High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - Rhys Hoskins Still Hasn't Touched Home Plate and Phils/Mets is So Back

Episode Date: April 25, 2019

The Phillies may have lost two of three from the Mets but it felt like a win after the Hoskins HR trot last night. James Seltzer and Jack Fritz are back talking about that series and what they saw and also looking ahead to an important series against the Marlins.  See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information. 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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WIP. Yo! It is another edition of the High Hopes podcast. We're recording this on Thursday afternoon. I'm pretty sure Reese Hoskins is still running around the bases, Jack. I'm not sure.

Just touch home. Just touch home. I love you, Reed. So I wanted to ask you, are you starting to put on a show for the people with the yo it is? You've gotten a couple compliments. There's people who are grading. They're grading you the yo it is. And I wonder if you're starting to put on a show a little bit.

I have not. I mean, you'll know when I put on a show. I'll really go for it when I put on a show. It has to be special. There has to be a special moment for that. If I just did it, then it would be obvious that I was just doing it for the likes, as it were. I know you're a fan of doing it for the likes. That's all I do.

It's really addictive. I tell you what, what a glorious day it is. Tell me last night wasn't your general takeaway was Phil's Mets are back. Oh my, what did I text you? In all caps, I said Phil's Mets are back. Oh my, what did I text you? It's my, in all caps, I said Phil's Mets is back. It's like back, back. It's so back.

I can't wait for, what is it, June 24th or whatever? I can't wait. It's all I want. I just want to fast forward to that series because this is going to be an all season long thing. Well, it's going to be

a whole 13 year thing. Yeah, buddy. The freaking, Yeah, buddy. The freaking Mets put out the Ryan Howard from The Office gif of writing down the date. Honestly, going into the game last night,

I felt like it was the Anchorman scene where they're all gathering their weapons. Oh, yeah. I'm telling you, I thought Sean Rodriguez brought up the fight because I found the gif of him punching the... I saw that too. He goes at it, man. It was crazy.

Vince Velasquez was starting, but- You text me, you're like, they brought N-Yell up. You know what that means. N-Yell was supposed to start in AAA. He hadn't started since April 18th. Last night was April 24th. I thought they were gearing up for a- Pete Alonso was sat.

I know. I literally, for as much as Game of Thrones on Sunday is going to be the longest battle in TV history, I thought last night could have been it. I thought. I'm actually floored that at no point during that series did the benchers clear. I was a little upset. Look, and real quick, shout out to JT Real Muto for being the only dude on the team who was ready to go to war down 9-0.

And McCutcheon. McCutcheon was out there as well. Was McCutcheon out there? Yes. The only one you saw was JT Romero. Who jumped. He does the little jump over the club, the edge of the dugout thing,

and stops. And he's like, oh, no one else is going. Yeah, he was down. He's like, just me. Okay, never mind. I'll stop. I'm ready, though.

Now, I've never lied. I've never lied to the High Hopes crowd. This is just me being completely honest. I wish there was more people that went out. That's what I'm saying. I was a little disappointed. I wanted more guys to be ready to rumble there. Yeah, I wanted more people to be down.

They threw his head twice. First of all, outside of all that, how does he not get tossed the second time he throws over his head? That was unbelievable. They issued a warning after the first time. No, no, I agree. I agree. Jacob Lane, more like Jacob Lane, am I right?

Nailed it. you are a dad now aren't you i can make these jokes but i guess the umpire is like listen there's two after the ninth inning like let's just let's just have this thing it's nine nothing needs to be over we don't need a pitching change yes which i appreciate it because i was producing the game we all appreciate it and the thing that i find interesting is so the reason they threw at him was because real muto was the one that stole in the seventh inning or is that why? I was, because people originally thought it was because the two Mets got hit the night before and it was like, why would they throw at someone for hitting guys not on purpose? I mean, they clearly, they walked in a run by hitting a guy.

Nicasio was not trying to hit a guy there. They weren't trying to hit Jeff McNeil to load the bases or whatever it did. Yeah, so Jackie on written rules. So Real Muto, it was 8-0, I guess, and he stole second or whatever it did. Yeah, so Jackie Unwritten Rules. So, Real Muto, it was 8-0, I guess, and he stole second or whatever, which is the sign that... Very against the Unwritten Rules. Which is a sign that you technically

haven't waved the white flag yet. And then the Mets responded by having Juan Lagara steal. Hoskins said, what are you doing? And then they threw at Hoskins. Sure. Love it. There's just nothing better. There is.

The unwritten rules are what make baseball the best sport in the world. And I am all here for it. An attack on the unwritten rules is an attack on me. And I am now the defender of the unwritten rules. You're the guy. Every single unwritten rule I will defend to my grave. Because they are perfect. There is nothing.

People think the Constitution is perfect. I would say the unwritten rules are far more perfect. They don't have to be written down. That's how perfect they are. Everyone just understands. They're unwritten. Honestly, everyone's like, well, how do we define it? How do we define the unwritten rules?

Everyone's always wondering that question. In my head, it's always the the what the f are you doing like if it elicits that reaction then you you offended the unwritten rules like when juan lagarde stole i was like i was like f that like that's that's when you know you've crossed the jumping up in it oh my god there was no one there was let's go there was no i know i've never been in a fight in my life but there was no one quicker To the edge of the dugout than me Yes You were the one who was ready to go But would never actually throw anything Would actually have

Yeah yeah But I'd yell I'd definitely yell I would definitely yell Yeah yeah Big chirp guy I can see that Yeah but I would never fight anyone

I really don't want to fight anyone I hope I go my whole life Without having to fight someone That'd be a nice thing man Yeah Jackie Jackie soft touch But I did Hip check a Nats fan in Washington.

We remember. We heard about it. So does that count? No. Okay. Not a fight. Okay. But I believe that you would be there if someone beamed me and you needed to be there, you'd

be there. If you get beamed in the studio. That'd be something. That'd be something. I would not. As long as they don't throw at my head. All right? You can throw at my butt.

Hit me in the ass. All right? Yeah. How about that? How about that? First off, two things that I think are utterly insane. The Phillies haven't had a benches-clearing brawl since Eli freaking Whiteside. It's impossible to believe. Which is one of my least favorite players of all time.

I remember roasting Eli Whiteside because his hair was white and he was like 30. That's embarrassing. It's a weird thing to care about, but yes, I'm with you. I felt sorry for him, honestly. And so Eli Whiteside, that was the last Benches Clearing all-out brawl, which was just sad. It's been eight years. And we need one, man.

Yeah, we need one. And the last Philly to get thrown out from a game. Justin DeFratis? Really? Yeah. 2015? The lamest dude ever. He was a part of that whole like Pettibone, DeFratis.

Oh, yeah, buddy. Like Dave Buchanan. Remember him? Jake Diekman back then. Yeah, but Diekman was like, you saw something. These guys just blew. Like they were all, like Kendrick was like the best pitcher at that point. Easily, yeah, like a major league career.

Jonathan Pettibone. Pettiboner. Pettiboner is more like it yes all right let's dive in and again i think we're all the slow trot was the greatest thing that's happened all year it's the greatest phillies highlight since like 2011 honestly that was the best phillies moment in eight years which is what i mean so sad best phillies moments in 2011 reese oskin slow trap which is very sad it's sad but it was awesome but I agree it was sad well we know

we know what baseball has been for the last eight years Jack no but like Hoskins doing that it was like the ultimate mic drop and it was look there's no more perfect way

you could be in a guy you could do this like you know unwritten rules all that there's no better thing that could have happened than Hoskins getting a chance at Reim again,

hitting a home run, and then taking the slow trot. That was the best way it could have played out. Listen, a few moments were my favorite part of sports. Yes. That was an FU moment. Yes. And for what it's worth, shout out to Jacob Reim. Yeah.

He did say, he's like, hey, I got to make a better pitch. He beat me. He deserves a slow trot. I thought that was- Jacob Reim blows. Let's put it this way. We're all circling June 24th. Jacob Reim probably will not be on the Mets

come June 24th if he is the Mets probably have some problems they're in trouble man I thought their bullpen was supposed to be good yeah

but it was just it was so glorious the slow trot really saved the series for us too I feel like they won the series that's what I feel like I feel like yeah

it was great it was like that 9-0 game didn't happen it was a horrible road trip it was a horrible road trip it It was a horrible road trip. It was really bad. Three of four in Colorado, two or three in New York,

you lose. I do think that was a really good jumping off point into this weekend. I think the Marlins obviously are bad, but now the Phillies,

they kind of get a little bit of juice. A little juice. And they're coming home, which is nice. And like, I would like to personally thank the Mets for waking us up.

I agree with you. We needed it. Look, Jake Arrieta tried, and we'll get to his comments in a minute when we thought of that. A lot happened in three days. That's what I'm saying, dude. So much happened. It looked like the team was done after that 9-0 game.

First of all, the night before, for Arrieta to come out and say what he said after the ejection, they show up flat like that. It was worrisome. It was worrisome. Now, one more thing on the Reeves thing, becauseanzen brought this up on the broadcast and i thought it was interesting he didn't like the trot at all and he really really i know i know i know but hear me out and it makes a little sense because now it puts all of your other teammates in harm's way so like it's it's a selfish act to do that and then everyone gets in it but but did you see but

did you see gabe and him getting into it that's what that was about was it really i wasn't sure it made sense because it doesn't see that i didn't think they were getting into it i thought it was more just a conversation being had you felt like he was going at him it looked a little stern it looked like a stern talking i didn't take it that way yeah because i could see it because it does it does theoretically put your other teammates at risk because now how does okay how does, how does the alternative way to handle it, right, is, forgetting the home run trot, the alternative way is,

I think you and I both agree that we don't think Vinny actually meant to hit Todd Frazier there, right? It was the first batter of an inning in a 1-0 game. No way, so they've not retaliated. So the other way to retaliate

is you being Pete Alonso, if he's in, whoever, one of their best players, that's the way you retaliate, right? How is that better, or how does that not put other guys in danger in the same way as Reeves doing the slow trot?

Because then it's theoretically settled and now this is going to linger on. Now I'm rooting for the linger on. Look, it was going to linger on anyway. Probably. But you don't know how the game turns and they throw at someone and then someone gets hurt and then it's like, Reeves, thanks for doing that. Yeah, I get it.

Look, I would venture to guess that his teammates were alright with him taking that risk for them. I think his teammates saw that and said, good for Reese. Yep. I totally agree with you. He threw it at his head. It would have been a different thing if he just got hit. Twice. Exactly. It would have been a different thing if he got hit. Like I said, hitting his butt,

hitting his back, whatever. No one cares. I mean, Andrew McCutcheon literally said on the Baseball Tonight podcast the day of that game, he said they're going to throw at us tonight because we hit the two guys the night before.

That's just the game. Yeah. And as far as unwritten rules go, I have a real issue with if you're not hitting people on

purpose, there shouldn't be retaliation for that. Just because a pitcher loses a baseball or doesn't have control of a ball, that's absurd

to retaliate because someone got hit by mistake. Yeah. If a guy ever gets hit with a curveball and you feel like you need to retaliate to that, that's just Bush League. That's my point.

I thought it was Bush League. But the steal, that makes a little bit more sense that there was something tangible that they broke the unwritten rules around. My favorite part of that is that it's like the other team's trying to score runs to down 8-0, but there's general agreement like, hey, we just want to go home. I know, I know. If you can come back organically's general agreement like, hey, we just want to go home. If you can come back organically, that's fine, but can we just get out of here? Well, and that's the fun thing about it being early in the season. They've only played six games. We've got 12 more games with these guys.

It can linger. It can go on all season. I'm so pumped. I mean, think about it. Think about June 24th comes around. How much more excited we're going to be for that Mets series than would have been and i the whole baseball world was watching that game last night i think it's good for the sport i mean it's new york it's philadelphia two passionate fan bases two fan bases that have liked losing teams a lot that are now both good at the same time uh i think

it's great for baseball i think it's great for this rivalry i think we even had a really good philly new york rivalry in four years i mean when was the last time the giants were good what when was the last time the giants and eagles were good at the same time like the Deshaun Jackson yeah like like 11 12 14 like 13 that Flyers Rangers I guess but like the I think the Rangers always beat the Flyers yeah and also limited hockey watching also no one really cares about the Flyers anyway and Sixers Knicks is nothing Sixers Nets obviously but that's because the Knicks have been nothing for 30 years right right and no one gives a crap about the Brooklyn Nets

so like this is I think it's good for the sport when Phillies Mets are going like I've said this since

whatever like Phillies Mets from 07 to 11 was my most hated team it's your favorite rivalry from Philly rivalry I hated that team

I absolutely loathe that team and this team has more guys that I like like I like Nimmo I mean I think he's a tryhard but guys that I like. I like Nimmo. I mean, I think he's a tryhard, but I think he's not a huge Nimmo guy. I like Pete Alonzo. That guy's a good player.

I respect Jeff McNeil. Wow! Oh, he's just impossible to get out. He respects Jeff? He looks like a rat. He does look like a rat. He really has a real rat look to him. So, I'll just get this out of the way now. Yeah, lay it on me.

The only reason we have to deal with Jeff McNeil is because of Jordan Spieth. Hold up. What? So, Franski... What? I know, it's crazy. So, Franski brought... This is an absurd... Wherever it's going, it's absurd. So, Franski brought this up last night. So, Jeff McNeil is an unbelievable golfer. Like, an unbelievable golfer.

Is he really? And when he was a junior, I guess, in high school, he went against Jordan Spieth in the U.S. Amateur, or whatever lost to Jordan Spieth and he quit golf and started playing baseball senior year of high school and he turns into Jeff McNeil. Are you serious? He started playing baseball senior year of high school? Yeah, he started playing like seriously baseball senior year of high school. Are you kidding me?

Yeah. Screw you, Jeff McNeil. So it's all Jordan Spieth's fault. Screw you, Jeff McNeil. Yeah, I blame, I'm going to blame Jeff McNeil for that one. But yeah, we can blame Jordan Spieth. Yeah, if Spieth didn't beat him. He would have been a golfer.

He would have been a golfer and he would not be wearing out the Phillies over and over. Dude, he kills us. He's got a batting average close to 500 against the Phillies in the last two years. And over and over and over. He's got an annoying name. Jeff McNeil's an annoying name. Everything about him, I hate that guy. Yeah?

I hate him. It is good to be back, though. It's so good to be back. It is very sad. I don't like him just because I was frustrated that we couldn't hit him last night. What was up with that? I mean, that was worrisome. I mean, obviously, they put up some runs later, get the win.

It wasn't against Vargas, though. I know, that's what I'm saying. Obviously, later they do, but one run against Jason Vargas? I guess this is... He's beating him in there. Fastballs at 86, Jack. Well, I guess... 86.

You almost can throw as hard as Jason Vargas. I have thrown 86 once. I guess this is what we get for being Jimmy Moyer fans for a long time. I guess so. Imagine having to watch your team get destroyed by Jimmy Moyer, and this is what now

we're getting back with Jason Vargas. I mean, first off, Jason Vargas has been dead to me since he out-dueled Pavetta up at the Lillard World Series last year. I will never forget that game. It wasn't hard to out-duel Pavetta on that night. Yeah, he got shelled. Pavetta did not have a good night that night. You know what else I didn't like?

It was like 2019 Pavetta back then. I didn't like that comment by you, but I also didn't like that Wilson Ramos like was really down to fight his old team I know I know like theoretically it doesn't matter but I was like

like you were just with those guys last year like what are you what are you doing buddy I'm with you it was fun to hear Fish during the broadcast though that's his walk up song

Wilson by Fish yeah it's awesome I don't care about I've never listened to one Fish song in my life it's your loss

not mine okay the best shout out to Wilson Ramos for using Fish as his walk up song shout out to the Buffalo the Buffalo It's awesome. I don't care about it. I've never listened to a one fish song in my life. It's your loss, not mine. Okay. The best. Shout out to Wilson Ramos for using fish as his walk-up song. Shout out to the Buffalo. The Buffalo. But yeah, I'm with you.

It was a little like, dude, you were just here. Like, you don't, just here. You're already angry? You're ready to fight? Yeah. Maybe he hated it here. Maybe you're not a big Fortnite guy. Maybe not. You know?

Maybe not. You're with Carlos Santana, hanging out. The leaders of the team. Why are these kids always playing Fortnite? It's BS. Yeah. Those two and Ash Drupal. I want to fight him. Yeah. Oh, now the team. Why are these kids always playing Fortnite? It's BS. Yeah, those two and Ash Drupal. I want to fight him. Yeah.

Oh, now I can. Yeah, now he's going to fight them all. I think we figured it out. All right. Other takeaways from the Mets series. Let's start Friday. Frustrating game. Not really a ton.

Start Monday. Monday. Jeez, Luis. Friday is. You know, it's a weekend series. I'm at the first game of the series. Friday, Monday. Whatever. Yeah. Okay. My days are all messed up. It's a weekend series. I'm at the first game of the series, Friday, Monday, whatever.

Yeah, okay. My days are all messed up. Let's start with Monday, Jack. Any takeaways from Monday? Monday. Jake pitched okay, you know, solid, not great. I do agree with him. I did think after the rain delay they came out flat. It felt that way.

It felt like they had no juice at all that game. Any takeaways outside of that? Yeah, I mean, you know, it's hard when you come off the plane from... From the Friday game, obviously. Yeah, from the Friday. Obviously, it's hard when you come... What am I doing right now? It's hard to come from Colorado from that... In the midst of a long stretch of baseball. We've talked a lot

about it. These last four games against the Marlins here, Thursday through Sunday, they will finally be through their 17 straight day stretch off day Monday. And Thursday next week, so they've got two off days. It would much need to do. So you could tell they're a little tired, they're a little worn out, but no juice. Yeah.

When Arietta made his comments, I saw a lot of people being like, well, he didn't even pitch well, so what does he have to say? I thought he pitched fine. He pitched fine, and also he's pitched well this year, so get over yourselves. When he made his comments last year, that was my takeaway. Yeah, I hated him last year. Because he was pitching terribly, but here he's at least pitching. He's the best pitcher on this team right now.

So I think he has some leverage from which to speak. Yeah, no, I agree. Monday, I mean, I think it all comes down to the game or what happened after the game or during the game, I guess, with the Carlson stuff and Harper getting thrown out. What do you think of that? So I thought it was selfish from the standpoint. Like everyone,? So, I thought it was selfish from the standpoint, like everyone, I tweeted that I thought

it was selfish and people were like, well, he's defending his teammate. I was like, he wasn't really defending his teammate. You're still mad about his at-bat. He was mad about his at-bat. Let's be real. I love that he was, you know, but it was definitely his at-bat. Yeah, it was definitely his at-bat and he was still upset about that. I don't like him getting thrown

out of an NL East game against a team that is going to come down to the wire against. But I really didn't... If he came from the standpoint of, I'm trying to get my team juiced, and they don't have the juice right now, maybe this will get them going. That's fine.

But if it's about you're a bat two batters later, you're still not over, you're still chirping. And we don't really know what he said. Apparently, it was just normal dugout chatter. Yeah, apparently. bat two batters later that you're still not over you're still chirping and I mean we don't really know what he said like if apparently it was just normal dugout chatter yeah apparently and

Cavalier said and Carlson seems like a baby that's that's the big Carlson seems like a baby and he after the game he's like oh he put

he pushed me I'm gonna put in my report that he pushed me I mean it's the second lamest thing behind Joe West starting the movement for umpires a

couple years ago oh that was the lamest that was the number one lamest that's probably the lamest thing I've West starting the movement for umpires a couple years ago about how they're- Oh, that was the lamest. That was the number one lamest. That is one of- That's probably the lamest thing I've ever seen in my life. Your nickname is Cowboy Anything. You're lame.

Yeah. I mean, come on. Cowboy Joe West? Really? You a cowboy, buddy? Really? You're an umpire. You riding around on a horse with some six shooters?

No. Well, it was crazy. So you have Mark Carlson, who did that BS, and then you had Scott Berry in the same exact thing. Remember? I mean, Scott Berry was obviously the guy that threw out Howard. Oh yeah, good point. I didn't think about that.

Same umpiring crew. Yes, how about that? That's actually a really good point. Yeah, Scott Berry did the balls and strikes the next night. So, look,

I'm similar to you. I wasn't, I think it all depends on how much of a baby Carlson was. If it was just natural, normal stuff, he did seem to keep going. Even Kapler confirmed that he was talking a lot,

but that it was normal stuff. I generally lean towards the, he can't expect to get thrown out for that if most umpires would not throw you out for that. So I don't think it was that selfish if it was just that, but I do agree with the general concept that Bryce Harper can't get ejected out of those type of games.

Also. He has to be better about that. We've talked about this a lot, but dear umpires of America. Don't make it about you. That. Don't make it about you. That. I'm not there to see Mark Carlson.

That's not why I buy tickets to watch baseball. Go ahead. If Bryce Harper thinks it's a ball. It's a ball. It's probably a ball. It's a great point. Even better. It's now my pin tweet.

I have made it my pin tweet. If Bryce Harper thinks it's a ball, It's probably a ball. It's a great point. Even better. It's now my pin tweet. I have made it my pin tweet. If Bryce Harper thinks it's a ball, it's probably a ball. So, Mark Carlson, just admit you were wrong. And again, don't make it about you. Yes. That happens far too often. Now, here's another thing. I will say that I think this season is the worst umpiring, through a month, the worst

umpiring I remember in a long time. It's really bad. And you know, I'm watching the package every night. I watch a ton of baseball across the league. It has been so bad this year. Thank me for mentioning the package. Yeah. The Astros umpire, the guy that

did that whole thing. Oh, I mean, with Hinch, I mean, Hinch was like, lost his mind. Yeah, and Hinch is pretty even keel. Very even keel. I'm not even sure AJ Hinch has a pulse lost his mind. Yeah, and Hinch is pretty even keel. Very even keel. As even keel as they come. I'm not even sure AJ Hinch has a pulse. I've never seen him be animated about anything ever. Yeah.

Yeah. Now, speaking of managers, listen, I like Gabe Kapler. How do you not get thrown out? Like, I don't get it. I mean, the fact they threw Harper out for just chirping on the bench and then Gabe comes out like a psychopath. Yeah. He's like a tossed.

That's, yeah, that's a little worrisome. What was he saying? Well, that's what I'm saying is he's just being like very proper. He might have looked mad, but you know, Gabe wasn't hurling like F-bombs and all that or else he would have gotten tossed. Well, speaking of tossed. And you know what I want? I want my manager hurling.

I want him Earl Weaver. I want him kicking dirt at him. I want you losing your mind there. And maybe Carlson felt bad about the Harper ejection, so he didn't feel like throwing out Gabe. I think that's possible. I think that's possible. You're like, you know what?

Quick trigger. I'll let Gabe go. Yeah. And Gabe, speaking of tossed, threw Bryce Harper. Bodied him out of the way. Easily. It was like a rag doll. He's like, get the hell out of here, Bryce.

I'm a monster. Yeah, put him on the O-line. Yeah, sure. I'll take Gabe Kavler on the O-line. Sure. I'll take Gabe Cavill on the O-line. You see that? He would be unstoppable. Jordan Mailata. I do like that he had Bryce's back. He had to have Bryce's back in that scenario.

I thought Bryce overreacted. I thought Dusty Wathen had a deer in headlights look. Dusty was like, I'm not getting involved with this. Get worried about Dusty. He was not ready for the moment. Not ready for the moment. No, he was not ready for the moment at all for the moment no he was not ready for the moment at all um uh i i love rob thompson rob thompson uh was the one he's a guy you can go to war with yeah for sure yeah for sure uh when one of the guys my foxhole i love him when juan lagar is

stole after the realmuto thing he was like up on the top step like that's a well my favorite part about the harper ejection was harper was so up. If you watch the video closely, he like stumbles. Harper's like so livid to run out there and argue. It looked like George Brett. Yeah, he falls right down and then comes out. Yeah, it looked like Brett. It looked a lot like George Brett. Arietta's comments.

I think we both agree. Not out of line at all. I liked what Jake had to say. I liked what he had to say. I think him not saying about himself, I thought was bad. Which is a pattern. He should have said I suck too. Even if you didn't, you should say

that just for covering your own ass. Yes, exactly. That was frustrating. But I thought the overall message was good. I think the team needed it. Obviously, they did not respond to the next night at all. No, really? It wasn't a reason. They got destroyed.

But Arrieta, it was fine. I was fine with it. I wish he had said he was bad, too. And everyone's like, well, why don't you handle that in the clubhouse? It's like, well, the media is way more effective than that sometimes. So I get that. From that standpoint, Bryce is a man. Bryce can handle it.

And I think Bryce also understood that he can't do that, especially in that scenario. But this is a trend with Arrieta. And it's a little frustrating. He obviously did the Kingery thing last year. When he's in Chicago, he basically got Miguel Montour cut because he's slow to the plate. Yeah, I remember that. And I guess Joe tweeted out about Arrieta or whatever. And all these Cubs fans got in his mentions.

Like, yep, that's what he does. So I don't love that. Yes. But next time, hopefully. Yeah, it's tough. It's a tricky thing. You don't like seeing guys call out their teammates because it's a locker room and bonding.

But I think that locker room has shown that they are tough-minded. I agree with you. I don't think people gave enough credit to how tight-knit that locker room has been so far. And Arrieta has always been a vocal piece of that locker room. that locker room he has been uh he's a guy with stature i mean he has won a cy young he has won a world series there are not guys on this team who have won world series like that does matter in terms of baseball in terms of the locker room he does command a certain

respect yes and i think he's almost viewed as the outspoken leader of that team. And if that's the general clubhouse sentiment, then your leader is allowed to do that. I totally agree with you. And I think a lot of people were kind of taken aback. But if that's the locker room dynamic that he's going to be the speak-up guy, then that's just what he does. I 100% agree. Moving on to the Tuesday game or the Saturday game for some like me.

Tuesday game, not much. Take away 9-0. Just didn't show up for some like me. Tuesday game, not much takeaway. 9-0. Just didn't show up. Lifeless effort. Very disappointing, all that. Eflin, not great. Wasn't a great outing for Eflin.

Yeah, he's starting to put together just meh outings. He's starting to look like Zac Eflin. Yeah. That's what he's looking like. He's looking like Zac Eflin. Not Cy Eflin, Zac Eflin. I feel bad for the people that called the Zac Eflin breakup. Yeah, it's a shame. I will say that even people that called the Zach Eflin breakout. Yeah, it's a shame.

I will say that even though he's looked fine, not great, just fine, I think he's still a useful pitcher. I agree. And I think that if he uses his fastball more and more, that he's just going to be a solid, solid guy night in, night out. I agree with you. Even though we may not see the huge strikeout numbers and the seven innings, one run, 8K

stuff that we were seeing early in the season, the fact that he can give us six innings right now, I mean, it was crazy. The Phillies are like fifth in starters going deep in base. What? I feel like no one's... Jake's gone deep a couple times. That's it? Yeah.

It's crazy. I mean, what? I know. Is that really true? I'm pretty sure. Wow. Before yesterday's game, it was like, yeah, they're fifth in baseball. Wow.

We must not have watched that much baseball. It just seems impossible. Well, the Rays obviously messed it up a little. But I get it. If he can give them six innings, four runs or less. Totally. He keeps his team in ballgame. That's where I was at.

And I do think there are just going to be certain teams that are bad matchups for him. You know, good fastball hitting teams. There'll be nights where Eflin will look worse than he can. And his slider's just so... So meh. It's not a good pitch. Yeah. It's not a good pitch.

Not in love with it. My other takeaway from Tuesday's game or Saturday's game... I literally am so funny. As you just said Tuesday in my head, I'm like, what do you mean Tuesday, Saturday? Oh, yeah. I'm an idiot. Okay, go ahead. That was the third straight game that Cesar was a killer error.

Ah, look. Look at you. You're leaping ahead on my list. I have Cesar blows is actually how I wrote it. Well, he doesn't blow. I know. I know. He's been blowing.

How about that? I mean, it's been a rough week for Cesar. I mean, the freaking Sunday. Base running gaffe in Colorado was egregious. We talked about it on the last pod, but it was, I mean, that was just pure being aware of what's happening around you as a baseball player. That's it. If he wasn't. Monday, another

problem. I mean, the five hole, man. We go in five hole like right through the legs. Well, that was Tuesday. That was Tuesday. Monday was the bad flip. Oh, yeah. To your boy Goss. Saved the game last night. Yeah. We're going to get into that.

And look, Jimmy Rollins was killing him for Gosselin. He didn't blame Cesar. He blamed Gosselin for not being close to the bag. Gosselin's not a shortstop. It was not a good throw. Like, know what? Know what? It was a bad flip no matter what.

Whether they could have gotten one out of it, maybe. But, and Tuesday was way more egregious. I mean. Oh, horrible. horrible i mean that is again 101 to have your glove on the ground who doesn't learn to have their glove on the ground and that i i i was you gotta keep it in front and then what are you doing going to your knee like i just it looks so unathletic it looks like you don't know how to play the position here's what i'll say about cesar he is so lucky that scott kingery got hurt because scott kingery

would be playing second base right now if he had not, in my opinion. Yeah, and listen, Cesar is a good offensive piece when he's going right. Not getting on base the same way as he has in the past. In the last 12 games, he's been in like 360 or something. He's been hitting better. He's been hitting a lot better than he was

before Kingery got hurt or whatever, or before Kingery started to really ascend. But my problem is like Cesar, I just think that he gets in his head so much. I think when he makes one mistake, he can't just bury it. Like he just keeps thinking about it. It's like Mark Sanchez.

Yeah. Mark Sanchez, the king, one mistake and it's just done. You know that guy is not recovering from that mistake. And that's how I think Cesar is because Cesar made that one mistake in Colorado and then I think some people, just when they make that one mistake, they just keep snowballing.

It's snowballs, snowballs, snowballs, snowballs. And unfortunately for Cesar, like that's what's going on right now. Like I would love for Cesar to be good, but this is a team that's already shown that it is willing to make drastic

moves. If, if they feel like it's necessary, paging Nick Pavetta page, exactly. Pavetta. We're not going to get into his AAA start, but he did strike out nine.

I don't care. He gave up four runs. I have an inside source, aka Pat McCarthy, who said it wasn't that bad. Good! It wasn't that bad. We'll take it. That's where we're at. AAA start wasn't that bad. Wasn't that bad. Oh, buddy.

So, I agree. I think if Kingery was still here i wouldn't be i wouldn't have been surprised if kingery started getting more and more started second base because this team is in a position right now where they have to prioritize winning and when you're not making winning plays like cesar has not done even if you're hitting pretty well they're going to move on from you yeah and they should look scott kingery is a we it's got carrying is a better defender than than cesar period end of story there's no question about that but when he's hitting better like he was before i mean it's hard to argue that he's not a better option at that point no i i agree and i i honestly do think i think that kingery playing um short

stop third base center field only going to make him even better of a second absolutely i mean just the fact all you have to say is he can play shortstop in the major leagues and be like, okay, then he could definitely be a second baseman. I mean, you know, if you could do that, you could be a second baseman. It's just, especially when you know the footwork and you're already used to playing second base. Cesar Polanco, is that where we're at? Is he officially

Placido? Before we were keeping Utley down. He's blocking Utley. I guess so. We're at that point. I mean, I guess if Utley were hurt and he couldn't play because there's, you know. By the way, yesterday was the anniversary

of his first home run. I saw, over Gabe Cattler's head. Over Gabe Cattler in right field. How about that? All right, well, Tuesday night was the Pavetta start. I'll read you what Pat told me. You're still on this.

Yes. I love that you didn't let this go. No. You brought it back. Thought he looked really good. Got off to a slow start, but found it in the middle innings. Fastball was jumping.

The four runs are skewed because one came off a three run shot, which means his FIP was still low. Which is. Nick Pavetta, king of FIP. He really is. He really is. He is the king. Mr. FIP.

He is the king. He strikes out a lot of guys. Doesn't walk a lot of guys. Home runs are his problem. Yes. Oh, you're going to be good at FIP. Yes. Yes, he will be.

So that's the official Pavetta report. We done with that? We good? We are done. We are done. Tuesday, obviously. We're still talking about the Pavetta AAA breakout season? Is that where we're at?

You could pitch him into the playoffs. Maybe we'll get wild card Pavetta in a AAA game. It'll be okay. This is getting sad. Let's move on to yesterday's game, Wednesday's game, not Sunday's game. It'll be okay. This is getting sad. Let's move on to yesterday's game, Wednesday's game, not Sunday's game. Now that I know that we're talking about yesterday, I can realize it's Wednesday. So that's where I'm at. Vinny.

Slow Vinny is back, Jack. I mean, literally, I was sitting here, right? 7-10 is start time. I look up. It's 9-20. It's the third inning. Dude, I wanted to kill everybody. I was like, are you?

I kept texting my wife in the basement my wife is up in bed i'm in the basement i keep texting her like every five minutes like all the announcers are talking about is how long this game is because it's the longest game i've ever seen i'm dying here i can't believe i have to stay after watches i'm so annoyed right now but then race it to the trot it was the best night ever it was all good it worked plus as soon as they got vargas and velasquez out of the game, it sped up dramatically. It really put a nice fine point on how slow those guys were working. It was a perfect storm getting Velasquez and Vargas working as slow as they were.

Yes. It was just brutal. But, but, five innings, no runs. Like, he needs to go deeper into games, but- Listen, if we can get five innings, no runs from him, I'm happy. Got himself in some jams, but was able to get some big strikeouts when he needed them three hits three walks big moments from him yeah like the second and third one out struck out Wilson Ramos and then struck out Dom

Smith no I think he got Ramos to pop up and then struck out Dom Smith in the third and it just really really impressive I thought like his fastball was rising fastball good man like it's that light life on it look really good it's clearly hard to square up I mean his fastball right now I didn fastball was good, man. It had that light life on it. It looked really good. It's clearly hard to square up. I mean, his fastball right now,

I didn't think he had great off-speed stuff, but the way his fastball was just jumping, that's going to be hard for guys to square up consistently, I think. What do you think happened with the... Because he was working faster. He was working faster. What do you think happened? Why go back to the slow Vinny?

So I think the game let's see let's see so was it a matchup thing was it that he felt like it with or the team felt like the mets like to work fast as hitters and it would throw them off i mean was it something that second level or was it just simply vinny being vinny and going back to who he is no i don't think he i don't i don't think he felt totally comfortable with where he was with the stuff and he didn't again he didn't have great off-speed. I still think out of the stretch, he did have a lot of runners on base. And when runners get on base against Vinny,

that's when everything grinds to a halt. Because he has to really, really think, I guess. So I think that had a lot to do with runners on base. I still don't like... Obviously, what we've talked about is out of the wind-up, goes over his head and does that little extra pause to make sure he's completely back before firing home that is good stuff out of the line out of the stretch he kind of does the same thing he used to do out of the lineup where he doesn't get a full balance point and just lifts and goes and sometimes fastball uh command is off

but yesterday seven seven swinging strikes on 63 fastballs that's pretty good especially especially in an era where fastballs are getting teed up on. I think that's a good development for Vinny. So, listen, five innings, no runs. I'll take that from Vinny.

Got out of some big jams, which was impressive. And, yeah, I was totally cool with Vinny. And the bullpen showed up. Adam Morgan, man. If only, Jack, if only you had

not been so strong on the Pavetta breakout and had just maybe said you thought Adam Morgan was going to be good or was going to break out. If you had maybe said that, I think people would have remembered something like that. I agree. I totally agree.

It would have been a really strong statement. It's sad. By the way, 10 innings, zero runs for Adam Morgan. Yeah, it's crazy, isn't it? It's been awesome. I thought he was going to be good. I didn't think he developed into Josh Hader. You didn't think he'd be the best pitcher in the bullpen?

Like the go-to guy for the Phillies? I know. Listen, the bullpen's been good for a good stretch here. They're doing this all without Craig Kimbrell, which I was told was not possible. And without David Robertson, who knew? Yeah, and thank God it looks like he's fine. Yes, it's good news.

It looks like it's just a rest it and he'll be back at some point. Agreed. And I really think, now, do you find this weird? Their usage of Sir Anthony is weird to me. I said it on the last pod. It's only more. I don't get it. I don't get it.

He had an eight pitch inning last night and they're like, all right, thanks Sir Anthony. I can't tell. Still, I can't tell. They still don't think he's right, which I think he is. Or if they're just not wanting to burn him into the ground.

They're burning Adam Morgan. It could be that. It could be that. It could be that they looked at last season and they saw his innings, his back-to-back innings. And what happened. And they're saying, all right, let's ramp it back a little bit. Especially after considering that innings-wise,

and especially just from a pitching at a higher you know leverage type of thing being in major league baseball pitching against major league hitters that after the years for anthony had last year that they wanted to make a concerted effort to not push him too hard this year comparatively agreed agreed so i'm fine if that's what they're doing yeah it's perfectly fine smart it'd be very smart of them. But I'm with you. I think his usage has been... That's why we're looking for reasons for it, because it's been so befuddling. Like, why?

What are they doing with Sir Anthony this year? Yeah, because, I mean, last year they used him all the time. He's been back for... I mean, outside the first two series, he's looked fine. The fastball is jumping again. It's back to 97, 98 with cut on it. And it's just everything looks easy for him again. Like, remember last year, you'd come into games,

and it would be like, bing, bang, boom, done. Oh, it's like nothing. Yeah. It's easy. And that's what I do. That's kind of where he's been. And they're not using him as much as they were last year. And if it's a concerted effort to keep him as fresh as possible,

perfectly okay with it. But I do wonder. Like, last night I thought it was the spot to get him two innings because it was already Four-nothing. It was already four-nothing when he was in and then Adam Morgan came in when it was four-nothing

and then, yeah. Well, no, it was only two-nothing actually when he came in. You're right. And then Morgan came in. They scored more because they scored two in the eighth, two in the ninth.

So it was two-nothing, then it was four-nothing in the eighth, and then, no, it was one-nothing. It was one-nothing. So then they scored three in the eighth, and then two in the ninth. It was the Francos.

The Reese triple, Francos single. Gosselin. Gosselin. Oh, yeah. Rodriguez, too. How fun is it that Kapler's managing a guy he played with? I think that's so fun. It's weird.

It must be weird. Oh, hey. Team it. Manager? Yeah. Coach? I don't know how I would handle that. It's a weird one. Yeah, it is. I like it, though. It is super weird. It is super weird. And I don't know how I would handle that. It's a weird one.

Yeah, it is. I like it, though. It is super weird. It is super weird. And I don't really want to see any more of Sean Rodriguez. By the way, Gosling could not have gotten that game, you know, that important hit if it weren't for that sweet sack bunt that S-Rod laid down. Small ball won.

What happened? I thought Gabe Kapler didn't do small ball. All the people who've yelled at me, we need more small ball. I've been telling them to use more. Suck it. Why? No, I'm telling all the people. Yeah, but maybe small ball works.

No, I'm saying they did it. I know they did it. I'm saying they used small ball. I think Gabe had to walk to the clubhouse when they did it because he was infuriated. And Rob Thompson was like, listen, trust me, it's going to work here. The one thing that I have wondered about small ball is, like, it does change how a pitcher pitches. Sure. Like, it changes all of that.

But I guess the numbers do bear out. Oh, the numbers definitely bear it out. I know. The numbers for sure say that Small Ball is silly. I know. There's still just a part of me that loves it. That was fun. Hey, they had two bunts that ending that were two positive bunts.

Yeah, Roman Quinn. Roman Quinn's hurt, Jack. Roman Quinn's hurt. Shocking news. Roman Quinn is hurt. Roman Quinn is hurt. And he's also bad. Well, we knew that, by the way. Yeah, Roman Quinn. Roman Quinn's hurt, Jack. Roman Quinn's hurt. Shocking news, Roman Quinn is hurt. Roman Quinn is hurt, and he's also bad. Well, we knew that, as we said. You know, I didn't want him to get hurt. But, like, do you all miss Oduble yet?

The best thing that could have happened for Oduble's stock around here was him getting hurt and seeing what life was like without Oduble. I agree with you, because it was not good. Now, even the people who don't like him was like, I life was like without Oduble. I agree with you because it was not good. Now, even the people who don't like him was like, I could really use some Oduble back here. Yeah, someone who can actually hit the ball. Yeah. Not just drag bun it. That was all I could do positively.

I know. It was crazy. But it is a shame. Look, I feel bad for Roman Quinn. The guy can't stay healthy. I don't know how many more shots he gets as a Philly if he can't put it together. Oh, yeah. I mean, you can't

guarantee anything with the guy. Honestly, I think he's too fast for his body. It might be. His body literally falls apart because he's running so fast his body can't keep up with him. I think he's too fast. I like that. I think he's too fast for his body. It's a fair take. It's crazy to me. I've never witnessed an athlete

that gets hurt as easily as this guy. It's unbelievable, man. It's unbelievable. Alright right. Which creates a... They need Odubel back because, you know, your boy, Aaron Altair. Oh, can't hit. You're starting center fielder right now. No, he can't hit. No, great. He physically cannot hit a baseball.

It is mind-blowing. This guy was good in 2017. He was. He was a really good player. Not good anymore. Dude, like, bad. I know. If Jack fritz is saying this you know it's true because there's no bigger erin altair stan for the last few years than you dude

bad like man there's still hope for pivetta like we're done on altair that dude that dude can't he cannot hit i am floored. I am shocked. No. Done. It's over. I understand why he's still here because he can physically play defense. I'm like Nick Williams. Yes. And whatever.

And I suppose this weekend we're going to get a Cutch and center field game. Ooh, I could go for a Cutch and center field game. Yeah, definitely don't want it for more than two games. No. But I will take it in a pinch. Yeah, agreed. And I guess want to take it in a pinch. Yeah, agreed. And I would, I guess, want to see Williams in the lineup.

I guess he deserves it. But I think they're... Look, I'd rather see Williams in the lineup than Altair in the lineup. Agreed. But I do think, I think they view Williams as a definitely threat off the bench

late in games. Very clearly. I mean, he's their go-to guy in the biggest spot. You're going to put Nick Williams up there if you're game, which he should. I think there's no question he's the best hitter off the bat. That's probably why they don't start him.

Yeah. I think they'd rather that option late in games rather than, and then take the defense with Altair first. Which makes sense. And I'm fine with that. All right. One more thing on the series before we move on. Look ahead, Marlins and whatnot.

Jimmy Rollins in the booth. Did you get to hear any? I know that everyone got to hear the uh whoops yeah yeah it was funny i was watching it live and i was like did that just happen did he just say that did he just curse i think it's an upset that that rollins cursed before franzen i do think that's a true upset you would be on the board for that you know what you would do a friend then cursed you dump it where was the board for that. You know what you would do if friends were cursed? You'd dump it. Where was the producer? Who was producing that game?

What's going on? Where are you? What are your jobs? Does TV have dump bugs? Of course it has a dump. But I feel like everything always gets through on TV. You know what I mean? Yeah, the player and stuff do, but they should have a little bit of a dump.

The interviews always get through it. They've got to have a little dump, I think, on TV. Like a two-second thing or something like that, because it's got to be pretty close to live, obviously, but there's always a delay. When you do the games here, the radio is faster than the television. Yeah, we're seven seconds ahead. That's what I mean. So, there is a dump. I would have dumped that.

Oh, of course you would have dumped that. I think I've got a... I think I might have the quickest dump trigger in the building. Well, when in doubt, that's my philosophy. Yeah. Did he say a curse? I don't know, but I'm going to hit the dump anyway. Yeah. Sounded like it.

Could have been. Could have also been just saying ship. I'm dumping it anyway. Exactly. Yeah. So I never listen to the games on TV. I bring out my little radio and I listen to it there. So I did not hear it.

So I will give you the Jimmy Rollins report. Okay. Thank you. He was really good. He was really good. I'm shocked Jimmy Rollins was really good at it. Much better than other people that have been in the booth over the years. We'll say that.

Jimmy was really good. And especially considering it was his first two games ever, there's so much potential there. He's such a natural. That's what it is. And he actually tells you about things you don't know. He tells you what it's like to be playing in the game, to be the person in this position, to what you're supposed to do.

It was really refreshing. It was really nice to hear. That's the thing I've liked most about the younger guys getting in the booth. No disrespect to the 93 guys or whatever, but the thing I've really liked listening about with Franzen is that he's played in these ballparks when those guys haven't, so he gives you the little nooks and crannies about each ballpark and why this is happening. And they've played against guys who are still playing in stuff. Yeah, France has faced Steven Matz in the minor leagues.

Yeah, I mean, that matters. That stuff matters. You can actually give a real personal description of something that other people wouldn't be able to give. And they were also in the big leagues when the whole analytics movement started happening. Good point, too. They got a lot more of a feel for that. Yeah, so they at least get it a little bit. And I was thinking about this the other day with the analytics.

It's crazy. Obviously, it's been a big transition in a feel for that. Yeah, so they at least get it a little bit. And I was thinking about this the other day with the analytics. Like, it's crazy. Obviously, it's been a big transition in the sport and whatnot. And the older players in the crowd now didn't grow up with it. We're like five years away from every single player

coming through the minor leagues understanding everything about analytics. Of course. And it's going to be, like the game, it's going to be so different. It's such a transitional period.

We're still in that transitional period. I'm excited to see where it's going to be in like five game. It's going to be so different. It's such a transitional period. We're still in that transitional period. I'm excited to see where it's going to be in like five years. By the way, that reminds me of something. I was watching the Pirates and the Diamondbacks the other day. Normal. Normal. That's what I do. I just watch all these games.

That's normal. Cole Tucker. Who doesn't love watching the Pirates? That's the old Cole Tucker. Ribbit double. But I saw Cole Tucker go out to the outfield. And what does Cole Tucker do? He pulls out of his pocket a little piece of paper, a positioning piece of paper to

tell him where to go in the field. Did you know Gabe Kepler was managing the Pirates? Because I didn't. Huh? They have old school. Guess what? Every team in baseball uses these things now. Old school Clint Hurdle?

Everybody uses these. There goes Clint Hurdle inventing the wheel again. Clint Hurdle's doing it. All right. So come on. He's inventing baseball again. Can we give Gabe a break, folks? Anyway. All right. There goes Clint Hurdle inventing the wheel again. Clint Hurdle's doing it. All right? So, come on. He's inventing baseball again. Can we give Gabe a break, folks? Anyway.

All right. There goes Clint Hurdle. Noted analytics guy, Clint Hurdle. Clint Hurdle, big time. Big time analytics guy, Clint Hurdle. Even they have a little sheet to paper. Can I give one last thought on the Mets series? Absolutely.

Bryce Harper's strikeout rate is now 31%. He struck out seven times. He struck out twice against Jason Vargas, man. Yeah. Not cool. Not cool. So it's weird. So his strikeout rate is higher than it's ever been in his career.

It's 31%. His launch angle is lower than it's been before, which we thought that if his launch angle is higher, that's usually when he's struggling. Also weird, he's batting, like, well, obviously, the lefty splits. Yeah, we talked about it. He is still destroying lefties. And he had the RBI double of Vargas in the first,

so it wasn't like he was totally owned by Vargas. I know. Crazy. It's a very weird Harper year. It is. Striking out all the time, some home runs, still is over 400 OEP, on base all the time, crushing lefties, not crushing righties.

It's really weird. It's a weird Harper year. It's a really weird Harper year. Yeah. So hopefully some of those things will regress to their means or positively regress not all right oh wait hold on one more thing on the met series you lied to me yes one more thing uh franco is starting to make a really concerted effort to go the other way i've noticed this and it started in the colorado series and the warning track shot well actually it started with comforter had to run for as well.

He started the ball the opposite way. Actually, I would say it started the last Mets series when he took the ball deep to center field. Ever since that game against Mets, where he took Mets to center field, it's been a really concerted effort to go the opposite field. And if you want me to buy into Mike Alfranco, That's what you've always said.

I want the opposite field hitting. Me too. Because he needs that plate coverage. He's too easy to get out when he's a dead bull hitter. And all of his home runs early in the season were dead pull, bad pitches up in the zone that he just smoked. And what he's been doing recently with going the opposite way

and actually hitting the ball hard the opposite way, it's a very good development for the Mike Al Franco. I love this. The Mike Al Franco island. People are swimming out to Mike Al Island. Doing little slaps being like, should I go on? Should I leave? What am I going to do? Yeah.

All right. Phillies-Marlins. We got Nola versus Caleb Smith tonight. So please, Aaron Nola. You're home against the Marlins. Please. Show us Aaron Nola from last week. Show us 2018 Nola, please.

Just for a night even to remind us what we have. Yeah. Please. Totally with you. You need it. I need it. I need seven innings from Nola like I need oxygen. Yes!

I did some numbers on Aaron Nola's curveball. So he's throwing it harder. Sharky numbers. Well, it's not really numbers. It's kind of just looking at Brooks baseball and dissecting numbers. Yeah, that's Brooks really numbers. It's kind of just looking at Brooks Baseball and dissecting the numbers. Yeah, that's Brooks Baseball. Really great site. So his curveball right now is moving less, but he's throwing it harder.

And it's gotten, in Colorado that was. So the Colorado start, he was throwing his curveball harder and with less movement, but it got the most whiffs of the season. Okay. So an interesting development to watch tonight if it is a hard curveball that he is trying to get an adjustment with. We'll see where Arnold is at. All right.

We can see your boy Pablo on Sunday. Almost no hitter going his last inning against the Indians. So he's back? Pablo Lopez. He's back. My Marlins. Trevor Richards. We didn't get to see Trevor Richards last time.

Oh, Trevor Richards is so going to shove against us. There's no doubt in my mind. Trevor, is he the kind of guy who's going to shove against us? Yeah. Here's the thing. Is that talented pitchers always figure it out against the Phillies? And that's what's going to happen. Good times, man. Can't wait. No, it's just, you know,

I told you, I always think they're going to lose. They have to take 3 or 4, right? There's no, like, we always say they need to do this. Yes. They actually need to take three or four. They really need to. And it's April, so we're not saying must win in that sense.

But they need three or four here. They're coming home. They need to take three or four. And again, they get two off days next week, which should help in general. But they need three or four here. Yeah, if you have two off days next week, you theoretically should be able to use your bullpen to its full strength with those amount of off days so expect that

also there are a again they even going back to last year under Gabe they've just been a bad road team again this year

and it's happening again this year at home it seems like there's just a little bit more juice I understand why because the crowd and all

that the crowd and like going to Citi Field is just like a black hole like it's just a little bit more juice. I understand why. Sure, you got the crowd and all that. The crowd. And going to Citi Field is just like a black hole. It's so bad there. Yeah, totally. I hate Citi Field. Colorado, there should have been more juice. The crowds were good all four years. Yeah, I think, again, whatever it was, 10th through 13 days straight, whatever it was.

And I think it's like traveling to Colorado, the air, the whole thing. I get it. Now they get to sleep in their own beds look at that they're back how good is that alright final thoughts Fritzy

final thoughts I have see I went thoughts yes because you know that I have a lot I know I know

alright so first one Kyle Dowie Kyle Dowie day I mean what are you doing Josh Hader 2.0 listen you guys were talking draft today

I would have talked Kyle Dowie Jack actually texted me during my show. You should be fired as a producer that you're talking Eagles draft on Kyle Dowie day. Yes. Yes. So Kyle Dowie. I love that Kyle Dowie day is when he gets promoted to AAA.

Yes. Not the majors. No. AAA. No. But this is the same exact path that Sir Anthony Dominguez was on. I mean, literally Sir Anthony started in AA, shoved, and then went to AAA for, I think, a day.

Might have been a day. Might have been like 30 seconds. I swear to God, he pitched one game, Gabe came and saw it and said, I need him up. Yeah, Gabe was there, remember? It was a big deal. Oh, he's buying, don't play. Look at Gabe. I know.

I know. So happy Kyle Doe Day, and we'll see how he fares in AAA. Also, I wonder who is going to come out as hurt after this podcast is already posted. That's what happens now. It was Robertson. Then it was Arano. Gene. Gene and Arano.

Just nonstop. It's very unfortunate. It's really not cool. Not a fan of that. Oh, it was Odubel after the last one was what it was. It was Odubel. Right. Not cool.

Not cool at all. So please, no one. Gene should be back this weekend, they're saying. Hopefully Saturday. I think Odubel's back Sunday. Fingers crossed. Yes, because... Need Oduble!

Who do they need more, Gene Segura or Oduble? Oduble. I don't know, man. Gosselin and Sean... Yeah, with that with Kinger, yeah. Actually, yeah. Both. I mean, Segura's a better player, so let's get Segura back.

This lineup is brutal at the bottom of it. It really has struggled with these injuries. It's pretty crazy. It shows you how important that bottom of the lineup was. Oh my gosh, it changed the whole dynamic. And my second final thought. Did you know? This honestly

shocked me. Reese Hoskins' career batting average against lefties is 194. What? Isn't that crazy? That's impossible. It's is he like a really high slugging or something no it's only 400 so he just doesn't hit lefties his ops is 778 career against that's really weird i know you very rarely see that i know and let me just tell

you this wait till he figures them out. Oh, good point. I mean, seriously. I had no... That is... I'm literally floored by this. Yeah. His OPS against Varieties is 932. Wow.

Wow, man. I know. Everyone just assumes, and me too, Baldelli kept walking Hoskins to have a lefty face Reese, and I was like, why is he doing that? This makes no sense. It makes no sense at all. To walking Harper. Walking Hoskins to face Reese. Get off my back.

It's Saturday. I wish. But isn't that shocking? I'm floored by it. I really I cannot believe that. I'm really. It bothers me actually. But on the bright side wait till he figures them out. And I guess he mashes righties.

Who knew? Mashes righties. So when he figures it out, we're talking about like 280, 390, 35 homers. Yeah. Yeah. Except 45. Yes. Okay.

Get excited for Reese figuring out lefties. Okay. Baseball. I actually have three final thoughts today. You have more than me. Yeah. Well, two of them happened right before we started talking and I said I was going to bring them up.

So I'm going to. First one, Jack comes into the studio today and says, do I look like a European guy? Yeah. Really bothered you. I said no, but you seem to think you look European today because you're wearing a polo. Yes. I dressed up today. I wound up.

Dressing up is you're wearing jeans, sneakers, and all birds, whatever. And you're wearing jeans, all birds, and a polo shirt. Not even that nice a polo shirt. It's definitely not. No. That's dressing up, first of all. Second of all, European? I thought I looked like a European today.

You don't. I thought I did. I'm glad everyone can see. It's good to know. Second, you come in and say, I think David Bowie's underrated. My response to that was, I think just for you. I think most people know how great David Bowie was. Yeah, but I feel like he's not really talked about as a GOAT.

You know what I mean? He's not talked about as a... He's not even ahead of Petty. Of course he is. I mean, in my book he is. I would put Bowie ahead of Petty. I think a lot of people would. I would say he's underrated.

I think Bowie's severely underrated. Is David Bowie underrated? Let us know. Well, I'm pretty sure. I think he's properly rated because he's amazing. He is amazing. I think David Bowie is the best. Huge David Bowie fan.

I just think he's underrated. I don't think he's talked about enough as one of the greats of all time. I think he's on the outer edge of being Elite talked about wise But he is elite As long as you're saying he's elite I'm not slandering David Bowie at all And my real final thought that I came in with today

Is that I just want the IOPs nation To know that I have found my new Way to needle jack the most Oh what is it You know he gets so mad when I text him ripping Phil Gosselin. Yeah. It is like I'm killing his children when I text him. I texted you the sweet sack bun thing.

It wouldn't happen. And you're like literally losing your mind. Yeah. So if you want to annoy Jack, just tweet him about Phil Gosselin. You should never. I never knew how sensitive you were about Phil Gosselin. Because.

He's your favorite player. It could have been me. That's all I have to say. Who do you love more, Phil Gosselin. He's your favorite player. It could have been me. That's all I have to say. Who do you love more, Phil Gosselin or Nick Pavetta? Pavetta. Oh, wow. That was a quick answer. Of course.

Listen, I appreciate what Phil Gosselin brings. Listen, think about this for me. You get so mad when I text you. You really get annoyed with me. I don't know if I really get that mad. I think I play it up a little bit. Okay. Well, I play it up too.

I'm finding ways to rip Phil Gosselin just to text you play it up a little bit. Okay. Well, I play it up too. But I will. I'm finding ways to rip Phil Gosselin just to text you. But like, all right. Think about this for one second. Goss. Me and Phil Gosselin played for the same travel team. We grew up in the same area. He played at a rival-ish high school that we scrimmaged every year in high school.

And he made it to the big leagues and was playing for the Phillies. And he is literally living out my dream. I want him to succeed because he is living out the Jack Fertz dream and for you to keep crapping on that because you were born in New York and you lived in New York until you were 25 and

you never even lived here you're not even from here you and Mike Trout went to childhood and high school with Reggie Jackson actually my dad went to high school with Reggie Jackson how about that? You and Mike Trout. My dad is from here. You and Mike Trout can both get out. Went to childhood and high school with Reggie Jackson, actually. My dad went to high school with Reggie Jackson. How about that? You and Mike Trout can both get out of here because you're both from basically New York City at this point.

Yeah. Sure. Let's go with that. Yes. Here's the funny thing is, here's the funny thing is, I've lived here longer than you because you're a baby. Well, that's because you're 45? No.

37. I was 12 when I moved here. And here's the thing, too, is that with my dad being from here, I had to grow up a Philly sports fan in New York. There is nothing that forges you as a fan more than that. Well, the Phillies were good in... Yankees fans. I had freaking Giants fans, Rangers, all these freaking idiots around me.

And I had to be like, oh, go Phillies. We're the worst team in baseball history. Yay. No, no, no. I get it. But Philly sports were good from 77 to 83. Alright.

We'll talk to you guys on Monday? Is it Sunday? Saturday? Friday? Monday? We'll talk to you guys on Sunday. Go Phillies. He's fritzing himself. All-star Closer. Kenley Jansen, we have a question. What's the best podcast of all time? Baseball isn't boring, baby.

I'm Rob Bradford, and every single day I'm sitting down with the biggest names to show you this great game is the greatest game. It's my podcast. It's my passion. It's a cause I started more than two years ago and is now the most prolific national daily baseball pod there is. Another fact. So jump aboard the BIB Express. Follow and listen to Baseball Isn't Boring

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