High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Reacting To The Baltimore Series AND It's Perfect Trade Deadline Season

Episode Date: July 28, 2023

James Seltzer and Jack Fritz react to the Phillies taking two of three from Baltimore and lay out their perfect trade deadline scenarios ahead of this weekend's series against the Pirates. 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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Another fact, so jump aboard the B.I.B. Express. Follow and listen to Baseball Isn't Boring, presented by Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. This is the High Hopes Podcast. High Hopes! It's a bunch of baseball nerds talking about the Phillies on Odyssey and Sports Radio 94 WIP.

Go! Odyssey and Sports Radio 94 WIP. Yo! It is another edition of the I Am's Podcast. That's my on vacation this week voice trying to get through the yo. Was not ready for that. Was stretching it. Got through it. Just like the Philz got through the Orioles.

Suck it, Orioles. How you doing, buddy? Good. You know, right on time. 8.46. Yeah. I felt like you today. All right. So inside baseball, between the two of us, if we have a set recording time,

one of us is here way more often at that set recording time than the others so how's it feel buddy how's it well i'm a what have you done for me lately guy and the the late the early results hold on by the way uh up at lake placid i was at least 10 minutes early um yes and and this one i was locked in at 8 25 so that's too straight um you know seltzer obviously slacking doesn't care about the podcast but think about it this way like i know i know it's it's so early in the morning and i hope that you can figure out a way to get through this at 8 45 um you know like most people would i was asleep like 20 minutes ago yes um just think about like right now if if you were doing your job.

I'd be like deep into my day. I know. Yeah, exactly. So now it's like, you know, I mean, the camera's probably, you know, talking about the alien thing now or whatever. I guess they had a major controversy with Pop Culture Beat the Hammer. Oh, really? What happened? I missed this completely.

They asked the contestant the same question twice by accident and no one picked it up. Yeah. So you see what happens when Seltzer's not there, everything, everything falls apart. So, um,

as always life is better and, and everyone's more locked in when James Seltzer is around. And I just, I have to get this out, James. Um, it's fricking, I know we're going to get to it.

It's deadline season. It's, it is deadline season. And like, I just, I'm so giddy thinking about, you know, like, because last year, so I had heard about the Marsh stuff in the morning and it wasn't out anywhere. And it was like, are they really? Like, they're going to trade Ohapi for Marsh? Like, that's insane. Didn't see that one coming.

The D-Rob trade, I think, was a bit, you know, it was kind of out there percolating. Noah Syndergaard. They said they weren't trading him. They were like, he's untouchable. Brown's untouchable. He's not going anywhere. Ben Brown and Logan Ohapi are untouchable. He's not going anywhere. Ben Brown and Logan Ahab are untouchable.

He's not going anywhere. By the way, Ben Brown is top 70 prospect in baseball right now. Oh, buddy. But it's just like that. I feel like, you know, there's been almost no rumors. Like last night there was the Adam Duvall thing, which is, I mean, I think I could have tweeted out. Do you feel like Eduardo Rodriguez they're attached to thanks Mark Feinstein

listen he's had a breakout year he's never stayed healthy but so many so many Dave guys it's like oh shocking guys that helped him win a World Series I know right back to the well well and the problem is not a problem because I would love Eduardo Rodriguez even though it costs a good amount

and I would love Duvall too but the problem is that he got Kimbrel, right? So he's like, nah, I'm on a heater right now. Let me go get him. Yeah, exactly right. So I'm excited to get into it. Hey, hey, hey! Maybe your bring Steve

Pierce out of retirement thing could happen. Dude, I guarantee you, right now, Steve Pierce could still rake against lefties. That's a World Series MVP right there. You know what I mean? So we'll obviously get into it later. But I want you to know and I want everyone to know, giddy about the deadline.

You're ready. And I feel like we needed to do it this podcast because by Sunday, I mean, the Phillies might have been making a trade by Sunday. I think you make a trade today. I mean, David Robertson to the Marlins last night. Well, look at you also like leading with like a flex of like, I knew all day that the Marsh trade was happening last year, but you know, no big deal to me.

So, so are you saying, you know, things, is that what you're saying now? Should, should we expect something to happen today? Is that what this little, no, I actually know. But, but I would take it for sure. I would 100% take it. I'm excited. And look, that was a – now, full disclosure, I rewatched the games because I was at Fish Show the last two nights.

It seems like I should go to a Fish Show every night because when I go to a Fish Show, the Phillies have great comeback wins against the Orioles, so that's pretty sweet. You know what I should not do during a Phillies game, James? What's that? Is be driving from Lake Placid and miss the whole thing. Oh, yeah.

We just stopped six times. It turns out, I don't know if you know this, but the cry is very powerful from a baby. And it turns out, oh, I don't. See, I would just be like, power through. He'll get there. powerful from from a baby sure you know and it turns out like oh i don't i you know see i i would just be like power through you know like he'll get there um power through guys yeah not the same with not the same with jill and the and the fun development james is that uh walker is now learning how to hit a higher octave oh good lucky so yeah so he's hitting a higher octave, which is a fun development. Yeah. So, yeah, listening to a whole game on the radio is actually not bad. Oh, great.

I love listening to baseball games on the radio. I just like being able to see it, you know, at the same time. It's a bold take. Yeah. So I like to be able to see what I'm watching. But, man, like, it wasn't too bad. But either way, it feels lost lost and that was because of me. And Walker cried a lot, yes.

Yeah, I'm very good at ignoring it when I need to. Emily is not. Emily's like, don't you hear that? And I'll be like, what are you talking about? Oh, yeah, she's wailing. Turns out our wives are very nice and great people. Yeah, much more attuned to our baby's struggles than we are. That's correct.

Yes, exactly right. We love our kids but oh the best the best i know i know yeah we love you know we love both all right um the the oreo series and we'll get to the trade deadline coming up um but that was a really exciting series i mean all three games great games like one of the better maybe the best series all season just in terms of three baseball games had a chance to win that first one obviously uh you know didn't come through but it but it but like they went up against the team with the second best record baseball one two or three and it just looked like two really evenly matched teams jack yeah and i think the biggest thing that happened

in the oriole series was that you know for for the the week and a half stretch before that where it felt like remember early in the season they went to Los Angeles and they allowed 36 runs in three games. They were just getting bludgeoned by teams. That was the last time

Kimbrough gave up the Grand Slam. The Muncie or whatever. I thought what happened the last week before the Orioles series was Gabriel gave up the Grand Slam, the Muncie or whatever. Yeah, yeah, sure. Yeah. And I thought what had happened the last week before the Orioles series was like they just were in every game and they would shoot themselves in the foot. Or they would make some mistake and they would find ways to lose. And, you know, Wallace City was in absolute panic and meltdown mode. And here comes the collapse. And one year wonder, teams a loser, fire Thompson, like all this stuff. I was kind of like, listen, I think this stuff's going to turn

because there's no way that they can keep finding these dumb ways to lose games. And what happened in the Oracle series, they found a dumb way to lose Monday night. They sure did. And the shortstop got thrown out, which meant Edmundo had to bat in the eighth and couldn't get a bunch down and lined out and whatever.

Um, and, and then I thought Tuesday and Wednesday shortstop, like just go call him the shortstop was good. The shortstop. Yes. Yeah. Um,

that's where we're at with, with number seven. Yeah. Very appropriate where we're at with number seven. Very appropriate way to describe him. So, yeah. And then Tuesday, you know, it was trending in the same direction, of course. I just think that Tuesday night might have been the most important win of the season. From the standpoint of, like, the the monkey off the back having a chance to exhale and and and be like all right we kind of weathered it we took a game against

the orioles like there's been a lot of just angst i think there's like angst around the team and i felt like they they released a lot of that like the celebration was a big celebration um for a july game against the Orioles. This is a team that was playing dance on our own. These guys celebrate, buddy. It's part of their thing. Then I thought,

it showed the next night. It showed the next night. They went down 3-0 because, God forbid, we could just get a lead. It's only two. It's their new bit, man. It's every game. It is absurd. forbid we just get a lead it's only two like it's their new bit man like it's legitimately it's every game dude i think they've had i think they've had the lead first once in the last 14 games it's unbelievable i mean it's unbelievable i i and it is look it is great and then we got

this feel with them last year when they started to really put it together and all that but like it is nice having a team that you can watch a baseball game and be down 2-0 or 1-0 or 3-0 or whatever and feel like they're not out of a baseball game, like, ever. And I think that that's what this team is getting back to. And that's one of the hallmarks of a great team. That's one of the hallmarks of the best teams. Like, those are the teams that you feel like have real chances to do something.

It's a team that's never out of a game, a team that always fights, a team that battles, because it says something about that team. It's like a team that battles against adversity. You know what I mean? I believe the 08 Phillies led the league in comeback wins. And I think it is. You're 100% right.

It's a hallmark of what the good teams do. Now, it doesn't mean that you have to do it every game. No, don't force yourself to do it. You should be able to do it, not always do it. Yes, exactly right. Now, I think that's a nice 5-0 lead once in a while like let's do that buddy yeah yeah maybe against the pirates we could do that it would be a thought yes yeah now i think the the biggest difference between the team now and the team at the beginning of the year is i didn't feel that like i i felt

like absolutely i it's been the last month like the last month or so it's turned. Yeah, when they would go down early in the season, I'd be like, nah, they're done. And it was a lot like the pre-Girardi Phillies, where it was like... Or no, the Girardi, the pre-Thompson Phillies. Pre-Thompson, yeah. Definitely the Girardi Phillies. Where it was like they go down,

and it's like, oh, they're going to lay over and die. And this team just hasn't done it. Even the games... And I think that's another reason why I didn't have this doom-and-gloom attitude, was like, even the games they were losing, they're going to lay over and die. And this team just hasn't done it. Even the games, and I think that's another reason why I didn't have this doom and gloom attitude, was like, even the games they were losing, they were coming back. It would just be like some dumb eighth inning home run

or whatever that would cost them. Now they did that on Tuesday night as well. But it's exciting. It's exciting that they are finding ways to come back. It's exciting that, listen, I think the Orioles are great. The Orioles are great, great. And they're going to be, like, the Orioles are, get ready for this. This is the next five years minimum of Orioles.

Which is, that's all they can do, because then they'll have to tear it down on the trade. That's what I mean. They won't sign the guys and stuff. But, like, the next five years is going to be a really good run for the Orioles, you know? And, like, again,

Jackson and, and, and Hurst, they're like, they have the best young team in baseball and they have the best prospect just like hanging out among other guys. But like the best prospect in baseball is just like hanging out, not hanging out,

like shooting through the minors. He's 19 and double A. Like, it's like no big deal. Well, he's the best prospect for now. I mean, Aiden Miller's coming. I mean, come on. He had a three for four yesterday in his debut.

I mean, so we'll get back to everything. No lie. I watched the video. By the way, real quick. I mean, just for reference. The kid we were talking about is Jackson Holiday. Same age. He's in double A crushing. Same age. He's in double-A crushing.

Same age, he's in double-A crushing. Well, you can make the case the FCL League for the Phillies and Tigers is equal competition in double-A. Good point. Yeah, thank you. That one game Aiden Miller had was very impressive. You are correct. I'm so excited.

I watched the double a minimum of a million times. But yeah, the Orioles, the Orioles are really good. Now, the Phillies got lucky because Felix Bautista was not available the entire series. They basically gave the series off. Which is unbelievable. Yeah. All their

open pitchers are good. It's still impressive, but Bautista is a stud. I love Cano. When he was coming in the ninth, I was like, well, I mean, I'll hope. I guess if you want to look at his arm slot,

it's dropping because he's getting tired late in the year. We all saw that one coming. I didn't. This is how I felt about the Rays series as well, is I think the Phillies look toe-to-toe with some of the best teams in the American League. The thing with the Phillies and the single most, like, we can talk about the deadline, and we will, and whatever.

But they're not going to go, like, I would be shocked if they're if they if juan soto's affiliate on tuesday like i think it's gonna be a braves-ish deadline from a couple years ago 2021 where they find you know fringe pieces and um like this the phillies will be as good as the top of the lineup is is this i think it's like to boil us down into its simplest form and the top of the lineup is. I think it's like, to boil us down into its simplest form, and the top of the lineup has just been so, so annoying. Like the Turner, the two-spot thing. Schwarber was just dreadful in the Orioles series. Cassiano, what he's done post-All-Star break is terrifying.

Hasn't gotten a hit since the All-Star break, yep. Has, but I see your point. I know, I know, I know. Harper is coming along. Harper's been good. JT, like, holy cow, man, please. Like, for all the Turner stuff, and I agree with it, like, JT's been just as brutal at this point.

And it's like, to boil it down to its simplest form like if the Stars can just be the Stars like just be the Stars for two months and see how good this team can be and if they're not it's just because you see it. They have

the bullpen. They mostly have the starting pitching. It's those guys in the lineup. If they can the bullpen they mostly have the starting pitching it's it's those guys in the lineup if they can just be who they are they've got a real shot here to do something yeah i mean the fact that like they're all sub 800 ops guys like i'm harper might be back over it or whatever now but like the fact that those five guys each of them making 20 million or more every single one of those five guys that we're talking about makes 20 million or more for a season to come out and hit and they're all sub 800 ops guys bryce is 802 bryce is 802 so like

but seriously like think about that think about that we Think about that. We're not saying something $900. We're saying something $800. These are your best hitters. These are $20 million a year guys. We'll get to Juan Soto, but everyone's like, oh, he stinks. He's this OPS's white hired and he's on the team. This is crazy. You're right, Jack.

It is the single biggest issue with this team. And we'll talk about the trade deadline. We'll talk about just moving forward. But like this team will go as far as those five bring them. And that's that's what. Yes, they're being paid one hundred and twenty million dollars combined like that. Yes, that makes sense. You spent one hundred and twenty million dollars on five guys for a season. You're going to go where they go.

They're going to take you where they take you. And to be honest, the fact that the Phillies are eight games above five hundred right now guys for a season, you're going to go where they go. They're going to take you where they take you. And to be honest, the fact that the Phillies are eight games above 500 right now and able to look like a similar level team like the Orioles or these other teams that are playing better baseball and have a better record, like that is, to your point, such a sign of hope to me. Like that, if even if like two of these guys just get on a roll, like, what could this team be? Like, they're a playoff team right now,

and their five best players have underachieved. Like, that's, I'm taking it as a positive, but to your point, like, ultimately they got a hit. But I'm taking it as a positive. Like, those guys haven't hit their eight games above 500. Hey, fantasy football owners. The road to winning your fantasy football championship starts now. I'm Matt Harmon from

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you get your podcasts. The Phillies should be, should be, the third best team in the National League this year. It's as simple as that. Braves, Dodgers, Phillies. Like, they should not be worse than the Reds. They should not be worse than the Diamondbacks. They should not be worse than the Giants. The Brewers. The Marlins. Like, it's five teams. They all pretty much have the same record at this point.

And now it's about separating yourself. Like, now it is the trade deadline's on Tuesday. You see who you upgrade and then after the trade deadline given the schedule in august and i was like well i was gonna bring up a take bag but like the next 14 games pirates marlins i have it too i had it too yeah i know dude they got like a real run no honestly it's really the next month of baseball. It's a whole month, but the next 14 games. And the thing about the time that they're getting this run

and why it should make this even better, James, is that it's all these teams that are selling at the deadline. Totally. So whatever semi-talent that these bad teams have, they're getting rid of. The Pirates already traded Santana. We'll see if they make moves over the weekend. The Nationals are going to trade whatever.

They might hold on to Lane Thomas. They might hold on to Lane Thomas, but they'll trade Candelario. Candelario. And they'll maybe trade Finnegan and stuff like that. Royals are going to trade what they can get for a lot of their whatever. Arlo, whoever, stuff like that. They played the Nationals twice this month. So, like, again, like, this is the time where you can distance yourself.

You get St. Louis, who's probably going to trade some pieces if nothing else. They've been well out of it. I mean, they got some real scheduling opportunities. And to your point, teams that are going to be worse in a few days, potentially. Right. And it's time to distance yourself, and it's time for the Stars to get on a roll because, again, the bullpen is good enough,

and I think getting better with Sir Anthony on his way back. Alvarado, I'm a, like, I just, there's two injuries now for him, and it seems like they're kind of slow playing getting him back. I hope it comes back against back to being Jose Alvar varado but it feels more like there could be more here so it could maybe uh change what they do with that line and getting another bullpen piece just to you know prepare around them starting staff like the funniest part about the starting staff right now james is like they're all essentially doing the same thing like they're they're seven innings three running six innings three runs six that's

one blow up and yeah i know i know and everyone starts freaking out this guy sucks this guy sucks including me i was very worried about ranger the other day but it's like it's like he's just been okay but it's been like it was fine six three runs he got you a win you know i mean i mean or kept you in a game that you ended up winning you know i mean exactly and that's what this started doing there it looks like they're all battling. Now, my big hope is that I think that the Zach Wheeler we saw in Cleveland over the weekend, we might get our ace back. And that's good. They lost that game because of a defensive miscue, and that was it.

Like, it was not Wheeler's fault. That's for sure. He's brilliant. And the fastball, that zip back on him and all that stuff. So, they might get an ace to the trade, that line, and Zach Wheeler. So it's really about, and the starting staff is, I think they'll get on a roll, and I trust Caleb Kaufman and his staff to get the most out of these guys. Again, it's just like when you have the second season that Boehm's having,

or second season that Sott's having, Boehm, who, listen, the power is annoying, and just one of these years, buddy, like one of these years, drive the ball to the ballpark. But 280, 330. And also a guy who I just feel like if you need a hit in a spot, like I do have a lot of confidence he's going to get me that hit in that spot. More than, like Stott and Boehm, like Stott, Boehm, and Harper. I would go, I've said before, it's Harper and Stott are number one, two,

if I need a hit to win a series to save my life to whatever on this team right now. Boehm's probably three. If I just need a single, like, he's probably three. A hundred percent. And it should be. I mean, he's batting seventh most nights and leads the team in RBI. So, like, he's clearly got some kind of clutch gene there.

I guess he talked about how, like, growing up, they'd be benched if they didn't get a runner home from third. Oh, hey now. Yeah, yeah. So I guess a little pressure there. Yeah, so, like, when you have the years that those guys are having and are developing, and Marsh, I mean, you have to throw Marsh in there. Yeah, Marsh and the best OBS guy on the team all year.

Yeah, so, like, it's just, it's annoying because you see the makings of a great team here, but it can't get there until you start seeing a little more consistency from Schwarber. Listen, like 25 home runs is valuable. All the five, again, like to

your point, like Marstot and Boehm, like they are doing what they and you want more power from boom you want a little more consistency whatever from these guys like not stott he's perfect but like what those three guys are doing like all three of them took the leap we expected and hoped at least if everyone else does what they're supposed to it's just everyone else hasn't like part of the reason the rate game's about 500 is because of how good those stott has been and marsh has been and stuff like that dude hold on stott i mean that's like the mvp of the team this year like let's be honest like if you have to pick an mvp

of the phillies right now on july 28th it's bryson stott like he has been their mvp this he's been their most again like i would probably take harper to get a hit over him if i had to save my life but like i'm not even sure about that I might take stock. Like that's how good he's been. He's been the MVP of this team. So my, and the coolest part about Scott is like last year, if you threw him 95 plus up, he couldn't touch it. And all he did all season is watch the world series and see that.

And he changed his whole, his hands. And he's, he figured out how to get the balls better. And I just love him, man. He's just a ball player. Oh, my God. He's just a ball player.

Okay, so the Utley Combs, we all know it's annoying. But I will say I think he is the number one since Utley in terms of Phillies fans saying he's just a ball player or that guy is a baseball player. He's the new Utley, at least in that, for sure. Like, even Rob Thompson, whenever he talked about it, he's like, yeah, he's just a baseball player. It's like, damn right he is. It's so funny. What a great compliment, calling him the, like, literal definition of what he does for a living.

Just a ball player. Just a ball player. And, again, I just keep thinking, like, what does a 28-year-old Stott season look like? What does a, like, as he gets more, like, he's already batting over 300. And does he compete for a batting title a couple years from now? Does he have, like, one of those, like, a 330 season? You know, and eventually, listen, I know Schwab's comfortable there. I don't know.

You're fighting yourself if you're not putting him at the top of the line. Without a doubt. I mean, the amount of pitches he sees, the looks he gets for the rest of the line, the pitches he fouls off, the tough at bat. Like, it's just especially, and that's the thing, too, is I think what does a developed stop look like as he develops i do think he'll walk more i think he has such a great he's already heating up on the in the walk and he is such a he is such a mastery of the strike zone clearly and an ability to put

a ball a bat on the ball in the strike zone as well as anyone in baseball other than like louis so like of course he can't i i think like as he matures and stuff he if he wants to walk more he can like i feel like he's the kind of guy who kind of like can do what he wants up there it's it's really it's amazing all right uh we got a lot to get to we got take back perfect deadline but like we got it talk trey turner real quick because like this felt like the week you know we've kind of been waiting all season for it to turn in terms of like, and it's been slowly getting there and stuff like that.

But to the point where it's like, all right, like now we're talking about like expunging the guy. I know Joe Giglio was talking about early in the season, but now like other people are saying like, if I could get rid of the contract, I would be like trade him. People are like, but we finally getting boot. He finally got benched as he needed to get kicked out of that game. Clearly frustrated.

Like it feels like we're kind of reached that moment right now where it's like, all right, either this is the moment where Trey Turner is going to get better. I mean, he's not going to be Trey, at least in my opinion, he's not going to be like Trey Turner this year, but he's going to get better. Or it's a Nick Cassiano season from Trey Turner.

If I had to bet, I would bet on this being a lost season for Trey Turner. I expect nothing from Trey Turner. if I had to bet I would bet on this being a lost season for Trey Turner like I I expect nothing from Trey Turner like whatever I get will be a bonus but like it feels like we're in a moment where it's either going to turn or it's not yeah totally and especially because obviously

I think they I think they drowned it out a little bit of the booze on the broadcast the other night like I heard I believe they did it out, a little bit of the boos on the broadcast the other night. I believe they did. I'm sure. I heard from people in the ballpark that it was not great. It shouldn't have been.

I would have booed him in that. I mean, I would have. I would have booed. There's Bulldog South. Hold everyone accountable. Right, buddy. Accountability, buddy. Yeah. No one holds him.

You here. Yeah. We are not blind homers at all um but uh so i thought it was really smart of of topper to sit him in the last game of the series give him two full days and then reinsert him into the lineup on the road they had six road games very smart dude is that the deal with isn't it you know i think that's that's thompson's biggest strength that i think is knowing his players and i thought it was interesting um i guess i think howard asked him before tuesday night like would you consider benching him

and topper basically was like i went to him he said he wanted to play i'll give him that and then like we know no no baseball players gonna say no i, no, I don't want to play tonight. And if they do, then you don't, you know, might not have a winner on your hands. And Rob Thompson took it away from him and said, no, you're going to sit. But you had to. You had to. Yeah.

Absolutely. Like sometimes you have to take that decision out of a player's hands. Totally. So I think that's obviously Rob Thompson's probably biggest strength. And I think getting him on the road is good. Now tonight, I don't want to bat him. I don't think he should be batting too. I agree with i agree like you take the pressure off let him just let him just bat six him and boom flip him and boom put boom in the tool put him seventh whatever something like that bat six put stott up there and flip whatever like

i'm with you dude you cannot be batting too right now. You can't. It's just, it's, so two to me is more important than leadoff, especially for this team. Like, if Schwarber bats leadoff, hits a home run, or walks, we take that. You know, the strikeouts are going to happen, but having him there is somewhat. But the two spot, like, it was so refreshing on Wednesday night where Castellanos is coming up, and Castellanos hasn't been great

since the All-Star break, but I felt like they had a chance. I felt like it wasn't like, oh, here comes a strikeout or a weak ground ball, whatever. So whether it's Boehm there, I think Boehm's like a classic definition of a two-hole hitter. He probably shouldn't be because he's 6'5". No, he shouldn't be because he's six five again yes but he does he you know he could spray the ball we'll get the bat on the ball can move runner over

all that stuff um you could put I mean they put Cassidy on us there a lot either way I just I think it would be a mistake to insert him and put him back at two and great like if he comes back and he bats six and he starts looking like Trey Turner then move him back to two it's fine you know like that's but But to bring him back and put him right in the two spot, I think would be a mistake. I think it would be putting all the weight back on his shoulders. Like, let him

work his way through this, but I think you're setting himself, I think you're setting him up for failure by putting him in the two spot. Because I'm mostly with you. Like, I just, if Trey Turner turns back into superstar Trey Turner, I'd be shocked at this point. Shocked. You know?

This year. This year. Next year. We're just talking this season. I'd be shocked. And I don't think you can bank on that. So, they're not doing him any favors putting him at two. Let him bat sixth.

And if he gets hot, he gets hot. He'll understand all that stuff. So, it's definitely reached that point of the season and they can't do what they did listen they got to game six of the world series and i'm not sure who else they put in that spot but i think they might have cost themselves a title keep batting cassianos at four and you last Now, you can't do that with a two-spot in the lineup. I just think it's too important. Yeah, and look, I know they got back to Castellanos in that spot,

but there were points in the season where they did drop him to seven and lower in the lineup last year. He didn't just stay at four all year. So, yeah, I absolutely think you have to move Turner there. I think that is honestly imperative. I think it looks foolish if you come out with the last night and turn into the tool again. So,

and, and again, like I'm not, we'll see, but it feels like a Castellanos issue year for Turner. And again, the most frustrating part of it, there's a lot of frustrating parts,

but I think the most frustrating part is how Turner clearly seems like one of those guys, at least with Castellanos, give him credit where he's a defensive stalwart, but he didn't let his offensive struggles affect his defense. He actually rose up and played better defensively because of it. As we all know, some amazing, unbelievable plays. Turner feels like when he's struggling, it's full body.

It's everything. Because he is a better defender than we've seen this year. And certainly we saw it the other night when he got kicked out, like, like just booting simple plays. Like the, the, the ineffectiveness on simple plays consistently this year from him has just been something that like, it just feels like it's not just, he's just struggling like across the board, you know? Yeah. And it's probably the first

time in his career he's really struggled i mean it's as simple as that and and the one difference is he i don't think they didn't do him it's not his fault they said it there was no favors given when he started the season and and bryce wasn't in the lineup and he's a 300 million dollar guy and you know that he's a new guy coming in this team was just in the world series and we got to be playing to that standard because that's the standard of the team now and bryce is not there you know what i mean and now it's like okay you're the star you got to carry us and it again it it stinks right now um and he's clearly letting it affect him. And you just have to hope that this is not what it's going to be like next year.

Because if it is, I mean, holy cow. I mean, that's a disaster. Let's not even. It's a total disaster. Put that out in the world. Not letting that out into the universe. And, again, I'm not banking on this year but to continue to bat him too and have Schwarber him

one too when Schwarber's in a downturn it's just it's killing it's killing you can't do it and I think you make a great point that the Castellanos thing last year played a role in them losing the World Series you know like then we all said it the entire playoffs we kept saying it like especially in the World Series. We all said it the entire playoffs.

We kept saying it, especially in the World Series. And those moments where as they were getting no hit and struggling, we're like, you can't have this guy in that spot. They're not going to pitch to Bryce. They're not going to give Bryce anything to hit. Bryce is your team right now. It's everything. It was a massive mistake by Thompson.

And I think if you're going to say, and I agree with you, I think Thompson's biggest strength is knowing his players, but I think his biggest weakness is sometimes knowing who his players have been. And that Castellanos example is an example of it, of kind of being like, well, he's Nick Castellanos. He's going to bat clean up. If I had to bet, like if I had to bet, just to finish this, if I had to bet, I would bet Trey Turner is batting second tonight.

I would agree, too. I would agree. And the problem is that they're winning last year from there, and they're winning with Turner at the second spot and Schwab at the leadoff spot. So what they have to be able to determine is would they get that much of a bump by moving someone else there? And how much would it affect Schwarber's mentality?

There's a lot of variables to that. All right. Perfect trade deadline coming up. Let's get your take back. Let's get this take back out of the way. Come on. I've got a perfect deadline. This cute little take back.

Perfect deadline to do. Let's get your cute little take back out of the way. So it is. Oh, by the way, real quick. Shout out to Miller Lite. Presented Lite we love Miller Lite and uh I'm gonna tell you about the Miller Lite account that we coming up in a minute go ahead good okay after the take back yeah obviously buddy come on you think I'm um first timer here so I think it's I don't know the reason for it i don't know and maybe it's like so i think it would be excuse making if it wasn't the amount of guys this was affecting but i think it's at least

interesting to put out into the the the hemisphere and i get annoyed when people blame this but when you look at like i want to go through all these names and i'm gonna say what is the thing that these guys were all a part of the world baseball classic pete alonzo am i right am i right yeah you're you're right this team team usa these are the team usa guys okay this is on the off in the side of the ball for real it's good good alonzo. Alonzo, down year. Tim Anderson, down year. Nolan Arenado, down year. Paul Goldschmidt, down year.

Jeff McNeil, down year. Cedric Mullins, down year. Injured, but down year. JT, down year. Schwarber, down year. Trout, down year. Trey, down year. Bobby Wood Jr., down year.

11 players. Now, the players it hasn't affected is essentially just Kyle Tucker and Mookie Betts. Shout out to my fantasy team, Kyle Tucker. I love you, buddy. What a hero. And I'll tell you, though, Kyle Tucker did start slow. It took him a little while, and now he's been awesome. The last month, he's been carrying my team, both teams. But Kyle Tucker did start slow.

I'll tell you that. He was not Kyle Tucker for the first month plus of the season as well. So I have no idea what to make of that. But that's a lot. That's a lot of guys. That's a lot of guys that have had down years, especially like some pedigree guys. It is a – like, and Topper's been asked about it, and he's talked about it.

It's like he doesn't – he's like he's not blaming it, but he's like it is – you don't get as many at-bats. You don't get as many reps. He's like, it is a different thing. You're part of this team. You're not playing every day. When you are playing, you're playing a game. You're not getting all these opportunities to work, all these at-bats.

It's not like a normal spring training. So especially we talk all the time about baseball players being creatures of habit. It's a very different start to your season. It's a very different preseason, all that stuff. I don't know. I'm definitely not saying there's nothing to it for sure it's a lot of names it's a lot of names it's a lot of names um kevin long so it's so interesting kevin long because you see the development of the young guys stott marsh mostly boom uh pache rojas i'm not giving him much credit for because ross has come up and been like fine um

i i think the biggest thing the phillies need i think kevin long is very important from the standpoint of guys love them guys trust trust them, young guys have gotten better. But when your top five guys in the lineup are struggling as much as they are, it's going to fall on someone. I'm not saying that I don't want to move on from Kevin Long. But I think that the biggest issue with the offense this year, I think Kevin Long is very good at the mechanics of the swing. But when it comes to game planning, and like what the i i feel like

there's something lacking there because it's been the biggest problem with the team is it feels like they just lose approaches throughout a game and i look at like the orioles it's like three hitting coaches and i look at i look at the philly's pitching side. I mean, they have Cotham. They have Brian Kaplan. They have a guy that is the liaison between the AAA and the minor leagues and the big leagues. Like, they have a bunch of guys on the pitching side. And I feel like it's kind of just falling on Kevin Long. So I think if they can find someone that can also help with, like, game planning and what to look for and whatever.

Because I think he's a good hitting coach. he's been in big games for a while he's been in a ton of world series and he does good work with some of the young guys and players seem to like him like guys who've been with him in the past the the turners the sodas all these guys like really seem to appreciate what he did for them totally Totally, and Bryce Harper, and that matters. But it's also been disappointing from the offensive side. You look at what Caleb Cotham... Massively disappointing. Cotham's gotten out of the... Less to work with.

Yes, exactly. Kevin Long has done less with more talent than Cotham has done with less talent. Right. Home runs, I mean, there were six last year. There were 20-something this year. There needs to be something with the hitting rather than just like Kevin Long will figure it out.

Totally. Especially with these vets, too. I mean, again, to your point, I think especially hitting coaches, I feel like you can always help and all that, but at a certain point, hitters are who they are. Especially if you're a guy who's good enough to make $20 million plus

in a season as a hitter in Major League Baseball, it's because you know how to hit, man. You know what you're doing. You've got a lot of years of these things ingrained in you. Not to give him a pass, because I do think Long deserves a ding for this. I think you're right to bring it up, but just think it's much harder for kevin long to fix

trey turner than it is to fix christian pache if you know what i mean i hear and they listen to them and whatever um but yeah it's just something i was thinking about with the offense struggling like i think i think it's a great point approach is my biggest issue at the offense like this i totally agree with you and i and i also feel like it's a night-to-night thing sometimes too where like there'll just be games where they don't even have an approach. Like the – what was the 4-0 shutout last Thursday when it was just like they barely showed up. It was a Brewers game.

It was just like there was no approach. They just were like, all right, let's go out and let's get out of here. Before they went to Cleveland, it's like, all right, let's just get on a plane, guys. I need to get out of here and get on a plane. It was like, all right, let's go out and let's get out of here. Like before they went to Cleveland, it's like, all right, let's just get on a plane, guys. I need to get out of here and get on a plane. I was like, all right, man, like do something here, you know? Well, and even like Saturday. Was that the Bibby game?

I mean, Bibby just freaking owned them. Anyway. Totally. Yeah. So that, it's just that part. Bibby was the next one. Excuse me. I was talking about the first.

Anyway, go ahead. Yes. It's been so, and I'm sure you noticed it, but the freaking end-of-game crowds. You know how the majority of the season, the ballpark's been filled. But the last three games against the Orioles, like the eighth and ninth,

was the most it's felt like playoff-ish. And it sounded a lot like the regular seasons back in 09 through 11-ish, where it was like they're actually affecting the outcome of the game. And they are, you know, being into it. And like, you know, they're chanting along with the song. they're chanting along with the song. You can see it wearing on Cano and some of the Orioles late in the game where it's like, oh, it's loud in here. There's real pressure. It's not very often for a baseball crowd,

especially in the regular season, to have that kind of pressure on an opposing team. I felt like the Orioles series, we saw a good amount of that, of late in games it's loud in there. And people are into it. And they're trying to be the 10th man, I guess. It's awesome. You know what I mean? Yeah.

No, I think it's really awesome. I agree with you. And I think it did rattle the Orioles a little bit. That's a young team that hasn't been in those spots. I'm with you. I thought it was impactful. Could use more of that. The Jake Cave catch was unbelievable.

Unbelievable catch. Best thing he's done in the major leagues jake cave congrats buddy good guy he's really fired up about it send you back to the minors after we make some trades thank you after yep 100 and then i do think it's interesting the the comparisons between like the the phillies and the mets and given that they both have essentially tried to buy their way to a championship. I mean, the Phillies, and same thing with the Padres, they kind of tried to buy.

It's interesting that for all the teams that have tried to buy their way to a title, the Phillies are the ones that have backed it up. You know what I mean? Like last year, Mets went 100 and whatever. Padres get to game five of the NLCS, and the Phillies went to game six of the World Series, and then this year got off to a slow start but rebounded.

I think that says something about the culture of this team. I totally agree. And look, all three teams got off to slow starts, which I think says something else as well. But, yeah, look, and I think to the Braves to that point, I mean, it shows what that machine is. It's like, you know, look at all those teams in the playoffs. Like the Phillies, they've gotten there, but the Braves are

a machine. They lost, they came back and just do it again. That's what the Phillies want to get to. I want this team to start the season hot and stay hot and be awesome. I think that the culture for that is there. Yeah, totally. It's starting to get there.

I think it's only going to get better from here. Love it. All right. Is that the take back? Is it done? That's the take back. Good.

Because it's the time we've all been waiting for. We are there. It's the Miller Lite Bar of the Week. We finally made it. Shout out to the Fainting Goat, which what a name, by the way. What a name. That is an all-time great bar name. Our Miller Lite Bar of the Week this week is the Fainting Goat Bar and Restaurant in Glen Olden,

where you can watch all Philly's games. So the $3.50 Miller Lite Pine Special. Go to FaintingGoatPA.com. Awesome name. Awesome place. Go, Philly. Shout out to Miller Lite. We love Miller Lite. Ever since Miller Lite

came on board, the Phillies are like, you know, like 70 games over 500 or whatever it is. So no big deal. 50 games over 500, whatever it is. No big deal. Yeah, we love Miller Lite. Alright, perfect deadline time. Okay. Do you want to go first? I feel like I should go first

because you're not, you know, you've saved the best for last. It's like, you know, clean up hitter, the whole thing. And I changed it up on you. And let's all be honest. Every single person listening knows that you put probably like 10 times the amount of effort into your trade deadline. You sat there painstakingly going through the names, going through the things, this and that. Mine was much simpler than that. It's trade for Juan Soto is the freaking trade deadline.

Trade for freaking Juan Soto. Like, what are we doing here, dude? What are we doing here? You have a chance to get an all-time. Yeah, I have other moves. But, like, in all honesty, I don't think it's going to happen. But, like, my perfect deadline, what I want them to do, I want them to trade for Juan Soto.

Like, I actually want that. It's my number one thing I want them to do. I want them to trade for Juan Soto. Like, I actually want that. It's my number one thing I want them to do. I'm trading Painter. I'm trading whatever else it takes. Like, I'm really willing to empty some of the farm system here. Like, I believe in the development. I believe in the drafting. We'll get guys back.

Like, I need World Series titles, man. Like, this window is here. You just talked about it. I mean, this roster is the most expensive roster in the history of the franchise. We have five $20 million guys in the starting 20 million plus guys in the lineup and like we're all in this window here everyone's here right now at the right age for the a lot of money and it's like it's freaking go time we were in the world series last year like

i just feel like i feel like it would be a mistake. And look, I think they're going to do some on the – like you talked about. I think it's going to be more like last year than a mammoth deadline type thing. And I have a trade – I have a more realistic trade in addition to this. I want both to happen to a little more depth. But I sat here and I looked at it and I thought about the opportunities. I thought about the moves that could be made. And I'm just – I kept coming back to him. Like, like this is the move that wins your world series training for Juan Soto

wins your world series. And it gives you a chance to bring in one of the great young hitters in the history of the sport ever, ever in the history of baseball. Like this guy is on his way to being an inner circle hall of famer. Like he has had a better start to his career than Bryce Harper, which is which is crazy because bryce had one of the great starts in the history of baseball too like i just the more i think about it and it's been since since i did that show that morning show whatever like a week and a half ago like every day since i keep thinking like it's

it just compounds more and more it's like why not like why not go get juan soto so that is my first move of my perfect deadlines i'm trading i'm empty in the vault and i'm trading for one soda like that i don't think it's gonna happen but this is my perfect deadline and i want one soda right so uh full disclosure same like guys it's also like like if they could i would So, yeah, my perfect deadline is trying to be realistic slash perfect deadline. I get it. But, like, yeah, I would – I think that we overthink the one sort of thing too much. Me too.

Like, not only is it for the rest of this year, it's also all of next year, you know? And he talks about wanting to come back east. He doesn't like being on the West Coast. He, like, obviously, it's not this, getting him back here and with all of his guys, I think the chance, you'd be buying low on Juan Soto. That's the thing that's so crazy about it, is that he'd be buying low on a guy that is,

he's not even having a bad year. It just like he's average the best hitter on the phillies by a mile right now you have a chance to get back to like a 300 450 35 home run juan soto in this ballpark with all of his guys, with Kevin Long, with an lineup. It's stupid. You want to talk about a bad leadoff? Screw it. I think far too often we think

practically and we don't dream. And just dreaming of how good the Phillies would be with Juan S soto and i'm not worried about the the the loser vibes i think there's something off with that badres team i think if he and i think if he comes here i think you get a better version of him and it's a year and a half away from free agency like he has a chance to get a 500 million dollar contract like you think he's gonna screw that up screw that up by totally not giving his all

the next year and a half? I disagree with that. I'm with you. I would love Juan Soto. I love Andrew Painter. I'm a prospect hugger. You know that, but it's a pitching prospect. It's already unfortunately having to

get Tommy John. I can't bank on pitching prospects. It's's tough i love them but it's it's you have to do it for a guy like again a 24 year old it's like already won a world series and the best player in the team like we're talking about it's just it just and again it's a fit they need a left fielder like just it all like you you're replacing jake cave in the lineup with Juan Soto. I mean, think about that. Taking Jake Cave, taking him out of the lineup, defensive superstar, I'll be it. And you're putting Juan Soto in that lineup.

I mean, it's just like, and again, I'm trying to win multiple World Series. And you get him in your building. You have a chance to sign him long-term. It creates so many avenues, so many opportunities for this team for the next few years and just moving forward. And to your point, pitching prospects are such a crapshoot.

I know exactly what Juan Soto is. I know I'm getting at least a year and a half of one of the best hitters in baseball with the ceiling being he could be the best hitter in baseball for a year. You know what I mean? It just...

I am all in on the Juan Soto movement. I agree with you. I don't think it's going to happen, but I am all in. All right. So I have I agree with you. I don't think it's going to happen, but I am all in. All right, so I have a more realistic trade that I would make with it, and this is one that I think they could, a type of trade that could work with or without Juan Soto. And look, my other, realistically, if I'm not getting Soto,

I am still going in on a guy like Bellinger. Like, I am all about adding right now. Like, I am fine giving up prospects for help now. I think this team is good enough. I think when you look around the rest of baseball, you know, other than the Braves who we beat last year in the playoffs, like there is no team that I look at and say, like, they're way better than the Phillies.

Like the Braves are better. Like the Braves are better baseball team than the Phillies. It is inarguable right now. But like in a playoff series, are they that much better? I don't think so. Like we just saw it last year. The pitching can match up. The bats obviously are great there, but the Phillies have bats too,

and if our five get hot, they match up well. So I just think there's an open opportunity here, and this team has shown that they can do it. This team has shown they can get there. And enough already. I've won one title in my lifetime with this team. Let's go. So I'm all frigging in.

So if I can't get Soto, I'm trading for Belanger. I know it's a rental, but like, I'm going all out to upgrade that left field position because I feel like the way this team is, and we talked about like, yeah, could they use another starter? Sure. But like, I like Christopher Sanchez.

I feel all right with him as my five. I would like some depth there potentially, but like, I don't, I'm not trading for anyone who's going to take one of those playoff starts. Like I'm not giving up enough to get one of those guys in this seller's market. So with that being the case, like I'd upgrade the offense. That's where you've been struggling anyway. So I would trade for Belgium. And then my other trade, I have one more and then I'll let it get to you. And I know it's like, look, Adam Duvall, like we talked about, it's like

probably going to be Adam Duvall, but I wanted to find a move. Cause I agree with you. I think if I'm looking for a bullpen upgrade, I'm looking for a lefty who can get lefties out, right? Like I think that that is the biggest hole, especially with the Alvarado up in the air. Like I'm not, if I'm trading for one, so do I know I don't have a lot of pieces left to kind of go and add a, a Alex Lang is a righty. You know, you want it like a lefty, but like a big time reliever guy. So I'm going to the Rockies and I'm getting a Brent. You don't like this hitter, but the Duke can hit left-handed pitching. He's had a good year.

I'm trading for Brent Suter and Randall Gritch. Oh my God, dude. Like, no, you let like, no, I'm sorry. Suter gets lefties out. I mean, Suter's been good this year. Yeah. Heading into the end of his year, a 33 year old, come in,

get some lefties out. I, you hate gritching. Never liked gritching. No, no, no, no,

no. I think, I think Brent suited my least favorite player in baseball. Really? He's been getting guys out. I cannot. He is a dork. He is an absolute dork.

And which I loathe Brent Suter, which means a hundred 100% good. They're trading your Brent Suter. But you will admit, at least for some reason, this year, whatever he's doing, it's working. And he can get lefties out. He's good for the Brewers the last couple of years. But the point is, he's fine. And I think he is cheap.

He is a 33-year-old heading into free agency. He won't cost you much. And I've always liked Gritchick. I think Gritchick's a nice fourth outfielder bat, and he can start for teams. But I think you bring in a Gritchick like, I think they need a right-handed bat that you can trust to either get some starts for you if Harper's DH-ing

and giving whoever a day off or whatever, or to like, you know, like I can't have Josh Harrison coming up in a big spot in a playoff game if I need a hit from a right-handed hitter, you know? So I think Soto's my thing. and if not, it's Bellinger, but then I'm, I'm getting a lefty and a right-handed bat in a package somewhere. And that's an example of one that I would be fine. That's fine. And listen, Suter makes sense. I just,

I was trying to be realistic with that one. You know, I went one Soto and then I tried to come with a very realistic deal. I know. Um, and great chick. I don't – I've never liked Gritchick. I know you haven't. No, this is how I knew. We've talked about it before. Like, I know. He is batting over 300.

I really like him. I've always – he's one of those where total opposites. I've always liked him. I always pick him up for stints in fantasy. I always, like, trust him against left-handed pitching. Like, I've been a Gritchick guy. So, he's been good this year. He has been good. fantasy i always like trust him against left-handed pitching like i've been a gritchick guy so he's been good this year he's been good um i i'm kind of i'm not really in like first of all i

don't think they trade bellinger i'm also like not knocking down the door and trade for cody bellinger just because like he's another lefty that was the problem with it that's why the lefty thing of it did not and Soto is too obviously but you know yeah but he's won Soto like I was not as excited that's why I left with Soto and Bellinger was kind of like my I will trade for Bellinger if I can't get Soto just to say how important I think it is to really add someone impactful but I agree with you it's like Soto by a mile part of the value of Bellinger for me a week and a half ago was that he could play first.

And now I just – Bryce is the first baseman, man. I love watching Bryce at first. Now, it's just – it's the greatest. So, yeah, Bellinger would be fun. He's had a great year. He's smoking lefties. But I don't – I'm not super, super in on trading what I think it's year. He's smoking lefties. But I'm not super in on trading what I think it's probably going to take to get him.

He is a rental as opposed to Soto is a year and a half. And unfortunately, Gritchick and Soto and Souter make sense. So good job. Thank you. All you, buddy. I can't stand it. I was like, the moment I said the name

Rensouter, your face was just like, well, he's the one player I don't want. Like, if there's one player, do not trade for it. It's that guy. But regardless. All right. So I have about 100 targets for you that I have to. I just have to talk about them.

I'm sorry. Just go deep, buddy. Go deep. So here is my perfect deadline. Now, this gets thrown a wrench because I'm with you. So my big targets are Soto. I would take Soto. And I would still trade for Dylan Cease.

Like, I would do what it takes. You get two more years of him after this year. I think that you get him out of the dumb White Sox way of doing things. And you get him with a smart organization when it comes to pitching. I think you have a chance to get a possible cy young candidate in dylan c so i think you're buying low on him and as someone that's on the fantasy yes he's killing my team so those are my my big moves now the first move here is what i want them to do and then i have a jack trade for you okay can't wait buddy so my first trade is i'm trading bailey falter carlos de la cruz and conor brogdon i think this is enough might need more to the seattle mariners for t oscar hernandez now love love to oscar he has been bad this year. Has not been great. But I think for the chance that they can get a –

like the thing I care about the most. So he strikes out a ton and he doesn't walk and he chases, which is the three things that having not watched him every day, Jack is going to be very annoyed with if they trade for him. But he's like 25th in the league in barrels this year. He's been really good the last couple of years. Oh, he was awesome in Toronto. Like he raked.

He already has 16 home runs. He's not going to be a, his defensive metrics aren't that bad. So if I feel like if he can just play left field or whatever, they want to switch him and Castellanos. I don't know. But I'm taking a shot on a guy who I think is a devalued asset just play left field or whatever they want to switch him and castellanos i don't know but i'm taking a shot on a guy who i think is a devalued asset that has a ton of right-handed pop which i

think they need more than anything right now like they are missing reese hodgkins in the lineup shocking but they need to be able to replace that power somewhere at the deadline and i'm taking a shot on tia carinadas i like gritch, but Gritchick has five homers this year. So, like, especially in Colorado. So, I don't know what's going on there. But the overall numbers don't look great. OBP is under 300. 16 home runs.

They need right-handed pop. I'm taking a shot on, like, this year's version of Soler. I love it. You know I've been a Teotihuacan guy guy i owned him in fantasy last year and the year before um and he two years ago he was a freaking stud for me uh i love the task idea and i i think i like honestly i think that might even be like like it's certainly enough i think to get him i do well he's a free agent at the end of the year and a couple of other things too much is my point like you might not even have to give up that It's certainly enough, I think, to get him. I do. Well, and he's a free agent at the end of the year. It might be too much is my point.

You might not even have to give up that much to get to ask him. That's fine. And the other thing I like, batting three – so he's batting like 240-something, but 317 with runners in scoring position. He's got like an 846 OPS against lefties, and he's got 750 OPS on the road. Also seems like a vibes guy too. Like I watched a lot of blue jays baseball a couple years ago because i had him and vlad on the same fantasy team for back-to-back years and like like they all like that team was fun

those guys had fun he seemed like someone who everyone liked so like yeah i'm all in on task So, like, yeah, I'm all in on Tosca. So, Tosca's my – now, the jack trade and a trade. Now, Tosca's my target, but I'm looking for another right-handed power bat that can play left field even though his defensive numbers have been bad for some reason, even though he came up as a center fielder. I am taking a shot on doing the Brandon Marsh trade over again, I am taking a shot on doing the Brandon Marsh tradeover again. And I'm trading the same package for T. Oscar plus how you leave to the Los Angeles Angels for Joe Adele.

Wow. So, okay. So Joe Adele was like a top two or three prospect in baseball. So last time I said 2020, he was number six. Okay. So, yeah, I knew he was up there. And it depends, I guess, what list you looked at. Like he was definitely like top three on some lists. So, yeah, that's like a legit.

But never, never, never put it together. Yeah. Angels are dumb. See what the Phillies got out of Brandon Marsh. He has like a million home runs in AAA. He's hurt right now. But if you're looking for a chance on a mix of upside and right-handed power and a guy that can just play left field, taking a shot on Joe Adele

and spending the assets to go get it done. That's my Jack. That's the kind of guy you give to K-Long. It's like, all right, I got this. Exactly. Exactly. This chance to get a Joe Adeleele and turn him into like a stud here i i love the uh t-oscar idea but you know me the the joe adele thing is right up my alley yeah it's so fretsy um my second trade and this is vintage i'm trading simone muziati and a some lower level guy to the new york mets for

my guy my favorite player in baseball luis guillorme and i am i have loved luis guillorme for a million years he's having a down year. He's my favorite player on the Mets. And I am getting Josh Harrison out of here. And he is out until September, so he wouldn't have him for a month. I am getting Luis Guillorme here, and he's going to be my utility guy for the next two years. Fine with it.

Anything that gets Josh Harrison out the door, it's a great move. It's funny. I thought you were setting up for a – because I know you also hate Tommy Pham. It's funny, all these guys that I know you don't like that much. I thought you were setting up for a – I always loved him trade for Tommy Pham, who I don't like. So, full disclosure, I would trade for Tommy. Yeah, he's been good. He's been really good.

And he's going to cost nothing. He has the 850 OPS.. And he's going to cost nothing. He has 850 OPS. I think he's top 30 in barrels. So he's top 30 in barrels and expected WOBA. And again, he's a solid fielder out there. Yeah. I think they trade for Tommy Pham. If I know this, I guarantee Tommy Pham's affiliate on Tuesday.

This last trade, it's going to sound like an overpay. And I don't think it is, but it might be an overpay. Full disclosure. I am trading Johan Rojas, Howie Lee, if he's not in the Joe Adele trade, Gene Cabrera, and a lower- level prospect to the Kansas City Royals for Carlos Hernandez and Brady Singer now Brady Singer has been asked this year

but he is an innings eater Royals are dumb he had a 3-2-3 ERA last year and it's a chance on that so it's not really about Brady Singer Carlos Hernandez I think with a non-dumb team is a top 10 reliever in baseball year um and it's a chance on that so it's not really about brady singer carlos hernandez i think with a non-dumb team is a top 10 reliever in baseball um and he's already been really good

this year and i know that sounds like a lot but he is under control i believe for the next three seasons after this um and i just he throws 100 all the time you know so like him soto and alvarado would be fun at the back end i'm getting another a kind of weapon and someone that i think is a devalued asset a little bit um i know no one really knows who he is and i know it would be a lot but if you're looking for another back end option i just think the guy's a stud and i think if you get him out of kansas city and you get him here then you get him turn into an animal for you. So, um,

I know Rojas is a lot. I know Lee is a lot. That's two top 10 prospects for reliever and a bulk starter. But I mean, Bracinger has two years after this. So like, and the airport singer last year was pretty good. Like,

you know, so it's not, yeah. Yeah. So, um, that's my deadline. I'm getting a right-handed power bat.

I'm getting a utility guy. So realistic of you. You just came in like a grown adult. You're not joking around. You're not, you know, pie in the sky. This is not the time. I came in and said, Juan Soto, you're like, no, no, no. Let me tell you about these.

I'm just going to get a left fielder here. I'm going to get a reliever here. It's going to be very on level yeah and i expected this but i also love that like i come and i'm like i'm traver one zoto whatever it takes and you're like i'm giving up this prospect this prospect this prospect probably this one or this so you know you want to know you want to know the the bad part yeah you don't know the bad part is that i was sitting there putting this together and i out and obviously we're not really making these trades but I was like man it would hurt to put him in this trade you know you know what I mean like I was

like man I don't know if I want this a lot for Carlos Hernandez like I want them but like yes yes I took it very, like, literally, 10-45 last night, just painstaking. Like, do you really want to do this? I believe it. So, the way I view it is, I got a right-handed power bat. I get to replace Josh Harrison. I get a starter that,

if they want to go six-man, at least he can take down innings. And I think I get a high, high, high upside reliever. You know, it reminds me of like, remember I wanted them to sign Carlos Estevez last year? Sure, of course. He's been closing for the Angels. He's been great.

Who could forget my Carlos Estevez love? Dude, it was the trade deadline pod. Like, and you got like, it was like one of your leads, I think, was Estevez. You like brought him up out of nowhere. You're like, I want Carlos Estevez. I was like, okay. We're doing that again with Carlos Estevez.

Now, I just have to get all my i have to get all my targets out okay because these are like so just fire them off buddy so here's my problem with this is i'm gonna i have about 30 names here oh my goodness and they're gonna trade for no one of these guys. That's how it usually works. But here is everyone that I would be happy if the Phillies traded for. T. Oscar, Joe Adele, Adam Duvall, James Paxton, Nick Pavetta. He's been great. Bullpen superstar. Our foals, man. Our foals.

Bring them home. Let them win World Series MVP for us. Bringing back Pavetta would be the funniest thing in the world. All the time. Aaron Saval, he's got two years left after this year, but he's kind of turned it around. The Guardians always have pitching, so

maybe they'd consider moving him. It'd probably cost a haul, but if you're looking for someone who's been pretty good, that's turned it around and has found a cutter, which his team's obsessed with, Aaron Saval is a name to look out for. I would be in on Eduardo Rodriguez. He's like never healthy at this point, but he's been really good. Yeah, he's been breaking out in Detroit. Yeah.

And you know Dave would love to bring one of his guys home. Joe Kelly is an interesting one. I almost put him. He was one, but I went with a lefty reliever, and I was trying to find one you hated, so I didn't want to go Joe Kelly. Well, Joe Kelly is the right-handed version of Brad Sutter. Of Brad Sutter, exactly.

Yeah. So Joe Kelly, I always kind of think he sucks, but he helped Dave on a World Series, so I can see them trading for him. Matt Duffy, who's been around forever. He's in the Royals now, but can play multiple positions and I think is an upgrade over Josh Harrison. As you can tell, I really want to upgrade the Josh Harrison spot on the team. As you should. I agree. I would trade for Tommy Pham.

Louis G Guillorme Obviously Garrett Stone who killed us out of nowhere I would definitely trade for him from the Nationals I never heard of him Who the hell is this guy hitting a grand slam right now Stone something Stone Garrett

His first name is Stone Yes I messed it up But he killed the Phillies And a really good defensive left fielder, regardless. Jordan Montgomery is interesting. To me, the Phillies have been linked to in a lot of these articles. And it makes sense.

He's a lefty. He's never hurt. He's not super high upside, but he's been pretty good this year. And he's a free agent at the end of the year and 100% getting traded. So Jordan Montgomery is a name to look out for. You know me, Mitch Keller. I don't know what they're going to take. Don't do I, buddy.

I don't know what they're going to take. Apparently they're shopping him. I know, which is shocking. But I think if he, again, leaves a dumb team and comes to a smart team, you have a chance to get even more out of Mitch Keller. So I think it would probably cost Abel, honestly. And I'm not sure that they... He's got two years off. Yeah, I know, which is good, yeah.

And he's an all-star. Colin Holderman is a pitcher on the Pirates. That's pretty good that I think no one really knows, but is a decent bullpen option. The interesting one is Blake Snell. Like, I know he's a free agent at the end of the year. I know he costs a ton. Man, if you get Blake Snell in this rotation...

I mean, he's been one of the two or three best pitchers in baseball the last two months. He's been unbelievable. I think second in Cy Young odds right now. I'm not surprised. He's been phenomenal. I'm curious to see if they would give up what it takes to get Blake Snell here because if they care about aces... How about we just...

Hater, Snell, and Soto. What would that package cost? If you give up your entire minor leagues, is that going to touch? Yeah, probably. And, you know, I don't know. Someone on the major league roster, I would assume. Fill the needs, I'm just saying. I think you kind of, like, solve all your problems pretty quickly there.

Yeah. But Snells, I wonder if they're going to do what it takes to get Snell. Justin Lawrence, the Rockies, like, super funky, like, sidearm that throws 100 out of nowhere he's probably going to cost a ton in a trade but I would 100% see if they could get him Harold Castro has been around forever he can play first, second, third, short

if they want, so again, just a Josh Harris replacement, and the final one is Andy Abanez of the Tigers who is, again that ballpark is a horrible hitter's park. I know. It's a horrible hitter's park. So, you know, if you get him out of there,

because all of his underlying stats suggest that he could be better. But, again, no one crazy. Either way, Ken and I wait for the deadline. And come on, Dave Dave bring us a stop it's your time to shine buddy your time to shine and look those trades last year made a difference like Brandon Marsh made a difference in them getting the World Series David Robinson played a role

in them getting the World Series so even Cinderguard you know was part of the team that got scored. Dude how the hell did they trade Cinderguard for Ahmed Rosario? I know well the funny thing is is Rosario's Syndergaard for Ahmed Rosario? I know. Well, the funny thing is, is Rosario's numbers are not – like, Rosario's one of those guys who the advanced numbers look way worse than the real numbers.

Like, he's one of the worst players in baseball, according to, like, people around the world. I've owned him in fantasy. It's just, like, Noah Syndergaard is done so. He's done, I know. Well, they're getting money with it. Classic Indians trade. You know, the Dodgers have thrown some cash. And they're like, oh, cool.

Guardians. Guardians trade. I know. I know. I know. You're right. All right. You got any final thoughts before we get out of here?

Eight, hour, ten. You got to go to work. Running late. Yeah, whatever. No big deal. This is my support. What's work? I got to take my daughter to school.

Nice. Running real late. But it's all good. I think it's time for here how about a sweep how about a freaking sweep yeah you're playing the freaking pirates all right like freaking but by the way do we always play the pirates for the deadline is this just every year they just is on this date it was on this date last year that we had High Hopes Night. Familia almost blew it. It does feel like right around the deadline we play the Pirates. Good. That's when they're trading all their

players. You're right. First hand look. David Bednar for nothing. Just give him to us. It's going to cost a lot. That's why I did not include him in my perfect deadline. He's got two years left. This was awesome. Drink Miller Lite because's got years left. Yeah. Yeah. All right. This was awesome.

Drink Miller Lite because Miller Lite's awesome. We love it. We will be back this weekend because, you know, we feel pretty confident they're going to make trades. And if not, we'll be back after they sweep the pirates. Are we on? Are we on emergency watch? It's officially emergency watch.

Yeah. I mean, I feel like, you know. Yeah, absolutely. We'll make a trade today. Probably a podcast tomorrow morning. Yeah. Probably. I mean, look, if they make a –

who's an example of something we said today? If it's a straight-up trade for Randall Gritchick alone, maybe we don't run to the computer to record, but if they trade for Carlos Hernandez. We'll get there. Yeah, four hours on Carlos Hernandez for me. All right, so one way or the other, you'll hear from us soon. So go sweep the freaking Pirates.

Until then, let's spread some salsa. We'll see you next time.