park like was nice to 13 nothing like never again like I hate that place. It's one of those things where you go into it and I must have not remembered whatever the numbers were last year because they weren't good. Obviously last year, either just thinking about it, but you go and you're like, man, really feels like we always suck here. And then it's like, Oh, one for 10. And then these numbers keep popping up. It's like, Oh, we really, really suck here. Uh, but I think the other thing from today, obviously Harper and just the lineup getting going was great to see, but, and obviously the run differential, I mean, honestly, what a,

what a huge series you had scored him by like 12, 11 runs. What a, what a win. Um, but Zeus, like, let's give a little shout out here. I mean, honestly, what a huge series. You outscored him by like 12, 11 runs. What a win. But Zeus, like, let's give a little shout out here. I, you know, obviously it's a little easier to keep pitching and keep going when the runs keep piling up, but had been struggling. I thought he was awesome today. I gave him innings too, which was nice, which was helpful as the game went on. So much shout out. Much needed. especially after yesterday, like much needed. I thought that was really.

And look, I know that he's not going to be liked out the rest of the season. We know there'll be up and downs, but I it's just good to see. Like every time you kind of worry that he's going to kind of hit this wall or this, you know, arm, like you can't do any more innings or he's not going to be as effective. And every time I see him go back out and, you know, arm, like he just can't do any more innings or he's not going to be as effective. And every time I see him go back out and, you know, after one of these or two of these bad starts and, and look like that again, it's like, all right,

sirelessly, yeah, exactly. Yeah. Yeah. It was huge. And he, um, like when he is ahead and he can get to one, two, and then go to his plethora of punch out pitches, totally different pitcher. When he's two, one and he has to that fastball, that's when the foul ball start happening or that's when he misses. And also, I just think that he he has to be in the zone early

because he doesn't have unbelievable command. He has stuff, but he doesn't have unbelievable command he has stuff, but he doesn't have command and I just when he gets to one I worry about him getting back into the count and say he just like gives him away So he was in the strike zone all day found the change up late huge and Definitely like the biggest thing they needed today was some some length because the bullpen is is is hanging on by a thread right now Are they hanging on maybe they guess it could be fault-throwing at the same time so he but yeah, Lizardo huge from that standpoint and

He's had such a weird first half because you look at the overall numbers like what four point one four Yeah, you take out a couple of those starts and it's like a two, you know? Like you, I think if you said before the year, Lazardo at a 4.14 ERA in the first half, you would say, ah, well, he's been a disappointment. But I don't really think he's been a disappointment. I think he's, I think he's had,

I think he's had obviously some horrible starts, but for the most part he's been really really good It's just that every one rotation ahead of him has been ridiculous so Yeah, an odd first half from Jesus. We'll see what the second half brings I don't think they would like I don't think he's going into the bullpen until the end of the year like I don't think He's gonna bullpen until the even start Because you get to the first round you're probably gonna need him in the second round yeah we'll see where Nola is but at least from the

standpoint of doesn't look like his arm is dying on us it was a big start from Hazes Lizarra from that standpoint. I just mentioned the bullpen I think that you know if you're gonna look at the first two losses I think you know look there was session that first, there's bad defense. There was bad at bats. There was bad base running. I mean, you could point to a lot of things, but I think the some of the two games, you know, you look at the Kirkering inning and, you know, bad umping as well, too. But he did hit two guys at inning. You look at Romano, obviously, in game two and the unbelievable way a baseball game ended.

We don't need to talk about it anymore than that. Look, we know this bullpen isn't good enough. It's starting to feel like all the innings that they've had to use these guys for, especially you know, Kirk ring and Romano Kirk rings been good. But like, like there's no one that you can really I mean Tanner back like I Jack there our guy after a Ryan Kirkland like I might feel as confident with Tanner bank coming into a game with anyone else in the bullpen like that's the point we reached like I don't feel comfortable I'm just saying like that's where we're at how do you feel about this

pen after San Francisco and I mean look I do think you know you mentioned something like Los Argo or the pen like that could change everything if, look, I do think you know, you mentioned something like Los Arto going to the pen, like that could change everything if he's good there. And if you could do it, and I said, like, there's all kinds of, they're going to make moves. But I mean, Kenner, is there any way you can trust Romano in a big spot? Is there any way you can trust anyone other than Kirk ring in a big spot right now? No, that's a pretty simple quick answer. Like Romano got right, let's move on. Like Romano got kind of, Romano got screwed last night.

I know that, I know that. We've talked about this a million times on this pod coming in for a big spot and getting big outs and like the eighth inning or the seventh inning, even if it's only five pitches, it's hard to go sit on the bench and come back out and ratchet it back up. Like this is a Fritz theory that I feel has been proven true over and over and over and over. This is this might be wrong. Good on resembling is it is a term Occam's razor? When you have a tough decision, like you could have gone to an Occam Occam's razor. Occam's razor is

that the simplest solution or answer is usually the correct one. Okay, so this kind of works. All right. It kind of works. Good. So you could be sitting there last night saying, well, why don't you just give the ball to Joe Ross the ninth? Gee, I don't know if he watched Joe Ross or you could just see if Romano can do it

because like that was that was a situation they were presented with. Kirkering like it was good as here, I guess that he came in today and he felt like from an the deadline just sell the deadline. What's the point? What's the point? So it was a bit of like a a tough spot for Jordan Romano. We want to see him pitch his way through it but we've seen that that story a thousand times. I wasn't was not shocked it went the way that it did. Now I was a little shocked. Any of us were. We were just bummed. A little shocked it was a walk-off home run inside the park style by a catcher. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So that was a bit of a surprise.

Well, it's like Brandon Marsh, like, what are you, why are you trying to run into the wall? And so I made no sense, dude. It like, where are you going there? Like what, what possible way could the ball hit off that wall that you running full speed towards the ball at that angle would work out? Like he's never struck me as like the smartest Philly. Like he clearly must have failed geometry or physics

or any of this. I mean, like, what are we doing here, man? Like, anyway. That would feel, that would feel. So, so yeah, it's, it's's now I think there's some interesting things happening. I think the Lazar has been really good. Like they keep they're slowly starting to work. Lazar and my guy, my guy, some bigger roles.

I thought that was the best drama has looked all year, which I think was encouraging. I know that you're you're watching the game through the back of your eyelids when strong fire to somebody. Yeah, that was a special one for me. That's Corliss seven. But I thought strong from the standpoint of like the fastball deception that we're used to seeing from him and like being back up to 94.

I was hopeful after that. So I'm current we are currently monitoring the strong being back situation. Everyone else is a disaster. Tanner Banks is fine. Tanner Banks is fine. I, I, at least he comes in and throw strikes. I appreciate that about Tanner Banks. I'm like, I don't trust him, but I honestly, if you said, you can't choose Kirk Green, you have to get one out to save your life. I might take Tanner Banks right now. It's probably strong. Like I,

it probably is strong, but it's definitely 10 rings after that. He's got stones, man. He's got stones for guy with like not great stuff. He has he has he has some stones. So I appreciate that about standard banks. They might, they might need to open arms. I mean, even with one, oh, no might about it, buddy. No might about it.

Like hold on. We want to hear Johnson or Daniel. Robert is going to all of a sudden take a big leap. Were you impressed by the were impressed by the end of Robert A.F. Oh, man. So impressed. Yeah, it's it's well, that's a legend. The Romano issue. I said Johnson was was great today for the first time in a week and a half since he's been up here. Seth, best 51, best

best Johnson to wear 51 in the history of baseball. Thank you. Thank you. Do you think he chose that number because of Randy? He must have, right? Had to have. How many 51 ones are there?

You know, I had to. Maybe if you like. Well, I know I know Taiwan's been pitching their rotations. They wasn't stretched out. But just like extend Taiwan one more. And I think that one was that one was. I agree with you. I agree with you.

But you know. Dude. Yeah. Sorry, I was just going to jump. Yeah. If you want. No, I was about to actually. So give me one sec.

Here's what I was gonna say first Shouts in the mic part of the week Tex max in North Wales. I have Tex max connection or bills I've spent many a night at Tex max back in the day He used to have a great time back when I lived and worked in iron hill would go to Tex max after finished working Have some margaritas to great place You can also watch all fillies games get $4.00. I'm really like Josh specials Go to tax max connection comm fritzy bag it up. It won't take long to tell you neutrals ingredients Vodka soda natural flavors

So what should we talk about? No sugar added? Neutral. Refreshingly simple. So I think Rafael Devers is like a great player, but the and I'm not the biggest hustle. He's got he's got some dog in him. He's got a little bit and not DAWG. Some like man, he's dogging it out. Holy cow. And then the story about him like ducking Will Clark.

Well, I mean, especially after like you just got shipped out of Boston, like whether or not, you know, it was a good decision or not, like, you're clearly not coming into this new places like the like, you know, prime number one teammate ready, go out and do everything for the team, play any position, do whatever, like, the least you could do is hustle a little bit. He just stands there. Like it's, it's almost like, like like he doesn't even want to run the ball out. Like he'll just be like, I'm just going to turn around and walk back to the dugout because it's going to get caught. Like it's crazy. Yeah, I don't know, man.

He I used to love Rafi Devers, but if I was if I was watching him every day, I feel like I would go insane. He was a third baseman for a long time. Oh yeah. Oh yeah. He was a third baseman for a long time. Dude, I feel like Adekep just gets big hits. There's something about him to where-

He's a ball player. He's just a ball player, man. He broke the runners scoring position streak last night, which is great. Made that guy. That was a really nice catch on left field. He's not a he's not a great left fielder, I think. But like, you know, for someone who's never had a glove out there other than, you know, a handful of games like, you know, he's showing something.

Never going to I don't think he's ever gonna be truly an everyday starter. But at least from a standpoint of a of a winning guy on a on a good team. He continues to just give off those kind of vibes. And I just Yeah, he keeps getting big hits off of tough pitchers, you know, Strider, Robbie Ray, there's one other guy I had a big hit off. He's fantastic and I'm currently blanking on, but he is, I've been pretty impressed by Otto Gamp. What is the,

what is the comparison in your lifetime in Philly sports for how great Christopher Sanchez is, but untalked about. We used to do this with Wheeler. Yeah, well, it was Wheeler earlier in his career. It's a great question, honestly. Because he is so good and And he's it's over a year and a half, almost two years at this point, to where he's been good. He doesn't he seemingly never gets rocked. He

goes in these outings where it's 96 with the best change up since Hamels. And it's just like, yeah, whatever. Chris Sanchez went there six innings of one run ball or seven innings of one. Like Lane Johnson for a period, I think Lane has gotten to the point the last few years where he's gotten this like venerable status. But I feel like when we talked about Kelsey and BG a lot, and Lane kind of got lost in the shuffle,

that was just a stud every week. That's kind of similar, I guess. But not, honestly, I can't think of anything like it. It's especially coming out of similar, I guess, but not, I say I can't think anything like it, especially coming out of nowhere like he has to, to be from what he was when he pitched in relief in that Padres series in 2023 to what he is now and what he's been for like a year and a half now is crazy. Like it's, it's such a phenomenal success story. Yeah. And it's a little, phenomenal success story. Yeah, and it's a little it's a little worth ish. Where I think

that's a pretty good one. Actually, yeah. Like you you look back at worst numbers. You know what he did in the outfield? You're like, this guy was a ridiculous baseball player. And he actually got $125 million. So someone rewarded him for it. But when he was here, it was Utley and Howard and Ron's. It was like, oh yeah, Jason Again like yeah, and it was also the best playoff intervolve them too Yeah, I love I love J roll but worth was the worth was the third best player second best player if he wanted to Some of those years. I mean 2011 like he might have been the best player. He was a second. He's gone. 2010. 2010. 10. Yeah, he made it. He was a

superstar in 10. Because he hit he hit 296 with 30 some home runs that year. I mean, awesome. Everyone talks about the 11th in the 10th team is still the one. Yeah, the 10th team is still the one the 10th team is the one it will always be the one they were they were peeking at the right time they had the pitching staff they they were the ones. Yeah, but it's just Chris Sanchez is just he's so freaking good, man. He's so freaking good. And never gets

talked about. Ranger gets talked about more. Way more. It's not even close. I very with you. He is the most honest. And again, he's the one guy who chose to, you know, the gun to the head contract. I can't believe it. It's unbelievable. They got that deal. It's crazy. But finally, um, so I just. How long can they do the thing with Kepler where he goes through month stretches where he's hitting 170 something

and with how well Marsh is playing, well, Marsh, Marsh, I hit off a lefty today. That was great to say. And and Rojas, like Rojas on Tuesday night, last night, you know, he caught a couple of balls in the gap and I'm like, can you please just hit? Can you please just hit? Because when he can go and get it, it's great. But I wonder if it gets to a point where, and maybe it's like, you give it a,

like I wonder if we're getting close to cutting Kepler and then you bring Crawford up, see how he does, because he's still hitting 340 in AAA. Is it perfect? Absolutely not. And we'll see how it works in the big leagues. That's the official statement. But at least from the standpoint of like, Marsh and him are both the same defensively,

except Marsh is providing way more at the bat right now than Max Kepler is. And at least heading into the trade deadline, maybe see what Crawford can give you. And if this could be, I mean, they brought up Johan Ross from AA, a pennant, quote unquote, pennant Jason 2023. He's like, Crawford, a first round pick that has actually shown out at every single stage. Like that's the thing where could that be a cut Kepler, let Marsh play left field every day, maybe a trade for a Rob Refsnyder at the Deadline, whatever. And then it's like a Crawford, Rojas, little center field thing. I don't know.

I just, I don't know how long you can continue to roll with the Kepler in in the lineup thing You can't take a team seriously with him batting Six in your I'm fully out on Kepler DFA tomorrow for all I care. I'm I couldn't be more out of the game he's he's just He's a look. I just don't enjoy watching him play. Yeah, that's what it is. Then he's he's not good enjoy watching him play. That's what it is. And he's not good. A lot of weak contact. But when he scores one up, it ain't bad.

Yeah, no, he's hit some bombs. He's hit some bombs. JT out of nowhere is up to like 258. Well, also, I mean, the numbers are like the righty lefty thing is weird. Oh, so weird, yeah. He's got the second highest average in the National League in three-handed pitching.

That's what he's done on the broadcasts. Maybe it was like with runners on. average in the National League in three and a pitching. That's what he said in the broadcast. Maybe it was like the runners on maybe it was running scoring position or something like that. But like, I think it wasn't. They said three or three, which I doubt like that would be the second highest average of running scoring position. Either way, something like that. He's been I think. And I think he has six total hits against lefties heading into the game against

Abbott, I believe on Friday, he had a three something OPS against lefties. Heading into the game against Abbott, I believe, on Friday, he had a three-something OPS against lefties. So, you know, that's not good. But at least overall-wise, he's in like 320 in his last 23 games after today. So, I mean, we certainly are writing him off as being cucked offensively, but little signs of life and he is going to be a Philly next year. No doubt about it.

There's no doubt. Well, yeah, I've already accepted that. I mean, who else is it going to be? They're not going to give it to Marcia and that's for sure. Yep. And then final thing here, this is really important, of course, like most things that can't wait. This is really important. I just I'm sensing a lot of freaking out about Andrew Painter and obviously you want him to be pitching better in AAA, but we don't need to all of a sudden go, go on just train for whatever you can get at this point. Take a deep breath.

He is still throwing super hard. The fastball needs to have some adjustments to it. He's a work in progress. The kid is 22 years old pitching in in in triple A after missing a year and a half and like just I I beg I just beg you to take it easy with, I want him to come up and dominate too. I want to have her own Paul schemes. I want to do all this stuff. The kid is a special talent that sometimes, again, prospect development is not linear. He's not pitching well right now.

That is a fact, 100%. You don't just pull the plug. You don't just pull the plug. So I beg of people, I'm sure it's not high hopes, high hopes listeners. But just, just relax about Andrew Painter. Relax. Yeah, look, it takes I mean, he had Tommy John surgery about two years ago, almost exactly like a little under a little over I think was like, right around July of 2023.

It takes time, especially 22, like the velocity is back. That's huge. It's going to take time for him to get back to exactly where he was with the control, with all of it. Like this is his first work back this season. I yeah, I'm so far from being concerned about where Andrew painters at. I like, I got nothing on that. I'm not concerned at all. I would love to him to contribute for this team. That'd be great.

No concerns about what he's doing right now. Well, it's almost like a pitch is great. Great. But he's in AAA, at least pitching into the sixth inning and he's healthy. I don't really care. I want the results to results to be great. I just it's not it's just not a huge deal. It's just not a huge deal. I think it's eventually going to come. It's all gonna click again. And it's gonna be fine. Sometimes takes while her pictures the for it's all click. So that's it. Love it. All right. Who we got this weekend? Padres.

Oh, yeah. Double double badres. Right? Did Ranger Ranger. We were Sanchez before the All-Star. That's going to be great. And I mean, I love West Coast on the weekends because I can actually watch. I why do we do this, though? We did it with Toronto with the Padres. Like, can we spread it out? Like, I would love to play the Padres in August or something. And right after we played them, it's so it's just dumb scheduling.

It's not fun. Whatever, whatever it is. It is. I will be back after the weekend. Draft is Sunday, Sunday. I figure that out. Get excited. 26th pick, 26th pick. Who are you guys? Josh Hammond and who's the other one? Sean Gamble. Sean is monitoring the Daniel Pierce situation on Hammond.

As we said, the Jurassic Park connection, I'm fully in on Josh Hammond. That's my guy. Didn't know there was a Jurassic Park connection, but I told you last time you did watch Jurassic Park and John John Hammond. It is incredibly loose. The character named John Hammond and the list. I have no connection, but I'm going with it. All right. Uh, yeah, anything else? No, but I'm going with it. All right. Yeah, the else.

Now, can't wait for the drive. I cannot wait. I can't wait for tomorrow for you to get to go. And I know you got to a minute today. It was a short show. You deserve a day. Now, believe me, we're not going to milk this like we milked golf. No, I know. I know. I know. Same as the day. But that was awesome. They do. You. I know. I know. It's a shame.

It's a shame. But that was awesome, dad. You did what you had to do. I'm proud of you, buddy. That was great. Yeah, we had right back on track, right back on track. The big dog. All right.

We'll talk to you guys after the weekend. Until then, he's the big dog himself.