High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Potentially the Last High Hopes Podcast Ever

Episode Date: September 28, 2020

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Hot Cloud Storage on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. This is the high hopes podcast. It's a bunch of baseball nerds talking about the Phillies on radio.com and sports radio, 94 WIP. Yo, it is another edition of the IELTS Podcast. Jack, it's finally over.

At least the 2020 season is over. Obviously, I want to be saying it's finally over for another reason. But right now, I'm just going to say the 2020 season is finally over and what a whimper it went out with what a whimper at least they went down fighting oh buddy the my scratching and clawing as someone used to say the idea that they went one and seven in their last eight games and literally two and six would have got you in the playoffs is just it is the most 2020 Phillies thing I texted you and what like the the second inning of the game on Sunday and I was like you know that the Giants and Brewers are both gonna lose and the Phillies are still gonna lose

right like it was the exact way this season was gonna end yeah and like uh you know and again this is what we do and that's why this podcast is named the way it is. And that's why we have the fans that we have. We should change. Maybe False Hopes is a better way. Yeah, the I'm Lying to Myself podcast, Billy's podcast. And it's like every time, every time, like, just win one freaking game. Like, just one game.

And, like, I'm not going to hold this against the Rays. I'm pretty pissed at the Rays. Like, the fact that they had to pitch Nick Anderson for two innings on Friday was ridiculous. Like, you had nothing to play for. Can you just try to get us a win, you know? Like, it was just quite rude, I would say, by the R get us a win? You know, like it was just quite rude. I would say by, by the race.

Oh yes. Yes. Let's blame the race. That seems like, you know what? Raise, make it up to us. Send Eric Neander our way. How about that? Is that a fair trade off?

Hey, uh, Phillies fans. Did you, did you like what you saw this weekend from that race team? Would you like that? Would you like that with about $150 more million? Like, seriously, that's what we're talking about here. Like, $154 million. And, like, I mean, $150, whatever. We'll get to Neander in a second.

But here's what drives me crazy. It is, like, Middleton, who obviously is the biggest fraud in the city. Fraud Middleton. Until further notice, that is his name. He's not even John Middleton, who obviously is the biggest fraud in the city. Fraud Middleton. Until further notice, that is his name. He's not even John Middleton. He's got a lot of work. It's Fraud Middleton. He's got a lot of work to get back to being Jack.

Jack is, like, so gone. I mean, Jack is across the sea and light years away from him. Yeah, very sad. But, like, all right. They paraded Joe Girardi like it was the equivalent of signing a star player. And what we saw this last week was just so damning

on the Joe Girardi, like, difference or the Joe Girardi, like, way. I mean, they came out embarrassingly flat and I don't know how banged up these guys are I think Didi's banged up I think JT's definitely banged up Bryce is banged up McCutcheon just their cuts just look slower this year looks like he's not back to 100% like I get it I get it but they just looked lifeless And that was not something I was expecting from a Joe Girardi-led baseball team. And it's really, really disappointing. Because this looked like the same exact team that I had watched the last couple of Septembers.

And I really thought that a manager was going to make a difference. And the fact that this owner thought that a manager was going to get them, get like 10 more wins from this team is insane. And it's embarrassing. And it's, you know what it is, Jack? It's scary. It's terrifying.

It's terrifying. Cause you know what he's going to do is he's, he's, he's proving it again by Matt Klintak still having a job. He's going to continue to think that it is just the players on the field and is not something deeper it is not something deeper than the general manager and the president don't know what they're doing they don't know what to look for they don't know what trends the league is going towards they have the fifth highest paid fifth highest payroll in baseball and they missed the playoffs

they assembled the second worst bullpen in the history of baseball. They did not get the JT thing done yet. He's going to walk. He is a free agent. We may have seen the last of JT Rolamuto as a Philadelphia Philly. They have not drafted well. They had absolutely no depth coming up through the system. They did very well with Alec Baum and Spencer Howard, and I think Bryson Stott.

Other than that, I don't know. Brogdon, I love. George Romero, I love. But, like, it's five years. It's year five. It is year five of the Matt Klintzak experience, and what do they have? What are they left with? They've spent a lot of money on a baseball team that is not good enough.

They thought a manager was going to come in here and get ten wins on this team. Like, managers really matter anymore. Like, managers don't freaking matter. Have we finally learned that this year? So when we have the same debate 10 years from now about a manager making a difference, I will say, look at 2020. The fact that this Phillies team is not a freaking playoff team

with eight teams making the playoffs from the National League with their payroll is a total disgrace. It is a total, complete disgrace. And the fact that Matt Klintak is still employed by this organization is incompetence. And it is starting to drive me crazy how dumb this baseball team is. When I saw the Brook Brookover tweet, I exited our pre-show meeting, and I was walking around like they can't do this. They cannot do this. They can't keep wasting our freaking time, wasting Bryce's time,

wasting Nola's time. They're wasting everyone's time by still having Matt Klintzak employed by this baseball team. Stop freaking around and fire him. Fire him now. There is no hope until you fire him. Yeah. I mean, you know I've been saying that forever.

That is as clear a position as there is in Philadelphia sports right now is that there is no hope for the Philadelphia Phillies until Matt Klintak's gone. And the scary thing is, Jack, and you just alluded to it, but the idea that if he's going to keep Klintak around, then you know what? We just might have to adjust and say there's no hope in Philadelphia until John Middleton's gone. I mean, that's where we're headed. Well, that's not changing. That's what's wrong. I know. I know. And that's what's wrong. I know. I know.

And that's what's terrifying. But honestly, it all comes from the top down. We should have known better. We talked about it after that press conference last year. Like, how could we ever believe in this guy again? He is the fraud of all frauds. Bring that effing trophy back, big dog. Where is it?

Where is it? Is it on the horizon? Is it anywhere close? Oh, I was told by fraud freaking Middleton, September collapse, that'll never happen again. Oh, really, big dog? Really? Like, I'm beside myself thinking about this team, Jack,

and you pointed to it, but like right now you're at a crossroads as a franchise. You are sitting here as a franchise with absolutely 100% clearly the wrong person in charge of building your team. You have no farm system, nothing to speak of. Whenever those rankings come out and Boehm and Howard are part of the major league roster now

and not part of that, they're gonna be in the 20s, probably what, 25, 26, somewhere in that range. At best, they are a bad farm system. They are a major league roster that is up against the luxury tax and can't make the playoffs with eight teams in their league making it. I mean, this is peril. Like, this organization is in peril right now, Jack. And another year of this, another year of Klintak, another year of McPhail,

another year of doubling down on this crock of you know what that is being sold to us is just another year that they have to make up. Another year down the wrong path that is ultimately crippling this franchise. It is, again, I don't think that we are speaking in grandiose enough terms. It sounds like hyperbole and it's not hyperbole enough. Like this franchise is in peril right now. And the longer Matt Klintak has a job, the longer Andy McPhail has a job, the longer John Middleton doesn't realize what the true problem with this

franchise is, the longer it's going to take to fix it. And we are in a bad spot right now, Jack. Imagine opening day next year if we can have fans. But imagine opening day next year if they bring Klintzak back and Real Muto is not here. I mean, seriously.

I mean, seriously. You're right. The signs, what would be down there? I mean, it would be a disaster. And again, the JT thing, like the idea that John, excuse me, fraud, freaky Middleton could go out to that pandemic crew and hang out with them. Oh, man, the people are. And then let this guy walk. And again, it might be out of his hands. Like if Steve Cohen offers JT Romulo like five years, 200 million, then you know what?

You can't sign him. It would be malpractice to sign him in that spot. And that might be where we're headed. Like this might be out of their hands. They had every advantage in this. They had him in their building. This guy wanted to be here. You had the opportunity to sign him.

And fraud Middleton, Mr. I won't go over the frigging luxury tax, even though I'm a big boy in a big market city. And yet I'm going to act like I'll do anything again. I'll die trying Jack. He said he would die trying to bring a trophy back. Are you kidding me? I'm like beside myself. When I think about this guy, I have such hatred in my heart For the Phillies organization And the way they're handling this right now And I hate it because I love them so much

It's really I'm really upset about this Well The other thing that is Just absurd And for Mr. Stupid Money himself If Matt Klintak isn't fired because he has two years

left in his contract and they owe him six million dollars just sell the team i mean just just sell the team there's no point in you owning a freaking baseball team if you're gonna keep a general manager around who is not the right guy for the job because of $6 million. Fine. Go do something else. Do something else. I mean, seriously. It would be disgraceful.

It would be a true disgrace. It would be unbelievable if he did that. And you know what would make this organization more money? Instead of worrying about the $100 million they're going to lose this year, which we can't even prove that's real because you have no idea how much money they're getting from NBC for the. Oh, and because they won't open their books to actually prove it. So, you know, why should we believe them? Right. And you know how you you know how you make that back is you have a good baseball team and you get fans there and you get them excited. Like, to bring back Matt Klintzak and Andy McPhail,

a duo that has produced literal dog crap on the field. Like, he just, I thought he had the pulse of this city. And I thought he was, you know, I just, I feel just betrayed and let down. He lied to us, Jack. He lied to us, Jack. He lied to us, like point blank. Point blank, went on WIP and lied to our faces, to our ears, like flat out spewed crap right at us. Steinbrenner of the South.

Meanwhile, he built the Angels of the East. And at least the Angels had the balls to fire their GM after. A second, a second. They couldn't get that guy out fast enough. They're like, art game's over. Can we have your pass? Get the hell out of here. And like, you know what I don't want to hear is this stupid,

the stupid, oh, John Middleton is just such a deep thinker. And he's going gonna go through every meticulous Jack he's meticulous like shut up man this is so obvious you don't need to think about this the evidence is there it's five years like what else more do you need

you have no farm system you missed the playoffs with eight teams in the league you're not in any great shape heading into next year like what more do you need to know, John? And also, if you didn't have an idea heading into this weekend, and especially after you get freaking swept and you go out like

they went out, again, just sell the team. I mean, just sell the team. It's over. You've made a lot of money. I guess it's all about money. It's not really about winning. He's not serious about winning, and that's what hurts the most. And what he is serious about is lining his pockets with more cash and taking our money and our beliefs and believing in this baseball team

and just wanting to have something to hope for. Honestly, how the hell did they win in 2008? I don't know. It's just all bad. It's all bad. Well, he wasn't the managing win in 2008? Like, I don't know. It's just all bad. It's all bad. It's all bad. Well, he wasn't the managing partner in 2008. How about that?

And you know what they did in 2008? Is in 2005, they fired Ed Wade, which, by the way, Ed Wade won 88 games that year in 2005. Fired after that. Missed the playoffs by one game. Missed the playoffs by one game. Had Howard, Utley, and Rollins as his pillars. Meanwhile, we can't decide if we want to fire Matt Glintak, but they brought in a real freaking president and a real GM in Pat Gillick.

A truly accomplished guy who everyone in the sport knew was literally one of the best to ever do it. Yes. Honestly, that's what hurts the most right now, is that they have a real opportunity here to go get a real team president. I was looking at it last night. Theo Epstein, 2011.

The Cubs go out, make him the president of baseball operations. 2014, Andrew Friedman, five years, $35 million to go be the president of baseball operations for the Los Angeles Dodgers. A big boy. The Cubs, a big boy. There has not been a big boy opening position since. I know the Red Sox opened up last year, but that was a team that you knew you were taking over and you were trading one of the three best players in baseball and you were pretty much

rebuilding. Yes, the Red Sox are a destination, but the Phillies, you'd be taking over a team that is willing to spend up to the luxury tax. And I still believe, I know he's a fraud. I still believe. Why? Because I still believe that if they were really good, he would go to the luxury tax. I know. I don't believe a word that comes out of his mouth. Not one word. I got you. I know. I know. I got you.

I'm just saying, like, like, this is their opportunity to become a big boy. And Eric Neander is the vice president down in Tampa. He is not the president. Matthew Silverman is the president down in Tampa Bay. He's the vice president down in Tampa. He is not the president. Matthew Silverman is the president down in Tampa Bay. He's the vice president slash general manager.

If they make him the president and let him run the Phillies, the 2020s can be salvaged. Like the guy is so good at his job. I was watching him on LB network last night and I was swooning. Like just straight up swooning. And all I got to say is this, and this is for you, and this is for everyone that listens to High Hopes. You heard what it was like for Chaim.

Now imagine that with Chaim's boss. That's how in I am on Eric Neander. Like, that's the level of need for Eric Neander. Chaim was on a really high level. Neander's another step up. Wellander's more accomplished yeah neander is absolutely more accomplished might be better than andrew friedman like might be better than andrew friedman he could be i mean what he's done is more impressive i know that they got to a world series under friedman and i guess you know like friedman kind of built it from from nothing in a sense but but the sustained success at the payroll that he is at with

the moves he has made is unparalleled as far as I'm concerned. Yeah. So, and listen, it might not happen. It might not happen. Well, here's the biggest fear with it not happening, right, is you just talked about if he is, if there is even a thought in his head that, oh, I paid Matt Klintak $6 million, maybe I shouldn't fire him because of that, then there's no chance Neander's coming. Then he's so much cheaper than we thought. By the way, if you're getting Neander, I think $5.50 is a good start.

If Friedman got $5.35 in 2014, $5.50 seems like a pretty good starting point. Theo got extended in 2016 for like five 25. So, I mean, you're gonna, you're gonna have to pay to get them. But again, like it's too important and you see a team like the Mets, right? And the Mets, they, they get their big boy owner and whatnot. And the first thing they do, which I think is a mistake is they, is they sign mistake, is they bring in Sandy Alderson to be their president. And that pretty much just cuts off any chance of getting a guy like Eric Neander. That's a big market team that could have just said, all right, Eric,

come run our whole franchise for us and be our president. The Phillies have a chance here to make him their president. They can make him the president. He can take Andy McPhail's job, and he could really run this franchise and bring in someone smart to be his GM. The Phillies would be such an actual sleeping giant. It wouldn't even be funny. We would be the Dodgers of the East. We would be one of those teams if we just forked over the money to bring Eric Neander here. It's that important. It is that important.

And I'm just terrified that they're going to either keep Plentak and McPhail around and not pay him his money, or he's going to look for an overcorrection and go get, like, freaking Dabrowski or something like that. Like, some guy who's,

oh, analytics bad, you know? I don't want that. Just because they got it wrong with Klintac and he didn't know how to implement analytics and he didn't know how to use it and all that stuff, it's where the sport's going. It's what all the best teams are doing. I just, I don't want them to go away from it.

I think baseball sense and baseball people are important, believe me, but like not going after an ivy league guy because klentak was a disaster would be a mistake yeah the evidence shows it is you just picked the wrong ivy league guy how did they do that by the way how did like everyone get the right ivy league guy but we get the wrong and by and like the fact that they had Haim here, they had the twins GM here, and they chose this guy. It's unbelievable. And again, that's what, back to fraud, that's what scares me.

I feel like this guy doesn't know how to evaluate anything on any level when it comes to baseball. Why should I think? And look, the Neander thing is the best hope because he doesn't even have to evaluate. He can just be like, look at the track record. But the idea of smart young people coming in here to interview with John Middleton for this job, I feel like he's going to pick the wrong guy. Why wouldn't I?

You forget that John Middleton is the analytics department. Yes, you're right. He's not a potted plant. I know that. He's not a potted plant. I've been told. Sitting in the corner. Actually, you know what?

With his track record, he might actually be a potted plant with the amount of lies he's told us. He might be a potted plant. Honestly, I would rather he was a potted plant. Me too. Get out of the way. Hire someone and just go away. Go away, John. That's how I feel.

And I know it's probably not going to happen, but man, if they hired Eric Neander. Oh, my God, dude. It would be like we have done so many podcasts this year with good reason. And we have tried to be happy and positive when we can. And Jack is certainly a beacon of light for that because no one is quicker to buy in on a team than Jack that he loves. Imagine being a smart team how quick we buy in. That's my point. That's my point.

But, like, can you please, Phillies, like, just give us something? Give us something so that high hopes can actually be the high hopes we want it to be all the freaking time. All you got to do is bring in a smart guy. That's it. We're not asking for much. Just pick someone smart to run your freaking team. It sounds like, and I know we're making it sound easier than it is, but it literally it's, it's money, man. It's money for, for a real president that would know what he's doing. And,

um, you know, I just, it, it, it would be, it would be so beyond massive, uh, to, to, to get him in here and just let's ride, like, let's go and give him this, give him the keys to the franchise, give him our payroll, give him our resources. And, you know, people say, like, why would he leave the Rays? Listen, money talks all the time. And I wonder, like, there's got to be, if you're the GM of the Rays, there's got to be some thrill of trying to make $60 million into the best record in the AL. That's got to be a thrill.

But then you think, wow, imagine what I could do with $200 million a year. There's got to be some level of, I don't know how. The Rays can win the World Series this year. They can win the World Series whenever. But there's got to be a sense of of imagine what I could do with that. And free without on top of actually having a fan base that cares, having a history, all those types of things,

a podcast that is going to arbitration together. I mean, ultimately, yes. All that really matters. I can't wait to be inspired. I mean, so real quick quick let's get

to because we've talked a lot about you know the the the what needs to happen stuff but like the brook over tweet because like you said i saw that tweet and and i'm not kidding like i actually got sick to my stomach i and i'm telling myself i'm like but rosenthal said but balden said that you know all these national guys are so much more plugged in. Let's be real. But Brookover, like he certainly knows people. This did not come from anywhere. Now, it did say, I think in the tweet or the guy thinks the source thinks. So it wasn't like a hard and fast report. But I'm still terrified, man. Like I'm scared right now. I'm scared that John Middleton's actually going to keep this clown around.

I'm scared right now. I'm scared that John Middleton's actually going to keep this clown around. I mean, so am I. I mean, yeah. I mean, what do we do? Obviously, I'm still terrified. I can't stop. I just, I don't know. Like, if you're John Middleton, you have to know at least by now that he's definitely not a,

even if you don't think he's the whole problem, which I still think he's a majority of it, you got to know he's not the guy which i still think he's a majority of it you gotta know he's not the guy like yeah and you know he's not the guy like you you for i just don't i just don't get how you go from all the gumption of i'm gonna get that trophy back or die trying to not fire your general manager over six million dollars like a general manager that sucks like you can't fire that guy because of the money and what like what do you like about him what he's like if you're john middleton he's wasted 200 million dollars of your money like that's what he's like 130 last year i mean i just what why do you why would you want to keep him around well let me throw this to you because, and look, I am, you know where I'm at with Fraud

Middleton and have been for a while. Whereas if he keeps him and someone, and we hear, or even if we don't hear like that, it was the $6 million that he paid him and he wasn't going to just throw that away. I'd believe it. Like, that's where I am. I think Fraud Middleton is that bad an owner, that much of a problem that I would believe that. But what about the possibility that he doesn't want to look like an asshat after calling him branch freaking Ricky last off season? And again, that would be the wrong decision, but I could see Middleton using that as a thing too, where he's

like, well, I just called the guy branch Ricky. I can't fire him now. Like I wouldn't be shocked by that either. Like I could see multiple ways of fraud Middleton convincing himself that he's like, well, I just called the guy Branch Rickey. I can't fire him now. Like, I wouldn't be shocked by that either. Like, I could see multiple ways of fraud Middleton convincing himself that he's doing the right thing or that he's doing the thing that is going to make him look less like an idiot, when in actuality, it's the thing that makes him look most like an idiot. Jack? Well, if there's one thing I hate in the world,

it's, you know, being prideful about stupid things that you said. I mean, seriously. It's like, come on. I agree. Just grow up, man. And make your – it's okay. It's okay to be wrong. Just fix the mistake.

Don't double down on it. And hire Eric Neander. I mean – God. Oh, my God. If he wants to fix – he could fix everything in one move this offseason. Like, it's literally as simple as that and and and it's it the whole hundred million dollar thing drives me crazy like you make so much

money every year you're also a billionaire you also get the comcast money like would you stop and you can't let that you can't let that hold back your baseball team, especially when you, when you'll make it back, like you'll make it back there. Cigar man, like you'll be all right. Like just $4.3 billion. You'll be just fine.

Big dog. Like you, if they, if they don't look to improve their baseball team this off season, because of the, because of losing money during a pandemic, it will be, I mean, I've been disappointed losing money during a pandemic it will be i mean i've been disappointed a lot as a phillies fan i mean i've watched a 60 game season that's felt

like 180 games like i that day again missed the playoff like don't you like it would just feel it would just feel like a whole offseason of of watching the phillies i don't know how much more pain i can take you know i can only talk myself into so many runs and so many dog crap players you pick up off waivers and signings you make. I can only do that for so long before it's just like, well, what am I even doing here anymore? What if they just kill me inside?

What if the Phillies just officially... Well, they can't have that, Jack, because you're the hopes. You're the one who brings the heart. I mean, we're screwed if you do that because you know I'll just jump off the deep end real quick. No one is quicker to give up on anything than James Susser. I'm out. I'm maybe out. I'm done with these guys.

I mean, poor Zoe. I know. Just wait until I jump out on her. I'm going to be like, all right, I'm done with you. Yeah, I mean, that's going to come someday. You know why? Because she's not a fraud she's awesome she would she would have gotten rid of clint back a year ago wouldn't even a question she would have hired high and bloom in the first place yeah well it's not even him can you imagine what a different timeline we're living in if he had just hired high and bloom in 2014 i mean come on i just feel like 2015 or whatever it

was does it feel like anything goes right for us? No. Like, never. Like, we trade away 6-0 for JT, and it's like, oh, cool. We got the best catcher in baseball. And then, oh, we're just going to let him go. Oh, and 6-0 is going to be, like, the next Pedro. Yeah, all good. No biggie.

Of course, it's our guy, right? Like, every other pitching prospect. Jack, at least we get to watch 6-0 pitch in the playoffs for the Marlins this year. I know. Oh, my God. The Marlins in the playoffs for the marlins this year oh my god the marlins made the playoffs the marlins with absolutely no money and whatnot made the playoffs like whatever i mean just just fire me into the sun i mean whatever though that's the point it's like that's where

we're at we're like whatever but it's an outrage it's a travesty i know this has gone around everyone's seen it by now but the fact that that the Phillies have the longest drought of any National League team and the second longest drought in all of baseball of a playoff drought. The freaking Padres made it. The Marlins made it. The Reds made it. Like all these teams. Like it's an absolute embarrassment. It is.

I'm embarrassed as a Phillies fan. Yes. I don't know. I don't know. I'm out. This is fun. I got nothing else. I don't know. I don't know. I'm out. This is fun. I got nothing else. I got nothing else.

Just, like, it's, again, if they do this, if they do this, I'm going to be, I'm going to be in shambles. I'm going to be in shambles.

If they, if, how am I supposed to believe in an organization that doesn't have a future? That's what keeping Klintzak around would do, is I'm watching a team that doesn't have a future. He is hopeless.

He is absolutely and completely hopeless. Wow. So are we renaming the podcast High Hopeless? John, this is my last play like i'll i'll call you john i know james won't call you john no fraud but but please please fire him please fire both of them the fact that you even let him get on a plane back from tampa if they were in tampa is annoying and again the fact that you even let him get on a plane back from Tampa, if they were in Tampa is annoying. Again, the fact that he was not out the door yesterday, as soon as that,

what are you waiting for? That game ended. He should have been out. We should have gotten the Ken Rosenthal tweet. The Phillies have fired Matt Klintak and we should have been celebrating. What are you waiting for? What are you waiting for? What are you waiting for?

Other than, other than to have someone convince you that everything is fine. Like, what are you waiting for what are you waiting for other than other than to have someone convince you that everything is fine like what are you waiting for it doesn't it doesn't make any sense and i'm sad about it i'm sad about it i'm sad about it i will watch a lot of eric neander stuff to get me excited again um like if there's if there's even a one report of the phillies going after him i might i might not be able to sleep at night. I just, I mean, to keep the general manager around that traded away Nick Pavetta, who struck out five in five innings yesterday of one run ball against the Braves. Dominant in Boston. Dominant.

I mean, seems like a problem. You know, seems like a problem. It's not the biggest trade of his career. You know, that would be giving away 6-0 for a guy who they didn't resign. But it just shows. They're not resigning. I mean, you know me. I've said the entire time.

I'm like, oh, I still think he's going to be here. I still think he's going to be here. For the first time, for the first time, Jack, I'm starting to truly believe that JT Romita will not be here next year. Well, and I'm slowly getting there. It's more just I don't want to think about it, but Bryce seemed angry yesterday. I mean, again, for him to come out and say,

it's one thing where he does the sign JT after a home run or whatever. I mean, that alone is a thing. He came out yesterday and point blank put the Phillies on notice and said there is no situation where this guy can't be on our team next year. It's unacceptable. I mean, put it in as plain and simple terms as you could possibly have. Yeah, and I mean, it's whatever. It's fine if he wants to do that.

But, like, you know, and then the next question is about Didi, and he's like, yeah, I told him, you know, then the next question is about dd and he's like he's like yeah i told him you know it was nice playing with him for a year basically it's like well how do you think how do you think dd feels you know i agree i don't love that he's doing it but he definitely made it very clear yeah well yeah i it's his it's his favorite player in baseball. And again, Mr. Moneybag, stupid money, said, I promise Bryce Harper I'm going to do whatever it takes to have you win here. And for them, not their first move to let JT Real Amido hit the open market is that that's how you're going to start off your relationship?

I mean, if you're Bryce, you've got to be thinking, like, what are we doing? Honestly, I would request a trade at this point. If they let JT walk, they bring Klintak back, and how about his response about Klintak? Didn't say, oh, I love Matt, or I hope he's back. He was like, oh, happy I'm not the owner. But if they let JT walk, if they do that to you as Bryce,

why are you here? What are you staying here for? What's the upside? What's the down the road for you at this point? Your prime is wasted. It's done. Unless they turn around and sign George Springer, and they go all out that way.

So easy. What? What do you mean? What if they... I mean, you know, how many teams really, you know... What difference making catcher? Really? I love this, man.

I love this, man. I mean, Posey, yeah. But outside of Posey, I mean, you could just have a guy back there. Yeah, sure. Did you like what you saw from Nappy this year? I loved something from Andrew Nappy. That doesn't mean I want him to start again. And he calls a great game.

Oh, Jack. Calls a great game. Alright. You got anything else? Yes. I feel like we should make our official High Hopes announcement. Yes. That's where I was going. Alright. And I feel terrible about this.

And we don't want to do it. We don't want to do this. The High Hopes listeners are literally our favorite people in the world. We would never lie to them. We love them. And for as excited as we were about the Bryce Harper's Coming Here podcast, I think we're more excited for the Matt Klintex Fire podcast. It's not even close. It might just be a whole podcast of me yelling yo.

That's where my brain is at. be a whole podcast of me yelling yo that's that's where my brain is at it's going to be the longest loudest most intense yo that has ever yo well and by tradition and by tradition i think we should get this out there now no shot matt klintzak is fired this is matt klintzak is is going to be no way this is what it is they blew it yet again he's going to be the gm for the next decade well with that in mind the official high hopes position and again it this is tearing us up we are no longer recording this podcast until matt klintak is gone that's it it's stern it's stern it's it's this very stern position we're taking so we have to do this is out of our hands this is on fraud middleton now and and the risk is the risk is that the high host podcast

never comes back i mean man the risk i don't do this man john fraud come on it may be a year it may be two years it may be a decade this podcast will never happen again if Matt Klintak is employed by the Phillies end of story yep that's it so fire Matt Klintak John

John if you truly like listening to this podcast like I'm sure you've had an enjoyment listening today I'm sure you've loved this episode of the podcast this is probably his favorite episode yeah he's probably gonna have this it's or the harper is not coming here one one of the two have to be high on his list yep um if if if you would like to continue to listening to this podcast and we are open for sponsorships although i don't think you're gonna sponsor us after this podcast no no big time cigar sponsor coming our way i don't think i maybe not maybe not um you'll never hear our voices again you will never get another yo from james you will not have the

most rabid fans behind you uh and the fans that actually matter to you, the real fans of the Phillies, you won't have that anymore if Matt Klintak is still employed because we are done. We're not recording a podcast. You have to hear us on WIP and that's it. I'll have to talk about the Eagles and I hate the Eagles. I'll start

a freaking Eagles podcast. I don't think that's very fun these days either. We could start our Fire Howie Roseman podcast. I'll start a Flyers podcast. I don't think that's very fun these days either. We could start our Fire Howie Roseman podcast. I'll start a Flyers podcast. Yes, Jackie Pugs. Hey, Doc Rivers might be coming here. We can be top on that bandwagon. I don't think there are any

Sixers podcasts out there, right? Definitely not. But yes, John, I'm very sorry. So that's it. But we're done. This might be, this might be the last time we ever talked to the high hopes. Oh God.

How does it make you feel? Like I'm getting all like, uh, uh, welled up over here. I don't like this. I don't like this. It's what has to be done.

We don't have a choice. We don't have a choice. This is not, this is not us. It's not about us. We, we would never make anything about us. No, never. Not our thing, Jack. Uh, not us. It's not about us. We would never make anything about us. No, never.

Not our thing, Jack. Uh-uh, not me. Particularly not you, yes. Never your thing. All right. Actually, I'll start a Red Sox podcast. That's where Nikki is. There you go.

And Chaim. Oh, buddy. Look at this. Oh, my gosh. You know how much I love Raphael Devers. I'll hop on board. Don't blow this, Sean. don't blow this shot don't blow so sad all right so fraud middleton this is it this is it it's very fire maclintock it's very sad that i've come to this point but um what has to happen all right well this is this is. I'm really sad right now. Don't ruin this.

I enjoy this podcast, Rod. Like, I want to talk to the Ops listeners. I like talking to Jack. Like, don't do this. Don't do this. Don't do this. And one last thing before we get out of here. Yeah.

Make it count because we might not be back for a while. Did you see Conor Brogdon this weekend? Like, dude, talk about a you see Conor Brogdon this weekend? Like, dude, talk about a dude. Conor Brogdon? I mean, how awesome was that? I mean, 97, 98? Tell Girardi's decision of when to pull him out of a game less good. Oh, dude, how about freaking Girardi yesterday

going for a third inning of Hector Neris over a fully rested Zach Eflin. Unbelievable. Eflin looked great. As soon as he brought Eflin in, it was like, oh, you could have brought him in way earlier. Dear Joe, next year, it's okay to trust guys without long track records that have stuff. Maybe we don't

need every single night of Brandon Workman, Heath Embry, David Felt. We don't need all single night of brandon workman heathenbury uh david felt looks like like we don't need all the experienced guys it's okay we certainly don't need brandon workman or eat them i think we could say that very well very clearly one more year of heathenbury baby um i am getting one getting one over on clint deck yes who could have saw that coming who could have saw that coming um Of all the shocks this year. Yes.

But, yeah, Brogdon's a dude, man. Like, straight up nasty. Change up. Comes in throwing strikes. 97-98. Absolutely perfect. Very happy. And I hope the High Hopes listeners, who we may never talk to again.

Unless they want to subscribe to our Red socks podcast chayim hopes yep i love it i am hopes night um it's actually pretty good yeah so unless you want to tune into chayim hopes um we will not talk about the phillies anymore until mechlin's back is fired and also i hope you enjoy the next decade of alec bone because that dude's awesome and yeah he was gonna be my one my one positive thing I was going to say is I'm so excited about that guy, man, and it didn't let up. He came up and just started hitting and hit all the way through. It was awesome.

I'm going to miss watching Alec Baum. Yeah, talking about him for sure. I know, just never talking about him again. Then in like a year, we'll do like two years, whatever it is. We'll finally do a podcast again, and Jack will have like a seven-hour take back to get through by the time it's all he's saved up over time. Oh, dude, I can't wait to find the most random one.

What's the smallest one going to be? Like, did you see the bunt? It's like something about some guy who got dfa'd by some team that the phillies brought him for a workout and you think he's really got stuff oh like like the robert stock guy which is funny because he was in boston they optioned him to bring up pavetta it was great yeah it was a i saw that and obviously thought of you i'm trying to think of oh was it Joey Manassas, who was our next Max Muncy? Joey Manassas.

We had a whole J.D. Davis thing. We've done a few of these. Oh, well, and by the way, I would just like to point out that past two off-seasons, past three off-seasons, no, two off-seasons and a trade deadline, I wanted J.D. Davis, I wanted Mark Br Brousseau and I wanted Jake Cronenberg. Like that's, that's a pretty good track record,

pretty good track record of, of being able to actually identify talent. Unlike our, speaking of Brousseau was wild at wet watching against the rays and you see their lineup. And it's like, Brousseau was literally the only guy in the lineup hitting over 300. And the other guys were like two 22, 15 to 30. And it's like, Brousseau was literally the only guy in the lineup hitting over 300. And the other guys were like 220, 215, 230.

And it's like, yep, the Rays just figure it out. They just figure it out. Like, yeah, that guy bats 220, but against a lefty who throws 94 to 97, he's actually batting 320. You know what I mean? Like, that's what they do. That's what they do.

Good times, Shaq. Good times. This is it. Wait, so... Wait, hold on. Uh-oh. The Philadelphia Inquirer just tweeted out, Philly's GM Matt Klintzak will return,

source says. Still no word from owner John Middleton. Well, that's off of the brook over tweet still. Still, but it just came out at six 23 though. Yeah. I pretty sure that was the one that they were using the brook over tweet as a, uh, as a basis for that.

It feels a little click baby, right? Like if, if, if middle, it's exactly what it is. Yeah. Oh, come on. That's a BS tweet. I told you it's a, it's the broker. All right. So the, the tweet is all right. All right That's a BS tweet. I told you. It's the Brooker thing, right? All right. This is the tweet.

Philly's GM, Matt Klintak, will return, source says. Still no word from owner, John Middleton. The actual headline of the story is Philly's source believes Matt Klintak will return. Yep. Oh, come on. I almost just got very sad. It's so weak, man. It's so weak.

But just the fact this is even out there. That's very sad. It's so weak, man. It's so weak. But just the fact this is even out there. I hope and pray that this is John Middleton trying to gauge reaction. How's that going for him? Is everyone thrilled?

Well, that's my point. I'm hoping that he sees this and is like, just like the Twitter poll, because we have an incompetent owner who makes his decisions based off Twitter polls. And granted, that one was the right one, but that doesn't mean it's the right process for making decisions, Jack. And also, by the way, for whoever, for if I ever just ruined anyone's night there in the last five minutes with the whole Philly Enquirer link, blame Sixers Adam because he sent it to me. And he did not do his.

Adam, come on, buddy. He didn't fully vet. Adam's better than that. I'm disappointed. He is better than that. He's a journalist now. You gotta be better. There's absolutely no excuse. To be fair, Philly Inquirer,

you gotta be way better because that's BS right there. That is an absolutely misleading tweet like not cool like don't do that like people are really on edge about this like don't do that it might only be us and our listeners but we're we're certainly on edge about it all right i can tell you you sound like you're on edge i am so on edge all right so um i hope we'll talk to you soon. Talk to you this time next year? We'll see. We'll see.

Please, Fraud Middleton, do the right thing. If for no other reason than for the High Hopes podcast. Yes. We're still available for sponsorships. Please. If after listening to this you said...

Don't listen. Don't listen. Just give us money. Right? Hey, if you want us to talk nice about you, pay for us. No, I'm kidding. Us and Eric Neander.

That's all we'll do. All right. We will hopefully talk to you soon. Talk to you next year. See you later. This is Brits and Seltzer. We're out.