High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Phils Sweep, The Return Of Taijuanymous & RingTheBellBook.com

Episode Date: April 4, 2025

The Philadelphia Phillies dominate their first home series of the season, sweeping the Rockies at Citizens Bank Park! Now, they face a tough test against the Los Angeles Dodgers this weekend. Jack Fritz & James Seltzer break it all down on the High Hopes Podcast—reacting to the sweep, previewing the Dodgers series, and talking all things Phillies! Presented by Miller Lite. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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This is the High Hopes Podcast. High Hopes! a better tomorrow. Visit Neila.ca to learn more. Oh Feel a little less alone, yo Is another edition of the high hopesaks podcast presented by Miller Lite, official partner of the Philadelphia Phillies, tastes like Miller time Philadelphia, celebrate responsibly and we're celebrating tonight buddy, beating up on the big time boys, how about it? Hey, five and one is five and one, especially when the Atlanta Braves are 0 and 7,

I'm very happy to be sitting here at five-1. I'm very happy to be here, to be alive for the Taiwan-a-sans. Wow! Wow, taking my name bits. Wow! The Taiwan-a-sans, maybe? I don't know. Look great today! How you doing, Princey? I'm good, man. The, uh, the Taiwan Walker is the only Philly star to not allow a run yet. Good man. The fill, uh, uh, Taiwan Walker is the only Philly star to not allow a run yet. So take that for what it's worth. The other scrubs in this rotation getting lit up. No, I'm just kidding.

You got those plus a hundred plus a million Cy Young award odds prior to the season on Taiwan. Don't know how they don't know how they weren't listed after what I saw. I have you first off happy for I want you know, he's Yeah, he got he got booed on opening day when they were just announcing the rosters and I look I get it I get the whole I get it I get it But like I felt uncomfortable in the building when he got food on opening day. I was like, alright like Let's not yeah That's why I had to leave.

I didn't want to be a part of it. Like, I see. Really good. Yeah. I opted out. I like how you just jumped right on that. You were not letting that fester, not waiting for that to come back around. You're just like, bang, got it.

Listen, let's just lay it all all and put our cards in the table. I Had a free afternoon to be home by Ford hang out with my man Like I'll take that every single day of the week. I get it. I would never listen. I'm not You might call this. No, I don't think frontrunners fair. No, no, definitely not frontrunner. I'm an October's man You know what I mean when it comes to the CBP, I'm an October's man. You know what I mean? When it comes to the CBP, I mean, I'm an October's man. I Turn the summer. I think we'll probably take Walker to more games I'm trying I might try to get I'm trying to go down this weekend Maybe I mean I do want to see Shohei and I want to see oh dude. I mean could this be more fun. I I

Other like guess the last time would be like Bryce's first series against the Braves here because that was just you know, Bryce is here. Oh my god, this is so exciting. But I honestly don't remember an April series that I'm more excited for than for this Dodgers thing with them coming in at eight. No, best record ever for a World Series champ to start the season, the whole thing, you know. And the Phillies getting it done and coming in at 5-1 and I don't care if they beat, like,

it feels like a really fun big time matchup in April, man. Like I'm really, I'm so excited. Yeah. And, and obviously if they lose two or three, God forbid get swept. I don't, the season's not over by a Shrench. No, no. Believe it or not. But I don't wanna see them go out and get killed.

You know what I mean? I wanna see them go out and be competitive. And I think that what's been impressive about this team, and I think the thing that I've been most encouraged by, I guess, is how I would say it it is I do think that they are just taking this seriously they're locked in and I don't think they're viewing this as a series in April I think that they want to go prove to the baseball world hey what happened at the end of last year was a fluke because they were the

best team in baseball for two and a half months of last season they were they were everyone's talking about wow the Phillies look unstoppable and that's gone now and it feels gone. And the Dodgers are the most unstoppable team they ever walked the face of the earth. It seems like since the 2013 Bloomsburg Huskies, but 14 Bloomsburg Huskies. Sorry. So that's cool record. But the would have been better if you got the right year. The 13 wasn't great. Uh, because I fish more but the I Just I I I don't think that the Phillies are treating this as another April series

I think they want to go out and make a statement and I hope to God they do I I think if they lose two or three But they're close. I think we feel pretty good about it It's the they get swept and score four runs in the entire series and the pitching staff gets lit up. I think that's where people freak out. But I just, I'm really excited for, I know we'll, we'll break more down about the, the Rocky series, but I can't wait for this weekend. And I want to see this team show up and I want to see them show out and have a little early season moment.

Yeah. Again, it's,, again, it feels big. It really does. And you know, May I'm, and I will say it. And even if they get swept, I'll say it. Like I'm not gonna overreact to something that happens in April. Now, even the Braves, like they're 0-7, they're not done, like I'm not, you know.

But, yeah, you know. Yeah, dude, they would. If there's one team that I think could. Oh, no, no, okay. Yeah. You know? No, but if there's one team that I think could stop the no teams ever made the playoffs after starting going seven

I think it's the brain. Yeah, well, and it's like look. Yeah, I get it but Teams have lost seven games in a row and made the playoffs, you know Just because they're starting at oh and seven but regardless I I'm not gonna overreact to anything But this feels like a big series and it feels like there's there's weight to it, especially with it being the only time the Dodgers are coming here this year. And you know, with the eight note thing, like you can get, it would have felt big even if the Dodgers are coming in at six and two or five and three or whatever.

And they just, you know, whatever it would still feel big because the whole off season and the Dodgers, you know, were thing. Yeah. The, the unbeatable Goliath sitting there at the end of the day. But you know, it's I'm, I'm so with you. I'm again, as excited as I remember being for an April series since Bryce Harper got here and I got to see him playing in a Phillies uniform for the first time. So it's pretty awesome.

And they pitched Taiwan today and not the Taiwan would not have shut down the Dodgers. I mean, I think Taiwan, I think honestly we should be bummed. You know, everyone was saying how bummed they were. Wheeler wasn't pitching in this series. I'm bummed Taiwan's not. That's the real take. Well, the one that should be most led off the hook here

is the Dodgers. I mean, we led them off the hook by pitching Taiwan today. So- Our two best starters. I mean, that's really the takeaway if we do get swept. We're like picking Taiwan today. So our two best starters I mean now that's really the takeaway if we do get stuff We're like well neither of our two best starters won't be like the playoffs when those guys are going one, too You know what you want the Phil's to do they didn't have their two best out there So it is what is and you know is definitely not pitching tomorrow night James We're grinding Alvarado into the ground the first week of the season.

You fished three out of four games. I'm so with you. It's like Topper to the point you made and it's like they're serious. It feels like Topper is approaching it seriously. I mean, we haven't talked about it, but pinch hitting Trey Turner in the home opener, that felt like something that he wouldn't have done last year. He would have given Trey the day off, make sure the backs okay. It's early in the year. And he put him out there. And that was a big walk. And that was a big moment in that game

that led to, you know, the big hit and, and ultimately the, you know, them pulling away and winning that game. And then obviously Trey comes out the next night and has his best game of the season so far with the three at night and that big RBI, you know rip up the middle like I'm with you. I'm nervous about the ways managing the bullpen But at the same time like I think he feels like us in that he's got four guys He trusts and it's like well, I'm gonna use them well, and My antenna is up on the Thompson taking this again.

So I don't want to say taking it seriously because I think they take it all seriously. Yes, it's an unfair way to put it. But, you know, having a heightened sense of urgency is, all right, let's put it that way. And my antenna's up because of something that Robert Amaro said on your guys show, on the morning show last year.

And I think it was when he didn't pitch it, didn't pinch hit JT lately game that stubs played. And then I think it was, he, you guys came back to him like three days later and he said, that won't happen again. I have now coincidentally, it did happen again, but regardless, I wonder if that's a, that's a message that has been delivered to Rob Thompson organizationally. That's, that's my antenna up on the sense of

urgency moves because there's been a good amount of them now today. He did late. He let Marsh face the lefty and the left inning. Now I think that's a little early and I don't know how many lefties the Rockies have out of their bullpen, but they feel more righty heavy than anything. So maybe he felt like Marsh was going to get another at bat in the game and you don't want to pull him in the sixth in a game that you're already winning. But you know maybe he goes to Sosa there.

Maybe he goes to, I don't think he would go into Rojas, but I just, I even Thompson, the whole messaging from the team, Bryce, there's just been a heightened sense of urgency. And I think back to what groups that on your guys show last year about About that won't happen again kind of feels like a hint of that's the organization saying we knocked that off We got to go in ballgames. Yeah, well, we talked about it in the first pod, but you saw in Washington It's carried over there's no more of the you know water after the game that you know Kind of goofing around type stuff. It just, they do seem locked in, in a way.

They didn't start last year, five and one. Remember, I think they started like five and five or something like that. And then they went on the run and everyone was annoyed that first week and a half. And then they went on a run. They do feel very locked in. It feels like the way they're approaching these games

and look the way they're talking after them. I mean, the way these guys, yeah, you know, I feel like JT, you know, everything he said, it's been so focused and so locked in and understanding of the situation, acknowledging that like, I think these guys know that this group that has been a thing for the last few years, if they don't do it this year, there's a really good chance that the group is not going to be together, whether it's JT, whether it's Torber, whether it's whatever, Ranger, all this stuff. So I do think that that they recognize that and acknowledge that. And it's felt like, and look, you know, you said something, you know, you quoted tomorrow, I'll quote you something that you've said kind of all off season and just hinted

at, and we both said it, but it's something that, you know, it's just, it feels like they are acknowledging what you said, where it's like, hey, can we just be a good team all year? Can we just not focus on a hot start and not focus on, well, we gotta win the division. We gotta do this. Can we just go out and just like win games all year and just be consistent and play good baseball all year? And it feels like that type of mentality.

It feels like they're coming out and not just being like, gotta start hot or we gotta win the division wherever. They're just like, we're coming out and we're serious. And we're gonna every day, we're gonna try and win a baseball game. And ultimately that is the mentality that the best teams have. Yeah, my only, and I like the mentality.

My only thing is I don't want them to lose some joy of the game because they're so hyper-focused. Because I think that in a long season, in a game like baseball where there's so much failure, I think that it can start to wane on you a little bit. Like some of the quote unquote intensity that I think that we're feeling from them. Well, I think we, real quick,

I think we saw that with the Eagles, you know, 2023 or whatever. Yeah, yeah. We're coming back from the Super Bowl, the intensity chain, all those guys put on themselves and the star and winning games barely. And then it kind of all fell apart because, because of that I'm right there with you. They have to maintain that ability to keep it light, to keep it fun. And it could, because as much as football is a grind from a physical perspective, baseball is such a grind from a mental perspective

to be able to get up and go at it every single day for 162. And a podcast grind. I think that has to be also factored in here. It's a marathon for us as well. But yeah, and don't worry. We're there. Always do. Always do.

But yeah, I was taking a nap like 20 minutes before the pot. I showed up. I want to get out. You were on the air 20 minutes. Yeah, I was. I was like napping ish 20 minutes before that. But I was, you know, yeah, you were you were getting some mental reps for the show. That's right. I was resting my eyes. It's a very bad thing to say is resting your eyes. You just catch them. You're not sleeping. I'm just resting my eyes.

You're catching when you can, you know? Exactly. Exactly. But yeah, so I don't want them to lose the part of what has made this team so close for the last couple years. And I think I think Gallagher Schwab helps from that standpoint. You know, he was with those Cubs teams that won a lot of games and then ultimately broke the whole core up. But know he talks about Jason Hayward and the and the kind of leader that he was man I I know that there's a motivation that comes with being in a contract year I just I want them to extend Schwab are so bad I saw awesome I mean at this point he might just be like now I'm good I saw what four extensions in the first week of the season, crochet candle, everyone's getting sacked.

I'm Merrill, you know, and, and I just keep waiting for the Schwab or one. I don't think he wants to leave. I don't think they feel he's wanting to leave. It was a little bit like the NOLA thing from a couple of years ago, but man, I. He has been so freaking good. And that, like that home run today, I thought he was swinging. My goodness. That was a freaking tank shot.

It was like he was swinging a tennis racket. Like it was, it was shocking. So I, man, I hope I would, if it came out tomorrow that Schwerberg extended, I don't even know what it looks like at this point, James. I don't know what a Schwerberg extension looks like. I mean, three years. I have no idea. I mean, it's DH.

It's so hard to like evaluate that, but he's also, he's been their best hitter, obviously this season, you know. And he's also someone- He's so important. Well, yes. And he's also someone who has shown the ability to improve year to year still at this age.

I mean, what he did from last year to, you know, from the year before, from 2022 to, I'm sorry, yeah, 2023 to 2024 with the average left-handed hitting and left-handed pitching stuff. And obviously, so far this season, it looks like he's carried it over. We'll see how it progresses. But, you know, the already home run off lefty, all that, you know, just, it feels like, especially like especially as a DH, it feels like he's just going to age well, you know what what he does and the way he goes about his business. So yeah, I would definitely be down with it. It'd be weird though with the JT thing. I know out there. I know. But look, I'm with you. Let's get to the Rocky series. And then we'll get back and look back to Dodgers because I do think one of the other takeaways from the Rocky series that really stuck out to me and it's to this point, you know, and obviously I think game two was the, you know, the small ball game, you know, you know, what we do, baby, the small ball. Nick Castellanos hitting it to the, uh, you know, right side of the field,

the move runner from second to third, Schwerver base running. Johan Rojas not one but two big bumps in the game. It was just it was fun but it feels like everyone's kind of gotten going so far. It feels like everyone's had some moments. Schwaber obviously has been the most consistent but Harper started out obviously back at it a bit today, but has cooled down, but Turner started a little slow had the three hit game, JT, the three hit game today. Stoddy's been been, you know, consistent, you know, fine. It feels like for the most part, Boam has been quite a quiet but had that huge game, you know, essentially game winning hit in Washington. It just feels like everyone's kind of been getting in on it and that the

lineup is turning over. And even though they have not hit starters, they have found a way to grind out. And in some cases, you know, 11 runs one game, you know, but they found a way to just score runs when they have to score runs. And it does feel like, you know, six games in against bad teams, but it does feel like a group that, you know, might be pretty resilient as the season goes on. Well, and that's the hope when you have a team that you're bringing back to the third straight year is that you bank on these guys knowing each other.

I think they know each other very well. I love the way they talk about it at Mundo. It makes me- So that was gonna be the next thing I got to. Yeah, yeah, it is. Like it fills my heart with joy. So I think that, yeah, I mean, they have the highest average in baseball right now as a team, which is which is interesting. The strikeout numbers.

I believe if you take out the first game of the season, like percentage wise, the lowest strikeouts today. Way to check my Twitter. Appreciate it. Oh, was that you actually can you know who's checking your Twitter? Ria, because I heard it from Ria and interesting. But man, man, right. We are feuding. So yes, exactly. All kinds of feuds going around right now.

Yeah, this is this is Jack's WIP. This is, yeah, I love it. I'm with you. Dance puppets dance. But the the no, but the yes, they the lowest if you take it opening day, which oh, oh You can't do that. Yeah, I can. All right, I can't take that open. I don't care. That was good stuff right there Yeah, I could take that opening day. I was just listening to like Colin Coward or something right there for a moment That was good. I many people have compared me to Colin Coward and I do the I do the comparison so well yeah anyway so yeah the the if you take an opening day they

they've been heading in now they struck out a couple times today Castellanos he still has more walks and strikeouts we want to monitor that which is good but they've done a better job of putting the bat in the baseball and you know JT at the end of the air at the end of spring training, I think he talked to the Clarkie about how, uh, you know, they know that in October we got to stop striking out and put the bat on the baseball. So far, so good from that standpoint, you know, and, and Thompson, I think pregame today was asked whether it was a small sample size competition or real, you know, plate discipline know plate discipline improvement and he said a mixture of both,

all three which I think is fair. The competition I think is a hundred percent part of it but I think there's also a renewed approach at the plate that you're starting to see a different form of this team. They can't strike out all the time. They're putting the bat on the baseball. I mean I remember looking at at fan graphs for years when the Astros were at their, the peak of their powers, as they say, they're always number one in lowest strikeout percentage. And it just matters when you get into the big games, putting down the baseball, putting pressure on defense.

You got fast players in this team. They're not, not a bunch of slow pokes. I mean, Schwab or a boom Cassiano's slow. I haven't seen like Kepler run enough to think about him But faster than I thought he'd be for his size Like he beat that one out today that like the freemen play were kind of ate up the second baseman They called it a hit but like not only he beat it out by a lot like it was and again who knows? But I was surprised how quickly he got down the line there. So that's my early take on captain speed nice only one home run in the last two games it's just it I don't know how you watch games James, but it is so funny because like

I'm just like everyone else. I mean I watch every inning of the offense just thinking about October and and okay Well, they checking this way not every time they swing it a ball in the dirt I like I like have a panic attack. Oh, well, there was times in this series when Trey was down. Oh, so in the pitching appearance, of course. Yeah, I feel like Trey's been down to in like every bat. It feels freaking out, freaking out. And then obviously when they all struck out three straight times.

Oh, I know the fifth inning. That was that was torturous. Not just all it was. it was the heart of the order. It was 234. Yeah, it was a tough it was tough three at bats for the this team has changed portion of the fan base. It was the most, most directly reminiscent of a playoff moment. Oh, that inning in New York. It felt like that inning where Harper struck out like it. It felt just like that. Well, it's like that inning in New York. It felt like that inning where Harper struck out Like it it felt just like that. It was well, it's because it well They struck out four times in the game and three of them were that inning Radiating

Irritating but I think I think they're I think they're playing a better brand of winning baseball You know, they they got him over got him in today. I'm a big fan of that You know again, the city doesn't want home runs anymore. They just want small balls. It's so funny. The chicks do not dig the long ball in Philadelphia. They dig the small ball. That's right. You know, and here's something else, too, that I'll say.

And then when he's so sad, but I've also and it's funny because Marsh had that, you know, boneheaded get caught on the basis today. They have all made up for it by you know also getting a pick off. Yeah well what was that they did that what like four times at the beginning of last year? It was what are we doing? So that's exactly what I was going for is it feels like they're not making the same type of I was I was thinking this before today's game and I was like oh I'm gonna say that on pod. They're not making mistakes on the other than the Harper. You can have an account for like, oh, they look like they're making smart decisions or playing smart baseball. So far,

they're not like knocking the ball around. Like it feels like they do to start every season, whether they're good or bad, they're always doing this dumb crap. And we haven't seen that. And then Marsh does that today. So it was a little less impactful, but it does feel like they're playing a and then Marsh does that today. So it was a little less impactful, but it does feel like they're playing a smarter, tighter brand of baseball than we usually see with the Phillies to start this season. So I think that kind of jives with what we're talking about. Visa and Open Table are dishing up something new. Get access to prime time dining reservations by adding your Visa Infinite Privilege card to your Open Table account. From there, you'll unlock first-come, first-serve spots at select-top restaurants

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It's a podcast you can listen to together with your kids. So everyone can benefit. Follow next pitch on the Odyssey app or wherever you listen to podcasts. All right. Let's get to Sosa because I mean, and of course, you know, they went today with, with Taiwan and no S said today going in. It was like everyone's worst nightmare. It was like everyone was like Taiwan already.

And then they're like, oh, how could you not play so so my guys are in the sport? But he is up there. He's in the sport. The highest qualified batting average batting six hundred or something. But to your point, the thing that's exactly me and I think it's how fans feel about him. I know it's how we feel about him and we talk about him. You know how much we love having him on the Phillies and just watching the way he goes about his business, the way he plays. Like that doesn't kind of like give enough gravitas to how struck I was by the comments from basically everyone on the team. Like I mean, Zach Wheeler would call it one of the most talented players of baseball. I mean, they those guys, it was like Wheeler, Robudo, Harper, like Schwerber, like Tre,

like all of you guys are just like basically like, let me just, you know, kind of try and paraphrase it all. I love it. Mundo Sosa is the most amazing person I've ever seen in my life. Like that's what it felt like it was. It did it not hit you where it's like, wow, like this guy is a special human. It was. And I like, I even jumped to the, if they win a title, Sosa is up there with Harper and Wheeler. And like, I'm so glad the if they win a title so this is up there with Harper and Wheeler and like so glad that a mundo has a title because

They're gonna talk it's like the whole teams can be like well, I'm happy we won but I'm really happy for it And I feel it man. I love it mundo. I really do and Did I start thinking about our future together atundo. He's gonna be a fantasy camp legend You know that he's gonna be down You're right though from up from a Phillies legacy standpoint if they can get a title with the moon though Like it'll just it'll shoot him in the second atmosphere Yeah, I mean look and the way please that we've talked about this but the joy with which he plays like he's infectious And it is fun you know I always say like they're playing a kids

game and all that like a lot of people do like when you watch him and associate feels that way and that's super super awesome I just yeah he's easy he's a delight now I don't know what they're gonna do I mean I like I I would still play you saw the place thought you can't just bench thought you can't just I think the way I'm gonna so says bench thought you can't just I think Munisos is not an everyday player. I love I don't I love I love I love look I think he could be an everyday player, but I like I think he's perfect. He's perfect in this role He is the most perfect person ever for this role like I let him be perfect in the role I mean we saw it last year the great six weeks when when Turner was out and then he cooled off again

Now I will say I think he's done a really he's done a much better job this year of not chasing I think that was something that really hurt him in the past with that he would expand the strike zone and and and You know, I like if a guy threw him a slider he wasn't gonna hit it So he's done a better job with that. But again, I like I There's a lot of wealth with Turner in the outfield. They're not putting Turner in the out No, he's not so go play the outfield like up go figure it out Trey Yeah, I listen I wanted Mundo to learn the outfield ASAP, you know

Maybe you can but again like Rojas is actually had a I think Ross nice start to your man Did you hear what toper said about Roas? Topper. Best game of the year? Or best game of his career? Best game of his career at the Major League level. I mean, I thought. What?

Dude, and it's so funny. That was a bold statement. He had a bunt hit, another bunt and a hit, and it was like, wow. That's what's so funny about it. He laid down two bunts. And he barely did anything defensively. The bunt really wasn't hit his way that much. It wasn't like, you know, you would think like, I dunno,

one of the games where he made like three miraculous defensive plays that no one on the planet could make. You'd be like, well, maybe that's the best game. He's played. Wow. What last night was, was a winning baseball player. But yeah, that's what he has to be. Right. Cause we've talked so many times about Johan Rojas. That's what he has to be, right? Yes. Because we've talked so many times about Johan Rojas. I wish he could turn into a great hitter and be the starting center fielder. But I don't think he is a starting center fielder

for the Phillies. But I think he could be an absolutely perfect, like him and Sosa are the most perfect playoff bench you could ever have. They're both perfect. They're exactly what you want most perfect playoff bench you could ever have. Like they're both perfect. They're exactly what you want out of playoff bench type guys where they can come in, they can pinch run for you. They can come in and play elite elite defense for you.

And what you want from Rojas is him to be able to lay down a bunt when he asked him to be able to maybe get you a hit in a big spot. If you can not be overmatched. But like you, he could be that He just hasn't yet to this point shown that he can do those type of things. Like get a bunt down when he has to every time. Yeah, and then the next thing they need, now maybe Weston Wilson can be it,

but they need that big kind of- They need the bopper. That's the one thing that's a perfect bet. Those two are perfect. You need a guy who can come in and you need your stairs. So again, I'm cool with those again Well again, sometimes you also want to ride the hot hand too And if their whole thing is we're gonna we're gonna play guys that deserve to play, you know

Maybe but I do think that at least in the meantime I do think that that that Scott and bone should at least feel like their seats a little bit warm, you know and saying We'll play at Mundo like we'll play at Mundo We're gonna play the best players that are they're playing the best baseball right now So I think that's where I'm currently at with a Mundo I don't think you should displace anyone because I think you also have to those guys need their playing time as well They've been started here for a long time and and I think I agree with you I think he's mostly a utility guy

but I think he's a super star utility guy and and and I think I agree with you I think he's mostly a utility guy but I think he's a superstar utility guy and and and listen if he turns out he can handle that job and then he does push for more platoon maybe even takes it over would be surprised that happens great but you know I I understood why he was not in the lineup today yeah Yeah, I feel exactly the same way. What do you think though? We don't need to say really anything about Wheeler yesterday. Obviously Wheeler just now Wheeler, you know best like just a metronome.

It's just like he's the most consistent thing you could ever have. We talked about Taiwan by Sanji. We talk at all about the home opener. You know, I thought you obviously pitch well, didn't give up run, got through our- Well, he loved the home run. Yeah.

Did he? Yeah. It was good, man. Oh, good man, to make it one-nothing. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I forgot, I forgot. So you gave up the one run, yes. But it was pretty solid, wasn't perfect. What were your thoughts on Sanji's?

So I thought, so I think, man, when he can find the arm slot on his change up and he just goes in that three inning run where he's unhittable, there's no more fun pitcher to watch than Chris Sanchez. I love him. I wonder, I'm curious and I hope he's fine, but I thought when he ran over to first base

and pulled up a limp and I don't know what it was I don't know if it was cramping or an ankle it looked like he couldn't get his command back after that So I'm curious to see what his next start is gonna look like because I don't I hope that he didn't like tweak anything But that was my first thought was he was cruising he ran over first base and that next inning Wasn't exactly crisp and allowed the home run. So, but I mean, from the standpoint of who was up to 98, was commanding his stuff, got into a rhythm and the change up looked like one of the best change up we,

in baseball almost like Cole Hamill's-ish. Yeah, it was all there. It all flashed and he lived up to a lot of the spring training hype around him. Yeah, look, other than Nola, the four out of five starters, if that would be happy with as their first starts and obviously Wheeler's second one. And obviously Taiwan, the best big day, big day tomorrow for the Lazardo heads out.

Oh, it's massive. So we're going to get to the I want to get to the Dodgers at the end. No, no, no, it's all good. But I was going was gonna say let's take back it up and then let's get to the Dodger stuff again Ah, so which which bit do you do you like more? Do you like the can't score? Not hitting starters thing one. Yeah Now I'm mundo Edmundo diggity hit with the bases loaded but regardless again today one out bases loaded no runs scored last night obviously famously go down three straight or Not being able to hit starters making these guys who I know are scrubs look Like competent and then turning into primary bonds against the bullpen's which bit are you more in on I?

Want the bit where they always get hits with the bases loaded I feel like could we get one of those bits because that'd be sweet I don't like it. I'm not in on either heading into today They were I mean they're hitting 286 with Ron in scoring position, which feels pretty good But and look that obviously look they're five and one so I can't complain too much And I think the starters thing is a little fluky. I don't I don't think they're not gonna hit starters this year. Well, yeah, there's gonna be a stretch where they hit starters I agree with you. It's just funny to go through now against like the Nationals and and and

Rockies now the concern is is that you're not gonna also gonna face the Rockies and Nationals bullpens. So Besides my boy, dude, I love I love Halverson. I'm a halvy guy. But he got kind of Mundo hit him last night, whatever. But there's not exactly talent just lined in those bullpens. So that's the only thing that's concerning for me from the standpoint of like the starter versus reliever thing is that these these bullpens stink, you know, so It could make it a little easier. I'm not gonna freak out about it, but it's definitely I mean

That's gonna be the thing people are gonna be harping on if if they struggle in the middle of the season Yeah, look they have to go pitching at some point and I I'm just not gonna judge them Six games in the disease and when they haven't faced that much good pitching to be in with and they've struggled against a couple starters, you know, yeah. They also got what like 10 and nine hits today off sense of sailor or whatever. Like they just, you know, it wasn't like they couldn't hit him today. It wasn't like he was shutting them down. He just, you know, Well, his first outing against the Rays, he allowed nine hits. I saw he's got like a nine and two thirds, no earned runs, 19 hits. Yeah, dude. It's unbelievable.

It's unbelievable. Sustainable, I'm sure. Just little too much moping from BOM. I know, I think we're- Okay, can we actually amend this? Way too much, way too much way too much after after what happened this offseason like I honestly expected him to you know control his features to like suck it up and like know that cameras are on him at all times and that he's got to not do this

it's every time jack every strikeout every ground out he's just to not do this. It's every time Jack, every strikeout, every ground out. He's just like when they're winning or when they're winning. That's the one that gets me when they're winning and that's, that's still happening. So I just really don't like it. It's it, it drives me up a wall and the amount of the amount of. 95 down the middle, it gets ripped into the ground instead of being driven into the gaps. I know the moping is annoying but the just in so the 2013 Huskies not that I didn't think I was gonna have to bring this up

today but going back to I know so obviously you don't run Yes, you don't have like a system You don't have like a like basketball where you know, like the Princeton offense, you know what I mean? You don't really have that in baseball. Well, the 2013 Huskies had a system and It was it was power ground balls because we are our infield was so rocky That our coach thought if you just hit the ball on the ground, it would hit a rock. You get a yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, I like that. And was so funny. That's a coach who has a lot of faith in his talent. Well,

we weren't great. Now, the 2014 Huskies has four records. I guess I got it. Rocks. We're going to we're not going to water the infield and there's games this year? I got it. Rocks. We're not going to water the infield and there's going to be bumps all over it. So he devised the scheme, Power Ground Balls. What's so funny is that, obviously when I got out of baseball, that's when the launch angle movement.

Meanwhile, the Huskies could not have been further away from the game was going. Exactly. He knew where he was going. He's innovative. Love coach Collins, but the power ground balls. He was exactly what others think. Yeah. Well, it's so funny. Like my roommates were hitters and there used to be a line that would hang like a string

above the batters above the cage. And you know, if you hit a line drive over it, you had to run. No way. No way. Oh, good, dude. It's unbelievable. It was the best. It was the best it was the best anyway

Anyway, I'm making Willie Mays Hayes do push-ups winning the ball in the air and make your league exactly So bone would have been a great Husky Ripping the ball into the ground Like the rip in the ball the the ground. I agree. It is super annoying. But like, man, you're like almost 30. You're almost 30. Like stop looking like you're about to cry every time things don't go your way. It's the gotta pull it to use a Jack Fritz ism. One of the great ones. Alec grow up. We've got to grow up a little bit, one of these days. So that's been frustrating. I did get emotional last night seeing white rally towels back at CBP.

Oh, buddy. It was tough to get through the last couple innings with the tears in my eyes. It was beautiful. It was really beautiful. It has been an adjustment and it's something that we've only gotten used to the last few years, but the adjustment of going from the last games you watch the year before being the intensity of playoff games to going to being like, oh yeah, the season doesn't end if we lose.

They're okay. Hold on. Let me just reframe and refocus. It's hard to get back into this, especially being down at the ballpark for the home opener. It was like, I felt like an extra level of anxiety that wasn't actually there. Just, you know what I mean? Well, because, and what I do during playoff games is I usually just put my phone on to not disturb because, uh, my, my fees a little bit behind which is infuriating. Yeah. I pay for cable but like the so I put my phone on do not disturb. I was doing that for

the home opener even though because I guess people would text me updates before they would happen. I would do that for a playoff game but I was I needed the home opener. I don't know how else to say it so but because listen the red rally towels have been fine but seeing the people wave around the white rally towels, it was it was good little throwback as to what I get why they took it out. You know, it's pretty ridiculous. They even allowed it because it matches. Yeah, it looks exactly like a baseball.

It's insane. I I can't believe it's allowed. Like it makes no sense. It's unbelievable. So it's good to see that last night. Mickey Moniac, like a true Phil Looking out for us he knew That we were doing a pod and he knew that the Phillies rarely sweep when we're doing a pod the day I've and he was like, you know what? I'm gonna do a solid for my boys

He was probably wearing his eye up shirt under his uniform and he should have you should have that would've been good thing to flash The camera he goes back to left field Right rips it over He must have the home run too At the weight room kid, I mean hit the weight room It's so they got a triple right and he got a hit off Zach Wheeler. So That's a factor that in that wheel's pretty good luck as far as it goes. There are worse places for me to land in Colorado in terms of both playing time

and home stadium pressure pressure. When you let air truffle bubbles melt, everything takes on a creamy, delicious, chocolatey glow like that pile of laundry. You didn't forget to fold it. No, it's a new trend. Wrinkled cheek. Feel the aero bubbles melt. It's mind-bubbling.

My parents have had a lot of time on their hands lately. At first, it was nice. Hey Mom, can you drive me to soccer practice? Sure can. We're having slow-cooked ribs for dinner. It was awesome. And then it became a lot. Some friends are coming over

to watch a movie. What are we watching? I'll make some popcorn. Thanks to voila, they can order all our fresh favorites from Sobeys, Farm Boy and Longos online, which is super reliable. And now my parents are reliable. A little too reliable. Voila, your groceries delivered just like that. I thought Jordan Romano looked pretty good today. Me and Spike are in a battle about Jordan Romano because he thinks he stinks and I think he's good. So now I have to be hyper focused on Jordan Romano. I love that you're like inadvertently forcing yourself into being a Jordan Romano stan.

I will die on the Romano Hill now. You know that. I got to call the final outlaw. I can listen to the pod when they signed him. Yeah, yeah. Lukewarm at the end of the day. I will die on the Romano Hill now, you know that I think I call I got call the final out live I can listen to the pod when they signed him Yeah, yeah lukewarm at best Not now not now

No, but I had a caller last night on the final out and he's like I can't believe in game one Thompson put Romero in And I'm like, I'm like I'm like like dude it's the first it's the first game and they signed to be a back-end reliever I didn't know I had no stradamas watching that he's gonna go hit the bat he's gonna walk the first batter and hit the next guy and allow two runs I didn't know we had a genius watching the games so I thought it looked good that he needs to make sure his slider as much flight as possible because when it gets flat It's not that great and I do wish you could learn a third pitch

But I don't think that's gonna happen this year Kirk ring works the fastest innings. I've ever seen a reliever do unbelievable, dude We think about we might have talked about this last year because I think I thought about this last year, too I feel like we brought up at a point. It's It is he is just in and out unlike anything I've ever seen I was good. He was good. He's like I tell ya and the Jack you might not believe this But as someone who's usually looking to go to bed right as early as possible every night I'm a huge fan of Ryan Kirk. That's my dude He's in and out. It's remarkable

And again the four in the bullpen just look really good and you're waiting for the fifth one to pop now speaking of bits once again Once again, even with him now back in the organization and in the booth You're still giving out the number 35 to random players and oh no, I Man, I I'm a Carlos Hernandez Alice, right? Wasn't that the last one or one of the last? That's a good poll. No, so I think, I think. Oscar Mercado, I think had it right. So it was Oscar Mercado was the first one

they broke it out for. Yes. Then I believe it was, it was the Drew Phil. Yeah, I think it was him. Drew Ellis. Drew Ellis. And then they did, well, Drew Ellis had the two home run game down in Washington.

Yeah, we can forget. And I think, I think D all wore it and then went to 31 because because they were like, hey, why are you wearing 35? That's correct. Yes, because it was going into London, too. And they're like, you're not going to wear it. Hey, goals going to be there. Maybe we should have our random ass outfit or wearing number 35.

Yeah. Why do they keep doing this? It's like Two years, they're trying to troll coal. I just it's it's crazy to me now I'm still Carlos Hernandez guy. I want to see him pitch again, but 35 every time I see it. I'm like, well that feels wrong. Yeah, you know very with you It did it just doesn't work. It doesn't work. I think Kyle Schwab is gonna be the David Ortiz of the next couple of years. Oh, I love that. Like a new.

Lot of big poppy vibes. Titles included, right? Hopefully all the titles possible. Yeah. And last thing here, do I have permission to talk about the book or no? Of course. Dude, come on.

Come on. I am already annoyed at myself for how much I've loved this book, but I don't have a choice. It's what I it's it's I want people to read it and I hope it does well. So it's I worked on it. Me and Kevin worked on a lot and I hope they read it. Have people read it. So by the book, where can people get it?

Jack, you've got to ring ring the bell book dot com. Yeah, I'm going to get a T-shirt. I think it's coming out. Hopefully it's coming out and hopefully it's at your houses by 5. I think it's coming out. I think it's coming out. I think it's coming out. I think it's coming out. I think it's coming out. I think it's coming out. I think it's coming out.

I think it's coming out. I think it's coming out. I think it's coming out. I think it's coming out. I think it's coming out. I think it's coming out. I think it's coming out. I think it's coming out.

I think it's coming out. I think it's coming out. I think it's coming out. I think it's coming out. I think it's coming out. I think it's coming out. I think it's coming out. I think it's coming out. I think it's so the May 27th, I think it's coming out, hopefully it's coming out. And hopefully it's at your houses by Father's Day, because you know, Father's Day. Father's Day present, I like that.

Seems like a great Father's Day gift. So I was, of course, because now I don't, this might surprise you and our listeners, not the smartest guy. And I don't want to break any... was it fourth wall? Is that what they say? I don't want to, you know... Yeah, close enough. Yeah. You get the point.

Yep. And obviously I've been... so it's in the editing or it's in the review process now. There's a lot of work to be done is what you're saying. Well, we're getting good reviews from the publisher, so it might not. Kevin did the heavy lifting, right? Is that what you're trying to say? No, and a lot of people said that.

No, no, not at all. Kevin did a lot, of course. I did a lot too. We're in lockstep on this thing. But I was like, my biggest fear was one day, the person who was reading the book is just you know emails Kevin on the side and says this guy's an idiot like he can't he could barely formulate a sentence and you let him write a book with you that's my biggest

fear he's also a Mets fan which is awesome and decision and I don't know he didn't get into it to read Billy's books books. You know what I mean? He's just he's an editor So but uh, but yeah, he he said he loved it. So a Mets fan liking a Philly's book Wow Gave me some confidence that I am I'm not gonna it's I'm not gonna fail it like it's a class So, you know, it gave me confidence say hey Maybe maybe maybe it's gonna be okay. And I wrote it very like meltdown-y, if that makes any sense.

It was basically just I was hosting the podcast and writing a book and a lot of just like, hey, at this point, I thought they're gonna lose. It felt like a loss, cause this is what they did. And I think it's a fun read. I think it's a fun read and I think you'll enjoy it. It's a fun encyclopedia.

Look at Billy's history and there's a lot of good Phillies stuff all throughout. Hi, I love it by Jack's book. Please preorder the book and please don't please don't need your money. He needs money. Get money. Please don't go to Amazon. Please go to our website. Go to the website.

So you get screwed if it goes Amazon as that is. Yeah. And if you go to our website, it does include free shipping and an autographed copy. And if you want to personalize, I'll personalize it. And I keep waiting for the Seltzer notification to pop up that he bought the book, but still has not happened. So I keep waiting for the seltzer notification to pop up that he bought the book, but still has not happened. So I keep waiting for the, you know, here's the free signed copy from your podcast partner, but I guess that's not gonna happen.

Well, I made it. I made it very clear. No free copies. Oh, really? Oh, good to know. No free copies. Here for all you've done for me. Oh, you helped me along Me show up, you know help me get the job at WIP in the first place. No big deal You know, here's a book that I wrote. All right. Well Now that you make the case, maybe I'll think Everyone else about it dude's gonna be else. All right Dodgers Fire it up, buddy feeling good. Well, I'm feeling good. And so I sit down and watch the games

It's gonna feel like a playoff atmosphere I know that the reactions are gonna be hot and heavy both ways, you know If they go out and sweep the Dodgers this teams gonna win the World Series Whoa, if they get swept it's gonna be there there they are Oh my god, the people that cannot wait to watch the Phillies fail Pissed me off so much. They did the worst they drive. Why why are you here? Just just go away come back in October and when they're in the playoffs we can We'll talk about it. It's just so I can't do the referendum on the offense. I do it I like I'm guilty of it, but I can't do the that there they are on April 2nd. I just can't I can't do it It's we again. I think I said this last year

I think I reached my breaking point with this whole conversation either they're gonna hit in October or they're not gonna hit in October Like I don't know what to tell you. I can't say definitively on April 3rd that they're gonna hit in October I can't say definitively they're not gonna hit in October I think so far they're doing a better job of putting the bat in the baseball and they're playing winning baseball They're they're doing other things besides hitting home runs to win baseball games and the pitching staff looks pretty phenomenal. So Sue me. I have no idea. I Can't do the this they're gonna choke thing all year. I know people are gonna do it if you feel that way fine It's just I can't I'm surprised that we're we're doing it already look. I think if nothing else first and foremost

I think that's a really a bummer of a way to go through life and Yeah, well because it sets up a accessible way like it's a lose-lose situation when they lose. Okay, you're right, but it's like I just It seems crazy to me the Phillies can't win right now if they win too much It's like well, you're beating up on bad teams if they lose it's like well, there it is Yeah, they they can't do anything right? They have to just go prove everyone wrong and not to open I hope they do look I you know, I'm a big sports are supposed to be fun There is one of my it's one of my cliche things I say but it's true

like we choose to do this like we choose to give our money to the Phillies to go sit in a stadium and watch and play we choose to buy the food we choose to buy the hats the gear the whatever we choose to make the commitment to watch 160 games a year 150 or 155 or 135 or whatever people watch like it's a commitment like it's a it's an everyday type of thing. You have to choose to do this. So if you're just going to be angry and not enjoy it, choose to do something

else. It'll be better for your health. And look, from just a purely baseball perspective, all we can do is evaluate what we're seeing. And so far so good. Like, you know, so far so good for what you want to see in this team. And again, to the point they're playing bad teams, guess what? Sure. Yep. Yep. They're playing bad. They did fine. They haven't had a chance to play it. It is what it is. Like, you know, we'll find out this weekend. I'll go in either way. It's April. But just to the overall points like we asked to come in and see them you know care about the approach to put an effort into the approach to think about the approach and through six games both the way they've talked and outside

of you know the opening game and the shadows and all that the way they've hit they've done that so like you know so far so good right far so good and It is funny. They found the two bad teams the National League because there's not many I know Not many yeah Rockies might be the the single worst team in the National League them You know this is the Marlins are the way that I would have said Rockies and Marlins coming in but Rockies Marlins Braves Rockies Marlins coming in, but Rockies Marlins Braves.

They all all kind of the all kind of the same, all kind of the same. That was awesome. Yeah, man, I. I'm excited for this weekend. I just I I want to see how they show up and, you know, Dodger seem like they might win 120 games, but yeah, I said I think they might break the record. Last year, you put in a take ball. You put it on a ball one, but we did see the White Sox last year.

Break the record the other way. Just saying, dude, I, I had never been a big beginning guy, you know, on MLB.TV because I was an idiot. Like I would watch it on my computer, which is way harder to do. Like it's just like too small. Now I got it up on the big screen which is way harder to do. I think it's just like too small. Now I got it up on the big screen. Big inning is a revelation.

And I just, it's the greatest. So I was like watching NoTani live last night and I still can't believe he hit the home run. I just, it was a, it was a, they get change up away that he hit in, in Chavez Ravine by the way, at night. They hit it to center field. It's ridiculous.

He's clutch like not only is he the best player we've ever seen in our lifetime maybe the best probably probably the best player has ever lived on this planet but he's clutch I mean the first year the guy makes the playoffs bang World Series like he's just the only reason and the only reason you did nothing in the World reason he did nothing in the World Series. He's got hurt. I mean he couldn't even run I'm so glad it feels like the torpedo bat thing is kind of dying a little bit Yeah, I was over it. I was over the discourse around it, especially you learn that nothing really changes They just moved the sweet spot down in a little bit It's the same bat

Magic bat that was what I was in. It's the same bat. It's just like maybe. Not a magic bat. That was what I was in. It's like not a magic bat, you know? I'm over the yet. The tush push discussion and the torpedo. Oh my God. If I never hear the phrase tush push again, I'll be okay. They got to change the name next year. If they, if they're.

Yeah, totally, totally. I can't take it. No. All right. You got anything else? No, no, let's have a day. Let's have a day. Let's have a day. Let's have a weekend. How about this? You know, we always say two or three.

This is the all time like two or three, man. Like two or three. I will be ecstatic after this weekend. Ivan, the just don't get blown out. Just don't get blown out. Exactly. Either way, we'll be back after the weekend to react to it. Five one fills. Enjoy it.

You know, and if you Five one fills, enjoy it. If you're not going to enjoy it, keep downloading the pop, but you know. Go outside. Yeah, exactly. Until later. He's for it himself.